[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-horror-game-developer-my-games-aren-t-that-scary":3,"chapter-horror-game-developer-my-games-aren-t-that-scary-horror-game-developer-my-games-aren-t-that-scary-chapter-6":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},429519,691,"Chapter 6: The Jester [5]","horror-game-developer-my-games-aren-t-that-scary-chapter-6",6,"\u003Cp>[00 : 00s]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time ended, and the earbuds stopped working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it no longer mattered. The music had stopped, replaced by an unsettling, suffocating silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H-ha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My chest trembled as I drew in a shaky breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, my stomach had flipped, twisted, and contorted in every possible way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, as I locked eyes with the conductor, an unbearable weight pressed against my gut, as if something inside me wanted to crawl out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...R... repeat that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was low, grave—like something clawing its way up from the depths of hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed silently, trying to pull down the bile that had built up in my throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Relax, remain calm.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation was unfolding exactly as I wanted it to. I just needed to finish what I started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what if it doesn't work? What if what I thought was the wrong answer? Could it really work? But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst all my unnecessary thoughts, my lips slowly parted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your music...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused, forcing down the lump in my throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...It's garbage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>RATTLE!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire hall shuddered. Chairs scraped against the floor. Curtains swayed. The balconies trembled. Instruments clattered to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rattling continued—violent, deafening—until it suddenly stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"G... garbage?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conductor's head tilted at an unnatural angle, the motion slow, deliberate. A sharp crack echoed through the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...My... music is garbage?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the sound was louder, sharper. The conductor's head twisted further—past 90 degrees, past 180—until it dangled upside down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded, forcing composure. Or at least, trying to. Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold hand gripped my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept my gaze locked forward, muscles tensed. But somethingpulledat me. A shadow stretched across my lap, and slowly, a faceless figure emerged beside me, its hollow gaze locked onto mine with unsettling intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'm about to puke.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as if things weren't bad enough—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cra-CRACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hollow face beside me tilted its head, mimicking the conductor with slow, unnatural movements. A sickening crack split the silence as its face twisted and shifted, skin stretching and tearing with a wet, grotesque sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mouth appeared, and a voice whispered next to my ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why...? Why do you say this...? I'm perfect. It... was perfect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My hand trembled, my back soaking in cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That voice...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's the conductor's voice!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creature leaned in closer, its breath chilling my ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell... me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...The tempo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chewed on my tongue, trying my best to remain calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The rhythm. Everything about it felt boring.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, I turned my head to face the faceless figure directly. I knew I couldn't show any emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The creature... It fed itself through fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trash—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The theater shook violently. The piano sheets scattered to the floor. Instruments crashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My grip on the armrest tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Keep a grip of yourself. Keep a grip!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It all stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suffocating to the point of being unable to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, my ears tingled. The conductor's voice reached my ears again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... do it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused for a moment, processing the words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If... you say my work... is trash. You do it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do it...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clamped a hand over my mouth, stifling an unexpected sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sound soon escaped my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's... wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahahaha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sound soon twisted into a laugh as I suddenly burst out laughing, my voice a little high as a result of all the pent-up stress releasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason... it sounded eerily much like that of a clown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Me do it? What sort of response was this? I wasn't the conductor. It wasn't my job to do their job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The response was so stupid that I found myself laughing unexpectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around me, the expressions of the others shifted. The way they looked at me—it was almost the same as how they had looked at the conductor moments prior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>RATTLE!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall quaked again. A chill crept up my spine. Cold, bony fingers wrapped around my neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....Youlaugh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grip tightened. Air fled my lungs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, I felt it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was one snap away from death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How... dare you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grip intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was strong, and my vision started to blur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'm going to die.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt it with every bone in my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, I wasn't panicked. I could still do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaching out for the 'mind printer' in my hand, the image of a sheet of music appeared in my mind. It was a classic piece I had seen in the past. Making a few adjustments to it, I pressed onto the paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Work, this has to work!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper trembled in my grasp. Notes appeared—one by one, like ink seeping from the void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faster,faster, faster!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If... you can't show me... then why are you here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conductor's voice coiled around my ear, tickling it and sending shivers down my entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't bother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I continued to stare at the paper in my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Halfway done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why...? If so, then maybe you should die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could hardly feel my surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind was a hazy mess, and the world around me started to spin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart pounded loudly in my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was ticking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost,almost!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... hope that nex—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forced the word out, shoving the sheet up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All noise ceased then, and the grip over my neck loosened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What... is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't reply and looked at the figure next to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if understanding, it loosened its grip further, and I opened my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Play this. It's... a famous composition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All I felt was the chilling gaze of the conductor as it eyed the paper in my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Maybe the piece was boring. You say you're perfect. Show me. Play this piece. It's my favorite.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is... this a challenge?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, the hall fell into a state of silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence stretched endlessly, each second dragging on in agonizing suspense. In that moment, every bead of sweat on my forehead became painfully noticeable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just when I couldn't resist for any longer...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hand pulled away, allowing me to fully breathe again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I knew it, the conductor held the sheet of paper in their hand, placing it directly on the podium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the other members of the orchestra picked up their instruments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their coordination was astounding, and in matters of seconds, everything was back in place. All heads similarly turned to face the front once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tapping its baton on the podium, the conductor raised its hand and...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wam!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The music started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The theater came alive, and a nice melody filled the surroundings once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just like before, I felt my mind slowly get pulled into the music, my thoughts squirming and my body twitching. I could see the faces of the other people change, too, realizing that something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What's wrong? Why did nothing change? I can feel the music messing with my head again. Don't tell me this was all a trap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female voice echoed from the walkie-talkie, rushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chose to ignore her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, the others followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I knew it! I knew it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—This was a trap...!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Captain, what do we do!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were panicking. It made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because, to them, nothing had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I knew better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched the conductor closely. It lifted its baton for the next part when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The music halted. The hall fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conductor scratched its face, staring at the sheet in confusion. It tried again—lowering the baton—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ithesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that's when I smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way it could play a tampered piece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I did it.'\u003C\u002Fp>",1276,"2026-05-30T08:34:27.148Z","2026-06-01T04:30:46.873Z",1,"novelbin.me","07dddc41cafdf98e035dced6604d472dbcfd7138adafbf2d724e205f20243ea4","horror-game-developer-my-games-aren-t-that-scary-chapter-7","horror-game-developer-my-games-aren-t-that-scary-chapter-5",656,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhorror-game-developer-my-games-aren-t-that-scary-cover.jpg"]