Novelist Running Through Time - Chapter 65

TL: KSD

Celebrities and their managers are one and the same.

Some celebrities work with a single manager for decades.

So, whenever a celebrity comes in, their manager comes in too, and when they leave, their manager leaves as well.

That’s why Baekhak Entertainment organizes the hiring of managers very flexibly.

Thanks to this, Ma Ki-hoon was also hired flexibly. Although he is still a high school student and officially hired as a part-time worker, he practically carries out the duties of a road manager.

However, the reason Lim Yang-wook chose Ma Ki-hoon was purely for his role as a ‘human CCTV’.

Thus, whenever the higher-ups ordered, Ma Ki-hoon would snap photos of Moon In-seop’s current state and send them over,

Moon In-seop found this bothersome but couldn’t bring himself to lose his temper at Ma Ki-hoon, so he obediently let himself be photographed.

It can be said that a suitable talent was indeed hired.

But today, the situation was the complete opposite.

“Kimchi-” (TL: Similar to Cheese when clicking a photo)

“Ki, kimchi……”

Ma Ki-hoon laughed awkwardly.

His laugh was more awkward than the statues in the hotel background.

Moon In-seop lightly teased Ma Ki-hoon.

“Why do you look so awkward when you laugh? It’s like you’re a criminal saying ‘I’m a good person-’ in front of a child.”

Ma Ki-hoon laughed just as he did before.

“Come here. I am a good person.”

Moon In-seop flinched and stepped back. Then, he signaled Ma Ki-hoon to stay back and not come any closer by waving his hands.

“Let’s take it again. Kimchi-”

“Kim. Chi.”

In the end, an unsatisfactory photo was taken.

Moon In-seop and Ma Ki-hoon crouched in the hotel lobby, discussing.

“Does it look okay?”

“I think it’s fine. Shall we post it on SNS?”

“A real man doesn’t take photos when traveling.”

“Then why did you ask to take one?”

“Hye-jin said she wanted to feel the British vibe too…”

“…Then shouldn’t we take it outside, not in the hotel?”

“Ah.”

While the two boys from New Light Spring Orphanage were having a somewhat foolish conversation, someone approached, her heels clicking on the floor.

“Sorry I’m late. There was a lot to prepare.”

The shoes, entrusted to the hotel for meticulous care, shone brightly.

Likewise, the suit pants and jacket also looked like they had been touched by a professional.

And the same could be said about the person.

The messy hair was neatly combed back, and the bangs were styled with elegance by a hair designer.

Even the somewhat goofy and harmless-looking glasses were replaced with lenses, revealing a glimpse of a sharp gaze.

“Let’s get going. Author Moon~nim. And Ma intern.”

“……”

The two boys looked at Baek Seol with a dazed expression.

They weren’t so lacking in discernment as to not recognize the woman in front of them was Baek Seol.

But in shock and admiration, their mouths moved on their own to blurt out,

“Who are you?”

EP 5-A Love Story

It’s commonly said, ‘the world’s three major literary awards’.

And they proudly say, representing the literary awards of the UK and the Commonwealth, the most popular literary award, the award with the largest prize money in the world.

The Booker Prize,

Its overwhelming recognition and fame spread across the English-speaking world ensure a significant increase in international sales immediately upon winning, making it an influential award. However, these commercial keywords are not everything.

The essence of a literary award is ‘to promote good books’.

To this end, the Booker Prize conducts readings for the longlisted nominees.

The reading event is held in a hall with 13 writers, 13 translators, and hundreds of attendees, accompanied by in-depth interviews and signing sessions.

For book enthusiasts, it could be considered a dream event.

‘A good writer’ next to ‘a good writer’ next to ‘a good writer’.

Borrowing the expression of idol fandom, it’s literally ‘heaven’.

However, this is only from the perspective of the readers who enjoy the event.

For those organizing the event, it’s a nightmare.

Of course, Booker Prize reading event tickets sell out in an instant. It’s the dream of readers worldwide, and there are only a few hundred tickets available.

But what if there were thousands, tens of thousands of tickets? Would they still sell out as quickly as they do now?

World-famous pop stars or idol groups could confidently answer ‘Of course!’ to this question. There are superstars who sell hundreds of thousands of tickets in a flash.

Even without such grand examples, anyone can easily imagine the crowds flocking to year-end film festivals and the stars illuminated by dazzling lights.

However, literature doesn’t work that way.

Everyone already knows the answer.

Despite being ‘one of the world’s three major literary awards’, literary award events don’t attract crowds in large numbers.

Literature is in decline.

And the Booker Prize and the Booker Foundation bear the responsibility of protecting the industry and prestige of literature, which is slowly setting like the sun.

Thus, they are saying that by not increasing the event’s size and keeping the tickets limited, they sold out in an instant this year as well, in an effort to draw more people to the event and enhance its prestige.

Meanwhile, the organizers are on edge, but those who are put to the test by this event can’t be at ease either.

The Booker Prize is undoubtedly among the top three literary awards in the world, with enough prestige to become a major issue in a country.

Above all, it’s difficult for more than one nominee from a single country to be nominated for the Booker Prize.

Looking at the Booker Prize, which targets the Commonwealth and the English-speaking world, the nationality of the winners is diverse, including the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Nigeria, and more.

What about the Booker International Prize, where any book translated into English from any country is eligible?

The moment someone is nominated for the Booker International Prize, it’s highly likely that the author is the only nominee from their country.

Many of the 13 nominees carry the honor of their homeland on their shoulders.

So, the glances exchanged between the nominees can’t be entirely peaceful.

“I really enjoyed reading your book.”

“Ha-ha. Me too.”

“Ha-ha.”

“Ha-ha-ha.”

“It’s the first time I’ve received so much attention in my life… I’m quite nervous.”

“I’m less pressured because I’m from the US. There are two other nominees besides me.”

“Must be nice for you.”

Before the event started, there was a subtle tension in the air. Their laughter wasn’t just laughter.

Writers are not exactly known for their pleasant dispositions. Just gathering 13 novelists in one place could lead to a fight, let alone when they’re put in a competitive setting.

If they hadn’t had to speak through translators due to language differences, the misfits among them might have already started fighting.

Eisaku Siedehara’s personal assistant quietly mused upon seeing this.

“Is it because the audience hasn’t entered yet? The atmosphere is quite competitive.”

“Indeed.”

“It seems like a good decision to have changed the accommodation.”

Previously, after confirming that Koreans were staying at the hotel, they moved to prevent unnecessary conflict and mental strain for Siedehara (and to gain the upper hand).

Given the situation where the Korean publisher was attacking and criticizing Siedehara, encountering the Korean party could have made him uncomfortable.

Of course, Japan struck the first blow, but worrying about such things is not the way to become a great person.

A proper social being should naturally master selective amnesia.

“By the way, the Korean delegation seems smaller than I thought.”

“It would have been difficult to assign too many people to one boy. Their publishing industry is not that large, after all.”

“Let’s focus on serving Mr. Siedehara with utmost dedication.”

“Ha-ha.”

Thus, Eisaku Siedehara’s entourage, continuing their casual chatter, paid attention to the noisy commotion coming from outside the event hall.

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll go check it out.”

“Let’s go together, Tanaka-kun.”

“Yes!”

Including the translator, several members of Siedehara’s entourage headed to the event hall entrance to assess the sudden situation.

The moment the entrance door was opened, they were greeted with a flood of lights and the sound of shutters clicking. And also, a barrage of loudly asked questions.

The spotlight wasn’t meant for them.

It was for a woman standing amidst a throng of reporters at the entrance of the building where the Booker Prize reading was taking place, naturally commanding presence.

“Wow, what a beauty…!”

“Who is that person? An Asian writer?”

“She looks familiar somehow…”

“…Wait. Could it be?”

At that moment, the translator was the first to realize that the woman standing under the glamorous lighting was the same ‘A Love Story’ translator they had met before, who had seemed rather out of place.

He was the one who had seen her face from the closest range, so it was possible for him.

‘What’s happening…?’

Let’s set aside the unbelievable level of image transformation. But what about the journalists? Why have so many reporters gathered for this translator?

The answer came from an announcer speaking perfect Korean, clear enough for the translator to understand.

“Yes! I’m Jo Han-bin from BMB. We’re here in London, UK, where the Booker International Prize nominee reading is taking place. The scene you’re currently seeing is of translator Baek Seol, revealed to be from the chaebol family of Baekhak Group…”

* * *

Industrial Baby.

This term is often used to criticize K-pop idols, implying that idols are mass-produced like items from a factory.

Teens, who should be enjoying their youth, are thrown into practice rooms to compete against each other, and only the most outstanding ones are chosen, their appearances altered before being presented in front of cameras…

– goes the argument.

Whether this criticism is justified is another matter, but it’s clear that this perception is shared by those who view the Korean entertainment industry negatively.

Author Moon was no exception.

When the existence of a prodigious boy in Korea became known, and his writings were translated into foreign languages, the initial impression of the overseas publishing industry was, ‘These bastards finally did it.’

Korean publishing is doomed. Korean publishing is doomed.

They sang this tune like parrots, and indeed, they ended up doing exactly that.

The reprehensible act of putting a cute kid in front of cameras and having ghostwriters write the material…

Logically, one couldn’t believe that a child of that age wrote such high-quality works.

This isn’t a matter of ‘belief’ but ‘common sense.’

It’s dubious enough that a child of that age has such level of knowledge, let alone using it to write works of this quality.

The conclusion drawn was ‘impossible’ and ‘fabricated’.

However, the world isn’t pure enough to advise against such wicked deeds.

Regardless of whether someone causes trouble, they act in their own interests.

The Booker Foundation is no different. ‘A Love Story’ being nominated is of course because the writing is good.

However, there’s also a trend of including at least one Korean work among recent nominees, and if one T.O. (ticket?) had to be given to Korea, it might as well be the popular and best-selling ‘A Love Story’ from Korea. If Moon In-seop is real, that’s great, and if Moon In-seop is a fabrication, then the downfall of a Booker Prize nominee would spread worldwide, raising the Booker Prize’s profile…

Such adult reasoning was not absent.

Meanwhile, the situation is similar in Japan.

Of course, the failure of ‘A Love Story’s’ Japanese publication was 90% due to the typical Japanese administration, acting out of concern for Eisaku Siedehara, a monumental figure in Japanese literature, possibly being even slightly displeased. But 10% is economic logic.

Before Moon In-seop became a nominee for the Booker Prize, importing his work was profitable for Japanese publishers, whether it was fabricated or not, because it made money.

However, with the global success of the anti-Japanese novel/movie “Red Hunter,” importing it could pose political issues, damage reputations, and, due to anti-Korean sentiments, the book was not expected to sell well.

Even more so since Author Moon was competing against Eisaku Siedehara for the Booker Prize. Let’s say, for the sake of mechanical fairness, they reluctantly continued to import.

In that scenario, if Author Moon turned out to be an “industrial baby” and his novels were branded as immoral trash…

What would happen to those who staunchly supported importing Moon’s works to Japan?

That’s precisely why all of Lim Yang-wook’s connections cut ties with him and overturned the import of Moon’s books.

That’s the nature of the publishing industry.

It’s conservative everywhere. It doesn’t take risks. It’s a static, not dynamic, field, and because written words remain forever, every action is taken with extreme caution.

But Baek Seol is different.

She knows her hand is ‘real.’

And Baekhak is different, too.

Baekhak isn’t just a publishing company.

Baekhak Group is a ‘media’ group.

The ‘media’ they control isn’t limited to books.

Newspapers, broadcasts, variety shows, news, movies, records, etc.

As long as it draws attention, it can be utilized in some way. Therefore, to attract attention, anything goes.

If Baekhak were just a publishing company, they would have stayed quiet. There’s nothing to gain from worsening relations with the Japanese publishing industry, and causing a commotion to perplex the Booker Foundation wouldn’t positively affect Moon In’s chances of winning. And every senior executive in the company would have added reasons why they should proceed quietly and without fuss.

But Baekhak wants something more stimulating.

Even if Moon In fails at the Booker Prize, making it into the news boosts ratings. Higher ratings mean higher advertising rates, and the entertainers in those ads belong to our company.

Interest.

As long as interest is captured, there’s already a system in place to turn that attention into tremendous money and influence.

So, there’s no reason to hesitate in advertising the topic ‘The translator of the genius boy’s book turns out to be a chaebol’s daughter?!’ worldwide.

The Booker Foundation’s consent? Not our concern. The focus being on the person rather than literature? Not our concern.

All attention from the Booker International Prize suddenly shifting to one translator who appeared out of nowhere?

That would be the best!

Interest is everything.

Baek Seol was very aware of the ruthless nature of the ‘Baekhak’ corporation.

And so, she finally drew the sword.

“What’s going on here! Why are all these Asians swarming outside this small venue!”

“It’s the Korean press! They say the translator is the daughter of a very prestigious family from their country…”

“Tell them to get fuck out! They’re overrunning the venue!”

As the Booker Foundation’s staff plunged into chaos, and the Japanese translator was aghast, wondering if all this was done to spite them,

“Ah, hello.”

Moon In-seop met with Author Siedehara.

*****

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