NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 7
“What would you like to drink? A soda? Coffee? Green tea? How about you, miss over there?”
“I’ll go with green tea.”
“Oh, I think I’ll have soda…”
Chae-young handed us our drinks and returned to her seat after grabbing her own can of coffee.
“It’s been a while. Wasn’t the last time we met right before I resigned? That was over four years ago, right?”
“Five years. I quit right after the New Year.”
“Oh, is that right…? By the way, who’s this? Your girlfriend?”
Chae-young’s sudden remark made Yumi extremely flustered, causing her to spit out her soda.
“Hack, hack! No, certainly not!! We’re absolutely not in any such relationship…”
“She’s saying something ridiculous again.”
“Then who is she?”
“She’s our team’s PM.”
“PM? I didn’t know NDSoft had such a pretty PM.”
“Didn’t you hear? I recently transferred to Enson GT.”
At my words, Chae-young scratched her head and said with an awkward expression,
“After transferring to the broadcasting station, I intentionally distanced myself from that sector.”
“Well, it’s good to learn now.”
“That’s true. By the way, I see your face has improved considerably.”
“So have you, Chae-young. How’s your job at the broadcasting station going? Satisfying?”
“It’s the same wherever you work. It’s not entirely satisfying…”
“Chae-young, are you not really enjoying your current job?”
At my sudden question, Chae-young frowned.
“Where is this random question coming from…?”
“We’ve known each other for much longer than just a few days. If you truly enjoyed it, you’d have been telling stories about your broadcasting station job with enthusiasm by now, wouldn’t you?”
“…”
“Be honest. From what I know, working at a broadcasting station has a tight schedule and strict guidelines. Can you really be happy working in such an environment?”
“…”
“From what I know, you were also—”
“Alright, so what’s your point, Ho-jin?”
Just as I was about to press for more, Chae-young’s question made me hesitate.
“Haven’t I always said to just get to the point when you need something?”
I handed her a proposal, feeling a bit disappointed as she regained her composure.
“This is my first project after transferring. I need someone to take charge of the overall sound-related work, including the BGM, OSTs, SFX—basically all things sound.”
“Hmm… so you’re asking me to take the role of sound director?”
“Yes.”
At my request, Chae-young carefully examined the proposal she had taken.
She frowned while reading it for about five minutes before placing it down and folding her arms.
“So, what’s the benefit for me if I join this project?”
“Benefit?”
“Sound directors, despite being in a directing role, are always at risk of being laid off quickly if the project fails. We’re the easily dispensable ones.”
Her factual statement left me unable to refute.
Sound is one of the often overlooked roles, sometimes even subcontracted, and usually considered less critical than other departments in a game company.
“So, if you want me to join your game company, you’d better have a good incentive, right?”
“What would you want?”
At my question, Chae-young raised her index finger with a smug look and began:
“First, even though I don’t expect remote work, my five-day attendance with autonomy over working hours is a must.”
“That’s not too difficult… But why working hours?”
“I’m the type of person who, on days when I can’t work efficiently, just sitting doesn’t help.”
“That much seems doable…”
“Second! Full authority over the work pieces until completion must be granted.”
“Isn’t that standard?”
“I thought so too when I worked at the game company, but then I experienced broadcasting stations, where that isn’t the case. Let me have full control up to the final product.”
“That’s not a problem.”
“Lastly! I promise I won’t interfere with anything, but…”
Chae-young suddenly hesitated, avoiding eye contact with me as her voice became quieter.
“Um… Can I have a drink while working?”
“…”
I could not hold back showing a contemptuous look for a moment.
“Oh, no wait! Hear me out!”
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“…When I was doing remote work at the broadcasting station, there was so much to do, so I sipped beer or low-alcohol drinks while working, and it significantly improved the quality…”
“So you want to drink alcohol while working?”
“…Yes.”
Though I initially thought it absurd, I couldn’t entirely dismiss Chae-young’s point.
She didn’t mean to get drunk on high-alcohol spirits like whiskey or cocktails, and if drinking genuinely improved the quality of her work, I saw no reason to object.
“Chae-young, seems fine within my standards… but…”
“Really?!”
“However, this isn’t something I can decide alone, so I’ll need to step out and make a phone call.”
“Alright, I’ll wait.”
***
After explaining the situation to Su-yeon in the rest room,
[What’s the problem? All of it’s okay.]
[I see, but are you sure it won’t cause issues?]
[Honestly, at the end of the day, most programmers secretly go to convenience stores and drink while coding during overtime anyway. Hiring a seasoned professional for this role is almost priceless.]
[Yes, understood.]
With Su-yeon’s directive to not let her slip by, I went back to the recording studio to find the two of them chatting.
Though there was a significant age gap, it seemed they were communicating well.
“Is the company a decent place to work? Ho-jin’s team seems to have an overwhelming workload.”
“Hahaha… It’s still early since the project has just started, so I can’t quite tell yet…”
“The world doesn’t revolve solely around gaming companies. If it gets too tough, you should consider switching jobs, like me.”
“Ah, okay… right.”
“You’ve got a good thing going at your current workplace, kid. No need to ruin it with bad advice.”
“What I’m giving isn’t bad advice—it’s advice that will enrich you.”
As she shamelessly responded, I shook my head and walked back to my seat.
“After discussing it, everything you’ve requested is fine.”
“…Really?”
“Why would I lie to you about something like this?”
Yet, Chae-young didn’t seem particularly pleased, despite her demands being met.
‘It seems like her decision-making anxiety has kicked in again while I was away…’
From her expression, it seemed unlikely I’d get a clear answer today.
“I’m sorry.”
“I knew it.”
“No matter how I think about it, it’s just not enough to leave the broadcasting station.”
“There’s nothing we can do. You can’t force someone.”
With an apologetic smile from Chae-young, I stood up.
“Since I’ve got a tight schedule, I’ll leave today.”
“Not expecting a proper goodbye.”
“Just keep in touch. Oh, and…”
I pulled out a business card I had kept in my pocket and placed it on the table.
“If your mind changes, give me a call.”
Tapping the card with my finger, I left the recording studio as Yumi hurried to catch up.
“Are you really giving up this easily? The producer said you absolutely have to bring her in!”
“Don’t worry. I left the card.”
“But…”
“Remember, she’s rebellious. Push her when she’s in that state and she’ll go the opposite way.”
“Ah…”
“So let’s just wait.”
My prediction came true that very day when I met Chae-young.
Before the next day’s end, I received a call from her.
Over the phone, the sounds of clinking glasses in a bar were audible amidst the noise.
Her voice, interspersed with the chaos and slurred with alcohol, came through the line.
-Ho-jin… I’m sorry! I acted too hastily this morning…
Chae-young was sobbing.
-Please… take me there…
*
“She’s really done it this time.”
A murmur spread across the fifth floor hallway of Enson GT.
After finishing their morning work, the team leaders of the PC Game Development Team gathered near the elevator.
The elevator, which they were observing, was being loaded with various soundproofing material and sound equipment.
“Did you guys hear about it? That mobile gaming team’s project—they say it’s the new president’s key project.”
“So that’s why they’re getting all the support. This just shows why parachuting in doesn’t work.”
“What do you expect developing a game for phones this size is going to make money? The president is clearly chasing new business because of lack of experience.”
Such complaints about the mobile game development team and the president continued for a while before the team leaders sighed and ended their conversation.
“Whatever the case, the sixth floor is in charge now, so we’d best stay quiet for now.”
“True, eventually time will show who was right.”