Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Approaching Dark Age
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Chapter 17: The Approaching Dark Age.
Woo Ji-hyun poured soju into Kim Seo-yong's empty glass and spoke.
There were certainly lines to maintain even with friends, but that didn't mean he had to hold back.
It was better to speak frankly and apologize immediately if he realized he'd made a mistake.
'And just like In-hu's life changed, this guy's fate could change too.'
It was a connection he'd had to sever in his past life out of necessity, but there was no guarantee he'd have to do the same this time.
That's why Woo Ji-hyun had readily agreed when Kim Seo-yong suggested they meet.
"Do you know how Sung-hwan's been doing?"
"Well, I haven't heard anything specific."
"He really seems to just be writing at home."
"To make a living, you have to grind away at it. You have to live diligently to change your fate. If you live half-heartedly, you'll only get a half-hearted life."
"Not everyone can do that."
Kim Seo-yong let out a quiet sigh.
He knew that too.
But there were plenty of cases where people knew but couldn't manage it.
Not everyone had persistence, grit, or firm resolve.
'In a way, patience and effort are talents too.'
Kim Seo-yong looked at Woo Ji-hyun with wavering eyes.
He'd always been a hardworking friend even before.
Doing two jobs since his early twenties wasn't ordinary.
Woo Ji-hyun was always pondering, thinking, and planning for the future.
'But not everyone is like that.'
A bitter look crossed Kim Seo-yong's face.
The more successful his friend Woo Ji-hyun became, the more he felt it.
But every time, he realized that effort was part of talent too.
"You're right. But what I mean is that everyone has to do their best in their own way."
"I know. That's why I'm not mad."
"You have a needlessly good personality."
"I'll pass on empty flattery."
Kim Seo-yong clinked glasses with Woo Ji-hyun's offered shot, saying it seriously.
Then, with his face flushed red, he hurriedly picked up a piece of galbi.
"How's Sung-hwan doing?"
"He's writing diligently in his own way, from what I hear. The results aren't great, though. He complains to me almost every day. Says he doesn't know why his views aren't coming in."
"Khuk khuk!"
Kim Seo-yong glanced at Woo Ji-hyun as he spoke.
But Woo Ji-hyun pretended not to hear and just grilled the meat.
Im Sang-min, on the other hand, chuckled as if he fully understood.
"He seems to be living a life of drinking and writing every day."
"A job seeker who's got money for booze?"
"He knows a lot of older guys and has plenty of friends."
"Same as always."
Im Sang-min shrugged.
He said it was tough, but to him, it looked like he was doing just fine.
And he recalled something Woo Ji-hyun had said offhand before.
That Yoon Sung-hwan lacked desperation.
"So here's the thing, Ji-hyun. Can't you help him out a bit? Honestly, I'm just a regular reader, but you're a top-tier writer."
"Not top-tier. Generously, upper A-rank? And that's by pushing volume."
"Sung-hwan can't even debut. Debut? He can't even get contacted."
Kim Seo-yong opened his mouth in a subtle tone.
He kept glancing at Woo Ji-hyun.
"If he can't get contacted, there's probably a reason."
"So that's why you should help him, right? You're a total pro in this field."
"Me? Why?"
"Uh... because you're friends?"
Woo Ji-hyun smiled as he answered, then suddenly turned serious.
Kim Seo-yong blinked in confusion.
"Friends? Hahaha. Does that guy even think of me as a friend? No, even assuming he does. Would he even listen to my advice? I don't think so."
"But it's advice from an established writer. Wouldn't he listen?"
"See? You know it too. So why are you asking me to help? You know his personality well. And going back to basics—Yoon Sung-hwan wouldn't have said that crap at Han-saem's wedding if he really thought of me as a friend."
"......"
Kim Seo-yong had no words in response to Woo Ji-hyun's sharp words.
He knew he was extremely self-centered.
And though he always cried about loyalty and righteousness, Yoon Sung-hwan rarely showed up when it mattered.
"Want one last thing? This is what Yoon Sung-hwan told you to do, right? To probe subtly. Of course, he wouldn't have asked outright. But the nuance was there."
Flinch!
Kim Seo-yong flinched for a moment.
He never dreamed Woo Ji-hyun would know.
Im Sang-min was surprised by the reaction too.
"H-How did you know?"
"Have you only known Yoon Sung-hwan for a year or two? I can tell at a glance."
Woo Ji-hyun smirked and raised his soju glass, as if no further explanation was needed.
He'd shot him down sharply, but he couldn't help the bitterness he felt.
It made him think again that people don't change.
'People don't change easily. If they were going to, they would have already.'
He downed soju after soju to soothe the bitterness deep in his chest, when Im Sang-min offered his glass.
Join me, don't drink alone.
But Kim Seo-yong didn't join their toast.
"You've really changed a lot."
"I haven't changed. I've just become honest."
"To me, it looks like you've changed completely."
"What about you?"
Woo Ji-hyun glanced at Kim Seo-yong, who stared at him with intensely shaking eyes, then looked at Im Sang-min.
Surprisingly, Im Sang-min was sharp in moments like this.
And unlike his personality, he handled relationships fairly well.
The problem was that once this guy flipped his lid, there was no stopping him.
"One vote for 'just become honest.' Before, you thought too much and didn't voice your thoughts well."
"Damn. Only Gu-ddo understands Jang-ddo's heart, huh."
"Jang-ddo? Now it's Man-ddo."
Woo Ji-hyun corrected Kim Seo-yong.
He was now a full-fledged Mansudong resident.
"Two Man-ddos. This neighborhood really is dangerous."
"No way. It's just gotten more character."
"Is a dark cloud approaching Incheon...?"
Im Sang-min raised his glass, gazing into the distance.
His empty glass was suddenly full of soju.
"Reading wuxia has made your speech weird."
"Speaking of, how's the copyright enforcement going? It's been all the buzz lately."
"I'm doing it too. It's keeping me busy. Suspects wanting settlements call nonstop. I feel like hiring a personal lawyer. They cry and beg, saying sorry, but it's all about money. They try to lowball the settlement. But since it's with Munpia, I can't go too low."
"So they don't go after other writers using your name?"
Im Sang-min saw right through his intentions.
As expected, he was sharp when it came to money.
"What do you mean?"
"It means the guy I caught has hit other writers too."
"Ah!"
Kim Seo-yong, who hadn't grasped it, smacked his forehead at Woo Ji-hyun's explanation.
Being young, he was clueless about these things.
Woo Ji-hyun knew because he'd been through it; otherwise, he wouldn't know the ins and outs.
"That must be stressful. It's not like haggling over prices."
"Exactly. It feels like they're haggling over my kids. I feel like the bad guy. I'm just exercising my rights. They're the ones who infringed."
"I heard if you don't settle, it goes on your record. So public servants can't even get support."
"Oh, you know your stuff."
"I hear a lot. Got tons of colleagues and friends online."
Im Sang-min shrugged proudly.
He hadn't studied well due to sports in high school, but he wasn't ignorant.
He read news articles online more diligently than anyone and kept up with the world.
"Gaming world's pretty good too. Lots of hermits. But the biggest change is this."
As soon as Woo Ji-hyun pulled it out, he showed off the Samsung Electronics smartphone he'd just bought.
Early on, the unfamiliar touch interface had slowed adoption, but it was spreading fast now.
Of course, many bought them for free KakaoTalk over paid texts.
KakaoTalk! KakaoTalk!
And right when he showed the smartphone to the two guys, a KakaoTalk came in.
Their eyes went wide.
"Who was that just now?"
"The pic was super pretty."
"Huh?"
Woo Ji-hyun pushed away the two guys charging at him with red eyes and checked KakaoTalk.
Then he answered nonchalantly.
"You bastard! Making money and meeting girls!"
"Beat his ass."
"Nah, it's my editor."
"A guy?"
Im Sang-min's face fell instantly.
He seemed to have a preconception that editors were men.
But Woo Ji-hyun saw no need to correct him.
"Won't you guys set me up since you're doing well?"
"Your standards are too high."
"No girls around us meet your criteria."
The two jumped in right after Woo Ji-hyun spoke.
It was perfect defense, like they'd rehearsed.
Woo Ji-hyun ended up chuckling.
"You guys have no conscience."
"Your standards are too high."
"Agreed."
Trivial banter filled the table again.
As empty bottles piled up—one, two—they all got drunk.
* * *
The new year of 2011 dawned.
But the genre literature publishing market's mood grew darker.
Even though it should have been full of hope and anticipation, publishers were tearing their hair out over rental shops closing left and right.
The bigger problem was talented writers leaving the market.
With such low royalties, they stopped writing and sought other paths.
"Hoo."
Talented rookies should enter, grow the market, and bring in more rookies in a virtuous cycle—but the genre market was going the opposite way.
As the market shrank, writers left, and no new ones emerged.
Jo Jin-gu could only sigh at the rapidly shrinking market.
Publishers might soon resort to layoffs.
"And my first kid is coming soon..."
After three years of marriage, learning of the baby was like owning the world.
He'd waited so long; the joy was immense.
But it was fleeting.
Reality hit, and darkness loomed.
"Is something wrong? You don't look good."
"Ah, just thinking about publishing. The market's shrinking every year."
Min A-rang, back from the bathroom, sat in front of him.
Worry filled her eyes.
"They say this year might break 2,000. Maybe down to 1,000 next year."
"The closures are brutally fast."