Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Countdown to Launch
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"Man, the map is so massive and packed with monsters that just testing it ourselves is draining the life out of us. Forget beta—alpha testing alone is gonna eat up a whole year, isn't it?"
"What can you do? Our external advisor here went and created this absolute beast."
"Haha…."
The development department manager clapped him on the back as he said it, leaving Ryu In-seo unable to muster a rebuttal. He could only let out an awkward laugh.
In truth, he felt a bit unjustified deep down.
'I was planning to leave all the testing to Nebula anyway.'
Why bother having humans play through every little thing for bugs when he had a super AI he'd built himself? Just hand it off to her for review.
Objectively speaking, wasn't an AI's verification more reliable and trustworthy than a human's?
But Ryu In-seo kept those thoughts to himself.
A few years ago, he might've blurted them out, but now, after years of mingling with people during game development, he'd picked up a thing called 'social skills.' Or 'common sense,' if you preferred.
What if he piped up here with something like, You incompetents don't need to test a damn thing—just shut up and release the game like I say! How would everyone react?
The friendly atmosphere would shatter in an instant. Rumors would spread through the company like wildfire: That guy's a genius, sure, but his personality's trash. And further down the line, some tabloid headline like 'The Truth Revealed by an Anonymous Insider: The Dark Side of a Genius Game Creator!' plastered across the front page.
Worse, he might end up in Ryu Ye-rin's clutches, getting a firsthand taste of the Han River's chill.
-Ah, even after all that lecturing, your humanity's still as empty as a hollow shell. What's the point of you even being alive, big brother? (Splash!)
Imagining the scene, Ryu In-seo shuddered involuntarily.
"Whoa, why're you trembling all of a sudden?"
"I-I'm just scared thinking about getting chewed out by my little sister if I screw up."
Even though Ryu In-seo spoke from the heart without a filter, the manager and other staff just burst out laughing, as if it was the craziest thing they'd heard.
"Come on, man. You've done your military service—or wait, you're still doing alternative service here, right? Either way, you're a grown man. Scared of a little scolding from your sister?"
"They say you never appreciate what you've got until it's gone. This guy's the perfect example. A sweet, composed girl like Miss Ye-rin—how bad could her temper be? My sister's such a menace, I can't even tell if she's family or the enemy."
"A little sister who makes sandwiches for her big bro to share with his coworkers at the office? Where do you find an angel like that? Come on, Advisor Ryu, too much humility starts looking like deception. Watch yourself."
"……."
No, I'm serious.
Ryu In-seo wanted to jump up in protest at the injustice, but this was the general impression of Ryu Ye-rin among those around him.
She had the looks to get scouted on the street, and it was happening more as time went on.
Her school grades never slipped from the top ranks, even if not always first place, and her athletic skills were top-tier too—she just didn't flaunt them.
With all that going for her, you'd expect arrogance or a bad attitude, but she was kind and polite to everyone around her.
Since she was still in high school, no one said it outright, but more than a few of his younger colleagues at work were extra friendly to him with subtle designs on her.
But Ryu In-seo knew the truth.
Ryu Ye-rin's true nature wasn't the demure lady everyone saw.
If anything, she was more like a bulldozer.
A girl who's just sweet and mild couldn't possibly take over the whole family as a middle schooler.
Back when Ryu In-seo was holed up in his room, the person he feared most in the world was his father.
But now that he'd ventured out, mingled with others, and broadened his worldview, he realized something.
His father wasn't some extraordinary figure—nor was he particularly evil or vicious.
Self-made, so he had strong pride in his abilities and mindset. Stubborn. Authoritarian with his kids, forcing his path on them.
That was it. A common archetype, easy enough to find if you looked.
But his little sister, Ryu Ye-rin? She was different.
When his parents remarried, she was just a middle schooler.
An age riddled with emotional instability, hypersensitive to changes in surroundings.
A time when even managing your own feelings was a struggle, let alone considering others.
Yet in under a year, that girl had become the family's core, seizing control of the household.
Proof? Ryu In-seo had never once seen his parents oppose anything she suggested.
It wasn't just because she was the good, outstanding daughter she claimed to be—no way they'd indulge her solely for that. Honestly, it felt more like they'd lost the mental battle.
Ryu In-seo was a genius type himself, no doubt, but his sister was exceptional in a whole different way.
"By the way, aren't the outfits in this game a bit too revealing overall?"
"You think so? Design-wise, they look pretty much the same as the previous game."
"On a smartphone screen, sure, it works. But VR? Players wear this stuff themselves. Censorship's gonna be a nightmare."
"Aw, come on, Manager. You gotta support In-seo's dreams here!"
"Hmm, well, he made it at that age when hormones are raging, so maybe."
"Guys who act uninterested are always the wildest behind closed doors."
"…That revealing outfit? She—the one you're all praising—insisted we include it. Don't believe me? Ask her yourself."
It was the truth.
Ryu Ye-rin played the prim-and-proper act in public, but it was just a persona. She didn't cling to it.
If questioned, she'd probably shoot back shamelessly: Yeah, it's my taste. Got a problem?
"Hey now, don't drag her into sexual harassment territory—that's a crime, you know."
"A sister who covers for her brother's flaws. Kyaa, I'm so jealous."
"……."
Even telling the truth, no one believed him. Ryu In-seo felt like Cassandra from Greek myth.
Maybe getting teased as the 'lucky bastard' for so long wore him out mentally.
By the time he got home, utterly exhausted, he collapsed into bed and passed out.
Soon, a chill he couldn't place jolted him awake in the dead of night.
"Gasp!"
He reflexively thrashed, then froze in terror.
In the corner of his room.
Something humanoid was staring right at him.
Or maybe 'staring' wasn't the right word.
It had no eyes.
Its entire body was shrouded in hazy black smoke, so blurry you couldn't tell what it wore—or even if it was human.
The only discernible feature among its face was the mouth.
A huge one, lined with prominent white teeth.
Frozen, Ryu In-seo watched as it spoke to him.
"I apologize for startling you. But please, rest easy. I'm not your enemy. If anything, I'm your greatest ally and steadfast supporter."
"Ally?"
"Don't you want revenge?"
It continued in a playful yet deeply kind and considerate tone.
"Your parents, who denied you and your efforts, only to cast you out like trash."
"The company that lured you with promises of rewards for your hard work, then tried to steal your talent and achievements."
"The lover who wormed into your wounded heart claiming to be on your side, only to betray you and leave."
"This filthy, wretched world that endlessly denies and torments you—don't you crave revenge against it all?"
As if it understood him completely, offering help if he'd just say the word. A hand extended in pure goodwill.
Ryu In-seo responded to that hand.
"Eh, never really crossed my mind…."
A moment of silence.
He sensed the intruder—appearing by some mysterious means—was caught off guard, but only briefly.
Soon, it composed itself and pressed on leisurely, as if unfazed.
"I see. You can't bring yourself to trust me yet. Understandable, given what you've endured. But fear not—I ask nothing in return. I simply wish to help you."
"You don't have to."
"Truly? Without aid, your dream will scatter like bubbles. Your genius ensures 'decent' results even alone. But crafting a true world of a game, drawing crowds? Impossible. With my help, though… Vast funds. Removal of your obstructors. Whatever you need."
"Game dev's going great already. I've made plenty—no begging for cash. Those trying to sabotage us? Kaedics' lawyer squad buried them in paperwork; they're probably in jail by now. So, no need…?"
"……Huh? What?"
The enigmatic figure's theatrical tone cracked completely.
Even a dog learns manners after three years at school. After years of verbal thrashings from his sister, Ryu In-seo had picked up the skill. He laid into the intruder.
"How'd you even get in here? Isn't this trespassing? If you have business with me, make an appointment like a normal person. Showing up like this is just rude. And you've been yapping like you know my life story, but I've never been abandoned by my parents, never screwed by a shady contract, haven't even dated—let alone been betrayed. Wait, now I'm pissed. Who you trying to mock?"
"N-No, that's not—"
"Pulling rumors from some trash forum and acting like you get my life? Anyone who grabs that hand in this situation's an idiot. Unless they're deluded into thinking they're the world's most miserable sap."
"……."
"Don't try anything stupid. Security here's top-notch. Your bodyguards charging in would beat you making a move."
A bit of bluff mixed in to intimidate, Ryu In-seo hit the switch on his wall.
"Huh?"
He blinked in confusion. The figure was gone—no trace anywhere.
"Yes, Nebula."
「You called, Master.」 "Wasn't there someone else in my room just now?"
「Audio and video analysis shows no trace of anyone besides you, Master. However, I detected an anomalous noise that's hard to measure.」 Gulp. Ryu In-seo swallowed hard.
"Th-There was noise, right? A ghost?"
「Shall I analyze the data?」 "Please."
「Understood.」 The next morning.
"What? A ghost?"
"Yeah, for real. An actual ghost!"
"You're full of it. Ghosts don't exist—this ain't some fantasy."
"I'm telling you, it was real!?"