Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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# 10
Again, Writer 010
Jo Jin-gu opened his mouth with a resolute expression and quickly pulled the contract from his bag.
It seemed he had prepared it in advance, as not only the contract terms but also the additional clauses were handwritten.
Riiip!
“Huh?”
But then Jo Jin-gu suddenly acted strangely.
He tore up the well-prepared contract in one go.
“I had prepared some original contract terms, but I’ve changed my mind. No, my thinking was too shortsighted.”
“Still, I’d like to take a look at it.”
Woo Ji-hyun’s gaze turned to the contract torn into four pieces.
He was curious about what conditions had been written on it.
But Jo Jin-gu just shook his head with a smile.
“How about full rights guarantee for your next work? I can’t promise huge print runs, but with incentives tied to full rights, I think it wouldn’t be bad for you either, Writer.”
“Full rights guarantee?”
A major change finally appeared on Woo Ji-hyun’s calm face.
He looked genuinely shocked as he echoed the words back.
“Yes. The print runs won’t be huge, but compared to getting royalties based on sales starting from volume 4 like now, I think your income would be much better. More stable, too.”
“How much were you thinking?”
“For now, at a level I can handle on my own, it’s 3,000 copies at 10%.”
“That’s not a lot.”
10% of 3,000 copies meant 3 million won per volume.
After deducting 3.3% withholding tax, the actual amount hitting the bank would be less than 3 million won.
Even so, it was still more than the royalties he’d start receiving from volume 5 of Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero.
The issue was that this wasn’t an outstanding deal by any means.
‘The rental shop market is plummeting at a terrifying speed, but S-Rank Writers are still getting 5 or 7 million won per volume.’
There might only be a handful of writers getting that much at Barun Publishing, but they did exist.
So the conditions Jo Jin-gu mentioned weren’t overly generous.
The reason Woo Ji-hyun was surprised anyway was that he hadn’t expected to receive a full rights guarantee offer in this market.
His name recognition still wasn’t anywhere near S-Rank level.
“Yes, but I think starting with this contract and gradually raising your value isn’t a bad approach.”
“That’s the standard path, sure.”
“Does it not sit well with you?”
“No. I know full well that deals like this aren’t easy in today’s market. And that full rights guarantees are becoming a thing of the past.”
Woo Ji-hyun regained his composure and continued calmly.
In truth, he hadn’t even considered the possibility of getting full rights.
He was a mid-tier rookie whose name had only recently come up with Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero—he’d never dreamed of such premium treatment.
But that didn’t mean he planned to turn it down.
“You’re right. Publishers want to minimize losses, after all.”
“And A-Rank and below writers are dropping like flies because of it.”
“……!”
Jo Jin-gu’s pupils shook.
He didn’t meet with many writers separately, yet Woo Ji-hyun knew the inside story too well.
Contract terms were an unspoken taboo, no less.
Unless you were close, no one talked about their deals, but Woo Ji-hyun knew it all too well, leaving Jo Jin-gu staring at him in surprise.
“Not to mention rookies.”
“……Yes.”
The rental shop market that had boomed into a golden age was now hurtling toward rock bottom.
Yet even in this climate, S-Rank Writers’ values hadn’t dropped much.
Even though publishers weren’t digging into the ground to stay afloat.
The reason they could still turn a profit was by squeezing other writers dry.
‘Back then, spilling contract details was a huge taboo. No one asked, no one answered. And some scumbags abused it.’
There were more than a few with the writer title who moonlighted as brokers.
They used their fame to make connections.
And then they’d hypocritically judge everyone else.
“So I was a bit surprised. I didn’t expect a full rights guarantee offer for someone debuting a second time like me.”
“In my view, you have more than enough value, Writer Woo Ji-hyun. Of course, convincing the President is on me, but I can do it.”
“Then let’s do one for now. Two might get you chewed out by your section chief.”
“I can handle two. Haha.”
Jo Jin-gu laughed good-naturedly.
Whether one or two, it made no difference to him.
He’d get an earful either way.
“If we sign two and your section chief jumps ship to another publisher midway, that’d be a problem.”
“Ah.”
Jo Jin-gu faltered for a moment.
He had no plans to switch jobs yet, but who knew about next year.
This industry was rife with job-hopping, so he couldn’t brush off Woo Ji-hyun’s words.
“So let’s stick to one for now.”
“I guess I’ll have to bring up a new contract next year.”
“I’m sure the terms will be even better than now. Heh.”
Woo Ji-hyun smiled confidently.
Writing Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero had helped him reclaim some shaken confidence.
It might seem worthless compared to blockbuster writers, but to him, it was precious talent, an asset, a fortune.
Returning to the past had left him with nagging worries, but now he felt somewhat reassured.
“Of course. If you keep writing like this, I can offer even better terms. The President will approve it, too.”
“Let’s draw up the contract.”
“Yes.”
The blanks quickly filled in.
The incentive cutoff in the additional clauses was even lower than for Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero.
Adjusted to match the shrinking rental market.
It might look like they were giving away the farm, but it still profited the publisher.
‘I’ll deliver the manuscript fast, after all.’
Woo Ji-hyun was confident.
Back then, the minor success of Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero had pressured him into struggling with his next work.
Not this time.
He could work faster than anyone, without dropping quality.
“Please take good care of me this time too, Section Chief.”
“The pleasure’s mine. And as I said last time, I’ll do my absolute best.”
“Haha, now let’s drink. The heavy talk’s over.”
“Now I can drink easy. Oh, order whatever you want. The corporate card limit’s still generous.”
The mood grew even warmer as the drinking session heated up.
A highly beneficial time for both Jo Jin-gu and Woo Ji-hyun.
* * *
Even after finishing Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero, Woo Ji-hyun stayed busy.
He had to get a gastroscopy and colonoscopy at the hospital he’d reserved in advance.
After discharge, he’d had digestive issues leading to a gastroscopy that diagnosed reflux esophagitis; he’d taken meds for six months.
So around the time Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero wrapped, he’d booked the checkup.
“……I have to drink this godawful stuff again.”
Woo Ji-hyun grimaced at the two bottles of bowel prep solution from the hospital.
He hated this stuff you mixed with water to empty your bowels before a scope.
The taste was seriously awful.
“Whew. Long run. Think about the long run. I’ve got plenty else to do.”
Woo Ji-hyun squeezed his eyes shut.
Succeeding as a writer was his top goal.
But he had zero intention of achieving fame and fortune only to die young.
Especially after dying at just forty in his previous life, he was even more determined to prioritize health.
“This is just the start. LASIK, braces. Long road ahead.”
Woo Ji-hyun had no plans to live and die solely as a writer.
One lonely, miserable life was enough.
This time, he’d work hard and play hard.
Life was too short otherwise.
“Life’s short. Even healthy people can die in a freak accident.”
Prepare for the future, but live in the present.
That was Woo Ji-hyun’s motto lately.
“……But seriously, my hand won’t move.”
He steeled himself, but his hand still trembled.
Not his first time, which made it worse.
But the scopes were tomorrow morning, and he had to clear his bowels clean by then.
“Whew.”
The scopes were one thing, but post-LASIK pain and braces day one were no joke.
Still, it was all for him, so Woo Ji-hyun hardened his resolve.
Quitting would be easy, but so would any chance of change.
“……Here goes.”
Woo Ji-hyun let out one last deep sigh and reached for the bowel prep.
He mixed the right amount into bottled water, squeezed his eyes shut, and poured it down.
“Gah!”
Soon, the hellish bathroom shuttle run began.