MDSW 10

Chapter : 10

Happy Dad Ranger

After receiving a call from Ham Joo-young, I stopped by a gukbap restaurant near the broadcasting station.

He had suddenly contacted me, saying he had something to discuss and asked if I wanted to grab a bowl of gukbap. Since I was already passing by, I had no reason to refuse.

“Seong-woon! Over here!”

Joo-young waved from an outdoor table.

He had already set up two bowls of gukbap and a bottle of soju.

“I can’t drink today. I promised Rina I’d have dinner with her, so I’ll just eat and go.”

“Really? That’s a shame. I thought we’d finally have a drink together.”

“Next time, let’s plan it properly. So, why did you call me?”

I sat across from him and took a spoonful of gukbap to fill my empty stomach.

“You got fired, right?”

“Cough!!”

I spat out the soup I had just swallowed.

The restaurant lady passing by shot me an annoyed look.

“…When did you even hear that? It’s only been 30 minutes.”

“You know how fast news spreads at a broadcasting station. Three minutes is enough.”

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“So what—did you call just to mess with me?”

I glared at him.

But Joo-young simply smiled.

“I didn’t call to tease you. I called to recruit you.”

“…What?”

“You need money. You need work. I figured this was the perfect timing.”

He leaned down, rummaged through his bag, removed the soju bottle from the table, and replaced it with something else—

a thick stack of scripts.

“What’s this?”

“Scripts from rookie writers I met at a workshop. They were hyped as some ‘legendary class,’ but honestly… none of them impressed me.”

He pointed his spoon at me.

“Ever since I read your script.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“After reading your work, nothing else stands out. That’s why I called—to bring you over.”

He smiled brightly, clearly trying to persuade me.

This guy really doesn’t give up…

Honestly, this wasn’t surprising.

Ever since he read my script two weeks ago, he’d been persistently trying to recruit me.

No matter how firmly I refused, he always came back.

Still… I’m grateful.

But I couldn’t work with him.

Whether it was films or dramas—once I got into writing, parenting would collapse.

That would make my life no different from before.

That’s why I even turned down Director Hwang in the first place.

At least until Rina reached high school—

I planned to focus only on raising her.

“Sorry, Joo-young. Like I said before—”

“You’re going to refuse again? Because of Rina?”

He cut me off mid-sentence.

“I knew you’d say that. That’s why I’m not done yet.”

“…?”

He leaned forward across the table.

“I’ll drop the idea of working directly with me. Instead—how about working with my company?”

“…Your company?”

He pulled out a business card and placed it in front of me.

[Studio Dream]

…That place?

Studio Dream—

a major production company that had skyrocketed in less than ten years, producing hit dramas and films.

Even now it was rising fast—

and three years later, it would become even more dominant.

“You know them, right?”

“Of course. Anyone in this industry does. But why them?”

“Well… the CEO is my cousin.”

“…What?!”

I was startled—but quickly understood.

His family had always been influential.

“I work there too. So—how about joining us?”

“…Me? At Studio Dream?”

“Yeah. Writers like you—skilled and experienced—are rare. I’ve already told them about you.”

He spoke with genuine confidence.

It reminded me of how I was treated after creating a blockbuster in my past life.

It felt… strange, yet good.

“The contract will satisfy you. We’re investing heavily right now.”

He gestured playfully, signaling money.

“What would I be doing?”

Unlike him, I was serious.

The offer was tempting—

but depending on the workload, I might have to refuse.

For me, Rina came first.

“Usually you start by selecting works to acquire rights for, then gradually move up. Eventually, you’ll write projects too.”

“So I’d still have to work on productions.”

“Of course. You’re a writer.”

“….”

I hesitated.

Studio Dream had a bright future.

Financially, I’d be secure.

But joining a production company meant heavier work—

and less time for parenting.

“Don’t tell me you’re still hesitating because of childcare?”

He looked at me.

I nodded awkwardly.

“I just think the workload might be too much. Even if the pay is good… I need to be home a lot.”

He frowned.

“Can I be honest?”

“…Go ahead.”

“Trying to be a full-time writer and a perfect parent… isn’t that unrealistic?”

My eyelids twitched.

His words hit deep.

“You can raise a child while writing—but trying to do both perfectly? That’s too much.”

He continued.

“I’m not criticizing you. I know how hard you’ve worked—your writing proves it. I just want you to be rewarded for it.”

He sighed.

…I understood his intentions.

But this wasn’t an easy decision.

“I’ll think about it seriously.”

* * *

After returning home, I took a shower to clear my head.

Cold water helped calm my thoughts.

“…Sigh.”

I sat at my desk, drying my hair.

My job was gone.

My old dreams resurfaced.

My emotions felt unstable.

That expression… I’ve never seen it on him before.

Joo-young’s face lingered in my mind—

full of passion and determination.

“Dad! Dad! It’s finally done!”

“…?”

Rina burst into the room, breaking the silence.

“Look! It’s finally finished!”

“What is?”

She handed me her notebook.

“Dad Ranger Episode 5.”

Her eyes sparkled.

I couldn’t help but smile.

So this is what she was so excited about…

“The writer will now review your work.”

“Ehem—I’m confident.”

I patted her head and began reading.

As usual, it was about eight panels long.

“First, the length passes.”

“Hehe, the story is even better.”

The first panel showed Dad Ranger rushing out on a mission.

Her drawing really is amazing…

The second panel—

his daughter Nari stopping him.

“…?”

Something stood out.

Nari was wearing a party hat.

“It’s her birthday,” Rina explained.

That’s pretty detailed…

Dad Ranger knelt, sweating—feeling guilty.

Then—

a line hit me.

“Dad, are you happy when you save people?”

I froze.

In the next panel, he nodded.

Then Nari smiled.

“Then go. I like it most when you’re happy.”

…That line struck me hard.

She wrote this?

It overlapped with my own situation.

In the final panels—

Dad Ranger flew off, crying.

Nari shouted:

“Then bring lots of presents!!”

Rina jumped into my arms, laughing.

I laughed too.

At her.

At this comic.

“How did you even come up with this? You could really become a webtoon artist.”

“Right?! I’m amazing!”

She beamed proudly.

I hugged her, praising every panel.

“Dad.”

She suddenly looked up.

“Do you feel like this too?”

“…What?”

“Like Dad Ranger—do you stay home because of me?”

…I froze.

“…No. Not at all.”

I avoided her eyes.

“That’s good. Because I like it most when you’re happy.”

…My body stiffened.

“You like it when I’m happy?”

“Of course! I love you the most. So if you ever can’t go out because of me, tell me. I’ll allow you to go.”

I burst out laughing.

“You’ll allow me?”

“Yep! But you have to bring lots of presents!”

She spread her arms wide.

“…Seriously.”

In just that short moment—

she turned my entire mood around.

The gloomy evening became a happy one.

I live because of you.