"Is this really a company job that pays a salary for playing games?"
Kang Junhyuk muttered to himself, flipping open the lid of the Game & Watch once more.
Ping, ping, ping. The monotonous sound effects echoed in the quiet office, and I soon found myself completely engrossed in the game, even forgetting my hunger. How much time had passed?
"Oh? Director, you haven't had your meal?"
Beep boop... GAME OVER. After playing for nearly an hour, my score was 370,000 points.
"Oh, Na-rae? You're here already? You can take your time with your meal."
"I did take my time, but are you sure you're okay skipping your meal like this?"
"I'm fine. I just have something to check real quick..."
I pressed the confirm button on the Game & Watch with an awkward smile. I glanced down, and my ranking was 5th with the score being converted into a salary. Now, let's see... I took out my smartphone, opened the banking app, and checked my balance.
Depositor: Game & Watch - 37,453,000 won.
A smile naturally spread across my face. Earning 37 million won in just one hour? I couldn't help but laugh. I had made nearly 100 million won in just one day.
Later that afternoon, I entered the CEO's office, holding a white envelope.
"Come in."
Creak. As I entered and took a seat in the cramped leather chair, the CEO, who was rubbing his nose, looked at me.
"Manager Kang, what's going on?"
"Sir, I've decided to resign from the company."
"What!?"
"After all, there's no need for me to go through the handover process for the department transfer that happened yesterday, right? So please accept my resignation."
"Hey, Manager Kang. Are you protesting against the recent personnel changes?"
"No, if I were, I would have quit immediately. I just thought it over carefully for a day, and it seems like this company no longer has a vision."
"What are you saying? Huh, really."
"I've been with this company for the past 15 years. Even though I didn't graduate from a prestigious university, I climbed up to this position, but I can't take it anymore."
"Okay, I understand. I get it, Manager Kang. What do you want? Do you want me to transfer you back to the development department?"
"No, I just want to retire."
"This guy. He came here all prepared."
"Yes, I want to quit."
"Where do you plan to go after leaving? There's no place in this industry that will welcome you with open arms."
"I know."
"You know that?"
"Yes, that's why... I want to try making a game once."
"What...?"
That marked the end of my last conversation with the CEO of the company I had been with for 15 years.
...
"Alright, shall we begin now?"
Five days had passed since I quit my job. I relaxed my body and mind in a hot bath, ready to take on a new challenge. I can do this. I know I can. I took a moment to gather my thoughts, flexing my fingers as if playing a piano.
Alright, let's begin.
With a determined click, I adjusted my posture and held the game controller. Today, my goal was to reclaim the top spot in this infuriating game. Fueled by the desire to prove myself, I had been obsessed with this game for the past five days.
As a result, my bank account now held close to 20 billion won. Last night, I had reclaimed the second place on the leaderboard, falling short of the top spot by just 300 points. I screamed in frustration, startling the person living in the apartment below.
"Phew... I can do this."
I let out a deep sigh and pressed the start button. The game, which I had been watching endlessly for the past five days, began. It started smoothly with light taps, like dancing on the piano keys. "Good, let's get started."
Ding, ding.
With a sense of determination, I adjusted my posture and held the game controller. Today, I was aiming for a triumphant victory in this company employee game I had been grinding non-stop for five days.
With a deep breath, I pressed the start button. The game, which had been a constant presence for the past five days, began. It started with a light tap, tap, beep, as my fingers moved like they were dancing. I quickly broke through the 500,000-point barrier, but the real challenge started at 800,000 points. The damn buyer and owner in this game seemed to intentionally dodge the player. But I couldn't give up.
Now, I was at 850,000 points. Just 50,000 more to claim the top spot! Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. Have I ever been so absorbed in a single game in my entire life? Despite the enormous amount of money that would come with winning, I was more curious about what I would get as the top player.
Next to the top ranking on the leaderboard was a crown, and that absurd crown was driving me crazy. No, no, I shouldn't think about it. From now on, one small mistake could lead to an immediate game over. Move precisely like a machine to earn points!
Beep. Beep! Beep, beep, beep!! 890,000 points... All right! It's almost there! I was completely absorbed in the game, forgetting to even blink. My fingers had long lost their feeling, but I couldn't give up now. If I did, I'd have to start all over!
Beep! Beep, beep! Hey, owner, you scumbag! Where are you going?
Beep, beep! Buyer, you crazy jerk, get back here! Aaah!
Tududududun, tudun~!
I made it... I did it! 902,000 points! Yes! But I couldn't be satisfied here. I needed to reach 999,999 points! Even though I had already claimed the top spot, I couldn't stop my fingers. I had forgotten to breathe at this point. I wasn't sure if I was even pressing the buttons correctly anymore. And then, the moment all my scores showed nines...
Tududududududududududud... GAME CLEAR.
"Huh? Did I clear the game?"
Where's the "clear" message on the Game & Watch? Oh well, I don't know~
"Phew~~"
I let out a deep sigh while leaning back on the couch.
"I did it. It's over."
Tududududun, tudun~!!
The cheerful sound effect played, and I looked at the Game & Watch's black-and-white display. Haha... It felt like the game had truly come to an end. But now that I had beaten the game, would I stop receiving my salary? Oh, right, I didn't think about that!
"Ah... 200 billion is already enough for a lifetime."
Adding one billion more wouldn't make much difference. Anyway, the satisfaction of beating the game was enough. With a contented smile, I stared at the display. That's when something strange happened.
"Color...?"
That's right. The black-and-white LCD display that had been showing the stop animation suddenly turned into a colorful display.
"What is this? Is there more to it?"
At that moment, a single message appeared on the bright white screen.
-Please choose the year you want to return to.-
Seeing that message, I remembered what the old man at the game store had said.
"Hey, young man. If you could... let's say... go back in time, which era would you choose?"