Chapter 14
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Webtoon
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Webtoons.
To put it simply, they're comics serialized online, not on paper.
Sounds like a play on words, right? Even ten years from now, when apps take over from the web, they'll still be called webtoons.
Web novels are the same. Right now, people call them genre fiction, fantasy novels, or litRPGs, but in ten years, it'll all just be "web novels."
Put in the shading properly! Because of Author 28, we're losing a whole week!
Sorry... I caught a cold...
Who here isn't sick!
The webtoon team flickered into my mind. I'd written web novels solo, but the webtoon crew was always on edge. No matter how well I did, if a team member screwed up, it all fell apart.
'This isn't their golden age yet, but a webtoon renaissance is coming soon.'
Our webtoons' destructive power had surpassed even web novels, dominating not just Korea but the world.
People who once thought comics meant Japan or America would casually mention Korean webtoons ten years later.
'Their division of labor isn't perfect yet.'
I'd watched two webtoon teams pour their souls and bodies into weekly deadlines.
I couldn't draw myself, but I knew how webtoons were made and what they needed.
'Time to get ready?'
Webtoons took way longer physically than web novels. But once produced, their accessibility to the masses was several times greater. People skipped books but everyone read comics.
'I've got the original work covered, so with adapters for storyboards, artists, colorists, background artists, and post-processing editors, we could get started.'
Full specialization would ramp up costs and manpower for top quality, but we didn't need that yet.
'Five people, maybe.'
An old memory surfaced.
Impressive. Took me four years to earn a meal voucher. Congrats!
Thank you! Thanks, everyone!
Two years after the webtoon team launched, they'd collectively earned meal vouchers.
Curiosity struck, so I'd asked.
What's the most important thing in webtoons?
He'd replied.
Direction and artwork. Master those, and you're set.
He'd said it casually, but nothing worthwhile was easy. They'd worked with manic intensity, pouring their souls into it daily, and their final products even impressed me.
"Hmm."
On a whim, I browsed the webtoon market. Black-and-white strips and four-panel comics were still common.
But as the market grew, platforms and creators would compete fiercely, and only big-budget webtoons would survive.
"Even a temple dog learns rhapsody in three years. I can't draw, but I know how it's done."
Creativity comes from imitation. The team leader knew that well, always sharing trending webtoons and novels with us.
Looking back, those might've gotten us through tough times.
But I couldn't do everything today.
I stood from my chair and headed to the kitchenette.
"Bro!"
"Author!"
"......"
I shot Jin-seong a look.
'What's with her?'
'No idea.'
She wore a black skirt suit, stockings, and her hair slicked back in a perfect bun—not a strand out of place.
She looked straight out of a studio...
"Job interview?"
"No."
Ye-jin stared at me with her big, intense eyes.
"I've tallied the rent for the month! Here to report!"
Ah, first of the month already? Goshiwon rent was prepaid—too many midnight runners.
"Total 28 residents! Excluding the three holdouts, all 25 have paid up!"
"......Everyone paid?"
"I collected every bit!"
"......No violence, right?"
"All smooth!"
Mom, she's even wearing makeup.
"G-Good work."
She didn't seem like the Ye-jin I knew. She belonged in a corporate secretary's office...
"W-Wow, Ye-jin, you clean up nice."
Thwack!
The ladle smacked Jin-seong's crown.
"This is sacred meeting time. Even the Security Chief bears the weight of duty—cut the jokes."
"Sorry."
Jin-seong dropped to his knees, grinning at "Security Chief."
'Playing house?'
At least the rent was in—relief.
"Entrance, first-floor hall, and stairs to the second done. But we're short-staffed. Requesting manpower approval, Author."
Ye-jin eyed Jin-seong. 'Manpower' was obvious.
"Hey, isn't cleaning your job?!"
Crack!
Ladle struck again. Spy-hunter couldn't dodge?
"I clean, but heavy furniture's beyond me. Decades of dust in the cracks—bad for your health, Author."
"So your room's spotless?"
Whoosh!
Oho, dodged that one.
I smiled at Ye-jin.
"Can't rush it all in a day. Take it easy. I'll help if needed."
"No. If you strain yourself lifting, that's a national loss. It's our job."
"Ha? 'Our job'? Watch it—I’m my mom’s precious baby too!"
Swish-swish!
Dodged the combo nicely.
"Enough. Sit."
Didn't peg Ye-jin for the immersion type.
She knelt primly, composed.
"Cleaning's great, all good, but pushing too hard might rub residents wrong. Keep it low-key. Little by little."
"Ahhh... Didn't think of that."
Ye-jin pouted.
"Not that serious."
I chuckled.
"Wanna grab beers? Chimaek call?"
"Woooo! Chiiimaek cooool!"
Ye-jin matched Jin-seong's spring-up speed.
"Soju if you want, Author!"
That's what you want.
Ten minutes down from the goshiwon was a small bustling strip. Bus stop nearby with pubs, a pharmacy in sight.
"One fry-up, one seasoned! And five hundred-cc drafts!"
At the pub, Ye-jin's persona melted away.
"Author, no writing today?"
"Nah, got a stockpile."
"Whoa... Serializing and stockpiling?"
"Stuff happens. And just call me bro. Feels weird."
"B-Bro? Even for you, Author, that's too much. I'll stick with Author."
"......Fine."
She's as set in her ways as Jin-seong. No point fighting it.
-To our Happiness Goshiwon!
Glasses clinked; cool beer down the hatch.
Jin-seong said,
"First time all three out drinking, huh?"
Ye-jin and I had grabbed some before.
"Yeah. Nice."
A smile crept up. Ten years caged—my only "friends" were monitor-bound authors. Now, people to share drinks with.
"Bro, when'd you start writing?"
"About ten years."
Ye-jin lit up.
"That long? Legend!"
"Middle school?"
Not quite, but whatever...
Chicken arrived.
"Eat up—more if needed."
"Hail the lord! Building Owner supreme!"
Jin-seong snatched a drumstick. Instant karma.
Thud.
Ye-jin's hands looked vicious.
"Ow, why!"
"'Lord' my foot—why're you grabbing drumsticks?"
Eyes devouring Jin-seong, she offered me one with a grin.
"For you, Author."
"Uh, s-sure."
I took it reluctantly; Jin-seong got serious.
"You taking the last one?"
"Nah, I like breast."
"Then why hit me!"
He could've had it anyway.
"Army vet with no hierarchy? Author’s sitting quiet—know your place."
"Huh, true."
Ye-jin's logic was airtight.
'Drill sergeant vibes.'
Her personality would run the goshiwon smooth.
"Mmm, tasty spot!"
Jin-seong beamed; I'd inhaled three pieces already.
Whoa! Half seasoned, half fried!
A nostalgic pang. I'd suffered for one back then—now, money bought endless.
"......"
Throat tight, I chugged beer. Ye-jin asked softly,
"Author, something bothering you?"
"Hm? Nah."
"You look pale. Work stress?"
"That obvious? Haha, not the novel—other stuff."
"What? Goshiwon? Anything but money, I can handle! Ledgers done, just cleaning left!"
Poetry's a lost cause, then?
Her blazing eyes on me, I said,
"Thinking of making a webtoon."
"Webtoon?"
Ye-jin blinked,
"What's that?"
Jin-seong truly clueless.
"You don't know webtoons?"
"Should I?"
Ye-jin speechless too. Not mainstream yet.
Then she gasped.
"Kunlun Return as a webtoon?"
"Yeah, starting there. If it hits, Infinite Reincarnation next."
"Ooooh! Gotta see it!"
"Needs a team. Minimum five. Team leader to oversee best."
Ye-jin cut in.
"Team leader—what exactly?"
"Final checks. Fixes rough spots, fills gaps, manages crew."
"I can do that. No—I will nail it!"
Her drive said no slacking.
"Key point: can't feel like old martial arts comics. Want girls who don't know wuxia, teens too, hooked like shonen manga."
"Perfect idea!"
Jin-seong looked bored, blank.
"That fun? Can't we do spy-busting, North Korea conquest comics?"
Tough now, but alternate history would boom soon.
"What're you on? Why twist Kunlun Return like that!"
Rough, but Ye-jin was right. Familiar yet fresh now—avoid alien.
"So, scout talent. Communities, cafes full of webtoon creators, aspiring artists..."
"I'll handle it! Good at that!"
"Yeah?"
"Yes! Give me team lead—I'll give my all!"
Kids don't say that anymore.
"First... Find artists. Time's plenty—pick skilled, passionate ones."
'Webtoon's core.'
Direction and art, sure—but watching them, unquenchable passion was key.