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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Like... What? (2)
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The current lack of synergy between the system and the storytelling, the parts that were hard to relate to due to clumsy plot twists, and so on.
I listed, one by one, the appropriate solutions for the results presented by the business department.
It's a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but it was a textbook answer with no real flaws.
"Pfft, is that all? What good will that do? The business department isn't run by children."
But Go Yeongmi, as if she'd been waiting for the chance, immediately challenged me.
"What part did you feel was lacking?"
"I asked the question, yet Gwajang Hyunsoo is asking one back? Well, what I mean is, aren't you making too safe a choice compared to what the business department requested? You're the one who writes the story; shouldn't there be something more dramatic, with a twist? PD Gwangseok has always emphasized that sort of thing."
It was the kind of situation that makes you sigh.
Go Yeongmi has always lived by reading the PD's mood, so she absolutely detested it when I tried to break out of that mold.
But considering the FGT results were a mess Oh Gwangseok made, listening to her would just mean repeating the same mistakes.
I had no intention of doing that anymore, not even in the slightest, so I quickly cleared my head.
In the past, I would have just offered a half-hearted apology and swallowed my anger, but the me of today couldn't do that.
'I don't need to be intimidated by this person.'
I was no less capable than the person standing before me.
I bolstered my confidence by reminding myself that I was the developer who created *Forgotten Andersen's Story*, a game that generated nearly a billion won in sales in just one month.
"Well, this feedback from the business department came about because we were chasing something dramatic. Besides, calling a story 'safe' can also mean it's relatable and has mass appeal. We find elements that can hook the player using that as a base. And what I just mentioned is at the idea stage. The hooks meant to create buzz will be incorporated as we flesh things out."
"No, what I mean is... games like *Legend of Melda* or *World Craft*, you can immediately feel what kind of drama they'll contain just by looking at them; their concepts are so clear, right? That sounds like something Gwajang Son would say. Honestly, isn't that just an excuse?"
As I retorted clearly, Go Yeongmi, her feelings apparently hurt, shot back.
And just then.
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A system message suddenly appeared, egging on the fight.
'I was planning to say something anyway. This is perfect.'
Without losing my composure, I decided to slowly build momentum and back her into a corner.
"I'm not so sure. I was presenting an idea, and frankly, I think it's greedy to look for that level of detail at this stage. Besides, the *Legend of Melda* and *World Craft* you just mentioned are a console game and a PC game. Considering our game is a mobile game, I don't think they're appropriate examples."
Slowly, the expressions of the other employees in the meeting room grew serious.
For people like you, me, and us, who have lived our entire lives as soulless office workers just doing what we're told, a situation like this would be unfamiliar.
Even though I was a Gwajang, I was still technically Go Yeongmi's subordinate, so them hearing me speak this way must have felt incredibly jarring.
"Rather than dramatic elements, I believe it's more important to first find our game's core system and what makes it fun, and then let the story branch out organically from there. Both you, Pateujang-nim, and the PD sometimes try to randomly pull in names of famous works, but those games probably achieved their results by considering all these factors first."
But regardless of how serious the others were, I was quite enjoying the current situation.
I realized how thrilling it was to be in a situation where I could actually benefit from saying everything I'd always wanted to, without hesitation and with a sense of relief.
I poured out my prepared thoughts in a single breath, not even giving her a chance to interrupt.
"Hnnngh!"
Naturally, Go Yeongmi's expression soured, and the other members of the planning team stared with wide eyes.
And most of them were inwardly thinking…
'Wow, Gwajang Hyunsoo is no joke.'
'Ahhh, so satisfying!'
They were quietly cheering for Hyunsoo.
Sometime later…
"Gwajang Hyunsoo, are you trying to pick a fight with me right now? Does what your superior says not register as words to you?"
Go Yeongmi finally started spouting words that asserted her authority, devoid of any logic—things like 'superior' and 'do my words mean nothing'.
Ultimately, it also meant she couldn't find a proper way to refute what I'd just said.
"It's not a fight; I'm stating the facts. We went to the trouble of holding an FGT; shouldn't we at least avoid the foolishness of repeating the same mistakes?"
"What, foolishness? Are you done talking?"
"Yes, repeating the same actions when you know the cause of failure is foolishness. Let's not get too emotional."
Go Yeongmi's face turned beet red.
Being humiliated by a subordinate in front of the other team members must have dealt a huge blow to her pride.
After all, when a middle manager loses their authority, it's easy for them to lose control and spiral downwards, so her reaction wasn't entirely incomprehensible.
However, I needed to produce results, and authority is something you have to protect yourself.
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See? Even God Game Maker is telling me I'm right.
'Well, if she doesn't like it, she should have been more competent.'
As I finished speaking and raised the corners of my mouth in a slight smile, Go Yeongmi finally exploded.
"Emotional? How can you call your superior a fool and then give such a calm response!"
Her voice was a roar, like a baby throwing a tantrum.
Ignoring her, I calmly held my phone and sent a message to someone.
'Time to call in the relief pitcher.'
"Why aren't you answering! Do my words sound like a joke to you! Gwajang Jo Hyunsoo! Do you want a terrible performance review? Keep up this attitude and there'll be nothing left for you, you hear me!"
"Sure, do as you please, Pateujang-nim. If 'real' game development means blindly following your orders with a soulless 'yes, yes' even if the quality of the work turns to crap, that is."
"Aaaargh! Is this bastard trying to take this all the way? I may have been here a while, but I've got more years of experience than you! Who are you to lecture me! And what kind of manners is it to be fiddling with your phone and muttering during a meeting!"
By now, Go Yeongmi's anger was purely emotional, with no logic or communication left.
I chose not to waste my energy responding to her and just fiddled with my phone.
The other planning team members in the room just sat there, fidgeting with looks of dread on their faces.
I felt a little bad, but this was something that had to be dealt with eventually if I was going to make any real progress.
*Knock, knock, knock—*
Just as the atmosphere in the meeting room reached a boiling point, someone knocked on the glass door.
I turned my head to see PD Oh Gwangseok, a troubled look on his face, cracking the door open and peeking his head in.
"What's going on, Pateujang Go Yeongmi? I can hear you yelling all the way outside the meeting room."
"Ah, PD-nim! It's nothing, really. We were just in a planning meeting about the FGT follow-up, and things got a little heated…"
Seeing him, Go Yeongmi shot up from her seat and greeted him.
Her attitude was one of complete subservience, like a cute pet, with no trace of the rabid dog that had been barking just moments before.
"Haaah… Pateujang Yeongmi, let's talk for a moment."
"Ah, yes, yes!"
Go Yeongmi was called outside, not knowing what was going on.
The other employees couldn't hide their anxious expressions at this unexpected turn of events, but I simply leaned back in a perfectly comfortable posture and started jotting down work ideas in my notebook.
And why wouldn't I be? I was the one who had summoned PD Oh Gwangseok to the meeting room.
[Me: PD-nim, could you please sort out the situation with Team Leader Go Yeongmi?]
[PD Oh Gwangseok: Uh... sort out the situation...?]
[Me: It seems Team Leader Go Yeongmi wants me to follow her orders. Isn't this quite different from what you and I agreed upon?]
[PD Oh Gwangseok: S-sorry! I'll handle it right away.]
A single message I sent while Go Yeongmi was throwing her fit.
He had come running because if he didn't properly manage the situation now and a problem arose, he would be the one in trouble.
A few more minutes passed, and Go Yeongmi returned to the meeting room, her shoulders slumped.
Her face held the distinct look of someone trying to suppress their anger.
"Gwajang Hyunsoo-nim."
"Yes, go on."
"You don't need to attend the planning meetings from now on. I wasn't aware of the full situation… I apologize."
Seeing this, the faces of the other employees filled with astonishment.
"Not at all. These things happen."
I replied with a sly smile.
"Then, we'll conclude today's meeting here."
After Go Yeongmi returned, the planning team meeting ended anticlimactically.
Having been utterly humiliated in front of the entire team, she must have been too embarrassed to drag the meeting on any longer.
As everyone filed out, I felt a little awkward and left the meeting room a bit later.
It was then, as I was about to return to my desk.
"Gwajang Jo Hyunsoo, sorry to bother you, but could you spare a moment?"
Oh Gwangseok stopped me.
'…My schedule is pretty tight.'
Even as I thought that, seeing Oh Gwangseok—who would normally be overbearing—approaching me so earnestly made it seem difficult to refuse.
He had even taken care of Go Yeongmi for me, so he probably wasn't looking for a fight. I decided to hear him out.
"Yes, well. As long as it doesn't take long."
"R-right. My treat. Let's go to a nearby café."
The PD deliberately avoided the cheap company café and headed to a chain café nearby.
In cases like this, it usually meant he wanted to say something he didn't want other employees to see or hear.
"What are you having? You order first."
"I'll have an iced americano."
It was a pretty chilly winter, but I deliberately ordered a cold drink, afraid the warmth of a hot one might make me let my guard down.
Perhaps it was a small choice born from my desire not to show even the slightest opening in front of a man like Oh Gwangseok.
Oh Gwangseok ordered a hot chocolate, and after our drinks came out, I followed him to a quiet corner seat.
"Um, so…"
PD Gwangseok was fidgeting like a puppy that needed to poop.
"Hmm."
"Please, speak freely."
At my urging, he finally managed to slowly spit out the words that had been caught in his throat.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much you've suffered because of me all this time."
"What?"
My eyebrows twitched at the unexpected response.
Then Oh Gwangseok, with a bashful face like a schoolboy confessing his love, continued in a rush.
"To be honest, even as I was making the game, I wasn't sure what I should be making. That's why I… I just bossed you and the others around as I pleased."
"..."
I had received an apology from Oh Gwangseok yesterday as well.
But there was a clear difference in his attitude between then and now.
Yesterday's apology had been forced upon him by the Bonbujang, but now, he seemed to be making a conscious effort to show me that he truly regretted his actions.
"I promise you unconditional autonomy for as long as you're here. And I'll give a heads-up to each of the team leaders so there's no unnecessary time wasted on communication."
"I'd be grateful if you did."
I was planning to operate that way anyway, but if Oh Gwangseok took the initiative, things would proceed more smoothly.
For me, there was no downside to this.
But… a lingering, uncomfortable knot in my chest kept me from feeling completely relieved.
To resolve it, I threw out a blunt question.
"PD-nim, why the sudden change of heart?"
In response to my question, PD Gwangseok lowered his head again and stalled for time by sipping his hot chocolate.
Just as I, frustrated, was about to ask again, he spoke with difficulty.
"Your game… I played it yesterday."
Unexpected words tumbled from his mouth.