The First Disciple
Until lunchtime ended, the conversation revolved around the novel Seo Joo-hwan had written. Jeong Ha-yeon beamed with pride, as if it were her own work, while Jang Deok-hoon and Yoo Ji-kyeong bombarded him with questions, amazed that the author of their favorite novel was an acquaintance. Jang Deok-hoon, who wrote light novels as a hobby, felt outright reverence for Joo-hwan, who made a living from writing.
'Bro Joo-hwan is amazing!'
In his eyes, Seo Joo-hwan was an older brother worthy of respect. At first, he was just a cool guy with similar hobbies. The unusual part was that he was a first-year at twenty-three, from the class of '13. But after spending two weeks together and observing him, that wasn't the real oddity.
Joo-hwan treated his department juniors, including Jang Deok-hoon, with a playful, friendly attitude like friends. Yet, glimpses of a far more mature demeanor than his peers occasionally surfaced. In those moments, he felt like a much older adult. It was different from Lee Seok-chan's constant joking, which lacked any real weight.
And that wasn't all. At the department MT, he'd performed songs and dances in the talent show, becoming the department rep. He'd massaged Jang Deok-hoon's injured leg and effortlessly taken down that old-school jerk Baek Jeong-gi. There were so many reasons to admire him.
And today, it turned out he was the author of the web novel Jang Deok-hoon enjoyed most lately. At this point, anyone would strut around, but Joo-hwan just acted humbly embarrassed. In truth, it wasn't humility so much as remnants of his past life's loser mentality, but to Jang Deok-hoon, it looked impressive.
Eventually, Jang Deok-hoon's thoughts converged on one conclusion.
'Successful otakus are just on another level.'
He wanted to be like Seo Joo-hwan. And Jang Deok-hoon, son of the Jang family, was a man of action.
"Bro Joo-hwan."
"Yeah?"
"Please take me as your disciple!"
"...What?"
Seo Joo-hwan blinked, ramen dangling from his chopsticks.
*
Seo Joo-hwan broke into a sweat trying to calm Jang Deok-hoon, who insisted on calling him "Master."
'This guy's seriously gonna start calling me that.'
When it was just the two of them, he wouldn't care. The problem was Jang Deok-hoon didn't seem to grasp timing or place. A hulking 187cm guy with a tough face calling him "hyungnim" was already intimidating enough—imagine "sumnim" or "sabu." He'd die of embarrassment and drop out of school.
"I've never taught anyone, Deok-hoon."
"I'll be your first disciple. I'm honored."
No reasoning with him. Persuasion wasn't working.
"...Just show me what you've written, and I'll give you some feedback."
"Thank you, Master!"
"No, stick to how it was. Or else."
"Got it, bro."
After their dramatic compromise, he exhaled a sigh along with some cigarette smoke. Suddenly, he had an unwanted disciple. Not just one, either.
"Joo-hwan, teach me too."
"You too, Ha-yeon?"
"Yeah. I have no clue how to do this assignment."
"Ah, the assignment. Sure, that's fine."
"Oppa, me too!"
Yoo Ji-kyeong jumped in. The four agreed to meet at Joo-hwan's place after classes ended. Lee Seok-chan, meanwhile, opted out, grumbling about doing assignments already. But he subtly pulled Joo-hwan aside.
"Hey, Jju-hwan. My best buddy."
"Yeah. Buzz off."
"I haven't even said anything yet?"
"Spit it out."
"I'll buy you something tasty. In return, if you have any old drafts for submitting as assignments, just one... "
"Yeah. Buzz off."
"Tch."
*
Afternoon lecture time. Lee Seok-chan slumped over his desk, sulking.
'What's this alienation?'
All the talk of light novels and web novels—unintelligible nonsense. He couldn't join in. For someone who'd always been the center of the group, it was a novel experience.
'Is this what loners feel like?'
What was so fun about novels anyway? He'd rather watch manga. Why read boring text? He could hit Gangnam for some hunting instead.
'Should I give it a peek?'
His friend wrote it, so curiosity piqued. Lectures weren't real studying anyway—good time-killer maybe. He downloaded the app Joo-hwan mentioned.
'Membership signup? What a hassle.'
And paying to read text? At least there were free chapters. He wasn't short on cash, but no interest meant no spending.
With a disinterested shrug, Lee Seok-chan started his first web novel—for filler.
An hour later.
"Yo, Seok-chan. No smoke break?"
"Nah, go without me."
"What's up with the bookworm?"
"Busy. Don't bug me."
Another hour later.
'Holy shit. First time getting hard from text.'
Not just that—no images, pure words, and it turned him on. Human imagination was wild. Nothing like the forced economics or philosophy books from childhood. The fun was totally different.
He got annoyed paying per chapter and bought volumes outright. Surprisingly fast reader, he'd already devoured two books' worth.
Lectures ended while he was lost in it.
"Lee Seok-chan! You coming?"
"Huh? What? When'd class end?"
"What're you doing, spaced out? What about you? We're heading to my place with the others."
"For the assignment?"
"Yeah. And checking Deok-hoon's writing. You still bailing?"
Seok-chan had said no at lunch, so Joo-hwan didn't expect him. But surprisingly, Seok-chan nodded like it was obvious.
"Let's go. Right now?"
"Uh? Yeah, but."
"Go go. Oh, your place got lots of books?"
"Books? Plenty."
"Can I look?"
"You, books?"
"I'm a voracious reader by nature. Books were my childhood sidekick."
"Cut the bullshit and grab your bag if you're coming."
Seok-chan shrugged. He had read a ton as a kid—forced, not novels, but still.
As he packed, he mused.
'Maybe start a publisher later. Buy a decent officetel, lock up promising writers, make 'em write. Good revenue share oughta do it.'
Money? Just mooch from dad or brothers. No need for his own.
'If they refuse, threaten to join the succession war.'
Not that he'd bother, but.
*
At Seo Joo-hwan's place, Lee Seok-chan and Jang Deok-hoon looked around.
"Whoa, Jju-hwan, two-room setup? Bigger than I thought."
"Bro, is that your workspace? Feels like just the essentials."
"Yeah. No bed on purpose—tempting to crash otherwise."
"As expected. Real writers got that environment."
"Not really..."
Now even one word from Joo-hwan got overanalyzed by Jang Deok-hoon. Joo-hwan glanced at Seok-chan—prime time for snark, but silence.
Instead, Seok-chan clapped his shoulder.
"Keep grinding."
"?"
"Cheers for the patronage, right? Sent donation."
"That's what you were doing in class... Thanks anyway."
Joo-hwan chuckled dryly. No smoke, just phone—turns out reading his novel.
"Oppa, food first? Set the table?"
Yoo Ji-kyeong called from the living room.
"Yeah. You know what?"
"Yep."
Joo-hwan opened the delivery app. He usually cooked, but five people? Nah.
Then Jeong Ha-yeon asked curiously.
"Ji-kyeong, you been here before? Table's behind the fridge, hard to spot."
How'd she know? Ha-yeon tilted her head. Joo-hwan and Ji-kyeong froze in sync.
'Shit.'
Cold sweat down his back. To others, this was Ji-kyeong's first visit. Even drunk that night, he'd supposedly dropped her home, not let her crash—to avoid rumors.
While he stiffened, Ji-kyeong quickly covered.
"Hehe. Starving, so I scoped food spots—spotted it right away?"
"Yeah? Must've been hungry."
"Yep. What for dinner, unnie? What do you like?"
"Me? Anything... But speak casually, Ji-kyeong."
"Yes—uh, yeah."
Joo-hwan sighed in relief listening. Knowing the table spot didn't prove they'd slept together. Still, paranoia hit hard.
Then Seok-chan poked his side with a smug grin.
"Hey, you banged Ji-kyeong?"
"What bullshit?"
"You did. Post-MT? Pre-MT?"
"You psycho!"
"Hmm. Not your style to date after, so pre-MT... Ah, you dropped her home once? That was code for... Mmph?"
Joo-hwan panicked, clamping his mouth.
"Shut it. You a detective? Spouting nonsense."
"Nonsense? Hm. Can't stress our author. I'll check it out."
"..."
"But no cheating. That monster girl's softer than she looks."
"...Won't."
"Kuh. Pfft hahaha!"
Seok-chan cackled obnoxiously. As others turned, he yelled.
"Guys, Joo-hwan's treating dinner!"
"For real? Joo-hwan, too generous... Oh, never mind?"
"Seriously, bro?"
"Oppa's buying?"
Joo-hwan nodded awkwardly. He'd planned to anyway, but Seok-chan's face soured his stomach.
'Psycho. How'd he know?'
*
Seo Joo-hwan gave basic writing tips. Nothing fancy: pick a theme, write freely. Then feedback or light edits.
"Ugh, can't. I quit! Wing it for submission."
Seok-chan dropped out fast. Jang Deok-hoon and Ji-kyeong, with experience, churned out decent stuff. One edit, and it shaped up nicely. Deok-hoon's skill stood out.
'Deok-hoon's got talent. Could make a living writing someday.'
No habit of checking guys' status, but his eagerness deserved a peek. A-grades and B+ talents: writing-related, fitting his build—martial arts—plus odd ones like Craftsmanship and Sculpting.
Most unique? The fetish.
Agalmatophilia, or statue fetish, is arousal from immobile objects like sculptures, dolls, or mannequins. When mixed with otaku traits, it often manifests as attraction to figurines.
'Deok-hoon, you're the real deal...'
Gift him a figure for celebrations later.
"Joo-hwan, great food. See ya tomorrow."
"Oppa, bye tomorrow."
"Bro, next time too, right?"
The three left. Joo-hwan grinned at the naturally lingering Jeong Ha-yeon.
"Sleep over?"
"N-no? Just wanna learn more."
"Wanna do more?"
"Learn more, I said..."
Ha-yeon trailed off. Partly true, but she had expectations too. Alone now, her eyes drifted to his crotch. She ignored it, sat, hands on keyboard.
Minutes later, she sighed.
"Haa. No idea how to write. Novel stuff's too hard."
"Hm. Sentences are pro-level for a newbie."
"Can't think of content. Just blank page."
Joo-hwan scratched his eye corner, eyeing her status. A+ potential Sentence Structure shone. But slower than Seok-chan.
'Bet she'd ace reports.'
Her notes suggested as much. Problem wasn't sentences—imagination drought. Untenable.
After pondering, an idea hit.
"Try an essay?"
"Essay?"
"Yeah. No need for fiction, right?"
"Oh... Yeah. Essay works."
Novel talk all day made her fixate. Assignment wasn't specified.
"Rewriting."
Ha-yeon typed. Framing as her story, words flowed like magic.
*
Two hours later, Ha-yeon closed her laptop, weary.
"Hoo. Continue tomorrow. Can't anymore."
"Good work. At least direction's set."
"Yeah. Feels right now. Kinda bummed not a novel."
Wanted to try like Joo-hwan, but no dice. She smacked her lips regretfully.
Joo-hwan massaged her shoulders sympathetically.
"Heading home? I'll drive."
"...Huh?"
"Getting late. Go?"
"Well..."
Ha-yeon glanced at him coyly.
'Why's he like this? Won't just send me off.'
Expected him to make a move alone. She'd play along. But he seemed serious about dropping her.
Then he leaned in, pecking her lips. She accepted naturally.
That's more like it. Tonight too.
Waiting for tongue, lips parted quick.
Flustered, her thoughts slipped out.
"Huh? Done?"
"What?"
"N-nothing."
"C'mon. I'll drive."
Casual tone made her lashes quiver. She stared silently, then dressed.
"...I'll go alone."
"Why? I'll drive."
"Alone. You look tired, rest."
"Wait, Ha-yeon."
He hugged her from behind. Teasing backfired, hurt her feelings.
"Sorry. Tired today."
Her face flushed crimson. Busted.
Unlike expectations, sending her off sparked frustration and disappointment—she'd shown it emotionally. Two days of nonstop? Tired made sense.
Couldn't admit sulking over no sex. She played cool.
"N-no need sorry? Just said you look tired, so alone."
"Haha, yeah. But Ha-yeon."
"Hm?"
He whispered in her ear.
"Tomorrow, hard. No others, just you."
"..."
"Wanna now too, holding back? Tomorrow, won't stop even if you beg."
Warning in advance. Planned at least five rounds, no mercy.
'Stack five overlaps—hold off today.'
Tomorrow night: 72 hours post-item. Reuse before full fade. Holding for double stamina drain.
Ha-yeon nodded faintly. He grinned slyly.
"Heh. Promise?"
"W-what. I'm going."
"No drive?"
"Rest up!"
Snapping like angry, she stormed out. Joo-hwan heard it as "rest for tomorrow."