Chapter 222: Squad Leader [1]
I was trying.
I was really trying.
But...
"Hut!"
Thinking about the faces that the recruits made as they played my game, from their slowly paling faces and their eventual screams, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to laugh.
Who said my games weren’t scary?
This!
Look at this!
Look at them!
Look at how much they’re trembling!
I just barely managed to hold myself from screaming the words to the Section Chief as I covered my mouth to hold my laugh.
For the past few days and weeks, I had been constantly abused by people telling me that my game wasn’t scary.
Kyle, Zoey, Team Leader Soran, the Section Chief...
Who said my games weren’t scary now?
’...That aside, seeing how they’ve got the contracts already made, it looks like they are planning on keeping this operation a secret.’
I was a little surprised by the development, but chose to remain quiet.
’It doesn’t really make sense that they would do this since I plan on releasing each game that I make to the public, unless...’
A thought struck me, and my heart paused.
I felt a sudden sinking feeling, and as I looked at the Section Chief alongside the mysterious man, handing the trainees the papers, the feeling only grew more pronounced.
’Don’t tell me they’re going to ask me to keep the game exclusive to the Guild and take it off the market.’
If they really did ask me that, then I wasn’t entirely sure how to reply. My first thought would be to quit, but then, I also knew they were going to pay me well.
But would it be enough?
I desperately needed money so that I could convert it to SP.
This was why I had no choice but to continue to make games.
Taking them off the market and making them exclusive to the Guild wasn’t exactly possible. At least, I didn’t plan on doing so.
’Regardless of how much money they’ll give me, it won’t be as much as I’ll make in the long run if I can her everything running properly.’
I felt a massive headache starting to form as all those thoughts crossed my mind, and eventually, as the Section Chief’s voice echoed again, the sinking feeling only grew.
"Good. It looks like all of you are on board with the project. In that case, I formally welcome all of you to the Guild. You will all be given a schedule soon. For now, take some time to go back to the dorms and rest. You’ll need it."
With an ambiguous smile, the Section Chief turned his attention to me, and I quietly closed my eyes as I heard the sound of shuffling steps as the trainees left the room.
It was only after the silence had fully settled that I realized all the trainees had left. I opened my eyes to find the Section Chief still standing there, with the mysterious man positioned quietly behind him.
I kept my face straight while looking at the Section Chief.
However, he continued to stare at me in silence, his gaze intently fixed on me. A strange sense of discomfort began to settle over me. Unable to endure it any longer, I broke the silence and spoke first.
"...It looks like it was a success."
"Indeed, it was."
The Section Chief finally spoke, raising his hand to stroke his chin as his eyes darted up and down all over my body.
I felt even more uncomfortable by the sight, but this time, the Section Chief before I needed to.
"The more I look at you, the more I want you."
".....?"
That’s...
"I previously thought that you had incredible talent to become the next star player of our department. I planned on slowly trying to convert you into one, but..."
The Section Chief paused and turned his attention towards the laptops that were still open, displaying the glowing [Game Over] signs.
"...It seems like you’re more of a gem than I previously realised."
The Section Chief slowly approached the computers, bending down slightly to examine them more closely as he began his analysis.
"No matter how much I try to look into it, I can’t seem to see any foul play in this. It really does seem like you’ve managed to create a game that can scare people without the need to use anomalous items."
He took one of the laptops and flipped it upside down.
"I didn’t really understand what was scary about the game, and didn’t really think it would scare anyone, but when I asked Rowan about it and he really confirmed it, I started to believe a little. I was still not fully convinced, though."
The Section Chief placed the laptop down.
"I nonetheless still drafted several contracts. In case the games were really scary, and could actually scare the trainees."
With a chuckle, the Section Chief turned his attention back to me.
"I have to admit, I did underestimate the impact of your game. I thought that even if it could scare the trainees, I didn’t think it would be to this extent. It almost felt as though they were being hypnotized at one point, but I didn’t feel anything strange. Really impressive. And for this reason, I’d like t—"
"If it’s about making the game exclusive to the Guild and trainees, I’m sorry, but I’d have to refuse."
I cut the Section Chief off before he could finish his sentence. I planned on being extremely firm in this regard.
This was the one thing that I didn’t plan on compromising on.
Evidently, the Section Chief had also been planning on asking me to make the game exclusive to the Guild, and my interruption had completely left him stunned as the smile that lingered on his face froze.
"Th—"
"Why?"
A soft voice cut through the Section Chief before he could get his words out.
In that moment, it felt as though a tangible pressure had descended upon the room. My chest tightened, and I began to struggle for breath as I slowly turned my gaze toward the mysterious man.
Our eyes are to meet.
"....!?"
It was as if I had been cast into the ocean’s darkest depths, the pressure crushing my chest as I fought to breathe, my gaze trembling under the weight of his.
It felt...
Suffocating.
’W-what is going on? Who... is he? Why—’
"Why don’t you plan on making the game exclusive to the Guild?"
His voice echoed softly into my mind, and I swallowed hard.
I was really struggling to open my mouth, but I knew that I had to react. I couldn’t stay still.
And so, mustering every little bit of strength in me, I forced my mouth open.
"My games... My rules."
But the words that came out of my mouth were wholly different than what I had intended to.
The regret quickly came in, but by then, it was already too late.
The temperature of the room suddenly dropped by several degrees, and the man’s eyes turned even more hollow.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t speak.
I was stuck.
I...
"Really?"
The man’s voice whispered into my ear, and I felt like I was sinking lower and lower.
"Your game... your rules?"
A-ah...
I...
"Good."
Everything stopped in that moment.
As if the previous pressure that enveloped the room had suddenly vanished, I felt like I could move again, and as I looked at the man before me, I saw him nod at me with approval.
"I like that firm attitude of yours."
He suddenly smiled.
It was a warm smile.
But... it felt anything but warm to me.
"How about this..." he said, pinching his chin thoughtfully as he spoke again. "Since you’re not planning to make it exclusive, why not differentiate the versions? Make the games you upload online slightly different from the ones you give us. Say... make ours scarier, or add more features. Something exclusive. That sounds doable, right? And it’s not like we’re asking you to do it for free. We’re planning to invest in you."
My eyes lit up in that moment.
’Exclusive? Wait, this might actually be good...’
I had previously been thinking of a way to make Mr. Jingles’ unique feature work for a global launch, but what if I didn’t have to?
If it was just on several occasions, then I was sure Mr. Jingles would be able to handle it without a problem.
I tried my best to calm my rapidly beating heart as I looked at the mysterious man.
I also tried to look like I was struggling to come to terms with his proposal. I couldn’t just agree on the get-go. That would lower my negotiation position.
And thus, after a while, I ’reluctantly’ nodded.
"...That’s possible."
"Great."
The man smiled.
And just when I thought things were over, he suddenly said.
"Aside from that, I also plan on making you a squad leader of the trainees. How does that sound?"
"Huh?"
I froze.
What did he just say?