Chapter 75
Chapter 75
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: This Person is Mine
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Jo Hyunsoo / PD]
-PD of NB Soft's Christian Team
-Developer of Forgotten Andersen's Story
(1) Stats
-Planning (A+) / Programming (D-) / Art (D+)
(2) Developer Level: 10
(※. Level cap reached. To unlock Level 11, you must clear Chapter 2, 'The PD Making His First Game.' From Level 11, God Game Maker will be upgraded to Version 2.)
(3) Points: 25
(4) Skills Owned: 7
Staring at the status window, I gently massaged my temples as I thought.
‘A level cap? I have to clear Chapter 2 to unlock Level 11?’
A message had appeared, stating that I could no longer level up God Game Maker, which had, until now, allowed me to grow without any restrictions.
Chapter 2 had to be referring to my current project, 'POD'.
Although the status window showed no emotion, I felt as if God Game Maker was testing me.
‘It’s telling me to make POD a huge hit with only the abilities I’ve been given so far.’
It felt like God Game Maker had thrown a trial my way, much like needing to complete a class-change quest in an online game.
I had a total of seven skills. Using them, my remaining points, and the Affinity system, I had to make this console game a success in Korea, a barren market for them.
‘Well, it’s worth a shot.’
Besides, the mention of an upgrade to Version 2 at Level 11 meant that if I made this game well, God Game Maker could display abilities far beyond what I had used so far.
Half anticipation, half worry.
Whatever the case, I resolved to use my remaining resources to make this project a success.
As I was lost in thought,
Bzzzt!
My smartphone vibrated.
[Rokhui: Hyunsoo, are you free tomorrow by any chance?]
[Me: Even if I’m not, I’ll always make time to see you.]
[Rokhui: Aww. It feels like you’ve gotten a little smoother since becoming a PD, haha.]
[Me: Oh, really?]
[Rokhui: A little? Well then, let’s see a movie and get something delicious tomorrow. To celebrate passing the review!]
[Me: Okay, I’ll look forward to it! I can get off at 5 tomorrow with the flexible work schedule, so I’ll head straight there after work.]
[Rokhui: Okay~!]
‘Well, I’ve been running myself ragged for a while, so I should spend some time with Rokhui.’
A smile tugged at my lips as I grabbed my keyboard.
My heart fluttered slightly, wishing tomorrow would come sooner.
****
The next day.
Clack, clack, clack!
With my Acceleration Skill active, I skipped lunch and worked so fast my hands were a blur.
Resource planning for Chapter 3, storyboarding for the third animation, and so on.
Now that we had passed the review, the planner, being at the starting point of game development, had the most to do for a while, but for today, I planned to leave early.
“I’ll be heading out early today!”
As I gathered my things and put on my jacket, Part Manager Heo Yuri, who was just returning from the restroom, said with a grin.
“Wow. PD-nim, are you going on a date?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“You’ve been on your messenger a lot lately, so I wondered if you got a girlfriend. And the corners of your mouth keep twitching into a smile whenever you look at your phone!”
“My, Part Manager Yuri, you have a good sense for these things.”
“Whoa, for real? I was right! I’m so jealous. A date with your lover in the spring!”
Part Manager Yuri clasped her hands tightly, her eyes sparkling as she stared into the air.
Just then.
“Part Manager Yuri, I think we should let the PD get going.”
Part Manager Jeong Yosep said with a grin.
As if her soul had returned, Part Manager Yuri nodded and agreed.
I glanced between the two, scratched my cheek slightly, and said.
“I’m sure you’ll both find someone special too.”
“Ugh. Stop rubbing it in! You have to set me up with someone next time, PD-niiiim!”
Leaving her cries behind, I left the office in high spirits.
‘It’s 5:05 now, so I should get to Rokhui’s neighborhood around 5:50.’
A moment later, the elevator doors opened, and just as I was about to step out,
A few male employees holding coffee cups on the first floor were chattering with excited faces.
“Wow. Dude, did you see that woman in the lobby earlier? She was gorgeous. What’s someone like that doing in front of our company?”
“Maybe her boyfriend works here.”
“Someone like her is dating a game dev? C’mon, does that make any sense?”
“Why not?”
“Ah, I want to date someone too.”
They were making such a fuss, as if they had seen a celebrity, that even I, just passing by, became curious about who they were talking about.
As I was about to exit the company lobby,
“Boo!”
Someone pushed my shoulder and whispered into my ear.
Startled, I spun around and stumbled back.
Once I collected myself and looked forward, a very familiar person was staring at me with a very unfamiliar look.
“Ahahaha! I’m sorry, Hyunsoo. I wanted to surprise you, so I played a little prank.”
There stood Rokhui, smiling brightly.
Her hair was styled in glamorous curls, and her outfit and bag, while not overly flashy, had well-placed color accents that made them look luxurious.
I had always thought Rokhui’s looks were nothing to scoff at, but today, somehow…
“Rokhui, you look incredibly beautiful today.”
“Hehe, you think so? It’s been a while since our last date, so I put in some effort.”
My heart started racing again at her bright smile.
I quickly realized that the woman the employees were talking about in front of the elevator was Rokhui.
“Wow. I feel humbled just standing next to you.”
“Why? You look handsome too, Hyunsoo.”
“Feels like you’re just saying that.”
Well, I had also styled my hair with pomade and dressed neatly for our date.
As we were chatting loudly in front of the company,
I could feel the gazes of my colleagues passing by.
‘This is like announcing to the whole world that I’m dating. Not that I mind.’
This person next to me is my girlfriend.
Isn’t she gorgeous? But she’s also kind and capable!
I felt the urge to brag about her like a fool.
“Ahem, so, should we hang out nearby? There’s a movie theater near the office.”
“Of course! I’ve already made reservations!”
We hailed a cab and headed to a theater about ten minutes from the office.
We bought popcorn and soda, then went inside and sat side-by-side.
“I’m so excited. I’ve really wanted to see this.”
“I can see that. It does seem like your kind of movie.”
The movie we were seeing was the latest film by director Del Yermo Guitor, known as the ‘King of Grim Fairy Tales,’ renowned for his outstanding mise-en-scène and direction.
I, too, was looking forward to it, as I had even included homages to Guitor’s work in Forgotten Andersen's Story. Both Rokhui and I were highly anticipating it.
This film was said to be a dark fantasy reinterpretation of Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf, and the visuals in the trailer alone had us excited. We had been talking for months about seeing it as soon as it came out.
“Ah, it’s starting.”
A moment later, the movie began, and I held Rokhui’s hand tightly.
She gently threaded her fingers through mine, interlocking them.
Watching a movie you love with the person you love—could there be anything happier?
Filled with such emotions, 120 minutes flew by.
“Wow, I finally saw it! What did you think of the movie, Hyunsoo?”
“I enjoyed it. I was initially only expecting great visuals, but the overall mise-en-scène and the symbols he planted seem to leave a lot of room for interpretation.”
“Right? I was itching to talk to you about it after the movie ended. How did you interpret the final scene where Little Red Riding Hood’s cloak changes color?”
“Hmm. I took it as a sign that her meeting with the wolf healed the inner wounds she carried.”
“Oh! You can see it that way too. I thought their forbidden love broke the curse the witches had cast in the beginning.”
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, we chattered away happily.
A smile spread across my face as I watched Rokhui get her words tangled up because she had so much she wanted to say.
Afterward, we went to a nearby Italian restaurant for spaghetti and steak, talking about the movie to our hearts’ content.
After months of doing nothing but work, talking about something so purely enjoyable felt like a huge stress reliever.
“Ah, that was delicious! Hyunsoo, where are we going for round two?”
“There’s a nice cocktail bar nearby. Let’s have a drink and talk there.”
We put on our coats, paid for the meal, and walked outside together.
Even though it was nighttime, the mild April weather meant it wasn’t cold at all.
“Hyunsoo, that cocktail bar we’re going to, who do you usually go with?”
“Uh, just colleagues from work? When I was on my previous team, I’d often go there to vent after getting chewed out by my superior.”
“You, venting? I can’t really imagine that.”
“I’m just like any other office worker. But what’s your image of me, Rokhui?”
“Someone solid, like a wise sage who doesn’t flinch in the face of hardship?!”
“Huh? Really? A sage. I’m far from that.”
Chatting about such trivial things, we soon arrived at the bar. We found a suitable lounge table and placed our orders.
“One Midori Sour and one Gradation Love, please.”
I ordered the melon-flavored Midori Sour, and Rokhui ordered the Gradation Love.
The red and orange gradient layers made it look quite pretty.
As we were each sipping our cocktails,
“Can I try a sip of that Midori Sour?”
“Oh, of course. Go ahead.”
“Mmm, this is good. It really tastes like melon! So cool. Hmm, Hyunsoo, do you want to try a sip of this?”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll have a little.”
I took the Gradation Love and took a sip.
“Oh. This is better than I expected.”
“Right, right? I’m glad I ordered it!”
I’m not usually one to venture out with drinks, so I never would have ordered a cocktail like this. But now that I was dating Rokhui, I was having new, small experiences thanks to her.
Just like when she took me to an escape room on our first meeting, Rokhui’s tendency to seek out new pleasures brought me these little joys.
Lately, the thought that Rokhui and I were a perfect match, like two puzzle pieces clicking into place, had been growing stronger.
As we sipped our cocktails and talked cheerfully,
‘I guess it’s about time to bring that up.’
After a moment of thought, I took out a small paper bag from my bag and placed it on the table.
“Oh. What’s this?”
“Take a look.”
She reached into the mint-colored bag and pulled out a palm-sized box of the same color.
Rokhui’s brow furrowed in slight surprise, and she slowly opened it.
“Oh. Oh. What is this?”
Inside was a necklace.
It was a piece with a turquoise stone elegantly set in the center of a gold chain—not too extravagant, but beautiful in its own way.
“I’m just always so grateful to you, Rokhui. For taking me to the escape room that first time, for introducing me to the industry-academia collaboration… I feel like I’m always indebted to you, but I’ve never properly repaid you.”
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
Seeing Rokhui’s eyes sparkle as she looked at the necklace made me think I had made the right choice.
“Did you pick this out yourself, Hyunsoo?”
“Um. To be honest, my sister helped me out a bit.”
“Aha! I’ll have to thank your sister then.”
Rokhui placed the necklace on her palm and stared at it blankly for a long time, like a puppy, before tilting her head up to look at me.
“Hyunsoo, will you put this on for me?”