Chapter 103 : Chapter 103
Chapter 103
The expansion pack progresses in a different flow from the original work.
Since the story begins from a point in the past, this was a matter of course.
The player gets to experience the process of the future changing through their actions in real-time.
They make allies, make enemies, fight, avoid, and all those choices pile up to lead to a massive outcome.
Therefore, the timing of events varied for each player.
For instance, an event that appears in the latter half of the original game could be experienced in the expansion pack less than a month after starting.
Of course, it was a somewhat extreme assumption, but what was important was that it was theoretically possible.
If one didn't think so, there was no way to explain this situation.
“It says a magical beast appeared…?”
“Why is that coming out now?”
“…I know, right?”
A somewhat dumbfounded conversation passed between Han Yura and Choi Ho-jun.
When faced with an extremely bewildering event, it takes some time to recognize the situation.
The two continued their conversation with blank expressions.
“And it’s a Grade 3, at that? A Direwolf is a Grade 3 magical beast, right?”
“Why did such a strong one pop out?”
“I know, right? Why did it appear? On top of that, it says Truma has already had his Incarnation. Dalton has risen to the position of Archbishop, no, if he received Truma's Incarnation, he'll go even higher, won't he?”
“He’ll go higher? Why? Why already? Dalton?”
These were keywords that shouldn't have come from Han Yura’s mouth.
Truma's Incarnation. Magical beast. Direwolf. And even Dalton aiming for the position of Cardinal.
“Where was the standard for Part 2 again?”
“The appearance of magical beasts.”
“So, have we entered Part 2?”
“It seems so?”
“Pardon?”
For a moment, Choi Ho-jun’s head spun.
‘Part 2?’
He could almost hear the voice of General Manager Kim Du-yeol in his ears.
It’s fine to expose anything up to Part 1.
Sometimes you have to put out bait.
But not Part 2.
From Part 2 onwards, you have to think of it as the main dish that only consumers who have paid a fair price can taste…
“I’ll go write my resignation letter.”
“Why are you writing a resignation letter?”
“Right. I actually always carry it in my pocket. No need to write a new one. I'll go submit it.”
“That’s not what I mean! We did set the appearance of magical beasts as the turning point, but there’s still room for excuses. The main events haven’t appeared yet.”
“What main events?”
“The events that occur along with the appearance of magical beasts! The quests!”
Choi Ho-jun thought for a moment.
‘Does that even matter?’
There was no turning point as symbolic as the magical beasts.
The equipment the characters used changed, the skills changed, the combat patterns changed, and decisively, the very atmosphere of the Empire changed.
But.
‘It does have meaning.’
Choi Ho-jun nodded.
“The Demon Order hasn't appeared yet.”
“They've already made contact. The order of Agrios, and Reinhardt.”
“Isn't that just a low-ranking priest of the order?”
“Exactly. They’re in the process of making contact. If it goes on just a little longer, the Demon Order will make its full-scale appearance.”
The Demon Order.
They were those who worshiped demons like Agrios as gods.
They called each other priests, but outsiders called them warlocks.
In any case, it was a setting that occupied a very important part of the main story development of the expansion pack.
“I see. It hasn't appeared yet. So, it will come out soon. The slightly early appearance of the magical beast is just a variable, something shown as a sort of sneak peek…”
“It makes sense, doesn't it?”
“It does.”
It makes sense.
He would probably get angry, but it still makes sense.
Part 2 had not yet been exposed.
If [Reinhardt] had taken just a few more steps, it would have been a post heralding the start of Part 2, but it wasn't yet.
“I understand. I’ll hold off on submitting my resignation letter. But is there any other way? I don't think Reinhardt is going to stop here.”
Reinhardt in the community was struggling hard.
He was striving to achieve the best result, as if he were truly a character in that world.
He was clearly not thinking about Skylines’ internal situation or the alternatives if he were to be sued for this.
“I think so too. But isn't there a way?”
“I think it’s better to submit it after all.”
“I’m telling you, no. There aren't many companies as generous as ours in terms of salary or benefits. Even in the worst-case scenario, you won't be fired. The CEO isn't someone who gets angry over such mistakes.”
“The CEO?”
“Yes. The CEO.”
Choi Ho-jun asked with a glimmer of hope.
“Really? To be honest, I’ve never properly met him.”
“There are probably only a few people who have had a proper conversation with him. Most of the work that requires dealing with people is handled by General Manager Kim Du-yeol.”
“Then how do you know, Section Chief? What the CEO's personality is like.”
“I’m a founding member.”
“Pardon?”
He hadn't known that.
A founding member.
Then shouldn't she be in a slightly higher position?
“I know what you're thinking, but this is what I wanted. Instead, my salary is a little higher than others.”
“…Yes.”
Choi Ho-jun found himself slightly bowing his waist.
It was an action born from instinct.
“Straighten your back.”
“Y-yes, ma'am.”
“Anyway, you understand, right? For the General Manager's side, just tell him that. That it was the result of a discussion with Section Chief Han Yura.”
“Understood.”
This was manageable enough.
He would get a bit of a lecture, but the name ‘Section Chief Han Yura’ carried that much weight.
“…And thank you, Section Chief. Honestly, I didn't think you would go this far to help with my problem.”
Choi Ho-jun felt ashamed of the prejudice he had held in the past.
Han Yura was a good person.
Just a little peculiar.
But the moment he thought that.
“I’m doing it because it’s fun for me.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s fun, isn't it? There's someone who has done something that was thought to be impossible. I want to find them too, if possible. Find them before they cross the line, so we don't have to go through the troublesome process of lawsuits and what not.”
“Ah.”
“It would be best if we could bring them into the development office, right? Into the seat next to mine. There are so many things I want to ask. It's exciting just thinking about it… but unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be the time for such thoughts yet.”
Team Leader Choi Ho-jun finally nodded with satisfaction.
Han Yura was exactly the person he had thought she was.
It was just that he was lucky this time. He had piqued her interest, and thanks to that, Choi Ho-jun had been able to save his own skin.
“So what are you going to do now?”
The key was how to handle it from now on.
Reinhardt had finally reached the point of crossing the line.
In a few more days, it would truly be irreversible.
“We'll have to make contact, right? I don't think there's any other way.”
“By that you mean…”
“I’ll take on Aslan. You had a conversation with him before, right? Team Leader.”
“Yes.”
Aslan was a common priest of the Truma Order.
Of course, he was a character with great potential.
“So you’re going to become Aslan and converse through comments? Everyone will see it, won't they?”
“I know the person in charge of that community site.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Personally. I said person in charge, but actually, I know the CEO over there. I'm not going to relay our situation as it is.”
“Then?”
“I’m going to suggest adding a system temporarily, in a way that doesn’t look awkward to others. The atmosphere is just right for it.”
Choi Ho-jun nodded, dumbfounded.
It was because there was nothing else he could do.
“CEO. It’s been a while.”
Han Yura made a call out of the blue and had a conversation about this and that.
It was clear she was really close with the CEO.
“The schedule won't change. Of course. In fact, thanks to you setting the stage so well, CEO, we've seen a lot of advertising effect. Yes. Yes, that's right. So about that.”
Han Yura naturally shifted the topic.
“Could you add just one system temporarily? As an event. It's nothing grand, I just want to draw a bit more interest from the board users. Ah, the method?”
Gulp.
Choi Ho-jun swallowed dryly and focused on Han Yura’s voice.
What kind of countermeasure would pop out of that mouth?
Just as he was thinking that, Han Yura said.
“Could we hide the comments exchanged between our staff? Like a secret comment, or something like that. No, we won’t hide them all. Just some. So that we can choose whether to make a comment public when we write it…”
Han Yura went on for a long time.
Explaining, persuading, and then exchanging light chatter, laughing ha-ha ho-ho, before the call finally ended.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed to have concluded as she wanted.
“Okay, it's done. Even if we make contact, other people won't be able to see it.”
“The board administrator will know the content, won't they?”
“Do you know who’s managing this matter over there right now?”
“I don’t.”
“Their CEO is doing it himself. In the first place, he was the one who added that system. You know, how we can view only the posts from our ‘Transmigrators’ in one place?”
“Ah, that…”
Han Yura nodded.
“The CEO over there is a person similar to me. He runs the community because it's fun, and he added that system this time, of course, because it's fun.”
“…Is that really the reason?”
“I’m telling you it is. So about that, he said he’ll make it so even he can’t see it. He's going to make it so only the post author can check the content.”
“Because that would be more fun.”
“That’s right. He’s someone who’s anxiously worrying that the game’s release might be delayed further. He doesn't want to know in advance. It's content he has to experience by playing himself.”
Choi Ho-jun was about to say something, but he closed his mouth.
He was dumbfounded.
After painstakingly organizing his thoughts, he spoke again.
“But Section Chief, even if that CEO says so…”
“You can trust him. That’s the kind of person he is.”
Han Yura’s voice was full of conviction.
Choi Ho-jun eventually backed down.
“Understood. But what were you planning to do if you couldn't get support for such a system?”
“I would have written the comment anyway. But I would have twisted the content. So that to others, it would look like employees were just joking around with each other.”
“That… makes sense.”
The more he heard, the more he felt strangely persuaded.
Team Leader Choi Ho-jun realized that trust had grown in his heart.
Although she suggested spontaneous and unique methods, Han Yura was a person who moved with her own plans.
‘Because she’s a genius.’
Han Yura was a genius at coding.
That was all he had known, but her unique approach was presenting Choi Ho-jun with a path to survival.
“Section Chief Han Yura.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s do it right away. It’s a wonderful idea.”
Choi Ho-jun said, his expression now bright.
Just a moment ago when he entered the development office, his face had looked as if it were crushed by something, but now he was nothing but relaxed.
Because his worry of being fired was gone.
And because he had received a promise that Han Yura would step in to help him if things went south.
“Shall we get started then? First, please pass me the account registered as Aslan.”
Choi Ho-jun swiftly handed over the necessary information.
Rub.
Then, Han Yura lightly rubbed her palms together and, with the face of a general heading into battle, began to tap on the keyboard.