Chapter 55
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Casting the Bait
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While I was at it, I decided to give him a call.
"Hello, PD Kim!"
-Oh! Author! No, President!
"Haha! Feel free to just call me Author."
-Everything going smoothly? I was just about to call you about the New Year's special!
PD Kim said I Live Alone had gotten great reactions and wanted me back as a guest.
It's not my schedule—he specifically asked me to check with Jin-seong. This could double as promo for D.M., so I'm viewing it positively. You give one, you get one.
"If we're doing an audition show with an album and debut as the grand prize, what procedures do we need to follow?"
-Idols?
"Yeah. Got a good concept."
-Boy group or girl group?
"Girl group."
-Hmm... We'd need to meet in person to discuss details. What scale are you thinking?
Go big, right?
"Would 100 million won in prize money work?"
-It's more about how many episodes than the prize money. You're handling distribution yourself, right? No other agencies?
"Yes."
-Hmm. Public auditions are tough without a major agency. The judges need recognition too. And... producing in-house without investment is a big burden...
Not easy. I thought anyone could do it since shows like Produce XX 101 pop up all the time. Even the recent Great Elasticity was massive, wasn't it?
Investment.
I'd need to talk this over with experts separately.
"Let's meet soon."
As we wrapped up the call, Ye-jin spoke up.
"It's time."
I switched over to D.M. I'd watched from backstage, but the public would meet my kids through this broadcast today.
Still sounds great on a re-listen.
The melody sticking in your ears right away was its biggest strength. New songs need that instant "Oh!" hook, and with D.M.'s tracks heavy on English, melody was crucial.
The screen cut briefly to the audience. It caught a high school girl fan staring intently. Just her gaze told you the level of focus and immersion D.M.'s stage commanded.
"This is plenty."
"Feels good, right?"
No need for long explanations. If it was good, it was good. No need to drag philosophy or humanities into rating an idol performance.
As D.M.'s stage ended, interest seemed to wane, so Ye-jin asked.
"How many volumes do you expect for this one?"
"Need to see more, but if it keeps selling, probably at least 20."
"I think it'd be great if you did side stories for the members too."
"As extras?"
"Yeah. Readers often root for different characters."
"Got it."
"Pardon?"
"I said okay."
I reminded myself to watch those future catchphrases slipping out unconsciously, but it was easier said than done.
Then wrap at around 24 volumes including extras.
If I pushed hard, I could self-finish by mid-next year. Serialization might run to the second half, but that meant starting worries on the next project.
No romance fantasy as main push.
Here I was, the busiest writer alive. Launched a new one last week, pondering the follow-up today.
But habits like this got me to 99 points.
Writers can't end on a quick hit. If money was the goal, one smash hit might buy a small shop and a frugal life. But I needed 100 points, so there was always a next one.
Hate recycling old stuff.
Kunlun Return, Infinite Reincarnation, Youngest in the Yakuza Family, now Strongest Idol Ever. Past novels thrived on twisting clichés and reviving outdated tropes. Now I needed something even stronger.
Has to sell guaranteed.
Someone might say just pull out all the hits from my past life.
But writers are creatures of challenge. Creation is adventure over repetition. Brain rot... no, rehashing. Can't keep doing this as a Korean living off Hangul. Sorry, King Sejong.
"Hm."
Lost in thought. Roads full of cars, streets teeming with people, but my eyes gazed inward, brain sifting memories.
【Author-nim. Author Number 1.】
Team Leader—that bastard—only chatted publicly like this nine times out of ten for one thing. Public shade.
This work had good material, but your skill couldn't make it fun. If you'd written it three years later, you might've snagged a precious point. But you know writers should only pull out what they can control, right?
Fuck off. If you know so well, write it yourself.
Keep acting dumb and you'll rot here forever. Wake up. I'm advising because I see potential.
I'm a total idiot—that's how I ended up here! I know! I get it!
Root cause of failure: male-oriented material that appealed more to women. Protagonist alone screams it. Results show it—check female reader ratio. Other authors always keep you in mind. Do what you do best. Ditch greed, get closer to readers. Remember that.
Wait...
"Hmm."
Didn't click then, but hearing it now, Team Leader's words weren't casual. The guy who locked us writers away like Oldboy doesn't spout just anything.
Not wrong.
No way that bastard...
In the industry?
Chills ran down my spine. In that hell, I'd speculated about Team Leader for 10 years.
Locked 30+ in solitary with full infrastructure, fed just enough to survive.
No idea how much he made off our works, but that system knowledge screamed insider. Webnovels still baffle most folks.
Ha, if so, might track him faster than I thought?
How many publishers in Korea? 20? 30?
Even contacted via note during kidnapping. Knows the market. What was his ID again? Can't recall!
Anyway, he'd be scouring platforms like me, analyzing hits.
But too vague to pinpoint.
I was dying then. Fuzzy mind, only vague voice memory.
Writer, insider, or distributor maybe. Distributor's hard, but let's try. Six months gone. He has my replacement by now—or he's desperate.
His goal: market domination. We 30 rotated #1s. 9+ years left, but sprouts show.
Strongest Idol wraps with time to spare, so before then...
Time to fish.
Whoa, today's stage was insane.
The high school girl got home and transferred her phone video to her computer. Wanted to relive the thrill on a bigger screen.
Not one to share usually, but the hype lingered, so she naturally hit the fan cafe.
D.M.'s cafe was a furnace already. Not top-tier idol level, but felt massive to her.
-Se-chan was so cool!
-D.M. shining bright!
-Die happy! Congrats on debut!
"Hoo, hoo."
First time at a broadcast station, first otaku-ing, but Se-chan's face made her heart race every time.
-Getting prettier every day!
-Today's stage, peak life!
-Too good from the start, heart can't take it!
-Ha-jin's silver hair slays!
Official music release too, so she blasted it, humming while scrolling posts freely.
"So good."
Feels like this online bliss was a first in life.
Then.
"Huh?"
New post from 'D.M.M.'
Fan nicks mixed member stage names/real names like 'Jin-seongLove' or 'Se-chanLover', so seemed ordinary at first.
Brushed it off, then gasped at the content.
Hello! Always right by your side! It's D.M.!
Video. Seemed filming from passenger seat looking back in a moving car.
Sudden flower field! What!
All five in frame. Se-chan and Ha-jin up front, rest in back.
First stage, but fans cheering gave us so much strength! We were wondering how to repay you, then agreed to tell you ourselves!
Jin-seong from back thrust the phone forward.
This one, our fan, right?
"Hngh..."
The girl's heart nearly burst. Her face huge in a broadcast cap. And D.M. saw it.
We'll post updates now and then! Not official, but think of it as our hearts for fans!
Love you!
Keep cheering!
Thank you!
Shy Se-chan, less outgoing than others, even made a heart with both hands. Video ended.
"Pa... ha...!"
Face burning, breathless till she finally exhaled.
Reactions exploded.
-Insane! How to resist this?
-Slept off today's hype!
-Aaaah! Too short! More! More!
-Sis loves you fiercely too!
-Where you headed? Share schedules!
Even newbies show if they care via expressions. Fake it or half-ass from exhaustion, fans sniff it out.
D.M. radiated sincerity. Felt good.
"Ah..."
The girl realized.
"This is the real deal..."
She'd stepped into inescapable quicksand.
-D.M.! Love you!
-I'll be right by your side!
-Se-chan! Love!
Watching the cafe, I knew Team Leader Min had jumped straight into work. Sharp instincts.
"These little things blow up later."
Weird feeling lurking in Happiness Goshiwon, lurking in a boy group fan cafe muttering to myself. But my kids, no shame.
I'll drop a comment too.
-Bro loves you fiercely too! D.M.! Fly high!
Ahem, fanboying ends here.
"To hook the big one, need solid bait."
Time to set up the car brainstorming properly. To snag Team Leader, be thorough.
He avoids big authors. Washed my identity moving from studio to goshiwon. Changed pen name from fear, erased history.
Was legit scared then!
Still chicken, but he's my mark. Only I can do this.
"Newbie-looking account."
Look rookie, talent overflow, clueless.
Join date: today.
"Pen name... hmm... whatever."
Opera's Rumble.
If fishing fails, claim the work on my main. Needs raw vibe now.
"Good. Now."
Write.
'What if I try?' reader awakens, challenges platform. Perfect bait.
This one's upgraded from that car memory.
Overwhelming skill now, spicier, heavier spice.
"Title."
Mount Jiri Elf.
Originally published around 2015, bombed outside top 50.
Funny, perfecting the form I wrote in 2013 now.
"He won't ignore this."
If it hits, great. Snag Team Leader? Double win!
"Watch, you bastard. This is my best."
Tatata-tak!
Cheerful keystrokes mixed with my grinding teeth.