Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Again, Writer
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“You might feel bad about this, but I’ll speak frankly from my perspective. Beating around the bush would just tire us all out. You mentioned Naver, but that’s not set in stone, is it? And there’s no guarantee it’ll even reach my turn.”
“…….”
Kang Tae-jin and Yeo Woo-jin looked taken aback.
Saying the lineup was stacked also meant it’d be hard for things to get to Woo Ji-hyun’s turn.
On top of that, the publishers weren’t going to sit idle when a whole new market was clearly opening up—they hadn’t gone bankrupt or anything.
That meant competing with the publishers too.
“In that situation, being tied down by a contract doesn’t sit well with me. No one can say how long the waiting game will last.”
“……Yeah.”
“Of course, from your perspectives, having one more writer is a win, but mine’s different. Plus, as newcomers, we don’t have much clout anyway.”
“You’re digging in pretty mercilessly, huh?”
Perhaps to lighten the heavy mood, Kang Tae-jin cracked a joke with a grin.
Woo Ji-hyun’s stiff expression eased at that.
“I know I might come off as rude saying this, but I think we need to address the key issues head-on. Better than butting heads over contract problems later, right?”
“True. Better to be open from the start. Things get messier later when everyone’s interests tangle up.”
“Sorry about that.”
“No, no. We get it—it’s disappointing for us, but understandable from your side. And honestly, if you demanded guarantees or wanted it in writing, we’d be the ones in a bind.”
Yeo Woo-jin nodded bitterly at Kang Tae-jin’s words.
Their feelings were a bit hurt, but nothing Woo Ji-hyun said was wrong.
He was inevitably lower on the priority list.
“Thanks for understanding.”
“But you think the paid serialization market will be the breakthrough too, huh.”
“Not just a breakthrough—a whole new market, a new world. The issue’s the timing, like I said earlier.”
“There’s talk of the Kakao Group stepping in too. Nothing solid yet, though.”
Kang Tae-jin said cautiously.
Rumors were floating around, but nothing concrete had emerged.
And talks could fizzle out just as easily.
“I hope they start soon. That way the pie gets bigger.”
“Yeah. God, I hope so. Let me taste some cash too.”
“You’ve already got a nice house.”
Yeo Woo-jin teased him—not that it was really teasing.
Unlike most other writers, Kang Tae-jin’s place was pretty upscale.
Thud. Thud!
While the two bickered playfully, Woo Ji-hyun stamped the thick stacks of contracts—three bundles’ worth.
With this, Q&D Management now held the adaptation rights for Dream And Fantasy, Blaze, Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero, and Asura Sword Emperor.
Slightly different from his past life.
* * *
Jo Jin-gu stared blankly at the monitor on his desk.
Like a statue, not moving a muscle.
Yeom Tae-seong, who’d been busily working nearby, tilted his head and leaned over.
“What’re you staring at so intently?”
“Hm?”
“Whoa? Asura Sword Emperor’s number one? Heavenly Thunder Sword Hero’s two. Three’s…….”
Yeom Tae-seong’s excited tone faded as his face hardened.
Woo Ji-hyun’s works dominated the top 20.
Three and four were Solar Chronicle and New Wind Machine Alliance, no less.
“Impressive, right?”
“Barun Publishing isn’t even big on ebooks, and they’ve got first place.”
“It’ll flip soon. Solar Chronicle and New Wind Machine Alliance are launching events.”
“No way.”
Yeom Tae-seong looked shocked.
Events meant rank shifts were a given.
“But the real shocker is he predicted this.”
“Woo Ji-hyun?”
Recently switched from Barun to Linus Publishing, Yeom Tae-seong looked understandably surprised.
Everyone knew now that genre lit was shifting from rentals to ebooks, but just last year, most were skeptical.
From what Jo Jin-gu said, Woo Ji-hyun had foreseen it ages ago.
“Yeah. You wouldn’t know since you just joined, but his adaptation rights cut is the highest among our writers.”
“Why contract like that? Usually it’s standard rates.”
“He didn’t hike his price but asked for a higher cut instead. Before the contract was even stamped.”
“Whoa.”
If true, Woo Ji-hyun had prophetic senses.
Or razor-sharp insight.
“With Barun at 6:4, he must be raking it in.”
“Probably a ton. He’s got one and two right now. Settlements hit in three months, though.”
“Ours too.”
“……Jealous.”
Yeom Tae-seong’s envy was genuine.
He’d gotten a promotion switching jobs, but not a huge pay bump.
So he bowed his head, thinking of Woo Ji-hyun—really, the money hitting his account.
“No need to envy. It’s only natural. You know how hard he grinds on writing? Can’t compare to regular workloads.”
“Still jealous.”
“If you’re that envious, write one yourself. Rental market’s dying, but volume strategy could still work. Publishers aren’t printing like they used to anyway.”
“Even that feels impossible.”
Woo Ji-hyun had churned out three books a month at peak.
Nonstop for half a year.
Yeom Tae-seong knew he couldn’t match that pace.
“Then don’t envy. Coveting the cash without matching the effort’s selfish, no?”
“Tch.”
He couldn’t argue with Jo Jin-gu, so Yeom Tae-seong smacked his lips.
What he coveted was indeed Woo Ji-hyun’s bank account.
Especially seeing him dominate ebooks too.
“Anyway, we need to lock in a contract.”
“No deal since Blood Link?”
“Yeah. Seems he’s eyeing paid serialization. Naver’s building a platform, Kakao Group’s discussing, Munpia’s rushing too.”
“Makes sense for writers. If the system’s solid. And Woo Ji-hyun’s beyond paper books anyway.”
“That’s the problem.”
Jo Jin-gu sighed.
They talked often, vibe was good.
But unlike before, Woo Ji-hyun was cautious.
Closely watching the landscape, you could say.
‘It’s natural, but the boss is the issue.’
Woo Ji-hyun was Linus’s star now.
Veterans leaving, even S-Rankers quitting— he was the most active.
Solid sales too.
So the boss was pressuring for next-work contracts.
“Heard from A-rang the finale manuscript came in?”
“Yeah, probably prepping a new one. That’s his style.”
“Think he signed elsewhere?”
Yeom Tae-seong whispered, leaning close.
Office walls had ears.
“Nah. He’d say if he did. Not the type to lie about it.”
“Haha. Haven’t met him yet.”
“Let’s set it up. You’re in Incheon too, right?”
“Bucheon exactly. His place is Mansu-dong, so not that close.”
Yeom Tae-seong clarified—not all Incheon was neighbors.
The city was huge, surprisingly.
“Deputy Manager.”
“Yeah, A-rang.”
“Call for you. From Kakao Group.”
Min A-rang covered the mouthpiece.
Jo Jin-gu blinked.
So sudden.
But he decided fast.
“Patch it through.”
“Yes.”
“Line’s yours.”
Rumors swirled about Kakao’s new platform.
Jo Jin-gu straightened, ear to the receiver.
“Yes. That’s right.”
Mostly listening, short replies.
But his eyes gleamed sharp.
Like a predator spotting prey.
* * *
Tap. Tap. Tap.
In the new home office—freshly moved into, powered by Blood Link: Lord of Blood蓄’s success—Woo Ji-hyun drummed the desk.
Vastly bigger and brighter than the old place, but sadly still a lease.
Unlike the older building before, this was a new villa—everything fresh, different feel.
Yet in this great house, customized office, Woo Ji-hyun’s face was grim.
“Next year. That’s when it starts.”
Naver Books app launched last year.
No big impact yet.
Nothing like their webtoon dominance.
But that wouldn’t last.
They were recruiting for webnovel serialization in earnest.
“Problem is Naver Books doesn’t fit my style. They’re all romance from start to finish. Fantasy’s romance fantasy, martial arts is romance martial arts.”
Even Munpia, martial arts heavy, claimed to value diversity.
But Naver’s identity was ironclad.
So Woo Ji-hyun ruled it out.
It’d drag top dogs down eventually.
“Not long now. Next year’s the shakeup.”
The moment he’d waited for was nearly here.
Yet despite finishing Blood Link: Lord of Blood蓄 safely, no next work.
Uncharacteristic, but he was calm.
Not out of ideas.
“Need strategy. Even my speed has limits. To ride the wave to mainstream, timing’s everything.”
He had name value now, but assessed his position coldly.
His level exceeded expectations, but he knew he couldn’t create or lead trends.
So Woo Ji-hyun thought:
If I can’t lead, sneak onto someone else’s wave.
“Two options first.”