“Mirror Voices?”
Reading the name of the reward and noting the color assigned to it, I could tell it was a software. But as I mentally ran through all the available programs in the shop, none of them matched the one I had just received — Mirror Voices.
In that case, this was a unique software.
One that wasn’t even available in the shop yet.
My heart raced at the thought as I quickly looked down, where a pop-up appeared.
[Congratulations! Your wheel has landed on a prize!]
[Would you like to collect it?]
▶[Yes] ▷[No]
“Yes!”
I didn’t even hesitate and pressed yes.
Immediately, the screen flashed white as the wheel dissapeared and I was brought back to the main app where I opened the Game Developing area.
It was right there that I saw a new software added, and I immediately clicked on it to read its description.
The moment I did, my eyes widened.
“Holy… shit.”
This was massive.
─────
[Mirror Voices]
Type/Software
A software that is capable of recording and mimicking the voices of anyone who is playing the game. For the software to function, the microphone must be switched on. Software can be applied to the game ’actors’.
: Non-consumable.
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Just one look was enough to make my heart race. All sorts of possibilities crossed my mind as I re-read the description of the software.
“This… I can definitely make this work for the game I just developed.”
It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought of adding this feature to the game, but actually programming something like this was simply too difficult without a team. Not only that, but it wasn’t like it would be of much use anyway.
’So what if I can make it so that the ’Twisted Man’ can mimic the voice of the person playing the game? That would only just creep them out a little. However, it wouldn’t be enough to trick them into looking at the Twisted Man.’
This was fundamentally why I gave up on the idea.
However, now that the software presented itself before me, my mind couldn’t help but churn at all the possibilities that had opened up for me.
But still, there was a fundamental problem that I had to address.
How exactly could I trick a player with their own voice?
“If I get the ’Twisted Man’ to copy their voice, would it make them turn?”
No, it wouldn’t.
At the very least, I wouldn’t turn. I wasn’t that stupid.
Then…
How exactly could I trick the player to turn?
“What if I alter their voice? Hmm, that would make them not turn even more. I already got the Twisted Man to copy the old woman’s voice. I also already got it to copy the sound of objects. From creaking to other things. What else…? What else…”
My brows furrowed as I mulled over the situation, but then I abruptly lifted my head, attracted by the muffled sound of footsteps echoing from outside.
“Hm?”
Then—
To Tok—!
I heard a sudden knock on the door, and I blinked my eyes.
“Who?”
“…It’s me.”
The voice sounded rather tired, but it was without a doubt Kyle’s. Tilting my head, I was just about to reply when the knob turned and he opened the door.
“I’m coming i—Eukh!”
Just a few steps into the office, Kyle’s face turned ghostly pale. His hands shot up to his neck, as if an invisible force were strangling him.
With bloodshot eyes, he looked at me, his eyes filled with both shock and disgust.
I merely nodded once I felt his gaze.
’Yeah, looks about right.’
The room had no windows or ventilation. Plus, with me having stayed and slept in this place for the past couple of weeks, I didn’t doubt that this place smelled terrible.
“Take it as a lesson to never enter my office without getting permission from me.”
I did try to warn him before coming in. It was just a pity that he entered before I could say so.
“Kek.”
Oh, shit.
Looking up, I covered my mouth.
I slipped up without noticing.
“Hurk.”
Glaring at me, Kyle let out a small grunt before stepping out of the room to take several deep breaths and entering again, his hand against his nose as he opened his mouth to speak.
“Bastard, what have you done to this place? This is a crime!”
His voice sounded rather funny.
I shrugged.
“Like I said, ask before entering.”
“That doesn’t change anything! What have you done to this place? Did you kill a person? It smells like someone left a body to rot in this place.”
“You sound like someone who has smell—”
“Yes, I have. Multiple times at that.”
“…Oh.”
Right.
This job…
“It’s not my fault this place has no windows and ventilation.”
“I…”
Holding himself back, Kyle brought his face outside of the office again to take a deep breath before bringing his head back in. In the end, looking at me, he just shook his head.
“Whatever, this is not the reason why I’m here.”
He looked behind him.
“I’m here to talk about something else. It involves you to some extent.”
“Me?”
Why would I be involved?
I had stayed relatively low-key recently. I didn’t think I offended anyone, and the Section Chief also appeared rather busy lately.
So what could it be?
“It involves your most recent game.”
“My most recent game?”
The hell? While I did tell him about my game, I didn’t show it to him, or anyone in fact. The only one who had it was Jamie.
’Could it be that Jamie gave the game to Zoey?’
No, that wouldn’t make sense. Zoey didn’t strike me as a person who would be interested in that stuff.
Then…?
“Remember when Rowan started screaming and that stuff? Something about it being due to your game. A small conflict occurred between them and Rowan, and well… it ended up being some sort of bet, with Rowan saying that they’d be scared.”
“Huh?”
Oh, wait!
It was there that I recalled.
Indeed, Rowan played the game. The others had also seen it.
Right… Right…
That did happen.
“Don’t worry about it. They didn’t take the bet. They didn’t look that interested in it.”
“Wait, they didn’t?”
“Nope.”
Kyle shook his head.
“Like I said, they weren’t interested. In the end, the situation ended there.”
“…Oh.”
For some reason, I felt rather disappointed hearing that. With Jamie not replying to me, I was dying to know how good the game was. It worked on Rowan, but would it work on people who were even stronger than him?
I was really dying to know.
’Damn it! It would’ve been a great opportunity!’
I really felt like pulling my hair out at the moment. But with that being said… If the bet didn’t go through, why was he telling me this?
As if reading my thoughts, Kyle brought his head out and back in before replying.
“I just wanted to mention it since you might get asked about your game later. I don’t know if it’ll happen, but Rowan’s reaction did make a few people curious.”
“…I see.”
Well, that’s good.
I suppose all the time I spent helping Rowan ended up paying off after all.
Wait.
My eyes sharpened as I looked at Kyle.
Could it be…?
“You want to try the game too?”
“Well…”
Kyle scratched the side of his cheek, his eyes looking down. Seeing his reaction, I suddenly smiled and stood up, pointing at my seat.
“Please. The two of us are like brothers, Kyle. If you want to play the game, just tell me… kuk.”
Oh, no.
I had to hold it in.
Licking my lips, I looked at the laptop and was just about to boot up the game when Kyle’s voice echoed.
“Wait, wait.”
“What…?”
Was he having second thoughts?
No, I couldn—
“About where we can play the game. Can we do it outside? This place is a bit….”
I paused, blinking before pursing my lips.
“Right, of course.”