Chapter 19: Money is the Priority for Now, But… (5)

The inn was… truly the worst. Cramped doors lined the narrow hallway. I stepped inside, but the room was small, humid, and covered in mold. The bathroom was a communal one at the end of the hall. Despite the freezing weather, the stench was overpowering. My face contorted; it felt like a place where you’d catch a disease just by standing there.

“You’ve been staying here?” “It’s expensive even here. I couldn’t dare look anywhere else.”

I couldn’t stand it a second longer and stood up abruptly.

“Leave your bags for a moment and come with me.” “Where are we going now?” “The real estate agent.” “What?”

I took my sister straight to a nearby agency.

“Yes. We’ll take this one.”

I ended up signing a monthly lease for a room in a single-story multi-family house where four families lived. It was a temporary measure, and I’d found it in a hurry, but it was well-maintained and got plenty of sunlight through the window. After the agent and the landlady left, my sister looked around the empty room.

She asked with a worried expression, “Is it okay to spend such a large amount of money on a room?” “It’s fine. I’ve saved up quite a bit.” “This size… our whole family could live here together.” “It’s not that big.” “It’s bigger than our room back home. What are you talking about?”

Hearing that the entire family lived in a room smaller than this made me realize how much they must have suffered.

“Anyway, don’t worry about the rent. Just rest. You’ve worked for five years without a break.” “No, I should work. I’ll look into the nearby factories.” “Just rest for at least a month. And soon, I’ll need you to help me with my work.” “Me?” “Yeah. I have manuscripts to take to a publisher, and I need you to go in my place.”

She nodded in agreement. I immediately contacted a nearby coal shop to stock up on briquettes for the winter. Now that my sister’s situation was settled, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The next day, Teacher Park still didn’t show up at the studio. Was the stress from the incident with President Kim that bad? Since he had gone completely MIA, the other seniors were starting to worry.

“Has Teacher ever skipped the studio for this many days before?” Lee Jung-ho asked.

Shim Kyung-chul shrugged. “I don’t know. Not as far as I remember. Ki-chul hyung, has this happened before?” “It’s a first, as far as I know.” “Man, I’m worried. With Teacher gone, the vibe is weird and I can’t focus on my work.”

Shim Kyung-chul looked at him with disbelief. “Where do you get off using that as a pathetic excuse?” “It’s not an excuse.” “Shut it, kid. It’s not like you only started hating work yesterday. One day it’s because it’s snowing, another day it’s because the Christmas carols are distracting. Then it’s New Year’s and you’re sad about getting older.” “Hey, I’m sensitive. Kyung-chul hyung knows that better than anyone.” “How the hell would I know that? Why do I have to know if a guy like you is sensitive or decadent?” “What?! That’s harsh. I’m hurt.” “Shut up!”

Then Lee Ki-chul looked at me. “Did he say anything to you?” “No. Just that he’d talk to me later. That was the last I heard.” “I see.”

This time, Shim Kyung-chul asked me, “How’s the Star Five sequel coming along?” “The storyboard for Volume 1 is finished. I start Volume 2 today.” “Oh, really? Can I take a look at it?” “Kyung-chul.”

At Lee Ki-chul’s sharp tone, Shim Kyung-chul jumped. “Yes?” “Don’t you know no one sees Yi-chang’s stories before Teacher does?” “Ah, sorry. I was just so curious.” “Stay curious. Unless you want to die.”

Shim Kyung-chul withered instantly. “Yes, sir.”

After lunch, I approached Lee Ki-chul while he was resting.

“Could we talk for a moment?” “Now?” “Yes.” “Sure.”

We went into the Teacher’s office. With Park Chul-min gone, it felt almost like it had become my own workspace.

“What’s up?” Ki-chul asked. “This.”

I pulled out a manila envelope I had kept under the table.

“What is it?” “What I asked you about before. About releasing a manga under a pseudonym.”

Ki-chul’s eyes widened with curiosity. “Then…?” “Yes. This is the first manuscript.” “Can I read it?” “I believe you said you wanted to be the first to see it.” “Ah, right.”

He carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the pages.

“Is this a full volume?” “No, it’s 30 pages. It’s not finished yet, but I want to see the publisher’s reaction first.”

In truth, work had been delayed because of everything going on lately. Normally, I would have finished over 60 pages.

“I see.”

Lee Ki-chul became the first reader of Iron X. He stared at the title on the first page and then studied the drawings for a long time.

“The robot design is incredible. I was surprised by the robots and ships in Star Five, but this is truly on another level.”

He was genuinely impressed. Ki-chul usually didn’t show much emotion, but when it came to art, he couldn’t hide it. He turned the pages slowly, one by one. He scrutinized every cut and every line of dialogue as if trying to engrave them into his memory. After finishing the 30 pages, he took a deep breath.

“Well? Is it good enough to take to a publisher?” “You’re being mischievous.” “Pardon?” “Did you really think I’d look at this and say no?” “Well… you never know.”

He gave a strange smile. “Now I know for sure that geniuses really do exist in this world.” “A genius?” “Yeah. Anyone who sees this and doesn’t think so should have their eyes plucked out.”

That’s a bit violent, I thought. The guy definitely had a hidden aggressive streak.

“The story is fun, and the art is top-tier. I’m not joking—compared to this, even something like Babel II feels a bit lacking in quality.”

To me, Babel II was just a very old manga, but my modernized, streamlined style seemed to be a fresh shock to Lee Ki-chul.

“What’s the pseudonym going to be?” “I’m still thinking about it.”

He nodded. The name didn’t really matter. The main issue was the awkwardness of a student from this studio releasing his own work. Ki-chul wasn’t a fool; he understood the situation perfectly. He glanced at the sketches sitting next to the finished pages.

“I’m dying to know what happens next. Can I see?” “Here.” I handed him the storyboard notebook.

A while later, after reading through about a hundred pages of storyboards, he looked at me and spoke.

“This is a guaranteed hit. Ddaeng-cho Books will welcome this with open arms. Actually, any publisher would.” “So, it passes?” “It’s so great that I feel embarrassed even ‘passing’ it.”

With Lee Ki-chul’s reaction, I felt confident.

“Then, how do I meet the person you said I could trust?”

The following afternoon. In a three-story building in Sinchon.

Loud shouting was echoing through the office of Ddaeng-cho Books on the second floor.

“Come on, Teacher Kang! You promised to work with us this time. How can you suddenly back out now?” “I’m sorry, President Heo. I have no choice. My situation is desperate.” “I told you I could pay more for the manuscript!” “That’s…”

As the artist, Teacher Kang, hesitated, President Heo realized the truth.

“You’ve already received it, haven’t you? The manuscript fee.” “I’m… truly sorry.” “Who is it? Don’t tell me it’s Hapdong?” “······.”

President Heo closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. The very thing he feared had happened, and a headache throbbed behind his eyes. He took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and spoke again.

“Didn’t you say we should drive out Hapdong’s monopoly together? And yet…” “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m just struggling too much.” “That’s exactly why we started this—so we wouldn’t have to struggle anymore!” “I know. But survival comes first.”

In frustration, President Heo pounded the table.

“As you know, I mortgaged my house to start this publishing company!” “I know. That’s why all I can say is how sorry I am.”

At Kang’s words, Heo slumped into his chair. He looked away and nodded. “Fine. I understand.”

Teacher Kang apologized one last time and hurried out of the office. An employee approached Heo.

“Sir.”

President Heo shook his head blankly. “I don’t know. I don’t know why things keep going this way.” “······.” “As soon as things get a little hard, everyone scatters. This is why nothing has changed in ten years.” “What can they do? The fear of poverty makes people blind.” “But does it make sense to mortgage your future for ten won right now? Gosh, seriously!”

Just then, the door opened and a young man and woman entered. The employee recognized the man.

“Oh, it’s Ki-chul.”

Lee Ki-chul approached the employee. “Hey, hyung.” “What brings you here? You always turned me down when I asked you to visit. What’s the occasion?” “I’m here for business.”

The employee then noticed the woman standing next to him. “And who is…?” “I told you before. I asked if you could take a look at a friend’s manuscript.” “Ah, right.”

The employee glanced at President Heo and then led them to a desk in the corner. He brought over two chairs.

“Please, sit.” “Thank you.” “You sit, too,” the employee said to Ki-chul. “I’m fine.” “Always so prickly.”

The employee chuckled and looked at the woman. “So, are you the artist, ma’am?” “No. The artist is busy, so she’s just delivering it on his behalf. I’m just the guide,” Ki-chul answered for her. “Ah, I see. May I see the manuscript?” “Ah, yes.”

At Ki-chul’s prompt, my sister jumped slightly and handed the manila envelope to the employee. He took it with a disinterested, expectation-free expression.

“Want some tea?” “Forget the tea, just check the manuscript quickly. We have to go.” “Alright, alright. By the way, is Teacher Park Chul-min still not interested in working with us?” “I don’t know about that. Ask him yourself.” “You’re a cold younger brother, you know that?”

Clicking his tongue, the employee felt the envelope and tilted his head. It was much thinner than he expected.

“This isn’t for a serialization, right?” “No. It’s a single volume. But we only brought 30 pages.” “What?” “Don’t frown, just read it. I don’t ask for favors often.” “Fine, fine.”

Nodding reluctantly, he started to pull the manuscript out, glancing at my sister. She was watching him with a look of extreme nerves. He figured he should read it quickly so she could leave.

He pulled the pages out of the envelope.

And suddenly, his face froze.

“······!”