Chapter 15: Sound Director (2)

Chapter 15: Sound Director (2)

Back when I was still working at the company.

In other words, during the time when I was messing up with every game release.

There was a recurring criticism that followed my games.

"If you're going to do this, you might as well make a music video. Is there nothing to appreciate about the game except the sound?

└ Seriously, the sound is unbelievably good, but the game is a lost cause. It's made to be unplayable unless you start spending money from the beginning.

└ Well, it's about the money, after all."

Praise for the sound.

In-game BGM, impact sounds, and background music for cinematics, along with every other auditory element. The overwhelming soundtrack existed in the game, even praised by players who criticized the game in other aspects.

They might even have said, 'The sound team is AAA-grade.'

But there was one thing that these people, the ones who praised the sound so highly, didn't know.

About my team, about my game.

―Team leader! I'm done with this!

There was only one person responsible for sound.

―What should I do now? Should I pick a few more BGM tracks?

Her name was Jo Ayoon.

Her signature look included hair dyed pink all the way to the roots, a green tracksuit that reminded you of a frog, and a wide grin that resembled a mischievous smile.

She had finished high school through a high school equivalency exam and didn't go to college.

She had been self-learning music since elementary school and had started composing in middle school.

With her credentials, she had no chance at a major corporation.

But the reason she managed to enter the company despite that was simple.

―This is unreal. Is this new track really that good?

It was because her portfolio, a collection of music she had been creating since middle school, received great responses both within and outside the company.

She was what people might call a prodigy.

The reason she joined my team had a slightly regrettable internal story behind it.

―Still, her academic background is... and we don't know if she'll adapt well to group work.

―Really? Then, Yeonho, do you want to test her a bit?

―...Yes, understood.

The company valued adaptability within a group as much as individual skills.

Considering one's prestigious educational background or external awards also played into this.

However, there was more to Jo Ayoon than what was in her portfolio.

Our first meeting was like that.

―Starting today, I'm your team leader. Please take care of me.

―Oh, handsome.

―What?

―Please take care of me!

Jo Ayoon was a free-spirited individual.

Despite the concerns from higher-ups, she was sociable and efficiently took care of her work. Even though I wasn't the best boss, she followed my instructions well and showed a human touch.

That's why I thought.

Ah, she'll probably move on to a better team in the next project.

We won't be working together for long.

I wanted to maintain some distance, and that expectation was shattered by one sentence from her.

―Yes? I asked if I could keep working under you, Team Leader.

At lunch today, she used a light tone, like discussing what she ate.

She seized the opportunity that came her way and chose to remain under someone like me, a failure. Even though I asked for a reason, she didn't answer.

But I guess she managed to assert her goal with her quite independent personality and succeeded in that.

One more memory resurfaced.

―Team Leader, don't quit, okay? Seriously?

When I informed her that I was quitting, she had been visibly upset.

―Ah, why? Just give it a bit more! Please? We haven't succeeded yet!

I felt sorry.

I felt sorry that I was the only one who had told her about quitting.

It was embarrassing to be understood, but I was grateful for the continued contact.

I sometimes wonder.

―Team Leader! Team Leader!

At the end of my previous life, the moment I suddenly died, I was on a call with her. I wonder what happened to her afterward.

Is it a time that has been erased, or does it still exist separately from this timeline?

Of course, I have no way of knowing.

So, I can only do what I can do.

In this life, I want to repay her.

And I want to achieve success with her all the way to the top.

Now is the time to take that first step.

[Ayuning S2: Hi there~!]

I greeted the young Jo Ayoon, whom I had become friendly with over the past few days, beyond the screen.

[King Yeonho: Hey hey]

Strangers on the other side of the screen, still only recognizing each other online.

It would take a long time to bridge the gap to real-life meetings through conventional means.

Well, given that she has a severe case of hikikomori, it might take a few months to build trust and coax someone out.

But unfortunately, I don't have that luxury.

I had to use a slightly unconventional approach.

I already knew how.

―Why did you come out of your room? Because I got scammed in a game. I had that thought then. 'Do I have to end up stewing in a corner after being scammed by some punk? Watch and see, scammer! I'll become someone so amazing you won't even be able to look at me! I won't crumble here!' That kind of thought.

―What kind of logic is that?

―Well, that's hikikomori for you. Anyway, that's how it went. Then I took the high school equivalency exam, continued with music, and even landed this job. Hey, looking at it like this, she was quite an amazing friend.

Coming out of the room because you got scammed in a game and being upset.

"Hmm..."

I was deep in thought.

[Ayuning S2: Yeno~ Taking a break~?]

How could I pull off a scam?

***

Jo Ayoon, 17 years old.

Loves composing, mixed rice with side dishes, and being a shut-in.

Hates sunlight, peers, and her mom's nagging.

Today started off on the wrong foot.

Being hit with three things she hates all at once in the morning.

"Hey! Ayoon! Open the curtains and wake up! It's morning, get up! Look outside! All the kids are leaving in their school uniforms, what are you doing?!"

"Ugh... Tell me to open the curtains..."

Ayoon whined, burying herself under the covers.

Just a month ago, she had dropped out of school after being bullied and ostracized for a week since starting high school.

Ayoon needed something to soothe her wounded heart.

Today, the reason she couldn't get up was probably because she had been up all night gaming. But regardless of that, it was as it was.

With a slight whimper, Ayoon made a noise that sounded a bit like crying, and her mom heaved a deep sigh, putting an end to her nagging.

"...Fine, go eat. Today, it's mixed rice with side dishes, your favourite."

"Ugh..."

With a thump, her mom left the room.

Only then did Ayoon slowly pull her head out from under the covers.

Mixed rice with side dishes, her favourite meal, but it was cancelled for today.

There was a more important commitment.

Weeeng—

Ayoon immediately turned on her computer and clicked on the mushroom-shaped icon on her desktop.

Dingling—

A cheerful intro BGM flowed through her headset.

"Maple Saga."

It was a game that Ayoon, a recluse and dreamer, was deeply immersed in.

Lately, it was particularly intense.

[King Yeonho: Hey]

She had made a friend.

A friend!

Oh, how sweet that resonance was!

A true friend who wouldn't say things like, "Why do you act so full of yourself?" or "Are you really that desperate?" or "You're acting like a princess."

A friend who could understand each other's worries, embark on adventures together—how could she possibly leave her computer screen?

Ayoon tapped into her keyboard keys and asked.

[Ayuning S2: Hi there~!]

Nickname King Yeonho, probably real name Yeonho.

A week ago, he had messaged her, saying, "Help me catch a Mushdad."

In the days since then, they had spent around ten hours a day playing together and become closer through sharing their innermost thoughts.

If he roughly summarized the context leading up to them getting close:

[Ayuning S2: I used to be an outcast too... T_T]

[King Yeonho: You too? I was an outcast too. They used to call me an art freak.]

[Ayuning S2: You too? That must have been tough T_T_T]

That moment, something snapped in Ayoon's mind.

Something broke loose from her mind.

Her emotions erupted beyond anything she had felt until now.

It was like the force of a volcano ready to erupt any moment.

Blood vessels pulsed in her temples.

Tap, tap!

Ayoon typed furiously, as if she was going to break the keyboard.

[Ayuning S2: Where the hell do you live, you damn jerk!]

[King Yeonho: Come to Hongdae XX, kek]

As soon as the chat message appeared, Ayoon's body froze.

An adult man and woman had rushed to the agreed-upon meeting place and were staring at her.

"Is that her, senior?"

"Yeah."

The man was handsome and the woman was pretty.

No, that wasn't important.

'Oh... They're adults...!'

Being an adult was a wall too high for Ayoon, the 17-year-old hikikomori dropout.

Ayoon's legs trembled.

'What do I do...?'

Ayoon wanted to cry.

The feeling of despair as if the sky is collapsing.

A flood of sadness from being betrayed and resentment towards the other person surges.

Amidst this rush of emotions, Ayoon wandered around the hunting grounds of the previous channel, half out of her mind.

'I have to find him!'

She needed to find the items.

The practical reason outweighed the emotional despair for Ayoon.

'I bought those items with secretly recharged cash!!!'

Ayoon's items were purchased using cash secretly recharged by her parents for communication expenses!

At that time, her mindset was different.

Since it was a given that she'd be caught and scolded anyway, she thought that if she enjoyed the game and got scolded, she wouldn't have any regrets. This short-sighted judgment led Ayoon to commit such a misdeed.

But now she had lost all the items that she would have to pay for.

In other words, Ayoon was facing the worst situation, where she had lost both the items and her pride.

Her eyes were bloodshot.

Foam even gathered at the corners of her mouth.

Surely that guy who used to play the game for around 10 hours a day would be somewhere in the hunting grounds!

With that glimmer of hope, she spent about a day wandering around the map, and she finally succeeded in finding Yeonho.

Pababang!

Yeonho was hunting in the hunting grounds.

With the very items that had been taken from her.

Ayoon felt her blood boiling with a mixture of emotions and immediately typed in the chat.

[Ayuning S2: You damn jerk!!!]

Yeonho's character stopped in that moment.

Soon, a chat message appeared.

[King Yeonho: The idiot is here, lol]

[Ayuning S2: Give my items back!]

[King Yeonho: Why would I?]

Ayoon felt like her breath was being choked off.

How could a person be so shameless!

She was so frustrated and angry that tears were welling up in her eyes.

Many words filled her mind, but there was only one thing she could express in the chat.

[Ayuning S2: Just give it back... That's my item... please.]

Clearly, Yeonho was at fault, yet here he was, begging, and it was she who was feeling sorry for him.

His response was just one line.

[King Yeonho: If you're gonna whine, just die kek]

That moment, something snapped in Ayoon's mind.

Something broke loose from her mind.

Her emotions erupted beyond anything she had felt until now.

It was like the force of a volcano ready to erupt any moment.

Blood vessels pulsed in her temples.

Tap, tap!

Ayoon typed furiously, as if she was going to break the keyboard.

[Ayuning S2: Where the hell do you live, you damn jerk!]

[King Yeonho: Come to Hongdae XX, kek]

As soon as the chat message appeared, Ayoon's body froze.

Suddenly, her body froze.

Because an adult man and woman had rushed to the agreed-upon meeting place and were staring at her.

"Is that her, senior?"

"Yeah."

The man was handsome and the woman was pretty.

No, that wasn't important.

'Oh... They're adults...!'

Being an adult was a wall too high for Ayoon, the 17-year-old hikikomori dropout.

Ayoon's legs trembled.

'What do I do...?'

Ayoon wanted to cry.

***

'This is really working.'

To be honest, I started this with mixed feelings, but seeing everything fall into place so perfectly surprised me.

She is the younger Jo Ayoon.

'She's so different.'

She doesn't have the pink hair that I remember.

Jo Ayoon had messy black hair that covered her forehead, and her cap was pulled down over her nose.

The confident stance was nowhere to be found; her body was hunched.

At least the green training suit was similar.

Was she wearing that back then?

―It's my work clothes. I feel like things will go well if I wear this outfit.

That statement didn't seem like a lie.

Suddenly, the bright smile from my memories overlapped with the uncertain expression she was wearing now.

···No, let's hold off on these thoughts.

First, I need to initiate a conversation and see how it goes...

"Heek..."

···What?

"Heuk..."

Jo Ayoon started hiccupping.

Her eyes under the cap were moist.

Her legs were shivering like a newborn calf's.

Tightly, Jo Ayoon grabbed my sleeve.

"...Hello."

···Hello?

"Hi... "

Jo Ayoon's voice was full of pathos.

An uneasy tremor, like something was wrong, was present in her voice.

It didn't take long for me to sense that something was amiss.

Right after she finished speaking.

"T-Tem, please... give it back... Please... Hweoong―!"

Jo Ayoon burst into tears on the street.

The gaze of passersby gathered on her.

More than anything, the gaze felt like they were looking at a discarded piece of trash.

"Sunbae?"

"···."

My mind went blank for a moment.

One thought filled my head.

'Remedy.'

I needed a remedy.

I held Jo Ayoon's hand.

"···I'll give your item back, so can you please stop crying for now?"

But why do I feel like the bad person here?

Tl Note: Coz you are ha ha ha

Also from today onwards. It would be daily release since I have used up all my stockpile in the mass releases ha ha