Horror Game 66 - The Terror of Option

My introduction was met with silence. The moment I extended my hand in his direction and greeted him, he simply stared at me with a baffled expression. Taking note of his trembling eyes and lost expression, I knew that he was in complete shock.

I didn't mind such a reaction, as I introduced myself again.

"It's nice to meet you. My name is Seth. What is yours?"

That seemed to do the trick as his face finally snapped back to reality as he hurriedly put his knife and fork down and reached for my hand.

"I'm.. Cedrick. Cedrick Vale."

"Is that so?"

I placed my hand under my chin, pretending to think as I muttered, "That name... it sounds a little familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"

"Me? You know me?"

He looked surprised as he stared at me, his finger lifting to point at himself, as if struggling to believe that I had actually heard of him.

I just smiled and shrugged.

"Yeah, I think so, but I could be wrong. I do hear a lot of names lately, so I might've mistaken you for someone."

"...You probably don't know me. I'm not very popular. I'm just an average recruit, unlike you."

"Is that so?"

I pointed at the seat.

"Is this taken?"

"Ah, no... You can sit."

He reached for his tray and was prepared to stand up when I stopped him.

"There's no need to leave. Keep seated."

I then looked towards the others from my Guild. They were looking at me from a distance as I pointed at the seats near me and spoke, "I've found some good seats. Go and get some food. I'll keep them for now."

The others exchanged looks before obliging.

Seeing them move, I looked back at Cedrick. He looked a little uncomfortable. But that didn't matter to me as I started asking him questions.

"So, Cedrick, are you from here?"

"...Yes. I am. "

"What Guild?"

"Cloud Reverence."

"Oh? That's a King-Grade Guild. You're from a pretty reputable Guild. Not bad. Not bad at all. That means that you were underselling yourself. You're actually pretty good."

"That's... I'm average."

"Humble."

I leaned back in my chair, stretching my back slightly. For some reason, Cedrick's gaze seemed to linger just over my shoulder, and as I tilted my head in confusion, I quickly understood why, my lips twitching faintly.

"I spilled something."

"...Oh."

He didn't seem to believe me.

"I'm telling the truth. Well, it doesn't really matter." I shrugged lightly. "I'm actually curious about something, Cedrick. Since you're from here, you should have a better grasp of what's going on. Can you tell me anything you've found about the disappearances? I already know what's been shared so far, like the age range and zodiac signs. Has anything new come up?"

"Not... much to be honest."

His voice was rather quiet, forcing me to lean forward in order to get a proper listen to it as he continued.

"More people have started to disappear. The pattern is the same, but we've yet to uncover any sort of clue regarding the one responsible for all of this. We believe it to be an anomaly, but there's also a chance that this might be done by humans. Considering the situation in the Western District, it wouldn't be out of the question."

"But if that were the case, why such an age range and zodiac sign? What does the Zodiac sign have anything to do with this?"

"I'm... not particularly sure."

Cedrick scratched the back of his head. Lifting his head, his gaze eventually fell to the right, and when I followed his line of sight, I saw several familiar figures approaching in my direction. There was also Zoey, but the moment that we made eye contact, she turned her head away and moved towards a different area.

'Good. It seems like she's still playing along.'

Soon, Clara and several others took their seats beside me. As they settled in, Cedrick rose to his feet, quietly muttering, "Excuse me," before leaving without another word. I didn't stop him, instead shifting my attention to the tray Clara had brought over.

She had also gotten me one. Very nice of her.

Staring at the dish, I reached for the utensils.

I was rather hungry.

And just as I cut the piece of meat in front of me, Clara's voice reached me.

"Who was that?"

"Oh, him?"

I brought the piece of meat close to my mouth as I paused for a moment.

After which, I smiled.

"A poor soul."

I brought the fork to my mouth.

'A very poor soul.'

***

"Soran, how is your condition?"

The Section Chief approached the Team Leader and took a seat among the ones reserved for Team Leaders and Section Chiefs of the guilds. With her sunglasses still on, the Team Leader's fork paused.

After a while, she answered, "...Well, I'm still managing it."

"But are you?"

"Eh."

The Team Leader scratched the side of her face, then turned toward the Section Chief as she slipped off her sunglasses, revealing what seemed to be dark eyes, though for a brief moment, they flickered white.

"Y-you..."

The sight caught the Section Chief off guard, his expression changing. But right then, Soran placed her sunglasses back on.

"It's nothing terrible. I'm only losing my sight. Nah... not even. I've become more sensitive to light. I've got no choice but to wear these."

"...Is it getting worse?"

"Maybe?"

Soran brought the fork to her mouth, taking a bite as her expression lit up almost immediately. "Wow, holy shit. Have you tried this? It's really good."

Seeing her like this, there were many things the Section Chief wanted to say, but he held himself back, letting out a quiet sigh instead. Although Soran tried to make light of the situation, he understood that things were only getting worse for her.

'I've been managing her schedule carefully, giving her long breaks and assigning lighter tasks in hopes she'd recover, but it doesn't seem to be working. Should I just have her retire...?'

The thought pained the Section Chief's heart.

Especially since he was aware that even if he proposed retirement, Soran wouldn't agree to it. But most importantly, he was saddened by the idea of losing someone as talented as her. Even though she couldn't use her powers, her mind was exceptional.

Even without her powers, she was capable of clearing high-ranking Gates without becoming a liability. With a team and the right equipment, she could handle such operations without issue. If not for the guild's reluctance to take risks, she would have been assigned to far more missions.

'...Honestly, it's such a pity.'

The Section Chief looked away, his gaze eventually falling on a certain table. Or to be precise, two individuals.

Clara and Seth.

The two had become the cream of the crop within the guild. Yet, even as she looked between them, the Section Chief found her gaze drifting back to Soran.

Of the two...

'Perhaps, only Seth comes close to what she was back before her injury.'

Clara's talent was exceptional, but she seemed to have already reached her limit. Seth, on the other hand, was still growing, and with no record of failure, he was on the path to becoming one of the best recruits the world had ever seen.

But there was only one issue.

This path that Seth was taking...

It was the same path the Guild Master had once pushed on Soran.

He was Soran's predecessor.

-x-X-x-

Clink! Clink!

The quiet dinner was broken by the sharp clink of glass, drawing everyone's attention to Velrick as he rose from his seat. When all eyes turned in his direction, he cleared his throat as he finally began speaking.

"I know that everyone is tired after coming here, and I do appreciate all of you for coming, but there are more pressing matters than we need to tend to."

His voice turned more serious as he looked around.

"As we speak, people are disappearing on this island." He cleared his throat, "Everyone has already been filled in on the situation, so I don't have to say much more, but the news has already started to reach the major broadcasting stations. It won't be long until this entire event will be broadcast throughout the world. If something like that were to occur, it would create needless panic. For that reason, we are limited on time."

Velrick placed the glass back down on the table.

"Of course, the BUA can limit or even stop official broadcasts, but they won't be able to prevent influencers and individuals from spreading the news. In fact, trying to stop them might only make things worse."

His expression turned even more somber.

"With all of you having just finished dinner, you can all go back to your rooms and rest for a few hours before going out to investigate the situation. Preferably, I'd like it if you all could start immediately, but I know that you can't force something like that. Time is of the essence. Please ensure the safety of the people of this island."

That was all Velrick said before sitting back down.

Nobody clapped or said anything, a strange silence filling the place. But eventually, several stood up at once before leaving. They were soon followed by others.

I could still feel numerous gazes directed at me, but by now I was already used to them.

To be honest, there were probably some bigshot people present, but I didn't pay much attention to those from the other Guilds.

My interest lay elsewhere as I shifted my attention towards a certain figure in the distance. He appeared busy talking to someone, and before I knew it, I found myself standing up and approaching the two.

"...Your group leader has mentioned to me that you will be meeting in thirty minutes at the main lobby. If you need some time to rest, you should do so. I'm afraid that this is going to be quite the long night for you."

"It's alright. I'm used to such long nights."

"That's the problem. You haven't been getting much rest lately. If you—"

Suddenly, as if finally spotting me, the man's eyes widened as he looked at me. I extended my hand and introduced myself.

"Please to meet you, I'm Seth."

"Seth..? Ah, of course! Of course, I know you! I'm Eugene Kinmen, a Team Leader of the Cloud Reverence Guild."

Recovering from his initial shock, the man glanced at my hand before reaching out to take it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm quite aware that you are. Your performance... honestly, it was enough to give me chills."

"Thank you."

I smiled at the compliment while looking at Cedrick.

Taking note of my gaze, the Team Leader's head tilted curiously.

"Do you need something from Cedrick? Are you two acquainted?"

"Not quite, but I just recently met him. I think the two of us click quite well, and since I need someone who knows the area well, I thought to ask about collaborating with you. Of course, if that is alright with you."

"Alright...?" The Team Leader blinked several times before suddenly bursting into a wide smile.

"Of course it's fine! It's more than fine!"

He brushed his hand against his clothes while repeatedly saying, "Please don't worry. The Team that is going with Cedrick is rather capable. They know the area extremely well, and if our teams work together, we might be able to find something."

"That's great!"

I extended my hand to the Team Leader once more, noticing the subtle shift in his expression as his gaze fell on it. He seemed momentarily confused by the gesture.

I just smiled.

"Happy cooperation."

He looked at me, and then at my hand.

After which, he smiled and reached for it as well.

"Happy cooperation."

During the day, the Western District looked bleak, barely fit for anyone to live in. I thought it couldn't get much worse, but the moment we left, I noticed a clear shift in the surroundings.

The air felt colder, and the moment we stepped beyond the compound, I could feel it.

Eyes.

Hidden within the darkness, watching from every direction.

It was a sensation I had felt before, but never this clearly. This time, I could tell exactly where the gazes were coming from. With the knife in hand, I picked up on every presence around us, people watching from windows, rooftops, and the shadowed corners of buildings.

'They don't seem to be very friendly either.'

I had the sudden urge to wave at everyone who was looking at us, but I held myself back.

Thinking about it, I really needed to curb my impulses. I was really struggling to do that lately.

"...We're almost here."

A voice pulled me from my thoughts, and my gaze shifted to the group ahead. They watched me with clear wariness, Cedrick standing off to the side without saying a word. At the front stood the squad leader, a brown-haired man with deep brown eyes and sharp, well-defined features.

"We're planning to question one of the victims' families to get a better understanding of the situation and hopefully find some leads." As he spoke, his eyes flicked around the area before he hesitated slightly. "...But are you alright on your own? Why did you decide not to go with your group?"

"Oh, that."

I scratched the back of my head.

"Let's just say that I'm enough. They're off to another area."

Indeed, it was just me at the moment.

Me and a completely unknown group and I. Originally, I was supposed to be assigned with Clara and the others, but I found a way to go alone without them. It wasn't that I didn't need them, but I just didn't want them to be here.

"Is that so...?"

The Squad Leader did his best to hide his frown, forcing a polite smile as he led me toward a tall building. Like the others, it was covered in layers of graffiti, with several windows shattered and pieces of glass on the floor.

The moment we stepped inside, a long, narrow corridor stretched out before us. Our footsteps echoed along the walls as we moved forward. We continued in silence, nobody saying a single word, before we eventually stopped in front of a certain room.

The Squad Leader turned to me, and I smiled, stepping forward.

After which, I raised my hand and knocked.

To Tok—!

A tense silence followed the knock, the sound echoing along the narrow corridor as I kept my eyes on the wooden door. After a moment, footsteps approached from the other side, and the door slowly opened, revealing an elderly man standing there.

His eyes seemed unfocused as he opened the door, his gaze shifting between us before settling over to me.

As it did, I introduced myself.

"Hello. I am—"

"Get... out."

My words were abruptly cut off by his hoarse voice. I stopped, looking at him.

But right then, his voice rose.

"Get OUT!"

The sound echoed harshly through the corridor, amplified by the narrow walls. The elderly man's face twisted as he glared at us, his voice rising into a shout.

"I SAID GET OUT! GET OUT! YOU MUST GET OUT!"

His shouts didn't stop, only growing louder as his entire body shook.

The people behind me grew a little restless, with some even prepared to leave, but I stopped them as I smiled at the old man and pressed my hand against his shoulder.

As I did, the old man flinched.

I took that moment to speak.

"Respectfully..."

I patted his shoulder.

"...You're too loud. Other people are sleeping. Have some respect."

I then pushed my way into the room, ignoring the baffled looks that I was receiving from the old man and the others, while I started to scan the place. An old man screaming at me? Been there, done that.

Eventually, I found the sofa and sat down, looking back at the group.

"Come in."

Patting the sofa next to me, I beckoned them in.

"Make yourselves at home."

-x-X-x-

They were looking at me as though I were crazy.

I wasn't crazy. Maybe a little, but not that crazy.

Sighing, I stood up and walked towards the kitchen area. The place was rather small, but it was also well-maintained. Reaching the nearest cupboard, I pulled it open and sifted through its contents.

"...Ah."

My eyes lit up after a moment as I took out the instant coffee and dumped it into one of the cups near the sink.

"I just about needed some coffee."

Fortunately for me, there was also a spoon and hot water, which I poured into the cup before stirring. Leaning against the counter, I looked back at the group who still stood by the entrance, their expressions filled with shock as they looked at me.

Let alone the old man who looked completely white.

I raised the cup.

"Thanks~"

"You! You⎯!"

That was when he finally seemed to find his voice again, his hand rising and falling as he pointed at me, still muttering the same, "You...! You!"

Honestly, I wasn't here for his nonsense.

Taking out my phone, I tapped on a certain recording as a certain tune drifted in the air. In that moment, something in the air seemed to shift as the old man's hand lowered. I could see his face growing slack as I continued to stir the coffee in my hand.

"Your son, when did he disappear?"

"T-two days ago..."

Hearing the reply, I took a sip of the coffee. A bit bitter, but alright.

"How did he disappear? Were there any messages that you heard? Things that he said to you or anything that you found suspicious?"

"...No, there wasn't... there... Ah."

The old man suddenly paused, and I turned my attention towards him. I knew in that moment that I had caught onto something as I lowered the glass in my hand.

"Go on."

The old man's lips opened and closed several times, but under the influence of the tune that drifted in the air, words eventually flowed out of his lips, "...A convention. He was going to a convention. T-that's all I know. That is all... I know."

A convention?

I took another sip of the coffee in my hand while musing over the words. This was certainly something. Although it didn't say much, it was still a lead. And shifting my attention towards the old man and seeing his expression turning pale, I knew that he had reached his limits.

I turned off the recording and downed the remainder of the coffee.

"Ugh... hot."

I put the cup down and walked towards the main door. Walking past the group, I could feel their stares were even more glaring than before. Moving near them, they all stepped to the side, allowing me to leave as I reached for my phone again, messaging my own group to tell them what I had found.

"Hm?"

Coming to a stop, I looked back at the group.

"What are you doing? Why are you all still in the old man's house? We're done here. While I did tell you all to make yourselves at home, there's a limit to how much you can do. Tut."

I shook my head.

"...I'm starting to get mad for the old man."

***

"What the hell... is he?"

Olive muttered, staring at the figure in the distance, the calm echo of his steps bouncing off the walls of the narrow corridor. Even now, he was at a complete loss about what had happened. This was the first time he had ever encountered a situation like this.

Looking around his group, he was also aware that everyone else felt the same way.

'I knew that he wasn't right in the head after what happened in the World Congress, but I thought that he was just like that because of the circumstances. I didn't think it would actually be this exaggerated.'

Oliver was also someone who aspired to become a Ranker.

They were people he looked up to and wanted to be like. He had always felt like this whenever he was graced with the presence of one such figure. But for the first time, he felt something different.

Not in the sense that he didn't want to be like him, but that he just couldn't... be him.

He just seemed...

"How did you manage to catch his interest?"

Oliver's thoughts were broken by a voice, and when he turned his head, his gaze fell on Cedrick, who was quietly staring in Seth's direction. He had been silent the entire time, which was nothing unusual, but when Mil asked him the question, Cedrick answered almost immediately.

"I'm not sure... He was the one who approached me."

"Really?"

"...Yes. But I think it's more to do with the fact that we're familiar with this area."

"That could be."

Oliver agreed, his attention shifting back onto Seth's fading back as he finally started to move alongside the group. In a way, it was kind of obvious. Even though they were all elites belonging to a King-Grade Guild, when compared to a Ranker of his stature and the MVP of the recent World Congress, they weren't quite at the same level.

He operated on an entirely different level, and the recent events made that clear, especially in how easily he was able to uncover such information.

But...

'How did he do it? How was he able to make the old man talk like that?'

The group had been going from house to house, asking questions, but no one gave them any answers. Everywhere they went, they were met with the same scorn, born from the past failure that had led to the Western District's current state.

And since they couldn't force innocent citizens to speak, they could only leave. But within just a few minutes, he was able to find some leads.

This was...

Olive took a deep breath, calming his mind as he texted the Team Leader, sharing the piece of information with him.

'For now, let me just get this piece of news out.'

Once the message was sent, he hurried his steps, following Seth from behind as the group moved towards a different area. There were several other people of interest that they had plans on interrogating.

The old man was just one of such figures, but the group knew that things would only grow progressively harder.

...Or at least, that was what they thought at first.

"So you're saying that your son also went to this convention? And you even overheard him say that it's related to what happened in the Western District in the past?"

"Y-yes..."

"I see."

Oliver and his group stared at the scene before them with numb expressions. They had already witnessed Seth's abilities during their first interaction, but with each encounter that followed, their reactions dulled even further as he methodically questioned every person of interest, uncovering more and more information.

And now—

"Thank you very much. Your information was very useful to us."

Seth retrieved his phone while looking back at the group. As he did, his lips pulled into a gentle smile as he texted his own group.

"Looks like that was the last one we had to interrogate. We can go back to the compound. I'm sure everyone is tired. Great work."

Coming to a stop, he turned his attention in Cedrick's direction before giving him a thumbs up.

"...You were great too. Good job."

-x-X-x-

Everything progressed rather smoothly. To be honest, I could've done everything myself, but the group from the Cloud Reverence Guild knew the area better than I, saving me a lot of time.

'I would've gotten lost quite a lot of times if not for them.'

Well, I did get everything that I needed to get.

I returned to the main compound right after that. The place looked rather busy, with the other teams also returning. I paid them no mind and walked towards my own team while waving goodbye to those from the Cloud Reverence Guild.

"...It was a nice cooperation. I hope to work with you again."

They all waved back, but judging from their expressions, they didn't seem to be too keen.

I wonder why.

'Hmm. They should be over here.'

I looked around, taking out my phone before finally seeing a certain message in the Guild group chat.

'Right, there was such a thing.'

@SethThorne We're all on the second floor. However, you should go to the third floor. Room 3007.

"Oh."

Putting the phone away, I headed to the third floor just like I had been told.

Looking around and staring at the room numbers, I eventually found the right door. As I was just about to reach for the door, it opened on its own, and a familiar figure walked out. The moment our eyes met, her face froze up for a second before she frowned at me, her eyes cold.

I didn't say anything and just stared at her as she walked past before I shifted my attention back to the room.

'It shouldn't be too long until the situation is resolved.'

Oh, right...

There was also Kyle.

Since our relationship had now been more or less resolved, I also planned on having him make a 'comeback' soon enough.

That being said, there were more pressing matters as I walked into the room, where I was greeted by the Team Leader sitting near the window with her legs crossed, brushing her short black hair.

As if sensing my presence, she turned to face my direction.

"Hmm, you're finally here."

She looked a little different than usual. Staring at her, I noticed an unusual seriousness in her. Or at least, until I noticed the sunglasses on her face.

Why was she still...

'No, never mind.'

I looked around and found a place for me to sit.

"You called for me, Team Leader?"

"Yes, I have."

Soran nodded softly while interlocking her hands together. I already thought this before, but she really did feel weird acting this way.

"I've received all of your messages regarding the situation. You did a good job. The Section Chief is currently handling other matters, so I'll be the one in charge of most of this investigation."

"...I see."

This wasn't surprising to me.

The Section Chief was mainly here to handle the 'political' aspects of this entire operation. There were still a lot of things that I wasn't quite aware of as a mere recruit.

"Since I'm in charge of the operation, I need to ensure things go smoothly. From the reports I've received from you, it's starting to become clear that this might not be anomaly-related."

"I'm also of the same opinion."

This wasn't hard to infer. I also came to this conclusion after listening to everything that was being said by those whom I had interrogated.

Soran leaned back while massaging her chin.

"A cult? It could be..." she muttered, her finger tapping against the side of the chair, "but there's a good chance this might have been done by a single individual. Taking into account what we know about their targets having the same zodiac sign and age, we can assume, to some extent, that they might be some sort of sacrifice for a ritual of sorts."

Her words were reasonable.

"But... this is merely just an assumption. There's still not enough information. At least for now, we'll go with the assumption that this is some sort of 'man-made' situation."

"I understand."

I pressed my hands down, prepared to stand up, thinking that the conversation was over, but just as I stood up, the Team Leader's voice echoed again.

"How is the Guild Master treating you?"

"Hm? Guild Master?"

I paused for a moment while looking back at the Team Leader. Why was she...? But looking at the Team Leader, I saw nothing as she stared back at me. Her expression appeared completely blank to me.

Seeing her like that, I eventually answered.

"He's treating me fine."

"That's good."

I was still confused by her words, but decided not to ask further. Her current expression was making it hard for me to do so.

And thinking about the Guild Master, he was actually treating me quite well. Despite all my grievances against him, he had actually operated in my best interests until this point. From the incident with the rat, Malovia, and several other matters.

If I had to describe the Guild Master's actions up to this point, I'd say they were 'fair'.

He was rather 'fair'.

"I won't say much more since you're sharp. However..." The Team Leader paused, her eyes scanning me from top to bottom. Feeling her gaze, I grew a little uncomfortable as she continued, "...Don't push yourself too much. While you might not think the Guild Master's expectations are weighing on your mind, subconsciously, they might be. Being perfect, never failing, and everything that comes with it does end up weighing on you, even if you don't realize it. Sometimes it's good to take a pause and relax."

Take a pause and relax? Still staring at the Team Leader, I inwardly shook my head. If only my issue had anything to do with the Guild Master. His expectations... the idea of never failing, it never crossed my mind.

Not because I was afraid of failure, but because I couldn't fail.

I also couldn't rest.

I was at a point where just one wrong step would mean the end of my life. And with the fact that there was hardly anyone in this world that I could rely on, the things that were weighing down on my mind were completely different.

"You should drink, you know."

Hearing the Team Leader's words, I was stunned to see her holding onto a bottle of whisky as she removed the lid and poured herself a cup. Looking at her, I was at a loss.

When did she...?

"Maybe you've got other problems weighing on your mind. To be honest, I'm not sure if you see it, but to me, it looks like something is weighing on you. Sometimes, it's good to just let yourself go. Let your mind have the rest that it deserves."

Soran suddenly extended the cup in my direction, beckoning me to take it.

I quietly stared at the drink before shaking my head. I wasn't really in the mood to drink.

But the moment I opened my mouth, Soran spoke over me.

"Have a sip. There are a few things that I need to ask of you."

Still staring at her, I eventually relented. There was still some time, and just one drink wouldn't hurt.

I came to regret this decision rather quickly.

Turns out, the drink was a lot more powerful than I expected. Like a lot more powerful. So much that I blacked out almost immediately after. By the time I recovered, all I was greeted with was the sight of a white ceiling, alongside a terrible headache.

"....."

In the silence, I blinked several times.

Then, slowly turning my head, I stared at the foot that was resting next to my head.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment until I opened them again and looked down.

"Hmm... where do you think you're touching...? Hmm..."

Something snuggled against my foot.

"....."

I closed my eyes once more and covered my face with both hands, feeling the start of my hangover.

"...Not again."

-x-X-x-

"Ugh."

I held my head. My head was particularly painful today. Especially when I turned to look at the foot that was resting close to my face, alongside the murmurs that I was hearing from beneath me.

"...Don't... touch me."

"How did this happen again...?"

My hands slid down my face as I blankly stared at the ceiling above me.

Honestly, I was at a total loss.

All I remembered doing was taking one sip. Just one sip.

"Did I black out from one sip?"

"Hm... you're tickling me."

"Just how powerful was that whisky?"

I tapped the bed a couple of times before leaning over and spotting the bottle. I first reached out for it with my hand, stretching my arm a couple of times before giving up. After which, I looked back at Soran to make sure that she was still sleeping before a dark thread shot out and pulled the bottle my way.

"Alright, let's see."

I turned the bottle around. But the moment I did, my expression froze as the label appeared before my eyes.

[Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled Whisky, 92%]

"....Ah, I see."

I smiled while putting the bottle back down. After which, I sat up while scratching my back. As I did, the Team Leader's murmurs continued to echo in the air as I looked around and picked up one of the pillows.

I tapped on it twice before nodding.

"Yeah, this should do."

The next set of actions was calculated. Walking towards the Team Leader, I pressed the pillow right onto her face as I pushed down.

"Hmm—!"

Her body went rigid in an instant.

I continued to press down, muttering softly, "Shh. It's okay. It's just me."

"Hmm! Hmmmm—!"

Her hands flailed, and her body squirmed. I continued to press down, my eyes closing as her hands reached for my forearm, her nails digging into it.

Honestly, she was a lot stronger than I anticipated.

It caught me off-guard, and that moment was enough for her to find her voice as she screamed.

"H-help...! Hmmm! Murder...! I'm being... m-hmmm-urdered!"

I tried to mitigate the damage, but her screams were loud. I knew in that moment that I didn't have much time as I applied even more pressure, trying to secure the kill quickly, but this woman was a lot more agile than I expected as she twisted her body on the bed, freeing herself from the pillow before she glared at me.

"Y-you...!"

Her hair was a mess, with saliva still leaking down her chin.

We made eye contact for a brief moment before she reached for the saliva and wiped it away.

"I see."

Her chest slowly started to steady as she recovered her breath.

"...Looks like we're having a domestic dispute."

"No, we're not."

"But we're a couple. We even slept together."

My face hardened.

"Not only that, but you were on top of me."

It hardened further.

"I felt your thick—"

"You—"

"—arms."

I tossed the pillow aside and turned to face the door. The more I stayed here, the more my head hurt. Honestly, this was rare. Very rare. There weren't many people who could make me like this. For some reason, Soran really knew how to push my own buttons.

Not even the Conductor would give me such headaches.

'No, it's fair to say that nothing comes close.'

Bringing my hand to my face, I reached the door and placed my hand over the handle. However, right as I did, my face changed as I heard the sound of numerous footsteps rushing in our direction.

Oh, no.

I looked back at the Team Leader, who also seemed to have heard the steps as her face changed. Quickly, she moved down the bed and moved next to me, and not even a second later, a knock was heard.

"Hey? Is everything alright? I heard something."

"I'm good."

The Team Leader answered while clearing her throat.

"...I drank a bit, so..."

"....."

The silence that followed was enough to make me sigh in relief.

'Looks like they bought it.'

Yeah, it was hard not to. Especially because the Team Leader was. I relaxed from this point, only for my breath to leave my body the next moment as the Team Leader opened the door, revealing several faces whose eyes widened at the sight of me.

"Well, off you go."

She patted me on the shoulder while the numerous stone gazes were fixed on me.

My lips parted, but no words came out as the Team Leader's hand traced down my back.

"You've still got a lot of work to do. So, shoo. Shoo. "

At the same time, she looked at those who were staring at her while raising her brow.

"What?"

She tilted her head.

"What's wrong with your expressions? We're married."

We're not.

I looked at her, and she stopped. In the end, with a disappointed face, she lowered her head and sighed.

"Alright, I proposed to him, but he's yet to reply. The same thing, though."

I opened my mouth, thinking of replying to her, but to be honest, my head was still hurting from last night, so I just gave up. I wanted to rebuke and do something, but my mind was simply not there as I pushed my way out of the stony faces that were looking at me and headed for my own room.

'What am I even doing? There's still a bit that I need to do.'

The group remained standing at the front door for at least a minute. From the way they were acting, it was almost as if they were completely frozen in time. The Team Leader whipped out her phone and took several photos while mumbling, "He may be a little bit rough around the edges, but with some nice cleanup, he'll look handsome. That's who my man is."

Click! Click!

She continued to take photos until the group finally snapped out of it.

Only then did they leave, with just one person staying behind.

He stood by the door while the Team Leader lowered her phone.

"Hm? Section Chief? Why are you still here? Are you here to deny our vows? If so—"

"How is he...?"

The Team Leader stopped, her expression turning more serious. She subtly looked to her left and right, making sure there was no one present before replying.

"Honestly, I'm not sure."

Her brows furrowed.

"He seems okay on the outside, but it's clear that he's not quite right in the head."

"You think so as well?"

"Mhm."

The Team Leader nodded.

"Yeah, he's definitely not okay. He's certainly become a lot more confident, but at the same time, it seems like he's losing his sanity in the process. If things keep going this way, then..." She stopped at the moment, her brows furrowing further. However, she didn't need to elaborate further as the Section Chief understood instantly.

Looking at the Team Leader, his expression turned grim.

"...I understand. I'll try to work something out."

"Do so."

The Team Leader replied while putting her phone back in her pocket.

As she did, she turned her back as her voice lowered.

"I wouldn't want the past to repeat itself."

Clank—

The door closed right after that, leaving the Section Chief to stand in the silence as the Team Leader's voice echoed inside his mind, over and over again. In the end, he turned away as his lips pursed together.

"Me too."

-x-X-x-

There wasn't much of a difference between today and the previous day. Besides the sense of urgency that lingered in the air, everything was pretty much the same. Everyone moved out in order to figure out some information about the situation.

Given that I had interrogated everyone of interest, there was no need for them to interrogate anyone else. They simply tried to look for more clues regarding the 'convention'.

I checked the time.

Tik. Tik—!

It was [12:08 P.M]

"What do you think...?"

I looked at the tall and lanky figure that stood before me. At the same time I did, I retrieved the compass.

It pointed towards a certain direction.

"I've got an idea of where to go. Should I go...? From the looks of things, this seems to be something done by some sort of low-tiered cultist. I should be able to handle this entire situation by myself. Since the compass can direct me to the right location, I think that I can just go there and take care of everyone."

"...And how are you certain that the compass isn't going to fail you?"

"Because I also can sense that something is happening in the direction it's pointing at. From the way I see things, the 'convention' is somewhere around the shard."

The shard was one of the more 'significant' buildings that had once belonged to this place.

'Now that I think about it, there was one in London too, back in my old world. But none of the architecture here looks British. Maybe they've reconstructed everything from scratch.'

Not that it mattered anymore.

"I'm thinking of going right now and ambushing the cultist. With your aid, I should be able to take care of the situation quickly."

"...."

The Conductor remained silent whilst listening to my words. It just stared at me in amusement, its lips pulling further and further the more I spoke, until eventually, the strings snapped as his mouth shaped into a large smile.

I grew curious while staring at him.

"Do you sew your strings back on yourself while I'm not watching, or—"

"You should wait."

The Conductor's voice made me pause as I frowned.

"Wait? What do you mean, wait?"

"I mean what I mean. You should wait."

"Why?"

"Because the cultist or organization is preparing something. Wouldn't you want to see what they're preparing?"

"Ah...?"

"It could be related to whatever you're looking for. I'm also of the opinion that there's a good chance that you might be able to figure something out if you wait."

"But that would make things more dangerous for me."

"And...?"

The Conductor tilted its head.

"What if things become harder? Isn't it more enjoyable that way?"

Is it...?

I thought for a moment before eventually smiling.

"Well, I guess you have a point."

I checked my watch again.

Tik. Tik—!

It was [12:11 P.M]

My smile faded.

"...Fun. It's going to be very fun."

***

Cedrick spent the entire day with his group, going around the Western District and checking out different areas while asking around about a certain 'convention'. This time, they went by themselves, without a certain someone.

The group felt like they could finally breathe again.

"Honestly, yesterday... was a lot to take. It feels much better to do things like this. It almost felt as though I was walking on thin ice."

Someone in the group suddenly said as Olive stopped and looked back.

He scratched the side of his cheek.

"You're not wrong. But it wasn't really because I felt pressured or anything like that, but mainly because it felt like we weren't really needed. He did everything while we just watched, guiding him around. I... didn't really like that."

In a way, Oliver had his own pride. They were all elite members of one of the best guilds on the island. A King-Grade Guild. Even though none of them were rankers, they still had their own pride. For them to literally do nothing and act as guides...

"...But I can't help but admit that he was really skilled."

Olive sighed while looking at the familiar compound in the distance. Wiping some of the sweat that had accumulated on his forehead, he walked towards the compound with the group.

"Today, we spent the entire day trying to learn any clue regarding this strange 'convention,' but we've yet to find anything noteworthy. Honestly, it kind of felt like we've wasted our entire day, and it just made me think..." Oliver paused while adding, "had he been with us like before, would we have found out?"

His words were met with silence as none of them replied.

In a way, the silence was like a sort of affirmation. Nobody said a thing, but they all felt the same way.

Cedrick was no different as he followed the group in silence. But as he walked, he couldn't help but stop as his eyes squinted and he turned to face a certain direction, feeling something like a 'gaze' directed his way.

His eyes focused on a certain building. Towards a particular window, its surface cracked.

Cedrick's gaze lingered in that direction, but with the sun slowly starting to fade, it became hard for him to get a proper look.

He only stopped as the Squad Leader's voice echoed.

"We're here. Let's all get some rest. We've spent the entire day out. Get some dinner and sleep early. I'll talk with the Team Leader about the situation and what we've found."

"Roger."

"...Alright."

The group separated, everyone moving back into the compound.

Cedrick was the last to enter, his head turning once more toward the building, only leaving when he still saw nothing. He went in silence back to his own room, a small one-bedroom apartment. The place wasn't anything fancy, but the moment he entered, he couldn't help but pause.

A cold wind crept into the room, raising a faint chill along his skin as he stared at the billowing curtains, the window left wide open. By now, the sun had fully set, and an unnatural darkness lingered beyond the curtains as Cedrick stood by the door.

'I don't remember leaving the window open. Room cleaning...?'

Cedrick approached the window and closed it. He turned back a moment later, expecting to head to bed, but just as he was about to move, he stopped, his head snapping back.

"....."

He was greeted by the sight of a wall.

His brows furrowed.

"What's going on with me? Am I tired?"

"Nope."

A voice brushed against his ear a moment later, his brows jolting upward as he turned sharply, but it was already too late. The room seemed to swallow itself in darkness, and his body crumpled onto the floor.

Thump!

"Haa. Haa."

The uneven, unsteady sound of breathing.

Each breath felt heavier than the last, the air feeling extremely dry.

A heavy sense of suffocation spread through the air.

The more he breathed, the heavier the feeling grew.

And soon—

"Huaa!"

His eyes snapped open, the darkness receding as he was met by the dim glow of candles, a faint orange light spreading in all directions as Cedrick slowly raised his head to look around. He appeared to be in some kind of room, candles set all around him, with a strange symbol engraved into the floor.

"W-where..."

Step. Step—!

The uneven sound of steps followed, Cedrick's gaze turning as the wooden door in the distance opened, and a figure entered.

The moment the figure entered, Cedrick held his breath.

"...Not quite ready, but I guess it'll do. Since he's coming tomorrow, I've got to do my best to present him with the best of greetings."

Suddenly pausing, the figure paused as Cedrick's eyes widened.

"W-what... H-how..? How could it be you...?"

Cedrick's face changed several times as he stared at the figure ahead, his lips opening and closing repeatedly as he stared at the familiar face that stood before him.

"H-how is this...?"

"I expected to have a little more time, but this is good enough. I did create this entire situation for him, so I guess it's fine if I hurry things a little bit. It won't make much of a difference to me."

The voice whispered in the room, completely ignoring Cedrick as the figure mumbled to himself.

Cedrick softly groaned as he tried to move, but when he tried, he was horrified to see that his entire body was chained up from all directions, preventing him from moving at all. He struggled with all his might, but the chains kept him in place.

"Ugh...! Ukh!"

RATTLE!

"What are you doing!? Let me go! Why...!? Why are you doing this, Team Leader!"

Cedrick's shouts reverberated across the small room, prompting the figure to stop, silence sweeping the surroundings as the figure slowly turned back, revealing a face he was all too familiar with, and Cedrick's throat tightened as the words remained stuck.

His lips parted, but no words came out as the Team Leader turned his head. His expression twisted a little as he muttered, "He called me a low-tiered cultist, can you believe that, Cedrick?"

There was a bit of anger in his tone as he looked at Cedrick.

"Him of all people... Haha."

He even laughed, but the laugh sent chills down Cedrick's entire body as the Team Leader's voice quietly carried throughout the entire room.

"...This was always supposed to happen, but I planned on giving you at least a couple of days. Just a couple of days for you to enjoy what little life you had left."

As his lips cracked into a smile, the Team Leader stepped forward under the dim lighting, exposing his pale face as he lowered himself to stand face-to-face with Cedrick, who was still struggling to speak, his entire expression filled with nothing but shock.

"You see, there's someone that I need to get rid of. I used to be a big fan of them, but I've been rather disappointed with them. I'm a rather disgruntled fan, and so I did a few things here and there in order to create a situation where he'd come to me."

The Team Leader suddenly laughed while staring at Cedrick's expression.

"...One of the few things that you learn while developing games is that you always want the 'character' to move in the way that you want, rather than having the pieces move in accordance with what the character is doing. Only by stripping away their control can you truly create an element of tension and fear in a game."

The Team Leader pulled away from Cedrick while looking around the room. As he did, he checked his watch to determine the time.

"Of course, there's that, but there's also the more complicated matter of setting up the 'stage' for the character to enter. In my case, it's exactly what I'm doing. I'm creating the perfect stage to take him down. That... however, isn't quite the easiest of things, and it requires sacrifices."

All of a sudden, the Team Leader's attention fixed on Cedrick. His lips turned further up.

"Do you know how anomalies are created?"

The Team Leader moved further to Cedrick, whose breath started to turn heavier by the second. His eyes shook, but no words came out of his mouth. It was almost as if something or someone had stripped him completely of his voice as the Team Leader pressed his finger against Cedrick's temple.

"There are many ways they are created, but I can assure you of one thing..." The Team Leader suddenly chuckled, "...Humans are partially responsible for the creation of a lot of them. In my case, I can create anomalies without the need for sacrifices, but it's not cheap. It's much cheaper for me to do it this way. After all, all it takes is just a few sacrifices for me to do so."

Rattle! Rattle!

Cedrick's entire body trembled as he struggled to free himself from the grasp of the situation, but it was his struggle that made the Team Leader shake his head.

"There's no point in struggling. Any minute now, and you'll turn just like the others that I've taken. If you⎯"

All of a sudden, the Team Leader's words came to a sudden stop as his brows furrowed tightly and he turned to face the door. Though subtle, he heard something. 'Thump,' He heard it again. His expression changed subtly as he walked towards the door, his ears straining as he tried to keep listening.

And soon⎯

Thump!

The sound drew closer.

Hearing the sound, the Team Leader's expression turned even more serious. As things stood, he wasn't aware of what was happening. But it seemed to sound like a step. A heavy one. Did something go wrong with one of the anomalies? As his thoughts wandered in such a direction, his expression suddenly changed as he heard a loud rattling coming from behind him.

Rattle! Rattle! Rattle!

As the Team Leader's face flicked back, his eyes widened as he stared in Cedrick's direction, whose face had turned completely white, and his hands reached down to grasp his throat as his entire body started to spasm.

"What's going on?"

Having dealt with a lot of unusual situations, the Team Leader remained rather calm. However, despite this, he wasn't able to hide the trace of unease that carried through his brows as he stared in Cedrick's direction.

Rattle! Rattle!

Cedrick's body continued to twist, his face turning paler and paler by the second. The veins around his neck started to bulge, and blood started to leak down from his nostrils as his bloodshot eyes focused in the Team Leader's direction.

"H-help! H-help...!"

His muted, almost helpless cries reverberated across the surroundings as he reached for the Team Leader. However, the Team Leader remained where he was, his gaze looking down on the symbol written on the floor, trying to determine where he had gone wrong.

'Did I write it wrong? Is this what's going on? I need to stop him.'

Cedrick was rather important. While he had already done a lot of preparations, there were a lot of things that he needed to do in order to make sure that everything went smoothly. His original plan was to turn Cedrick into an anomaly that would fit his perfect gate.

His masterpiece.

For he wanted to create a Gate that was unlike the one that had taken over the Western District. He wanted to outdo himself, and Cedrick was important for that.

But...

"Ukh! Ukh...!"

Cedrick continued to groan, his face paling further as it turned completely red. The veins grew even more pronounced, and his expression changed drastically as it did.

The Team Leader realized very quickly that the situation had turned for the worse, and he opened his lips and approached Cedrick; it happened.

BANG!

Cedrick's head exploded, and blood spilled in all directions.

"!!"

The scene caused the Team Leader to freeze on the spot, his entire face blanking as he struggled to grasp the situation.

"....."

The silence carried for what felt like several minutes, until the soft yet muted 'thumping' sound returned, and he stared at Cedrick's headless body in front of him.

His brows furrowed tightly as he stared at it.

And this was also the moment when he felt it.

The crawling unease.

-x-X-x-

"How could this have happened?"

The Team Leader crouched down, ripples spreading as his steps disturbed the blood pooled on the ground. His gaze moved across the symbols etched into the surface, studying them in silence. By all accounts, it should have been perfect, yet something about it felt off.

But where was the issue?

The Team Leader's frown deepened, his finger tracing along the floor as the candles around him flickered, their dim light wavering. There was a noticeable shift in the room, the air turning heavier.

The Team Leader's brows furrowed even deeper as he noticed it.

"Something isn't making sense."

Extending his hand, he noticed the temperature had dropped several degrees. Though he kept his composure, a faint unease lingered as he scanned the room, his gaze eventually returning to the old wooden door.

His thoughts drifted back to the moments just before what had happened to Cedrick.

He heard the low tumping sound. Could it have been related?

The Team Leader's steps quietly moved in the direction of the door as a certain thought crossed his mind, "Is it him...?"

His thoughts drifted there before he pursed his lips.

"It shouldn't be possible. From what I managed to see in the conversation with that anomaly, he shouldn't be here until tomorrow. That compass of his... it pointed the right way. Did he change his mind?"

The Team Leader couldn't dismiss the possibility. It was plausible, and his expression grew more serious for a moment before his usual calm quickly returned.

"Even if he's here early, I've done enough to ensure that he won't be able to get out of this alive. By then, I'll be able to take the Lesser Key from him."

Closing his eyes, the Team Leader lowered his gaze to the ground. He stared at the pooling blood, then down at his clothes, where a few dark stains had spread. His eye twitched slightly, and his hand rose toward his neck, stopping just short as he forced himself to still.

Taking a deep breath, he reached for the old, rusted handle and pulled the door open. A long, narrow corridor stretched out in both directions, the flickering lights above barely illuminating the space. Doors lined the walls on either side, their worn surfaces fading into the dimness.

Stepping out of the room, the Team Leader paused, his gaze sweeping both sides of the corridor as his eyes narrowed.

'If there really was something, I should've felt it by now. However, it doesn't seem like there's anyone here besides me.'

Reaching into his pocket, the Team Leader retrieved a small pocket watch. A slow, steady ticking filled the corridor as he closed his hand around it, the sound echoing softly in the surroundings.

Tick! Tick—!

The longer he held the pocket watch, the faster the ticking became. Before long, it was the only sound he could hear, drowning out everything else. It continued like that for several minutes before it abruptly stopped.

When it did, the Team Leader slowly opened his hand, his gaze falling to the pocket watch as he checked where it was pointing.

But—

"Nothing...?"

Both hands had come to a complete stop at 0:00 a.m.

There was no one else nearby.

Having spent a considerable amount of SP over time and used it on numerous occasions, the Team Leader was fairly certain there were no other humans nearby. Even so, he didn't fully trust the result. Every item came with its own limitations and side effects, and none of them were ever completely reliable.

"I'm sure I didn't imagine the sounds. Is it possible that it came from a distance? Could the other Guilds have made it here? Did they figure out that I've taken Cedrick and tracked me here?"

His brows furrowed tightly.

The silence around him felt loud.

"...Given how I was the one responsible for this operation, unless it's the Guild Master of the Reverence Cloud Guild, I should be the only one who knows about Cedrick's date of birth and Zodiac sign. No... There's also the BUA agent, but I've taken measures against that. Could it be that this was a trap from the start?"

The Team Leader reached into his pocket and tossed a small orb into the air. It lit up as it hovered, its surface shifting until it displayed the image of a compound. Watching it for a moment, he nodded faintly.

"Yeah, everyone is still there."

He reached out and caught the orb, the image fading the moment his fingers closed around it. It wasn't Seth, nor was it anyone from the guilds.

Then what was the problem?

Putting the orb away, the Team Leader stepped toward a nearby room and pushed the door open. The moment it creaked ajar, a familiar scene greeted him. A thick, metallic scent of blood filled the air, strong enough to make most recoil. Inside, a figure lay in the center of the room, their body twitching and heaving, breath ragged as blood spread across the floor in all directions.

The candles flickered wildly, casting shifting shadows across the entire room.

Loud cracking sounds reverberated through the room as his body twisted unnaturally, bones snapping and shifting beneath the skin. His frame contorted again and again, the sight grotesque enough to turn anyone's stomach.

There were no screams. As the Team Leader's gaze swept across the room, the violent spasms ceased all at once.

"—!"

The Team Leader's brows furrowed, a sense of unease settling in as he stared at the creature before him. The silence pressed in from all sides. Enough to feel suffocating as he took a single step forward, the sound echoed through the room as the candles stopped flickering, settling into a calm and steady dimness.

All of a sudden, the air turned colder, and the creature twitched.

Twitch. Twitch.

Not once, but twice, the Team Leader stopped. A deep sense of suffocation swallowed the room as the candles flickered weakly before going out entirely, plunging everything into complete darkness.

But through the silence, he could still hear it.

Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.

The steady, repetitive twitching came from the figure before him. It grew faster, more frantic, until it blended with the sharp clanking of chains. The sound rang through the room, loud and incredibly jarring, filling every corner as the Team Leader stood perfectly still.

CLANK! CLANK—!

The rattling continued, growing stronger with each passing moment.

The Team Leader felt the strain in the chair as a low, muffled cracking sound echoed through the room. By now, it was clear something had gone terribly wrong. He took a step back, but the moment he did, a sharp, shattering sound rang out as something hard struck his foot before rolling across the floor.

"——!"

Consequently, the room fell into complete silence, a heavy sense of oppression settling into the darkness. In that stillness, the Team Leader caught it... a faint, unmistakable breath that wasn't his own, marking the presence of something else in the room.

Remaining calm, he stepped backward, his hand lowering to grasp a small piece of paper before flicking it forward. The moment it left his fingers, the surrounding darkness began to recede, and a single outline emerged within his vision.

It stood only a short distance away, facing him directly. The sound of its breathing grew louder in the darkness, its focus entirely on him.

The Team Leader's expression faltered at the sight, his heart sinking as a sharp cracking sound echoed through the room. The figure twisted abruptly, its head snapping back as its arms and limbs jerked upward at unnatural angles.

Cra Crack! Cra Crack!

And then... It lunged toward him, closing the distance in an instant.

-x-X-x-

Everything happened in an instant. From the first crack to the creature's sudden shift, the Team Leader knew something had gone wrong. Even so, his response was quick and controlled.

With his attention fixed on the creature before him, he took several steps back before reaching out with his hand. At the same time, his node activated.

The moment it activated, his vision sharpened, his eyes growing more sensitive as he tracked every movement and began predicting the creature's path.

'Locked.'

The moment he locked onto its movement, he reached out to grab it. But just as his hand came down, its body cracked sharply, limbs twisting at unnatural angles as it slipped past him to the left.

"Ah?"

The Team Leader's brows lifted as he focused on the creature before him, its body cracking again before it lunged toward the nearby wall and began crawling along it. The Team Leader continued to track the creature, making sure to keep it within its sights.

This was strange...

'What exactly happened? This isn't like anything that was supposed to come. In fact, what even is this anomaly?'

He was quite well aware of the anomalies that were being created, and this one was a lot different compared to the ones that he had initially planned on creating. In fact, it was so different that it left him completely stunned. To make matters even more confusing, the creature didn't attack him, moving around him and observing him wearily.

"Is it scared of me...? What's going on here?"

The Team Leader didn't give chase, but he found himself confused by the entire situation. From the Cedrick situation, this situation... things were progressing in such a way that they were completely different from his original plans.

Scratch. Scratch.

Before he knew it, the Team Leader found himself scratching the side of his neck.

"I don't like this. I don't like this."

In a way, it felt as though control was slipping from his grasp. He hated that. As a Game Operator, losing control was the last thing he could allow. Even as unease crept into his mind, he forced himself to stay composed.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small mouse toy with a metal cork at its back. Gripping it, he twisted the cork a few times before tossing the mouse onto the floor. Its eyes flickered to life, glowing red, and in the next instant, it shot forward.

The Team Leader moved after the mouse as it darted ahead, his gaze sweeping the surroundings carefully.

He took in every detail around him, ensuring nothing went unnoticed.

With everything starting to slip beyond his control, he knew something was wrong. But... he couldn't quite grasp what it was.

As he moved around the corridors, the lights above seemed even dimmer than before. That alone felt off. His gaze moved around the area before settling on the nearby rooms.

The silence around him seemed to stretch, until...

Thump! Thump!

He heard it.

A series of dull thumping sounds came from within each room. At first, they were muffled, barely audible, but with each passing moment, they grew louder and more distinct.

'Is it a similar situation to before? The anomalies are escaping?'

Without hesitation, the Team Leader moved toward the nearest room. He stopped by the wall, pressing his back against it as the low hum of the surroundings settled in.

Thump. Thump.

The sound broke through the silence, growing louder with each passing second.

Reaching for his pocket, he retrieved a dark leather glove and put it on his hand.

'Had I known that something would've gone wrong, I would've prepared myself better, but this will do for now.'

THUMP! THUMP!

The thumping grew louder; it was almost upon him as the Team Leader remained where he was, his eyes closed as he quietly waited.

THUMP!

He waited.

And waited...

And—

CLANK!

The door shattered at once, the Team Leader moving at once, his hand reaching for the approaching anomaly. At the same time, his node churned violently as he prepared to gain momentary control of the anomaly.

But the moment he moved—

"——!?"

He was surprised to find himself completely alone. The room beyond was empty, the candles snuffed out, leaving behind a heavy, metallic scent in the air. The scent lingered as smoke began to billow from the room, drifting slowly into the corridor. It curled through the air in thin, delicate strands, tracing faint patterns as it spread.

Scratch! Scratch! Scratch!

By now, the Team Leader couldn't hold himself back any longer, his hand rising to scratch at the side of his neck.

"Just what in the world is going on? Who is interfering with me? Did I mess up somewhere? How is this possible? This shouldn't be... It shouldn't be."

Biting his nails, he scanned the surroundings for any trace of anything.

Suddenly, a thought emerged.

Could it be them...?

Scratch! Scratch!

His face visibly paled.

'No, but it shouldn't be possible! They should hardly know about me! Is it because I've made a move against him...? Is this why they've suddenly started to target me?'

"No, no, no."

Lowering his hand, the Team Leader looked around.

His eyes traced the surrounding rooms as he began to hear quiet yet ever-present muffled thumps, each one echoing in rhythm with his own heartbeat. Given the situation, there was only one thought left in his mind.

'I need to leave this place. If it's 'them', then I need to leave this instant!'

Without a second thought, he picked up his pace. His gut churned as he moved, his eyes darting across his surroundings, searching for any sign of an anomaly.

So long as he could touch them...

"Damn it."

But the place seemed completely deserted. To make matters worse, as he ran through the corridor, he quickly realized he wasn't going anywhere. Through the darkened hall, he kept running and running, until it dawned on him that he was just moving in circles.

Scratch! Scratch! Scratch!

He looked around frantically, his composure beginning to slip. He could feel control slipping away as sweat ran down the side of his face. He hadn't faced anything yet, and still... it felt as though an invisible hand was reaching for him, ready to grasp him at any moment.

His breathing grew heavier, his face paling further as the muffled thumps from the rooms behind him swelled louder and closer.

THUMP! THUMP!

In a way, it almost felt as though they were teasing him.

For—

BANG!

The moment one door burst open, nothing came out. Instead, he was met with an empty room, the candles placed around long snuffed out as the stale scent of smoke hung heavy in the air.

'Nothing again. There's absolutely nothing.'

Adjusting his glove, the Team Leader continued to scan the room from top to bottom, checking if there was truly nothing inside. The less he found, the heavier his breathing became as he swallowed quietly before turning away.

That was also the moment he heard it.

"....?"

A soft, almost melodious tune drifted through the air. One seemingly belonging to a violin, yet pitched unnaturally high, the notes thin as they pierced through the air and made his mind drift.

The Team Leader stopped dead in his tracks, his expression shifting subtly as something tingled in his chest.

His sense of unease grew even more.

-x-X-x-

The music continued to drift through the air, its soft tune threading through the surroundings in a way that felt almost hypnotic. It wasn't loud or overwhelming, yet it clung to everything. The moment the Team Leader heard it, he felt his mind begin to ease.

However, his expression was quick to change as he snapped out of it, taking a step back.

'This is...?'

He was quite sensitive to this stuff, so he understood instantly that something was trying to mess with his mind. Something of the [Sonorous Decree]. Listening to the soft tune that drifted in the air, he was reminded of something.

'...Him?'

The Team Leader covered his lips, his thoughts drifting to the infamous Ranked Gate incident that had happened back in Malovia. Listening to the tune, his lips pursed tightly as he tried to put the pieces together.

In this situation...?

"It has to be him. Is this all because of him?"

But how was this possible?

He shouldn't have been aware of what he was planning or his identity. Furthermore, he had orchestrated the entire situation so that Seth would go to him. No matter how he thought about it... It shouldn't be possible.

'In that case, am I being misled on purpose?'

Scratch! Scratch!

The Team Leader began to scratch the side of his neck again, his face growing more and more irritable as his breathing became even rougher. The more he felt his control slip, the more he struggled to contain himself.

'Let's be calm. Remain calm.'

His mind acted one way, but his body acted in another. His body started to move on its own, each step bouncing off the surroundings as he started to move towards the source of the sound. Initially, he fought against the feeling. However, he soon realized something.

'...By following the music, I'm actually starting to find the right path.'