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

Chapter 770: Return [3]

Click! Click!

The silence lasted just long enough for me to lower my head before the cameras started again. The reporters all looked at me with weird expressions.

“Stuck where? Were you inside the Gate?”

“Seth, did you rescue the people behind you?”

“Can you explain why nobody was informed that you were here?”

I raised one hand and waved, only for several microphones to move closer. Someone nearly stepped on my foot while another reporter leaned around him, trying to get her camera in front of the others.

“…There’s no need to push. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Then can you tell us what happened?”

“Well, I was—”

“Did you encounter Claude’s team inside?”

“Yes, but—”

“Are they seriously injured?”

I looked towards the bodies behind me, where Guild personnel had finally started moving through the crowd. One crouched beside Claude while another brought a stretcher closer, forcing several reporters to move out of the way.

“They’re alive. You should probably let those people check them before asking me anything else.”

That only seemed to make the questions worse.

“Did you save their lives?”

“Was the rescue squad unable to enter?”

“Does the formation of the Gate have anything to do with your presence?”

My smile tightened as another microphone brushed against my chin. Beyond the reporters, the Secretary was speaking to someone while repeatedly glancing in my direction, his expression becoming less pleasant whenever another camera turned towards me.

‘He doesn’t seem particularly happy to see me.’

That was unfortunate. I’d gone through quite a bit to make sure his precious recruits came back in one piece.

“Everyone, please move back. The medical team needs room.”

The Secretary’s voice carried through the crowd, but barely anyone listened until he started directing Guild personnel between the cameras. I used the small gap to look around and spotted Kyle standing near one of the vehicles.

He was staring at me with an expression that suggested he wasn’t particularly happy either.

“…Quite the welcome.”

“What was that?”

I turned towards the reporter beside me, then slowly raised my hand again.

This time, I kept it there until the nearest people stopped speaking. The questions gradually faded as the others noticed, although the cameras continued clicking while I looked from one expectant face to another.

“You all seem very interested in where I was.”

A woman nodded immediately.

“Naturally. You were the only person still standing when the Gate disappeared.”

“I was stuck.”

“We understand that, but—”

“No, I don’t think you do.”

I shook my head and rested one hand against my chest.

“When a man spends several days staring at a door that won’t open, he starts thinking about things. Important things. Like whether the door is the problem, or whether he’s the problem for continuing to expect it to open.”

The woman slowly lowered her microphone before remembering herself and raising it again.

“…What conclusion did you reach?”

“The door was the problem.”

A few people exchanged glances, but I continued before they could interrupt.

“I was very reasonable about it. I waited, tried the handle, waited some more, and eventually threw a chair. Normally, that’s where I realized that the door was a very durable door. So I tried speaking to it.”

“You tried speaking to the door?”

“It wasn’t particularly receptive.”

I glanced towards the school while someone behind the reporter coughed.

“But that’s behind me now. I’ve decided not to hold a grudge against doors. You can’t spend your entire life resenting something just because it kept you locked inside a room.”

“So you’ve overcome what happened?”

“I wouldn’t go that far. I’m still a little traumatised by the experience. Doors…”

I sighed.

“What despicable invention.”

Nobody seemed to know what to ask after that.

The Secretary had stopped speaking. Beside him, a tall man with dark hair watched me with his brows drawn together, while the woman accompanying him looked between me and the unconscious people being carried towards the stretchers.

I gave them a small nod before returning my attention to the reporters.

“The important thing is that I’m no longer stuck. Or at least, I wasn’t until all of you stood in front of me.”

Several people looked down at the narrow space they’d left around my legs.

“Now, please excuse me. I’d like to leave before I develop another problem.”

I stepped through the gap before anyone could think of a reply. Questions started again almost immediately, but I kept waving as I headed towards the SUV where Kyle had already opened the rear door.

He moved aside without saying anything, which was probably the nicest thing he’d done all day.

Outside of the money he lent me, of course.

I climbed in and pulled the door shut.

The noise outside became considerably quieter, although I could still hear someone calling my name through the glass. Kyle got behind the wheel while Zoey settled into the passenger seat, her attention remaining on me for quite some time.

I touched my face and looked at Kyle.

“Is she flirting with me?”

“…Huh?”

Zoey looked stunned.

“Where did you get that idea from?”

I touched my face again.

“So you’re not?”

“No, of course not…”

Zoey covered her face, shaking her head as she mumbled, ‘He’s getting weirder and weirder everytime that I see him.’

So…

“You’re flirting with me.”

“….”

“How are you doing?”

Kyle asked through the rearview mirror, trying his best not to pay attention to what I’d said.

“…I’m fine. There was food. I was just stuck.”

“Oh… yes, you made that clear.”

I leaned against the seat, pleased to find that there was no longer a little ghost to bother me. My shoulders slowly relaxed as Kyle looked towards the school, where the reporters were still trying to follow the stretchers.

“Quite the mess outside. Oh, right… About the school—”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve figured it out more or less.”

“You have?”

“Haha, yes.”

Kyle watched me through the mirror, apparently waiting for the rest. Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t particularly interested in explaining anything right now.

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.

“Seth…”

Zoey’s voice made me look towards her. She had turned slightly in her seat, her hand resting over the phone in her lap.

Our eyes met, and for several seconds she seemed to struggle with whatever she wanted to ask. Her gaze moved towards Kyle before returning to me, but eventually she pressed her lips together and faced forward.

“…Never mind.”

I watched her for another moment before closing my eyes again.

“Indeed, you’re flirting.”

“…I’m not.”