Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: How to Make a High School Girl Stop Crying
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How to make a high school girl stop crying.
It wasn't that difficult.
“Are you okay now?”
“Yes… *hic*…”
I immediately took Jo A-yun to a PC bang, logged into the game, and returned her item.
Jo A-yun, who had been sniffling the whole time, finally began to calm down.
But her wariness hadn't completely disappeared.
Her gaze on me was quite sharp.
I felt more than a little sorry.
“...I apologize for using such a method. I really wanted to meet you, but this was the only way I could think of.”
“Me…?”
“Yes, you. It’s not the best place to talk here. How about we go to a café?”
Even to my own ears, my words sounded suspicious, but thankfully, Han Seo-rim’s presence helped lower her guard a little.
Jo A-yun glanced at Han Seo-rim before nodding.
Having another woman around must have put her at ease.
Whatever the case, stage one was complete.
“Alright, let’s get going. Seo-rim, you can close that now.”
“Mhm… Oh? Okay.”
*Click.* Han Seo-rim closed the community forum window and stood up.
“Where are we going?”
“...I just said we’re going to a café.”
“Oh, really? Perfect. I know a good place nearby. Hey, come on.”
Han Seo-rim took the lead, looking after Jo A-yun.
I cleared the many thoughts swirling in my head and followed them.
We arrived at a well-known franchise café not far away.
“They said they have a new menu item, so I wanted to try it. What do you want to drink?”
“A ch-chocolate frappe…”
“What about you, senior?”
“An Iced Am.”
“A what?”
“...An Iced Americano.”
“You always do that. You could just say the full name, but you always shorten it into some weird phrase only you understand. That’s a sign of poor social skills.”
Would it be worth explaining future slang and abbreviations to her?
…No, I should just let it go.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Well, I’ll go get the drinks. You take her and find a seat. You said you had something to talk about.”
Han Seo-rim waved her hand dismissively.
Jo A-yun suddenly began to look anxious.
“...Shall we?”
After a moment of hesitation, Jo A-yun finally lowered her head.
Her timid steps toward me seemed to be a sign of acceptance.
* * *
A-yun found the sudden turn of events quite unsettling.
More than anything, it had been a long time since she’d been out during the day, so the sunlight felt harsh and the people made her uncomfortable.
And then there was Yeon-ho, right in front of her.
The older man she had considered a friend was looking at her with an unreadable expression, making her feel as if she had done something wrong.
Her shoulders slumped.
It was at that moment that Yeon-ho spoke.
“First, take this. This is what I do.”
He held out a white business card.
A-yun carefully took it and examined it.
“Stu-dio… Rewid…”
“Studio Rewind.”
“Ah, yes…”
“It’s a game development company. It was founded recently and just launched its first game. The staff consists of me, my junior you just met, and two others. As you can see, we’re short on people, so we’re looking for new employees.”
Yeon-ho got straight to the point.
A-yun was flustered.
“B-but why are you looking for me?”
“Because I want to hire you. Our team needs someone to handle the sound.”
“Me…?”
“I should probably explain this first.”
Yeon-ho took a file out of his bag.
A-yun’s eyes widened in surprise at its contents.
‘My blog!’
It was a screenshot of the blog she used to save the music she composed.
She had wondered how he found her; it seemed this was how.
“I was searching online for a suitable employee. I came across your blog, found your music, and knew you were the one, so I looked for your contact information. But your email was private, and you had all comments disabled.”
A-yun slowly nodded.
She had disabled comments because she was afraid of criticism.
She had blocked emails because she was afraid of the hate mail she might receive.
Her social anxiety, coupled with her general anxiety, had made her shut her eyes and ears to the world.
“But I did find a single game screenshot on your blog. I used that to track you down and meet you. At first, I was going to state my business right away, but after hearing about your situation, I couldn't just casually ask you to meet. I felt this was the only way to get you to come out. Again, I’m sorry.”
“Oh, no…”
So that was it!
A-yun could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
There were still some odd points if she were to pick them out, but being young, A-yun wasn't sharp enough to notice them.
She was just happy that someone had praised her music.
This was a first for A-yun.
At school, whenever she talked about music, she would be accused of ‘showing off’ or being a ‘princess.’
Suddenly, the memory of those moments resurfaced, and a wave of fear washed over A-yun.
It was a lack of confidence.
“B-but…”
“Yes?”
“That’s something professionals do… I-I’m just…”
In A-yun’s mind, she was definitely an amateur.
And he was talking about music needed for game development.
That was her perception.
Games were massive projects made by dozens of professionals with university degrees from large companies.
It made more sense for a professional to compose the music, not someone like her who had dropped out of high school.
Indie games were a different story, but with her limited knowledge on the subject, A-yun couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
She was about to decline.
That’s when Yeon-ho spoke in a firm voice.
“It has to be you.”
*Thump!*
“The game we’re planning needs your music.”
A-yun’s body stiffened.
“It has to be you. The moment I heard your music, every other option vanished from my mind.”
They were embarrassing words that made her face flush.
When she hesitantly lifted her head, she saw Yeon-ho’s serious expression.
“I won’t force you. But if your reason is a lack of confidence, could you please reconsider? I have faith in you.”
A-yun’s head was spinning.
His previous words echoed in her mind.
*It has to be you.*
*Every other option vanished from my mind.*
*I have faith in you.*
A cascade of intense phrases that could only be described as a confession!
“Uh, uhh…”
To a high school girl full of dreams, a confession from a handsome man was powerful!
And for someone as socially inept as A-yun, it was even more so!
‘Is this a confession? Already? But I’m a minor… and he’s an older guy… Uh, uhh… still, an older guy is a bit…!’
Her face turned beet red, and her hands began to tremble.
“I’m back. Huh? What’s with her now? Senior, did you say something weird again?”
“?”
“Honestly, this guy. I knew it. Here, drink this.”
Seo-rim approached and placed the chocolate frappe in her hand.
“Th-th-thank you…!”
“Don’t pay too much attention to what this guy says. He’s a bit lacking in the social skills department.”
Wait, was this a check?
A scene from a drama flashed through A-yun’s mind.
—*Slap!*
—*So you’re the harlot who had an affair with my man?!*
*Flinch—!*
A-yun jerked her shoulders and whipped her head around to look at Seo-rim.
However, that action only served to pull her back to reality.
“Your face is red. Are you okay?”
Seo-rim was looking at her with a concerned expression, placing a hand on her forehead.
‘Ah, the scent of perfume.’
It was a nice smell, and she unconsciously sniffed the air.
The hand on her forehead was soft, too.
And her face was stunningly beautiful.
She was a glamorous beauty, the kind you’d only see on TV.
As a woman, A-yun had been defeated!
“...I really didn’t do anything.”
“Yes, yes, I’m sure you didn’t.”
Only then did she grasp the reality of the situation.
‘Ah, birds of a feather flock together.’
Well, they looked about the same age, worked together, and seemed close.
Besides, they looked good together.
A-yun felt a strange pang in her chest.
Right, who was she to even dream?
‘Goodbye…’
Farewell, my beautiful first love…
And so, A-yun’s first love came to an end in just ten seconds!
Meanwhile, Yeon-ho continued.
“So, if you’re okay with it, would you like to work with us? Of course, it’s not unpaid labor. The terms we’re offering are…”
Although she didn't know the industry, the terms sounded pretty good from what she could gather.
Honestly, making a living with music?
And if it was making music for a game she liked, it sounded like it could be fun.
But the words weren't really sinking in.
Her heart just felt heavy. With a cooled head, A-yun gave a dispirited reply.
It was a practical problem that had come to her belatedly.
“...I have to get my mom’s permission.”
“Then let’s go to your house.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll try to convince your mother.”
A-yun’s head shot up.
Once again, she was met with Yeon-ho’s serious expression.
‘Is this…’
Could it be a formal meeting of the families?
Her dead first love… gloriously resurrected…!
* * *
…That did not happen.
“A game company, you say?”
At A-yun’s house, in the living room, at the dining table.
Her mother sat with her arms crossed, looking at Yeon-ho and Seo-rim with a wary expression.
A-yun swallowed nervously.
Her mother hated games.
To be precise, A-yun’s behavior over the past month had made her mother utterly sick of them.
And now, people who claimed to make games had shown up.
To make matters worse, they weren't from one of the well-known game companies that started with an ‘N.’
“Frankly, I’m taken aback. And a little suspicious.”
Her mother’s eyes narrowed.
This was not going well.
Just as A-yun thought that, Yeon-ho launched his attack.
“Yes, I understand completely. In that case, would you please take a look at this?”
He pulled out a folder.
“This is our sales report. In the six months since our founding, and since the release of our first game, our total monthly revenue has reached 800 million won. We certainly have enough money on hand to cover Miss A-yun’s salary.”
“H-hmmm…?!”
Her mother was flustered.
Seizing the opportunity, Yeon-ho pressed his attack.
“Even setting aside the most sensitive issue of money, there’s more. I see potential in Miss A-yun. In other words, talent. The arts are like that. Many people talk about the importance of hard work, but without an innate sense, it's a field where one can never truly grow or achieve greatness. And in Miss A-yun, I sense a talent more brilliant than anyone I know.”
No parent dislikes hearing their child being praised.
Her mother was no exception.
Her expression wavered.
The corners of her lips twitched upward.
“I-is that so?”
“Yes. I’m not just trying to exploit young A-yun. I have a strong desire to help her talent blossom. Game development, in a broader sense, is a creative field. I would appreciate it if you could see this as the passion of a fellow creator.”
“A-ahem…!”
Her mother belatedly let out a dry cough, as if trying to act stern.
A whirlwind of thoughts went through A-yun’s mind!
“This is the educational guideline our side has prepared for Miss A-yun.”
Yeon-ho pulled out another file.
At that moment!
“Th-this is…!”
Her mother’s eyes flew wide open!
The folder contained pages filled with dense text and graphs.
In other words, college admission materials.
“Miss A-yun is seventeen now, right? It’s a crucial time for education and growth. First, if you entrust her to us, we will ensure she passes her GED within a year. Then, we will take full responsibility for her college entrance exam preparation. Since she’s considering the music department, we will arrange for private practical lessons with a professional in that field. Subsequently, we will also provide support for her university tuition.”
A-yun’s jaw dropped.
She was only now properly hearing what had been glossed over at the café.
Her mother was the same.
Her eyes, trembling like an aspen leaf, spoke volumes.
The final words her mother uttered said it all.
“H-how can I believe that?”
Her expression was just like that of a female lead in a drama, playing hard to get even though she’s already pleased!
In other words, Yeon-ho’s next move completely washed away her mother’s doubts!
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Cheon Yeon-ho, a student in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Hanguk University. My friend here is also a student at Hanguk University.”
“I’m Han Seo-rim from the Visual Design department. I’ll be personally tutoring her for the entrance exams.”
Their student IDs pierced her mother’s heart like an expert archer's arrow hitting a bullseye from a thousand paces!
Her mother grasped both their hands tightly.
“Teachers! Please take good care of my A-yun!”
The year was 2009.
The Republic of Korea was in the throes of a private education craze.
And in this conversation, one person was completely left out.
‘Mom, what about my opinion?’
A-yun suddenly felt betrayed by her mother.
* * *
Late evening.
Back at the office after finishing the day’s work.
Alone, a deep silence enveloped me.
As the quiet deepened, thoughts began to drift by.
I let them pass one by one, leaving only myself and my situation to contemplate.
‘Recruitment of the sound director is complete.’
With this, the minimum preparations were finished.
An art set to implement 3D graphics, a sound designer.
And myself, handling planning and programming.
Of course, it was still rough.
The art team was new to 3D, the sound director was a high school student, and I had to juggle planning, programming, and even management. Everything could be described as subpar.
But it was fine.
‘My past life was harder than this.’
Driven by the thought that I couldn't rely on anything, that I had to prove I wasn't wrong all by myself, I completed the entire process alone in my past life.
Compared to then, my environment is much better now, and the production budget is at a similar level.
So, this time, I had to be better.
I had to make a more polished game, a game that could achieve higher sales.
‘I can’t stay in the indie scene forever.’
I wasn't hoarding all those source materials just to end up as an indie developer.
I had to move forward, and the end goal was clear.
‘AAA-level.’
A term for games with a total production cost exceeding 10 billion won, and for games that deliver a corresponding level of quality and volume.
What would I need to achieve that?
Manpower, capital, and a solid reputation.
There was only one way to obtain everything I needed.
My fists clenched.
Outside the window, the night view of Seoul emitted a lonely light.
Looking out somewhere into that cityscape, I set my target.
‘GOTY.’
Game of the Year.
A title for the game that receives the most awards among all games released in a single year.
And among them, the one I had to seize was…
‘Indie GOTY.’
The very same one I had won in my past life.
In other words.
‘I have to surpass my past life.’
I will now head to the starting line.
Second Title.