Chapter 216 – Sick Raccoon
The three of them moved and talked.
It was while drinking at a gopchang restaurant famous for its delicious food.
While talking in the middle of the conversation, Seo Ju-hwan asked with a surprised expression.
“Your previous pen name was ‘Mudo’? The martial artist of Inhyeop?”
“Haha. I guess you know.”
“Sure! I’ve seen all the other works besides Inhyeop. I really enjoyed it.”
“I didn’t know that the writer would know. It’s a cartoon from quite a while ago.”
“How can I not know? Aren’t you the master of Korean martial arts comics? I enjoyed not only Inhyeop but also Salhyeop and Demonic Spirit. Wow, that martial artist is in charge of adapting my novel into a webtoon!”
Seo Joo-hwan was excited and talked about the works of martial artists. He fell in love with his work when he was in middle school and enjoyed watching it! It was through his cartoons, not novels, that Seo Ju-hwan became interested in the martial arts genre.
‘I should have recognized it right away when I saw the portfolio!’
I don’t know how I didn’t recognize that figure. No Come to think of it, it seemed that the picture had changed quite a bit. Did something change?
Kang Pil-chun, a martial arts writer who has now changed his pen name to Painter, smiled emptyly.
“Now it is just trash. I am more honored to be able to draw Seohwan’s work.”
“No, author! It’s trash!”
Are you saying that martial arts writers are retired? He is a writer who has been unrivaled in the genre of martial arts in the Korean comics world since 30 years ago. I don’t know why such a writer took charge of his work his, but he was never one to listen to the sound of waste.
Seo Joo-hwan got up from his seat and carefully held out his hand.
“I know it’s not polite for someone younger than me to shake hands first… Author, I am such a fan. To the extent that I own all of the artist’s works.”
At those words, Kang Pil-chun looked at Seo Ju-hwan with a slightly surprised face, then smiled softly and held his hand.
“Thank you for your kind words. It’s an old work, but it feels new to know that a young person like the author Suh recognizes it.”
“Haha. Writer, please lower your words. I’m writing, not drawing, but in a way, isn’t it a distant junior?”
Kang Pil-chun made a mysterious expression at Seo Joo-hwan’s flair. He said, brushing his neatly trimmed beard.
“Author Seo must have been twenty-three, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. He’s young, so please speak comfortably.”
“Haha. I didn’t ask in that sense. The words are still comfortable with respect. I just asked because I looked more mature than my age.”
“… Is that so? Thank you for a good look.”
Seo Joo-hwan hesitated for a moment, then smiled. As he returned to 10 years ago, he had a feeling that his mind and body he had grown younger, but with an adult in front of him, his behavior he seems to have gone back to the old days.
‘I’m both, so what?’
Thirty-year-old Seo Ju-hwan, who was extremely polite and careful in everything to avoid misfortune as much as possible, and Seo Ju-hwan, who had a lighter personality after returning, were all themselves.
He sighed again and said.
“Can I dare call you senior?”
“Haha. When did you retire… Such a title is unfamiliar.”
“Oh, as expected, the writer is a senior to the great writer and martial artist, isn’t it? Sorry.”
Kang Pil-choon’s eyes widened as he sang it exaggeratedly. He waved his hand in bewilderment.
“Uh, uh huh. What is this guy talking about When someone hears that a mere cartoonist is a painter, they curse.”
“Then will you let me?”
“Haha……. I can’t stand it. Call me whatever you feel comfortable with.”
“Hehe. Then I’ll call you senior.”
Seo Joo-hwan smiled with satisfaction and winked his eyes.
Choi Mi-hwa, who was seated next to him, looked at Seo Joo-hwan as if he were somewhat unfamiliar with him, and shed a small laugh.
‘He has a side like this.’
Come to think of it, when I first met him, he was a very polite and humble person. He said that he was lucky even though he caught the murderer with only one iron pipe, he said with humility. Rather than revealing the ball, he first worried about himself while he was crying.
Choi Mi-hwa shook her head, saying that it was not unreasonable that she fell in love with him again. And he looked at the two of them and said.
“It’s nice to see the two writers. Ho Ho.”
The glass goes back a few orders of magnitude.
He asked cautiously as he filled Kang Pil-chun’s empty glass.
“Senior, may I ask why you changed your pen name? I have a lot of questions.”
“Haha. Not much of a reason. I just wanted to go back to the beginning.”
“Your first intention?”
Kang Pil-chun smiled bitterly and turned his glass around. The overflowing wine seemed to represent his heart.
“Actually, this is the second time I changed my pen name. A few years ago, I published serially under the pseudonym Anonymous.”
“Are you nameless? With that pen name, it must have been three years ago…….”
“You don’t know?”
Kang Pil-chun widened his eyes as if he was really surprised this time.
Seo Joo-hwan nodded his head slightly.
“I like comics as much as novels. Wasn’t it Namgung Changchun who serialized under that pen name?”
“You’re right. Did you see it to the end?”
Seo Joo-hwan smiled awkwardly and scratched the corners of his eyes. That was enough of an answer.
Kang Pil-chun poured the whiskey into his mouth and laughed bitterly.
“Wasn’t that fun?”
“…….”
Seo Joo-hwan could not answer. In fact, it was true that unknown works at that time were not fun.
To the extent that there were no fans recognizing him even with his drawing style and dynamic action that are unique to martial arts writers. No, there were people who recognized it, but because of the fun of the content, the fans took the lead in swearing that it was an imitation of a clumsy drawing or imitation.
Kang Pil-chun looked at him and filled his glass as if he was embarrassed.
“Haha. I didn’t mean to trouble you. I don’t think it’s funny either.”
“Sorry.”
“Because you don’t have to say that.”
Kang Pil-chun shook his hand and cleared his throat.
“At that time, the pen name was not anonymous without a name, but was written with the character strong. I realized that I was arrogant after throwing up two works.”
“…….”
“That’s why I changed my pen name to Painter in order to return to my original intention. I just want to be a person who draws pictures.”
“… Okay. I respect your decision.”
It would not have been easy to throw away the name value he had accumulated as a master of martial arts comics. And Kang Pil-chun is an old man. He says he’s currently he’s 65 years of age. Even so, the still drawing skills were astonishing.
However, Kang Pil-chun shook his head, saying, “Don’t be embarrassed.”
“Respect is such a burden to me. It’s just an old man’s stubbornness. Even so, I’m trying to do it again after 30 years, so I feel the limit, so I’m trying to rely on an excellent writer. I really enjoyed Seo’s work.”
Pilchun Kang broke his pen for some reason before he turned 40. And he took up the pen again after nearly 30 years.
Even as the years passed, his painting skills remained the same. He was not without faded parts, but he was able to quickly regain his skills comparable to those of his prime. But he couldn’t bring back just one thing.
“I am too old to come up with new stories. It’s been a long time since I’ve been away from this plate, so I can’t keep up with the flow. At least, I’m just learning the new way of working.”
The skills he had acquired in his hands were still there, but his aging brain could not keep up with his hands. No matter how well you draw, in the end, what comics pursue is fun. My hardened brain couldn’t come up with an interesting story. The winds and waves of the years hit his spirit more than his body.
Kang Pil-chun looked at the glass with regretful eyes and put it down.
“I want to drink more, but I have to hold back. When you get old, you have to take care of your body diligently.”
“You still look corrected.”
“Haha. I’m trying to quit drinking because I want to look like that. Today, I drank a little because I saw a very good writer.”
“Thank you for taking good care of me, senior.”
“I am truly grateful. It reminded me of the old times and it was good. And the truth is…….”
“Please speak comfortably, senior.”
“Actually, I can’t drink any more because I’m afraid my granddaughter will scold me. Haha.”
Kang Pil-chun’s fine wrinkled eyes drew an arc.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been drinking for a long time? Is it because I met a young man I like?
The young man narrowed his eyes at the joke thrown for nothing, then smiled cheerfully.
“If it’s okay, I’ll come and say hello later. Since her granddaughter is here, I should buy her a present too.”
“Haha. We will contact you first when we get a picture you are satisfied with. Her granddaughter would love to know.”
“Does your granddaughter know me?”
“Nothing. The person who taught me about the author’s work is also my granddaughter. I am a big fan of the author.”
“Haha. Be sure to tell your granddaughter thank you for having fun. And me…….”
Seo Joo-hwan, who was speechless, took out a pen from his bosom.
“Can I ask for your autograph? As I said earlier, I am a fan of the author. Haha.”
“Of course you have to. It’s awkward since it’s been such a long time, but… Haha.”
Seo Joo-hwan told the restaurant staff to bring the paper. And he said to Kang Pil-chun, who was about to sign an autograph.
“Senior, please use your pen name as a painter.”
Kang Pil-chun raised his head with a surprised face.
“… Are you okay?”
Seo Joo-hwan smiled widely until his teeth were exposed.
“There are many martial arts autographs, but am I the first to sign a painter? I think that the painter will become as great as the martial arts. I will get the first autograph from the great writer.”
“…….”
Kang Pil-chun’s eyes widen and then sink. A thin beard trembled along the tightly closed mouth his. He bows his head and signs an autograph.
“The young burden the old.”
“Ah, I never intended to do that…….”
“Thanks to you, I am motivated.”
Kang Pil-chun raised his head and handed him a piece of paper, looking at him with sunken eyes.
“Here is the first sign of the guest. Also, please give me two autographs from author Seo.”
“My autograph? I’ve never signed an autograph before…….”
“Then I am the number 1 autograph. One for me and one for my granddaughter.”
“… Haha, this is true. All right.”
Seo Joo-hwan finally nodded his head.
At that time, Choi Mi-hwa, who was like a sack of barley borrowed between the two, interjected and said,
“Hey, I’ll get some autographs too…….”
*
Pilchun Kang is back.
Choi Mi-hwa, who saw him off with Seo Joo-hwan, pokes his side and says.
“I should have gotten the autograph first.”
“Flaw. What did you do when you didn’t get that?”
“I forgot to read all the time! Aww! It’s unfair!”
She grabbed her hair and stamped her feet. She looked at him, then, with her glasses now disheveled, she said.
“Even if I lost my autograph, fans know that I am the first, right? I am the first fan, and the first editor!”
“Ah Okay. Why are you screaming awfully.”
“Chi. It’s unfair, why!”
How did you not get an autograph yet? She was so unfair and unfair that she was about to jump.
She hurriedly tidied up her disheveled clothes. It wasn’t until she even fixed her glasses that she looked at him awkwardly smiling.
“I didn’t even get an autograph, so I need another one.”
“Something else? What? By the way, have you already handed over the stockpile?”
“Don’t do that. You have something else.”
“What is it?”
“Isn’t that what you have to say?”
Having said that, Choi Mi-hwa secretly grabbed his hand her. Then she gently scratched his palm with her fingers.
“I haven’t seen you in a long time… Yes?”
“Ah. Heh, did you miss it a lot?”
When asked with a mischievous smile, she obediently nodded her head.
“Yes. I remembered it even at night. Not as a toy.”
“Uh. Look at what’s missing.”
“Tooth. While chatting and talking over the phone.”
“Hehe. It doesn’t.”
Choi Mi-hwa’s fetish is Pictophilia, an addiction to pornography, and Narratophilia, an obscenity. Thanks to that, the two of them used to blow high-level sex drips without hesitation.
Seo Joo-hwan smiled and held her hand her.
“Then go… Ah.”
“Yes? Why?”
“… Sorry.”
“Uh?”
Seo Joo-hwan scratched the corners of her eyes and then put his hands together and apologized.
“I have to go quickly today.”
“… Really? Are you just going?”
“I’m really sorry. I’ll call you first later.”
Choi Mi-hwa licked her lips with her disgruntled face. From the moment she left the house, she looked forward to the thought of meeting him, but she had to get in quickly.
But she couldn’t say anything to him, who slightly lowered her head. In the end, it was her who was the one who regretted her.
Choi Mi-hwa finally nodded her head and asked with a face full of regret.
“Why do I have to go quickly? What promise do you have?”
“There is no promise.”
Seo Joo-hwan smiled awkwardly and added.
“I’m a little worried about the raccoon.”
“… Raccoons?”
Choi Mi-hwa tilted her head at the unknown words.
Are raccoons kept as pets these days?
*
A girl ran to Kang Pil-choon who returned home and hugged him.
“Grandpa!”
“Oops. My puppy, how are you?”
“Do you know I am Anne? Of course you were fine!”
“Haha. That’s right, our dog is no longer a child. Has it become this heavy?”
“Child! Grandpa! Are you making fun of me for being fat?”
“Yes? Did this old lady say that our Naruki was very tall?”
“Chi. Lie.”
Naru Kang puffed out her cheeks and looked down at her body. Even if she looks good, she is over chubby and she is fat. Even though she wasn’t on the short side, she was.
“I need to lose weight… Hing.”
“Haha. Eating well and growing healthy is the best. Her grandpa bought me chicken that Naru likes, but you’re not going to eat it?”
“Chicken?”
Naru Kang’s eyes sparkled. But she quickly shakes her head. The important thing now was not the chicken.
“I want to eat chicken later. More than that, you came to meet your grandfather, author Seohwan, right? How was it? Are you going to work together?”
Naru Kang was a huge fan of ‘Master of Possession, Murim’s Achievement’. She even continued to present her fan art under the nickname Bonobo Nong.
Kang Pil-chun remembered the young man he met today. Then, naturally, a smile came to his lips.
A writer who is already succeeding at the young age of twenty-three. His eyes full of passion reminded him of his own youth. Even so, he was a humble, polite, and even a good young man.
He couldn’t help but be sympathetic.
Naru Kang giggled when she saw her grandfather’s smile her.
“Did you like it?”
“Okay. He was a very solid young man. Oh, and I got an autograph here.”
“Sign?! Ho, by any chance, am I the first autographer?”
At those words, Pilchun Kang slightly averted his gaze at her. And he coughed and said.
“Hmm. The first one was taken by this old woman.”
“Eek! Where is that! Can’t you give it to me?”
“Uh huh. I want to be satisfied with the second.”
“Grandpa is too much!”
Kang Pil-chun smiled and walked to his room her. No matter how much she cherished and raised her granddaughter for 18 years, she could not concede this autograph. It wasn’t just a sign, it was something with meaning.
‘Ugh. He was a very healthy young man.’
He even wanted to make her a matchmaker for her granddaughter her, albeit briefly.
*
Seo Joo-hwan bought food and went to Yoo Ji-gyeong’s house. He wondered if he was going to be asleep by now, but he wanted to see his face her for a moment.
‘I wonder if he’ll eat well.’
He said he was going on a diet again during vacation, but I was worried that he might not be eating properly. If he eats poorly while working a part-time job like that, his body won’t be able to withstand it.
Instead of knocking, he dialed the code and entered the house.
“You, master, here you come!”
No greetings were returned.
All the lights are off, so it must be sleeping.
Seo Joo-hwan licked his lips and put the food on the table. Since he seems to be sleeping, it seemed that he should just look at his face for a second and go.
“Yes? Are the lights on in your room?”
A dim light leaked out.
Are you still awake?
He opened the door and entered.
“You… Ji-kyung?”
I saw Yoo Ji-gyeong lying on the floor.
