Chapter 19: A day when the condition is really good

After the three-day face-to-face interview schedule was over, the interviewers gathered in the conference room.

They were discussing the problematic applicant.

CEO Baek Sojin lightly tapped the desk with her fingertips.

“To think that Cho Eun-ssi was ‘Elf Cho Eun’…”

Don’t you feel like something is strange when you say it yourself? Someone might have retorted like that.

However, the other two didn’t laugh at all when they heard that. Because they, too, had completely failed to recognize her.

Everyone here already knew how famous ‘Elf Cho Eun’ was.

Whether you looked at concurrent user metrics or related broadcast viewing time, Origin Rift was the most popular game in Korea.

An industry broadcaster who created such a big issue in that game that it was even mentioned in the developer’s announcement.

She had even been mentioned in connection with a member of their company, so they had grasped the relevant information.

And when a certain amount of information is gathered, people can usually form an image in their minds.

Master-level gaming skills. Streaming Ori for 18 hours a day. A catfish who is insecure about their voice.

It was hard to deny that it was an image that might come to mind when thinking of a ‘game shut-in.’

On the other hand.

A neat yet stylish outfit. An unrealistic appearance that overwhelmed the viewer. Long limbs and model-like proportions. Her elegant demeanor made one wonder if she was a young lady raised in a foreign noble family.

Even if their names were the same, it was difficult to connect the known information with such an applicant.

“So there was a reason for adding ‘Elf’ in front of her name… It certainly seemed like an RP that had been prepared for a long time.”

The general manager muttered blankly.

I can let it slide for today, but how could we have not noticed it in the documents either?

It was the same. Because they never imagined that ‘Elf Cho Eun,’ who was known as a ‘man,’ would apply for the 3rd generation. If they had considered the possibility that it was the same person, they could have easily connected the dots with the unique way of speaking as a clue.

“It’s a mind-blowing twist… but what’s important to us is this. Are we going to accept an applicant with such controversy? Or not.”

The director spoke with a serious look.

“Is that important? From what I heard, the controversy wasn’t caused by Cho Eun-ssi’s fault.”

Baek Sojin shrugged lightly.

“The fact that the applicant is at the center of the controversy can affect the company’s external image. There will be additional costs and tasks to resolve related issues…”

“Director, you don’t have to test me like that. Do you think I’d ignore such risks just because I’m fond of Cho Eun-ssi?”

Baek Sojin leaned forward with a determined look.

“However, even if the company has to take on a certain level of risk, it’s worth hiring her if she’s valuable enough. And Cho Eun-ssi is. In fact, I think you agree, Director.”

“Haha, I can’t win against you, CEO. Actually, from the moment I heard her sing, a composition for a music video naturally came to mind.”

“General Manager, you also have no objections to accepting Cho Eun-ssi, right?”

However, the general manager’s expression was somewhat dark. Based on experience, whether intentional or not, people who had caused trouble once tended to be involved in more incidents, big or small.

The CEO and the director might not see her often, but from the manager’s perspective, who had to communicate with and manage her most frequently…

‘Especially when you look at her during the interview today. No matter what the CEO said, she kept pushing forward

with what she had prepared. Without even changing her expression… Right. She had that look of a (clear-eyed

madman). She really seemed like a clear-eyed madman.’

However, he couldn’t object by saying, “I don’t like it because it will make the managers suffer!” The general manager also thought the applicant was talented in many ways.

“Yes. I also agree with Cho Eun-ssi joining the 3rd generation. Then the acceptance announcement… we’ll have to wait a bit, right?”

Baek Sojin answered calmly.

“Yes. We need to get Cho Eun-ssi’s response first.”

Although she had pushed forward confidently… Blooming Core was still a company. If the risks they had to bear exceeded a certain level, they would have to give up the applicant, even if it was a pity.

For example, if the suspicion that Elf Cho Eun used hacks turned out to be true.

“I believe in Cho Eun-ssi. She said she would negotiate with Cradle, right? It will soon be revealed that she’s not a hacker.”

“She didn’t exactly say it like that.”

“That’s right. She has a classy way of speaking, one word at a time. Do you remember what she said, Director?”

“No. I remember it being like a movie line and very serious…”

“I remember.”

Hmm! The general manager cleared his throat and spoke in the most elegant voice he could muster.

“I will stake my destiny and set everything right.”

***

I arrived home, put away my clothes, and lay down on the bed.

I felt like I had done well in the interview. I might be a little surprised if I failed.

Breathing. The trembling of muscles. Gestures. Facial expressions and movements convey a lot of information.

Since I grew up being observant… No, never mind that thought.

Because I had to identify traitors who joined the demons… Yes, that’s better.

For that reason, I was good at reading other people’s emotions. The CEO had shown a lot of goodwill throughout the interview.

‘Although… it seemed like goodwill based on some kind of misunderstanding…?’

They probably still thought I was acting out an RP until the end. She even said such thoughts out loud.

I didn’t try to correct the misunderstanding right away. It was natural that it would be hard to accept at first.

I will just continue to show myself without hiding.

How they accept that is the CEO’s choice. I have no intention of forcing it.

‘If there’s a variable, it’s the false accusations against me.’

I told them I would solve it. But if they don’t like the noise, they might reject me.

It was a problem that needed to be resolved quickly for me, and Cradle had been pushing hard for it for two weeks already.

Since our interests aligned, the appointment was made quickly. It was immediately for tomorrow.

It was the start of the weekend, but I had nothing to be sorry about. Whether I was immersed in Ori or focused on preparing for the VTuber interview.

For some time now, I had been living days where weekdays and weekends were not particularly distinguishable.

***

I felt like I had a good night’s sleep.

Until now, I had been suppressing my desire to play Ori, looking only at the interview.

So I was worried that right after the interview ended, my pent-up longing would pour out.

It seems like it was a useless worry. Rather than my desire growing stronger, my mind became clearer and calmer. Now, I barely even think about wanting to play Ori.

Yes. After a long period of perseverance, my addiction was completely cured.

Whoosh.

I quickly open the drawer and throw a kitchen knife. The blade stuck in the wall trembled.

“A fly in this weather… How did it get in here?”

I felt a very brief moment of incongruity with the words I spoke. I’m an elf who values nature. If it’s not an enemy, there’s no need to harm a life I won’t even eat…

Then it must have been an enemy.

It was a day when my condition was good. Something must have been caught by my expanded senses. It was probably an instinctive judgment.

Having a good condition on an important day was like winning half the battle before it even started. It was a good start, but on the way to the battlefield, the excellent condition was rather a hindrance.

Cradle’s Korean branch was in Gangnam. It was too far to take a taxi. So I had no choice but to take the subway.

There was too much information coming in. Ever since I woke up today, all my senses were too clear.

Clunk, clunk.

My heart started to beat in time with the subway sound, which was almost deafening.

The shaking under my feet. The change in airflow when the doors opened and closed. Even the smell of various things mixed together. Everything around me was being captured in detail by my nerves.

And, countless gazes.

It felt like thousands of threads, like a spider’s web, were tangling on my skin…

I know. I can feel it.

Even if they glanced, pretended to look at their phones, or hid behind things like bags.

Their gazes were on my face, my chest, my hips.

They were definitely gathering.

Did I feel a little embarrassed when I was in a similar situation before? Was I flustered?

Not today. I just felt wary.

In the end, I might have ended up going outside in a somewhat sensitive state.

When I came out of Gangnam Station, a man immediately approached me. It hadn’t even been a few steps since I came out.

“Hey, Wassup.”

He was much taller than me, wearing a brown leather jacket. His watch and necklace looked quite expensive. His bangs were parted and permed. His smile was very natural, as if he already knew me.

“Can I get your Linstargram?”

His face clearly didn’t have any Western features, but his pronunciation was also very good. Now that I’m good at English too, I could tell.

Yes, normally I wouldn’t go this far either. It’s just that, for some reason, I’m in a sensitive state right now.

“Know your place. The result of audacity mistaken for courage is only destruction.”