I Will Force Trials Upon You (3)
Summer was in full swing.
The heat was becoming more and more oppressive.
Lee Yunjung and I were walking together at Next Planet when, suddenly, a downpour began.
We dashed into the queue for "Tempest Boat," one of the water attractions, to shelter from the rain.
Tempest Boat's concept was that you had to escape from a sinking ship in a storm, board a small boat, and survive.
It was always ranked among the most popular attractions in Next Planet, and as a rapid rafting ride involving water, it was at peak popularity during the summer.
An 8-seater round boat would sway precariously and then plunge from a height.
"Wow! It's raining! Let's ride Tempest!"
"This is way more fun when it's raining."
A group of men and women who looked to be in their twenties had gotten soaked from the sudden downpour but didn't seem to care at all.
On the contrary, they looked like they were having even more fun.
Tempest Boat was a rare attraction that never closed for rain—in fact, its popularity only increased.
Since you got splashed a lot on the ride anyway, many people rode it wearing raincoats.
"Division director-nim, what's gotten you in such a good mood?"
"I'm in my 30s now, so I can't really enjoy the attractions while getting rained on. But look at those young guests—all drenched, and yet they're smiling so brightly. Was I just like them in my early 20s? That's what I was thinking."
The scene felt like a symbol of a precious moment that would never return.
She, too, gazed quietly at those riding the Tempest Boat.
"Division director-nim, why do you think I'm the right person for this job? I didn't ask in detail earlier on purpose—I wanted to hear your answer when it was just us two."
Why was she asking this?
Probably because, instead of the usual official answer, she wanted to hear my sincere opinion in an informal setting.
"It's because I have hopes for you, Yunjung-nim."
"What is it?"
"Lee Yunjung who doesn't fall to the dark side?"
"Huh?"
She furrowed her brow and cocked her head.
"I can guess what you heard at my house. But to say you worry I'll go 'dark'... That's kind of shocking."
Lee Yunjung's mother wanted her daughter to learn the Sake Tsudo techniques from those she'd trained, almost like disciples.
Her father, on the other hand, just wanted her to grow step by step, without being hurt.
So what about me?
I didn't particularly like the word "close associate," but my strongest team right now was probably Choi Hyena, Kim Junho, and Lee Yunjung.
To get Next Planet out of the red in under five years, Lee Yunjung needed to level up.
There was a mission in 'Super Theme Park Tycoon' where you had to save a theme park mired in deficits. It was one of the toughest missions.
Unlike other missions, perhaps due to its difficulty, you got an S-class hero staff member right from the start.
The best strategy was to invest all their stats and skills into food, helping them grow quickly.
That way, they'd reliably serve as your cash cow from early to late stages of the game.
That S-class hero was one of my favorite staff members in the game. To me, Lee Yunjung was like that S-class hero.
Ah! Lee Yunjung even helped me build a foundation by going viral on YouTube, so she was more than just an S-class hero.
The problem was, how could I convey these thoughts in a cool way?
Such a difficult thing.
"I'm someone who believes you don't have to necessarily outshine your mother, Yunjung-nim."
"Ugh... As expected, my dad must've told you I'm jealous of Mom's abilities. Seriously, why can't he keep things to himself?"
"All your father wanted was for his daughter to avoid getting hurt."
"I do take after my mom, but I'm not just like her. I'm not going to cut ties with dad like she does. Of course, I'll get along with Mom as well."
I pointed at the Tempest Boat. Just then, one boat slid down from a height and sent up a huge splash.
"One thing that makes Tempest Boat fun is getting completely soaked."
"On a day like today, with so much rain, it really must feel like you're in a storm."
"Exactly. Even that is part of the fun. Maybe hardships, like sudden splashes or unpredictable rain, are necessary for enjoyment."
Lee Yunjung turned her gaze from me to the Tempest Boat, staring at it in silence.
"Maybe I'm worrying needlessly about a future that hasn't happened yet."
"You just said something about the 'dark side' earlier. You're worried that, failing to keep up with Mom, I'll go off the rails trying too hard, right?"
"Your father worried that you might get badly hurt."
"Geez, my dad... I'm not that young anymore."
She was right.
She still looked like a student, but she was growing up fast. Once a college student unsure of what to do with no dreams, now she was a Next Planet staffer determined to sell strawberry waffles.
And now, she was looking even further ahead.
"I'm not your father, so I'm going to force a lot of trials upon you, Yunjung-nim."
"Eek! Force trials? Division director-nim, that sounds scary when you say it like that."
Lee Yunjung started as if startled and looked at me.
"Until now, I didn't say this to you directly because I still saw you as a kid."
Yeah—this was who I was, like Choi Hyena said.
"To save Next Planet and achieve my goal, I've driven many people out of the company. If necessary, I'll likely do so again."
"I kind of... already... guessed that much..."
"That's why I'll also demand high standards from you."
"Are you saying you might fire me too?"
"If I have to, yes."
Lee Yunjung opened her mouth wide and gazed at me with unfocused eyes, as if wanting to call me a traitor.
I shrugged.
"That makes it fair, doesn't it? But do you know something?"
"Know what...?"
"If the day comes you're let go, I'll probably get fired too. If you don't achieve, it means I misjudged you and failed to properly support you."
"That's... kind of comforting, but also not? I'm not sure how to feel."
"I'll treat you less like a young student and more like a partner going through tough times together. That's what I realized after returning from Japan. I need someone like you, growing quickly, by my side."
She bit down on her lower lip with her front teeth and gave a small nod.
"That's why I gave you this job. And I backed you up because I wanted to show that you have the world's best supporter right by your side."
"Ehit!"
When a raindrop rolled down from her hair and touched the corner of her mouth, she twitched her lips.
"I'll do well, without thinking about Mom too much. Of course, in the end, I'll try to beat her somehow! But you have to stay by my side until then."
There's that competitive spirit.
"So, please grant me one wish."
"What is it?"
"Ride the Tempest Boat with me."
"I'm not in my twenties anymore... and I'm in a suit. You want me to get rained on and ride that thing?"
"Didn't you say earlier that hardship is needed for fun? That to achieve a goal, you need to endure trials? Isn't that why you brought it up?"
"I mean, that's true, but..."
"You have to experience trials with me if you want me to trust and follow you. If you don't ride with me, maybe I won't try my best."
The rain showed no sign of stopping.
Isn't a shower supposed to pass quickly?
***
There was much I needed to do for fall and winter.
I sought out Park Seok-min, team leader of the Event & Performance Team.
Due to me, the three teams in Next Planet were all in different states of disarray.
The Marketing & PR Team, under Team Leader Shin Miyoung, had quickly recruited new staff and was stabilizing.
On the other hand, the Event & Performance Team and Business Strategy Team were heavily shaken.
You couldn't help the Business Strategy Team, since it had only recently blown up.
As for the Event & Performance Team under Park Seok-min, it was still reeling, even after time passed.
Team Leader Park watched the parade performers rehearse with less than half the previous staff.
There was surely gloom in his eyes.
"Division director-nim, welcome."
He greeted me politely as soon as he saw me.
Unlike Kang Dae-hyun, the HR team's deputy, who pretended to be formal but really treated me like half a friend, Park Seok-min was the polar opposite.
He led me into a corner and began his briefing.
"At present, the level of training for our parade is..."
A great presentation.
How many have I ever seen who could explain as concisely and clearly as this?
No wonder American theme parks had tried to recruit him.
But he sighed.
"I'm sorry. There are clear limits to both parade and performance at this point."
"That's... not really something you should be apologizing for, is it...?"
I stammered unconsciously—the truth was, it was me who ought to be apologizing.
Currently, the shows at Next Planet were still shut down. There was no choice.
The reason was...
"I should've recruited more staff quickly, but I failed due to my lack of ability."
How could I possibly blame Park Seok-min for this?
The reason the Event & Performance Team still didn't have new recruits, even after time passed, was a matter of regional limitations and budget.
He'd said this once:
"We need foreign performers... but no one wants to work in Nonsan."
As for foreign performers, we usually hired Russians or people from Eastern Europe.
There were visual reasons, and those regions produced many ballet or dance specialists.
Male performers generally didn't mind working in smaller cities like Nonsan.
In fact, for logistics work in regional areas, most workers were Russian or Eastern European men.
But it was different for women. You had to offer a premium to bring in women to work in the provinces. That was the reality.
Kim Cheol-jin, Park Seok-min's predecessor, managed to meet the numbers by paying underqualified staff high salaries and lining pockets under the table.
Park Seok-min was serious about his work.
He only wanted to hire people who met his standards.
But given Next Planet's situation, he couldn't allocate much of the budget, and so he hadn't been able to hire more people.
"Right now, the one suffering most at Next Planet is you, team leader."
I meant it.
Looking at the reaction to the current parade at Next Planet—
[It's decent. But there's nothing special.]
[That's it? That's the feeling.]
[Honestly, even using Battle Fire or other game characters was better before.]
These reactions were entirely my fault.
Look at the 〈D*sney〉 theme park parades. All the 〈D*sney〉 characters turn out, presenting one coherent world.
This wasn't simply IP power—it worked because they had a clear "theme."
I harped on and on about having a special theme every day, but frankly, I hadn't accomplished anything in that respect.
I wanted to make excuses too—Next Planet wasn't in a place to be thinking about themes yet.
We first needed to get the business running stably before we could work on the bigger picture.
"Thank you."
I handed Team Leader Park the strawberry juice labeled with Yunjung's name. It was my way of repaying some of my guilt.
Carefully, I got to the main point.
"Team leader, about the child-participation performance we discussed before."
"I'm sorry."
He bowed his head, and I waved my hand dismissively.
Don't do that. This wasn't your fault.
"I kept brainstorming, but still haven't come up with a quality enough idea."
It really wasn't his fault. He was trying to run parades and rebuild a shattered team.
And in that situation, to also create something new? That was nearly impossible.
He looked straight at me.
I averted my gaze.
If he'd gone to America, he wouldn't be having such a hard time now...
Of course, he wasn't without flaws. His main weakness was obsessiveness over completeness.
I'd seen several of his parade proposals—they were brilliant in planning.
They just couldn't be realized given Next Planet's current circumstances.
"Team leader, I'm not an expert, but I'd like to try changing the parade structure."
He responded without a flicker of emotion.
"Yes. If you tell me, I'll implement it."
Maybe it's because Nonsan is a city full of soldiers, but he acted so much like a soldier.
"I don't think our current parade appeals to guests older than their mid-teens."
"I'll fix that, one way or another."
"No matter how great you are, I don't think it can be fixed quickly. It's a problem that needs time."
He clamped his mouth shut and stared at the time.
He'd once said to me:
[It's my dream to create parades and performances that everyone loves.]
I spoke carefully.
"This idea's related to the child-participation performance. How about changing our parade's target audience to only preschool children?"
He frowned.
That expression said he was seriously unhappy about it.