Chapter 51: Chapter 52: Porting (1)

Getting my parents’ permission turned out to be surprisingly easy. They were not the type to interfere much in my affairs, so all the excuses I had prepared just in case became useless. They simply accepted it.

“These days the kimchi refrigerator is not working really well.”

“Hmm, my golf clubs are getting old…”

“The TV is a bit fuzzy too. Oh, I’m not asking for a new one.”

“…I’ll get you the kimchi refrigerator, the TV, and the golf clubs.”

My parents are quite materialistic.

There’s not much more to say on the subject. What’s important is that I can finally proudly talk about my work in front of my parents and start planning for independence.

“Independence?”

“Yes, not right away, but slowly.”

Now it’s time to seriously move towards my dreams.

The current commute between home and the office takes three hours round trip. I wanted to reduce that travel time a bit. Not being able to have home-cooked meals is a bit disappointing, but it’s not a big problem since I can come home once a week.

So, the arrangements are complete. It’s already December 31st. A hectic year has come to an end. It really has been an incredibly hectic year, to the point where it felt like I might die.

Let’s recap. From the beginning of the year, I worked like crazy on development, and from mid-year, I also dabbled in marketing. Even after the actual launch, there was nothing that went smoothly, not even the awards ceremonies.

But that’s not all.

As a fourth-year university student, preparing for graduation was truly a dreadful time when I felt like I needed ten more bodies.

“You’ve worked so hard. It’s all thanks to all of you.”

I praised my team members as we closed the year. They all looked much more relaxed.

Especially Han Seorim and Kim Hyeji, who are graduating with me, had the brightest expressions.

Well, since we haven’t decided on any plans for Hellic 3’s development yet, they are enjoying their freedom.

“We’ll focus on internal organization for a while. It’s about consolidating the foundations and achievements we’ve built up as an indie company.”

There isn’t much for the team members to do. I’m the one who needs to plan for the future.

I need to prepare for AAA-grade development in earnest.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

In addition, there was one more thing I needed to pay attention to.

“Especially Ayoon.”

“Yes!”

“Yesterday was the practical test, right? Good job.”

“Hehe…”

“Now you’re an adult too.”

Jo Ayoon has finally reached legal adulthood. I heard she did well on the practical test, and her transformation into the Ayoon I knew has been quite impressive since the awards ceremony.

Now she doesn’t stutter much when she speaks.

“Enjoy your university life. Those days will become memories.”

“Senior, didn’t you not go to university?”

Han Seorim asked quietly, giving me a knowing look.

“Let’s not dig into that.”

There’s no need to dwell on unnecessary matters. As I mentioned earlier, what’s important right now is Ayoon becoming an adult.

This is not just a matter of formality.

“Finally.”

As a regressor, one more piece of the future that needs to be changed has been added.

“Today, as announced, we’re having a company dinner with Ayoon. A real drinking dinner.”

“Awesome!”

Ayoon proudly held up her ID card against her forehead.

Han Seorim asked, “Ayoon, since it’s your first time drinking, you shouldn’t drink too much, right?” with a worried tone.

“However, this won’t do. We need a strict policy, especially when I recall the dreadful history of past company gatherings.”

“Huh? Team leader, already done? What’s this? You know it! This won’t work! I guess I’ll have to teach you how to drink!”

A relentless runaway locomotive, an indestructible party animal who keeps going until someone collapses from drinking, forcibly pushes down drinks in other’s throat, and even an obnoxious behaviour of picking fights with strangers when they are drunk.

I think to myself, “We need to change these drinking habits.”

For the future of Studio Rewind, we must eliminate such behaviours.

“Let this sister teach Ayoon. Ayoon take the lead!”

“It’s good to enjoy alcohol in moderation. But Ayoon is a beginner, so she’ll get drunk quickly.”

“Myungkyu Myungkyu, even Oppa can’t handle alcohol. He fell asleep after just one drink.”

“W-well…”

“Hahaha! It’s okay, it’s okay! It was fun back then!”

No one realizes the danger that lies ahead.

“…Yes.”

Understanding and support are out of the question.

It will be a lonely battle.

***

…I’ve had moments when I made up my mind.

I had to delve deep into the profound contemplation of an unchangeable future, the coercion of the world, the inevitable despair, and the cruelty of fate.

“Geez…”

Jo Ayoon was formidable.

If we were to compare her to a gacha game, she would be a natural SSS from the start.

She was a born leader who couldn’t even hope for a change in the future.

A face flushed to the level of a tomato, a mischievous smile, a raised glass of alcohol, and a seemingly happy expression.

And…

“Ugh…”

In front of such Jo Ayoon, her team members were groaning with their heads resting on the table.

“How is it that we ended up like this?”

I wondered, clutching my throbbing head.

I tried to remember where it all went wrong.

Images of past moments flashed through my mind.

Turning back time to just before midnight, the moment Jo Ayoon became an adult.

The first victim was Myungkyu-hyung.

“Ah, Ayoon. Just one drink for me…”

“Myungkyu, can’t you handle your alcohol?”

Myungkyu-hyung succumbed to Jo Ayoon’s challenge, overdoing it with just one shot of soju.

“Ayoon Ayoon… I just had a drink…”

“Eat and drink more! It tastes better that way!”

“Huh…”

The younger half of the duo, Kim Hyeji, died after succumbing to Jo Ayoon’s challenge to drink seven shots in a row without a break.

“Ayoon Ayoon…?”

“Drink.”

“Huh?”

“I said drink.”

Then, Jo Yumi succumbed to the shiver-inducing joke from Jo Ayoon about going to the recording studio while drinking.

And so, only I and Jo Ayoon remained.

…No, only Jo Ayoon and I remained.

“Ugh…”

Han Seorim collapsed without even realizing it, her forehead wrinkled as if feeling quite unwell.

I wasn’t in a normal state either.

If I drank more, I’d surely suffer tomorrow.

I looked at Jo Ayoon.

“Boss, have a drink.”

Now, Jo Ayoon’s target was me.

Suddenly, my heart tightened.

It was a learned fear.

“Team leader, make your choice. Whether you want to drink this (it’s a deadly bomb if you do) and go home, or face the impending crisis and endure a more painful moment slowly.”

There was no option to run away or disband.

As I mentioned earlier, when Jo Ayoon was drunk, she was quite aggressive.

Jo Ayoon, realizing he couldn’t handle more alcohol (while intoxicated), turned into a dramatic alcoholic, resembling a character from a drama.

In my previous life, because I was the team leader, Jo Ayoon was always assigned to me.

“But…!”

Now it was different.

After a long period of humiliation and suffering, goodbye to the time of misery and pain.

I am not a team leader anymore; I am the boss, and Jo Ayoon is a newcomer about to enter university, my subordinate.

Our positions are clearer than before.

“Ayoon.”

“Drink it…!”

Jo Ayoon pushed a glass of alcohol in front of me.

The smell of alcohol made my head spin.

I kept my mouth shut, and Jo Ayoon’s eyes widened.

“P-please, drink!”

Gulp…

The glass pressed against my lips.

I couldn’t back away.

“Let’s call it a day.”

Thud!

Her face looked as if it had been hit with a loud sound effect.

A non-verbal expression that vividly conveyed the question, “Why?”

Gradually, Jo Ayoon’s expression turned cold.

It was the final phase in my memory.

“I-I don’t want to…!”

Jo Ayoon held the glass tightly.

She made a fierce look as if growling.

It felt tense, and it eventually hit.

“Mister, do you want to fight?”

“Do you want to challenge me…?!”

The words reminded me of some point in a past life.

It was more than an innocent memory.

Should I describe it as the feeble bravado of a puppy rushing towards a wild beast?

I gently moved Han Seorim, who had been sleeping on my knees, out of the way.

I approached Jo Ayoon and whispered cautiously.

“Should I cut off the internet?”

Suddenly, Jo Ayoon stopped.

Her eyes trembled.

Was her rationality returning?

Yes, she might understand this.

“Ayoon, your mother is worried. She says you’ve been playing games a lot lately.”

Jo Ayoon (20) still had a long way to go.

To break through the “mom” barrier.

“We should… go home?”

Jo Ayoon’s lips were tightly sealed.

And then, her head nodded slowly.

“Let’s go. Everyone, wake up and go home. I’ll call a taxi.”

As I tidied up the place, I thought to myself.

It was a hard-won conclusion.

“I should just avoid company dinners.”

Since there was no way to stop Jo Ayoon, I decided not to give her a reason to go wild.

…I was the sole survivor of the company dinner.

***

It was 2012.

I took the day off on January 1st.

There was no reason to call people on a public holiday when there was nothing urgent.

So, on January 2nd, Monday, I had my first day back at work.

When Jo Ayoon came to work, she immediately apologized to her team members.

“I’m s-sorry…”

“Huh? It’s okay, it was your first time, right? Everyone acts like that when they first drink!”

Her team members accepted her apology graciously.

Ah, even this scene felt familiar.

“Team leader, I’m sorry…”

“Why do you do things you’ll be sorry for?”

“Because it was… impulsive…”

“You’re always like that.”

Memories from my past life suddenly resurfaced.

I felt this way often, probably because I sensed deja vu.

And now it was my turn.

“It’s okay. Let’s be more careful next time.”

“Yeah…”

I watched Jo Ayoon leave.

Then I sat down and looked at the wall of the office.

The results of my efforts were on display.

A trophy and a plaque from the recent awards ceremony, as well as a framed record of our development work.

As I gazed at them in silence, Han Seorim approached me.

“But, sunbae…”

“Yeah?”

“What’s that on the table?”

She pointed with one hand while sipping on her yogurt. It was the framed picture with five dollars wedged inside.

The money I had received from a mother and daughter I had coincidentally met in the United States.

“It’s just…”

Literally, it was just money that I couldn’t think of using anywhere else.

“…Nothing at all.”

I decided to say no more.

Then Han Seorim asked again.

“So when’s our next project?”

“You’re already asking about that?”

“Didn’t we jump right into 1 and 2 without a break?”

That was a different situation.

“This time, we’re aiming for AAA grade, remember? It requires some preparation.”

“What kind of preparation, money?”

“More than just money. Resources, external distribution partners… But first, we still need to solidify things within the studio.”

Of course, as Han Seorim pointed out, the biggest issue was money.

Hellic 2 had a total net revenue in the 20 billion range, but that was far from enough to create a AAA title.

“Most games of a reasonable scale require over 30 billion to start with.”

And when it came to big titles, even 50 billion seemed insufficient for a AAA game.

Even if we spent all the money we had right now, how could we possibly get to 50 billion?

There were two possible solutions to the financial problem.

First, we could create an early access version and sell it to cover development costs.

However, this method was not suitable for the times, as early access sales were not common in 2012.

So, the second option was the only one left.

We needed to start looking for investors.

The reason we were only thinking about this now was that our studio’s reputation had grown significantly while winning Indie GOTY awards.

We now had meaningful indicators that could potentially attract investors in the AAA market.

“I’d love to just put everything into stocks, but major stocks that I know of won’t see any significant growth until after the 2020s.”

Before that, they were either already expensive or not even listed, making it impractical to pull out money immediately.

More importantly, we were already tight on funds for expanding the studio.

These were things we could plan for only after hiring a Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

“I should’ve studied stocks when I was younger.”

But it was a long shot. I didn’t have time to research which stocks performed well each year.

I sighed.

Then, at that moment, a notification sound rang out.

I received an email.

It was from a familiar yet unfamiliar sender.

My eyebrows furrowed.

“Valhalla?”

It was Aldred Russo’s studio.

He was probably the one who sent it.

Now, I had a crazy idea.

“Ah.”

I’ve prepared a gift. You can check it out after you return.

He had mentioned something like that before we parted ways.

It seemed like he had prepared something quite exciting. Thinking about it, I opened the email.

My eyes widened.

『I thought you might need this.

(Business Card Image)』

The picture attached to the email was that of a business card.

I stared at the business card, or rather, the name of the company written on it.

『Sony Interactive Entertainment』

Sony, one of the giants in the console industry, selling the PlayStation, one of the three major gaming consoles.

Below the business card, there was a short note added to the email from Alred.

『I’ve known this guy for quite a while.

He wants to port your games to consoles.

Give it a try.』

It was an unexpected /RomanceMTL