The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 501

Glorious Tides – Episode 50 (50/237)

50. Before I Knew It

“Hmm.”

Halo took a sip of his espresso, watching the man sitting across from him. The man with the black glasses waved harmlessly. Seeing him shivering in a light brown coat and scarf in the middle of winter, Halo couldn’t tell if he was a successful producer, but he looked pathetic.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“I am. But I’ll be fine soon, right?”

The man, who introduced himself as ‘Producer Nokjin’ from P-R Label, had visited on the first day, leaving only a business card with his portfolio address.

It was better than other agencies that just handed out business cards.

It made Halo wonder what kind of person he was, assuming he wanted to produce him.

It wasn’t a search with positive intentions, but if the intention was to make him search the portfolio, it was a success.

Thanks to that, Halo listened to Nokjin’s produced music and original songs, and realized he was quite capable.

Of course, he still couldn’t accept being produced by him.

“I think I’ve already made my intentions clear.”

“It’s a tough world to find someone who matches well. Just like finding a company that fits.”

Judging by the way he spoke vaguely, it seemed he had already received all the reports. That he was very picky about managers, and not positive about belonging to a company.

But the fact that he came all the way here meant he had some way to persuade him.

Especially when a successful producer personally visits with a business card containing his portfolio.

He had shown all the sincerity beyond email or phone calls.

Halo was even more puzzled because of that.

He thought ‘Nohaeil’ hadn’t shown anything yet, even if ‘Halo’ was known. He had only just started.

Well, if you looked it up, there were things, but.

Anyway, he still had no intention of belonging to anywhere.

Halo didn’t want to beat around the bush anymore and asked first.

“So, what’s your proposal?”

“We met at your home on the first day, and at a cafe on the second, so I’d like our next meeting to be near the P-R headquarters. You may or may not know, but there are many nice cafes in Seongsu Station, where our headquarters is located.”

Nokjin said with a subtle smile.

If he had brought up a contract-like offer to join P-R, he would have refused immediately. He realized this was not an easy person to deal with.

“How about it? Was it a good suggestion?”

“I’m interested in the fact that there are many nice cafes, but unfortunately, I’m busy these days.”

“Oh. The OST [Original Sound Track, music specifically for a show] work must be finished already. Are you perhaps working on a new song?”

“Yes.”

Since there was no reason to hide it, he told the truth, and Nokjin spread his hands like a salesman.

“We also have a great studio at our P-R headquarters. Especially, you’ll be surprised when you come to my studio. It’s one of my prides.”

He had been feeling it since earlier, but there was no direct offer to come, but he was promoting everything he could. Halo refused with a ‘It’s okay’ smile, and the second meeting ended like that.

#

Second Homecoming!

The teaser and trailer for [From Today On, We Are], about a delinquent who was punished for smoking and wearing a school uniform, returning to his alma mater as a teacher, were released.

The OST for the teaser was done by Shin Joo-hyuk, one of the four major male vocalists, and the song was uploaded to streaming sites along with the trailer.

Also, articles mentioned that many new singers participated in the OST. Among them, Gil Raon, who showed top-notch singing in ‘So You,’ and a YouTuber were mentioned in articles that were released simultaneously.

The drama [From Today On, We Are] itself, based on a webtoon and made up of rookie actors, didn’t have much attention, but at least people who liked OSTs were interested in the theme songs.

[Wow, the OST lineup is amazing]

[Congrats! Gil Raon’s first OST participation!]

[Who’s this YouTuber W?]

Original fans joined in the conversation among people who were initially talking about the theme songs themselves.

They mentioned their favorite characters and looked for OST singers who would fit, as if they were doing virtual casting.

[I’m curious who will sing our Yujin’s theme song]

It was practically a character popularity vote.

Then, when someone asked [Is Hee-tae’s theme also out?], the community became quiet as if they were all in a training camp together.

No, to be exact, they ignored the post as if they couldn’t see it and only talked about the theme songs of other characters.

And about ten minutes later, someone commented.

└ Why does he have a theme song?

└ Just a boring character

This is all the attention Hee-tae gets.

In fact, this side is mild. There were also fans who hated Hee-tae. Some people saw him as frustrating because Hee-tae didn’t take the chance the protagonist gave him and ended up making mistakes and dropping out of school. Some even mocked the original author, asking if he was Hee-tae himself.

The drama writer knows that people will hate it if Hee-tae’s character is highlighted importantly. Since the original fans extremely hate the original’s transformation, there will be people who will curse no matter what.

Instead, as requested by the original author – not a contractual matter – she tried to write him as a more solid villain. So, she mentioned it to the PD [Production Director] that it was important.

However, the writer changed her mind last night.

Last night.

After listening to Hee-tae’s variation that the PD had given her.

After being told to be careful about leaking the music, she listened to the variation all night and erased the role she was originally going to give him as a villain.

The more the number of letters being erased increased, the more her heart ached, but she couldn’t help it because she saw a better path.

Then she wrote a new story as if she was doped with caffeine.

She doesn’t know how the readers and viewers will accept this transformation. She also violated the original author’s request, and in fact, the viewers’ reactions will be far away since it’s the last episode.

“But what can I do if this picture is prettier?”

Tap.

In the end, the writer pressed enter.

#

‘The headquarters was in Seongsu-dong, right.’

Halo looked around, seeing the harmless face he was now terribly familiar with. He wondered if there were any paparazzi or anything similar around. There was nothing to be seen. Of course, his identity wasn’t known to the world.

If he hadn’t heard that P-R’s headquarters was in Seongsu-dong, he would have thought it was a sasaeng fan [an obsessive fan who stalks or engages in other intrusive behavior].

“Hmm.”

“Do you know someone?”

Halo shook his head at his mother’s question.

He had heard that there were many labels and agencies in Seongsu Station, but he wondered if it was around here. Well, there’s always a reason why there are so many studio properties.

He felt uneasy because it seemed like they had listened to his words that the third meeting should be at a cafe in Seongsu-dong. He wasn’t usually the type to listen to others well.

A man with a two-block haircut saw Halo next to the familiar face and walked over quickly.

“Hello.”

He stopped right in front of them.

“I’m Samjang, the CEO of P-R. Nice to meet you for the first time.”

“P-R as in?”

“Yes, I heard that our producer visited you directly before. I sincerely apologize for visiting your home unannounced and surprising you.”

“It’s okay, it’s not like you came inside. You just gave me your business card at the door.”

His mother was generous when it came to her son. She had already thought that reporters would be stationed in front of the house and that he wouldn’t be able to go outside.

“Thank you for forgiving us.”

Then Samjang looked at Halo.

It was a look that said, ‘So you’re the one.’

Then Samjang spoke to his mother again.

“If it’s not too much trouble, our headquarters is nearby. Could you spare some time?”

“Headquarters?”

“Yes, our label is in Seongsu-dong. I really want to introduce our label to your son. If you still don’t like it after coming to our label, we won’t bother you anymore.”

It was a polite tone.

In a way, it seemed like the label had confidence.

Halo, who had been crossing his arms, nodded.

He seemed to have wasted time unnecessarily.

If he was going to refuse, it would be beneficial for both sides to refuse quickly.

“Mom will be at the bookstore in Konkuk University, so why don’t you go talk for a bit? I was thinking of stopping by the bookstore, but I should go now. Of course, you know you still have to make a contract with Mom and Dad, right?”

He was grateful to his mother for understanding his intentions before he could say anything. When Halo nodded, his mother stroked his head once and gave Samjang a look as if to ask him to take care of her son.

“Call me when you’re done.”

“Yes.”

He quickly realized why they could run into each other by chance.

P-R Label’s headquarters was not far away.

P-Rosper was written largely on the headquarters building.

As soon as he entered the headquarters, he encountered office workers and people who looked like artists. The feeling was different from Veil, which seemed like a ghost company with nothing.

He heard that it started as a hip-hop label and was expanding into various genres. It was as unique and lively as he was.

The CEO, Samjang, and the producer, Nokjin, were doing their jobs and greeting each other by calling each other 형 [hyung – a Korean term used by males to address older male friends or brothers], which made it seem more like a crew than a typical company.

“What’s up, Haeil? Hi! Are you joining our label?”

“We’re in the middle of a very serious operation, Raon.”

“I hope you succeed, CEO!”

Gil Raon ran into him in front of the practice room.

He initially greeted him with a happy face, then raised his hand with determination.

And soon, the studio that Nokjin was proud of.

Halo was interested for the first time.

He was sorry to say this, but it was on a different level from Kang Young-min’s studio or the studio he visited when recording the OST.

“I tend to do the mixing and mastering myself. So I brought a lot of things.”

“You do it yourself?”

“I don’t like how others do it. So I do it myself.”

“!”

Nokjin looked at him subtly, as if asking if he was the same.

It was definitely a word that pierced Halo.

Fans shielded him, saying it was classic or retro, but there were always shortcomings in all the music he had made since coming to this world.

To be exact, it was a natural regret that came out as he learned that he could touch these things.

So after finding a studio, he was going to learn mixing and mastering, but they had at least accurately poked one thing.

After finishing the tour of the headquarters, they sat in the CEO’s office.

And what followed was the service provided to P-R Label artists.

Album production, distribution, and promotion were basic, and they also provided management services such as broadcasting invitations, schedule management, and manpower support.

Certainly, there were things among them that Halo needed.

He was drawn to things like music video production, studios, and manpower, which general studios said were impossible.

However, the answer was the same in the end.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll decline.”

Before Samjang asked why, Halo answered quickly.

“There are many reasons, but above all, I’m thinking of creating my own label.”

He had been thinking about it from the beginning.

An independent label just for him.

He still wanted to create an agency that was made only for him, not other artists.

It was okay even if it took some time.

“Then, can I go now?”

Halo jumped up from his seat and made it clear that he had no intention of compromising. Samjang didn’t know that he would cut him off so decisively, or he was embarrassed by the words personal label, and he closed his mouth.

Then, Nokjin chuckled and joined the conversation.

“Hey, Samjang, I told you? Haeil is not the type to be an affiliated artist. You shouldn’t have said it like this from the beginning.”

Nokjin winked at Halo.

“Let’s talk just the two of us for a moment. It will be a more constructive conversation.”

So, where should I start?

Nokjin paused for a moment to organize his thoughts and opened his mouth.

“I know people like Haeil very well.”

Nokjin told his story.

“I also hated interference and intervention from a long time ago. I thought they were destroying the world I had already created. It’s not wrong, actually. That’s why I’m here now. The independent side has less intervention than Haeil thinks. Well, there may be a little advice for affiliated artists.”

Nokjin admitted honestly.

And he glanced at Samjang.

Samjang seemed to want to bring him in as an affiliated artist no matter what, but Nokjin had given up on bringing him in as an affiliated artist from the first time they met.

“I expected you to create a one-person agency. Haeil, you have the ability. Even if you go into any place right now, they’ll accept you. If they have eyes, there’s no place that would refuse.”

When Halo nodded, Nokjin accepted it as natural. The boy in front of him was confident enough.

“That.”

Nokjin brought up the main point.

Samjang didn’t say it until the end, but it was the second plan that was made if Nohaeil didn’t accept.

“Independent label. P-R will support you. Well, the name may be entered as a sub-label, but it’s practically independent. This is also an independent label, so it’ll be an independent independent label.”

It was a desperate gag, but the boy didn’t laugh.

“The location will be similar to affiliated artists. Oh, but this is originally provided to collaborating artists, so you don’t have to think of it as special treatment.”

You might think they’re giving it away, but practically nothing was given away. Originally, P-R was actively communicating even with non-affiliated artists, and they readily accepted collaborations and requests. They shared profits for music production, distribution, and promotion, so there was nothing to call free.

Of course, one-person label support is given when existing artists want to become independent, not new artists, but if there is only producing cooperation, Nokjin thought it was a good deal.

“You’re probably a greedy person. You want your music to reach more people and be in the highest place. Aren’t you wasting time looking for a studio and people right now? We’ll do that for you.”

Halo slowly raised the corners of his mouth.

“I don’t think I’m the only one who’s greedy.”

The way he was holding on to him until the end, even though he was trying to refuse, felt like he was very greedy. Nokjin laughed and replied.

“I was like that too.”

The conversation with P-R ended there.

A contract is not something that is made as quickly as roasting beans in lightning, and since he was a minor, he couldn’t proceed with the contract without the consent of his guardian.

Also, the distribution issue could be a double contract, so he had to talk about it. Of course, it didn’t seem like a big problem because it was a contract for a record unit, not an artist.

:

Halo sat on a veranda terrace chair and looked at Seokchon Lake, which had turned white.

It didn’t take long for the world that was all unfamiliar to become familiar.

Hot chocolate in front of him, and his mother watching TV in the living room, waiting for his music to come out.

And even his father, who was dragged out by his mother.

The feeling of relief that the things that had been bothering and annoying him were resolved, and the thought that there was still work to be done like snow, piled up.

‘Very good.’

How happy it is to have a lot to do.

What he has to achieve in the future keeps coming to mind.

If he wondered what this was when he first came here,

Now he thinks it’s fortunate that he came here.

Someday, the same day will come again.

The days when he has achieved everything and doesn’t know what else to do.

Before that day comes, Halo wanted to enjoy the present a little more.

[A Snowy Day]

A nearly completed song comes out.

He thought that Korean lyrics were more difficult than English, but he was impressed by Hwang Ryong-pil’s [Emergency] when he first came here, so he wanted to make a song in Korean.

He was also bothered by the fact that his mother said his song was difficult.

[The white world beyond the window

Felt unfamiliar]

At the sound of the song, his mother, who had been waiting for the OST, turned her head. His father, on the other hand, closed his eyes.

As if to say do whatever you want.

[The flowers that bloomed in my breath become spores

Giving clumsy comfort

Flying away on a clumsy wind]

[Following the world you draw

When I turn my head]

[Before I knew it]

Halo turned his head.