Getting Approval from Otherworld Clients - Chapter 16
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 16.
The Orbit of ⓑ
Touching ㄹ…… ★ (3)
First, I found myself relieved that my computer — that lifeline of every office worker — had returned unscathed, and decided to assess the situation.
…Wait, or would it have been better if the computer had broken? Then I wouldn’t have to work…
Click—
That’s when I reached for the mouse to check the file status.
‘…No…!’
My computer reset itself, and all the files… everything…
I realized that everything had simply vanished…….
‘Noooo!’
The important files from my previous work were backed up on the shared server, so there wasn’t a major problem.
But there was one serious issue.
……The portfolio work that had a deadline tomorrow was gone…..
Which meant I had to start it all over from scratch…….
Nooooo!!!
……It looks like I’ll definitely be staying late today, won’t I?
I cried out silently and finally pulled out my Smartphone to send a message to my PT instructor….
– I don’t think I’ll be able to make it today due to work. I apologize for the short notice.
– Got it, member ㅠㅠ By the way, cancellations on the day of the session don’t qualify for refunds.
My precious seventy thousand won….
I tell myself it’s fine since it came from my welfare benefits….
“Wow, I haven’t been back that long, but my computer’s data got wiped. Hena, is yours okay?”
“Mine’s fine!”
I could hear murmuring from the team next to us.
“Aaahhh! This is insane! I’m dead, we’re all dead!”
……So the computer resets happened at random.
‘The team lead’s being quiet, so maybe his is fine.’
The prime seat at the far back corner, barely visible.
Curious about Pascal’s status, I craned my neck over the partition to check.
“….”
……I understood the reason for his silence.
He was hunched face-down on his desk!
The team lead… must have lost something truly significant…….
“…….”
It’s awful to think it, but somehow knowing someone else’s misfortune is worse than mine is oddly comforting…….
Hehe, at least I won’t be lonely working late tonight, since I won’t be doing it alone.
So instead of PT, I worked overtime, and the next day.
“…Let’s gather and review the portfolio work you’ve each been assigned.”
Pascal entered the Conference Room with dark circles that had deepened considerably.
We pooled together what we’d each completed and assembled it.
Our blood, sweat, tears, and my seventy thousand won in PT fees went into creating a stunning portfolio.
“Everyone did great work. I’ll send you the images so you can upload it to the Company website.”
Ah, so this is how the Vanta Design website I saw in the human world gets updated.
“Now let’s move forward with a new project. I need three Design Proposals each for the art museum’s name and slogan by tomorrow’s meeting time.”
“Yes~ What’s difficult about that, haha.”
The bleached-blonde guy lit up with incredible enthusiasm at the mention of a new client.
…Unlike the listless attitude before, his eyes sparkled with energy!
‘Is he going to bomb me with messages again while working?’
That guy with the poor focus was sending messages once every fifteen minutes yesterday.
I could only get proper work done after muting Seo Kwan-yul’s notifications!
Clack-clack-clack—
Back at my desk, we each began working.
The quiet office echoed only with the sound of keyboards.
‘…That’s strange.’
The messenger chat with Seo Kwan-yul was quiet, unlike yesterday.
…Well, that suits me fine.
Clack-clack-clack—
An hour had already passed, with only the keyboard sound serving as ASMR while I worked.
‘…Did I pass out from being too happy about seeing the alien?’
When that communication addict finally went silent, it made me uneasy in its own way.
At this point, I found myself curious whether something had happened. I quietly poked my head around the partition to get a look at them.
Tap-tap-tap—
I spotted the bleached hair bent over their desk, posture rigidly correct.
Wearing a Headset, their gaze fixed on the monitor as though being pulled into the screen.
Fingers moved in rapid bursts, dancing busily between keyboard and mouse.
‘Looking at the monitor, they actually seemed to be working properly.’
…No, actually they were working far too hard.
They’d generated nearly fifty names for the art gallery—not just three!
……
…There was something slightly, annoyingly off about this.
Just yesterday they were bothering everyone else and spamming the messenger.
They seemed half-hearted about the Design Commission.
So they really wanted that alien to notice them that badly?
‘If things are like this, I won’t let that villain’s Design Proposal get selected.’
I turned my attention back to my own monitor and deleted everything I’d been doodling just to fill up the Design Proposal count.
Determined to crush that villain’s hopes.
* * *
“Everyone ready with the Naming? Let’s share what you’ve got.”
The scheduled meeting time had arrived at last.
Hena went first, sharing her work and cleanly displaying three Naming options on screen.
– Aurora Ark
– Stella Ark
– Prism Ark
“I drew a parallel between the spaceship laden with artworks drifting through darkness and the ark of light.”
An ark motif—poetic and beautiful imagery.
But when spoken aloud, the resonance felt slightly unsophisticated, which was a shame.
– A voyage bearing art, advancing to all people
“I tailored the Slogan to fit the ark concept as well.”
The way the phrasing moved from ‘ark’ to ‘voyage’ was metaphorical and elegant.
Hena seemed skilled not only at Design but at Planning as well.
Always working steadily, reading the direction well, producing solid work—that was the feeling.
A teammate you could trust and rely on.
“I brought a variety of options. More is better, don’t you think?”
Next came Seo Kwan-yul’s turn. The number of slides was already eye-opening.
– Cosmo Gallery
– Orbit Artline
– Aesthetic Vessel
– Lumen Odyssey
.
.
.
“Haha~ ideas just kept flowing, so it was hard to pick just three.”
The proposals were as scattered as their attitude.
Beautiful words related to space, yes—but difficult to pronounce and obscure in meaning.
– Where light’s journey rests, art blooms
– One gallery for all beings in the cosmos
– Beauty that illuminates a new era
.
.
.
“I made multiple Slogans to match the Naming~!”
They were as abstract as the name proposals. Excessively grandiose, one might say.
Focused on quantity rather than quality, the name and Slogan didn’t fit together properly.
“Right, good work. Let’s look at Lee Hyun’s Design Proposal next.”
“Yes, I’ll set it up.”
Finally, it was my turn.
All I had prepared was a single Design Proposal.
Universal Canvas
An infinite canvas, painted together
She flipped through the presentation and began her pitch.
Showing pages that explained the naming concepts.
[Universal]
→ Of the universe
→ For everyone
“I’ve layered in multiple meanings. As you can see, Universal carries two distinct interpretations.”
[Canvas]
→ The white cloth for painting with oils
“Canvas is a pristine blank slate—a symbol of infinite possibility where anything can be painted.”
She paused briefly to collect her breath, then continued with practiced rhythm.
“An infinite universe as a canvas, possibilities open to everyone. I’ve woven both meanings into the brand name itself.”
“A beautiful gallery sailing through the cosmos to deliver aesthetics to all—I believe this branding suits that vision perfectly.”
That was the extent of what she’d prepared.
For her closing, she added one more thing.
“I’m afraid I couldn’t come up with anything better, so I didn’t meet the number of concepts you requested. I apologize.”
She caught Pascal’s blue eyes one last time, signaling the end of her presentation.
“Well done. The sound of it is good, and the meaning is solid.”
Pascal, now seated at the notebook station, opened a new presentation window.
He compiled the team’s concepts into a clean layout.
“Let’s take these three concepts to the client.”
Concept A. Universal Canvas
Concept B. Prism Ark
Concept C. Orbit Artline
* * *
“Among the concepts you’ve brought, I prefer Concept A most. Let’s proceed with that.”
The dignified extraterrestrial client had chosen her “Universal Canvas.”
Ha! I knew it! I always knew mine would win.
‘People are drawn to things that are intuitive yet rewarding to interpret.’
So her concept, which captured both of these qualities through layered meaning, was bound to be selected.
‘It was smart to submit just one concept.’
With fewer options, focus naturally concentrated on the single idea.
It was partly about creating impact, but also about making that bleached-blond fool Seo Kwan-yul feel the sting of being beaten at his own quantity-over-quality game.
Yes, this is how concepts should be judged—by quality, not volume!
Seo Kwan-yul’s expression showed disappointment.
But the bleached hair quickly recovered into his usual grin, and he called out to her.
“Hey, Lee Hyun. You really did come up with the best one. Congratulations on getting selected.”
Ha. His words were gracious, but his heart must be seething.
Go ahead and suffer—you’ve earned it after all the grief you’ve caused me!
‘Truth is, I’m generally a pacifist.’
Some people aggressively pitch their designs to win concept competitions.
But not her.
She just wanted the team’s work to turn out well so she could stay out of trouble.
That’s all the ambition this ordinary person possessed!
‘So normally, I would have…’
If a teammate was this fired up, she would’ve cheered them on from the sidelines, thinking how much passion they had for the project.
But Seo Kwan-yul had done enough over time that she didn’t want to let him have it easy.
While she was quietly exulting, Pascal wrapped up the meeting.
“Yes, then we’ll proceed with the design work based on this concept. At our next meeting, we’ll present the logo proposals.”
“Thank you for your time. I’ll step out now—please take your time wrapping up.”
After the client left, the team stayed behind in the Conference Room to tidy up.
Ha, now she could head back to the Company with a satisfied heart!
‘Oh, wait a moment.’
She unhooked the Door-shaped Miniature from the carabiner on her bag. This time, it was her turn.
It had bothered her that Pascal, their team leader, handled the trivial task of installing the door every time.
‘These Confucian values run deep in my bones—they’re not going anywhere.’
Since she had the lowest seniority, she should be the last to leave anyway.
Right, yeah. Respecting hierarchy just feels right.
“Please go first, sir.”
She opened the door handle and gestured politely.
“…Alright. Follow right behind me.”
Pascal glanced at the remaining team members, then stepped into the black vortex.
“See you soon.”
Next was Hena. She gave a light wave and was drawn into the doorway.
And now… it was Seo Kwan-yul’s turn.
I wasn’t sure if I should treat this guy with deference, but it felt easier to send him first.
Like releasing a child onto the riverbank!
So while I was heading over to grab Seo Kwan-yul, who was lingering near the Spaceship’s gate—
Eeeeeee-screech!
…!
That ringing sound came again, just like before.
Reflexively, I glanced down at the clock in my Smart Watch. The time was—
1 o’clock.
…Just as before, the anomaly had struck right on the hour at 1 o’clock.
Zzzzzt-screech!
“…!”
The LCD Panel affixed to one wall of the Spaceship erupted in static.
Beep-
Beep-
Beep-
Programs flickered randomly on and off as if malfunctioning, creating chaos on the display.
…And then, moments later—
A distorted, eerie mechanical sound emerged.
[Activating mini## portal%5.]
…Damn!
Something is going wrong…!
“Hurry, back to the Company…!”
I grabbed Seo Kwan-yul and pulled him toward the installed door, sprinting.
But—
Whoooosh!
…Just before we reached the door—
The black vortex blooming from the Spaceship engulfed us both.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————