4
# Divorce Made Me Handsome
## Chapter 4: Moonlight Writer
As soon as I hurried home, I took a quick shower and went into my room. Then I opened the notes app on my laptop and
wrote down the ideas that had occurred to me.
[The dog likes the protagonist.]
[What if animals other than dogs liked the protagonist, too?]
[What if every animal liked him and followed him around?]
[A full-fledged druid?]
[A druid protagonist sounds pretty good, doesn't it?]
Once one idea started coming together, the others began flowing effortlessly.
It wasn't like this three years ago…
Back then, I had always been anxious about something. I was afraid of falling into poverty because of my ex-wife and
running out of money. I had also been impatient, believing that unless I did something, anything, I would never be able
to grasp happiness.
But after getting divorced and letting three years pass, I had finally let go of everything.
Now, my mind was returning to the way it had been during the happiest period of my past, when Baek Man-seok used to
write stories while enjoying his own imagination.
This is fun. Was writing always this enjoyable? Hehe.
As I continued jotting down ideas, I naturally ended up writing the first chapter.
I would still need to read through it again and edit it, but even I thought the writing was pretty good.
As for the title…
“How about The Druid of the Apocalypse Doesn't Hide His Power?”
It was a title that would attract just the right amount of attention.
There weren't any druid-related novels on Dalpia yet, so I thought it would be interesting enough to draw readers in.
The protagonist, who controlled animals while facing an apocalyptic world, was also quite appealing.
Ah, my brain was working at full speed.
It was practically whirring like a sewing machine as I filled my laptop with words.
Before I knew it, I had completed three chapters, and my heart was pounding with excitement.
“Oh, right!”
Suddenly, I remembered that I had created a YouTube account, and I immediately snapped out of my thoughts.
“I was going to livestream myself writing, wasn't I?”
Since I had acquired this appearance, I had spent quite some time wondering how I could make use of it. After thinking
it over carefully, I decided that videos were probably the best way to take full advantage of my handsome face.
So I had come up with the idea of filming myself writing in real time.
“Maybe I should have bought a smartphone first? That's a shame, but… there's nothing I can do about it.”
Since livestreaming was something I could do quickly without much effort, I figured that keeping things simple would be
best for someone like me, who didn't know much about making videos.
“Let's stop here for now. Goodness, it's already ten in the morning.”
Growl.
“I'm hungry…”
I smiled faintly and closed my laptop. I needed to eat breakfast, and I had plenty of other things to do today.
“Son! Come eat breakfast!”
“Yes! I'm coming out in a moment.”
At my mother's call, I hurried out of my room.
Clatter.
“So you've really decided to go through with it?”
“Yes. I've been reborn, so I want to try living a new life.”
“Hmm… If that's what you want, then do as you please.”
“Honey…”
“He's been away for three years. It's only natural that his feelings have changed, isn't it?”
“…Yes.”
The reason breakfast felt a little heavy was me.
A few days earlier, I had told my parents that I wanted to change my name.
Just as I had told them, I had been reborn, and I wanted to live under a new name.
So today, I planned to visit the family court and submit an application.
“I'm also planning to buy a smartphone while I'm out.”
“Go ahead. It's been inconvenient not having a phone, hasn't it?”
“Wouldn't it be better to visit the community service center before getting a new phone number?”
“Pardon?”
“Your identification card was destroyed in the fire, remember? It might be a hassle, but having one will make things
easier.”
“Oh, that's right. That sounds better. It seems like I'll have to visit the community service center several times. What
a hassle…”
“That's what changing your name is like. You're starting your life anew.”
“Hmm… Then I'll need to take a new photograph, too. There's quite a lot to prepare, son.”
“Yes. It seems that way. Haha.”
And so…
Following my parents' advice, I had my photograph taken and visited the community service center to apply for a new
resident registration card.
The fingerprints on record were the same, but the photograph and my current face looked so drastically different that
the situation became rather embarrassing.
However, when I explained, “I had plastic surgery at a good hospital…,” everyone reacted with an astonished “Ah!” before
nodding in understanding.
I was finally able to submit my application.
The middle-aged women waiting nearby had overheard our conversation. They hurried over and bluntly asked where I had
gotten the surgery done, saying that they wanted to go there, too. That made things a little awkward.
While I was at the community service center, I also prepared my basic certificate, family relationship certificate,
resident registration transcript, and supporting documents.
I had already obtained my parents' respective family relationship certificates beforehand, so there were no problems.
I then went straight to the family court and submitted my application for permission to change my name.
I was told that the name change would take effect several months later. Once that happened, I would have to return to
the community service center and apply for yet another new resident registration card.
It was troublesome, but as Father had said, I was starting my life over, so there was nothing I could do about it.
Still, thinking of it as the blueprint for a fresh start and a happier future gave me renewed strength.
I'm going to live a new life. And I'm going to be happy.
There was another reason I wanted a new name besides the fact that I felt reborn.
Honestly… there was something else, too.
Someday, I might meet you again, and I want to give you a proper slap in the face.
Whether by coincidence or fate, if I ever met her again as someone who was happy and living well, I wanted to get a
little revenge.
Of course, that was only if we ever crossed paths again.
“Wow, so this is the Galaxy phone… It's pretty. Expensive, though.”
Unfortunately, I still hadn't been able to properly establish my identity, so I could only purchase a smartphone without
activating a service plan.
Well, as long as I had Wi-Fi, I could use KakaoTalk and livestream on YouTube, so it didn't really matter.
“Will this work?”
Ding.
I had learned a little about videos and livestreaming from watching my ex-wife's broadcasts.
However, as a complete beginner, I couldn't do much.
I simply operated YouTube's livestreaming functions with my fingers and placed the phone carefully on my neatly arranged
desk.
My room was a little dark, illuminated only by the light of a desk lamp.
Hmm. I wonder if this kind of environment is suitable for a livestream. It's supposed to help people concentrate, after
all.
Regardless, this was the first livestream on my channel, Moonlight Writer.
The title was…
[Working on My Novel Live. Let's Study and Work Together.]
Hmm. Is that too old-fashioned?
By the way, how do I set a thumbnail? I don't really know, but… I'll figure it out somehow.
For now, I started the livestream and focused on my laptop.
I was going to work on my new novel, The Druid of the Apocalypse Doesn't Hide His Power.
[1 viewer watching]
“Hm?”
Kim Gyu-ri had been sitting in her chair for a long time, working from home. She stretched, yawned, and heard her joints
crack.
Her eyes were growing unfocused as exhaustion washed over her.
“Ugh… My whole body aches. I got too absorbed in work. Groan… Should I take a break and watch some YouTube?”
She had spent the entire day sitting in her chair, concentrating on her work while drinking coffee.
For her, one of life's little pleasures was watching YouTube videos whenever she had a spare moment.
In particular, watching music videos featuring handsome idols helped wake her up. The corners of her lips would rise,
dopamine would surge through her brain, and her work efficiency would improve.
As she moved her fingers, wondering what she should watch to relax today, she suddenly paused at the thumbnail of a
livestream recommended by the algorithm.
[Working on My Novel Live. Let's Study and Work Together.]
“…A celebrity? Who is that?”
The thumbnail showed a man's face without any filters or decorations.
He was so handsome that he could easily have passed for a celebrity.
His long hair was a little untidy, and his eyes, which looked slightly sleepy yet remained focused on his laptop, were
captivating. His exceptionally pale skin made him look somewhat frail and delicate, while his unusually long fingers
gave the illusion that he was playing a piano when viewed in the still image.
“Gulp.”
[70 viewers watching]
The number of viewers wasn't particularly high.
That made her even more interested.
Her particular fondness for discovering obscure things before they became popular was kicking in.
“It might be AI… People are using it to deceive others a lot these days.”
She couldn't trust it easily. These days, some people used AI-generated thumbnails to attract attention.
But then…
“Moonlight Writer… Ha, there's something strangely appealing about this.”
The channel's name was Moonlight Writer.
A peculiar curiosity stirred inside her. Or perhaps it was her feminine instincts.
Either way, her hand moved the mouse.
Click.
And then…
Tap, tap, tap.
“Ah.”
Inside the slightly dark room, the gentle sound of typing filled the air beneath the desk lamp.
His long, pale fingers moved vividly across the keyboard, making her lips part slightly.
Gulp.
“…”
The man running the channel said nothing. He simply stared at his laptop and concentrated on his work.
Moonlight Writer, please interact with us a little! T_T
Writer, I want to hear your voice! T_T
Aren't you way too handsome? T_T
I came across this by chance through the algorithm. Wow, your fingers are really pretty…
Doesn't he look like a foreign actor? His decadent charm is insane…
His languid yet serious gaze, completely undisturbed by the live chat appearing on the screen, made Kim Gyu-ri's heart
flutter.
You know how it is.
A man often looks most attractive when he is seriously focused on his work.
The owner of the Moonlight Writer channel was no exception.
[Working on My Novel Live. Let's Study and Work Together.]
The channel was called Moonlight Writer, and the broadcast title mentioned working on a novel. It was obvious that he
was doing some kind of work.
Naturally, that stirred something like a subtle literary sensibility in her heart, making her feel even more attracted
to him.
Kim Gyu-ri swallowed nervously.
If she felt that way, what about the 111 people watching the livestream?
“Wait… 111 viewers? When did that happen?”
Compared to a hugely popular creator, it wasn't a particularly large audience.
However, the steadily increasing viewer count made Kim Gyu-ri doubt her own eyes.
This was how a hit channel began.
Sensing that the channel might become a huge success, she boldly abandoned her desire to enjoy something obscure before
everyone else and began immersing herself in the video.
Honestly, the man in the video wasn't doing anything particularly impressive.
The content mainly consisted of keyboard ASMR.
But the owner of the channel was handsome.
Handsome people are entertaining.
It was one of the universal truths of the world.
Tap, tap.
You're handsome. Hehe.
“Hehe.”
With the corners of her lips stretched into a wide smile, she typed into the live chat, her cheeks flushed.
Stress? What was that?
Such a thing had long since disappeared from her mind.
Before she knew it, Moonlight Writer had joined the list of channels she was subscribed to.
[140 viewers watching]
“Phew…”
I briefly took my hands off the laptop.
My shoulders were aching.
I stretched lightly and turned my head.
“Huh?”
[145 viewers watching]
What the…
The viewer count and comments were increasing much faster than I had expected.
I was simply livestreaming myself working on a novel, yet 145 people were watching?
I was so surprised and bewildered that I parted my lips slightly and blinked.
He finally noticed us!
Hello, Moonlight Writer! T_T
Finally!
Writer, please interact with us.
I've been working alongside you. Haha.
“Ah… Hello.”
That was awkward.
What a lame opening line.
Still, the atmosphere in the chat wasn't bad.
“I didn't expect so many people to come. I, uh… Ah, the messages are moving too fast. I heard there's a setting to
adjust this… Just a moment.”
Your voice is nice! T_T
Wow, he's really handsome.
Are you a celebrity?
Hello, Writer! I'm studying for exams, but the algorithm brought me here!
Wow… The owner of this channel is insanely handsome. Damn.
Why are 150 people watching this… Is this what life is like for a ridiculously handsome guy?
After I adjusted the settings, the chat began moving at a more manageable speed, allowing me to read the various
messages.
The question that stood out the most was what kind of writer I was, so I gave them a brief introduction.
“Ah, I'm a web novel writer. Well… I used to write novels before, but I took a pretty long break. Now I'm writing again
because I want to give it another try. Writing alone can get a little lonely, so I started this livestream. I never
expected so many people to show up…”
Feeling a little awkward, I scratched my head.
My fingers brushed against my hair.
Come to think of it, I hadn't properly taken care of it since leaving the hospital.
I should visit a hair salon sometime.
“I'm getting tired, so I think I'll stop writing for today. I hope you'll join me again the next time I write. Thank
you.”
Ah! Don't go! T_T
See you next time! Please come back!
Bye, Moonlight!
Byeeee, Moonlight!
When will you be back? What time?
“I don't have a fixed schedule yet… Hmm, I'll probably write in the morning or evening. See you again. Bye.”
Ding.
It felt as though I had ended the livestream in a hurry.
Afterward, a strange feeling of self-consciousness washed over me, leaving my thoughts in disarray.
Was this really the right thing to do?
“I wonder if I did okay.”
Just in case, I checked my YouTube account.
Seeing the screen displaying 200 subscribers, I let out a small breath.
Two hundred subscribers in a single day…
I couldn't tell whether that was a good sign or a bad one, but…
“Livestreaming… isn't bad.”
Having people accompany me while I worked wasn't bad at all.
I had always written alone and had never really known whether anyone was cheering me on. But today had been different.
I smiled and ran my hand over the closed laptop.
I had a good feeling about this.