NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43
The video began with an ethereal BGM.
The scene showed peaceful sky islands surrounded by clouds.
As the tranquil view of the sky islands passed, the mood dramatically shifted to a grand orchestral score, marking the true start of the video.
A blonde elf girl lying at the edge of a sky island, waiting for someone.
A dwarf blacksmith who mined a radiant sapphire amidst the dangers of flying volcanic rocks in a volcanic zone, then smiled.
A mysterious female knight wiping away tears while staring at a dreamlike lake.
A warrior candidate sitting on the railing of a flying ship, biting into an apple.
As the candidate glanced down from the flying ship, a vast continent came into view.
Afterward, the scene transitioned, and with a more intense BGM, the previously introduced characters were shown forming a party to hunt monsters.
Starting with familiar creatures like goblins and orcs, the video then featured more formidable beasts—like the three-headed basilisk,
the fiery Cerberus,
and finally, a massive dragon raid.
The video concluded by showing the characters journeying to another city aboard a flying ship after collectively combating the monsters.
After watching the video, my immediate thought was this:
“This isn’t a joke.”
A clean yet overwhelming quality that compressed an entire anime episode into five minutes.
Even through just the video, one could feel the prowess of Sign Games.
That’s because, before my regression, they were the top company in the industry, hitting three home runs with consecutive hits like Bahamut, Cinderrella, and Grand Arc Fantasy.
And for this company to have dropped out of first place due to *Girls’ Memorial* must have hurt their pride considerably.
It was clear that the giant of the Japanese gaming industry was sharpening their blade anew to reclaim the top spot.
“I won’t just sit back and let it happen though.”
While pondering such thoughts and checking out the responses, a knock came at the office door.
“Is Senior here?”
“The door’s open.”
With that, Yerin entered the office.
Her energetic expression suggested she’d fully emerged from her slump.
“I’ve completed the main character designs and the rough for the teaser image.”
“Good?”
“I’ve sent it to your email, so please check it out.”
“Just a moment.”
Upon hearing Yerin’s words, I opened my inbox to find an email with attached images.
“Let’s take a look.”
Opening the email for verification, I found two attached images.
They were the main character designs and the rough sketch for the teaser image we’d previously discussed.
First up was Henrietta, the character design that had plunged Yerin into a creative slump.
Black-and-red secret-toned hair with a tear mark.
Sharp eyes befitting the leader of a resistance group, projecting a dangerous vibe.
A black hoodie and tank top symbolizing the resistance.
Coupled with hot pants.
It was the exact image of the “Henrietta” I’d envisioned in my mind.
The best improvement over Yerin’s previous rough sketches was, without a doubt, the atmosphere.
While Henrietta looked like a delinquent attending school when she was in the middle of her slump,
the finished version now truly embodied the image of a resistance army leader leading the resistance movement.
“Great job. This is nearly perfect, isn’t it?”
“Really?”
Surprised by the sincere praise, Yerin’s eyes widened.
“Absolutely. Compared to the last version, the character’s concept is vividly alive.”
“Thank goodness…”
“But why is the teaser image incomplete?”
“Ah, that’s because I intentionally left some parts out for now.”
“Why?”
“Because… the designs for the other two members aren’t complete yet, and I’m still deciding how to compose the framing.”
“Hmm…”
Listening to Yerin, I remembered Seol, who was also having similar difficulties.
Considering how hard it was to imagine a desolate post-apocalyptic background, different from the bright atmosphere of *Girls’ Memorial*, Seol must have been struggling too.
I’d better give some input to both of them soon.
“Yerin.”
“Yes?”
“Are you free the day after tomorrow?”
“Day after tomorrow? Uh… what day is that again?”
“Saturday.”
“If it’s then, I don’t have plans, so I should be able to make it… Why?”
“On that day, how about we catch a movie?”
Upon hearing my suggestion, Yerin looked at me with a surprised expression.
Soon, she glanced at me with eyes wide open as if questioning what I was thinking.
“This isn’t a date invitation, right?”
“Well, if it isn’t, then what is it?”
“Because the teaser image’s composition and background illustrations seem to be causing issues, I thought I’d help.”
“…You’re not calling it a date, right?”
“I’m thinking of bringing Seol along too.”
At that, Yerin’s expression seemed to stiffen.
“Figures…”
Still muttering under her breath, Yerin didn’t cancel the appointment, even as she shuffled out of the office.
***
On the day of our appointment, Saturday morning.
Yerin woke up far earlier than expected.
Glancing at the clock on her desk with a hazy expression, it was just past 6 a.m.
Considering she had fallen asleep around 1 a.m., after coming home from overtime and selecting her clothes for the next day, it had been an incredibly short sleep.
“Still, I can sleep for at least another 30 minutes before heading out… Oh, right, it’s a holiday.”
Realizing it wasn’t a weekday, she immediately buried her head back into the pillow.
The appointment with Senior Ho-jin was at 1 p.m.
Even if she started preparing at 11 a.m., she would have plenty of time.
Before she could fall back asleep, she absentmindedly stared at the ceiling, contemplating various things. Slowly, her eyes began to close.
If I sleep just a little more…
***
In front of the CGV near Pajero Station.
Out of caution, I sent a text to Yerin 30 minutes before our scheduled time.
“Are you aware of today’s appointment?”
To which I received a response within 2 minutes.
“I just woke up… I’ll be right there!!”
…It was good to send that one text.
Recalling her previous habit of oversleeping and arriving late, sending that text beforehand turned out to be the right decision.
On the other hand, Seol…
“Should arrive in 10 minutes!! (❀╹◡╹)”
Unlike Yerin, she seemed to have a strict sense of time, as a text indicating her imminent arrival came promptly.
The emoticon was slightly distorted, though.
Even after more than two years of working together, I still found something new every time I saw her.
With about 10 minutes until our appointment,
I was waiting by the movie theater entrance when I felt a finger tap on my back. Turning around, I saw Seol.
“Mr… uh… Director?”
“Just call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“Ah, understood! Then I’ll call you Director…”
“Alright.”
Seol, seen outside the company, wasn’t much different than inside.
She was tall for a woman, standing what looked like over 170 cm, with jet-black long hair reminiscent of a doll.
Perhaps it was getting chilly, as she wore a beige knitted dress with a casually tilted beret.
She appeared just as stylish as she did inside the office.
“Since Yerin will be a bit late, would you like to go in at the scheduled time?”
“And what about Director?”
“I’ll wait outside and take Yerin inside once she arrives.”
“Ah, then I’ll wait too…”
I was about to tell her it wasn’t necessary, but upon seeing her expression, I nodded.
Knowing that look, it was clear she wasn’t going to change her mind easily.
About five minutes had passed while I chatted with Seol about the project,
when I spotted Yerin running towards us from afar.
She was dressed in jeans and a simple knitted sweater, with her cap pulled down low. It was clear she’d overslept.
“Sorry… I did wake up early, but I somehow fell asleep again…”
“It’s fine. You arrived right on time.”
“But still…”
“Yerin… here…”
Instead of scolding her, Seol took out a small bottle of water from her handbag and handed it to her.
Without a word, Yerin politely accepted and took a sip.
“Since we’re all here, let’s head in?”
“Senior, do we have tickets?”
“Right here.”
I pulled out three movie tickets from my pocket and handed them over.
“Ah, is this what we’re watching today? I’ve heard it’s quite interesting.”
“Among the movies showing now, this felt closest to the genre of our current project.”
“If Senior says so, then it must be a good fit. Shall we go, Sis?”
“Sure…”
Already latching her arm through Seol’s, Yerin walked naturally into the cinema.
I followed behind them into the theater.
*
The movie we watched was a blockbuster climate-apocalypse film.
It was about a climate-calamity situation where the polar ice caps melted due to global warming, leading to a new ice age, and the sprouting of love…
To be honest, this was a typical sentimental blockbuster disaster movie, but it was still enjoyable due to its well-researched foundation.
Stepping out of the theater, Yerin gave a harsh critique:
“The visual style felt expensive, so it was worth watching, but the story was just too melodramatic. Wasn’t the online reaction viral?”
Seol nodded with an awkward expression.
“Still… the CG was enjoyable to watch…”
“That, as well. Senior, how was the movie for you?”
With everyone curious to hear my opinion, I paused for a moment before answering.
“It had beautiful snow.”
“Indeed, we enjoyed the visual feast of snow in CG. The snowstorm scene in the middle was great, as was the depiction of freezing people.”
“During such extreme conditions, I was thinking, ‘What would happen if a riot occurred?'”
“Uh…?”
“Y-yes…?”
At my words, the two beside me began to stare at me with strange expressions, as if I had made some peculiar noise.
“The story had a part where survivors stayed in the underground spaces of buildings buried in snow. Remember that?”
“S-sure, that scene definitely existed…”
“The protagonist’s group managed to secure the upper floors of the Empire State Building, where sunlight shone; but could they maintain it forever?”
After a short pause to observe the two people beside me, I continued,
“Even occupying the upper floors of the building, with insufficient supplies and manpower, and the underground survivors who perceive themselves as discriminated against—it felt like a situation ripe for a riot.”
Listening to my explanation, Yerin and Seol exchanged glances before Seol carefully chimed in:
“Now that you mention it, that does seem plausible… Right, sis?”
“Y-yes… Director’s insight was something I hadn’t considered at all…”
Watching them fully enjoy the movie rather than taking it as input for our apocalyptic theme made me sigh involuntarily.
“It won’t do. Let’s watch it again.”
“Th, that’s unnecessary! I understood all the points you mentioned, Senior!”
“I-I’m fine too!”
“Quiet.”
Against their desperate attempts to avoid a second screening, I led them wordlessly into the theater.
It happened on a weekend in November.