She was a named character that appeared in [Forest Nights], a game I helped design by my previous company, Nightmare Forge Studios.
The story's premise centered around Zoey and her rich family setting off for a fun trip to a remote island. But disaster struck when their helicopter crashed en route. Stranded on an unfamiliar island filled with terrifying monsters, Zoey was left alone, her parents missing, forcing her to confront the island's horrors in a desperate bid to find and rescue them.
In the end, the game ends on a happy note with her managing to rescue them.
There was no bad ending to the game, and that was what probably caused it not to do so well.
'This must be some sort of joke, right? A shitty coincidence...?'
"Most of you probably know her story. After accidentally crash-landing on Sentriest Island and single-handedly taking down multiple Titans before making it out alive, she's gone on to clear several ranked Gates since then. What can I say? She's a star."
Yes, so it wasn't a coincidence.
The fact that they even mentioned the Titans—monsters specifically designed to exist only within the island—only confirmed it further.
'...So, not only has the world changed, but have the characters of games I had previously worked in appeared in this world as well?'
I paused for a moment and thought about all the previous games I had worked on.
There were quite a few. A total of thirty one to be precise. From low-end graphics to high-end graphics.
So... you're telling me there's a chance a character from each game could be in this world?
"Now that I've introduced our two superstars, I'll get straight to the main topic."
The Section Chief pressed a small remote in his hand, and the projector came to life.
A blank presentation slide appeared with just four words.
[Containment Sector Orientation Day]
It looked kind of plain.
"I know what you're thinking. It looks boring, plain..."
"But it's not about how pretty it looks—it's about how clearly it presents the information. There's no point spending hours making it look nice when you're only going to see it for ten minutes."
In other words, you were too lazy to do it properly.
Wow, he really went hard with the presentation.
"As the name of our sector implies, we're responsible for containing and studying anomalous entities and items. But where do these entities and items come from?"
The slide changed again, now displaying a black vortex hovering in the air.
"That's right, Gates!"
Two loud bangs echoed in the air, startling me and the few others next to me as colorful confetti fell down from above.
By the time I processed what had just happened, I noticed Kyle and Zoey standing behind the Section Chief, their faces flushed red and heads lowered, clearly trying to hide their embarrassment as they held onto two confetti poppers.
What sort of place was this?
"The Gates are each categorized into different types, and we at the Containment Sector handle Anomalous Type Gates. Now, what are Anomalous Type Gates?"
"Anomalous-Type Gates are Gates that go beyond the simple clearing Gates. Instead, they involve puzzles and strange challenges, like mind-bending problems and changing rules. They aren't Gates one can just brute force their way into clearing. If it were that simple, we wouldn't have the highest m—Keum."
He was about to say the highest mortality rate, wasn't he?
"...It's kind of dry in here, isn't it?"
I felt lucky knowing that I was merely here as an observer. Just the thought of working here made me want to puke.
At the same time, I made sure to memorize all the information given in the presentation.
It was, as Kyle said, this was important information I couldn't afford to miss.
"If an Anomalous-Type Gate isn't cleared or found in time, there's a high chance that the Anomalous Entity residing within the Gate slips into the real world. And that's when it becomes a real problem."
My ears perked up then.
I suddenly recalled the conductor from the 'scenario' I had previously experienced, and felt this next piece of information was closely related to me.
"...If an Anomalous Entity ever manages to enter our world, we'll have a short window to find and contain it. At first, it'll be weak, but as time passes and it gets used to our world, it will grow stronger."
They will get stronger...?
My heart squeezed, and I felt my muscles tense.
'Does that mean that the conductor will become stronger?'
I felt my breath leave my body.
"That's why we need to stay on high alert at all times. If you notice anything unusual, don't hesitate to report it, even if it seems insignificant. That 'insignificant' detail might be the one thing that saves your life—and many others."
I pressed my lips together and looked at Kyle.
'Should I come clean to him?'
The thought had crossed my mind yesterday when I met him, but I wasn't yet sure of his position within the Guild or their stance on such matters. I didn't want to drag him into something so dangerous.
I also couldn't shake the worry of them wanting to dissect me, or something equally unsettling.
'But listening to them now and seeing how much Kyle had understated his position, then perhaps...?'
"And last but not least!"
The slide changed again, and the expressions of several people changed.
"Yes, it's as you've read."
The Section Chief tapped onto the projector screen.
"Don't be a pussy when handling Anomalous entities. Even if they are scary, you mustn't be a pussy. It's okay to be scared and brave, but its not okay to be scared and a pussy."
Why did it feel like I was being targeted?
"Of course, rationality is key, but if you're being chased by something like the ghost of a little boy, chances are it can't really hurt you. The more fear you show, the stronger some entities can get. In situations like that... just kick the little ghost boy."
The Section Chief did a kicking motion.
"It's satisfying, trust me."
I turned my attention towards Kyle, who turned his head away in shame.
"Oh well, it looks like the ten minutes are almost up."
Checking his watch, the Section Chief pressed the remote.
"For a finishing statement, I'll say this. There are many different ranks for Anomalous Gates. I can understand that some are scary, and that the survival rate isn't quite high for people in our industry, but our job is crucial for maintaining order and peace in the world."
He looked serious as he spoke.
"It's okay to be scared. It's a natural part of being human. Fear is something we all feel when faced with the unknown."
Putting the remote in his pocket, he eyed all the recruits present in the room.
"What's important is that you don't stay passive. You need to actively engage in solving situations and handling cases. If you're passive in this industry, the only thing you'll get is a gruesome death."
The projector turned off, and silence filled the surroundings.
Then, just as everyone was busy processing his last words, he clapped his hands.
"Alright, enough with the presentation. Now that we've covered the basics, let's move on with the practical stuff."
He turned his back on us and walked past Kyle and Zoey.
"...Shall we get to work and see how good you all are?"