Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Veteran Hire Interview
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This was the conference room of the mobile game development team where Yena's interview would take place.
Originally, it was supposed to be just Yena and me for an informal interview, but the reason Suyeon was attending was simple.
She wanted to see for herself what kind of person the candidate I had recommended was.
"Our director personally recommended her, so I'm kinda looking forward to this?"
"Haha..."
Ever since I brought in Yerin—who I'd twisted arms to get here—and she struck gold with her Girls Memorial character designs, Suyeon had been showing interest like this nonstop.
It felt like the president's trust in my eye for talent had skyrocketed.
It was a bit burdensome, but... it wasn't all bad.
Thanks to the president's trust, Yena now had a shot at getting hired—something that would've been nearly impossible by the book.
'Of course, assuming she passes today's test.'
About ten minutes passed as I exchanged chit-chat with Suyeon, who was all hyped up.
Then came a knock at the conference room door.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The door opened, and it was Yumi peeking her head in.
"Sorry about this. Yena—the one Director mentioned—just arrived at the office. Should I send her in now?"
"Hmm... hold off until I call her myself. It won't take long."
"Got it!"
With a click, the door shut again, and silence settled over the room.
"Um, President?"
"Yeah? What's up?"
"The interview's about to start—any questions you want to ask Yena or anything like that?"
"Nah, nothing in particular."
"Really nothing...?"
Suyeon shrugged at my question.
"Like I said earlier, I'm just here to see the talent our director hand-picked. Don't mind me—focus on the interview."
"Alright... got it."
"Go get 'em!"
I ignored Suyeon's cheer from the side and called out loud enough for Yumi outside to hear.
"We're ready—send Yena in!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
After Yumi's reply, the door opened, and Yena stepped into the conference room.
Her visible height was almost the same as Yerin's.
But aside from that, the differences were stark.
For starters, while Yerin had a bob cut reaching her neck, Yena sported long, wavy hair down to her waist.
And unlike Yerin's sharp, edgy look, Yena had a softer impression with droopy eyes—more like a gentle soul.
If anything, she looked less like a seasoned professional and more like a student still.
"H-Hello. I'm Yi Yena, here today applying to Enson GT."
"Hello. I've heard a lot about you from Yerin. Have a seat in the chair up front."
"Ah, yes!"
Yerin had said she didn't have much work experience, and it showed—Yena was visibly tense right now.
"It's an informal interview, so no need to be so nervous. First off, let me ask you a quick question."
"Y-Yes...!"
"You're active on Bixiv under the nickname ye12na, right?"
At the sudden Bixiv question, Yena nodded with a puzzled look.
"The reason I'm asking is because of the four-panel comic you're serializing."
"Four-panel comic...?"
"Yes. I'm talking about Memorial Record, the Girls Memorial fan four-panel comic you're posting on that account."
"Y-Yes, that's right. But why...?"
"Truth is, that's how we first learned about you. The Japanese publisher handling our game's localization has been trying to scout you as their official comic artist for a while now."
My words left Yena blinking in total surprise, like she'd never heard this before.
"Have you checked your work email by any chance?"
"Oh, um... I don't actually have a separate account for work emails..."
"Happens all the time. Anyway... have you ever thought about doing official four-panel comics?"
"F-Four-panel comic artist...?"
"Yeah. SFLAG reached out first for cooperation, so it felt right to ask you before anything."
Yena swallowed hard, then asked cautiously.
"W-What if I said I was interested...?"
"Then you'd end up working for SFLAG, not us. As their official four-panel artist."
"Th-Then what about joining Enson GT...?"
"Obviously, we'd be second in line, so the hiring here would be off the table."
Suyeon elbowed me hard in the side, her face full of panic, but I ignored it.
Yena looked just as thrown, clearly deep in thought.
"That said... there is exactly one way you could join our company and do official artist work at the same time."
"Huh...? Really?!"
I nodded, holding back Yena as she half-stood from her chair in shock.
"But only if you pass today's test. Then I'll explain how. You knew about the test today, right?"
"Ah, yes!"
"Good. Follow me, then."
I stood to guide her, and Yena rose to follow.
"Um, but who's that...?"
She was pointing at Suyeon, who sat there with arms crossed and a slightly sulky expression.
"She's from HR, so don't worry about her. This way."
I ignored the sharp glare stabbing into my back from Suyeon and led Yena out of the conference room.
Instantly, every eye in the office turned our way.
The interview rumors must've spread like wildfire...
Caught off-guard by the stares, Yena flinched and grabbed my sleeve—then realized and let go in a hurry.
"S-Sorry..."
"It's fine. Just stick with me."
I took her to the empty seat we'd prepped in the art team area.
The previous occupant had quit about a week ago, but that wasn't important...
Once we reached the test station, I glanced over. Yena's tension was starting to show on her face.
"What do you use for 3D work? Maya? 3ds Max?"
"Ah, I use 3ds Max."
I launched 3ds Max as she said, then pulled up an illustration of Operator—Girls Memorial's mascot—on the side monitor.
"For this test, please model Operator here as a 3D character."
"Can I use ZBrush?"
"Of course. It's on the desktop—go ahead."
"Um... and the deadline...?"
"No set time limit, but the faster, the better your evaluation."
"Got it..."
Contrary to my expectation that she'd be nervous, Yena grabbed the mouse with eager determination. I slipped away from the spot.
"Guess I'll... knock out my backlog first?"
*
I wrapped up all the piled-up work inside and outside the office.
Coaxed the president—who'd been half-pouting while waiting in the conference room—back upstairs and cleaned up.
Checked Girls Memorial's dev schedule and Android version progress.
Finally finished QA for next week's first event update, and quitting time was closing in.
I rubbed my dry, strained eyes from the monitor and stood, stretching with a groan.
'Gotta start exercising for real...'
As I headed out to give the art team quick feedback before leaving, I sensed movement here and there.
'What's this?'
Normally at this hour, aside from the overtime crew, everyone would be packing up—but today the place was buzzing, especially around the art team.
Curious, I headed over and found team members clustered, peeking at Yena hard at work on her test.
Of course, as expected, she wasn't used to an audience and looked uncomfortable as she worked the mouse.
"Whoa, her low-poly modeling was crazy fast, and she's already on high-poly?"
"Her speed is no joke."
"Who brought her in again? Our director?"
"Think so? Word is the Japanese publisher had their eyes on her for official comics, saliva dripping and all, but our director spotted her 3D talent and snatched her midway."
"How'd the director even know about her 3D skills? I asked around my contacts—no one'd heard the name."
"Director's gotta have some kinda magic crystal ball or something. Last time, he was the only one dead certain our game would blow up, and he brought in the art director too."
'...Where the hell did they hear all that?'
Showing up now would kill the vibe for sure, so I quietly backed away and returned to my office.
'Feedback can wait till tomorrow—it's not urgent. Time to head home.'
I finished up, grabbed my stuff, and glanced at the art team on my way out.
The early quitters were gone; now the overtime folks had gathered to watch Yena.
Poor thing surrounded by the team, but what could ya do.
'Hang in there.'