A Relationship Where Superiority is Decided (2)
After Jeong Ha-yeon left, Seo Joo-hwan tidied up the bed and suddenly remembered something he'd forgotten.
"Oh, right. Item gacha."
Having spent the whole day glued to Jeong Ha-yeon, he'd completely overlooked his daily routine of drawing items.
"Didn't draw a special ability either."
Distracted by sex, he'd gone through the day without buying items or special abilities. Lucky he remembered now.
He immediately purchased an item.
LUST SYSTEM://NOTIFICATION
Item, Blessed SM Play Set has been granted.
"SM Play Set?"
The ominous name prompted him to open his inventory and check the item right away.
True to its set name, it wasn't just one item. A single draw yielded a whopping three.
He opened the item descriptions.
🛡️ ITEM SET 🛡️
Minotaur's Tail Whip
Effect 1: When struck with the whip, inflicts the optimal level of pain that feels the most pleasurable to the target. Pain intensity adjusts to the target's desires.
Effect 2: Induces mild submission during ongoing sexual activity.
Note: No permanent scars regardless of force; whip marks vanish immediately after sex ends.
Lewd Saintess's Secret Handcuffs
Effect 1: Slightly increases sensitivity while restrained.
Effect 2: Instills mild submission while wearing the cuffs.
Note: No injuries to restrained areas regardless of force.
Lewd Saint's Missionary Candle
Effect 1: Wax-dripped areas gain temporary slight sensitivity boost; striking them amplifies pleasure dramatically.
Effect 2: Dripping wax induces mild submission and fear.
Note: No pain from wax; no mental or physical aftereffects.
Seo Joo-hwan gaped at these items he'd never seen before in his life.
"Wh-what the hell is this...?"
His idea of SM play had been limited to spanking with a hand. This was overwhelming.
As he stared blankly, a scene flashed in his mind.
Jeong Ha-yeon, stark naked in pristine white skin, hands and feet cuffed. He bends her over, smacking her ass with the whip crack crack while pounding her from behind. Dripping wax down her back, cackling, "Squeal like a sow!"
Gulp.
He swallowed hard.
"Might wanna try a little..."
No scars or aftereffects, right? Hardcore wasn't his thing, but this seemed soft enough.
But Seo Joo-hwan shook his head soon after.
"Ha-yeon would never go for it."
Despite seeming experienced, Jeong Ha-yeon was surprisingly a novice virgin with little sex knowledge—and a bit conservative. Even her earlier blowjob had that do-or-die resolve on her face. She'd nearly scratched his dick with her clumsiness.
'Maybe at five overlaps.'
He decided to save it for later and called Lucy. Time for a special ability.
Before buying, Lucy warned him.
L
Lucy
System Spirit
The second special ability costs 30,000 LP. Proceed with purchase?
"Gah! Why's the price triple?"
L
Lucy
System Spirit
The more special abilities in the same talent, the stronger you'll perform in that field. It's natural. Though the exact effect is random.
Seo Joo-hwan pondered briefly, then nodded.
"Tch. Fine, buy it. Got LP to spare."
He had over 100,000 points stockpiled. Sure, higher system levels meant bigger spends, so saving was smart, but...
LUST SYSTEM://PURCHASE
Using 30,000 LP to purchase random special ability for Talent, Writing.
✓ ACQUIRED
Special Ability: Myriad Styles
📜 Myriad Styles
Effect: Instinctively recalls and applies writing styles perfect for any genre or scene.
Note: Full effect requires study and knowledge of the genre.
Compared to his first, Stenographer's Speed, it seemed plain. But Seo Joo-hwan's eyes widened as he reread the description several times.
A gasp escaped him.
"This is insanely broken."
Not clumsy style shifts, but optimized styles for specific genres and scenes. In his view, Myriad Styles might outclass Stenographer's Speed.
'Switch genres next novel? Faster writing means I can tackle more.'
Styles rigidify over time, especially for distinctive authors—even pen name changes got exposed. Savvy readers guessed identities from style alone.
Fixed styles aren't bad; polished ones become signature flavor. But versatility? Huge edge.
As a writer, it felt like a fun new toy.
'Good thing I made bank on Bitcoin.'
Fast writing plus lifetime wealth meant no money worries, even for niche genres. Speed let him produce more.
Seo Joo-hwan grinned at future genre experiments.
"Gotta finish the current one first."
A month should do it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Publishing Content Department offered pathways into a wide variety of fields, including publishing, advertising, printing, and design. Because it was highly practical for future employment, the curriculum covered a massive range of subjects—including several courses related to writing.
The professor checked the time, began packing up his belongings, and called out to the class. "Don't forget about the assignment I mentioned earlier. You have two weeks, which is more than enough time, so don't slack off."
"Yeees, sir~," the students chorused lazily.
"It can be an essay, a short novel—the format really doesn't matter. Just no simple book reports. Class dismissed. Enjoy your lunch, everyone."
Once the professor left the room, Lee Seok-chan flopped over onto his desk with a loud groan. "What the hell is this? I thought the Publishing Content major was just going to be about editing stuff."
"That's in the second semester. Did you not even check the curriculum before you enrolled?" Jeong Ha-yeon asked, smirking from beside him.
Lee Seok-chan scowled deeply but, unusually for him, stayed quiet. His gut was still throbbing from the punch Seo Joo-hwan had delivered that morning. 'Seriously, what do chicks even see in that violent bastard?' he grumbled internally.
Suddenly, Jeong Ha-yeon's expression hardened into a scowl. "What did you just say?"
"Wh-what? I didn't say anything!" Seok-chan stammered.
"I thought I heard you muttering something." She tilted her head, looking at him with suspicion. Lee Seok-chan inwardly stuck his tongue out at her. That bitch is absolutely feral.
Seo Joo-hwan merely chuckled at their bickering. "Did you guys know our school used to have a dedicated Creative Writing department?"
"Huh? This is the first I'm hearing that we don't have one anymore," Seok-chan replied.
"Pfft. We did have one," Joo-hwan explained. "But due to low enrollment and terrible job prospects for graduates, the school ended up merging it."
"Ah, I see. That's a bit random, though—why bring that up now?"
"Because it was merged into our department," Joo-hwan said. "That explains why we have so many writing-focused courses now. The publishing basics were always part of the curriculum, but now there's much more."
"Eek," Seok-chan grimaced.
"They aren't required, though. They're electives, so you can just skip them if you want."
"Phew. Thank god for that." Lee Seok-chan let out a heavy sigh of relief. He had never even kept a diary in his life—just the thought of writing gave him a headache. Having to do this one assignment was already turning into a nightmare for him.
"I've never written anything either," Jeong Ha-yeon admitted with a sigh. "Do you think a diary-style entry would be okay? Everyone else is probably in the same boat, right?" She hoped that was the case. Given how abysmal the national reading rates were, how many college students were actually writing on a regular basis?
Seo Joo-hwan shrugged, gently bursting her bubble. "I doubt it. There are probably plenty of people in our major who write quite well."
"Huh? How would you know that?"
"There are a lot of hobbyist writers in the department. Plus, you have to account for the applicants who got rejected from other Creative Writing programs and ended up here. Hell, even Deok-hoon over there writes light novels."
It was true. The hardcore otaku, Jang Deok-hoon, didn't just consume manga, anime, and novels; he created them, too. In Joo-hwan's life before the regression, Deok-hoon's graduation project had actually been a self-published light novel that generated a significant amount of buzz.
Hearing his name, Jang Deok-hoon, who had been quietly packing his bag, whipped his head around in shock. "Hyungnim! How did you know I write light novels?"
"Uh... oh." Seo Joo-hwan internally cursed as he realized his slip-up. Deok-hoon's writing hobby wasn't supposed to be revealed until much later. He quickly spun a lie to cover his tracks. "The MT! You spilled the beans while you were drunk at the Membership Training trip."
"Did I really?" Deok-hoon scratched his head, looking utterly confused. "I usually try not to advertise it..."
"Yeah, I like reading novels too, so it came up while we were chatting," Joo-hwan smoothly added. "My bad for spilling your secret, though."
"Oh, it's fine. It's not like it's a huge secret anyway," Jang Deok-hoon said, easily brushing it off. However, the ever-watchful Jeong Ha-yeon was now eyeing Seo Joo-hwan, her lips twitching as if she were holding back a question.
Leaning in close, she whispered, "Joo-hwan, is the fact that you write a secret?"
"Huh? Nah, not really..." He scratched at his eye awkwardly. Much like Jang Deok-hoon, he didn't actively broadcast his writing, but he wasn't actively hiding it either. "It just feels a bit weird to randomly announce it here, though. Let's just go grab some lunch first."
"Got it." Jeong Ha-yeon nodded brightly and quickly grabbed her bag. It wasn't even her own achievement, yet she beamed with pride, looking for all the world like a girl eager to brag about her boyfriend. Seo Joo-hwan couldn't help but smirk, finding her reaction unexpectedly cute.
Watching the exchange, Lee Seok-chan muttered sourly, "What are you two whispering about over there? Couples suck."
"Seok-chan hyungnim is just a pretender," Deok-hoon chimed in. "There is a vast difference between someone who is selectively solo and someone who is a true solo act."
"Pfft, you're one to talk. You literally said you have no interest in real 3D girls," Seok-chan shot back.
"Just because I said that doesn't mean I'm trying to date 2D girls either..." Jang Deok-hoon defended himself, keeping a very neat, strict boundary between his fantasies and reality.
"Let's just go eat," Joo-hwan interjected.
As the group turned to head out to a nearby restaurant, a girl who was still lingering in the classroom called out to them. "Hey, can I join you guys?"
"What about your usual lunch crew?" Joo-hwan asked.
"They already went ahead," Yoo Ji-kyeong replied, flashing a bright, beaming smile. "Besides, I really want to get closer to Ha-yeon unnie."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Later, as they sat at the restaurant table waiting for their food to arrive, Jeong Ha-yeon proudly dropped the news. "Did you guys know Joo-hwan writes too? His stuff is super fun to read."
Lee Seok-chan, Jang Deok-hoon, and even Yoo Ji-kyeong all stared at him, their eyes widening in surprise.
"R-really? What kind of stuff do you write, hyungnim? Is it light novels?" Jang Deok-hoon's face lit up more than anyone else's. As someone who serialized light novels as a hobby, he was absolutely thrilled to find a kindred spirit.
"Nah, it's not light novels. I write wuxia," Joo-hwan clarified.
"Ooh, wuxia is great too! I read pretty much all genres. Are you just drafting right now, or are you actively serializing?" Deok-hoon pressed eagerly.
"Whoa, Seo Joo-hwan actually writes? That doesn't fit your image at all," Seok-chan remarked, shaking his head.
"Seok-chan, shut it. Wait until you read it yourself," Ha-yeon snapped defensively.
"Oppa, what's the title? I love reading novels too," Ji-kyeong chimed in.
"I guess it's fine to share it with you guys, but please don't spread it around. I really don't want to advertise it like that," Seo Joo-hwan said with an awkward smile before finally giving them the title of his work.
'This feels incredibly weird,' he thought to himself. Having the sudden spotlight placed directly on his writing was a completely new experience for him, even in his post-regression life.
Suddenly, Deok-hoon gasped loudly. "Hyungnim! You're the author 'Seo Hwan'?! I've been absolutely loving that series!"
"No way, really?" Seok-chan asked, skeptical.
"Yes! I've even donated small amounts to support it a few times!" Deok-hoon was practically vibrating with excitement. "Hyungnim, you have to tell me—is the true heroine his master? Or is it Dang So-so?"
Joo-hwan sighed. Deok-hoon was an otaku through and through; of course, his very first question was about the heroines.
Surprisingly, Yoo Ji-kyeong pulled up the novel on her phone and gasped as well. "Oppa, you're the one who wrote this? I was completely hooked on this!"
"You read wuxia, Ji-kyeong?" Joo-hwan asked, genuinely surprised.
"Yeah, I do. I actually tried writing a bit as a hobby too—it was a wuxia romance," she admitted.
"Ooh, really? You should show me sometime," Joo-hwan said.
The mention of wuxia-romance immediately piqued his interest. It was a subgenre that would become a massive trend much later on, but right now, it was incredibly niche. It was genuinely impressive that she had tried her hand at it this early.
'Did she have a secret serial going on before I regressed?' he wondered. 'Nah, she spent all her time job-hunting.' The minor mystery solved itself rather quickly in his head.
Yoo Ji-kyeong waved her hands dismissively. "Oh, it's a total mess, so no way. It was just a hobby I dabbled in, but I ended up quitting because the writing just sucked."
"That's a shame. Let me know if you ever decide to restart it," Joo-hwan offered.
"I won't. I've decided I'm going to be an editor instead," she replied with firm conviction.
Seeing her so resolute, he simply nodded. It made sense; in his pre-regression life, she had eventually landed a job at a publishing company.
"Joo-hwan, the food is up," Jeong Ha-yeon said, gently poking him in the side to get his attention. The rice at this particular restaurant was self-serve.
As she watched him rise from the table to get their portions, Ha-yeon cast a subtle glance toward Yoo Ji-kyeong.
'She said she wants to befriend me, but she seems surprisingly tight with Joo-hwan,' Ha-yeon thought. It stirred an odd, prickling feeling in her chest. It was a completely new emotion for her, causing her to unconsciously tilt her head in confusion.
Just then, her eyes met Yoo Ji-kyeong's. The younger girl smiled sweetly. "Unnie, you smoke, don't you?"
"Huh? Yeah, I do. Why do you ask?" Ha-yeon replied, a bit taken aback.
"Because I do too," Ji-kyeong whispered conspiratorially.
"Really? I've never seen you smoking before."
There were very few female smokers in their department to begin with, and almost all of them belonged to Class B. Because of that, Jeong Ha-yeon almost exclusively took her smoke breaks with Seo Joo-hwan and Lee Seok-chan.
"Hehe. Well, hardly any girls smoke around here, especially not in our class. So I've just been hiding it," Ji-kyeong admitted with a little giggle.
"Same here! Oh, I'm so glad I'm not the only one!" Ha-yeon exclaimed, visibly brightening.
"We should totally go smoke together from now on, then!"
"Duh! Obviously!"
Jeong Ha-yeon nodded eagerly. Ever since dealing with her ex-boyfriend, she had felt a bit awkward navigating friendships with other girls. She was genuinely thrilled at the prospect of befriending the popular and outgoing Yoo Ji-kyeong. Having very few female friends to begin with, a wide grin spread across Ha-yeon's face.
"Hey, Ji-kyeong, you should drop the formalities and speak casually with me too," Ha-yeon offered warmly. "You already do it with Joo-hwan, after all."
"Sure thing, unnie," Ji-kyeong agreed.
Overhearing them, Lee Seok-chan immediately butted into the conversation. "Yeah, Ji-kyeong. You can start calling me 'oppa' too."
"Oppa my ass," Ha-yeon scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Just call that jerk 'hey'."
"Hehe. I think 'Seok-chan oppa' sounds just fine," Ji-kyeong laughed, before turning her bright gaze to the quiet otaku. "Deok-hoon, we should hang out too."
"Uh, y-yeah. Sure. Just... not too close, maybe keep it moderate..." Jang Deok-hoon trailed off awkwardly, eyeing the sociable girl with distinct wariness.
'She is scary... completely different from Ha-yeon unnie,' he thought, a shiver running down his spine. Even though she was smiling brightly, her eyes didn't seem to hold the same warmth. She seemed nice enough on the surface, but something about her made him deeply uneasy. He took a nervous sip of his water, trying to shake off the feeling.
'This is exactly why 2D girls are vastly superior to real ones,' he concluded internally. 'Should I ask hyungnim for some writing tips later? Maybe get some advice on fleshing out my character, Rena-chan...'
As he drifted back into his own little world, Jang Deok-hoon decided that happily fangirling over his light novels was the best course of action.