Novelist Running Through Time

Novelist Running Through Time

TL: KSD

"Uh… hmm…"

The members of the Popular Culture and Arts Club did not welcome the sudden arrival of a prospective new member during this critical situation (a kidnapping plot).

The second club president, Kim Byul, stepped forward to harshly state the truth.

"Sorry, but we're not accepting any new members right now."

"Huh? But the teacher said it's the official club recruitment period…"

Moon Ji-seop was right. It was indeed the club recruitment period. Therefore, all clubs were obligated to sincerely evaluate any applicants and accept new members if appropriate.

However, Kim Byul had been maintaining a one-person club for the past two years.

With the seasoned charisma of a veteran entertainer with over ten years of experience, she had bribed teachers and broken school rules to protect a haven for her friends.

School regulations? Unacceptable.

This was the domain of the Queen of Cannes, Kim Byul.

So Kim Byul deployed her domain expansion, reckless whining.

"Ah-ah, no way. Anyway, no."

"Excuse me?"

"Go back. Just go back!"

As Kim Byul took the lead, the rest of the members also stared at the outsider with intense, suspicious glares, as if they were in the middle of plotting something shady (which was true).

With eyes that seemed to scream, "Get out of our village, you monster!" Moon Ji-seop stepped back in panic.

"Uh, um…"

For an ordinary child from a typical household, this was a crisis where it wouldn't have been surprising if they'd run off in tears!

But Moon Ji-seop was no delicately raised child.

'New Light Spring Orphanage.'

The weak cannot survive there.

Moon Ji-seop didn't know the internal situation of the club. He didn't even understand why Kim Byul was pushing him away.

However, the will that had enabled him to survive up to today, the will of New Light Spring Orphanage, was now trembling within him!

He entrusted his body to that heartbeat and instinctively sought a path to survival.

'I see it… the thread of an opening!'

With the sharp instincts unique to children raised in orphanages, Moon Ji-seop's senses whispered the right answer into his ears.

"Um…! I'm friends with In-seop!"

That bombshell statement sent a massive shock through the clubroom.

The shock was especially severe for those who knew Moon In better.

Kim Byul and Gu Yuna exchanged bewildered looks, unable to hide their surprise.

In those glances was this shared thought,

'Moon In…'

'Has a friend…!?'

EP 11 – Evening Bell

Popular Culture and Arts Research Club.

Commonly referred to as 'PCARC', but even the club's founder couldn't remember the exact name and just mumbled something like 'Popular-whatever Club', that's PCARC.

PCARC was supposed to analyze a wide range of artistic genres, novels, acting, musicals, rap, pop music, from multiple angles to explore the convergence occurring at their boundaries…

but in reality, it was a ghost club created by Moon In to ensure smooth school life for Gu Yuna, who, from the looks of it, was bound to have her club life wrecked by bullying.

However, to outsiders, it didn't look like that at all…

Just looking at the lineup made that obvious.

The crown prince of the literary world, Moon In!

Queen of Cannes, Kim Byul!

Youngest daughter of the Gu clan, Gu Yuna!

S-class idol, Min Hyo-min!

And…

"And then, uh, what was their name again… Min… Min… something sunbae. What boy group is he in?"

"I can't remember the group name, but he had pink hair."

"Yeah, yeah. Pink hair. Anyway, that's how this club full of current celebrities came to be… that's what PCARC is!"

The two female students who had spoken to Moon Ji-seop on entrance ceremony day talked to him about Baekhak's legend, 'PCARC'.

In fact, rather than an explanation, it felt like fishermen bragging about the fish they caught.

It was more 'creative' than factual.

"Hmm… I see…"

But Moon Ji-seop, being clever, nodded as if he had just been told something really valuable.

Not out of consideration for the others, but because he knew that was how to draw out more information.

Moon Ji-seop's prediction was accurate. The two girls got even more excited and continued talking.

"Actually, back in Baekhak Arts Middle School, there were a lot of kids who wanted to do club activities with Moon In, but that guy was such a jerk about keeping his distance, you know?"

"Totally. I even applied to join once, but then I heard they hardly ever talked about literature in the club and just chatted and snacked all the time, so someone told me not to bother joining… What a ridiculous lie that was."

"That's basically a polite way of saying 'get lost'."

Compared to their peers, the Creative Writing Department students, with their linguistically sensitive sensibilities, interpreted Moon In's words as euphemistic speech.

However, Moon Ji-seop saw it differently. Even if Moon In-seop was somewhat gloomy, ill-mannered, and a loner, he wasn't the kind of person who would flatly reject those who approached him.

'If anything, he probably gets lonely…'

As a result of rational deduction, Moon Ji-seop concluded that the threshold for entering PCARC wasn't actually that high.

Of course, at present, Kim Byul had raised that threshold to the mountain peak, but this bold confidence led to an encounter with the members of the Popular Culture and Arts Club, who just so happened to be in need of "professional manpower".

"Ah-ha, so you're planning to drag In-seop out of his house?"

"Yeah. That jerk keeps making people worry…"

"Hmmm~"

Even after hearing the club members' sinister plan, Moon Ji-seop never once used the word 'kidnapping'.

And in truth, Moon Ji-seop didn't perceive it as a kidnapping.

Everything depends on how you look at it!

'Crime' is a concept based on perception.

And in high-risk zones, the threshold for what qualifies as a crime is slightly higher.

At New Light Spring Orphanage, drinking, smoking, and even bloody incidents were categorized as "minor pranks".

Adults who threw a fit like the world was ending just because some kids drank, smoked, or fought with friends were the weird ones.

Buying drugs from runaway gangs, getting into group fights with blades, only that kind of thing really counted as 'crime', didn't it?

With such a perspective, Moon Ji-seop saw the current situation not as kidnapping but as a "minor prank".

Therefore, what he questioned was not "Can we do this?" but rather "Is that the way to do it?"

"But after dragging him out of his house, what are you going to do? Sunbae?"

"What do you mean? I'll throw him into the Baekhak Entertainment counseling room right away!"

"And after that?"

"What?"

Moon Ji-seop, who got into Baekhak Arts High School purely by academic scores despite not knowing the first thing about literature, let his intelligence shine.

"If he refuses treatment and you force him into the counseling room, the counselor will be in a tough spot. Even if he somehow go through with the counseling, unless you lock him up somewhere, he's just going to go back home. Then you'll have to drag him out again… Do you really think Moon In will come out willingly after getting caught once?"

It was such a surprisingly reasonable and sharp point that Kim Byul was flustered and couldn't respond.

Kim Byul looked around blankly.

However, everyone avoided her eyes and didn't offer a helping hand.

To begin with, the kidnapping plan was only made because Kim Byul incited it, and everyone else got swept up in the mood.

And Kim Byul herself had the flimsy mindset that once they went through with the kidnapping, (through the power of friendship) things would work out somehow, so she had no argument against Moon Ji-seop's words.

But fortunately, Moon Ji-seop hadn't voiced his objection just to criticize Kim Byul.

On the contrary, he was quite serious about the kidnapping.

"Which is why what we need right now isn't just the kidnapping, but a plan for what comes after. We need a way to keep Moon In confined and under continuous supervision!"

Likewise, Min Hyo-min, who was also very serious about the kidnapping, sparkled with excitement in her eyes.

"Ooooh…!"

Moon Ji-seop, thinking that he'd seen this plain-looking girl somewhere before, placed the final piece into this plan's puzzle.

"By any chance… do you know Ki-hoon hyung?"

* * *

As soon as school ended, the club kids rushed over to Baekhak Entertainment without even changing out of their school uniforms.

Unlike Min Hyo-chan, Min Hyo-min's schedule was packed to the minute and she technically shouldn't have had any free time after school,

But since it was an activity at Baekhak Entertainment of all places, her manager gave a big sigh and reluctantly gave in.

Compared to the Benivis unnies dating boy group members from rival agencies, Min Hyo-min was a complete angel.

So Min Hyo-min's excitement skyrocketed to its peak.

"Tada-!"

Min Hyo-min completely forgot the original plan of "kidnapping the famous novelist Moon In" and instead enthusiastically introduced the company she worked at to her friends.

Naturally, the person she considered her closest friend was Gu Yu-na, who jumped up and down with arms linked, wearing a bright smile on her flushed face.

"This is our group's practice room! We finally got it this year! Do you know how much of an honor it is to have a group-exclusive practice room at the company? So here's how the system works…"

"Uugh…"

Gu Yu-na, a Fighting/Dark-type Pokémon, was completely drained by the sparkly aura of Fairy-type Min Hyo-min, who was clinging to her.

The ever-proud and self-centered Gu Yu-na had finally met a rare natural enemy.

Meanwhile, Moon Ji-seop, who had inherited the will of 'New Light Spring', was already strategizing for survival within the club by targeting Min Hyo-chan, a fellow male, first.

"Hyung-nim, you look even cooler in person than you do on TV. Your height, your proportions… wow, it really makes you think that this is the standard for someone to be an idol from their student days."

"What? H-Hyung-nim?"

Min Hyo-chan, who was the youngest in Rapid Boys and always got pushed around by Moon In in the club, was now hearing someone call him "Hyung-nim" for the first time in ages. Already conquered, he beamed and shouted at Moon Ji-seop, "Hey! Call me hyung!"

"Hmm…"

And from the very back, Kim Byul was glaring at them.

To be precise, she was glaring at Moon Ji-seop.

'That guy… his social skills are suspiciously good!'

Moon Ji-seop, despite being the newcomer, was already showing leadership as if he were spearheading the club's major plans.

Since Kim Byul had always considered the club very dear to her, she was slowly starting to feel a sense of crisis, as though the initiative was slipping from her hands.

"This is my personal little club…"

This time, that feeling of crisis leaked out of her mouth. Her muttered voice echoed loudly down the quiet hallway.

The club members looked at Kim Byul in surprise.

Moon Ji-seop, who had just been bluntly called out, trembled like a mouse before a cat, thinking, 'Did I overdo it…?' and lowered his eyes quietly.

Unintentionally having restored discipline, Kim Byul, her face flushed with embarrassment, hid it behind a prickly tone as she briskly walked ahead.

"W-What are you all looking at…?! Let's just get going already!"

Luckily for Kim Byul, her chance to shine would come soon.

* * *

They finally arrived at their destination: the Management Division of Baekhak Entertainment.

Rookie manager Ma Ki-hoon was not actually affiliated here.

Ma Ki-hoon was an employee of the subsidiary 'BH Agency', a joint venture launched by Baekhak Entertainment and Baekhak Publishing.

That's what it said on paper.

On paper, Lim Yang-wook wasn't an executive at Baekhak Publishing either, but rather the CEO of BH Agency, and BH Agency itself was listed as a promising in-house venture company that received ample government subsidies.

Since Baekhak Publishing is a book-selling company, it has a tradition of writing documents in a literary style.

Which means fiction.

So in reality, Ma Ki-hoon wasn't a full-fledged staff member but more of a trainee learning at the Management Division of Baekhak Entertainment.

And the senior employees, hardened by real field experience, didn't go easy on this rookie whose lineage they didn't recognize and didn't know where he came from.

"Ha, man, this really grinds my gears. Really grinds them…"

"I'm sorry!"

Ma Ki-hoon apologized energetically, but the senior didn't soften his expression easily.

Celebrities may rest, but managers don't. When there's no schedule, managers are assigned office work.

Thus, the paper fluttering in the senior's hand was paperwork.

It was inevitable that Ma Ki-hoon, who had never touched Excel, would keep making mistakes in paperwork.

"Hey. How long do I have to babysit you, huh? You think this is school?"

"No, sir!"

"You think this company's a joke? Your celeb buddy has your back so you're not worried about getting fired, huh? Is that it?"

"No, sir! I'm sorry!"

"Ha! You haven't even been to the military, but you sure talk like someone with perfect discipline…"

The reason Ma Ki-hoon hadn't gone to the military was because he had no parents. The phrase "hasn't even been to the military" subtly carried that implication.

He wasn't hearing such insults because he was incompetent, but because he had committed the "crime" of being born without parents. The world was cruel to orphans.

Whether it was working part-time at a convenience store, doing delivery gigs, or working at a gym, this kind of verbal abuse was always bound to come your way. Through such experiences, Ma Ki-hoon had learned how to grow accustomed to it. It was the internalization of pain.

'Fuck…'

Moreover, it was easier for Ma Ki-hoon to endure this bullying because he knew it stemmed from jealousy toward him.

In reality, Ma Ki-hoon's job stability and promotion speed were superior compared to other managers. Thanks to having a close friend who was a celebrity, he wasn't at risk of getting fired, and with the Publishing Management Task Force rapidly growing, Ma Ki-hoon benefited as well. In a way, you could say he had aligned himself well.

So, while Ma Ki-hoon was somewhat immune to bullying, he had no immunity to being bullied in front of someone like a close friend, or rather, someone as close as an actual younger brother.

From Ma Ki-hoon's perspective, Moon Ji-seop had appeared at a completely unexpected time, in a completely unexpected place.

"Hyem!"

"…!!!"

'Hyem' was not referring to salted, processed pork, but a Busan dialect form of the word "hyung" (older brother). Of course, neither Ma Ki-hoon nor Moon Ji-seop was actually from Busan. New Light Spring Orphanage was located in Gyeonggi Province.

Then why use Busan dialect? Because their parents might be from Busan? No. That kind of question should not be asked. You just have to open your heart and accept it as it is. That's the culture of 'New Light Spring'.

Ma Ki-hoon was also a man who had inherited the will of 'New Light Spring'.

Ma Ki-hoon, after quickly gauging the mood of the flustered senior, lowered his voice and assumed a cool demeanor.

"…Ah. You came."

"Ki-hoon hyem! Long time no see!"

"It's been a while. What did you come here for? This ain't a place to hang out. Go back."

Surprisingly, it wasn't Ma Ki-hoon but the senior who had just been chewing him out who backed him up.

"That's right. Are you Ki-hoon's friend? This is a place where ordinary people can't freely enter, so please leave-"

The senior gave a sharp look toward the group of uniformed students, then suddenly widened his eyes as he spotted 'someone' far too naturally mixed among them.

But he had spotted her too late.

The senior, lacking the will of 'New Light Spring', also lacked the observational awareness needed for survival, and the result was devastating.

"Hmph…"

A girl who, when pissed off, could casually speak without honorifics to the head of the management division.

The Queen of Cannes, Kim Byul's fury, was directed at him.

"We're not here to hang out. And we're not outsiders either."

"Ah, th-the, Actor K-Kim… nim…"

Kim Byul's sharp gaze flew like an icy dagger.

"By the way, what exactly was that I just witnessed?"

"W-What…?"

"A disgraceful personal attack."

*****

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