Chapter 111 – Rose's Contract (1)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
"Done! Finally!" Seo Kwang shouted. While all eyes were on him, Juho, too, looked at him with the same eyes he had been using to read his work. He was celebrating with his hands up in the air.
"I'm telling you, he's slow."
"The more thorough you are with revisions, the better."
"You don't think others finished before you because they weren't as thorough as you, do you?"
"You're the one to talk. You just finished yours yesterday."
"Guys, calm down."
The quarreling between Sun Hwa and Seo Kwang echoed throughout the room. Though they bickered, there was excitement in their voices. With that, each of the club members had finished a story of their own.
"Now, it's time to make a decision," said Mr. Moon as he rose from his seat. He was referring to the matter of whether the writers wanted to have their work on display in the school library or not. It was a decision that belonged solely to the writers themselves.
"Those who would like to have their work on display, come talk to me in the staffroom with your story. I'll print it out, and then it'll go straight to the library."
"Sigh," the club members let out a heavy one.
"How much time do we get to decide?"
"The sooner the better. Let's say... next week?"
"Egh!? Next week??"
"It's the weekend, so it works out perfectly. You can think it over at home. I'll still accept it even if it's late."
Just like that, the club members had to spend their weekend wrestling with a decision.
After spending some time thinking, Juho decided to have his work on display at school, publishing it under his real name, "Juho Woo." Though it might be a humble and seemingly insignificant in comparison to his professional debut, it was perfect for the seventeen year old Juho Woo.
If he hadn't published 'The Trace of a Bird,' he would have ended up publishing one single book as a Literature Club member. Thinking back on his past, he had leaped to fame all without having taken such steps toward becoming a writer. It made sense that his career had eventually fallen apart.
He relaxed while lying comfortably on his bed.
"Ah! This is nice..."
The weekend was a delightful occasion. For the first time in a while, Juho was able to spend some time resting. While staring at the ceiling blankly, he felt a sudden urge to read a book.
He sat up and walked toward the bookshelf. After scanning through the books, his eyes eventually landed a book written by Franz Kafka. Juho was a fan of his work. Though his books never saw the light of day, they eventually became known to the world by the hands of his friend, Max Brod. Max himself might have been responsible for not following the request of his dying friend, who asked him to burn all of his works, but the world benefited greatly from those same magnificent works.
'If Kafka himself were to see what happened, how would he feel?' Juho became curious. Kafka had been a writer who had written in solitude throughout his entire life. 'As an author who pursued an artistic ego, would he be delighted in the fact that his work was finally receiving its due recognition, or would he blame his friend for not following through with his will?' With those thoughts in mind, Juho opened the book. It was an original copy, written in German.
After some time, the vibrations from his phone broke the silence, taking his peaceful weekend with it. Feeling slightly annoyed, Juho reached for his phone on the desk. It was a number that he didn't recognize.
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Usually, he wouldn't have hesitated to reject the call. However, a potential possibility crossed his mind at that moment, so he carefully answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Is this Won Yi Young?"
"Yes, this is he."
"This is Jang Mi Hong from Dong Baek Publishing Company. I saw that you submitted a manuscript some time ago?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I wanted to let you know that we're interested in publishing your work."
(TL's Note: "Jang Mi" means rose in Korean.)
A smile spread across Juho's face. 'First phase, pass.' His work had successfully moved the hearts of its readers even without the name "Yun Woo." At least the hearts of those who were in the publishing industry anyway.
"Would you have some time to visit us and discuss this in person?" Jang Mi asked.
"Absolutely."
Having exchanged a few more words, Juho stood in a daze, feeling the heat being emitted from his phone.
At that moment, the phone began to ring again. It was another number he didn't recognize. He answered without hesitation.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Won Yi Young?"
"Yes, this is he."
"Hi, how are you Mr. Young? I'm calling on behalf of Village Publishing Company. I wanted to discuss your submission with you?"
From then on, Juho received a total of three phone calls, two emails, and two letters, all offering to publish his work. With the exception of one, all other companies he submitted to showed positive responses by showing interest in publishing it.
"Haha!"
Juho felt the same rush he felt when he made his very first submission. The news of his work being made into a book had always overwhelmed him with joy. It had been a while since he felt that satisfaction. Won Yi Young seemed like he would have a bright future ahead of him.
He took a deep, quiet breath.
'Now, who do I choose?' It was a rather pleasant concern.
*
Things were much busier than usual at the Dong Baek Publishing Company.
"Mr. Young's coming in soon, right? Make sure to leave the conference room empty."
"Everything's ready, including the contract."
"Good, good."
The president had organized the meeting personally for the occasion. Won Yi Young was on his way to the company. He checked the time. Thirty minutes until the meeting.
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"I don't know why I'm so nervous."
"You too? Same here," Jang Mi agreed with him. Though it was not the first time either of them would meet an author, there was an odd tension in the air. With a quick, swift movement, she pushed her piercing into her nose. It would no longer be visible from then on.
"You don't think it's going to be someone we've met, do you?"
"Maybe. Who are you thinking?"
She thought about the list of young authors he'd met so far.
"He seemed to have a similar style to Mr. Ahn."
"No, it's way too colorful," said the president, shaking his head.
"Ms. Choo's probably busy working on 'Behind the Curtains.' Ah, do you happen to know Joon Soo Bong? He's not very well-known, but I'm a huge fan."
"Of course, but he has such a distinct style. We would've caught it right off the bat."
"That's true. Mr. Uhm would be a silly guess, right?"
"Yep. There's no way."
Wearing a puzzled look, Jang Mi tilted her head. 'Is he even an author? No, he has to be.' Won Yi Young was more than competent in terms of his skill as a writer.
"With a skill like that, it might be someone with more experience."
"He sounded young."
"I have a young voice too."
"Ahaha... of course..."
While they joked around light-heartedly, an employee said, "Sir? Ms. Hong? Mr. Young's here."
"OK."
With her heart pounding for a reason unknown, Jang Mi went out to greet the author. An individual who appeared to be an author stood in front of the entrance.
'He looks young,' thought Jang Mi. His appearance was just as young as his voice. He couldn't have been older than a high school student. When their eyes met, the mature expression of an adult spread across his face. It was a peaceful smile. Jang Mi felt a slight hesitation in her mind. 'Is he really young?' He exuded a strange aura. At that moment, a thought suddenly crossed her mind. 'Could it be him?' She might have been nervous because of a subconscious premonition.
"Hello," the author greeted her. Jang Mi greeted back in a hurry.
"Yes, hello. Mr. Young, right?"
"Yes, ma'am."
After exchanging light greetings, Jang Mi brought him to the conference room. The young author calmly walked into the building. Though it didn't appear to be his first time visiting a publishing company to sign a contract, there was no trace of anxiety or excitement. He was calm and mature.
"Sir, Mr. Young's here."
"Please, come on in," said the president, welcoming the author.
In contrast to his light-hearted tone from earlier that day, a low, serious voice leaked out of the conference room. Without hesitation, Jang Mi opened the door and stepped aside to let the author in.
*
KH999 - ល្បែងប្រជាប្រិយខ្មែរ លេងហើយជក់ចិត្ត
KH999 - វិបផតថលហ្គេមកាស៊ីណូដ៏ល្បីល្បាញឈានមុខគេនៅ Cambodia
"Hello, Dong Baek Lee."
Juho exchanged greetings with the president of the company in the conference room. Being middle-aged, he gave off a rather threatening impression. His appearance was far from a welcoming one. Yet, his honest smile had a charm of its own.
"Mr. Won, I'm assuming?'
"Yes, sir."
"I enjoyed your work quite a bit. Thank you so much for submitting it to our company," said Dong Baek as he bowed. Juho too returned a bow.
"Thank you for contacting me," Juho said while facing Jang Mi and Dong Baek. As they sat with a rectangular desk in between them, the room felt similar to the science lab at school. A cup of green tea was brought out for Juho.
Before getting to the main point, Dong Baek started a conversation by bringing up Juho's work, "Your work left me with a deep impression, Mr. Young."
"Thank you."
"I was especially impressed by the language chart that you included in your submission. Did you come up with that?"
"Yes, I did."
"If the readers are to learn that chart, would they be able to understand the language in your book?"
Juho nodded quietly.
"It is a language after all. It'd be more than possible."
"May I ask how it came about?"
After spending a brief time thinking, Juho answered, "So... I based the letters on the western alphabet, Chinese, and Hangul. I also looked into Old and Medieval English quite a bit. I've made several different languages, and I'm planning on dividing them into two categories: one that is to fade into history, and one that survives the test of time."
"When you say you're planning on dividing, what are you referring to?"
"Like the Manchurians. The Jurchen language was simply too difficult, and it eventually disappeared from the face of the Earth. People there had to come up with a new language, and it took shape after its borrowed counterpart, Mongolian. The Manchurians declared the use of their own language, but it never grew out of its perilous state. I'm planning on making the characters in my book study such a language."
"I see."
Dong Baek seemed somewhat unsatisfied with his answer, so Juho decided on a more direct approach.
"Making an arrow, for example."
"An arrow."
"Weapons are for hunting. In order to serve that purpose, it needs to be sharp. I do look for materials in my surroundings that would suit that image, things like glass, iron, or pieces of ice. Once you experiment mixing in different ratios, you eventually learn which ingredient goes with which. I've paid particular attention to the language system and its vocabulary, because I wanted to create as many languages that were unique to that world as possible. Not only is it more fun, but it's also more effective when it comes to showing the ecosystem of that world."
"... I see. If I may, what's your age?"
"Seventeen."
Both Jang Mi and Dong Baek's eyes sparkled with curiously. 'A genius. A genius has appeared!' They felt like they had finally come to encounter a race that they'd only heard about. Seventeen. Genius. When combining the two words, there was one particular person who came to mind. A rookie who flipped the publishing industry upside down. An author who had been on a streak of success from his debut to his sophomore title.
With an anxious heart, Dong Baek asked, "So, I saw that you've kept your introduction rather brief."
"Would that cause an issue?"
"At this point, not at all."
His skill simply stood out, so it made his lack of self-introduction noticeable. In other words, it was a gem. A gem that sparkled above all the surrounding rocks. Those who had been blinded by it were bound by the desire to get their hands on it. Dong Baek fully intended on entering into a partnership with the young author. Having met the writer himself, that determination had grown even larger.
Therefore, Dong Baek decided to ask Juho directly, "Have you written under the name "Yun Woo" in the past, by any chance?"
With his heart pounding from what felt like excitement or anxiety, he stared at the young author in front of him intently. Juho took a brief pause and smiled.
"Would that cause an issue?"
Jang Mi gasped. Dong Baek subconsciously reached for the green tea on the desk in order to quench the sudden thirst and said, "At this point, not at all."Chapter 112 – Rose's Contract (2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
"Every character had a distinct personality. I like the story of the four individuals who each have something they're after."
Jang Mi changed the subject.
"The protagonist's personality really stood out to me. Especially the drastic change that occurs from his youth to his adulthood. His misanthropic behaviors were also quite interesting," Dong Baek added.
"That's why the protagonist is so obsessed with God," Juho said.
One was searching for God because of his hate toward humans. Some might see him as arrogant, while others might see him as admirable. That was the kind of character One was.
"The language that you made really accentuates each of the character's personality."
"I was hoping that would be the result."
"And you've done it quite well, Mr. Young."
Depending on the region, the language evolved differently. Vast and diverse. Some were even difficult. The only reason why the readers were able to understand the language in the book was because the protagonist served the role of the translator.
Due to that, Juho was able to portray the distinct characteristics of each village to their full potential. It became an element of fun in its own rights, and it was also one of the strengths of the novel.
"I liked that the four schoolmates who were never close as students came together as adults to go on a spontaneous journey. I'm looking forward to how things will unfold when a group of people who aren't all that fond of each other are on a journey together."
"I agree."
No one knew how the journey would turn out, and Juho shared the same excitement as Dong Baek and Jang Mi.
"It's also unique that the characters are names One, Two, Three, and Four."
"Ah, about that."
Juho had named the four companions after numbers. Of course, it held a different meaning than what merely appeared to be a chronological order.
"Was there a reason for that?" Asked Jang Mi.
"Nothing special. We understand them as numbers, but in the world within the story, they can have an interpretation that's entirely different. I saw it as an opportunity to exert creativity."
"Their personalities are completely different, unlike their names, which lines up neatly next to one another."
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"Yes, and they are each looking for something."
"Yet, they all share in the goal of meeting God. It's so interesting!"
"I really liked the character "Bird,"" added Dong Baek.
Bird. He had just started to realize the significance behind the name. A bird was the first thing people associated with the name "Yun Woo."
"I'm guessing he's going to play a crucial role in the story?"
"Yes, he's one of the core characters."
Having read the synopsis, Dong Baek and Jang Mi had an idea of the character's identity. The three shared a smile.
"He's God himself," said Juho.
Or maybe he isn't.
"We're really looking forward to how the story will unfold, Mr. Young," said Dong Baek as he took out the contract that Jang Mi had prepared beforehand. Now, he was getting to the main point of the meeting.
"If you're Yun Woo, Mr. Young, I think we may need to make some adjustments in the contract."
Now that the name Yun Woo had been mentioned, things like royalties and advances were bound to change. Dong Baek quickly calculated in his head. Given that the company published under the name "Yun Woo," Juho would be able to receive anywhere from 12 to 15 percent since it would significantly reduce the cost of advertising.
"That won't be necessary," Juho said. Dong Baek looked at him as he stopped calculating.
"What do you mean?"
"It's exactly as I said. I have no intention of publishing this book under the name "Yun Woo.""
Juho was openly saying that he wouldn't mind being treated like a rookie. Dong Baek thought for a brief time. Not being able to publish the book under the name "Yun Woo" would mean a loss in many ways. The name had already become something of a brand. Yet, the author himself didn't want his book published under that name. Instead, he wished to publish under a different name.
"Hm..."
Though it was unfortunate for Dong Baek and the company, he remembered the intention of the meeting. It was specifically to sign a contract with Won Yi. Dong Baek had contacted Won Yi solely based on his writing. 'This book will do well even without the name "Yun Woo."' He composed himself and went forth with the meeting.
"Sounds good. Why don't we look at the contract together and discuss it in more detail?"
"Sure."
With that, he brought out two copies of the contract and placed one of them before Juho. Marking the important places, he gave Juho time to read through it.
Juho studied the contract and didn't notice anything that stood out from the previous ones. As he slowly put down the pages, Dong Baek started explaining.
"So, if you look here, it gives you the definition of the words used to refer to the two parties and so on."
Juho listened to him intently. They specified things and discussed when needed, and the steps had been exactly the same from the previous times Juho had signed contracts.
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"And about your royalties..."
"M-hm."
It was the process for determining how much an author got to take as his share. It was the most sensitive and crucial part of a contract because the numbers would vary depending on the author. More fame and skill meant a higher pay.
Dong Baek took the initiative to speak, "You, Mr. Young, would be a rookie publishing his very first book."
"Yes."
He began to calculate it in his head. Typically, a rookie would be paid royalties within 5 percent of the book's set price. Because Yun Woo himself had agreed to be treated as a rookie, there was no reason to complicate things. However, Dong Baek remembered how delicate of a world and characters this young author had created.
"How's 8 percent sound?"
"That's a lot higher than I thought."
Eight percent was the amount typically paid to authors who were more established. Examining the surprised look on Juho's face, Dong Baek made a subtle suggestion.
"If we publish under Yun Woo, we can bring that up to 15 percent."
"I'm happy with 8 percent. I am a rookie after all."
"Haha! Great, Mr. Young!"
Seeing as how Juho was drawing a line, Dong Baek pushed no further. He just accepted Juho's opinion with a smile. From then on, they discussed the contract for publishing the e-book.
As Juho studied the contract again, Dong Baek quietly studied his expression, the face of the elusive author, Yun Woo. There had been many assertions among the staff within the company. Some believed that he had an adult ghostwriter and some believed that he had a hideous scar on his face. Some believed that he would reveal his face when he became an adult, while some argued that he'd always remain anonymous.
Nobody had an answer since there was no way to ask the person himself. Yet, there he was, in front of his eyes. Neither did he lie about his age or have a scar on his face. He was simply an author who wasn't swayed by money and understood his work better than anyone.
Though the author himself had turned it down, Dong Baek's offer to pay him a 15 percent in royalty had not been an empty promise. Yun Woo was a colossal figure in the industry. Dong Baek felt confident. 'I have a good feeling about this,' he thought. Although the possibility of publishing under the name "Yun Woo" was no longer there, the fact he was dealing with a book written by the same author remained unchanged.
"Is there anything that you would like to discuss further, Mr. Young?"
"No," Juho said as he looked up slowly. Dong Baek wore a big smile on his face.
"Now that I've met you in person, I'm coming to realize that your age has nothing to do with your passion and professionalism, Mr. Young. I'm sure you have more than what it takes to handle a book of such a large scale in many aspects. I'm certain that this book will be the talk of the town. Genre novels can easily get lost and forgotten, but those novels also have a tendency to sell uncontrollably once they start selling," said Dong Baek.
Seeing how Juho's expression remained unaffected, he added confidently, "I can see it. I know this book will sell. Not only is it a great book, but it also has an incredible literary value. It would be wrong for it to not sell. Of course, not everything is reasonable in this world, but I believe a publishing company plays an important role when it comes to bringing back reason into the world."
Juho looked at Dong Baek's confident expression. He was taking pride in Juho's work at a personal level. Juho felt grateful and fascinated at the same time. 'I wonder what's giving him such confidence?' he wondered.
Maybe it was because Dong Baek knew nothing about Juho's past failures. To his eyes, Juho was probably no more than a genius author who was both young and lucky, writing his success story early on.
If it wasn't for the memories of his painful past, would Juho have been able to celebrate or feel confident as freely as Dong Baek? He suddenly felt like wanting to return to the time before he experienced success as an author. If he had lived in a time before he knew how fragile and yet potent success could be, Juho might've been able to celebrate.
"So, when can I sign?"
KH999 - វិបផតថលហ្គេមកាស៊ីណូដ៏ល្បីល្បាញឈានមុខគេនៅ Cambodia
ចំណុចប្រទាក់ខ្មែរប្រពៃណី – ប៉ុន្តែការលេងហ្គេមទំនើបណាស់។
Unfortunately, it was impossible. For that reason, he had resolved not to be afraid of anything preemptively. He might not be able to go back, but he was still able to change.
"Hahaha!" Dong Baek let out heartily while Jang Mi looked excited and anxious at the same time. Everything about the book was large.
"Pleasure to be working with you, Mr. Young."
"Likewise."
Juho willingly shook Dong Baek's hand.
*
"Won Yi?"
Juho nodded. In contrast to the shock on Geun Woo's face, Yun Seo laughed cheerfully.
"That's a fun challenge."
"I heard back from seven places! I was kind of impressed myself."
At that, Geun Woo shook his head with squinted eyes.
"Why are you doing that to yourself when you have a perfectly good name like "Yun Woo?" Is this what the "eccentricity of a genius" looks like? You might as well move into the mountains or something. It'll make it easier. Don't just sit there."
"Eccentricity? No, this is a challenge. A challenge of youth."
Geun Woo looked all the more confused, and Joon Soo interjected, "Geun Woo, we should be complimenting him first."
He had a mature personality. Juho took the fork Joon Soo had given him and picked up one of the apple slices filling the plate in front of him.
"So, are you feeling confident?"
"Confident?"
"As in, are you confident that you'll survive through the days as a struggling writer?"
"No, not at all."
Juho was not confident that he would be able to withstand the past darkness again.
"So, that's why I'm planning on starting strong. That, I'm confident about," Juho said as he remembered Dong Baek's attitude. The confidence the president of a publishing company had displayed gave Juho a slight sense of relief.
"That's a great posture to have," Yun Seo complimented him.
Geun Woo stared at Juho quietly. In that moment, he was a young author who was eating his apple slice. He was impossible to read. He seemed like a person who would laugh all the more peacefully even if a bomb fell from the sky.
'If I were Yun Woo, I'd take advantage of my name as much as possible when I wrote. Since I'd be the one who had brought myself to the top, I'd have nothing to complain about. I'd never turn an opportunity away,' Geun Woo thought.
'How is he able to leave behind a name like "Yun Woo" so easily? Is it because he's never experienced failure in his life? No. There's something much bigger and more powerful than a bomb falling from the sky. The role of trembling in fear belongs to those around him.'
"Well, should you find yourself not doing so well on the off chance, you know where to find us," Geun Woo said as an attempt to empty his mind.
"That's harsh," said Juho in response to Geun Woo's joke.
"You won't starve as long as I'm around," said Yun Seo.
"Aw! You too, Mrs. Baek?"
The four chatted cheerfully over a pile of apple slices.