The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 136: Uninvited Guest - 3

“Drinking really is part of the job, huh.”

Out of nowhere, it had turned into a company dinner with the Daseogak Literary Society folks.

Of course, I just wanted to go home and write, but here we were. Why aren’t you joining us for round two? Why are younger employees these days so unwilling to be part of the group? Back in my day, we made sure our bosses got safely into a taxi, then walked home drunk at 3 a.m. to sober up, slept for three hours, and were still the first ones at the office. That kind of boss wasn’t around today, so at least it was a more enjoyable get-together.

After sharing a drink with every member of the Daseogak Literary Society and stepping out of the restaurant, the night sky looked like it was wobbling.

“I told you to take it easy,” Hwa-rin scolded with a concerned tone.

“How could I, when these people show up at Daseogak every day like clockwork?”

Now that I was paying attention, the ground was swaying too. Maybe I’d have to surf my way home. If the ground kept rocking like this, I might even be able to teleport using Footwork Techniques.

“Careful.”

When I staggered, Hwa-rin quickly grabbed my arm to steady me.

“Thanks.”

Yep. I was pretty drunk.

“You sure they didn’t give you strong liquor on purpose just to get you wasted?”

Hwa-rin glanced back toward the restaurant with a bitter look, seemingly displeased that I could barely stand.

“They gave it to me because it was good liquor. They weren’t trying to hurt me.”

The Daseogak Literary Society had insisted on ordering premium alcohol—said it was unthinkable for the friend of Ho-pil to be served cheap drinks. It really was good stuff. I think I just got swept up in the mood and drank too much.

“I’d like to visit the courtesan house Tang Jeong went to.”

“You got the money for that?”

“I said I want to go. I didn’t say I can.”

“Besides, did Tang Jeong only go to that one courtesan house? Didn’t he also go to taverns and inns to help people?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Then tonight, I’ll pay for a place I usually go. It’s not fancy, but I promise everyone’ll be satisfied!”

“Oooooh! You’re starting to look like Tang Jeong himself tonight.”

“Come on now! Me? Like Tang Jeong? I’ve got a long way to go before I’m anything like him!”

“Then just treat us three more times and we’ll consider you his double.”

“Hahaha!”

As we stood outside the restaurant, it wasn’t just the Daseogak Literary Society chatting. I could hear random people talking about Storm of the Tang Clan in the street.

My novel being talked about out loud—right here, on the street.

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Feels good?” Hwa-rin asked softly, watching me.

“Of course it does.”

When I first started storytelling, it felt like I’d finally stood up on two legs in this world. But now, it felt like I’d taken my first step toward a destination.

“That dream of being famous... you really made it happen,” Hwa-rin said, her voice tinged with awe as if she’d remembered when I first talked about wanting to be known for my stories.

“I’m still nowhere near where I want to be.”

Yichang, where I lived now, was the second-largest city in Hubei Province, after Wuchang. My success here would be like getting famous in Busan, not Seoul. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

And Hubei was roughly twice the size of South Korea. There were nearly twenty provinces like it across Jungwon.

If each province were its own country, then I’d need to succeed in twenty countries to truly say my name echoed throughout the land.

I had finally taken one step—but for a giant leap, I still had a long road ahead.

“How famous do you want to get?”

“I told you already. Famous enough that my parents and friends can keep hearing about me in the afterlife. Which means Ho-pil Kang Yun-ho has to become a household name across Jungwon.”

“Right... you did say that.”

Hwa-rin gave me a slightly bitter smile as she looked at me. Did she think she’d touched a nerve? No need to feel that way.

“Haha. Besides, I have to get famous fast to ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) help pay off your debts too, remember?”

I let out a deliberately exaggerated laugh and acted like it was nothing. Hwa-rin, that topic doesn’t hurt me. There’s no wound to poke at. But I guess she didn’t see it that way.

“Hey... Yun-ho. Once you pay off the debt, will you...”

Hwa-rin spoke in a hesitant voice, like she was nervous about what she was saying.

“Hmm?”

“...Never mind.”

“You sure? You sound like you’ve got something to say.”

“I don’t. Come on, let’s go!”

Guess it wasn’t that important. She looped her arm through mine to help me walk and began guiding me away from the restaurant.

“Hey, easy! You’re gonna make me dizzy.”

“Hehe. Then hold on tight.”

The streets of Yichang sparkled with noisy lights and rowdy voices.

Supporting me a little roughly, Hwa-rin began leading me back to Daseogak. I was swaying from the alcohol and had a few complaints about how hard she was tugging me around, but I didn’t say a word.

Because the firm pressure of her arm locked through mine was... enough to knock the last bit of reason out of my spinning brain.

--------

“Uurgh...”

Regretfully leaving behind that sensation from her arm, I collapsed straight into bed as soon as I entered the room.

“Yun-ho! At least brush your teeth!”

Hwa-rin yelled after coming out from washing up.

“I’m just gonna sleep.”

I was slightly more sober now, but still spinning. If I went into the bathroom like this, I’d probably just pass out on the floor.

“Then sleep in your bed. That’s mine!”

Now that she mentioned it, this bed did smell nicer than mine.

“Don’t care. Just come sleep here too.”

I waved at her lazily while staring up at the spinning ceiling.

“W-what!?”

“Sleeping.”

“Ugh, seriously! Fine, wait a second. If you wake up tomorrow with a splitting hangover, you’re gonna regret it. I’ve got something for that. Drink it before you pass out.”

“Alright. Hurry up then.”

Hwa-rin sat on the edge of the bed I was sprawled out on and started rummaging through the small drawer beside it.

I stared blankly at her. She looked annoyed, but I could see the worry on her face.

Huh? Wait, is this...?

“Found it.”

Hwa-rin pulled something from the drawer and looked at me.

“Hwa-rin. Wait.”

I reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer toward me.

“W-what are you doing all of a sudden?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

I ignored Hwa-rin’s startled voice and sat up, leaning beside her on the bed where she’d perched.

Ugh, it was hard to keep my head up. My forehead tilted, landing gently against her shoulder. A pleasant scent wafted into my nose. Did she change her soap? Guess our living conditions have improved if even stuff like this has started to shift.

Gulp.

A loud swallowing sound rang out from somewhere. Right. This wasn’t the time to get distracted.

“Hwa-rin...”

I raised my head and looked at her, bringing my hand up to her face.

“H-huh?” she murmured, confused, but she didn’t recoil from my touch this time—even when my hand moved toward her greatest insecurity.

“Hwa-rin... Seriously... if people could just let go of their prejudices, your face is really charming.”

I gently caressed the marks on Tang Hwa-rin’s face as I spoke. The same marks others mistook for a contagious disease. If you looked closer, all it really was... were patches of discoloration.

Up close, the texture of her skin in those areas felt just a little different.

“Hey, hey! Are you... are you drunk? Wait—no, you are drunk, right?”

You dragged a drunk guy back here, and now you’re surprised he’s drunk?

Thunk!

Something flew from Hwa-rin’s hand and landed somewhere else. She’d been holding something? Didn’t matter—it wasn’t aimed at me. I just continued to cup her face in my hands and carefully examined her features.

“Hwa-rin. Lift your face up a bit.”

“You want me to do it... comfortably?”

“Yeah. Comfortably.”

“Okay...”

Maybe she understood what I was going for. She tilted her chin upward, aligning her gaze with mine.

Why’s she closing her eyes when I just asked her to raise her face? The light reflected off her skin, and maybe it was just that, but her cheeks looked a little red.

I wished she’d turn her head just a bit... When I applied a little pressure with my hand, her face trembled slightly. Was I right? Hard to tell.

“Hwa-rin.”

“...Yeah?”

“Could you... undo the front of your robe?”

“WHAT!?”

Her eyes snapped open, and she screamed.

“Ow, my ears.”

“W-what do you mean, ‘undo my robe’?! T-this kind of thing... there’s a process, you know?! Do you know how much courage it takes...? I mean, it’s not like... well, not that I’m against it, but we’re not exactly that kind of relationship yet... are we? Or maybe we are? I mean, not like it’s wrong or anything, but still, you should at least—no, wait, maybe I should—no, that’s not right either...”

Hwa-rin was spiraling.

Was asking her to open the front of her robe really that outrageous?

“Then I’ll do it.”

I reached for the tightly fastened collar of her robe.

“Eek!”

She shrieked as soon as my fingers brushed the fabric, her sharp cry piercing my ears and lodging itself into my brain.

That shriek, high-pitched and fast like a dagger, sliced through the boozy fog clouding my head and snapped my senses back online.

Shit.

“I’m sorry, Hwa-rin. That was a mistake. I didn’t mean it like that.”

Guess the alcohol short-circuited the brakes in my brain. I’d really messed up. With just one scream, she’d snapped me out of it.

“Huh?”

Hwa-rin looked at me, wide-eyed and confused.

“I just... I wanted to look near your collarbone. That’s all. But you don’t have to. I’m sorry. Really, I am.”

God, this was embarrassing. I couldn’t even look at her. I turned away, staring at the floor in shame.

“No, that’s not it... Ugh, seriously... what even is this. Wait a sec.”

Shfff. The sound of fabric sliding against skin.

No way... Is she seriously...?

I glanced toward her from the corner of my eye. Hwa-rin, face flushed, gently loosened the front of her robe with a shy but deliberate motion.

“Here. I don’t know what you’re looking for, but go ahead.”

“O-oh... okay.”

I turned my head to look. I’d only asked to see a bit of her collarbone, but I guess her robe wasn’t designed that way.

With both hands, she held the robe just tightly enough to keep it from falling further as she exposed her upper chest to me.

And there it was.

A Grand Canyon carved onto the human body.

Was that... something a human body could even create? Could even the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls hold a candle to this?

There were marks on her upper torso too, but they faded into the background against that natural marvel. If I didn’t clench my jaw, my mouth would’ve hung open in awe.

A breathtaking valley nestled between two majestic peaks that begged to be praised aloud—Magnificent. Colossal. And the sheer depth... dizzying.

No, this wasn’t a valley. It was a sinkhole.

If I went inside, maybe I’d discover a lost world. Surely somewhere deep inside, a giant axe-wielding gorilla and a radioactive dinosaur were locked in battle.

“Yun-ho?”

Hwa-rin’s voice, unsure and nervous, brought me back.

Focus. The world I’m looking for isn’t the lost world inside—it's the surface world.

I leaned in closer, narrowing my eyes to her collarbone.

“...Just as I thought.”

The last of the drunken haze cleared, my mind growing suddenly cold and focused.

“Huh? What do you mean, ‘just as I thought’?”

“Hwa-rin, I need to tell you something. Just stay calm and listen.”

I looked at her seriously.

“W-what is it?”

“First, take a deep breath. This is important.”

Gulp. I heard another nervous swallow. Hwa-rin inhaled deeply, then turned to me with a resolute face.

“...Okay. I’m ready to hear it.”

I reached over and gently pulled her robe back up over her shoulders.

She might be shaken by this. As I gripped her shoulders, I could feel her trembling faintly.

Looking into her uncertain, flickering eyes, I opened my mouth and said—

“Hwa-rin... your face is healing.”