117

Chapter 117 - Management - 4

Carelessness leads to disaster.

It could be a matter of reducing sleep after work to finish writing a novel to upload and mistakenly hitting the 'Don't Save' instead of 'Save' as you press the end button. Or it could be accidentally posting a risqué photo in a group chat where all your colleagues are present.

Or situations like leaving the computer on and going to the convenience store first, only to have your parents barge into your room in your absence and discover your sexual predilections. Such are the catastrophes I'm talking about.

Of course, none of the aforementioned disasters made the world go as dark before my eyes as getting caught by my roommate with the erotic story I was writing.

Dang Hwa Rin looked at me with a serious expression.

"What on earth is this?"

What should I say in my defense?

When I was younger and got caught looking at something erotic, I would claim the computer had been hacked. But it was a stretch to explain to my parents why a hacker would store pornographic video files on my C drive and be remotely watching them—would that excuse work on Dang Hwa Rin?

I've been hacked. I wanted to write a reputable story of chivalry like 'The Legend of the Wind and Cloud Hero,' but my left hand, the Black Goat, and my right hand, the Courtesan's Grip, wrote this erotic tale.

"It's the novel I'm writing."

After a moment of quick deliberation, I decided to come clean to her. After all, we would need to print it and display it on the first floor at some point, so she would have to take a look.

Now is the time to just state the facts, in a manner befitting Kang Yunho.

"Are you insane? This is a story about the Sacheon Dang family."

Dang Hwa Rin, seemingly at a loss for words by my reply, waved the manuscript at me.

"It is indeed a story about the Sacheon Dang family."

"Is this some kind of novel method for suicide in Joseon?"

"Suicide? The protagonist is a person bursting with chivalry from the Sacheon Dang family. He could be called the epitome of a righteous hero, so there shouldn't be a big issue."

"But this…".

"I haven't portrayed the Sacheon Dang family in a bad light. If someone from the Sacheon Dang family were to read it, they'd probably be impressed and come to give me an award."

"Bullshit! It's a damn erotic story!"

Dang Hwa Rin, her face flushed, protested vehemently to me.

"Tsk! An erotic story, you say! It's merely a slightly racy tale about a man of chivalry in the martial world."

In short, it's what you'd call an erotic martial arts story.

"It's all the same."

"It's just a slightly risqué story about a hero with a strong sense of justice. It's not an erotic story. And you know well that such stories sell."

It's different from an erotic story. Different.

Whether it's a panda practicing martial arts, robots engaging in proxy wars while using martial arts, or brandishing lightsabers in space, if there's martial prowess and chivalry, then it's a martial arts tale.

The protagonist of Dangga Fungwun also practices martial arts and chivalry, so of course, it's a martial arts novel. But because it's got a hefty dose of risqué elements, we call it an erotic martial arts story.

"But…"

Dang Hwa Rin dragged her words, a worried look on her face as if the use of the Sacheon Dang family as a setting was bothering her.

Perhaps it's time to start seeking her cooperation now that her anger has subsided.

"This is all for you."

Let's start with a massage for her sentiments.

I fixed my expression and looked at Dang Hwa Rin with concerned eyes.

"For me?"

"We might be able to pay off your debt by running this bookstore, sure. But that'll take 20 years. A whole 20 years. By then we'll both be 41 years old. Do you want to spend the prime of your life just paying off debt?"

In reality, we would be earning enough not to worry about such a timeline, but I wanted to impress upon her that, at the very least, a long road of toil lay ahead for 20 years.

"So what if it does…"

She lowered her head and averted her gaze upon my mention of 20 years.

Hwa Rin, does your conscience prick you? I've said I would help, but ultimately, the debt is your responsibility, not mine.

"If we publish a book with a protagonist from the Sacheon Dang family, it'll capture people's attention instantly. Curiosity alone will lead people to buy the book, and if word of mouth spreads, sales will become better. Let's pay off the debt that way. Here we are in Eui Chang, skimping and saving by eating cheap beef soup. Shouldn't we be able to occasionally splurge on fine dining and clothing, or even take trips together? Is this how you want to continue living?"

I'm writing this kind of story to help us quickly resolve your debt.

"Together?"

"Then with whom else?"

"Y-Yes, that's right."

Dang Hwa Rin's lips curled into a smile, her cheeks tinged with a flush as she nodded in agreement to my proposition.

It worked.

I'm publishing this book for you. It's not because of some dark ambition to raise my fame or anything like that.

My logic had worked on her, but it wasn't enough. I had to provide more reasoning than just debt repayment for taking on such a risk.

"Actually, there's another reason I want to publish this book."

Let's fortify my argument by adding another reason.

"What reason?"

"I promised a friend that I would make my name echo throughout this world."

The truth was, the promise was with an imaginary friend of childhood, but let's say it was also a pact with this 'air friend.'

I looked at her with a face full of resolve.

"Ah…"

"That guy, my friend. He once said that if he died first, he would wait in the afterlife for someone to bring news of me, and told me to become famous. If I become well-known through my books, perhaps my family and friends in the afterlife will be assured that I'm doing well. That's why I want to be famous."

With a sad sparkle in my eyes reflecting deep wounds and a painful past, my firm lips revealed a determination to move towards the future as I spoke to her.

"A promise with a friend... I see. That's what it's about."

Disappointment tinged Dang Hwa Rin's voice.

Was talking about dead family and friends too much? No, I had to stand my ground. If I tell her it's for her sake and then later argue against taking risks, I'll have no more to say.

I must establish strong motives that justify publishing this book at all costs.

"Hwa Rin, my dream is to become famous enough that my deceased family and friends can hear of my reputation. There's the story of Ha Moolin's son, sure, but at first, I want to build my fame with a popular spicy story before trying other novels."

"What if the Sacheon Dang family sees this book and comes after us? What will you do then?"

"Well, when that happens..."

I have a few safeguards in mind. Easy ways and hard ways. I'm still conflicted, but it seems best not to use the easy method.

Dang Hwa Rin, observing my troubled face, opened her mouth as if she'd made a decision.

"If the Dang family comes looking, tell them it was me who directed it."

"What?"

"Since I'm an illegitimate child of the Sacheon Dang family, say that I gave you the oral account and you were just writing it down."

"Hwa Rin, that could put you at risk."

"That bastard Tang Geo-ho. I was subjected to poison experiments because of him, and it seems I'd be captured by Tang Geo-ho's faction if I approached the Sacheon Dang family directly. Let's say I wrote it to attract their attention on purpose."

"Are you really okay with that?"

"Yeah. For my future. For your dreams. It seems worth the risk to take."

Dang Hwa Rin handed me the manuscript she was holding. The easy method. It wasn't that I didn't know I could use Hwa Rin as a shield.

I can't use a friend as a shield for my affairs. As I thought about using another method,

it turned out the friend I made was willing to step forward for my sake.

"Thank you, Hwa Rin."

I thanked her with a mix of regret and gratitude.

-------

"Even so, isn't the content too lewd?"

As the tension subsided, Dang Hwa Rin took the manuscript back and began reading it from the beginning. For a roommate, and a female one at that, to read the erotic martial arts story I wrote—this was some sort of shame play.

"Hwa Rin, can you just give it back?"

I couldn't meet her eyes and extended my hand.

"Is this really a story with martial arts and chivalry included?"

I thought I was going to die from embarrassment. I felt smaller and smaller with each sigh of resignation from Hwa Rin.

"Hey, Yunho."

"Yes?"

When I turned my head, Dang Hwa Rin was looking at me, embarrassed, covering her lower face with the manuscript.

"I have something to ask."

"What is it?"

"Well, does, does doing this with a woman's breast... I mean, if you hold them, does it really feel that good...? No! Forget it! Pretend I didn't ask!"

Please, just kill me. Please.

---------------------

"I'm going to sleep."

With a flushed face, after looking at the erotic story of Dangga Fungwun and sneaking glances at me and then back to the story, I could no longer bear to watch her and decided to go to bed.

"Me too. But, Yunho, I have something to ask."

"Wouldn't it be easier to just kill me with poison or a hidden weapon?"

"Why would I kill you?"

"Stop asking about the book's content."

Just stop it, Hwa Rin. Already, Kang Yunho's life is at zero. I told her with a voice that felt like my soul was draining away.

"No, it's not that... That, th-that, maybe..."

What's with her? Dang Hwa Rin's face was flushed as she stuttered like a broken machine on repeat.

"Why?"

I looked at her nonchalantly. Then Dang Hwa Rin, blushing with embarrassment, covered her face with the manuscript and spoke.

"Have you... experienced the content of the book? No, never mind."

Was that what she was curious about?

"Do you think I can use hidden weapons and poison because I'm writing about the protagonist of Sacheon Dang family?"

It's all written thanks to good references.

"Yeah! That's it, right? Hehehe."

Why is she suddenly so triumphant? Pleased with her answer, Dang Hwa Rin placed the manuscript on the desk and lay on her bed.

"Let's sleep."

"Hold on. So that means you go around thinking about that kind of stuff normally?"

It seemed like she came to a sudden realization, propping herself up with her arms and looking at me with a horrified gaze.

"No, that's..."

It's not that surprising. All guys have those kinds of thoughts and fantasies.

"Yunho. Push your bed away a bit so we're further apart."

"Okay, okay. Understood."

It's all my fault. It's my fault for getting caught with the erotic story by the roommate I live with.

I pushed my bed away to create some distance from Dang Hwa Rin's bed.

"Not too far. Just far enough that I can see your expression."

She always has to have things her way.

I pretended to push the bed and then just lay down in it. Let's get some sleep.

"Yunho."

When I turned around, Dang Hwa Rin was lying in bed, watching me intently.

"Yes?"

"From tomorrow on, I'll help you with your writing."

"You're already tired from the bookstore work."

It's stressful enough for you to read my writing.

"Just now I saw the martial arts terminology from Sacheon Dang family is a total mess. I'll help you with that."

"You really don't have to."

"If we're going to pay off the debt and become famous together, it's better to do it this way, right?"

Dang Hwa Rin looked at me with worried eyes. Maybe she's right. In the world of martial arts fiction, many are quick to point out inaccuracies.

I found no reason to reject her well-meaning offer.

"I'd appreciate that."

"Yeah! Yunho. Goodnight."

Dang Hwa Rin closed her eyes while still looking at me.

I felt torn apart with embarrassment.

Yet, I had gained an editor.

We will be able to take care of the martial arts accuracy. Granted, I'll have to deal with the mortification. Now that I have permission, I can print Dangga Fungwun with the press. We can also promote it.

Let's finish and publish Dangga Fungwun.