Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary!

Chapter 496: Guild Dinner [5]

Smack!

I could practically hear it.

The sound of everyone from the main Guild smacking their forehead as Team Leader Soran stood on top of a desk, holding onto a bottle of alcohol that looked like whiskey while waving it in the air and shouting.

”Stupid...! I say... stupid... hic! How could you disrespect your mother like this!”

There was no doubt about it.

She was drunk beyond any measure.

BANG!

She tossed the bottle to the ground, where it shattered into hundreds of pieces, and glared at everyone seated at what had once been her table. One look at their expressions was enough to tell just how furious they were.

”Fucking... Fucking. Fucking. What... even is the point of doing this political bullshit? We’re... part of the same.... fucking. Fucking. Hic...! Guild!”

The Team Leader continued to slur over her words.

In the meantime, I looked around me. It was strange. No matter how I looked at it, given the situation, everyone should’ve tried to stop her, but looking at the Section Chief alongside the other Team Leaders present, I realized that nobody was even considering stopping her.

Did they also share the same thought?

”...You won’t say it... But I can... fucking tell! Ya’ll think you’re... the hot shit while we’re just the guys who... take the credit and resources. You all think that those from the main... island are better. Nooooo....? Hic!”

The more she spoke, the colder the atmosphere seemed to become.

Everyone could tell that she was drunk. Everyone could see that she was speaking nonsense.

And yet, her drunken speech seemed to hit the situation right on the nail.

”Instead of... properly addressing us or showing your displeasure, you... hic! Resort to such a roundabout way... of spouting nonsense. As if... the Guild Master would take pity on you. He...” The Team Leader giggled, looking at the leaders from the Branch Guild with a ridiculing expression. ”You... all think too highly of yourselves. You all know how the Guild Master... hic! is. He will never... choose the weaker side. He’ll always side with the side he... think is bett-hic! Wooooooow!”

Stopping halfway with her words, the Team Leader stumbled back a couple of steps as she nearly tripped on one of the tissues that had scattered on the ground.

Thankfully, she was just able to stop herself from tripping as she directed her gaze towards a Team Leader from the Branch Guild.

She smirked at him.

”You!”

The Team Leader stood up.

”W-what?”

Soran glared back, raising both hands.

”You gonna hit a woman? A powerless one like that?”

”No, that’s...”

Her eyes fluttered as she covered her mouth and pretended to cry.

”How could you look at your mother like that...

”This bit—”

The Team Leader just barely held himself from swearing at her.

But it wasn’t as if Soran was going to stop there. If she stopped there, she wouldn’t be Soran.

”Hic...! To swear at your mother like this...”

”You!”

”I’m pregnant.”

”.....”

”And you’re not the father.”

”——I’ll kill her!”

”Woooow! Wooooo! Let’s stop there!”

It was also at this moment that one of the other Team Leaders stood up. They all restrained the charging Team Leader.

”Let’s relax for a moment.”

”Relax!? How can I relax when that crazy woman is spouting all that stuff!?”

”Let me handle this.”

One of the Team Leaders from the main guild stepped up.

He was fairly handsome, with short blonde hair and blue eyes. However, I wasn’t quite familiar with him, meaning that he was probably a Team Leader from another department.

The Team Leader looked at everyone, his face lowering apologetically.

”I sincerely apologize for everything that’s happened. I hope none of you were offended by her words. As you can see, she’s had far too much to drink. I’ll escort her out right away. Once again, I’m truly sorry for the disturbance.”

He lowered his head and brought Soran’s hand over his shoulder.

”I’ll be escorting her back to her room.”

”Hic...! The baby... Oh the baby~”

As he spoke, another Team Leader stood up as well. She was someone I didn’t recognize, her curly hair falling to her shoulders as she brushed it aside to get a better grip on the drunken Team Leader. Moving to Soran’s other side, she slipped an arm over her shoulder, helping support her as they prepared to escort her away.

”Let’s go.”

”Hic... But I’m not... done yet! You... How could you just toss me aside like this?”

She suddenly turned her head in my direction.

”You evil bastard!”

Several heads turned to look at me.

I suddenly felt uncomfortable.

”You think I’m some convenient bitch you can just toss after sleeping with?”

”.....”

The stares felt even more uncomfortable.

No, this...

”I hate you!!!”

”Shh. You’ve already created too much of a mess. Quiet down.”

”No...! I don’t want to! No...! Hic!”

In spite of her protests, the Team Leader was escorted out of the shop. The silence that followed was extremely uncomfortable, as all eyes remained fixed on the door.

I had to say so myself, but the way they were all able to retain their calm was quite impressive. Not that they weren’t mad. I could see that they were seething. Perhaps also noticing this, the Section Chief I was all too familiar with stood up from his chair.

”I apologize once more for what my Team Leader has done. For now, I think we’ve already introduced ourselves. I’ll go and check up on them.”

He was the next to leave.

As he left, his every step remained scrutinized under the gaze of the Branch Guild Leaders, and soon enough, the other Team Leaders started to leave.

”I guess I’ll take my leave too.”

”...Same for me.”

One by one, everyone began to leave.

”I guess I should go as well.”

”Same.”

Kyle, Zoey, and the others also appeared to stand up. As they did, they looked at me. I looked away from them and onto my meal. My stomach rumbled.

I looked up.

Damn it...

”...I guess you can catch up later.”

”Yeah, there’s no need to rush.”

They all soon left after that, leaving me alone. Feeling the numerous gazes directed my way, I sighed and picked up the fork.

’That crazy bitch...’

***

”Hic! Hic..! Hic!”

A series of hiccups rang out as Team Leader Soran was carried out of the shop. With two Team Leaders supporting her on either side, her struggles were futile, leaving her unable to break free.

”Let... Hic!... me go!”

Her steps faltered more than once, but with the support of the two Team Leaders, she managed to stay on her feet.

The scene attracted quite a bit of attention, but whenever someone looked for too long, the Team Leader would glare at them and shout, ’What are you... hic! looking at? I’ll... kill you!’

Her face didn’t look threatening in the slightest, yet people still averted their gazes as the group of three made their way back toward the Guild. As they moved on, the surroundings gradually grew more secluded, and it was there that the drunken look on Soran’s face finally began to change.

”Okay, this is enough.”

The drunken haze that had clouded her features vanished, replaced by a clear look of irritation.

”...I can’t believe I had to leave so many drinks behind for some stupid political bullshit. They really never get tired of pulling this crap.”

Freeing herself from the other Team Leaders’ support, Soran smacked her lips together, trying to savor whatever lingering taste of alcohol she hadn’t been able to enjoy back at the dinner.

She eventually ruffled her hair, looking back in the direction of the dinner while shaking her head.

”Well, I guess it had to be done. If not, I really do think we would’ve started fighting.”

Placing her hands in her pocket, she looked at the other Team Leaders.

”Tell the Section Chief I won’t be able to stick around for longer. This entire thing has left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. Can’t believe they want to take over the Congress like that. Ugh... fuck.”

Ruffling her head, she brushed her hair behind her ear.

”They weren’t like this in the past. I also know the Guild Master is probably enjoying this. That sick bastard...”

”Hey.”

”What?”

Soran looked at the other Team Leader. Jack was it...? She couldn’t quite remember his name. Just maybe, she was a little drunk.

”Come on. Be real. You know damn well the Guild Master wants conflict to occur between us. The only thing he cares about is results. I’m sure he’s taking this entire conflict with pleasure. Tsk.”

Clicking her tongue, Soran turned around and began to walk away.

”They’re lucky I was told to hold back. Otherwise, I’d have smashed a few bottles over their heads and knocked some of them down. Kek...! That would’ve been funny.”

Waving her hand, Team Leader Soran left.

But just before she left, one of the Team Leaders spoke.

”But hey, why did you make the life of that guy so difficult? You didn’t have to say things like that... You went overboard.”

”I did?”

Soran stopped, looking up at the night sky.

Eventually, she smirked.

”But I didn’t lie~”

She giggled.

”We really did sleep together.”

”.....!!”

”—!”

The eyes of the Team Leaders widened to the point where they nearly felt like they would pop out at any second.

***

*Puff*

Smoke drifted in the air.

Leaning back against a wall in a secluded area, Catherine took a drag from her cigarette while staring up at the moon. Her bubbly, cheerful smile was long gone as she gazed at the sky with a distant, hazy look.

The departure of those from the Main Guild marked the end of the Guild Dinner. It ended early, but the goal had been achieved.

Thinking back on the Section Chief’s words, Catherine rested her head against the wall she was leaning on. As she did, a certain image surfaced in her mind.

Her expression twisted as a curse slipped out of her lips.

”...Fucking disgusting.”

She soon flicked the cigarette in her hand.

Massaging her face, her expression twisted further as she thought about how she’d had to put on an act in front of everyone, all while trying to butter up that guy. Just the thought made her feel repulsed, and it wasn’t like it brought anything to fruition. The only reason she even interacted with him was that she was interested in knowing more about that sister of hers.

Given how her sister would mention him on occasion, she thought they were somewhat close.

But it didn’t seem to be the case.

”It was a fucking waste of time.”

The more she interacted with him, the more repulsed she felt by him.

Catherine clicked her tongue and reached into her pocket for another cigarette. Just as her fingers brushed her jeans, she froze, lifting her head and turning to the right, where she felt a presence.

Tak—!

A pair of dark eyes watched her from a distance, causing her to freeze for a brief second. Then, slowly, her lips curved into a smile.

A cheerful smile.

”It’s you! How are you—”

”You can stop the act.”

An emotionless voice drew out as the figure approached, his appearance gradually revealed beneath the faint glow of a streetlamp until he came to a stop not far from her.

Pausing, his gaze dropped to the cigarette butt on the ground before he stepped on it.

”I don’t understand your relationship with your sister, but don’t drag me into your nonsense. Especially when you try to act close to me.”

He paused before adding, ”It’s creepy.”

Lifting his head, Seth looked at Catherine.

Feeling his gaze, her smile faded, replaced by that familiar look of irritation.

Her lips parted, but just as she was about to speak, Seth spoke first.

”...Crazy bitch.”