Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Masterpiece (1)
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After my meeting with Han Sanghyeok, I moved as secretly and swiftly as possible.
“What? You’re going to use Han Sanghyeok in the marketing for Greenhouse Webtoon? Is that even possible?”
“That’s what we discussed. You should try setting up a meeting.”
First, I bypassed the business department and reported the situation directly to Division Director Shin Chihwan.
After that, Shin Chihwan and Shin Hoyoung held a meeting.
The result of their discussion was remarkable.
They agreed to market Han Sanghyeok's work simultaneously on platforms in six countries—Korea, North America, Europe, China, Japan, and Thailand—at a cost of 70 million won.
It might seem expensive if you only think of it as posting a single webtoon chapter, but considering it included promotional banners on the platforms and simultaneous marketing in six countries?
‘This is practically a steal.’
This must have been a strategic move on Greenhouse Webtoon’s part, an exceptionally generous offer based on the calculation that having their star artist, Han Sanghyeok, collaborate with a highly anticipated game like POD could secure an additional pool of readers.
‘Good. I can finally breathe a little easier about the marketing.’
It was too early to say all preparations were complete, but at least the gnawing anxiety I’d felt before was gone.
The agreement was finalized, and before I knew it, time was racing toward the end of the year.
A few more weeks passed.
And then, Christmas Eve arrived.
“Wow, thanks to you, Hyunsoo, we get to see a musical today!”
“Think of it as me paying you back for all the advice you gave me.”
I went with Rokhui to see *Wicked* with Yoon Byeongjong and his girlfriend.
“So, have you figured out the direction and dialogue for Chapter 13?”
“Not yet. I was hoping I might get a sudden flash of inspiration watching the musical today.”
Over the past few weeks, I had gathered and organized many ideas for Chapter 13.
Some of them were even good enough to be implemented. However, I wasn’t 100% satisfied with any of them, so I hadn't started writing the actual work documents yet.
We gathered at Blue Square near Hangangjin Station, met around 4:30 PM before the musical started, had an early dinner at a French home-style restaurant we’d booked, and then entered the theater.
VIP seats, right in the center, where we could see the actors’ facial expressions while also getting a full view of the stage.
My heart pounded with excitement as I held Rokhui’s hand tightly, waiting for the show to begin.
Soon, the stage darkened, and with the ensemble's music, the first number, “No One Mourns the Wicked,” began.
‘Hmm. So this is the atmosphere.’
*Wicked* was a little different from the slightly dark tone I had expected.
The overall mood was bright, and rather than focusing on dreams, it mainly dealt with the misunderstanding and friendship between Elphaba, the Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Witch of the South. It followed the classic and effective musical formula of quickly immersing the audience by shaping each character through their musical numbers.
And then, as the first act came to a close.
“No wizard that there is or was is ever gonna bring me down!”
The highlight of the musical, “Defying Gravity,” sent shivers down my spine with the actor’s explosive vocal prowess.
After that, I, who had been wracking my brain for a single idea, cleanly gave up and focused on enjoying the performance.
When the show ended, Rokhui asked with a bright smile.
“Wow. That was amazing! What did you think, Hyunsoo?”
“I really enjoyed it too. During the first act, I was consciously trying to get something out of it, but when the actor belted out that final number, I was completely captivated. From that point on, I gave up and was just a member of the audience.”
“Oh dear. It would’ve been nice if you’d found some inspiration. What a shame.”
“Still, it was great. Music really does have a captivating power.”
In that short exchange, I felt a spark ignite in my mind.
‘Wait a minute. A musical number?’
I briefly thought about POD’s music.
Our company’s sound team was generally skilled, and someone who used to specialize in orchestral music was creating the BGM for each chapter.
Overall, high-quality music was being produced.
However, although the music was an integral part of the game, it only functioned in terms of how well it blended with other elements.
‘I’ve never used music in POD to direct a scene with the music itself.’
In contrast, the music in a musical becomes a medium that shapes characters and actively drives the story.
One might say that’s obvious for a musical, but at that moment, I felt a strange sense of disconnect.
I wondered what reason created this difference.
Lost in thought, we walked to a nearby lounge bar, sipped on drinks, and talked some more.
Naturally, the conversation turned to *Wicked*, and I shared the thoughts that had been on my mind since we left the theater.
Hearing this, Yoon Byeongjong tilted his head and replied.
“That’s because your game’s BGM doesn’t have lyrics, isn’t it?”
“Lyrics?”
“Yeah, musicals don’t just have music; they have catchy lyrics that stick in your ear. Game music usually doesn’t have that.”
“Ah. You’re right.”
It was a simple yet insightful remark that pierced the heart of the matter.
Of course, there’s a reason why game music usually doesn’t have lyrics.
A musical is a passive medium where the audience enjoys the music and direction presented by the actors, while a game is an active medium where the player must become the protagonist and advance on their own.
Moreover, while a musical only engages two senses, hearing and sight, a game is much busier. The player has to control the character, read on-screen text, process other visual information, and listen to the sound all at once.
Expecting a player, already focused on the gameplay itself, to also listen to lyrics flowing from the BGM?
That could easily cause excessive fatigue and lead them to quit the game.
But that didn't mean you couldn't put lyrics in a game's BGM.
‘If the lyrics are used infrequently, not during a part where the user is playing, but at a point where they are purely appreciating the direction, it could fill that 2% I felt was missing.’
What if lyrics and vocals were used just once, in Chapter 13, the crucial chapter that concludes the game's entire theme?
I was certain it would allow me to present the work’s finale more effectively.
“That’s it! Adding lyrics to the final BGM of Chapter 13, that should do it.”
“Oh. Really? Then who will write the lyrics?”
“I’ll have to try.”
“Hmm, will that be okay? I heard writing musical-style lyrics is a pretty difficult field, even for professional lyricists.”
When I announced my ambition, everyone expressed their concern.
But for me, it was precisely because it was an unfamiliar field that I felt a surge of determination.
If I could capture even a fragment of the emotion and thrill I felt watching the musical today and infuse it into the game, I believed I could create the result I wanted and grow in the process.
“I want to try it because it seems difficult. It sounds fun.”
“Of course. That’s a very Hyunsoo-like answer.”
And just like that, I was able to find my own answers to the problems that had been tormenting me for some time.
****
After that day’s epiphany, I finalized most of the content for Chapter 13, which I had been deliberating over, and diligently wrote the development documents needed for resource production, delivering them to each team member.
Before I knew it, the new year had arrived.
On January 2nd, the day I returned to the office, we had to attend an annual event.
[Division Director Shin Chihwan: PD Jo, you know about the kick-off ceremony today, right?]
[Me: Of course. What time should we be there?]
It was the company’s New Year’s kick-off ceremony.
It was a formal event where the presidents and director-level executives and above would shake hands with employees in the main conference room and hand out New Year’s planners.
Every year, complaints arose about how meaningless it was, but it was one of those pointless rituals that was always repeated because it was the only time the top brass could see all the employees in one year.
However, this ceremony was more than just shaking hands; it was also a place where subtle power plays unfolded between teams.
[Division Director Shin Chihwan: Your team should come at 11:20.]
[Me: Oh? That’s earlier than I expected.]
[Division Director Shin Chihwan: It’s the project the president is backing, after all.]
That was because the order in which teams went up for the ceremony was very important.
It might sound like nonsense, but NB Soft's kick-off ceremony started with the so-called money-making teams, with participation ordered by performance.
In other words, the earlier you went up to the conference room, the more successful or highly anticipated your team was.
Considering that my Phoenix team used to go up just before lunch, 11:20 was quite early.
I had a cup of coffee while working, and around 11:10, I took the elevator with my team members and headed to the main conference room, guided by an HR staff member.
“You can wait here, PD-nim.”
“Ah, yes.”
As I stood there awkwardly with my team in front of the conference room.
*Creeak.* The door opened, and a familiar face crawled out.
It was the Gold Digger team and PD Lee Hyeonho.
‘Well. I guess they’re still ranked higher for now.’
My team being scheduled after his didn’t hurt my pride or anything.
After all, Lee Hyeonho was a star PD with several hits in this industry, and he led a large team fully backed by Division 1, one of the real power centers at NB Soft.
But for a small team of just 10 people to be next in line? That essentially meant the company’s expectations for us were similar, and being compared to us was likely an unpleasant affair for Lee Hyeonho himself.
‘And I’ll reverse this order soon enough.’
As I smiled faintly and gave a slight nod, Lee Hyeonho glared at me as if he wanted to kill me.
In response, I nonchalantly extended my hand and spoke first.
“Happy New Year, PD Lee Hyeonho.”
“Get lost.”
I offered my hand, but Lee Hyeonho slapped it away and walked past.
It was a blatant display of hostility.
The HR staff member who saw this looked slightly flustered, but I maintained my smile and said.
“Can our team go in now?”
“Ah, yes! Pl-please, go in.”
Inside, the executives, including the division directors, department heads, and even President Oh Geoshin, were lined up.
I walked over casually and shook hands with President Oh Geoshin. He smiled pleasantly with his bulldog-like face and said.
“I’m counting on you for a successful launch of POD this year. My expectations for you are very high.”
“I will do my best to meet those expectations.”
The moment he said that, the expression of Seo Donghyuk, the Head of Division 1 standing behind him, soured.
Seeing someone I disliked react like that was somewhat satisfying.
As I continued shaking hands, Division Director Shin Chihwan met my eyes as our hands clasped and said.
“Come to my office after the ceremony. Let’s have a quick chat.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll do that.”
After safely concluding the ceremony, I headed to Division Director Shin Chihwan’s office.
“Phew. I called you because I think it’s time we sorted out the details regarding the launch.”
“Yes.”
“First of all, things with Greenhouse Webtoon went well.”
Shin Chihwan first told me that the negotiations with Greenhouse Webtoon had proceeded smoothly.
We were now at a stage where we could officially hand over the game build and documents to them.
All I had to do now was communicate with Han Sanghyeok and start producing the promotional webtoon.
After that discussion concluded, I handed Shin Chihwan a document.
After reading it, the division director frowned slightly and asked me.
“You want to add lyrics to the final BGM?”