I Was Kidnapped By The Strongest Guild
Chapter 223: Horror Game

That evening, as the sun began to set, I was walking around outside the park with the children.

"Kids, we need to be back before dark, okay? Gyeoul, don't overdo it, alright?"

"Yes, we'll come back before sunset."

"Good. Saebyeok and Levinas, take good care of Gyeoul too."

Yeoreum lingered near us instead of going home. She was worried about me after my encounter with that thug in the dungeon.

"I'm fine. Please don't worry so much."

"That's right! King's invincible with Levinas! And with Saebyeok too, she's doubly invincible!"

Yeoreum smiled faintly, seemingly reassured by Levinas's bold declaration. As she headed back to the building, she kept glancing back at us. Because of this, we couldn't move until she was out of sight.

"King! What are we doing anyway?"

"Train? What kind of training?"

"I think this emergency alarm can send signals."

I showed the kids the emergency alarm attached to my bag. I thought Levinas, who knew how to use magic, might know something, but she just tilted her head in confusion.

"King! How do you send signals with this?"

"I'm not sure either, that's why I want to practice."

But how exactly should I train? Not knowing the method, I just clutched the alarm tightly.

'Does it work if I desperately wish for something?'

As I paced around the pond lost in thought, a mackerel leapt out of the water. Reflexively, Saebyeok and I turned our gazes towards the fish. It was an unavoidable reaction for feline beast-kin who love fish.

'I want to eat fish.'

Should I catch one from the pond before sunset?

As I wavered, Saebyeok handed me a folded piece of paper. A delicious fish smell wafted from inside.

"What's this?"

"Anchovies."

When I unfolded the paper, two anchovies about the size of my pinky finger appeared. I couldn't help but be surprised by the anchovies that showed up just as I was craving fish. Maybe a signal was sent because I desperately wanted fish.

"Saebyeok, how did you know I wanted to eat fish? Did a signal go out?"

"No. No signal came."

"Really? Then how did you know...?"

"I saw you licking your lips when you saw the mackerel."

"Oh..."

So that's what I did.

As I scratched my cheek in embarrassment, Saebyeok put an anchovy in my mouth.

"This is my emergency food, but I'll share one with you."

"Thanks."

The finger-sized anchovy was crispy and delicious. Saebyeok and I wagged our tails simultaneously as we munched on the anchovies. Realizing it was snack time, Levinas took out a carrot stick from her pocket and bit into it.

Crunch crunch-

We had a brief snack break. Though it might seem trivial, for beast-kin who live for certain foods, it was the most important time.

"King, is the anchovy tasty?"

"Yeah."

"Carrots are delicious too!"

Nibble nibble nibble-

Levinas gnawing on the carrot with her front teeth was adorable. Saebyeok carefully eating her one anchovy was nice too. I wanted to hug the children tightly. It was a moment when such an impulse struck me.

Suddenly, Levinas threw herself into my arms. Saebyeok also reached out and embraced Levinas and me.

"King! If you want to hug, just do it!"

"Uh, yeah. But how did you know I wanted to hug? Did a signal go out?"

"No! It didn't!"

"Really? Then how did you know...?"

Did Levinas use some magic to read people's minds?

As I hesitated in surprise, Saebyeok revealed the truth.

"We could see you wanted to hug."

"You could see...?"

"Yeah. You were so desperate to hug us, you didn't know what to do with yourself."

"Ah..."

I didn't realize I'd done that. I knew I had trouble hiding my emotions because of my tail, but had I become unable to hide my inner thoughts too? It was hard for me to tell.

'They figure everything out even without signals.'

This wasn't going to make training easy. What should I do?

As I searched for a method, someone approached us.

"What are you guys doing here?"

It was Kwon Arin's voice. This was our first meeting since escaping the dungeon. I was glad she was okay. I wagged my tail and turned towards the direction of her voice.

Kwon Arin was looking down at us with her hands in her pockets.

"I was training."

"Training?"

"Yes. I sent a distress signal in an emergency situation, but I'm not sure how I did it. I'm trying to do it again, but it's not working."

"Hmm..."

Kwon Arin took her hands out of her pockets and folded her arms as I explained. She seemed to be thinking hard about something, then carefully spoke up.

"Wouldn't it work if you put yourself in a dangerous situation?"

"That would be ideal, but I can't put myself in danger just for training."

Training was best done in a safe environment.

When I refused, Kwon Arin came up with a new suggestion.

"How about a horror game then?"

"A horror game?"

"Yeah. You'll feel psychological pressure."

"Uh...?"

My ears perked up at the intriguing proposal. A horror game would certainly make it easy to feel psychological pressure.

"Um... Wouldn't a horror game be too scary?"

"N-no. Let's try it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm fine, but..."

The kids probably won't be okay with it, right?

I wanted to tell the kids to go home first, but they spoke up before I could.

"I'm okay with it."

"Levinas is okay too!"

The two kids spoke quite boldly. I could understand Saebyeok, but I couldn't believe Levinas was acting like this.

"Levinas, won't a horror game be really scary for you?"

"Levinas won't leave King alone! Being without King is scarier!"

"Y-yeah..."

Levinas must have been really scared because of me today. Yeoreum also told her to stay by my side. Although I was worried, I decided to go along with it for now.

---

---

We entered Kwon Arin's quarters with the kids. There was more equipment than when I visited before.

"Is all this broadcasting equipment?"

"Yeah. I got interested as I kept doing it. Thanks to the guild, I'm making a lot of money now, so I bought all sorts of things."

"Wow."

Professional equipment, huh. It was quite impressive.

The kids and I looked around at the broadcasting equipment. Meanwhile, Kwon Arin started setting up the game.

"Hey Gyeoul, is it okay if I turn on the broadcast?"

"Yes, of course."

Kwon Arin always helped me. She risked herself to save me in the dungeon, and now she suggested this good method of using a horror game. I could certainly do a broadcast appearance for her.

"Thanks. Should we go with a game rated for all ages?"

"Yes."

I didn't know horror games had all-ages ratings. Being rated for all ages, it probably wouldn't be too scary, and there shouldn't be any gruesome scenes. We had to avoid cruel games as much as possible with the kids present.

"This should do."

Kwon Arin pressed a button on the pad to start the game. Despite being rated for all ages, it still had that distinct horror game atmosphere.

'Oh...'

Will Levinas be okay?

I turned to look at Levinas, just in case. She was using her headband to firmly press down her ears. Her long rabbit ears were covering her eyes too.

'She plans to not see or hear anything.'

Levinas was clinging to my side with her eyes and ears covered. It seemed she intended to stay like that until the game ended.

"I'm starting the broadcast, okay?"

"Yes."

As Kwon Arin started the broadcast, viewers began to join. Most of the reactions were negative.

[Why are you making Gyeoul play a horror game??]

[Making a kid play a horror game is crossing the line.]

[Arin, this isn't right.]

People in the chat were criticizing Kwon Arin. Kwon Arin hastily waved her hands.

"I-I didn't make her do it. Gyeoul said she wanted to. It's training, training."

[Training?]

[Why are you training with a horror game??]

People expressed their doubts. It seemed I needed to explain directly as the person involved.

"I can send a distress signal to my family when I'm in danger."

[A distress signal?]

"Yes. But it's an ability I can only use in dangerous situations."

[Ah, so that's why you're training with a horror game?]

"Yes. We can't put me in actual danger, after all."

Seeing that the viewers understood my explanation, comments criticizing Kwon Arin gradually disappeared. Kwon Arin grumbled quietly while looking at the chat.

"Do I look like someone who'd force kids to play horror games?"

[Yep]

[Isn't that obvious?]

[That's why you should've behaved better before.]

"......"

Kwon Arin fell silent at the chat's responses. She turned her gaze from the chat to the monitor.

"I'll do it."

"Okay."

Since it's rated for all ages, it probably won't be too scary. I started the game without feeling particularly tense.

---

---

"Since this is training, you don't need to come looking for me even if you receive a distress signal."

This was what Gyeoul had told everyone, including Yeoreum.

Everyone nodded, saying they understood.

'Will a signal really come?'

As Yeoreum cooked, an image of Gyeoul rose in her mind.

-I don't want to die...

Gyeoul whimpered, begging to be saved.

Yeoreum's heart lurched at that desperate image.

"Huh...?"

Is this really just training...?

This seems more like she's in real danger?

Yeoreum hurriedly ran towards where she sensed Gyeoul's signal. Everyone marked with Gyeoul's pheromones ran. They had been told not to come, but by any measure, this wasn't a signal that could arise from mere training.

Gyeoul was in real danger.

Yeoreum kicked down the door where she sensed Gyeoul's presence. She was in such a rush that she didn't even remember it was Kwon Arin's room.

WHAM-!

The door burst open from Yeoreum's kick.

"Eek!"

"Nyaaa!"

"Waaah!"

The kids in the room screamed at the loud noise. All three children jumped up simultaneously.

"F*ck!"

Kwon Arin, who was with the kids, also screamed.

2/6 Enjoy the chappy!

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