Chapter 238
Chapter 238
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: 78. Regarding Romantic Feelings (2)
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"Whoa, whoa. Let me see too!"
Gaeul, who had received the message on her watch, began reading the text on the 'invitation' aloud.
"To Yeoreum. We thank you for submitting your precious manuscript to the horror novel contest..."
As Gaeul's clear voice murmured the invitation's words, the atmosphere among the gathered kids gradually heated up.
Winter, sitting on Yoo Ji-tae's lap, turned to him with a bright smile. Yeoreum, who already knew the results, smugly patted Bom's back.
"...Furthermore, we congratulate author [Haircolor Broccoli] on their entry..."
But the moment the pen name appeared, Bom whipped around to look at Yeoreum. Yeoreum was gazing off at distant mountains.
"Nope~ Not my pen name."
Yet her mouth wouldn't stop flapping.
"Yeoreum."
"Yeah?"
"Wanna die?"
"Sorry...♥"
"Sorry gonna cut it?"
Bom seemed half-serious, half-irritated as she scowled—or maybe grinned. Yeoreum flashed a sly smile and cupped her chest with both hands.
"Wanna squish squish?"
After the New Genesis, Korea had become the epicenter of the horror literature world.
It was because Korea, in particular, saw frequent outbreaks of intelligent monsters, demons, spirits, and ghosts.
In an era when ghosts were mere figments of imagination, now many people encountered them in the flesh.
Even though they existed, these mysterious beasts—with so little known about them—sparked a new horror craze.
Moreover, with advances in magic engineering enabling perfect translation and interpretation, literature from around the world converged in one place. That was why horror literature—a niche genre globally—was receiving major attention in Korea, of all places.
Republic of Korea International Horror Literature Contest
Being selected there was far more prestigious than Yoo Ji-tae had imagined.
Out of thousands, tens of thousands of manuscripts from around the world, only 13 had made the cut. The final results weren't out yet, but it was reason enough for Bom to be thrilled to the point of disbelief.
"I seriously never dreamed this would happen!"
Gaeul held her spoon like a microphone.
"Author Yoo Bom! How do you feel!?"
It felt like some improv skit, but Bom—now in high spirits—beamed with an interview-ready smile.
"I feel amazing."
"You worked so hard on it, uh... what was the prize again? Anyway, think you can snag first place?"
"First place might be tough, don't you think?"
"Why? You wrote it so great—have some confidence!"
"You haven't even read it."
"Ah, hehe..."
Bom thought for a moment before answering.
"But yeah, it'll probably be hard. Someone who's won the last five years in a row, including last year and the year before."
"Whoa, really? Five years straight...?"
"Yeah. Super famous. You'd know the name."
Bom glanced back and forth between Yeoreum and Gaeul.
"No clue." "Nope, no idea!"
"No, you do. Carrot Girl. Ring a bell?"
"Carrot Girl? Oh...!"
Gaeul clapped her hands as realization dawned.
"Isn't she super famous? Her name's on like every romance comic!"
"Right. She's a romance novelist. They made movies, dramas, comics from her books... She's the most famous in Korea."
1.3 billion total ebook downloads across 13 volumes.
28 million physical copies sold worldwide—a sales legend. Korea's top active romance author.
Yeoreum didn't show it, but her flawless memory recalled the name perfectly.
How could she forget?
[The Landlord's Dangerous Secret]
[Author: Carrot Girl]
Carrot Girl... The author of that horror romance novel Bom had lent her a few months back from her room.
This damn writer disguised horror as romance—and wrote it so well that Yeoreum had snuck to Yoo Ji-tae's door in the middle of the night, wondering if he was a ghost.
She later learned the woman's name was credited as the 'scriptwriter' on tons of shojo manga.
"Hey, Yoo Bom."
"Yeah?"
"Why's that chick writing horror? She's a shojo manga author."
"Dunno. I looked it up—she used to write horror. Guess it didn't sell well back then. Hit it big with romance later, then came back."
"What a bitch. Smash her this time. Her writing sucked anyway."
As the kids chattered, guessing at Bom's prize and blooming conversation like flowers...
Winter, who had been blinking innocently in the corner, oblivious, turned to Yoo Ji-tae.
His gaze was hazier than usual.
"......"
By now, Yoo Ji-tae was a bit confused.
Bom winning an award for a novel? Hard to believe.
Especially since in the 6th round, he'd read her novel himself and had experts review it. He knew Bom had no talent for writing.
A famous novelist back then had said of Bom's work:
—She shows zero talent.
—Characters are dead inside. Plot's bizarre. Theme's gloomy with no real message.
—Especially the emotional beats—they're totally off. Laughs here, cries there, sudden rage. No audience will connect.
The Bom from then was the same as now.
So how could she achieve anything with a novel?
—Though some parts are oddly solid... Twisted writers with warped psyches have produced stuff like this.
Gaeul pulled a ghost face nearby, and Bom chuckled.
There was one difference from the previous round. This Bom laughed a lot more.
Living a normal life—had that changed her?
From her past as a shut-in to now, happily with them.
Something had definitely shifted in Bom.
"Ooh, I just searched it up. There's a Gold Prize."
Gaeul's eyes sparkled.
Gold was the best color, after all.
"Hope you get the Gold Prize!"
But when Bom explained Gold was one below Grand Prize, Gaeul was a little disappointed.
Still, Gaeul's wish came true.
A few days later.
Final judging wrapped up. A written invitation arrived for Bom's award ceremony rehearsal.
It listed her achievement.
[Haircolor Broccoli: Gold Prize]
Grand Prize went to Carrot Girl, but it didn't matter.
Bom clutched the letter, dashed to the living room, and bounced with joy.
The rainy season ended.
Late summer, heat finally easing.
At the Horror Literature Association building in Mapo-gu, Seoul, preparations for the award rehearsal were in full swing. A grand venue hall. Sedans glided into the underground lot. Acclaimed authors who'd won honors gathered in groups, heading to the ceremony hall.
Today was rehearsal. With international attention and some prestige, all eyes were on it.
A few articles were already out. Seeing one with Bom's pen name, the authors gossiped.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"This year's Gold Prize winner—is she a newbie?"
"Probably. First time hearing the name."
"Yeah, that pen name's so unique—you'd never forget it."
Laughter bubbled up.
"......"
Coincidentally, Bom had just stepped out of the car and overheard. Yeoreum, Gaeul, and Winter beside her did too.
Bom shot Yeoreum a sneaky glare. Yeoreum cupped her chest supportively.
Her smug smile was so annoying—should she just pinch her for real? Bom thought, then sighed and shook her head.
Bom's hair was dyed black. She didn't want to be a camera punchline.
Yeoreum, Gaeul, and Winter wore masks and hats.
"Hey, your hair's black—is that okay?"
"Yeah, it's fine."
"Hmm..."
"Nothing's happened yet. Don't worry about it."
Yeoreum smacked her lips and nodded.
Yoo Ji-tae wasn't there.
Something urgent came up—he'd arrive in about 30 minutes. Yeoreum found it odd for such a big moment, but Bom said it was fine.
If he called it 'urgent' now, it must be truly important.
Bom brushed it off casually.
The hatchlings headed to the rehearsal waiting room.
It was a lounge-style room. About ten of the 13 awardees were there, chatting with managers, agency staff, or family.
Pretty lively with the crowd.
As Bom, Yeoreum, Gaeul, and Winter sat in a corner debating Bom's acceptance speech...
A man in his early 40s, East Asian, opened the door. He chatted with staff, then approached a window-seat awardee and bowed.
"Hello."
"Oh, hi. Who might you be...?"
"I'm Carrot Girl's manager."
"Ah, got it. What brings you...?"
"Well, it's just..."
He explained profusely, sweating bullets. Could they possibly yield the window seat?
The awardee rolled his eyes in disbelief but politely moved.
Once the manager left, onlookers tsked and whispered.
"Here we go again."
"Heard last year's ceremony was legendary—almost flipped the place."
"That's tame. Her temper's..."
Carrot Girl's reputation preceded her.
Bom blinked, unaware—until...
—I said I didn't wanna come! I hate it!
A sharp, booming woman's voice echoed from outside.
Bang! The door flew open. A woman with orange hair stormed in on sharp heels, face twisted in fury. Late 20s, but superhuman youth made her look younger. Visibly pissed.
She was Carrot Girl.
All eyes on her, she huffed. Her manager grabbed her arm to calm her; she flung it off.
Then she snapped, whirling on him.
"Manager! Why do you always screw things up?"
"Ma'am, it's..."
"How many times have I said? Clear my evening!"
"I tried contacting them..."
"Do you know what that event is? Even five minutes late, and I'll be squid-ink faced. You gonna take responsibility!?"
"P-please calm down... The association said they'd speed up rehearsal..."
"Whatever! Go push them again."
"Y-yes, ma'am."
"I'm already dying without inspiration. Keep messing up, and I'm done writing. You think you're my only option?"
'What are you waiting for!? Go!' She bellowed; the 40-something manager fled, drenched in sweat.
She turned. The room's stares scattered. Another manager chuckled apologies around, then guided her to the prepped window cushion.
Tsk. Carrot Girl clacked over sharply, then locked eyes with the Yoo clan.
Even masked, presence radiates. Proportions. Eyes. Face shape. It all shot out like beams.
"What're these kids?"
She jabbed a finger at the seasons, asking her manager.
"Idols caught performing?"
The manager panicked, waving no.
"N-no! That's Gold Prize winner Haircolor Broccoli!"
"Oh. The... broccoli..."
Carrot Girl eyed Bom.
Scanned her head, then snickered.
"Tire..."
She spat it and flopped into her seat. The room subtly cleared space around her.
Silence fell briefly.
As she got lost in her watch, chatter resumed.
"Did that bitch hear herself...?"
Yeoreum muttered late, finally getting it.
"She just called your hair dye 'tire,' right?"
"Yeoreum, chill."
"Her head looks like a pigeon buffet. Rip that beak off."
Seeing the carrot-orange hair with yellow-red accessories, Yeoreum cursed; Bom had to calm her, saying it was fine.
"Seriously, why's that auntie so rude? Gross..."
This time, even Gaeul scowled that way. So unlike her usual self—Bom awkwardly smiled to soothe her.
"It's okay, Gaeul."
"Makes me mad, unni..."
"I'm fine. Heard from another author she's just got a strong personality."
"Still..."
As they grumbled...
The door opened.
Carrot Girl glared expectantly—hoping her manager. It wasn't.
Tall. Burly. Fierce-looking man. 'Ugh...' She grumbled, eyes meeting his.
She froze in her seat, startled.
"Sorry I'm late."
"No worries. Over here."
As Yoo Ji-tae handed coffee to the kids, Carrot Girl's manager rushed in to fetch her—somewhere to be briefly.
"Uh? Oh, okay."
She shuffled out hesitantly. Even as the door closed, she ogled Yoo Ji-tae openly. Awed, like beholding something profound.
Feeling the stare, Yoo Ji-tae glanced, then ignored. Turning, he saw Bom staring holes.
"What."
"Huh? Nothing."
"What. You know her?"
"No, just..."
"That's Carrot Girl. Total psycho."
Yeoreum's blunt voice carried loud. The noisy room hushed. A laugh rang clear.
The chuckler bowed sheepishly.
Soon, a staffer dashed in.
"Rehearsal starts in 5!"
After sending Bom to the stage...
Yoo Ji-tae stepped out briefly to call the Federation.
Nearby, an older man approached and bowed deeply.
"Hello?"
"Hi."
"I'm Carrot Girl's manager."
He looked anxious, servile smile plastered on.
"What can I do for you?"