NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5
On Monday morning, while heading to work, Myunghoon already felt as if he were dying.
The reason was due to a personnel email that had arrived right before the golden Friday dismissal.
As a 10-year senior developer of Enson GT, interdepartmental transfers were as routine as everyday life, so originally, the email wouldn’t have raised much thought, but this transfer was different.
“Does it even make sense to transfer someone who only developed PC games to the mobile game development team…?”
What’s more, rumors were swirling that the development director for the newly reorganized mobile game team would be an external hire. Myunghoon was losing his mind.
“Did I do something wrong? I’ve always had good relations with the HR team…”
Hardly suppressing thoughts of job-hunting in his mind, he pressed the elevator floor button.
Instead of the usual fifth-floor where the PC game development team was located, his destination was the sixth floor.
Instead of the familiar bustling corridor on the fifth floor, he passed through the quiet one on the sixth, walking up to the door marked “Mobile Game Development Team,” where he knocked.
“Come in!”
A female voice he had never heard before greeted him.
“Who could that be?”
While scratching his head at the unfamiliar voice, he entered the room, locking eyes with a strange female employee who was tidying her desk.
She was likely around 160 centimeters tall.
Her neat bob cut framed her face, with sharp features that were undeniably beautiful, though her expression remained distant.
If seen on the street, she might have been someone to turn one’s head for, but her appearance was completely unfamiliar to anyone at Enson GT.
“May I ask why you’re here?”
“Um, well…”
At that moment, as the office door opened and people began entering, Myunghoon’s eyes darted nervously.
“Women…?”
In front of him was a woman.
Behind him was another.
The entire office was entirely female.
Myunghoon felt his breath was caught in his throat.
***
“…What is going on here?”
After reporting to the office as instructed yesterday, people who looked like team members were gathered near the entrance.
“Please don’t cluster at the entrance, move into the office!”
Once the crowd was roughly sorted, I entered the office to see the team members starting to become visible.
“First, please double-check the seats as per the internal email I sent you last night, and gather in the conference room in about ten minutes!”
In response to my instructions, the team members quietly dispersed to find their seats.
I greeted Yerin, who had already arrived and was tidying her desk, then entered the conference room a step ahead of the others.
Although such preparation was usually handled by the project manager, we were basically all still strangers…
After setting out the proposals according to the number of people, adjusting the air conditioner to the proper temperature, and preparing canned coffee, the team members began entering the conference room one by one.
The first to enter the conference room was, unsurprisingly, Lee Yerin, with whom I felt the least awkward.
“When you initially arrived, did the other employees not say anything unusual?”
“Yes, they just asked if I was a new hire and which team I was with. I told them this team and they didn’t say anything further.”
“Is that so? That’s lucky then.”
After hearing from the producer yesterday, I was slightly worried Yerin might face office favoritism, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
“Go ahead and take your seat.”
While Yerin nodded and sat down, I stood briefly waiting. As the door opened, the next person came in.
An orderly but slightly unkempt crew cut,
Glasses with thick rims that you could barely see through due to their high prescription,
A casual, slack white collarless shirt,
A scrawny frame that probably did nothing more physically than breathing.
What sealed the deal was how, upon seeing Yerin, his wandering eyes hinted at discomfort. That sight instantly boosted my trust.
“Producer…so your talk of sending me an ace wasn’t just empty words…”
“Hello, are you Mr. Kim Myunghoon?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Jihojin, the new director of the Mobile Game Development Team. Nice to meet you.”
“My name is Kim Myunghoon. I’ve been transferred from the PC game development team.”
Despite knowing it was a stereotype and might offend Myunghoon, I still felt like his aura carried the essence of a skilled programmer.
“Please take a seat for now, and thank you for waiting.”
After nodding, I placed Myunghoon in a seat far removed from Yerin, just as the rest of the team entered.
“Hello, everyone!”
“…Nice to meet you.”
“If you please, we will do introductions later, but first, please sit wherever you wish.”
After everyone sat down, I scanned the entire room before speaking.
“Good day, let me introduce myself officially. From today, I will be leading the Mobile Game Development Department as the Director. My name is Jihojin, pleased to meet you all.”
As soon as I finished speaking, a round of applause filled the conference room.
“Okay, okay, let’s save the applause for later. First, I’ll introduce each team member individually, starting with…Yerin?”
At my cue, Yerin stepped forward, bowed slightly, and began her self-introduction.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Lee Yerin, the Art Director for the Mobile Game Development Team. I have much to learn, but I look forward to working with you!”
As Yerin concluded her introduction with a bow, applause once again echoed in the room.
Given her experienced career and her role as a director, I had anticipated some resistance within the team, but it seemed there was none, thankfully.
After Yerin returned to her seat, it was Myunghoon’s turn.
“Hello, I’m Kim Myunghoon. I spent the last ten years in the PC game development team and have now been assigned to this Mobile Game Development Team as the TD. Please treat me kindly.”
Starting confidently, his voice gradually weakened, as if his breath had caught in his throat.
It was likely due to the fact that the majority of his teammates were women.
After Myunghoon received more applause and encouragement, the next person came forward.
“Hi! I’m Kang Yumi from the business team, newly transferred to the Mobile Game Development Team as the Business PM! I’m 23 years old, my blood type is B, and I’m here to fully support all of you! So please look after me!”
“…”
Though she received the same applause as the previous introductions, the overall atmosphere felt peculiar.
Should I describe her as a four-dimensional being rather than an E-type socialite…
“Did you use that tone of voice even when you worked at the business team?”
“Of course not! Even I can differentiate between casual and professional, right?”
“…Could you try introducing yourself in a more business-like tone?”
“Hello! I’m Kang Yumi, the Business PM for the new venture into mobile game planning! Nice to meet you!”
“…”
The contrast between her previous persona and this polished delivery felt almost like hearing from a news anchor.
Once again, I deeply felt how crucial this project was to the Executive Producer.
‘They said they’d fill the team with aces…’
As I was silently impressed, Yumi returned to her seat, and the last remaining member reluctantly made their way to the center of the room.
“Um… Hi… I’m Yoonseol, new Creative Director for the Mobile Game Development Team… N-nice to meet you…”
“Alright, let’s give another round of applause!”
As the applause grew larger, a resigned Yoonseol bowed deeply and quickly returned to her seat.
Possessing an imposing stature and striking features that attracted everyone’s attention, her personality seemed to be polar opposites—a timid type.
‘I’ll need to pay extra attention to her mental health.’
After sorting out my thoughts about the team members in my mind, I clapped my hands to gather everyone’s attention.
“Alright, we’ve done the brief introductions, but we’re still getting acquainted. We’ll naturally grow closer as we work together. If anyone has any questions, please raise your hand.”
No sooner had I spoken when a hand shot up.
And it was none other than Business PM Kang Yumi.
“Rather than a question, could I make a suggestion?”
“Please proceed.”
“To be honest, I believe the distance I feel between the director and us stems from how the director conducts themselves in a too formal manner!”
From Yumi’s comment, it was evident that some of the other team members also agreed, as they silently nodded along.
“So how about you address us casually, just like you do with Ms. Yerin?”
“Hmm…”
Contemplating for a moment, I agreed, finding merit in her comments.
Truth be told, even during projects in my previous workplace, I wasn’t the type to force hierarchy upon my team.
In fact, my deliberate use of formal language for our first meeting was more out of habit, and Yumi’s suggestion was genuinely helpful.
“Do any of you find Yumi’s suggestion inappropriate or uncomfortable?”
After waiting for some time, there were no raised hands.
“Very well, then we will communicate more casually henceforth. Seol-i, could you please turn off the lights?”
Confirming that Seol-i had turned off the lights by the switch, I turned on the projector.
Suddenly, the familiar PPT slide appeared on the conference room wall.
“Without further ado, let’s start the first meeting for our upcoming project, codenamed ‘Project GM.'”