NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 14
[By the way, why is this on hold?]
[Only the writer would know.]
[If it were me, I would never stop the serialization like this and just leave the novel alone. That’s not being diligent.]
[The writer probably has their own circumstances.]
It seems that they really like this novel, as they recommended it. To defend a writer who ran away and stopped serialization to that extent.
Thinking about it, I read the novel without even knowing who the writer was. Although I’m not well-versed enough in web novels to recognize a writer just by their pen name, it was still a story that offered something to me in its own way. The writer’s pen name was worth remembering.
TS Pretty Girl Pro Gamer Streaming
The writer, Nongjook Misoyeondanjang.
[The pen name is Nongjook Misoyeondanjang? That’s a strange name.]
[It is.]
[I think I saw that during my ego search. Do you happen to know what Nongjook means?]
[I’m not sure either.]
Jae-Ah also seemed to be unfamiliar with this peculiar word. I thought someone who wanted to write web novels would know a bit about the community’s ecology, but it was disappointing.
[By the way, how will you conduct the tutoring?]
[I’d like to tutor you in good faith, but my current state isn’t good, and the situation isn’t great either, so it would be better to postpone it if I’m going to tutor.]
[Is that so?]
[Well, it seems like you didn’t really want to do it either; this is a bit better, right?]
In the first place, it was Seo Jae-Ah who ultimately didn’t send me the novel at all. So, it was natural for Jae-Ah, who thought I would accept my suggestion, to send an unexpected reply.
[Umm… no.]
[No?]
[I’ve changed my mind a bit; I want to continue getting tutored by you.]
[Suddenly?]
[I really didn’t think you would read the novel I recommended; obviously, I thought you would consider web novels like this genre garbage and wouldn’t read it.]
What Jae-Ah said was, in fact, not wrong. I indeed had that thought, and even after reading the novel and enjoying it, I didn’t completely cancel that notion. If I hadn’t ended up in this ridiculous situation of becoming a woman, I probably would never have read this novel. However, I didn’t want to break the atmosphere by voicing that.
[But since you read it seriously and gave a proper evaluation, I thought maybe I could trust you a bit.]
[Did you see the article? You think that I’m that kind of person?]
[Well, I think you are a pretty annoying person, but while reading ‘The Boy’s Womb,’ I thought of something.]
[Let’s hear it.]
[It’s nothing special, but I could really feel that this person is genuinely serious about literature. If you can show that heart in a web novel too, it could make for a good tutoring experience.]
[Thank you.]
If Jae-Ah went this far in expressing herself, it was unreasonable for me to back down anymore. I didn’t want to either. After receiving all sorts of insults and derogatory remarks, as well as evaluations of my novel through ego searches, hearing such words from a reader was like a refreshing rain in a drought.
What kind of writer would run away from readers who say such things?
In the end, I decided to continue tutoring. However, the next tutoring session would be after my body had recovered somewhat and the situation stabilized.
And thus, the conversation with Jae-Ah came to an end.
By the way, it felt like I skipped over something. Did this girl end up not sending me the novel after all? Well, I guess there would be another opportunity to ask later. With a more relaxed mind, I was able to put away my smartphone.
Dinner time was approaching. The nurse would be coming in soon. But contrary to my expectations, I heard a knock. There was obviously only one person who would come.
~
“Hello, Seol-guk. It’s been a while.”
“Hello.”
“I brought some snacks again. Is that alright? I got permission from the nurse.”
“Is it sandwiches again?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. There wasn’t really anywhere suitable to buy from. But this time I left out the tomatoes.”
Was she remembering that I don’t like tomatoes? She was an unpleasant woman. It’s true I dislike tomatoes, but hearing it from someone else made me feel like a picky child, which was uncomfortable. Well, considering her appearance, it didn’t seem entirely inappropriate. A self-deprecating laugh came out.
I took the sandwich and took a big bite. It was less than half the size of a bite I would have taken when I was a man.
Then I looked at the inside of the sandwich again. There were cucumbers in the sandwich. I set it down and started to remove the cucumbers.
Ham Yejin was watching that scene with a stiff face. Was she nervous? Or was she uncomfortable with me removing the cucumbers? Disliking cucumbers wasn’t picky eating like it would be with tomatoes. Anyway, cucumbers were hardly nutritious vegetables, so it felt a bit regrettable to even call them vegetables.
Regardless, as I was getting my hands dirty removing the cucumbers, Ham Yejin took out a handkerchief and began to wipe my hands. I was still quiet about it, but it was undeniably an unpleasant matter. Where exactly did she learn that habit of treating other people’s hands carelessly?
Once I had wiped my hands, Ham Yejin opened her mouth.
“Have you made a decision in your heart?”
Finally, it had come.
I had already made up my mind. I wouldn’t do identity laundering. I decided to face all the malice coming toward me without running away. It was certainly a noble and noble, and perhaps even somewhat holy, asceticism. Yet for some reason, I couldn’t get the words to come out properly.
“I…”
Ah, why can’t I continue speaking?
“I…”
“Are you saying you will do identity laundering?”
What did she sense in my voice? Ham Yejin spoke first. From that question, I realized once more what I was afraid of. It was the same story as the advice I gave to Muk Ha-neul. There was an easy path and a difficult path. I was afraid of the difficult path.
The easy path might be enjoyable and might bring happiness. I might be able to receive love from someone.
But I clearly said it.
That’s pornography.
On the other hand, the difficult path would be filled with trials. All the evils of the world would come toward me, and I wouldn’t know how much I would be bent and ground down there. I could be broken, ruined, fallen, and perhaps never get back up.
However, that path was undeniably noble.
Only those who do not run away can reach paradise. If I choose pornography, that place might look like paradise, but in reality, it would be the facade of a sweet hell. If I made the slightest mistake and touched the senses, I could be devoured.
To truly reach paradise, the only choice I had was to charge straight ahead.
My voice no longer trembled.
With a firm resolve, I said.
“No, I won’t do identity laundering.”
Ham Yejin looked very surprised and responded.
“You won’t… do it?”
“No, I won’t. I intend to live with my name as it is.”
“…I understand. Could you wait for a moment?”
Ham Yejin stepped out and called someone on her smartphone. After a few minutes, she returned.
“What did you call about?”
“Actually… we prepared everything on the premise that Seol-guk would identity launder, so a small issue arose, and I just informed them by phone. It’s not something you need to worry about.”
“That just makes me worry more.”
“I’m sorry. Anyway, if you don’t wish to do identity laundering, there’s not much we can assist you with. We can only create a new ID card or a certificate of identification for you. Honestly, we think it would be better for you to proceed with identity laundering.”
“Why is that?”
Ham Yejin’s expression hardened further. After seeming hesitant, she finally let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“Right now, your public opinion isn’t very good.”
“I understand that much.”
“No, you don’t. Right now, there are reporters sneaking into the hospital, and there’s even a public petition asking for your punishment.”
“A public petition…?”
Until now, if I had a somewhat optimistic thought that things would work out no matter what, the term public petition wiped away that notion completely.
“Fortunately, it hasn’t drawn too much interest yet, so the number isn’t very high. Even if the petition reaches the required number of signatures for a response, the National Assembly wouldn’t give an answer to such an issue. But you must be aware that public sentiment toward you isn’t favorable. You could be targeted for terrorism.”
My face also hardened. I could clearly understand that this country was dangerous for me now. However, that didn’t mean I would reconsider my decision.
“Even if that’s the case… I won’t do identity laundering.”
“…If that’s how you truly feel, then there’s nothing we can do. I’m sorry, but if something happens, we won’t take responsibility for it. Keep that in mind.”
“I understand.”
“For now, I’ll accompany you when you are discharged. I heard from the nurse that dyeing your hair is risky. I’ll prepare a wide-brimmed hat.”
Is it a hat to cover my head? After all, a photo taken by a reporter would look like a small-framed girl with white hair lying on the bed. They wouldn’t know my detailed face or body shape. If I only cover my hair, I could hide well enough.
“It’s fortunate that you have a small frame and look decent.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
That was a thoroughly unpleasant remark. In response to my question, filled with irritation, Ham Yejin calmly replied, undeterred by my hostility.
“People are easily swayed by appearances. Your current appearance will be beneficial rather than harmful.”
Are you telling me to use my charm to entice people? Of course, that isn’t what Ham Yejin meant, but to me, it was interpreted that way. It was one of the things I disliked the most: women relying solely on their pretty looks.
In any case, it seemed like we were done talking. I finished the sandwich while chatting, and Ham Yejin packed her things and stood up. Just as she was about to open the door and step out, she turned around as if she just remembered and asked.
“May I ask why you won’t do identity laundering?”
I answered in a bitter voice.
“Because I hate pornography.”