Chapter 52

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 52

Chapter Title: Actually, Darkness Soul Land is a Healing Game

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Yumina left the president's office first, saying she still had documents to process.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her flustered exit—it was so true to her personality.

The moment she was gone, Yu I-seol stood up from her seat.

She glanced cautiously at Eun Ha-min, slung her bag over her shoulder, and waved at me.

"I have some business at the legal team, so I'll head out first."

"Sure, go take care of it."

"Then, excuse me. See you next time, Min-jae."

The instant Eun Ha-min gave her permission, Yu I-seol slipped out with elegant poise.

Clunk.

The heavy door shut, and the spacious president's office fell silent.

'...It got quiet all of a sudden.'

I cleared my throat awkwardly and looked away.

Being alone with Eun Ha-min didn't feel awkward or embarrassing, but she'd been gazing at me with such affectionate eyes that it was a little burdensome.

I fiddled with my drink glass, pretending to be nonchalant.

Then, out of nowhere, Eun Ha-min stood up and strode toward me.

Before I could say a word, she plopped down in the seat next to me.

She immediately leaned her head on my shoulder and grabbed my hand.

She showed no sign of letting go.

"Hmm. Holding a guy's hand in broad daylight."

"Just stay still, puppy oppa."

"What if someone sees?"

"There's no one else here. Just relax."

Eun Ha-min gripped my hand tightly and closed her eyes.

The warmth from her palm felt a bit hotter than usual.

She fiddled with my hand for a long while in that position, then let out a deep sigh.

"Hoo..."

I couldn't tell if it was a satisfied sigh or one tinged with regret.

She opened her eyes and looked up at me.

"So, how are you planning to make the promo video?"

"Huh?"

"For Darkness Soul Land. You said you're making one."

The sudden shift to work talk snapped me to attention.

I tried to slip my hand free, but she wouldn't let go.

Instead, she intertwined our fingers, holding even tighter.

I gave up and opened my mouth.

"Obviously, my style. Pull aggro with total bullshit."

"Got any specific ideas?"

"Hmm... Nothing solid yet."

I scratched my head.

It was true.

I'd only roughed out the direction; no concrete bullshit planned.

I figured I'd bounce ideas off Team Leader or ask the AI app to suggest something.

Asking me now wouldn't yield anything different.

Eun Ha-min smirked at my answer.

"Knew it."

"Coming up with ideas isn't easy."

"Want one from me? I've got a good one."

"You, suggesting bullshit video topics? Didn't you say it doesn't suit you before?"

"Pseudo-science is one thing, but for game promo? It fits."

I perked up my ears.

Wonder what direction she'd suggest.

Eun Ha-min nuzzled her head against my shoulder and spoke.

"Darkness Soul Land is a classic dark fantasy RPG, right? Super grim atmosphere."

"Yeah. A world with no dreams or hope."

"So go the opposite way. Make it seem like a bright, hopeful game."

"Huh?"

I doubted my ears for a second.

A bright, hopeful game?

Darkness Soul Land?

"Could you give an example? Not quite getting it."

"Hmm... Like this."

Eun Ha-min thought for a moment, then her eyes sparkled.

"Cute monsters grooming each other. Or taming those cute monsters and raising them on a ranch. Make a video like that."

"..."

"What do you think? Not bad, right?"

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

This had to be bullshit.

"Um... Ha-min? You haven't forgotten what genre Darkness Soul Land is, have you?"

"I've full-cleared up to New Game+ 2."

"And you, who knows the story, say that?"

Unbelievable.

What kind of game was Darkness Soul Land?

The name had "Darkness" in it.

The world was a total cesspool.

The gods meant to care for their creations had gone mad en masse, slaughtering humans. Once-glorious civilizations lay in ruins long ago.

The only safe haven for humans was the theocracy of Ultima.

Everywhere else was a playground for grotesque monsters and insane gods.

And the protagonist Raoul's journey?

Early story: From Ultima, humanity's sole refuge, he receives orders from the pope. Following the oracle of Haimeer—the only just god showing mercy to humans—he sets out to subjugate the sun and moon gods.

The Sun God Solaris and Moon God Lunaris.

Their atrocities were stomach-churning even in text logs.

They'd massacred tens of millions. Their cathedrals were mountains of corpses amid seas of blood.

The player crosses that blood sea, slays the two lunatics, then follows a recovering Haimeer's guidance to hunt more mad gods.

And in that game?

Cute monsters?

Grooming? Taming?

"That's... straight-up fraud."

"Why? Isn't that your channel's concept?"

"...True."

My Shorts channel was the antithesis to the misinformation plaguing Shorts platforms.

Upload an absurd ad claiming it's anti-fraud game promo...

"And it's not total lies. There are monsters, right? And a taming system."

True, there was.

Problem was, you sacrificed tamed monsters to upgrade weapons.

"It's a dark game, so market it bright to bait newbies. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Tempting, right?"

Eun Ha-min lifted her head, meeting my eyes.

Mischievous glint.

But laced with conviction.

Confidence in something not even started yet.

'Hmm... Yeah. Not much different from what I've done.'

Microwave water turns you into a mutant werewolf? Or packaging a hardcore dark fantasy as a healing farm game?

Same essence.

Grab attention, get clicks.

That was aggro's core.

Wrapping such a brutal game as healing fit my channel perfectly.

A scam ad, but forgiven because it's my channel.

"Ah."

"Get it now?"

Eun Ha-min grinned.

That smile was oddly charming.

I squeezed her hand and nodded.

"You're a genius, Ha-min. Want head pats?"

"Yeah. And a kiss while you're at it."

"...Kiss later."

"Tch."

Eun Ha-min leaned her head back on my shoulder.

This time, I stroked her hair with my hand.

The moment I got home, I sat at my computer.

Without even changing, I pulled out my smartphone.

I launched the familiar AI app.

Without delay, I typed into the chat.

[Make a promo video for the dark fantasy RPG Darkness Soul Land.]

[But absolutely no dark content.]

[Make it look like a peaceful healing game to anyone watching.]

[With playing with cute animals.]

The loading bar started right away.

[Generating...]

I inputted Eun Ha-min's idea verbatim.

Excited to see how this insane AI handled the contradiction.

Usually took three minutes—perfect time to shower.

I stripped and headed to the bathroom.

Under the cold shower spray, I simulated reactions in my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠head.

Would they curse? Or laugh?

"Hoo..."

After showering, [Generation Complete] glowed on my phone.

I toweled my hair and played the video.

"..."

A snort escaped immediately.

It was so absurd, laughter was all that came.

The screen showed a brilliant blue sky over a peaceful rural village.

Golden wheat fields swaying in the breeze.

A man walking through them.

Protagonist Raoul.

But his look was ridiculous.

No blood-soaked armor—instead, loose farmer clothes. A massive greatsword swapped for a pickaxe on his back.

He looked up at the sky, wiping sweat from his brow.

Face beaming, utterly carefree.

'In the original, he only scowls...'

[Woof!]

A cute puppy bark from somewhere.

Raoul turned. From the grass burst a puppy, kitten, and bunny.

Monsters that should bare fangs and charge wagged tails and piled onto him.

"Haha, you guys."

Raoul hoisted them up, perching them on his shoulders and head.

He sat under a big tree on the hill, idly playing a flute.

Peaceful BGM kicked in as the screen zoomed out.

Pure countryside healing farm game, rivaling Harvest Moon.

Then the big game logo in the center.

[Darkness Soul Land]

[Download now!]

"Wow. Even I'm tempted to curse."

Darkness Soul Land, but the video's Animal Crossing.

Visuals that'd fool anyone unfamiliar.

A tiny disclaimer scrolled at the bottom.

[May differ from actual in-game content.]

"That's an understatement, you bastard."

It's a whole different game.

The audacity of the disclaimer made me click my tongue.

But the quality was top-tier.

Could pass for a big studio's cinematic trailer.

"Good. This is it."

I hit upload without hesitation.

And for the first time, checked [Includes Paid Ads].

Of course, I'd bill Eun Ha-min later.

She was sharp about money stuff.

Once uploaded, I flopped onto bed.

Now, the waiting game.

One hour later.

Reactions hotter than expected.

Surprisingly good reactions.

My channel's brazen lies synergized perfectly with the ad.

Reverse psychology: dark fantasy as healing.

Mixed with my identity, prime viral marketing?

"Haa. What to upload tomorrow."

Should ask our main PD-slash-Team Leader.

Bring tasty food and inquire.