3
#ch 3#
"Isn't he insane?"
I had lived through countless lifetimes.
Throughout every one of them, I had only one goal.
To win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
"It never changed."
At the beginning of my regressions, I wanted to achieve it simply because it was the quest objective.
Like in a game, a goal had been given to me, so naturally I wanted to clear it.
Besides, it was the highest honor a writer could receive, so I couldn't help but be greedy for it.
But...
As time went on, the reason became much simpler.
"I just wanted to escape this damn cycle of regression."
Honor as a writer no longer mattered.
I struggled desperately just to break free from this endless loop.
Because of that, I tried every genre I had never imagined writing in my previous life—poetry, plays, dramas,
screenplays, and countless others.
After going through all of that, I realized one thing.
"I'm not a genius."
If I truly were one, I would have won the Nobel Prize during my very first regression.
Even if that were asking too much, shouldn't I have won it within ten regressions?
Every bit of fame and praise I earned as a writer—everything except the Nobel Prize—was nothing more than the result of
endless time and relentless effort.
"That's why I wanted to escape even more."
I wanted to stop struggling.
At the same time, if I actually won the Nobel Prize...
Then I could at least comfort myself by believing I possessed some measure of talent.
"But I failed."
That's right.
Jung Yoonseong wasn't a genius.
He couldn't escape the regressions.
Still, what would change if he gave in to despair or blamed his lack of talent?
"At the very least, all the years I spent working hard haven't disappeared. Instead of talent, I've accumulated
experience."
If that was the case...
Then I would cash in all of that experience.
For money.
For fame.
"Our son... isn't he a genius?"
Just then, my mother's voice reached my ears.
Our family was driving to Goyeong Arts High School for my transfer entrance exam.
Of course, we had only rented the car for today.
"Don't say things like that. You'll only pressure him."
My father, who was behind the wheel, gently scolded her.
"Why not? He didn't even start writing when he was little. He suddenly picked it up in his first year of high school,
became a huge hit online, and now he might even get into Goyeong Arts High."
"That's exactly what puts pressure on kids. Parents shouldn't get carried away. Just look at all those child prodigies
who appeared on TV. Where are they now? They all disappeared without a trace."
I agreed with my father.
After living through countless regressions, I had seen many child prodigies.
Not just in writing.
Music.
Acting.
Sports.
Geniuses appeared in every field.
But...
Most of them never managed to fully bloom.
"Adults who wanted to exploit them for profit, the media watching their every move, and people around them making a huge
fuss..."
There's nothing good about becoming famous too young.
You lose the ordinary life every child deserves.
The title of genius steals away a peaceful childhood...
And replaces it with the crushing burden of constantly proving yourself.
The higher people's expectations become, the more painful the fall.
And when a child prodigy eventually collapses...
People simply click their tongues and say,
"I knew it."
"Don't worry, both of you."
But if...
Someone could overcome all that pressure and prove everything...
If they lived up to those towering expectations without falling, and reached even greater heights...
"I really am a genius."
Then they could gain just as much in return.
Pressure?
Why would something like that affect me?
Prove myself?
How many works had I already written?
How many awards had I already received?
"I won't keep you waiting long after today's exam."
In this life...
I was going to live as a real genius.
*
The entrance to Goyeong Arts High School.
A luxurious sedan was about to drive through the gates when the security guard stopped it.
"Good morning. May I ask the purpose of your visit?"
The guard spoke in a professional tone.
The driver's window rolled down.
A middle-aged man wearing elegant gold-rimmed glasses smiled politely.
"Good morning. We're here because my daughter is taking the transfer examination."
"I see. May I have your na... Huh?"
The guard's eyes widened the moment he saw the man's face.
It was as though he recognized him immediately.
"Are you perhaps Director Lee Seokhyo? The film director?"
"Haha. Yes, that's me. Thank you for recognizing an ordinary filmmaker."
The gentleman greeted him warmly.
The woman in the passenger seat laughed softly as well.
She, too, was dressed in an expensive-looking luxury coat.
"And Actress Cha Miju is here as well!"
Director Lee Seokhyo and actress Cha Miju.
The marriage between the famous director and the famous actress had caused a massive sensation decades ago.
Both had already been household names before marrying, making their combined influence extraordinary.
Even now, they remained leading figures in their respective industries.
"Of course. She's her mother."
"Oh dear, I'm sorry. This is the first time I've ever met celebrities like you."
"Haha, it's perfectly fine."
Meanwhile...
"..."
The girl sitting in the back seat wore a conflicted expression.
"Your identities have been confirmed. Welcome to Goyeong Arts High School."
A short while later, Lee Seokhyo parked the car.
"We're here."
The girl climbed out of the back seat.
Anyone could immediately tell she was their daughter.
She looked just like both of them.
"Our Jooeun, don't be nervous. Just do your best."
"Would you like to take a calming pill?"
Lee Jooeun shook her head.
"No, I'm okay."
Forcing a smile, she said,
"I'll be back. I'll do well."
"That's right. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
"You'll definitely pass this time."
As though giving her strength, Lee Seokhyo and Cha Miju held their daughter's hands firmly.
"Your mom and I are heading to the faculty office."
"We'll see you later."
"Okay. See you after the exam."
After leaving the parking lot, Lee Jooeun glanced around.
Almost as if she wanted to make sure her parents were truly gone.
Then...
"Whew..."
She let out a long sigh.
Placing a hand against her chest—
Thump.
Thump.
Her racing heartbeat was impossible to ignore.
She was incredibly nervous.
"I should've taken that calming pill."
But it was too late for regrets.
There was no turning back.
She raised her head.
The massive buildings of Goyeong Arts High towered over her like giants.
The pressure they gave off was overwhelming.
"..."
Then she noticed students walking between the main building and the practice building.
All of them wore the school's uniform.
A uniform only Goyeong Arts High students could wear.
"If only I could wear that."
The sight reignited her determination.
"You can do this. You're Director Lee Seokhyo and Actress Cha Miju's daughter."
Lightly patting both cheeks—
She stepped inside Goyeong Arts High School.
Goyeong Arts High School.
The most prestigious arts high school in South Korea.
It consisted of departments for music, fine arts, dance, acting, and creative writing.
There was only one reason an ordinary arts high school had earned such immense prestige.
Its unmatched results.
Most of Korea's greatest figures in the arts had graduated from Goyeong Arts High.
People often said that for good reason.
"Classical music, modern art, entertainment, pure literature... There isn't a single artistic field without graduates
from Goyeong Arts High."
There were two reasons for that.
First, every department had the nation's finest practical instructors.
Second...
Its training was notoriously brutal.
Without exceptional talent, surviving here was impossible.
"But because of that, plenty of students quit halfway."
Many students without enough talent found ordinary academic study easier.
Every year, some inevitably dropped out.
To fill those vacancies, the school held transfer entrance exams annually.
The competition was fierce, with dozens of applicants competing for each opening.
"The Creative Writing Department is especially brutal."
Writing had a lower barrier to entry than most artistic fields.
It didn't require expensive equipment.
Anyone could simply sit down and start writing.
That's why so many people underestimated it.
"Anyone can write. But not everyone can write well."
No one understood that truth better than Lee Jooeun.
She had inherited artistic talent from her parents, who were giants in the entertainment industry.
She had been writing since elementary school.
Yet she still failed the Creative Writing entrance exam.
The despair she felt back then had been the greatest of her life.
She even believed she had disgraced her parents.
"Lee Jooeun, daughter of Lee Seokhyo and Cha Miju, fails high school entrance exam!"
She had even suffered nightmares where headlines like that appeared in the news.
"But this time is different."
She had transformed that humiliation into motivation.
She had sharpened herself relentlessly.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she had spent almost every day reading books and writing.
"I even received private lessons from a professional novelist. This time, I'll definitely get in!"
That's right.
Without this level of effort...
Without talent despite working this hard...
No one could ever enter this place.
Goyeong Arts High School.
Soon...
Creative Writing Department Transfer Examination Room.
Lee Jooeun entered the classroom.
Dozens of students had already taken their seats.
Yet not a single person was chatting.
Instead...
Scratch.
Scratch.
The sound of pens moving across paper.
Rustle.
Rustle.
The sound of pages turning.
Someone unfamiliar with the situation might have mistaken it for a library.
"...Gulp."
She unconsciously swallowed.
Then she took a seat in the last row.
She immediately pulled out her notebook and pen.
Carefully rereading everything she had written.
"I wonder what today's prompt will be. They say transfer exam topics are completely unpredictable. Sometimes it's an
object, sometimes a social issue, and sometimes just a single sentence..."
As Lee Jooeun immersed herself in anxious preparation...
How much time had passed?
"Yaaawn..."
A loud yawn suddenly came from the seat beside her.
It was such a lazy yawn that it shattered the tense atmosphere.
Unable to stop herself, she looked to her side.
A boy around her age was sitting down while stretching and yawning.
"What is he doing?"
Did he stay up all night preparing?
That was certainly possible.
She herself had nearly failed to fall asleep last night.
"But on the day of the exam, you should get enough sleep to be in your best condition. No, you should establish the
perfect routine weeks in advance."
She had been waiting for this day.
Ever since the exam date had been announced, she had followed a strict routine.
Because of that, she was currently in peak condition.
"He must not know much about Goyeong Arts High. Working hard alone isn't enough to get in here."
You had to work hard.
And work well.
"I think I've already surpassed one competitor."
Hearing him yawn gave her confidence.
Her nervousness eased.
She focused on preparing once again.
Then, a little later—
Huff...
Huff...
A steady breathing sound reached her ears.
Almost involuntarily, she looked beside her again.
"Hmm..."
The boy who had been yawning...
Had completely fallen asleep with his head on the desk.
"He's insane."
The words escaped her mouth before she realized it.
Several nearby students immediately turned to look at her.
Startled, Lee Jooeun hurriedly lowered her head and pretended to write.
But the shock remained on her face.
"He's seriously sleeping right before the transfer exam? Isn't he nervous at all?"
How could anyone come to the Creative Writing transfer exam at Goyeong Arts High...
And casually take a nap?
"Maybe he's so nervous that this is how he's coping... Or maybe he's sick... But his breathing sounds way too peaceful
for that."
Of all people...
Why did someone like this have to sit next to her?
This wasn't just any exam.
Some people had lived for this very moment.
Yet the guy beside her was peacefully asleep.
Her emotions became a tangled mess.
"No, Lee Jooeun. Ignore him. Whether he yawns or sleeps, don't let it bother you."
It didn't work.
It was like being told not to think about an elephant.
The more you tried, the more impossible it became.
"All right. We'll begin the transfer examination shortly."
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—
The examiner entered the classroom.
"Leave only one pen on your desk. Put everything else back into your bags."
The applicants packed away their notebooks and stationery.
Lee Jooeun left only the fountain pen her father had given her.
"Now then, I'll hand out the exam papers."
The boy beside her only woke up when it was time to receive the paper.
If the student in front hadn't nudged him, he probably would've slept through the entire exam.
"Huh...? Mm..."
Still half-asleep, he looked around blankly.
After realizing what was happening, he searched his pocket and placed a cheap ballpoint pen on the desk.
"I can't believe I have to take the same exam as someone like him."
He was probably one of those people who thought writing was easy.
Someone who won a small prize in a school writing contest and suddenly convinced himself he was talented enough to
apply.
The type who mistakenly believed he was a genius.
"Fine. Live your life like that. I'll be the one who gets accepted."
Only geniuses...
No, geniuses who worked hard...
Could enter Goyeong Arts High.
Lee Jooeun knew that better than anyone.
Which only made the boy beside her even more irritating.
"If you've finished your work, submit it to me and quietly leave the room. Is everyone ready? Then I'll announce today's
prompt."
The room fell silent.
Everyone held their breath.
The examiner slowly wrote large letters across the blackboard.
The word that appeared was...
Blue Marble.
The students, including Lee Jooeun, doubted their own eyes.
"Today's prompt is 'Blue Marble.' You all know it, right? The board game where you roll dice."
The moment the announcement was made, unease spread throughout the room.
No one had expected a prompt like this.
"What am I even supposed to write with that...?!"
Lee Jooeun's mind went completely blank.
Just then—
Scratch.
Someone's pen began moving across the paper.
Creak.
A chair scraped against the floor.
Footsteps echoed toward the front of the classroom.
The examiner looked stunned.
"Y-You've already finished?"
"Yes."
"It was a poem, so I finished quickly."
The student handed over his paper.
It was...
The boy who had been sleeping beside Lee Jooeun.
"...Isn't that guy actually insane?"
Watching his back as he left...
Lee Jooeun nearly said those words out loud.