Translated by: ShawnSuh Edited by: SootyOwl Other authors, huh? Yeah, cause youre gonna be out of the military in a year, Seo Kw.a.n.g said, and added, Which means thats how long they have to catch up to you . But, as were both aware, you dont just become a better writer overnight . Though, we probably couldnt say the same about you since you got to the top in almost no time . Well, I cant say youre wrong, Juho said with a mysterious smile . At which point, Seo Kw.a.n.g winced and said, . Theyre not Yun Woo, so they cant catch up that quickly at the end of the day . Hm . Juho brushed his hand down the book he was holding, while Seo Kw.a.n.g stared at it . Juho was at the halfway point of his military service . In one more year, the monster that was being held captive would be set free . At which point, his fellow authors would probably wish that there was more time . He makes it big . Although caught off guard by the young authors remark initially, Seo Kw.a.n.g caught on to the meaning of it shortly after . Juho was referring to Sung Pil . Although he sounded oddly certain of the rookie authors future to Seo Kw.a.n.g, he shrugged it off and said, I think he will as well, but who knows what could really happen? Itll happen sooner than you think . . Seo Kw.a.n.g couldnt make sense of where Juho was coming from . The first . The youngest . First edition starting at one million copies . Yun Woo was a one-of-kind figure who wrapped himself in all sorts of dazzling adjectives . He was a dominant figure in the industry, and his life was undoubtedly successful . If anyone were to be offered to live the young authors life on his behalf, n.o.body would think twice about accepting the offer . From time to time, Seo Kw.a.n.g would become unbearably curious as to how the young author saw the world . What did he see that Seo Kw.a.n.g didnt? At that moment . Its not good to talk about someone behind their back, you know, Sung Pil said as he opened his eyes . He had been lying so still on the floor that he had looked almost lifeless . Ah! Seo Kw.a.n.g screamed out, grasping his chest . However, Juho merely turned his head toward his author friend and said, I thought we were pretty explicit . Then, Sung Pil sat up and said out of nowhere, Can you lend me a razor? . At his random remark, Juho clenched his lips tightly, and Seo Kw.a.n.g gave him a puzzled look . What do you need a razor for? Seo Kw.a.n.g asked, looking at Sung Pils chin . Unfortunately, that wasnt the place the rookie author was thinking about shaving . Its for my eyebrows . . Eyebrows? As in, a touch-up? No . I need to shave them . Shave them?! Seo Kw.a.n.g asked, even more confused . When he looked toward Juho expecting an explanation, the young authors lips had narrowed, as if he was holding back laughter . Sung Pil was the only one serious . So, do you think I can borrow one? No . Why not? Cause Im gonna end up thinking about your eyebrows every time I go to the bathroom, Juho said, shaking his head emphatically . Rather than clinging to him and begging some more, Sung Pil nodded with understanding, smacking his lips . Then, he lay back on the floor . Did he just say that he wants to shave his eyebrows off?! What the heck was that about? Seo Kw.a.n.g asked, thoroughly confused . However, seeing that things had already moved on, he gave up and waved his hand . At that moment . Can somebody make me some honey water? Bom asked . The Sun was about to set by the time Juhos drunken friends started sobering up, looking for honey water . Upon checking the time, the young author was reminded that it was almost time for his other guests to arrive . Lets clean up a little . This is embarra.s.sing . What? It aint that bad, Seo Kw.a.n.g said, waving and looking ha.s.sled . Walking over to the window, Juho opened it in order to ventilate the apartment, making everyone s.h.i.+ver with the cold air that came rus.h.i.+ng into the living room . Paying no attention to them, Juho looked out the window and saw a familiar face in the distance, one who seemed to be headed for his apartment . At which point, Juho walked over to the front door in preparation to greet his guests . Then, as he opened the door, a voice came from the entrance . Some example you guys are . It was the younger members of the Literature Club: Bo Suk and the twins . Looking at their forebears drunk and sprawled about in broad daylight, the younger club members gave them somewhat pitiful looks . At the same time, they were glad to finally see their old clubmates . Been a while, Juho! Gong Il said . Her once long, sharp eyes were now curving stylishly . Its near impossible to see you in person these days, Gong Pal added . Although looking quite similar to his twin sister, he was noticeably taller than her . He had been going through a growth spurt since becoming a junior . Here! We brought you a gift! Bo Suk said, offering something in a plastic bag . It was a box of fried chicken . Is it food? Yeah . We figured you dont get to eat fried chicken at the base, Bo Suk said, greeting her old clubmates behind Juho in a friendly manner, including Sung Pil, who she seemed to have met prior to that day . Meanwhile, the twins were busy pus.h.i.+ng each others backs . Did you drink with Bo Suk too? Yep, Sung Pil said, looking intently at the twins, who were quietly arguing about who should introduce themselves first . Growing impatient, Seo Kw.a.n.g took the initiative on their behalf, saying, Gong Pal Kong . Gong Il Kong . Sung Pil tilted his head at the strange-sounding names . Your names? Yeah, we were born on the eighteenth of the same month and year . For the record, I beat her to it by one minute . If youd been born on the seventeenth… Sung Pil said, quickly changing the subject shortly after . (TLs Note: Last names comes before first names in Korea, which would make the name Gong Chil Gong (or Kong), Gong Gong Chil, which means 007 in Korean . ) Sung Pil . Or Pil Sung . Call me whichever you feel like . The twins nodded emphatically . Then, raising their hands, they took turns to ask, We have a question . Its about something weve been wanting to know . Uh, yeah . Sure . How did you come to use Sung Pil as your alias? Sung Pil looked at Juho by reflex . The author had a chicken wing in his mouth . It was a nickname . From childhood? Who gave it to you? That guy, Sung Pil said honestly . From then on, the twins clung to the young author and started bombarding him with questions . At that moment, the young author was saved in the nick of time when Sun Hwas dying voice interjected, groaning, I smell chicken . After calming the twins down, Juho took a seat . As the apartment became filled with people, the air became filled with their voices . We have thirty-one members now . Whoa! The clubs ma.s.sive now! Bo Suk and Gong Il had been the heads of the club during their last years . Although the position had hardly ever been a prominent one, that reality had come to change as the club grew bigger . People know our school as the school Yun Woo went to, so the schools been supporting the Literature Club in major ways . Things got crazy after you guys graduated! People came to us willingly before we even started promoting the club! Everyone was trying to see your short stories . It was chaos . Which created a world of problems . It was so upsetting . It still is whenever I think about that time . I cant remember how many times I found myself missing the old times, when things were quieter and more peaceful, Bo Suk said . She clearly missed the club experience with her old clubmates . Well, its all in the past now, she added . At which point, Juho brought up a certain person that came to mind, saying, Im surprised Mr . Moon is still teaching . Agreeing with Juhos remark at once, Bo Suk said, He was NOT happy about what became of the club, though . He was pretty upset actually, saying that what was meant to be an outlet had become part of work . I thought he would quit teaching after that, but he didnt . He said that there were bills to be paid . That sound about right, Juho said . That was the kind of person Mr . Moon was . After listening quietly, Sung Pil said, The almighty Yun Woo . Well, things have calmed down since, Juho said, shrugging it off . The name Yun Woo was bound to be forgotten at some point in the future, and there was no way to prevent it . even if it was Yun Woo . Calm? Juho! Bo Suk called to the young author, overpowering Sung Pils curiosity . Tell us what happened since the last time we met! You havent hung out with us since coming back from Germany . You kept saying that you were writing! You didnt even hang out with us when you came out on breaks after you went off to the military! she exclaimed with a beer in her hand . Sucking on her greasy fingers, she said, Also, can I touch your hair? In the end, the hangout lasted well into the night, and Seo Kw.a.n.g and Sung Pil even spent the night at the young authors apartment . The three-day vacation went by in the blink of an eye . After following Juho to the subway station to send him off, the two friends said goodbye to the young author . Take care, Sung Pil said, and Seo Kw.a.n.g added, Enjoy your last year at the base . Will do . With that, Juho waved at his two friends and went down the stairs into the station . Standing by the entrance, the two watched their friend disappear into the underground . The uniform suits him, Seo Kw.a.n.g said, thinking back to the uniform that had been hanging from the wall in Juhos apartment . Im sure well be wearing that soon too . . Dont go there, Sung Pil . Why? Seo Kw.a.n.g let out a small sigh at Sung Pils oblivious att.i.tude . Having become part of the crowd, Juho slowly faded into the distance . Unlike when he had come out as a celebrity author and while he was a civilian, n.o.body in the crowd seemed to recognize him, shout or ask for an autograph upon seeing him . n.o.body was calling out to him . To Seo Kw.a.n.g, it all looked too foreign and awkward . They cant have forgotten about Yun Woo in just a year . I agree . Seo Kw.a.n.g waved as Juho looked back at his friends one last time, waving back and disappearing into the underground subway station . Yun Woo was nowhere to be found . It is so quiet, Seo Kw.a.n.g said quietly . When Sung Pil stared intently at him, he added, almost as an excuse, I mean, I thought it would look and sound a lot more chaotic . Shoving his hands in his pocket, he added, Maybe people forget about each other more often than we think . Sung Pil wondered if the longevity of Yun Woos popularity had something to do with the pace at which the young author had progressed . Perhaps, that had been why Juho had joked about being forgotten so nonchalantly . Thats not entirely true, Sung Pil said emphatically, and Seo Kw.a.n.g looked at him . At his soon-to-be-shaved-off eyebrows, to be exact . Look . What? Seo Kw.a.n.g let out, looking in the direction Sung Pil was pointing . There were two people coming up the stairs, looking ecstatic about something, their fingers tapping frantically against the screen of their phones . As they came up to the surface and walked past Seo Kw.a.n.g and Sung Pil, their conversation became audible . Thats what I call a coincidence! We shouldve tried talking to him . He was in his uniform, though . Oh, man! My hearts racing! Meanwhile, Sung Pil stood quietly in his place, realizing that he had been worrying over nothing . Then, rubbing his stomach, Seo Kw.a.n.g suggested, Can we go get somethin to eat? Sure . Why dont you come over to my place if youre free? My parents own a bookstore . Ill be there . With that, the two went on their way, blending into the crowd . Maybe I need to speed things up a little, Juho murmured in the subway . The thunderous roar of the train overpowered everything . Time flew by like the train, moving at a frightening speed . --- Its almost Christmas . Nam Kyung nodded in confirmation to Ms . Songs remark . He was in the middle of looking through the edits of a recently imported books ma.n.u.script . Mr . Woos book should be coming out soon, right? Yep, Nam Kyung said briefly . At his seemingly indifferent att.i.tude, Ms . Song looked toward him and asked, Arent you excited? Of course, I am . You dont seem like it, she said, sipping the coffee that she had bought on her way back to the office . Personally, I was really sad that he was gone at first, but time flew by as I kept working and reading other books by different authors . Then, when I remembered that his new book was coming out and the release date was just around the corner, I found myself getting really stoked . Ive been on a Yun-Woo marathon for a week now . At that, Nam Kyung burst into laughter and said, Yeah . b.u.mmer that hes gonna start with another publisher after he gets discharged . He had already been informed of the sequel to Language of G.o.d by the young author . Oh! You mean the sequel? Theres a rumor circulating about it right now . The rumor of the sequel was widespread in the publis.h.i.+ng industry . Knowing that, Nam Kyung nodded affirmatively . Is it true though? she asked . Who knows? Id say it is . Did you not hear anything from Mr . Woo? Hes very busy . At that, a look of utter disappointment appeared on Ms . Songs face . Well, I hope it comes out soon, she said, genuinely and earnestly .