Translated by: ShawnSuh Edited by: SootyOwl Hes a genius . What was I doing when I was seventeen? I love Yun Woo . Hes a genius . By the way, I LOVE him . I love you, Yun Woo . Please, accept me . Im so thankful that I got to share a lifetime with Yun Woo . Keep it up! Cant wait for your next book! Id been hearing the name Yun Woo left and right, so I ended up buying his book just to keep everyone quiet . Now, Im even reading The Trace of a Bird . Hes the very first author Ive come to like . After reading his book, I became bedridden for an entire week . My body seemed to be fine, but my heart was in pieces . It almost felt like going through a breakup . The regret and sadness of the one who is left behind was much more than what I could handle . Im afraid to read it again, but on the other hand, Id highly recommend it . I read this book for the first time at a cafe . Then, I regretted my decision . Before I even had time to think about what I was reading, tears began to fall from my eyes . Fortunately, n.o.body noticed me, but it was rather embarra.s.sing . Still, I couldnt help myself . Though my life looked nothing like that of the mothers, its potency came at me like a third-degree burn . I found myself involuntarily reaching for water . Its a fun read, but youd be wrong to a.s.sume that the book is merely fun . The Sound of Wailing is heavy, yet fast-paced . Once I read the book, I realized that Id been misunderstanding Yun Woo all along . Because he had an image of being pure, I had been a.s.suming that hed be frail and weak . I thought that hed run for his life when taking a powerful collision . In my mind, he was a person of n.o.ble character who despised things that were dirty and gruesome . However, I couldnt have been more wrong . This book is entangled and cruel to the point of causing concern to its readers about his well-being . Its explicit . It almost felt like showed everything he has within the confines of two full-length novels . However, I believe that h.e.l.l return with his third book, proving me wrong once again . Juho read through the reviews and comments of the readers that filled his screen . They were overwhelmingly flattering . Some were treading into the territory that made him feel uncomfortable . Every person had a different ID, font, and tone, just as they each led their own lives . He went to the next page . Of course, as different as those people were, some didnt view his book in such a positive light . Everythings fine except for the ending . Why did she have to die? Its as awkward as a kid pretending to be an adult . It felt pretentious the entire time I was reading . It had been a while since Juho had read a negative review . He read carefully through it again to see if there was anything he could learn from it . Pretending to be an adult, pretentious . Rather than a detailed explanation, the person seemed to have stayed true to his emotions . He sounded rather angry . Feeling sad that he couldnt do anything to alleviate his anger, Juho moved on to the next post without hesitation . It makes no sense that a kid would write a novel like this . People blabber about him being a genius, but I dont believe any of it . Somebody has to be behind this young author . The fact that hes anonymous is proof . Just like Yun from The Trace of a Bird, hes timid because he feels guilty of something . More so than a review, it sounded like a conspiracy theory . They seemed to be entertaining a dangerous idea - a ghostwriter . Juho turned his chair around with a chuckle . The walls and stacks of ma.n.u.script paper came into view . Behind him, there was nothing but rough ideas written out . If somebody really had ghosted for him, he wouldnt have had to go through all the trouble he had . The light from the screen shone onto a small part of a wall . Though it wasnt the entire wall, Juho couldnt help his eyes from being drawn to it . From then on, there were confessions from infatuated fans, opinions on his style, and an in-depth a.n.a.lysis on what made him a genius . He took the time to read them one by one . I like that there are so many different opinions . People are interesting, he murmured as he leaned back on his chair . Some liked his work whereas some didnt . Some rooted for him while some were jealous of him . Thanks to the variety of opinions, reading through the thoughts of his readers wasnt boring . Only, his eyes began to hurt from looking at the screen for a long time . He looked away and looked up at the ceiling, where he saw an afterimage of the screen . Caw! a cry of a bird sounded out . Following the sound, Juho slowly lowered his head . Black feathers . Black beak . It was a crow . You, he called for the crow . Ive noticed that youve been following me around for some time . Youre kind of noisy . Its eyes glistened in the dark as its large, menacing beak parted open . Caw! Then, words came out it, Sounds like you want it louder . CAW! CAW! You have a childish side, said Juho as he laughed . Hmph, theres no use in trying to keep calm . Youre no different from me, the bird said, scoffing . Is that so? Annoyed, the crow approached Juho while spreading its wings . Youre an idiot . I know you dont see anything behind me, and its obvious that you havent even read what youve written . Youre just venting . I can tell . Stupid brat! it said angrily . Thats harsh . Shut up, shut up! Juho looked at the book underneath the birds claws . A bird on a gray background . Could it be the same bird? Where are you from? he asked . Shut your mouth . Im not in a good mood . Ill peck, said the bird as it glared at him fiercely . Thats not nice . Look how sharp your beak is . CAW! CAW! it cried loudly as if it didnt want to listen to Juho anymore . If you had written it better, you wouldnt have had to find out what those stupid people had to say . Youre an idiot, said the bird, spiteful . Hehe . Its a little late for that, dont you think? Juho answered with a smile . Im being serious . Dont you dare try to smile your way out of this . Why did you kill her? You could have let her live happily . You know why . No, I dont . I cant stand it . Pretentious? What does that punk know? n.o.bodys pretending to be an adult, because you ARE ONE! PIECE OF TRAs.h.!.+ Stop it . The readers have the freedom to feel . Theres nothing to gain from venting . Shut it . You p.i.s.s me off the most . Dont you just sit there smiling like an imbecile . Write a comment . Why dont you grow up?! Hate to break it to you, but cant do . d.a.m.n it, d.a.m.n IT! CAW! It flapped its wings, infuriated . Its feathers fell around it . With cold, motionless eyes, Juho captured that sight . Why dont we talk about real you? Juho said . The bird looked in his direction with its dark, glistening eyes that looked like they would engulf every bit of light . Im a crow . Obvious . What else is there to know? Im sure there are a few things, said Juho . He asked after a brief time thought, So, what do you signify? It depends . Are leaving room for my interpretation? I couldnt care less about your interpretation . Im just telling the truth . Thats one salty bird, thought Juho . Alright, fine . Whats your name? What do you think I am, a person? How would I know? The bird asked as it opened its beak, sneering . Then? Youre the only one who can see me . Juho said after thinking for a brief moment, Crow . What? Im not going to give you a name . Why? The bird asked as it flapped its wings . Frankly, I dont really want to see you around . If I give you a name, I might get attached to you, said Juho in a friendly manner, smiling . Without saying anything, the crow stared at him intently for some time while Juho stared back finally . Finally! Were starting to agree on something, it said as it hopped down onto the bed from the desk . The blanket tousled underneath the birds claws . Juho didnt stop the bird as it walked toward the bookshelf and took out a book with it sharp beak . Impressive, Juho thought . As the crow tossed the book onto the floor, it cracked open, revealing its white pages and letters written in black ink . What about it? Juho asked . Caw! I cant stand this book! The crow said as it flapped its wings about, puffing its chest angrily . One of the pages flapped about . You know that I wrote it, right? The book on the floor was no other than The Trace of a Bird, his maiden work . I know . Thats right . This hoodlum of a bird had something to complain about . Recognizing the bright light coming from the monitor, Juho asked the crow, What dont you like about it? Everything! A straightforward answer . It might be short, but there were feelings in those word . Juho understood immediately that the crow was not very fond of him . Do you know how to read? Im a crow, nitwit, said the crow as it pretended to retch . Do YOU even know how to read? I almost thought you couldnt hear my insults because you were just sitting there, smiling like an imbecile . If I cant read, then I cant write . You write c.r.a.p because you cant read . The crow didnt back down . Unfortunately, lot of people have already read this c.r.a.p youre referring to . I cant take it back, said Juho, snickering . With Juhos response, the crow folded its wings and picked up the book with its beak . Disastrous . Oh, but theres more . A lot of people have been reading my next book . The crow covered its face with its wings, collapsing . Though it had been speaking like a human up to that point, Juho couldnt help but think that it also moved like a human . Its feathers were intimidatingly dark . Embarra.s.sing! EMBARRa.s.sING! What is? I cant stand that people are reading this c.r.a.p! I cant stand it! Its ok, said Juho, comforting the crow . Forget it . Do you not like to write? Look at how atrocious it came out! Still, it hadnt been a no . The reviews arent as bad . Want to take a look? The crow didnt move from his place . A black feather fell from its body . Where did I see that? Juho tried to retrace his memory, but couldnt remember . You couldve done better, said the crow . You couldve ended it better . Caw, caw, it added, crying sadly . You couldve gotten better reviews . Haha . Are that you upset? After staying silent for a while, the crow changed the subject . Im not good enough, said the crow, weakly . Well, n.o.bodys perfect . I want what I write to be perfect . Thats ambitious . I want to be the great storyteller . The great storyteller . Juho stared at the crow quietly .