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#8 Countdown to the Opening Episode

“Wow, the map is so vast and there are so many monsters that just testing it out is exhausting. It’s not even a beta; won’t it easily take a year just for alpha testing?”

“What can we do? Our external advisor here created such a monstrous guy.”

“Haha….”

As the development department head patted his back and said that, Ryu Inseo could only muster an awkward smile, unable to argue.

To be honest, he felt a bit wronged.

‘I was planning to leave all the testing to Nebula.’

He thought he could have the super AI he created check everything; there was no need for a person to experience and confirm each error, right?

Objectively speaking, isn’t AI validation more reliable and trustworthy than a human?

But Ryu Inseo kept those thoughts to himself.

Years ago, he might have voiced that out loud, but now, having mingled with various people during the game development process, he had developed a sense of ‘sociality.’ One could even say he had become more perceptive.

If he were to assert here that they didn’t need any of your pathetic tests and just shut up and release the game as I say! what would the people around him respond?

First, the current friendly atmosphere would instantly shatter, leading the company to murmur, ‘That guy is smart but has a terrible personality,’ and in the not-so-distant future, an article titled ‘The Truth Revealed by an Anonymous Source: The Dark Side of the Genius Game Developer!’ would surely be plastered across the papers.

No, even before that, he might end up experiencing the temperature of the Han River firsthand at his sister Yerin’s hands.

“Oh, despite correcting you so many times, your humanity still resembles an empty can, what good is it for your older brother to be alive! (Splash!)”

Imagining that scene made Ryu Inseo tremble subtly.

“Huh? Why are you shaking all of a sudden?”

“Well, thinking about accidentally getting in trouble and being scolded by my younger sister scares me.”

Even though Ryu Inseo said his honest thoughts, the department head and other employees laughed, saying he was saying all sorts of strange things.

“Oh, come on. You’ve been through the military, or rather, you’re still serving here, right? Anyway, you’re old enough, and you’re scared of being scolded by your younger sister? What a drama!”

“They say those who have it don’t understand how precious it is. This guy is exactly that. How much anger can a gentle, calm lady like Yerin really muster? My younger sister is so unpredictable that I can’t tell if she’s a sister or an enemy.”

“Where else can you find a younger sister who makes sandwiches for her older brother’s coworkers? Ryu, excessive humility looks like deception. Be careful.”

“……”

No, I’m serious.

It was a frustrating matter for Ryu Inseo, but the general impression around him about his sister Ryu Yerin was largely like this.

Day by day, her looks had improved, and she was often scouted on the streets.

Her school grades weren’t always at the top, but she never fell out of the upper ranks, and her athletic skills, although she didn’t flaunt them, were top-notch.

With such traits, a person could easily become arrogant or cynical, yet she was friendly and polite to those around her.

Since Yerin was currently a high school student, she didn’t openly say it, but among the younger colleagues at Ryu Inseo’s workplace, numerous people were friendly towards him with an ulterior motive related to her.

But Ryu Inseo knew the truth.

The essence of Ryu Yerin was not that of a gentle, well-mannered lady known to the outside world.

Rather, she was more like a bulldozer.

‘There’s no way a girl who is merely gentle and kind could suddenly dominate the whole family as a middle schooler.’

Back when Ryu Inseo secluded himself in his room, the person he feared the most in the world was his father.

However, once he stepped out of his room and mingled with others, his worldview expanded, and he could now see.

His father wasn’t that incredible of a figure, nor was he the evil, wicked person he had imagined.

He was self-made, proud of his abilities and ways of thinking, stubborn, enforcing his desired path on his children with authority.

Just that much. A character that could be sought after with little effort.

But his younger sister, Ryu Yerin, was different.

When his parents remarried, Ryu Yerin was just a middle schooler.

At that emotionally unstable and sensitive age, rather than considering others, it was a struggle for her to even manage her own emotions.

Yet, within just a year, she had become the core of the family and held the power within it.

As evidence, Ryu Inseo had never seen their parents oppose Ryu Yerin whenever she said she wanted to do something.

While it’s understandable that they might indulge her because she’s a good and excellent daughter as she insists, honestly, he couldn’t help but think it felt more like a loss in a battle of wills.

Ryu Inseo was undoubtedly a type considered a genius, but his sister was extraordinary in a different way.

“By the way, aren’t the outfits in this game a bit too extreme overall?”

“Really? The design doesn’t seem too different from the previous work.”

“Smartphone games are okay to see on screen. But in virtual reality, aren’t the players the ones wearing them? It might be a bit tough to pass the censorship.”

“Hey, why are you saying that, head? You should understand Inseo’s dream!”

“Hmm, I suppose it makes sense since he created it at such a fiery age.”

“It’s usually those who seem uninterested in that kind of stuff who are even worse behind the scenes.”

“That outrageous outfit is something that you all praise so much, and he’s the one who insisted it must be included. If you don’t believe it, just ask him.”

This was the truth.

Ryu Yerin often acted coy, but it was a kind of character creation, and she wasn’t particularly fixated on it.

If someone asked, she would likely respond unabashedly, ‘Yes. It’s my preference. Is there a problem?’

“Oh, this girl isn’t going to turn her brother’s flaws into some excuse. Wow, I’m so envious.”

“……”

Telling the truth but being disbelieved, Ryu Inseo couldn’t help but feel like Cassandra from Greek mythology.

Was it because he had endured long harassments from his colleagues that he started feeling the need for some positive affirmation?

Once home, mentally exhausted, Ryu Inseo collapsed into bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Soon, he woke up in the middle of the night, feeling a strange eerie sensation.

“Huh!”

Reflexively turning his body, he was immediately struck with shock.

In one corner of his room, something resembling a human figure was staring at him.

Actually, the word ‘staring’ might not be quite suitable.

That was because the thing didn’t have any eyes.

Moreover, its entire body was shrouded in something like black smoke, making it impossible to tell what it was wearing or even if it resembled a human at all.

The only discernible feature in its face was an exceptionally large mouth filled with conspicuously white teeth.

Toward the frozen Ryu Inseo, ‘it’ spoke.

“Apologies for startling you. But please don’t worry. I am not your enemy. I can rather be called your greatest ally and understanding friend.”

“Ah… ally, you say?”

“Don’t you want to take revenge?”

‘It’ continued with a whimsically yet incredibly kind and considerate voice.

“Your parents who denied you and ultimately discarded you.”

“The company that lured you with promises of rewards, only to suck out your talent and successes.”

“The lover who dug into your wounded heart, claiming to be on your side, only to betray and leave you.”

“In this filthy, draggy world that constantly denies you and torments you, don’t you want to take revenge?”

Understanding Ryu Inseo’s every word as if it could help him, a hand filled with goodwill extended towards him.

Towards that hand, Ryu Inseo responded.

“Uh, I didn’t really think that way….”

A moment of silence.

The entity that had visited his room in some mysterious way seemed momentarily flustered.

But soon, the being spoke nonchalantly as if this level didn’t bother it at all.

“Oh dear, it seems that you do not trust me. However, considering what you have been through, that is understandable. But rest assured, I do not intend to ask anything of you in return. I simply wish to help you.”

“You don’t have to help me.”

“Really? If it continues like this, your dreams will shatter like bubbles. Of course, you have genius-level abilities, so even if I don’t help, you might achieve ‘just okay’ results. However, creating a game that truly feels like a world and attracting people to it would be impossible. But if I help, things will be different. I’ll provide vast funds and eliminate those who endlessly obstruct you. I will spare no effort in either aspect.”

“The game development is already progressing well, and I’ve earned enough money not to be in need anywhere, and those who tried to obstruct me are probably getting thrashed by Kainix’s legion of lawyers and should be in prison by now, so I don’t really…?”

“……Huh? Uh?”

The mysterious entity could no longer maintain its theatrical tone.

Even a dog raised in a scholar’s home for three years can recite poetry. Having picked up some skills over the years while being verbally knocked around by his sister, Ryu Inseo started verbally clashing with the mysterious entity.

“How did you even get in here? Isn’t this illegal entry? If you have business with me, shouldn’t you schedule an appointment and meet properly? Just barging in like this is inconsiderate, you know? And you’ve been babbling as if you know a lot about me, but I’ve never been abandoned by my parents, nor have I been scammed by my company, and I haven’t been betrayed by any woman; in fact, I haven’t even dated anyone yet. Oh, wait, that just makes me mad. Who are you messing with?”

“No, I… that’s not… ”

“Did you pick up some weird gossip and come acting like you understand someone’s life? If there’s someone who reaches out in this situation, that person must be insane. Unless they’re a fool wrapped in the delusion of being the most unfortunate person in the world.”

“……”

“Don’t mess around; our security is no joke. It would be faster for the guards waiting outside to burst in than for you to pull any stunts on me.”

With a mix of bravado, Ryu Inseo pressed a switch on the wall.

“Huh?”

Then, he was left with a bewildered expression as the figure that existed nowhere in the room vanished.

“Hey, Nebula.”

“Did you call, Master?”

“Was there anyone else in this room just now aside from me?”

“Based on audio and video data analysis, no traces of anyone other than the Master were detected. However, I did detect some mysterious noise that was difficult to measure.”

Ryu Inseo swallowed hard.

“There’s… there’s noise, right? Is it a ghost?”

“Shall I attempt data analysis?”

“Please do.”

“Understood.”

The next morning.

“What? A ghost?”

“Yeah, it’s true. It’s really a ghost!”

“Stop joking around. There’s no such thing; this isn’t some fantasy.”

“No, I’m telling you it’s real!?”