Chapter 138 – The Courage to Be Hated (3)
Flip! Flip!
Pan Hee-hyun turned the pages of the neatly bound booklet while swallowing hard.
‘I never expected this.’
Honestly, she had thought it was strange that he had prepared this much.
In the planning meetings Hee-hyun had experienced so far, writers usually brought a few storyboards at most……
Or a couple of character sheets, and then they would brainstorm based on those.
Some particularly lazy writers would even come with just a few lines of logline and ask for opinions.
But Kang Min-hyuk was different.
‘He prepared the webtoon at that level of quality, and then edited it all the way to this printed version?’
Printing the sample pages as a physical booklet.
To some, it might seem like a simple matter of rearranging images and printing them……
But it was completely different.
‘Everything has changed.’
When a color-based webtoon is directly converted to black-and-white, the color tone changes and the atmosphere shifts.
Moreover, unlike printed books where the gaze naturally flows from top-left to bottom-right……
On the web, the gaze stays fixed in the center.
Because of this, speech bubble sizes, font sizes, and every single element had to be readjusted.
And that wasn’t all.
Unlike the color webtoon version, printed comics use black-and-white ink images.
Simply converting color images to black-and-white inevitably creates areas where the color sense and atmosphere feel off or crushed, so those also had to be adjusted.
Each element was small on its own, but when combined, they became a significant task.
On top of that……
“You drew entirely new parts for this?”
“Only some parts. Since it was mostly rearranging existing images, it didn’t take that long.”
The part where the scroll had been forced to startle her.
The part where the scroll had been forcibly stopped.
When turning pages, these created impact through double-page spreads……
Or placed cuts at the end of a page to control the time the reader’s gaze lingered.
There was no longer the shock from the webtoon version, but the unique gloomy atmosphere of the black-and-white images combined with the overwhelming feeling of double-page spreads created……
“A completely different flavor, right?”
When Editor Go Gwang-jin asked with a smile, Hee-hyun nodded and answered,
“Yes. If the webtoon version uses scroll directing to build tension and deliver sudden scares…… this version overwhelms with atmosphere. The double-page spread where the ghost appears visually dominates and makes it feel like your breath is being taken away.”
Either version was good.
In Hee-hyun’s mind, both versions already felt “incredible.”
At that moment, Director Song Mi-hyeon, who had been quietly watching, opened her mouth.
“We were also worried when Comic artist Kang Min-hyuk said he wanted to do horror. We thought his originality was there, but the essence of Brave King is still a royal road story…… and we believed his strength lay there. But after seeing the manuscript…… we thought it might actually work. Horror. What does the Bluehouse side think?”
“……”
A brief silence fell.
On one hand, Hee-hyun still thought a royal road story that could reliably attract popularity would be better than horror.
‘But this…… will work.’
An image had already formed in her mind.
People reading this webtoon and getting shocked, sending the link to friends to prank them, the word-of-mouth spreading and climbing real-time search rankings……
Such an image.
Moreover,
‘Comic artist Kang Min-hyuk has already laid out the groundwork to carry this as a long series.’
After reading all the way to the end of episode 1, the protagonist’s sense of purpose and character depth felt much clearer than in the early parts.
She could already clearly sense the author’s intention for how much volume he planned to develop this into.
Especially, the mystery surrounding the identity of the ghost that appeared in episode 1 and what kind of place the pseudo-religion that owned the building was felt quite thick.
‘He draws interest while never losing comic completeness.’
Honestly, it felt like she had seen something impossible.
She had never even imagined that someone would show this level of understanding and this level of quality for the newly emerging medium called webtoons.
At that moment, Kang Min-hyuk spoke.
“Ah, this is literally just the sample version. When it goes up on the web, there will be a lot more improvements.”
“Improvements……?”
“Yes, right now I can only use a few scroll effects. I think I’ll also be able to use techniques like spatial sound, sound effects, or adding effects to text. If it gets too excessive it might have the opposite effect, so I’ll need to find the right balance.”
“……”
Her mouth wouldn’t close.
‘So that’s why… that’s why he won the Bucheon Comic Awards.’
His mind was cleanly organized.
There was only one thing she needed to say right now.
“Please go with this work. No…… I would be truly grateful if you would serialize this work with our Bluehouse, Comic artist Kang Min-hyuk.”
At those words, Editor Go Gwang-jin and Director Song Mi-hyeon, who were sitting beside her, smiled.
“Yes, I’ll do my best to prepare it properly.”
Kang Min-hyuk also smiled brightly and answered in a lively voice.
***
Inside Min-hyuk’s room, in front of the computer.
Tap tap tap! Tap tap tap!
Kang Min-hyuk held the tablet firmly, eyes fixed on the monitor as he worked.
‘The ghost design still needs more refinement…… and I should adjust the tone and manner of the pseudo-religion according to the references.’
The new horror comic <Gangryeong>, which had been agreed upon for serialization on both Bluehouse and New Chance.
The overall direction had been set and shared with both platforms……
Now, all that remained was to properly carve and polish it in earnest.
Meanwhile,
“Huuuu……”
Min-hyuk twisted his wrist this way and that, stretching, then reached for the hot pack he had set aside.
A while ago……
Min-hyuk had gone with Mrs. Hong Mi-seon to the hospital for a New Year’s health check-up.
- Health check-up? Mom is still young and fine, do I really need to do that? It’s a waste of money.
- Ehey, you have to take care of your health while you’re still healthy. If you try to save a few pennies and the illness gets bigger, that’s the real problem. I’ll pay for it, so let’s go when you have time.
Mrs. Mi-seon didn’t seem very enthusiastic, but Min-hyuk had almost dragged her there by force.
Because she had lived too long without proper care, being frugal about such things was understandable……
But the 34-year-old Kang Min-hyuk knew all too well.
That being stingy with a few pennies could make your entire life irreversible.
- There doesn’t seem to be any particular issue with your wrist.
- Are you sure it’s really okay? Things like… Kienböck’s disease or whatever, there are no early signs, right? I use my hands for work, so I’m worried, Doctor.
- Kienböck’s disease… Don’t worry too much. It is a rare condition, but if caught early, it can be sufficiently managed with non-surgical treatments like physical therapy.
Try not to overwork it so inflammation doesn’t build up, and stretch frequently.
- Yes!
The second chance at life he had received.
Living without regret was important,
But avoiding the same mistakes again was even more important.
“Huuuu……”
When he glanced out the window, large snowflakes were falling heavily.
‘Time has already flown by like this.’
The New Year had arrived.
He was now 18 years old by Korean age.
In the two years he had gained, so many things had happened.
The time when he and Oh Seung-heon were bustling around in Comic artist Shin Pil-ho’s studio, helping with work.
Winning the competition and, after many twists and turns, getting accepted into Animation High.
Doing the grade project, serializing Brave King……
And even the school picnic.
It had been less than two years, yet somehow everything he had experienced in this time felt far more valuable than his previous life.
Because it was so precious.
Because it felt so incredibly valuable.
He intended to cherish it and never lose it.
Press! Press! Press!
While he was massaging his wrist for a long time,
Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
An alarm rang from the computer speaker.
“Hm?”
Min-hyuk moved the mouse and opened the Late-On group chat.
It was the group chat that included Oh Seung-heon and his friends from Animation High.
[Kim Rok-hee: Big news! Big newwwwws!]
[Han Yu-ra: What?]
[Kim Rok-hee: Guess! Guess!]
Watching Rok-hee making a fuss, Min-hyuk’s lips curled up.
[Me: You passed the screening.]
[Kim Rok-hee: Eh?]
[Me: You passed the Bluehouse webtoon screening, right? I can’t think of any bigger news than that.]
[Kim Rok-hee: ……;;;;]
[Kim Rok-hee: Not fun.]
[Han Yu-ra: What? It’s not big news then.]
[Kim Rok-hee: Even you, Yu-ra?!]
[Oh Seung-heon: Ooh! Congrats congrats~ My junior has been born lol]
Honestly, he had thought it was a given result.
“Someone at Rok-hee’s level…… of course she should pass.”
Rok-hee’s gag cute comic (as she strongly insisted) ‘Strongest! Superpower High School!’ that she had poured her heart into.
It was a gag comic about a high school girl who enrolls in a school full of cute aliens and monsters because she likes the mascot, and the hilarious happenings that follow.
Even in Min-hyuk’s eyes, it was quite fun, the characters were cute, and there were many elements that could attract attention.
And above all……
‘Compared to half a year ago, the current Rok-hee is on a completely different level as an artist.’
Although Min-hyuk had given various advice during the planning process, it had literally been nothing more than “advice.”
In reality, Kim Rok-hee had planned and created the manuscript almost entirely on her own.
Yet Min-hyuk had never once doubted that she would pass the screening.
[Me: Congratulations, Rok-hee. I knew you’d pass.]
[Me: By the way…… has Dong-gyo still not said anything?]
[Oh Seung-heon: Hmm……]
The chat room suddenly became quiet.
Dong-gyo was also online, but for some reason, there was no reply.
Two minutes passed, then three.
“Uh… huh……”
A slightly awkward look appeared on Min-hyuk’s face.
‘Did he fail?’
He had naturally assumed it would pass.
Dong-gyo’s comic in preparation, ‘Today, Our Relationship Is Always Precarious.’
It was a bit regrettable that it followed the grammar of printed comics a little too closely……
But he thought it captured Dong-gyo’s unique “Korean Mitsuru” tone and manner very well.
So the lack of response left Min-hyuk feeling flustered.
[Oh Seung-heon: Ahem, let’s just work, let’s work.]
[Kim Rok-hee: S-Should we?]
Sensing the strange atmosphere,
Everyone quietly took a step back.
At that moment……
[Han Yu-ra: You didn’t fail the screening, did you, Oh Dong-gyo?]
As always, Han Yu-ra dropped a nuclear bomb without hesitation.
[Kim Rok-hee: Yu-ra, you don’t have to be so direct……]
[Oh Seung-heon: Ahem! I’m going to the bathroom for a bit!]
A sigh escaped from Min-hyuk, who was sitting in front of the monitor.
“Aaah…… Damn it.”
Dong-gyo’s manuscript didn’t pass?
Was it a genre issue?
Or maybe it just didn’t match Editor Pan Hee-hyun’s taste at all.
[Me: Hey Dong-gyo, don’t get too down just because it didn’t work this time. You can prepare again and submit. It might’ve just been bad luck.]
Min-hyuk sent the message with a sigh.
The words he had said during a phone call a few days ago after giving feedback came to mind.
- Min-hyuk-kun, what if this doesn’t pass the screening?
- It’ll definitely pass! 100% guaranteed, so don’t worry.
- But what if it fails?
- Then I’ll change my last name. No, do you want me to be your assistant? Or I’ll even protest in front of Bluehouse.
He felt like kicking off his blanket.
A strange mix of guilt and embarrassment made his face heat up.
[Han Yu-ra: Looks like it’s Kang Min-hyuk’s responsibility.]
[Me: Yeah, it’s my fault.]
[Kim Rok-hee: ……I-I’m going to go eat now. Mom is calling me. Hehe]
The awkward atmosphere was in full swing when,
[Oh Dong-gyo: Done! Owari!]
A single message from Dong-gyo, who had been silent until now, popped up.
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