Game Complete – The Terrifying Upload

Has he finally made up with his girlfriend? Ever since Yaruru ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠officially became my assistant, we'd been having a ton of conversations. Sure, we talked before that too... sharing feedback, listening to my offhand stories about game theory from my past life. Even if she sometimes flipped out over the scary stuff.

In that short time, Yaruru grew fast.

"Ugh—it's creepy-looking, but the details here feel lacking, you know!"

"...You saw it that closely even though it's creepy?"

"Eek, the background music—is this on purpose to give chills?!"

"Ah. Is the screech too piercing?"

"Once is fine, but hearing it over and over gets annoying, you know!"

"Got it. I'll note that down."

"And here! It rubs against the wall for 8 seconds, then bumps into the senior investigator and suddenly the magic panel shuts off!"

"...How'd you even find that?"

She was even spotting bugs caused by the magic panel's low specs. Yaruru was articulating her feelings way more detailed than I'd expected. At this point, she could pass for a QA tester, not just an assistant.

"Because I'm your assistant, I have to do at least this much, you know..."

I pretended not to notice the tremble in her voice.

"What if you weren't my assistant?"

"I'd chuck the magic panel and run away, you know!"

"..."

Anyway. Thanks to Yaruru, I gained more than I thought. Where players get stuck. Where to create those blocks. Where their motivation sparks—or where they wanna quit. Those insights are experiences only players can have, not the creator.

We repeated the same in my mental space. Of course, Adel needed 30-minute breaks after every 10 minutes of play, but we finally reached the ending of the test version.

"I hate it, but ending it here would be even worse..."

After that, she even did multiple playthroughs to hunt for the hidden elements I'd snuck in. Seven runs, no less.

"I never thought you'd find all that."

"Hehe. This is like eating cold soup for me!"

"..."

After the feedback, it was back to production time. Skipping proper meals, filling up on bread dipped in soup. Chugging coffee like water, holed up in the room for days.

"...It's finally done."

No matter how much I pondered, there was nothing left to fix. To boost quality further, unlocking the status window limits would be faster than leveling up my skills. This was the best I could do with my current ability.

Accepting that drained the strength from my body. My fingertips tingled, my head ached dully, and my stomach growled fiercely. Come to think of it, I'd been skimping on food as the end neared.

"...Guess I'll crash first."

I could eat after waking up, so the drooping eyes pulling me under took priority. I'd held out on caffeine for days, but with the tension gone, overwhelming sleepiness hit.

"Lying in bed, yaaawn—lucky... zzz..."

Zzz——

"......"

Thud- thud- thud-

"..."

Thud- thud-

Chaseee—

"..."

"Ughh—"

Thud thud- Chase! You alive in there?!

...Yaruru?

It felt like I'd just fallen asleep. Why was Yaruru knocking late at night? I forced open my sticky eyes and stretched my stiff body.

Crackkk—

"...?"

Just a quick nap, yet my body felt insanely refreshed.

...Weird. No memory of popping a fatigue-recovery elixir.

The thought passed as the knocking continued. I tried to respond, but my throat was parched—no voice came out.

Whoosh—

"Chase...? You alive, you know?!"

"Ahem, cough... ahem. Yaruru, what's up all sudden?"

I sat up leisurely and opened the door. There stood Yaruru, teary-eyed and looking up at me.

"I thought you were dead, you know!"

"We talked yesterday though—such a drama queen—"

"You didn't leave the room for three days, you know!"

"Huh?"

I thought I'd just woken from a short nap... but slept for three straight days?

Blinking in disbelief, Yaruru went uwaaang— and hugged me.

"Is your body okay, you know?!"

"Uh? Yeah, uh, yeah. Feels great."

Yaruru grabbed my arm, dragging me downstairs. "Eat first, you know!"

The inn hall buzzed with drinkers despite the late hour. Wooden chairs creaked, dishes and glasses clinked everywhere. After days locked in and then dead-to-the-world sleep, it all felt surreal. Like dropping into a fantasy tavern.

...This is a fantasy world.

"Oh, you're alive, lad?"

The innkeeper grinned, setting down mugs at a table.

"Yeah. Kinda overslept big time."

"Hah, young or not, bread and coffee alone tires anyone out."

"Haha..."

We grabbed an empty table. The innkeeper plopped down beside us.

"Your face looks brighter today."

"Eh. That so."

"Yep! Holed up like a possessed man for days... finally made up with your girlfriend?"

"...Girlfriend?"

The innkeeper leered, nodding toward Yaruru.

"Your girl fretted over you for three days straight."

"N-not girlfriend yet, no no, you know..."

Yaruru flushed, shaking her head wildly, but the innkeeper ignored her, barreling on.

"Heh heh, good times. So, what'll ya have?"

Yaruru glanced at me instead of answering.

"Chase. That nap—was that 'cause it's done, you know?"

"Yeah. Finished it right before crashing."

"Ooo..."

Her eyes sparkled at my nod. She shot her hand up at the innkeeper.

"The priciest, tastiest stuff today, you know!"

"Haha! Not a lovers' spat—finished a thesis or somethin'?"

"...Neither, but yeah, wrapped up something big."

I gave a wry smile at his uncle-ish nagging.

Soon, way heartier plates than usual arrived. Glossy whole barbecue ribs, colorful grilled veggies as garnish. Thick-sauced pasta, hefty meat pies with bold aroma. I blinked.

"We didn't order some of this...?"

The innkeeper grinned.

"Service."

"Pardon?"

"Long stay in the fancy room, no trouble, and that missy eats so heartily it boosted lunch sales. This is thanks."

He winked and headed off to shouts from another table.

"Hear that, you know."

"Yeah?"

"Over half's thanks to me, you know."

"...Fair."

Her mukbang vibes definitely made watchers hungry. Yaruru wrapped pasta around meat contentedly and shoved it in. I spooned some soup, then speared a pie chunk. My empty gut couldn't resist the aroma anymore.

Spices spot-on? Not salty or greasy—perfect seasoning.

"Whoa. Melts in your mouth right away?"

"Tasty, you know!"

We demolished the food like warriors. Pasta, BBQ, pie, burgers, fruit preserves... Ordering and eating nonstop till the hall quieted. Clutching my stuffed belly, I grinned.

"Whew... ah."

"Why the grin, you know."

"You're grinning too, Yaruru."

"Hmph, I'm just satisfied, you know."

"Me too."

Like clearing a quest and claiming the reward. No mountains of gold or shiny artifacts, but it felt just as good.

"Stuffed now—nap again?"

"...Feels like old times all sudden, you know."

After eating, Yaruru wanted to try the finished game and followed me to the room. I fired up the magic panel lying on the bed; she scooted over from the desk.

"Upload it first, you know!"

"Sudden much?"

"Wanna see others freak out. Heh heh heh."

Luchel was rolling around on the bed clutching his magic panel.

"Haa. Nothin' fun..."

Ayla sighed, textbooks spread on the table as she studied.

"Seriously. Hitting the community again?"

"Again? This is info gathering. Can't let the same thing happen next time."

Ayla facepalmed at Luchel's excuse.

"Why gather info sprawled on the bed?"

"Posture doesn't matter."

Dodging her icy glare, Luchel buried his face in the panel.

"Puhahaha!"

"Laughing now? While I'm single 'cause of you."

"..."

Sensing danger from Ayla now lying behind him, Luchel frantically disliked and jumped to another post.

"GameMakerCute's new ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠game?!"

Luchel urgently searched "GameCute" and tapped the top post.

Ayla blinked.

"A game... that might be scary?"

Luchel voiced the question.

"GameMakerCute brought something new again."

"Yeah... but calling it 'GameCute'?"

Luchel sat up slowly.

"Ayla sis."

After that creepy trip with Chase's group, now a horror game from GameMakerCute. No clue how scary and games mix, but...

"Timing's too perfect, right?"

Ayla pondered, then shook her head.

"You don't think Yaruru is GameMakerCute, do you?"

"...Nah, I mean Chase."

At Ayla's dubious look, Luchel smirked slyly and opened the marketplace.

"Then let's check."

His glasses glinted in the sunlight.