Chapter 28
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Variety Show Invitation
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A few days later, contact came from an unexpected place.
"Yes?"
I hadn't even considered it myself.
"The broadcasting station?"
-It's a variety show that films celebrities living alone, and they reached out for casting inquiries. I thought it was a good opportunity, so I recommended you, Writer. After all, you're the most popular author on LitWorld right now.
"......"
Me, on a broadcast? Wait, is this a gain or a loss? Does the benefit outweigh the risk?
Becoming more famous would certainly make it harder for that Team Leader to touch me.
'Do I even have any variety show charm?'
Broadcasting is something for people who know how to do it.
'It wouldn't hurt to get acquainted with people in that industry.'
Right now, it ends with novels, but someday it could expand into movies and dramas.
'Selling my face is a separate issue, though.'
For now, I hide behind the Memento Mori name and do whatever I want freely, but becoming a star would come with all sorts of restrictions.
Ah, am I getting ahead of myself?
"I'll think about it."
-Don't take too long. Their PD mentioned they're also casting webtoon artists.
"Got it."
I should search what show it is first.
'I Live Alone' was pretty popular. Skimming a few episodes, it didn't seem too tough.
'Great for promoting the company, too?'
If I get famous, more rookie writers will come knocking, which would definitely hinder that demon.
'As long as it doesn't eat up too much time, it might be worth trying.'
The most efficient thing I can do right now is write novels, earn money, and stockpile coins.
I can't just do that forever, so I'm starting other businesses and making webtoons too, but I can't cut down on writing time either way.
"Hmm."
I need a meeting on this.
In fantasy novels, genre fiction, and webnovels, the word "trash" sometimes gets tacked on. Mainstream industry folks would tilt their heads when you said you wrote online novels.
PD Kim was like that too.
"People really make this much money? This author?"
The broadcasting world barely considered the genre market at all.
"Number one on LitWorld."
"I get that it's number one, but pulling in 200 million a month? Is this for real?"
Writers at the station often couldn't even hit 2 million monthly. For this unheard-of author to rake in 200 million a month— that'd be 2.4 billion a year?
"It's not from a single work; it's combined from his last two novels too."
"Whoa... That means he outearns A-list drama writers? How is that possible?"
Even drama writers whose shows always hit big couldn't make this monthly.
"I put in the casting request, but no idea if the author will do it. LitWorld wouldn't give out personal contact info, citing privacy."
He'd been thinking of adding a professional for variety beyond celebrities, and this felt like peeking into a whole other world.
"He's a company president too, so there should be plenty of interesting footage, right? Viewers will love the novelty of it."
He'd planned to cast a webtoon artist since they're hot now, but learning about Memento Mori made him hesitate.
"Age?"
"No idea."
"Face?"
"Yeah. Zero exposure."
He searched for The Youngest Son of the Gangster Family. A flood of info poured out.
Memento Mori was already a mythical figure on blogs, cafes, and communities. Hitting big with three straight works wasn't enough; his serialization speed was unbeatable, they said.
"Hmm."
Above all, the new concepts he introduced were hugely influencing others, spawning imitators left and right.
'There's a market like this too, huh.'
PD Kim's curiosity piqued. Drawn in, he clicked on chapter 1 of The Youngest Son of the Gangster Family—and regretted it. Two full days vanished.
Let's hit 1,000 chapters this time!
I love you today too.
I want to read only this until I die.
Writer! Take my money! More! More!
Reading the comments on chapter 300, I couldn't help but smile.
It's late August now, so by September, October, November, it'll wrap up around 700 chapters.
Doing just one work really speeds things up, and without distractions, my focus is sharper.
"Keep a good eye out. Places like this always have lurkers. In a war, they hit the broadcasting station first."
"Yes, sir! Hey, those guys over there keep staring this way—want me to drag 'em over?"
Jin-seong and Jin-guk scanned the area around the station with bulging eyes.
'They're staring at your faces.'
Ye-jin, not wanting a scene, gripped Jin-seong's arm tightly.
"Shut up and stay put, or I'll send you packing?"
Ye-jin had come to scrutinize the contract and terms carefully; Jin-seong and Jin-guk tagged along as bodyguards.
Well, that was the excuse, but we were all thrilled since none of us had been to a broadcasting station before.
'Actually here, and I'm nervous.'
A shut-in like me, visiting a place like this. I've really made it.
"Probably that way. I'll contact the writer."
We haven't confirmed the appearance yet. Listening to Ms. Ye-jin and weighing it carefully means no losses.
"Those guys are still following us. Bro, why are they carrying that balloon?"
"Careful. Could be poison gas inside."
"As expected of Bro—sharp eyes!"
No idea whose fans they are, but they wouldn't dream of hearing this.
After a short wait, a woman with an ID badge around her neck approached us.
"From Memento Mori?"
We took the elevator to a meeting room.
The staff guiding us kept glancing at the flower gangsters, but in suits today, they looked sharp as hell.
"What drinks can I get you?"
"This is fine."
There was bottled water and snacks on the table. Jin-seong eyed the bottle suspiciously, twisted it open, took a sip.
"Didn't touch the rim. Here, Bro."
Did I bring them for nothing?
About 10 minutes later?
"......"
"......"
Two people entered: the man seemed like the PD, and the young woman alternated stares between Jin-seong and Jin-guk.
Ha, this is awkward.
......Excuse me? I'm the main character here.
"Hello. I'm Go Ye-jin, Executive Director of Memento Mori. And this is our Company President."
Ye-jin stood and clarified the lineup.
"Ah, um. Hello."
PD Kim handed out business cards. Why to Jin-seong and Jin-guk too?
"Honored to meet such a famous writer! Haha! Loving The Youngest Son of the Gangster Family! But these two gentlemen are...?"
Jin-seong answered.
"I'm his too."
Emphasizing like he wouldn't lose to Ye-jin.
"Me... uh, manager?"
"Yeah."
Why are you two deciding?
"Ah, got it, haha! You all look so dashing, I thought you were in the biz."
The two flower gangsters who could devour the station stole the spotlight briefly, but Ye-jin soon took the reins.
"Our president has a packed writing schedule, so time is limited. We need to sort that first."
PD Kim smiled back.
"With this crew, we'll get plenty of footage—one day of shooting should cover two weeks."
Eyeing Jin-seong and Jin-guk, I could guess what he wanted.
"Script?"
"We have a loose outline, but we focus on reality, so just live your daily life, and we'll edit it nicely. We can discuss extensions after seeing the two-week run."
If reactions suck, they cut it.
"We can match your fee around this range."
We weren't here for the money, so I checked something else.
"You'll have to show where I live, right?"
"If you don't want, we can minimize it."
Before coming, the trickiest decision with Ye-jin was this.
What image should a writer show?
Everyone knows I make good money, so flashing luxury—would it motivate rookies or make them jealous? Showing a crammed goshiwon life—what then?
'Either way, haters will hate.'
We concluded:
"I'd like to shoot at my office."
Lucky there's a proper place decent enough to show.
"Let's do that. Anything fun for the first episode to hook viewers?"
"A writer's life is all the same—just writing. Nothing special."
"Then our writers will spice it up. No pressure at all. Viewers are curious about writers' lives, so just be yourself."
They're the pros here, so I'll follow their lead.
That's all I thought. No one knew the ripple effect this show would have.
Author Number 11's routine was simple. On break, he'd wake up, write his novel, then hang out in the Memento Mori fan cafe till bed.
Aspiring writers and readers had already surpassed 10,000 members, and a notice went up after ages.
"What the—?"
He jumped.
"Appearing on TV?!"
A super famous variety show, no less. Of course, his writer was famous, so not weird, but the disconnect stemmed from how people viewed genre authors.
"Whoa, huge."
Staring blankly at the notice, his door burst open.
"Hey, writing again?"
His little sister. Lately barging in randomly—driving him nuts. Senior year, couldn't hit her. She'd blame him for tanking her exams.
"Get out."
"Whatcha looking at? Whoa, bro's into fandom? Now you're doing everything."
"Not that!"
It was fandom, but not idols or actors. Memoire was his idol, a living legend.
"What is it? Who? Love Pink? YooA?"
"No! Out!"
"Out!"
Mimicking crossed the line.
"Study instead of this crap!"
"Yeah, yeah. If I don't, I'll end up like you."
"......Ha."
"Quit the fandom and eat. Ew, otaku stink."
Pinching her nose as she left, she just needed to vent. That's all he was worth at home.
"Just you wait. When I blow up, no scraps for you."
He logged into LitWorld.
His novel, steadily updated since meeting Memoire, hit 30 chapters. 1-2 per day was grueling—how did that guy live?
'Finally in the top 10.'
30 comments each. Haters and fans mixed.
But recognition mattered, right?
'Safely through another day.'
He never knew serialization was walking on thin ice daily.
"Phew......"
"Hey! Dinner!"
Standing at his sister's yell from the living room, he spotted his vibrating phone. Unknown number.
'Who?'
Debating not answering.
"Hello."
As he picked up, entranced, the voice from the other end made his heart drop.
-Hello, Writer. Memento Mori here.