Chapter 97 – Comic Land (3)
A short while later, outside the Comic Land venue……
In the corridor of SETEC, in front of the rest area with benches.
Kang Min-hyuk and Kim Mi-na each held a drink they had bought from the convenience store and sat side by side on the bench.
“What have you been up to lately? This is kinda surprising.”
“Ah, m-me? Um…… After that, I went to an academy to prepare for the Animation High entrance exam and kept drawing, and, um, I’m preparing to participate in the summer competition this time too! So I actually thought about contacting you once, sunbae-nim. But then we ended up meeting here like this. Haha…… what a coincidence.”
Was she flustered?
Kim Mi-na’s eyes darted around as she answered.
Min-hyuk took a sip of his canned coffee and said.
“Slow down. We’re not in a rush.”
At that, Kim Mi-na took a deep breath……
She gulped down several mouthfuls of the ion drink in her hand, then spoke more calmly.
“I’ve just been working hard on drawing comics.”
“That’s great.”
Min-hyuk smiled as he replied.
No need for long explanations—those few words were enough.
The fact that she was still drawing comics and had even participated in Comic Land meant……
She had successfully convinced her parents, and judging by the quality of the goods at her booth, her skills had improved a lot compared to before.
What Min-hyuk was actually curious about right now was……
“That guy who was next to you earlier…… um.”
“Ah, him? His name is Ha Byeong-man.”
“Ha Byeong-man?”
“Yeah. We got close after going to the same academy. He’s, um, a good kid. His personality’s a bit intense, but…… it’s just because he really likes your work, sunbae-nim.”
“That friend doesn’t know I’m David, right?”
“Yes yes, I absolutely never told him anything like that. You don’t have to worry.”
Mi-na shook her head and hands vigorously at the same time as she answered.
At that, the corners of Min-hyuk’s mouth curved up slightly.
‘She’s surprisingly mature in some ways.’
Being in third year of middle school was exactly the age when most kids would want to brag to everyone.
If someone found out that a senior they knew had debuted as a pro comic artist……
Most people wouldn’t be able to keep their mouths shut.
And yet, even though she clearly knew he was the author of Brave King, she had never let it slip until now.
She really seemed like a solid, trustworthy person.
For some reason, it even made him compare her—in a good way—to certain ‘Oh’ someone-or-others who claimed to be super close to him.
“You’re entering the competition, right?”
“Ah yes! I’m going with that guy. The chances of passing probably aren’t high, but…… I really want to try going to Animation High at least once, and I thought it’d be good experience.”
“Good decision. Drawing comics under a tight deadline in the short term really helps a lot.”
“Yes!”
Mi-na clenched her fist tightly and nodded.
Min-hyuk was about to offer some kind of advice, but then he exhaled.
‘Never mind.’
She seemed like the type who would do well on her own anyway—what was the point of unnecessary words?
Then, unexpectedly, Mi-na spoke first.
“Um, anyway, you’re really amazing, sunbae-nim.”
“Hm? Suddenly?”
“It’s true, though. You’re drawing something huge like Brave King. I heard Animation High has an insane amount of assignments anyway…… and yet you still came here and put out a doujinshi.”
It really wasn’t that big a deal……
He was about to say that when he noticed Mi-na staring straight at him.
Her eyes were sparkling, full of anticipation.
Then.
Min-hyuk scratched the back of his head and answered with a small smile.
“Thanks. For saying that. And you’re amazing too.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Your skills have improved a ton? The goods were really well made. I ended up buying all of them, you know.”
He smiled faintly and lifted the goods Kim Mi-na had drawn to show her.
“It’s a shame there weren’t any of the popular characters, but the forms and structure of the characters were really good. The coloring too. I could tell right away you’re someone who draws really well. You must have worked incredibly hard in the meantime, huh?”
“Ah…….”
Mi-na’s eyes and mouth rounded in surprise, her fingers twitching, and then……
“T-thank you, sunbae!”
She bowed her head over and over.
It looked like this was exactly the kind of thing she had always wanted to hear someday.
Min-hyuk finished off the rest of his canned drink and said.
“Shall we head back then?”
“Yes!”
The two stood up and walked back toward the venue.
At that moment, Min-hyuk gave a small wave with his hand and said.
“Next year…… let’s meet at our school.”
“Yes! I’ll definitely make that happen, sunbae!”
As they headed back to their respective booths, pleasant smiles lingered on both of their faces.
By the time the sky was dyed in orange hues.
Behind the SETEC venue.
“Byeee!”
“You’re not coming tomorrow?”
“Nope nope, I only booked the booth for one day this time!”
“Hiiiing, that’s too bad. Loki-nim, let’s definitely meet up separately next time too!”
“Yesss! Let’s go eat patbingsu!”
Kim Rok-hee high-fived the other booth participants, smiling brightly as she said her goodbyes.
She really couldn’t stay still for even a second.
And……
About ten steps away.
“Kim Rok-hee really knows a ton of people.”
Min-hyuk’s group stood awkwardly under a tree, watching the scene.
Their backpacks were stuffed full after packing up the remaining goods, doujinshi, and supplies.
Min-hyuk stared for a moment before letting out a small laugh.
“That’s what you call an ‘inssa’.”
[TL Note: Inssa (인싸) is a popular Korean slang term derived from “insider,” referring to a popular, socially active person who gets along well with others and is in the loop on current trends.]
“Inssa? What’s that?”
“There’s such a thing.”
While they were chatting like that.
“Everyone, sorry for the waittt!”
Kim Rok-hee came bouncing over toward the group.
“Are we all going for the after-party? Today this big sis made a lot of money. Ehehe!”
She fanned herself with a thick wad of 10,000-won bills and grinned.
Naturally, smiles appeared on the kids’ faces.
“Ahem, Rok-hee noona-nim…… I’ll eat well.”
“Let’s go.”
“I’m coming too, noona.”
Everyone chimed in with a word or two and laughed. Then Seung-heon cautiously asked.
“Um…… can I come too?”
“Of course! What kind of question is that?”
***
A short while later.
Sizzle sizzle!
“Delicious! So delicioushh!”
“Ughhh, how long has it been since I had dakgalbi.”
The kids sat in a circle around the table, eagerly digging into the dakgalbi.
Min-hyuk, sitting among them, took a swig of soda and looked around.
Even though it was still early evening, the place was packed full of people.
And when he picked up a piece of dakgalbi and put it in his mouth.
“Mmmmmm…….”
His mouth was instantly filled with the rich, thick sauce clinging to the vegetables, chicken, and giblets, all dancing together.
It had a different, richer, more savory umami compared to any dakgalbi Min-hyuk had eaten before.
Min-hyuk nodded and asked.
“Rok-hee, is this place a famous restaurant?”
“See, Kang Min-hyuk knows his stuff! It’s a famous spot, famous! This is the only edible place around SETEC, so whenever an event ends, everyone always comes here.”
Honestly, he had already guessed as much even before she said it.
- Ah! Loki-nim!
- Angel-nim came toooo!
Just counting the number of people Rok-hee greeted inside the restaurant, it had to be at least five or more.
Min-hyuk said with a satisfied expression.
“Thanks, Kim Rok-hee.”
“Thanks for what?”
“Thanks to you, I got to participate in Comic Land. And now I’m even getting to eat something this delicious.”
“Really? Ehet.”
When Rok-hee scratched her head and gave a bashful smile, Dong-gyo, sitting next to her, wagged his finger and said.
“Hey now, if anyone should be thankful, it’s Kim Rok-hee who should be thankful to us! We stepped in as emergency booth replacements when you were short. Because of us, how many anime episodes and comics did we miss watching!”
“Ahem, that’s why I’m treating you to food. Right?”
Just as a slightly embarrassed look appeared on Rok-hee’s face.
“I wanted to do it anyway.”
“M-me too!”
“We studied hard and got to have this new experience—do you really have to pour cold water on it, Dong-gyo?”
Han Yu-ra, Oh Seung-heon, and even Kang Min-hyuk.
One after another, they each spoke up.
“Uh…… sorry…….”
Dong-gyo’s shoulders slumped as he shut his mouth.
“Don’t get too down about it, though.”
“……Whose rhythm am I even supposed to follow here.”
“Enough of that— just eat the dakgalbi while it’s good.”
After that……
“Cold Steel’s Headler…… has its popularity cooled off a bit lately?”
“Yeah, in the latest chapters a few of the main characters dropped out.”
“Ughhhh. That’s kinda disappointing.”
The otaku talk flowed naturally.
They excitedly chattered about all the various incidents and works they had encountered at the venue today.
What stood out in particular was.
“Ah, I love that work! That last scene’s dialogue was insane. ‘It’s not you’—kuuuugh!”
“Soka, Seung-heon-kun…… you’re surprisingly knowledgeable about comics.”
“Even if I look like this, I practically lived at the neighborhood rental shop. With Kang Min-hyuk.”
All throughout preparing for Comic Land, Oh Seung-heon had felt a strange distance from the others, but now he had blended in seamlessly and was chatting away enthusiastically.
Sharing tastes, favorite comics, compliments toward each other, and genuine interest.
For the first time in a long while, he looked truly excited from the heart.
Watching that made Min-hyuk think.
‘Bringing him along was the right call.’
He felt glad he had decided to bring Seung-heon to participate in Comic Land.
Having lived through it once, he knew.
For someone trying to live as a comic artist, whether or not you have experiences like this could make an enormous difference.
How much time passed like that?
“Ah, I’m stuffed.”
“Huuu, so good, so good.”
By the time full evening had arrived.
The kids patted their full bellies and headed toward Hagyeoul Station.
When they reached the entrance.
“Seung-heon and Kang Min-hyuk, you two are going together, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Me and Oh Dong-gyo have to take the bus, so let’s split here. Yu-ra…… your driver’s coming, right?”
“Yeah.”
Everyone’s lips curved upward.
A bittersweet, slightly regretful feeling mixed with pride.
Especially for Oh Seung-heon……
‘He must be really reluctant to part.’
A thick expression of reluctance was clearly visible on his face.
“Then, head home safely.”
“Good work today.”
“See you when school starts!”
As they were about to wave lightly and part ways.
“Ah, Oh Seung-heon. Wait a sec.”
“Hm?”
Rok-hee stepped in front of Seung-heon, held out her phone, and said.
“Give me your number.”
“Number? Why?”
“Why? If we’re friends now, exchanging numbers is obvious, isn’t it?”
“Friends? You’re counting me as a friend too?”
The moment he heard that, Seung-heon’s eyes widened into circles as he pointed at himself in disbelief.
Kim Rok-hee let out a small snort and pulled her phone back.
“What are you saying? We worked together, even ran the booth side by side…… If you don’t want to, then forget it.”
“No no no! I’ll give it, I’ll give my number.”
After he hurriedly typed it in.
“Ahem, let’s exchange too. As Kang Min-hyuk-kun’s…… best friend.”
“Uh, yeah!”
“Me too.”
“Ah, got it, Yu-ra-nim!”
One after another, Seung-heon exchanged numbers with the other kids as well.
Once the little commotion died down, Rok-hee shrugged her shoulders and said.
“Then, get home safe. Come visit our school sometime later.”
“Yeah! I definitely will!”
After that.
Min-hyuk and Seung-heon immediately took the escalator down and boarded the subway.
While they stood there silently, lost in thought.
Oh Seung-heon spoke.
“Thanks, Kang Min-hyuk. For bringing me to a place like this.”
“What thanks? I just called you because I was bored.”
“Still.”
Then he stared out the window.
Was the sky clear tonight?
The full moon floating up there looked especially vivid and large today.
Seung-heon squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again. He gripped the handrail tightly and continued.
“Honestly, all this time I’ve been kinda unsure. Whether someone with no talent like me should even be doing comics, whether I’m just wasting time on something pointless…… thoughts like that. My parents seem pretty worried too, honestly.”
Well, that was only natural.
Just like Kang Min-hyuk in the past.
At this point in time, saying you’re going to draw comics and walk the path of a comic artist……
To anyone, it would look like a thorny road with no certainty.
“But…… after participating today, I became certain. I have to become a comic artist. If I don’t, I think I’ll regret it tremendously.”
“You absolutely won’t regret it. And if you just keep working hard……”
This time Min-hyuk slightly closed his eyes.
“Someday, comics will repay you. Without fail.”
He spoke in a serious, calm voice, the corners of his mouth lifting upward.