Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Capitalism Knows the Answer (1)
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Approximately 20 minutes had passed since the conquest of the S-Rank Tower on Ganghwa Island.
"Kiyaaahooo!!"
A bizarre yell echoed from a room at one of the game companies in Pangyo.
"President, please calm down...!"
"Do I look like I can just sit still right now? Like hell I can! Goddamn it, I believed in you!!"
This man, joyfully tossing around trendy internet slang, was Park Gi-woo, president of NPia Inc. He started punching the air and going wild.
"Right, Shin PD? I said it would be fine!"
"Ha, haha..."
At the sight of the president losing his mind in ecstasy, Shin Ki-hyun PD—the lead producer on Granad Impact: Redive—managed a faint smile on his face, shadowed by heavy dark circles.
"I really thought it was insane..."
"Life is all about timing. If it failed, we'd be screwed, but since it succeeded, we're golden!"
Shin PD was left dumbfounded by the president's words.
He might seem frivolously lighthearted on the surface, but as the man who had elevated NPia—a small but respected company—to its current status, his decisiveness was no joke.
"The Elaine patch was perfect timing to drop it. Heh heh."
"Yes. It ended up feeling like we timed it perfectly on purpose..."
"We did. We were gonna announce it officially in a week anyway—this is just putting it out as a pre-notice. Heh heh heh."
Park Gi-woo shook the large tablet in his hand.
"Patch notes. Not common in mobile games, but no one expected an update this massive."
"Right. And in the form of buffs and enhancements for legacy characters... Though we did borrow the idea from that Japanese company's approach."
"What's wrong with that? It's characters growing through training. Just jacking up stats flat-out feels off, but this way, it really feels like they've leveled up a tier."
"Yes. Internally, it was unprecedented—our game has always focused on new releases, not patching old characters..."
"Honestly, buffing old characters is pointless. You can't sell 'em right away, and by the time you do later, new ones are out."
In gacha mobile games, limited-time characters who return after their initial run are only pulled by those who missed them—people who quit or started late.
Game companies prioritize new characters for revenue, so they launch them after maxing out performance tweaks from the start.
Dev teams spend anywhere from a month to half a year designing combat styles, balance teams fine-tune numbers, and six weeks pre-release, they run player tests for real feedback. That's NPia's character launch philosophy to date.
Only one buff ever post-launch.
Early on, backlash erupted over a 5-star limited character's specs being "too low for her lore," leading to the [Receipt Incident] where tens of thousands of open users demanded cash receipt data in a mass protest.
That one buff aside, zero others.
So players gritted their teeth, pulling new characters to keep up with inflation or muddling through with old ones.
The Elaine patch.
History changed.
"Real-life Elaine conquers Ganghwa's S-Rank Tower, and in-game Elaine conquers the Tower of Trials to grow stronger. Heh heh, that's marketing."
"......."
"Don't look at me like that. What, worried real-life Elaine might complain?"
At Shin PD's uneasy demeanor, President Park pulled up the news.
"This outfit—what do you think?"
"...It's the collab outfit Elaine wore from our department store tie-in."
"Exactly!"
On the news screen, the [Cosplay Maid]—soon to just be called [Cosplayer]—appeared in what looked like ordinary business attire.
But to players who enjoyed not just the game but its IP, it screamed something else.
"Someone who recreates our game's Elaine collab outfit down to the details? She's a die-hard fan—probably no pity pulls at minimum, full pity multiples at max!"
"...President, you're not doing this because of that rumor, are you?"
"What rumor?"
"The one from the Agency."
"Hey now."
At the mention of the National Intelligence Service, President Park's face hardened openly.
"Shin PD. She's a cosplayer who loves our game. You gonna hand over info just because some suits barge in harassing us to track her down?"
"......."
Once, black-suited men had visited the studio.
Reasoning "Anyone cosplaying Elaine must've pulled her," they demanded user data.
A full audit of all mobile players?
At least it'd narrow from all adult Korean women in their 20s.
Especially now that nationality info had leaked somewhat.
"There's a line to ingratitude. Think about it—if she'd cosplayed some other company's angel or elf?"
"We'd be begging for collabs or watching their sales skyrocket with envy."
"Right. And praying, 'Please cosplay our girl this time!' But nope—double Elaine tap. She even nailed our collab illust."
Park Gi-woo leaned back leisurely in his chair.
"Next up, Elaine's gap-moe? Swimsuit version? Man, that'd cause a real uproar."
"She probably won't wear a swimsuit."
"Huh?"
"If that hunter cosplaying Elaine is a lore stickler... Even hunters have fashion freedom, but not something that revealing."
Shin Ki-hyun PD spoke with conviction.
"Her hunter's 'Master'...probably boyfriend or husband...wouldn't want other guys ogling his woman like that."
"Oho. Fatherly instincts?"
"Fatherly."
Shin PD shook his head briefly.
"What dad strips his daughter for profit?"
"Profit that's set to shatter our all-time records? It's only January, and we're already past last March's totals?"
"I created Elaine's lore and designed her, even drew her for fans...but I'm worried."
"Worried?"
"Yes. I kinda hope that cosplay hunter does...honestly, another company's character once."
The president nearly blurted "What the hell?" but froze mid-mouth as Shin PD bowed 90 degrees.
"...You don't mean...?"
"I think we're in deep."
Shin PD's head felt hollow.
"N-No way! You were rolling in it!"
"Daughter's boom overflowing my workload—can't even go home, crunching daily."
Crunch.
Gaming industry term for intense all-nighters and company sleeping marathons.
"Rising sales, Elaine hype, game buzz—great, but...I gotta live. At this rate, I'll die."
"......."
"Handling game support's tough enough—now Awakener Management Committee, hunter guilds, NIS. President, she's really unrelated, right?"
"What?"
"The cosplay maid."
"Obviously. If she were, I'd have told you first. Got it—rest after this patch."
The president pulled out his smartphone, tapped away.
"Check."
Ding-dong.
Shin PD's phone chimed.
After a puzzled glance, his eyes widened at the bank app notification.
"Bonus."
"...Bonus?"
"Yeah. PD gets that; staff get company-wide soon. Pre-vacation advance."
"...Gifting everyone foreign luxury cars? Wh-What the...?"
"Right?"
The president gazed out the window.
"Big whale from the US messaged specifically: 'Take good care of Elaine.'"
"......."
"Thought they wanted to buy IP—freaked me out. Basically money pressure. More Elaine variants...? Ugh."
"That...instead of splashing here."
Shin PD raised his phone hand lightly.
"Post suit Elaine illust notice, celebrate S-Rank Tower clear—30 free pulls for all players?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ta-da."
We celebrated with canned beer from the convenience store.
What for?
Conquering Ganghwa Island's S-Rank Tower.
A nationwide—no, worldwide—milestone, so we joined in.
And another.
"Congrats, Elaine."
"I never imagined I'd get patched."
Elaine's patch.
Not a nerf—a buff.
If in-game Elaine powers up, real Elaine does too.
Patch versions?
Per Alice, the summon control app, current stats tie closely to live servers.
Meaning live buffs strengthen her too.
...Nerfs or deletions? Tabling that for this happy day.
"It's scary. How strong can I get?"
Slightly tipsy Elaine grinned goofily, pleased.
More relaxed than usual—a new side unseen in-game, where she never drinks. Felt intriguing.
"You're plenty strong already? Top dog in your game world—'Granad'."
"......."
"Why so quiet?"
"Well."
Maybe the booze loosened her up.
"In my world, Master...uh, might be a spoiler."
Filters off, reason slipping—a rare vibe.
"I wasn't top-tier."
"......."
"At least five above me. I know who they are. Master. Those."
Elaine glanced at quietly sipping-beer Kiharu, straightened, pointed at my phone.
"The moment you control me, Master, I feel on their level. That's why I'm so grateful."
"......."
"Curious who? ...One."
Elaine raised her index finger.
"Someone lore-wise safe, helpful to you."
"That's sniping this body-nyang?"
Kiharu growled low, listening quietly.
"Master. For your third summon, I recommend one of my 'known powerhouses.'"
The party turned impromptu strategy for the next tower.
Had to.
I spilled it.
This conquest's gains.
Beyond S-Rank clear glory or Luigi's economic backing—my ability's evolution.
2 / 3.
The living room sofa had empty spots aplenty for one more.
"...Alice. Summon two from the same game okay?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [As long as the conditions are met, it is possible.] Possible.
"And the next pickup character...is one of those top powerhouses."