Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Reactions and Reunions
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Right, let's not panic.
This was also within the scope of what I'd anticipated.
What was the reason I'd been wearing a wig on my head all this time?
Of course, Yang Gil-sang's scheming was a major factor, but more fundamentally, it was because the users liked seeing me cross-dress.
Someone else's shame is a comedy when viewed from a distance, after all.
If I can just handle this calmly, very calmly...
[One Move the King: You've lost your touch.]
“...”
[Jaehee Will Quit: Yeon-ho, have you lost your sense? Are you really going to be like this?]
[Bangbae-dong's Bloodlord: Got complacent, huh?]
“......”
[Yeonho's #1 Fan: Sis ㅠㅠㅠ You're so pretty ㅠㅠㅠ]
[Crazy Acting Dog: The short cut is stunning too, sis ㅠㅠㅠ]
“......”
...Calmly.
“The presentation...”
*Ding!*
[DidHellic4ComeOut has donated 10,000 won.]
[I've been hearing so much about PC culture lately... Are you also on a journey to find your gender identity, Yeon-ho?]
[Bangbae-dong's Bloodlord: lolololol]
[Jaehee Will Quit: lolololol]
[One Move the King: lololololol]
[Yeonho's #1 Fan: You can do it, sis ㅠㅠ!]
*Click.* I moved the mouse.
[DidHellic4ComeOut has been timed out for 10 minutes.]
I did it thinking things would quiet down if I drew my sword.
It was quite successful.
[ClearAsT: ...]
[PoppyIs8: Mmph mmph! (I didn't say anything!)]
After scanning the chat, which was finally starting to settle down, I spoke.
“Let's begin the presentation.”
I clicked to the next slide.
* * *
Despite the little incident, Studio Rewind's project presentation was ultimately a success.
The hour-and-a-half presentation followed a roadmap format, outlining the games based on currently confirmed details, and a recording was already uploaded to NewTube.
The hype began to truly ignite as users who missed the live stream started watching the video.
『Bangbae-dong's Bloodlord: So Hellic 4 really wasn't announced. That's unexpected.』
First, the fact that Hellic wasn't among the games in development became a topic of discussion among the fanbase.
There was some disappointment that it wasn't what they'd hoped for, but it wasn't a major issue.
For now, since the announced games themselves seemed quite intriguing, the user response was positive.
『WannaQuitJaehee: Looks like they're aiming for the casual market this time?
Even Identity, which Yeon-ho is directing himself, is mainly cartoon-rendered SD characters.
The enhanced life-sim content and housing system looked charming, from what they showed.
I think it looks fun, at least.
I really enjoyed the Tycoon series and Animal Crossing.
One Move the King: Probably a heartwarming, fairy-tale-like story lol. Isn't this a completely different direction from Hellic?
BloodElfGuy43: My son will like this,, I think,, ^^
WhyNoHellic4: The combat system seems to be inherited, but I'm not sure. One thing's for sure, the white-haired female character Yeon-soon used is definitely in it lolll
└ Bangbae-dong's Bloodlord: They said there's an affinity system, so maybe...
└ QuitKoF: Eh, so Yeon-ho is gonna become everyone's girl...?』
The reaction to Identity was generally favorable.
Above all, it was easy to get excited because the genre was not difficult to imagine.
Life-sim content and housing—concepts already firmly established in users' minds through Tycoon games or certain Nintendo titles from a previous era.
Of course, while the main focus was a narrative driven by combat, that was more of a strength than a weakness.
It could also be seen as the brand power of the studio and the director finally beginning to shine.
After all, the immediate reaction from the community fanbase wasn't "Should I buy it?" but "Which content will I enjoy?"
『WhyNoHellic4: I'll probably focus on the story.
I like combat-focused games to begin with, and Yeon-ho is known for writing killer stories...
PoppyIs8: There was a sci-fi movie from the 2000s about a society that controls emotions. That's what I thought of first!
Bangbae-dong's Bloodlord: It's probably easier to understand if you think of 'faces' in this game as replacing the weapon or parts system from the previous one?
ClearAsT: A grim story with these graphics would be interesting in its own way.』
Regarding the in-game concept, only concept art and completed map models had been released.
However, though it was unfamiliar, the direction of the setting was clear enough that players could speculate about the story, making it a definite success in terms of the intuitiveness Yeon-ho obsessed over.
And so, the silhouette of Identity was cast over the users.
Cartoon-rendered SD, enhanced life-sim content, and growth in combat and life systems through parts called 'faces'.
Of course, you never truly know a game until you play it, but now wasn't the time to worry about that.
In terms of generating interest, Identity was a game that certainly passed the test.
And, unlike the positive reception for Identity, Team 2's Demon's Relic was met with mixed reactions.
『One Move the King: Yeon-ho is trying to become a god...
My heart is swelling at the words 'bishoujo-collecting AAA package game'.
I was born to play this game.
The 72 demons of Solomon? Bishoujo? An affinity system?
It's already a masterpiece;;;
ClearAsT: Hmm, is it really that great?
WhyNoHellic4: This one's also set in hell, come to think of it. Wonder if it'll connect to Hellic later?
┕Bangbae-dong's Bloodlord: Isn't the tone way too different for that?』
『WannaQuitJaehee: I'm not so sure about Demon's Relic.
If they had a good mix of male and female characters and let you choose the protagonist's gender, maybe, but isn't this aimed too heavily at one demographic?
The Japanese otaku vibe is too strong.
One Move the King: You know nothing about games, scrub.
PoppyIs8: That's what makes it good, though?
Bangbae-dong's Bloodlord: I'm not sure either.
└ WhyNoHellic4: Dude, does your dick even work?』
『QuitKoF: Yeon-ho knows what's good.
Did you see Agamemnon's design? He understands the 'common sense' that villainesses should be scantily clad.
Did you see Paimon's design? It has that 'moe' that makes you want to rub her cheeks like crazy.
Did you see Baal's design? It has a 'size' that brings back warm childhood memories.
If the game comes out just like this, I guarantee it.
Studio Rewind will be the world's greatest game developer...
WannaQuitJaehee: Sigh...』
It was unavoidable.
That was the nature of bishoujo games, which have strong subculture tendencies.
It's a genre that people either love passionately or feel repulsed by at the mere sight of the cover.
One needed to look no further than Yeon-ho himself.
While he learned to utilize things like the affinity system from a design perspective, Yeon-ho still felt no great interest in the game Demon's Relic itself.
The reason he was running the project despite this was because he knew the future.
He understood that while the Demon's Relic IP was far from being a GOTY contender, its commercial value was extremely high.
In any case, setting aside such backstory, the conclusion was that the immediate reaction was divisive.
And one more thing.
『WhyNoHellic4: But they really emphasized that it was a game steeped in the blood and sweat of the developers.』
An as-yet-unrevealed truth planted a small seed of doubt among the users.
With the details about the games more or less revealed, only one controversy remained.
The release date.
On this point, the debate was still raging, even now, four days after the presentation.
『WhyNoHellic4: But does it even make sense to develop a AAA game in two years?
What on earth was Yeon-ho thinking, saying Identity would be released within two years?
Bangbae-dong's Bloodlord: There are a few possibilities. They already have a lot of it made, OR it's an Early Access release, OR the 'goal' is a 2016 release.
PoppyIs8: A two-year timeline from the start of planning to release is definitely absurd. At least for a AAA package game.』
That single statement had driven gamers into shock and awe.
The truth, as yet, was unknown to anyone.
* * *
“Theoretically, it's possible. Two years. If we're lucky.”
I answered Han Seo-rim's question.
“The game's design documents were already complete from the start. The only changes are the life-sim features, which are more like additional content. All we have to do is modeling, implementation, and debugging, so of course it's fast.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, it is.”
Identity was a game whose core elements had already been perfected in my past life through a trial run as an indie game.
While various elements were added and removed in reprocessing it as a AAA title, I'd skipped the entire experimental and verification process for things like the framework and combat balancing.
Not only that, but the development speed is also remarkably fast.
The number of employees in Team 1, which had been steadily increasing, had now surpassed seventy.
Since games are ultimately made by human hands, increasing the manpower inevitably sped things up.
“Well, to be honest, it's really up to fate.”
“Why do you suddenly sound so unconfident?”
“Debugging is a gift from the heavens. No matter how fast you want to go, if the gods say, 'Aha, you must wait a little longer~,' you have no choice but to obey.”
It was practically the only obstacle, and for a mere obstacle, it was a very big one.
Considering the nature of this industry, where in severe cases you might have to grind away at debugging for years, two years was indeed a timeline that would require a stroke of divine luck.
Not that it would be a problem, though.
“Well, during the presentation, I did say, 'If possible, we'd like to aim for a release in two years.' It was just an optimistic projection, so there's no problem if it's late. Besides, the prevailing opinion is that two years is absolutely impossible anyway.”
“You shouldn't have said it then.”
“It's because if it weren't for debugging, it's a genuinely achievable timeframe.”
As I raised my glass, Han Seo-rim sighed and clinked hers against mine.
This was an izakaya that had opened recently.
“The food here is good, don't you think?”
“It is. It's hard to find decent food in this neighborhood.”
“It's going to become a much more famous spot. You should get to know the owner.”
“You know, sometimes you act like you know the future.”
“It's the wisdom of age.”
“That's hilarious. You're only two years older than me.”
It's a crying shame that I'm the only one who knows this izakaya will expand and take over the second floor of the building.
“So, did you just come here to drink?”
“Yep.”
“Then you should have brought A-yun.”
“Are you serious?”
“...What about Myeong-gyu?”
“Yu-mi and Hye-ji won't let him go these days. And Gil-sang quit drinking to manage his hair loss.”
“Oh dear...”
A silence fell.
We continued to drink, one glass after another, without a word.
Soon, I was tipsy enough to feel the heat rising in my cheeks.
'She still seems fine.'
I was talking about Han Seo-rim.
Not her drinking tolerance, but her mental state and relationships.
There was something I'd been thinking about ever since we were making Hellic 2.
It was the speculation that perhaps the reason the Han Seo-rim of my past life disappeared from the industry after making only Lost Kingdom was due to the pressure of its reception.
'Hmm...'
In that respect, she wasn't showing any signs of it yet.
That was a little strange.
The reception for Hellic 3 had been quite divided, but I hadn't seen any negative feedback from her about it.
'It's not pressure from the reception?'
Then why did Han Seo-rim leave the industry?
'Marriage?'
No, that's not it.
There was quite a bit of information circulating in the industry back then, and among it were rumors that Han Seo-rim lived as a single woman.
My thoughts continued to churn.
“What are you staring at? You'll wear out my face.”
“Just wondering if you're having a hard time lately.”
“You should ask if there's ever a day I'm not having a hard time.”
“Is there never a day you're not having a hard time?”
“Not a single one. Isn't that awful?”
“I see.”
Whatever it was, it was something that hadn't happened yet.
Come to think of it, Han Seo-rim was thirty-four at the time.
Her retirement from the industry was still eight years away. Even if the seeds were being sown now, it would be at least another three to five years before anything sprouted.
Could I relax for now?
I was trying to clear the worries from my mind.
“What about you? Anything tough going on?”
“Suddenly?”
“The mood felt like I should at least pretend to care.”
How thoughtful of her.
I refilled my glass and said.
“For me...”
It was then.
*Jingle!*
“Great work today, everyone!”
The izakaya grew noisy as a man's boisterous, drunken voice rang out.
“...Do they own the place? They're being damn loud.”
I let out a dry laugh at Han Seo-rim's grumbling and glanced toward the entrance.
It was with the casual thought of seeing just what kind of old guys they were.
...And then I froze.
“Our youngest, Seon-woo! Can you still drink more?”
“Ahaha, of course, Department Head.”
Because the faces coming in, and the atmosphere of the group, were all too familiar.
It wasn't a simple case of déjà vu.
It was deeper than that, a memory that remained like a scar inside me, now rising to the surface.
“Team Leader Seo! Our Seon-woo says he can drink, are you going to back out?!”
“Come on, Department Head, isn't it the youngest's job to be your drinking partner?”
At the same time, the words changed and overlapped with the voices.
A voice that held a strange grating quality.
—He's always working hard, but never well.
A cunning voice that had been waiting for an opportunity.
—Yeon-ho, can't you let me have this project?
And,
—That guy's a lost cause. He's too stubborn. What was it, artist's disease? Masterpiece syndrome?
Voices I had once trusted, voices that had horribly betrayed me.
“Do you know them?”
Just as Han Seo-rim's voice overlapped with them.
The gaze of the curly-haired Kim Seon-woo, who still had a hint of youthfulness, turned this way.
His eyes widened.
The moment my heart began to pound, those words burst from his lips.
“Huh?! It's Cheon Yeon-ho from Studio Rewind!”
Only then did I realize something.
My head felt like it was clearing.
'Ah.'
Right now, I'm Cheon Yeon-ho of Studio Rewind.
Cheon Yeon-ho, the team leader of NQ's Development Team 3, had never existed in this world.
These people... had become strangers to my current self.
“Rewind? Huh?! Studio Rewind?!”
Director Jeong, the department head, gaped.