Chapter 164
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: My First Web Novel
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I spent the entire day until the weekend lost in thoughts about the future.
In the end, I had no choice in the matter.
The happiness I was enjoying right now.
Oh Hana, Han Aebom, Yoon Sua... To keep living with these three in the studio apartment, I couldn't just stand still.
'Compared to before, I've grown at least a little.'
That much was certain.
The old me would've gotten cold feet at the mere sight of such obstacles, giving up before even starting, or turning a blind eye to harsh reality, spinning positive delusions in my room while clutching my dick.
'My past was so rock bottom that anything worse wouldn't even make sense.'
Even accounting for that, the current me was spending my time far more productively and putting in real effort.
[Novel Pictures]
What better proof than me, of all people, attending a web novel academy?
'One step at a time, one step. No need to rush into everything out of anxiety and fail at even one.'
Muttering that to myself, I headed out for the second week of web novel lectures.
"You're here! Hyunwoo!"
Song Ayoung, who had been staring blankly at her phone at the counter, lit up the moment she spotted me. She looked soulless just moments ago, but now she brimmed with energy like a freshly caught fish.
"Hello, Teacher."
"Hahaha! I've been waiting for you to show up!"
It really felt that way.
"Let's head to the classroom quick! Hurry!"
Less like teacher and student, more like owner and puppy.
While I scratched my cheek in bewilderment, we arrived at the small classroom with about six computers.
"Here, sit."
I hadn't even lifted a finger.
Not only did Song Ayoung pull out the chair for me, she even turned on the computer herself. I let out a hollow chuckle at the sight.
"Did you miss me that much?"
"Of course! You're the only student in the weekend class! Ugh, if even you didn't show, I'd be sitting blankly at the counter all day."
The more I watched, the more she seemed like a puppy waiting for its owner.
Though her looks didn't match the vibe.
The white blouse and black skirt, clearly chosen to fit her role as an instructor, suited her sexy figure perfectly.
'What am I thinking.'
A guy juggling not one, but three women, and here I was having such thoughts just because another attractive woman was in front of me. Pathetic.
I needed to become a man who wouldn't bat an eye even if a beauty like Oh Hanam's sister did a striptease right in front of me.
[......?]
Huh?
I swear I just saw a system message flash in front of me. Hallucination?
Tilting my head, I looked at Song Ayoung.
She was a good teacher and a nice person. But she didn't seem particularly passionate about this job.
'If she's that bored... why not just write? She's a famous author.'
I swallowed the words that kept circling in my mind whenever I saw her. I wasn't even that perceptive, but something told me not to bring it up with her.
We weren't going to be around each other long-term anyway, no need to make things awkward.
Best to keep it pleasant.
"Teacher, what do we do today?"
"Hmm, right. Student Kim Hyunwoo! Did you clear the homework I assigned? Read Non-Genius Forest!"
Yeah, this vibe was perfect.
She smiled, I smiled.
"Not all, but up to chapter 217."
"Whoa! Impressive, you got through a lot."
"Ah, I read pretty fast."
To be precise, it was thanks to the recently acquired Low-level Speed Reading Skill.
Honestly, I hadn't expected much from it. That's probably why I got it so casually.
I figured speed reading meant skimming at the cost of deep comprehension.
But no—this skill not only sped up my reading but let me understand the content just as well as if I'd read slowly. For a moment, I wondered if I was a genius, but recalling my past antics ruled that out.
'Skills are OP, alright.'
Sure, some were weird, but their effects were cheat-level.
Mid-level Semen Arousal Skill, Massage Skill, Contraception Skill, Erogenous Zone Detection Skill... Looking back, I'd collected quite a few.
"You didn't just skim, right?"
I answered Song Ayoung's cautious question with confidence.
"Of course not. It wasn't boring enough to skim anyway. At first, I had no clue what was going on, but before I knew it, I'd hit chapter 100."
"Well-written web novels hook you like that—time flies as you breeze through. Ahem, let's see. Since you're so enthusiastic, Student Hyunwoo, today's special: we'll write your own story and upload it to the free serialization section on the novel platform."
"Pardon?"
Her out-of-left-field suggestion startled me.
This was like thinking we'd just hold hands, only for her to suggest sex out of nowhere.
"Pfft, no need to freak out. It's just us, so I'll be right here all day to help with any snags. Ahem! Author of a 30 million-view series here?"
If her words sounded suggestive, that was on me, right?
'Dressed like that, in this cramped space, just the two of us pressed close... Damn, am I the weird one?'
Song Ayoung gave off a similar vibe to Oh Hana, but fundamentally different.
Inborn extrovert vs. introvert.
She seemed friendly enough, but not really. I'd seen it when she went to the bathroom once—that counselor, Hanyang Hee? She handled most calls because Song Ayoung was so introverted.
'She couldn't even make eye contact with a counseling client, botching the whole session.'
In my view, the web novel class here flying empty was mostly on her as the instructor. She had skills, but she was picky about people, super shy with strangers.
"Alright! First, go to new creation, click document file, name it Prologue or Chapter 1..."
Why was someone like that so clingy with me? I had a pretty good guess.
'Customers treat you casually too.'
'Talking to you feels easy, oppa.'
Even Oh Hanam, who supposedly wouldn't flinch at a death in front of her, let her guard down around me.
"......"
So, how much like total pushover did I look?
No wonder salespeople, cult recruiters, even high school smokers hit me up after a few steps in a busy street.
Think positive, positive.
Not pushover—approachable and kind-looking.
'Tch, kind-looking...'
I recalled an internet post: that's what you say to ugly people. Kinda bummed me out.
"Hyunwoo? Hyunwoo?"
Song Ayoung's call snapped me out of it. Glancing sideways, her perfume wafted strongly as she'd drawn close.
"Ah... sorry. Now that it's time to write, nothing's coming to mind."
"Hehe, everyone starts that way. Even I took over two hours for my first 1,000 characters as a kid."
"How many per chapter usually?"
"Hmm, commercial authors aim for about 5,500."
"5,500..."
"For reference, Non-Genius Forest averages 7,000 per chapter."
"Whoa."
As a reader, the length never bugged me, but as a writer? Dizzying.
[Current Character Count: 0 characters]
I had to fill this to 5,500?
Was it even possible?
"I can't even start. No clue how to approach it."
"Normal for beginners. You've barely dipped into web novels, right? Only Non-Genius Forest under your belt."
"Yeah."
"Then draw from your own experiences or desires—it's easier. Easier to insert yourself as the protagonist too. Like, recall a tough moment: 'What if I'd done this instead for a better outcome?'"
"My tough moments?"
"Yes! Watch. Hard situation for Hyunwoo—in reality, maybe not, but in fiction, it resolves nicely. Boom, you've got sweet potato tension mixed with refreshing payoff."
"Ah..."
Apart from her shyness, Song Ayoung shone as a teacher because her advice gave shape to vague, intimidating concepts.
"Key web novel element: balancing sweet potato and cider."
She slapped my back with a grin.
"No pressure to publish or go viral. Write for fun. Even use your real name or friends'—whatever."
Her guidance eased the fog. Having a solid teacher sparked motivation from nowhere.
'When was I in pain? When...'
Not that long ago, surprisingly.
「"Hyunwoo, we all got jobs—let's grab drinks..."
I quietly flipped my phone over upon seeing my friends' message. No mood to face them right now.」
When all my friends surged ahead.
Feeling left behind, wasting time even more pathetically out of anxiety.
"...This must be one of Hyunwoo's tough moments."
"Yeah, well... Not just me—any jobless prep student feels this, right?"
Song Ayoung nodded, watching my writing, suggesting phrasing and words, a bittersweet smile on her face.
"Actually great—super relatable. So, in that bleak spot, how'd you want to escape? Or rather, what would it take?"
"Ah, that."
I chuckled.
I was confident here. After night shifts at the convenience store, curled up in my studio like a loser, I'd fantasized this hundreds, thousands of times.
Impulse lotto buy hits jackpot, or hidden talent explodes overnight... Fiction, so anything goes.
Even so.
My story was set.
「"Hey!! Someone's in there!!"
Already struggling, thinking I'd stepped in shit, I squeezed my eyes shut and opened the door.
And this was my first meeting with the woman who would change my life.」
Two hours straight.
My relentless typing stopped.
"Hyunwoo?"
Song Ayoung, who'd been quietly assisting beside me, flinched and asked carefully.
"Hyunwoo, are you... crying right now?"