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

Chapter 708: An Unexpected Reunion [3]

The coffee at Lou’s wasn’t that good. It was one of the more famous coffee shops near the Guild, but I guess it was all just hyped-up nonsense. At least it wasn’t on the same level as the powdered coffee in the Guild’s public kitchen. There was nothing that could beat that coffee.

Ah, I’m really starting to crave it.

I should make myself some when I go back. How many bottles should I add?

“Well, spit it out. What do you have to say?”

I set my cup down, shifting my attention towards the thing sitting opposite me.

He was just as I remembered him. The same bowl cut, the neat clothes, and, above all, those two dimples of his…

Ugh.

I shuddered just thinking about those two dimples. It had been a while since I had last seen them, but thinking back to all those sleepless nights they had caused me, I had the sudden urge to toss the coffee onto his face.

‘Let’s hold back for now.’

I reached for the cup again and took another sip.

Bitter…

“I didn’t take you as someone sentimental. After everything that has happened, I didn’t expect you to show up at the Guild Master’s funeral.”

In fact, his presence was really strange.

He had been kicked out of the Guild by the very same person whose funeral he’s attending. Why did he show up?

Was he here to gloat?

“…Wait.”

I suddenly thought of something, my eyes narrowing as I brought my cup beneath my chin.

“Don’t tell me you’re here to recruit me. If that’s the case, then⎯”

“You’ve changed.”

The rat cut me off mid-sentence. I paused, staring back at him. His dimples were as clear as day, and as I looked around, he looked no different than any normal bystander that was in the coffee shop.

‘He’s not budging despite my provocations.’

I had been trying to get a sort of reaction out of him from the start, but I had failed to do so. From start to finish, he felt strangely calm.

‘It seems like I’m not the only one who has changed.’

I smiled slightly.

This rat…

He’s become an even bigger rat.

“I’ve seen you show up quite a lot on TV. Malovia, the rankings, Malia… I could go on. Incidents seem to follow wherever you are. I’m actually impressed by how you’ve managed to resolve all of them as well.” The rat paused, his head tilting slightly as his dimples deepened. “Well, most of them.”

This larger-than-human-sized rat…

“You’re here to mock me, is that what you’re here for? If that’s the case, then I’d rather just go back to my office and get to work. You may not know, but I’m a very busy man.”

I took another sip of the coffee, preparing to leave.

The conversation was over in my mind.

Or at least, that was what I had initially thought.

“He was my father.”

“…”

“The Guild Master.”

“…”

Drip! Drip! Drip!

“You’re spilling everything onto the table.”

No, wait.

Wait.

Hold on.

I placed the now-empty teacup back on the table while rubbing the corner of my mouth where the coffee had dripped down. Taking out a few tissues, I rubbed my pants. My legs stung from the heat, but I wasn’t in the mood to care about that as I struggled to keep my eyes from being so wide.

I probably looked stupid, but even my mouth was having trouble remaining closed.

What did he just say?

Father…?

“I wanted to do well. I wanted to do well enough to gain his attention. But…” The rat’s smile faded along with his dimples as he stared at me. Though he was still smiling, I could sense a subtle bitterness behind it as he continued, “You stood in my way of doing that.”

It was all starting to make sense inside of my mind.

The rat’s actions. The familiar feeling I’d had whenever I was with the Guild Master…

‘No wonder. No wonder.’

I hadn’t been dealing with a rat. I had been dealing with a whole fucking family! It was no wonder why I felt so uncomfortable with the Guild Master.

“I have no siblings, and my mother has passed away. In that regard, I am the Guild Master’s only heir.”

My jaw quietly locked into place.

‘Is he planning on vying for the Guild Master position?’

If he was truly the Guild Master’s son, then it was possible. But it was also true that he didn’t have many achievements under his name. The Severed Stars Guild operated much like a company.

For someone to become the Guild Master, they’d need a majority vote from all the high-level staff, meaning Team Leaders and above. It wasn’t something that could simply be handed to someone because of their relationship with the Guild Master.

Still…

It did hold some sway with those that were loyal to the Guild Master.

‘Should I hand in my resignation today?’

“I don’t care for the position.”

“…Oh.”

As if I’d believe you!

I didn’t trust a single word coming from the rat.

“You don’t seem to believe me.”

“I believe you.”

“You don’t.”

“I said I do.”

“You look like you’re about to lunge at me at any moment. You’re not exactly very convincing.”

“Those are two different things.”

“So you were really planning on lunging at me?”

“…I’ve thought about it.”

“And?”

“I’m tempted, yes.”

The rat’s lips curled into a smirk. Reaching for his cup, he took a sip and closed his eyes, seemingly savouring the taste of the coffee.

My left brow twitched.

“Cut the shit; the coffee is shit. Stop pretending.”

The rat’s eyes opened.

“Was I that obvious?”

“No, but I refuse to believe that anyone can like this coffee.”

“You’re right. It’s shit. I much prefer the powdered stuff back at the Guild.”

I said that, shit.

Fuck, I like him even less now.

The rat chuckled. But it was a very short chuckle.

“You know, had it not been for the fact that I wanted to achieve results, I think the two of us would’ve gotten along quite well. It’s a pity that things turned out the way that they have, and I really do want to be on friendlier terms with you. After all…”

He set the cup down.

“We’ll be seeing each other again soon. I hope we get along better this time around.”

He stood from his seat and adjusted his blazer, buttoning each button before giving me a slight nod and departing.

I didn’t sit up and remained where I was.

I thought I had fixed the headaches, but I felt one coming to me already.

‘What sort of shit is he planning on stirring this time?’

On whose side was he?

Thinking about it, the last time we didn’t get along because his goals clashed with mine. What if they didn’t this time?

Would we get along better?

‘It just might be possible.’

Right, it might be…

I pursed my lips and finally decided to leave. But just as I stood up, the waiter arrived and handed me the check.

“Here you go, sir.”

“Huh?”

I looked at the check, and then in the direction of where the rat went off to.

That…

I pointed at the check.

“I think there might be something wrong. This shouldn’t be here.”

“Pardon? The gentleman said that you were together. Could there have been a misunderstanding?”

Ah.

I suddenly felt like smiling.

Right…

Get along my ass!