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

Chapter 487: Shadowed Figure [1]

The next step was simple.

Reaching my hand forward, I activated my node.

[Intermediate Node: Anamnesis]

Krrr! Krr—

Something about the memory felt odd.

Bits and pieces of fragmented memories surfaced, flashing images that had once belonged to the anomaly. None of them was complete. They appeared only for an instant before dissolving away, drowned out by a loud, grating static.

This persisted until the surroundings shifted.

Or at least, partly.

Aside from the blood staining the ground and the shattered wall behind it, nothing had really changed at all.

Everything just appeared to return to how it had been before my arrival.

Tak! Tak!

Even the chopping sound remained the same.

The anomaly returned to the table, resuming its work as if nothing had happened. Its massive cleaver rose and fell in a brutal rhythm, crashing down onto the numerous carcasses laid out before it, splitting flesh and cutting cleanly through bone with terrifying force.

This persisted for the next several seconds, until the anomaly eventually stopped.

Almost as if it sensed something, it turned around.

That was when it saw it.

A shadow.

Standing in the corner of the room, its presence was swallowed by a towering shadow as the chains above creaked and swayed. Most of its form remained hidden, erased by the darkness clinging to the walls. Yet a few things couldn’t be concealed.

The smile clinging to its face as it stared at the anomaly, paired with the uniform worn only by the Severed Stars Guild.

It stood within the darkness, observing the anomaly.

No...

It was staring somewhere else.

Something else...?

Krrr! Krr—

The static returned.

"...I know... you’ll see... this eventually."

That was also the moment the shadow spoke, its voice cracking. Despite this, its voice was still easy to understand.

"I hope you enjoy my gift... It should entertain... you for a bit."

Its gaze appeared drawn towards the anomaly.

"You... stood out too much. Now... we see you."

Krrr! Krr———

The static grew even stronger, making it even harder to determine its words.

But despite this, just before it all ended, its last words rang out.

"...You... are not... from... this world."

"Huaa!"

The memory ended, and I took a deep breath, my head rolling back towards the ceiling as I clung to the head of the anomaly with all the force that I could muster.

Thousands of different thoughts and questions flooded my mind as I stared blankly at the ceiling above, completely forgetting where I was.

Everything soon became clear to me.

"Ah, so that’s the case..."

This entire situation had been fabricated from the start. The anomaly had targeted me due to the man wearing the Severed Stars Guild uniform. It did all of this in order to send me a message, and given its words, it was very obvious that it knew a lot about me.

’Not just about the fact that I wasn’t from this world, but the way that it knew that I could see the memories of anomalies.’

What was happening?

Who was the shadowed figure? How did it know so much about me?

Was it related to the demons?

I had countless questions swirling through my mind, but this wasn’t the time to linger on them. Especially not when I heard the faint sound of something rolling onto the ground as I slowly turned my head.

"...."

A pair of emerald green eyes met mine.

She stood in silence, her expression twisted as she looked at me and the anomaly.

This was also the moment I finally took notice of my current position. Bloodied from head to toe, I stood there holding the head of the dungeon’s boss, its body carved apart beyond recognition.

...Yes, I certainly looked very friendly.

Even so, with my goal finally accomplished, I activated my second node and tightened my grip around the boss’s head, crushing it with all the strength I could muster.

BANG!

Once more, blood exploded in all directions.

The emerald eyes twisted further at the sight as she finally reacted, her body blurring towards me with such craze that it took me aback. Was she always like this? Unfortunately, it was already too late.

I felt my body begin to drift away, my form growing lighter with each passing second. As I faded completely, I could just make out the faint outline of Catherine’s body as she desperately tried to reach the spot where I had been.

’...How persistent.’

No, there was more to it.

"I’ll fucking kill you!!"

Crazy.

Yes, she was crazy.

Especially those eyes of hers.

"Get the fuck back!"

Swooooosh!

A crazy bitch.

***

"No, no... damn it! Fuck!!"

A curse rang out as Catherine’s hand sliced through empty space.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!! Damn it, fuck!!"

More curses spilled from her lips as she turned back, staring at the void where he had been only moments before, before snapping her head around in search of any trace of the anomaly.

Her once bubbly personality had long since vanished, replaced by a cold mix of hatred and disgust. She continued to scan the surroundings, searching desperately for any sign of the anomaly, but no matter how hard she looked, it was gone.

"Damn it! Damn it...!"

Her thoughts drifted to the moments when she first saw the anomaly.

From the disregard, to the sight that greeted her after she chased after it.

Those cold, glaring red eyes stared ahead as they clutched the torn, mutilated body of what was supposed to be the Gate’s "boss."

And most importantly, that... subtle shudder that she felt under its immense gaze.

"D-damn it!"

Chaterine bit onto her lips, her face paling as she covered her face with both hands.

’I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t scared. I... just was surprised. I was caught off guard by the suddenness of the situation. Yes, that’s what it is. It has to be that. I wasn’t scared of shit!’

Despite telling herself this, Catherine didn’t really believe her own words. Deep down, she was acutely aware of the truth.

Of the fact that, for just a brief moment...

She felt fear.

...And it was that realization that made a long-buried emotion surge to the surface as she bit down on her lip. Hard enough for blood to well and spill, her eyes turning bloodshot as her breath grew uneven.

"I’m not the same as her," she muttered, her voice trembling with restrained fury. "I’m not fucking useless. I... can do better. I’ll do better. I’m not useless like that piece of shit that can’t even beat a couple of Titans. I’m... not useless."

Tick!

Bringing Catherine to an abrupt stop was the sound of something falling. She slowly turned her head in the direction of the noise, not bothering to hide her expression.

It was there that she saw several figures enter.

"Captain!"

"C-captain!"

From their breathing, it was clear they had rushed to her.

"Captain, I get that you’re trying to get the anomaly, but this is too much. That thing...? It wasn’t something that we could defeat. I’ve also contacted the Guild, and they should be arriving soon. What if something happened to you? This—"

Abruptly, the voice stopped.

Finally taking in the chaos around them, their voices fell silent as their eyes widened. One by one, their gazes settled on the mangled heap on the floor, and if not for the shattered mask, none of them would have known what it once was.

Seeing their reaction, Catherine opened her mouth, but soon closed it.

Eventually, her lips pulled into a soft and bubbly smile as she opened them again.

"...Get the fuck out of my sight for now. Just the mere sight of everyone pisses me off."

Everyone flinched. Not because of her attitude.

They had long been aware of her real self.

But it was more because they could see it clearly. The crazy bitch of the Branch Guild was about to explode.