The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 681

< The Protagonist Leading the Era >

“I don’t think this will work.”

The 3rd and 4th episodes of Rendezvous covered the artists’ work processes. As it was the beginning, it showed the foundational process of the artists harmonizing and working on the concept of the song they would create.

Also, the interviews in between.

“Which pair are you most concerned about?”

“Well-.”

It could be seen as PD [Production Director] Jang’s way of creating tension even without a survival element.

“Other teams have mentioned Shin Ju-hyuk and Liv as the pair they are most conscious of. What are your thoughts on this?”

“Not Team 1, but us?”

Liv blinked and pointed at herself.

As if she hadn’t expected it.

Shin Ju-hyuk also thought it was an unexpected answer.

Because there was an even more formidable combination.

The VJ [Video Journalist] took their reaction as surprising.

Although the other artist teams were also people who had made a name for themselves in Korea, Shin Ju-hyuk and Liv were the true king and queen of digital music on this stage. They were the only digital music powerhouses who could line up all the songs on their albums, including the title track, on the charts.

Moreover, they were a young man and woman in their early 30s.

They looked good together visually, and their tones matched well.

It was also well known that they were close friends, but they had never collaborated in a duet or featuring because their musical genres had been different until now. It was truly the collaboration that fans had wanted the most.

“What did they say about Hwang Ryong-pil and Noh Hae-il’s team?”

Shin Ju-hyuk asked with his arms crossed.

Liv, who was sitting next to him, nodded.

She also wanted to ask.

Why the other teams chose their team instead of Team 1.

The VJ rolled his eyes and answered.

“There were a lot of comments about Team 1 as well.”

It couldn’t be said to be negative.

Just simply.

“They said they didn’t know what to expect.”

They answered that they didn’t know what kind of music would come out.

Both were excellent musicians, but since they had to show a duet, it was hard to imagine.

If it were a featuring or a solo performance, they would have been a team to watch out for.

“I see.”

Shin Ju-hyuk nodded vaguely.

Well, he was curious about what kind of music they would make, so he visited them himself.

And he found out.

Even if delicious food plus delicious food isn’t always more delicious, the combination of geniuses can somehow produce amazing results.

“The other teams don’t know much yet.”

At Liv’s words, the VJ tilted his head and continued.

“Shin Ju-hyuk and Liv seem to be the most conscious of Team 1. Can you tell us why?”

This answer was the end of Part 1, the 3rd episode.

Liv honestly said that she had listened to the song and turned it upside down, saying, ‘This won’t work.’

[That much?]

[What on earth are they doing?]

Viewers who watched the 3rd episode were curious about what kind of song Team 1 was preparing. Since Part 2, the 4th episode, had not yet aired, Team 1 did not appear in a single scene.

[When is the 4th episode airing?]

└Probably next week

What kind of amazing song are they making?

And how much effort are they putting into it?

Well, are they putting in effort?

The camera spins around.

The reality camera’s angle shines on the two.

Perhaps if the VJ or staff were here, they would have said this.

So when are you going to work!

There is no mention of the half-finished song that they played for Shin Ju-hyuk and Liv. Since then, they have talked about music, suddenly got carried away and played the guitar, and poured out melodies in relays, doing everything but collaborating.

Like now.

After coming to Hwang Ryong-pil’s house, the boy who found the xylophone played it, making sounds.

It wasn’t a song that existed anywhere; he was playing a melody that suddenly came to mind on the xylophone.

“It’s a bit disappointing.”

Halo, who had created a novel song that would have made anyone who heard it open their eyes wide, put down the xylophone and said disappointedly.

Around that time, Hwang Ryong-pil returned after finishing a phone call.

“They said the traffic is bad, so they’ll be a bit late. But they said they’ll be here within thirty minutes.”

“That’s soon.”

Halo shrugged.

They were waiting for Hwang Ryong-pil’s band to play the session for the collaboration song.

They were the people who always played the band performance whenever Hwang Ryong-pil held concerts or live performances, and they were said to be the best in Korea.

“Shall we continue the story we didn’t finish?”

“Yes, where did we leave off?”

“Well… the 3rd album? Was that the story?”

Also, they are not just killing time.

They are only doing activities unrelated to the broadcast, but there are many interesting aspects to the reality show.

Composition methods, life, conversations. And Hwang Ryong-pil was revealing behind-the-scenes stories about his album.

“I couldn’t understand it at the time, but now it’s all become a good experience. Didn’t you feel that way when you sang the OST [Original Soundtrack]?”

“It was a strange experience.”

Still, he has no intention of putting songs composed by others on his album. If you say he is greedy, he will agree. He wanted to fill his album entirely with his songs.

“What about giving them away instead?”

“Give them away?”

“Soon, there will be many people who want to receive songs from you. Don’t you have any intention of giving them away? I’m not just talking about finished songs. You have a lot of practice pieces, don’t you?”

And looking at him blinking in a direction where the camera couldn’t see well, it didn’t seem like he was just talking about songs as Noh Hae-il.

“I haven’t considered it yet.”

“I’m not just talking about singers. There are many companies in the world, and they may ask you to write songs. For example, they may ask you to create an OST or advertising music.”

Halo pondered for a moment and shook his head.

“I think I’ll focus on my music for the time being.”

Hwang Ryong-pil nodded as if he understood.

Knowing that he would be twice as busy as others, he also thought that he wouldn’t have time.

“I’m glad you have some free time this month, though.”

At Hwang Ryong-pil’s words, Halo raised the corners of his lips.

It meant that he wouldn’t be able to do other work because of the collaboration.

Well, if he had to start with composing, there was a high possibility that he wouldn’t be able to do it.

“Is that so?”

“···!”

Hwang Ryong-pil widened his eyes and turned to look at him.

Hwang Ryong-pil naturally thought that HALO’s last album came out on February 28th, so he wouldn’t be able to release an album for the time being.

But the boy was smiling meaningfully.

“When did you···.”

Hwang Ryong-pil couldn’t finish his words, being conscious of the camera.

PD Jang or the staff who later checked this reality show probably wouldn’t know what they were talking about.

At best, they would think that other work was also going on from time to time.

Ding-dong.

Just then, the bell rang.

Hwang Ryong-pil’s band had arrived.

Hwang Ryong-pil muttered softly as he passed the boy.

“You’re not a genius, you’re a workaholic. Really.”

Halo grinned.

He wouldn’t deny it.

Then Halo discovered an amazing coincidence.

The name of HALO’s 5th album, which he was preparing together this time, was Addiction.

“Hello, teacher.”

It wasn’t just Hwang Ryong-pil’s band members who came to Hwang Ryong-pil’s house. Hwang Ryong-pil’s manager, who was on vacation, brought various gifts. From fruit juice to red ginseng and nutritional supplements.

“And this person is-.”

“Team Leader Park went on a trip abroad?”

“I confirmed it on the way. You’re Noh Hae-il, right? Nice to meet you.”

As Hwang Ryong-pil was old, the manager was also middle-aged and quite old. Nevertheless, the manager bowed deeply to the boy, who was much younger.

“This is my manager, Park Byung-cheol. You can call him Team Leader Park.”

Halo also greeted him.

Hwang Ryong-pil, who was pleased to see the two greeting each other, introduced the sessions standing behind him. Bass, synth, percussion.

While taking them inside,

Hwang Ryong-pil, who walked in last, tapped the manager next to him and said.

“Take care of that friend instead of me for the time being.”

“Yes?”

“Anyone will take good care of me. But this friend still has a lot of unfamiliar things, so I hope you take care of him.”

“Oh, it’s not a difficult request, but.”

Team Leader Park whispered as if surprised and glanced at the black-haired boy walking in front.

“I think this is the first time the teacher has said this. Is that friend that good?”

Hwang Ryong-pil smiled faintly at the words ‘that good’.

In fact, it was ridiculous to say anything because it was already beyond his level of judgment. Still, he was seventeen years old.

He thought he had the right to talk about the innocent days that would unfold in front of that child. As a colleague, friend, and fan waiting for that day.

“He’s the protagonist who will lead the era.”

“Should I see him as the successor to the teacher?”

Successor, what a joke.

“Don’t say ridiculous things and take good care of him.”

At least until the music festival is over.

I’m sure he’ll do well, but it seems like people blinded by the fragrant smell will appear before that.

#

Not long after that. The 6 teams of artists gathered at the studio again. A few days before the 4th episode aired, they decided to proceed with the filming as promised to check the progress of the music.

Of course, some of these teams fought over the concept of the song, and some teams were already about to record.

In any case, the content of today’s filming was to play the music in order and give feedback.

And the first stage was Team 1, Hwang Ryong-pil and Noh Hae-il’s stage.

‘You, you pretended to be nice and used your head well.’

‘What?’

‘I’m talking about the interview where you deliberately attracted attention to the teacher’s team.’

Shin Ju-hyuk sat at a round table and waited for the stage, recalling the conversation he had briefly in the waiting room.

‘Then was it you who said in the interview that you were worried about our team?’

‘Why, isn’t that right?’

‘Why didn’t the teacher’s team do an interview?’

When he asked that, she said as if it were natural.

‘I was worried at first? But the more I thought about it, the more ambiguous it became. What kind of duet stage can an old man and a minor show together? Even in a male-male combination. They’re not going to rap. Are they going to divide the first and second verses and sing?’

‘Oh.’

Shin Ju-hyuk simply admired.

He thought it was a bluff, but it seems like she really thought this way.

‘Why not? What is it?’

‘You’ll be surprised.’

‘Ah! Surprise.’

Then Liv suddenly came in and said.

‘Let me tell you one thing in advance, keep your time open today.’

‘Why?’

Liv smiled with a face that had no malice at all.

‘We’ve also gotten busy.’

Other teams who were subtly listening did not understand those words. Judging from the interview or the nuances, it seemed like they had already heard Team 1’s song.

Is it that great?

They just couldn’t imagine it well.

Shin Ju-hyuk thought as he watched the stage where the lights began to come on.

‘It must have gotten better than last time.’

Hopefully, it will make those who are calculating and testing the waters busy.

It’s unfair if they’re the only ones who turned the song upside down.

Click.

What pierces the deep darkness is a finger snap.

4/4 time. It breaks the silence with a slow tempo.

And humming without accompaniment is added on top of it.

As expected of Hwang Ryong-pil’s team, who handles sound well, the session is added one by one. As the sound gradually becomes magnificent and the sound of the finger snap is about to be buried, another sound is added.

Percussion comes in, adding weight and grandeur.

The students in school uniforms that Halo first thought of are now wearing heavy armor.

The freedom that students want is contained in the flag,

And the running for freedom is replaced by clanging blades.

In the end, what goes forward is crescendo.

There was no voice of a master.

Only the accompaniment of the verse was heard.

But everyone knew where this music was headed.

You can’t not know because it’s strongly imprinted in your mind.

“!”

When the boy’s humming ended and the accompaniment faded away,

Team 1’s stage was over.

“Uh···.”

All the artist teams, who had the obligation to give feedback with loud reactions, closed their mouths.

“Any feedback?”

Clearly, until the stage started, they were going to say what they had to say, even if it was the teacher’s team, but they were just opening and closing their mouths.

Feedback doesn’t necessarily mean criticism.

It was enough to say what was great or good about a certain part.

But the reason why no one could express that simple admiration was,

because they couldn’t think of a word of admiration.

“No···.”

Their heads were filled with their songs.

Not in a positive sense.

‘Oh, if this happens… our song.’

‘Wait, is it our turn next? Are we supposed to announce our song after listening to that kind of song?’

PD Jang and the writer were gesturing to tell them to say something quickly, but the MC looked around the artist group with difficulty.

Everyone’s expressions were blatant.

“Everyone?”

The MC clapped as if to quickly come to their senses.

It wasn’t live, but they were filming.

They weren’t even rookies, but they were too stunned.

“We can’t go on like this···?”

Then someone muttered.

Surprisingly, it was similar to what a certain team had said a few days ago.

In the end, a break was given less than thirty minutes after filming began. Of course, it doesn’t necessarily look like a break.

Because the artists, who had been relaxed until the waiting room, were suddenly doing something passionately.

In particular, the team that was about to record was suddenly having a serious conversation.

Of course, they also asked if they could skip the stage in between, but of course, they can’t.

“Suddenly, the artists seem to be on fire.”

“It seems to have been a good stimulus.”

Of course, wouldn’t they be stimulated after listening to that kind of song?

My heart is still pounding. PD Jang closed his eyes, enjoyed the lingering feeling, and counted down the remaining days until the May music festival.

If this exciting feeling continues, a music festival beyond imagination will be created.

‘Maybe.’

PD Jang thought vaguely.

It might be the best concert among the music festivals hosted by KDS.