Chapter 53 – Preparation (4)
Near the smoking area in front of Comic Land, where people gather in small groups to smoke.
“Uoooooh! Min-Hyuk-kun, you’re actually an acquaintance of Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim?!”
“Hey, hey, lower your voice a bit. Everyone around is staring.”
Dong-gyo’s face turns bright red as he lets out a roar.
Min-Hyuk tries to stop him with an awkward expression, but Dong-gyo doesn’t seem to care at all and keeps pouring out words at full “real tension” mode.
“No way, how could I not yell?! It’s Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim! Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim! Don’t you know Comics Are First Love? It’s the work that created an entirely new style by blending romantic comedy elements with Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim’s original auteur-like direction and dialogue style… When that short story came out, every community exploded with reactions. Especially that line the female lead says while looking at the protagonist…”
As Oh Dong-gyo starts rattling off knowledge like he’s a living Namu Wiki entry,
Grab!
Min-Hyuk quickly latches onto him and covers his mouth.
“Okay, okay, we get it.”
“Haha… I’m glad you like it, friend, but could you maybe keep your voice down just a little?”
Anyone watching would think a celebrity just showed up.
Shin Pil-ho also gives an awkward smile, clearly finding the situation a bit uncomfortable.
Then Dong-gyo pries Min-Hyuk’s hand off and declares one line with finality.
“Ah! Yep! Volume lowering mode activated!”
He mimes zipping his lips shut.
After catching his breath, he asks again in a much calmer tone.
“Um… if it’s not too rude, may I ask? How do you and Min-Hyuk-kun know each other, Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim?”
(He’s already been plenty rude, though.)
Min-Hyuk sighs and drops his shoulders as he answers.
“I used to work as an assistant in Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim’s studio for a short while back then. Our houses aren’t far apart, so we’d run into each other sometimes. He helped me a lot when I was preparing for the AniGo competition too.”
“Assi—? Whoooooa… No wonder Min-Hyuk-kun’s comic power felt unreal! So you were master and disciple with such an amazing sunbaenim. Naaaaaruhoooo—”
Dong-gyo gets excited again and raises his voice.
Pil-ho and Min-Hyuk briefly exchange glances.
No words are spoken, but a whole conversation passes through their eyes.
‘You didn’t tell this friend that you’re a comic artist?’
‘I didn’t. It’d just get annoying.’
‘Hmm… Got it.’
After that silent adults-only telepathy(?) exchange,
Pil-ho looks straight at Dong-gyo and asks,
“By the way, friend… what’s your relationship with our Min-Hyuk— I mean, with Min-Hyuk?”
“Ah! I’m Oh Dong-gyo! I’m in the same class as Min-Hyuk-kun, and I’m also an aspiring comic artist!”
Dong-gyo answers with a surprisingly serious expression.
Pil-ho extends his hand and says,
“Nice to meet you, Dong-gyo. Thanks for enjoying my comics so much.”
“Ah—! Th-thank you! It’s an honor!!”
Dong-gyo bows his head way more deeply than necessary while shaking hands.
From the way he’s looking at Pil-ho, it’s clear he still has a mountain of things he wants to say.
Pil-ho scratches his brow as if thinking for a moment, then asks,
“You guys haven’t had lunch yet, right?”
“We… haven’t eaten yet, no.”
“Then let’s eat together. My treat.”
“Is that really okay?”
At Min-Hyuk’s question, Pil-ho grins, gives a thumbs-up, and replies,
“Of course it’s okay. You’re my benefactor, after all.”
And with that… Dong-gyo’s questions pour out again.
“Benefactor? What does that mean?”
“It’s just something he says as a habit to his assistants.”
“Really, Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim?”
“Hey, stop asking already. You’re going to tire sunbaenim out.”
Min-Hyuk breaks into a sweat again trying to defuse the situation.
***
A short while later, inside an old, rundown restaurant in Namdaemun Market.
Bubble bubble!
In the center of the table sits a worn metal pot, bubbling bright red with garlic, rice cakes, and chicken.
Pil-ho pours water for the kids and smiles gently.
“You’ve never been here before, right? This place is famous for its dakdoritang.”
“It looks… delicious. As expected of Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim.”
Dong-gyo nods vigorously.
Then, Kim Rok-hee—who joined a bit late—blinks with the face of someone who just saw a ghost and asks,
“Wait… you’re actually Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim? Not a lie?”
“Hey! Watch your mouth! Mind your manners, Doll Girl!”
Dong-gyo points accusingly and shouts.
Twitch!
A vein pops on Rok-hee’s forehead. Instead of her usual rolling, cutesy tone, a thorny voice shoots out.
“Doll Girl? What are you even saying, you otaku.”
“Hey, otaku isn’t a bad word! It just means someone who’s passionately devoted to one thing!”
“Then what, is liking dolls any different?”
For a moment, Dong-gyo looks genuinely stumped, his expression awkward as if his words got caught in his throat.
Then he quickly changes the subject.
“…What do you even know about Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim?”
“How could I not know? He’s the author of <Comics Are First Love>.”
“Th-then what about his previous work?!”
“Portrait of a Poor Young Comic Artist.”
“…And the one before that?”
“Era of the Poor. That’s the one that won him the Newcomer Comic Award.”
“Ughhh! How the hell do you know all this?!”
“Because I read them. Obviously.”
Dong-gyo flailed around like he refused to accept defeat, while Kim Rok-hee calmly and methodically verbally pummeled him.
As the two of them bickered noisily and caused a ruckus, eyes from nearby tables started turning their way.
Min-Hyuk let out a deep sigh and shook his head slowly.
‘This is going to be tough.’
If he’d known it would turn out like this, maybe he should’ve just come alone.
Well, whatever.
“Haha, you really know my works well, huh? <Era of the Poor> wasn’t even that popular, though.”
“I thought it was really interesting! Especially that scene where they weighed money on a scale in the middle, and the protagonist’s body just gets lifted up—the direction was amazing! Right, Vincent?”
“Ahh! I was about to say that!”
The two kids were making a huge fuss, but Shin Pil-ho didn’t seem tired at all; he patiently responded to every single thing they said.
Well, when readers say they’ve read your work, there’s no reason to feel bad about it regardless of age.
How much time passed like that?
“Okay, it’s all cooked now, so let’s eat. Future comic artists. When you guys make it big later, at least remember that I treated you to a meal on this day.”
As Shin Pil-ho personally scooped dakdoritang into their bowls and joked around, everyone’s lips curved up, and they shouted energetically in unison.
““Itadakimasu!” / “Thanks for the meal!””
And so the meal began.
Maybe because it was loaded with garlic, or because it had been boiling furiously in the metal pot.
The rich seasoning soaked deep into the bones, and the unique umami of the chicken tickled the palate.
“Sunbaenim, this is really delicious.”
“Eat as much as you want. This is one of my favorite places—I stop by every time I come around here.”
“A regular spot, huh… I see.”
“Yep.”
While they were happily eating,
Shin Pil-ho glanced around cautiously before speaking.
“Um… earlier, this friend’s name was… Rok-hee, right?”
“Yes! Kim Rok-hee!”
“You said you went to the fabric market earlier?”
“Yes! I had to make Vincent’s outfit!”
Rok-hee let out her characteristic slightly clipped tone at the end, then quickly pulled out her phone to show photos.
“It looks like this. Cute, right?”
“Yeah, it’s cute. The clothes are pretty too. You made it yourself?”
“Yes yes! That’s right! I suffered so much making this. I even used this outfit for a character in the competition…”
As expected from one of the “real” ones, Rok-hee’s dialect kicked in as she excitedly rambled on and on.
Dong-gyo shook his head like he couldn’t understand at all, while Min-Hyuk—having lost some energy—was half-listening, half-letting it go in one ear and out the other.
In contrast, Shin Pil-ho seemed to be genuinely listening with interest.
‘Wow, what a great adult.’
Even at thirty-four—or thirty-five, really, after one year since regression—Min-Hyuk still found it hard to keep up with Rok-hee’s energy.
Was this the aura that came from years of being a comic artist?
“Hmm, so Rok-hee, you’re really into character costumes and fashion, huh?”
“Yes! Of course! The outfit completely changes the vibe depending on what you put on them! Clothes are the second face!”
“What about armor?”
“Armor is even better! Armor and dresses are the absolute peak of costume design!”
Rok-hee clenched her fist tightly and raised her voice with passion.
Shin Pil-ho smiled warmly, glanced sideways at Min-Hyuk, and continued.
“Then… maybe you could help Min-Hyuk out a bit.”
“Huh? Help? What kind of help?”
“Well, Min-Hyuk mentioned he has to depict the armor of an overwhelmingly powerful knight appearing in a fantasy world. But I’m really bad at costume stuff… so it’s hard for me to give him proper advice.”
Huh? It turned out like this?
As Min-Hyuk blinked in surprise, Kim Rok-hee’s gaze snapped toward him.
“Oh, really? Then I think I can help a lot. Is that okay, Kang Min-Hyuk?”
“Uh, yeah… If you’re willing, I’d really appreciate it.”
The moment Min-Hyuk accepted the offer in a daze, Shin Pil-ho—while the kids weren’t looking—gave him a quick wink with one eye.
‘Wow, he’s surprisingly sly when he wants to be.’
Min-Hyuk inwardly clicked his tongue in admiration.
In that brief moment, Shin Pil-ho had not only figured out Kim Rok-hee’s tastes perfectly… but also created a natural setup to help without ever outright revealing that Min-Hyuk himself was a comic artist.
Having only ever seen Pil-ho in the confines of the studio, Min-Hyuk found himself newly impressed by this display of social finesse.
And—though this was completely off-topic—a stray thought crossed his mind.
‘For someone with that much sense and charm, to still be single…’
It’s not easy. Really not easy at all.
Min-Hyuk couldn’t help but feel, indirectly, just how brutally harsh this era was for anyone trying to make a living as a comic artist.
“Then, looks like we’re all finished eating. Shall we get going?”
“Yes!”
“Thanks for the meal!”
The three of them stepped out of the dakdoritang restaurant together.
“You guys are heading toward the subway station, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
At a fork in the road, Shin Pil-ho waved his hand.
“I’ve got somewhere else to stop by, so let’s part here.”
“It was an infinite honor to meet you, sunbaenim!”
“I had a great time too!”
Dong-gyo and Rok-hee bowed politely, and Pil-ho gave them a light wave in return.
Then he patted Min-Hyuk lightly on the shoulder and added one more thing.
“That medieval knight character you’re working on—once it’s finished, show it to me too, Min-Hyuk. I might not have much talent myself, but I can at least give feedback on the work.”
When the Chapter 15 manuscript is ready, show it to me. I’ll help as much as I possibly can.
Even without words, the underlying meaning in his eyes came through clearly.
Along with it came the warmth and genuine goodwill that Shin Pil-ho held toward him.
“Yes! Of course I will.”
Kang Min-Hyuk raised the corners of his mouth in a small smile, his voice brimming with fighting spirit.
***
Around the time the sun was sinking low, at the entrance to AniGo’s dormitory.
“Huuuuh… I’m exhausted.”
“Good work, everyone.”
Min-Hyuk, Dong-gyo, and Rok-hee trudged inside like drained zombies.
Just as they were about to split up—
“Wait a second, Kang Min-Hyuk.”
“Hm? What’s up?”
Kim Rok-hee stopped him in his tracks.
For some reason, her expression was unusually serious—not her usual self—and her voice was clear and firm.
“You said you had something to ask me about. Medieval knight armor, right?”
“Ah, that… I’m pretty tired today, and it’s getting late. Wouldn’t tomorrow be better?”
“Then you’re still going to the drawing room, aren’t you?”
“Uh, yeah, I was planning to…”
There were still assignments and manuscript pages piling up—he had more work to do anyway…
But even so, squeezing the last drops out of a high school freshman’s final night of the weekend felt too much.
Even for the thirty-five-year-old human Kang Min-Hyuk inside, it was too heavy a burden…
“Then I’ll wash up and head to the drawing room. Wait for me. I’ll help right away.”
“No… you really don’t have to go that far…”
“I have work to do too, anyway. Thanks to you I got to meet Shin Pil-ho sunbaenim, so I want to repay the favor—and while I’m at it, maybe owe you one for later.”
“Owe me?”
“Yeah. I’ll teach you everything this time. And next time, you help me. With my manuscript.”
Kim Rok-hee stared straight at him without so much as blinking.
No—glaring would be the more accurate word.
The usual round, rabbit- or puppy-like face was now filled with a fierce, almost venomous intensity.
‘She’s no ordinary person either, huh.’
For a moment, it felt like he’d glimpsed a fragment of the future Kim Rok-hee—the one from later years.
Min-Hyuk scratched the back of his head, glanced at his phone for a second, and said,
“Then… let’s meet in the drawing room in thirty minutes.”
“Okey-dokey!”
“Min-Hyuk-kun… you’re really going to work again? Even though you’re this tired?”
“Yeah, there’s still stuff I need to finish. You go ahead and rest.”
“Damn it… If you keep going like this, I’ll fall behind. Falling behind is dame yo.”
Oh Dong-gyo’s face crumpled into a pout as he let out a long, dramatic sigh.
Maybe because of that.
A faint smile appeared on both Kang Min-Hyuk’s and Kim Rok-hee’s faces.