It’s common for what you love and what you’re good at to be different.
When I was in middle school, I wanted to be a pirate king or write a Kamehameha-like energy blast or become the village chief of a ninja village.
Or maybe raise a black goat in my left hand and, in a moment of glory, save a beautiful heroine while shouting, “Don’t tell anyone, just watch!”
But the reality was, I wasn’t even a cartoon protagonist; I was just a passing extra.
The same goes for Im Ha-yeon, the Shadowless Thief.
“I knew that Im Ha-yeon wouldn’t win the contest.”
Even if I helped her submit documents past the deadline and waited for her to finish her work, her outcome wouldn’t change.
Even if I used my influence to get her to the final judgment, it would still be the same.
She wouldn’t win the contest.
She wouldn’t become an author.
Because…
“The future Im Ha-yeon is a Shadowless Thief and a courtesan, not an author.”
I’ve never seen a character profile that stated she was an author.
Just because I have a character setting as a writer and an office worker but don’t have a setting about raising a black goat, it doesn’t mean I can suddenly perform a black goat punch with my left hand.
In the same way, if she really was an author, it should have been written in her character profile. But why wasn’t it?
Was it simply that in the original future, she failed to submit her work to the Yichang contest? Did she immediately give up on her dream?
I witnessed Im Ha-yeon’s desperate desire to become an author.
For someone who dreams of becoming an author, the urge to create is not easily extinguished.
Whether worried about tomorrow’s meal, working as a dancing courtesan, or struggling with a small business, if you have the strength and passion to write, you can write anytime.
If there’s no author setting or hobby of writing in Im Ha-yeon’s original setting, then the conclusion is clear.
“She probably gave up on becoming an author in the original work.”
It’s common for what you love and what you’re good at to be different. If I could do what I love perfectly, I would have learned the cloning technique first.
One guy goes to work, getting scolded by his boss, another comfortably writes novels without sacrificing sleep, and another enjoys the games that have gathered dust for years.
It makes sense that if Im Ha-yeon felt frustration and gave up on her dream of becoming an author amidst repeated failures.
“Is this the end?”
“Oh dear, another failure?”
I searched for Im Ha-yeon among the lamenting authors. She looked so down, I thought she might greet the earth deity.
“If it were any other day, this would be the end of the awarding ceremony, but it’s not over yet! Everyone, don’t be disappointed, lift your heads!”
The Literary Association Chairperson shouted loudly at the somber crowd of authors.
“Isn’t it over with the grand prize?”
“Details will be explained by the event’s judge and creator of the new system, Kang Yoon-ho.”
The chairperson nodded at me.
Is it my turn finally? I got up from my seat and walked to the podium.
“Hello. I am Kang Yoon-ho from the Tea Bookstore, here to introduce a new system on behalf of the Literary Association.”
“I’ve heard the introduction already. What is this new system?”
Instead of answering immediately, I created suspense through silence, glancing at Im Ha-yeon, who peeked out in hopes that there might still be a chance.
Despair was all that remained for the Shadowless Thief.
What should I give her now that her only hope had vanished?
Of course, I’d throw in a new lifeline.
“It’s a system called the Work-Study Scholarship Student.”
A lifeline that they could only rely on.
—————-
What will be the conclusion of Im Ha-yeon, whose last remaining hope has vanished?
I know how her endings turn out, regardless of the process in between.
The Shadowless Thief, Im Ha-yeon.
She ultimately becomes both a courtesan and a thief.
But of course, she becomes a pretty amazing thief, being known as the Shadowless Thief, so one could say she found something she’s good at. But was that the ending she wished for?
Nobody dreams of crossing other people’s fences.
“I’m sure that wasn’t the future Im Ha-yeon wanted.”
If she gave up her dream of becoming an author after repeated failures and despair, couldn’t I hand her a lifeline?
I could revive the spark of her dream while gaining an employee known as the Shadowless Thief.
It’s a situation where no one loses, right?
“To get Im Ha-yeon to grab that lifeline, I might need some groundwork.”
“What’s a Work-Study Scholarship Student?”
One person in the audience raised their hand and asked.
“I know there are many applicants who couldn’t win at the Yichang Literary Association event and are in tough situations. The association plans to select a few to help so they won’t have to give up on their dream of writing.”
First, I must remove the aversion they have toward me.
I can’t instantly erase the fact that I’m the representative of a father who they dislike or the unfounded prejudices they have against me. So, what should I do?
“I just need to push myself behind and put the Yichang Literary Association in the front.”
If Im Ha-yeon hesitates to seek my help, she can just receive help from the Literary Association.
In the end, she’ll still be working at the Tea Bookstore.
“Sponsorship? But you just said ‘work’ before.”
Sharp, aren’t they?
“Yes, that’s correct. A Work-Study Scholarship Student will work at the Tea Bookstore and receive sponsorship money that exceeds the salary of bookstore employees.”
“You mean I should become a bookstore assistant?”
That’s right.
“No, really? Are you comparing bookstore staff to an assistant now?”
I feigned anger and raised my voice.
“Aren’t the tasks similar?”
“If helping those looking for knowledge and enjoyment in literature is what you call an assistant, then aren’t the authors gathered here simply innkeepers?”
“….”
My comment struck home, leaving those who called me an assistant and the dissatisfied silent.
“The road to becoming an author is tough for everyone. But especially for those authors who have to worry about tomorrow’s meals, it’s even tougher.”
I explained the intent behind the Work-Study Scholarship Student while looking at the disheartened authors, hoping to create a connection. Several of them naturally nodded along.
“Even amid those hardships, they take up the brush with their weary bodies. If it were anyone else, they might not have the strength to write a single line, yet they possess superhuman strength driven solely by their dream of writing. Because they want to become authors.”
The dream of writing is not easily extinguished, just like the Black-haired Barbarian.
More people nodded in agreement.
“The Literary Association and I want to provide hope to those individuals.”
So they can someday stand tall, despite their burdens. I spoke with the will to be their glimmer of hope.
“Is the Work-Study Scholarship Student the hope you speak of?”
“The bookstore work is indoors, so it’s neither hot nor cold. Since you won’t be doing strenuous work, it won’t be too hard. It’s the perfect job for those with dreams of writing while making ends meet.”
“Wouldn’t it be better for you to just provide sponsorship?”
You have a point. But then, I wouldn’t be able to bring Im Ha-yeon along.
“The winners here receive sponsorship from the Literary Association. But it wouldn’t be fair for those who didn’t win to receive sponsorship too. The Work-Study Scholarship Student is a system set up for those who haven’t yet bloomed due to tough circumstances.”
“That does sound reasonable.”
“Thinking about it, it sounds good!”
Positive reactions erupted from my explanation.
“How much is the monthly wage?”
“The plan is to pay them an average wage based on what a bookstore employee would earn for a month of work.”
Im Ha-yeon has no money right now.
If she continues down this path, she’ll either start stealing or end up back in the brothel, facing dire consequences and becoming a courtesan.
But if the Tea Bookstore pays an average employee’s wage?
If there’s a job where she can keep dreaming of becoming an author?
Could she easily turn that down?
“Are you serious? You’d pay that much for a bookstore assistant role?”
“If it works out, wouldn’t that be amazing?”
“I’ll take that as you understanding my intention and will now announce the list of selected Work-Study Scholarship Students chosen directly by the Literary Association.”
I presented the list of selected Work-Study Scholarship Students, knowing that we couldn’t have two people doing the bookstore work, so these individuals would undoubtedly be a help.
I glanced at her while announcing the names.
Her face was troubled.
She might have some reservations about me, but since it’s from the Literary Association, maybe it’s okay. But the idea of working at the Tea Bookstore seems concerning.
Those might be the thoughts running through her head.
But it’ll be different than she expected.
“Forget it! If I can just work at the bookstore, I won’t have to do manual labor anymore!”
“Sis! I’m going to be a Work-Study Scholarship Student too!”
“That’s all, folks.”
I didn’t call her name.
Im Ha-yeon was taken aback, opening her mouth as if confused.
Why? Could she be thinking that this guy created such a system because of her?
That’s right, but not really. If I say it too clearly, she’ll keep hesitating.
She thought it was a lifeline, but it wasn’t one bestowed upon her.
Let’s give her a tiny disappointment for now.
“Among the applicants chosen…”
I tried to act as if I had no interest in Im Ha-yeon.
I secretly watched as despair washed over her face. I didn’t care.
“An additional list will be provided!”
I had planned this all along.
“Oh, I was just thinking that if a Tea Bookstore employee sounded like that, then it really feels like they’d become just an assistant!”
“Hahahaha.”
“I’ll announce additional selections… Im Ha-yeon, Seong Jung-bang…”
I called her in a mechanical voice, making sure to portray her as someone not very important.
I quietly laughed to myself, watching her expression brighten.
—————-
This system isn’t for you, Im Ha-yeon. I wasn’t even thinking of you.
It’s a system from the Yichang Literary Association. That way, I can diminish any aversion.
Though brief, I aimed to deepen her sense of despair and urgency.
“The Work-Study Scholarship Student list is just a list of candidates. If you don’t come to the Tea Bookstore by tomorrow evening, I’ll assume you refuse and exclude you from the list.”
“Understood.”
I secretly watched her without her noticing.
I wondered why she rejected my help.
I threw in my bait, yet she turned it down.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want my bait; she simply wanted something more appealing.
Now, that enticing bait has vanished.
Would she be able to outright refuse the lifeline I offered?
If she truly disliked me, she would have declined my help right in front of the Literary Association. Now, she’s left to ponder her options.
She wants to become an author. I recognized her deep longing.
What should I do to make her an employee at the Tea Bookstore?
“The Tea Bookstore plans to offer two benefits exclusively to those selected as outstanding Work-Study Scholarship Students.”
I just need to provoke Im Ha-yeon’s desires.
“What are those benefits?”
“We will publish your work at the Tea Bookstore.”
“Wait, what?!”
“You mean you’ll actually publish it here?”
Her eyes widened at my words. This is a proposal hard to decline, right?
But that’s not all.
I will also entice her with something irresistible.
“If selected as an outstanding Work-Study Scholarship Student, Ho Pil will personally read the rough draft and assist with the editing.”
Then all that’s left is to reel her in.
