6
ch 6## Mass Releases Are Always the Right Answer (3)
"Hey! Hey!"
Someone suddenly grabbed my shoulder and shook me.
"What are you doing?"
It was Jin Yongsu, the coworker who'd joined the company at the same time as me.
I answered calmly.
"What does it look like? I'm working."
"...Working?"
Yongsu looked at me with genuine concern.
I blinked in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just wondering since when the Finance Department started doing this kind of work."
He glanced toward my monitor.
Following his gaze...
I froze.
Instead of today's Excel spreadsheets and company documents...
A blank word processor filled the screen.
Packed with lines of text.
"What is this?"
"Looks like song lyrics or something."
"What, are you composing music these days?"
"...It's nothing."
I hurriedly closed the document.
Apparently...
Without realizing it, I'd been jotting down plot ideas and future scenes for my novel.
"Hmm."
Even I was surprised.
It seemed I still hadn't escaped the lingering excitement from the chapters I'd written last night.
"This is a first."
"Looks like you've finally been working here long enough to start slacking off."
The two of us moved to the break room.
Yongsu grinned as he sipped his instant coffee.
"It's not like that..."
"...Yawn."
Before I knew it...
I let out a yawn.
Yongsu stared at me in disbelief.
"...Did you just yawn?"
"Why are you acting like you've never seen someone yawn before?"
"Because I haven't!"
"We've worked together for years!"
"I don't think I've ever seen you yawn."
"Actually... do you even go to the bathroom?"
"...What exactly do you think I am?"
"I've honestly wondered since forever."
"We joined the company together."
"You even volunteer for pointless overtime."
"But I've never once seen you complain about being tired."
"Not even a single yawn."
That was a bit exaggerated.
Surely I'd yawned before.
No one could go years without doing it.
Still...
Yongsu continued.
"You know what's funny?"
"I'm actually relieved."
"You finally seem human."
"Honestly, I always thought you were a robot built by engineering geniuses."
A robot created by engineering prodigies...
Working in the finance department of a small company.
It almost sounded poetic.
Or maybe just ridiculous.
"So what happened today?"
"You've been distracted all morning."
"I stayed up late the night before."
"Guess it's catching up to me."
"...You?"
"Seriously?"
"Did someone poison you?"
"You're the guy who leaves company dinners before midnight because you absolutely have to sleep."
Back in finance high school...
I'd entered the world of numbers because I needed money.
But after graduation...
Finding work hadn't been easy.
People claimed finance graduates found jobs quickly.
Reality was different.
There weren't many companies willing to hire someone with only a high school diploma.
Even after getting hired...
University graduates earned more.
Promoted faster.
With better prospects.
I had no outstanding qualifications.
No impressive strengths.
So I came to one conclusion.
Become exactly what the company wanted.
A machine.
An employee who produced maximum efficiency.
That was why...
For over ten years...
I'd followed a strict routine.
Every detail.
Wake-up time.
Bedtime.
Everything.
Because it produced the best results.
But...
"...You're right."
Yesterday...
That routine had completely collapsed.
I slept after midnight.
I even overslept enough to miss making breakfast for Siwoo.
Today...
I'd intended to return to normal.
Siwoo hadn't asked for another mass release.
She'd actually forbidden me from writing today.
"Dad."
"You already released ten chapters yesterday."
"Take a day off."
"I'm fine."
"I enjoy writing after work."
"No!"
"Health comes first."
"Resting is important too."
"So today's an official hiatus."
"That's your reader's request."
She'd probably never seen me oversleep before.
No wonder she'd been so worried.
She loved my stories more than anyone.
If she was saying this so seriously...
She truly meant it.
And yet...
Here I was.
At work.
Unable to focus because I kept planning my next chapters.
"And another thing."
"When you were typing earlier..."
"You looked completely different."
"Almost possessed."
"I've never seen that expression before."
"What expression?"
"...Happy."
"...Happy?"
"Yeah."
"You looked like you were genuinely enjoying yourself."
"Whatever happened today..."
"You seem different."
"You yawned."
"You can't concentrate."
"But somehow..."
"You've got way more energy than usual."
"Did you pick up a new hobby or something?"
"A hobby..."
"I don't know."
I'd always written for Siwoo.
That had become part of my routine.
But...
After pushing myself for her mass release request...
Writing ten chapters instead of five...
Editing them all...
Everything had changed.
There'd been no need to go that far.
That's why I'd overslept.
That's why I couldn't concentrate today.
Honestly...
Even now...
My thoughts kept drifting toward tonight's chapter.
Was it because someone besides Siwoo had read my work...
And praised it?
Or...
Was it because of the breakfast she'd made?
"Ah."
"Right."
"Yongsu."
"Take a look at this."
Remembering breakfast...
I showed him a photo I'd taken yesterday morning.
"...Again?"
"You're showing me pictures of your daughter?"
"I already know she's cute."
"No."
"Not that."
"It's something else."
"...Breakfast?"
"Yeah."
"What I ate yesterday morning."
"What am I?"
"Your personal nutritionist?"
"You're reporting your breakfast now?"
"And why yesterday's breakfast?"
"Just look."
Yongsu frowned as he examined the picture.
"...What's with this rice?"
"It looks like rice cake."
"And those sausages are completely burnt."
"You actually ate this?"
"My daughter made it."
"...Oh."
"I see."
"Well!"
"Rice should be nice and sticky!"
"And burnt sausages..."
"Those are..."
"...Premium."
"Not everyone gets to eat food made by their adorable daughter."
"Exactly."
Watching him desperately backpedal...
I wasn't even sure he knew what he was saying anymore.
"Anyway."
"It's almost time to leave."
"Today's surprisingly quiet."
"We can even slack off a little."
"No overtime either."
"I wish every day were like this."
He stretched.
He was right.
Work had been relatively light today.
That was probably why I'd had time to think about my novel.
"So."
"What are you doing after work?"
"Going straight home again?"
"...I'm not sure."
Normally...
I'd go home.
Cook dinner.
Write the next chapter for Siwoo.
But today...
She'd officially declared a hiatus.
She'd also said she was eating dinner with friends.
There wasn't much reason for me to rush home.
"Then how about grabbing a drink?"
"It's been forever."
"Let's have one."
"...Sure."
"Oh?"
"Seriously?"
"Great!"
"I know a really good izakaya."
"My treat."
I wasn't allowed to write.
Siwoo wasn't home.
Everything after work had suddenly disappeared from my routine.
Since I'd have nothing to do anyway...
Spending the evening with Yongsu didn't sound bad.
Just then—
Buzz.
My phone vibrated.
A CocoaTalk message.
From Siwoo.
[My Beloved Daughter]
Dad!!
That mass release was incredible!!
It was seriously so much fun!!
I've already reread it more than five times.
Ahh, I want to talk about it so much, but I'm at karaoke with my friends, so they're giving me weird looks.
Still...
Dad's novel is the best!!
The moment I read it...
A smile naturally spread across my face.
Of course.
This was why...
Yesterday and today hadn't felt difficult.
This was why writing had become so enjoyable.
My one and only reader...
Was this happy.
What greater satisfaction could a writer possibly ask for?
At that moment...
The urge to write surged through me again.
But if I wrote at home...
Siwoo would definitely worry.
Then...
"I'm sorry."
"I can't go."
Yongsu looked devastated.
"Seriously?"
"Now you're canceling on me?"
"Getting you to have a drink is impossible."
"Sorry."
"I've got something to do."
"What?"
"Did your daughter tell you to come home?"
"No."
"I'm going to a café."
"...A café?"
"Why a café?"
I thought about the laptop in my bag.
"Most cafés have power outlets these days, right?"
---
Han Gyeongseon.
A senior editor at MoonStory.
And Shin Mijeong's mentor.
Recently...
He'd been watching his junior with growing concern.
Something about her behavior was strange.
Honestly...
He'd already been worried.
He still remembered the day Mijeong joined the company.
She'd been a huge web novel fan.
Her eyes sparkled from the very first day.
"I'll work hard."
"This isn't a company."
"It's heaven."
She'd said that without a trace of embarrassment.
In this industry...
Anyone without genuine passion burned out quickly.
Mijeong's enthusiasm had inspired everyone around her.
Seeing a new employee so excited...
Reminded veterans of why they'd started.
It motivated them too.
But lately...
Mijeong had clearly fallen into a slump.
Her energy had disappeared.
She no longer seemed excited about reading web novels.
"When your hobby becomes your livelihood..."
"Eventually you get tired."
Even so...
She'd lasted longer than most newcomers.
He'd honestly believed she'd enjoy web novels forever.
That's why...
He'd recommended joining the "Deep Sea Expedition."
Editors searching for hidden masterpieces.
Discovering an overlooked novel.
Helping it become a hit.
Nothing rekindled passion faster.
But recently...
Instead of improving...
She looked even worse.
"Excuse me."
"I'm going to the restroom."
Lately...
She'd been disappearing into the restroom far too often.
Enough to make him genuinely worried.
"...Sigh."
Eventually...
He got up himself.
A few minutes later—
"Hey."
"Shin Mijeong."
She nearly dropped her phone when she saw him.
"S-Sunbae?!"
"What are you doing?"
"...Using the restroom?"
"How many times do you go every day?"
"Constipated?"
"Irritable bowel syndrome?"
"Too much stress?"
Mijeong blinked.
Then her face turned bright red.
"N-No!"
"It's not like that!"
"Really?"
"Really!"
"If that's true..."
"Don't overdo it."
"People in the office might start looking at you differently."
Everyone else was working.
She was constantly disappearing.
Anyone would notice.
"...You're right."
"I'm sorry."
She bowed deeply.
"You've been absent-minded lately."
"I understand burnout."
"But are you really going to let yourself fall apart like this?"
"...I'm sorry."
"I'll pull myself together."
His words sounded harsh.
But no one enjoyed criticizing others.
Especially at work.
He simply cared about her.
Her passion had inspired him too.
He wanted her to regain it.
After a long silence...
Mijeong cautiously spoke.
"You remember..."
"What you told me before?"
"What did I say?"
"About how..."
"Sometimes..."
"A novel that's nothing but pure fun appears."
"Oh."
"That."
"Why?"
"I think..."
"I found one."
His eyes widened.
"Really?"
"What's it called?"
"See?"
"I told you exploring hidden works pays off."
"Well..."
"It's not actually being serialized."
"...What?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did someone submit it by email?"
"I..."
"The situation's complicated..."
The more he asked...
The more hesitant she became.
Finally...
He urged her.
"Just explain it."
"What exactly did you find?"
Mijeong swallowed hard.
Then told him everything.
"...So."
"Your niece has a friend."
"And her father writes novels."
"Only for his daughter?"
His eyes widened.
"Yes."
"My niece showed it to me."
"And it's..."
"It's unbelievably good."
The timid woman from moments ago had vanished.
She was overflowing with excitement again.
"At first I thought it was just another idol novel."
"But it's on another level."
"The concept of only becoming a genius idol for ten seconds is brilliant."
"The misunderstandings are hilarious."
"The protagonist's improvisation."
"The supporting cast."
"The character chemistry..."
Watching her...
Gyeongseon couldn't hide his surprise.
She had even more energy than when she'd first joined the company.
If this novel had brought her back from burnout...
It had to be extraordinary.
Still...
"The father of your niece's friend..."
"And he only writes for his daughter."
For some reason...
That description alone didn't inspire confidence.
Besides...
Idol novels weren't especially popular these days.
"Hmm..."
He rubbed his chin.
"And yesterday..."
"He even did a ten-chapter mass release."
"...Ten chapters?"
"Did he just dump a backlog?"
"No."
"He wrote all ten in one day."
"...What?"
"In one day?"
"Isn't he an office worker?"
"Yes."
"He wrote them after getting off work."
"Isn't that amazing?"
Could that even be possible?
Full-time authors struggled to finish one chapter a day.
Ten?
In a single evening?
"Then..."
"The quality can't possibly be good."
"He must've just rushed them out."
His prejudice only grew stronger.
Mijeong wasn't someone with low standards.
If anything...
Her standards were so high that they'd contributed to her burnout.
And yet...
One novel had completely revived her enthusiasm.
Just how good was it?
"Fine."
"Let me read it."
"I'll send it through CocoaTalk."
"I'm sure you'll love it."
She immediately sent him the manuscript for Only 10 Seconds as a Genius Idol.
He began reading from Chapter One.
Mijeong watched him nervously.
Wondering what kind of reaction he'd have.
A little later...
He'd read about five chapters.
Suddenly—
"Hey."
"Shin Mijeong."
"...Yes?"
"...Sunbae?"
"Have you met this author?"
"...No."
"Not yet."
"You idiot."
"Seriously?"
She shrank back.
Did he hate it?
But then...
He said—
"You should've contacted him and signed a contract the moment you finished Chapter Five!"
It was the highest praise he could possibly give.