"Alright, all attention over here!"
A loud voice snapped Zoey out of her thoughts. She dropped her phone onto the desk and sat up straight, eyes fixed ahead as the Section Chief appeared, disheveled and groggy, absently scratching at the unkempt stubble on his face.
He was holding onto several papers that he waved.
"I've just received a Gate report. I'm sure most of you are aware of what Gate I'm talking about. It's a ranked gate, so it's nothing too big. I'll need any third to fourth orders to lead a team."
The Section Chief then looked through the papers.
He clicked his tongue while mumbling, 'Kyle... He's not here, so I can't drop this annoying thing off to him. If that's the case, then...'
The Section Chief raised his head and eventually locked eyes with Zoey, who felt her heart sink. She could already see where this was going.
"Zoey!"
He smiled. It was a disgusting smile that Zoey had seen too many times by now.
It was disgusting.
"No."
"You don't even know what I'm about to ask."
"...I do actually."
You already made it quite obvious.
"I don't have time to babysit the operation. I am trying to gather enough fragments to advance to the next order."
"What are you missing?"
"...I'm missing 10 fragments of light, an essence of light, and the heart of a fifth-order light attributed anomaly."
In short, she was missing a lot of things. But this couldn't be helped. The more one advanced, the harder it was for them to go to the next order.
Depending on the Decree chosen, one would need to follow a specific list of items and fragments in order to stimulate the next node. And even if she did manage to acquire all of the necessary items, there was no guarantee she'd be able to succeed in unlocking her next node.
She didn't really have time to invest in a ranked gate.
"Ooof."
Even the Section Chief looked a little sorry for her.
The number of items wasn't low.
Still, it wasn't as though he didn't have a way around this.
"I'll give you ten thousand points. Will you take the job then?"
"Make it twelve thousand and I accept."
"....."
"So?"
"....Fine."
The Section Chief clicked his tongue while Zoey smirked. This was what she had been aiming for the entire time.
The Guild had a specific merit system that came through points. With enough points, she'd be able to purchase the necessary items for her advancement.
It just so happened that 12,000 was just enough for her to purchase one of the items that she needed for her advancement.
It would still take her a while to advance, but she'd at least be one step closer.
"Make sure you don't fail the mission. You won't be the only one who will go inside. You must pay absolute attention to those fuckers from Ivory and Crownfall. You know what happened the last time we were with them."
"I got it."
Zoey reached forward to grab the file from the Section Chief's hands. In it, she could see all the detailed reports from the scouts.
———
Test XXXX-12:
Subject: D-9341, armed with a combat knife.
Result: After 4 minutes, SCP-XXXX-1 instances overwhelmed D-9341. Last transmission: "They just keep coming... oh god, they're—" [REDACTED]
Test XXXX-19:
Subject: MTF Operative Gamma-7 ("Mothmen"), equipped with heavy weaponry.
Result: Operatives held for 17 minutes before being overrun. Final message: "We've killed hundreds... there's thousands now. It's not stopping."
———
Her brows furrowed the moment she read the first part of the report as she sat up in her chair.
As expected, this didn't seem like an easy scenario.
"How troublesome..."
***
In the end, I didn't buy anything. I just spent most of my time looking through the items and memorizing their description.
There were just too many good items. I couldn't make up my mind.
But more importantly...
[Trauma Consultant]
I looked at the shiny metal plaque that rested on my desk with mixed feelings. This was merely a customary plaque given to me by the guild in order to make my job look 'official', but I was worried if people actually took it seriously.
What then...?
'Don't tell me I'd have to actually give them counseling. Can I reject them? They won't get angry for rejecting their mental traumas, right?'
I had plenty of mental trauma myself.
If anything, I was the one who needed counseling.
"Well, if it really does come down to it, I'll just tell them the truth. Either way, they should be aware of it... I'm not qualified to be some sort of consultant."
Then again, this could also be a good opportunity for me to gain some connections.
"Ah, whatever."
I brushed those thoughts aside and shifted my attention back towards the painting in front of me.
I stood up from my seat and took a good look at it.
The young girl was now in the position she had been when I had first received the painting, and there didn't seem to be anything strange with it anymore. I sighed in relief then.
"...Since I no longer have to look at it at night, it should be a regular painting now."
I thought about keeping the painting hung on the wall, but then I recalled something extremely important.
This painting...
It was actually stolen.
"Ah, shit."
I silently groaned when I realized this. Although I was confident that not many would recognize the painting, now that there was a gate that had happened in the area where the museum was, I was sure that a few of the people had done some research on the place.
Those guys would definitely recognize it in an instant.
But there was something else more important than that. I thought back to the scenario and how the museum had been abandoned because the painting had been stolen.
'If those weird cult people already had the girl's body, why would they care to stop funding the museum once the painting got lost? Surely they could've just made another one, right? A coincidence? Or... is there more to it than I know?'
The thought left me unsettled as I stared at the painting intently.
"For now, it would be best if I take it down."
As I reached out to grab the edges of the painting and take it down, my fingers brushing against the old frame that supported the painting, something else caught my eye, just in time to make me pause.
".....?"
Slowly, I looked back at the painting, my chest growing heavier.
And then—
I saw it.
".....!?"
The face of the little girl, her face pale and eyes wide, staring at me point blank.
My mind blanked at the sight. I couldn't even scream before her small hands shot out, unnaturally fast, seizing my head and yanking me forward.
Into the painting.
Everything turned dark from that moment.
By the time I woke up again, a large notification appeared in front of me.
[Scenario starting...]
"Ah, shit."
[Scenario will be starting soon. You have thirty minutes. Please get ready!]
Staring at the floating notification in front of me, I felt at a complete loss.
'Scenario? Why am I suddenly in a scenario? What's going on??'
The last thing I recalled was standing before the painting. That was when my mind blanked. No, wait...
I suddenly recalled the face of the little girl and the hands that reached out for me.
Hastily, I sat up and looked around me.
Could she be...?
"Huh?"
A dull sound escaped my lips.
Not far from where I sat, a mansion rose tall and pale against the soft blue sky, its white walls gleaming under the midday sun. All around me, lush greenery swayed gently, the rough blades of grass grazing my hands and legs as I rested in its midst.
This place...
It looked extremely familiar.
"This is the place within the painting, isn't it?"
I recognized the small pathway that was within the painting. I could even recognize the spot where the little girl had posed.
Then...?
'I'm in the world of the painting?'
This...
I gradually stood up and dusted my clothes, trying my best to gather my bearings. The situation made no sense to me at all, but I had to remain calm.
"A scenario... I am now inside a scenario..."
In other words, a gate?
The thought made me groan. If this were truly a gate, then I was in serious trouble, especially since I didn't know the level of the gate.
I was currently in the First Order. This meant that I could only realistically handle
Clearing higher gates was not impossible, but I needed specific items and ample preparations in order to do so.
But I had neither.
I wasn't prepared, nor did I have items that were specific to clearing the scenario. In other words, I was fucked.
'Shit, what do I do?'
I looked around me to see if there was some sort of exit, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't see anything.
The only thing I could see was the mansion in the distance, but that was the last place I wanted to go.
Then...? What was I supposed to do?
"No, now's not the time to panic."
I had to take several breaths in order to calm my mind down. There was no use panicking at this point.
Whatever happened had happened.
The only thing I could do now was look forward and find a way out of this situation.
I thought back to the second message I received, and a thought occurred to me.
"It says that I have thirty minutes to prepare. That might just be the thing that I need in order to clear this ridiculous scenario."
Regarding the description of the scenario, I was sure I was going to receive it just before the scenario started.
In that case, the best course of action for me to take was to scout the mansion.
But there was only one problem.
"...I really don't want to do that."
Just the sight of the distant mansion made my stomach sick. And yet, I knew that going into the mansion was the only way for me to survive.
As such, pushing my cowardly thoughts away, I headed towards the mansion.
'I hope I'm right about this.'
*
The mansion was only a few minutes walk from where I 'spawned', if it could even be called that. In order to save time, I jogged all the way there before arriving in front of its large wooden door.
Standing by the door, I felt small.
From the finely polished white stone that made up the structure to the well-kept garden that stood outside the door.
Everything about the place felt rich.
...And yet, the more I looked at it, the more dread I felt.
"I really don't have a good feeling about this."
I said this while pushing the doors open, a gentle creak reaching my ears as a large hall appeared in my vision, flanked on either side by sweeping staircases that curved upward toward the second floor.
A tall chandelier stood above, and several doors appeared on each side of the first floor, each open, revealing an empty darkness within.
One that seemed to suck the very light away.
"H-ho."
My chest trembled as I took a deep breath. The place looked rather eerie as I stepped in, a sudden chill invading my body.
I swallowed silently while taking in my surroundings.
'The scenario hasn't started yet. In that case, there shouldn't be any monsters or problems...'
At least, I hoped that was the case.
However, I still remained cautious as I scanned my surroundings, the mansion looking completely deserted.
Step.
The echo of my step echoed as I stepped forward, the silence around me loud.
'This should be the main hall.'
I looked around and memorized every detail of the hall before moving towards one of the doors that was shrouded in darkness.
Despite my nervousness, I moved past the door and entered an entirely different room.
"Ah..."
The moment the light touched my eyes, I realized I was standing in an enormous room, far larger than the entrance hall. Along one side, desks were neatly arranged, each draped with pristine white cloths and topped with gleaming metal buffet platters.
The ceilings above were extremely high, with the brown polished floor gleaming under the lights of the chandeliers above.
Windows lined the walls, veiled in sheer curtains that just barely gave a glimpse of the world outside the large windows.
At the far end, a grand piano rested beneath the chandeliers, its polished black surface catching the light and gleaming like still water under the sun.
"This place..."
I held my breath for a moment, then stepped forward, the sound of my step echoing louder than before. I paused before the tables, where my eyes caught the edge of a certain flyer.
I slowly picked it up.
———
[You Are Cordially Invited]
To the Midnight Masquerade
A Night of Mystery, Music, and Moonlight
Date: Saturday, October 19th
Time: Doors open at 8:00 PM | Unmasking at Midnight
Venue: The Grand Ballroom, Ravenshade Manor
Dress Code: Formal Attire & Mask Required
Beneath the chandeliers and shadows, let secrets dance and silence speak. Join us for an evening of enchantment, where every face hides a story.
No entry without a mask.
———
"A masked ball?"
I read through each line again to pick up any details before placing the flyer down and looking around.
"...Could this be the scenario?"
'Judging by the situation around me, it just might be the case.'
I looked at the flyer once again and then at the surroundings. The more I looked, the more confident I was about my conclusion.
However, it was still far too early to tell.
There were still other rooms that I had to explore. This could just be a small part of the entire scenario.
The most appropriate course of action was to continue and explore the place while memorizing the layout of the mansion and looking for any more clues and tips that could help me figure out more about the scenario.
I sighed and checked the time.
There were still only about twenty minutes left before the scenario started.
To ensure that I managed to memorize everything, I stopped wasting time and moved on to the other rooms of the mansion.
"This room doesn't look anything special."
The room next to the ballroom was simply a dining room.
I looked around the room before settling my gaze on a specific painting. It depicted a family of four: a man, a woman, and two young boys. They were all standing outside the mansion, smiling. Just like any regular family.
"Hmm."
I studied the painting carefully.
Aside from their clothes, which looked rather posh, there was nothing unusual about the painting.
But still, it made me question something.
'Is there no little girl?'
Last I recalled, the little girl was part of this family.
Was this painting taken before her death or after?
I licked my lips, imprinting the image inside my mind before going to the next room. I continued like this until I reached the second floor.
The second floor appeared to be the residential area, where the rooms were located. Besides the large dining room in the middle, connected to the kitchen, in total, there were a total of seven bedrooms, with multiple bathrooms located throughout. It was a very fancy mansion, and as I settled my gaze over the last door, I reached for the doorknob and tried to open it.
But—
Click! Click!
"Eh?"
The door refused to budge.
It was locked.
"What the..."
This was different compared to the other rooms. Unlike this one, I could enter every single room within the mansion.
What could this mean?
I felt my heart quicken as I stared at the door.
Could this be a big part of the scenario?
I held my breath, feeling the smooth and metal touch of the knob. I was just about to twist the knob again when...
Ding!
A notification flashed across my face again.
[Scenario is starting...]
The world shifted, and I dropped to the ground.
"Ukh."
Letting out a groan, I looked around, only to be shocked to find myself back where it all began.
"What the..."
But as if that wasn't bad enough, I suddenly saw a black vortex appear not far from where I was, and my mind churned.
Then—
A foot slowly emerged from within it.
[Operation: The Host's Invitation]
Class : ■■■
: A sentient Victorian mansion, hosting an elegant but deadly party overseen by The Host. Guests must follow The Host's every word with perfect, but not excessive, compliance. If you manage to impress the Host, only good things will come! Disobedience results in grotesque, instantaneous death.
**
A few moments prior, Velora Art Museum.
Several large black SUVs stopped right outside the gates of the now crowded museum.
Stepping out of one of the SUVs, a young girl whose looks could attract the attention of anyone who looked carefully brushed her blonde hair back while her green eyes scanned the surroundings.
"Ah, shit."
Her face fell the moment she spotted several groups in the distance.
Looking at their uniforms and clothes, she knew exactly who they were. She looked behind her, where four other recruits appeared.
They were the recruits she had chosen for the upcoming mission.
"Whatever you do, don't fall for their cheap provocations. Those bastards are merely trying to shake your mind before entering the gate. All of you should know how important it is to keep a clear mind when entering a gate."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
The recruits nodded with serious expressions, their faces filled with obedience.
Zoey had a very good reputation among the recruits. Not only was she really pretty, but she was extremely capable.
As such, nobody had anything to say to her words.
"Good."
Nodding in satisfaction, Zoey turned her attention away from the recruits behind her and moved towards the mansion in the distance.
But just as she took a single step, a certain voice reached her ears.
"If it isn't a familiar face."
Zoey's eyes closed as she silently sighed.
'This fucker...'
Turning around, a young man with blonde hair and blue eyes appeared. He was relatively handsome, further accentuated by his bright white clothes, as the insignia of a tusk sat by his breast pocket.
He was Tom Tucker.
One of the 'five stars' of the King-grade Ivory Dominion.
"It's been a while, Zoey."
He waved with a smile. His eyes were curled into slits while his smile looked bright. On the outside, he looked extremely friendly.
However, Zoey knew him well enough to know he was the furthest thing from nice.
She had seen firsthand... how he willingly sacrificed some of his team members in order to gain merit and clear scenarios. He was the most treacherous of people she had ever met in her line of work.
'Of all people, it had to be him?'
Zoey groaned to herself as Tom looked around.
"I don't see Kyle anywhere. Is he here?"
"...No, he's got other stuff to do."
"Oh, I see. That's such a pity. I wanted to catch up with him. It's been a while since I last saw him. I heard that he's doing quite well for himself. "
His eyes glinted with a certain something as he spoke before looking towards her recruits and moving away.
The interaction was short, and yet, the recruits already felt shaken.
Zoey inwardly cursed when seeing this.
'That damn fucker. He's always up to no good.'
Her heart dropped. With him present, the situation had now changed. She now not only had to worry about the scenario, but she also had to worry about him and any possible things he might do in order to interfere with her team.
Thankfully, it didn't seem like Crownfall had sent any annoying person on this mission.
In the distance, her gaze settled on a burly man with broad shoulders and a thick back. His thinning black hair clung to his scalp, and his clothes strained to contain his bulky frame.
Zoey was somewhat familiar with him.
'If I don't recall wrong, he should be called Ryan?'
He had somewhat of a reputation, but nothing in comparison to Tom. This kind of made her curious.
Why would Crownfall send someone like him to the gate?
"Whatever, I'll figure it out later."
Seeing the groups enter the museum, she started to move and made her way towards the basement where the gate had been found. Eventually reaching the place, she saw that all other groups had arrived, waiting by the gate as they all stared at an agent in a black suit and sunglasses.
He stood by the gate with an extremely serious expression.
As Zoey and the others arrived, he finally opened his mouth to speak, but just as he managed to get a few words out, a certain sound interrupted his words.
"Welcome to—"
"Kh...
All eyes suddenly flicked towards the source of the noise as Zoey's face froze, her hand covering her mouth.
What just happened?
Zoey looked at her hand in confusion. That... she didn't mean to do that.
She didn't know what suddenly came over her.
"....."
Feeling everyone's gaze, Zoey didn't know what to say.
But with her gaze falling on the not-so-pleased agent again, or more specifically, towards his sunglasses, a certain scene popped up in her mind, and her lips quivered.
'Hold it in. Hold it in. Hold it in.'
"As I was sayi—"
"Pfttt!"
"Ah..."
Hastily covering her mouth again, Zoey felt the piercing gazes of multiple people at once. She could see Tom's gaze from a distance as he watched on with amusement while the agent's expression showed signs of extreme displeasure.
Seeing how the situation was starting to unfold, Zoey bit her lips.
'That... Fuck! It's all his fault!'
If it weren't for him and his damn sunglasses, she wouldn't have found this funny!
"Miss Terline."
The agent's voice was cold as he scanned the notepad in his hands.
Feeling his gaze, Zoey could only silently close her eyes.
'Whatever, what's done is done. I'll just wait for him to finish nagging.'
The nagging, however, never came.
After a moment's pause, the agent shifted his attention away from her. It was either perhaps he realized her identity or because there was not much time to waste, he started to speak again.
"You've all been given a brief overview of the scenario. Several scouts have already gone in. From what we've gathered, it begins with your arrival at a large estate where a party is underway. The rule is simple: do whatever the host tells you. If he says dance, you dance. If he says sing, you sing."
The agent paused, his expression turning grim.
"...If you fail to do any of the listed things, you will die."
The expressions of the recruits didn't change upon hearing the agent's words. Everyone was already aware of this fact.
In fact, they were all used to the idea of dying at this point.
"From what we've managed to find, the way to clear the scenario is by impressing the host. If you somehow manage to impress the host, the scenario will be cleared."
Everyone more or less knew everything beforehand.
Zoey had as well, having thoroughly studied the scouts' reports in advance. This was the bare minimum one had to do before entering a gate.
'I don't think I'll have a problem with dancing. The same is with playing the instruments, but I don't know if I can impress the host with my skills.'
Thankfully, Zoey had brought several items with her in order to help her in this regard.
[The Dancer's Ribbons]
: Upon wearing the ribbon, one will be possessed by the deceased soul of a ballerina that once stood amongst the most talented in the world, automatically be able to dance smoothly and fluidly. But be careful not to be consumed by her!
[Tempo Ring]
: Allows the wearer to maintain a tempo while wearing the ring. This is so the wearer will never be out of tempo when playing any instrument.
These two items alone should be able to make her perform better than most people, and perhaps even impress the host.
"There are a few other things that you need to be careful of. First, you must never reveal your face."
As the agent spoke, he retrieved a small mask that covered the upper part of his face.
"Do any of you not have a mask? If you enter the scenario without a mask, you will automatically be killed the moment the ball starts. It is extremely important that all of you have your masks with you."
As the agent asked, his gaze swept the surroundings as Zoey retrieved her own mask. It was a smooth, featureless sphere with a glossy surface that reflected the light like polished obsidian. It covered her entire face, completely hiding her expression.
Unfortunately, the Guild had no suitable mask item for her. All the ones they had were far too dangerous for her to wear.
She could only settle for a normal mask.
"...Good, it looks like everyone here has brought a mask with them. In case someone doesn't have it, there are spare masks with me."
The agent stepped aside to display a small box where a multitude of masks appeared.
"Since everyone looks ready, I won't hold you up for much longer. Just remember the things that I told you, and..."
The agent paused, his voice turning somber.
"Just as you can impress the host, you can also disappoint him. Make sure you don't disappoint the host. Otherwise..."
He didn't finish his sentence, nor did he have to.
Everyone present clearly understood the meaning of his words as they all silently nodded their heads.
"Good."
Moving towards the coffin that sat at the center of the room, he pushed it open to reveal a familiar swirling black vortex.
"May all of you be blessed with luck. I hope you all come back in one piece."
And with such words, the recruits jumped onto the coffin one by one.
Zoey looked behind her to make sure that the recruits were ready before stepping forward and moving towards the coffin. Just as she arrived at the coffin, her gaze paused on the agent who locked eyes with her.
"...Your sunglasses remind me of something funny."
"That streamer kid?"
"Eh?"
Zoey blinked, the agent slowly pulling his glasses away.
"...I watched it too. I kind of had to since it's important for the task. I realized pretty quickly why you were laughing."
He smirked.
"Funny, no?"
Zoey smiled wryly and nodded.
It really was.
Then—
Nodding at the agent, she jumped into the gate, her vision turning black before a bright light engulfed her.
Swoosh!
Blinking rapidly, she looked around and found herself standing in front of a large mansion. The sun bathed them from above as a gentle breeze drifted by, carrying the fresh scent of grass.
The doors were wide open, and within she could hear the loud sound of chattering and music.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
One by one, more and more people started to materialize as everyone focused their attention on the large mansion in front of them.
It took a minute for everyone to finally arrive, and when they did, they didn't hesitate to move forward.
Zoey and her group were the last ones to move as she waited for everyone in her group to appear.
It was only then that she decided to appear.
However, just as she had taken a step, her eyes turned and locked with a certain individual.
He stood not far from her, his gaze drawn towards her.
"Hm?"
Zoey frowned as she met his gaze.
'A Jester?'
She quickly pulled her gaze away, shaking her head.
That's rather tacky...
'She didn't notice a thing, right?'
Feeling Zoey's gaze, sweat dripped down from the side of my face. She was staring for too long, and the more she stared at me, the more nervous I felt.
This persisted for a good couple of seconds until she eventually pulled her gaze away.
'Fuck, that was too nerve wracking.'
I sighed in relief.
At the very least, it appeared that I had managed to successfully infiltrate the group.
Everyone was too preoccupied with the scenario to even take notice of me. And I joined right as the first group entered, so even if they did find me suspicious, they'd think that I was merely part of the first group that entered.
There were quite a few people present. I could count about thirty. Judging from the different clothes they were wearing, they all came from different places.
They all wore some ridiculous mask, making mine the least noticeable one. To make the situation even better, they all wore different types of clothes. Some tried to wear clothes fitting a ball, while others wore more casual ones.
That was the only reason that prompted me to join the group.
Still...
'I should've seen this coming from miles away.'
Taking into account the origins of the painting and the sudden portal that formed in the museum, I should've expected people from the Guild to be here.
And I sort of did after a certain point.
But of all people to expect, Zoey wasn't the one I expected to be here.
That made the situation worse for me.
This was especially so when taking into account the fact that she was actually quite sharp when it mattered. I really hoped she wouldn't figure anything out.
I could only maintain my distance for now as I moved past the room that led to the ballroom.
The moment I crossed the door, as if everything I had seen before was a lie, a bright light engulfed my vision.
"....!"
[Looks like we have some new guests arriving with us!]
The lights from the chandelier pierced the surroundings, momentarily blinding my vision. Soon after, a rough yet pleased voice echoed in the hall as a glass was raised towards the tall ceilings of the ballroom, the glass cup reflecting the bright light of the chandelier.
[Excellent! How excellent! To see guests coming to my party... There's nothing that pleases me more than that!]
Blinking my eyes, I managed to clear my vision.
I proceeded to look at the source of the noise.
A chubby man stood at the center of the hall, dressed in a pristine white suit adorned with golden embroidery and a red bow tie. He wore a slim black mask to hide the top half of his face. His head was bald, and there was no noticeable feature about him besides his double chin.
He looked normal at first, but that changed when he turned around to greet the people on the other side of the hall.
'Ah.'
Where the back of his head should've been, a face appeared.
Grotesquely attached to the back of his head, the face looked around, its white eyes focused in our general direction.
My stomach churned, and an all-too-familiar feeling rose up in my throat.
'...I should've gone to the bathroom beforehand.'
I really wanted to puke.
[Everyone!]
The man's voice roared once again, the glass higher than before.
I looked around and saw the other people throughout the room similarly raise their glasses. They all wore masks, hiding their faces, but taking a closer look, I realized something extremely crucial.
Their masks...
They were deeply embedded on their faces, the corners seeping deeply into their skin.
I felt chills staring at the sight.
'As if they couldn't make the entire thing even creepier...'
Then again, after everything that I had experienced so far, this wasn't terrible. I could handle this much.
...Or at least, I hoped I could.
I knew things would get worse soon enough.
[Let's all have a toast first before we get started! This is my own way to show my appreciation for coming. Salute!]
The host proceeded to bring the cup in his hand to his mouth and took a sip. The rest followed his example.
Pulling the glass away from his mouth, he twirled it in his hands.
[There are quite a few new faces here, unlike the regulars. Should I give everyone a brief overview of how things work around here?]
The ball host turned around again, fixing his gaze in our direction.
He chugged the wine in his hand as red trickled down the side of his face.
[Alright!]
He set the cup aside and dabbed the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief. Then, turning his attention to the piano, where one of the audience members had taken a seat, he began to explain the rules.
[The rules are simple. A member of the audience will play a piece for everyone to listen to. Everyone will find a partner and dance. Whoever performs the worst will be directly eliminated.]
Eliminated...?
I held my breath the moment I heard those words. I was well aware that in this case, 'eliminated' didn't just mean excluded from the game.
Elimination meant death.
[We'll stop until someone eventually impresses me.]
A smile crept onto his face.
It was a creepy smile that left me shuddering.
[That's all. Simple, right?]
The rules were set.
They were simple and easy to understand.
But it was the simplicity that made my stomach churn.
I have to impress him?
Through either playing a piece or dancing?
This...
'Ah, fuck.'
I slowly turned my attention towards the piano and the man sitting next to it.
In my current situation, the only thing I could do was play the piano.
I was far better at it than dancing.
But could I really play something good enough to impress the host?
I was decent at the piano. I had taken quite a few lessons when I was young, but I was no godly talent.
I found it hard to believe that I could play anything that could impress the host.
Then...?
'Wait.'
I looked around, my gaze falling on Zoey and the other Guild members.
That was when I realized something important.
I wasn't alone.
They were also here.
Who was to say that I had to be the one impressing the host?
This...
'Why didn't I think about this sooner?'
[I'm ready, what about you all? I'm feeling in the right mood right now. Let's see if there's anyone that can impress me tonight.]
The bright lights started to dim faintly as the people around headed towards the main dancing area.
I followed along with the rest.
But just as I was about to move, the host's voice rang in the air once more.
"Oh, and..."
He paused, the smile on his face slowly fading, and his eyes starting to turn sinister.
All noise in the room ceased as all attention fell on the host.
[...If you hear the sound of a little girl crying. Ignore it.]
'Eh?'
Clap!
He clapped his hands, and the piano began playing.
[Find a partner quickly! The dance has started!]
The scenario began.
[Quickly look for a partner and start dancing!]
As if it had been planned beforehand, the Guild members quickly paired off, forming groups of two.
The same happened for the 'NPCs' that didn't belong to the Guild.
Before I knew it, everyone had paired up but me.
Ah, shit...
I desperately looked around in hopes of finding someone who was alone, but it became quite clear to me that everyone had paired up.
'What do I do?'
Dang~
A gentle tune rang in the air, and everyone began dancing.
I was the only one who wasn't dancing, and...
".....!"
The host's head turned in my direction.
He stood in silence, his expression calm and devoid of any emotion.
He was waiting. Waiting for me to move.
But...
I didn't have a partner.
How could I move without one?
Damn it.
Damn it, damn it!
[Do you not have a partner?]
Eventually, his voice rang, and I felt several people turn their attention towards me.
I could see from their faces that they were confused as they looked at me.
'Who is he?'
'...Why does he not have a partner?'
'I'm sure that we assigned an even number so that this situation wouldn't occur. What group is he with?'
The situation was starting to spiral in the worst way possible.
[So...?]
My heart sank as I heard the host's voice once more.
The movements of those around me eventually stopped, and so did the music.
Silence.
Hundreds of eyes focused on me.
And the words simply left my mouth without a thought.
"I already have a partner."
[You already have a partner?]
The host looked around.
[Where? I do not see your partner.]
"...That's because I haven't called for them yet."
[So that's the case...]
The host smiled, his eyes directed towards me.
I knew in that moment that if I didn't do anything, I'd be done for.
I took a deep breath.
'I'll be fine. This should work.'
It was going to work.
...It will work.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, I slowly brought my hand forward.
A black hand grasped my hand right after, and a dark figure materialized before me.
The faces of everyone present changed as the Nightwalker materialized, but I promptly ignored them and fixed my attention on the host.
"Is this good enough?"
The host didn't answer immediately. He just stared at me in silence.
I felt like losing my mind in that moment.
Quickly decide! Just accept it already!
[Wow, what a grand entrance! Who would've thought you'd suddenly make your partner appear like that!? Impressive!]
The host turned to the piano and flicked his hand.
Dang!
The music resumed, and so did the dancing.
I did so too.
But just as I moved, I felt the nightwalker squeezing my hand tightly.
'I know, I know... resist.'
I looked towards the bright lights above.
The Nightwalker's greatest weakness was light. It could hardly move within the light, and it was slowly starting to poison it. I could practically hear its screams in my mind.
Feeling the strength it put in my hands as it began to move with me, I knew that it was in pure and sheer agony.
However, I had no other choice.
'Resist for a bit. I'll recall you back when this is over...'
[Come! Dance to your heart's content! Show me what you're capable of!]
The host's voice rang as I focused all my attention on the Nightwalker.
I was trying my best to keep it from fading on the spot.
But its movements were slowly starting to stiffen. I didn't have much time.
Tzzz!
But a faint sizzling sound reached my ears.
"....!"
I felt a lump form in my throat when I saw it coming from the Nightwalker as its figure started to dissolve before me.
No, no...
I just need a few minutes. That's all I need!
As if understanding my thoughts, the Nighwalker tried to resist, the sizzling slowing down.
I took a step forward, the Nightwalker matching my tempo.
The Nightwalker was attuned to my thoughts, able to see the images in my mind and mirror them with uncanny precision. Following the dancers from my memories, its movements flowed seamlessly, almost as if we had rehearsed them countless times.
The Nightwalker was much better than me.
And as a result, I let it lead the dance.
I merely followed from that point.
'Hold on. Just hold on...'
***
Who the hell is he?
By now, there was not a single person who wasn't aware of the strange Jester-like figure.
He had come out of nowhere and suddenly taken the spotlight.
Dang!
His figure glided across the ball floor, his movements in sync with the strange black creature, as the pair's movements were almost flawless. Beneath the bright lights of the chandelier, the two shone brighter than anyone present.
The sight was one for the eyes, but at the same time, it made everyone grow alert.
This Jester...
Who was he?
He wasn't in the scouting report.
The scenario had deviated from what they had originally been told by the scouts.
Some inwardly panicked at the thought. There were times, occasionally, when such incidents occurred, and in such times, the difficulty of the gate would oftentimes increase, and so would the mortality rate.
Not only that, but there was something more crucial than that.
With the sudden changes occurring in the scenario, their preparations and everything planned to tackle the gate, would they still be able to stick to them?
"Don't panic. Keep doing what we've planned."
Zoey's voice quietly whispered to her dance partner as she tried her best to maintain calm.
The situation was bad, but in such a situation, the most important thing was to remain calm.
She wasn't the only one who was like this.
After the initial shock, the other guild members resumed their dance, and the ball went on full swing once more.
For now, this was the most appropriate response.
...It was just a pity that one of the groups stumbled as a result of the sudden situation.
[Great! Amazing! Wonderful!]
The host showered the surroundings with praise, his eyes darting all over as he looked extremely pleased with what he was seeing.
Everyone danced to the best of their abilities, but only one group managed to pull the host's gaze more than once.
It was the Jester and the black creature. Their dance commanded the room, every step pulling attention like magnets. And just when they seemed impossible to ignore, smoke began to curl from the creature's body, its form growing lighter with each movement, fading, yet still dancing.
The sight...
It made them look even more imposing.
Dong!
The two moved with such grace and elegance that they even managed to absorb the attention of the NPCs.
Zoey clenched her teeth, trying her best to dance to her best abilities.
But even she... felt inferior to the Jester.
And then—
The tune in the air mellowed, and the Jester pair began to slow down.
The dance was coming to an end.
Da Da—
From fast to slow, the pair matched the slowing tempo of the music, steam rising out of the black creature's body, becoming more and more pronounced as it started to surround the two.
Everyone slowed down.
All eyes on them.
And soon, the last notes played.
Da Da!
With the final notes echoing across the room, the Jester came to a graceful stop, his posture poised and elegant as the black creature before him started to fade, dissipating entirely into the air.
"....."
The surroundings turned quiet, and everyone came to a stop.
[Bravo!]
But the silence was fleeting.
With thunderous applause, the host showered the lone Jester with praise.
[Wonderful! How wonderful...! That was an amazing performance! You almost had me impressed!]
Almost?
That wasn't enough to impress it? The hearts of many started to sink as a realization soon dawned on them.
It was just as they feared.
The difficulty of the scenario had increased.
[I truly admire the grace of your movements. They flowed with such smooth elegance, and the tempo was spot on. But... there was something missing. A soul. Yes, it was flawless, yet it felt... empty.]
The host began to give criticism to the Jester's performance as he stood in the middle of the hall without moving.
He simply accepted the criticism without any words.
And as the host finished his words, he turned towards a specific group.
[Now, talking about the group that impressed me the least...]
Panic flashed across the faces of the pair under scrutiny. They opened their mouths, as if to speak, but the host cut them off before a single word could escape.
[Everything about your performance was appalling and unimpressive. I'm afraid that this is it for you.]
He waved his hand once.
Bang!
That was all it took for their heads to explode.
The floor was dyed red.
Two headless bodies limped onto the floor.
Nobody made a sound. All eyes fell on the bodies and then towards the host.
[Have someone clean this mess up. We'll resume with the ball shortly after.]
"....."
Two headless people emerged from the entrance of the room and moved towards the corpses on the floor, dragging them away while leaving a long trail of red along the path.
I could only swallow silently while staring at the scene.
At the same time, I looked back towards the host who grabbed himself another drink.
'What is he going to make us do now? I... don't think I can dance again.'
I couldn't summon the Nightwalker anymore.
It had died.
This was already giving me a headache. I knew exactly what would happen if I summoned it again, so I couldn't.
I just couldn't.
[While we wait for the cleaners to handle those things... How about we switch things up a bit?]
Switch things up a bit?
My heart pressed against my chest.
What was this damn host going to do now?
[I've noticed something interesting, despite everyone wearing masks, some of you clearly know each other.]
[Your movements? Polished, yes, but they're missing that spark of spontaneity, that flash of raw inspiration I'm after. So, for the next round, let's shake things up. It's time for a switch, find yourselves a new partner.]
'What? What did he say?'
'Oh my god... why are things changing again?'
Several whispers managed to reach my mind as the room stirred. Those from the Guild started to panic, seemingly taken by surprise by the sudden development.
I could imagine why.
'They are probably throwing away a lot of the preparations they had made in advance before.'
[Oh, right.]
As if suddenly recalling something, the host looked around.
His gaze swept everyone until it settled over a certain individual wearing a simple gold mask.
[I almost forgot.]
He shook his head while covering his face.
[We have one extra person. At this rate, one will be left out again. That can't happen again.]
"....!"
It dawned on everyone pretty quickly what the host's intentions were.
This was especially so for the one wearing the golden mask.
"Wait, wait, wait...!"
But...
[Goodbye.]
He could do nothing about it.
Bang!
His head exploded, and his body fell limply onto the floor shortly after.
Thump!
Blood began to seep onto the floor once again.
I felt breathless at the sight. My stomach churned more than ever before, and my body tensed.
Shortly after, several cleaners came into the room and began cleaning the floor, dragging the body away.
[We're even now! Everyone will now have their own partner. Isn't that great?]
The host looked all too pleased with himself as he raised his glass in the air.
He then settled his gaze on another person.
Wearing a long and elegant red dress, she had her face covered by a red mask that matched her dress.
Her entire body froze up when she felt the host's gaze.
[You!]
"No, I... I don't...!
The girl in the red dress shook her head rapidly, trying her best to reject whatever she was about to be asked to do.
Her half-exposed face was pale, and the trembling of her body didn't betray the fear that she was currently experiencing.
[Yes, it has to be you.]
Her judgment made sense.
...But it didn't really matter.
[You will be the one to play the piano. I hope you can play an amazing piece for all of us to dance to.]
The girl's face turned even paler.
I looked around.
I could tell from her expression, alongside that of a few others, that this entire scenario was deviating from the norm.
'She probably knows how to play the piano, but after everything that I've witnessed, it's clear that she's afraid of making any mistakes.'
The entire scenario had changed in a way that just the subtlest of mistakes meant death.
Her head just wasn't in it.
[...Are you not willing to do it?]
The host's voice lowered, and the atmosphere changed.
It suddenly felt incredibly tense.
All eyes turned to the girl in red as she scanned the room in a fluster, her gaze finally locking onto someone in a striking golden mask, its edges flaring out in sharp, dramatic spikes.
Their eyes locked until he looked away.
Her face paled further.
[Alright, then. If you're not going to play then—]
"I'll play! I'll play!!"
The woman hastily shouted as she cut off the conductor.
Her face was entirely face, and she settled her gaze onto the piano.
"I can play the piano. Yes."
She moved towards it, prompting the host to smile.
[That wasn't hard, was it?]
"....."
Right.
The host was extremely sadistic.
It looked like he had already ranked everyone's performances in his mind.
He was slowly picking on the ones that had performed the worst, looking for excuses to kill them.
Of the thirty that had originally arrived, twenty-seven were still—
Bang!
"....."
From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a certain red dress.
[Did I say you could touch the piano? Can't you see that we have a mess to clean before we can start dancing again?]
I pulled my gaze away.
My guess wasn't wrong.
The host... He was just trying to find excuses to eliminate everyone in the room.
And if my guess wasn't wrong...
[Oops, it looks like we're one person too many. I guess one has to go.]
"No, no, no....!"
Bang!
Another head exploded.
The all too familiar red stain on the floor.
[Oh, my. At this rate, we might never get to dance. If people just followed the rules...]
The hall fell silent again.
Everyone was tense, and as I looked around, my gaze couldn't help but fall on Zoey.
'Seeing how she hasn't moved yet, I take it she isn't strong enough to take on the monster?'
...That would make sense if the scenario had suddenly risen in levels.
Then...?
Did that mean that we had no other choice but to clear the scenario?
But how was that possible?
I had already done the best that I could. I didn't see how I could do better than what I had just done.
[You, you will be the next one to play the piano.]
The host soon selected a new victim.
When I turned my head, I was surprised to see that it was the man with the golden mask.
I could tell with just one glance that he was different from the rest as he calmly walked towards the grand piano and took his seat, his crisp white suit a stark, elegant contrast against the piano's polished black surface.
The room was also cleaned shortly after, as the host nodded.
[It looks like we're ready to dance again. How wonderful!]
[You have one minute before we begin! Quickly find a new partner! There will be no surprises this time, right...?]
The host silently looked at me, and my stomach churned.
The room scrambled soon after as everyone moved to look for a new partner.
I felt a pit in my stomach as I looked around.
Who would partner up with me?
I turned my head—
And stopped.
A pair of emerald eyes met mine, steady and focused. As though I were truly the one she was looking at.
Then...
She stepped toward me and extended her hand.
"Dance with me."
"..."
Her outstretched hand reached for mine.
She was close.
...Getting closer.
'She hasn't noticed anything, right? No, that's not possible. How could she notice a single thing?'
Her hand grasped mine.
We both lifted them at the same time.
And then—
Dong!
The music began. It was an elegant and cheerful piece. From the moment the note played, it was as if the entire room lit up.
The tune effortlessly flowed into my ears, and my steps began to move on their own.
I wasn't the only one like this.
...I looked around to see everyone moving at the same pace.
This...
I slowly turned my gaze towards the man in the golden mask.
Was this his doing?
[Oh, what a wonderful piece! Amazing!]
The host started praising the man in the golden mask. That served as enough evidence for me to tell that he was the one responsible for my sudden movements.
"Tsk."
I heard someone click their tongue.
Turning my head, I saw Zoey staring in the direction of the man with the golden mask.
"Lucky bastard."
Rather than scared or nervous about the situation, she was...
Angry?
"If I had been the one called, I would've been able to do the same."
Ah.
That was when it all hit me.
'They're all lunatics. Of course, they're going to act like this.'
I should've seen it coming from miles away.
"Who are you...?"
But then, the inevitable question came.
Zoey's emerald eyes were locked with mine.
"You very clearly don't belong with us. I can tell you're not some anomalous entity, and yet, you were somehow able to summon one. What is your purpose?"
Her grip over my hands tightened.
'It hurts...'
"Are you not going to answer?"
Zoey took a step forward, and I followed along.
We were both puppets now, bound by the music. It told us what we needed to do.
All we had to do was follow along.
"Are you the one responsible for the sudden increase in difficulty of the gate?"
Her questions kept coming.
Questions that I myself couldn't answer.
Just let this end quickly...
[Increase the tempo.]
".....?"
I slowly turned to see the host staring in the direction of the pianist.
[Your music is wonderful, but the dancing is getting stale. Increase the tempo.]
Da— Dang!
And increase he did.
The shift was felt by practically everyone.
My legs moved faster, and my heartbeat sped up.
Shit...
From the sudden rise in intensity, I realized that my breathing was slowly starting to intensify.
This was starting to feel like a workout. I thought about my stamina and felt like throwing up on the spot.
If this continued, then...
'No, don't think about it.'
I put those thoughts aside and tried my best to keep up with the dance.
But it was starting to get very hard.
Swoosh!
Zoey pulled me down, and I just followed along, our masks just barely brushing.
".....!"
My skin crawled when I saw her emerald eyes peering right into me.
That look of hers...
How many times had I seen it before?
She was analyzing me.
"Your eyes... they feel familiar."
My heart skipped as we rose again.
Swoosh!
I raised our hands; she spun beneath, then returned. I wrapped an arm around her waist.
We were even closer now.
So were her eyes.
"Yes... they certainly feel familiar. Do I know you?"
"....."
I blinked slowly.
She was as sharp as her character was designed to be.
"Your palms are sweating. Nervous?"
No, I'm just tired.
"...Am I onto something?"
Her face came closer, her mouth whispering to me.
I could feel her lips slowly pulling up.
"Keeping a pretty lady waiting?"
'This is bad. '
It was as if she was able to deduce things the more she looked at me. This sort of broken ability... It really had to belong to her, didn't it?
I had been swept into an unexpected catastrophe. No, I can't lose my composure here... I had to remain firm. I'd be done for if I let the panic take over.
I had to remain calm and show nothing.
She was only going on a hunch. If I played my cards right, then I'd be able to get her off my back.
'How exactly can I turn this situation around?'
I had to think.
Think...
And that was when it happened.
Hick...
A soft, subtle crying echoed through the ballroom.
Every guild member's head turned upward in perfect unison.
Zoey inclunded.
Hick... Hick...
It sounded like a little girl. The voice was faint, but it crawled into my ears, burrowing deep.
A chill ran down my spine. I tried to ignore it—
BANG!
The ballroom door slammed shut.
".....!"
The floor trembled. Windows rattled. Everything in the room started to shake, and the temperature of the room seemed to suddenly drop.
Cold...
[Like I said. Don't mind the crying. Just focus on your dance.]
The host and the NPCs appeared wholly unperturbed by the situation as they continued to dance.
But me?
I could barely focus.
BANG! BANG!
The doors opened, slammed, and trembled again.
My balance faltered. My breath grew shorter.
'Get a grip!'
I bit down on my tongue to ground myself.
I thought I was holding it together—
Until I realized I was the only one struggling.
Everyone else glided across the ballroom effortlessly, masks serene, movements fluid. Zoey, too as she kept her eyes closed, her mind focused on the task at hand.
That's when the sinking feeling hit me.
'I'm going to fail this, aren't I?'
I looked around to see that I was the only one making mistakes.
They were small, but they were piling up.
No, I can't fail. Not like this...
I increased my focus, following the music that I could barely hear through the trembling of the room.
BANG!
The door slammed once more, this time harder than before.
I silently clenched my teeth.
'Damn it, make it stop.'
Hick.. Hick...
But the crying persisted. It came from all directions, but at the same time, it felt like it was coming from my head directly.
I felt shivers knowing this.
But I had to focus on the dance.
And that was what I did.
Thankfully, the crying soon stopped. It merely lasted a couple of minutes.
But it was also at that moment that the music in the air had come to an end.
Dang!
And soon enough, the final note rang out.
The music stopped, and everyone managed to pull themselves away from their partner.
Me inclunded.
Applause filled the air.
The host clapped, his face beaming as he turned toward the man in the golden mask.
[Wonderful! That was an absolutely stunning performance! Extremely amazing! I have no words to say! No, well...]
He paused, and the entire room held its breath.
Then, slowly—
[Though you tried your best to mask your mistakes, I did notice a few. Such a pity... it could've been a perfect piece.]
I noticed a visible shift in the man in the golden masks' features. He clearly didn't seem to have expected this sort of feedback.
Judging from the expression he wore when the piece ended, he appeared to be confident in what he had shown.
But...
Even that wasn't good enough.
But if that wasn't enough, what was?
Tensions rose.
I lowered my head to keep my presence as low as possible.
My thoughts were elsewhere.
Could the host not have noticed my mistakes? They were really small, so it shouldn't be a problem...
I desperately recalled the dance and frantically thought back to any possible mistake that I could've made during the dance. There were quite a few, but they were very small.
Surely he wouldn't notice.
Yes, he might not notice.
I slowly raised my head back up.
But—
[If you had to rate your performance, how would you rate it?]
The host was already in front of me.
When did...!?
[I'll decide based on your words, how about it?]
His lips pulled into a creepy smile.
"...."
The host's smile spread so wide that it reached the end of his cheeks.
It was creepy.
....So creepy that for a moment, my mind blanked.
But that only persisted for a couple of seconds until the host's voice echoed again.
".....!"
This time, his face was a lot closer to mine.
I could almost feel its breath run down my face.
[So? What do you say? How would you rate your performance? You have yet to answer my question. I'll make my decision in accordance with your answer.]
I wanted to open my mouth, but I stopped myself.
I couldn't carelessly answer the question.
No, it was more like I had to think fast and find a way to convince the host not to kill me.
I could see it in his eyes.
It was the same look he gave to the people he killed just moments prior.
I was now on his radar.
One wrong move and my head was going to explode.
The only difference was that he was granting me a chance to say some final words. Was it because of my first performance that he granted this opportunity?
I wasn't sure, but I had to think quickly.
Think, think!
[If you don't answer me in the next few seconds, I'll take that as a sign you're unsatisfied with your performance. In that case, there's no reason for you to be here any longer.]
The host moved away, raising his hand at the same time.
I knew the movement.
It was the same movement he did before suddenly exploding the head of one of the people present.
'Oh, no...'
My heart pressed at my throat as my thoughts started to spiral.
I had to think quickly.
[It was nice—]
"My performance was adequate."
Eventually, the words slipped from my mouth.
The surroundings turned silent as all eyes fell on me.
The host cocked his head
[Adequate? You think your performance was adequate...?]
His voice sent chills down my spine as his eyes focused intently on me.
I clenched my teeth while slowly nodding my head.
"Yes."
[Is that so...?]
The host's smile turned even creepier, pulling all the way towards the edges of his brows.
My stomach churned at the sight.
This was creepy.
Beyond creepy.
However, that didn't matter right now. I was a few seconds away from dying.
I needed to remain focused.
I had to forget all about the fear and creepiness of the situation.
[You thought it was adequate, but I think differently.]
In one moment, the host was in front of me, and in the next moment, he was right behind me as his voice gently whispered into my ear, his warm breath tickling my right ear.
"....!"
When did he...!?
[You were clearly playing along with the music, and yet, I also saw you stumble a couple of times. You were the only one to do this, and that was what I felt ruined the entire dance for me. You added a blemish to a piece with hardly any stain. Such an ugly thing... Do you think I wouldn't notice?]
The host began to grip my shoulder, his voice lowering as he continued to whisper in my ear.
[I asked you about what you thought about your performance to see if you'd be honest with me. You see... I highly value honesty. But alas...]
The host shook his head.
[...You've disappointed me.]
The host brought his hand away from my shoulder and pulled away. He stopped right where he had been moments prior, right before the moment he appeared behind me.
Looking at everyone present, he opened his mouth again.
I could tell he was about to announce my death.
But he had miscaculated.
[It's such—]
"I played adequately."
I was not done.
[Eh?]
The host turned his attention towards me again. This time, I could see his slowly twisting face as it seemed to be anything but pleased by my repeated cut-offs.
The surroundings started to rattle, and my heart sank.
However, I kept my thoughts firm as I spoke.
"I played adequately when taking into consideration the piece that was being played."
[What....?]
The entire room froze, especially the golden masked man. The one who originally played the piece. I could see his face twisting under the mask.
"What are you talking ab—"
He then began to speak, but stopped the moment the host's gaze fell on him.
"It's like I said. I played accordingly to the level of the piece that was playing. If you deem my performance to be subpar, then it's mainly due to the piece being subpar."
The host's mouth opened, but no words came out.
It seemed like my words had rendered him completely speechless.
This was what I had been aiming for.
"I tried my best to do well within the mediocrity that played in the air."
I looked at the host while saying this. Or at least tried to, as my gaze unconsciously moved towards the golden masked individual, his face slowly contorting.
"...Haha."
A subtle laugh escaped my lips as I looked at his face.
It couldn't be helped.
His face was really funny. But at the same time, I wasn't just laughing because his face was funny. I just wanted to waste time.
The more confident I looked, the more convincing I became.
And sure enough, the host no longer appeared angry.
[So you're saying that he was the problem? That he was trash?]
"...That's exactly what I'm saying."
I subtly looked around.
"You saw it yourself. He was commanding everyone's dance. There was no variation. It was like what you said to me.. soulless. Dancing should be a way to express emotions. What you saw was merely one man controlling several puppets. Where were the emotions in that? Where was the freedom of expression?"
Ah, sometimes, I couldn't help but praise myself for the amount of bullshit that I could spew out of my mouth.
I was great.
Really great.
[Oh, oh!]
The best part of it all was how the host was eating up my bullshit.
As if suddenly enlightened, he looked at me with sparkling eyes.
[Now that you mention it, you make a very good point! That indeed felt a lot like the case, didn't it?]
No, not at all.
It was, in fact, almost perfect.
I nodded along.
"Yes..."
[I did feel like there was something missing. I thought it was you who ruined it, but it was in fact a fault with the piece itself!]
The host smacked his fist against his open palm.
His joy was clear.
[I finally am starting to understand... Wonderful! How wonderful!]
The host began to thank me.
I felt a heavy weight lift off my shoulder. But only for a brief moment.
The joy was merely short-lived as the host's smile slowly faded as he looked at me.
[Thank you for your help, but...]
He sighed.
[...That still doesn't take away from your mistakes.]
Wait, wait, wait...
I felt my heart leap out of my chest as I saw the sudden change in the host's face. He soon began to raise his hand.
Shit!
[I hope that—]
"Why don't you allow me to perform instead?"
[.....?]
The host paused once again, his eyes focused on me.
Not only the host, but everyone was staring with the same look. Zoey, especially as she stood not far from me.
[Perform? You...?]
"Yes."
I subtly lowered my head while placing my hand over my chest.
"Since I said this piece was trash, it's also because I'm confident in my skills. I'm sure I will be able to play a piece that can satisfy you."
[.....]
The silence in the room persisted as the host's gaze fell on me.
I held my breath as I felt his gaze.
Was he going to accept? Was he going to reject it...? Every second dragged on, feeling more agonizing than the last.
But then—
[Alright.]
I raised my head.
The host was looking right at me.
[...Show me your performance. I am curious to see what you deem to be perfect. I hope you can impress me.]
"Of course."
I pulled my hand away from my chest and calmly made my way towards the piano.
The sound of my steps echoed loudly inside my head as I moved before eventually arriving at the piano and tracing my fingers across the keys.
Dang!
I touched one of the keys, and a note began to play.
Deng!
I touched another key before sitting down, closing my eyes as I did.
Then...
Slowly, I placed my hands over the piano. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself staring at my reflection in the polished surface.
But there was something else.
A figure, creepy, one that only I could see, with stitched-up eyes and mouth, standing right behind me. Gradually, it brought its lengthy fingers down, and I felt something brush against the sides of my neck.
I took a deep breath.
'It's been a while...'
"....."
I blinked my eyes, and the conductor was gone.
All I saw was my reflection as the world around me turned quiet and the lingering sound of the note I played drifted in the air.
I wasn't worried that the host would kill me on the spot, just like he did with the woman in red.
His curiosity wouldn't allow for that.
[You may start whenever. I hope that you don't disappoint me.]
I silently smiled while hearing the host's words.
I wasn't worried about disappointing.
That was the least of my worries. I knew that the moment I played, he'd show up.
He was my worry.
'There's only one day left until our supposed meeting. I guess it won't hurt if we meet a little sooner.'
Dang—
I pressed another key.
This time, the note struck louder than the previous, lingering in the air for a longer period of time.
I wasn't a beginner with the piano.
I was no expert, but I was not bad at it.
It was one of the few things I had been taught since childhood. Such a background was also what had helped me clear my first-ever scenario.
How else would I have memorized a music sheet in my mind?
It had saved my life then...
...And it was going to help me fight for it again.
I breathed out slowly.
'Who would've thought those piano lessons I hated so much would come in handy in the future?'
Had I known better, I would've focused on them before.
Then again, who would've expected a situation like this to occur?
[What are you waiting for?]
"....."
As the host, not far from me, started to grow restless, I knew that I couldn't delay any longer.
I placed both hands on the piano.
And soon, I began to play.
Dang!
It was a piece I was quite familiar with.
The same piece that had helped me survive in the past.
[Chopin's Prelude in E minor]
***
The situation had unfolded in a way that none of the Guild agents were able to understand what had happened.
The minds of a few scrambled as they stared at the Jester sitting on the piano.
His identity was still unknown.
The same was true for his intentions.
He just suddenly showed up out of nowhere, changing the entire scenario alongside his presence.
The hearts of the agents grew heavy at the sight of him.
His back was straight as he stood before the piano.
From his posture alone, one could see he was experienced.
But would his piece really be able to impress the host?
Dang!
The first note began to play.
Then came the second, and then the third.
The Jester's back remained upright as he continued at the piano.
While the left hand carried a steady, almost funereal procession of descending chords, the right hand wove a sparse, pleading melody above.
The room throbbed with the gentle strains of sound, rich and vivid in their sorrow, with subtle hints of melancholy threaded through every pause and progression.
It was a simple tune, and yet it felt pleasing to the ears.
But at the same time...
'It's nice, but I don't feel anything.'
The people around danced to the tune, but their dance was lacking.
It was slow, almost too slow.
...This was no piece fit for a ball dance.
Zoey's brows furrowed as she tried her best to match the beat of the music.
Her eyes continued to fall on the enigmatic Jester.
Just what in the world was he thinking to play this piece?
She only had to look once to see the host's slowly crumbling expression.
On the other hand, not far from her, Tom's lips slowly pulled into a smirk as he stared at the Jester.
'...And you called my piece trash.'
If his was trash, then what was this?
Tom had originally been worried that he might get implicated because of the Jester's words, but it seemed like he had worried too much as he closed his eyes and led the dance, his steps slow and even to match the tempo of the song.
Everything was slowly starting to turn for the quiet Jester as he played his music.
The hit he had originally promised never showed itself.
Instead, all they heard was a slow and melancholic song that seemed unfitting for the dance.
The host's body trembled.
He looked angry. As if he had been played.
Everyone stopped.
They knew that things were about to turn for the worse.
***
The world around me was quiet.
I had zoned out all the noise and faces around me.
The only thing I could hear was the soft melody of the piano before me.
I could tell that I wasn't doing very good.
The keys were playing perfectly.
...There was no mistake in any of the notes.
And yet, I could tell that it was still lacking something.
Emotions...
It lacked emotions.
That was what it lacked.
Indeed, this piece was one that encapsulated grief, sadness, longing, and a sense of transcending these negative feelings.
As things stood, I couldn't display such emotions.
I fundamentally lacked the understanding of them in order to play this piece as it was intended.
Right now, I was merely playing the notes.
Not the music.
Dang!
My skin prickled as I felt the host's gaze.
I tried to swallow, but I found that I couldn't.
Every hair on my body stood on end.
I clenched my teeth and continued to play the piano.
I was waiting.
Waiting for—
'Is this really the best that you can do?'
Him.
A croaky and sharp voice whispered in my ears.
'After all that criticism, you show me this?'
Slowly blinking my eyes, a figure stared through the polished surface of the piano.
Its lips pulled up, its sewn lips stretching.
'...The perfect piece you boasted so much about is this?'
It indeed was.
But I never said I was capable enough of playing it.
I was far from good enough to play it.
'If you're not good enough to play it, what gave you the arrogance to stand here and play it in front of everyone?'
The conductor spoke in my mind as though it could read my thoughts.
No, it probably could.
Regarding my confidence...
I stared at the polished surface of the piano where the conductor appeared.
He was my confidence.
He was the reason why I decided to play the piano.
'Me..? You think I'm going to help you?'
Yes.
Of course, I was sure.
Surely a perfectionist like the conductor wouldn't allow for such a piece to be tarnished by me.
'Isn't that right?'
The conductor's smile slowly faded as he looked at me.
I felt chills run down my entire body.
However, I maintained my gaze on the conductor.
This was my bet.
'....Since I'm already about to die, I might as well risk it.'
What difference would jumping from one hell to another make?
Since I was going to hell anyway, I saw no need to care about the way I died.
I took a silent breath while staring at the conductor.
So...?
Are you going to help me or not?