Chapter 48
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: New Wheels and Webtoon Plans
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"It's been driven a bit, but it's been thoroughly serviced, so it'll hold up for years without issue. Tires are brand new, too."
My circle was full of talented people. Team Leader Min was meticulous by nature, so even picking out two cars had taken him months.
"These are for my kids to ride in! Of course I had to be thorough! Safe and sturdy!"
Team Leader Min was excited too. One car would go to Ye-jin, the other to DM.
"Let's do a ribbon-cutting ceremony! A proper one!"
That evening,
we bought dried pollack and makgeolli and threw a modest party in the parking lot.
The goshiwon aunties and uncles gathered in the lot after work amid the lively racket, and Mr. Hwang Dal-su from room 104 inspected everything with such zeal that he even crawled under the cars, not content with just the engine bays.
"Two grand for both? That's a steal!"
They were used cars, but to us, they were treasures. They'd be DM's legs, and I'd finally drive my own instead of taking taxis.
"How about we all get our licenses together while we're at it?"
I nodded in agreement with Ye-jin's suggestion. I couldn't keep handing the wheel over to her forever.
Team Leader Min shouted in a slightly tipsy voice.
"DM! Anyone with a license, raise your hand!"
Most stayed silent.
"Things'll get crazy after debut, so let's knock it out now! Driving's no big deal! Just go with the flow!"
As we spread out mats and partied, laughter bubbled up naturally.
Team Leader Min looked at me and said,
"A word from the president to pray for accident-free miles!"
I took the spoon Ye-jin handed me from the side, stood up, held it like a microphone, and cleared my throat.
"It's just this for now, but someday we'll ride in private jets. Let's work hard for it."
"Woooaaah!"
"Private jets? Epic!"
"Hahaha! That's our president for you!"
"So cool!"
Everyone laughed it off as a joke, but if all my plans panned out, private jets wouldn't be a pipe dream.
Especially for DM—once overseas tours kicked off, they'd spend more time in cars or planes than at home.
'For now, this simple joy is enough.'
People blissfully happy over two beat-up cars.
That was us tonight.
Webtoon coloring and backgrounds didn't take a full week, so the existing artists—Ugly Duckling, Jeong Ha, and Side Dish Complainer—even jumped in on The Greatest Idol Ever and Youngest Son of the Gangster House.
The issue was Annulled Betrothal, But It's Okay. In the romance category—especially romance fantasy—readers' standards were sky-high, demanding something truly captivating.
The rooftop pavilion.
Usually reserved for DM or company exec meetings, today it hosted the entire webtoon team.
Teams 1 and 2 on Kunlun Return and Infinite Reincarnation, Team 3 on Youngest Son of the Gangster House, and new Teams 4 for The Greatest Idol Ever and Annulled Betrothal, But It's Okay—it was a full staff briefing.
"Um..."
Artist DdaengDdaeng from room 302 raised her hand. She'd been holed up drawing so much, I'd barely noticed she was still around.
She'd planned to save up manuscript fees and leave early, but unexpectedly, Jin-seong's cooking was great, and goshiwon life wasn't bad, so she was sticking around long-term.
"Could I give it a shot? I'd love to try romance fantasy."
Ye-jin looked at her and asked,
"You mean main illustrator?"
"Yes. A storyboard would speed things up, but I'd tackle it even without one."
With over ten people, all eyes snapped to anyone who spoke.
Maybe that's why? DdaengDdaeng blushed, and an uncle raised his hand. Cold Noodles Lover.
"The manuscript's probably ready. I could whip up a test storyboard in half a day."
His words lit up DdaengDdaeng's face.
Rumors that Memento Mori's work was becoming a drama had spread through the goshiwon like wildfire. For rookies, snagging a project from this author was a must-grab opportunity.
A romance fantasy, no less!
DdaengDdaeng could already envision gorgeously embroidered dresses dancing before her eyes.
Ye-jin checked with her again.
"Can you handle the schedule?"
"Just give me the storyboard, inking, backgrounds, and lettering. I'll handle the weekly deadline on the rest."
She didn't claim she'd do it all solo—that would be overreach.
Ye-jin toyed with her lip briefly, then approved.
"It's a test, so let's try it. One thing to know: Annulled Betrothal gets exclusive early serialization on our platform after launch. Revenue might be low early on, so no revenue share upfront. Still okay?"
"Yes!"
"Got it."
DdaengDdaeng squealed with delight.
Kunlun Return and Infinite Reincarnation were already buzzing as potential blockbusters among the crew. Anything less from the rest would drag the company down.
It was pressure, but also tempting. Any artist worth their salt had to shoot their shot, right?
'The Greatest Idol Ever sounds fun too.'
She wanted to draw pretty boy idols. But romance fantasy pulled harder.
"Alright. You already have ongoing work, so no slacking there. Quality drops, and it's all for nothing—you know that. Also, four more artists join soon. Tell me any gaps in your parts, and since Kunlun Return and Infinite Reincarnation launch soon, double your efforts."
She knew how much blood and sweat they poured in. But Ye-jin was the type to go all-out and reap the rewards rather than half-ass it and regret.
"......"
Looking at the crowd of artists, she realized just how big the operation had grown.
The president would pen more works over time, and webtoon production couldn't keep pace with novel output forever.
'Gotta push the academy sooner.'
She didn't know how much the webtoon market would boom, but one person here knew exactly what these martial arts, fusion, modern fantasy, romance fantasy, and idol webtoons would achieve in a few years.
That person was holed up in the goshiwon writing today too, but living with him had sharpened Ye-jin's instincts considerably.
'To webtoonize our in-house authors' novels too, we need more artists on tap.'
Beyond fan cafe management, she resolved to build a roster of on-call webtoonists. She addressed the group.
"Next year, our first big project is the company academy. Anyone interested in teaching students hands-on, let me know ahead."
Cartoonist Lee Dae-su raised his hand.
"Paid?"
"Of course. 40,000 won per hour per specialty."
Not sky-high, but artists needed breathers too. Decent side gig pay.
"Weekly 3-hour sessions. Two novel classes, six webtoon—split into basics/advanced for novels, full pipeline from drawing to lettering for webtoons."
This was hashed out over drinks with the president as snacks.
DdaengDdaeng clapped excitedly.
"Wow, so academy novel grads could get webtoon'd by academy students?"
That was Ye-jin's endgame.
"We need great teachers for that. For nurturing talent and growing our webtoon scene, I'd be grateful for your participation."
Most nodded enthusiastically. The domestic comics market was dying, webtoons fanning faint embers—but still weak.
These folks had devoted their lives to comics and would do anything to expand the field.
"Indirect academy ads start December 1st. Need the instructor list ready, so contact me soon."
The fan signing had big plans. As the executive director said, go big or go home—time to drop the academy bomb too.
'Episode 150.'
I handed The Greatest Idol Ever manuscript to the editing team and flopped onto the bed.
'Pushed too hard?'
I'd noticed my stamina dipping lately. Blaming lingering summer lethargy? Or my body screaming from chair-bound days.
'Time to exercise.'
I knew I'd die from some disease in ten years. That meant ten safe years—but how I managed them could prevent it.
"Sigh... but what?"
I flipped over, staring at the ceiling. Ten years buried in writing. Exercise was a luxury before. Now with a car, a license meant easy trips nearby.
"Something to loosen these stiff muscles."
I kneaded my shoulders and stood.
I'd realized it wasn't my call. The rooftop had an absolute expert, didn't it?
I dashed up.
"Jin-seong."
"Snack?"
"Nah. Sit."
Jin-seong tilted his head from dinner prep and approached.
"How's my body?"
"...Pitiful."
"That bad?"
His brutal assessment slumped my shoulders further.
"How many hours sitting daily?"
"15?"
"Stretching?"
"How?"
"Haa... hunched shoulders and back."
Jin-seong grabbed something from the corner and set it on the table.
"Do this."
"Jump rope?"
"Yeah. One hour daily for a month."
"That all?"
"Underestimate it and... heh."
His sudden laugh made me think I'd goofed.
"Won't manage at first, but eventually nonstop for an hour."
"Possible?"
"I do three."
"...You. Tsk. Never mind."
Expert says jump, so jump.
I took the rope to the roof. Cats played in the corner; I warmed up watching them.
'Piece of cake.'
Thud.
Tripped on the first.
"Ahem!"
Glanced back—no Jin-seong. Dodged embarrassment. Retry.
'Tougher than expected?'
School days flashes, but rushing didn't work.
Still, challenge accepted.
Whish whish whish!
'Whoa! Three this time!'
No discouragement. Triple progress. I'm that positive a guy to reach this point.
Whish, whish, whish.
Slowed for impatience; smoother now.
'One hour...'
I got why Jin-seong smirked. Sweat beaded my back already.
From then, I jumped like a madman each night before bed. Morning risked draining writing energy.
Writing takes stamina. Sitting doesn't recharge; sleep does.
A few days into the routine, mid-November, word from the executive director.
Youngest Son of the Gangster House.
Stars gathered for this bizarrely titled drama.
Some shone blindingly bright just by existing; others dimmer but uniquely sparkling.
Nine leads and supports.
Two women, seven men.
More actors than usual for a pre-read, but first times were always awkward.
Gulp.
A rookie swallowed hard.
Seemed all actors were here, but director and head writer were MIA.
'Script reads can drag multiple rounds.'
Han Bo-geom flipped his script.
This thickness—episode 1?
He'd bowed big entering, but no familiar faces, so the room hummed only with page turns.
Which is why?
He plunged into the script in seconds.