As if fulfilling a promise, the companions went on their separate ways to find their purpose.
Some set up a security agency, while someone joined the government.
Han Su-Yeong didn't join anyone. Instead, she became someone who taught things.
⸢⸢Reading modern philosophy through webnovels⸥⸥
Han Su-Yeong did her lectures featuring such a title from the centre.
After the last scenario ended, reality and fantasy were separated once more.
“And so, if you apply Roland Barthes' 'Mourning Diary' to this novel….”
Most of the attendees carried the look of puzzlement asking what kind of a “dipping croissant in a 'ssamjang' sauce” rubbish this was, but a few students seemed to be rather interested by the idea.
One of them raised up his hand and asked her. “Your viewpoint is quite intriguing, Professor. But I do have some objections.”
Han Su-Yeong nodded her head as consent to go ahead. The student continued on with a triumphant look. “Did the author really intend for such a reaction? Is applying such a grandiose theory to a novel full of poor grammar and contradictory sentences a correct way to read it? To be honest, I don't think that's what the author was aiming for. Just from looking at the overabundance of onomatopoeia and mimetic words, it….”
Han Su-Yeong glanced at the novel she brought along as her teaching material. For sure, it was a work filled with far too many mistakes. The student was carrying a satisfied smile as if he had finally landed a solid body blow to her.
She pondered for a little while. She could've just explained to that student, step by step. However, she chose not to do so. She instead began saying these following words.
“You're right. Only the author will know the truth.”
“But, if you say that, isn't that too irrespon….”
“What would it be like if someone starts judging you?”
“Pardon?”
“That someone might notice your not-very-well washed face, which might be a result of you rushing to get to the lectures on time. Or maybe, they notice your toenails sticking out of your slippers first. And then, they will start thinking like this. Ah, that guy, the way he looks, he must be pretty lazy. And there's no way a lazy person can be smart. So, no need to listen to the opinions of someone like that.”
“W-what are you even….”
“Or maybe, that student must've studied the contents of today's lecture throughout last night. You can tell by looking at how enthusiastically he's questioning the professor like that. Sure, his outer appearance is a bit shabby, but he might not care about such things, to begin with. Yes, they could potentially think that way.”
Han Su-Yeong looked into the student's trembling eyes and continued on.
“Just like what you said earlier, the author of the novel probably didn't think about stuff like this. However, it is up to you to decide on what you'll get out of reading the novel. If you only find trash within, then it'll simply end as trash. But if it can impart just a tiny little bit of deeper meaning to you, then that alone will improve this work in your eyes. Again, it is up to you to decide which one it will be. But I'd really like you to choose the option where you get to 'appreciate' your time a little bit better. If you don't, enduring my lectures will become a pretty arduous slog for you.”
The student closed his mouth shut and looked back at Han Su-Yeong. It was unknown whether he understood her or not – however, she thought that there was no helping it even if he couldn't.
The student's eyes slowly moved this way and that, then he suddenly said something unexpected. “….By the way, Professor? Are you going to write a new novel?”
“Mm?”
“You said this before, didn't you? You're an author because you write. If you don't write, then you're not an author.”
There was a subtle undertone of “I don't have to listen to someone like you who's no longer an author” in his words. Han Su-Yeong didn't reply for a second or two – her unclear, murky eyes seemed to be peering into the distant space.
She then disinterestedly muttered out. “Right. I'm not an author anymore.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don't have a reader who'll read my work, you see.”
Before she could finish the rest of her words, though, the clock's bell went off first. Han Su-Yeong grinned and shrugged her shoulders. “Alright, then. The novel you need to read for the next class is….”
She stayed behind on the podium and bade farewell to the students leaving the lecture hall. Her eyes caught a certain text file visible on the screen of the notebook PC currently flipped open. It was a novel she began writing not too long ago as a sort of test. She accessed the file and quietly stared at the sentences she had written so far.
⸢It was then she sensed a presence from behind her.⸥
“That was an interesting lecture. It'd been nice if that person also attended it, though.”
Han Su-Yeong quickly turned the screen off and looked back only to discover a familiar face. The 'intruder' was using her elegantly slender fingers to carefully sift through the lecture material scattered around the lecture desk.
“Ah, this lecture sounds like fun, too. Reading modern fantasy literature starting with Pierre Bourdieu, dissection of romance fantasies with Butler….”
“Did you come here to look down on a webnovel author?”
Yu Sang-Ah, slightly tilting her head, smiled brightly. Her smile didn't seem to have changed a bit in the last two years. She deeply peered at Han Su-Yeong, before asking a question. “Why are you wearing glasses all of a sudden? Did your eyesight get worse?”
“None of your business.”
“Aha, I think I understand. You looked too young and your students were ignoring you, right?”
Han Su-Yeong scowled and angrily yanked the black-rimmed glasses off. Yu Sang-Ah teasingly followed that up.
“Shall we go? Let me buy you a drink.”
A story still remained for them.
A story of a person they all loved.
Chapter end
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