Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: 31. Rosanne the Unemployed (2)
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Every second half of the year, the Korean gaming scene heats up.
From major game developers to startups.
All the game companies in Korea participate in the game show held in Busan.
It's called the G-Fex Game Show.
It's the biggest one in the country.
Its popularity had waned since the market got flooded with gacha and collector games,
but this G-Fex was special.
It hadn't happened for three whole years because of "that" flu.
Just reopening the place where gamers' passions could explode was enough to make it a massive hit.
On top of that, the anticipation of all the pent-up industry news being revealed had the communities buzzing.
Ticket sales were for early April entry, and they sold out the day before.
Rumor has it scalpers are selling them for ten times the price.
And...
Of course, our company was participating too.
With new content for Eternal Princess Crown, one of the two giants in Korea's collector RPG scene.
I was planning to do my part as a lowly HR grunt at this historic event.
After the KTX and a taxi, it took three and a half hours to open the firmly shut doors of the venue.
The event was tomorrow,
but the inside was already noisy as hell.
Construction noise from teams still setting up booths, teams freaking out over sudden defects.
Teams running simulations for tomorrow's event.
Shouts erupting everywhere had my heart already pounding.
Seems like the three years of pent-up passion wasn't just for gamers.
I'm getting excited too.
I took a lap around the venue like a stroll to get a feel for the atmosphere, then headed to our booth.
Hmm.
The big banner's up properly.
Demo smartphones for 200 seats look ready.
The massive statue of our cute mascot, Quring, is perfectly placed.
The presentation stage matches the design mockup.
I'd been getting progress updates via KakaoTalk on the way, but seeing the finished booth made it real—I could finally relax.
Ours seemed all set.
No staff around, just the person in charge sipping coffee alone.
It was our Gwak Seonyeong, section chief, with her long black hair in a neat bun and a sharp-fitting suit.
If I'm HR's janitor, she's marketing's bullet sponge.
"Hello, Section Chief Gwak! Looks like the booth's all ready?"
"Oh, Assistant Manager Kwon! Weren't you coming tomorrow?"
"Gotta check ahead, right? Wouldn't want someone to no-show tomorrow morning."
"As expected from HR's one true god—no gaps. We finished booth prep ages ago and just wrapped up rehearsing tomorrow's flow before pulling out."
"You mean the new chapter reveal? The promo was so good, communities are going nuts. Great job."
"Whew... Honestly, we pulled so much aggro I'm nervous, but we had to or Blue Entropy would've eaten our lunch. The director needs to step up."
That's our company's situation.
Until recently, we were just a small indie dev.
Then big devs botched their collector games one after another, flooding us with refugees.
We didn't even try, but fair monetization and constant updates turned us into a god game.
Eventually, we became one of the two collector kings alongside our rival's Blue Entropy.
Strike while the iron's hot, right?
Our company's been in full war mode for over a year.
Marketing battles every day to hold onto refugees and not lose users to Blue Entropy.
This G-Fex, after three years, will decide the war.
Which side will the tug-of-war refugees choose?
Annual revenue could swing by billions either way.
I bet Section Chief Gwak's under insane pressure.
"You've prepped hard for months, so it'll be fine."
"It better be! Whew... Once tomorrow's cosplay reveal is done, I can breathe."
Then she grabbed my hands with both of hers.
"Take good care of things for these four days, Kwon. If anything goes wrong, we might all have to resign."
Her hands were shaking—how tense was she?
Our event was straightforward: new update reveal.
Cosplay team in new avatars introduces them,
Demo the new chapter for users,
Merch sales and giveaways otherwise.
But the hype? Off the charts.
We let users vote on new avatars and cosplay months ago.
"You make the game!" we hyped.
Collector success hinges on loyalty—smart marketing.
Long prep means failure would bring blood to marketing.
Not me, though.
Still, gotta help my best.
"Don't worry. The outfits looked perfect on the way here. You saw the cosplay samples, right?"
"Yeah... That team's pros. You barely snagged them—we'd be dead without. I had no idea cosplay teams were that booked."
"G-Fex timing. Probably every team in Korea's here. If I didn't know them, we wouldn't have gotten it."
"Seriously... They threw crazy demands, but thanks for hooking us up. Now I get why Section Chief Park recommended you."
Of course. I'm a pro janitor.
Director's blind pressure has HR and marketing in chaos.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After sending confirmation messages to the demo helpers, work for the day was done.
Checked into the hotel.
Then called Section Chief Park for a report.
"Chief. Made it and just got to the hotel."
[Good work, Kwon. No issues?]
"All good. Demo helpers, catering team—checked everyone."
[Thanks. Knew sending you would smooth it. I'll swing by tomorrow, report issues right away.]
Reports are formality.
HR's so understaffed we do ten times the work.
Chief doesn't know 40% of what I do here.
But why call her?...
Dahye's illustration freelance rate.
Ask now or wait five days.
"Yep. What could go wrong. Oh, about Park Dahye's art—rate meeting done?"
[That? No need. Just offer 500k and done.]
"500k? Why so low?"
[She's a total amateur, right? Not going to Blue Entropy anyway—what's the point of highballing?]
"Quality's top-notch. Might work together later—build goodwill now."
[Hand-drawn. Needs digitizing staff. Over 500k is pushing it.]
"Make it exactly 700k."
[Kwon, you're off today. Why take the artist's side?]
Tsk.
That obvious?
Truth is, 500k's fair.
I'd offer the same.
But... selling Dahye's blood-sweat art for 500k.
With my hands.
Makes my blood boil just thinking.
Want to give at least 1 mil, but no dice.
Chief knows the market better.
"Her talent's insane. If under 700k, no deal—she won't take it."
[Kid's got guts. Handle it. See you tomorrow.]
"Yes, Chief. See you tomorrow!"
Whew.
First game show in ages, work smooth.
Feeling great.
Then hearing her art get lowballed tanked my mood.
Dahye'd smile at 500k.
But... I can't stomach it.
'Guess I'll buy it myself.'
Two Dahye illustrations for 1.8 mil.
That's my minimum valuation.
No choice.
Buy it myself for now.
When she's famous someday, I'll pay premium.
Please, Park Dahye.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Hot shower done, cracked open convenience store beer.
Business trip vibe—white robe, Busan night view, sipping hits different.
Lounged in bed, watched a movie, lights out at eleven sharp.
Up early tomorrow, communicating with 40 people all day.
Conditioning's a skill.
But...
Yeah.
Of course not.
No way I'd sleep.
Busan skyline twinkling sharper through the curtains as time passed.
Last three nights felt dreamily distant.
Drifting off the second my eyes closed... sweeter than honey.
Oh well.
No matter what, insomnia tonight.
No Dahye.
Raised my left hand to the dark ceiling.
The one buried in Dahye's chest until this morning.
Sniffed—
Nose that kept itching from her hair.
Shoulder sore from always side-sleeping.
Right arm under her head.
Chest warmth.
Lavender scent.
Leaving home felt smug.
Teased her to feel my absence for four days.
But...
Didn't expect this.
Party play's efficient, huh.
Miss her spot too.
Wonder what Dahye's doing.
Gamed all day, crashed snoring?
Phone check—Kakao from Dahye.
[Seaweed soup was bomb! Ate all six meat chunks myself!]
Pic of her thumbs-up with empty bowl.
Good she's fine.
Made me grin.
Then—
Ding!
[Miss u Seonghyeon ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
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