Chapter 69: Starlight world (2)

“…An RPG, huh.”

Even after the call with Hajun ended, supplementing the messages, Yoon Taesoo couldn’t take his eyes off the penthouse’s night view for a while.

The young CEO’s voice, which had been stirring his mind just moments ago, seemed to linger in his ears.

‘Starlight World’.

An RPG server based on Cube World.

Hidden classes and NPCs that breathe life.

“Phew.”

Yoon Taesoo let out a deep sigh and took off the glasses he was wearing, placing them on his desk.

His temples throbbed.

He didn’t think he had ever felt this level of mental fatigue, not even when reviewing M&A contracts worth hundreds of billions back in his law firm days.

Of course, legal review and game server development were problems on entirely different scales.

Especially Hajun’s demands, which weren’t just simple game development, but practically creating a new universe within the clearly limited framework of ‘Cube World’.

‘Really, he doesn’t give me a moment to be bored.’

He chuckled wryly and took out a small box containing high-quality coffee beans from his desk drawer.

Making hand-drip coffee himself was his ritual for organizing complex thoughts.

The fragrant aroma of hot water soaking the coffee grounds filled his office.

‘The best development team, he says.’

Hajun’s instructions were clear.

Money was no object; gather the highest-level experts and make his vision a reality.

Yoon Taesoo savored a sip of the freshly brewed coffee and picked up his tablet.

His fingers moved quickly, searching through a personnel database.

Famous figures in the ‘Cube World’ mod development community, experienced planners of AAA RPG games, next-generation AI engine specialists, and talented individuals from various game industries.

He had already been consistently updating a list of such individuals.

It was a judgment that preparing everything in advance was wise, as he never knew what kind of outlandish thing Hajun might cook up next.

“Hmm, this one was at N Company. This one is in Japan…”

Yoon Taesoo quickly grasped each person’s profile, current situation, and most importantly, ‘how to persuade them’.

The magic spell Hajun had taught him, ‘money is no object’, was indeed a powerful weapon.

He immediately began contacting each individual through his secretarial office.

Emails and video calls continued ceaselessly.

[Xelnaga Entertainment? Never heard of it.]

[In Korea? Why should I go there?]

[An RPG based on Cube World? In this day and age? Sorry, but I’m not interested.]

As expected, the initial reactions were mostly skeptical or refusals.

‘Xelnaga Entertainment’ was not only unfamiliar in the industry but was originally a VTuber agency, and the project itself could sound absurd.

But Yoon Taesoo wasn’t flustered.

“Of course, it’s unfamiliar. We’re not even a game development company to begin with. However, we can promise you treatment befitting your talent, no, even exceeding it.”

[Are you talking about salary? I’m already earning enough…]

“Salary is basic, of course, and we will support you with a signing bonus, as well as all the research environment and equipment you desire. If you come to Korea, we will even take care of high-class housing and your children’s education.”

[What? Ch-children’s education too?]

Yoon Taesoo didn’t miss the wavering in the other person’s eyes.

“Our CEO demands only one thing. He says there’s no meaning if it’s not the ‘best’. If you create that ‘best’ for us, he will generously support you with everything that entails.”

His calm yet confident voice, and the unconventional, almost outrageous conditions, slowly began to melt the icy hearts of the experts.

The thought of ‘nothing to lose’, or pure curiosity like ‘what on earth are these guys?’

The reasons varied, but some of the individuals who had refused contacted him again.

After several days and nights of such push and pull, Yoon Taesoo finally succeeded in assembling a ‘Starlight World’ development dream team composed of top experts in each field.

Looking at the faces of the developers on the video conference screen – somewhat eccentric but with sharp, gleaming eyes – Yoon Taesoo smiled with satisfaction.

The first hurdle was cleared.

Now, the real work began.

---

A few days later, in Xelnaga Entertainment’s large conference room.

Key members of the development team, who had just flown in from all over the world, sat with dazed expressions, not yet adjusted to the time difference.

In front of them lay the ‘Starlight World’ project overview prepared by Yoon Taesoo, along with the list of problematic requirements.

“…Chief Yoon. Are you kidding us right now?”

The first to speak was a middle-aged man, seemingly around Yoon Taesoo’s age, a renowned former RPG planner in the game industry.

He flicked the list with his finger as if he couldn’t believe it.

“‘NPCs remember past conversations with players and offer different quests based on favorability’, ‘Design various hidden classes’… What is all this?”

As he read parts of the list, the expressions of the other developers also hardened.

“This… these are not things you can do with a game called ‘Cube World’. This is basically telling us to create a new game engine.”

A young system design expert pointed out sharply.

“That’s right. The AI NPC part, in particular, is an area that’s almost impossible to implement even with current technology. Even if it were possible, the server wouldn’t be able to handle the load.”

The AI expert also shook his head.

The conference room instantly became noisy with outcries of impossibility and discussions about technical limitations.

Yoon Taesoo listened quietly, as if he had expected it.

When the commotion had somewhat subsided, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Of course, I am well aware that your concerns are valid. I had similar thoughts when I first heard these requirements.”

He continued with a gentle smile.

“However, our CEO, Mr. Seo Hajun, is a little… special.”

Yoon Taesoo paused for a moment and met the eyes of each developer one by one.

“He is not bound by technical limitations or cost issues. He only pursues ‘possibility’ and the ‘best’. These requirements are his vision for the game he dreams of. Of course, it might be impossible to implement all of this 100% right away.”

He admitted frankly.

“But our goal is not to dismiss it as impossible before we even try. It’s to get as close as possible to that vision by mobilizing all our resources, technology, and your creativity. It’s about testing how far we can go within the framework of ‘Cube World’.”

He picked up the tablet on the table and displayed the development team’s dedicated budget page on the screen.

Astronomical figures filled the screen.

“Don’t worry about the budget. We will support you with all necessary equipment, manpower, time, everything. You just need to focus on development. It’s okay to fail. What’s important is the fact that we challenged ourselves to reach for the ‘best’.”

Silence once again enveloped the conference room.

The developers stared alternately at the numbers on the budget sheet and Yoon Taesoo’s face with disbelief.

“…Really, can we use that entire budget for this project?”

The elderly planner asked in a trembling voice.

“Of course. This is just the beginning. Additional support is possible whenever needed.”

Yoon Taesoo replied with a confident voice.

At that moment, the atmosphere in the conference room subtly changed.

Skepticism and disbelief vanished, and in their place, a fervent sense of challenge and excitement began to bloom.

A seemingly impossible task.

But with infinite resources to make it possible.

For a developer, there could be no more attractive proposal.

“…Alright. Let’s give it a shot.”

The middle-aged planner finally said, as if he had made up his mind.

“However, you must make one thing clear to the CEO. We are not magicians. We will do our best, but we cannot defy the laws of physics.”

“Of course. I will explain it to him clearly.”

Yoon Taesoo smiled.

The arduous march that was about to begin was clear before his eyes, but strangely, his heart was pounding.

---

After that day, an entire floor of Xelnaga Entertainment was transformed into a dedicated space for the ‘Starlight World’ development team.

Top-of-the-line computers and server equipment were packed in, and developers began wrestling with code day and night.

Yoon Taesoo frequently checked the development status and acted as a coordinator between Hajun and the development team.

[Yoon Taesoo]: President, the development team is currently implementing ‘Lava Fishing’, and they’ve suggested ‘Burning Skull Fish’ instead of ‘Golden Tuna’ for what’s caught there, to better suit the lava theme. What do you think?

[CEO Seo Hajun]: Skull fish? Hmm… well, that doesn’t sound too bad. It would be more fun if you got cursed or something when you caught it, wouldn’t it?

[Yoon Taesoo]: Understood. I will pass it on.

[Development Team Leader]: Chief Yoon! CEO Seo sent another hidden class idea, but ‘Rainbow Unicorn Tamer’… Was our server supposed to have this kind of concept…?

[Yoon Taesoo]: Ah… I’ll try to have a word with him about that…

Amidst accumulating fatigue, Yoon Taesoo managed the project by placating the development team and humoring Hajun.

Then one day, the development team leader came to Yoon Taesoo with an excited expression.

“Chief Yoon! We finally did it! Take a look!”

On the monitor screen he pointed to, an unbelievable sight for ‘Cube World’ was unfolding.

An NPC approached a player character and spoke.

[Welcome, young adventurer. Did you bring the herb I asked for last time? Thanks to you, my wife’s illness has improved greatly. Thank you so much. This is a small token of my appreciation.]

The NPC handed a small pouch to the player.

And as the player walked away, the NPC muttered as if to himself.

(Hmm, that fellow’s eyes looked unusual. Perhaps it would be alright to tell him about that ‘hidden ruin’…?)

A system where NPCs remember past interactions with players and provide different reactions and quests based on favorability.

The prototype of the ‘NPCs with emotions’ that Hajun had demanded was finally implemented.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect yet.

But it was enough to show the possibility.

“…Excellent.”

Yoon Taesoo let out a low exclamation without realizing it.

A thrilling sense of accomplishment that seemed to wash away all fatigue.

‘Really… this place is unpredictable.’

He smiled a complex smile, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety for what was to come, as he looked at the wondrous, developing form of ‘Starlight World’.

And just then.

Another message arrived from Hajun.

[CEO Seo Hajun]: Taesoo-bro. If the unicorn tamer isn’t good, how about an idol? Maybe link it to a microphone so skills activate when they sing.

“…Hah hah.”

He truly was a CEO who knew how to drive a person crazy.