Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Once Again, Writer
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Min A-rang suddenly jumped up from her seat, naturally positioning herself side by side with Woo Ji-hyun.
Even though Min A-rang was quite tall for a woman, she matched up surprisingly well with Woo Ji-hyun.
The sharp-featured Woo Ji-hyun and the soft beauty Min A-rang created a strangely harmonious pairing.
"A-rang, you're too good to pass up. Even now, there are plenty of guys stealing glances at you."
"Oh? So you're admitting my beauty?"
"I've always said you're pretty."
"You've never said that."
Min A-rang shot Woo Ji-hyun a glare.
It was because he'd only ever hinted around it—like saying there must be a lot of guys around her or that she probably got hit on a ton—but never outright called her pretty.
"Well, as long as the point gets across, right?"
"What kind of nonsense is that? Just because you say it doesn't make it true, Writer. How can someone who writes so well act like this?"
"Heh heh heh."
Jo Jin-gu smiled warmly at the two bickering.
It felt like he was watching a sitcom starring a fresh young couple right in front of him.
Plus, as far as he knew, both of them were single.
'Have I unwittingly turned into the Moon Old Man?'
Jo Jin-gu muttered to himself inwardly.
If he hadn't changed jobs—or if he'd gone to a different publisher instead of Linus— these two probably never would have crossed paths.
Of course, if it was fate, they'd meet eventually anyway.
"Manager, your look is a bit off. We're not like that."
"'We' sounds more fitting than 'us' though, don't you think?"
"Come on, why say that?"
Min A-rang shook her head with a laugh.
But her eyes weren't laughing at all—they were dead serious.
Unlike her words, her gaze strongly signaled that she didn't want the topic brought up again.
At that eye-threat, Jo Jin-gu chuckled and spoke up.
"Let's move to a better spot first. You must be starving after rushing over."
"I filled up on chicken breast for lunch anyway, so yeah, I'm famished."
"Then let's head straight there. I've got a place reserved."
"I'm looking forward to it."
Woo Ji-hyun's eyes sparkled, knowing Jo Jin-gu had surprisingly refined tastes.
None of the restaurants he'd recommended so far had disappointed in flavor.
And the value for money was always top-notch.
He picked up a thick slice of fresh white rockfish piled high on the plate and dipped it in the salted shrimp sauce.
Foodies swore by soy sauce with wasabi, but Woo Ji-hyun preferred the sauce just like this.
With sesame oil, minced garlic, and chopped green chilies perfectly blended, wrapping the sashimi and sliced chili in perilla leaves was pure bliss.
"Wow, this is a first for me."
"Most people go for vinegar sauce or soy."
"Yeah, it's a whole new world."
Unlike Woo Ji-hyun and Jo Jin-gu, who were used to it, Min A-rang's eyes lit up at this novel experience.
She'd thought the bold ingredients would overpower the fish's natural taste, but surprisingly, they harmonized beautifully.
And since it was live sashimi, the sauce paired even better.
"Once you get into this, you can't go back."
"Totally."
"You're already dropping the formal speech casually."
"Heh heh heh!"
After a few shots of soju, Min A-rang grinned slyly at Woo Ji-hyun.
But he didn't call her out on it.
The age gap was just a year anyway.
Plus, Min A-rang knew how to keep things appropriately casual.
"I heard you've decided to wrap up New Wind Machine Alliance at 10 volumes."
"Yeah, since it's a lighter story compared to Solar Chronicle, no need to drag it out."
"Wouldn't it be better to match Solar Chronicle's length?"
As he refilled Woo Ji-hyun's empty glass with soju, Jo Jin-gu ventured carefully.
With New Wind Machine Alliance's current performance and Woo Ji-hyun's skill, extending a 10-volume novel to 15 wasn't impossible.
He was a full-fledged established author with solid experience now.
"You're saying that because of sales, right?"
"Yes, by your next work, you'll probably break 2,000 copies easily."
"True. Unless it's a mega-hit, that is. And at my level, that's unlikely."
"No. With your talent, it's absolutely possible. We've seen precedents."
Jo Jin-gu shook his head firmly at Woo Ji-hyun's coldly self-assessing words.
Woo Ji-hyun wasn't quite at the absolute top yet.
But he was undeniably in the upper echelons of the current market.
Among his age group, there were only a couple of comparable writers.
"Luck plays a role too."
"Exactly. If the timing's right, I believe you could deliver a mega-hit."
"It'll be tough. Not that I lack ambition. Just being objective."
Woo Ji-hyun smiled and raised his glass.
But there was no bitterness in that smile.
His results so far were already miraculous to him.
Wanting more would be greed.
'It's not the right time yet anyway.'
Right now, he needed to conserve energy for steady progress.
Opportunities would come.
He just had to endure this year and next, the toughest stretch.
'The good thing is, I'm well-prepared.'
While Jo Jin-gu fretted over New Wind Machine Alliance and the next work's performance, Woo Ji-hyun wasn't too worried.
He'd been through it before and knew how the market would shift post-hardship, with web novels rising.
This was just a transition phase.
Everyone suspected it, but no one was certain.
"You can be brutally objective with yourself sometimes."
"It's the truth. Better than false hopes, no?"
"True, but it's scary at times. You seem more seasoned than me."
"You know my registry number."
"Haha, I only know the birth year. Gotta check the contract for the rest. Oh, right—I heard you're planning fantasy after the next work."
Woo Ji-hyun glanced at Min A-rang.
But there was no reproach in his eyes.
He'd expected it to reach Jo Jin-gu when he told her.
"Yes. Not set in stone, but by then, traditional fantasy should work."
"Like how wuxia has been hitting?"
"Exactly."
"How far ahead are you seeing? No, seriously curious. Will ebooks really take off?"
Min A-rang paused her eating to look at Woo Ji-hyun too.
She wondered the same.
Woo Ji-hyun's moves so far suggested he was convinced ebooks would boom.
"I think they will. They have to, so I can make a living."
"Hmm."
Jo Jin-gu furrowed his brow at the evasive answer.
His gut said Woo Ji-hyun knew something.
But rationally, it didn't add up.
A writer—especially one working from home—couldn't possibly track industry trends better than him.
'And he doesn't meet that many authors either.'
Woo Ji-hyun loved drinks but strictly separated work and play.
He wasn't the type to network much, which only deepened Jo Jin-gu's curiosity.
Where was he getting this high-level intel?
"This sashimi's excellent. So chewy and fresh."
"You're obviously changing the subject."
"I'm not."
"That's how it looks to me."
Sensing the mood turning heavy, Woo Ji-hyun deftly shifted topics.
Min A-rang glared at him with furrowed brows.
It was too obvious.
"I've said everything I can. Nothing more to add. I'm not a fortune-teller."
"So it's just prediction?"
"Pretty much. With a bit of hope thrown in. Ebooks need to boom for me to earn."
"You know you get the highest ebook royalty rates, oppa?"
Before shifting to paid serialization, ebooks had been his lifeline.
They'd explode later too.
Some preferred per-chapter payments, others per-volume.
"But my royalties are low."
"Not that low."
"Compared to 7 or 8 million won."
"Fair."
The market was shrinking fast, but S-rank writers' values held.
Still, Woo Ji-hyun knew even that would start crumbling soon.
Starting at Future Books, where most S-ranks clustered.
"That's why it's puzzling. You seem convinced ebooks will thrive."
"I'm preparing ahead. Just in case. And objectively, raising my value further looks tough."
"Yeah, that checks out."
Min A-rang replied cautiously.
She agreed with his assessment.
"But I need to secure other areas."
"Ah, that's why I have one thing to ask."
"Go ahead."
"Ever heard of Ready Books?"
As he naturally clinked glasses with Woo Ji-hyun, Jo Jin-gu asked.
Surprisingly, Woo Ji-hyun nodded as if it was obvious.
"Of course. It's the app for buying and renting ebooks."
"As expected from you. Plenty of folks haven't heard of it."
"I'm into that scene. Downloaded it right after switching to smartphone. Still small with limited reach, but high potential. Good market for writers too. Settlements are reliable at least."
Ready Books was just the start.
With smartphones spreading, webtoons boomed next, then genre lit took the baton—as web novels.
The app would grow into a full platform, and Woo Ji-hyun awaited this new world excitedly.
"True. But uncertainty's huge right now. Systems aren't solid yet. Ready Books has three sales methods: volume sales, volume rentals, and unlimited passes."
"You're wondering which I'd pick, right?"
"Yes. Hot topic among writers. Especially with your unique rates."
"I'm fine with any."
"Pardon?"
Jo Jin-gu's eyes widened in surprise.
It was completely off his guess.
Min A-rang next to him looked stunned too.
"Some insist on volume sales only. Say rentals or passes cheapen the work."
"......Yeah."
Jo Jin-gu looked deflated.
Somehow, since ebooks came up, Woo Ji-hyun had seized control.
But he couldn't argue—the guy had nailed the key issue spot-on.