Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 53

053. Oh mein Gott (1) [Oh my God, in German]

2021.12.23.

[Harvestable Lifespan: +27 days] This was the first request notification I’d seen since the prima donna with the mesmerizing eyes. “We’ll take a short break here. If you head north of the plaza, you’ll find a market used by the locals, and if you go that way, you’ll find a street with cafes where you can enjoy delicious coffee! It’s 1:45 PM now, so I’ll give you until 2:30 PM!” Just in perfect timing, the guide announced the free time. [Yeon-woo, you’re going to do it, right?] “Of course.” [I feel like there’s something unusual about that old man. Are you still going to do it?] “That’s why I have to do it even more. Why? Are you scared?” Ever since we were both charmed by the prima donna, Dong-ja Ryung had been wary of ghosts who seemed powerful. [Even though I am, uh? A very great, uh? Dong-ja Ryung of Korea? I’m not scared at all!] You’re totally scared. It seemed like his pride was scratched. I understand. Dong-ja Ryung doesn’t say it, but he’s been around for quite a while and is a seasoned spirit who was by Lady Kang Yeon-hwa’s side. ‘But that Mari something-or-other charmed even such a Dong-ja Ryung for a moment.’ That might be the power of a master who has mastered a field. [Are you really going? Are you really going?] “Yeah, I’m really going.” [What if it’s dangerous!] “It’s not dangerous, so stop chirping.” The musician playing the violin was wearing old and worn clothes. However, the violin itself seemed well-maintained, with a subtle sheen on its body. “Translation.” [Yes, translation!] The translator, who had been watching, quickly jumped over. “What are you doing here?” The musician glanced at Yeon-woo, who seemed strange for suddenly approaching and talking to himself. [Huh? Is he talking to me?] “Yes, I’m talking to you.” [Hmm… I’m enjoying the music right now. It’s quite amazing to see a living human who can see me. Since we’ve met, I’ll tell you something good.] An eccentric-looking middle-aged man, who had been squatting next to the musician with his chin resting on his hand, grabbed Yeon-woo’s sleeve. Thanks to that,
-Ding!
-Name: Niccolò Paganini (75/Male)
-Occupation: Virtuoso, Devil’s Violinist
-Disposition: Chaotic Neutral
-Specialties: Performance skills that deceive God’s ears [S+], Improvisational and brilliant melody [S], Demonic violin performance [SS], Acrobatics combined with technique [S+], Magician of strings [S+], …….
-Favorability: Neutral
-Current Physical Condition: –
-Current Emotional State: Nostalgia
***Currently, some items cannot be opened.
***Detailed information about this person is hidden.
***Additional harvestable stats: Improvisational and brilliant performance [A+]
I could see the identity of the middle-aged man who was squatting. The owner of stats that would make your eyes pop out could only be a master. ‘There are masters and S-ranks everywhere. What’s an SS-rank?’ It was surprising to see an S+ rank for the first time, but this was an SS rank. “Paganini?” Yeon-woo called out his name without thinking, and the middle-aged man was surprised. [Oh, do you know me?] “I know you as the musician who was said to be possessed by the devil.” [What? Haha! So that’s how I’m known in later generations? Well, the priest who watched my last moments thought I was completely possessed by the devil, so it’s understandable. He was a very innocent man. Even if I teased him a bit…….] “What are you doing sitting here?” Yeon-woo cut him off appropriately. [I was enjoying the performance of this passionate musician.] Paganini looked at the musician with wistful eyes. [You may or may not know, but I am a genius.] “Yes……” [What is that reaction? Hmm. Anyway, no one doubted my talent. Even those who ignored me praised me after listening to my performance! That felt so good. So, from some point on, I became more interested in my worldly pleasures and the money I earned in my name than the joy of performing. Well, I won’t deny that gambling played a part in that.] Ah, so you gambled too. [I should have stopped performing and rested when I got sick? Then I could have played the violin for a little longer.] A self-deprecating voice. [That musician’s violin has strings that stick out, the tone is very rough, and the resonance isn’t good, so it’s no different from a cheap one. Besides, his skills are terrible! He’s not even up to my son’s level! But you know what? The violin is cheap, but he cherishes it, so it’s in good condition.] Paganini’s tone, which seemed to be full of insults, subsided. [Even though he has such a cheap instrument that’s no different from kindling and terrible skills, it was nice to see him playing as if he was the happiest person in the world.] The emotion on Paganini’s face was clear envy. Yeon-woo asked. “Do you want to perform?” [Hmm?] “If you were just enjoying it, you wouldn’t be looking at him with such longing.” [……Did I look like that?] “Yes.” To be exact, the lifespan floating above his head told me that, but whatever. [Perform… Perform… I don’t even remember when I last held a violin. Perform, of course I want to.] “Will you do it?” [But I’m already dead and can’t even hold a violin, so how can I perform?] “You can. I’ll ask again. Will you do it?” Paganini silently looked into Yeon-woo’s face. [Somehow, your words are tempting me like a rope sent down from heaven. If you ask me if I want to, if I will do it, of course, I will!] “Good. The contract is concluded.” Yeon-woo smiled with satisfaction.
***
The change happened suddenly. “Huh? What is Yeon-woo doing over there?” The staff who had been released by the guide in the plaza and chose to rest instead of sightseeing. It was natural that their eyes were on Yeon-woo. From the beginning, Yeon-woo had an attractive appearance that subtly captivated people’s attention. But from some point on, Yeon-woo had a unique aura. -Yeon-woo’s voice? Why even talk about it? It’s just like a drug. There’s a strong rumor that the radio station is trying to scout him. -Don’t you feel a little fluttery when you look into Yeon-woo’s eyes? Is that the aura of a star? Kwon Seong-hyun is like that too. I don’t think Kwon Seong-hyun brought Yeon-woo for no reason. Before they knew it, Yeon-woo was boasting a presence comparable to Kwon Seong-hyun among the staff. So, it was natural that their eyes were on him. “Looks like he’s interested in busking?” “Does that person play well? Should we go listen?” It was when the staff was getting up one by one. “Huh?” Yeon-woo, who seemed to be talking to the performer, suddenly received the violin from the performer. “Is he going to perform that, by any chance?” “Looks like it?” “Camera. Where did I put the camera?” “I have one! One that can record video!” “Wow. Good job. As expected of someone from the filming team……” The staff picked up the cameras so naturally, without anyone telling them to. They knew instinctively. The scene they were about to film was a very precious scene that they couldn’t see even if they paid for it. And. Their expectations soon became reality.

***
“You want to play my violin?”
“Of course, I’ll pay a usage fee.”
“……I think you’d have a better violin.”
“No. What I want to play is your violin. What do you say? Do you hate it?”
“It’s not that I hate it……”
“I’ll pay a usage fee and let you earn more money.”
The amount in the old hat in front of him was only small change. The performer’s face was filled with worry. Asking to borrow an instrument that someone has used is endlessly rude and impolite, depending on the person. Normally, he should have been angry. However.
‘Strangely……. I can’t get angry.’
Suddenly, he throws out rude words, but strangely, he doesn’t feel bad at all. It’s like he feels like he has to grant his request? He feels like he has to give him everything, whether it’s the violin or money.
The performer unknowingly handed over the violin he was holding. “Thank you.” Only then did he realize his actions in surprise. The violin he had been cherishing was already in the other person’s hands. ‘It’s like I’m possessed by something.’ The performer stepped back a little with a dazed feeling. It doesn’t seem like he’ll damage the instrument or run away with it.
“I won’t cause any harm to your kindness.”
The mind that he had barely stabilized was shaken again by the smiling face. However, what shocked the performer even more was the other person’s performance that followed immediately. “……Oh mein Gott [Oh my God, in German].” The bow, made of hundreds of strands of horsehair, powerfully rubbed and passed over the strings. The melody that followed immediately was enough to give the performer goosebumps.
♩♬♪♬♪
The bow rubbing the strings moved incessantly. The fingers doing the fingering also moved quickly, but accurately achieving their purpose without a single mistake, running over the violin. “He must be famous.”
“Oh my god. Look at that technique.”
“Shh! Be quiet, you’re disturbing him.”
The trill made by the straight and smooth fingertips made people’s hearts flutter together. Every time the staccato and legato were exquisitely contrasted, they repeatedly stiffened and relaxed together. Before they knew it, even passersby stopped and looked at the young man in front of them. As if they were afraid of breaking the young man’s concentration, no one even made a proper breathing sound. Everyone in the square was captivated by the violin’s melody that gave them goosebumps and drew them in. They didn’t even know what song it was, but it was enough to be mesmerized without thinking. And.
“Hoo…….”
When the bow fell from the string with the intense last note. Only silence filled the square. Those who could not escape from the deep lingering emotion blankly looked at Yeon-woo. Clapping……. Clapping…….
A small clapping sound was heard from somewhere. Only then did people wake up from their dreams and come to their senses one by one. And finally.
Clap clap clap! Clap clap!
An unprecedentedly huge applause erupted, filling the square.
***
“Hoo…….”
My arms and shoulders are stiff. [Haa. That’s right. That’s exactly what it felt like……! Playing the violin is exactly this feeling!] Just one song. However, as you can see from the status window, Paganini was a man who used tremendous skills. “Couldn’t you have gone a little easier? How can you work a beginner’s body so hard?” [Hard work! When I was in my prime, it was a way I used to play every minute and every second without any problems!]
That’s what you call hard work. But what.
‘Why is it so quiet around here?’
Yeon-woo stretched his stiff neck left and right and looked around. For some reason, there were a lot of people staring blankly at him. “Hey, you…… are you perhaps a violinist? If you don’t mind, may I know your name?” It was the performer who lent him the violin who broke the silence. “I’m not a violinist.” It’s not a lie. Paganini, who played using Yeon-woo’s arm, had the title of ‘Master,’ but only as an arm. [One song. I want to do just one more song.] No. This old man? [Really! Please let me play just one more song!]
Paganini, who had thrown away his seemingly detached attitude, pleaded with Yeon-woo. Yeon-woo looked at the performer instead of answering. “Would it be okay to play one more song?” The performer, whose eyes met his, flinched. His Adam’s apple seemed to move. Just when his eyes seemed dazed. Clap clap clap!
Suddenly, a huge applause erupted. “Oh, my god!”
“I can’t believe it!”
“Such a performance!”
Numerous people poured out exclamations. And as much as that, the money piled up in the old hat also increased. “Encore!”
“One more song!”
Whee-e-e-k!
Perhaps because of the burning atmosphere. “Y-yes, of course.” The performer, who swallowed his saliva once again, barely nodded. [Good. Shall we go a little softer this time?]
Paganini, muttering in an excited tone, moved his hand again.