Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Again, Writer 057
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This is a work of fiction and has no relation whatsoever to any real names, events, organizations, place names, or individuals.
Chapter 21: Turbulent Times.
Jo Jin-gu sat down at his desk.
He immediately checked the internal company mail and downloaded the manuscript Woo Ji-hyun had sent—the piece titled *Maestro on the Field*, set to go up on Kakao Page this time.
"Hoo. Midfielder, huh."
Just from the title, he could tell the protagonist's position.
It was a straightforward yet somehow sophisticated title, and Jo Jin-gu nodded vigorously, thinking it was just like him.
Woo Ji-hyun claimed he had no naming sense, but in Jo Jin-gu's eyes, the guy's instincts weren't bad at all.
No flashy flair, but he nailed the intuitive ones.
Click-clack.
The download finished in a flash, and Jo Jin-gu double-clicked the HWP file.
Then he didn't move a muscle for over an hour.
"Whoa......"
From the moment he started the prologue of volume 1, Jo Jin-gu forgot even to sip his coffee.
He just kept scrolling with the mouse wheel.
*Maestro on the Field* had that kind of pull.
It was a novel that borrowed stat values from Football Manager—one of the three devilish games—and turned it into a unique system element. Seeing the numbers laid out so visually made it incredibly immersive.
The protagonist's uniqueness was one thing, but the endless growth potential was another.
"But the real strength is how easy it is to read."
Jo Jin-gu pierced right to the novel's core appeal.
He wasn't a die-hard soccer nut, but as a Korean guy, he enjoyed watching overseas matches.
He'd tune in for certain teams when they were broadcast on TV.
That made it even more engaging, but the biggest draw of *Maestro on the Field* was still its readability.
It didn't fixate solely on soccer, either.
"Fun, right?"
"Yeah, I thought it was a time-slip story."
"Heh heh! I told you it was fun."
"This one's got legs. It's fresh, too. But the real killer is how accessible it is. Even non-soccer buffs can enjoy it. Borrowing from FM was a stroke of genius."
Jo Jin-gu shook his head, still lost in the afterglow.
He wanted to dive into volume 2 right away, but he couldn't put off work any longer.
"I don't know the game well, but it seems pretty famous."
"The three devilish games are always Civilization and FM. Solid fanbase, too. How many volumes did he say he's written?"
"He's finishing up volume 3. Lots of research to do, so he can't speed through it. Leagues, team tactics, players, coaches—all that."
"Yeah, modern settings demand a ton of research."
Jo Jin-gu nodded in understanding. More than any other genre.
But this pace was insanely fast already.
Other writers struggled with one volume a month.
"Still, he's got stuff prepped, so the pace won't drop much."
"Bet it passed review. Just need to set a date now."
"Hope they lock it in quick, but looks like there's still prep work."
"Primary launch is ebooks, after all. How's Naver Webnovel doing? Seems romance dominates."
Once Kakao Group officially stepped into primary content, platforms popped up everywhere.
Everyone swarmed like bees to the honey.
Jo Jin-gu had been swamped lately.
Had to scout all these new ebook platforms.
"Romance is crushing it. Like the undisputed top dog. Even fantasy and martial arts are leaning heavy on romance elements."
"User numbers?"
"Not at webtoon levels yet. But steadily climbing."
"Need to catch up."
"As a latecomer, it's tough, but we'll do fine. Plus, they've got KakaoTalk. Ad reach is unbeatable."
No need to be overly optimistic or pessimistic.
In her view, Kakao Page had way more potential anyway.
Accessibility was on another level.
Smartphones had changed everything.
"Kakao Group's accessibility is overwhelming. Unreal. But there'll be an adjustment period. Even Naver hasn't settled in fully."
"Yeah, the writers are pretty rattled. Except Woo Ji-hyun."
"He acted like he knew it all coming. Ebook revenue splits, too."
"Guess I should ask him seriously. I'm his handler, after all."
Jo Jin-gu narrowed his eyes at her pointed emphasis.
Her words carried a subtle weight.
"The nuance feels off."
"I *am* his handler."
"Hmm."
She bowed her head confidently and scurried off to the break room. Jo Jin-gu watched her intently.
All he caught was her retreating back.
"Platforms, writers, and management."
Jo Jin-gu stroked his chin, eyes drifting from Min A-rang.
He stared again at Woo Ji-hyun's work on his monitor.
Thoughts swirled and faded in his mind.
* * *
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang, and Woo Ji-hyun hurried to the intercom by the entrance.
Two burly middle-aged men filled the screen, standing tall.
"Who is it?"
"Who else? Us. Open up. We know you're watching."
"Can't hear you."
Bang bang!
No sooner had Woo Ji-hyun spoken than the front door shook violently.
Kim In-hu had started kicking it.
"Open the door!"
"Jesus, that psycho."
Woo Ji-hyun shook his head at Kim In-hu's blatant disregard for the joke.
But he was smiling.
Drrring!
"Should've opened sooner."
"Hey."
"Kicking the door first thing?"
Woo Ji-hyun scolded as he opened up.
Their greeting was excessively rough.
"Kicking? It was my knee. Didn't want to chip it and owe you repairs."
"Man."
"Ooh, nice place. New build?"
"Hmm."
Kim In-hu glanced around the moment he kicked off his shoes.
Im Sang-min did the same.
Carrying gifts in one hand, they barged into the living room and kitchen without waiting for a guide.
"Why the full inspection? Houses are all the same."
"Checking for lady traces."
"But nada."
Kim In-hu and Im Sang-min shook their heads in unison.
They gazed at Woo Ji-hyun with eyes full of pity.
Truly sorry for him.
......Why are you hunting for women's traces in *my* house?"
"You're loaded, got a jeonse house. Weird if no girl's around. We're twenty-six already! Twenty-seven in half a year!"
"And you?"
"No girl. But intros keep coming. Problem is, parents keep shoving these 'setup' blind dates."
The fired-up Kim In-hu deflated instantly.
He hung his head and sighed deeply.
The mood sank fast.
"Still at it, huh."
"Parents are intense. Passed level 9 civil service—great—but now weekly setups. Both teachers, so yeah."
"Others would kill for that 'problem.'"
"Right? Makes me sick hearing it."
Im Sang-min clucked his tongue sympathetically.
It sounded like a first-world problem.
"Well, just date and see."
"It always ends in marriage, and they keep pushing. I'm the eldest, but I'm a bachelor forever. Date, sure. Marry? Never."
"No point talking to them."
"Sigh."
Kim In-hu sighed again.
Marriage was trending later, but his parents wanted it ASAP.
Sometimes he wondered if they just wanted him gone.
"Eh, go for it? House, stable job. Early, but maybe better for you."
"Agreed."
"What! You punks?"
Kim In-hu glared, ready to curse.
Woo Ji-hyun and Im Sang-min stayed chill.
"But seriously, why no girl?"
"Writing at home all day. Where's the chance?"
"No cute publisher ladies?"
"Uh......"
Im Sang-min's jab made Woo Ji-hyun freeze.
One name popped into his head.
His friends pounced like hyenas.
"Got one?"
"Oh ho. Spill. Pics? Close?"
Eyes gleaming, they lunged. Woo Ji-hyun invoked the right to silence.
No need to answer.
"Aw, didn't work out."
"Figures."
"This guy's turning wizard or something. You've got a girlfriend. Lend her a leg up."
"Friends crushing on her okay?"
Im Sang-min tossed it to Woo Ji-hyun.
He knew the answer already.
"No older women for me. Never dated one, never will."
"See? Same as you."
"Should I hook you up?"
"You? With civil servant girls?"
Woo Ji-hyun smirked back.
Even without him, she'd get tons of intros as a civil servant.
"Why me?"
"Writers? Nah. Not hot like idols, either. Most won't even know genre lit."
"True, but you're rolling in cash. This place alone tops 100 mil. Solid rep, too."
"Money ≠ stability. And you missed the big one."
"No hot girls?"
Like reading his mind through the nonsense, Kim In-hu nailed it.
Woo Ji-hyun silently thumbs-upped.
"Such looks-ists."
"You hate that?"
"Of course not. That's why my girlfriend's a knockout."
"When the gifts?"
Woo Ji-hyun eyed what they held.
They grinned awkwardly, like they'd forgotten.
"Haha. Got caught up sightseeing."
"Here."
"Toilet paper and detergent. Zero originality."
"Better than empty-handed. Books in the study? *Blood Link* was fun. Grab some while we're here."
Kim In-hu headed to the study—third door—without waiting.
Im Sang-min followed right after.
Free books were a must.
"Take what you want."
"Whoa. Killer workspace."
"Place is spacious, yeah."