Book 26 Chapter 22

Bilyeon and his group's roundtable talk

Bilyeon: Hundred!

Hyoryong: Ten Thousand!

Jang Hong: Thousand!

Bilyeon: Break!

Jang Hong & Hyoryong & Bilyeon: Oooooooooh! Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

Bilyeon: Bi Raedo, with volume 26 as a milestone, has finally achieved not a thousand-won breakthrough, nor a fifteen-hundred-won breakthrough, but a 'one million breakthrough (百萬突破)'. It's hard to believe, but it's true.

(Everyone applauds again!)

Hyoryong: I almost didn't believe it either!

Jang Hong: Me too!

Bilyeon: It's okay, it's okay. The author doesn't believe it either.

Hyoryong: I see. (Convinced for now)

Jang Hong: That's right. This is probably the first time in Korean Wuxia for cumulative sales to surpass one million copies, right? He must be a bit bewildered himself. He might not feel the reality of it. Everyone, when it comes to the unknown…

Bilyeon: (To Jang Hong, who is rambling) No, you don't need to try so hard to change the subject.

Jang Hong: (Sweating profusely) Change the subject? Who, who would do such a thing? I am merely celebrating a cause for celebration. It's not that I have any other intentions.

Bilyeon: (Pointing a finger at Jang Hong) It's quite fortunate for you, Brother Jang.

Jang Hong: (Startled) Wh-what's fortunate?

Bilyeon: Well, normally you would have been on the brink of life and death over that issue with the ninja concubine. But with such a big issue popping up, it was all buried. You saved your life.

Jang Hong: H-h-hey, Ryoen! Stop stating it as a fact! Who said I had a concubine? I am absolutely innocent. While I am inwardly relieved that such a big issue has arisen, it doesn't mean I actually did such a thing. Why are you bringing it up again when it was about to be buried? Do you have any grudges against me?

Bilyeon: No, as someone who simply loves the truth, it's better to address what needs to be addressed for future peace and prosperity.

Jang Hong: When it comes to marriage, the moment it becomes peaceful and uneventful, the marriage is over. You have a grudge against me too, don't you? Tell me, tell me!

Bilyeon: No, I really don't have any complaints. Right, Ryongryong?

Hyoryong: That's right. It's definitely not because I think Sister-in-law is too good for him that I'm saying this. To do such a thing while having such a good Sister-in-law… Sob!

Jang Hong: Th-that, that, what do you mean "such a thing"! What do you mean "such a thing"! I'm being wronged! I'm being wronged!

Hyoryong: And groping her too! You lecher! Pervert! Old man!

Jang Hong: Gr-groping! Th-that was an accident! It was an irresistible force (不可抗力)!

Hyoryong: Then was cheating also an irresistible force?

Jang Hong: I told you, there was no such thing! It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!

Bilyeon: We'll find out if we have a three-way confrontation.

Jang Hong: Yes, a three-way confrontation… Ah, no! I told you there's no "three people." It's just me and my wife, "two people."

Bilyeon: Well, I wonder about that…

Jang Hong: No, nooooooo!

Author M: Alright, calm down. Of course, Jang Hong, you're as good as dead, but still. You've worked hard.

Jang Hong: No! Don't confirm it as if it's already over! I don't want to hear that from the author!

Author M: (Ignoring Jang Hong, who is screaming "I'm finished. There's no more dreams or hope, sob!") Hello, this is Bi Raedo author M. Thanks to your support and love, Bi Raedo has finally surpassed one million cumulative copies. They say it's the first time for a Korean Wuxia novel. I hope this will broaden the horizons of those who write Wuxia novels. I've received great help from my comrades who have always stood by me and supported me.

I feel like I've just overcome one difficult peak. But now that I've reached it, the road ahead still seems long.

With that thought, I wondered if I should do something in return for the love I've received from my readers. And to strive even harder in the future, I felt like sharing this feeling with others.

So, first, I've created a creative office with those who share my vision.

The office is currently composed of eight main members: writer and ace editor Ak (이도경), who is making a name for himself(?) in various ways these days; Bang Jina, who wrote 'The Demon King's Childcare Diary' and 'Millennium Zero'; Kang Beom, who wrote 'The Thousand Names' (these two are currently in charge of the story for the manhwa 'Abyssal Cavalier'); Radios (홍성화) of 'K.O.G.', who in a sense is a clone of the God of Fire…; Kang Myungwoon, a relatively peaceful person who wrote 'Private Safran Magic Girls' School (formerly a school)' and 'Find My Tail!'; Han Sungsoo, famous for various Wuxia works like 'Hwasan Sword Sect' and 'Mugang Gyeopjeon'; and Pentac (펜타쿠), a butler(?) who claims to be a civilian.

Also, soon to join us in a can will be 'Day Breaker' author Baek Seohyun (백서현), illustrator Lee Deunghun (이든헌ter), whose skills have been improving rapidly lately, and several other writers who will be unexpectedly canned.

Those who saw the Bi Raedo volume 25 roundtable will remember.

The question was, "Do you have anything you want to shout out to the world?"

I thought it would be good to create a place for those who have something they want to shout out to the world. So, along with the members of our office and several other writers, we have decided to launch [Project N].

This long-planned project will finally see the light of day in January 2009.

The 'N' in [Project N] is the N of Novelcore, a novel & illustration creative site.

I plan to serialize a work myself after a long time, along with many professional writers. It's 'Bi Raedo (飛雷刀) Gaiden (外傳) Taegeuk (太極) Jang (章)', which I've wanted to write for a long time but couldn't due to the story's flow. This gaiden is the story of 'that person'. It might be 'those people'. Anyway, it's that kind of story.

There are many other interesting works, so please come and enjoy.

We have gathered experts working in various fields, including Wuxia, fantasy, light novels, manhwa stories, illustrations, and publishing editing. As there are many participants from each field, I think it's a good opportunity to see how one's work is perceived not only from a writer's perspective but also from an editor's perspective. I also think it would be good to talk about each other's writing and discuss creation.

Later, we plan to create a "Hell Training Room" and accept applications for admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Ak will be the director, and those with weak hearts will be watched from afar with warm and gentle gazes, but that's just a plan, so you can participate with peace of mind. Plans can always change, can't they? This is a very peaceful and quiet site. Even if someone is sharpening a mental rod with a sharp knife behind the scenes and designing training menus, such things will never happen.

Through this [Project N], I hope to create a metropolis for the entertainment creation industry. We hope that those who hold stories they want to shout out to the world in their hearts will participate.

Along with the opening event, a "Bi Raedo One Million Breakthrough Event" will also be held on this site. Detailed information about the one million breakthrough event can be found by turning the page. There will be generous prizes, so please participate.

www.novelcore.net

It begins in January 2009.

Please look forward to it.

See you in Bi Raedo Volume 27.

Bilyeon: Wait, what about us? We're not done talking.

Jang Hong: No, there's no point in talking more. Let's end it here for now.

Hyoryong: No, Brother Jang. The truth must be revealed, the truth. Oh, look, Sister-in-law is coming.

Jang Hong: Nooooooo!

Bilyeon: He's running away, catch him!

Hyoryong: Ooh!