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

Chapter 772: Return [5]

By the time I returned to my office, I was feeling rather exhausted.

‘It’s not like I’ve been gone for that long, but it feels as if I’ve been gone for almost a year.’

The door to my office opened normally, which I appreciated considerably more than I used to.

I left it open behind me and carried Joanna’s report towards the desk, only to slow when I noticed something already sitting there.

A package.

It was wrapped in plain paper, with a delivery slip tucked beneath the cord around it.

“…Don’t start.”

I put the report down and examined the package without touching it. After everything that had happened, I felt that any new package inside of my office meant bad news.

Another present from the system?

That thought reminded me of something I had almost forgotten about.

‘Right. I did finish developing a Gate.’

The quest should’ve been completed. I brought up the system panel and found the notification waiting among the messages I had left unchecked, my eyes stopping on the section concerning the rewards.

For a moment, I considered opening it.

Then my gaze returned to the package.

“…Let’s deal with one thing at a time.”

I dismissed the panel without claiming anything and looked at the top of the box. The name on it made my expression change.

Silver Lantern.

“Oh.”

I checked it again before loosening the cord and lifting the wrapping. Inside, fitted between layers of protective material, was an old radio.

“So they gave it to me.”

I breathed in relief.

“In that case, I don’t have to worry.”

I carefully lifted it onto the desk.

The casing was worn around the corners, and a faint layer of dust remained caught along the edge of the speaker despite the way it had been packed.

After looking at it for another moment, I sat down and turned the knob of the radio.

Krrr—

A static sound spilled into the office, making my hand pause above the dial. I lowered the volume slightly, listening as the rough hiss settled into the air.

At first, that was all there was to it.

Krrr—

Just the constant hiss of the radio.

“Nothing?”

I glanced towards Joanna’s report before leaning closer to the speaker. Beneath the static, I started to make out something else. It wasn’t noticeable at first, but it soon became clear inside of my mind.

“…Hello?”

The word left my lips before I realised it.

I immediately pressed my lips together, remembering that it was just me in the room.

The faint sound coming from the radio remained as I tilted my head and brought it closer to my ear.

I couldn’t make out any words, but there seemed to be several people speaking somewhere beyond the static. Every so often, one voice rose above the others before sinking back beneath the hiss.

My fingers rested against the volume knob.

BANG!

“….!?”

I jerked back as a heavy strike burst from the speaker, cutting through the static.

It sounded like something being brought down against wood, the impact followed by an echo that echoed for quite some time.

My hand remained suspended above the radio while the last of the static thinned.

Then a deep voice spoke.

“Let… Krr… the hearing… Krr… begin.”

BANG!

The second strike made my heart thud so hard that, for a moment, I couldn’t tell which sound was coming from the radio and which was coming from inside my chest.

I slowly withdrew my hand from the radio, listening as the last of the echo faded.

Krrr—

The voices I’d heard earlier had gone quiet, leaving only the faint rustle of paper somewhere beyond the speaker.

‘…A hearing again.’

I glanced towards the open doorway before returning my attention to the radio. There was no music or announcement to explain what I was listening to, and the longer the silence continued, the more uncomfortable I felt.

Then something scraped across the floor on the other end, followed by that same deep voice.

“The accused… Krrr… will now… Krrr…”

The speaker grew static every few seconds as I strained my ears to listen carefully.

“Krrr… stand trial.”

Krrr—

Come on.

My fingers tightened against the radio, a long static sound echoing across the surroundings.

Krrr—

Each second that passed felt infinite.

I waited, my ears straining as silence settled around me.

And then—

“Please… Krr…. come forward… Krr…”

Krrr—

“Seth Thorne.”

***

Night had settled over Valmere Island, leaving most of the northern district dark.

A few temporary lights remained outside the school, illuminating the barriers across the entrance and the strips of tape fixed between the gateposts.

The reporters had left, but the restrictions remained. Along the restrictions were several cameras that overlooked the entire area.

Several doors had been sealed, while notices beside the staircase warned against entering the lower floors. A loose end of tape brushed against the railing whenever the wind passed through the broken windows.

Downstairs, the classroom within the basement remained empty.

The desks were still arranged in rows, their surfaces barely visible through the dirty window beside the door.

It was empty, with a portable lamp having been left near the turn in the corridor.

Its light reached the edge of the window, catching the marks where somebody had tried to wipe away the dirt before giving up.

By the time a figure appeared beside it, the lamp had started to dim.

He approached without touching the tape hanging across the classroom door. His attention remained on the window as he leaned closer, angling his head until he could see past his own reflection.

His gaze moved along the rows before stopping near the back, where one chair had been pushed farther beneath its desk than the others.

Somewhere behind him, the loose tape brushed against the stair railing.

He turned towards the sound, waiting until it came again before returning his attention to the classroom. The dim light made it difficult to see the corners, and he shifted closer until his sleeve touched the wall.

He raised one hand and pressed it against the glass.

His head lowered slightly as he looked towards the same part of the room again.

“…I almost forgot about it.”

His voice drifted quietly through the corridor.

Then his attention moved towards the door.

His hand lowered towards the handle.

Clank!

The lock broke easily.

He paused briefly before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

The classroom remained dark, illuminated only by the weak light spilling in from the corridor. Rows of desks stretched towards the back, all of them empty.

Or at least…

Almost all of them.

Someone was sitting near the middle of the classroom.

The figure stopped.

A man sat behind one of the desks with his elbow resting against the surface and one hand covering part of his forehead. His head was lowered slightly, dark hair falling over his eyes as though he’d been sitting there for quite some time.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then the man sighed.

“…Alright.”

His hand slowly moved away from his forehead.

Their eyes met.

The figure’s expression changed.

The man, on the other hand, merely looked tired.

“It’s good that you remembered because it would’ve been troublesome if you forgot something like this again.”

He leaned back against the chair, his gaze drifting briefly around the classroom before returning to the person standing near the door.

“You know, I’ve had a very long few days.”

The man rested both hands against the desk.

“I was trapped inside my own office, forced to attend classes, nearly replaced by something wearing my face, and then I had to spend three million just to leave.”

He paused.

“And after all of that, I finally thought I could go home.”

He sighed.

“But then I remembered you.”

The figure remained near the doorway.

“…I remembered that I had to deal with you. That’s my precious time, you know? I would’ve taken it personally if it were the me of the past. But I’m a changed man now.”

He pressed his hand against his chest.

“I’m a peaceful man.”

Seth tapped the table.

“So I came back. Because I’m a peaceful man.”