Become A Music Monster Overnight! [EN]: Chapter 4

2. Music Genius at Thirty?

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“!!!!”

No sooner had I woken up than something surged from the depths of my stomach, and I rushed to the bathroom.

-Uweeaaeeaaack!-

And with my face buried in the filthy toilet, I vomited and vomited again.

I was tormented, vomiting endlessly as if trying to empty everything inside me, but the real ordeal came after that.

-Kwa-deu-deu-deuk!-

A vast, irresistible force seemed to be arbitrarily kneading my brain.

In response to its touch, the nerves throughout my body went wild, and every part of my flesh, including my limbs, twisted and stiffened repeatedly.

The distinctions between sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing blurred, and eventually, even my sense of self as an individual began to fade.

The pain was so intense that I couldn’t even scream, and I might have died from shock if I hadn’t lost consciousness beforehand.

‘…..?’

I regained consciousness to something tickling my cheek.

It was the early sunlight streaming through a small window in the corner of the bathroom.

The sunlight, filtered through the opaque glass, wasn’t particularly bright, but it was enough to illuminate the dark bathroom.

For a long time, I stared at the sunlight beyond the window.

It wasn’t because that insignificant ray of sunlight felt special.

“….That was real?”

It was because I knew that the life in that dream, which I had dismissed as a lucid dream, was not an illusion.

The reason for my certainty was none other than the memories of another life spanning over 21 years.

Memories that were imprinted as if with a seal.

“Eueuheuheuk!”

Thanks to that, I had to cry and cry again.

It was difficult to cope with the emotions brought about by that enormous amount of imprinted memories.

Only after a long time of sobbing, shedding tears, snot, and even drool, did I finally manage to collect myself.

And only then was I able to properly confront the situation I was in.

“The Butterfly Effect….”

Ironically, the first thing that came to my mind in this bizarre situation was the movie ‘The Butterfly Effect,’ which I had seen a long time ago.

The movie ‘The Butterfly Effect’ was based on the butterfly effect theory, which states that ‘a small event, like the flapping of a butterfly’s wings, can lead to enormous and unexpected consequences later on.’

Simply put, if one thing changes, everything can change. Just like the protagonist in the movie, who changed a moment in the past through his diary, my entire life had changed.

Like the protagonist in that movie, I was no different.

In the dream, I learned that I had a talent for music because my father didn’t die.

I was no longer plagued by persistent poverty, and I was able to blossom my musical talent with the belief and support of my parents.

A completely different environment from mine, where I was busy working part-time from the age of 17 before my high school internship.

That’s why I… that guy was able to soar endlessly.

“And like Icarus, who approached the sun, he fell.”

Because he flew too high, my fall was a complete mess.

Unlike the dream I had seen in fragments, I in the memories imprinted in my head was more than just disheveled.

“You stupid bastard.”

I wouldn’t have met such a foolish end.

The life I had lived was too rough and barren to be caught up in something like that.

The world’s prejudices were my enemy from the start, and what I had to protect against such a world was too precious.

That’s why I had to face the fierce life with my whole body, and at some point, I was firmly grown.

On the other hand, he lived a life as if the whole world was helping him.

Everything he wanted to do went smoothly, as if he didn’t know failure or hardship.

That’s not because of his overwhelming musical talent.

It was thanks to the many people who moved to help him, like the teachers who guided him on the path of music.

He was so immune to hardship and failure that it’s no wonder he collapsed so miserably.

-Bleep, bleep!-

The chain of thoughts was broken by an external noise.

It was the sound coming from the smartphone next to the bed.

“Haa~. I guess I’m dead today?”

Whatever the case, I had fainted from vomiting due to this bizarre incident. Since I have to go to work in that state, it would be good to be prepared for today.

After roughly finishing my preparations, I paused for a moment as I casually looked at the mirror next to the front door.

“What a sight.”

My face was so swollen and my red eyes were so severe that I ended up finding an old, long-brimmed hat and putting it on before leaving the house.

-Woo-oong!-

It was late, so I didn’t even think about eating toast, and I got on the bus and barely managed to grab a seat in the very back.

The woman next to me showed her annoyance, but I ignored it and closed my eyes as soon as I sat down.

‘I can’t sleep after all.’

It’s not that I’m not tired, but it would be stranger to be able to sleep after experiencing such a huge event.

So, naturally, the thought about this incident that had been cut off continued.

‘It’s such a bizarre thing that I put it aside for a while, but the amazing thing is not just that.’

I’m 30 years old this year, but the guy who died was 36 years old.

I thought for a moment that my memory was wrong because of the drugs I had taken, but no matter how I thought about it, my memory was not wrong.

And what that means is that I know the future for the next 6 years.

‘Come to think of it, should I see this as winning the lottery?’

It’s not an exaggeration to say that I won the American Super Lottery [a large jackpot prize].

-Thump! Thump!-

In the bus going to the factory in 2012.

I had a hard time coming to my senses for a while because of the pounding of my heart, which I suspected might be due to heartworm [parasitic worms affecting the heart].

I don’t remember how the factory work ended that day.

I couldn’t concentrate on my work at all because my mind was elsewhere.

It could have been an accident, but thanks to the fact that I had been eating oil [experiencing the hardships of factory work] for ten years, I was able to finish my work safely today.

-Woo-oong!-

I got on the returning bus and stared blankly out the window and muttered.

“First of all, I need to lose weight.”

Looking at my steamed bun-like face reflected in the window thanks to the cloudy weather today, I made a firm decision.

It was a word I took out every year at the New Year, or rather every quarter, but this time the feeling had to be different.

‘Envious bastard.’

The me in that world, who was a superstar, had a better appearance than I thought.

Of course, it’s not comparable to alien creatures with heads the size of fists and proportions of 8 heads or more [exaggeratedly small heads and perfect body ratios, a common beauty standard in some cultures], but at least I in that world never regretted my appearance.

Even if I wasn’t the top predator, I was able to climb to a similar predator position based on my musical talent and success.

Unlike me, who is still a virgin even at the age of 30, I was so envious of him, who had a flamboyant love affair that was even promiscuous.

The fact that I shared his memories quite vividly made me even more envious.

“I need to find a gym first.”

I had no intention of getting PT or personal training.

Wasn’t I the one who had accumulated mountains of know-how about management, starting with full-scale overseas expansion?

It was better to do it alone than to get PT, which was not yet professionally organized unlike overseas.

While I was making a diet plan in my head, the bus was already in front of the city.

The reason I took the time to go downtown after a long time is none other than this.

‘Guitar. I want to play the guitar.’

In that world, I played many instruments, but the instrument I cherished the most was the guitar. I didn’t let go of it even when I became a drug addict.

Of course, I did crazy things like smashing it with my own hands when I reached the end….

“It looks like it’s the weekend.”

I took a quick look at the city streets, which were crowded with people even though it was daytime, and then hurried my steps.

I know that even today won’t be enough to look around all the places I’ve been looking for during my breaks.

The first music store I found was a place that mainly bought and sold used instruments.

I wanted to get a Gibson Custom guitar, which I used to play, but it was just my heart’s desire and it was realistically impossible.

Even used Gibsons easily exceed several million won [Korean currency], and above all, I in this world had never played the guitar.

Of course, I shared the memories as if they were imprinted, but since nothing was engraved on my body, it was right to buy an entry-level guitar.

“It’s also cheap.”

However, even if I understand it with my head, my heart doesn’t.

Well, I was the best in the world at playing the guitar in that world, so it was natural.

Naturally, my eyes went to the used guitars.

Used guitars are not to be ignored.

In the case of high-end species that have been well-maintained, they sound better than new ones. Of course, the problem was that it was not easy to find such items, and the price increased due to discontinuation.

Anyway, I was thinking of compromising on the budget for my first guitar.

After failing twice, the third store I found was quite large. It looked like a small store on the outside, but when I went inside, it was quite large.

“What are you looking for?”

An old man with white hair, who looked like the owner, approached me as I was blankly looking around.

“I’m going to buy a guitar.”

The old man nodded with a friendly smile at the words that I was going to buy a guitar.

“I think acoustic guitars are becoming popular again these days because of audition programs.”

I came in the same clothes I wore when I was working at the factory, so he thought I was here to learn it as a hobby.

“No, not an acoustic guitar. I came to see an electric guitar.”

“Electric. So, do you have anything you’re looking for?”

“No. I’d like to take a look around first.”

“Okay. Then let me show you around.”

As if it was a good thing since there were no customers, the president [store owner] took me directly and showed me the guitars. Expensive instruments such as Fender and Gibson, which were kept in good condition even though they were used, caught my eye.

‘The store is big, so the items are good.’

I took a moment to look at it, but soon turned my eyes away.

As someone who knows that I have to pay millions of won even for a used one, I couldn’t dare to buy it.

Perhaps noticing my situation, the president guided me inside.

“As you can see, these things are not in good condition. I’ve been trying to fix them, but there’s a limit.”

“Hmm.”

Certainly, it was as the president said.

Then there was a guitar that caught my eye.

It was a Fender.

This guy, who has traces of major repairs everywhere, was not originally a guitar that could be seen in such a place.

“…It’s not a reissue?”

“Oh?”

Reissue.

It refers to a product that reproduces a guitar with vintage specifications.

On the other hand, this guy is a 1970 Stratocaster, and the reissue product was also highly regarded.

It’s hard to get even the reissue product, but the original was something that even I in that world barely got.

The president looked excited when I recognized this.

“You’re amazing. Usually, they look for reissue products. To be honest, I wouldn’t have tried so hard to restore it if it wasn’t the original.”

“How’s the sound?”

“The friend who repaired it said that he caught up about 90%, but the customers who touched it said that it wasn’t that much. Barely 50%.”

Well, that’s why this relic was decorated as if it had been abandoned in this place. But I couldn’t give up my desire for this Fender.

“Can I play it once?”

“Hahaha. Sure.”

I connected him to the amp in one corner of the store and set it up with a pounding heart.

This is the first time I’ve played an electric guitar in this life, and it’s been almost a year since I played it based on the memories of that world.

My hands were ruined by drug addiction, and when that happened when I was already collapsing, his drug dependence increased endlessly.

Soon, the preparations were finished, and I forced myself to suppress my trembling heart and put my hand on the guitar.

-Diriring!-

I had to shake my body once after lightly plucking the strings.

‘Ah! I am the one who has to make music!’

In a huge joy, like someone who has received a revelation from God, I carefully grabbed the G chord with awe.

-Ttarararang!-

Then, I slowly grabbed the chords and listened to the sound of the Fender, and nodded slightly.

‘I understand why people said that about you? You’re a very picky guy.’

This guy, who had undergone several repairs due to aging, weathering, and poor management, was certainly very picky.

However, I, who had handled many famous instruments, immediately recognized it.

How amazing the sound of this guy, who is latent in that pickiness, is. Although he can’t show as much as he did in his prime, he wasn’t a guy who deserved to be treated like this.

I slowly coaxed his grumbling and slowly led out his latent sound.

-Ttararararang!-

And the moment his hidden sound was revealed, I started playing, silently laughing at the laughter I had been holding back.

-Ttadadang! Ttarararang!-

There was a song that suited this guy who was jumping over the long years.

It is one of the songs I made in that world and a song that reached number one on the Billboard charts.

-brilliant struggle-

If translated directly, it means ‘brilliant struggle’.

It was a song that not only collaborated on the song work, but also worked together as a guitarist and sub-vocalist, and this song announced that rock was still alive in the world.

It was not a song of about 4 minutes, but a song of up to 6 minutes, so it could be boring, but it was still loved by people for a long time.

The composition of the song was also a composition, but it was a song with a difficulty that could not be imagined with ordinary guitar skills, so it bought people’s awe.

Even ordinary professionals who make a living from sections had to shake their heads, and only those who could put a lot of emotion into it could play this song.

A song that only the chosen ones can play.

Thanks to this awe-inspiring notoriety, I became one of the world’s leading guitarists.

-Diriririring!-

As it went to the second half, the Fender’s joyful scream grew louder, and my head was also soaked in hot heat.

‘This is… this is.’

It was because I saw another sky beyond that I had never seen in that world.

It was a world of unprecedented (轉入未踏) [entering uncharted territory] that no one had ever been to.

I couldn’t believe that I could see it like this. But for a moment, I was able to understand this phenomenon.

Why I was able to see this sky.

‘Drugs….’

The inspiration that came to me through the forcibly maximized senses as drugs were administered was the identity.

Originally, it would be impossible to recognize the state, so I wouldn’t be able to see or feel it, but it became possible as I fully imprinted his life.

‘I’m going crazy!’

Before I knew it, the song was coming to an end.

I wanted to run several times, but this was not my stage. No, more than anything, my body couldn’t handle it yet.

-Blood… drip, drip!-

My fingers were already torn several times in the storm-like run.

If it hadn’t been for this pleasure shown in this joy, I would have stopped the song because of the pain.

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