WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: Ryuu

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HOW TO BECOME A STAR WRITER

Chapter 17

Episode 3. Create an Incident (7)

[Converting the Dust in possession to work recognition.]

[Conversion completed.]

.

.

The surrounding scenery faded away, giving the sensation of being sucked somewhere else. Now, I can clearly feel it. So this is what it feels like. To enter and exit a novel.

......I thought it was doomed.

Fortunately, a message like 'the stars are curious or something' popped up; otherwise, I would have been stuck in jail, wasting time.

This is the second time.

I have been in and out of the novel.

Now I realize it.

This is not a dream or fantasy, but a stark reality. I have gained such a power.

At least I didn't die this time.

Taking deep breaths and drinking water. Let's see, the first thing to do is... obviously that.

『99 Ways to Kill a Returner』 - NEW!

As expected, the things I did were uploaded as a novel.

More precisely, they were 'modified'.

"......Damn, it seems I have to write the modification notice myself."

I hastily wrote a modification notice. Due to personal reasons, episodes 5 and 6 of 『99 Ways to Kill a Returner』 have been modified... and so on. Then, immediately checked the views and bookmark counts.

The current average views are around 5,000. The read-through rate is also excellent.

Bookmark counts have surpassed 3,500.

It's hard to believe that 3,500 people have bookmarked my novel across the monitor.

Since I spent over 6,000 Dust, it might even increase more.

It would be great to know how Dust exchanges with work recognition.

Initially, I thought it was a 1:1 ratio with Dust, but considering they specifically used the term 'recognition', it seems to be a more complex mechanism.

Maybe the amount of Dust provides some kind of 'attraction' to real readers.......

Anyway, the ones who actually increase the views and bookmarks are the readers beyond the monitor.

Well, it's just speculation for now.

This time, I checked the 'Today's Best' section. Sure enough, my work's name was visible at the end.

Today's Best 16th Place

99 Ways to Kill a Returner

-PureLiterati

16th place. I jumped three places from my personal best of 19th place before uploading episodes 5 and 6.

Alright, let's climb up step by step.

......Oh, I forgot to mention, 'PureLiterati' is my Textpia pen name.

It might sound like I'm clinging to pure literature, but it's not that; it's more of self-mockery.......

Damn, no need to talk about such things.

―You have 6 new messages.

There were also numerous messages in the inbox. From managements and publishers I had contacted last time.

Especially an editor named Na SoYul from Cat Management sent three messages. Just by the name, she seems to be a female editor.

―Writer-nim~♥♥ Did you check your messages??

―Writer-nim, I understand it must be complicated and exciting for your first contract! Please contact me anytime.......

Honestly, I scoff at this.

People who didn't even bother with me when I wrote 『The Philosopher Orc』, are now desperate for my reply.

―Sorry, but due to personal reasons, I can't contract this work with your company.

I wrote a brief reply to Cat Management. This should be enough for them to understand and give up. Lastly, I checked the highlight of the day, the comment section.

Wow, look at this.

It's almost saturated.

[View Comments]

Dokjaz: Enjoyed reading ㅎㅎ It's not even that special a story, but strangely keeps me reading ㅎㅎ

Sophist: Sophistry kukuku Fresh. It's been a while since I saw a protagonist who fights with words. But will you continue this way? What about Sword Master?

Returner8: Finally, a protagonist who can talk well... Is this super fun?

Freeloadz: Writer-nim, please... I mean, more chapters... ㅠㅠ

┗Foxnyang: 2222 more chapters!! More chapters!!!

┗WolfGun: More chapterrrrrrs

PlagiarismDetector: Plagiarism detector operating beep beep It broke beep beep

Some comments were hard to understand, but still, there were 81 comments.

It's been a while since I received so much attention... no, it's actually the first time.

Suddenly, my heart feels like it's going to burst.

I continued reading the comments.

ReturnerLove: But this is like infinite returner, right? lololol An anti-returner novel but the protagonist is also a returner??

┗Bongbangi: Now that I think about it, the novel is kind of unkind. The protagonist is returning, but there's no explanation. What's interesting is that it's still a good read...

Hmm, this is something I hadn't considered.......

In reality, all parts revealing me, 'Lee HakHyun', instead of 'Lance Pilgrim', were missing from the novel.

After all, this novel was a third-person narrative centered around 'Lance Pilgrim'.

Naturally, things like 'Stars' or 'Dust' were not mentioned at all, and messages I could hear were completely erased from the text.

The skills revealed in the explanations were all [Normal Skills].

In short, 'I', the writer, was thoroughly hidden.

Well, it's not a meta-novel, so that's more natural, but I still feel a bit regretful.

For now, there are no errors in setting or breaking of plausibility, so I have to trust the stars and continue the story.

Lameduck: Looking forward to the next episode. I'll bookmark. Wondering how he will escape from prison.

┗Bongbangi: Wow!! Even Writer Munsword is reading this~~

┗FightiYuChanYoung: !!!! Now's not the time to read other works, Writer-nim!! Please focus on your own work first ㅠㅠ And stop f*cking going on hiatus

Lameduck?

I searched the ID of this familiar pen name. And sure enough.

Today's Paid Best 4th Place

『Munchkin Sword Master's Return』

-Lameduck

An incredible work has emerged.

Crazy, 4th in paid?

That's when I remembered where I had seen the name Lameduck.

One of the top 5 writers frequently mentioned by readers. He was indeed one of the so-called 'Five Kings' of Textpia.

How much are the paid views? ......14,000? My God, then how much does he earn a month?

If we take 63% after deducting fees and taxes from the net revenue...... So, in short.

He must be earning thousands a month for sure.

That's just on Textpia, not to mention other platforms combined, it would be a huge income.

Envious.

But I'm not simply jealous anymore.

Somehow, the rank of 'Paid 4th' seems a bit more real now. I'm confident that if I work hard, I can climb up there someday.

Compared to my past when I self-destructed denying the reality of Yu ChanYoung's 2.4 billion, it's a significant progress.

[Do you wish to check the story information of this work?]

[Caution! If the story level and progress rate of this work are higher than yours, access to information may be restricted.]

What's this, am I still in the novel?

Startled by a voice that suddenly came from somewhere, I looked around.

No one was there.

Hesitating for a moment, I decided to nod slightly.

[Checking the story information of the work.]

[Warning! The story progress rate of this work is too high.]

[Your overwhelming story level disregards the difference in progress rates!]

[You have gained access to view the information of this work.]

It was definitely that voice that had informed me of the stars' voices.

Damn, is it now invading my reality too?

Please leave this world to realism.

[Work Information]

Work Title: Munchkin Sword Master's Return

Author: Lameduck

Story Level: Normal 7th Stage

Story Progress Rate: 67%

Popularity Indicator: ★★★★

But then, I was dumbstruck by the information window that appeared before my eyes.

What is this?

Story Level?

I quickly checked other works in the bestsellers too.

[Your overwhelming story level disregards the difference in progress rates!]

[You have gained access to view the information of this work.]

[Work Information]

Work Title: The Sword Emperor of the Sky

Author: PaCheonWoo

Story Level: Easy 7th Stage

Story Progress Rate: 12%

Popularity Indicator: ★☆

Again, a similar window appeared. This time too, it displayed the level, progress rate, and popularity indicator.

It's similar to when I checked my story level, but now it shows a popularity indicator.

This seems to indicate the potential of the work... Clearly, The Sword Emperor of the Sky being lower in the bestsellers has a lower indicator.

I checked other works too.

As expected, due to my story level, almost all novels were accessible.

The story levels of the works in the top bestsellers mostly ranged from 'Easy 1st Stage' to 'Normal 2nd Stage'.

The highest was a 'Difficult 2nd Stage' work at today's best.

After checking the story levels of these works, I felt a strange sensation. Maybe a bit hollow.

Are these people writing their novels too hastily?

Just then, another question came to mind.

Wait a minute. If other works' story levels are shown, could it be that these people too...

The vibration of my phone came just as I was about to delve into a profound hypothesis. Almost reflexively, I picked up my smartphone.

"Writer-nim! I told you to answer the phone last time!"

It was Ji EunYu.

Ji EunYu's story was quite lengthy.

Listening to it, one might think she participated in the Bolivian revolution, fighting against the flames of capitalism like Che Guevara... who died there, ironically.

"Enough with the unfortunate talk. Anyway, we've prevented your work from being discontinued."

"Ah... Thank you so much."

It wasn't just me fighting a battle. Ji EunYu was fighting her own battle too, and this realization gave me a peculiar feeling.

Imagining Ji EunYu, standing on the conference room's round table, her long hair fluttering as she defended me like Che Guevara, filled my heart with warmth.

"Who holds meetings like that? You haven't worked in a company before, have you?"

She hit the nail on the head.

Yes.

I am a 28-year-old who has never even been an intern.

"Now you are not unemployed anymore. The possibility has arisen again. A work that hits an average of 5,000 views and over 95% read-through rate in just 6 episodes is hard to find even in the history of Textpia. Now you are a proper web novel writer. And to raise the read-through rate with a revised version... I've never heard of such a case before. How did you do it?"

How could I possibly know how it happened?

All I could say was that I ran hard, thought hard, and spoke hard.

"Anyway, you did well. But the editorial department's approval hasn't dropped yet, so don't relax."

"Approval... Are there conditions attached to the serialization?"

"That's... Ah, I'm sorry."

There was no need for Ji EunYu to apologize.

It was a situation I had expected.

After all, it's a work that gave up Yu ChanYoung's original to be serialized.

Management wouldn't approve a formal contract unless it showed some potential for success.

What could be the conditions set by the editorial department?

Let's see, since Platinum Best starts counting from 16 episodes, maybe hitting about 15,000 views by episode 16 would be enough?

"You need to hit an average of 25,000 views and over 70% read-through rate by episode 16 to be eligible for a formal contract."

"What?"

I thought I heard it wrong.

25,000 views by episode 16 is an impossible figure in Textpia, even for top writers.

And I am a newcomer, without any significant means to promote my work.

Unless the editorial department deliberately intends to ruin me, such an absurd condition―

"I'm sorry. Kim MyungHoon's influence is too strong... Even reducing it from 30,000 to 25,000 was hard."

So, it was that Kim MyungHoon.

I had heard about him a few times from Ji EunYu.

I took a light breath.

Alright, 25,000 by episode 16, then.

If it were before, I would have given up before even trying.

But what about now?

"I'll try."

"You will? Really?!"

"Didn't you accept the condition because you believe I can do it?"

"Right. Of course, but 25,000 by episode 16 is..."

Ji EunYu's voice, which had briefly faltered, regained its confidence.

"Let's give it a try. We can definitely do it."

"Of course."

I felt energized. No matter how I think about it, I seem to have been born with editorial luck.

"Oh, and since you called... are you free this evening?"

"Tonight?"

"Yes. I have some things to consult about the next part of the story and some other things to ask..."

"Ah... I see. Um."

I hope she didn't take it as a date invitation. I really had something to ask.

"I'm sorry, I have a prior engagement tonight. There's someone I need to meet urgently."

"Who is it?"

I was surprised at myself.

Why did I ask that all of a sudden?

"Excuse me?"

Well, it's none of my business who Ji EunYu meets or what she does.

"It's nothing."

"Okay. But what were you going to ask me, Writer-nim?"

"I... Well, I wanted to meet other writers. Since I don't have much of a network in this field, I'm curious about how other writers work..."

"Oh, if that's the case, you should have said so earlier. It's a good thing! Are you free tonight? Would you like to come with me?"

"What?"

Why would I go to someone else's date?

"It's not a date, it's work! The person I have to meet today is a writer affiliated with our management. Originally handled by Team Leader Kim MyungHoon, but due to changes in management, I'm taking over... Anyway, his name is Koo DaeSung. If you're interested, would you like to come and meet him?"

"Koo DaeSung?"

"Yes. Do you know him?"

"No."

I don't know him. Definitely not, but why does the name feel so familiar?

"And there will be other writers too. We'll meet at a creative group's office. Like PaCheonWoo, who writes The Sword Emperor of the Sky..."

"I'll go."

The name PaCheonWoo made me respond instinctively. Ji EunYu seemed pleasantly surprised.

"Really?"

"Yes. Where should I go?"

"Then, let's meet at Hongdae Entrance Exit 8 by 6:30 PM..."

The unexpected invitation made my heart race.

PaCheonWoo.

The one who wrote The Sword Emperor of the Sky earlier?

This might be an opportunity to easily resolve my doubts.

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