014. A Week
014. A Week
Tap-tap, tap-tap.
The sound of keys being struck was the only thing filling the room.
The steady rhythm of the keyboard didn't stop as the sky outside the window shifted from a pitch-black darkness, to a deep indigo, and then to the bluish light of dawn.
No, to be precise, he couldn't stop. The flow of writing granted by the Enchanting Writing Skill was like a stream of water gushing from an unfailing spring.
And for Song Jae-pil, experiencing this for the first time, it was impossible to stop.
The scenes rising in his mind were converted into words, the words formed sentences, and the process of sentences completing paragraphs felt as natural as breathing.
Before, he would spend an hour writing one line, erasing it, and writing it again. Now, in just one hour, his word count had already surpassed 3,500.
Three chapters written overnight. Text densely filled the monitor, and by the time he placed the final period on the last sentence of the third chapter, the chirping of sparrows signaling morning was already coming from outside the window.
He had pulled an all-nighter.
"Grrr..."
But strangely, he wasn't tired. His eyes weren't bloodshot, his shoulders weren't stiff, and his mind wasn't foggy. A sense of exhilaration enveloped his entire body.
On the contrary, he felt as refreshed as if he had slept deeply and woken up.
Song Jae-pil began proofreading by slowly reading the manuscript he had written from the beginning.
In the past, red lines would have been drawn throughout while reading, and he would have worried endlessly, wondering if this was right.
"Perfect."
This time was different. There were clearly fewer places needing correction, and the manuscript made him nod in agreement as he read.
There weren't none, but they were on the level of changing a word or rearranging the order of a sentence.
The time he finished polishing the draft was 9:51 AM.
[Subject: New Manuscript Chapters 1-3 Attached.]
Since it was already past the time the publisher's PD would have started work, he attached the file and sent the email.
After sending the email, he opened The Catalogue app to check the cooldown.
[Cooldown]
[6 days 16 hours 22 minutes 07 seconds]
There was still plenty of time left, but he didn't feel impatient.
"Next..."
Instead, he decided to make even better use of this time. The changes in reality would likely apply to The Catalogue's worlds as well. Just as the opposite had been true.
"First... I need to build my body."
He opened his phone's memo app to organize his plan. Things to do during the break between Catalogues.
[1. Bodybuilding]
Flexibility had been solved by The Catalogue. But he still needed to lose fat and build muscle.
"I have 10 million won, so I should register at a gym first."
Buying things with Store Points should be saved for when it's truly necessary, or for things that can't be solved with money in reality.
[2. Writing]
Anyway, a man's gotta eat in reality too, right? If he could make money with writing, he wouldn't need to convert Store Points into money.
Moreover, he had the Enchanting Writing Skill and his experiences in The Catalogue. His foundation was sufficient.
[3. The Catalogue Analysis]
He had skimmed through it roughly, but there were still far too many things he didn't know about The Catalogue app.
What kind of Catalogue worlds existed, what rewards were at stake, and what abilities were needed.
'I need to create an optimal route to break through the higher Catalogues.'
It was a task any efficiency-obsessed Korean ought to do.
As he skimmed through The Catalogue, Song Jae-pil discovered a few commonalities.
"It gives 1 Skill Point and 1 Store Point for conquering virgins. For non-virgins, it gives 0.5 Store Points."
Then, the points gained from the 'Fitness Scandal' made sense.
"Look at this..."
The difference was stark. Non-virgins only gave consumptive pleasure and a small amount of goods, but virgins gave Skill Points and Store Points, didn't they?
"Whether it's The Catalogue or reality, virgins being important is the same."
Furthermore, Skill Points were the only currency to buy intangible abilities. Meaning, to quickly expand his skill tree, he had to increase the proportion of virgin conquests.
The corners of Song Jae-pil's mouth lifted. The system was actively urging him to find more pure, more virtuous virgins and conquer them.
2 PM. In the afternoon after lunch, Song Jae-pil stepped out the door wearing proper outdoor clothes for the first time in a long while.
Blue jeans and a black sweatshirt. It wasn't a spectacular outfit, but since he had mostly been wearing pajamas up until now, it felt indescribably awkward.
Opening the front door, the warm spring sunlight poured in. At the same time, an old habit caused a momentary sense of shrinking, as if his body was curling in.
People's gazes, the noise, shoulders rolling inward...
"This won't do, won't do."
Song Jae-pil straightened his shoulders wide. Along with the sensation of his chest muscles pulling taut, the intense, primal memories from The Catalogue world swept through his entire body. Plus, his dick, which had grown longer and thicker.
He was no longer the old Song Jae-pil, wasn't he?
"Let's see... Those gyms I looked up earlier..."
He checked out the local gyms he had searched for online.
The basement gym deep in an alley was dark and narrow. The franchise by the main road was spacious, but the price wasn't cheap. After peeking into three or four places, he stopped at one.
"Mmm... This place looks alright."
It was a gym that took up the entire 7th floor of a building, about two blocks from the main road.
'Gym Atlas.'
Beyond the glass window, the interior looked spacious and clean. The equipment layout also appeared generous.
However, what first caught Song Jae-pil's eye was none other than the female trainer, Kang Seul-gi, featured on a poster.
"Phew...."
A tightly pulled-up ponytail, a white tank top that seemed to be covering at least a C-cup bust, and the thigh line showcased by leggings that looked ready to burst.
Even while consulting, her straight posture and haughty gaze reminded him of Cha Ye-rin from The Catalogue.
Half of it was impulse. The other half was rationalization that any gym would probably be similar.
Ding-dong-
Entering the center with the chime of the doorbell, Song Jae-pil received his consultation directly from Kang Seul-gi.
'The difference from Cha Ye-rin is that she has a puppy-like face. But a puppy face is good too. Cute.'
The facility usage fees, PT packages, operating hours. Kang Seul-gi's businesslike explanation continued, but to Song Jae-pil's ears, it just sounded like sweet background music.
'Can I measure up to Cha Ye-rin?'
Could he attempt to pursue this woman? In The Catalogue's world, the system set the stage and the rules provided the framework for the game, but reality wasn't like that, right?
'But it's not like I can't, right?'
Song Jae-pil sized her up piece by piece, assessing her value.
One thing The Catalogue's world had taught him was this: The strong are the sweetest to break. Without hesitation, Song Jae-pil pulled out his card.
"Let's register. For ten sessions to start."
Acting on that thought, he immediately registered for a 10-session PT package.
"Would you like to start today?"
"Maybe. My body's feeling a bit restless."
Kang Seul-gi asked, looking him over.
"Great! Then... shall we start with a light test to see what you're capable of?"
Her gaze was oddly businesslike and cold, but to Song Jae-pil's eyes, she just looked cute.
"Spread your legs as wide as you can. Don't force it to a point you can't handle, or you'll get hurt."
Song Jae-pil smirked slightly, stretched his body, sat on the floor, and split his legs to the sides.
"Huh... Huh? You can do that? No way, for a man of your height and build, this is possible?"
A perfect straight line. Jae-pil's form, with his upper body pressed flat against the floor, made Kang Seul-gi's eyes go wide.
"Most people struggle with even 90 degrees. Have you done dance or yoga before?"
Surprised, she approached Song Jae-pil. As she came closer, he could smell the faint scent of shampoo mixed with sweat emanating from her body.
"No, I'm just naturally a bit flexible."
Song Jae-pil raised his head and looked directly into her eyes.
Based on his experience in the Fitness Scandal, you should never let your gaze wander elsewhere at times like this.
"Wow... you're really amazing. Then... shall we try the next move?"
Kang Seul-gi momentarily held her breath. Usually, male members in such situations couldn't make proper eye contact, too busy sneaking glances at her figure, or couldn't control their constantly shifting gaze.
"Your strength... seems quite lacking compared to your flexibility. We'll need to build a solid foundation from the basics."
Kang Seul-gi deliberately spoke in a strict voice. But Song Jae-pil answered calmly.
"Then please help me a lot."
Song Jae-pil answered with a grin. His gaze was still fixed on Kang Seul-gi's eyes, not wandering elsewhere.
"This is fun, so fun...."
Having returned home, Song Jae-pil, while showering, thought of Kang Seul-gi and laughed, looking at his fully erect penis.
"In the past, I would've just masturbated...."
He decided to save it in preparation for the upcoming Catalogue.
Finishing his shower, as he was drying his hair, the cellphone on his desk began to ring.
Bzzzz-
"Huh? A call already?"
In the past, Producer Han, who would only contact him a day after he sent a manuscript, was already calling.
"Yes, Producer Han-nim."
- Author-nim! Author-nim!!
The voice from the receiver was almost a scream.
- What... What is this? I got so excited reading the manuscript that I can't focus on my work!
A PD who was usually tight-lipped was excitedly causing a fuss, saying it was fun.
- No, seriously! Author-nim, you truly are the author-nim! I knew you could write this well!
A flood of praise from Han Jun-ho poured through the receiver.
- Your previous work was clearly written when you weren't in good condition! This one is really different. The prose is alive.
"Ah, I'm glad you found it enjoyable."
- This, instead of sending it for review, upload it directly to the serialization site and see the response. The reaction will definitely come right away!
Normally, it would go through internal editorial review, there would be revision requests, and then it would be sent for review or serialized. He was suggesting skipping all those processes.
"Hmm... Then let's upload it once."
Song Jae-pil's answer was brief. He felt speaking longer would be awkward. In his entire author life, he had never received such a reaction.
His shoulders felt itchy, and the back of his neck felt hot.
"I'll send you the link after uploading the work."
- Yes! Author-nim! I'll be waiting!
But still, it felt good.
It meant that something he wrote under his own name was good enough to excite someone.