Chapter 68: Starlight World (1)

It was a lazy afternoon.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, stretching long across the living room floor.

I was buried in the plush sofa, mindlessly staring at the giant screen on the wall.

On the screen, Ajung was moving a crude character, running through a pixel-graphic forest.

For some reason, today she wasn’t playing LoL, which she had been playing continuously recently.

It was an RPG game that looked quite old, something she must have found somewhere.

The character diligently swung its sword, but the square slime only produced loud popping sound effects, and it was impossible to tell if it was taking any damage.

The UI was crude, and the movements were choppy.

‘Do people still play things like this?’

Of course, when I was young, I used to play similar games all night long.

Back then, even something like that was fun enough.

It’s just that these days, my body has become accustomed to a plethora of interesting things around, so I’m no longer satisfied with that level.

[Wow! Everyone! I finally changed my class! I’m a mage now too, Fireball!]

Ajung shouted, full of excitement.

The small character on the screen raised both hands, and a fist-sized fireball flew out with a clumsy effect.

The slowly flying fireball fizzled out powerlessly in front of the slime with a ‘pik-‘ sound.

‘That thing is… magic?’

A dry laugh escaped me.

Shouldn’t you at least summon a dragon to call it magic?

Or drop a meteor or something.

If I were to make a game, such triviality would be unimaginable.

More spectacular, more powerful, and above all, a system where players can directly combine and research magic formulas to create their own magic.

There were countless elements to make a game fun.

Well, I do have to consider that it’s an old game.

I was vaguely picturing such a scene in my head.

Tiring-

A notification popped up on the tablet screen, indicating a message from Yoon Taesoo.

It was a report on a new collaboration proposal.

As usual, a list organized in an Excel file was attached.

I skimmed through it.

Advertisements, tournament broadcasts, joint broadcasts, etc.

Most of them were unremarkable proposals.

However, there was one item that particularly caught my eye.

[Yoon Taesoo]: President, it would be advisable for you to review the last item on the attached list, the proposal to participate in the large-scale ‘Cube World’ streamer server hosted by the famous streamer ‘Kang Taepung’.

‘Cube World?’

My ears perked up instantly.

‘Cube World Streamer Server.’

It was a sufficiently attractive proposal.

It was a server where most of the streamers broadcasting on Ggizzik’s mainstream came to play.

But the problem was.

‘On a server someone else already made? And in the middle of it?’

I wasn’t keen on it.

Surely, the people who planned and prepared that server put in effort.

But joining an already established game, especially in the middle of the server’s progress, didn’t look good.

It felt like belatedly adding a spoon to a feast someone else had prepared.

Moreover, the fact that we would have to adapt to the methods and rules of the people running that server also bothered me.

Variables not under my control are always uncomfortable.

Above all… I didn’t want to put the stars I found, the stars I made, on someone else’s stage, especially as supporting characters.

The protagonist always had to be ‘Starlight’.

There was also the schedule issue.

If the members were to participate regularly according to the ongoing server schedule, it would inevitably disrupt their current individual broadcasts or group content.

There were also many things to prepare for in the future, such as Starlight’s official album.

[Me]: I’ve reviewed it, but unfortunately, I think we’ll have to decline this proposal.

I sent a reply to Yoon Taesoo.

[Me]: It doesn’t look good for us to jump into an ongoing game that others are already running. We also have schedule issues with our members. Please convey our polite refusal.

[Yoon Taesoo]: Understood, President. I will handle it accordingly. Are you perhaps considering a different direction?
As expected, Yoon Taesoo was quick.

He had already anticipated my refusal and was asking for the next move.

I grinned and typed.

The thoughts that came to me while watching Ajung’s broadcast just now.

The ultimate world combining the freedom of Cube World and the growth system of an RPG.

[Me]: Should we just make the server ourselves?

[Yoon Taesoo]: What? Are you saying you’ll build the server yourself, sir?

[Me]: Yes. Not just any server. A ‘real’ world on a completely different level, where we can implement everything we imagine. Let’s call it ‘Starlight World’. Our own world where Starlight members can play freely.

[Yoon Taesoo]: President, ‘Cube World’ has clear existing limitations. Realistically, implementing a ‘real world’ of a different dimension…

Yoon Taesoo’s message was tinged with concern and bewilderment, suggesting he had already studied ‘Cube World’ before reporting to me.

[Me]: I’m not saying we should overhaul the entire game. I’m saying we should create the highest possible level of implementation within the framework of ‘Cube World’. The server and network will naturally be top-spec, and we’ll throw in all sorts of custom plugins and mods, optimizing everything. We’ll do what others couldn’t even attempt due to technical or cost issues. Our style.

[Yoon Taesoo]: What specific direction are you considering?

[Me]: Let’s go with an RPG concept. Not just mimicking it, but a proper RPG. A deep world where users can immerse themselves in growth and adventure.

I paused my typing for a moment and began to lay out the picture in my head.

[Me]: The classes should be a bit different too. Basic classes like warrior, archer, and mage are a must, of course, and we should add hidden classes to make it worth exploring. Special classes that can only be obtained by meeting certain conditions or clearing hidden quests.

I chuckled, already imagining the members or other streamers searching every corner of the server for hidden classes.

[Me]: For example, a ‘Blood Mage’ who manipulates blood? Or a ‘Druid’ who transforms into a bear or wolf to fight? A ‘Spirit Master’ who uses elemental magic by contracting with spirits would be nice too. There should be fun in finding things like this. It’s boring if everyone has the same common classes.

[Yoon Taesoo]: A hidden class system, you say. That’s a very interesting concept, but balance adjustment will be key.
Balance?

That’s not my concern.

[Me]: That’s the development team’s job. We’re going to gather the best experts.

I retorted as if it were obvious.

The results had to be certain, as much as I was spending money.

[Me]: And life content shouldn’t just be a time-filler; it needs to be elaborately designed to actually help with RPG growth. Fishing, cooking, farming, all of it.

I tapped the table with my fingers, planning the next part.

It shouldn’t become simple grinding.

The server I intended to create was for ‘streamers’ who ‘broadcast’.

All activities had to have meaning and rewards.

[Me]: For example, catching a rare fish allows you to cook special dishes that increase stats, or crafting powerful potions with herbs that only grow in specific areas. As proficiency increases, you can even develop your own crafting recipes. It shouldn’t be mere grinding, but a new growth path in itself.

[Yoon Taesoo]: A systematic link between life content and combat content. That would require a very complex and extensive system design. In that case, to what extent are you considering NPC interaction?
NPCs.

This was also important.

How desolate would it be if only players roamed an empty world?

[Me]: AI-based, of course. I detest NPCs that just repeat pre-determined lines stupidly. We should also include a favorability system, and have them form relationships among themselves. It needs to look as much like a living world as possible.

I glanced out the window for a moment.

NPCs that seem truly alive.

Players interacting with them, sometimes even having conflicts.

I wanted to see such a picture.

[Yoon Taesoo]: President, even if we form a professional game development team, implementing the features you’ve described at the highest level within a Cube World base will require a significant amount of time and considerable cost.

His message still contained concern, but it seemed a little softer than before.

Perhaps he sensed my firm resolve, and I even thought I detected a hint of interest in his words.

[Me]: I’ll take care of the cost and time, so Chief Yoon, you just focus on assembling the best development team. Experience in Cube World mod development would be good. Scouting from current game companies is also fine. I’m thinking of this as a ‘long-term project’, so there’s no need to rush too much. It would be inconvenient for both sides if it overlaps with other ongoing server schedules.

I deliberately emphasized that there was no need to rush and that it just shouldn’t overlap with other servers.

It was to give Yoon Taesoo at least a minimal, realistic justification.

Of course, my standard of ‘no need to rush’ might differ from others.

[Yoon Taesoo]: Understood. I will search for the best team, flesh out the project plan, and report back to you. It will be a challenging endeavor, but it seems like an interesting project.

Yoon Taesoo finally relented, unable to break my stubbornness.

At the end of his message, I seemed to sense a different kind of fatigue than usual, or perhaps a strange excitement.

‘…I made another impulsive decision like this.’

I let out a small smile.

Nevertheless, I once again instructed Yoon Taesoo to politely decline the external server participation proposal.

I added that he should convey our gratitude for the schedule considerations and the offer.

Basic courtesy had to be maintained.

There was no need to make enemies unnecessarily.

Now, all that was left was to wait.

Of course, I had no intention of just waiting idly.

My role in creating the best ‘Starlight World’ was clear.

To constantly instill my vision into the development team and open paths for them with the weapon called ‘money’ whenever they hit a wall.

RPG, huh… The more I thought about it, the better the idea seemed.

The members choosing their classes and growing.

Exploring dungeons and conquering bosses.

Forming parties with other streamers or competing against them.

How many stories and interesting situations would arise from that?

And as the ‘operator’, I could watch everything and sometimes intervene.

Of course, since I plan to avoid troublesome tasks as much as possible, I’ll just appear when they call, “Operator-nim! Help!”‘Starlight World’.

Its prelude was just beginning.

Then, something came to mind, and I picked up my tablet to send an additional message to Yoon Taesoo.
[Me]: Oh, right. Was it Riley, the winner of the last Dream Stage? Let’s invite her to the server later too. I told her I’d contact her first if I planned something fun next time.

This time, I didn’t forget.

It was time to keep my previous promise.

A grin spread across my lips automatically.

I had a feeling this would be much more fun.

---

“So, what has the President been up to lately?”

At dinner, Jungyeon asked Ajung while poking at her salad.

Today was a rare occasion when the three members were having dinner together.

“Well? I haven’t heard from him much lately… Oh, but yesterday, he suddenly said he was going to make a Cube World RPG server.”

Ajung replied while scooping rice.

“What? Cube World? RPG? Suddenly?”

Jungyeon’s spoon stopped.

“Yes. He said he was going to create his own complete world… He seemed incredibly excited. He mentioned something about hidden classes too.”

At Ajung’s words, Jungyeon and Yoonsol, who was quietly eating beside her, both widened their eyes.

“He’s… at it again.”

Jungyeon muttered with a deep sigh.

Her expression was a mixture of resignation and a slight anticipation.

“RPG… Sounds fun.”

Yoonsol muttered in a small voice.

She surprisingly seemed to like that genre.

A time for new adventures was approaching for the Starlight members as well.