Chapter 30
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Chapter 30
TL: KSD
The season when cicadas cry has arrived.
Hearing the sound of cicadas brings back memories vividly.
The life of a cicada, enduring a long period of hardship underground, then emerging in summer to cry out brilliantly before perishing. Many people seek literary value in it.
Thats why cicadas are always a theme in the essay competitions around this time. So, for me, summer was the season to write poems, novels, essays, and prose about cicadas.
It could really be said to be unbearably annoying.
So, one day, I wrote a piece that outright demeaned the life of cicadas, going against the imagery and themes the judges desired, and it caused a problem.
It deviated from the theme, lacked any literary value, and was criticized for being a piece filled with contrarian tendencies that criticized everything without reason.
At that time, there was only one kid who appreciated my writing.
I liked it, though.
Thats how we met. In a neighborhood park just far enough outside the city where you could hear cicadas. Under the shade of trees that blocked the warm sunlight. Both of us holding manuscript paper and pens.
Honestly. Arent you tired of cicadas?
Two aspiring novelists with contrarian tendencies continued their conversation.
Since that day, the sound of cicadas hasnt seemed all that bad.
Although the supervisor thought differently.
The sound of cicadas is too loud, shall I close the window?
The exam supervisor asked but didnt wait for an answer before closing the window.
With a thud, as the window closed, the sound of cicadas was cut off. My reminiscing was cut off as well.
Only the sound of the air conditioner running could be heard in the silence.
The exam will now begin.
At the supervisors signal, people of all ages began rustling their test papers and started solving the problems.
It was the beginning of the middle school equivalency exam.
EP 3-Magic Sword~nim, please control me!
Whether then or now, I was never particularly interested in studying. I had an interest in studying literature but not in school studies.
Since middle school, I had traveled the country to match the schedule of essay competitions and was famous as a prodigy who swept literary awards without being from an arts school.
Honestly, I was among those who prepared for their future diligently at the orphanage, even though I had given up on studying.
Nevertheless, there was no big problem with starting school life again. The 12 years of basic education were truly miraculous, as I thought I had forgotten everything, but as soon as I opened a book, memories started to come back.
At least, that was the case up to the primary school level.
Whats this.
Express the repeating decimal 0.555 as a fraction.
In right triangle ABC, where AB=5, BC=4, AC=3, what is the value of tanB?
Why is there English in math.
My trembling hands barely managed to pick an answer. Not choose, but pick. Meeting middle school math after a long time was too cruel for a student from the humanities
After a merciless 40 minutes passed, just when I was battered by math, a fearsome killer came to cut off my last breath-
That assassins name was Science.
In which phase of cell division do chromosomes align in the center of the cell?
What is the total amount of salts dissolved in 2kg of seawater with a salinity of 35psu?
Ah.
That summer.
Moon In-seop fell due to his long-standing illnesses, math and science.
* * *
At a caf near New Light Spring Orphanage, sitting by the window.
Three members of the publishing management department sat side by side.
Its okay! It happens!
Right, Author~nim! Dont be too disappointed!
Sitting between Lim Yang-wook and Baek Seol, Moon In-seop looked down at the coffee in his hand with dead fish-like gloomy eyes.
Lim Yang-wook and Baek Seol earnestly patted the disheartened boy on the shoulder, offering their support.
Hey! A primary school student failing the middle school graduation equivalency exam can happen! Why are you so shocked!
Right. You almost passed. Considering your age, thats really amazing!
The encouragement did not help at all. Only the sense of self-loathing deepened.
Instead, consolation became a dagger that pierced deeply into the heart.
Im 23 years old
Moon In-seop. Physical age 13. Mental age 23.
Middle School Graduation Equivalency Exam.
Failed.
This level of normal human!! I really thought he was on his second life?
If math is hard for you, I can tutor you, Author-nim. If you dont know, you can learn!
Wow. A graduate from Oxford is offering to tutor. In-seop! Opportunities like this dont come often!
Moon In-seop protested to maintain at least a minimum of human dignity. Excuses flowed continuously from the boy with his head bowed.
It was just mistakes. If I hadnt displaced my answer sheet in Korean, if I hadnt guessed the last three questions in English out of confusion, and if all had been as per the provisional scoring, I would have passed comfortably. At most, middle school math and science might have been challenging due to a few killer questions, but the rest was easy, wasnt it? If I hadnt displaced the OMR card in Korean, I would have passed.
Lim Yang-wook and Baek Seol looked at the boy with warm eyes. Their gaze meant whatever you say, we believe in you.
Realizing that no matter what excuses he made, the two adults would only look at him adorably, Moon In-seop downed his coffee like it was soju.
Keuuuuh!
Ah, so please-
Park~nim said his piece and just left.
Ah.
The principal stared blankly at the door of the principals office that had just closed.
The vice-principal patted his shoulder with a sorrowful expression.
In such a situation, there wasnt any special reason for immediately passing Moon In-seop as soon as his application came in.
* * *
Child actor Kim Byul. 16 years old.
She is a junior at Baekhak Arts Middle Schools acting department.
Her school life is rather bland.
Why is the school life of a student, who should be enjoying her youth, bland? Obviously, because she has no friends.
After a long time, Kim Byul sat in her school uniform, surrounded by strange glances and whispers.
Why is she at school today
Must be no schedule.
Shes pretty though
Should I confess?
Nonsense.
The school life of active celebrities is tough.
There are various reasons.
Their broadcast image extends to personal life, causing discomfort, and its hard to establish a horizontal relationship with friends who dream of becoming celebrities themselves.
Envy and jealousy come as a bonus. Neither are good feelings for making friendships. Admiration is the furthest emotion from understanding
For a simple example, if you host a music show and act silly, all your classmates see it. Then, at school, they imitate it in front of you.
If you cry in a drama, school friends mimic that crying to tease you. Accepting the teasing makes you a pushover, and not accepting it makes you seem rude.
Of course, minors who work are in a more advantageous position compared to other kids. If they really set their minds to it and spend money, they can become the queen of the school.
But whats the point of that? If she wastes her mental energy on school life instead of focusing on her career, who will take care of it? Her ancestors?
Thus, Kim Byul, despite always being able to make friends, chose not to spend effort on school life, focusing instead on her acting career through selection and concentration.
That was her self-justification for not having friends.
Oh! Byul is at school today?
As usual, the teacher entering the class mentioned Kim Byul, pretending to be close. Kim Byul internally cursed but greeted with a pleasant smile.
I really enjoyed your drama last week. Youre the lead in a movie now, right? How about we all give Byul a round of applause?
Please dont.
Alright! Applause!
Unwanted applause poured in. A few classmates, aware of Kim Byuls discomfort, jeered at her, adding cheers to the mockery.
In the teachers view, this was an attempt to get closer to Kim Byul.
Teachers at private schools arent civil servants, and adjunct teachers in the acting department are active actors. And though Kim Byuls popularity has waned, shes still more popular than the teacher.
This context created a situation that satisfied both the position of a private school teacher, whose contract extension depends on producing outstanding students, and the position of an industry senior, who gains face by having outstanding juniors.
Therefore, for the acting department teachers, it was inevitable to favor Kim Byul.
Naturally, this favoritism only alienated Kim Byul from her peers.
I want to quit school.
For these reasons, Kim Byul wanted to quit both acting and school.
Such is the complex heart of a ninth-grader.
During break time.
While Kim Byul was simmering down, someone tapped her shoulder.
Having been harassed by a stalker before, Kim Byul detested sudden physical contact with anyone, so she glared at the bold individual who had touched her shoulder with a scowl.
What?
The bold one answered.
Lets talk for a sec, Kim Sunbae.
A boy with a blanket draped over him stood there with a sullen face.
It was Author Moon.
Kim Byul was astonished.
Her expression dramatically changed due to her occupational habit.
Why are you here?!
I wanted to ask the sunbae something.
Why am I your sunbae?
Dont you see Im wearing a uniform? Anyway, I got scheduled for a variety show the day after tomorrow. They said its for promoting Cause of Death*****. I have something I want to ask, so come to the canteen.
Uh Uh? Uhh Uh
Quickly.
Kim Byul, stuttering, was dragged away by Moon In-seop.
Their classmates watched the scene with eyes wide open.
It was a day when the summer sun shone over the schoolyard.
* * *
A new student was admitted to the first year of the literature department at Baekhak Arts Middle School.
****
Join our discord here: https://discord.gg/GGKyZWDuZM
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 30
TL: KSD
The season when cicadas cry has arrived.
Hearing the sound of cicadas brings back memories vividly.
The life of a cicada, enduring a long period of hardship underground, then emerging in summer to cry out brilliantly before perishing. Many people seek literary value in it.
Thats why cicadas are always a theme in the essay competitions around this time. So, for me, summer was the season to write poems, novels, essays, and prose about cicadas.
It could really be said to be unbearably annoying.
So, one day, I wrote a piece that outright demeaned the life of cicadas, going against the imagery and themes the judges desired, and it caused a problem.
It deviated from the theme, lacked any literary value, and was criticized for being a piece filled with contrarian tendencies that criticized everything without reason.
At that time, there was only one kid who appreciated my writing.
I liked it, though.
Thats how we met. In a neighborhood park just far enough outside the city where you could hear cicadas. Under the shade of trees that blocked the warm sunlight. Both of us holding manuscript paper and pens.
Honestly. Arent you tired of cicadas?
Two aspiring novelists with contrarian tendencies continued their conversation.
Since that day, the sound of cicadas hasnt seemed all that bad.
Although the supervisor thought differently.
The sound of cicadas is too loud, shall I close the window?
The exam supervisor asked but didnt wait for an answer before closing the window.
With a thud, as the window closed, the sound of cicadas was cut off. My reminiscing was cut off as well.
Only the sound of the air conditioner running could be heard in the silence.
The exam will now begin.
At the supervisors signal, people of all ages began rustling their test papers and started solving the problems.
It was the beginning of the middle school equivalency exam.
EP 3-Magic Sword~nim, please control me!
Whether then or now, I was never particularly interested in studying. I had an interest in studying literature but not in school studies.
Since middle school, I had traveled the country to match the schedule of essay competitions and was famous as a prodigy who swept literary awards without being from an arts school.
Honestly, I was among those who prepared for their future diligently at the orphanage, even though I had given up on studying.
Nevertheless, there was no big problem with starting school life again. The 12 years of basic education were truly miraculous, as I thought I had forgotten everything, but as soon as I opened a book, memories started to come back.
At least, that was the case up to the primary school level.
Whats this.
Express the repeating decimal 0.555 as a fraction.
In right triangle ABC, where AB=5, BC=4, AC=3, what is the value of tanB?
Why is there English in math.
My trembling hands barely managed to pick an answer. Not choose, but pick. Meeting middle school math after a long time was too cruel for a student from the humanities
After a merciless 40 minutes passed, just when I was battered by math, a fearsome killer came to cut off my last breath-
That assassins name was Science.
In which phase of cell division do chromosomes align in the center of the cell?
What is the total amount of salts dissolved in 2kg of seawater with a salinity of 35psu?
Ah.
That summer.
Moon In-seop fell due to his long-standing illnesses, math and science.
* * *
At a caf near New Light Spring Orphanage, sitting by the window.
Three members of the publishing management department sat side by side.
Its okay! It happens!
Right, Author~nim! Dont be too disappointed!
Sitting between Lim Yang-wook and Baek Seol, Moon In-seop looked down at the coffee in his hand with dead fish-like gloomy eyes.
Lim Yang-wook and Baek Seol earnestly patted the disheartened boy on the shoulder, offering their support.
Hey! A primary school student failing the middle school graduation equivalency exam can happen! Why are you so shocked!
Right. You almost passed. Considering your age, thats really amazing!
The encouragement did not help at all. Only the sense of self-loathing deepened.
Instead, consolation became a dagger that pierced deeply into the heart.
Im 23 years old
Moon In-seop. Physical age 13. Mental age 23.
Middle School Graduation Equivalency Exam.
Failed.
This level of normal human!! I really thought he was on his second life?
If math is hard for you, I can tutor you, Author-nim. If you dont know, you can learn!
Wow. A graduate from Oxford is offering to tutor. In-seop! Opportunities like this dont come often!
Moon In-seop protested to maintain at least a minimum of human dignity. Excuses flowed continuously from the boy with his head bowed.
It was just mistakes. If I hadnt displaced my answer sheet in Korean, if I hadnt guessed the last three questions in English out of confusion, and if all had been as per the provisional scoring, I would have passed comfortably. At most, middle school math and science might have been challenging due to a few killer questions, but the rest was easy, wasnt it? If I hadnt displaced the OMR card in Korean, I would have passed.
Lim Yang-wook and Baek Seol looked at the boy with warm eyes. Their gaze meant whatever you say, we believe in you.
Realizing that no matter what excuses he made, the two adults would only look at him adorably, Moon In-seop downed his coffee like it was soju.
Keuuuuh!
Ah, so please-
Park~nim said his piece and just left.
Ah.
The principal stared blankly at the door of the principals office that had just closed.
The vice-principal patted his shoulder with a sorrowful expression.
In such a situation, there wasnt any special reason for immediately passing Moon In-seop as soon as his application came in.
* * *
Child actor Kim Byul. 16 years old.
She is a junior at Baekhak Arts Middle Schools acting department.
Her school life is rather bland.
Why is the school life of a student, who should be enjoying her youth, bland? Obviously, because she has no friends.
After a long time, Kim Byul sat in her school uniform, surrounded by strange glances and whispers.
Why is she at school today
Must be no schedule.
Shes pretty though
Should I confess?
Nonsense.
The school life of active celebrities is tough.
There are various reasons.
Their broadcast image extends to personal life, causing discomfort, and its hard to establish a horizontal relationship with friends who dream of becoming celebrities themselves.
Envy and jealousy come as a bonus. Neither are good feelings for making friendships. Admiration is the furthest emotion from understanding
For a simple example, if you host a music show and act silly, all your classmates see it. Then, at school, they imitate it in front of you.
If you cry in a drama, school friends mimic that crying to tease you. Accepting the teasing makes you a pushover, and not accepting it makes you seem rude.
Of course, minors who work are in a more advantageous position compared to other kids. If they really set their minds to it and spend money, they can become the queen of the school.
But whats the point of that? If she wastes her mental energy on school life instead of focusing on her career, who will take care of it? Her ancestors?
Thus, Kim Byul, despite always being able to make friends, chose not to spend effort on school life, focusing instead on her acting career through selection and concentration.
That was her self-justification for not having friends.
Oh! Byul is at school today?
As usual, the teacher entering the class mentioned Kim Byul, pretending to be close. Kim Byul internally cursed but greeted with a pleasant smile.
I really enjoyed your drama last week. Youre the lead in a movie now, right? How about we all give Byul a round of applause?
Please dont.
Alright! Applause!
Unwanted applause poured in. A few classmates, aware of Kim Byuls discomfort, jeered at her, adding cheers to the mockery.
In the teachers view, this was an attempt to get closer to Kim Byul.
Teachers at private schools arent civil servants, and adjunct teachers in the acting department are active actors. And though Kim Byuls popularity has waned, shes still more popular than the teacher.
This context created a situation that satisfied both the position of a private school teacher, whose contract extension depends on producing outstanding students, and the position of an industry senior, who gains face by having outstanding juniors.
Therefore, for the acting department teachers, it was inevitable to favor Kim Byul.
Naturally, this favoritism only alienated Kim Byul from her peers.
I want to quit school.
For these reasons, Kim Byul wanted to quit both acting and school.
Such is the complex heart of a ninth-grader.
During break time.
While Kim Byul was simmering down, someone tapped her shoulder.
Having been harassed by a stalker before, Kim Byul detested sudden physical contact with anyone, so she glared at the bold individual who had touched her shoulder with a scowl.
What?
The bold one answered.
Lets talk for a sec, Kim Sunbae.
A boy with a blanket draped over him stood there with a sullen face.
It was Author Moon.
Kim Byul was astonished.
Her expression dramatically changed due to her occupational habit.
Why are you here?!
I wanted to ask the sunbae something.
Why am I your sunbae?
Dont you see Im wearing a uniform? Anyway, I got scheduled for a variety show the day after tomorrow. They said its for promoting Cause of Death*****. I have something I want to ask, so come to the canteen.
Uh Uh? Uhh Uh
Quickly.
Kim Byul, stuttering, was dragged away by Moon In-seop.
Their classmates watched the scene with eyes wide open.
It was a day when the summer sun shone over the schoolyard.
* * *
A new student was admitted to the first year of the literature department at Baekhak Arts Middle School.
****
Join our discord here: https://discord.gg/GGKyZWDuZM
Chapter 30TL: KSDThe season when cicadas cry has arrived.Hearing the sound of cicadas brings back memories vividly.The life of a cicada, enduring a long period of hardship underground, then emerging in summer to cry out brilliantly before perishing. Many people seek literary value in it.Thats why cicadas are always a theme in the essay competitions around this time. So, for me, summer was the season to write poems, novels, essays, and prose about cicadas.It could really be said to be unbearably annoying.So, one day, I wrote a piece that outright demeaned the life of cicadas, going against the imagery and themes the judges desired, and it caused a problem.It deviated from the theme, lacked any literary value, and was criticized for being a piece filled with contrarian tendencies that criticized everything without reason.At that time, there was only one kid who appreciated my writing.I liked it, though.Thats how we met. In a neighborhood park just far enough outside the city where you could hear cicadas. Under the shade of trees that blocked the warm sunlight. Both of us holding manuscript paper and pens.Honestly. Arent you tired of cicadas?Two aspiring novelists with contrarian tendencies continued their conversation.Since that day, the sound of cicadas hasnt seemed all that bad.Although the supervisor thought differently.The sound of cicadas is too loud, shall I close the window?The exam supervisor asked but didnt wait for an answer before closing the window.With a thud, as the window closed, the sound of cicadas was cut off. My reminiscing was cut off as well.Only the sound of the air conditioner running could be heard in the silence.The exam will now begin.At the supervisors signal, people of all ages began rustling their test papers and started solving the problems.It was the beginning of the middle school equivalency exam.EP 3-Magic Sword~nim, please control me!Whether then or now, I was never particularly interested in studying. I had an interest in studying literature but not in school studies.Since middle school, I had traveled the country to match the schedule of essay competitions and was famous as a prodigy who swept literary awards without being from an arts school.Honestly, I was among those who prepared for their future diligently at the orphanage, even though I had given up on studying.Nevertheless, there was no big problem with starting school life again. The 12 years of basic education were truly miraculous, as I thought I had forgotten everything, but as soon as I opened a book, memories started to come back.At least, that was the case up to the primary school level.Whats this.Express the repeating decimal 0.555 as a fraction.In right triangle ABC, where AB=5, BC=4, AC=3, what is the value of tanB?Why is there English in math.My trembling hands barely managed to pick an answer. Not choose, but pick. Meeting middle school math after a long time was too cruel for a student from the humanitiesAfter a merciless 40 minutes passed, just when I was battered by math, a fearsome killer came to cut off my last breath-That assassins name was Science.In which phase of cell division do chromosomes align in the center of the cell?What is the total amount of salts dissolved in 2kg of seawater with a salinity of 35psu?Ah.That summer.Moon In-seop fell due to his long-standing illnesses, math and science.* * *At a caf near New Light Spring Orphanage, sitting by the window.Three members of the publishing management department sat side by side.Its okay! It happens!Right, Author~nim! Dont be too disappointed!Sitting between Lim Yang-wook and Baek Seol, Moon In-seop looked down at the coffee in his hand with dead fish-like gloomy eyes.Lim Yang-wook and Baek Seol earnestly patted the disheartened boy on the shoulder, offering their support.Hey! A primary school student failing the middle school graduation equivalency exam can happen! Why are you so shocked!Right. You almost passed. Considering your age, thats really amazing!The encouragement did not help at all. Only the sense of self-loathing deepened.Instead, consolation became a dagger that pierced deeply into the heart.Im 23 years oldMoon In-seop. Physical age 13. Mental age 23.Middle School Graduation Equivalency Exam.Failed.This level of normal human!! I really thought he was on his second life?If math is hard for you, I can tutor you, Author-nim. If you dont know, you can learn!Wow. A graduate from Oxford is offering to tutor. In-seop! Opportunities like this dont come often!Moon In-seop protested to maintain at least a minimum of human dignity. Excuses flowed continuously from the boy with his head bowed.It was just mistakes. If I hadnt displaced my answer sheet in Korean, if I hadnt guessed the last three questions in English out of confusion, and if all had been as per the provisional scoring, I would have passed comfortably. At most, middle school math and science might have been challenging due to a few killer questions, but the rest was easy, wasnt it? If I hadnt displaced the OMR card in Korean, I would have passed.Lim Yang-wook and Baek Seol looked at the boy with warm eyes. Their gaze meant whatever you say, we believe in you.Realizing that no matter what excuses he made, the two adults would only look at him adorably, Moon In-seop downed his coffee like it was soju.Keuuuuh!Ah, so please-Park~nim said his piece and just left.Ah.The principal stared blankly at the door of the principals office that had just closed.The vice-principal patted his shoulder with a sorrowful expression.In such a situation, there wasnt any special reason for immediately passing Moon In-seop as soon as his application came in.* * *Child actor Kim Byul. 16 years old.She is a junior at Baekhak Arts Middle Schools acting department.Her school life is rather bland.Why is the school life of a student, who should be enjoying her youth, bland? Obviously, because she has no friends.After a long time, Kim Byul sat in her school uniform, surrounded by strange glances and whispers.Why is she at school todayMust be no schedule.Shes pretty thoughShould I confess?Nonsense.The school life of active celebrities is tough.There are various reasons.Their broadcast image extends to personal life, causing discomfort, and its hard to establish a horizontal relationship with friends who dream of becoming celebrities themselves.Envy and jealousy come as a bonus. Neither are good feelings for making friendships. Admiration is the furthest emotion from understandingFor a simple example, if you host a music show and act silly, all your classmates see it. Then, at school, they imitate it in front of you.If you cry in a drama, school friends mimic that crying to tease you. Accepting the teasing makes you a pushover, and not accepting it makes you seem rude.Of course, minors who work are in a more advantageous position compared to other kids. If they really set their minds to it and spend money, they can become the queen of the school.But whats the point of that? If she wastes her mental energy on school life instead of focusing on her career, who will take care of it? Her ancestors?Thus, Kim Byul, despite always being able to make friends, chose not to spend effort on school life, focusing instead on her acting career through selection and concentration.That was her self-justification for not having friends.Oh! Byul is at school today?As usual, the teacher entering the class mentioned Kim Byul, pretending to be close. Kim Byul internally cursed but greeted with a pleasant smile.I really enjoyed your drama last week. Youre the lead in a movie now, right? How about we all give Byul a round of applause?Please dont.Alright! Applause!Unwanted applause poured in. A few classmates, aware of Kim Byuls discomfort, jeered at her, adding cheers to the mockery.In the teachers view, this was an attempt to get closer to Kim Byul.Teachers at private schools arent civil servants, and adjunct teachers in the acting department are active actors. And though Kim Byuls popularity has waned, shes still more popular than the teacher.This context created a situation that satisfied both the position of a private school teacher, whose contract extension depends on producing outstanding students, and the position of an industry senior, who gains face by having outstanding juniors.Therefore, for the acting department teachers, it was inevitable to favor Kim Byul.Naturally, this favoritism only alienated Kim Byul from her peers.I want to quit school.For these reasons, Kim Byul wanted to quit both acting and school.Such is the complex heart of a ninth-grader.During break time.While Kim Byul was simmering down, someone tapped her shoulder.Having been harassed by a stalker before, Kim Byul detested sudden physical contact with anyone, so she glared at the bold individual who had touched her shoulder with a scowl.What?The bold one answered.Lets talk for a sec, Kim Sunbae.A boy with a blanket draped over him stood there with a sullen face.It was Author Moon.Kim Byul was astonished.Her expression dramatically changed due to her occupational habit.Why are you here?!I wanted to ask the sunbae something.Why am I your sunbae?Dont you see Im wearing a uniform? Anyway, I got scheduled for a variety show the day after tomorrow. They said its for promoting Cause of Death*****. I have something I want to ask, so come to the canteen.Uh Uh? Uhh UhQuickly.Kim Byul, stuttering, was dragged away by Moon In-seop.Their classmates watched the scene with eyes wide open.It was a day when the summer sun shone over the schoolyard.* * *A new student was admitted to the first year of the literature department at Baekhak Arts Middle School.****Join our discord here: https://discord.gg/GGKyZWDuZM
