Chapter 87 – Wrap-up
As the evening passed and it became around 7 p.m.
Inside the first-year Comic Creation classroom.
“Hey, kids… See you tomorrowyy…”
“See you tomorrow, teacher.”
“You worked really hard, teacher!”
Choi Jung-an shuffled out of the classroom like a jellyfish that had dried up in the sun, all limp and floppy.
“I feel… like I’m gonna dieee…”
He had been using Ma Dong-hyun’s card nonstop to treat the kids, and because of that… he still hadn’t been able to go home.
Click!
Once the door closed, the kids’ gazes shifted.
On the desks where the event preparation groups had gathered.
Chicken, pizza, drinks, and all kinds of snacks were scattered everywhere.
It really felt like they had used the grace—no, the card—Ma Dong-hyun, the department head, had given them without holding back at all.
The kids’ eyes sparkled as they shouted.
“Let’s eaaat!”
“Thanks for the meal!”
They excitedly reached out and brought the food to their mouths.
“Mmmmmm…”
Enjoying the taste of outside food that you could never get in the school cafeteria, their faces filled with pure happiness.
And when your stomach is full, naturally your mouth gets busier too.
“Hey, which comic did you think was the best this time?”
“Mine’s Kang Min-hyuk’s?”
“Hmm, yeah, it was pretty good.”
“I thought the senior Cho-ran’s was pretty decent too.”
“Ughhh… Do we really have to talk about cockroach-infested works while eating?”
“It’s not rice, it’s pizza.”
The kids, still buzzing with excitement, chattered away happily.
“And anyway, didn’t the ones who got business cards all seem pretty good? You don’t get a card for nothing.”
“Ah… I’m jealous. I wanted one too.”
Stories about the parents who came today, talk about works from other grades.
And…
“Ah, the New Chance editor really looked scary, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, I seriously thought he was a gangster at first.”
Decisively, the biggest topic became the fight between the editors from Jump Comics and New Chance.
A day overflowing with things to talk about.
‘…Gangster, huh. If Editor Go Gwang-jin heard that, he’d probably cry.’
While chewing on pizza, Min-hyuk looked at the kids and gave a small chuckle.
At that moment, Dong-gyo asked.
“Min-hyuk-kun, why are you laughing?”
“Why am I laughing?”
Min-hyuk blinked for a second before answering.
“Just… it’s nice.”
“Nice what?”
“Preparing for the event was fun. And the feeling of finishing something together with everyone is good too. Don’t you think so?”
“Hmmmmm… For me, honestly… the furry part didn’t sit right with me. It was tiring too.”
“What’s with that furry obsession again.”
Min-hyuk smirked and took a swig of cola to wash it down.
‘…So this is what it feels like.’
Memories from the past came flooding back.
The countless Animation High alumni comic artists he had met at drinking gatherings.
The sense of camaraderie they had toward each other.
The expressions and actions that seemed to understand one another without needing words.
In his previous life, Min-hyuk had admired it, envied it, but…
Now he was right in the middle of it himself.
So how did it feel?
‘…It’s good. Really good.’
He definitely thought coming here—even pushing himself to do it—had been the right choice.
Beyond just learning comics, the experience of breathing the same air as people who loved the same thing, of accomplishing something together.
This… would surely become the lifelong foundation for the person called Kang Min-hyuk, who would continue living as a comic artist from now on.
Thump thump!
His heart started beating a little faster right then.
Dong-gyo swallowed a piece of chicken and spoke.
“Anyway, Min-hyuk-kun.”
“Hm?”
“What are you planning to do during summer break?”
‘Ah… vacation’s coming up soon.’
That was how Animation High’s schedule usually went.
The end of the first semester.
After wrapping up with the Tu-ji-man-chang event, they dove straight into vacation.
Min-hyuk tilted his head and answered.
“Hmm… I don’t really have any plans yet. What about you?”
“I’m thinking… of preparing a work.”
“A work?”
Then Dong-gyo pulled out two business cards and showed them.
The ones given by Jump Comics and New Chance.
“I’m gonna prepare a piece and submit it here. Aiming for debut.”
“Ahh… Yeah, that’s not a bad goal.”
“Think about it. Debuting as a comic artist while still in high school… Isn’t that kinda cool? Min-hyuk-kun, don’t you want to prepare something together?”
Min-hyuk gave an awkward smile as he answered.
“…Uh, I’ll pass. Just handling what I’ve got right now is already overwhelming. Haha…”
“Tch. Lacking in spirit, huh.”
Sorry, Oh Dong-gyo.
It’s not that I’m trying to lie on purpose, it’s just…
I don’t want to get tired, that’s all.
Min-hyuk felt the tiniest pang of guilt in his conscience.
Right then.
“Kim Rok-hee, what are you doing over vacation?”
“Me? I’ve got a huuuge plan! Hahaha!”
A loud voice boomed from the next desk over.
Kim Rok-hee was laughing heartily, letting it all pour out.
When the kids’ attention turned to her, Rok-hee waved her hands dismissively and answered.
“Secret, secret! It’s such a massive project that I can’t tell you. But you can all look forward to it!”
“Ehh, what is that supposed to mean.”
“You’re telling us to look forward to it but won’t even say what it is?”
While they were bickering and chatting like that, Min-hyuk stood up from his seat.
“I’m gonna go to the bathroom real quick.”
“Hm? Sure.”
Splashhhh!
Min-hyuk came back from the bathroom and washed his hands.
Then, as he slowly walked down the hallway while gazing out the window.
“Hey, Kang Min-hyuk.”
“Hm?”
A sharp voice called from ahead.
When Min-hyuk turned his head, Han Yu-ra was standing there with her arms crossed, staring straight at him.
For some reason, her expression was dead serious again.
‘What now…?’
Min-hyuk tilted his head in confusion, and Han Yu-ra let out a sigh before speaking in a calm voice.
“You’re the artist ‘David,’ right.”
“…Huh?”
Min-hyuk’s eyes widened into circles as he tilted his head again in response.
“You’re the David who drew Brave King, aren’t you.”
Thump!
In that instant, Min-hyuk’s heart pounded hard, and his forehead grew hot.
‘…How did she find out?’
Was there any way she could have known?
Trying his best not to show it, he kept his expression neutral and answered calmly.
“…What are you talking about? Me being David makes no sense…”
“I saw the cover.”
“Huh?”
“I wasn’t planning to look on Saturday, but I happened to pass by your desk and saw it. The cover drawn with watercolor and oil pastel layered on top. You drew that, didn’t you.”
“Ah, that’s not a cover, I’m just a Brave King fan so I drew some fan art…”
Han Yu-ra furrowed her brow and continued.
“The New Chance editor called you ‘artist-nim.’ And… you were the one who designed the armor for Reverse Heaven’s Monarch too. You really think all these coincidences could pile up on one single person like that? Does that even make sense to you?”
“…….”
‘…Ah, I’m screwed.’
A deep sigh escaped from inside Min-hyuk.
The fact that she was laying it out this thoroughly meant she was already more than 90% certain.
No matter how much he talked now, it would just sound like more excuses.
While he was agonizing over what to do, Han Yu-ra closed her eyes and spoke.
“I always thought something was off. For an artist of David’s level to entrust such an important villain design in his own work… to a high school kid?”
And then…
Point!
She thrust her finger forward and declared with full conviction.
“Kang Min-hyuk. It’s you, isn’t it. David.”
“…Haaaaah.”
This time Min-hyuk let out a long, exhausted sigh, scratched the back of his head, and answered.
“Yeah, that’s right. I’m David.”
A declaration that sounded like he had no choice.
Yu-ra’s eyes widened in surprise.
Even though she had pointed it out herself, hearing the confession still caught her off guard.
She blinked slowly, took a deep breath, and asked.
“Why have you been hiding it all this time?”
“Just… I didn’t want to make a big deal out of being an artist. If people found out, it’d probably get annoying with all sorts of stuff.”
“…….”
She was dumbfounded.
The person who drew ‘Brave King’—a work so monumental it was said to have revived the Korean comic market—was none other than Kang Min-hyuk, a mere high school student… that alone was shocking enough, but…
‘…He handled assignments and the grade project perfectly too.’
While she herself had slacked off on the grade project because of the recent contest, Kang Min-hyuk had done everything without showing the slightest sign of strain…
And with flawless quality, no less.
Yu-ra asked again.
“No one else knows besides me, right?”
“Except the teachers… probably not.”
“I’ll keep it a secret. That you’re David.”
“I’d be grateful if you did, but…”
“But… there’s one condition.”
“Condition? What is it?”
Sweat beads formed on Min-hyuk’s forehead, and his face stiffened.
He was worried that someone like Han Yu-ra might come at him with some outrageous demand.
But what came next was completely reasonable.
“Give me feedback on my work. Whenever I want it, no matter the time. Not just nice, empty compliments—real, useful feedback that actually helps me improve my skills.”
“…That’s all? And in exchange, you’ll keep the secret?”
Min-hyuk blinked as he answered.
Honestly, he had been a little worried.
But if that was the condition, it wasn’t bad for him at all.
Giving someone serious feedback meant he had to study and think deeply himself too.
And to begin with, Min-hyuk didn’t dislike doing that kind of thing…
Moreover, when it came to Han Yu-ra’s comics, he would actually enjoy looking at them closely.
To be completely honest, he would have given her feedback anytime even without the condition of keeping his secret.
Han Yu-ra narrowed her eyes and said,
“What, what kind of request did you think I was going to make?”
“Uhmm… maybe make me your bread shuttle?”
“Hah? If you’re gonna talk nonsense, just stop.”
“No no, I’m kidding, kidding. Anyway, let’s do that.”
“…Let’s go.”
Han Yu-ra jerked her head, and the two of them walked side by side back toward the classroom.
‘…Phew, that was close.’
Well, at this level…
It was just barely safe.
While Min-hyuk was letting out a sigh of relief—
Yu-ra spoke in a sarcastic tone.
“Speaking of which, you must have had a lot of fun at school all this time, huh?”
“What do you mean.”
“You’re David himself, yet you got to watch all the kids around you going crazy like ‘He’s a fan! He’s so cool!’ and stuff. Must have felt pretty pathetic, right? Watching a bunch of nobodies make a fuss over nothing.”
Thud!
Min-hyuk suddenly stopped walking.
When Yu-ra stopped too and looked at Kang Min-hyuk…
For some reason, a faint anger seemed to flicker across his expression.
“Hm? What’s wrong.”
“Han Yu-ra, I’m glad you’re keeping the secret and all, but let’s not cross the line with what we say.”
“…What line did I cross?”
“What you just said. Why are you arbitrarily calling our classmates ‘a bunch of nobodies’?”
Han Yu-ra twisted her brow as she answered.
“I was just stating facts. From your perspective, aren’t we all just aspiring artists who haven’t debuted yet? Including me.”
“I just got lucky, that’s all. Every single kid here has real talent… It wouldn’t be strange if any one of them blew up at any moment.”
He got lucky.
There wasn’t the slightest exaggeration in that.
In Min-hyuk’s mind, the version of himself from his previous life had been utterly pathetic.
Someone who spent his entire life running away from the one thing he truly loved…
And in the end, met a miserable, foolish death.
That was why Min-hyuk wasn’t some great person.
He was just someone who, in this returned life, had been granted an undeserved miracle.
And now he was simply trying his best not to feel ashamed of having received such an undeserved opportunity.
Min-hyuk squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, then opened them and said,
“Honestly, I think you, Han Yu-ra, are the real genius.”
Of course, Han Yu-ra herself didn’t quite see it that way.
“What are you talking about? That doesn’t even make sense. Are you mocking me right now?”
“I’m being completely serious.”
“Haaaa… Fine. Whatever. I don’t even know why I’m talking to you.”
While they bickered back and forth like that.
The two of them had already arrived near the classroom.
Han Yu-ra jerked her head and said,
“Go in first. If we go in together, people might start spouting nonsense again.”
“Yeah, alright… Just make sure you keep the promise.”
Min-hyuk stretched his arms and walked into the classroom ahead of her.
Left alone in the hallway, Han Yu-ra watched his back for a moment, then clenched her fist tightly.
‘…Kang Min-hyuk is David…’
Honestly, she felt frustrated. Angry, even.
Her life had been nothing but comics.
She had poured everything into it, desperate for her father to acknowledge the one thing she loved.
And yet…
Compared to her, Kang Min-hyuk had already gone so much further.
How could that be possible?
But…
The feeling wasn’t entirely bad.
‘I have a goal now.’
This path she had been walking forward on blindly, with no clear direction…
She had discovered that the person leading the way was right there, close by.
It felt like spotting a lighthouse while drifting aimlessly on the open sea.
If she kept her eyes on it and followed…
Someday, she might even surpass that lighthouse.
No…
‘I will definitely surpass it.’
Han Yu-ra lifted the corner of her mouth in a small smile, took a deep breath,
And—
Slide!
She flung open the classroom door.
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