The Regressed Game Director Is Too Competent

An additional promise for winning the Golden Joystick Award has been made.

If Reverse Arcadia wins the award, the promise is that I myself will cosplaying as Henrietta.

The reason it was decided at the last minute is simple.

Because it’s impossible to ignore the voluntary challenges done by the illustrators.

However, giving personal rewards to the illustrators was judged as awkward.

In the end, after discussing a promise that everyone could enjoy, it was decided that I, as the spokesperson, would do the cosplay myself.

Of course, I strongly opposed the idea of cross-dressing cosplay… but there was nothing I could do against the majority decision.

I looked at my teammates who have been with me since the Girls’ Memorial days in a pleading manner…

But no one took my side.

Ultimately, the cross-dressing cosplay promise passed unanimously by everyone excluding me,

and the promise was announced through the official Reverse Arcadia account.

The reaction of users who saw the promise was, of course, explosive.

Anyway, with those minor incidents, a month passed in the blink of an eye.

November.

Once the college entrance exam that had been weighing down on third-year high school students ended, the weather started getting really cold.

One day, I called the original members of the Reverse Arcadia development team into the conference room.

Yumi couldn’t make it because of coordinating the Chronicle Connect Project,

and Seul-bom couldn’t come either since they were the director of Reverse Arcadia without any other options.

Immediately, there were too many events and collaborations to catch up on.

So the selected members consisted of Yerin, Yena, Taeseon, and Chae-Young, a total of four people.

“Hey, the date’s been set.”

The moment those words were said, they seemed not to understand for a moment, but soon their faces froze as they realized what it meant.

“Our departure is in three days, and we are scheduled to arrive at London Heathrow Airport.”

Three days later would be the Saturday of the third week of November.

In other words, the day before the GJA ceremony.

“Let’s go receive the award.”

***

Incheon International Airport – London Heathrow Airport.

Even if we were to take a direct flight, it was a long-haul flight schedule that would take 12 hours, half a day.

For us, who had only been to places like Japan at most, this was bound to be an excruciating flight schedule, but this time it was different.

The reason was… our president had booked first-class tickets for all of us to comfortably receive the award.

Round trip, too.

Thanks to that, we were able to enjoy luxury that none of us had experienced even in our previous lives.

“Senior… doesn’t Wi-Fi work here?”

Yerin, who seemed to be in cultural shock, asked with a surprised expression.

Honestly, this was something I couldn’t help but be amazed by too.

I had only heard about being able to use the internet during flights but had never actually experienced it.

I also saw other members enjoying the first-class service according to their preferences while Yerin was excitedly looking around.

Watching them, I nodded.

There’s no need to feel burdened by the first-class benefits as part of the company’s welfare; it’s right to enjoy it like this.

Moreover, there’s no guarantee when we’ll have the chance to ride first-class on a long-distance route like this again…

So we should enjoy it while we can.

Once I made up my mind, I started enjoying it to the fullest immediately.

When the course meal was served, I ate, and when expensive whiskies and liquors were served, I partook. When I got sleepy, I slept, and when I woke up, I ate and drank more. If I got bored, I watched movies—making efforts to enjoy everything the first-class cabin had to offer.

As a result, I gained an unexpected benefit.

The fatigue accumulated due to the project was completely gone.

Until I got on the plane, I felt weighed down by fatigue, but by the time we landed, it was completely gone.

It was about the level of condition I felt when I first came back to work after the Lunar New Year break.

‘This is why people who have money always choose first-class…’

I wasn’t the only one; it seemed like the rest of the members who disembarked right after me were glowing.

After completing the entry procedures for the members, the view of London Heathrow Airport, the gateway to the UK, came into view.

“Wow, it’s London!”

Leaving behind someone’s exclamation from the group, I clapped to gather everyone’s attention.

“Then, I’ll give a brief explanation of the schedule before we set out. First, we’ll check into the hotel, and after that, it’s free time. The next day, we’ll attend the award ceremony. Simple, right?”

After nodding in agreement with my explanation,

“Also, the rooms are split into two—girls and boys—so please note that.”

After explaining that concisely, I led the members to the hotel the company booked for us.

***

The third Sunday of November.

It was a holiday no different from any other, except that it was the first weekend after the college entrance exam ended.

However, the gaming community was different.

That’s because today was the day of the Game Of The Year (GOTY) award ceremony that wraps up the gaming industry’s year.

Among that, the reason why the entire gaming community’s attention was on Reverse Arcadia was because it was the first mobile game to be nominated for GOTY in history.

[Nickname : xx]

[Title : Honestly, would they really give the GOTY to a mobile game? lol]

No matter that it’s not the main GOTY category of GJA,

Even if it’s the ongoing game category, I think gamers won’t vote for it.

What do you guys think?

[Comment List][In Order of Registration]

– It seems like all the hardcore fans are gathering, so it might be possible?

– Nah, they’re just a small fraction; it won’t change anything lol.

– Honestly, if it’s not Warcraft or SandboxCraft, I think something else will win.

This simple prediction-based argument gradually heated up as time passed.

[Nickname : xx]

[Title : GOTY GOTY? Those hardcore fanboys must think it actually sounds prestigious lol ]

No matter what, it’s not a title a humble mobile game should even compare itself to, right?

Gamers, go spin your gacha machines and pachinko or whatever while you all entertain yourselves lol.

What’s all this fuss about a GOTY?

[Comment List][In Order of Registration]

– Next PC elitist lol lol lol

– These types usually vanish quietly once someone gets the special award

– Screenshot saved; let’s see after the winner is announced lol lol lol

While the mobile gamers and PC gamers were clashing,

we were receiving intense stares at the Blomsbury Victoria House venue of the GJA awards.

“First, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the esteemed guests who have attended this year’s GJA awards ceremony—”

Even as the MC was delivering his congratulatory speech on the grand stage, the intense stares aimed at us didn’t seem to subside.

It seems the word spread that we were the only mobile game among all the nominees participating in this year’s ceremony.

While checking on the team’s condition under such circumstances, it didn’t look too good.

Yerin and Yena, the perfect pair like sisters, were nervously biting their nails with furrowed brows, while Taeseon was closing his eyes in prayer.

As for Chae-Young, she looked relatively calm, albeit showing signs of irritation due to the constant stares directed at her.

Regardless of how we were feeling, the award ceremony began to proceed in earnest.

After the sponsors and supporters finished their speeches, the award winners started being called out one by one.

Watching this, I too began to feel increasing tension.

After all, I was one of those with a strong competitive spirit, so I couldn’t help but feel nervous, even though we’ve done everything we could.

Seeing my tense state, Yerin called out to me.

“Senior.”

Turning around at her call, she handed me the canned coffee she’d prepared ahead of time with a worried look on her face.

“Try to relax… weren’t you so calm just a moment ago?”

“Yeah… thanks.”

I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed for losing my composure despite living two lifetimes, solely because of this awards ceremony.

I was supposed to be their leader, someone who should have shown a composed demeanor.

Just as I scolded myself for feeling so pitiful and took a sip of the coffee,

the MC’s next words reached my ears.

“Next, we have the award for Best Ongoing Game!”

Finally, the moment had arrived.

The decisive moment we would find out if we were winners or losers.

“GOTY history has seen its first-ever mobile game nominated, creating quite a stir in this very category!”

The spotlight returned to us with more murmurs filling the air.

“And the winner of the Best Ongoing Game is….”

But I was so intent on the MC that I blocked out all the whispers.

I was so tense, it even felt like time was slowing down.

I could literally see the MC’s mouth movements, being hyper-aware to this extent.

My heart was pounding so hard I could even hear its beats due to the intense anxiety.

In that tension-fueled moment for every attendee,

The MC finally announced the name.

“Congratulations to Enson GT’s Reverse Arcadia!”

I was momentarily frozen, unable to grasp the sudden shock of hearing our win.

I wasn’t the only one; the entire venue fell silent momentarily.

Then, cautiously, applause started, growing louder, as the MC’s voice continued.

“Please come up on stage!”

It was like being underwater and suddenly pulled to the surface.

The flood of information hit me at once.

The thunderous applause, the spotlight on the stage, and the ecstatic faces of my team members.

“Senior! We won!”

“Cheers!”

In the blink of an eye, Yerin, Yena, and Taeseon were gripping each other and cheering.

Chae-Young was clapping and smiling in the background.

Our moments of excitement were broadcast on the screen behind the stage.

The MC smiled warmly at the sight and said,

“Thank you for your touching moment, would you please come up to the stage?”

Upon his prompt, I managed to stand up with help from Yerin and Yena gently pushing me.

Each step closer felt surreal.

This was the stage that I had never believed we could reach just because of the stigma against mobile gaming.

But there I was, step by step, until finally stepping onto the stage.

“First, could you give us a brief speech?”

As I stood under the microphone and lifted my head, I looked out at the ceremony hall.

Once again, the thunderous applause started, and I could feel the eyes of industry professionals on me.

No matter their thoughts at this moment, I was elated.

This moment was not just mine—it was the triumph of mobile gaming.

“First of all, I must thank everyone who helped us in the development of Reverse Arcadia. First, Su-yeon Cho, the president of Enson GT, who has been our pillar of support…”.

Similar to other winners, I started thanking people,

First thanking our president, then moving to the team members, and finally to the outside staff in my speech.

“Lastly, we owe our deepest gratitude to our wonderful users for their continued support for Reverse Arcadia!”

After finishing, I bowed my head.

It was the least I could do to convey my heartfelt message to the users.

The host then handed me the trophy and asked,

“Is there anything more you’d like to say?”

“To be honest, I’ve heard so many things like, ‘Mobile games can never win,’ and ‘Don’t even dream of it.'”

I glanced at the MC, who nodded silently, and continued,

“But I wanted to show that it’s not impossible for a mobile game to win a GOTY award. And here we are, making it happen.”

Taking a pause, I said,

“We won’t stop here; we’ll strive for excellence and aim for GOTY again next year. Thank you!”

Snap.

As soon as I finished, the camera shutters welcomed me with their clicks.

Walking off the stage, a fleeting memory crossed my mind.

Images of the Henrietta cosplay costumes flashed but were quickly erased.

Because recalling that wasn’t appropriate for a day like this.

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