Game Director from Hell
Chapter 104: G-Star – Demon’s Relic (2)

The damn time, how quickly it flies; already it’s G-Star.

Leading the management team Yeonho found himself in Busan,

The welcoming of winter and the spraying of a chilly coldness.

“Ugh, sea breeze.”

Though born inland, Yang Gilsang shivered, but it was an empty protest that would not reach anyone.

As the event booth size was large, everyone was in a hurry. After checking into the hotel, I headed straight to BEXCO.

Directing the on-site operations for about a day, and so it was on the same day. Looking at the booths prepared in the spacious hall, I felt a nostalgic sentiment.

It seemed the same for Han Seorim.

“It’s been a few years for us here.”

“Since 2009, so it’s been six years.”

“Wow, looking at it like this, our company has been around for a long time.”

Unfortunately, there was no one else but us to share such sentiments.

Jo Ayoon was busy preparing for graduation, the Excited Duo was dying from modelling Identity, and Myungkyu was the same. … No, come to think of it, Myungkyu wasn’t even at Rewind back then.

Reflecting on such things, I asked Han Seorim, “How does it feel to come back after six years?”

“Just feels like we’ve become quite impressive, doesn’t it?” Han Seorim laughed.

“Thinking about struggling with just 10 booths and lacking manpower back then, it’s really impressive. Now our staff manages it, and the event takes care of us. I never thought we would add 10 more booths.”

As Han Seorim said, the booths initially planned for 70 seats increased by 10. Only I knew that it was due to the influence of Park Youngjun, the CEO, who was trying to somehow stop and kill NQ in the process.

There’s no need to dwell on it.

Anyway, the important thing was that besides such a significant change in scale, there were other differences from the past.

“CEO Cheon Yeonho? We finished setting up our standby on our side.”

It was in Japanese. As I turned my head, cosplayers with various colored hair and horn headbands, looking like they could be part of a rainbow special forces, were looking at me.

Right, that’s right.

“Please take care during the event.”

Studio Rewind.

For the first time in 7 years since its founding, we hired professional cosplayers.

Despite participating in many events and creating cosplay materials, this was the first time we used professional cosplayers. Nishimura approached with a slightly dissatisfied tone.

“Sacho, as expected, I…”

“Endure it. Since it’s a bishoujo game, we need experts.”

Nishimura showed his passion for director’s cosplay, which was not a company culture (definitely not). I cut it off right away. Not for any other reason, but because the game, which was still not fully understood, required a good first impression for the characters.

Indeed, at 10:30 AM.

Checking the time and inspecting the last booth, I suddenly spotted the NQ booth in the distance.

“…”

Suddenly, an old memory came to mind.

I was there at that booth.

It was quite a tight schedule.

At that time, as the youngest doing odd jobs, I only had memories of hard work.

… Now it was irrelevant.

Looking at the staff, I said, “Let’s start preparing. Team 2, pay attention to the safety and order of the spectators above all. The programming team should monitor the play thoroughly.”

The event began.

—

“This is really meteoric!”

Jeong Hansu, 25 years old, community nickname (former) Zzonehansu, (current) Hansu The King, made a tired face as he looked at the bustling people at BEXCO.

Indeed, it seemed like a domestic major game event. Although he had arrived early, it seemed that it would take at least another 30 minutes to enter the venue.

To alleviate the boredom, Hansu raised his smartphone and posted it to the community.

『Hansu The King: Invaded G-Star! So many people;

(Picture)

Heading straight to the Rewind booth hahaha』

Hansu had high expectations for Rewind’s new work this time. After all, for someone who liked animations and manga, spending money on a AAA-grade packaged bishoujo game was a fairly new stimulus.

He already knew the general form of the game from the roadmap, but actually playing it was a different matter.

Above all, the most important thing was the charm of the characters.

Hansu entered G-Star with a stern and serious attitude, intending to evaluate the game strictly.

“Geez!”

As he entered, Rewind’s booth was immediately visible. The characters from the in-game, seen on the roadmap, were gesturing to him from the giant pillars several times the size of other booths.

“First impression, approved.”

It was truly a bishoujo game. Yes, no need for an atmospheric background or typography. Promoting a bishoujo game is all about showcasing the characters.

Hansu walked straight to Rewind’s booth.

There, he obtained a faint regret and great satisfaction.

Click, click!

The camera flashes went off.

In front, professional cosplayers posed in their costumes.

Hansu also knew the team. “Shine Clover!”

Not a Korean cosplayer!

Even in Japan, she was classified as a star-class cosplayer!

“Crazy! Photo! Photo!”

In a hurry, Hansu took out his camera. The cannon camera, brought to take pictures for community reviews, turned out to be quite useful!

The regret that it wasn’t the development team’s cosplay had already flown far away.

Hansu raised his camera and continuously pressed the shutter. As he looked at one of the cosplayers, their eyes met.

“Huh?”

Black hair like a raven, horizontally slit pupils reminiscent of horns, and lenses that rose lightly like goats. With an additional wedding dress-like costume, a strange mix of grotesqueness and beauty pierced Hansu’s heart.

At that moment, the cosplayer smiled.

Hansu thought, “Who is that character?”

Curiosity about the character suddenly skyrocketed.

Without taking more pictures, Hansu went into the booth. Still, there were quite a few seats, and the entry order was fast, so Hansu could play the game right away.

“If you come to this seat.”

Guiding the seat was a Westerner. Although he spoke Korean awkwardly, with his long arms and legs, and a body full of muscles, he resembled an athlete. Looking at the tag hanging from his neck that read “Rewind STAFF,” it seemed like he was part of the development team, despite being able to speak Korean vaguely.

In the guided seat, Hansu put on the headset and held the pad.

[Press to start]

Without hesitation, he pressed the button.

[Screaaaam!]

Rewind’s signature sound struck Hansu’s eardrums.

—

The man wore a black robe that covered his entire body. The place he walked in was an ancient ruin filled with moss, and what caught his eye, unlike the surroundings, was a dusty and humble altar. The man knelt in front of the altar and spoke.

“O Lord of Great Evil.”

As he bowed his head, the altar’s crystal glowed. A voice echoed in the space.

“Who has awakened me?”

A black storm erupted. The man staggered, but as the storm subsided, he stood upright. At that moment, a sigh escaped his lips.

“Ah, Lucifer!”

On the altar, there was an angel with black wings.

She had black hair like midnight and white horns. Clad in a wedding dress that accentuated her figure, the man paid no attention to such details. His focus was on her captivating eyes.

In the crimson pupils, a horizontal slit exuded a mysterious power that enthralled the man. Lucifer, the Queen of Hell, had appeared.

“Ah, Lucifer. So, that was Lucifer.”

Hansu realized the character’s identity in front of the booth. Despite being an experienced cosplayer, he concluded that capturing the character’s true charm was a challenge.

“That’s how it goes. In-game, Lucifer only said, ‘Who has awakened me,’ with an alluring posture on the altar, casting a disdainful gaze and giving a teasing smile.”

Nevertheless, there was a captivating charm beyond that. Hansu, mesmerized, finally pressed a button to continue the dialogue.

“All right, little devil worshiper. What brings you all the way to this deep place?

Lucifer’s voice resonated, accompanied by a mischievous laugh. Hansu faced two dialogue choices.

1. [I want to gain power.]

2. [I love you.]

As a veteran of 12 years in dating sim games, Hansu knew that choices at the prologue were often inconsequential. Nevertheless, he made his choice.

“I love you.”

Hansu blurted it out like a man. That turned out to be the problem.

“Love, a truly hollow word you cling to.”

Lucifer’s expression turned cold.

“Boring.”

Suddenly, the protagonist’s head rolled.

[GAME OVER]

[Restart?]

For about five seconds, Hansu pondered what had just happened.

“This… bitch?!”

He initially vented his frustration but quickly dismissed it.

“Well, if she’s coming to me anyway!”

His smile widened.

“Let’s go!!!”

Hansu made his final decision.

“Lucifer, Jung Hansu, Bride Candidate, Preliminary Round 1 Pass.”

***

The structure of the Demon’s Relic was quite simple. Explore the map, meet 72 demons, clear quests related to them, and recruit them as allies. Even in the demo version, the intuitiveness made it impossible for Hansu to ignore the game’s grasp.

The story was no different. After meeting Lucifer, choosing [I want to gain power] led to her response.

“Yes, indeed a lawful reason to seek a demon. But I won’t easily lend my power. You need qualifications. Prove that you can handle my power, the power of the ruler of Hell.”

Lucifer presented a way to prove qualification.

“Subdue the 72 demons. If you can control my power with the body of a human, then you are qualified to be my contractor. Of course, I’ll give you some help. It won’t be easy.”

The smoke emanated from Lucifer’s body and permeated the protagonist. Hansu fully understood.

“Lucifer is the final heroine.”

The goal became clear, and it was a goal that appealed to him. The well-designed character, modelling, and the unyielding aspect of Lucifer that didn’t easily yield to the protagonist’s advances captured Hansu’s taste.

Once the prologue ended, the protagonist immediately teleported to another location. The wind fluttered his robe, revealing a precarious situation. At that moment, Hansu admired the details of the game.

“Not showing the protagonist’s face! Fundamental pass!”

It was as if an anime character, no matter how much the wind blew, would never reveal their panties. The decision to hide the protagonist’s face was a calculated setting, showcasing the development team’s minimalistic approach.

Anyways, the play began.

The transported place was another ruin. Most likely, awakening demons here and contracting with them was the objective. After exploring a short map and farming items, the protagonist reached the altar. When he raised his head, a girl appeared with flames.

“Who are you?”

“I am Paimon. I smell Lucifer.”

The girl approached the protagonist quietly, and as her face almost touched his, she sniffed the scent.

“Lucifer’s scent.”

Then, she hugged the protagonist as he stood up in surprise.

“Smells good.”

A gentle smile appeared on Paimon’s face. Hansu felt a sensation as if he had been hit on the back of his head.

“Huh?”

Come to think of it, Lucifer’s smoke had seeped into his body.

Hansu’s imagination ran wild. Perhaps the concept of Lucifer’s scent could help build rapport with various demons, creating a delightful fantasy.

That was the most important thing in a dating game—immersion. The feeling that “even if I were in that position, the outcome would be the same” directly influenced the user’s focus and interest in the game.

What a nonsense statement, right?

It was incorrect.

After all, dating games thrived on such over-immersion, enjoyed by users who chose this genre.

Interest in the world, and desire for the characters.

The protagonist’s face being hidden was essentially a directional technique to enhance immersion in the game. When considering this, one could say it was a calculated setting.

However, Demon’s Relic was an uncalculated result.

It was Keisuke Nishimura’s case—the intensity of his obsession with dating games penetrating the genre’s grammar.

“If I follow you, can I see Lucifer?”

“Probably.”

“Let’s go, I like you.”

Paimon embraced the protagonist.

“[Soul Contract: Paimon, Flame of Domination] obtained.”

Hansu stared at Paimon’s lion tail swaying gently and continued the game as if in a thrilled daze.

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