First Day in the New Home
“Hehe. Is this your company’s headquarters?”
“Oh my! Yihan! How much money do you make to afford such a big building already?”
My parents, who had come to pick me up on the day of the move, had heard I was transitioning from the rented office to our new company headquarters. They had said they would help with the move. Even though they couldn’t actually be much help, I invited them because they seemed eager to come along. It was a pleasant surprise.
“Where are the staff members? I don’t see anyone around.”
“They’re on vacation. Lately things have been really busy, so I sent them off for a rest.”
“But doesn’t the company usually send staff to the new location when it moves?”
If my father had known exactly what the employees had gone through, he wouldn’t have said that.
I started to explain, but my father scolded my mother.
“You woman! How would you know that? Yihan is doing great. You can’t just push your employees around and expect them to work hard. You need to loosen the reins sometimes!”
“What? Why are you so angry? I feel bad because it looks like the boss is the only one working hard during the move.”
“Mom. I’m not the one doing all the work.”
The boxes I would be moving were small, but I still called a professional moving company. I paid almost double to ensure they handled everything, including packing. Today was mostly about watching the movers to make sure they were gentle with sensitive electronics.
“Sir, which direction should this go?”
“Ah! Over there, please.”
Their care was impressive given how much I paid.
After about four hours, the move was complete.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Oh, no need to thank us. You even treated us to lunch and coffee during the work. We’ve never had a client like you before. We’re not sure how to repay you. Hahaha.”
“Just helping me move things carefully is enough reward.”
“Haha, really? I’ve never heard such kind words before. Sir, I hope your business keeps growing.”
The moving company left, and my father walked around the office.
“Hmm. Yihan.”
“Yes, Father.”
“You’re really doing well.”
I nodded.
“Yes. Dot Hero is doing well, and the next game I’m developing should be great too.”
“Being so confident isn’t good for a businessman. You always have to prepare for the worst.”
Today, my father’s words felt more like a warning than simple advice.
‘Something’s been bothering him…’
My father had poured all his savings into expanding the factory, thinking this year was the right time. But a sudden financial crisis hit, and he was struggling.
If things continued like this, he might have to sell the factory he bought, his old one, his car, and even his house just to cover the loan.
I thought about it for a moment.
If I offered to help, would my father feel bad?
Then I let out a laugh.
‘What am I even thinking about?’
I wasn’t rich, but it was time to repay the debt for raising me.
“Father.”
“You can speak casually.”
“Things have been really tough lately, haven’t they?”
“...... Mom told you?”
“No, I just saw it for myself. I knew you were saving money for expansion, so I figured something was up. I run my own small company, after all.”
“I see...”
My father fell silent for a moment, then spoke.
“I’m fine, son. Business is like that sometimes—you hit hard times. Jo Du-pal has come this far without much hardship. I’ve endured everything, and here I am. Don’t worry about me.”
“No, Father. You’ve gone a little overboard this time. You’re not planning to sell the factory you bought, are you?”
“...”
“You bought it at a high price because of the expansion. It’s not right to sell it cheap. How much do you need?”
“Yihan, I don’t want to—
“It’s okay. I won’t charge much interest.”
I could have lent him the money interest-free, but I deliberately mentioned interest to make him feel comfortable.
Luckily, my plan worked.
“Hah. You’d charge interest even to your own son?”
“I can’t just give it away.”
“Hehe. That’s my son. Okay! As boss to boss, I’ll borrow ten billion won from you.”
I nodded.
“Should I get it notarized?”
“You brat! Do you think I’d steal my own son’s money?!”
His tone was scolding, but his expression had lightened.
*[Director’s Office]*
Unlike the old partitioned office, I now had my own private room.
Creak.
I opened the door. The office was exactly as I liked it—clean and tidy.
“Nyaaaan!”
“You’re excited too?”
“Nya!”
Som-mungchi must have liked the new company.
Drrring.
I turned on the computer. Electricity and internet were both fast.
“Good.”
Tomorrow, the staff would return from vacation.
Staff back, move complete, game nearly ready... I should feel light, but one worry lingered.
‘Why hasn’t Storm contacted me yet?’
‘There’s no way something’s wrong with the game...’
Storm, who happily accepted even poorly made games, had the same chance of turning down mine as a World War III.
I kept refreshing the business email inbox.
‘If it didn’t pass, they should have said so.’
The suspense was killing me.
I checked the game industry for any issues and refreshed once.
Then I checked the current hot genres and refreshed again.
Finally, I looked at Dot Hero’s download numbers and refreshed one last time.
‘Did Storm take a group vacation too?’
Just as I was about to give up and tell myself it would come when it came, I checked the last email before leaving and froze.
“It’s here!”
[Stormworks] Store Page and Build Approved for ACD (Anomaly Control Department)
The email was from Stormworks.
But the address was strange.
It wasn’t the business email I knew.
Normally I would have thought it was a scam or spam, but the familiar scent reached me from this unfamiliar address.
“St Newman... Steve Newman?”
My hand started shaking.
Could the legendary model I respected most have personally emailed me?
When I opened the email, I knew my guess was right.
『Hello, PlayForge Studio.
It took a little time to personally review the game you sent.
I hope you weren’t worried that such a great game would fail the review?
Your game was the best I played this year. But since 2011 isn’t over yet, don’t relax too much. Hahaha.
Getting used to new games as I aged was hard, but since I retired and had nothing to do, I played with my friends and time flew.
I bow to the effort of the studio that developed this fun game.
The reason I’m sending this email myself instead of through an editor is to share one happy piece of news. Basically, I know Storm maintains a 7:3 revenue split with game companies.
However, my board decided to propose an 8:2 split for ACD. Changing the split from launch is unusual, but it’s my reward for how much I enjoyed your game.
I look forward to your continued success.
PS. How do you even defeat the oddball called ‘No.???’, the executioner?
— Steve Newman』
My eyes stung.
The model I created had been praised by my idol.
It felt even better than the moment I realized I had regressed and found a second chance. I had never imagined such a situation in my dreams.
“Nya?”
Som-mungchi placed his paw on my hand as if asking if I was okay.
“It’s not because I’m sad. It’s because I’m happy.”
“Nya?”
“People cry when they’re happy.”
“Nya a a a.”
I wiped the tears at the corner of my eyes with Som-mungchi’s paw.
“Nyat?!”
“The owner can borrow a cat’s hand too. Why are you angry?”
“Nyanyanyat!”
“That’s so mean. No treats for you today.”
“Nyat?!”
I played with Som-mungchi for a moment to calm myself and then read Steve’s email again.
I had never forgotten it once since I regressed, but I refreshed my goal.
To make a lot of good games.
Stripping away the fluff, that was my original goal.
*[“Ruru~ rurururu~”]*
Art Team Leader Cha Ju-hee arrived at the subway station with light steps, skipping as she went.
A week of sweet vacation.
Her weight had increased by 2 kg, so her perfectly fitted blouse no longer fit. She had to change outfits in a hurry.
‘New office~ New office~’
Normally she wouldn’t have sung on the way to work, but Cha Ju-hee had changed after the vacation.
She had worried even though she earned a lot from overtime, extra work, and weekends—maybe this lifestyle wasn’t right. But after the break, she had completely forgotten those worries.
“This is where I’ll be working from now on?”
She arrived at the new office Jo Yihan had told her about and admired the impressive six-story building.
PlayForge, the company that grows together with its employees, pays well but makes them work like dogs.
She felt good about it.
‘If it’s like this, I can work hard with a fresh mindset!’
She also remembered that Jo Yihan, the director, CEO, and owner who never took vacation while everyone else did, had handled the move alone.
‘Since he worked so hard, I should take on a few extra shifts.’
She would have had to work overtime if Jo Yihan asked anyway, but as the art team leader and union rep who hated overtime, she had made a secret promise to do it with a wink.
‘Floors one through four are empty, five is the staff lounge, and only six is in use, right?’
She took the elevator to the sixth floor and burst into the office.
“Hello~!”
She greeted cheerfully as she entered.
“Oh, Ju-hee is here. Welcome. The office looks great, right?”
Jo Yihan greeting staff every morning wasn’t special, but she felt strangely uneasy.
‘What’s... what’s different...’
She turned her head sharply, searching for the cause.
“Nyang?”
Som-mungchi sat on the cat tower Jo Yihan had bought with a huge sum and looked down at her. It was just as cute as before the vacation.
At least Som-mungchi wasn’t the issue.
‘What is it then?’
She checked the computer, monitor, and keyboard. Nothing had changed from the old models.
‘Then it must be a change in the director...’
She couldn’t deny it, but her eyes were too bright.
She was momentarily overwhelmed by the burning gaze, then cautiously met Jo Yihan’s eyes.
“Ah, hello. Director. Y-you look really happy today. Is there... is there good news?”
“Good news? Of course. Our game passed the review, and the new office move went smoothly, so of course I’m happy.”
No. She could see there was more.
“The... the end?”
“Did you win the lottery or something...?”
“Haha, I wish that were true. If only it were Powerball.”
“Really, there’s nothing bad?”
“Yes, nothing bad... Ah! I think I found the reason. I’ve taken some time to reflect on why I make games again.”
“I see... You really are amazing!”
She concluded it was just happiness.
She had met Jo Yihan after a week and thought he looked different, so she let it go, but soon regretted it.
“Everyone. Dot Hero hasn’t had an update for a while. This is the big update plan. The programming team should focus on fixing bugs in ACD. The art team will handle updates for now. Prepare skins for all twenty-five heroes.”
Cha Ju-hee checked the plan, erased her resolutions from the morning, and felt despair.