I Have Too Many Money-Making Talents - Chapter 126

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Too Many Profitable Talents Chapter 126
Inside the van.
Beyond the window, the Han River flowed, holding the pale winter light.
A familiar melody seeped softly into my ears.
The drama OST I’d sung at the Crown King Championship before being eliminated—Like the First Snow.
Jung Hae-sung, gripping the wheel, opened his mouth with evident cheer.
“I saw this morning it hit number eighty-one on the charts. With winter here, it looks like it’s only going to climb higher.”
“That’s good to hear.”
The response had been better than expected.
The fact that Checkmate was Kim In-ha.
A song eliminated from the Crown King Championship defense round, yet the seasonal timing fell perfectly into place.
Plus, I—a man—had rendered a female vocal track in a different color.
All three elements seemed to align in perfect harmony.
“If things go well, it might stay on the charts all winter. For Me is still at number fifty-four, after all.”
Jung Hae-sung chimed in with a smile.
He was more personable than I’d expected.
Despite how difficult he might have found conversation with me, he spoke without reserve—yet never overstepped.
I lowered my gaze to my smartphone with a light smile.
Articles pouring in since last night flooded the screen.
[Kim In-ha, 9-dan, Returns Home from First-Round Victory… “Sorry for Defeating a Japanese Player at the Japanese Tournament.”]
[Masked Singer ‘Checkmate’ Revealed to be Professional Baduk Player Kim In-ha…… Both Tracks Enter Music Charts]
[‘Tone-Deaf’ Kim In-ha Shows Stunning Vocal Range on Masked Singer…… Does Mask Name ‘Checkmate’ Hint at Chess Challenge?]
[Kim In-ha Declares Chess Challenge…… Netflix Hybrid Entertainment ‘Checkmate’ Begins Production]
[Beyond Asia to the World, Kim In-ha Says “I’m Going All the Way to the World Chess Championship”]
[Jincheon Athletes’ Village National Representative Move-In Imminent…… ‘Genius of This Era’ Compound Archery National Representative Kim In-ha to Join]
Articles featured on main pages across sports and entertainment.
My news cycled across both portal sports and entertainment categories, securing main-page placement.
The impact created positive ripples, leading even to the chart recovery I was seeing now.
After scrolling through the articles once, I switched over to a community site.
While scrolling through the best posts, one caught my eye.
Title: You know what’s really creepy about Kim In-ha?
He faked being tone-deaf on his variety show appearance.
What kind of idiot does that on an entertainment show where he was featured as the main guest?
And then he blindsides everyone hard on Masked Singer.
So nobody who knew Kim In-ha’s voice ever predicted it was him.
And the mask name ‘Checkmate.’
Obviously foreshadowing that he’s going to play chess, right?
So here’s the conclusion.
Kim In-ha calculates everything and moves accordingly.
He’s basically playing South Korea like a toy.
Right now, sitting in this van doing his schedule, he’s probably reading my post and grinning wickedly.
He’s definitely the type to do that.
This guy is just a genius, plain and simple.
“…… What? How did they know?”
The smile caught at the corner of my mouth slowly faded.
A subtle sting passed through me, as though someone somewhere were watching and seeing right through me.
Truth is, it’s half right and half wrong.
There were times I moved with calculation, but plenty of moments where I didn’t.
In the end, how you interpret the world is everything.
I don’t think of myself as a genius,
but if someone reads my actions that way, it’s already a benefit in itself.
From now on, people will keep trying to find meaning in what I do.
And that gaze alone will keep raising my visibility and relevance.
“We’ve arrived, sir.”
The car door opened, and the Korea Baduk Association building came into view.
Today wasn’t a day with matches or official tournaments.
Most of my official schedule was handled by Jung Soo-yeon, the director, but today I’d come to handle something personally.
“This might take a while. There’s a café on the first floor, or you can wait in the car.”
“Yes, sir. Don’t worry—handle what you need to.”
Heading up to the second floor via the Korea Baduk Association staircase, I came face to face with a familiar figure at the landing.
“Kim Kuksoo?”
“……O Master?”
O Su, a 9-dan dressed in a long coat, extended his hand with a gentle smile.
“Welcome back.”
“I have Kim Kuksoo to thank for this. You showed me baduk worth returning for.”
There was weight to those words.
I had simply played my game.
Not the answer itself, but the process—and through that process, one brushstroke of art.
Somehow, a pleasant pressure settled on my shoulders: the sense that I had to live up to his expectations.
“It’s impossible alone. But now that O Master has returned……I think it might be possible.”
A quiet smile formed at the corners of my mouth.
Baduk cannot advance in solitude.
A masterpiece game is one canvas that two people paint together.
For that, you need someone like O Su—a player at the absolute peak of the world—as your opponent.
“There’s the Baduk King Championship next month, isn’t there? Might I settle our past defeat there?”
The Baduk King Championship.
The only traditional professional baduk tournament broadcast on public television domestically.
Born from public broadcasting’s duty and affection for an unpopular pursuit, it stands among the oldest stages in the sport.
But,
“……I’m sorry. It looks like I won’t be able to participate in the Baduk King Championship this time.”
“Ah, I see you have other commitments.”
“Yes.”
Around that time, filming for “Checkmate” will be underway in Europe.
The plan is to compete in various chess tournaments across Europe and raise my official rating.
With time being tight, I had no choice but to focus on the world stage rather than domestic tournaments.
“Instead, I’ll compete in the Jinlan Cup.”
China’s Jinlan Cup, which has begun to be recognized as one of the world’s six major baduk titles.
It’s the title held by Ci Hao, the 9-dan I faced in the National Champion Finals.
Players ranked in the top four domestically receive automatic seeding without playing preliminaries, and my current rank is second.
I should have no trouble advancing directly to the main tournament.
“……The Jinlan Cup, excellent. I’ll work through the preliminaries and see you in the main draw.”
“Then I’ll wait with anticipation.”
Just as we were about to conclude with a smile,
“Oh, Do Jun asked me to pass on a message.”
“Do Jun?”
“He’s made it to the semifinals of the Amateur Baduk Entry Tournament. He says he’ll be greeting Kim Kuksoo in the professional ranks soon.”
“……Tell him I’ll be waiting at the top.”
Before a legend like O Su, it might have sounded somewhat presumptuous.
But I didn’t mind.
I was at the summit now, and I had the confidence to stay there.
I hoped those words would give Do Jun motivation to reach even greater heights.
After exchanging greetings with O Su, I headed to the Korea Baduk Association office.
“Excuse me.”
As I stepped inside, Secretary-General Lee Sang-woo rose warmly from his desk.
“Oh, Kim Kuksoo! You’ve come?”
Once I was seated on the sofa, he handed me papers from his desk.
“This is the China Jiaxuzu League Xianhua Contract. You didn’t need to come pick it up in person.”
“I had some other things I wanted to discuss anyway.”
I unfolded the contract.
Premium mercenary terms.
Maximum five matches per season.
Between the signing bonus, appearance fees, and victory bonuses, it came to roughly one hundred million won per game.
And that was separate from the championship bonus.
The money was substantial, but for me, it was an excellent opportunity to expand my presence in China.
“……Other things?”
“Yes. I’ve been thinking lately that if my visibility could help promote baduk in these stagnant times, I’d like that.”
Secretary-General Lee Sang-woo’s expression brightened noticeably.
“Goodness, how wonderful of you to think that way……In fact, baduk promotion has been picking up thanks to Kim Kuksoo’s activities.”
He continued with enthusiasm.
“Even the number of newly registered baduk academies, which had been declining recently, is gradually increasing, and online lectures and broadcast viewership continue to grow steadily.”
I smiled wordlessly.
Jung Soo-yeon had said something similar before.
But it hadn’t satisfied me.
‘Still not enough.’
Baduk is an excellent mind sport, but the world overflows with things to enjoy.
If this positive momentum only glitters for a moment and then vanishes, it means nothing.
So I decided to be a bit more ambitious.
“……That’s why I’d like to get some help from the Korea Baduk Association. It seems like now’s the right time.”
“May I ask what you have in mind?”
I took a moment to collect myself, then spoke carefully and deliberately.
“I’m thinking of holding a nationwide Amateur Baduk Entry Tournament. Under my name.”

* * *
Seoul COEX Atrium.
It was the day of the Checkmate production press conference.
Journalists gathered in small clusters throughout the hall, camera flashes flickering.
Dozens of cameras were already lined up in front of the Netflix-branded banner.
Jung Soo-yeon was busy as usual, moving between clusters of reporters and chatting.
After getting a feel for the atmosphere, I opened the waiting room door, and Director Oh Hyun-moo approached briskly.
“In-ha, you’re here? I’m really counting on you for today’s press conference.”
“I should be the one saying that, Director.”
We shook hands warmly.
Our second meeting since the initial briefing, and we’d soon be traveling together on location in Europe.
A moment later, the door opened again.
“Oh, Kang Seung-hoo is here.”
The moment I turned, my eyes widened without thinking.
Kang Seung-hoo.
An all-rounder backed by the nation’s goodwill.
Someone who dabbled in music, variety shows, and acting—a true “model entertainer.”
He had an upright image and a certain intellectual quality to match.
‘……So this is what seeing a real celebrity feels like.’
The panelists on Masked Singer were closer to broadcast personalities than celebrities.
But Kang Seung-hoo was different.
In fact, he was too high-profile for a show like this.
And yet he’d joined Checkmate, which would be filming for two weeks in Europe.
A variety show where I was the main character, no less.
“Hello. Kim In-ha, I’m glad to meet you like this. I’m personally a big fan.”
“……Really? I’m a fan of yours, Kang Seung-hoo.”
As I received his greeting, I felt a small jolt of surprise.
The word “fan” sounded oddly unfamiliar coming from him.
“Sorry I couldn’t make the meeting shoot. But now that the drama’s wrapped, I was hoping we could get closer. I noticed we’re the same age?”
“Ah, yes. I’d like that.”
An easy smile and a warmth that put people at ease.
The national goodwill image wasn’t unearned.
After a brief run-through of basic interviews and talking points, we took the stage.
A short teaser played, and after the opening remarks, the interview began under the direction of broadcaster So Yul.
“I honestly never expected this. A chess variety show on Netflix! Director, what was your intention in deciding to produce it?”
Director Oh Hyun-moo glanced at me and spoke.
“Checkmate is a story of challenge. It’s about a professional baduk player from Korea—a nation with no chess tradition—taking on the European stage. In-ha was the one who first pitched the idea. I was drawn to that confidence.”
“As expected, Kim In-ha, you’ve got real confidence.”
So Yul’s gaze shifted to Kang Seung-hoo.
“Kang Seung-hoo, we were all surprised when we heard you’d be appearing. Your recent hit drama Ghost wrapped with strong viewership, didn’t it? What made you decide to join?”
He looked at me and smiled.
“Because I’m a fan of Kim In-ha. I even got an autograph in the waiting room.”
His playful remark drew laughter from the press section.
And soon after, the Q&A session with journalists began.
Normally questions are submitted in advance and vetted, but today was different.
There were no pre-screened questions—we’d be taking direct, unfiltered queries.
A strategy to heighten the buzz.
The first journalist to take the microphone opened his mouth.
“I have a question for you, Kim In-ha. Among Korean YouTubers, there’s someone called Ryu Hyun-sang, the Chess King. He’s Korea’s first International Master.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of him.”
“He looked at your Chess.com rating on his personal broadcast and said it wasn’t worth great expectations—that your competitive level was lacking.”
I nodded quietly.
Looking purely at Chess.com ratings, it was fair to think that way.
But there was a good reason I barely used Chess.com and hadn’t built up my rating.
‘I’ve been playing against AI, after all.’
Chess was conquered by AI far earlier than Baduk.
If I wanted to improve, AI analysis was simply more efficient than playing humans from the start.
The journalist pressed on.
“So he challenged you to a match. He said he’d apologize if he lost, but that there’s absolutely no chance he will. We’d like your response.”
A laugh escaped me before I could help it.
It wasn’t the sort of question you’d expect at a press conference.
Which is precisely why I liked it.
“I don’t know Ryu Hyun-sang well. But I respect his opinion and his skill. However, I think saying he absolutely won’t lose was a bit hasty.”
In that instant, the journalists’ gazes sharpened, zeroing in on me.
Savoring their attention, I paused for a beat before continuing.
“I’ll accept the challenge. But I’m not satisfied with playing on Chess.com.”
“…Yes? What do you mean?”
“Here’s what I propose. I’ll cover his airfare to Europe and his hotel accommodations.”
I’d already sent the invitation.
The idea was to face off properly, in chess’s true homeland.
Now it was up to him to accept.
“If he’s confident, tell him to meet me at an offline chess tournament in Europe.”
The journalists’ eyes lit up at my words.
That gleam hunters get when they’ve spotted prey.
The sound of keyboards clacking in real-time grew faster still.
And I added one final spark to the heated atmosphere.
“Let’s show the world what Korean chess can do, together.”
Of course, I was confident.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————