The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Chapter 117: Management (4)

Carelessness leads to disaster.

Like when you finished writing a novel to be uploaded after work and accidentally hit ‘do not save’ instead of ‘exit’. Or mistakenly uploaded an inappropriate photo to a group chat where all your colleagues were.

Or, like going out after turning on your computer to head to the convenience store, only to have your parents barge into your room and discover your sexual preferences.

Of course, none of these disasters were as blinding as getting caught by my roommate while writing an erotic novel.

Tang Hwarin looked at me seriously.

“What exactly is this?”

How should I explain?

When I was younger, I used to claim my computer was hacked whenever I got caught watching something racy.

I barely managed to explain to my parents why a hacker would save adult videos on my C drive and remotely watch them, but would that work on Tang Hwarin?

I was hacked. I wanted to write the wholesome ‘The Tale of Martial Heroes’, but the left hand of the black goat and the right hand of the parasitic hand wrote an erotic version instead.

“This is the novel I’m writing.”

After a quick thought, I honestly told her the truth. After all, she would have to read it once it’s printed and displayed on the first floor.

It’s time to be honest as Kang Yun-ho.

“Are you crazy? This is a story from the Sichuan Tang Family.”

Tang Hwarin was dumbfounded by my answer, shaking the manuscript at me.

“It is the story of the Sichuan Tang Family.”

“Is this some kind of new suicide method from the Joseon era?”

“Suicide? The protagonist is a heroic member of the Sichuan Tang Family. He can truly be called a righteous hero, so there shouldn’t be any big issues.”

“But this…”

“I haven’t portrayed the Sichuan Tang Family in a bad light. In fact, if someone from the Sichuan Tang Family reads it, they might admire it and come to give an award.”

“Bullshit! This is an erotic story!”

Tang Hwarin argued heatedly with me.

“Ah! To call it erotic! It’s merely a slightly racy story about a man of honor in the martial arts world.”

To put it simply, it’s labeled an erotic martial arts story.

“It’s the same thing.”

“I’m merely writing a slightly racy story featuring a hero of great moral integrity. It’s different from erotica. And you’re well aware that such stories sell.”

It’s different from erotica. Indeed, it was.

Whether pandas practiced martial arts, robots engaged in proxy wars, or lightsabers were wielded in space—as long as martial virtue was involved, it qualified as a martial arts story.

The protagonist of the ‘Tang Family Saga’ embodied both martial virtue and martial arts, and it’s only labeled an erotic martial arts story because it included a significant amount of racy content.

“But…”

Tang Hwarin appeared concerned about using the Sichuan Tang Family as the setting.

Perhaps it’s time to seek her cooperation now that she’s more composed.

“This is all for you.”

Let’s begin by soothing her concerns.

I looked at Tang Hwarin with a serious and empathetic expression.

“For me?”

“We can manage this bookstore and pay off your debt. But that’s 20 years. A whole 20 years. At 41, we would have spent our youth just paying off debt.”

In reality, we might earn enough that it wouldn’t take that long, but I wanted her to realize the possibility of facing at least 20 years of hardship.

“So what…”

She bowed her head at the mention of 20 years, avoiding my gaze.

Hwarin, feeling guilty? I said I would help, but remember, the debt was her responsibility, not mine.

“If we publish a book featuring the Sichuan Tang Family’s hero, it could immediately draw people’s attention. Then, out of curiosity, people might buy the book, and word of mouth could boost sales even further. Let’s pay off the debt with that. We’re here in Yichang, saving money, eating cheap meals. Shouldn’t we occasionally indulge in expensive food, buy nice clothes, and even take pleasant trips together? Are we going to continue living like this?”

I was writing this to help her quickly resolve your debt.

“Going together?”

“Then who would you go with?”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

Tang Hwarin’s lips curved up slightly, and she nodded, her face slightly flushed, affirming my words.

It worked.

Publishing this book was for her. It’s not because I harbored some dark desire to become famous and boost my reputation.

My logic worked, but it’s not enough. There shouldn’t be just one reason related to debt repayment to take on this risk.

“There’s another reason I want to publish this book.”

Let’s add another reason to strengthen my argument.

“What reason?”

“I promised a friend that I would make my name known all over the world.”

It was actually a promise with an imaginary childhood friend, not a real one. But let’s say I made that promise with my air friend.

I looked at her with a resolved face.

“Ah…”

“My buddy said if he died first, he would wait in the afterlife for someone to bring news of my fame. Maybe if I become famous through this book, my family and friends in the afterlife will know I’m doing well. That’s why I want to become famous.”

I told her with a sad look, carrying the painful scars of the past and a determined expression for the future.

“A promise with a friend… I see. That’s what it was.”

A strange disappointment leaked from Tang Hwarin’s voice.

Was talking about dead family and friends too much? No. If I said it’s for Tang Hwarin and then later said not to take risks, I’d have nothing more to say.

Now, I needed to create both light and heavy reasons why this book must be published without fail.

“Hwarin, my dream is to become famous enough that my deceased family and friends in the afterlife can hear of my fame. There are stories like Prince Hamurin, but initially, I want to build my reputation with successful racy stories before trying other novels.”

“What if the Tang Family comes looking because of this book?”

“Well, when that happens…”

I had thought of a few countermeasures, both easy and hard. I was still debating, but it seemed better not to opt for the easy way.

Tang Hwarin looked at me, troubled, then spoke with a determined look.

“If the Tang Family comes looking, say I told you to.”

“What?”

“I’m an illegitimate child of the Sichuan Tang Family. Say I dictated it, and you just wrote it down.”

“Hwarin, that could put you in danger.”

“That bastard Tang Geoho. I was subjected to poison experiments because of him. If I go to the Sichuan Tang Family directly, I might get caught by Tang Geoho’s forces. Let’s just say I wrote it to draw attention.”

“Really? Are you sure about that?”

“Yes. For my future. For your dream. It’s a risk worth taking.”

Tang Hwarin handed me the manuscript she was holding. An easy way. I also had a method that used Tang Hwarin as a shield, though I hadn’t known about it.

I couldn’t use my friend as a shield in my affairs. Thinking this, I was about to use another method,

But instead, I had a friend who was willing to step forward for me.

“Thank you, Hwarin.”

I thanked her with gratitude and regret.

---

“Even so, isn’t the content too scandalous?”

As the atmosphere calmed, Tang Hwarin took the manuscript back and started reading from the beginning. My roommate, a woman, was reading my erotic martial arts story. What kind of shame play is this?

“Hwarin, can’t you just give it back?”

I reached out my hand, unable to meet her eyes.

“Even this… Are you sure this is a novel with martial virtue?”

I felt like dying of shame. The more I heard Tang Hwarin’s sighs, the smaller I felt.

“Hey, Yun-ho.”

“Yes.”

When I turned my head, Tang Hwarin was looking at me with embarrassed eyes, covering the lower half of her face with the manuscript.

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Um, really, with women’s breasts. I mean, if you grope them, does it really feel that good… No! No! Forget I said anything!”

Just kill me, please.

---

“I’m going to sleep.”

With a flushed face, I watched her switch her gaze from the manuscript of ‘Tang Family Saga’ to me and back again. I decided I couldn’t bear to watch her any longer and chose to sleep.

“Me too. But, Yun-ho, I have a question.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier if you killed me with poison or a hidden weapon?”

“Why would I kill you?”

“Just stop asking about the book.”

Give it up, Hwarin. Kang Yun-ho’s life is at zero. I spoke to her as if my soul was leaving my body.

“No, it’s not that. Um… perhaps…”

What’s with her? Tang Hwarin stammered like a broken machine, replaying the same segment over and over with a flushed face.

“Why?”

I looked at her indifferently. Then, Tang Hwarin, seeming embarrassed, bowed her head deeply, covered her face with the manuscript, and spoke.

“Um… the content of the book. Have you… Ah, never mind.”

Was that what she was curious about?

“Do you think I’m writing about the Sichuan Tang Family’s protagonist because I know assassination techniques and poison arts?”

It’s all thanks to good educational materials that I wrote.

“Right?! That’s it, isn’t it? Heh.”

Why did she suddenly seem so smug? Satisfied with the response, Tang Hwarin placed the manuscript on the desk and lay down on her bed.

“Let’s sleep.”

“Wait. So, do you usually think about such things?”

In a moment of realization, Tang Hwarin propped herself up with her arms and looked at me with a horrified gaze.

“No, it’s…”

It’s normal for men to have such thoughts and fantasies; there’s no need to be shocked.

“Yun-ho. Push your bed further away from mine.”

“Okay. Understood.”

It’s all my fault. I got caught reading an erotic story by my roommate.

I moved my bed away from Tang Hwarin’s.

“Not too far, just enough so I can see your face.”

She’s quite demanding.

I half-heartedly pushed my bed and then lay down. Let’s get some sleep.

“Yun-ho.”

As I turned to look at her, Tang Hwarin lay on her bed, watching me intently.

“Yes.”

“From tomorrow, I’ll help you with your writing.”

“You’re already busy with the bookstore.”

It’s hard for me to have her read my writing.

“I noticed earlier. The martial arts authenticity in the Sichuan Tang Family is a mess. I’ll help you with that.”

“You don’t have to go out of your way.”

“If we work together… it’s better for paying off our debts and becoming famous, right?”

Tang Hwarin looked at me with worried eyes. Was she right? Certainly, in the martial arts world, many would point out any inaccuracies.

There’s no reason to outright reject her good intentions.

“I’ll take your help.”

“Yes! Yun-ho. Good night.”

Tang Hwarin closed her eyes while still looking at me.

I felt utterly embarrassed. But at least I gained an editor.

We could ensure the authenticity of the martial arts. Although I’d have to worry about dying of shame. Now that I had permission, we could print and promote the ‘Tang Family Saga.’

Let’s finish and publish the ‘Tang Family Saga.’

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