Ishino was taken aback, slightly flattered.
But more than anything, she felt joy. This meant the President hadn't given up on the company, so she wouldn't have to look for a new job.
The 21-year-old Ishino thought to herself.
"Okay, President."
Her delight was evident as she eagerly took the documents from the President's hand.
Ishino Mika sat quietly on the sofa, meticulously reading the document in her hands.
Aoki Haruhi wasn't in a hurry. He'd stayed up all night the previous evening, but now he felt unusually energized. While Ishino focused on the document, he quietly walked over and brewed two cups of coffee—one for himself and one for her.
In a small company, every role was streamlined. Ishino was the sole copywriter, responsible for all in-game text and scriptwriting—the game's narrative. Aoki Haruhi had already decided what he wanted to do, but he needed Ishino to flesh it out, essentially executing his vision.
For an RPG, a copywriter was crucial. A skilled writer could create such a strong sense of immersion that players would be captivated even without visuals.
Fortunately, Ishino's writing skills were excellent, as evidenced by her previous work on Heart of the Sword at her former company.
The entire story was relatively short, only about ten thousand characters long.
Yet Ishino read it with meticulous care, the document in her hands even feeling warm to the touch. This matter concerned the very survival of the company. Though the President hadn't explicitly stated this, Ishino could sense it from his silent, appraising gaze.
Soon, however, she became completely immersed in the President's words.
The story was truly captivating: a poor young man with dreams of being a chivalrous hero, who instead ran an inn. By chance, he stumbled upon Immortal Spirit Island, met a lovely girl there, and even married her. But why did he later lose his memory...
They were such a perfect couple.
I wonder when he'll regain his memories.
Then, to help Ling'er return to the Nanzhao Kingdom, a group of them embarked on a perilous journey...
The result... the result...
As she read, Ishino's eyes began to well up with tears.
Aoki Haruhi silently observed everything, and as Ishino's fingers gently turned the last page, he offered her a tissue at the perfect moment.
"Thank you, President."
"I've lost my composure."
Ishino removed her glasses and wiped the corners of her eyes.
"But this story completely moved me. I couldn't help myself."
She clenched her fist.
While she was moved, she also felt an inexplicable melancholy and an urge to grab the President's neck and beg him to change the ending.
But upon careful reflection, she realized that the grandeur of such a sacrifice might be what made the story most memorable.
Once she understood this, Ishino immediately grasped the emotion the President had poured into the document and came to appreciate its tragic beauty.
"No, this is exactly what I wanted to see." Aoki Haruhi smiled and sat down in the chair opposite her, clasping his hands together. Only after she had calmed down did he ask, "Tell me, what are your thoughts on this story?"
"Hmm... how should I put it..."
Ishino adjusted her glasses. Though the story wasn't fully developed, her mind had already vividly imagined it, as if she'd watched a movie that left a lasting impression.
After a few moments of careful consideration, she tentatively said, "President, this story is very moving. But I'm worried that many of its concepts might be confusing from a cultural perspective."
Ishino flipped through the document in her hands. "For example, the Nüwa here... and this 'Li Xiaoyao's Sword Flight'... it's hard to imagine. Many similar terms... I'm afraid players will struggle to grasp the profound atmosphere beyond the beautiful love story."
Aoki Haruhi smiled. Ishino was truly talented to notice this.
"Yes, it's a Chinese story."
"Ah, that explains it."
Ishino nodded. Such a story could only have been written by someone like the President, with his Chinese heritage and deep understanding of the culture.
"That's actually my biggest concern too."
Aoki Haruhi, who had been confident when he saw Ishino's tears, was now less certain.
Chinese Paladin was a good story, but its flaws seemed glaring. While it could move people, its lack of cultural depth diminished the overall experience. If Chinese players could appreciate it fully, Japanese players might only grasp 80% of its essence.
"Ishino-san, what if we tried this?" Aoki Haruhi suggested. "We keep the entire plot intact but replace the setting and characters with a Japanese backdrop. Would that work?"
"Huh?" Ishino was taken aback, seemingly surprised by the President's swift and decisive decision.
After a few moments of contemplation, she nodded solemnly.
"This tragic and beautiful story actually aligns quite well with Japanese culture. Monsters are common in Japanese folklore. If we use Onmyōji as the backdrop, it might work."
It could work!
Aoki Haruhi felt as if his meridians had suddenly been opened, a bolt of lightning flashing through his mind.
"Onmyōji! How could I not have thought of that?"
If we replaced the Chinese Paladin with Onmyōji, Zhao Ling'er with an Island Nation's Miko possessing yokai blood, and integrated Japanese mythology into the story while retaining the Chinese Paladin's plot—the conflict between humans and demons, the Miko's sacrifice to save the world—the game would transform into a completely new yet deeply moving and healing story.
This would be a game with the same soul as Chinese Paladin but utterly different, yet for some reason, Aoki Haruhi felt an irresistible urge to create it.
"Ishino-san, you're truly a genius!"
Aoki Haruhi was so excited he wanted to kiss her on the cheek.
If that were the case, it would be better to keep Chinese Paladin and release it in China in a few years.
Seeing the president's excitement, Ishino's hands holding the coffee cup trembled.
For some reason, she felt like he had completely changed. Just a few days ago, he had been listless and dejected, but now she could feel boundless energy radiating from him.
Ishino lowered her gaze to her cup, where her slightly childish face was reflected. For the first time since joining the company, she felt the joy and magic of creating a game.
After discussing with Ishino for over three hours and finalizing most of the details, Aoki Haruhi regained her initial confidence.
With the game's theme and content settled, completing the proposal was much simpler.
In just one week, Pokeni's new proposal, Onmyōji, was successfully completed.
"Good. Take this and secure the investment!"