NOVEL NEXT Chapter 98
The gaze felt piercing.
As soon as I passed through the security gate on the first floor, I felt the employees’ stares, and they were far too intense.
Of course, I already knew why everyone was looking at me.
It was undoubtedly because of that cross-dressing incident from last time.
Even though I hadn’t done it by choice, and the appearance itself wasn’t particularly ghastly, it was still embarrassing.
After all, the image of cross-dressing in general is rarely seen in a positive light.
With this realization came a sigh of resignation, thinking it was my own doing. Only after arriving at the department head’s office could I finally escape those stares.
“Let’s get ready for the tasks…”
Shaking my head twice to clear the events of my commute from my mind, I began preparing for the day’s work.
I turned on my computer and checked the received messages through the messenger app.
After sending the weekly task list to the team leader-level directors, I concluded my morning preparations by pouring myself a cup of coffee.
After wrapping up the preparations quietly, I allowed myself a moment of tea time.
Sitting down in my chair with the coffee in hand, thoughts began to flood my mind.
‘Now that I think of it, there was something I had planned to look into after the award ceremony.’
The unexpected GOTY nomination and the subsequent win had pushed something significant out of my mind.
It was a memory of ‘Rain’s Legend: Breath of the Kingdom,’ often called the true progenitor and original form of an open-world game in its time.
At first, I thought I must have made a mistake.
It was because ‘Rain’s Legend: Breath of the Kingdom,’ shortened as ‘Kingdom Breathe’ or ‘KB,’ was absent among the main titles of ‘GOTY’ nominees.
Thinking back, ‘Rain’s Legend: Breath of the Kingdom’ was released in 2017, revolutionizing open-world gameplay and sweeping up the GOTY accolades that year. Given this, it should have already taken the game industry by storm by now.
But as of this moment, with only a few months left in 2017, it hasn’t shown any signs of release.
As a result, the 2017 GOTY went to games that were completely different from the ones remembered from the previous timeline.
I frantically searched for the reasons behind the discrepancies between my memories from before the regression and the stark contrasts of the current timeline but found none.
I couldn’t possibly approach Senior Hiroki with questions about why a new ‘Rain’s Legend’ title hadn’t been released based on my memories from before the regression.
In the end, despite the unease, there was nothing I could do but accept it.
***
Headquarters of Enzendō, located in Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture.
Hiroki arrived late at night after being contacted and complained to Hiadeaki’s PM.
“What is it, exactly?”
“Um… Director has been locked in his room all day.”
“Is this an emergency?”
“No, not an emergency… He eats when we bring food but asks not to be disturbed and won’t leave the room.”
“Alright, let me check it out.”
Following the words of the PM, Hiroki knocked on Hiadeaki’s office door.
The door soon opened, and Hiadeaki appeared.
“… Senior, is there something wrong?”
“What’s wrong? Your juniors contacted me because you’ve been holed up in your room, so here I am. What’s up?”
“Hmm… Would you come in for a moment? Matsui, you can go home now.”
With Matsui, the PM, excused, the two entered Hiadeaki’s office.
Hiadeaki sat down back in his computer chair, while Hiroki perched on the nearby bed.
“What happened that you secluded yourself all day to the point I got a call?”
“Not much, actually. I’ve just been watching this.”
With a slight move, Hiroki glanced at Hiadeaki as he shifted his eyes toward the monitor.
The screen displayed a video titled “Chronicle Connect: Relink Second PV”.
“Chronicle Connect? Isn’t this the game that that Jihojin from Enson GT is developing?”
“Correct.”
“Already onto the second PV? They’re progressing faster than expected, huh?”
Hiadeaki nodded in agreement to Hiroki’s astonished tone.
“Exactly.”
For a while, Hiroki watched the second PV with Hiadeaki and couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
“Hmm, that guy really knows how to put what he’s learned to good use.”
“Excuse me?”
“Did you know I met that guy in Korea last time?”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
“The time I gave him a few tips.”
“Did you, really?”
To another developer, this might have been a jaw-dropping story, but Hiadeaki took it calmly.
Considering the nature of Enzendō, a company that freely shares technical knowledge within the industry, and Hiroki’s quirky tendencies, this seemed par for the course.
“Yeah, I noticed potential and passed on a few things. Watching how he’s using them now, I must say, he’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“Remarkable indeed when you put it that way.”
“Anyway, how about you, Hiadeaki?”
Hiadeaki blinked in surprise, pointing at himself. “You’re referring to me?”
“Who else, idiot? Are there two Hiadeakis?”
“No, not that, but… didn’t that come out of nowhere?”
“Not really. Last year, you loudly proclaimed a new game would come out. Yet now, into the next year, there’s still no sign of a release.”
“Actually…”
Hiadeaki explained the reason for delaying the release of the new ‘Rain’s Legend’.
“So… After watching the Chronicle Connect PVs, you felt it lacked something, thus decided to delay and rework the game?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm, well, that’s your choice. So when are you thinking of releasing it?”
“Probably after the Tokyo Game Show.”
“After the Tokyo Game Show? Are you planning to participate?”
“Of course. And I’ve already received approval from the higher-ups.”
To Hiadeaki’s calm response and nod, Hiroki couldn’t help but think how much he resembled himself.
The decisive move to immediately delay a release upon sensing a game’s inadequacy.
The decisive action of committing to participate in the Tokyo Game Show, an event Enzendō previously hadn’t.
As Hiroki reflected on this, he got up from the chair.
“Well, you’re the director now, so you’ll manage fine from here. I’ll take my leave.”
“Already?”
“I only came because of you, and if you’re fine, there’s no reason for me to stay any longer. Also…”
As Hiroki put his hand on the door handle to leave, he smiled.
“I’ve got someone who needs to be informed of this exciting news.”
***
The sudden release of Chronicle Connect: Relink 2nd PV.
As I expected, the reaction was exceptionally heated.
The 2nd PV followed the 1st, which had already garnered significant attention. It effectively fulfilled the users’ needs.
Whereas the 1st PV showed the game’s direction and in-game visuals of Chronicle Connect, the 2nd PV featured in-game playthroughs, 3D modeling, and an overall background introduction.
With an overwhelming scale of the open-world backdrop and the interaction between the player and in-game elements, coupled with a stunning implementation of 3D characters—this 2nd PV had left users captivated with its density.
[Nickname: ㅇㅇ]
[Title: Review) Summary of the 2nd PV of Enson GT’s New Work Chronicle Connect: Relink…txt]
[Chronicle Connect Relink 2nd PV Video Link]
Read this first if you haven’t watched the video already.
Nothing compares to experiencing it directly.
First off, I had no idea Enson GT had such development capabilities.
To exaggerate slightly, it gave me the feeling of watching AAA game footage.
Summarizing the PV’s content into three major points:
1. Quality of the game’s main setting.
2. In-game playthrough.
3. Character introduction.
The former two, setting and characters, are well-documented by players familiar with Chronicle Connect’s previous works, so I’ll move on to the in-game playthrough.
What stood out was the game’s open-world interactivity.
…
Finally, the pièce de résistance, the movement system.
Honestly, I think this is the core of the 2nd PV.
I don’t understand why it was only briefly shown at the very end of the in-game playthrough, but using summoned creatures to fly to islands hinted at vast possibilities.
While I don’t know if it’ll all materialize as displayed in the 2nd PV—it sets the bar so high in the mobile gaming landscape—but once it does release, my brain might just explode.
[Comment List][Registered Order]
– Damn, the content is just insane!
– Is Big Ho-jin a god?
– If this keeps up, it’s definitely a god-tier game.
– The investment genius, indeed.
Without a doubt, as the community buzzed with excitement over the trailer, I was reviewing the mood trends when my phone began to ring.
The caller was Senior Hiroki.
“What could it be?”
With that thought, I picked up the call.
“It’s been a while, Senior.”
[It has been. How’ve you been?]
“Because of your concern, nothing much has happened. How about you, Senior?”
[Me? Same here, nothing much.]
Hearing Hiroki’s energetic voice, it was clear he had been doing well.
[Have you seen the 2nd PV? Word is it’s making waves in Japan, how’s it in Korea?]
“Definitely. The reactions are extremely heated.”
[With that level of quality, the reaction is normal. Unless gamers have eyes like holes.]
“Ha-ha.”
With Hiroki’s candid words, I couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly.
As we exchanged words about Chronicle Connect and open-world gaming, Hiroki suddenly remembered something and asked me.
[Speaking of which, did I forget to ask—are you planning to participate in this year’s Tokyo Game Show?]
“Yes, I’m planning to attend with Chronicle Connect. Why?”
[If so, expect some interesting news in a month.]
“What do you…?”
[It wouldn’t be fun if I told you now. See you at the Tokyo Game Show then!]
The call ended with those words.
Despite the brief conversation, it felt like a whirlwind had passed.
‘What could it be…?’
Even after the call ended, while I tried hard to think, nothing came to mind.
Surely, Enzendō wouldn’t be participating in Tokyo Game Show?
***
A month later.
Only then did I understand what Hiroki had meant a month ago.
The announcement of the new ‘Rain’s Legend.’
And Enzendō’s first-ever participation in Tokyo Game Show.
What could have caused chaos on its own doubled in impact and sent the gaming community into a frenzy.
Seeing this, I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief.
‘Underestimation truly makes people miss out… Indeed.’