Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Once Again, Writer
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This is a work of fiction and has no relation to any real names, events, organizations, place names, or individuals.
Chapter 20: Do Whatever Feels Good.
"Have a seat for now."
Jo Jin-gu offered a chair to Woo Ji-hyun, who just smiled without responding.
Then he gave a glance to Yeom Tae-seong, who was sitting beside him.
"Haha. I'll go order some coffee. What would you like, Writer-nim?"
"An iced Americano, please."
"Got it! I'll be right back!"
Yeom Tae-seong hurried down to the first floor.
He was the most awkward one anyway, and they needed to order drinks for the whole group, so he'd taken the initiative.
That left Min A-rang, who had no choice but to take the seat next to Woo Ji-hyun, looking a bit apologetic.
By rank, she should have been the one to go.
"Uh, I should..."
"It's fine, it's fine. Stay seated. He outranks me, but you started before him. And we don't stand on ceremony here anyway."
"Then I'll sit comfortably!"
"Heh."
Min A-rang's earlier awkwardness vanished as if it had been a lie, and she broke into a wide grin.
Woo Ji-hyun let out a chuckle at the sight.
"You weren't planning to go in the first place."
"What? You're attacking me before even saying hello?"
"No, but seriously, is it okay for you to be here too? Don't you have work?"
Woo Ji-hyun glanced back and forth between her and Jo Jin-gu.
Yeom Tae-seong made sense, but Min A-rang didn't.
Of course, given the publishing house's current situation, the lines between planners and editors had blurred.
"Honestly, I don't have much. No manuscripts to review or anything. I wish the other writers would take a page from Oppa. Ideally, a ton of them."
"I'm the exception. That's why it's special."
"You seem a bit arrogant lately."
"No way. I just stated the facts."
Min A-rang pretended to gag.
It was her way of saying it was gross.
Jo Jin-gu watched the exchange with a smile.
Such casual banter was a rare sight.
"Before we get into the main topic, I have one question for you, Writer-nim."
"Speak freely. You can drop the formalities too."
"Hahaha. This feels more natural for me. Oh, not that I'm trying to paint A-rang as rude or anything."
"We know that."
Everyone knew Jo Jin-gu was just like this, so neither Woo Ji-hyun nor Min A-rang thought anything of it.
As they talked, Yeom Tae-seong returned to the table with four cups on a tray.
"You haven't signed a contract yet, right?"
"Of course not. I'm still a free agent. Blood Link is being published, sure."
"That's a relief. Naver's been aggressively poaching writers lately."
"Makes sense. They wouldn't ignore what's happening with the Kakao Group."
It wasn't even worth considering.
Failing to keep tabs on competitors would be a massive issue.
That's why they were scooping up writers so aggressively.
"Exactly. They probably see each other as the biggest rivals. Naver got started before Kakao Group, too. It didn't make huge waves, though."
"True, they were first. But they've focused on webtoons."
"Right. So, I'd like to sign another contract with you, Woo Ji-hyun Writer-nim. I know you've been thinking about paid serialization. This is a form of that, too. Technically, it's web novel serialization."
"I'd like to hear the terms. Kakao Page must have their requests, too."
Woo Ji-hyun didn't decide on the spot.
Paper book contracts were simple—royalties and e-book splits aside, not much to worry about.
The secondary usage clauses were just precautions.
Dramas or movies could come out of nowhere.
But paid serialization contracts were different.
"We'd like to include a paper book contract as well. Rental shops have declined, but they're not negligible. Kakao Page is offering 10 million won a month base, with three updates a week."
"Splitting 6:4 with the publisher leaves me 6 million before withholdings."
"Yes. 7:3 would be 7 million. That's what I'm proposing, and the president approved. We'd just adjust the paper book terms a bit."
Jo Jin-gu subtly checked Woo Ji-hyun's expression.
Writers might see it as a pay cut.
But publishers had their side too.
"That's natural. Demanding the same royalties now would hurt the publisher. Especially after sales dropped below 1,300 copies."
"Thank you for understanding. I wish all writers were like you, Woo Ji-hyun Writer-nim."
Jo Jin-gu let out a heartfelt sigh.
No one else had ever said anything like that.
Most writers hammered their own demands, ignoring the publisher's situation.
That's why he was so grateful for Woo Ji-hyun.
"But the terms can't be too stingy. I'm a top-tier writer, after all. A reliable A-rank, right?"
"Based on what you've shown, S-rank wouldn't be off-base. Actual S-ranks aren't writing much anyway."
"A forced promotion, huh."
Woo Ji-hyun grinned playfully.
Jo Jin-gu wasn't entirely wrong.
But S-ranks did write—they were just on break.
'Once the web novel market booms and platforms grow, they'll flock back. That's when it really starts. The era of warlords.'
Having experienced paid serialization before, Woo Ji-hyun didn't obsess over his current fame.
It was advantageous, but not absolute.
What mattered most to readers was fun.
Fun meant popularity, and popularity meant big money.
"Not quite. Without skill, no one recognizes you. But you've carved out your own domain, Woo Ji-hyun Writer-nim. You're unrivaled among those in their twenties. Planners joke about it—the three lords of twenties genre writers, and you're one."
"Thanks. I don't write that well."
"Objectively, you're not fully ripened yet. But by performance, you're top of the three lords."
"Hahaha. Let's wrap up the contract talk. What's the paper book royalty looking like? Surely not dropping full guarantees?"
Woo Ji-hyun feigned worry.
But everyone knew it was a joke.
Royalties might dip, but guarantees wouldn't vanish.
"Of course not. Thinking about 4 million per right. Not like Blood Link's 8:2 split. Future ones might be tough at that rate too."
"Probably for the foreseeable future."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Talking to myself. So these are your bottom lines, huh."
"Yes."
Jo Jin-gu licked his lips after speaking.
A nervous habit he didn't notice.
Yeom Tae-seong watched Woo Ji-hyun tensely too.
This was the best Ryeoner Publishing could offer.
"Hmm."
But Woo Ji-hyun didn't answer right away, just staring at the contract on the table.
Was he pondering, or stalling?
"I-Is it not enough?"
"No. It's better than I expected. I held back to ask one thing. Did Kakao Page specify a genre?"
"They liked Blood Link, so no specific demands. They want your name and work. Plus, your reliability is unmatched."
"Even a sports story?"
Jo Jin-gu's eyes widened briefly.
Min A-rang and Yeom Tae-seong, listening quietly, reacted the same.
It was as out-of-left-field as choosing to write Blood Link.
"Yeah, I've got a sports one in mind."
"Hmm."
Jo Jin-gu's expression turned serious.
Woo Ji-hyun wouldn't pick sports lightly.
Especially after he'd proactively cut guarantees for better e-book splits when others ignored it.
A prescient move in hindsight.
So Jo Jin-gu didn't take his decisions lightly.
"Isn't it risky? Modern stories are rising with game fantasies, but sports is nonexistent."
"Not entirely. Joara had 'Football Story' serialized. It launched on Ready Books too."
"But it's too niche."
Yeom Tae-seong spoke up cautiously for the silent Jo Jin-gu.
Pioneering a minor genre could elevate Woo Ji-hyun's status, but high risk, high reward—failure would hurt bad.
"No, I think there's a shot. With your writing speed, if Kakao Page rejects it, just write something else. No harm done."
"Why not stick to safe fantasy or martial arts? Fusion's fine too."
"Normally, yeah. But does Woo Ji-hyun Writer-nim strike you as impulsive? Why sports over fantasy or martial arts?"
Jo Jin-gu's gaze turned to Woo Ji-hyun.
He gave a knowing smile.
Working together for years, Jo Jin-gu saw right through him.
"You know me too well."
"It's been four years. This is basic."
"True. I think sports is due to rise. Confident I can nail it. Kakao Page judges, of course. If it fails review, I'll pivot genres, like Yeom Deputy said."
"Understood. We'll go with that."
Jo Jin-gu didn't press further.
Woo Ji-hyun had always delivered.
Though his expression was trusting, he slid over two contracts.
Neatly outlining everything they'd discussed.
Woo Ji-hyun read them carefully once more, inked his prepared stamp generously, and stamped.
Jo Jin-gu, Yeom Tae-seong, and Min A-rang all smiled in relief.
One worry down.
"I'll sort the manuscript right away and send it over. Segmented as Kakao Page wants."