433 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

EP.433 Correspondence - 2 The main character of an original work. For someone who has been transported into a novel or a game, there's no more appreciated existence than the original main character. — We're already in the latter half of the story, yet this main character, why is he so weak? — I'm no protagonist... — Oh! I get it! It's a lack of effort. Truly, a hopeless original main character! — What does that mean? — I endured the arduous task of waking up at 11 AM every day, swallowing dragon hearts that were lying around the moment I started, picking up only a few dozen hidden pieces, forging relationships with people who should have been your mentors, ending up as their disciple by sheer luck! Truly, you are a talent-based original main character! — Ugh. I have nothing to say. I'm sorry. — Enough already. Can't be helped. It's troublesome, so just step aside! The Demon King's army, with a slime force that can corrode clothes upon touch, is approaching. Take this! Welcoming Palm Strike! If there was a tree that gave generously in the literary world of the 20th century, in the 21st century world of web novels, there is the original main character. "The problem is, it’s a story unrelated to me." The original main character. A disciple of the Volcano Sect with red hair. After his master's death, he leaves the Volcano Sect to become a chivalrous swordsman, playing a significant role in confronting the Demon Cult in the future. "I've tangled the original story because of me, yet never even tasted the great rewards." Heaven's Killing Star, Poisonous Claims, Shadowless Divine Combat—entities the protagonist was supposed to meet as enemies in the original have disappeared. While someone else nearly killed themselves resolving these, if you think something the original main character was supposed to enjoy has vanished, in truth, there's nothing aside from prestige. Thinking further, since Moyong Sang-ah's financial problems disappeared thanks to me, the main heroine route is essentially abandoned. Considering the possibility of a bad ending based on the original choices, I should be getting a service fee instead. "It's important that the protagonist grows correctly. Prestige is a secondary aspect I don't really care about." There was something to be thankful for. The main storyline where the protagonist stops the rise of the Demon Cult. Even if you don’t meet the heroine's strategy points in a martial arts dating sim, as long as you diligently complete the main story, you can see the ending. Even if it's an ending where they defeat the Demon Cult but fail with the heroine. "I started the tall uncle operation with the protagonist to avoid seeing Demon Cult guys swinging swords in front of the bookstore." It got a little tangled. ———— Tall Uncle Operation. I don't intend to refuse heroines who ask for help in the future. However, I also don't plan to obstruct the main storyline flow of the protagonist. So what should be done? 'Let me financially support the original main character and be someone who can suggest the direction of his actions.' If everything goes according to my plan, I can make the protagonist follow the original storyline. That was my conclusion. Of course, there were problems. I don’t live near the Volcano Sect. Hubei Province, where I am, is a two-month round trip from Shaanxi Province, where the Volcano Sect is located. If I send a letter, it takes two months just to get a reply. This makes consistent support awkward, and it’s hard to immediately respond if something happens to the protagonist or nudge him in the right direction. Of course, I had a method in mind. I left several letters with Seocheonseon Bureau, with instructions for periodical support. There was one blind spot. "To think a letter had already arrived in Yichang while I had forgotten about it." I had intended to act based on the response, but there I was, head lowered, sitting alone in the study. It couldn’t be helped. As soon as I sent the letter from Wushan, I met Miss Ha Yeon. With the reopening of Yichang, writing, moving without limits, and innumerable subsequent issues, I was busy handling immediate pressing matters. It feels like I had left a mobile game on auto-hunt and neglected it for too long because I was busy with something else. "Since I didn't give any specific instructions, Seocheonseon Bureau only sent the main character a letter of greetings and money... I hope the plan hasn't gone awry." [First Letter.] Perhaps due to the mistake, Seocheonseon Bureau had sorted the letters in the order they arrived. What could be inside? I carefully opened the first letter from the original main character. — [To Jiwoo.] [Is there a mistake? It seems like there’s been some error.] [From the disciple of Master Jinmu.] “Whew... thank goodness. The original main character exists.” I had worried about the worst-case scenario that the original main character might not exist in this world. I let out a sigh of relief with my hand on my chest. "The confusion is unavoidable for the original main character." Before debuting in the martial world, he lived with his master alone in a remote temple deep within the Volcano Sect. He must know no one outside of the Volcano Sect, so suddenly receiving money from an unknown source must be bewildering. "Regular financial treatment should solve it." I’m not even going to apply for tax deductions for my donations at the government office. Please just stop those Demon Cults. “By the way, for someone in the martial world, the handwriting is quite elegant.” Thinking it was the letter sent by the main character, I curiously observed the handwriting. Martial artists often say their swordsmanship is reflected in their writing style, usually resulting in forceful and sharp lettering, but the protagonist's handwriting was graceful. Perhaps it’s because it’s from the Volcano Sect. Somehow, the writing felt like plum blossoms. After gazing at it for a while, I opened the next letter. [Second Letter.] The next content was quite urgent. One could feel the rush in the handwriting. [To Jiwoo.] [I apologize. My master has coughed up blood. We urgently need medicine. We don’t have money for expensive herbs.] [I pondered countless times. My master said it seemed like money sent wrongly and not to use it. But I am my master’s disciple. I must save him. If it was indeed sent wrong, I will accept any punishment. I’m sorry.] “Thank goodness. They've used the money.” The protagonist is an orphan, with a sick master who holds a grudge against the Volcano Sect, unable to receive outside support, must use the money when thinking of the master. Once they've spent the money, it'll be difficult for them to refuse my help in the future. [Third Letter.] I opened the next letter. [To Mr. Jiwoo.] [My master's complexion has improved. It's all thanks to you, Mr. Jiwoo. Thank you.] [P.S. My master is innocent. He still doesn't know the source of the medicine. If you're coming to punish someone, please take me instead.] "Just like a true chivalrous knight-in-training." I couldn't help but chuckle. [Fourth Letter.] [I've received the second letter.] "Huh? Second letter? Ah!" I racked my memory to recall what my second letter said. —I heard your master is ill. It's a small amount, but buy some medicine and, if there's any money left, treat yourself to something nice to eat. "Did he agonize that much over the first letter?" Did he struggle with the sudden windfall and the health of his master? I instructed Seocheonseon Bureau to send letters with a time delay, which must have caused him more contemplation than expected. [I was preparing to say farewell to my master in my heart, but I was somewhat happy. However, I was scolded by my master when I confessed the truth.] "Haha." A sense of gloom was palpable in the letter. It felt like witnessing a child who got caught using leftover errand money without telling their parent. Use it with all your heart. Use it generously. Until you can't refuse any request from me in the future. [The day three letters arrived from the commissary that handles external correspondence, I was told this letter also came. That means someone who knows my master's condition sent it, but I don't understand why they're giving the money to me instead of my master.] [Even my master doesn't know who you are, Mr. Jiwoo. I have no family or relatives. Is there any chance you could tell me who you are?] "Absolutely not. On whose authority?" I'm Kang of Joseon descent. I've never met you, but I know you better than anyone. So, grow up and work hard to thwart the Demon Cult's schemes, okay? How could I possibly explain that? "A relationship of anonymous patronage with the protagonist is sufficient." I have no plans to form a deeper relationship with a male character who's not a main heroine candidate. [Fifth Letter.] Still many left to read. It feels oddly like opening gift boxes from the mailbox of a gacha game I hadn't accessed in a while. [To the esteemed Mr. Jiwoo.] [Thank you for another letter of concern.] [After discussing with my master, we realized the letters are definitely meant for me. In rare cases, outside sponsorship supports secular disciples.] I'm grateful you accepted it of your own accord. [All I can do to repay Mr. Jiwoo is to write thank-you letters, so my master suggested I write them diligently. I intend to keep writing letters consistently. Not that I haven’t been writing steadily before.] Imagining the protagonist awkwardly trying to explain himself amused me greatly. [The person sponsoring me... Could it be someone I’ve met before? I rarely visit the main hall, so where could you have seen me? Or is this someone who actually knows me?] [To have someone sponsoring me—it’s a first-time occurrence, and while it makes me happy, it also fills me with an unusual sense of excitement.] [If someone from the sect is secretly helping me, I'd appreciate it if you could meet me at the commissary on the next full moon.] [P.S. Would using the term "esteemed" be unfavorable? I’ve heard there’s an expression "dear," but it felt slightly impolite to use. I’d appreciate advice on how to address you in the next letter.] "It's nice that he's growing fond of me." His initial wariness seems to have shifted to curiosity and interest. With this, he likely won't reject future support. Money indeed does have its charm. If you loudly declare, “Live your life properly!” while handing someone a million won, they tend to think you're a respectable adult. I've only sent money and greetings, so building goodwill will likely be easy moving forward. [Sixth Letter.] [To the esteemed Mr. Jiwoo.] [I went out twice on the night of a full moon, but you didn't come. A passing elder scolded me for wandering at night.] [Could it be that my letter isn’t reaching you, Mr. Jiwoo? In fact, the letter reportedly arrived in winter. Given that I descended from the mountain in the spring when the snow melted, if you’re upset for receiving a late response to the first letter, I apologize.] [I hope there are no misunderstandings. Thanks to you, my master has been coughing less these days. I'm truly grateful.] “She received it in spring?” I muttered in surprise. I sent the letter around New Year’s, yet if the original main character received it when the snow melted in spring, it means not even half a year has passed. With astonished eyes, I turned my gaze to the stack of letters on the desk. I had specifically instructed to send a letter and some money once a month. To have received so many replies within just half a year? I hoped nothing had happened that prompted excessive letter-writing. Holding back my urge to read the last letter, I opened the next one. [Seventh Letter.] [To the esteemed Mr. Jiwoo.] [My master scolded me.] [The problem was not once but twice staying overnight at the commissary without my master's knowledge. Moreover, some of the sect’s elders saw me, giving my master an earful.] [I just wanted to know who you were, Mr. Jiwoo. Yet, I got scolded even more after confessing the truth. I was just worried about money being cut off and not being able to buy my master's medicine. It seems I was in the wrong.] "He's sulking." Despite all the goodwill, it seems unrecognized and unappreciated. The handwriting, admitting fault, differed from usual, clearly reflecting turmoil. Unintentionally, one corner of my mouth lifted. [Have you ever seen the Volcano Sect covered with snow? Though the plum blossoms in bloom are beautiful, the snow blossoms under winter’s weight are equally so.] [When my master is confined indoors, I look upon the distant Volcano alone from the secluded hermitage, sometimes feeling as if I were the only one in the world.] [Jiwoo (紙友).] [Who could this paper friend be? I don't have any friends. Yet, looking at this word gives me an oddly mysterious feeling these days.] [Though there is still no reply, you called me a friend, Jiwoo. As far as I know, friends are allowed to share their inner thoughts with each other.] "What?" Perhaps because he'd been severely reprimanded by the only person he trusted and relied upon, his master, an unexpected sense of loneliness was vividly conveyed in the letter. [May I confide in you from this solitary hermitage and write you letters, Mr. Jiwoo?] "I wouldn't mind at all." I had only sent letters and financial support, yet I'd somehow found a way to touch the protagonist's loneliness. This is why pseudonyms are important. Jiwoo (紙友). It's a name that, at first glance, appears sincere and reliable, suggesting someone who would uphold loyalty and sincerity till the end. I thought it would take years to gain the protagonist's favor, but perhaps it wouldn't take as long as I anticipated. "I wish they'd reveal their name soon." I want to know the name of the original main character. Eagerly, I hurriedly opened the next letter. [Why is my gut telling me that the protagonist is a woman?]