----------------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:❤️🔥
patreon.com/Samurai492
--------------------------------------
My name is Daniel, and I'm a senior university student.
If someone had told me a year ago that I would find a job I genuinely liked before graduation, I would've laughed it off. Yet here I was—standing at the foot of the Science and Technology Building, craning my neck upward.
The skyscraper rose straight into the clouds, its glass surface reflecting warm golden sunlight, like a monument to ambition and progress. Daniel exhaled slowly, a strange mix of excitement and disbelief settling in his chest.
He had always assumed his path was simple: stay in school, continue research, aim higher academically. After all, companies that valued him were never the ones he valued, and the companies he admired usually required newcomers to crawl up from the very bottom.
Yet today, he was here.
Beside Daniel stood a group of young people, most of them looking around nervously. Their faces were fresh, their eyes alert, filled with the same cautious hope.
A guy next to him broke the silence.
"Hey, friend, you here for the interview too? Northstar Games?"
"Yeah," another replied quickly. "I'm applying for an art position."
"You don't look very old."
"You neither. Are you graduating this year?"
The second guy's eyes lit up. "You too?"
Daniel smiled faintly. The atmosphere instantly felt more relaxed. It was like discovering your own kind in a foreign land.
But as the conversations continued, an odd realization crept in.
Why did everyone here look like college students?
The thought didn't belong to Daniel alone. Several applicants exchanged puzzled glances, clearly thinking the same thing.
Northstar Games had become a well-known indie studio in recent years. Between Getting Over It and Night of the Full Moon, they'd built a reputation for creativity and unconventional design. Even players who didn't usually care about developers had started remembering their name.
To many gamers, Northstar Games was now a small but fearless company, one that dared to go against industry norms.
Daniel was one of those fans.
As a roguelike enthusiast, he genuinely loved Night of the Full Moon. The randomness, the layered systems, the way monsters and events intertwined—it captured the true spirit of roguelike design. Grinding monsters wasn't just repetition; it was discovery.
That was why, when Daniel learned Northstar Games was hiring, he immediately withdrew his application from Skybound Interactive, a massive online-game corporation, and sent his resume here instead.
And that decision wasn't impulsive.
With his academic background, Daniel could have easily entered Skybound. His degree alone would have opened doors.
After all, he was a Computer Science graduate from a top-tier university.
Those credentials were a golden key in the game industry.
But Daniel knew the truth. Even if he joined a big company, he'd still be just another cog, starting from the lowest rung. In a small studio, things were different. Talent mattered more. Growth was faster. Responsibility came earlier.
And more importantly—
Northstar Games made games he loved.
That alone was reason enough.
At exactly ten o'clock, the group entered the building together and took the elevator to the seventh floor.
"This should be it…"
A sign reading Northstar Games → pointed down the hallway.
They followed it—and stopped.
The office was completely quiet.
No voices. No keyboards. No footsteps.
Someone frowned. "Why is there no one here?"
Daniel felt the same unease.
Was today a holiday?
That made no sense. HR had clearly confirmed the interview date. Daniel had spent over ten hours on a train to reach Lumen City. He had even planned to relocate permanently if things worked out.
Just as doubt began to creep in, a woman in a fitted suit walked out from around the corner, drying her hands.
She froze when she saw the group.
Then her face lit up with joy.
"Ethan! Ethan!"
"They're here!"
The glass door muffled her voice, but her urgency was obvious.
Moments later, an office door opened.
A young man stepped out.
He looked about the same age as them, with a calm demeanor and gentle features.
Someone whispered in disbelief, "Wait… was that beautiful woman the receptionist?"
Another muttered, "Damn, that front desk is on another level."
"Is she really part of our company?"
Some of the guys were already grinning, casually switching their language to our company.
Daniel was equally surprised.
Was Northstar Games really staffed like this?
The young man smiled and spoke softly.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm Ethan Reed, and I'll be responsible for your interviews today."
Silence.
Then—
"Ethan Reed?! The Lead Planner?!"
The hallway exploded.
"You're that young?!"
"I love Night of the Full Moon! I'm a huge fan!"
"The art style is incredible—that's why I applied!"
"Is the lady next to you our receptionist?"
Ethan opened his mouth to answer, but the moment he heard that last question, he burst out laughing. He leaned over, resting a hand on the woman's shoulder, laughing so hard his shoulders shook.
The woman's round face darkened instantly.
That woman was Vivian Frost.
She resisted the urge to slap his hand away, barely preserving Ethan's dignity.
"You have many questions," Ethan said, finally straightening up. "Let's take them one by one. But first—"
He grinned.
"This lady beside me is not our receptionist."
"She is the Boss of Northstar Games."
The hallway fell silent.
Vivian added coldly, "The person who asked that question will be interviewed first."
She turned and walked into the conference room, heels clicking sharply against the floor.
The applicants stood frozen.
Ethan wiped tears from his eyes.
"Alright," he said. "Let's begin. We don't have much time."
---
The Interviews
The process was fast.
Almost too fast.
After Vivian's initial screening, most candidates were already accepted. The interview felt more like a confirmation.
Which made sense.
Northstar Games had only two permanent staff members.
A Boss and a Lead Planner.
Was that reasonable?
Not at all.
When the next resume appeared, Vivian sat up straight.
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"Mr. Daniel Reed, correct?"
"Yes."
Ethan studied him carefully.
"A graduate from a top university. May I ask—why choose Northstar Games?"
Daniel answered without hesitation.
"Because the person I admire works here."
Vivian frowned.
Ethan laughed. "If you mean me, I'm flattered."
Daniel smiled. "I've released games before. Over thirty thousand copies on Skybound. I also taught myself modeling and have a foundation in art."
Ethan stood and extended his hand.
"Welcome to Northstar Games."
Daniel shook it firmly.
As Daniel stepped outside, Ethan glanced at Vivian.
She suddenly slammed the table.
"I am NOT an unconfident woman!"
Her shout echoed through the empty office.
Ethan blinked.
Then smiled.
Northstar Games had just grown again.
----------------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:❤️🔥
patreon.com/Samurai492
--------------------------------------