Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Is the Author Omnipotent?
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A café near Gangnam Station.
Han Seong-ho and Yu Min-kyung were seated there.
“It’s about time for the author to arrive.”
At Seong-ho’s words, Min-kyung nodded.
Right on cue, a familiar voice rang out.
“Am I late?”
“No. It’s fine…….”
Seong-ho trailed off as he turned around to speak.
“Oppa, what’s wrong…….”
Min-kyung had a similar reaction.
Jeong Tae-seong came into view.
A brown long coat, navy polo shirt, and black pants.
It was an ordinary combination at first glance.
But it suited his tall frame perfectly.
His bright, clear skin tone stood out even more against the dark colors, and his softly waved hairstyle complemented the outfit beautifully.
“Wow…… Our author looks amazing in clothes.”
She’d always thought he dressed well.
But today felt somehow even more special.
No, more precisely, it was special yet not over the top.
That was the point of today’s style.
“I should’ve dressed better too…….”
“Our physiques are different.”
“Hey!”
Tae-seong smiled as he watched the two bicker.
“Let’s head out. The representative is nearby.”
“Oh, sure!”
“Yep!”
The three of them left the café.
He felt a few women’s gazes on him, but Tae-seong paid them no mind.
* * *
“Wow—! Our author looks so cool today.”
“Thank you.”
Kwon, the representative, was equally impressed.
There had been a few stylish writers lately.
It was only natural as younger ones entered the field.
‘But he stands out among them.’
The pinnacle of understated fashion, perhaps.
“We’re heading out.”
Kwon volunteered to drive.
It was service for his star author.
A bit of salesmanship, too.
The car soon pulled up to the InterContinental Hotel, where the year-end party was being held.
Grape Books held their event here every year.
It could be called a show of prestige.
Still, the writers saw attending as a great honor.
Out of the countless works serialized over the year, only those with the top results got to come.
“Wow…….”
One man stood there.
A man with his mouth agape, looking around.
It was Han Seong-ho.
“You’ve been here before, right?”
Min-kyung asked him.
“That time, it wasn’t this place.”
“Really?”
“Haha, that makes sense. Grape Books started using this spot for their year-end party three years ago.”
Grape Books.
Now a leading domestic conglomerate.
They held the top spot in the content platform industry.
But it hadn’t always been that way.
“Let’s go in.”
“Yes.”
Kwon took the lead.
A sign in the middle of the lobby made it easy to find the way.
Upon reaching the banquet room, ushers were waiting.
“Representative Kwon!”
A man approached them then.
“Team Leader Kang.”
Kwon shook hands and greeted him.
“Long time no see. How’ve you been?”
“Yes, doing well, thanks to you. Oh, this is author Jeong Tae-seong.”
“Ah—!”
Kwon introduced Tae-seong beside him.
Kang Min-woo’s eyes lit up as he looked at him.
“Author Jeong! I’ve been dying to meet you! I’m Kang Min-woo, team leader of the webtoon planning team!”
“Nice to meet you. Jeong Tae-seong.”
“Man—! Finally getting to meet our author. I’ve been counting the days!”
He emphasized “our author.”
Tae-seong smiled at the warm welcome.
No matter someone’s intentions, it was hard to resent a smiling face.
“And who are the ones behind……?”
“They’re colleagues from my studio who assist me.”
“Ah—! Assistants, then! Nice to meet you. Kang Min-woo, team leader.”
“Hello.”
“Hi!”
After brief greetings, Kang Min-woo handed them name tags himself.
“Come on in.”
“Yes.”
They took their seats under Team Leader Kang Min-woo’s guidance.
The banquet room was huge.
Meaning a lot of writers were attending.
“There’s still some time before it starts, so relax. If you’re hungry, we’ve got light snacks—help yourselves.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“I’ll head back now. I’ll come find you when it begins.”
“Yes.”
Once Kang Min-woo left, Yu Min-kyung stood up.
“I’ll go grab some food!”
“I’ll come too.”
“Sure.”
It was already dinnertime.
They should’ve eaten by now.
Of course they were hungry.
“What do you think of those two?”
“They’re doing great. Young, but professional. And full of passion above all.”
“I see.”
“Seong-ho’s helping with my work while diligently doing his own.”
“Oh ho, is that so?”
“Yes. He hasn’t shown a full piece yet, so I don’t know his exact level.”
“I see. Oh, about that translator I mentioned last time.”
“Yes.”
“Looks like we’ll secure her soon. We’re in the final negotiation stage. Want to meet her?”
“If you set it up, I’ll meet her.”
“Got it. I’ll arrange it soon.”
That was when it happened.
“You’re saying some pretty harsh things.”
A familiar voice spoke up.
He turned to see Yu Min-kyung.
Han Seong-ho was standing beside her, holding her back.
Unknown men stood in front of them.
“I’ll grab a drink too.”
“Oh, sure.”
He excused himself to Kwon and headed over.
“No, what did we even do? We were just chatting with an old friend we hadn’t seen in ages.”
The conversation continued even as he approached.
“Even if you’re friends, there are things you can say and can’t! You were clearly looking down on Oppa Seong-ho!”
“Haha! Misunderstanding. We’re just old friends…….”
“Min-kyung.”
Tae-seong called out as he reached the group.
“Oh, Author!”
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing much.”
“Oppa! It’s not nothing—those guys……!”
“So I said it’s clearly a misunderstanding, right? Man, you can’t even joke with assistants.”
“What did you say?!”
Yu Min-kyung bristled again at the other man’s provocation.
Watching, Tae-seong stepped in.
“I don’t know what happened, but that last remark crossed the line.”
“Ha! Yeah, yeah, sorry. Anyway, who are you?”
“Jeong Tae-seong, author of Return of the SSS-Class Hunter.”
“Return of the SSS-Class Hunter?”
The man checked Tae-seong’s name tag in surprise.
His pupils shook violently upon seeing the name.
“Ah…… Uh…… It’s an honor to meet you. I really enjoyed your work, Author.”
The man immediately backed down.
That settled Tae-seong’s assessment of him.
‘Strong against the weak, weak against the strong type.’
He had no desire to chat long with that kind.
“Thank you. Just please ensure no unnecessary misunderstandings arise with my people in the future.”
“Y-Yes……? Oh, that really was a misunderstanding. Seong-ho and I are cohorts…….”
“We’re with our group, so we’ll be going.”
He cut the man off.
No point listening to more excuses.
As he turned away, the man’s face twisted.
But he said nothing.
“Let’s go.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Yeah!”
The two followed behind Tae-seong.
* * *
There had been an unpleasant incident, but the year-end party was a fine event.
Above all, meeting the person who had led him into writing felt good.
‘He’s a good guy.’
The author of Solo Leveling in Another World was a decent person.
Shy, but that was fine.
‘A year’s passed already.’
A lot had happened last year.
He’d debuted as a writer and completed one work.
He’d even drawn a webtoon.
A fresh experience, feeling readers’ reactions in real time.
Of course, it wasn’t over yet.
This year brought translation and a push into China.
Webtoon season 2 needed prep too.
‘Time to prepare the next work.’
Next work.
Not a webtoon.
Another novel this time.
He was already writing [Otherworld Chef], but planned to add one more.
He hadn’t decided what story yet.
‘So many stories.’
999 lives.
Each one a potential tale.
His job as a writer: adapt them to captivate readers.
First step: pick a material.
He’d narrowed down a few and organized them.
But couldn’t commit to one.
‘Nothing clicks perfectly.’
That was when.
“Um…… Author.”
“Yes?”
Han Seong-ho approached him.
“Are you busy by any chance?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Um…… I’m really sorry, but I’ve been scribbling a story lately.”
“Preparing a work?”
“Not quite a full work…… Just jotting down a story I want to tell. But I don’t know if it’s any good…….”
“Can you send it to me?”
“Yes? Oh! Yes! I’ll send it right now!”
Tae-seong brought it up first, seeing Seong-ho’s hesitation.
Seong-ho finally grinned and returned to his seat.
An email arrived soon after.
“I’ll take a look and let you know.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
He opened the email and checked the file.
[God’s Love (Working Title)]
Rough title.
But the genre was unexpected.
‘Doesn’t seem like fantasy from the title?’
Most guys default to fantasy.
It’s what they’re used to.
At least, not from the title.
He downloaded the file and read.
‘Fantasy it is.’
Not medieval—modern fantasy.
A story of a god falling for an ordinary human woman.
‘Romance fantasy, I guess.’
He sped through the 10 A4 pages.
And reached a conclusion quickly.
“Seong-ho.”
“Y-Yes!”
“Let’s talk for a bit.”
“Yes!”