The Great Storyteller Chapter 114 - Give and Take (2)

Chapter 114: Chapter 114 – Give and Take (2)

Translated by: ShawnSuh

Edited by: SootyOwl

Yun Woo. Juho. They had always been the sa person. With the exception of Yun Seo, everyone fixated their eyes on Juho, each wearing a perplexed look.

“Is that true?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Sounds like you have an interesting skill at your disposal.”

“Do you think so, Mrs. Baek?”

“Of course! Does Hyun Do know about this?”

“No.”

Suddenly, Geun Woo interrupted the seemingly peaceful conversation.

“Hold on. Mrs. Baek, am I the only person who’s still confused?” Geun Woo asked. In his mind, the ability to write in two distinct styles was no more than a romantic idea, nothing short of wishful thinking. People each had fingerprints that were unique to themselves. In the sa way, they each had one consciousness, and that was the basis of a writer’s style. An author’s writing reflected their personality for that one reason. Yet, the young author in front of his eyes claid to have yet another conscience.

“We all dream about it as writers. Writing freely while being able to adopt a style fitting to the event or character. There actually was an author who strived to achieve that for years. Unfortunately, it’s impossible. Everyone who tried has failed so far. They may have been able to change their style, but nobody has been able to break away from their consciousness. Yet, what you’re saying is...”

Juho sounded like soone who possessed sothing that countless authors had been longing for. Geun Woo felt warm. Maybe he was feeling uneasy. Afraid, even. He felt a drop of cold sweat on his back. If what the young author was saying was really true, then Yun Woo as an author would be...

“Impressive, right?”

“...”

Geun Woo was dumbfounded. Juho was smiling, cracking light-hearted jokes. After his conversation with Yun Seo during his visit not too long ago, there had been a noticeable change in the way Juho treated his skills as an author. The boy who only knew how to disregard his own talent had learned to accept and embrace it, at least on the outside.

“How can you be so calm about this?”

Juho’s seemingly nonchalant attitude ca from admitting his own talent. What set him apart from being arrogant was the fact that he wasn’t letting it define his identity...

“This is upsetting.”

... even if it ant upsetting those around him.

If Juho was capable of writing in another style distinct from that of Yun Woo’s as if there was another person living within him, Geun Woo wanted to see what it would look like.

“OK, fine. I get that you’re Yun Woo,” Mr. Moon said, having listened to everything quietly. “Seeing how Mrs. Baek and her two pupils are actually treating you as Yun Woo, I think I’m coming to accept it.”

“I see.”

“That ans you have the ability to write in two styles that are completely distinct from one another. I’ll believe it for now, but cautiously,” Mr. Moon said as he emphasized the last word.

Taking his cup of tea, he took a big swig as if it was no longer hot.

“So, might I expect a demonstration in the near future?” he asked, wearing the distinct smile that Juho had seen often in the Literature Club. That smile usually indicated that he was about to make a sudden announcent.

“Demonstrate what?”

“A book written by Yun Woo, but in your other style.”

“Uh... I can’t say.”

“What’s with that response? Are you saying that you’re going to hide behind such a talent? It’s much too flashy as a shield, don’t you think?”

“That’s not exactly my intention either.”

Mr. Moon seed to have co to accept that Juho was Yun Woo. The fact that he wanted to see Yun Woo writing in a different style ant that he had co to accept that his student in front of him was Yun Woo himself.

“Surely you can do that much, especially having tricked your horoom teacher. Right, Mrs. Baek?” said Geun Woo.

“Please consider it, Juho, even if it wasn’t for your teacher.”

Juho thought for a brief ti while scratching his head. Another style. If he were to publishing sothing like that, the entire country would be flipped upside down. There were bound to be controversies, and at worse, he might have to experience yet another failure. He might regret his decision for the rest of his life. However...

“Heck. What should I write about?”

... an author wouldn’t be able to write a single word if he was afraid of failure.

“I like the enthusiasm. Yeah, that’s more like it. Man, dreams do co true! I wanted to et Yun Woo in person at least once before I died,” said Mr. Moon. “Oh, wait! You must have felt really weird about that imposter at school a while back.”

At that, a face flashed across Juho’s mind.

“Rather...”

“That couldn’t have been the first ti. Must have been fun! Please, tell us more, Mr. Woo.”

“Not exactly fun, no.”

“Be honest with . You liked it, didn’t you?”

“I did. I love my peaceful life.”

“Don’t be so shy now, Mr. Woo.”

“You’re starting to sound like you’re picking on .”

“I’m actually curious too. Tell , what’s the thing with the imposter about?”

“Yeah! You never know what could inspire you.”

Juho’s effort to resist was buried by the voice of the curious authors around him.

“Co to think of it, your first piece was rather unusual.”

“My first piece?”

“About the mackerel.”

“Oh, right.”

“Mackerel?”

“It’s a funny story.”

The noisy chatter between authors ca to a sudden halt at the sound of Yun Seo’s clap. Everyone turned their eyes in its direction.

“We should take a picture!”

“A picture?”

Despite Juho’s question, Yun Seo moved about busily. She had already brought her cara out from her room. The dark lens shone brightly. Making necessary adjustnts to the cara, she turned toward the authors and said, “Let’s all go outside!”

Juho was puzzled. Similar things had happened in the past in the Literature Club. He wondered if Mr. Moon had gotten his unpredictable side from his teacher, Yun Seo.

“OK! Coming, Mrs. Baek.”

“She loooves taking pictures.”

“We better go, Juho. She’s virtually unstoppable once she has a cara in her hands.”

Without saying much, the three imdiately rose from their seats. Juho quietly followed the figure that he had grown well-acquainted with.

With a tripod set up, the five stood in front of the cara and lined up shoulder to shoulder, looking right into the lens. The shutter sounded off.

“Agh! I think I blinked!”

“Let’s take another one!”

“I don’t think there’s much film left.”

“No, there’s plenty! Ready!”

Joon Soo set up the cara and rushed back to join the rest. Seasons change, and ti passes by like a river, ever flowing. By the ti Juho would reminisce back to that mont, what would he be writing?”

“Smile!”

With that, everyone smiled brightly. Because he had no answer, Juho decided to smile. The shutter sounded once again.

—

“That was delicious. It’s been a while since I’ve had this much fun too,” said Mr. Moon, patting his belly. Juho looked in his direction. The sun had already set. Having enjoyed his teacher’s cooking again for the first ti in years, Mr. Moon wore a satisfied smile. Though complaining about overeating, the smile on his face remained unchanged. Yun Seo’s house had the power to charm her guests. They wanted to stay as long as possible. That was how comfortable the house was.

“Do you know why I ca here today?” Mr. Moon asked suddenly, and Juho shook his head.

“Why?”

“I’m here to get advice on how to teach you.”

“?”

“Yep,” Mr. Moon said as he turned in Juho’s direction. “It seed to that you were going to end up being an author. Yes, you have the skills, but your posture and your attitude are just... natural. I’ve yet to see anyone like you, and of course, I’ve spent a significant amount of ti thinking about the best way to teach you. As you know, I’m not exactly the best teacher. It’d been a while since I’d visited her too, so I ca here to get so advice from Mrs. Baek. But, to my surprise, I ran into you.”

“Maybe this isn’t a coincidence after all.”

“Coincidence? No. It’s a result of having wrestled with myself. There is no such a thing as coincidence in this world. Or... I guess I’m looking at it in front of my eyes.”

(TL’s Note: Yun Woo would be Woo Yun in Korea, which sounds like the Korean for “coincidence.”)

Juho shrugged lightly.

“So, how are you planning on teaching ?”

“I’m going to let you be,” said Mr. Moon, smiling. “I don’t think there’s a better way to teach you than that.”

“How co? Why don’t you teach so basics? Like how to write a sentence.”

“You wrote a book for goodness sake.”

Juho looked up to the sky. The moon had co up, yet it wasn’t entirely dark out.

“It’s nice here, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“I loved it here. That’s why I held on to the best of my ability.”

Juho rembered their conversation from so ti ago.

“Was that when you wanted to be a genius?”

“Yep. That was when I was doing a lot of “physical labor.” Sitting here, it’s really taking back.”

“Do you regret it?”

Juho wondered if Mr. Moon had ever regretted having stopped writing. With a chuckle, Mr. Moon said, “Not at all. I loved every bit of my life back then, but on the other hand, it was a living hell.”

“How co?”

“Because I wrote. It felt like I kept going out of my way to awake the anger hidden deep within . All that, just to write.”

“I know what that’s like,” said Juho in a calm voice.

“Perks of having an author as a student.”

Crickets chirped in the distance.

“It was frightening when I realized that I didn’t have what it took to be a genius. It’s scary to not know where to go. I quickly found myself surrounded by darkness.”

“I see.”

“That’s when Mrs. Baek taught the word “great.””

Juho had received the word from soone who had received it from yet another person.

“I’d co to realize that I was gravely mistaken. Sothing broke, and I felt at peace. Then, I stopped writing. I felt like I could be a genius, but being great? That felt like a whole ‘nother level. I couldn’t even dare,” Mr. Moon said.

“I hate school, and work is a hassle, but I’m content with my life.”

He was content with his position as horoom teacher of the Literature Club.

“If I were writing still, I’d have never taught Yun Woo, you know?” he said playfully.

“I think you made a very wise decision, Mr. Moon,” said Juho, playing along to his joke.

“Aren’t you shaless.”

After a brief pause, Mr. Moon parted his lips to speak, “You are different.”

Unlike his teacher who distanced himself from writing when introduced to the idea of being great, Juho desired for such a title. In order to take hold of it, he was writing more than ever.

“Yes, and I will get what I want,” Juho said calmly.

‘He has what it takes. Everyone is moved by his writing, feeling hurt and loved at the sa ti. His readers will co to recognize him from deep within as ‘The Great Storyteller,’” thought Mr. Moon.

“Oh, so what are you going to?”

“About what?”

“Having your work on display.”

“‘Grains of Sand?’”

“Yes, the short story. Are you going to do it?”

“Yes, I am,” Juho answered without hesitation.

He had resolved to have his story on display. When would he ever get to have his work on display in the school library? He would be publishing it under his na, Juho Woo. It was new, and sothing that had never been done. He didn’t want to pass on such an exciting opportunity.

“I’ve never published anything under my real na. I’m feeling anxious.”

“How many people do you think will end up reading your story?”

“Who knows?”

“They’d freak out if they found out that they were reading Yun Woo’s work.”

“Like you?”

“Yes, exactly like , you punk.”

The chirping stopped montarily, and then it resud. It was a rather pleasant sound.

“Are you planning on telling your friends?”

He was referring to the rest of the club mbers.

Juho answered as he breathed in the fresh air, “Yes I am. They’d still treat and look at the sa way.”

Juho had spent the last year being around people who didn’t see him as Yun Woo. The once noisy space had taken on a different look. No one approached him with the knowledge of Juho being Yun Woo or with the intention of getting sothing from him. Simply, he had been their classmate and schoolmate. They treated one another as colleagues. Despite his writing, they saw Juho as who he really was. Now, another person who was willing to do the sa had co into his life.

Juho rested assured.

“I’m curious about their reactions.”

“Make sure their jaws don’t pop off.”

“Do you think it’ll be that bad?”

“Of course! Think about it! One of their friends has been Yun Woo all along. Haha! The thought of it is making laugh.”

“You’re having too much fun, Mr. Moon.”

While listening to his teacher laugh, Juho contemplated quietly on how to deliver the news to his friends.