Ch.20[Chapter 20] My Little Game

“Mr. Super Deluxe.”

Sir Dominic said with a bright smile across his face.

Super Deluxe felt as if he were a fugitive hiding behind a door, with Sir Dominic being a murderer breaking through with an axe and introducing himself with a sidelong glance.

“By any chance, would you know where I should go to fulfill this ‘expandability’ requirement?”

Super Deluxe hadn’t felt this way since his school days when he secretly ate kimbap with the pickled radish removed in the bathroom.

This famous villain who had always been in a position to look down on others, if not exactly a predator—

“Excuse me, Mr. Super Deluxe?”

“Huh,” Super Deluxe gasped for breath.

He had been so immersed in thoughts of his school days that he’d forgotten to breathe.

“Ah, right, right. What were we talking about?”

Super Deluxe answered in a seemingly calm voice.

But he was in such a confused state that anyone could tell he was flustered from his trembling voice.

Fortunately, Sir Dominic wasn’t perceptive enough to notice such things.

If he had been an enemy, it might have been different, but Sir Dominic, who didn’t even know what a villain was, didn’t recognize Super Deluxe as an enemy.

“I asked about a place to fulfill the expandability requirement.”

Sir Dominic thought Super Deluxe’s condition was a bit strange, but his own curiosity took priority.

Super Deluxe thought for a moment after hearing Sir Dominic’s question, then said:

“According to the regulations, for a tier 2 promotion, it’s enough to appear briefly in a game trailer.”

“Trailer…?”

Sir Dominic wondered what a trailer was.

“It’s like a game introduction video. Something that introduces ‘this is what our game feels like.'”

Ah. Like a propaganda officer?

Sir Dominic was from the countryside of the countryside, but he knew a lot about cities.

Unlike conscripted serfs, free citizens of the city had the freedom to join the army.

Perhaps that’s why there were propaganda officers in city armies who promoted the importance of enlistment and military honor to these free citizens.

It must be something like that.

“Well, strictly speaking, it’s different… but if that’s how you understand it, let’s go with that.”

Super Deluxe knew Sir Dominic’s understanding was off, but he was still confused and didn’t bother to correct him.

“Anyway, the best thing would be to appear in a game-related video, but…”

Super Deluxe trailed off.

“Since it’s the end of the year, most places have probably already finished their events and game-related announcements.”

Above all, he hadn’t seen any recruitment ads indicating additional personnel were needed.

Sir Dominic almost felt disappointed hearing Super Deluxe’s words, but having only one eye, he had the vision of two.

Sir Dominic noticed Super Deluxe’s lips moving slightly.

Clearly, he was hiding something.

“You’re hiding something.”

Sir Dominic spoke his thoughts aloud.

Seizing the initiative was all about timing. And now was the perfect time to seize the initiative.

“Ah, ah! Right! Didn’t I forget to give you an event reward last time? Should I give it to you now?”

“What are you hiding?”

Super Deluxe sighed.

It was a mistake to view Sir Dominic as just another docile newbie.

Super Deluxe was at fault for not knowing that Sir Dominic’s decisiveness, honed through countless battlefields, was like that of a crocodile—once he bit down, he wouldn’t let go.

“Damn. I was told not to mention this secret.”

Super Deluxe exhaled.

Then he put both hands in the pockets of his worn-out sweatpants and nodded his head.

“Follow me. I happen to know some people who are making a game.”

Sir Dominic nodded and followed behind Super Deluxe.

Remarkably, this time on his own feet.

“So! This should be a top-view roguelike!”

“Wouldn’t a quarter view be good too?”

“2D side-scroller! I can’t compromise any further!”

In the innermost part of one of the most underdeveloped alleys in Gacha Land stood a nearly collapsed building.

A rotting yew wood signboard hung at the entrance, which read “3rd Floor: Gacha Land University Indie Game Club GACHA UP G.”

Going into that building and up to the third floor, there were three people fighting, unable to contain their youthful passion.

“You guys are all good, but…”

And beyond the three people was a mummy wrapped in five-colored cloth.

Yes, it was Hanus of Five Colored Winds, one of the Four Mighty Kings.

“You know we haven’t even decided on the game scenario and concept yet, right?”

“Above all, we don’t have any staff besides developers. You should recruit at least an illustrator and composer, everyone.”

The creaking door opened, and a man with three chins entered.

Don Castello. A member of the Four Mighty Kings, full of greed.

He was sweating profusely, apparently struggling with the stairs, and in each hand he carried a bag full of energy drinks bought from a convenience store.

“If you keep this up, I’ll cut off your funding. Got it?”

Don Castello, true to his villain nature, threatened the three swindlers.

Surprisingly, the threat seemed to work, as the three developers fell silent.

“Get a concept, interface, and playable characters. We have only 3 months left, how long are you going to keep saying you’re still in development preparation?”

Don Castello grumbled.

Hanus nodded vigorously, apparently agreeing with those words.

“That’s what I’m saying. I understand you have passion, but let’s compromise within what we can do. I know everyone has great plans in their heads. But we can start simple and expand with patches later. At first, simply—”

“Hey, are Fatty and Skinny here?”

Just as Hanus was about to launch into an inspiring speech, the door burst open with a bang! and Super Deluxe sauntered in.

Oh my. 140,000 Credits. Don Castello held his forehead and shook his head, looking at the shattered door.

“What’s going on?”

Mummy Hanus, whose speech had been interrupted, glared at Super Deluxe.

“Didn’t you say you had a tier evaluation today?”

“I failed.”

Super Deluxe sat down on any random chair among those scattered around and crossed his legs.

From beyond the door, Sir Dominic peeked in and quietly sat down on a chair near the entrance.

“Oh my.”

While calculating the cost of a replacement door, Don Castello noticed Sir Dominic entering.

“Well, look who it is.”

Don Castello welcomed Sir Dominic with open arms, like a godfather greeting his loyal customer.

“Ah, good to see you. By the way, what is this place…?”

Sir Dominic had intended to stay hidden in the confusion, but having been spotted, he decided to maintain a dignified attitude.

Apparently liking that attitude, Don Castello laughed heartily and said:

“This is one of many places making indie games. Welcome to GACHA UP G, the hidden gem club of the prestigious Gacha Land University.”

GACHA UP G stands for Games that are Advancing (UP) in Gacha Land (G)…

As Don Castello continued with a rough explanation of the club, Sir Dominic was bothered by one thing he had said.

“University students? The Four Mighty Kings are… university students?”

Pause.

Don Castello momentarily froze.

Then, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he said:

“Yeah. That’s right. It means I’m still in my 20s. My face looks 40, but I’m definitely a university student in my 20s.”

For some reason feeling guilty, Don Castello blurted out an excuse that wasn’t really an excuse.

However, Sir Dominic wasn’t surprised by his age.

In the Feralant dimension where he lived, universities were places attended by the elite of elites.

Places with the world’s largest libraries and research facilities. Places with the world’s smartest professors and scholars.

Of course, they were also places with the world’s most expensive admission and tuition fees.

Since that was what Sir Dominic knew universities to be, he was surprised to hear these people were university students.

No wonder they became the Four Mighty Kings.

Sir Dominic inwardly acknowledged those before him, thinking they must be in such high positions because they were such capable talents.

“Well, anyway. Why are you here?”

Hanus asked Super Deluxe and Sir Dominic, instead of Don Castello who kept making excuses about his appearance.

“You’re making a game, right?”

Super Deluxe leaned forward and lowered his voice.

“Do you need any characters?”

“That would be nice.”

Hanus sighed.

“But we haven’t even decided on the game direction yet. We have to submit it in three months.”

In fact, they were not only in the same club but also alumni attending the same department.

These students in the programming department happened to take the same class.

Game Production Practicum.

To those who had signed up just hearing the word “game,” the professor said on the first day:

‘This class is practical, so submitting a game will replace midterms and finals, and creating a portfolio about this game will replace reports. I’ll mark everyone present, so just bring me results.’

And thus, their suffering began.

As luck would have it, they had gathered without anyone who could draw pictures or produce music—just four people who could program somewhat clumsily and one person who attended school with money.

A total disaster had unfolded.

“Anyway, we haven’t made the game itself yet. There will come a time when we need characters, but not now.”

Hanus of Five Colored Winds told Super Deluxe.

However, Super Deluxe attempted to persuade Hanus with a flash of wit.

“It’s the opposite.”

“Opposite?”

“Finding characters that fit the game will take a long time. Or rather, making the game itself will take a long time.”

Hanus began to pay attention to Super Deluxe’s words.

Super Deluxe, who had honed his speech by showing off in front of people, spoke with such confidence that his words naturally became persuasive.

“But what if you get the characters first, and then adjust the concept to fit those characters? Wouldn’t that be faster?”

Sir Dominic nodded.

He didn’t understand anything, but Super Deluxe’s words had such persuasive power that they overflowed.

“…But one character isn’t enough.”

Hanus, as if it were his last bastion, attempted to negotiate with Super Deluxe.

Super Deluxe smiled slightly. The fact that they were negotiating meant they had already almost given in.

“Fine. Then three. We just need to gather two more, right?”

“Yes. That way all three can be satisfied. Right?”

The three programmers who had been quiet nodded.

Finally, all the creaking issues found their forced places, and everyone reached a somewhat satisfactory conclusion.

“Wait, who’s paying for the character recruitment costs?”

Don Castello, suddenly realizing the most important thing, shouted at everyone.

Everyone looked at Don Castello.

A deal was made that satisfied everyone—except one person.