Chapter 2. What? Turn The Legend of Sword and Fairy into Onmyoji?
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Ishino was briefly stunned, feeling a bit flattered by the attention.
But more than anything, she was filled with joy. This meant the President hadn't given up on the company, and she wouldn't have to start job hunting again.
The 21-year-old Ishino thought to herself.
"Okay, President."
Her happiness was written all over her face as she quickly took the document from the President's hands.
…
Mika Ishino sat quietly on the sofa, carefully reading the document in her hands.
Kiyoshi Yuuma wasn't in a rush. Though he had pulled an all-nighter last night, he was still in high spirits. While Ishino read the document, he silently walked over and made a cup of coffee for both of them.
In a small company like this, each role was very lean. The entire company only had one scriptwriter, responsible for all in-game text content and also for writing the game's script—that is, the game's story. Kiyoshi Yuuma had already decided what to make, but he still needed a writer to flesh it out, to carry out his vision.
In an RPG game, the writer is incredibly important. A good script can give players a strong sense of immersion even without visuals.
Fortunately, Ishino had solid writing skills; that much was evident from her work on the company's previous title, Heart of the Sword.
…
The whole story document wasn't very long, just over 10,000 words in total.
But Ishino read it very carefully. The document in her hands even felt hot to the touch, because this was a matter of the company's survival. The President hadn't said this outright, but she could feel it in the way he quietly watched her.
Before long, however, she became fully immersed in the President's writing.
Because the story was just too captivating: A poor young man with dreams of becoming a great hero, running a small inn, stumbles upon Fairy Island and meets a lovely girl. They even marry while on the island, but why does he later lose his memory…?
They were such a perfect couple.
When would he get his memory back?
Then, in order to help Ling'er return to Nanzhao, a group of companions embarks on a difficult journey…
And then… and then…
As she read on, Ishino's eyes welled up with tears.
Kiyoshi Yuuma quietly took note of everything, and just as her fingers flipped over the final page, he timely handed her a tissue.
"Thank you, President."
"I lost my composure a bit."
Ishino took off her glasses and wiped the corners of her eyes. "But this story truly moved me. I just couldn't control myself."
Ishino clenched her fists.
She was touched, yes, but also overwhelmed by a strange sense of sorrow, and even a sudden impulse to grab the President by the neck and beg him to change the ending.
But after calming down and thinking about it, she realized that this kind of grand, tragic beauty might be what makes the story unforgettable.
Once she understood that, Ishino immediately felt the emotion and effort the President had poured into the script, and she came to appreciate the sorrowful beauty within it.
"No, this is exactly what I hoped you'd feel," Kiyoshi Yuuma said with a smile as he sat down across from her, clasping his hands together. After she had calmed down, he asked, "Tell me, what are your thoughts on the story?"
…
"Hmm… how should I put it…"
Ishino put her glasses back on. Although the story wasn't written in great detail, in her mind, it was as if she had just watched a movie—vivid and unforgettable.
After thinking for a few seconds, Ishino cautiously said, "President, this story is very touching, but I'm worried that on a cultural level, people might find many of the concepts confusing."
She flipped through the document in her hands.
"For example, here's Nüwa, and, um, here's Li Xiaoyao flying on a sword. These are hard to imagine. There are many similar terms. I'm afraid that apart from the beautiful love story, players might find it difficult to grasp the deeper atmosphere."
Kiyoshi Yuuma smiled. Ishino really was a talent, to be able to perceive that.
"Yes, it is a Chinese story."
"Ah, no wonder," Ishino nodded. Only someone like the President, with knowledge and deep understanding of different cultures, could write a story like this.
"That's actually what I was worried about too."
Just moments ago, seeing Ishino moved to tears had given Kiyoshi Yuuma confidence, but now he felt uncertain again.
The Legend of Sword and Fairy is a great story, but its flaws are also obvious. It can move people, but without that cultural foundation, much of the immersive experience is lost. If Chinese players can experience it at 100%, then perhaps players in Japan might only feel 80%.
"Ishino-san, can you see if this is possible?" Kiyoshi Yuuma said. "Keep the story structure the same, but change the setting and characters to a Japanese background. Is that okay?"
"Eh?" Ishino was taken aback, as if not expecting the President to make such a decisive choice so quickly.
But after a few seconds of thought, she solemnly nodded.
"This tragic story actually aligns quite well with Japanese culture. Youkai are common in Japanese folklore. If that's the case, then maybe using Onmyoji as the setting… could work."
It could work!
Kiyoshi Yuuma felt as if his body's inner gates had suddenly opened, lightning flashing through his brain.
"Onmyoji! Why didn't I think of that before?"
If The Legend of Sword and Fairy were transformed into Onmyoji, and Zhao Ling'er became a Japanese shrine maiden with youkai blood, infused with Japanese mythology… while preserving the story arc of The Legend of Sword and Fairy—human-demon conflict, a miko sacrificing herself to save the world—then the game would become something entirely new, yet still a moving and healing story.
It would be a game with the same soul as The Legend of Sword and Fairy, but a different form—yet Kiyoshi Yuuma felt an inexplicable urge to make it happen.
"Ishino-san, you're truly a genius!"
Kiyoshi Yuuma was so delighted he nearly wanted to kiss her on the cheek.
If they went this route, they could preserve The Legend of Sword and Fairy and launch it in China after a few years instead—it might even be better that way.
Seeing the President's excitement, Ishino's hands trembled slightly as she held her coffee.
She didn't know why, but it felt like the President had become a different person. Just a few days ago, he had looked completely dead inside. But now, there was an endless energy radiating from within him.
Ishino glanced down at her cup, where her slightly youthful reflection shimmered back. For the first time since entering the industry, she felt the joy and magic of making games.
…
After discussing with Ishino for over three hours and nailing down most of the details, Kiyoshi Yuuma had completely regained his original confidence.
With the game's theme and content finalized, the rest of the planning document would be much easier to complete.
After a week of work, Pokeni's brand-new project proposal, Onmyoji, was completed successfully.
"All right. Let's take this… and get investment!"