Chapter 73
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Platform's Number One
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Throb!
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
A sudden headache struck.
"See? That's what happens when you push yourself too hard. Go inside and rest. No work!"
"Ah, alright then. Thanks."
Why? This had never happened before. My mind was in its thirties, but my body was that of a sturdy twenty-five-year-old man. At this age, it was weird to feel pain no matter what I did. I'd pushed myself to the limit in the military, so I knew.
Something's off?
I hadn't even skimmed on sleep.
I went into my room and sat in the chair.
Thump thump.
My heart pounded fiercely. Should I go to the hospital?
"Hmmm..."
I lay down on the bed for now. The upside of this coffin-like narrow space was how quickly it brought a sense of calm.
Thump... thump.
Just in case.
I should get a checkup soon. I was supposed to die from illness in ten years, but who knew? Variables could pop up anytime.
I closed my eyes, waiting for my racing heart to settle.
A writer has finally claimed the top spot in platform sales!
I kept telling you it could be done, right? And now everyone can see the results!
Number 1 Author! Please share some advice that could help the other authors!
Even in hell, there were moments worth smiling about.
This was the first time I'd seen that Team Leader bastard so excited.
There had been authors who occasionally hit the bestsellers or topped specific genres, but I was the first to claim the overall top spot for monthly platform sales.
Thump thump.
My heart raced. On the monitor, countless authors gazed at me with envy, jealousy, cheers, and encouragement.
It was the moment I'd always dreamed of. I needed to rack up points to get out of here, and with points, I could live a little more humanely.
I could endure because you all were here. Thank you. -Number 1
I'd imagined saying more when this moment came, but now that it was here, my throat tightened with emotion.
Especially, I stared blankly at Number 7, and she was genuinely happy for me.
Number 1 Author, you can order a special meal!
Special meal, huh. After years of only kimchi, I'd forgotten what other foods even tasted like.
What would you like?
A burger. -Number 1
Chicken, pizza, sweet-and-sour pork, braised kimchi, pork belly, black bean noodles...
So much I wanted, but looking at Number 7, I just went with it.
Got it. We'll make it a set. Everyone else can order special meals anytime, just like Number 1 Author! Keep pushing!
I wanted to go to a burger franchise with her, chat softly under bright lights, and munch on fries together.
For some, that everyday thing was effortless, but for me, it was a dream, a wish.
But...
I wasn't happy. I'd finally gotten a special meal, but it was just me. I couldn't share it with her.
Thump thump.
Was that why? The unpleasant vibration in my chest kept churning my gut.
"What should we have for lunch?"
In front of Happiness Goshiwon, we'd stepped out for the morning meeting.
"I'll reserve a restaurant."
In response to Ye-jin's question, I answered without thinking.
"No need for reservations. Let's do burgers."
"That'll be enough?"
"More than enough."
Maybe because of the dream, I didn't even have to think about what to eat. The headache was gone, and my heart had calmed. Just like Ye-jin said, it must've been accumulated fatigue calling for rest.
"Heading out."
Ye-jin said from the driver's seat. We didn't need taxis anymore. She'd become a skilled driver, and even though it was secondhand, our ride was perfect for us.
"President."
"Yeah?"
"What if they want your work?"
It was a predictable development.
"We'll see how much they cooperate with us."
One work shouldn't be hard. I could write fourteen volumes in two months, enough to wrap up nicely.
"I looked into Luke Media a bit."
"How are they?"
"Good reputation. A first-gen genre novel publisher. Solid enough to rank among the top three, with plenty of hits."
Not quite on the level of Won-san or Dae-myung, who focused on general novels, but one of the big three in genre meant tons of experience and history.
"They used to specialize in game fantasy, but lately, they're making waves in women's romance."
"Lots of works, then?"
"Over a hundred hits. Big-name established authors too."
"Perfect for us."
"Yeah. Means they've got a huge library of solid backlist titles."
I asked.
"How many do you think we need?"
"The more, the better."
"Roughly."
"Five hundred works."
"Including women's stuff?"
"Yes."
A platform lived or died by how long readers stuck around and spent time.
Talent Market was a content platform, so it needed that much to see.
The webtoon market was just getting started, so options were severely limited. Novels had to build it up.
The car we were in hit Olympic Expressway. The Han River spread out refreshingly. That's when it hit me.
"Oh, did you look into that thing we talked about before? Like old factories."
"Seongsu-dong?"
"Yeah."
"A few listings, but prices don't match. They're just listing high without real intent to sell."
Ah, right—Ye-jin's mom was in real estate. She'd grown up hearing about it, so Ye-jin was practically an expert.
"Told a few agents, so if a fire sale pops up, we'll hear."
Happiness Goshiwon was great for nostalgia and roots, but yeah, it was too cramped. I could tough it out solo in my tiny room, but no point making everyone suffer.
Ye-jin was driving hard, so out of courtesy, we mostly talked shop.
"Team Leader Min's got the kids doing events—no complaints?"
I missed Jin-seong's cooking.
"Not about money, seems like. Videos. Keeps making them in the car, rest stops, dorms, backstage, uploading to NewTube. Fans love it."
"Stimulated by that million-view vid before?"
"Probably."
The million-view video had plateaued since, but Team Leader Min seemed to grasp what I was aiming for. If DM could do it, Black Ink could too.
Don't need a ton.
For my entertainment side, two teams—boy group, girl group—were plenty to grow big.
Focus on solid teams, plus in seven or eight years, money wouldn't matter to me anyway.
Coins were gonna explode.
As traffic slowed, I cracked the window. Cool air hit my face. A few months till spring, but this year had already begun, and this one year was crucial for our company.
"Almost there."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"No biggie. I actually enjoy driving. For real."
Gotta make money quick and get our Ye-jin a better car.
"Huh?"
Happiness Goshiwon.
The sign was the same, but the vibe was totally different. He shouldered his backpack and headed to the first floor.
"Excuse me!"
No one came even after raising his voice.
Grandma not here?
Two years since he'd last visited. Knowing no place in Seoul like it, he paced outside when someone called him.
"Huh? Bin, right?"
"Uncle! Hi!"
"Discharged?"
"Yes! As of yesterday! Loyalty!"
Mr. Hwang smiled warmly and patted his shoulder.
"She passed a while back. But tough luck—no vacancies."
"Ah..."
"The writer who took over's got a great rep. Tons of people wanna move in."
"I see... Sigh, guess I'll look elsewhere."
The guy sighed.
To settle in Seoul, housing first. Then food costs. Best thing here? Free meals, ramen unlimited.
"Looks good on you. Good work."
As Mr. Hwang headed to the parking lot, he stood alone, thinking.
What now?
He'd banked on this place. Plan derailed.
Another plus: great access to Gangnam. Same job paid more there. For him, saving every penny for ten years to open a little shop—that was the dream.
"Sigh..."
He squatted in front of the goshiwon. Knew he should scout others, but felt too daunted to move.
About thirty minutes like that?
A middle-aged man walked up.
"What's going on?"
He answered right away.
"No rooms available."
"Hmm."
Team Leader Cha Do-hyun eyed him briefly. Handsome, not sketchy. Freshly discharged buzzcut and that end-of-service sergeant's aura.
"Eaten lunch?"
"No."
"Cold out here. Come eat."
Place he'd lived a year pre-army. Could navigate blind. But two years later? Totally changed.
Especially on the rooftop—he was shocked entering the cafeteria.
"Huh? Wasn't like this..."
"Door shut, sit. Draft."
"Ah, yes. Sorry."
Not peak lunch, so just them. But the steam from rice, soup, sides warmed his chilled body fast.
"I' ll... eat well."
Team Leader Cha handed him a tray.
"More if needed."
"Thank you."
He bowed. Team Leader Cha picked up his chopsticks.
Two quiet guys eating as strangers? Peak awkward.
So Team Leader Cha asked.
"Heading back to school?"
"No. No college. Did culinary academy."
"Food industry?"
"Yeah. Chef's my dream."
"Hm, job hunt?"
"Planned to secure housing first..."
Off to a bad start. He said.
"Pay for food separate?"
Four sides, soup even. Meat dish?
"No. Same costs as before."
"Whoa."
Makes sense? And why so tasty?
He polished every grain. Seeing it, Team Leader Cha said.
"No place urgent? Wait till dinner. President might find a way."
Maybe good first impression.
"Short-staffed lately."
Or pity for the guy shivering homeless in winter.
"The President?"
Military vet with clear dream—least he'd do something, right?
Team Leader Cha thought so as he grabbed his tray.
"Yeah. Out, but back before dinner."
The guy suddenly recalled Mr. Hwang's words.
Writer guy?
Brushed it off then.
"Wait. What do I say to meet the President? Is he the owner?"
As he washed trays, Team Leader Cha replied.
"Just be honest. Everyone started that way."
Some folks, you can read their thoughts from their face. I like those. No backstabs.
Others, impossible to read—like the Executive Director's brother. Uncomfortably inscrutable, hard to befriend.
And today's guy was the latter.
"Jeong Hyun-woo."
"Go Ye-jin."
Meeting room.
We exchanged cards, facing the two.
"O Ga-eul. I head the webnovel women's romance division."
Woman and man. After Team Leader O Ga-eul, the man extended his hand.
"Thanks for coming all this way..."
Throb!
Another headache?