Ch.21[Chapter 21] My Little Character

“Damn it. Why did I choose scissors back then?”

Donatello, one of the three most capable programmers in the club and a dwarf, was regretting what had just happened.

“Since I helped make this game too, can I ask for one favor?”

Super Deluxe, appointed as temporary producer, inserted a parachute hire with a devious look on his face.

The person who introduced himself as Sir Dominic seemed to have a decent knight concept that would fit in anywhere. All three agreed to that.

However, the problem was that all three programmers were reluctant to take Sir Dominic, a male character, because they believed they should be raising female characters.

In the end, they decided who would take Sir Dominic through rock-paper-scissors, and after an intense psychological battle, Donatello was the one who got stuck with him.

Donatello would have preferred Super Deluxe to come, but Super Deluxe dismissed it with one sentence.

“I’m too high-tier to join you.”

Damn it. Donatello wanted to argue back, but he knew how famous and popular Super Deluxe was, so he couldn’t say anything.

That made him really frustrated.

“So, what should I do now?”

Sir Dominic asked, looking at Donatello who was lost in his own world.

Since this was his first experience, he sought advice from someone who seemed knowledgeable about the situation.

“Hmm. Let’s refine your character concept first.”

Donatello stroked his fluffy beard.

Though Donatello, a dwarf with a strong craftsman spirit, had reluctantly taken charge of this person, he still thought it was somewhat manageable.

Being “decent” meant being predictable, but with just a few unique points, it could become a familiar taste that would be used frequently.

“First of all, you’re a one-eyed knight, correct?”

“That’s right.”

Donatello wrote down [one-eyed] and [knight] in his notebook.

Donatello’s principle was that simpler characters tend to be more successful.

However, to create a simple character, you need truly impressive features rather than just ordinary ones.

How ironic.

Donatello listed several truly unique characteristics in his notes.

He thought that being a one-eyed knight wasn’t bad to begin with.

“Would you like to try this?”

Donatello handed over a pocket watch.

Pocket watches were quite popular material in this industry.

“Hmm… it seems broken. It needs repair.”

“That’s part of its charm.”

Sir Dominic looked at the broken pocket watch with a troubled expression, but from Donatello’s perspective, it seemed quite good.

But something decisive was still missing.

“Hmm. What should I do about this?”

Donatello stuck a ballpoint pen between his nose and upper lip, deep in thought.

“By the way, this is also possible.”

Sir Dominic pulled out a flag.

The flag, emblazoned with the crest of Feralant, was fluttering with presence even in the windless room.

“That’s good. It fits the concept.”

Donatello wrote down [flag] as a characteristic.

“But then it wouldn’t go well with the watch. Please give it back.”

Donatello snatched the watch back, almost taking it by force.

“Simple… too simple…”

Donatello fell into deep contemplation.

Countless characteristics passed through his mind, but nothing seemed to fit.

“Would you consider becoming a woman?”

“How about becoming a cat or dog demi-human?”

Donatello had started throwing out desperate ideas.

No matter how much he thought about it, it was difficult to come up with truly eye-catching features without resorting to such options.

Argh! Donatello threw his notebook in a sudden burst of anger.

“Can’t be helped. Let’s keep the character as is and build it up step by step.”

When Donatello waved his hand, a translucent window appeared in the corner of the club room.

Sir Dominic noticed that it was similar to what the coder had used in the bug zone.

Despite his blunt hands, Donatello began typing something at an invisible speed.

White floors and walls were generated.

“First off, it’s a roguelike. You know what a roguelike is, right?”

“What’s that?”

Donatello was taken aback.

Good heavens, someone from Gacha Land who doesn’t know what a roguelike is?

“It’s where you have one life and try to get to your destination as far as possible… Ah, forget it. You’ll understand when you play it.”

This impatient dwarf, unable to contain his frustration, pressed the start button.

A white box popped up in front of Sir Dominic.

“That’s a monster now. Let’s just call it a monster.”

Sir Dominic watched with interest as the white box bounced around.

The white box bounced higher and higher until it finally flew toward Sir Dominic.

When Sir Dominic collided with the white box, pain overwhelmed him.

There was no sound or sensation, but the pain was vividly felt.

“Well, it might feel a bit strange since there’s no sound or graphics yet. Keep that in mind while playing.”

“Hmm. I see…”

Indeed, is a monster truly a monster?

Sir Dominic smiled as he glared at this strange attacking white box.

When he thought of it as combat rather than work, the pain subsided and he felt happy.

Drawing his sword and shield, Sir Dominic slashed, hit, struck, and kicked the white box.

“Your motion is good. The Stars would quite like it.”

Donatello let out a genuine exclamation of admiration.

Generally, people in Gacha Land would just swing their weapons around or repeat one awkward motion when asked to attack.

A person he had worked with in the past only knew how to do downward slashes, as if he had only practiced on training dummies, making plausible excuses that all techniques ultimately converge into one.

Compared to such people, Sir Dominic, who showed various motions, could be considered quite a good character.

“Stars?”

But Sir Dominic was more interested in this new knowledge than the compliment.

Stars? Doesn’t that sound like spirits or elementals?

“Well, the value of Gacha Land isn’t determined just by us.”

Donatello said while recording Sir Dominic’s motions frame by frame with his pen.

“The evaluation of the Stars who need us is significant.”

“So what are these Stars?”

Sir Dominic asked again while stabbing the white box with the end of his flagpole.

“Those who watch over us. Those who observe and move us from above. That’s all you need to know.”

Actually, I don’t know more than that. I just know they’re important. Donatello concluded.

Sir Dominic felt happy with the interesting combat and new knowledge.

Gacha Land was a place that satisfied Sir Dominic’s curiosity in this way.

“Stop! That’s enough. The motion is sufficient.”

Donatello manipulated the panel to remove the white box.

This dwarf full of craftsmanship thought that only a few frames needed to be fixed from the frame-by-frame analyzed motion.

That’s how practical and smooth Sir Dominic’s movements were.

“But although I’ve captured the motion, how to make the game…”

Knight and roguelike.

It was a good combination, but Donatello was troubled precisely because of its ordinariness.

If there was just one good combination, it would be fine, but there were so many decent options that it was difficult to choose.

“How about we take a break first?”

Sir Dominic suggested.

“A walk or a moment of meditation often leads to quite good conclusions.”

Donatello thought for a moment and felt that Sir Dominic’s suggestion was reasonable.

After all, Donatello and the others had already been arguing about the game for three days.

“Alright. Let’s go out then. I’m also curious about how far the others have gotten.”

Sir Dominic and Donatello left the room.

At that time, at the entrance of the club room.

“So, roguelike. I’m not sure about the character, but we need to gather the overall concept, right?”

“Yeah. Let’s put the perspective aside and think about the concept first. I’d like to go with something straightforward like a laboratory or dungeon.”

The rest of the members, excluding Sir Dominic and Donatello, continued to brainstorm ideas.

“Undead.”

“That’s good. Cyberpunk?”

“Not bad. Hyperdimensional?”

“Hyperdimensional? Elaborate.”

“It’s where various dimensions get mixed up. Nothing would seem out of place no matter what pops up.”

“I like it. How about a cyberpunk zombie laboratory dungeon? An accident occurred while experimenting with hyperdimensional theory. People from various dimensions caught in this accident explore the laboratory to find their way back.”

“That’s good. Then there’s a justification for not knowing the layout of the laboratory in advance. And since it’s limited to a laboratory, the map size doesn’t have to be large.”

“The file size issue should be manageable too.”

Once the unexpected issues of perspective and character were resolved, progress moved swiftly.

“Hey, what are you all doing?”

Donatello joined the focused group.

“Listen, we’ve come up with a game concept-“

After listening to the rambling explanation for quite some time, Donatello slapped his knee.

“Good. Then, true to the roguelike style, let’s add equipment enhancement points throughout. At first, the characteristics of each dimension are distinct, but as you progress, while maintaining their uniqueness, they become more cyberpunk-like.”

“That sounds good.”

Sir Dominic tried his best to understand their conversation, but unfortunately, there were too many words beyond his knowledge.

Instead, Sir Dominic decided to spend his time maintaining his shield and sword.

“Hey! I’ve brought someone who will be our new character!”

Super Deluxe kicked open the door… no, he stepped over the already broken door.

Beyond the door was a woman peering into the club room with a dubious gaze.

“Come in! Despite appearances, everyone here is quite innocent, so you should introduce yourself first.”

After Super Deluxe persuaded the hesitant woman, she entered the room with careful steps that made no sound.

At first glance, she had an ordinary appearance.

Her long black straight hair was so long that it covered her eyes, and wearing a stretched white t-shirt and hoodie, she timidly looked around.

And as soon as the woman, who had surveyed the entire room, gave a faint smile, smoke suddenly rose and obscured everyone’s vision.

As the smoke began to clear, in place of the woman stood someone with a completely different appearance.

A fox mask sat atop neatly tied-back hair.

Exotic clothes made of a mix of mesh and fabric, and a mask covering the nose and mouth.

Above all, equipped with kunai and chain sickles-

“Pleased to meet you. I am Hime, a kunoichi.”

A ninja has appeared!