Episode 4: Rising Stars

Title: Phantom of Seoul

Episode 4: Rising Stars

Years had passed since the Future Mangaka Contest. Tae had grown from a passionate young artist into a dedicated student at Seoul Academy of Arts, sharpening his skills every day. Meanwhile, Joon had never stopped drawing, refining Shadow Blade while working part-time to support himself.

Tae’s dream took a big step forward when he sent Darkirui to Shenohi Jump, one of the biggest manga publishers in Korea. It was a dark, psychological shehinishi story, filled with brutal fights, mind games, and deep themes about life and death. He poured everything into it, sketching late into the night, revising panel after panel, perfecting each scene.

Then, the email arrived.

"Your manga has incredible artwork and storytelling," the editors wrote. "However, it may be too dark for our magazine. We encourage you to refine the themes for a wider audience."

Tae felt a mix of disappointment and pride. They rejected it—but they saw potential. His art had impressed some of the biggest names in the industry.

A few months later, something unexpected happened. Shenohi Jump released their annual "Top 100 Rookie Manga Artists of the Year." Tae flipped through the list with shaky hands, and then—

"Rank 89 – Tae Hwang (Darkirui)"

His name was there. He had made it.

Excited, he scrolled down—and froze.

"Rank 94 – Joon Hwang (Shadow Blade)"

Joon had made it too.

Tae burst into his brother’s room, holding his phone like a trophy. "Hyung! We did it! We’re in the top 100!"

Joon looked up from his sketchbook, surprised. "What?" He grabbed the phone, eyes scanning the list. His name was there. His story, his work, had finally been noticed.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, Joon smirked. "I’m still coming for you, little brother."

Tae laughed. "Better hurry, because I’m not stopping."

The road ahead was still long, and neither had reached their final goal. But for the first time, the world was starting to see them—not as kids from a poor neighborhood, but as real artists.

Title: Phantom of Seoul

Episode 5: The Breakthrough

Tae had worked for years, refining Darkirui after Shenohi Jump’s initial feedback. He adjusted the themes, making it less bleak while keeping its intense battles and psychological depth. After months of rewriting, he resubmitted the manga.

This time, it was accepted.

Shenohi Jump announced Darkirui as their newest serialization. Tae couldn’t believe it—his story would be in weekly magazines across Korea. He had officially become a published mangaka.

The Rise of Darkirui

As the first few chapters were released, Darkirui quickly gained a following. Readers loved the deep story, the unique characters, and Tae’s sharp, intense art style. Within six months, sales skyrocketed, and the first Darkirui volume sold 150,000 copies in its first week.

With the royalties coming in, Tae finally saw real money from his passion.

How Much Did Tae Earn?

Manga Volume Sales

150,000 copies sold in the first week

Over 500,000 copies sold in the first year

Tae earned ₩450 per copy ($0.34 USD per volume)

Total earnings from volume sales in one year: ₩225,000,000 (≈$170,000 USD)

Magazine Serialization

₩3,500,000 per chapter ($2,600 USD)

50 chapters in the first year

₩175,000,000 total ($130,000 USD)

Merchandising & Licensing Deals

As Darkirui’s popularity grew, Tae earned another ₩80,000,000 ($60,000 USD) from posters, T-shirts, and action figures.

Total Earnings in the First Year:

₩480,000,000 (≈$360,000 USD)

Tae’s Life After Success

Tae had gone from a struggling artist to a rising star in the manga industry. With his earnings, he moved his family into a bigger apartment, bought new art supplies, and even gave Joon money to invest in his own manga career.

But Joon refused to take it. "I’ll make my own money," he said, determined. "And one day, Shadow Blade will outsell Darkirui."

Tae smirked. "We’ll see about that."

Despite their rivalry, Joon couldn’t help but be proud. His little brother had done it. But now, it was his turn to rise.

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