Chapter 11
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: First Royalty Payout
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The platform's royalty settlements were for sales up to the 27th of the previous month, deposited on the 15th of the following month.
Once the exclusivity period ended and external sales kicked off, those earnings would come separately at the end of each month.
When Jin-seong said he was heading home—even though it was just a week—I felt a serious wave of anxiety. I even went through withdrawal symptoms from not eating the meals he made for me.
That made me write like a madman even more.
Back when I first arrived here, instant ramen mixed with rice felt like heaven. But that damn Jin-seong had gaslit me perfectly with his home-cooked meals, so now even heading to the communal kitchen alone felt depressing.
Anyway, today was the 27th. Today's sales would be split 70-30, and my share deposited next month.
"Holy shit... This is real, right?"
87,381,922 KRW
How many zeros was that?
Infinite Reincarnation had entered paid chapters later than Kunlun Return, so this was already impressive. Next month, the earnings would skyrocket even more.
In fact, Infinite Reincarnation's purchase numbers were higher now than on its first paid day.
Word-of-mouth needed time to spread naturally, and readers from other platforms were finally flocking in, kicking off a real bull run.
'Nearly 90 million won...'
As long as the novels didn't flop spectacularly, next month's haul would be bigger, and once external sales started, it'd be a total life turnaround from rock bottom.
'But this isn't my masterpiece.'
To reiterate, wuxia and fantasy weren't my specialties.
'I couldn't finish it before dying... so I'll keep writing until I do.'
I wouldn't feel it until the deposit hit next month, but planning how to spend it was fun.
'5 million in coins.'
That was only about 100 coins, but I alone in this world knew how much they'd balloon later.
'The rest...'
Money was just a tool to ease life's inconveniences. Back during my confinement, points had filled that role instead, but at the top of capitalism's pyramid, it was always cash.
'Distribute it where it's needed going forward.'
Coins were like savings—they wouldn't explode overnight if I bought now. Going all-in was risky.
I had tasks ahead, goals to chase, and writing alone wouldn't cut it.
Swoosh.
I glanced around my tiny room.
'It's just a bit cramped.'
No plans to move. I'd fully adapted to goshiwon life in a month. Nowhere safer, and once Jin-seong returned, I'd eat like a king again.
'The issue is everything I want to do is uncharted territory for me...'
From taxes to hiring people, to what to do with seed money for solid growth—I grasped the concepts, but diving in would eat into writing time.
'Can't just hire anyone.'
I headed to the communal kitchen.
'Jin-seong's not cut out for brainy stuff.'
"Oh? Hey."
It had been days since I last saw Ye-jin. She had a pretty face that'd shine with some effort, but she looked even more ragged than me.
"..."
No response.
'Something up?'
We shared the same pot, so at least a word...
"Hey."
Wait, is she calling me?
"Yeah?"
"That handsome guy... I mean, your friend hasn't been around lately?"
"He went to his parents'."
"Ah, I see. Sigh..."
She stared at me with sunken eyes, like she hadn't slept well in days. Then she shook her head slowly.
Hey, don't do that in front of someone.
"Got something weighing on you?"
"...Yeah. Who doesn't?"
She looked at me again.
"Sigh... Guess some people do."
Huh? Check me out? I'm no gaming addict!
"Lately... there's this person I really admire. They always give me tough love, like they're talking straight to me. I don't know what to do."
"Dunno for sure, but isn't happiness just doing what you want?"
"...Are you happy?"
Argh, I said no gaming!
"That person's got insane talent and works even harder. Never seen anyone like them. Makes me feel so small..."
Don't you hole up in your room too? Who'd you even see?
"Siiiigh... Nah. Sorry for rambling. Eat up."
I'd seen that expression a ton. Authors on my monitor lived in constant anxiety, impatience, despair, and torment. Miss a day of writing, and there'd be no toilet paper by next week.
"...Living for someone else."
She paused as she was leaving the kitchen at my voice.
"Isn't it ultimately not your own life?"
Even if it's your parents or kids.
"..."
Once she left, I whipped up two packs of ramen with rice.
As I was cleaning up, a plump middle-aged woman entered the kitchen.
"Whoa! Saintly Lady!"
I nearly bowed deeply on instinct. She spun around in surprise, realized it was about her, and laughed heartily at me.
"You're a funny one. What's 'Saintly Lady'? Some game character?"
Ah, even she heard about me.
"Eaten yet?"
"Just did. Thanks as always."
"No biggie. Everyone's just trying to get by."
"Coffee?"
"Sure."
First time seeing her since moving in. I'd been glued to my desk writing, but up close, the Saintly Lady dressed so simply.
"Too much water."
"I'll remake it."
"Nah, don't waste it. Ends up the same in your gut anyway."
She slurped the coffee with a warm smile, and I grinned back.
"Nice having company. When I was young, I suffered big time. Raised three brothers through school alone, came up from the countryside to slave away in factories. That's how I scraped together this building..."
Her face darkened.
"Not sure how long it'll hold out. Tenants with nowhere else to go... I'll manage somehow, but..."
"...Quit?"
It hit like a bolt from the blue. Goshiwons were everywhere, but I loved this place.
"Cancer. Maybe six months tops."
"W-who?"
"Who else? Me."
She laughed it off casually.
"..."
"Don't look at me like that. We're all dying someday, just earlier for some."
"Treatment?"
"On meds, but caught it jumping from stage 3 to 4. Just buying time now. Docs gotta eat too. Sold off everything but the butcher shop, but this place sticks in my mind."
Lung cancer, she said. Non-smoker—common for women from kitchen fumes.
'Up at dawn cooking here...'
I didn't know her full story, but it must've been a fierce life.
"Sorry for dumping that on you. Anyway, I'll hang on till the end, so save up and move somewhere better while you're young. Stuck here, you'll never climb out. And games in moderation."
A creaky 50-year-old three-story without an elevator. She'd probably endured as much hardship as the building's age. Yet she worried for her tenants to the last.
"Don't tell the others. I'll say it when the time comes."
The Saintly Lady left.
"Ugh..."
Back to my room.
'Don't wanna leave.'
Not just sentiment.
'Real estate's going up anyway.'
Far off, but over the next decade it'd trend upward, exploding around early 2020.
'How much for this building?'
Homeless myself, asking would sound insane, but from another angle, it suited me perfectly.
Prime Seoul location—subway a hike, but cheaper for it.
Best writing setup for an author too. Fix the wear and tear, some interior work...
'No one to scout it for me.'
Anyway, belly full—time for today's upload. Procrastinate, and I'd blow hours.
'Better returns than coins, probably.'
Argh, focus on writing!
'But can't I follow my heart sometimes?'
Not buying luxury crap!
'Extravagant, sure...'
Overthinking?
First time leaving an author's note since starting serialization.
"Ugh, preaching to who? Total boomer."
It cringed me out, but today it felt right.
BAM BAM!
Not a knock—the door nearly flew off. Kicked it?
"Bro! Still sleeping?"
Oh! Jin-seong! My Jin-seong!
"Back?"
"Yeah! Reporting for duty! Haha!"
His hands overflowed with side dishes?
"Tried coming yesterday, but Mom wouldn't let go. Stayed an extra day."
"Good call."
"This is for you. Mom sent it."
I teared up seeing him hand over the bundle.
"Mom packed extras after I talked about you."
Sob, world full of good folks.
"Eaten?"
"Yeah. Dinner together later?"
"Sure. Thanks. Rest up—you earned it."
"Haha! No sweat! Keeping infiltration-ready stamina always!"
"..."
Dead serious, so scarier.
As he headed to his room, I unpacked the bundle on my bed.
Rattled around, contents mixed, but a plain white envelope peeked out—like funeral condolence ones.
"..."
A note and 30,000 won inside.
Take good care of our Jin-seong.
One line.
Whoosh.
Tears nearly spilled.
"Mom..."
Gotta visit once paid. Definitely!
"...Thank you."
Tucked the envelope reverently in my drawer. How to spend it? This 30k held 100 times the heart.
Bundle was clothes. Not new, but they'd fit.
"Truly grateful, ma'am."
She must've thought long packing this.
"Socks too..."
Those were new.
A stranger, just from Jin-seong's tales, hand-packed this.
-That bro? Thought he gamed all day, turns out he's a novelist! Awesome guy! Eating all Mom's dishes thanks to him!
'Awesome guy' was my brain's spin, but probably close.
'Write harder. Even more than now.'
I reined in the emotions, honing them into my work.
"..."
Something snapped in her mind.
'What matters is an unbreakable spirit.'
A phrase that'd trend in ten years, but for her, raw reality.
"Siiiigh..."
Still lost on next steps. Bragging about civil service prep, but five more years? Glued to novels instead?
Gripping the rooftop railing, staring over vast Seoul, she doubted belonging anywhere down there.
"I..."
Heart heavy since spotting the author's note in last night's Kunlun Return. Sleepless.
"What am I even..."
What was the author conveying? Just escapist fun...
Then the rooftop door opened.
"So yeah, Mom says if you skip games, you'll make it big..."
Two guys climbed up, arms loaded.