Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Mysterious Sponsors
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“Aw, that’s a shame. There’s no night worker quite like you, Jaeyeon.”
“You’re really quitting? Ah, Han’s strong and diligent—I really liked that about him!”
I quit my jobs at the convenience store and Ungnyeo Steel. The convenience store gig wasn’t a big deal, but I got a decent severance from Ungnyeo Steel.
With the time I’d freed up, I focused on writing.
[Whoa! Galaxy has sponsored 400,000 Dragon Stones!]
[Not enough anguish, but decent enough.]
[Whoa! Omega has sponsored 540,000 Dragon Stones!>
[Too much fluff. Disappointing.]
“......What...... kind of people are these?”
The sponsorships weren’t on the scale of the Shine Light Hero Chronicle, but they were far from insignificant.
And I wasn’t the only one receiving them.
[Doobulsik Writer: I got a 53 million won sponsorship!]
What is this? I’m no celebrity—why are sponsorships like this pouring in...... My work’s been going for five years, but it’s no blockbuster......
The message was simply [Pretty good]. Three words brought tears to my eyes...... I was wondering if I could keep writing, and...... thank you so, so, so much!
[Phoenix: Dragon Shooter got 120,000 Dragon Stones—that’s 12 million won. Noblesse Oblige got 80,000, and Steel Fleet got 150,000 Dragon Stones sponsored.]
I came to Oryong Net and was shocked. I thought I was a pretty successful web novel writer, but this level of sponsorship is new to me......
My biggest hit, the one before that, and even my debut novel all got sponsored.
What’s unique is that multiple readers sponsored, but no work got sponsored twice.
We writers checked around, and it seems quite a few got them...... Wow, thank you so much, but what’s going on? Did a team of space mercenary elders return to Earth and start sponsoring web novels?
Shouts of joy mixed with confusion erupted across the novel boards. All because of these mystery sponsorship groups.
The amounts were beyond imagination—no correlation to a work’s existing popularity.
And my novels were prime examples.
⤷Noah: Wow, sponsorship ranking straight to #1! Is this even possible? Especially Shine Light Hero Chronicle—total sponsorship is 308 million won, and 300 million was from one person.
⤷ManaFake: Checked it out...... totally...... boring...... boomer novel...... Who dropped 300 million on this? Money laundering?
⤷JustSleep: Congrats, Killians! It lacked popularity, but it’s really well-written! Someone finally recognized its true value!
Shine Light Hero Chronicle, a total niche novel that never hit the rankings, shot to #1 in sponsorships, with my other works climbing the ranks too.
The mystery sponsorships caused such a shock that every community was buzzing.
“Let’s see......”
I browsed the communities, gathering info. About 17 sponsors hit novelists, totaling around 10 billion won.
“Wow, 10 billion.”
Insane.
Enough to pull a Mythic class.
“No, that’s not the point.”
I shook my head to clear distractions and analyzed the sponsors’ patterns.
17 confirmed sponsors so far. IDs like M-4, Galaxy, Omega, Alexander—no common threads.
The works were mostly serious, well-crafted ones. Amounts from 1 million to 300 million won minimum.
Mostly unknowns got hit, but some top hits too.
And once sponsored, no repeats.
‘Strange folks. Spending this much on novels...... Are they really elders?’
Elders.
The generation that survived the [Apocalypse Project].
Survivors who endured while most of 34th Earth’s humans perished in the disaster.
The Apocalypse Project killed most of humanity but turned survivors into monsters. Post-project 34th Earth had absurd average levels—diner ladies as Sword Masters, kindergarten teachers as High Mages.
A magic era with billions of completer-level powerhouses!
They enjoyed normal lives for a bit but couldn’t forget the boiling power and wars on knife’s edge, so they became mercenaries sweeping the cosmos.
No need to mention the fortunes they made. Mercs don’t work for free, right?
Over half of 34th Earth’s wealth is tied up in them, so dropping this on novels isn’t weird.
“Anyway, who they are doesn’t matter. What matters is if the sponsorships keep coming.”
I pondered briefly.
Decision came quick.
‘No double sponsorships per work...... Time to increase my output.’
I’d been hauling dozens of books in my carriage.
Soldiers might wonder why books in war, but these equal thousands of troops—military supplies for sure.
Bought them with money and manpower. Few refugees grab novels, but some do.
‘Then...... Start with [The Thorn King and the Book of Light].’
A classic tragedy. Lore Companion, bastard son of a Holy Empire duke, hides his fatal birth secret and ascends the throne.
Too bleak for popularity, obviously.
‘But my bros might recognize its value.’
They’re bros now.
Rich folks are always bros.
“Let’s see...... In real-world volume, about 6 books. A bit short.”
In Ardenia, it’s a two-volume upper/lower set. Long novel, but web novels laugh at that. Dozens of volumes are common.
That’s why I deprioritized single-volume epics.
‘But...... With sponsorships in play, this works in my favor.’
Stick to high pay-per-hour clubs, spend rest copying books at home.
Copying requires login/logout loops, so Ardenia and Earth time sync.
‘Ah, wish I could streamline this copying.’
No dice. Can’t summon non-items, no chakra spells for writing. Why would insular chakra practitioners make one? Not mages.
I could invent one, but can’t even multi-open, let alone grasp basics.
‘Maybe for the best. Gotta face Ice Queen from the walls anyway.’
Can’t assassinate the special boss Ice Queen like before.
Solo fail means encirclement death, so set up camp and lure her.
Then wipe her spawn point before respawn and push in—optimal.
‘Let’s check.’
I eyed my bank balance.
Free Savings Deposit (G-Bank 1173-5511)
70,650,009 won.
[Black Knight and Rose Princess] got 400,000 Dragon Stones. [Blazing Flames] got 540,000.
‘Shine Light Hero Chronicle was the outlier.’
Overwhelming in every sense. 300 million won in novel sponsorships—not normal.
Even with many writers sponsored, it stayed hot.
‘Sponsorships dwarfing sales. Not even a beauty BJ......’
Meanwhile, I bought 5 weeks of Nemesis stock. No crash risk at 10 million won fluctuations—easy buy.
Emptied the bank meticulously and started copying.
“Three volumes today......”
I updated The Thorn King and the Book of Light. 75 chapters took 13 hours 30 minutes.
Body fine, but mind exhausted—slept 3 hours in Ardenia, Star Gate for work.
Usual: manage club crowd, check dress code, boot troublemakers.
Near midnight, guarding the door, a flushed woman approached. Out from clubbing inside.
“Oppa! Oppa, what’s your real job? Soldier? Pilot?”
Sweet booze scent—drunk. I answered straight.
“Novelist.”
“What? Hahaha! That’s hilarious!”
She laughed, slapping my shoulder.
Skinny but bio-strength trained—mismatched power, but my body shrugs off beauty-enhanced touches.
She noticed, eyes narrowing.
“Wow, oppa’s body is amazing......”
Arm out, groping me. I let it slide—no need to embarrass. Common club prayer.
Then she clung to my arm, laughing heartily.
“Nice! Feeling it! When do you get off today?”
Sour smile at the nameless flirt.
“Oh, sorry. Jaeyeon has plans with me.”
A woman intervened, peeling her off. Glanced back—Star Gate’s top DJ and streamer, Scarlett.
Slender legs in hot pants, black tux jacket with crystal bling.
Outfit screams recent stage.
Flirty girl was cute, but side-by-side? Outclassed.
“W-what! Ridiculous!”
Firefly to her sun, the girl fled. Scarlett watched smugly, approached, bowed.
“Hope I didn’t cause trouble?”
“Nothing major. Still on shift.”
My calm made her hesitate, then ask carefully.
“Um, do you sleep right after work?”
“No.”
No sleep on Earth. Compress in Ardenia always.
Ice Queen prep urgent but not money-sacrificing. Plenty of ranger scouts.
“Um, then, could you spare time? If not rude, I’d love to treat you to dinner or tea.”
Overly polite, as always.
I scanned around. Eyes on us, but sonic barrier up—no leaks.
“What’s this about?”
“Ah, details over tea......”
“Summary first.”
She looked troubled. I didn’t budge, so she relented cautiously.
“Heard you do stunt gigs. Ever thought of...... filming a movie?”
“Acting?”
“Exactly!”
“Pass.”
“Ah!”
Heard it before.
Celebs, especially actors, make bank—but stars only. Lower tiers? Passion pay rampant. Tons dream of stardom; few make it.
If acting was my dream, maybe. But just for cash? No point.
Especially with bros sponsoring now?
‘Need more works ASAP—acting? Please.’
As I shook my head, Scarlett rushed.
“I’ll add 20 million won!”
“......Pardon?”
To my pause, she pressed.
“Separate from acting pay—I’ll add 20 million!”
“So...... you’re buying me?”
“Th-that’s!”
“Buying!”
“Aah......!”
I grabbed her frightened hand.
“Buying me! Spot on! Looking forward to it!”
“......”
I grinned at her blank face.
Class cards: 2,000. Pet cards: 2,000. Guardian cards: 2,000.
Or.
Two more Nemesis stocks secured.