Chapter 63
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Roach Infiltration Strategy
-----------------------------------------------------------------
And there was one more person here with sharp instincts.
"You've heard the saying that if even one cockroach shows up in your house, it's game over, right? It might've just hitched a ride in from outside by chance, but if not, that place is already a nest."
Isara had come to pick me up. How much did a car like this set her back? It was my first time in a Mercedes S-Class.
"When I was a kid, we threw out all the sofas and beds in the house once. I even had to toss my favorite stuffed animals, and I bawled my eyes out over it. Turns out it was bedbugs. We had guests from overseas, and that must've been how they got in."
Why was this woman going on about pests? I got the metaphor, but it was a pretty lowbrow dish to serve up from a chaebol heiress.
"What I'm saying is, a real businessperson doesn't let their guard down after one success. We've only just sent in the first scout."
"I haven't let my guard down."
"I know. That's why I like you, Author."
"Someone might get the wrong idea."
"Would you partner with someone you hate?"
"Let's finish the bug talk first."
Isara flashed her teeth in a grin.
"We're going to infiltrate every household in Korea. Overseas might be trickier due to cultural differences and slower spread, but we shouldn't give up on that either. We even got a call from the Middle East yesterday—they want to distribute the drama. I'll fill you in once it's locked in."
"Sounds good."
"It is good. Just two episodes aired, and the buzz is this hot already? By the finale, we'll be at the top. But after that..."
"It's all downhill."
"Exactly. Every drama fades right after it ends. Two months tops? That's why we need more infiltration teams on standby."
So the lesson was that I needed the tenacity of cockroaches and bedbugs. Time to move on.
"What should I watch out for when meeting the station chief?"
"Just gauge the vibe today. We're not locked into them. If better terms come up, we switch."
Isara was the CEO of JJ Enter. Technically, I was building up DM too, so I was an enter CEO of sorts, but it wasn't my main gig—I could learn from her.
"I'm planning to pitch Mount Jiri Elf before Strongest Idol Ever."
"Either works for me."
MS, Amazon, Tesla, Apple, Nvidia...
From my trivia knowledge, these companies would hit it big later.
But that was at least five years out. Chasing pipe dreams now would waste time with no seed money, so I needed to focus on viable businesses until then.
Evolving Talent Market into a Netflix-like platform could be fun.
Too early for that too—just prep for now.
If I could bundle webnovels, webtoons, dramas, and movies into one OTT service, it might outshine even the giants from my future memories.
Of course, this was all just daydreaming.
"...They'll only look at this week's ratings, but don't bend. Got it?"
"Ah, yeah."
Her striking features—clear eyes, sharp nose, full lips—drew my gaze right back to reality.
The passenger seat woman spoke up toward us. Executive Director Yoo, she was called. She looked retirement age, but the way she eyed Isara said she'd stick around a few more years.
"We're almost there."
That look reminded me of my mom back when I was job-hunting and crashing in a studio apartment—pure parental concern.
Isara beamed innocently, oblivious to it, and turned to me.
"Chicken feet after?"
The academy was in a frenzy as always. Memory's drama had exploded in popularity, dragging everyone into the hype. Not just because it was the first webnovel adaptation to blow up this big—no one had expected this level of love.
They think it's that easy.
Yi Myung-han sighed inwardly. The two guys passing in the hall cared more about scraps than their writing. They half-assed their stories, yapping about how much some author made and how they should write something like Youngest Son of the Gangster House. All talk.
He headed into the bathroom.
"Nngh..."
He envied Memory. No denying it.
Mount Jiri Elf was getting a drama too, they said.
But after grinding nonstop for three weeks—even skipping shitting time—he knew now. This wasn't for just anyone.
One piece a day felt empty now; he couldn't sleep.
Three a week at first, then four, now five a day.
Half got trashed anyway. Quantity didn't guarantee quality.
That guy's a monster.
Memento Mori Academy, so Memory was the star. Any group of students eventually talked about him.
Piecing the intel together: Memory was writing Strongest Idol Ever and Mount Jiri Elf, running the company, lecturing here weekly, raising an idol called DM...
Verified facts. Rumors were wild too—no sleep, ghostwriter maybe, or assistant authors.
Five a day is my limit. My body's breaking down.
Constipated. Too much sitting, not enough movement—basics failing first.
Exhausted to death, but no sleep. Ate two meals a day minimum, but no bowel movement. First time since boot camp.
"Nngh..."
Straining for a win today, he heard footsteps.
"Nothing special, but it's dragging on forever. Right?"
"Totally. Episode 2 even brought in some delinquents. Bet episode 3 has fights with them."
"You didn't read the original?"
"I don't read webnovels much."
"Wow, dick. Then why'd you enroll?"
"They give completion certs."
He knew the voices instantly.
Assholes, this is a no-smoking zone.
Hwang Geon and Lee Se-ho, from the first-day group chat.
The thickening smoke was bad enough, but their attitudes were worse.
"We're pushing hard today. The lead girl's a fox. Six tails at least? No one else has a shot but me."
"Got it, hyung. But you didn't forget that promise, right?"
"Kid, you think I'd forget? Told my old publisher—wait and see."
"If I don't land a job by year's end, I'm heading home to feed pigs. You're all I got."
"A few more grinds, and we'll hit a hundred comments. My ears are bleeding."
"Haha! I'll quit! Let's go. Coffee's on me."
"Sweet gig, huh? They even give meal vouchers."
"Money to burn, I guess. Drama's killing it—gonna rake in more."
"Ugh, jealous as fuck. When do I get to splash cash like that?"
"Focus on the female lead today, boss."
"...Fucking psychos."
Pointless bullshit. He'd skipped their gatherings this week. Just ass-kissing the female lead, no real critiques.
Drinking afterward meant no one returned to write—they just vented.
"Splash cash? Argh! Pisses me off! Nngh! Urgh..."
Big relief achieved, he stepped out.
Smoke still hung thick. Gut settled, but unease grew.
"Hoo... Bug bastards. How do I squash 'em?"
He loved this academy. Lessons, meals, writing space—who else offered that?
If idiots like them ruined it, he'd be heartbroken.
"I'll keep watch."
Fire lit in his eyes.
Some cursed, but most cheered, so I could focus on writing.
The drama was out of my hands now. Just hope it wrapped well.
Monday.
Up early, wrote, ate lunch, headed to Anguk.
Lecturing felt routine now. Couldn't name all 100 webnovel class students, but #21 Yi Myung-han stood out from afar.
"Hello! Author!"
He ran up with a canned coffee.
"Yi Myung-han, right?"
"Yes! Spot on! Yi Myung-han here!"
I'd seen this face daily for years. Felt surreal. I knew him; he didn't know me. Who could grasp that?
"Here. Best I can offer."
"Thanks."
In my memory, Myung-han was average. #7 brought butterflies, #13 attitude, some standouts—but most were everyday strugglers.
"Heard you're writing like mad."
"Haha! Like a maniac, but not sure it's right."
"You're doing great. Prose doesn't improve overnight."
"Coming from you, that motivates me. Watching the drama—Mount Jiri Elf daily too."
His words brimmed with energy. Passion radiating off him.
Didn't know he had this side.
Team Leader had turned this bright powerhouse into a corpse.
He asked,
"If I join your company, will you review my work personally?"
"Just the openings. Only one body here."
"Whoa, openings are key."
"You know that—you'll graduate soon."
I smiled; he laughed big, then rubbed his neck awkwardly.
"But no need to be nice to everyone. Some think different inside."
"...Bad vibes?"
"No! No! It's great! Food's awesome! One meal a day helps huge. Wanna pay it back someday."
"Glad to hear."
Worry flickered in his eyes. Not my lane, maybe. I was overloaded already.
Still, asked—#21 was like my "pet author."
"Thinking pro?"
"If possible, yeah. No big hopes. Can't fill up on first sip. Aiming 3-5 years."
"Making ends meet?"
"Post-grad, grab a part-time. Living off savings to focus now."
"How about learning PD work? Was thinking of hiring grads for it. You'd nail it."
"Me? For real? Give me a shot—I'll give 110%!"
"I'll tell the Executive Director. But don't slack on writing. PD clout needs experience—and something to convince authors."
"Of course! My dream's becoming you!"
Like #11 or #8, whom I'd spotted before Team Leader, I wanted talents like Myung-han close.
I knew his potential—support till it bloomed.
Not blindly, though. This way worked.
"Time's up. Heading in."
"Yes! Thanks again!"
Left him, entered the classroom. CEO, author, now instructor— but these moments fueled my day, ready to turn into novels anytime.