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:

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  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...