Eerie Army Days
The Friday afternoon lecture in the Publishing Content Department was on 'Publishing and Copyright Law'. The title alone fit perfectly with the department name. But hardly anyone was paying close attention. The lecture, consisting purely of theory, demanded memorization over understanding, failing to capture the students' interest.
Most of the students are sleeping again today, as expected.
Professor Shin, who also served as department head, felt a pang of regret for the dozing students even as he delivered his passionate lecture. Still, he didn't wake them. University was a place where you got out what you put in. Unlike in elementary, middle, or high school, these were adults responsible for their own actions. He could impart knowledge as an educator, but absorbing it was up to them.
It's a pretty dry section, to be fair.
Amid this, the faint tap-tap of keyboard keys echoed softly in the classroom. Professor Shin's gaze, scanning the sleeping students, naturally drifted toward the sound. A pleased smile curved his lips as he pinpointed the source.
Some students really work hard.
Even as most slept, a dedicated few pressed on. Centered around class rep Seo Joo-hwan, five students in total were diligently alternating between their laptops and the blackboard, taking notes with sharp focus.
"Ahem. Now, moral rights and economic rights in copyright..."
Clearing his slightly hoarse throat, Professor Shin resumed the lecture. With most students asleep, he could have slacked off—but not with even a few giving their all.
*
Jeong Ha-yeon glanced around at the group with surprised eyes.
"You guys actually seemed to be studying hard? The material was so boring."
"I've realized studying means money. Gonna ace the finals and snag that scholarship!"
Yoo Ji-kyeong clenched her fists, vowing firmly. Her midterm scores had been surprisingly good—not full-ride level, but enough to aim for partial aid. That's why she'd been hitting the books lately.
Lee Seok-chan shrugged, looking baffled.
"I was reading novels, though? Deok-hoon, you seemed busy with something else too."
"I was taking a page from Joo-hwan hyung-nim and polishing the ending of my light novel in serialization. It's nearing completion. Hyung-nim, weren't you outlining your new work?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Outline's done, and I've written up to chapter 15. About half a book, volume-wise?"
In the end, none of them had been studying. They grumbled instead about the professor staring, making them self-conscious.
Jeong Ha-yeon stared in disbelief.
"Then what about the lecture? There were parts that could show up on today's exam."
"Can't copy yours?"
"Why are you so shameless about it?"
"Ha-yeon, noona~."
"Get lost, you psycho!"
Jeong Ha-yeon recoiled, swatting at Lee Seok-chan. Seo Joo-hwan chuckled at the scene before speaking up.
"Hey, if you've got time, check out my new draft and give feedback?"
Jeong Ha-yeon, mid-bicker with Lee Seok-chan, nodded first.
"I'm in. Already finished the assignment anyway."
The others followed suit.
"Of course for hyung-nim's writing."
"Me too! I'll read during downtime at work."
"Finally writing it? Hand it over quick."
They'd all read his previous work to completion. When he first started writing in this life, his 'Writing' skill was C+. By the end, it had reached B+. They'd witnessed how 'The Possessed Master Becomes a Martial Arts Public Enemy', which started off solidly entertaining, evolved in the later arcs. His improving prose left a deeper aftertaste in the final dozen chapters nearing the end.
That's why the next one was so anticipated—especially for Jang Deok-hoon and Yoo Ji-kyeong, longtime web novel fans.
"Hyung-nim, I'm really looking forward to it. Site sales #1 right out the gate?"
"Oppa, make me #1 on your favorites! I've got it bookmarked—tell me first when you start serializing!"
Jeong Ha-yeon and Lee Seok-chan were just as eager.
"Gonna follow this one live from the start. Hope it goes official soon."
Jeong Ha-yeon, who loved books but not web novels before, now preferred them over others.
"It's your fault I got into web novels. Write like hell. Sleep when you're dead, just write! Why's your pace so slow?"
Lee Seok-chan wagged a finger, scolding Seo Joo-hwan. He let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"Dude, my pace is already insanely fast. Tell anyone faster than me to step up."
He'd been lavish with 'Blessing of Focus' while writing, churning out four times the average pro's speed.
Lee Seok-chan kept ranting.
"Pfft, whatever. Cut eating and sleeping—pump out ten chapters a day! If you're a writer, give readers what they want!"
"This guy's lost it..."
Seo Joo-hwan shook his head, realizing reason wouldn't work. It was a common reader reaction in comments anyway. Readers wanted double after one chapter, quadruple after three. Absurd for the writer, but understandable—gratitude that they loved it that much.
Writers are readers too.
He'd been a pure reader before. Some readers like Lee Seok-chan grew up to become writers.
Seo Joo-hwan smirked, stubbing out his cigarette. Having pre-readers before serializing was a win.
Suddenly, Jeong Ha-yeon asked.
"By the way, what's the genre for this new one?"
"Genre?"
"Yeah. You haven't said yet. Another wuxia?"
"Nah, not wuxia. Modern setting. Uh... drama, for starters?"
"Eww, why not wuxia?"
Lee Seok-chan looked disappointed at "drama." Jeong Ha-yeon and Yoo Ji-kyeong perked up more.
"Drama means romance, right?"
"A bit of romance... and slice-of-life?"
"Ah, modern daily-life drama."
"Maybe some horror too...?"
"Eek, scary stuff, oppa? I don't do horror well."
Yoo Ji-kyeong pouted. Now Lee Seok-chan and Jang Deok-hoon lit up.
"Horror sounds great!"
"Whoa, never read horror novels. Can text give chills?"
"Uh... yeah, it'll be creepy as hell. But horror in a kinda different way."
His vague words puzzled them. Jeong Ha-yeon tilted her head.
"What do you mean? There must be an overarching genre."
"Hm."
Seo Joo-hwan scratched his eye corner.
"Modern, drama, daily life, creepy, army."
*
His editor, Choi Mi-hwa, freaked out.
"Army novel?!"
"Yeah."
"...You just got discharged—want to write that already?"
"What, 'that' to a soldier? Wasn't I in the army when I saved you?"
When he'd rescued her from the killer, Seo Joo-hwan had been a senior private on leave. Called out, she panicked wildly.
"Wha—no, you psycho! When did I ever say anything about soldiers?! I respect them so much!"
"Ow, my ears."
"Hey!!"
Seo Joo-hwan chuckled, holding the phone away. He knew she hadn't meant it that way—it was just teasing. After unloading a barrage of curses, Choi Mi-hwa calmed to a normal tone.
"Sigh. So why suddenly an army story? I knew you wanted modern, but not military..."
"Bad idea?"
"...Not what I meant. Just surprised. It's not exactly mainstream."
"Mm. Heads up—this'll be even more niche than typical army stuff."
"More niche?"
"No status window. No special protag powers."
"N-no regression either?"
"Nah, there is regression."
A relieved sigh came through. Seo Joo-hwan understood, giving an awkward laugh. A niche genre with zero protag hooks wouldn't hook readers. He'd agonized before adding 'regression'—the minimal element that fit without harming the story.
"Anyway, got it. Write what you want."
"Oh, really? Thought you'd push back."
"...Profit-wise, yeah, I'd say do something else. But it's what you wanna write, right?"
"Yeah. Even if it flops monetarily."
With retirement secured, money wasn't key. Better to earn, sure—but secondary to the main draw.
Pre-regression, I'd never have dreamed this.
Many writers compromise between 'sellable' and 'passion' pieces. Lean too hard on sellable and it flops; passion risks hesitation after failures. Pros especially—new tries get scary.
Best if your style aligns both, obviously.
Seo Joo-hwan's usually matched popular tastes with his desires. Financial freedom just unearthed new ideas.
"Who am I to argue? Write your passion."
"Thanks for saying that."
"N-no need to thank. Some army novels blow up. With your last work, plenty'll trust and read. Just write well."
"Heh. So help a ton, Mi-hwa."
"Hmph. Fine—hurry up and send the draft."
"Roger. Already got 15 chapters."
"For real? Why didn't you send sooner!"
Her voice brightened. Profit aside, she was a book addict who devoured anything fun, genre be damned.
Suddenly, she went "Ah."
"Right, got news for you."
"What? Some killer sex scene idea?"
"Not sex, but just as good."
"Spill."
Choi Mi-hwa laughed happily.
"Your novel's getting a webtoon adaptation."
"Oh..."
Sex.