I, Phoenix Hart — an aspiring novelist — had finally arrived at Incheon Airport, Seoul.
Dragging my battered suitcase behind me, I stepped into the cool Korean air, grinning like an idiot.
"Finally!" I whispered to myself. "South Korea! The land of manhwa, K-dramas, and endless inspiration. Now I can finally get some fresh ideas for a one-person leveling novel!"
(Well, solo leveling was already taken. Copyright, you know.)
After breezing through customs, I did what any normal person would do when setting foot in a new country:
I spent the day eating tteokbokki from street stalls, getting addicted to a PC bang, and completely forgetting why I came here in the first place.
Somewhere between burning my tongue on spicy rice cakes and losing a dozen matches in an online game, I stumbled onto a huge, sleek building.
Seoul National University, it said in bold letters across the front gate.
"Writer's Seoul National University..." I muttered aloud, squinting.
A strange feeling prickled the back of my neck. Was this a sign?
Maybe somewhere here… my next novel's story would be born?
Excited, I wandered the campus streets, soaking in the atmosphere, jotting random notes like:
Handsomer rival who beats the MC in a cooking contest?
Magical library under the school?
A weird love triangle involving tteokbokki?
I was deep in thought when I heard it.
A shout so loud it snapped me out of my brainstorming.
"YOU'RE the one!" a girl's voice yelled.
"No, YOU'RE the one!" a boy shouted back.
Curiosity pulled me like a fishing line.
I followed the noise to a courtyard where two students were standing, facing each other with intense expressions.
I blinked.
"Wow, people in Korea sure are dramatic," I thought, half-turning to leave —
—until I heard them shout again.
"You confessed to me FIRST!"
"No, YOU confessed to ME FIRST!"
And just like that —
A surge of electricity zipped through my spine, jolting straight to my brain.
I gasped.
STORY!!!
I fumbled for my pen and notebook, almost dropping them in my excitement.
Without thinking, I marched straight up to the arguing pair.
"Excuse me!" I said, my voice full of the energy of a man who had just discovered gold. "You two seem like adults. What exactly are you fighting about?"
Both of them paused mid-argument, glaring at me like I was some weirdo who had crashed their party.
Together, they said, "Who are you?"
I beamed. "Ah, introduction time! I'm Phoenix Hart, a novelist."
They exchanged a glance.
"...Never heard that name," they said in unison.
Internally, I twitched.
Ouch... right in the pride.
Out loud, I forced a smile. "I'm not super famous. Yet. I've only published one novel: The Masked Virtuoso. The main character is a little... too powerful," I admitted, scratching my head.
The boy adjusted his tie smoothly. "I'm Kang Joon-Woo."
Something about his name tickled my brain.
Where have I heard that before? I wondered.
The girl flipped her red hair elegantly and said, "I'm Park Ae-cha."
I nodded, pretending to stay calm but inside screaming, These names... they're main character material!
"Now," I said, flipping open my notebook, "what exactly are you two arguing about?"
Joon-Woo crossed his arms. "This unbelievable girl confessed to me first."
Immediately, Park Ae-cha shot back, "He confessed to me first!"
I raised both hands in a peace gesture. "Alright, alright, let's settle this the writer way. I'll listen to both sides and decide. But I want the WHOLE story. From the very beginning.
No spoilers."
They hesitated, then reluctantly nodded.
And just like that, the flashback began.
---
To be continued...