The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 511

# 51 It’s Okay to Suffocate

The decision was swift.

Halo, along with his parents, revisited P-R.

As the contract was finalized, some wore faces of regret, while others seemed to expect it.

“Then, we’ll schedule the album production.”

Halo nodded, signed, and then, Nokjin added,

“It would be more convenient if you came to our sub-label. As I mentioned before, it’s just a formality.”

“Thank you. However, I’m content with a collaborative relationship.”

It wasn’t a complete rejection, but it was a refusal of the offer itself.

Halo still dreamed of a completely independent system, and he knew well that being indebted was another form of constraint.

The contract with P-R Label was not related to independent labels, but to physical album production and promotion, which Halo was interested in.

They discussed collaborating with P-R until their personnel were complete for the time being, and they would pay a fair price for this as well.

And what he did next was sort out distribution.

[Oh, you mean you’re going to be active as ‘Hae-Il Roh’ instead of Halo?]

“Yes.”

[Like Stephen King and Richard Bachman, two different personas.]

August Veil on the other end of the phone was intrigued for a long time.

[I understand. Well, I’m a little disappointed that I missed out on your second identity, but I won’t dwell on it. You wouldn’t suddenly abandon your secret identity.]

Secret identity, second identity.

Judging by the way he talked, August Veil seemed to be obsessed with hero or spy movies.

And he was.

Recently, seeing him rant about someone making a really foolish deduction about ‘him,’ this reaction wasn’t false.

Veil finally brought up one thing at the end.

[Halo, there’s one thing I want to say.]

“Yes. Go ahead.”

[I wanted to ask if you’re interested in signing with a record label. I know a good one.]

Halo chuckled at the sly and earnest intentions.

[Even if it’s not a record label, let me know if you need help.]

August Veil added politely, as always.

Halo didn’t bother to decline.

However, August Veil’s help didn’t seem necessary right now.

Because he had found a decent studio space he had been searching for. Halo signed the contract without hesitation.

Although the ‘HALO’ digital streaming revenue hadn’t been settled yet, the ‘Show By Show’ music revenue and YouTube copyright revenue he had received so far were quite substantial.

His mother, who said she could break a savings account if it was insufficient, was surprised to see a bank account with enough to pay the monthly rent.

“My son knows how to take care of himself.”

Perhaps next month, she would see an account with enough to buy the place.

While securing a suitable studio, he also completed the corporation application in one go. Soon, once the corporation is approved, he will be able to exercise his will as a corporate representative, not a minor.

As these tasks were resolved to some extent, the weight on his shoulders eased a little.

“Careful, careful!”

Halo stretched.

He leaned against the wall of the studio where the interior was being installed, watching the workers. The equipment hadn’t been properly installed yet, but he would soon create HALO’s fourth album here.

#

While Halo was busy moving, the Friday-Saturday drama [From Today On] aired.

If the first episode was mainly about the protagonist returning to her alma mater and facing a still chaotic classroom, the story of the main characters began in the second episode.

Starting with Minjae, who clashed with the protagonist in the second episode, the episodes began to unfold. Original fans waited for the theme songs, which they expected to be released sequentially like musical numbers. What they were most looking forward to was Yujin, the mood maker, or Minjae, who would lead the first episode.

And as expected. As Minjae’s story began, they were thrilled when rebellious rock metal melodies played.

[Minjaeㅠㅠㅠ Be happy forever]

[Is Yujin’s theme coming out next week? Just release it now]

[It would be nice to have a duet later]

└ ㄹㅇ [Short for “real,” meaning “true” or “for real”]

An episode heading towards the ending.

Looking at the clock, regretting that an episode was coming to an end, Hee-tae appeared.

The actor with a kind impression was an unfamiliar face, but he suited Hee-tae well.

Quiet, kind, and exemplary. So people who knew the backstory were angry, saying it was exactly the same.

At that time, a melancholy melody was heard.

A female student, who was about to ask if Hee-tae also had a theme song and to just play Yujin’s theme, closed her mouth.

A voice she had never heard before tickled her eardrums.

Although the voice was different from the actor who played Hee-tae,

Hee-tae’s voice was heard.

Hee-tae sang.

I close my eyes again like that-.

His inner self, which had never been described even in the original webtoon [Korean digital comic] or anywhere else.

[???]

[Wow, what was that just now]

[I thought my eardrums were melting]

[Hee-tae’s theme quality is crazy]

[Hee-tae’s theme is well made]

[Whose voice is that?]

The female student, who was very vulnerable to voices, quickly searched for Hee-tae’s theme on the internet.

The [From Today On] bulletin board, which had only talked about popular characters, was buzzing with Hee-tae’s story.

[Who is the singer of Hee-tae’s theme? The voice is insane]

[I prefer mid-low tones rather than high tones, but this high tone is too muchㅠㅠ [Korean slang for crying]]

[I want to hear the full version]

Purely a group that appreciates and admires the OST [Original Soundtrack].

[No, if they put so much effort into Hee-tae, does that mean our kid’s is even better?]

[Did they attach Shin Na-bak level [Reference to a popular singer known for high-quality OSTs] to Hee-tae?]

And the fans of other characters who felt a sense of crisis.

The female student, a fan of Yujin, listened to Hee-tae’s theme again and worried.

She might be making a fuss before Yujin’s theme even came out, but she was bothered that Minjae’s theme, sung by a famous singer, was buried by Hee-tae’s theme.

The episodes of 2-3 were about Minjae’s story, but everyone was only talking about Hee-tae’s OST.

And this wasn’t just a conversation between viewers and original fans who watched [From Today On].

“Director! Gauss just called and asked who sang Hee-tae’s theme?”

“Reporters keep calling too.”

“Haha, what’s new.”

“Our director is happy but pretends not to be.”

“Stop talking and let’s work, work!”

A smile bloomed on the music director’s face.

Who would hate it when the music they made received attention? However, the OST didn’t overshadow the drama. The overall response was good.

It was still the beginning, and the power of the original fans couldn’t be ignored, but it was a positive sign.

The fact that the PD [Production Director], who was putting a lot of effort into editing, hadn’t gotten annoyed yet was proof of that.

And there was interest from other sides as well.

-Joo-hyuk, I heard the OST this time, it’s good

-But do you know who sang Hee-tae’s theme?

Established singers who are always interested in new music and new singers.

-Our Joo-hyuk is not going to have his Melon [Korean music streaming service] throne taken by a rookie, is he?ㅋㅋ [Korean laughter abbreviation]

The man reading the KakaoTalk [Korean messaging app] message chuckled.

Do they think I’m a kid who desperately wants to be number one? New faces appear on Melon all the time.

Besides, I’m not too worried because it’s Hee-tae’s theme.

Not the main character, a supporting character’s personality and role. Given the nature of the OST, which has to follow the narrative, it may have given a brief impact, but it would not be able to beat the main OST in the end.

“More than that, what we need to pay attention to is something else.”

The important thing is not Hee-tae’s theme.

The man put down his headphones and took a deep breath.

Destructive melodies cloud his mind.

The sixteen songs heard from there.

A wave from outside was entering Korea.

#

[The Era of HALO Has Arrived]

A unique movement appeared on Billboard [American music and entertainment chart]. Anyone who pays attention to the Billboard charts may have noticed this movement.

HALO

The writer wants to talk about a name that those who know, know, and those who don’t know will now know.

Some may think that he’s not even Billboard number one, just a rookie singer who barely entered Billboard.

The writer wants to encourage those people to listen to it even once. If you listen to it, you will surely call out to the sun.

And is Billboard number one everything?

The reason he couldn’t do that is not because his music is lacking, but because you guys – traces that were supposed to be erased remain – he only releases digital albums.

Faceless singer.

Digital album.

Formal album cover and

Disappointing – which the writer thinks is intentional – sound.

Unknown identity and a fandom that has just begun to form.

Never having a single scandal (the writer desperately hopes) and never appearing anywhere, etc. There are a few shortcomings, so he did not win Billboard number one.

However, starting with the immortal masterpiece and response to fans ‘I AM HALO’, all of HALO’s music has entered Billboard, and the single ‘I AM HALO’ has reached 23rd on the Hot 100 [Billboard’s main singles chart]. Receiving high scores in streaming counts and radio airplay counts!

With all the shortcomings mentioned above.

And all the songs from his three albums are now becoming gatekeepers of Billboard.

If the Beatles picked a song once a year,

He picks a song once a month.

At this rate, an absurd thing may happen where Billboard is made up only of his songs.

(Omitted)

As a result, it is becoming more difficult for K-pop [Korean pop music] to enter Billboard. Already, just looking at the Melon chart, his music is rising frighteningly. At this rate, unless it’s an established singer…

An internet article was posted.

It was a Korean internet article that attracted aggro [Aggravation] in many ways, and it was unclear whether the intention was praise for Halo, fear, or concern for K-pop and new singers.

I don’t know how this diary-like article passed. Also, I wondered what Jang Jin-soo’s intention was in sending me this article.

‘Is it because of this?’

Halo pressed the Melon app.

As the article said, HALO’s music is rising on the Korean music charts, typically Melon. The wave that started in Europe began to reach Asia via the United States.

It is common for foreign pop, not Korean pop, to appear on the Melon chart Top 100. Korea has no aversion to pop music in foreign languages in the first place, and there is a fandom for foreign pop. Originally, good music has no borders.

In addition, the SNS [Social Networking Service] buzz that made HALO’s music hit Billboard, the fanatical comments seen on the HALO YouTube channel, the animations, remixes, and TikToks created by his fandom attracted interest.

As a result

[53. I am HALO │ HALO]

[57. When we meet again (title)│ HALO]

[64. Struggle (title) │ HALO]

[65. Even so we do (title) │ HALO]

He has just landed, and the album tracks are listed below. It means the public has just started listening.

And the article said that new singers or new album work would be difficult due to this trend.

Because albums that would have charted normally would be buried by the mysterious bombing.

‘But that’s other people’s stories.’

Halo raised the corners of his lips.

He admits that he was great in the past,

But he is not as good as himself now.

“Did you know that all the singers delayed their comeback this time?”

“Why?”

Halo swept his hair because he was unfamiliar with his black hair.

More black hair than silver hair had grown, so he had it trimmed once.

“I heard the Billboard singer’s performance is fierce this time.”

“Why, did Eden or someone make a comeback?”

“It seems similar.”

Halo organized the schedule in his head.

Mid to late February.

He will release Hae-il Roh’s debut album along with Halo’s fourth album.

Already, folk guitars and electronic melodies are wailing.

“Hae-il, are you going to keep the album schedule as it is?”

“Yes.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Is there any reason why it shouldn’t be?”

“Well-. It’s not that, but the opponent is a bit…”

Halo shrugged. Then he felt awkward and closed his mouth.

Halo focused on the sound again.

An acoustic melody like hot chocolate stroking the wildness was heard.

This is Hae-il Roh’s first album.

It’s different from Halo’s music.

If Halo’s songs are full of electronic sounds and acoustics, Hae-il Roh’s songs are more focused on the voice.

It doesn’t drive people to one place and rush like a storm like Halo’s music.

But like magic, the melody.

Attracted people’s attention,

Made them focus on the black-haired boy in the middle of the camera.

The boy’s voice is like the tide.

Just as the water slowly rises and you are trapped in the water without realizing it, the people listening to the song were already trapped in the middle of the sea.

The water full of warmth wets the knees.

It’s okay to stay like this.

Even if I suffocate, I hoped the warmth wouldn’t escape.

Halo opened his eyes while singing.

People were closing their eyes, smiling comfortably, and listening to his music. Some people were nodding repeatedly.

He expressed the emotions that had changed since he first came here, and it seems to have been conveyed well.

And now, no one will say anything more to him.

Halo smiled contentedly.