Novelist Running Through Time

TL: KSD

Our family is poor.

So everyone has to earn money.

But our family can’t find proper jobs. When I asked my mom, sister, and brothers, they said it’s because we’re too young.

So, my mom said she had no choice but to sell what everyone has, the most pure and precious thing – ‘love’. In other words, sex.

But other runaway families deceive people for money. They sell fake love. They bring adults by promising sex in exchange for money and then blackmail them by threatening to reveal their desire to have sex with a child.

Our family doesn’t do such despicable acts.

We sell real love.

But people in the world think that’s even worse. So, the world is stupid, but our family is smart.

The smartest in our family, our mom, taught me a lot. She told me that if you go to an orphanage, bad men forcibly take your love, that if you go to school, bad kids beat you up, that our maternal grandparents were really bad people, and that real family is not given by heaven but something you choose to make. All these teachings came from my mom.

Of course, I didn’t understand.

Not only because mom’s words were too difficult, but also because she always did things that didn’t make sense.

She says selling love is not wrong but a matter of pride, yet at night, she would hold me and weep, saying she didn’t know when things went so wrong.

She tells me orphanages and schools are really bad places, yet she gets scolded by our family leader, the ‘fam leader’ brother, every time she says she wants to send me to an orphanage or school.

But the most incomprehensible behavior was this.

One day, the fam leader brother said there was someone who wanted to buy my love. He said if I sold my love, we could make a lot of money.

I agreed. I was happy to help mom, and according to mom’s teachings, selling love was a matter of pride.

But then, wasn’t it my mom’s face that turned pale? She hurled every swear word I had ever heard at the fam leader.

But after the fam leader hit her a few times, she eventually agreed to sell my love.

And that night, she called the police.

Terrifying police invaded our family’s sanctuary. They hit, smashed, and arrested everything.

Even as I cried and begged them to stop, the intimidating, cap-wearing police frowned more and beat, twisted, pressed, and pinned my family against the wall, making them unable to move.

In the midst of this, I saw the fam leader wielding a knife.

He stabbed mom.

Traitor!

Mom looked at me and said,

Run.

I followed mom’s last teaching and ran.

I bit, scratched, and shook off the hands of the police trying to catch me, and ran out of the house straight ahead.

The sky was dark. The city was lit. And the back alleys were dark. White and black mixed, appearing gray.

I ran into the gray city.

Into the darkness of the alleys.

Into the darkness of the city.

Into the darkness of the world……

EP 2-Other

“How can we publish this…”

Lim Yang-wook sighed.

Lim Yang-wook, who had been listlessly burying his head in the desk, stood up with veins popping on his smooth scalp and complained.

“This isn’t right! How can you cram runaway families, unmarried mothers, deceptive conditions, child sex trafficking, assault, and murder all into the first chapter! How can you do that! I can’t do it even if asked! Why on earth!”

Lim Yang-wook, as if tearing at his hair (which would have been grabbed in handfuls if he had any), had a fit.

If the employees of the Publishing Management Department had seen this, their already nonexistent respect would have plummeted, but fortunately, only Lim Yang-wook and Baek Seol were in the meeting room.

At Baekhak Entertainment’s Publishing Management Department, just as the employees didn’t trust Lim Yang-wook, who had rolled in from Baekhak Publishing, Lim Yang-wook also didn’t trust his own department people yet.

The fact that Author Moon has already written his next work is a crucial secret that could change the direction of the department’s business.

The content of that work is an even more important secret, and the manuscript processed into an electronic document is an even more, more, more, more, more important secret.

Therefore, Lim Yang-wook decided to discuss this matter first with someone he could trust.

That’s why Baek Seol is sitting opposite Lim Yang-wook.

“…But isn’t this okay?”

Baek Seol argued.

While flipping through the manuscript with a serious expression.

“Of course, it contains some provocative elements, but isn’t this within the permissible range in literature? Compared to the books I like, this is nothing. Books filled with stabbing, burning, eating, tearing are all over the place. Not just in terms of brutality but also in terms of affection…”

“Isn’t that because your taste is a bit too gore?”

“It’s about detective s! Anyway, I think the subject matter doesn’t matter. I haven’t read the whole book yet, but…”

“Anyway, Deputy Baek does have a point.”

Unlike dramas and movies that stimulate the senses, s are a medium of text. Brutality and sensationalism are not as immediately apparent, thus, s are relatively free from censorship. Moreover, the brutality and sensationalism in literature tend to be dismissed as art. Just like how a striptease and the Venus statue show the same thing but are perceived differently.

In this social consensus, s enjoyed a broader freedom of expression compared to comics, movies, and dramas.

But in Lim Yang-wook’s view…

Moon In-seop, or rather, Author Moon, is an exception.

“In-seop, no, Author Moon will be subject to stricter scrutiny than typical literature.”

“Why?”

“His current popularity isn’t as an author, but as a celebrity. Baek Seol, our combined paperback and e-book sales haven’t even reached 100,000, right?”

“Yes… but they will probably sell much more in the future.”

“Right. Anyway, less than 100,000 people have actually bought and read Author Moon’s books. Considering one person might buy all 16 volumes, the number is probably even lower. But how many people do you think know and support Author Moon right now?”

“Ah…!”

A lot more. Baek Seol realized it then.

Moon In-seop was enjoying clearly more popularity than his book sales.

A quick calculation ran through Baek Seol’s mind.

“The first variety show he appeared on had a 4.1% rating, so if we consider 300,000 viewers per percentage, that’s over 1.2 million people, or at least 900,000 if we think conservatively, plus over 2 million views on a YouTube clip the day before yesterday, and considering internet opinions and recent news…

More than 5 million people have at least come across Author Moon, and among them, a highly interested group of 1 million, most of whom likely have a favorable opinion.”

Lim Yang-wook was a bit taken aback by this quick assessment, but he didn’t show it and nodded seriously.

“Uhm. Yeah. The social attention Author Moon is receiving now is not as a ist but as a celebrity. And not even a proper celebrity, but rather a fascinating ordinary person who appeared on a variety show.”

“What should we do? Should we publish a better book?”

“What are you talking about? People don’t read books, do you think publishing more will change their perception?”

“Then how can we improve his image as a ist…”

“Stick a fountain pen in his ear and go around on variety shows.”

“Ah.”

Baek Seol looked dazed and wanted to deny the reality, but Lim Yang-wook thrust the harsh reality at her.

“When I see it, if this gets published as is, parents will be up in arms.”

“But we can’t ask for the content to be changed…”

“That’s right. So, we should get everything done while the image is still somewhat good – CFs, variety shows, and all that, make him the nation’s little brother, and then publish the book. At best, do broadcasting activities and publishing simultaneously…”

“Hmm. I wonder if our department can handle that with our manpower, but if we’re prepared to die trying, we might be able to do both broadcasting and publishing at the same time.”

“But that’s not the problem right now, Baek Seol…”

Lim Yang-wook spoke with an expression as if carrying the fatigue of the entire world.

“He doesn’t want to shoot CFs at all…”

“Who? Don’t tell me Author Moon?”

“Uhh…”

“Wh-why…?”

* * *

There’s a saying about the Azure Dragon to the left and the White Tiger to the right. It’s a term used in Feng Shui, but it’s also a slang for having strong subordinates by your sides.

But the phrase ‘pastor in the left, priest in the right’ was not reassuring at all.

“What a talent like Joseph!”

At the chapel of New Light Spring Orphanage.

The two religious men holding my hands were competitively showering me with praise, both excited in front of the Christian newspaper journalist.

“Such a shining talent within our New Light Spring Orphanage, nurtured under the Lord’s guidance, is truly a blessing and a testament to the Lord’s miraculous work.”

“Thank you, Pastor.”

“Hehe. The real gift from the Lord isn’t the shining talent, but a kind heart. I am more blessed and proud of In-seop’s excellent talents, and even more so, of him growing up with Jesus’ love, sharing what he has with his neighbors.”

“Thank you, Father.”

At New Light Spring Orphanage, the pastor and the priest visit alternately every other week.

Thanks to Director Moon Chung-jae’s flexible religious view, which freely navigates between Protestantism and Catholicism in accordance with the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 recognizing religious freedom, both sides visit. It’s (probably) not because he’s trying to get donations from both sides.

However, on special days when both the pastor and the priest visit together, it always ended like this.

“Pastor Kim. But it’s not talent, it’s lepton.”

“I know, Father Choi. I misspoke for a moment.”

“Maybe you should study the Bible a bit more?”

“Oh, really, this guy…!”

“It’s not ‘guy’, it’s Father-”

“Ah! Stop nitpicking!”

The two religious men were actually close friends. But being close is one thing, and arguing is another. Today, another religious war began.

“Complimenting talent and then butting in saying that the heart is more important, making people petty? Really strange character.”

“Talent also means ability, but the root word is also a unit for measuring money, isn’t it? It’d be better to be more careful with compliments. That’s what I mean.”

“Are you saying I’m not careful?”

“Our Pastor Kim is good in many ways, but not the most cautious. Just like when you dropped your fishing rod by the stream.”

“No, why does that matter now-”

“I’ve never seen someone who couldn’t find a rod in water that barely reached his knees…”

“It was up to my waist!”

As the two were arguing, I, bewildered, tugged on the sleeve of the newspaper journalist, who was stammering with his camera.

“Did you finish taking photos?”

“Eh? Oh, yeah.”

“I’ll be going now. Please write a nice article. Thank you.”

I ran away, pretending not to hear the journalist asking for a little more interview.

Honestly, I think it’s enough to be held up for 4 hours since morning without being able to write. And since we’ve taken all the photos for the newspapers of both denominations, there seems no reason to be held up any longer.

It’s time to go write.

However, as soon as I stepped out of the chapel, the general public filling the orphanage yard spotted me and rushed over.

They resembled zombies spotting fresh meat. Not the slow ones, but the running zombies.

“Oh! There he is!”

“It’s Author Moon!”

“Hey! Please take just one picture with my child!”

I ended up running away, pretending not to hear.

“Sign this, please-!”

* * *

The summer Bible school at New Light Spring Orphanage is a special day.

It’s a festival where local residents also participate.

Because of the ‘Talent Feast’.

The word ‘talent’ originally referred to a unit of currency in ancient Greece, significant enough to be the origin of the word ‘talent’ for ability.

However, the ‘talent’ used in New Light Spring Orphanage is a type of virtual currency.

It’s like a ‘well done’ stamp. Teachers give coupons for good deeds, and that’s what talents are.

And during the Talent Feast held twice a year, these talents can be exchanged for actual goods,

And that’s today.

The summer Bible school Talent Feast.

But as with virtual currency, when various circumstances intertwine, it becomes chaotic.

The root of all problems starts from holding the Talent Feast together with the community-sponsored bazaar.

(The teachers struggle to save some of the orphanage’s budget by using the items donated to the bazaar for the Talent Feast.)

However, the bazaar is a separate event from the Talent Feast, selling donated items to local residents.

As a result, the orphans sell the free items for money, and the locals buy good items cheaply.

So far, so good.

But what about holding the Talent Feast amidst all this?

Talents, cash, goods.

And orphans, festival-going locals, sponsors.

On the same day, at the same place, three elements are exchanged by three economic entities.

Moreover, the pricing of goods completely deviates from the law of supply and demand due to artificial factors,

And those managing the market are minors, lacking in fairness and professionalism.

Therefore, New Light Spring Orphanage’s Talent Feast and bazaar become…

A place rife with betrayal, intrigue, embezzlement, and fraud.

“Hey, do just one job with me.”

“How can a wolf pup get under a dog?”

“That rascal Moon Chang-seop, how much is he pocketing by exchanging talents and cash? What a ruthless guy…”

“Leave it. He’s the only one close to the administrative head. We’ll need to deal with him eventually when he becomes useless.”

“Bro, Chang-seop’s kids have stashed six boxes of stuff behind the warehouse. How about we take it? If we bring it out now and sell it right away, no one will know. We must do it now!”

“…Proceed.”

At this time, New Light Spring Orphanage is full of economic criminals.

From small thieves who pilfer a bag of snacks while running errands, to mid-level thieves tampering with the talent box, to big thieves exploiting the system for fraud.

The scale is not small.

Older residents typically pilfer tens of thousands of won, and the more cunning ones often manage to take away over 100,000 won.

Of course, the teachers know all this.

But they just let it be.

Partly because it’s the busiest time with all the visitors, but also because it’s almost the only time the poor orphans get to handle money.

This year, it’s even more special. Because of me.

The number of visitors who came to see me has more than doubled.

Actually, looking down from the second-floor window, it seems almost ten times more.

People were swarming like bean sprouts. Looking down, only their bean sprout-like heads were wriggling closely together.

“My goodness…”

I was surprised that so many people filled the wide yard, but I was also a bit scared by the fact that most of these people came to see me.

Why, though? Why would they specifically come to the orphanage’s Talent Feast just to see a kid who appeared on TV? What exactly is making them so enthusiastic?

I just couldn’t understand this thing called popularity.

It’s almost to the point where normal life is impossible.

Then when can I write?

While I was thinking this, Ma Ki-hoon came looking for me with his subordinates.

“What’s up. Why are you holed up in the corner of the second floor? I’ve been looking for you for a while.”

“Ah, Ki-hoon hyung.”

“Hey. I have something to ask. Have you ever signed any books?”

“No?”

“None? Okay.”

Ma Ki-hoon muttered to one of his tough guys on his right.

“Take care of it.”

“Yes, hyung.”

Pfft- I choked on my drink and coughed as I got up.

“What, what does that mean?”

“Somebody’s selling your signed books. They say it’s Author Moon’s orphanage, selling Author Moon’s books with Author Moon’s signature, and they’ve jacked up the prices too high. But I thought there’s some kind of law, right? All book prices should be the same.”

“…The Fixed Book Price Law?”

“Yeah, that. The Fixed Book Price Law.”

The tough guys beside Ma Ki-hoon inserted an admiring interjection, applauding his broad knowledge.

I replied with a bitter expression.

“How’s the bazaar going?”

“It’s record-breaking. Seriously record-breaking. We’re making money like crazy. As soon as the goods are put out, they’re sold immediately. So the Talent Market is completely dried up.”

“That’s good.”

“Good? We might be making money, but the troubles are just as big. Since morning, all sorts of things have happened. It’s really exhausting to deal with this madness for two more days.”

The bazaar event spans over three days.

“Hey, some politician was looking for you. Came to take photos, but why are you hidden in the corner of the second floor?”

“I was dragged to the chapel since this morning, spent hours taking photos and interviewing, stuck between the pastor and the priest, feeling tense. I’m already exhausted.”

“That’s because you lack physical strength. Why don’t you exercise? Should I help you?”

“I’ll pass.”

Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of Director Moon Chung-jae and the self-defense group led by Ma Ki-hoon, no major incidents occurred at the Talent Feast cum bazaar event.

Of course, being run by kids, every year there are one or two crazy ones who, while others embezzle 50,000 won, go for 500,000 won and turn the orphanage upside down.

But even that, in a broader perspective, was just another part of our daily life, nothing too special.

The real trouble happened on the third day, in the evening when all the events were over.

All the money had disappeared from my wallet left in my room.

It was theft.

****

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