Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Sound Director (1)
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Sometimes, you need a moment to savor the sweet taste of success.
For our team dinner, Han Seo-rim and I went to a barbecue restaurant.
“Ahh, this is the life!”
Her lips were curled into a wide smile, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol, and the way she chewed her meat was filled with an unconcealable joy.
Han Seo-rim asked in an excited voice.
“So what are you going to do with all that money? Oh, do you like shopping or anything?”
“First, I need to pay you. For the six months you spent making this game, I’ll pay you 3 million won a month for all that back pay. And let’s rewrite your contract. I’m raising your salary.”
“Ooh! And?”
she asked, full of expectation.
Unfortunately, it was my duty to temper her elation.
“What ‘and’? That’s it.”
“Huh?”
“The rest is all for development costs. And even this isn’t enough.”
“But it’s 300 million won.”
“Yeah, and because it’s 300 million, it’s not enough.”
A net revenue of 300 million in the first month.
Considering the cost of living at this time, it was undoubtedly a large sum of money.
If we could maintain this momentum, next month’s earnings would be similar, and even after that, it would continue to be a cash cow, albeit a smaller one. So yes, we had struck gold with a single game.
But what was my profession?
A game developer.
So, if you thought of this money as an investment back into the business, and considered 300 million won in the context of game development…
Then the answer was a little different.
“It’s a bit tight.”
In the words of my time at the company, it was a revenue level that would make you say, “Hmm, is that all?”
It made sense.
Game development, even at an indie level, is a fuel-guzzling business that devours tens to hundreds of millions of won.
It’s even more horrifying when you consider there’s no guarantee it will lead to actual revenue—that is, a profit.
The main problem is labor costs.
By simple calculation, employing just ten people with a salary of 30 million won each would burn through 300 million in a flash.
Add in miscellaneous expenses and office rent, and the horror needs no further explanation.
To give a real-life example.
The total production cost for my final work in my past life, *Identity*, which swept the indie awards and received the most GOTY accolades, was 800 million won.
I was thinking of a similar budget for this next game.
‘I think I can probably make between 600 and 800 million within the year.’
Even that was an optimistic projection.
From a university student’s perspective, it was an astronomical sum, but as a game developer, and considering the scale of the game I intended to make, I would need a team of at least five people. This money had to be saved.
When I explained this reasoning to Han Seo-rim, her face went blank.
“…Sunbae, why don’t we just make another pixel art game?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It has to be 3D.”
“What on earth are you planning to make?”
“I’ll tell you later. For now, just study.”
I ate a piece of meat.
Pork belly really is the best for a team dinner.
The feeling of the fat coating my stomach was quite pleasant.
Beef wouldn’t have brought this kind of satisfaction.
Across from me, Han Seo-rim was staring daggers.
I ignored her and simply added one more thing.
“Let’s schedule the interviews for next week. Call them both to the club room. Oh, and I’m going to find an office, so keep this weekend free. We’ll be walking around to different real estate agencies, so wear sneakers.”
“…Wow, I’m so excited.”
I was sure the distinct lack of excitement in her voice wasn’t my imagination.
“I’ll buy you something delicious.”
“…No, thanks.”
Hmm, she seemed quite disappointed.
It was a bit of a shame that there was nothing else I could say to cheer her up.
“Let’s just eat.”
I’d just have to make sure she was well-fed.
* * *
『Thanks, Yeon-ho! I think I’ve found my calling because of you! Just saying thanks feels cheap… so if you ever need my help with anything, just let me know! If it’s a request from you, I’ll do my best to help in any way I can!
From your friend, James.』
A message arrived from James, who had successfully completed his first broadcast.
We exchanged emails, and this connection became another weapon in my arsenal.
Of course, I had no immediate need to borrow James’s power.
I would set this email address aside for a while.
For now, I had to focus on the task at hand.
“Ugh! I’m dead!”
We found an office and moved in.
It was an officetel not far from the university.
Located on a street with good lighting, it was on the 13th floor and was about 70 pyeong.
It helped that real estate was cheaper than in the era I had lived in.
I wanted to buy the place outright, but my seed money was a bit ambiguous for that, so I had to be satisfied with this.
I said to Han Seo-rim.
“You worked hard. You were a great help, from finding the office and everything.”
I wasn’t just saying that.
Han Seo-rim was quite knowledgeable about real estate.
She said her family owned a lot of land, so she’d picked things up since she was young… come to think of it, she was the younger sister of Jin-gyeong, who was known for being well-off.
They looked so different that I often forgot.
Anyway, putting that aside, the point was that Han Seo-rim had chosen this officetel.
I couldn’t thank her enough.
“Thank you so mu—.”
“It’s fine. Just do your job well.”
Han Seo-rim waved her hand dismissively and put on her headphones.
Diving straight into her modeling studies was a clear sign not to be disturbed.
If that’s what she wanted, I’d grant it.
I turned my gaze from Han Seo-rim and looked around the office.
I made a plan.
‘Now, I need to fill this place with people.’
Full-scale development would begin after that.
There was Han Seo-rim’s studying to consider, and besides that, I hadn’t even finished the game proposal yet.
I would use this downtime to recruit talent.
There were a total of six desks in the office.
The art team’s area consisted of three desks pushed together for the two artists coming for an interview and Han Seo-rim. One was set aside for me, and another was for a programmer.
But that last desk couldn’t be used right away.
‘For the time being, I’ll have to handle the programming myself.’
Programmers were highly skilled professionals.
In other words, they were incredibly expensive.
And I was short on funds.
Of course, I could find cheaper talent… but that would mean risking a drop in experience and quality.
That was out of the question.
If I brought in someone who wrote buggy code, I’d end up wasting development time fixing their mistakes.
It was better for me to work harder for now and hire an experienced programmer later when my finances were in better shape.
My gaze shifted.
There was a single desk, set apart from the others.
‘Maybe it’s time to look for her.’
It was reserved for someone I had my eye on since the moment I decided to make games.
The thought made me feel sentimental.
—Team Leader? Are you doing well? Your new game won an award! I called to congratulate you!
A connection from my past life.
The kid who had followed me so devotedly when I was an outcast at the company.
The kid who stayed in touch and cheered me on even after I quit.
A kid full of heart, whose talent surpassed even that big heart.
‘Back then…’
My position in the company was weak, so I couldn’t take proper care of her.
That bothered me.
She had the skills to be a team leader long ago but had chosen to remain a team member just to stay under me. I felt indebted to her.
If we met again, I planned to repay her by ensuring she was treated better than before.
‘Is she in high school now?’
No, she said she took the qualification exam, so she must be unemployed.
She claimed to be a former hikikomori, but the person I knew was second to none in cheerfulness, so I honestly couldn’t believe it.
I’d find out when I met her.
Fortunately, I had a way to find her.
A long time ago, at a bar, she had told me a few things.
—You know those things? Where you find game friends and chat with them. I was crazy about that. Man, I still remember it. My username back then was…
An online game.
I would find her there.
* * *
Seo-rim was living through a series of busy days.
Between her personal modeling studies, playing the games Yeon-ho recommended, and keeping up with her schoolwork, she felt like she needed three bodies to manage it all.
But she didn't let go of anything, driven by her own stubbornness and the sweet nectar of accomplishment.
Her life was a monotonous series of hardships, but today brought a change to that routine.
“Hey, Yeon-ho! We’re the same age, so can we drop the formalities?”
“It’s been a while, Sunbae!”
It was the interview day for a senior and a classmate she was close with.
Seo-rim had chosen them after careful consideration.
The senior was the top student in her year and a major who had delved deep into 3D design. The classmate was also a student who had set her career path toward graphic design.
They wouldn’t be a hindrance to the work, and more importantly, knowing her own personality, she had calculated that they would follow instructions well.
Well, it wasn't like they were without their flaws.
“Welcome, both of you…”
“What have you two been doing in such a nice place?”
“This is totally suspicious, isn’t it?”
“Yeon-ho, are you rich?”
“Sunbae, do you have a car?”
“Our Seo-rim is high-maintenance, you know~.”
“She’s super picky~.”
“I’m about to get really picky right now. Could you please stop with the commotion?”
This right here—the fuss.
They were obsessed with a popular virtual marriage show these days, and their restless personalities made them unable to resist pairing up any man and woman they saw.
My growl silenced them, but the glint in their eyes didn't die.
I couldn't let my guard down.
“…Shall we begin the interview now?”
Yeon-ho spoke, and the interview began in a simplified manner.
It covered the programs they could use, their proficiency, a review of their portfolios, and discussions about the work itself.
There were no hitches, and their respective needs aligned quite well.
The senior, being in her final year, needed a job.
The classmate needed practical experience and, more importantly, an income to support her spending habits.
“…Yes, let’s conclude the interview here. We’ll arrange a separate meeting for salary negotiations. You won’t have any work for a while, so please focus on your school life. Oh, and if you can, please study up on game graphic modeling.”
And with that, the interview was over.
“We’re leaving now!”
“You two head home early! Don’t stay out after dark, okay?”
“Get lost!”
“Kyahaha!”
The two left, their boisterous mouths running to the very end.
Feeling a sudden wave of fatigue, Seo-rim apologized to Yeon-ho.
“I’m sorry. They’re a bit energetic, aren’t they?”
She felt like a mother apologizing for her child’s misbehavior.
However, that feeling didn’t last long.
“It’s fine.”
“Huh?”
“This will be the last time they get to laugh like that.”
Seo-rim flinched and studied Yeon-ho.
There was no significant change in his expression.
Then again, Yeon-ho was almost always expressionless.
But what was frightening was…
“Once work starts, you think they’ll have time for jokes?”
…that Yeon-ho was not a man who lied.
And that he was a man who boasted a rather murderous work intensity.
Seo-rim felt strangely relieved, and terrified.
It was just after that moment.
“…By the way, Sunbae, what are you doing?”
Ever since the two had left, Yeon-ho had been on his computer, clicking his mouse.
Curious as to what he was doing that he wouldn’t even look at her while they were talking, she asked. Yeon-ho replied.
“Hiring an employee.”
“Huh?”
“I said I’m hiring someone to work with us.”
Seo-rim’s eyes widened.
So he was hiring someone besides those two!
Her curiosity piqued, her body had already moved to Yeon-ho’s desk.
And on the screen…
“…This is hiring?”
Seo-rim let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Hey, this is a game.”
Yeon-ho was playing a game.
An online game so famous that even Seo-rim knew of it.
On Yeon-ho’s monitor was some kind of mushroom village and a short, stubby 2D character.
“Oh, you know this game?”
“My brother plays it, so I know. This is ‘Maple Saga,’ right?”
Maple Saga.
A game where you level up by defeating cute monsters with a stubby character.
What did this have to do with hiring an employee?
Just as she was thinking that.
“This is how I’m hiring. And I just found her.”
Yeon-ho’s bald character stopped at a spot in the mushroom village where three haystacks were gathered.
Yeon-ho’s finger pointed at the screen.
“That’s her. The employee I’m looking for.”
There, a female character, who clearly had a lot of money spent on her, was standing idly with a speech bubble above her head.
『AyuningS2: 17 F LF Maple Friends @@』
17, F, LF Maple Friends.
The last part was one thing, but the first two were suspicious.
Seo-rim shot Yeon-ho a look filled with a hint of scorn and asked.
“*She’s* the employee?”
Yeon-ho nodded without a change in his expression.
“Yep. She’s going to be our sound director.”
Had this man finally lost his mind?