<Lout of Count's Family> Interview with Authors Byeol Na-Lae & PAN4
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vol. 250
[Lout of Count's Family]
Authors Byeol Na-Lae & PAN4 | KakaoPage
A chaotic adventure fantasy featuring a handsome guy next to another handsome guy!
The loutish young master's peaceful (read: perilous) challenge to become a slacker,
spilling all the behind-the-scenes secrets in this interview! 🚀💖
Explosive synergy from Byeol Na-Lae's god-tier adaptation and PAN4's national-treasure-level artwork!🧨
Interview with Authors Byeol Na-Lae & PAN4 of <Lout of Count's Family>,
Starting right now!
[INTRO]
Q. Author Byeol Na-Lae, Author PAN4! It is an infinite honor to have you for this interview!
Please briefly introduce yourselves before we begin.
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ Hello. I am Byeol Na-Lae, the writer in charge of
the adaptation and script for <Lout of Count's Family>.
△ Hello~!
[About Byeol Na-Lae & PAN4]
Q. I'm curious how you decided on your pen names!
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ It's a combination of 'Byeol' (star) and 'Narae' (wings) in pure Korean. I've always loved stars so much,
so I created this name imagining a star spreading its wings.
Also, I think I wanted a name that sounds pretty when spoken out loud. 😄
PAN4 _ I actually chose the nickname back in middle school.
'Pansa' (Judge) was the name of a character in a classic literature book I was reading at the time.
I signed up for Naver right after reading it,
and typed it in following my stream of consciousness, so embarrassingly, it doesn't really have a meaning. 😅
After that, following an acquaintance's recommendation, I changed the Korean nickname
to 'PAN4', a mix of English and a number. (Because they said it looked cool...)
And when the series launched, my PD recommended I use the same nickname
I used on my SNS accounts, so it eventually became my pen name.
If I ever get the chance, I might want to change it.
Q. Was there a specific moment that made you decide to become a webtoon author?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ I think the biggest catalyst was helping out as an assistant
on the debut work of the artist I debuted with.
I'm actually still working on projects with that artist today.
PAN4 _ Rather than a grand decision, I had an interest in animation and webtoons since I was young.
I wanted to work in this field when I was a student, but
due to environmental reasons, I couldn't formally learn illustration or comics.
The dream slowly faded as it seemed vague,
but later in college, I bought a tablet
and started drawing digitally as a hobby, and it was so much fun.
I drew this and that, and an opportunity arose, making me a webtoon artist.
Because I had that childhood curiosity about webtoons,
I think it naturally led me to take this path as a career.
Q. Outside of work, I'm curious about your hobbies or how you relieve stress in your daily life.
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ Maybe because I write all day, drawing is actually
my little hobby.
I draw things I like while also studying art.
And I relieve stress by listening to songs from my favorite idols.
PAN4 _ To be honest, I think my hobby is also drawing. I like to doodle.
And in my daily life, I watch OTT platforms or occasionally play games with friends.
I really love light sitcoms like Brooklyn Nine-Nine or Modern Family.
When I work or just in general, I tend to stick to shows I'm familiar with,
so I think I've rewatched them all at least 10 times.
I also really enjoy taking walks, used to walk for about an hour every day.
Even now, taking a walk and having a bath are the best ways for me to relieve stress.
Q. I'm curious about your workspace, could you introduce it to us?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ Yes, of course.
It seemed like drawing one's workspace was trending recently, so I did a quick sketch of mine.
△ Byeol Na-Lae's Workspace
PAN4 _ This is my most recent setup.
I don't usually decorate my room at all, but just having a desk felt a bit empty...
I recently moved during the hiatus, so I tried decorating a little bit.
I use a large desk, so I'm happy I finally have a room just for my work setup.
As for tools, I rely heavily on my armrest.
It has become a part of my body;
I've reached a point where I can't draw without it...
I highly recommend it to other Cintiq users.👍
△ PAN4's Workspace
[About Byeol Na-Lae]
Q. Do you have your own standards or favorite genres when reading webtoons or novels?
A. I don't discriminate when it comes to genres,
but since I've written romance for a long time, I tend to favor the romance genre the most.
Q. What do you consider the most important element when conceptualizing or adapting a work,
and what preparation process do you go through before starting?
A. First and foremost, the preferences of my partner artists are the most important.
The final product of a webtoon relies heavily on the art—the visual image—so
I pay the most attention to the artists' tastes and the scenes they prefer.
Therefore, before starting the work, I meet with the artists
to ask about the scenes they want to draw and their dialogue preferences.
After understanding their tastes, I proceed with the script.
Q. What part of the adaptation process do you find the most difficult or challenging?
A. Since a single chapter of a novel contains a lot of content,
it's often impossible to condense it into a single webtoon episode.
Because of that, the early stages of adaptation were the most difficult.
<Lout of Count's Family> is a novel that is still ongoing, and
I started with the mindset that I needed to direct it delicately
so readers could understand it just by reading the webtoon.
Also, I was greedy and wanted to show all the scenes that readers would love.
Now I've adapted to the process, and thanks to the generous readers
who understand and enjoy the webtoon despite the omitted or cut parts,
I'm gradually managing the pacing and volume.
△ Novel Cover (Excerpt from PAN4's 'X') & Season 4 Cover
[About PAN4]
Q. Are there any role models or artists who influenced your art style?
A. I can't pinpoint just one, but reading various works is
a tremendously good experience, which I belatedly realized.
Since about two years ago, I've been getting comic recommendations and trying to read them whenever I have free time.
There are so many amazing artists in the world I want to emulate!
Q. What visual element do you consider most important when working,
and what goals do you have while drawing?
A. I believe the direction of most visual elements is determined during the storyboard phase, so
I tend to put more thought into revising the storyboards.
And during the drawing stage, the part I care about the most is
stable drawing and the visual appeal of the characters.
I especially try to convey the characters' unique traits and emotions vividly.
Ultimately, every element of the artwork is important, but
to ensure the readers waiting for each episode are satisfied,
I always put all my energy into the visual aspects as best as I can.
Q. Do you have a specific work environment to boost your efficiency?
A. I truly believe working in the morning suits me best, but
it's not easy to change and fix my sleep schedule.
(As of writing this interview, I've been sleeping in the mornings for over half a year...)
When I draw, I tend to relax my wrists completely, so
a light, fast, and sharp brush with low stabilization settings
fits my hand well.
Whether it's coloring, line art, webtoons, croquis, or personal hobbies,
I've been consistently using the "Achoo Achoo Pen" registered in Clip Studio Assets for years.
Thank you for making such a great pen...
△ Let's take a brief moment of appreciation~! 📢
[About <Lout of Count's Family>]
Q. Could you tell us how you came to work on this project together and your first meeting?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ I took on this work following a recommendation from my agency.
Actually, I was initially offered to adapt a different work.
I agreed to take it and was mentally preparing, but
due to various circumstances, I couldn't take on that first project, and
eventually, <Lout of Count's Family> came to me.
Q. What efforts did you make to strike a balance between the expectations of the original novel's readers and the webtoon's unique directing?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ When it was decided I would take on the work... I thought about it a lot.
'Can I really take this on?'
The original work is so famous that almost everyone has heard of it at least once, so
I was really worried if the adapted webtoon would satisfy the original readers.
So, after the artist was chosen, we had time to discuss
the direction of the work.
I think the artist and I matched very well in discussing the direction.
We decided to work in a way that preserved the original atmosphere as much as possible.
Given the nature of the work, the narrative between the characters is the most important, so
we kept the story progression true to the original, but
for parts that could be effectively expressed visually, we made them flashier and more impactful.
To prevent conversations from feeling boring, we used appropriate directing with
character composition, gaze, backgrounds, and props.
We maximized the strengths of the webtoon format.
△ A medley of strengths 🎶
Q. During your collaboration, if there were any conflicts regarding dialogue, expressions, or composition,
how did you coordinate them? Could you give specific examples and the resolution process?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ Even reading the same text can lead to different imaginations and thoughts.
However, there were no major conflicts regarding the directing. Thankfully.☺️
Hoping the artist would understand the character's emotions, the flow of dialogue,
and the direction while reading my script, I tend to write it as detailed as possible from the start, but
knowing that the same text can be interpreted differently,
I thought it was only natural for slight modifications to occur when translating it into drawings.
Moreover, each artist has their own unique directing style, and I respect that.
Also, I have a lot of trust in meeting such an incredibly talented artist.
PAN4 _ During the very early seasons, I sometimes requested more detailed scripts,
but ultimately, no matter the format of the script, each
individual pictures different images in their head.
So later on, during the process of translating it to drawings, I chose to slightly alter certain directing choices,
dialogue placements, or expressions after putting some thought into it.
Since the main framework of the story remains the same even with minor changes,
there hasn't really been anything we needed to deeply coordinate.
I am always grateful to Author Byeol Na-Lae.😄
Q. What is your most cherished or structurally satisfying scene/episode in the webtoon,
and why?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ For me, it's the 'Prologue'.
While there are many readers from the original novel, there are also those starting through the webtoon.
So, the prologue is the episode I spent the most time agonizing over and putting effort into,
to ensure readers could grasp the identity of <Lout of Count's Family> and
the main characters' personalities right from the start.
It is the very first episode presented to the readers and
the 'first footstep' into the world of the story.
PAN4 _ If I had to pick from the early episodes, I personally like episodes 26 and 27.
I was worried because the outfit Cale wore at that time was blue, but
I vividly remember feeling so relieved because the readers loved it so much.
Also, since these episodes were drawn not long after Season 1 launched,
the nervousness I felt while drawing those scenes is still as clear as if it were yesterday.
Q. When adapting the vast original work into a webtoon, what was the main focus of your adaptation?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ My main focus is definitely the volume and the directing.
I pay the most attention to the amount of work the artist can handle in one season and one episode,
and how to maximize the visual impact through directing.
As a colleague working together on such a massive project,
the artist's health is my biggest concern. 😅
Q. Were there scenes or dialogue beloved by the novel readers that you particularly tried to preserve in the webtoon?
How did you feel when that scene was finally revealed in the webtoon?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ I'm not sure if it was their absolute favorite, but I think the most memorable episode
was episode 112, which featured the 'Venion torture scene.'
Readers who saw the scene where the dragon character 'Raon' was rescued early on
had probably been waiting for this moment of revenge.
It was a bit regrettable that I couldn't portray it as fully as it was described in the original novel, but
I expressed it as much as possible within the webtoon format.
I was happy that many readers sympathized with Raon's emotions and
left comments expressing their thoughts after reading the webtoon, like
'Parts were omitted, but the webtoon was great in its own way,' and
'This is brutal, but the novel was even more brutal?'
△ Raon... 💧
Q. When designing the main characters, how did you aim to visually express each character's traits?
A. PAN4 _ Taking the recently introduced main character 'Eruhaben' as an example,
I focused on bringing out an elegant and beautiful vibe fitting his setting as a handsome Dragon.
I drew his eyelashes longer than other characters, and
used a yellowish tint for the line art to emphasize his smooth hair,
differentiating him from human characters and carefully highlighting
the exotic charm unique to his race.
△ My eyes were blessed right here. 🌟
Q. When conceptualizing designs and effects for characters with diverse races, magic, and abilities,
what was the most difficult or exciting part?
A. PAN4 _ Due to the nature of the genre, being able to draw diverse races rather than just humans is always exciting.
For character designs, I gather as many descriptions from the novel as possible and design based on the text,
but usually, even for main characters, descriptions are scarce or non-existent,
so I have a lot of freedom, which makes it both easy and somewhat challenging.
Also, as the cast grows, it's always a struggle to give each character and race
distinct personalities without overlapping, while maintaining the visual consistency
of the entire work.
For supporting or main characters with a significant presence, I send the drafted designs
to the original author beforehand to receive feedback.
Author Yu Ryeo Han almost always approved them right away, so most of the characters
ended up keeping their initial designs. I'm always very grateful for that.
Q. I'm curious if you had reference materials or setting standards when designing the backgrounds in the work.
A. PAN4 _ Right now, it's a bit embarrassing for me to talk about standards since the background artist takes care of everything (👍), but
back when I had to handle backgrounds early on, I read the novel taking notes to find commercially available assets
that had similar descriptions or vibes.
Q. 'Lout of Count's Family' has a large amount of text. I wonder how you applied directing techniques to improve readability.
A. PAN4 _ When transitioning from the script to the visual storyboard, I autonomously make slight revisions
so the flow reads as naturally as possible.
I slightly omit panels or dialogue deemed unnecessary,
change the panel order, or add panels to provide extra explanation where needed,
reading through it multiple times.
Also, I'm not a fan of panels feeling too cramped or vertical scrolls getting too long,
so I pay close attention to adjusting the dynamics of panel sizes.
Q. If there are original elements or directing specific to the webtoon that aren't in the original novel,
I'm curious about the background and intent.
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ Since we've been respecting the original work throughout the serialization,
there haven't been major deviations from the novel, nor did I do a complete reimagining.
Nevertheless, if I had to pick the biggest difference, it would again be the 'Prologue'.
The original novel starts straight away with the story of the protagonist, Cale.
However, to understand the possession trope of the original world, explaining the in-universe novel
<The Birth of a Hero> was essential.
So, unlike the original, the webtoon started by first unraveling Choi Han's story, <The Birth of a Hero>.
After all, <Lout of Count's Family> is 'Kim Roksu's story',
who possessed the character Cale inside the novel <The Birth of a Hero>, where Choi Han is the main character.
The intention was to ensure that even readers who haven't read the original novel
could easily understand that premise.
Q. What do you think is the biggest success factor for the 'Lout of Count's Family' webtoon?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ The first factor is definitely the solid original work.
While working on it so far, I find it amazing that despite its vast scale,
all the foreshadowing is flawlessly resolved without any loose ends.
The second factor is the artwork that handles the visual aspect of the webtoon.
When the webtoon launched, there was so much praise for the artist's drawings.
I was so grateful for comments hoping for a long serialization.
I, working alongside them, think the exact same thing every day.☺️
Lastly, the third factor seems to be the stable release schedule.
Because the original covers such vast content, I suggested a seasonal system
from the beginning of the webtoon preparation. Establishing this stable seasonal serialization
allowed readers to rest assured and excitedly await the next season and chapters,
and the artists could also take care of their health while running this long serialization.
We've maintained that release rhythm well up to Season 4,
and now we're working on Season 5.
I hope you look forward to the next season, and the season after that.💖
Q. How do you hope the webtoon 'Lout of Count's Family' is remembered by readers?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ I hope it's remembered as a work that perfectly captured the original novel.
From the very beginning when I took on this project, I was well aware of the readers' deep affection for the original work,
which put a lot of pressure on me, but I also think it's thanks to that that we received so much love.
So I am still pouring my heart into this work with affection and responsibility for the original story.
PAN4 _ This is my first long-term project, and since I initially handled everything from the storyboard to
the final stages mostly by myself within a strict deadline,
I do feel some regrets about the quality when I look back now.
As the chapters progress, I've got assistant artists helping out, and
everyone is working on it with great care and affection,
so I hope that as time goes by, it can be seen as a work that captures
the fun of the original even more fully.
[Outro]
Q. Even if it's not your next project, if you were given infinite time and capital,
is there a specific genre or story you'd definitely want to write or draw?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ I have a desire to write a romance fantasy.
I currently have projects in serialization or preparation, so
I wanted to try adapting a script if an offer came in, but sadly, I haven't received one yet.
PAN4 _ I actually quite like the slice-of-life and comedy genres.
If I imagine drawing an original comic with absolutely no restrictions or conditions,
I'd like to draw a slice-of-life comedy that highlights the characters' unique traits.
School life and romance are also genres I want to challenge.
Q. Do you have any moments where you felt inspired or comforted by fan art or fan messages?
Could you share a memorable episode?
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ Working on a project for such a long time, there was a period when I looked back and wondered if I was doing a good job.
I think it was a slump or burnout back then.
But one fan said this to me:
'I only read the webtoon, but the fact that it's smooth to read and easy to understand means
the adaptation must be done really well.' I was so incredibly thankful for those words.
Trusting those words, I was able to find the strength to keep working.
PAN4 _ The cheering messages from the readers are always a huge source of emotion.
Whenever I read them, I gain a lot of strength and get choked up.
I also always look at the fan art you draw with a joyful heart.
Furthermore, when fans host Lout of Count's Family fan events, they even send me event merchandise.
There was even a fan in Taiwan who sent me a Cale doll they made themselves.
I'm so grateful that so many people take care of me alongside the work, and
I'm safely storing all the items I've received from fans over the years.
△ Fans full of love and an author full of love 💌
Q. Lastly, if you have anything you want to say to the readers who have loved <Lout of Count's Family>,
please say as much as you'd like.
A. Byeol Na-Lae _ The serialization that began on August 31, 2020, has been able to continue all the way to 2026 entirely
thanks to the readers who have supported it up to now.
Thank you so much for running alongside the webtoon <Lout of Count's Family> for such a long time.
There might be parts where it falls short of encompassing the entire original work, and things you might find regrettable while reading, but
I will continue to do my best so that the webtoon <Lout of Count's Family> remains a great piece of work.
Therefore, I hope you stay with us until the day the series concludes.💖
Please continue to support us in 2026. Thank you.
PAN4 _ Thanks to the readers seeking out our work and sending their support,
I think I was able to make it all the way to Season 4.
To repay you, I want to become an artist who diligently improves.
Thank you always for loving Lout of Count's Family!