Chapter 37
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Academy Plans and Girl Group Prospects
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Though there's no set time, we sometimes end up gathering naturally in the pantry like this. And it flows right into a meeting.
"Academy?"
Ye-jin tilted her head at my suggestion.
"Will it cost a lot of money?"
Creating a place to formally teach web novels and webtoons was an utterly unfamiliar venture. Universities and academies back then had no clue about the potential growth in this field.
"More than the cost, I think the real challenge will be finding skilled teachers."
True enough. Top authors have no reason to bother with lecturing, and if they lack the chops to teach anyone, students won't show up.
Above all, just because someone excels at writing novels doesn't mean they have a knack for teaching.
"But if we can build a solid system, we could assemble a large group of authors."
Ye-jin's eyes sparkled. She's sharp when it comes to this stuff—she'd figure it out soon enough.
"It might feel a bit premature, but it can't hurt to prepare. The market's going to change. Platforms need to evolve with it."
"Got it. I'll look into it. Both novels and webtoons, right?"
"Might as well."
"Understood."
"Still nothing from Page?"
"Should I reach out first?"
"Let's wait one more day."
Not my main genre or anything, but The Strongest Idol in History was entertaining no matter where you put it.
Not because I wrote it, but because I'd crammed in every stimulating trope imaginable—content that couldn't fail.
It wouldn't ignite the same fervor among niche readers as Kunlun Return, but its broad appeal was wider.
*Munch munch.*
Jin-seong, who'd been watching us with his mouth stuffed full of bulgogi wrapped in lettuce, swallowed hard and spoke up.
"Aren't you eating more? There's still plenty left."
"……."
"……."
We'd already devoured a massive amount. Come to think of it, was Jin-seong just blessed with a metabolism that didn't pack on pounds? Nah, probably his insane activity levels.
'Gotta make him a big eater character.'
Weaving real people into a novel was tricky work. You had to amp up the charm and add some exaggeration to make it fun to read.
Ordinary tales of ordinary folks wouldn't turn heads in web novels.
"……President."
Ye-jin, who'd been staring holes into Jin-seong, spoke up.
"He's a trainee, though. Shouldn't he start taking care of himself now?"
Ye-jin jabbed a finger at Jin-seong's face.
"Good looks aside, his skin's all rough and his hair looks like a mangy dog's."
"……Don't you know you don't mess with a dog when it's eating?"
"Dogs don't debut. You're the idol. You using lotion? It's all cracked."
"The only time I put anything on my face is when I need camouflage cream!"
Ah, whatever. No war breaking out here.
Still, Ye-jin had a point. Strip away the build and features, and Jin-seong's skin was coarse, tanned way too dark.
That brassy bronze needed rebranding as sexy chocolate.
"Management……."
I mumbled, and Jin-seong scowled.
"That's such a hassle…… Do I really have to?"
Our poor Jin-seong, already struggling with those chubby cheeks on that face of his—no Cheongdam-dong salon required, but he'd lose nothing following Ye-jin's advice.
"If it's necessary, then yes."
"You too, President."
"Huh?"
Why's the fire splashing my way?
"Might as well get you done up too while we're at it. You go on TV!"
"……Me too?"
I'd never slathered anything on my face during those ten years locked away.
"Yes! You too, President!"
Did I just shoot myself in the foot starting this?
Sometimes, after a guy showers, he stares in the mirror and his self-esteem skyrockets. Steam filter correction at work?
"……."
Maybe because of what Ye-jin said earlier?
"Hmm."
The last ten years had been all about survival—no time to fuss over looks. But staring in the mirror now felt strangely off.
'Might as well look good if I can.'
The current Number 7 doesn't know me from Adam.
To act on my feelings alone, I'd need to restart from square one. And in this looks-obsessed world, scraping together a few extra points meant strategy was necessary.
'Still, definitely better than before.'
Some meat on the bones now, plus a decade's worth of maturity—it gave off a vibe no one my age could match.
The real question was whether it appealed to women.
"……Hm."
I didn't even have halfway decent clothes. Still mostly wearing stuff Jin-seong's mom sent over.
"Need some basics at least."
Anyway, that could wait. Time to grind through the routine. I threw on casual clothes and plopped back in my chair.
'Writing for both guys and girls is definitely tough.'
The Strongest Idol in History couldn't just end as a web novel. This story would be the billboard for my idols, delivering that fresh thrill as fans flowed from novels and webtoons online into real-life fandom.
'Male-oriented category, but to pull female readers up to half, gotta lean harder into character appeal.'
If web novels were plot-driven stories, female romances leaned heavier on scenes.
The heroine and hero's longing gazes alone had to make hearts pound; even throwaway lines needed to reveal inner thoughts.
The next morning.
I started observing more intently the models who would become my novel's leads and supports.
"Watch your moves! Sharper!"
Intense practice was in full swing on the rooftop from morning. I spotted Ji-min looking half-dead at Jin-seong's mantra: every calorie in equals sweat out.
Lips pursed in a pout, but she was diligent—no backtalk, just effort.
"Troops! Is this all you've got? Gonna debut like this?"
Watching them sync formations to those confusing shouts—half boot camp, half idol drill—I was struck anew by the sweat and grind needed for a single 3-4 minute stage.
"Guard your zones! Crossing over means death! Can't do it? Treat sloppy like stepping on a landmine!"
Jin-seong was totally getting off on this…….
'Psycho…….'
*Drip drip.*
Sweat flew everywhere from the guys.
Born heartthrobs, they looked beautiful even to me. Don't get weird ideas. Just purely, my kids are cute.
"President."
Team Leader Min's voice came from behind.
Min Choi-i was an S-grade trainer who, without my scouting, would've flooded a top agency with back-to-back megastar idols.
"What's brings you here? Watching morning practice too. Isn't this your writing time?"
"Scouting novel characters. Team Leader, you eaten?"
"Salad at lunch."
"That's enough?"
"They live for me—if I can't keep myself in check, it'd be laughable."
She was the real deal, a true pro.
She sat beside me, gazing fondly at the group.
"They're doing great now."
"All thanks to you, Team Leader."
"No way. Your eye for unearthing kids like these is incredible. I was shocked after just a few days of training them."
Well, yeah—they were destined for success anyway. Jin-seong and Jin-guk were the wild cards. Whether they'd be assets or liabilities was TBD, but so far, smooth sailing.
"Started at eleven, so this year makes twenty-two years for me in the biz."
From trainee to not debuting as a singer but living the dream through others—I couldn't say how that felt honestly, but everyone has different talents. Life gets easier when you accept that sooner.
"This team'll make it big. Above all, the kids are good-hearted."
She watched them with the gentle gaze of spring breeze rustling field flowers and smiled.
"Some go off the rails when fame hits sudden. No hiding it—it pokes out like an awl. Good personality's prime merch value, so agencies drag 'em along, but not these kids. Even if they blow up, they'll hustle like now."
"What's the stray rate?"
"Higher than you'd think. They're born with it all, lived cushy, so self-centered thinking comes first. Pile on public adoration, and staying grounded's tough."
Oh, gotta tuck this into my novel.
"That's why I'm ambitious."
"You said they'd succeed."
"Nah, not them. Our company."
"……Something wrong?"
"If you've got spare time, how about training a girl group? With the current schedule, I could carve out four hours a day."
"……Girl group?"
I'm no music buff, but I knew the girl group scene was already saturated at this point.
From Girls' Generation to Apink and 2NE1, no gaps to wedge into.
"Gotta prep contingencies always. Stagger activities, and the agency's downtime burden lightens."
Girl groups hadn't crossed my mind, but hearing Team Leader Min, wasting talent like hers felt criminal.
Well, she's the one saying she has time. Wasn't my idea.
'Who were they again…….'
No TV for ten years of lockdown, but in the realm of 'knowledge,' certain names stuck.
Same context I'd known Team Leader Min or Ji-min from—if we were making girl idols, no reason we couldn't.
"……."
"What're you thinking?"
"Ah, just mapping it out positively. Girl group."
"Already? Wanna brainstorm auditions?"
"No."
I smiled, and Team Leader Min gave me a puzzled look.
"Then how do you plan to scout……."
The era of handing business cards to street randos based on looks was over. Surviving as an idol now meant skills first.
"How many do you need?"
"Depends on concept. Girl crush vibe, four's ideal; lock down male fans solid, need seven."
"Then four it is. I'll look slowly."
"You personally, President?"
Names were already popping up—over four, even. Wait. How old are they now?
Knowing the future didn't make me omnipotent. Like if someone asked 'How to get to Hongdae?'
-Haip…….
Drop a meme now, and no one would get it.
'Tricky.'
Girl group debuts mostly hit in the teens, so the stars I knew were pre-elementary age.
Dig up even earlier names?
'Songs come first.'
Anyone hearing this might curse me out, but with equal talent and similar looks, packaging created the illusion.
It's not that beauty makes stars; stardom makes them beautiful.
Actors too—one killer role catapults them to era-defining faces.
'Girl group later, step by step.'
Above all, with so many irons in the fire, I needed to tidy up before moving on.
Everything I was doing outpaced the era—no proven track record, and the world would call it gambles.
'Gotta prove it first.'
As morning wound down,
*Bzzzzt.*
Phone from Ye-jin. Rare for her to call knowing I mostly wrote novels—certain matters sprang to mind.
-President!
"Page got back?"
-Yes! Can you meet now?
"Where?"
-First floor!
"On my way down."
The ship to sail beyond the novel world into broader content seas had arrived.
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