Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Secret Post
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This is a secret post.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I walked briskly and arrived at the shelter tucked away in one corner of the lake.
'It must be packed with people in spring.'
Since all the trees around here were cherry blossoms, I figured it got even more crowded then.
All these things here must be for the tourists during that season.
It'd be prettier in spring, sure, but the view right now wasn't bad at all.
Tranquil lake waters harmonizing with the trees growing alongside it.
A vast sky above and clouds drifting lazily across it.
With the occasional birdsong and crisp, clean air thrown in, it was the perfect spot to spend a little time.
'Ideal for catching my breath.'
I stretched leisurely and ambled over to the bench.
I set my bag down beside me and placed the camera and the snacks I'd gotten earlier on the table.
'Anyone seeing this would think I'd just hit the market.'
As I kept taking photos for people, they kept handing me food they'd bought from the market.
I hadn't asked for any, but seeing the person in front pass me something made the next one do the same, and then the people behind too.
'Before I knew it, both hands were full.'
I'd been half-forced into snapping all those pictures when that weird couple showed up.
If they hadn't come along, I might still be taking photos now.
I felt a bit used, but they weren't exactly innocent either, so whatever.
'No need to feel guilty.'
Right now, the food in front of me took priority over any flimsy guilt.
I reached for the sikhye first.
I popped open the lid of the sikhye with a thin layer of ice floating on top and took a light sip.
'Sikhye has to have those rice grains.'
I could feel the cool sikhye sliding down my throat into my stomach. It was so refreshing it made my body shiver a bit.
'Still delicious.'
They said it was homemade, and it really was different.
Plenty of rice grains too, overflowing with authenticity.
Personally, I don't consider sikhye without rice grains real sikhye. It has to have them like this.
I savored that authentic flavor and closed the lid.
'It's cold...'
Way too cold.
Chugging this in this weather might give me a cold.
'I'll drink the rest in the car later.'
I set the sikhye bottle back down and reached into the black bag next.
'Sulppang, huh.'
Palm-sized sulppang from a famous spot, handed over with much fanfare.
I peeled off the wrapper from the still-steaming sulppang and nibbled carefully with my front teeth.
Fluffy yet sticky. It clung a little to my teeth.
Not hugely different from other sulppang, but warm made it tasty.
'Waiting two hours for this feels off.'
It's good, but after queuing over two hours for a familiar taste... yeah.
Anyway, I'd had sulppang, sikhye, hotteok, and there was still kimchi fritters, dried seafood, chicken skewers, and more left.
'Gotta eat everything ready-to-eat before I go.'
So I pulled out a chicken skewer and munched away.
'Ow, why's this so spicy?'
After enjoying the market treats by the lake courtesy of their kindness, I headed back to the city, and it was already evening.
The wind had turned much chillier than before, and the streets were quieter too.
'Even if it's late... gotta have clams before heading back.'
Part of why I'd come this far was the photos, but also the grilled clams.
They say trips leave you with photos and food. Photos were covered, now time to fill the belly.
I made a beeline for a clam grill spot by the seaside.
Ordered a set by myself. Ate each one savoring it while snapping lots of pics.
Today's tip.
Clams aren't too filling, so you could eat them all day if you just stuck to clams.
After ordering two sets, the owner eyed me curiously.
'Maybe because I'm not drinking, just eating clams.'
These places usually make margins on booze, not shellfish. A lone woman chowing down on clams only...
I kept devouring the butter-grilled giant clam adductor while basking in the owner's attention.
Salt-tinged sea scent mixed with the sizzle of clams grilling right in front of me.
And the pitch-black sea stretching out before my eyes.
A spot that really tested your resolve not to drink.
'Weak beer, even.'
Of course, reason won out.
No one I knew here, no friends. No real need to drink.
Plus, I hadn't booked lodging anyway, so I had to head back tonight.
Sure, I could hunt for a room, but it'd be far enough to need another drive.
'Even calling a designated driver would be awkward for both sides.'
Anyway, I skipped the booze and just relished the grilled clams.
Swiped a decent chunk on my card, left the shop, and gazed at the now-calm sea up close.
'The East Sea really is pretty.'
No wonder it's a top travel spot.
That's why people keep coming despite the issues.
Not wanting to miss the scene, I grabbed my camera and captured the surroundings eagerly.
Lighthouse, the ink-black sea.
Even with this lens, the shots came out gorgeous. What if I got a better one?
'Sharper images?'
Thinking I'd need a few more lenses, I walked to the parking lot and got in the car.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I posted the East Coast photos on SNS.
Reactions were great, as expected.
💬 Comments — User Whoa, you bought a camera? — User What's with the photo clarity?? — User No photo of you today,, so disappointing,, "Damn it. Blocked."
Yeon-a messaged too.
Eun-a messaged asking me to take pics of her with the camera.
Min-hyeok was all about the car.
Chan-su just sent a thumbs-up emoji.
And from Ji-su, I heard it in person instead of a message.
'...Loading it up with cheese, butter, and seasonings like this makes even clams fatten you up fast. See? Belly fat's showing.'
My belly, now slightly pinchable unlike before.
Looks like my body shows what I eat right away.
Ji-su said it was due to low muscle mass, and especially for women, building it is tough, so it was natural.
'That's why you need consistent workouts and portion control to lose weight.'
What even is health?
And why is a beautiful figure so hard to maintain?
'Can't give up this state now, though.'
I've finally gotten this healthy; gotta stay that way.
After a bit of scolding and doing yoga plus other exercises, I got home.
"Ugh..."
Body aching, I collapsed in the entryway the moment I arrived.
Lying there catching my breath, the robot vacuum rolled up to my head.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [New obstacle detected. Register new information?] Instead of cleaning properly, it's sending pics of my crown.
I sighed at that and got up.
'...Just shower quick and crash.'
Shambling to the bathroom when my phone rang again.
A bit annoyed, I pulled it out.
'Email?'
One new email.
Spam sometimes hits at this hour, but the subject looked different.
[To our dear reader who always supports my work. Hello, reader. Due to an important serialization matter, I'm reaching out like this.]
No one else would send this but Dasimaring the author.
What trouble had the author run into?
I shook off the irritation, stood still, and checked the email.
📧 Email from Author ......that's why I'm sending this email. The reason is as follows. First, as you know, my work is a remake of the one I serialized on Lilia Toon before. I was serializing it carefully to avoid breaching that contract, but recently I received a copyright warning. The claimant is Lilia Toon. They contacted me a few times after seeing the blog serialization, but due to our promise, I rejected them all, and now this retaliatory warning. Honestly, even as a remake, the plot and characters diverge completely after the early parts, so I don't think there's reason for a warning. I consulted legal experts, and the majority opinion was high chance of winning if sued. However, if sued, I couldn't continue serializing until resolved. So to keep going, I'd need to join an agency or serialize on a platform. Otherwise, it seems hard to continue, hence this email. Or, halt serialization, resolve with Lilia Toon, and... A long email.
Summary: Lilia Toon picked a fight for not serializing on their platform.
And the author admitted solo patronage funding for webtoons was tough now. (Added that surprisingly, several platforms had reached out.)
Even offered to repay donations if wanted, so must be in a real bind.
"No way, not another hiatus."
Frustrated, I rubbed my forehead.
Twice now? Story cutting off midway?
There has to be a better way.
Fill the tub first and think.
Ideas come best in the bath anyway.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Showering, I brainstormed options.
First thought: Buy out Lilia Toon and shut down the complaints myself.
I had the cash for it, but that's ridiculous.
I don't want to run a company.
And exhausting assets to save one webtoon artist feels off.
'Not family.'
I support because I like the work, nothing more.
Frankly, Dasimaring and I aren't close.
'I'd cut support if it ended poorly or dragged.'
To me, the author's just someone working for my entertainment.
Other ideas besides acquisition were unrealistic or demanded too much time/money.
Even after washing up, nothing solid.
Corporate bullying has no easy fix.
'So annoying.'
Pouting, I checked the blog with the webtoon.
Tons of comments, greetings from publishers and platforms filling the notice post.
'Just tell her to sign a contract; they'll handle it.'
Good idea, but the current serialization would still come down.
'A way... a way...'
Pondering hard, I spotted the secret post notice.
'......What if she posts as secret for me only, or emails chapters?'
Oh, yeah?
How'd I miss something so simple?
I sat up straight and started emailing the author.
This way, it'd stick it to Lilia Toon too.