Chapter 8: Manager Kim Jang-bung! Don’t get excited.

Manager Choi’s voice rang out sharply.

“Manager Kim Jangbung! Stop getting worked up!”

Jangbung’s face flushed, his voice rising.

“Manager Choi!! This isn’t something you can’t get worked up about!”

Manager Choi smirked, glancing at Manager Kim.

“No, Manager Kim Jangbung’s voice is too loud, isn’t it? Isn’t that right, Manager?”

Manager Kim sighed, rubbing his temples.

“Okay, Manager Kim, calm down.”

Jangbung exhaled heavily.

“Ugh, I understand.”

Manager Choi leaned forward, her tone teasing.

“Okay. Are you that upset that the grand prize in the contest went to a women’s-oriented one?”

Jangbung shook his head.

“I don’t think it’s something that should be done with common sense.”

Manager Choi’s eyes narrowed.

“Common sense? Are you making Manager Kim and I, who just decided on the award, into people without common sense?”

Jangbung raised his hands defensively.

“You know that’s not what I mean, right?”

Manager Choi crossed her arms.

“Then tell me why it’s not common sense.”

Jangbung took a deep breath.

“As you know, our contest has been used as a gateway to success for adult-oriented male novels for years. Although our company is facing a crisis right now, if we abandon the identity of this contest, I think that crisis will accelerate even more.”

Manager Choi scoffed.

“If someone were to hear that, they’d think we were giving everything to women’s novels, right? We decided to give only the grand prize to women’s novels, and then give the sub-prizes to men’s novels.”

Jangbung’s voice grew firm.

“Manager Choi, isn’t the symbolism different? In this situation, if we give the grand prize to a female-oriented novel, customers might think that our company is giving up on the male-oriented adult novels we’ve maintained for a long time.”

Manager Choi waved a hand dismissively.

“Then let them think of it that way. Are they too scared of maggots to make kimchi?”

Jangbung’s eyes widened.

“Manager Choi!!”

Manager Choi leaned back, her tone challenging.

“Then, Manager Kim Jangbung, are there any works more interesting than the current grand prize winner? Honestly, I’ve been a bit hesitant about giving the grand prize to male-oriented works. There are so many excellent female-oriented novels, so why do we have to keep giving them the grand prize?”

Jangbung hesitated, then nodded.

“Of course, I know the grand prize winner is interesting. But as Manager Choi knows, the purchasing rate of our company’s female customers is quite low. Right now, when the novel we’re giving the grand prize to gets 500 views, the male-oriented novels get 5,000 to 10,000 views.”

Manager Choi faltered.

“T-that’s…”

Manager Kim interjected, his voice calm but firm.

“Manager Kim.”

Jangbung turned.

“Yes, Manager.”

Manager Kim’s gaze was steady.

“Do you think they decided on the grand prize winner without knowing that?”

Jangbung paused.

“That’s…”

Manager Kim leaned forward.

“As Manager Kim said, the company is in crisis right now. Even if we throw tens of millions of won at them, how can we compete with them when they throw hundreds of millions of won at us? That’s when we have to be selective and focused! Focus and focus!!”

Jangbung tried to counter.

“Even if we don’t have to choose, if we just change the target work, I think we can take them all.”

Manager Kim shook his head.

“Think about it. Think about it! The salary and the prize money are all the same. The reason the company gives 1 million won is because this kid makes 3 million won worth of money. Users keep dropping off even though they’re giving tens of millions of won to male-oriented works. Do you think they’ll make more than that?”

Jangbung pressed on.

“I think we’ll make some money with the influx of new works.”

Manager Kim’s voice grew sharp.

“Trying to break even in business is the most foolish thing. We don’t just generate revenue through website operations; we also manage other platforms and run e-book businesses. How much profit would we make if we sold women’s works like that? Huh?”

Jangbung frowned.

“But the target work is a work that, while others have close to 100 stories, has barely written 50, and its serialization cycle isn’t even consistent.”

Manager Kim sighed.

“Ha~, I really know one thing but not the other.”

Jangbung blinked.

“Huh?”

Manager Kim explained.

“It’s better because there are fewer of them. If the novel is still interesting enough to be edited for all ages by removing all the adult parts, it won’t be an e-book version, but rather a platform that brings us more profit than the prize money. Can male-oriented novels bring us that much profit by going to other platforms?”

Jangbung hesitated.

“Ha, but if we do that…”

Manager Kim cut him off.

“See, you get it. Just accept it.”

Jangbung’s voice softened.

“But if we do that, it seems like it will be difficult to prevent further outflow of male-oriented authors. At the very least, I would like you to reduce the number of female-oriented novels receiving awards in the lower tiers and consider awarding male-oriented novels.”

Manager Choi chimed in.

“Isn’t the company hiring you to prevent that?”

Her tone turned playful but pointed.

“Yes. Manager Kim Jangbung, you know, these days when writers keep leaving? Don’t think it’s necessarily because of other companies. Manager Kim Jangbung has management responsibilities too~”

Manager Kim nodded.

“Well said, Manager Choi. Kim Jangbung, before you keep blaming other companies and the award, do your job properly. Anyone can make a fuss!! I have no intention of changing the award list. Let’s contact the writers who were ultimately eliminated now to prevent further leaks!”

Jangbung nodded, defeated.

“Yes… I’ll go out and contact them.”

Jangbung picked up his phone, dialing.

“Hello, hello, writer. This is Manager Kim Jangbung. The point is… I think you should aim for the award next time. Yes, yes, no. It was an interesting piece.”

He paused, then continued.

“So, instead of serializing exclusively, would you like to try an e-book contract?”

The writer’s voice was hesitant.

“Oh… just through another platform? But we can still generate additional revenue through the e-book.”

Jangbung sighed.

“Yes, yes, if you don’t think about it, there’s nothing we can do. Stay healthy, writer. Good luck with your writing.”

Manager Kim’s voice carried across the office.

“Ha, Manager Kim, does that guy think he’s the boss? Why does he keep picking fights over every little thing?”

Manager Choi nodded, her tone sharp.

“That’s right, Manager Kim. I make all my decisions after careful consideration. I told you, it seems like you’re taking the man’s side too much?”

Manager Park chimed in.

“Did Mr. Jangbung say that again? Now that I think about it, I saw your phone the other day and it seemed like you were on Reddit too.”

Manager Choi gasped.

“Oh, Manager Park, is that true? Isn’t that a misogynistic site?”

Manager Park smirked.

“That’s right~ I think it’s worse because you’re on that site.”

Jangbung muttered under his breath.

“Oh my gosh.”

Manager Choi shook her head.

“I really don’t know what to do with that guy who only talks big.”