Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Abduction Special (1)
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"A horror map, huh."
Horror.
The most primal human emotion—fearing something, dreading it, shrinking away from it.
And as primal as it is, there are so many different kinds of horror.
'Seol-ah, check this out.'
'What is it, sis?'
'A cockroach.'
'Yeah. I'd just pass out.'
I was deathly terrified of bugs, to the point where I'd faint at the sight of one.
'Sis, look at this.'
'What?'
'A clown.'
'...Gurgle.'
My sister had some inexplicable phobia of clowns, fainting dead away whenever she saw one. That was horror too.
But using either as the theme for a horror map was a hard no. Bugs weren't really scary... they just grossed people out and disgusted them, enough to turn off viewers. And clowns? More people laughed at them than anything.
"The safest bet would be to benchmark a haunted house or horror game."
Dark abandoned hospital, derelict house—whatever. Drop the protagonist alone in some isolated, forsaken place, startling them with mystery monsters left and right as they struggle to escape.
That was the essence of modern horror games. Just build a scary atmosphere, throw in some jump-scare monsters, and boom—horror. No need to overthink it.
"A bit unexpected. Legend making a horror map."
"Huh? Something surprising about that?"
In that sense, I was on the phone with Sua for the first time in ages. She was Label's map creator, way better than me at designing layouts and mechanics.
"All your 'works' so far have been for Myth sis. But a horror map? Doesn't feel like it's for her—more like for the viewers."
"Oh, spot on. Gotta treat the viewers right once in a while, don't you think?"
"Good on you. I'm one of those viewers myself. So, about the horror map—do you have a direction in mind?"
"A direction?"
"Horror maps aren't as simple as they seem. Take horror games: they split into two big categories right off the bat."
Sua popped two terms up on her screen.
『Interaction Enabled』
『Story-Driven』
"Most horror games fall into one of these from the start. Story-driven ones let you follow a set path, soaking in the narrative and scares. The others allow interaction with monsters.
For the first, think of that P.T. playable teaser that was huge a couple years back. For the second, classics like Dead Space."
"Lying in a coma for seven years, so I'm clueless on the first, but I get the vibe. Hmm..."
"Ahh! Sorry! Totally spaced on that!!"
I ignored Sua's flustered panic and mulled it over.
"Interaction's probably too tough for us to pull off, right?"
"Mm... Even substituting with gimmicks, it'd fall short in too many ways. Might as well just play a real horror game then."
"Ugh. Yeah, figured."
"But don't overthink it. Horror in games doesn't tie much to production quality anyway. Atmosphere is key. Even 2D Tsukuru games can terrify if the mood's right. Like Ao Oni or the Witch's House series."
"...Those are scary?"
"Myth sis thought so."
Yeah. That was the sticking point in my dilemma.
My influence in the VTuber scene was huge, sure. But zoom out to the world, and there were way bigger fish. Hollywood blockbusters, AAA game studios—were my works really all that compared to them? Plenty to question there.
Especially 'gameplay.' I'd get crushed. Making a pretty game was worlds apart from crafting a truly scary map.
I needed a reason for viewers to play my map over some ultra-high-quality existing horror game. Something to sell it to them.
"Viewers... viewers..."
"Legend. When it's for the viewers, maybe step back from 'horror map' and think 'content' instead?"
"Content?"
"Yeah. Some streamers just grab a game and play—that's their content. Others take a game and build content around it, right?"
Time attacks, or races to see who clears it fastest.
Her words sparked something in my brain.
"Competition?"
"Ooh, lightbulb moment?"
"Sua. Horror games have puzzle types too, yeah?"
"Yep. Super common in VR maps too. Puzzles are easy to implement compared to other stuff."
Puzzles. Competition.
Hm. Fun idea brewing. Time had passed, and this was purely for the viewers—an event just for them.
"Hm. Sua."
"Yeah, listening."
"How about something like this?"
I sketched a rough outline and sent it over. She read it all and let out an incredulous chuckle.
"...For real?"
"Any issues?"
"No, no issues. No issues at all... but this? It's gonna cause a total uproar."
Sua's voice started to tremble a bit. Like she was questioning if she should even be part of such a wild plan.
Her reaction convinced me it could work.
Nothing thrilled viewers more than streamers losing their minds over something insane.
And so my first 'project' kicked off.
▶
"Sis. Why'd you call me out today?"
A cafe a short distance from Myth's place. She'd masked up and donned sunglasses, huddling in a corner booth to link up with her manager—us.
"And in this weather, why the Barbour coat?"
"...Don't wanna draw eyes."
"Sis, that coat's drawing more eyes. Take it off already. You didn't go out with nothing underneath like some Barbour Man creep, did you?"
"No."
Myth shrugged off the Barbour coat with gusto.
We sighed at the sight.
'Weird. She wasn't like this before.'
The Myth Yuuri knew was the epitome of a cool, career-driven ice queen. Deadly serious about work, pouring her all into it, yet never missing a daily hospital visit for her beloved, bedridden man. A heroine straight out of a novel.
She kept businesslike walls up with most folks, doting fiercely only on the few who breached them. But ever since Legend woke up, she was turning into a total goofball, bit by bit.
Her expressions richer, her laughs more genuine.
Six months in, and to Yuuri—who'd known this poised Myth for years—it still felt novel rather than awkward.
Gag outfits like a summer Barbour coat? Unthinkable for the old Myth.
We sipped our chilled iced Americano. A pleasant bitterness coated the tongue. No one ordered sweets in front of Myth anymore.
"So, what's the real deal, sis?"
"Yuuri. Have you heard anything? Seol-i's been acting off lately."
"Acting off how?"
We leaned in a touch. Even a 100% cool-headed T-type like Yuuri was still a woman. A flicker of interest in the gossip.
"Something up?"
"Seol-i's been weird. Used to never lock his door while working, but now he keeps it bolted like he's scared I'll barge in."
"Maybe hiding a surprise? Heard he loves those."
"That too, but the other day in the bathroom, I caught this shady vibe—hup."
Myth clapped a hand over her mouth. Too late—the words had flown out and lodged in our ears.
"Pffft?!"
Americano sprayed from our mouth. Thank god she'd ducked to sip hers through the straw.
We coughed it out, grabbed tissues, wiped the table clean, and recomposed. Barely veiled curiosity burned in our eyes now.
"...The bathroom?"
"You sure you heard right?"
"Crystal clear."
"Nah. We trust memory too much. Human recall accuracy's under 30%, you know."
Myth was clearly steering the convo away. Hm. Tempting to pry, but too risky in an open cafe like this.
We could feel nearby tables pretending not to eavesdrop. Tsk. Phone call for the full story later.
"...We'll get the details over a call next time."
Myth nodded, cheeks flushing. Her turn to ask.
"So, heard anything from Label about what Seol-i's cooking up? Looks big, and it's making me uneasy."
"Legend always pulls through with gold. Why worry now?"
"Sigh... Woman's intuition? We chat over meals, I fish gently, and usually he'd gaze all soft and say 'just a bit longer.'"
Myth grumbled, stirring her drink.
Ah, damn. This pattern. Should've ordered espresso over Americano—my bad. We gulped the cold brew with dead eyes.
'Damn. Already getting a little sweet.'
"Normally, 'just wait a sec, it's a secret' sounds like sweet nothings, turning me into a giddy kid awaiting her gift, heart fluttering with innocent joy. But this time? Different.
His hugs, his hand stroking my hair—warm, grateful as ever. But there's this... sinister undercurrent."
Hoo.
We slammed back the rest of our Americano. Blood sugar spiking—needed that bitter hit before keeling over.
Didn't need to know the sensations her idol sis felt from her boyfriend's touches at home. Sigh. Overtime pay for this one.
We endured 30 minutes of Myth's boyfriend bragging right there.