The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 231: Volume 3 Release - 3

“Volume 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan is coming out in a week!”

When the news everyone’s been waiting for breaks, it spreads like wildfire.

The release date for Volume 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan was already spreading by word of mouth in the blink of an eye.

“I heard the Daseogak manager got dragged off to the Sichuan Tang Clan, so I thought Volume 3 wouldn’t come out?”

“You’re behind on the news! Manager Kang of Daseogak personally went to the Sichuan Tang Clan and even got their approval.”

“No way. After all that chaos, the Sichuan Tang Clan gave their permission?”

“Then why do you think Volume 3’s coming out!”

“To think we’ll actually get to read Volume 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan!”

Even when walking down the street or stepping into a tavern for a meal, you’d hear people talking about Storm of the Tang Clan.

“Manager Kang! Is it really true that Volume 3 is coming out next week?”

Even the members of the Daseogak Literary Society couldn’t hide their excitement at the news.

“Yes. The printing is nearly complete, and once the binding is finished, we plan to start sales next week.”

I gave the Daseogak Literary Society the look of a runner who sees the finish line after a grueling marathon—as I delivered the truth.

At last, I can see the third finish line. Seriously, I went through hell just to publish Volume 3.

“At first, when I saw ‘Ho-pil here...’ I thought it was a retirement announcement and my heart nearly dropped!”

“Haha. I thought the release news should come from Ho-pil himself, so I asked them to post the notice—and they wrote it like that.”

Ho-pil here. Nothing draws eyes like a notice. Clickbait titles are the soul of trolling, after all.

“Are we really going to get to read Volume 3?”

“A Volume 3 approved by the Sichuan Tang Clan, no less.”

“One week! Let’s just hang in there one more week!”

Thanks to the long-awaited news, Daseogak was overflowing with energy.

----------

“I’m stepping out for a bit.”

With the Volume 3 release announcement bringing excitement to Daseogak, I spoke to Im Ha-yeon, who was gradually learning the ropes of management.

“It’s almost lunchtime—where are you going? Hm? What’s that in your hand?”

Im Ha-yeon eyed the thick bundle of paper in my hand and asked.

“A poster. I’m going to post it on the way to request the Literary Association’s morning bulletin to include the Volume 3 release notice.”

It’s best to advertise in as many directions as possible. No matter how widely the rumor spreads, there are always people who don’t catch wind of it.

When I held up the paper, Im Ha-yeon clamped her lips shut and looked between me and the poster.

What. Is something bothering you?

“...I’ll help.”

She placed a hand over her chest, like she was making a reluctant but weighty resolution.

“It’s fine. One of us should stay behind. I’ll just take a little detour while I’m out for errands anyway.”

You’re in management. We can’t both leave the office unattended.

“It’ll be lunchtime soon, so it’s fine. And besides, if I don’t help, you’re just going to skip lunch again.”

From a barbarian beggar who couldn’t even score one dumpling from Kang Yun-ho to the benevolent manager who shares his meals—it seems my success story has resonated well. I think she’s been a bit gentler since that day.

“Then could you post the flyers for me? You’re fast, so it’ll be quick for you, Ha-yeon.”

With Phantom Godfist’s lightfoot techniques, she’d be done in no time. Not to mention, the posters—and Ha-yeon herself—will make a great promotion for Volume 3.

That clinging cheongsam will draw eyes like a black hole.

“...You want me to do it alone?”

She squinted at me and asked.

“There’s no need for two people to post flyers, is there?”

That’s labor inefficiency. A manager should value productivity.

“...”

For a moment, her lovely brows furrowed. Her dumbfounded stare pierced right through me.

Is it because it feels like I’m pushing the work on you? I mean, you offered to help, so I’m just accepting...

“Then I’ll carry the posters, and you can stick them up quickly. I’ll buy lunch.”

No choice, huh?

“Fine. Let’s go.”

“Ha-yeon unni!”

Ha So-so grabbed Im Ha-yeon as she was about to head out and leaned close to whisper in her ear.

“Hm?”

“Since taverns are too public... ask him to buy you something from somewhere really good.”

“That’s not what this is!”

Im Ha-yeon shouted in horror, then turned her trembling eyes toward me.

Right. It’s not like that. We’ll just go somewhere fast and cheap, eat, and come straight back.

I shrugged and stepped outside with the weirdly tense Im Ha-yeon.

----------

“There’s been a rise in people we can’t tell apart—customers or robbers.”

The news of Storm of the Tang Clan Volume 3 didn’t only bring healthy excitement.

During the morning meeting, a few employees brought up the rise in nuisance customers after hearing about the release.

“I’ll pay extra. Can’t you sell it to me now?”

“Hey! You’re saying it’ll go on sale in a week—that means the book’s already done, right? What’s so wrong about wanting to buy it now?”

“You’re not allowed to approach the printing room.”

“I was just curious how the printing worked! Are you yelling at a customer now?”

Promotion before release is crucial. Whether it’s books or games, subculture sales peak in the first few weeks of release.

Hype it up to the max, promote fast and hard, then launch quickly. It’s a solid plan—but now the hype is boiling over, and all kinds of customers are pouring in.

“We found traces of someone tampering with the printing room window from outside Daseogak.”

And once a thief breaks in, you can’t ignore the risk of another.

Im Ha-yeon raised her hand and informed everyone of yesterday’s discovery.

“Should we take shifts guarding the place overnight?”

It’s a good idea, but still. The student workers are scholars, not martial artists. In this world, even thieves know martial arts. If someone really targets us, they’ll be in danger.

“How about we just start selling Volume 3 now?”

“We need to secure our initial stock before anything. The binding’s still in progress, so we’ll stick to the scheduled date.”

We have to secure enough initial stock to meet demand. If it sells out too fast, people might complain, bootlegs could circulate, or folks will just pass it around—hurting sales.

“Then what should we do? Should we report any disruptive customers to Lady Ha-yeon right away?”

“That’s one way, but there’s another.”

I grinned confidently at the staff gathered for the meeting.

“What’s that?”

There’s a very good method.

A method that’ll stop anyone from even thinking about stealing unless they’re Phantom Godfist level.

“Young Master Kang! We’ve arrived!”

“Is it true Volume 3 is really coming out?”

Sturdy martial artists appeared at Daseogak’s entrance—top-tier guards you couldn’t hire for a fortune.

“Purple hair, green eyes?”

“Sichuan Tang Clan!!!”

“Why are Tang Clan’s warriors here at Daseogak?”

“Allow me to introduce them. These are the warriors of the Sichuan Tang Clan who’ll be protecting Daseogak for the time being.”

Couldn’t ask for a better guard for Storm of the Tang Clan than the Tang Clan themselves.

----------

“Young Master Kang. We’re honestly hurt that you’ve turned down our help all this time.”

The Vice Pavilion Head of the Medical Pavilion. My escort for returning to Yichang. Dang-Pae spoke with a sullen expression.

You say you’re hurt, but your face is shiny like you’ve been eating well and sleeping ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) better than ever. I know you were ready to bury your bones in Yichang to avoid being bossed around by the Pavilion Head.

“I didn’t want to keep relying on help. The staff needed to get used to their duties, too.”

I have to keep my distance from the Tang Clan. For my own safety, for political reasons—whatever the case, being indebted long-term is dangerous.

“I heard a thief broke in. We’ll stay here at Daseogak for now and keep watch around the clock.”

Dang-Pae and the Tang warriors stared with grim faces, as if guarding some secret martial manual.

“I hope I’m not working you too hard.”

I gave them the same expression as a friend who feels guilty for making lawyer or accountant friends help him move on the weekend.

Of course, I’ll still make them do it.

“Please, don’t say that. Isn’t this Young Master Kang's Daseogak? Not to mention—we’re guarding Volume 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan!”

“Those words do ease my burden a little.”

I promptly drop-kicked that mental burden off a cliff.

“Haha. I was dreading the report I’d have to give once we arrived in Yichang, but now I’m glad to contribute to the release of Volume 3.”

“I’ll send you back with plenty of copies when you return to the Tang Clan, so I’m counting on you.”

“Rest assured!”

With a spirited voice, Dang-Pae began stationing the Tang warriors around Daseogak.

“Can I just buy Volume 3 a bit early...”

“What’s going on?”

“Ah—why is a Tang Clan warrior here?”

“Even the Sichuan Tang Clan is waiting for release day, and you’re asking to buy it early?”

“I’m sorry!”

“You’re not even staff. Where do you think you’re going?”

Tang Clan security’s working great. Even customers who looked like rage monsters are suddenly polite and composed.

And having Tang warriors on guard didn’t just chase off troublemakers and thieves.

“Purple hair and green eyes? No way—the Tang Clan’s warriors are here?”

“They’re guarding Storm of the Tang Clan?”

“The Tang Clan is protecting Storm of the Tang Clan? Does that mean it’s an official Tang Clan-approved novel?”

“How amazing must Volume 3 be for the Tang Clan to get involved?”

The Tang Clan guards Storm of the Tang Clan.

There’s no better PR than that.

Thanks to that, both Storm of the Tang Clan and Daseogak became even more packed with people.

“What brings Tang Clan warriors to the Daseogak Literary Society?”

“May we join the Daseogak Literary Society as well?”