The moment I heard the words, it was as if a massive burden had been removed from my shoulders. I instantly leaned back against the chair and closed my eyes, allowing for the darkness to take over my vision.
’...I need some sleep.’
In order to make sure everything went well, I slept less than usual.
There was simply too much for me to do.
But that wasn’t the main issue. The goal of the game wasn’t just to make more money, but it was to reach the three-star grade. In all honesty, I still didn’t know the final grading of the game. I had added everything possible before uploading the game.
Opening my eyes to stare at the monitor, I sighed.
[Loading Grading...]
This was the first time I had seen something like this.
Usually, it was rather quick with its grade. But this time, it was acting differently than usual.
Why was that?
’Is there something different about the three-star grading? ...Or is it putting a lot more effort because of the quest?’
The more I thought about it, the more curious I became.
I had a feeling that things weren’t so simple. That something big was about to happen.
"Boss."
Hearing my name get called out, I looked at Ryan, who looked a little restless.
He seemed to be curious about something.
"How do you think our game will do? Do you think—"
"Hiaaaaaaaaak!"
A muffled scream tore through the room, startling everyone. All heads turned towards a specific pod.
"Haaaak! Heeeeeeeeeek!!"
The lid of the pod opened, and a figure jumped out.
"Haaaaaaaak!"
The scream grew louder as she rushed out of the pod and stumbled around, her expression pale as she looked back at the pod with trembling lips.
"T-that... T-that..."
Swoooosh!
Before she could get her words out, another pod opened.
A figure walked out after that.
However, unlike Mia, Nora looked fine.
"....Heh."
Staring at Mia’s appearance, Nora smirked, almost laughed, as she walked away. She even seemed to mutter something like, ’Pussy’ as she stepped over Mia. But after taking a few steps, she stopped, her gaze falling on the trash bin beside Joseph’s desk.
"You need that?"
She calmly asked, her composure worthy of admiration.
As expected, she had improved a lot over the time that I wasn’t present.
"No, feel free."
Not thinking much of it, Joseph handed the bucket to her.
Nora smiled.
Then—
"Ueeeeeeeerghhhhh!!"
She started puking.
——!!
"Ueeekh!!!"
Of course, Nora made sure to make eye contact with me the entire time. She didn’t say anything, but her glare said it all.
’You, sadistic bastard of a squad leader. How could you create something like that?!’
Oh, no.
I covered my mouth and looked away.
Swooosh! Swooosh!
Just then, two other pods opened, and Joanna and Niel walked out. Their faces were relatively pale, but unlike Mia and Nora, they didn’t cause much of a scene. Or at least, that was what I initially assumed.
"Hey, hey!"
Joanna suddenly started shouting as Niel reached for one of the wires. I couldn’t sit still at the sight. Was he trying to destroy the pods?
"...The game is over! You don’t need to hang yourself anymore! Niel!"
Ah.
"At least, wait until I do it first!"
Swoooosh! Swoooooosh! Swoooosh!
The final three pods opened up.
Unlike the others, none of them left their pods even as the lids opened. Instead, I was greeted by the sight of Sarah, Min, and Ariel blankly staring at the ceiling, as if they had lost all ability to think.
Did their brains get fried?
It seemed to be like that.
"That... Boss."
As Noah’s head alternated between me and the others, I merely waved a hand, muttering, "It’s fine. They’ll get over it soon. You should be used to it by now."
Although their reactions were a lot more extreme than usual, it wasn’t like this was the first time they had acted like this while playing our game.
Still, I took a good look at everyone.
Mia sat in the corner of the room, clutching her head as she trembled all over. She seemed to be muttering incomprehensible things to herself.
Nora, on the other hand, was still puking.
Joanna and Niel were fighting over the wires, shouting things at each other like, "Me! I’ll do it first," "No, let me...! Gentlemen first!" and "That’s bullshit! It’s ladies first!"
Lastly, Min, Sarah, and Ariel were still in their pods, blankly staring at the ceiling with empty looks.
It was total chaos.
Taking a good look at everything, I felt a sudden tingle rise up in my chest.
I tried to suppress it.
I really tried.
But—
"...Kek."
I inevitably failed.
And that also seemed to start a chain reaction.
Suddenly, as if a bolt of electricity had run through their minds, they all stopped. Mia stopped trembling. Nora stopped puking. Joanna and Niel stopped fighting, and Sarah, Min, and Ariel snapped out of it.
All at once, they turned their attention towards me.
Every hair on my body rose.
"What?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
I stood up.
"Squad Leader..."
Joanna was the first one to speak, her eyes narrowing.
"Was that a laugh?"
"You’re imagining things."
I grabbed the coat from the back of my chair and calmly packed my bag. Basically, I just put away my laptop.
"No, I think I heard it."
Nora suddenly interjected, turning to Mia, who nodded quickly.
"Nnn! I also heard it."
"Must be the after-effects of the game."
"You’re not fooling anyone."
Ariel suddenly interjected, brushing her silver hair back as her cold eyes fixed on me. For a moment, her gaze shifted as she looked at me in a way that reminded me of how she had been back in the game I’d developed.
It was enough to make me shudder.
Not that crazy bitch...
I had no choice but to keep denying it.
"Must’ve been your imagination."
"No, it’s not."
"It is—"
"Then why are you still smiling?"
"Huh?"
I paused, touching my face, specifically the corner of my lips. That was when I noticed they were raised far higher than they should’ve been.
Ah, damn.
I looked up. Everyone was much closer to me now.
I could see the deep sense of malice in their gazes. Maybe it was my imagination, but it almost looked like their eyes had turned red. Had they suddenly turned into anomalies?
’That would be problematic.’
Despite this, I still remain cool-headed. I had encountered all sorts of things in the past. Twisted Man. Conductor. Demon. And even butchers.
I was a different man compared to how I was in the past.
Feeling the malice in their gazes, I didn’t let that get to me. Instead, I just found it cute.
’With all my experience, I know exactly what I need to do.’
I turned to face the door.
Then—
I ran.
’Well, I am a little exhausted. I didn’t get much sleep, and it’s not like I can use my powers.’
A tactical retreat.
Yes, this was what it was.
Nothing more, nothing less.
"He’s running away!"
"Quick! Get that bastard! Make him pay!"
"Where do you think you’re going!!"
"Come back here! I’ll see if you can continue laughing!!"