Chapter 58
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Opera Urung's Shadow
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I had no idea what meaning he intended with his pen name, but after reading the novel, it felt like there had to be some deeper significance. It would've been great if I could grab him and ask.
Regrets are dangerous.
Gazing at the prostrate Number 1 author, he regained his composure.
Webnovel aspirants were a dime a dozen. If it were purely about the money, he might've slipped a note to that Opera Urung author earlier.
But it wasn't just that for him. Being a webnovel author meant more than love-hate to him—it was the thrill of controlling them that he hadn't fully savored yet.
So he had to hold back today.
"You dumb bastard. When you wake up, you'll be working ten times over to cover Urung's share too."
He spat another curse at Number 1 before stepping into the hallway, passing through several security doors, and reaching the elevator.
This place was underground.
Ding-!
He stepped into the smoothly opening doors. This used to be where the large rooms were. Over fifty big and small ones, filled every night with booze and song.
Ding-!
He got off on the first floor. Stepping outside, a chill hit him.
Right in the heart of Gangnam.
He headed to his parked car and opened the door. Even at this hour, the roads were jammed with traffic. That's why no one would suspect what was being built right beneath their feet.
"It's a shame... but it's not over yet, right?"
He chuckled as he turned the key in the ignition.
"The real fun starts now."
"Ugh, creepy."
I'd had a bad dream. The Team Leader was in it, I think, but I couldn't recall the details. Just left a foul mood.
"President! You're up?"
Hearing our clear-voiced Ye-jin made it all better.
"Yeah! Heading out now!"
Busy day today. I'd known it since yesterday, which is why Ye-jin was nagging at my door from the morning.
I roughly ran a hand through my hair, grabbed my jacket, and headed to the rooftop.
"Brr, cold."
Stepping into the cafeteria, a wave of warmth hit me.
"Has Jin-seong eaten?"
"Probably."
Ye-jin had already set the table by then.
"You didn't have to go this far. Thanks, I'll dig in!"
I sat with a grin, and she took the seat across, cutting straight to the chase.
"You know you have to decide today, right? Latest chapter's continuous read rate has been dropping since yesterday."
"Yeah..."
I'd been putting it off, but it was time to reel in the line. That meant a ton more work ahead.
"Once you confirm, I'll post the notice today and switch to paid tomorrow."
"Aw, come on, some readers might not have caught up. Give 'em three days at least."
"We're losing five thousand a day!"
"Got it. Two days then."
"...Two days. I'll post the notice. But right before paid, you have to reveal everything yourself."
To Ye-jin, my work's success was everything. The Greatest Idol Ever was already raking in huge revenue on the platform, but that didn't mean Jirisan Elf could flop.
My time was finite no matter what; best to invest it where it yielded equal value.
While Ye-jin was distracted drafting the notice on her phone, I shoveled food into my mouth.
I'd feel bad for stalling on her this long, so looks like cold shoulders at meals for a while.
"Done. Notice is up. Wanna check?"
"I'm sure you nailed it, Executive Director. I trust you."
No sooner had I spoken than I slurped down some soup.
Work talk incoming right away.
"For the Jirisan Elf webtoon team setup, I'd like your input, President. If we make her too pretty, male readers might think it's for women and skip it."
"She's an elf."
"Exactly, an elf."
Let me brag a bit about our webtoon team: Kunlun Return, Infinite Reincarnation, and The Greatest Idol Ever were pulling insane popularity.
The novels were done, but webtoon readers poured in 30x, 40x more, making them major revenue even if not quite serialization levels.
Webtoon profits were modest early on, but they'd grow with volume.
And if dramas blew up too?
"Wouldn't asking the pros be faster?"
The webtoon artists would know better than me.
"Author's opinion matters too. Just give me a vibe, President."
"Androgynous would be ideal."
"Like a realistic pretty boy?"
"If she looks straight out of fantasy, it'll feel off."
"Got it. I'll show you the character sheets ASAP. Oh, and the General Manager's called you several times, saying you're not picking up."
Fishing kept me busy, sorry.
"I'll call this afternoon. But why?"
"No idea."
Drama shooting was going well, from what I'd heard. What now?
"Kids' shoot is tomorrow, right?"
"You going?"
"All day?"
"Might wrap early if no NGs."
Our kids finally showing off their rooftop-honed acting chops.
Early drama episodes, but shooting tomorrow.
Come to think of it, premiere's next month already. Dramas move fast—that's today's lesson.
"Newly hired managers and stylists coming for intros at 1."
"Right, yeah."
"Team leader dinner-meeting at 6. You can dip after reports if you want."
"Packed schedule."
"You pushed everything!"
"Sorry."
Thus ended the stormy breakfast. Back to my room.
Ye-jin's notice already had 101 comments.
Notice posted!
Ohhh! It's finally happening!
Continuous binge! Continuous binge!
I'll pay to read, so keep it fun!
Last chapter's views: 33,519. Previous was 39,112. Everyone who's gonna read has read—no new inflows.
That's exactly Ye-jin's worry. Longer free serialization doesn't guarantee success.
"Thirty thousand..."
No clue how many convert to paid, but over ten thousand and we'd snag first place.
Current top's 24-hour paid: 9,200. Disaster for them, but markets are ruthless. I knew from ten bitter years.
"Wasn't planned, but..."
Turning that Team Leader-dissing hack into a remake powerhouse gunning for #1 felt damn good.
Felt like I'd slacked on my main gig raising idols and revenge-fishing, but with paid two days away, my webnovel author identity hit home hard.
Checked comments, then fan cafe. No big events since the signing, but two days out, it'd erupt.
Mori fans, bored? Check LitWorld's Jirisan Elf. It's popping off lately.
"Ho ho?"
Already reading!
Best recent one.
Webtoon would be even better.
Jirisan Elf buzzing even here. Makes sense—no LitWorld paid hit 10k since my last. My Opera Urung breaking it? Drought-ending rain for clueless readers.
Now, wrap it with an event so no hate.
She'd skipped the last fan signing but popped into the cafe often for Memento Mori updates.
Mostly into women-oriented stuff, so Kunlun Return's worldbuilding was tough. Honestly, no clue what Kunlun even was.
Senior year undergrad, swamped as hell, but humans need breaks—and she found hers in novels.
Seemed like any other day. Planned thirty more minutes, then quit. But the cafe exploded.
"Huh?"
First time for this. Posts flooding, ten per refresh.
All screaming 'Jirisan Elf' and 'Opera Urung'.
"What...?"
Jirisan Elf? What's that mean?
Shock! Any Mori fans who figured it out?
Got the notice. Unseen peeps, check it.
No clue where to start. She clicked the notice post first.
Hello, this is author Memento Mori. Never thought I'd greet you this way, but thanks to your overwhelming love, we're going paid on this one too.
"Wanted to prove it from scratch?"
Memento Mori's new work? Instant fans. But nope—unknown pen name.
What confidence!
Or lack thereof?
Whatever the intent, the cafe turned into oil on hot grease.
Off to binge Jirisan Elf!
One hour to paid!
Let's go watch!
Heeek!
Masses migrating unseen.
Paid? I'll pay and read easy.
Heh, was I the only one who knew?
No wonder it's so fun.
Some wanted to linger. Big deal? Mori fan hub—nothing bigger possible.
She followed the link to Jirisan Elf. Chaos there too.
Memento Mori was Urung?!
What's Opera Urung mean?
That Urung? The snail?
Notice comments fun, but what novel? She clicked chapter 1.
"Ah..."
No idea why mom's an elf. Fled to this world, brief love with a Jirisan human?
"Ah..."
Protagonist: human-elf half-blood. Webnovel term: half.
"Ah..."
No urge to check comments. Next chapter, next...
"Ah...?"
Hour gone in a blink.
"Aaaah!"
Payment page popped mid-read. 25 free chapters done—now 100 won each.
"Should've started sooner!"
She yelled unwittingly, calmed, checked table of contents.
Paid event: four new chapters. Total 41 now.
"Ugh... not many left."
25 flew by; rest would vanish quick.
Buy? Skip?
Watching purchases climb, she bounced back to cafe. Thirty minutes plan? Reality check failed today.
As expected of the legend.
Three reasons to save for later.
Cafe felt like readers dancing. Festival vibes, shared joy.
Elf webtoon too?
This screams drama material.
Who's playing the elf?
Uh... me.
Messing around. Hilarious though.
"What a guy..."
Making people this happy was a blessing. This joy someone's lifeline, endurance booster.
"Hm..."
First time curious about Memento Mori the person, not just author.
Signing would've let her see, but pre-grad no time.
This work too, fun to the end! Cheers! Let's send love in comments!
She joined.
#1!
#2!
Keep serializing!
Take my money! Hurry!
Awkward, but cheers.
Author, loved the novel. Will visit often! Stay strong, healthy, safe, peaceful!
Felt stuffed with old-fashioned words for her age, but habit.