Horror Game Designer-Chapter 680: Thank You But I don’t Want to Be Human

“Please mind your terms. I risked my life for you to gain the opportunity to snatch the flesh vessel.” Gao Ming scanned Gao Yun’s office. The place was too sparse. There was nothing personal.

“We’ve worked together so many times. Why mind the details?” The student council president returned to his table. There was a map of Han Hai behind him. It had many marks. “Do you still resent me for not following you into the black mist?”

“I entered the black mist to find the truth while you stayed in Han Hai to cultivate the seeds. That is our initial agreement. There’s no reason for me to resent you.” Gao Ming poured himself a glass of water and purposely sat on the chair that was in the shadows.

The leader of Team One finally realised that the two were close and had worked together many times behind the investigation centre’s back. The investigation centre headquarters still managed most of Han Hai. The student council was nothing. However, that changed if the student council had close ties with Gao Ming. At least at the East City and the Old City, they could force the investigation centre out if they wanted to.

“Whenever you come to me for something, you’d act like you’ve been wronged.” The president sounded more human after he gained a flesh vessel. “You’ve gained so much in the black mist and became a Dream Ghost before everyone else. Are you here to gloat?”

“How far are you from reaching the stage of Dream Ghost?” Gao Yun’s actual body wasn’t there. Even the God of Flesh and Blood couldn’t sense it, so Gao Ming had to be direct.

“I don’t know. Perhaps it’ll happen tomorrow, or it’ll never happen.” The president touched the black dots on the map. “I thought as I expanded my sea of consciousness, I could complete my transformation like Yan Xizhi, but I underestimated the difficulty of becoming a Dream Ghost.”

“Why are you stuck?” 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

“The student council has more than 300,000 members, but I can only deeply influence 10,000 of them.” The president’s fingers danced on the map. “It doesn’t matter how many members I have if they don’t provide me with their faith. Only when they are willing to surrender their mind to me as paint to draw my nightmare can I become a Dream Ghost.” There were many ways to become a Dream Ghost. Gao Yun chose a path similar to Yan Xizhi.

“Your student council has been saving people during the tragedy and providing shelter for the citizens. It has changed a lot from a mysterious and feared organisation. Human faith is gathering around you. I can sense that you’re getting stronger.” Gao Ming corrected, “However, the speed is too slow. I plan to hash it out with the investigation centre headquarters. The fact that you’re not a Dream Ghost might place you in danger.”

“Wait. Why am I involved if you’re the one challenging the headquarters?” The president’s warm smile disappeared. “I knew nothing good would happen whenever you came to me.”

“We don’t have time.” Gao Ming told the president the truth about what he saw outside of Han Hai. The Dream Ghost was weaker than normal Unmentionables. They had to rebuild the Blood City if they wanted to regain control of their fates.

The president’s expression shifted. Gao Yun’s main consciousness arrived. “What do you need me to do this time?”

“I told you. The headquarters is too dangerous. I can’t risk it on my own. I need you to come with me.”

“When?” The president didn’t reject him. He had worked with Gao Ming many times, and he’d always get something from it.

“Within three days.”

After Gao Yun agreed, Gao Ming left with the leader of Team One. They hurried to Han De Private Academy. The car drove down the street. Even when they were still far away from the school, Gao Ming saw a giant flesh tree. It was formed after the Fear Illness combined with Ji Zhe. It was the God of Flesh and Blood manifested from fear. Before Gao Ming entered the black mist, the tree gave him three seeds. The three seeds aided Gao Ming tremendously. Gao Ming remembered that.

“I hate coming here. Having my fear being controlled is very unsettling.” The leader of Team One looked at the towering tree. He frowned deeply. “I hate it.”

This was the worst era. Many ghosts appeared for no reason. The student council took over East City, and the investigation centre was being continuously weakened. The shadow world consumed the city. However, this was the best era. The horror game players grew rapidly. The pioneers saw the real sky beyond the mist and brought the truth back.

Gao Ming had seen many versions of Han Hai. This Han Hai was not the strongest, but it had the most hope. The car entered the campus and parked before the giant tree. Gao Ming searched the trunk for a long time and finally found Ji Zhe, who had combined with the tree inside a tree hole. After becoming a Dream Ghost, Gao Ming could finally attempt to separate the Fear Illness and Ji Zhe.

“Old friend, long time no see.”

The branches shook when the tree heard Gao Ming. Ji Zhe’s body, which was pierced by roots, trembled. He slowly opened his eyes. His eyes didn’t have blood vessels but plant roots.

“Gao Ming…” Ji Zhe’s voice came directly from the tree hole.

“The three seeds you gave me were invaluable. Now, I am powerful enough to bring you out.” The power of blood and flesh expanded to suppress the fear. Gao Ming was about to make his move when Ji Zhe curled deeper into the tree. The branches moved to shield him.

“What are you…”

“Our school day memories crowd my mind. In the end, all of you graduated, but I’m the one who remained.” Ji Zhe hid from Gao Ming. “Before I met you, I was a laughable nobody. It’s the Fear Illness who gave me the chance to be my main character and gave me a life I wouldn’t have dared to imagine.”

“Don’t you want to become a human again?”

“Compared to a human who is pitiable, ignored and sad, I’d rather be a ghost that everyone fears.” Ji Zhe’s voice travelled from far inside the trunk. The Fear Illness death portrait was hidden in his heart. “I know I’m not this portrait’s owner, but I’ll treasure it better than its real owner. I can promise you and Headmistress Yan that while the fear continues to spread, it will never lose control.”