Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Episode 3. Park Dahye (2)
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"Game... you say?"
Is this for real? Quitting job hunting because of a game?
"Yes! I have to play games, so I don't have much time."
Hmm. Yeah. That makes sense.
I get it.
As a senior in life, and as a fellow gaming addict, I think the same way.
How nice it would be to quit that shitty job and play games all day.
Heh heh heh. Just thinking about it makes me feel good.
But, you know.
Then you'd starve to death, kid.
"If I may ask... what game is it?"
"Billion Saga! Know it?"
Oh, a fellow player.
What an earth-shattering event.
To think I'd hear a twenty-year-old kid ask me if I know Billion Saga.
Hey hey, me... I'm a veteran with eight solid years under my belt.
But because I know Billion Saga better than anyone, I couldn't understand Park Dahye at all.
"Of course I do. But Billion Saga's an old game now. Isn't it more efficient to just buy gold with your salary than play it yourself?"
"Wow, you really know your stuff... You're right, sir. But..."
"But?"
"It's not about leveling up my character. It's my friends."
She's got it bad.
What kind of idiot quits a job for a game?
Friends?
That's even funnier. Just meet your game friends after work! Who doesn't have game friends?
I have Kim Pokttal!
I pondered how to dissuade her without hurting her feelings, but Park Dahye spoke first.
"And more than that, my drawing skills aren't good enough."
"I guarantee your skills as an artist. The illustrations you sent are already at a publishable level."
"But that one... took a really long time."
"How long? Your working time?"
"70..."
"70 hours? That's fine."
"Days..."
"..."
Emergency! Emergency!
Warning alarms blared in my head.
And right on cue, ding-dong, the bell rang.
Not an emergency bell, but the cafe's pager vibrating.
'I knew it from the start when I scheduled this via KakaoTalk.'
'That's why we take resumes, you reckless section chief!'
No matter how good the skills, 70 days is insane.
Even I could churn out one illustration in 70 days with 1,000 reference images.
'Section Chief Park... You're wrong this time.'
I can reel in even the stingiest clients, but incompetence is another story.
Time to scrap all plans.
"I see... It did take a while."
"Sorry for making you come all this way. I didn't send the drawing for a job; I just wanted to ask if it was sellable."
"Our section chief must've gotten excited because it's so good. Did you study art formally?"
"Yes. That was my first one. I drew it bit by bit while playing games."
"Must've been tough."
Tch. Wasting my annual leave on this.
Ugh... Section Chief Park...
I'll enjoy that four-day weekend. Heh heh.
It's over.
I was full of professional spirit this morning, but it fizzled out in an instant.
Now that I'm relaxed, I'm suddenly sleepy.
How much did I sleep last night? One, two hours?
Insomnia kept me up.
The contract's off the table.
Now my head's full of thoughts about going home and gaming.
Boot up the PC as soon as I get home... Oh, right. No Kim Pokttal today.
Too bad.
A Billion Saga world without Kim Pokttal.
Horrifying just to imagine.
Suddenly, time drags on.
I took a sip of the cappuccino I don't even like.
The job failed, but seeing a pretty girl after so long lifted my mood.
Her pure smile felt like a disinfectant for my soul.
And that pretty girl was now face-deep in mousse cake.
"Tasty?"
"Yes... So, so tasty. Try some, sir!"
Youth is great.
Right in that age.
Little experience means lots of tasty things, lots of excitement, no need to be swayed by a job.
She scooped a big bite of cake onto her fork and held it out to me.
"I'm good. I don't like cake."
"Huh? Then why'd you order cheesecake?"
"In case it wasn't enough for you. Both are yours, so eat slowly."
"Wow... Thank you! I know you're busy, so I'll eat fast!"
"I'm clocking out right here. Plenty of time, so take it slow."
"Hee hee. Really?"
How can she be so innocent?
Every bite of cake made Park Dahye cup her cheeks and go m mm~.
With that beauty, people might think she's in a commercial.
Meanwhile, the cappuccino sat untouched after the first sip.
When did coffee stop tasting bitter to me?
Can't even remember.
Maybe I should balance-patch for this pitiful newbie to society.
"Artist."
"Yes, sir!"
"See that bottle on the shelf?"
"Yes, I see it."
"That's syrup. Try two pumps."
"Whoa... How'd you know what I was thinking, sir?"
"I can read minds just from facial expressions."
"No way, liar."
Of course it's a lie.
Park Dahye happily added syrup and gave me a thumbs up.
I thumbs-upped back.
Hang in there, comrade. Until a multiverse game comes out, let's survive this fake world.
Park Dahye kept blooming with smiles until she finished the mousse cake and cappuccino.
Oblivious to the sidelong glances from around us.
Of course they'd stare.
How can someone look that happy over a cake?
Even I, who's cut ties with women, felt warm watching.
Thanks for the show, comrade.
But now, bye-bye.
I'm off to game.
"We'll set the price after internal review and propose again. Send the original file by email by Wednesday."
"Email? I already sent the file."
"The layered original file. We need it for post-processing."
"Layered?"
"Yeah, layers. This isn't a single layer, right?"
Digital drawing splits elements across layers.
Even in one illustration: character separate, background separate, plants separate, props separate.
That's how you guarantee speed.
Those are called layers.
Even I, not an original artist, know that.
But... what is this?
That expression—she doesn't know what layers are.
No way?
"Wait, you drew this by hand?"
"Gasp. Hand-drawn isn't good enough?"
For real.
I didn't notice on my phone, but up close, it's scanned.
Paint for such a complex picture.
I knew she was a genius, but this is impressive.
"Not at all. You're amazing, artist."
Either way, good for us.
If the original's in good shape, maybe use it for festival display.
"It might even increase in value."
"Really!?"
"Don't get your hopes up. Depends on the meeting. So, what about the original?"
"I live here. I'll get it now!"
"Here?"
"Yes!"
Lives at a cafe? But first time ordering coffee?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Cafe building, 6th floor.
[Renaissance Goshiwon]
"I'll grab it quick! Wait just a sec."
Park Dahye dragged me up the building.
Then tossed me in the goshiwon lounge and vanished.
I thought she was a spoiled rich kid—no job worries, no school.
Living in a goshiwon.
Made in the Renaissance era, it's ridiculously rundown.
Should've said I'd wait at the cafe.
Sitting in a goshiwon lounge after so long...
'Sigh... PTSD kicking in.'
I lived in one too.
At twenty, cut ties with family, came to the city alone for three years.
Cheapest place: no window, shared bathroom.
Cried a lot, endured a lot.
Lucky to escape, but Park Dahye's still in it.
Sob. Good luck, comrade. Your day in the sun will come.
I need to grab the art and bolt.
Stay longer, I might puke.
Stomach's already churning.
"Kyaaak!"
A scream from the hallway end.
Ran over to see Park Dahye in an open room, face crumpled.
Holding a canvas with red paint dripping down.
"Is that the original?"
"Ha... What do I do? Spilled ramen broth. Should've cleaned it up sooner."
Broth? Not even paint.
Dried paint held, paper intact, but red soaked in proper.
"Eh, it'll be fine. Fix in digital editing. Can't use for display, though."
"Uwaa... Why am I always like this... Sorry."
No need to apologize to me.
Just means lower price or rejection risk.
Hope the other one's okay.
But my condition's the issue.
Can't focus on art right now.
Churning turned to pounding headache.
Wanna scream.
Because of Park Dahye's room.
This room. What the hell.
Laundry piled on bed.
Floor: dust. Desk: ramen bowls, empty lunchboxes stacked.
Yeah. My life six years ago.
Exactly that.
Memories I never wanted to relive.
"Gasp! Right... Room's a mess!"
Park Dahye's eyes widened twice cake-sized.
Tease her now, she'd cry.
I'd unwittingly entered Park Dahye's room.
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