Chapter 47

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 47

Chapter Title: Definitely Going

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Ye-jin showed me the reactions on the fan cafe. The comments had already exploded past five hundred in no time flat.

I'd heard vaguely that I had a fan cafe, but this was the first time I'd seen so many people actively posting there.

"When did you even make this?"

Jin-seong asked, sounding amazed.

Ye-jin smiled brightly.

"This much is standard."

Ever since that drinking session with the two of them, Ye-jin had brightened up again. I didn't know what the issue had been, but it was a relief that things felt more comfortable now.

I peered back at the monitor.

The fan cafe event was still over a month away, but with reactions this hot, I had a feeling way more people might show up than we'd originally planned.

"What'd the printer say?"

"They can do a thousand copies by November 25th. If we need reprints, we'll talk then."

Hardcovers cost more than regular books. In an era where people read novels online, it might seem extravagant, but that's exactly what sparks the collector's urge.

Especially once the drama drops—it'll be a real keepsake for the readers.

"Sounds tight."

Ye-jin clenched her fist confidently at my words.

"I'll keep tabs to make sure nothing goes wrong."

If Ye-jin said so, then it was good.

Jin-seong stretched lazily like a dog on a summer country day.

"Haaah. So DM just practices our asses off till then?"

Ye-jin shot him a glare.

"Why just practice? You need skincare ahead of time, and we gotta nail the styling too."

"Aah, that's basic."

Jin-seong parroted her words right back, and Ye-jin glared at him like he was annoying before turning to me.

"Will you be okay, President? I'm more worried about you than the hardcovers or the event."

Right. That day, I was set to launch the greatest idol ever on Chocolate Page.

We needed 125 chapters, which was a whopping five volumes' worth in book terms, and crunching the remaining time made it feel tight.

Editing, proofreading, corrections—all that on top. On LitWorld, I could just write and upload, but Chocolate Page demanded a more polished product.

"No problem."

I'd already written over three volumes, so with the time left, I could crank out up to 200 chapters if needed.

The wildcard was Annulment, But It's Fine. Ye-jin raved about how insanely fun it was, so it was time to pick a platform for that one too.

I brought it up.

"For the romance fantasy, should we just launch it on our own platform when it opens?"

Ye-jin hadn't decided yet.

New platforms were always a gamble. You hope readers flock in droves, but most struggle through those brutal early years.

They run contests, roll out author support policies to build awareness any way they can, but reality is most get ignored by writers and readers alike.

That's why I was betting big on my own work. If it flopped, I'd shoulder the blame alone.

"...Like I said before, it'd be great to produce a webtoon alongside it."

Jin-seong's eyes sparkled as he shoved his face toward Ye-jin.

"That time? When? What'd you two do?"

Ye-jin freaked and shoved his face away with her palm.

"Get lost!"

I watched them calmly.

"It'd make the scale too huge. If web novels flop, it's just on me, but if a new platform can't draw eyes to a webtoon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too, the losses pile up."

Romance fantasy takes even more work than standard webtoons. Costumes, speech bubbles—everything's detailed, doubling the time and money.

And this wasn't your typical 60-70 chapter romance; it was a romance fantasy plotted for at least ten volumes, so the webtoon would need serious length too.

"Still, let's try it. It's your work, President. It'll get traction for sure. Plus, with the Mob Boss's Youngest Son drama in production, there'll be synergy."

"Can we cover production costs?"

"If The Greatest Idol in History hits mid-tier success, we can manage."

Mid-tier, huh...

"And you're so confident the platform will push it hard—shouldn't it at least hit that?"

Talent Market platform development costs, DM's pre-debut expenses, goshiwon upkeep, payroll—everything funded by my novel sales. Suddenly, my shoulders felt heavy.

I'd mostly worked on LitWorld, where readers skewed different in age and tastes from Chocolate Page's crowd, so I couldn't guarantee a thing.

"Got it. Let's do it."

What the hell! If it's fun, it'll work anywhere!

Ye-jin's face lit up.

"Yes! But there's one more issue."

"What?"

"Your pen name, President. I looked into it, and romance readers don't really go for novels by male authors. Using Memento Mori outright for romance fantasy might backfire."

"Hiding it would be weird too, right? It'll come out eventually."

"True. Launching on our platform is a variable, though. You'll pull in fans, but most are guys, so it might not click for romance..."

I'm one of the poster boys for male-oriented stuff. Me dipping into female turf could draw bad looks.

But what can you do? I started writing it, and damn, romance fantasy's fun too.

I glanced back at the monitor unconsciously.

The comments had jumped another hundred in the meantime. Guess I do have a solid reader base.

'Will a thousand copies cut it?'

The reactions made me think the first print run was too conservative, but then I remembered the hardcover price and snapped out of it. No counting chickens.

If they don't sell, the goshiwon corner'll be stacked with dust-covered books. And these are volumes 1 and 2 as a set.

'Gotta see how it goes.'

For now, that was that.

"Thanks for the fan cafe, Ye-jin."

Seeing with my own eyes how many people wanted me and loved my work that much—it stirred something boiling inside.

Times like this, you pour all that passion into the writing.

'One month left.'

Time to grind.

Left alone on the rooftop bench, Jin-seong grinned slyly at Ye-jin.

"Something up?"

"What would be?"

"There is."

"There isn't."

As Ye-jin packed up her laptop, Jin-seong leaned back, arms stretched behind him.

"Don't push too hard. Not saying slack off or anything. Just..."

"I know."

Ye-jin recalled that day.

-I have someone I like.

The president had been upfront. After reading the sincerity in his eyes as he spoke, Ye-jin had rediscovered her original mindset.

Relieved, maybe?

She looked at Jin-seong.

"First stage. Can't mess it up."

"Got it. But Ye-jin."

"Yeah?"

"How do I look?"

"...Go practice, squid."

Ye-jin marched off the rooftop without a backward glance, and Jin-seong chuckled.

"Ah, she likes me!"

I holed up for days, writing nonstop. Knocking out six chapters a day pushed The Greatest Idol in History past 100.

Just 25 more to go? That's for normal writers. I planned to stockpile at least 150 and carpet-bomb the release.

With a signing event? Gotta go big.

'Needs to hit mid-tier at least. Do everything I can.'

Stepping outside the building after forever. The air had a chill now—winter coming. Not biting yet, just refreshing.

"Ugh."

Stretching, I heard Ye-jin approach from behind.

"Out early?"

"Needed air."

"Good call."

Talent Market platform meeting today. Halfway done, apparently. I'd know when I saw it.

"Actors' script read-through's in November."

"Already?"

"I can't keep up with Executive Director Lee's drive."

"Gotta be that intense to run a big company."

Wonder which actors they cast. Curious, but I'd find out soon enough.

"This might premiere January next year."

"...If the channel schedule lines up, maybe..."

Money plus passion turned impossibles into possibles. Witnessing it firsthand.

Chatting with Ye-jin, a car pulled in.

Talent Market devs.

"Long time no see!"

If I said "Writing's the easiest thing in the world," I'd sound obnoxious, but it's true for me.

The devs kept talking tech, and I barely followed half.

Still, with Ye-jin there, I could tell it was coming together well.

"Beta test by February. Web novels alone? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠End of December. But adding webtoons means more details to tweak."

So, prep Annulment, But It's Fine novel and webtoon by February.

'Novel's doable, but webtoon...?'

Eye contact with Ye-jin.

'Our platform, so no need for a full 20 episodes upfront. Testing with writers ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now—should have at least 10 by launch.'

We were piling up so many webtoons, might as well start a webtoon company.

Kunlun Return, Infinite Reincarnation, Mob Boss's Youngest Son, The Greatest Idol in History, Annulment, But It's Fine—five already.

"See you at the next meeting."

They left, and we headed back to the goshiwon, talk continuing.

"Kunlun Return drops exclusivity and starts on Page first, right?"

"Yes, December 1st. Lose a bit on revenue share, but gotta boost Talent Market."

"Infinite Reincarnation in January?"

"Yeah. Launch one a month—build experience through serializing."

Oh, right, forgot.

"Translations?"

"Harry's at 15 chapters. Starting 16 now."

"English and Japanese both?"

"Yes."

"You go ahead. Gotta make a call."

Yi Hye-ri—my mom's boyfriend's daughter. Some son I am. When'd I last hear Mom's voice?

Watched Ye-jin go, then dialed.

"..."

Rang forever.

-Who is this? Oh, my son's calling!

"Sorry... Been swamped."

Mom's playful voice mixed with a man's deep tone in the background.

-Hyun-woo?

With him, huh.

-Hohoho! Busy is good! Work going well?

"Of course. Was gonna tell you later..."

-Drama? For real? Wow, my boy! Impressive!

-Hyun-woo's novel's becoming a drama?

Glad they got along. I just wanted Mom happy.

-Oh, Hyun-woo!

"Yeah?"

-You know Aunt Young-sook?

No clue.

-Her friend's daughter goes to Korea Women's University...

"Call later! Got work—gotta go! Hanging up! Sorry!"

Checked welfare—skip the rest.

Mom's friend's daughter. Great.

"Hoo..."

They getting married?

Sorting messy feelings, two cars climbed the hill.

"President!"

"Huh?"

Team Leader Min, waving from the driver's seat.

"Team Leader!"

Two black 12-seaters pulled up. Stranger in one.

"Oh..."

My first self-bought cars, showing off their glory.