Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Mini-Game Phenomenon
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I never imagined a test-run mini-game would blow up like this.
I rubbed my eyes hard, unable to believe it.
"R-Representative!"
"How many users logged in? The homepage is completely down."
This wasn't even our first game launch—just a mini-game, and it had crashed the Starlight homepage.
"Concurrent users hit a whopping 100,000. This is really..."
"Pardon? How many?"
"Daily cumulative users for the mini-game: 1.34 million. Concurrent users: exactly 102,000."
"!"
Whoa, this was beyond a hit—it was a mega-hit.
If it were a full game, we'd dominate Google's top charts, and the industry would faint at our sales figures.
It was an unbelievable result.
Maybe the Benz prize made the difference.
I'd dangled an E-class instead of S-class to keep it simple and fun. Who knew it'd explode like this.
Curiosity is a scary thing.
Everyone had the perfect excuse to jump in.
"It's just traffic overload on the homepage, right?"
Director Han nodded vigorously at my words.
He hadn't expected this kind of rush either.
"Over 50 times our usual traffic. Way more than when we announced our next title. We'll need to scale up the servers..."
"Do it. Better than excuses about not claiming prizes because the site's down. Oh, and call Mr. Oh Kwang-su for me."
Director Han left.
Soon, Oh Kwang-su entered.
I gestured to the chair in front and spoke.
"About the OST we discussed in the last meeting. I found a solid composer."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. Easier than I thought. Seems like they're in a tough spot over there."
He'd worked on the Rockgnarok OST, no less.
Snagging a top-tier composer like that was incredible.
"For the orchestra, I got a renowned Japanese group. You know, the ones famous for playing Final Fantasy scores."
"!"
"So, Mr. Oh, take full charge and make it happen. When else would we get to produce a massive OST like this?"
"R-Representative!"
He looked ready to bow on the spot.
Tears welling up, Oh Kwang-su grabbed my pant leg.
"My dream's always been to create based on gameplay, not just BM. This worthless life of mine... I'll stake it on this project!"
"Haha, no need to go that far..."
The room heated up.
Flames practically shot from his eyes, like he might set something ablaze.
"Mr. Kwang-su."
"Yes?"
"I'm not content with idle games anymore. Now that we're in this business, why not aim for something like Diablo or Lost Devil?"
"!"
Export hits that conquered the world beyond Korea.
Those two games transcended gaming to become art.
Lost Devil especially—beyond gameplay, its cinematics drew users like a movie.
Not just cash grabs, but masterpieces infused with a craftsman's soul.
"This project's prep for our ultimate goal game. Test the waters, gauge reactions, and launch us from a domestic studio to a global powerhouse."
"Representative, you're just..."
Now Oh Kwang-su was bawling, snot and all.
Mucus trailed down my clothes.
That moving, huh?
Makes sense—for devs, the pinnacle is crafting a game remembered even after death.
Oh Kwang-su was essential to Starlight.
From months of watching, if I picked the most passionate employee, it'd be him hands-down.
Rumor has it he even works from home.
"Let's do this right."
"Sir, yes sir! For you, I'd dive into fire!"
"Haha, no need to make me feel awkward."
"N-No, really. After slaving under that damn Ma Chun-dong bastard—cough—meeting you might be the goddess of luck hugging me tight!"
His disciplined vibe was a sight to behold.
I patted his shoulder and left the office.
The next game, based on Kang So-yeon's novel, would give Starlight wings.
Success or failure? Unknown. But no one here fears the challenge. Every employee pours themselves into their roles regardless of title.
'That said...'
I checked the restored homepage for the mini-game rankings.
What happened next was astonishing.
"Hahaha! This guy's something else."
The top spot nickname was familiar—streamer Jin-seong.
🏆 RANKINGS 🏆 1st1,786,575 points (Jin-seong) 2nd1,730,104 points (Give Me Some Milk Money) 3rd1,671,625 points (Bam Bam Ba) Jin-seong taking 1st? No way.
I'd tried the mini-game myself—brutally tough. My best was 700k. Glued to the monitor for hours is torture.
Overcoming that, dodging obstacles—it tested human limits.
Impressive.
Are successful people destined to win at everything?
'Someone to watch closely.'
The president of Internet Broadcasting didn't claim that title by chance.
I don't know why Jin-seong obsessed over the mini-game, but he'd clearly surpassed his limits.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The mini-game event had finally ended.
A full month of battle.
Jin-seong slumped into his chair after 720 hours of non-stop streaming.
💬 Chat — Viewer Crazy... — Viewer Whoa! Is he even human? — Viewer Pro gamers aren't born overnight. — Viewer Thought it was just endless grinding, but he actually snagged 1st? Human victory.
No—indomitable victory.
He roared like the world was ending.
"Kuhahaha! Number one! The Benz is mineee!"
— Viewer Congrats! — Viewer My best is 370k—how'd you hit 1.78M? I dozed off at dawn, and you shattered it? — Viewer Damn, so close. Should've watched live... — Viewer I did! — Viewer How was it? — Viewer Chaos at dawn—he screamed like mad. Upstairs neighbor complained about noise. — Viewer Noise complaint incoming lol — Viewer No one thought he'd hit 1st. Past 1.5M, I wondered if humans should even play this. — Viewer Thought it was a bullet hell. — Viewer That final apartment drop was insane—dodged it on instinct. Animal reflexes. — Viewer Agreed; soaked my pants watching. Hype soared to the heavens.
Jin-seong earned fan loyalty with 720 hours of grinding and snagged the Benz too.
Fans enjoyed a thrilling month watching his play.
A win-win for everyone.
"Folks, prize delivery's in a week. I'll live-stream giving Dad the Benz. Can't wait to see his touched face."
— Viewer Filial son! Filial king! — Viewer Sell it for millions easy. — Viewer Good thing he won—imagine if not... — Viewer Keyboard casualties for sure. A week later.
Jin-seong claimed the prize at Starlight HQ, then rushed to his father. High-value items required strict procedures.
If Big Spender Bukppudeupppu hadn't smoothed everything over.
'Sob! Bukppudeupppu bro—no, Do-jun bro, thank you!'
At home, Jin-seong asked the delivery guy to unload carefully and scanned for his favorite face.
Today's star was in the living room, deep into the financial daily.
"Dad!"
"Oh, the head of the house is here?"
Jin-seong played the madman on stream, but at home, he was a proper family man.
Seeing his factory-injured dad, tears welled up.
Still in recovery.
"Happy birthday, Dad!"
"You came all this way just for that? Such a long trip?"
"For the man I respect most? Of course. And I have a gift!"
Jin-seong's father, Kim Baek-hong.
He tilted his head.
"A birthday gift? Seaweed soup's enough. Wasting money on what?"
"What kinda talk is that! Where's Mom?"
"Market run. That woman's on about ribs or some nonsense."
"Haha, come outside anyway."
Leg-hurt Kim Baek-hong rose with a limp.
Jin-seong supported him out.
"Wh-What's this?"
"A car, obviously. That old one's over 20 years."
Recent engine issues led to a scrapyard recommendation, but Kim Baek-hong insisted on 10 more years, cherishing it.
"This ain't cheap, is it?"
"Eh, just over 100 million won."
"What? 100 million?"
"Haha, it's fine. Prize, not my cash."
"Who gifts something this big? Fart in the wind?"
"Real guy. Throws money like candy."
"For real?"
"Totally!"
Kim Baek-hong was speechless.
The Benz exuded elegance and sophistication.
Triangular front emblem.
Massive grille centering it.
Sharp LED headlights flanking.
Aerodynamic curves flowing seamlessly from doors to rear—dream car for many.
"Jin-seong."
"...Yeah? Don't like it?"
"Nah. Let's donate it."
"Wh-What?"
"Dragging this around just burns cash. Nearby orphanage's struggling—give it there."
"You sure?"
Jin-seong, from a war vet family.
He knew his dad's heart best.
"Yeah. Do it."
"You good?"
"Of course. Grandpa saved the country for me to be here. Let's."
Later, news spread of aid to orphanage and neighbors.
📰 Breaking News Streamer and war vet descendant Jin-seong donates a whopping 200 million won to help struggling neighbors... Including Benz sale and personal funds—people celebrated like their own win.
Good deeds rewarded?
Stream hit record viewers—over 110k estimated.
Moved fans showered Bubble Gifts.
One whale stood out.
Overall whale rank 2: Bukppudeupppu, firing million-Bubble barrages daily.
⚙ GIFT ALERT ⚙ Bukppudeupppu gifted 1,000,000 Bubble Gifts. Bukppudeupppu gifted 1,000,000 Bubble Gifts. Bukppudeupppu gifted 1,000,000 Bubble Gifts. 'Donated 200M, got 300M back...'
Jin-seong witnessed a miracle that day.