The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 1021

< Chapter 102 Kill Them All >

The process of creating and releasing music is often described as a test of endurance.

Like a farmer sowing seeds, you toil under the hot sun, unsure of what will become of your efforts, facing both uncertainty and vague anxieties about the future.

You can’t be sure your hard work will pay off. Often, you don’t get the reward you hope for. Creating music while facing such prospects is never easy.

Then, finally, the time comes to release the music to the world. For some, it’s a time of even greater fear and anxiety. For Halo, however, the harvest season after sowing the seeds was always a welcome prospect.

Someone might ask him:

“Aren’t you afraid of failure?”

Or, “Don’t you ever think you might fail?”

It’s not that Halo doesn’t consider the possibility of his music failing.

Of course, it’s hard to imagine.

Whether he’s criticized or praised, his albums have always been the center of attention.

‘Well, someday people might say Halo is past his prime. A day when his music no longer charts, and people no longer talk about it.’

‘Still can’t imagine it.’

But if such a failure does come, he would accept it humbly. He might be disappointed, but wouldn’t he also be happy to have a new challenge to overcome?

He would have another chance to succeed.

Besides, the catharsis of turning failure into success would be incredible.

It’s so enjoyable to prove the critics wrong every time; how much fun would it be to prove the whole world wrong?

‘I don’t know how I ended up thinking this far,’

‘But what I want to say is this.’

Failure is a story for later. Right now, I want to enjoy the approaching harvest season.

For him, the harvest isn’t about the score [referring to chart positions or sales figures].

It’s about sharing the music he released with the world again with his own hands.

Don’t know what I mean?

Halo got out of the car.

People who spotted the celebrity van whispered, but it was fleeting attention.

[Yeonguk University Foundation Memorial Concert Hall]

He stood in front of the hall with its familiar architectural style.

His band members followed him out.

“We really… came to a place to perform, literally.”

“Did you think we were going to perform right away? In these clothes?”

“Is there a law against playing the keyboard in a dress? If it doesn’t work, I can wear a gym suit.”

“… That’s true.”

A small theater concert to be held for a week in September.

He thought a concert lasting several hours would be too tiring, so he decided on a small theater.

A small-scale performance where the distance between the stage and the audience is close, and voices can be heard without using speakers.

It will be a performance that satisfies both the singer and the fans.

“Mr. Noh Haeil? I can’t believe you came in person.”

The university theater manager hurried out to greet Noh Haeil.

“Thank you for coming. Please, look around comfortably. You’re the first singer in my life to come and see the theater in person.”

That’s right. Usually, the company would handle this.

Even in his previous life, Halo had never checked the performance venue in advance unless it was for a rehearsal. It was the job of the staff he directed.

But he thought this wasn’t bad either.

Finding the place where I will perform myself, visiting it in person, and planning the stage.

Music shows are fun, but I was more looking forward to performances with a high degree of freedom on stage.

‘Reminds me of the old days.’

Halo mainly did large concerts, but he also liked small theater or club performances.

Isn’t it charming that the enclosed space is filled with people’s enthusiasm, and the distance is so close that you can really reach out and touch them? The drinks shared after singing all the songs were also great.

The stage lighting. The faces of the members who saw the stage layout and the places where the session musicians would be placed were also full of anticipation.

They did busking [street performing], but it was really different from that.

“When will the tickets go on sale?”

“Soon.”

Haeil’s lips curved into a smile.

The Yeonguk University Foundation Memorial Hall, which consists of two floors, had a total of 830 seats. Noh Haeil’s first concert, which lasted for a whole week.

However, it is not certain whether the fans who have to face ticketing [the intense competition to secure tickets] will be happy.

But Halo, who doesn’t have to do the ticketing himself, thought everyone would be happy because it was a concert they had been waiting for.

“I should try ticketing once too.”

At Moon Seoyeon’s words, Han Jinyeong and Nam Gyuhwan’s eyes lit up.

“Oh, I should invite Deoksu and Gonghak too.”

“Me too, my parents.”

Looking at them, Halo jokingly said.

“I was going to give you tickets, but I guess you don’t need them.”

“!”

The horrified reactions were the same.

After arguing about the tickets for a while, they got into the car.

“Then, should we go back to the studio now?”

“···.”

At Han Jinyeong’s question, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, those who had been talking until just now closed their mouths at the same time. Moon Seoyeon, with her hands on the dress that came down to her knees, Nam Gyuhwan, looking out the window from the passenger seat. And Halo, with his arms crossed, was also looking out.

“Well, it would be hard to perform in these clothes, right?”

“It’s stuffy.”

Again, Moon Seoyeon, who went to see a classical performance, was wearing a neat dress, and Nam Gyuhwan was also wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a suit.

“We need to change our clothes.”

At Han Jinyeong’s words, Moon Seoyeon and Nam Gyuhwan closed their mouths again.

Everyone realized.

No one wanted to go back to the studio.

Well, they were sick of being stuck in the studio for a while.

More than anything, after seeing the small theater, they had a strong desire to jump on stage right away.

“If we’re going to perform after a long time-.”

Then Halo opened his mouth.

Everyone’s eyes were focused, and Halo gave his signature mischievous smile.

“We need to warm up first, right?”

Even though the performance was still a month away, no one in the car picked on him. Everyone’s faces brightened at the same time.

“I’m a slow starter, so I need a long warm-up!”

“I’m happy to be steamed to death.”

“It’s a good day to be steamed to death.”

Han Jinyeong looks out the window.

The asphalt was sizzling.

It seemed like you could cook pork belly or fried eggs more deliciously than any frying pan.

He doesn’t know, but it’s a bit difficult for his younger siblings to be steamed to death. Thinking so, Han Jinyeong suddenly raised his head.

“Maybe there’s a place where we can perform.”

“Really?”

“Sometimes there are cancellations the day before or on the day of. Haeil, do you remember? The place where you suggested I form a band.”

“Ah. The place I went to with Shin Juhyeok-.”

“Yeah… The place I came with him. Should I contact them?”

“Yes.”

The Hongdae live cafe he went to with Shin Juhyeok comes to mind. I think the name was Live House.

Come to think of it, I received a business card from the boss at that time.

“It’s been a while, boss.”

I think Shin Juhyeok said the same thing.

As if they weren’t in the same band at one time, their comments were the same.

“Have you been well? Yes, yes. I’m always the same.”

Moon Seoyeon and Nam Gyuhwan stare intently at Han Jinyeong’s phone. It’s such an intense gaze that it could eat up Han Jinyeong’s phone.

“Yes, the reason I’m calling is to see if there are any openings today.”

Suddenly, Han Jinyeong’s face, reflected in the mirror, gradually became embarrassed.

“Ah, are you closed today?”

Moon Seoyeon and Nam Gyuhwan’s faces change following Han Jinyeong’s expression. Like catching a disease. Halo chuckled inwardly.

“Ah, you don’t have to come out. It’s not urgent.”

Han Jinyeong glanced at Halo through the rearview mirror.

“We were going to do busking, our band.”

[What!]!

At that moment, the voice over the phone grew louder and reached the people in the car.

[Jinyoung, is your band that, that, Noh Haeil band?]

“That’s right. You know, I didn’t say anything?”

[No, what don’t I know about you guys? More than that, does our Haeil want to perform at the store?!]

“Our Haeil… Boss, have you ever seen Haeil? Ah, was it then?”

Han Jinyeong recalled the day he met Shin Juhyeok and Noh Haeil. If he came with Shin Juhyeok, there was a high possibility that the boss had met him too.

“Well, if you’re closed today, there’s nothing we can do.”

[No, who said we’re closed!]

“Yes?”

[Aheoi! Can we let a well-run store close? Come no matter what! Our ancestors said that we should sleep when we die. Our store is open today.]

“Yes? Boss. Earlier…”

[Mr. Noh Haeil, are you sure you’re coming?]

At the timid question, Halo chuckled and reached out. Han Jinyeong, who was embarrassed, handed over the phone willingly, and Halo opened his mouth.

“Hello, boss. This is Noh Haeil.”

[Oh my, Haeil, have you been well? Do you remember me?]

“… You’re completely different from when you talk to me.”

Han Jinyeong made a gesture with his thumb and index finger touching [a Korean gesture indicating a small amount], thinking that it would have been better to switch earlier.

Is it done? Is it really done? It’s done! Yahoo!

The entire band cheered silently.

#

The owner of the Hongdae Live House opened the store door with a happy smile. He put the nameplate that said ‘Closed’ in his pocket and started cleaning.

‘Noh Haeil is coming, I should lend it to him right away.’

There was no club in Hongdae that wouldn’t lend it after hearing Noh Haeil’s name.

While waiting for the Noh Haeil band, one problem suddenly came to mind.

“I don’t know if it will be promoted if I suddenly post it on the site.”

The boss’s face became serious in an instant.

Originally, promotion is done by posting a poster on the site a week in advance.

There’s no way it will be promoted if you post a poster for a schedule that suddenly came up two hours ago.

Besides, today is a holiday that comes once a month. All the regulars know the holiday.

I’m going to post a poster right now, but I’m worried. He didn’t have a special SNS channel, and even if he posted it, it would be a few hours later, so it’s tight even if he has the name value of a celebrity.

The Live House was deep in Hongdae, so it was hard to find. It’s like a sanctuary that only people who know it come to.

The boss’s eyes shook.

Wouldn’t it be better to let them do a guerrilla performance [a surprise, unannounced performance]?

It’s Noh Haeil, there’s no way no one will come.

But they have to know that Noh Haeil is performing here to come.

“I don’t have any reporters I know. What should I do?”

Just as the boss was trembling and looking for the phone.

Haeil and the band members were in a clothing store in Hongdae.

Summers in Korea are sometimes compared to Africa. As the saying goes, everyone had been sweating profusely for a long time.

Moon Seoyeon needed pants to wear under her dress, so she visited a clothing store before going to the Live House.

Hongdae street fashion offline store. It was a designer store [Custom Stella] that was slowly making a name for itself online.

When various people suddenly rushed in, the part-time worker who was guarding the store alone during the day looked around and stood next to Moon Seoyeon.

“What kind of product are you looking for?”

“Um… comfortable and plain clothes?”

It’s the part-time worker who is embarrassed when the customer asks back.

Isn’t training clothes usually plain and comfortable clothes? It’s not difficult to answer that.

The part-time worker pointed to the new product, thinking that Moon Seoyeon’s face was unusually familiar.

“This is a gradation new product that came out a few days ago. The colors are ivory, purple, blue, and orange.”

It was a plain but unique track suit with four colors. The letters Custom Stella written on the chest were also stylish, and above all, the stars embedded in the sleeves were pretty.

“I recommend purple for people with fair skin like the customer. And I recommend ivory or blue for the man next to you.”

“Oh, you surprised me. When did you come?”

Regardless of whether Moon Seoyeon was startled or not, Nam Gyuhwan came over with his hands in his pockets and looked at the new product.

“There are four types.”

It was a word muttered without any thought.

However, words spoken without any thought often have meaning for someone. That was the case for Moon Seoyeon.

“Oh? That’s right. Exactly four. The four of us. Four colors too.”

“?”

Before Nam Gyuhwan could ask ‘So what?’, Moon Seoyeon called Halo.

“You said you were going to buy clothes too, right? Then, how about we get matching outfits?”

‘Boss?’

The part-time worker tilted her head at the unusual title and looked at the boy wearing ripped jeans. She didn’t pay much attention to him because he was wandering around near the entrance, but maybe the person she should be focusing on was the moneybags over there.

He was a boy wearing a hat and a mask.

She felt sorry for him because he seemed to have a cold, but for a moment, the eyes visible between the hat were somehow familiar.

“Matching outfits?”

“Yes, clothes that we all wear together when we perform. Is a track suit set a bit much?”

Halo thought it wasn’t bad at Moon Seoyeon’s question. Everyone came to buy clothes anyway.

“Well, if everyone likes it?”

At that voice, the part-time worker’s eyes widened.

This voice, this nuance.

The part-time worker, who had been endlessly replaying only the broadcasts her singer had appeared on because he didn’t appear on TV often, doubted her ears for a moment.

Come to think of it, the eyes are a bit like our Dal’s [Dal is likely a nickname for Noh Haeil]?

She stared at the boy with suspicion.

Regardless of whether the part-time worker was doing that, the band members agreed one by one, and Halo nodded.

“Then, let’s buy one of each color.”

“Wh, what are everyone’s sizes?”

As the boy approached, the part-time worker felt her heart pounding. The heart of a 덕후 (deokhu, otaku, die-hard fan) was pounding.

The heart of a 덕후 who recognizes only her singer even if she doesn’t recognize the guy she lives with!

The boy shrugged and handed over the card.

섬섬옥수 (seomseomoksu, delicate and beautiful hands) were engraved in her eyes.

And the name she loved the most was engraved on the card. Haeil Roh.

‘Oh my god!’

The part-time worker unknowingly grabbed the boy’s hand with both hands instead of swiping the card.

Tears welled up inside.

7s appeared one after another on the slot machine that floated above the word 덕계못 (deokgyemot, a phrase meaning that fans never get lucky in their fandom).

777! Winner! Congratulations!

“Excuse me, are you Mr. Noh Haeil?”

The part-time worker stared at the boy without swiping the card.

She asked, but she was already sure.

Her singer, who wasn’t even surprised, soon smiled at her with his eyes. Maybe the corners of his mouth hidden behind the mask were raised.

“Can I ask you to pay?”

“Pay? Mr. Noh Haeil, I’m a fan!”

The moment she was sure he was her singer, the calculation disappeared from her mind.

“Just wear it. Please. Please.”

And what was that word?

For a moment, she was about to lose her Korean language skills due to the joy that filled her heart. Before her singer could refuse, she quickly put the word in her mouth.

“It’s, it’s sponsored. You don’t have to feel burdened, and our brand is actively engaged in influencer marketing. We have a system in place so that we can deliver it immediately if an influencer visits an offline store, so you don’t have to feel burdened.”

“Ah.”

“However, there is one request-.”

The reason that she had to tell the boss was not in her head. The part-time worker, who refused to accept the card, happily took a proof shot and received an autograph.

“Thank you so much.”

Just when she thought it would be okay to die like this, Noh Haeil opened his mouth.

“If it’s not rude, can I ask you for one thing too?”

She had a reason to live again.

“Yes, tell me anything!”

“I have a performance today.”

“…A performance?”

What did he say now? A performance?

The part-time worker’s eyes widened.

“Uh, where?”

“At the Hongdae Live Cafe in front of here. So, can you take a promotional photo?”

“Yes, yes, how can I take it for you?”

It wasn’t a difficult request either.

The part-time worker, who was willing to give him the clothes in the store and even the safe, took his cell phone.

Her singer writes something on the A4 paper -borrowed from her.

[See you at the Hongdae Live Cafe at 6:20 PM today-Noh Haeil]

Haeil, who wrote his name, took off his mask and held the paper with both hands. The Live House boss asked him to take a picture like this, so he thought it was good.

Click.

“Ho, can I upload this too?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

It would be good to let everyone know.

When Haeil nodded willingly, the part-time worker took another picture with her cell phone.

The green window cafe shining brightly on her cell phone application. Her heart swelled at the picture that would soon make the place noisy.

“Thank you so much, please come again anytime. Please.”

The part-time worker, who gave her a sponsorship and told her to come anytime, waved her hand until Noh Haeil and the band were out of sight.

And she quickly uploaded one, no, three photos -photos and autographs taken with Noh Haeil- to the Noh Haeil fan cafe [Wave Riding], and closed her phone again.

No, I have to contact the boss.

The part-time worker pressed the number with a bothered face.

“Hey, it’s me-.”

The voice that was friendly and high-pitched to Noh Haeil was gone.

Three proof photos left by a member who was actively working in [Wave Riding]. In particular, it took less than 30 minutes for the photo at the very bottom to spread.

Longing for their singer who had disappeared,

Especially at this time, when they were waiting for Noh Haeil’s performance and streaming infinitely.

The picture of their singer smiling brightly holding a white paper was like a spark falling on a street filled with oil.

[$%#[email protected]$%#@]

[So, this is the last performance in August?]

└I want to say no, but I can’t say no…

[It’s first-come-first-served here, so you can’t get in unless the person in front of you leaves;;;]

[Kill them all]

The Live House boss, who doesn’t know anything, thought.

“Still, I can fill all the seats, right?”