Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The Industry-Academia Cooperation Team
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“This is the workshop for the students in the Industry-Academia Cooperation Team. There are students working right now, so I think we can go in quietly, say a quick hello, and then leave.”
Following Professor Han Jeongshik's lead down the long hallway, we came to a large steel door with a nameplate that read, <Industry-Academia Cooperation Team>.
“No, I don't think we need to disturb their work just to say hello. I'll just take a quick peek and go.”
“Ah, well, if you insist, let's do that.”
The professor carefully opened the steel door, and I gave a small nod, quieting my footsteps as I followed him inside.
‘For a university setup, they're working in a pretty professional-looking environment.’
The space, which looked to be around 1,700 square feet, was divided into three main sections.
<Filming Room>, <Editing Room>, <Break Room>.
The filming room, where various stop-motion animations were shot, was draped in blackout curtains and had lights and various camera equipment piled nearby.
The editing room, where the captured photos were re-edited into video, housed six computers.
And the break room, which had a sofa and a small table.
I could tell at a glance what the workflow was like here.
“Looks like they're all in the filming room. Let's go in for a quick look.”
With Professor Han Jeongshik, we carefully pushed aside the blackout curtain and went inside.
Inside, four or five students were huddled together, busy filming.
“The frame timing is off. If we lengthen the idle animation and then add a sharp stretch to the next frame, I think we'll get that bouncy feel.”
“The light is reflecting off the layer. Let's move the reflector board.”
They were moving paper dolls with tweezers between layered glass plates.
It seemed to be the analog cut-out animation I'd only ever heard about.
It was very precise work, so I stood at a distance, watching quietly so as not to disturb them.
‘They're all so passionate.’
Every student had a look of fierce determination, as if they were high-stakes competitors.
And as a single team, they worked in perfect sync, each performing their assigned tasks to continue filming.
It felt like watching a well-coordinated five-person basketball team.
‘Hmm, they look like they're having fun.’
I could see how the students had managed to create such a high-quality animation.
With that kind of passion, even though they were students—no, *because* they were students—I felt they could create something even more meaningful.
I must have been staring blankly for a few minutes.
“Aaaah!”
One of the students shrieked as if she'd seen a ghost.
It seemed we had startled her by coming in so quietly, trying not to be a bother.
“Haha, my apologies. I was just giving a visitor a quick tour. Hahaha.”
“Oh, hello, Professor.”
As Professor Han Jeongshik offered an awkward apology, the students finally bowed their heads.
This is a little... no, very awkward.
Just as I was about to suggest to Professor Han Jeongshik that we should leave...
One student stared intently at me with a serious expression.
Her expression seemed to say, *Who the hell is this guy, and what is he doing here?*
“By the way, who's the visitor with you?”
“Ah, yes. This is PD Jo Hyunsoo. He'll be working with our Industry-Academia Cooperation Team from now on. He's in charge of a game project at NB Soft.”
“Aaaah!”
Another sudden scream erupted.
What, is my name that terrifying?
Is this that "game-hating" I've only heard about?
“Are you really PD Jo Hyunsoo? The developer who made 'Forgotten Andersen's Story' and uses the nickname 'Christian'?”
Taken aback by the unexpected question, I scratched my head and replied.
“Ah, yes, that's me.”
“No way! This is insane!”
“Really? You're really Christian?”
“Wow, it must be him! Look at this interview photo! I knew he looked familiar. This gives me goosebumps.”
Then, the other students started whispering about me.
“You all know this PD?”
“Of course! There probably isn't a single student in our department who hasn't played Forgotten Andersen's Story. We're all huge nerds here, so it's a given. I even did fan creations and went to comic cons for the Matchstick Girl! Thiiis is insane!”
“Fan creations? Comic cons? What are those?”
The students were reacting as if they'd seen a celebrity.
Professor Han Jeongshik just blinked, looking at me as if he had no idea what was going on.
I, too, stood there blankly, not knowing what to do.
Just then.
*Poke, poke!*
I felt a poke in my side and turned to see Ms. Rokhui mouthing something to me.
‘What is she saying?’
Ah... fan... fanservice?
“Ah, haha. So you're all players of Forgotten Andersen's Story. Thank you.”
Finally understanding what she meant, I spoke with an awkward smile.
“We're really, truly huge fans. Can we get a picture?”
“And an autograph for me!”
I wondered what I had done to deserve this, but figured it wouldn't hurt to make a good impression on the students I'd be working with.
Besides.
<<An unscheduled quest has been issued!>>
[#. Unscheduled Quest / Fanservice]
- The students of the Seojong Arts University Animation Department have taken a liking to you, the developer 'Christian'.
Good things will happen if you repay the fans for their support.
(1). Clear Condition: Fulfill the fans' requests and achieve a satisfaction rating of A+ or higher.
(2). Clear Reward: A small amount of experience, increased quality for the cinematic video.
God Game Maker, which had been quiet for a while, was now pushing me to respond to my fans' support.
The experience was one thing, but there was no reason to refuse a reward that would increase the quality of the cinematic video.
I pushed past my embarrassment and opened my mouth.
“Yes, yes! Selfies, autographs, whatever you need, just let me know.”
I gave them everything they asked for: autographs, pictures.
“How did you come up with the Matchstick Girl episode? The idea that she was an old woman who ruled the back alleys selling hallucinogenic matches was so fresh!”
“Putting an eyepatch on the Ugly Duckling was so cute. Have you ever thought about making merchandise for Forgotten Andersen's Story? I think it would sell really well.”
“PD-nim, what kind of games do you like? Oh! Do you watch anime?”
They seemed to have a lot of questions, as a flood of them poured out.
I answered as sincerely and kindly as I could.
It was the first time I'd received this kind of attention, and while it was a bit overwhelming, it was still quite an enjoyable time.
“Huhu, PD Hyunsoo, you're so popular.”
Ms. Rokhui was chuckling, seeming to find it amusing that I was being swarmed by the students.
After about five minutes of this...
“By the way, Professor, why is Christian-nim doing an industry-academia collaboration with us?”
Finally curious about why I was there, they posed the question.
Professor Han Jeongshik, looking completely drained, let out a deep sigh and answered.
“Our industry-academia team will be in charge of the cinematic video for the new game project this PD is working on.”
“Aaaah!”
“That's insane!”
Just when I thought things had calmed down, another round of scream-like cheers erupted.
The students jumped up and down, expressing their joy with their whole bodies.
“Then is the person next to him also one of the developers?”
At the students' continuing questions, Han Jeongshik opened his mouth with a weary expression.
“No, that's your senior and a webtoon artist, Seol Rokhui. She serialized a work called on Greenhouse. You all know it, right?”
“Whoa—that's crazy.”
“Insane! Professor, what is going on today?”
“Sunbaenim! C-can we get a picture?”
“Alright, alright, just a moment, everyone. One at a time!”
This time, it was Seol Rokhui's turn to be swarmed by the students.
After all, though their mediums were different, *Forgotten Andersen's Story* and *A Fairy Tale Within a Fairy Tale* were similar in their emotional tone, so any dedicated fan would know both works inside and out.
How much more time passed like that?
The students seemed to have tired themselves out, and peace finally returned to the workshop.
“Ahem, everyone. That's enough for now. The PD is a very busy person.”
Judging by his exhausted expression, it looked like Professor Han Jeongshik was about to suggest we leave the workshop.
“No, I'm actually free today.”
But I had no intention of leaving yet.
‘Umm, but I still haven't cleared the quest.’
I still hadn't completed the unscheduled quest from God Game Maker.
The quality of the cinematic video would depend on whether I cleared it, so it was too much of a waste to just let it go.
Just as I was getting antsy, trying to figure out a way to stall for time...
“Juniors, have you all had dinner yet?”
“N-no.”
Ms. Rokhui suddenly asked the students with a bright smile.
“Then is there anything you'd like to eat? Tell me. Since I came to the university, I'd like to buy you all a meal. Chicken? Pizza? Jokbal? Or anything else is fine too.”
“W-wait a moment!”
At the sudden offer, the students launched into a heated discussion among themselves before quickly reaching a decision.
“We'll have pizza, Sunbaenim!”
“Then please give me the address here. There are five of you, so three pies should be enough, right?”
“Thank you!”
The students all bowing together looked like little chicks, which I found cute.
And Ms. Rokhui was like the farmer taming them.
Plus.
<<The students' satisfaction level has been met!>>
<<Unscheduled Quest 'Fanservice' has been successfully cleared!>>
God Game Maker finally informed me that the students were satisfied.
It was okay to leave now.
“Well then, we'll be on our way, Professor. Let's go, PD Hyunsoo.”
“Yes, yes. Well then, I look forward to working with you all.”
A short while later, we were able to leave the university.
As the sun began to set, white snow started to fall gently on the campus.
Seol Rokhui stretched and was the first to speak.
“Ah, that was fun for a change! How about you, Hyunsoo?”
“Me too, I think it was fun. Meeting people who are so interested in my work.”
“Right? Aren't my juniors the cutest! Ahem!”
Rokhui said playfully, crossing her arms.
I found the sight quite lovely, and the corners of my mouth lifted on their own.
“They really are. Ah, and thank you, Ms. Rokhui.”
“Hm? For what?”
“You bought dinner for the students for me. I think they'll work even harder on our project's cinematic video after eating that.”
To be precise, she helped me clear the quest, but... well, same difference.
“Haha! I just bought it because I adore my juniors, but I guess I scored some points with you in the process, huh?”
Her saying that felt both grateful and beautiful.
“In that case, I'll buy dinner tonight.”
“Then let's get something expensive, something really expensive! And you're paying for the second round, too! Since I introduced you to the professor and all!”
“Of course. Tell me whatever you want to eat.”
“Huuuhm. You did say anything.”
Seol Rokhui's lips curled into a mischievous smile as she thought, then she spoke again.
“Foie gras, shark fin, caviar... things like that?”
“Uh, that's fine, but...”
“Puhaha! You're so serious! It's a joke, a joke! That stuff isn't really my style.”
Seeing my slightly flustered reaction, Rokhui grabbed my arm and burst out laughing.
“How about agu-jjim? Braised monkfish? I'm craving something spicy to really hit the spot.”
“You eat things like that?”
“Of course! Are there people in this world who don't like agu-jjim?”
“Hmm, probably a lot?”
“What about you, Hyunsoo?”
“I love it.”
We bickered playfully as we left the snow-covered campus.
Amidst the hectic rush, it was a happy time with its own kind of romance.