Chapter 5

#5. Contact and Contract

Submission Contest Day +7.

30th, 20th, 15th... and this morning.

At dawn, he saw [The Genius Author of the Slum] ranked 5th and cheered.

“-!!!!!”

It was done.

The country that came to life in the story, Heechan, and Dal.

He had climbed to 5th place with them.

'It was worth the daily updates.'

It had been about ten days since he posted the first chapter, but thanks to the continuous daily updates, he had accumulated around 30 chapters.

'But I have no intention of slowing down.'

Most of all... I want to go shopping with Dal so badly.

I need to get rid of those old long johns as soon as possible. Dawn posted an announcement.

Today, there will be three daily updates.

With about 25 chapters accumulated so far, it won't be difficult to quickly transition to a paid series after the contest ends.

People were gradually gathering, and it seemed that readers from other platforms were also visiting and leaving comments because of this story.

While he couldn't be certain of winning the contest, it didn't seem too difficult.

'Unless the fantasy authors are my real competitors.'

There were currently some formidable legendary works, but the organizers would likely try to award prizes in each genre.

Most importantly, the pen name "Guhoe-dong" seemed to be a very well-chosen and clever one.

'The Guhoe-dong where I lived my life...'

This slum was dirty and cramped, but it had a humble and cozy charm.

At first, he had cursed and hated his parents for abandoning him and his siblings and leaving them in such a place.

'But I think I understand now, in this second life.'

The true meaning of making this place his home.

In the past, if he could have swapped lives with someone, he would have done so without a second thought.

He thought it was a tedious life.

'But now, I would never change it.'

Even if a billionaire came and offered to swap lives, it would be useless.

"Thanks to all of you."

Dawn caressed the family photo set as the background on his laptop.

It wasn't a photo taken at a formal studio, just a snapshot taken with a phone.

Now, he had found his true path.

Nara, who was hugging Heechan's shoulder with a reassuring smile.

Heechan, who was gruff but had a spark in his eyes.

And Dal, who was still innocent but so lovable.

'But the four of us are enough.'

The things that make up my life.

And the things I will complete and continue to develop.

Thinking about these things makes this life incredibly precious.

"Oh, now that I think of it, it's time for the kids to come."

Dawn recalled the various foods he had bought on his way home from the logistics center this morning. He had bought things that could be easily made into a meal.

'Now that I think of it, I bought somen instead of ramen, right?'

Should I eat noodles?

If I don't use spicy seasoning, it will be light and clean, and Dal can eat it too.

The ingredients are simple, and it can be made quickly.

Just as he was organizing his thoughts and about to stand up, a small notification flashed on the screen.

"?"

A notification he hadn't expected. Dawn sat back down.

"This is a contact."

'Were they watching it closely during the contest period?'

It was familiar to catch someone's eye, but it was always a good feeling.

Dawn hummed and replied. It wasn't a problematic company, and it wouldn't be a problem in the future.

Of course, his response was positive.

RE: [Yes. How will the contract process work?]

***

"How does it taste?"

"It looks tasteless..."

This.

"Dal, really, just try it once."

Dal opened her mouth hesitantly.

Dawn slipped in a noodle.

"Well, how is it?"

"...It's good."

Feeding Dal first, the taste was positive.

Dawn, wearing an apron and plastic gloves, picked up a noodle and took a bite.

"It's amazing."

This is what they call a good touch.

It's not a taste that a 19-year-old high school boy could produce.

'Now that I think about it, I never cooked for anyone in my previous life.'

There were women he loved.

But it was brief, and either he left first or they left first.

-You always look at something else.

-You're the first one I've met who's obsessed with work. Break up, I'm sick of it!

-Do you ever think about me?

Something like that?

'So I had no one precious, and I missed the chance to start a family.'

It was a lonely life. That's why he finally turned his eyes to the family he had abandoned...

'No, it's not too late now.'

He smiled at Dal, finishing his nostalgic thoughts.

"Eat more. Dal... Huh?"

Dal was already burying her nose in the plate and eating.

"It's good!!! Do this every day!!!"

"Sure, I'll do it again."

Dal needs to know how many delicious things there are in the world.

Dawn, smiling proudly, turned his head toward the front door as it opened.

It was Heechan.

"Hey, Heechan. Come and eat."

Heechan, who had raised his glasses at the smell of sesame oil, put down his school bag.

Heechan approached and held out something.

"Huh? What's this?"

Dawn, wearing an apron and plastic gloves, was serving Heechan's portion of noodles when he opened his eyes wide.

Heechan was holding a certificate.

"..."

"Bro, I won an award."

Not a bronze or silver, but a gold.

And it was from a school math competition! Not a 6th grader, but a 5th grader!

"Unbelievable..."

Dawn quickly took off his plastic gloves and smoothed the certificate. Heechan looked embarrassed and averted his eyes.

'This never happened in the past.'

He knew Heechan was smart, but this was the first time he realized it in this life.

Smart enough to win an award in a math competition!

'Good things spread like a butterfly effect, I guess.'

Dawn showered Heechan with endless praise.

It wasn't just because he was his brother; it was genuine.

"Oh, we have a genius in our family!"

"I'm not a genius..."

"Yoo Heechan, you're a rising star, a rising star!"

"I'm not a star..."

Heechan, with a wide smile, awkwardly adjusted his glasses.

"Oh, bro... I'm so happy, I might cry."

"What, what?"

Heechan looked flustered at Dawn's sudden emotional outburst.

Dawn firmly squeezed Heechan's shoulder.

"I'm glad you're still in 5th grade, Heechan."

"..."

He wanted to thank God.

For falling at just the right time, a time when he could turn everything around.

He was truly grateful and relieved.

***

A few days later.

The Utopia office was quiet except for the sound of typing and clicking mice.

A sigh of disappointment broke the silence.

"Ah, it's over..."

PD Han Soo-jung, who had been reading the 30th chapter of [The Genius Author of the Slum], which had been cut off at a crucial moment, tapped her desk.

'It's okay. There will be daily updates today.'

But PD Han could relax because "Guhoe-dong" had been posting two to three chapters a day.

'What I envy most is...'

Today.

Today, right?

PD Han, looking enviously at PD Moon, sipped her iced Americano aggressively.

'PD Moon meeting Guhoe-dong!!! I'm so jealous!!!'

Finally, PD Han, who had been fidgeting, poked PD Moon's shoulder.

"PD."

"Yes?"

PD Moon's gentle face peeked out from behind the partition.

PD Han's cat-like eyes slowly widened, unable to hide her envy.

"The Genius Author of the Slum. You're meeting the author today, right?"

"Ah, Mr. Guhoe-dong?"

"Yep, yep."

PD Moon nodded.

The Utopia web novel team's office, now well-established, wasn't very large, so PD Moon could feel the gazes of her colleagues.

-So curious!!!!

-I'm curious too...

-I want to go to the meeting, damn it.

-What will they eat... It sounds fun.

Such gazes filled with curiosity.

Since the author was her discovery, and with the team leader's order to secure him at today's meeting!

She didn't show it, but as an editor, she felt like she was flying.

'Excited too.'

Just as she was about to refocus on her work, PD Han poked her again.

"PD. Did you read the latest chapter of The Genius Author of the Slum?"

"I did. I read it on the subway on the way here."

"You read it early. I was dozing off and just read it now..."

PD Han pouted.

She and PD Moon were hired at the same time, and it was a fact known only to her that they had been competing secretly.

PD Moon casually asked, sensing PD Han's nervousness and envy.

"PD Han, are you curious about Mr. Guhoe-dong too?"

"Of course. He's a complete newcomer who started serializing just ten days ago, and he's going to hit number one tomorrow for sure."

His growth rate is fast, and his writing is captivating.

PD Moon nodded.

"Right. I'm curious too."

Honestly, she had read countless manuscripts.

Her brother, a literature major, had asked her to read his work countless times.

But this was the first time.

Reading wasn't just reading; it was like scenes and worlds were unfolding simultaneously, a rare and pleasant feeling.

'I even doubt if he's really a newcomer.'

To the extent that...

I wonder if it's a very famous author.

'Is he old? Or maybe in his 30s? Or... 20s?'

PD Moon tapped her chin and checked the time.

There were still a few hours before her meeting with Mr. Guhoe-dong.

'I'm nervous.'

As usual, a meeting with a genius who piques curiosity is always something to look forward to.

***

At the same time.

Dawn, who had left the slum for the first time in a while, leaving Dal with Heechan and Nara.

"The weather is cool, it's nice."

The autumn weather made Yoo Saebok's heart feel light.

Today, he was heading to Utopia Publishing to discuss contract matters.

'The ranking I checked this morning was 2nd.'

A pretty good performance.

"Paid serialization."

That was exactly what he wanted. It was his first goal in this second life.

Dawn stopped walking down the slum's slope.

He was reminded of 'that day.'

"Right here, I think."

Dawn narrowed his eyes, as if gauging the spot.

That night, as he was about to run away and abandon his siblings, a brief moment of human hesitation flashed through his mind.

'So I stopped here.'

Should he take a step back and return home?

Or escape this place and live alone?

The moment of hesitation and the sight of the giant moon right here, on this slope, where he stood.

'That's when I cried.'

He wiped away the tears that kept flowing.

Here, in Guhoe-dong, the moon seemed especially large, and it felt like it was exposing his mistakes, making him feel ashamed.

"Hmm."

But now, Dawn couldn't afford to indulge in sentimentality...

He was too old and had too much experience.

And it gave him, Yoo Saebok, once a celebrated genius author who had received praise from the literary world, media, and people, a kind of 'inspiration'.

"Maybe I'll write a story within a story with this."

The moon that exposed his mistakes.

The ashamed human.

A murder case that happened in the place where the moon was the brightest in the country.

"Sounds interesting."

Dawn shook his wrist.

He had deliberately left early, but how much time was left?

He checked his laptop in his bag and sat on a nearby playground. Then he turned on a countdown timer on his phone.

'I'll finish the synopsis in 5 minutes and leave.'

Since it's a contract today, he can't be late.

Oh.