Time flew by faster than I thought.
A week had already passed since I was promoted to Bronze.
"Just one day left now."
Today was the deadline I had so boldly declared in front of everyone, including Director Sung.
It would have been better if I had just quietly agreed when he told me to write it within a month.
There were still two parts left to write.
And it's not like the system activates at my will.
"By the way..."
I mulled over the additional benefit I had recently obtained.
[Actor Change [Lv 1]: You can change the casting to another actor '1 time' per project.]
Now I could see the system's language even when I wasn't writing a script.
It was just a single line, but its content was extraordinary.
"To think the system has something like this."
It's a skill.
One that even has a skill level.
"This is really close to a game system."
Does this mean I can now change one person even after the actors are confirmed?
Unexpected situations like school violence scandals or injuries could occur.
Or, I could change an actor when I find someone who fits the role better.
"But how do I raise the level?"
As always, the system was unfriendly.
Maybe the proficiency increases the more I use the skill.
I might get a hint for leveling up.
"I should try using the actor change ticket on this project."
Of course, the actor would change within the system.
But it was hard to imagine what kind of interference it would have with my 'memory.'
Tiring—
At that moment, a message came from someone.
"It's Jaejun."
［Writer-nim, you said you were going location scouting with the director today, right?］
Usually, actors wouldn't even be interested in the writer's and director's schedules.
But perhaps because it's his first lead role, he knows the schedule like an assistant director.
Jaejun sent me another message in succession.
［Would it be okay if I tagged along?］
"Huh?"
There's nothing wrong with an actor checking the filming locations in advance.
And if I see a registered actor, there's a high probability the system will activate.
［Sure, then. I'll let Director Sung know.］
After sending the reply, I got ready to leave.
Creeeak—
I opened my room door and was putting on my shoes.
"Are you going out again?"
"Ah, yes. You were home."
My mother, who works late into the night, saw me off.
A small company with less than five employees that could go bankrupt at any time.
She is in charge of accounting at the small company my father runs.
"It's a relief that the drama is going well these days."
"Ah, well. It's not that it's going well..."
"Here, I bought you an overcoat, try it on."
"...Thank you."
I was about to change into the clothes my mother gave me and leave, but I turned back.
"Mom, if work is too hard, you can stop now."
"What?"
"I'll be earning money from now on. Dad is getting older too, so he should wrap up the company..."
"Jinwoo-ya."
"Yes?"
"Mom is proud enough that you can just make a living with your drama."
"Ah..."
"You'll be late. You should get going."
"Yes, Mom."
She's so busy that I see her about once a week.
Thanks to that, she can't even leave work on time, so I was worried.
On my way out, I thought to myself.
"If I can just get three or four projects to succeed, I should set them up with a decent shop."
Wouldn't that be better than the current business, where it's hard to even pay the employees' wages?
If possible, I'd like to set them up with a shop where the work is easy, even if they don't earn much money.
Director Sung, along with the director of photography and the directing team.
And the staff from the production company, Tempest Entertainment.
About a dozen people split into two cars and moved.
'The places we're going to this time are mainly places the female lead visits.'
The main filming locations for the chaebol family had been arranged in advance.
But unlike the male leads, the female lead was an ordinary character.
Sponsorship was essential for the filming locations where Semi would be.
'He's already there?'
I let out a chuckle as I saw Jaejun's message saying he had already arrived at the filming location.
A rookie is a rookie, I guess; it's good to see him so passionately involved in the work.
The system chose one actor... no, with Semi, two actors, really brilliantly.
"Um... Writer-nim."
At that moment, someone spoke to me.
An employee from Tempest named Byun Hyukjoo.
He was the person who followed Manager Jung around like a secretary.
"Yes, Team Leader Byun."
"There's something I need to tell you about this project..."
Team Leader Byun cautiously brought up PPL.
"Red ginseng...? Now?"
"Originally, we were also planning to fill everything with locations or surrounding props, but..."
Looks like I'm screwed for ditching the directing team and getting a ride with the production company. Isn't this why you have to pick your side well?
"It would be a little easier if you could just add this one thing."
"Hmm..."
Come to think of it, there had been too few PPL requests so far.
It was a structure that was practically impossible in today's drama market.
"Writer-nim, Manager Jung Saerom told me not to mention it until now, but..."
Hearing his next words, I nodded.
"So... you were being considerate of me."
"Yes. Actually, if the manager finds out I told you this, I'm dead."
"Hmm... from now on, if something like this comes up, please tell me."
"What? Ah, yes! Thank you."
Team Leader Byun said that Manager Jung Saerom's expression had seemed dark for a while now.
Hearing his words, it made sense that her nagging for the script had become much more severe.
She was never like that before, but suddenly, in recent days.
"You're saying she's putting too much effort into it for a rookie's project?"
"W-well... it's not something I should say in front of you, Writer-nim... but... yes."
Things like the casting, and getting them a spot on a variety show right away.
I had thought it was just because she liked my work, but was I being too optimistic?
Maybe there's another reason.
"I understand for now."
"Yes. Thank you."
"Just a moment."
"Yes?"
"Please email me everything you can provide for PPL."
"E-everything?"
"Yes."
Soon, I thought to myself slowly.
'Actually, money comes before artistic quality.'
Honestly, isn't it a comedy to look for artistry in a work created by the system?
It might not be so bad to earn some money in the final parts, 15 and 16.
A moment later,
as soon as I arrived at the filming location, I spotted Jaejun.
His appearance was so outstanding that he drew the attention of everyone around.
I was slowly approaching to greet him.
But at that moment, the system activated as if by a lie, and I stopped in my tracks.
Ding-dong—
"Wow, so the system really does activate when you see a registered actor."
[You have won the 'Two Consecutive Parts' writing probability.]
Two consecutive parts...?
[Content: The Chaebol Heir is a Pure-hearted Macho, Parts 15-16] [Genre: Romance, Chaebol] [Location: Tempest Entertainment Building, Strategic Planning Department Office] [Time Limit: 2 days] [※ Silver Promotion: 110-110101-1011(Virtual Account, W Bank)] [※ Deposit Amount: 0 won / 100,000,000 won]
"100 million? Crazy..."
Then does that mean the next one is 1 billion? The amounts are increasing absurdly.
"Hah, my goodness."
But being able to write two parts consecutively is a huge benefit.
Thanks to that, it seems I'll be able to finish up to the final episode today.
"The Strategic Planning Department office... is that Manager Jung Saerom's office?"
It's probably a place actor Ji Seongho visits often.
Just then, I saw Director Sung Kihoon getting out of the car the directing team had arrived in.
Step, step—
Immediately, I slowly approached him and spoke.
"Director-nim. I'm sorry."
"Ah, yes. Writer Kim. What is it...?"
"Please do today's location scouting without me."
"What? How can you say that so suddenly?"
"I'll participate diligently starting tomorrow."
"Hmm... then today, we'll just go around the places we've already looked at."
"Yes. Thank you."
It was a promise that perhaps no one would care about, but my heart felt more at ease keeping it.
The opportunity to complete the 16-part script by today had arrived.
"Director-nim, when did I say I would complete the script by?"
"Pardon?"
"Today. I'll message you later."
"Huh, so you're saying you'll write two parts in one day...?"
And so, after getting Director Sung's understanding, I left the place.
"If I write diligently, an 8-hour cut is possible."
"At first, it was hard to believe..."
Jung Saerom read the script up to Part 14, savoring every letter.
"He really was about to finish it almost completely in just 3 weeks."
Actually, it was a feeling she had when she first saw Part 1.
She felt a charm that was hard to find in recent dramas.
Writer Kim Jinwoo, who churned out writing at a god-like speed.
Seeing him maintain this level of quality, there was no room to doubt his skill.
"It would be incompetence to fail with a work like this."
Selling the overseas rights would make recouping the production costs a piece of cake.
But if possible, she wanted to pull in enough ratings during the main broadcast to put her father in his place.
Not just succeeding, but becoming a massive hit that would startle him.
"First, I need to talk more with the PR team leader..."
BEEEEEP──
At that moment, a signal came through the office landline.
"Yes. What is it?"
-Manager-nim, Writer Kim Jinwoo has arrived.
"...Isn't today location scouting day?"
-W-well, I'll find out...
"It's fine. Tell him to come in."
-Yes, Manager-nim.
Click.
"What is this? What's going on all of a sudden..."
She wasn't sure of his purpose, but she had something to say anyway, so it was good timing.
Saerom took out a contract she had put in her right drawer.
And she glanced over the contract once more.
An exclusive contract for 5 years with a salary of 100 million won.
Support for four assistant writers.
A guarantee proportional to viewership ratings.
A contract offered to writers who had majorly succeeded with about three works.
For a rookie writer, the conditions were more than generous.
A moment later,
Writer Kim Jinwoo slowly entered and bowed his head in greeting.
"Manager-nim, excuse me for intruding."
"Intruding?"
"Yes. I'd like to do some writing here."
"Uhh...?"
He was so confident that she didn't even feel that it was strange.
She watched his actions for a moment, wondering what to say.
He sits on the sofa and naturally opens his laptop, looking quite natural.
"What are you doing right now..."
Clack-clack, clack-clack-clack—
Is he crazy? She didn't know what he was doing without any reason or explanation. For a moment, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu and recalled the moment she first met him.
'Right... he was just like that back then.'
The writer who had left a note and disappeared from the cafe near the broadcasting station.
She had seen that writer's one-part work and developed a belief, running all this way until now.
The person who had written the work she had fallen for was now writing a script in her office.
Pfft—
"You could have at least asked for permission..."
Saerom trailed off, but it seemed the other person wasn't in a state to answer.
Clack-clack, clack-clack-clack—
He was already lost in a state of selfless absorption, focusing on the script.
Jung Saerom slowly walked and approached his side.
And for 3 minutes, she stared blankly at him typing.
'No, what is this speed...'
The way he transferred the writing in his head without a thought.
It can't be expressed by simply saying his writing speed is fast.
He was churning out writing at a crazy speed as if he were doing a typing exercise.
'I'll have to revise the contract conditions again.'
He was writing at this speed, yet the quality of the script didn't drop at all.
He maintained a level of completeness that seemed to require no revision at all.
No, if anything, it felt like he was putting more effort into it because it was the final part.
「The writer is a total genius. I think we can just trust him.」
She remembered what actor Ji Seongho had once said.
"So it's true. He really is a genius..."
Saerom had unknowingly let the words escape her lips.
But he was so focused on writing the script that he didn't seem to hear her at all.
'He finishes the planning in his head and then transfers it to writing all at once.'
After that, she sat next to him and stared endlessly at his laptop.
Watching to see how long he could maintain that concentration and speed.