Chapter 9 – You Can Do It
'What did that kid just say?'
Editor Samuel Ko blinked in disbelief.
Andrew Shin stood frozen.
Even Ethan could only stare at Johan with wide eyes.
The lobby of the apartment building fell silent.
Johan met Andrew's eyes and spoke with unwavering seriousness.
"Please make it a short story, just like the editor suggested, Teacher."
Samuel looked between the two before pointing at Johan.
"Andrew... I've been meaning to ask."
"Who exactly are these kids?"
Andrew let out a long sigh.
"They've been helping me with my work... No..."
He looked at Johan.
"Johan... I appreciate what you're trying to do, but you're making it sound too simple."
Johan immediately shook his head.
"It's not simple."
"...Huh?"
"Teacher."
His voice grew firm.
"Comics aren't something to take lightly. A series deserves to reach its proper ending."
"..."
Andrew couldn't answer.
After a brief silence, Johan quietly added,
"If you give up now... you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
Regret.
The word lingered in the air.
Andrew looked into Johan's eyes.
There was conviction behind them.
Nothing more needed to be said.
Somehow...
The weight of those few words conveyed everything.
Kids these days...
They're terrifying.
Andrew forced an awkward smile.
"I understand why you're saying this."
"But drawing an entire short story in just two days..."
"Physically, it's impossible."
"It isn't."
"...What?"
"If I help you."
Johan answered without hesitation.
"If both of us work through the night for two days..."
"We'll finish it."
Andrew frowned.
"You?"
"You should be home sleeping."
Johan calmly extended his hand.
"May I borrow your phone?"
"My phone?"
Before Andrew could react—
Samuel stepped forward and handed over his foldable cellphone.
"Here."
Johan accepted it and dialed a number.
"Mom, it's me."
"..."
"I'll be staying here tonight."
"..."
"No, Ethan is here too."
"We've already eaten."
"Yes."
"I'll call if anything happens."
Although Alysa Seo's worried voice could be heard from the other end, Johan calmly reassured her before ending the call.
Click.
He handed the phone back.
"Thank you, Editor."
Samuel accepted it with a grin.
"So..."
"What exactly are you, kid?"
Johan smiled.
"I'm Andrew Shin's assistant."
"You?"
Samuel chuckled.
Before he could say anything else—
"Me too!"
Ethan hurriedly raised his hand.
"I'm helping too!"
Samuel looked toward Andrew.
Their eyes met.
No explanation was necessary.
The message was clear.
These kids were serious.
Life really shows you strange things.
Still...
An editor only cared about one thing.
Publishing good stories from good writers.
To Samuel...
Andrew was still a writer worth believing in.
If even two middle-school students were willing to help save his series...
Then as an editor—
He had no reason to refuse.
Samuel patted Johan's shoulder.
"Then I'm counting on you, young man."
"Yes."
Johan bowed slightly.
Samuel waved as he headed for the exit.
"Two days."
"You have exactly two days."
"The manuscript has to be on my desk before three in the afternoon."
"So hang in there."
"W-Wait, Editor Samuel!"
Andrew called after him.
But Samuel had already disappeared.
"..."
Andrew stood there in stunned silence.
What in the world just happened...?
Just then—
Tug.
Someone gently pulled on his sleeve.
It was Johan.
"Teacher."
"We can have pork belly another day."
"...Are you really okay with that?"
Johan smiled.
"If everything goes well..."
"You can buy me beef instead."
With that, he turned and headed upstairs.
Andrew stared after him.
Then—
He suddenly clenched both fists.
His eyes sharpened with determination.
"I'm coming too!"
Behind him—
Ethan hurried after them.
"Wait for me!"
***
A Short While Later
Inside the studio...
Johan sat across from Andrew's desk with an old sketchbook resting on his lap.
He carefully flipped through each page.
Andrew watched anxiously from the side.
"...What do you think?"
Johan slowly scratched his forehead.
"They aren't bad..."
"But..."
"I think these will be difficult to use."
Andrew's shoulders immediately slumped.
I figured...
The sketchbook contained short stories and storyboard drafts Andrew had drawn years before making his professional debut.
With only two days remaining...
These old ideas were all he had left.
The problem was—
Even Andrew thought they were outdated.
Still...
He had hoped Johan might discover something worth salvaging.
Unfortunately—
Johan simply shook his head.
None of them would work.
Over the past two weeks...
Andrew had gradually developed enormous trust in Johan's judgment.
Especially after hearing Johan's insightful analysis of Life at the Bottom.
Meanwhile—
Johan quietly thought,
Simply patching these up won't be enough.
This manuscript wasn't merely another submission.
It was the weapon Samuel intended to use against the editorial department.
If that weapon wasn't sharp enough...
If the manuscript couldn't make everyone reconsider Andrew's value as an author...
Everything they were doing would be meaningless.
We have to create something everyone will acknowledge as outstanding.
And we only have two days.
It wouldn't be easy.
But...
Johan wasn't nervous.
Thump.
Thump.
Instead—
His heart beat faster.
Excitement surged through his body.
***
Andrew grabbed his hair in frustration.
"Haa..."
"What should I draw...?"
The pressure weighed heavily on him.
Johan crossed his arms.
"Teacher."
"Is there a story you've always wanted to tell?"
Andrew blinked.
"...A story?"
"The best stories are born from the author's own desires."
"What does the protagonist want?"
"What kind of conflict does that desire create?"
"When a character reflects the author..."
"The story naturally comes alive."
Andrew lowered his gaze.
"...I've always expressed what I wanted through my work."
"The series I'm drawing now..."
"Is already the story I wanted to tell."
"That's true."
Johan nodded.
Andrew's works resembled independent films more than commercial manga.
His themes always came first.
Characters and events existed to convey a message.
It wasn't the typical style that prioritized excitement and wish fulfillment.
That type of creator...
Needs time to discover the right story.
Johan knew that well.
During his previous life as a webtoon artist...
He had worked with countless creators like Andrew.
Unlike artists who could produce ideas endlessly...
Writers like Andrew couldn't create unless they genuinely had something to say.
Which meant—
Instead of forcing him...
They needed to uncover the story hidden inside him.
After thinking for a moment, Johan spoke.
"Teacher..."
"For this short story..."
"What if you told your own story?"
"...What?"
Just then—
Without warning—
"I was undefeated back then!"
Ethan suddenly popped his head between them.
His mouth was completely stuffed with ramen.
Johan frowned.
"...Please move."
He pushed Ethan's face aside with one hand.
"Mmph..."
Ethan swallowed his noodles before asking,
"So..."
"What do you mean by telling your own story?"
"Aren't we supposed to make a comic?"
Johan sighed.
"As a reader..."
"I think your greatest strength lies in how carefully you capture ordinary moments."
"The details."
"The emotions."
"The little things people overlook."
Andrew blinked.
"...Really?"
"Yes."
"If we want the highest quality possible in only two days..."
"We should build the story around your greatest strength."
Andrew slowly nodded.
"...That makes sense."
"If I'm writing about myself..."
"I won't need to spend time figuring out emotional details."
"I already know them."
"Exactly."
"I think that's our best chance."
Andrew stood.
"Alright."
"I'll start storyboarding."
"Give me a little time."
"I'll finish as quickly as I can."
"Yes."
Johan returned to his seat.
Just in case something unexpected happened...
He quietly began writing possible backup ideas inside his notebook.
Meanwhile—
Ethan finished his ramen and happily spent the next hour reading comic books.
***
About an hour later—
Andrew exhaled deeply.
"...Finished."
Already?
That's faster than I expected.
Johan smiled.
"Teacher..."
"May I read it?"
"Of course."
Andrew handed him the storyboard.
"Me too!"
Ethan immediately leaned over.
The two quietly read every page.
Johan's expression grew increasingly serious.
Page after page.
Until finally—
He reached the end.
Andrew nervously asked,
"So..."
"What do you think?"
Johan gently stroked his chin.
"The details are excellent."
"The directing is solid."
"The panel layouts are well balanced."
"The dialogue flows naturally."
"Overall..."
"It's very well made."
The story was simple.
A boy discovers his love for drawing after receiving praise from his elementary school art teacher.
He grows up to become a comic artist.
Years later...
Burdened by mediocre success and self-doubt...
He meets the God of Comics in a dream.
Through their conversation...
He finds the answer he had been searching for.
The message was clear.
The emotional beats were strong.
And the final meeting with the God of Comics created a memorable visual climax.
Everything worked.
Except...
"...I think it's a little difficult."
Ethan scratched his head.
"I don't really get it."
Andrew smiled awkwardly.
"...My comics have always been like that."
Before he could continue—
Johan quietly asked,
"Teacher..."
"Do you think this is enough to make the editorial department change its decision?"
"..."
Andrew froze.
He immediately understood.
This wasn't simply about finishing a manuscript.
They needed a manuscript that would force the editors to reconsider.
Looking at the storyboard again...
He slowly lowered his head.
It's just another version of what I've always drawn...
His throat tightened.
But...
I don't know how to improve it.
He looked toward Johan.
The boy was still staring at the storyboard with complete concentration.
As though trying to find its flaws.
After a long silence—
Andrew finally spoke.
"...Johan."
"Yes?"
"If you have any ideas..."
"Anything at all..."
"Please tell me."
"I know it's embarrassing."
"I'm supposed to be the professional."
"And you're only a middle-school student."
"But..."
"We don't have enough time for me to break out of my own habits."
Johan thought quietly.
Then he answered.
"After hearing Ethan's opinion..."
"I think the story needs more genre appeal."
Andrew frowned.
"...Genre appeal."
Johan nodded.
"This manuscript lacks anticipation."
"It lacks excitement."
"It lacks the twists readers naturally expect from comics."
"Your strengths are subtle."
"They require time."
"But short stories don't have that luxury."
"The pacing is hurting those strengths."
Andrew nodded before immediately grabbing the storyboard again.
"...Give me thirty minutes."
"I'll revise it."
Scratch.
Scratch.
Scratch.
Thirty minutes later—
He returned.
"How about this version?"
The biggest change—
Instead of meeting the God of Comics in a dream...
The protagonist was pulled into another world after reading a mysterious comic book inside his studio.
The fantasy elements added stronger visual impact.
It was undeniably more entertaining.
But...
Johan slowly closed the storyboard.
He met Andrew's eyes.
"...It's definitely better."
He paused.
Then spoke honestly.
"But I still don't think it's enough, Teacher."