Chapter 83

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 83

Chapter Title: The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Strongest Sovereign

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I smiled, with the two of them standing before me. Lee Bin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt unfamiliar, but Lee Myung-han was my cherished author, so it was like bumping into a neighborhood big brother.

"Whenever you have any questions, just ask Executive Director Go. She'll be able to help more than I can."

Because our Ye-jin was the best.

"Um... President, like you said before, I'm writing without holding back, but I keep feeling frustrated, wondering if this is right."

That could happen. And it was a problem every rookie author faced.

"Any other options?"

"Pardon?"

"Besides writing, what else can you do to improve your skills?"

"Well..."

"Input is important, and so is reflection, but if you want to master web novel techniques in a short time, there's nothing but writing."

Lee Myung-han would grow into an author who could write faster and more prolifically than me. It was a shame he didn't realize his own potential yet.

This time, Lee Bin spoke up.

"Can I work at the restaurant?"

"Of course. But that spot's already taken, so you'll have to talk it over with her."

As Jin-seong got busier and busier, having Lee Bin share the load would make things much easier. A few of the goshiwon elders helped out now, but the taste was noticeably different on those days—it was just a fact.

Ye-jin handed over some cocoa. It looked like she'd added milk, too.

"Thanks."

I turned to Lee Myung-han.

"If you have time this weekend, come to our gathering. A few other authors will be there—it'll be helpful."

"Count me in!"

I'd call this my cherished authors' gathering. I couldn't say it officially, but it was my bucket list item.

"Looking forward to working with you."

Business was done, so time to step aside.

I returned to my room, cup of cocoa in hand. Today, I planned to nail down my new work.

The manuscript for Season 1 of The Greatest Idol in History would wrap up soon, and with all my other commitments, I had to carve out time like this—whole days holed up in the Happiness Goshiwon.

"Why not the Imjin War..."

Since it was alternate history, tackling the event everyone knew best seemed like the way to go.

The Imjin Year ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was heartbreaking for all, but that very fact made it ripe for maximum impact.

"Who should the protagonist be?"

Once I fixed the era and period, I needed to craft a character who could shine brightest there.

'Send someone through?'

A modern person to the Joseon era could leverage future knowledge. If they kept their body intact, I could open like an isekai tale; soul possession would hit both possession and regression tropes.

But I'd already done regression, possession, reincarnation. Time for something different?

'Doesn't have to be exactly the same.'

The core was knowing future events—that alone was enough to work with.

For alternate history, the protagonist needed power to change history, and to blast through a frustrating early game, high status was handy.

'To get readers to naturally accept the alternate history genre, starting in the modern era would be best.'

I pondered. How to hook the intro? How to make the protagonist compelling?

"Hmm."

I'd always hashed out these concepts alone until they clicked. Ten years of solo grinding—that was my habit.

Swipe.

And yet here I was, reaching for my phone.

3:21 p.m.

Reply in three seconds flat. Huh, I'd heard women don't respond right away if they're not interested.

I made it to the massive bookstore by 4:30, only to realize with a jolt that this was my first time in a place like this.

"Whoa."

So many books in one space. People quietly browsed or stood reading—humanities, philosophy, general, liberal arts, kids' section—a whole new world.

Pretending I wasn't a total newbie, I headed to history. Natural enough?

'There it is.'

With Imjin Year as backdrop, my homework was King Seonjo and Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

I had some base knowledge, but it was shallow—I didn't even know Yi Sun-sin's age at death.

Seonjo? One of Joseon's all-time worst kings, top three?

'Oh, Seonjo was Gwanghaegun's dad.'

Flipping through books exposed my ignorance right away.

Truth was, I'd been the type to avoid studying, sleeping through anything uninteresting.

For a guy like that to end up in this awesome spot, geeking out over history books... life was unpredictable.

'This is solid. Plenty of hooks.'

Good call coming here. Books were someone's labor of love. How much research went into just this one?

'Thanks, sir.'

Absorbing summaries, I sketched plausible plots. Tons of trivia nuggets—like potatoes and peppers hadn't reached Joseon yet. Kimchi before that? No red pepper powder.

'I'll put this to good use.'

Authors had to train associating info with episodes.

Take potatoes: Joseon's masses starved, so as a staple crop it'd be gold. How could the protagonist wield it coolly? Turn it into story beats.

Key point: Not just "people eat well, yay"—but the protagonist earning dazzling credit for it.

Every element and setup primed the protagonist, especially in alternate history. Every action had to deliver vicarious thrills.

"President?"

"Ah, author."

Buying this one.

"History books?"

"Research for the next work."

"Planning a historical novel? No more web novels?"

Yeah, anyone might think that. Even I was lost when I first encountered alternate history.

"Nah, web novels all the way."

She showed up even fresher than usual today. Environment mattered. A hundred times more vibrant than staring at a monitor in that hellhole.

Whatever. I was over my issues now. Little things like this wouldn't faze me.

"Come here often?"

"Sometimes..."

Idiot, why lie?

"I love bookstores. Could live here forever."

Oh, hadn't known that. We'd spent so much time together, yet she was full of surprises. People were mysteries.

She stepped closer.

"..."

I barely stopped myself from a major retreat.

"See you later."

She tiptoed up, whispering in my ear. Watching her bounce off excitedly, I let out a sigh.

Not any better.

The intro opened on massive protests. People from across Korea, each with their reasons, united as one.

"Ugh..."

Then he awoke.

-Your Highness! Are you alright?

-Your Highness!

For some reason, he'd seen the future. Not vaguely—vivid memories and experiences of his descendants.

"Where is he?"

King Seonjo demanded.

"Yi Sun-sin! Where is he, I said!"

Ye-jin, experiencing alternate history for the first time, truly felt the thrill of upheaval. Just five pages, but it burned hot.

"Whoa...!"

I asked.

"What'd you think?"

"Not sure, but it's intriguing! Got a title yet?"

"The Strongest Sovereign."

"Sounds like The Greatest Idol in History."

"Yeah. Alternate history's unfamiliar to readers, so hooking 'em any way I can."

"Memento Mori style. Obvious at a glance?"

"Exactly."

Her reaction said the opener nailed it. If even she—a woman—wanted to keep reading, readability was locked.

"Love it. Write more."

Not bias—I could read faces like books. Normally it'd be rude as hell, but readers let you stare.

"Can't yet. Gotta study."

"Aww... when's the next part?"

"Next week?"

"Ugh, should've waited."

I ruffled Ye-jin's hair, chuckling.

"I'll send it straight to you when it's done."

"Yay!"

She'd come for breakfast-slash-lunch. In the restaurant, Jin-seong and Bin were apron-clad and syncing well.

Jin-seong asked me.

"People read historical novels? Don't they call 'em stuffy and boring?"

"That's the point to flip into fun."

I'd shared ages with a master of this craft.

He was the oldest guy in hell. Didn't know everyone's ages for sure, but yeah.

Number 29 rocked hair streaked gray, hanging to his cheekbones. Some stuck to wuxia only, but he was alternate history all the way.

One day, watching him, I asked:

Didn't get it then. We all had the "author" label, but genres shaped wildly different worldviews.

Three years later, he topped charts with alt-history, proving himself.

Team Leader said later that marked Korea's alt-history renaissance.

Looking back, I'd had so many mentors.

"Bro."

"Yeah, listening."

What were we talking about?

Jin-seong sighed at me.

"We vibe good?"

"Perfect."

Watching Jin-seong and Bin, an idea hit.

"Ye-jin, later film the kids cooking here and post it."

"DM channel?"

"Anywhere. Then reactions from eaters—with consent from the thumbs-up crowd only."

They'd be cosmic stars someday, but DM kids' self-esteem was rock-bottom now. Popularity boost needed.

"Got it. But will it work?"

I pointed at Jin-seong.

"He's photogenic. Cooking's the hook, but viewer joy's in the eaters' verdicts. They'll rave 'delicious'—that's the fun."

This place drew every walk of life: day-labor dawn diners, webtoon artists scratching heads at lunch.

"Captions mandatory."

Non-commercial vibe was unique.

"Jin-seong's Kitchen. Title it."

Jin-seong cracked up with an "Argh!"

"What's that?!"

"Just fun. You do you, natural."

The restaurant's rarity: goshiwon underdogs only. No billion won buys Jin-seong's cooking.

And when Jin-seong blows up biggest?

'The dazzling peak feeding the lowest depths personally.'

Not about moneyed status. That's how the world would see it.

'Buildup from the unlikeliest places.'

That was alternate history.