The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 1481

< Episode 148 Interpretation >

“It’s almost time.”

The word ‘Soon’ reached his ears.

Jang Jin-soo didn’t look back at August Veil but stared at the stage shrouded in darkness.

His heart pounded.

It felt like something was about to happen.

Then, No Hae-il’s voice emerged from the darkness.

“Do you not like me because I’m not white?”

Jang Jin-soo didn’t fully catch the quickly passing sentence, but he recognized the voice coming from where it originated.

Following that, No Hae-il threw out another question.

The cheers of the crowd grew louder.

And a soft laughter.

“Crazy bastard…”

Jang Jin-soo felt goosebumps.

This time, it wasn’t because he was taken aback by No Hae-il’s bizarre behavior.

It was just… how could he be so relaxed in a place like this?

Soon, from the darkness, No Hae-il, or rather, HALO’s first album, ‘Struggle,’ began to play.

What made Jang Jin-soo realize something was off was that the stage was still shrouded in darkness.

“Is that helicopter also intentional?”

Jang Jin-soo, who was watching the stage with No Hae-il’s parents and staff members, pointed to the sky.

One by one, people looked up, and August Veil also raised his head.

A broadcasting helicopter had its headlights on.

“What the hell are they doing?”

“Contact them now!”

Judging by August Veil’s stiffening expression and the staff becoming frantic, it didn’t seem intentional. The Coachella stage management team urgently radioed the helicopter to inquire about any issues.

The stage lights were planned to turn on sequentially with the accompaniment of the boy’s new song, ‘Until Dawn Comes.’ Everyone was taken aback by the helicopter’s headlights for that reason.

Still, the stage continued to build up.

Surely, No Hae-il must have seen the helicopter from his angle, but he continued singing without paying it any mind.

Just like when he couldn’t control himself and trembled when he first heard ‘Struggle,’ the audience was already going crazy to the live performance of ‘Struggle.’

“Wow…”

Jang Jin-soo blankly stared at the scene.

The worry he had that people might not recognize No Hae-il was unnecessary.

Anyone who saw this scene would know.

They had been waiting for HALO for a long time, and this was the sight No Hae-il would see from now on.

“Awesome.”

If he used to be envious, jealous of the talent he didn’t have, and despaired at himself for not being able to do the same, now he was just calm. Perhaps he had finally admitted that he could never be the same as No Hae-il, and on the other hand, he felt relieved that No Hae-il, who had seemed so precarious, would become happier with such an audience.

Without realizing that August Veil was staring at him, Jang Jin-soo now comfortably admired and enjoyed his friend’s performance.

Then, once again, the helicopter caught his eye.

The helicopter, still with its headlights on, was gradually lowering its altitude.

Uh… if it does that?

Once again, a sense of crisis filled him.

If it lowered its altitude like that, the headlights would cover No Hae-il’s stage, and soon, No Hae-il, who would be in the center of it.

“Th-that-!”

He tried to shout something, but the accident happened before he could even finish the word. The headlights hit No Hae-il, who was right in the center of the stage. Having been hit directly in the face, No Hae-il instinctively covered his face with both hands.

Kyaaak!

The song stopped, and people screamed as they realized it was an accident. The session’s performance also stopped, and the members jumped up from their seats.

They desperately called out to No Hae-il, but No Hae-il stood there as if he couldn’t hear them.

Thud-!

August Veil jumped up and rushed out.

Only then did the Coachella staff, who had been flustered, express their anger and contact someone.

The helicopter’s lights were belatedly turned off.

However, No Hae-il’s appearance had already been revealed, and the song had stopped. The Coachella main stage, once again plunged into darkness, was now filled with silence, or rather, the murmurs of fans.

Jang Jin-soo also belatedly rushed out, pushing through the crowd to get to No Hae-il.

“Hey, No Hae-il.”

He was always so composed. Even when there was an audio accident at the university festival, he didn’t care. The fact that he couldn’t continue the stage now meant that something serious had happened.

Shock.

Yes, having been hit by the headlights right in front of his eyes, he might have gone into shock like being hit by a flashbang [a non-lethal explosive device used to temporarily disorient someone]. Or, even if it was No Hae-il, he might have been nervous standing in front of so many people.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

Jang Jin-soo once again recalled that No Hae-il had been precarious lately.

“Snap out of it, hey.”

Jang Jin-soo shouted, even though he knew he wouldn’t hear.

“Get up, No Hae-il.”

At least No Hae-il, who had wanted this stage the most, wouldn’t want this situation. This stage had to continue. It had to.

“HALO!”

Jang Jin-soo shouted towards him.

It was the first time he had called him by that name.

And at that moment.

A sound came from afar.

The vibration that started from the darkest and lowest place gradually grew louder.

Someone stomped their foot, and it spread.

HALO! The people on stage, who were urgently calling him, turned their heads one by one, and soon, one by one, they began to join in. Stomping their feet, creating the same rhythm.

Jang Jin-soo forgot to push through the crowd and listened to the rhythm. It was a rhythm he knew well.

And as someone started singing, people began to join in one by one. At least no one gathered here didn’t know this song. Those who had turned their heads back turned to the front with determined faces and began to sing.

At first, it sounded like noise or weeping.

However, as people’s voices created harmony, the lyrics began to become clear.

[Whoever you are]

The voices of the people below the Coachella main stage reached the microphone.

It was encouragement for the singer who was flustered by the sudden accident, and it was an answer for him who might have worried that they might not accept him.

[Whatever you look like]

Jang Jin-soo, who had calmed his panting breath, stood among the crowd and slowly opened his mouth.

[We will call you glory]

For some reason, tears welled up.

No Hae-il’s session members also gritted their teeth, sat back in their seats, and began to play. As the stage filled with sounds other than the singer’s voice, lights began to turn on from afar.

The lights originally planned for ‘Until Dawn Comes’ reached his feet as if not to startle the singer.

[Our eternal sun]

The figure standing still on the stage began to react to the song.

Then, the lights on the second floor turned on with a 탁 [tak – onomatopoeia for a light clicking sound].

It illuminated No Hae-il’s waist and stomach, and the hand that had fallen loosely downwards.

The trembling hand tightly gripped the microphone and slowly rose.

“Yes.”

탁 [tak – onomatopoeia for a light clicking sound].

The lights on the third floor came on the moment he answered.

The light illuminated the 16-year-old boy, and the boy’s silver hair shone golden.

“I am-.”

The voices of the people and the boy’s voice matched.

The lights above the boy’s head turned on, and everyone could see the boy’s face.

The face that had been distorted as if about to cry gradually brightened.

As if moved by their calling.

“HALO.”

Tremors surged at the long-awaited answer.

Their voices illuminated the darkness, and their singer shone as bright as the sun.

People raised their cheering sticks, glow sticks, or cell phone lights to adore the boy, continued the song, and cheered.

In the Indio Desert, countless lights gathered towards one place.

HALO.

Glory and halo. And like the galactic halo somewhere in the universe.

#

[Please interpret this dream]

This is a common question you might see on a Korean Q&A site. Except for the fact that the posted date is today, Monday, April 19th, it was nothing special.

[It’s not a nightmare, but it’s a really ridiculous dream

I’m embarrassed to even say it

I had a dream that a 17-year-old K-pop singer was actually a legendary singer who dominated overseas;;; I woke up after seeing him reveal his identity at Coachella;;;]

└ Sounds like you’re completely soaked in national pride

└ Please recommend a light novel with that kind of content

└ When was the last time we saw a ‘hiding his strength’ trope? Sigh

└ (Writer) So is this just a dog dream [a silly or nonsensical dream]?

└ ㄴㄴ [short for No No] Seems like it’s not even at the level of a dog dream

└ ㄹㅇ [short for Real] What dog dream, let’s just call it reality

Except for the fact that today is Monday, April 19th, not 2030 or 2031, but specifically 2032.

[Helicopter, you f***ing #@%$#[email protected]%#$]

[What was up with No Hae-il stopping the song in the middle? Did he get shocked?]

└ It was almost like a flashbang, so he probably got shocked. His hands were shaking afterwards, and he seemed to have lost consciousness while standing there for a moment

└ Some people are saying it was a panic attack

└ Maybe he was just scared to reveal his identity? It was No Hae-il’s first time performing on such a big stage

└ We also have to consider that No Hae-il is still a minor

└ But considering he burned up Coachella until dawn afterwards, I don’t think that’s it

It was a Monday like any other.

Surely, office workers went to work shouting ‘I hate Mondays,’ and students went to school shouting ‘I hate Mondays.’

Even so, the reason why it couldn’t be a normal Monday was because last Sunday wasn’t a normal Sunday.

People were suffering from Coachella sickness [withdrawal symptoms from the excitement of the festival].

The 6-day festival that lasted from April 9th to 18th, 2032.

However, there would only be one reason why the whole nation, no, the whole world, was suffering from Coachella, which only those who went, went to.

[No Hae-il is HALO ㅋ [short for keke, similar to lol]]

;;;; This is real

└ There have been rumors that No Hae-il is HALO since a long time ago, but

└ No one believed thatㅋㅋㅋ [short for kekekeke, similar to lololol] I’m still dumbfounded

└ So didn’t the whole nation get hit by a collective hypnosis beam?

Although quite a few words came out due to the stage accident that lasted for several minutes, the small accident was inevitably distanced from the public’s perception due to HALO’s performance that followed and the truth that No Hae-il was HALO.

[Breaking) Heligun does Heligun again, this time sending a threatening letter to XYC Broadcasting Station after the helicopter toilet incident]

[Breaking) XYC Broadcasting Station’s side announces legal battle over the violent fandom’s “terrorist” remarks]

└ Are these guys the helicopter?

└ Are they crazy? They’re the ones suing? ;;

└ If they lose to HALO, they’ll just go bankrupt, so aren’t they trying to rip off Heligun first?

└ But is there a law firm in the US that will take their side?

└ I don’t think even the judge will take their side. If they make the wrong ruling, 6 billion Solar Unit [fictional currency] will beat them to death

└ Why don’t you think there might be a Heligun among the judges

└ !

└ And it’s obvious that he got shocked because of the HALO lights, so they’ll 100% lose. Veil loves Coachella, and big companies are all preparing lawsuits, so they can’t escape

So for now.

The ‘I am HALO’ performance, which was like a miracle created by the stage accident of the identity of HALO, who had dominated the world for a year, and the live performance of ‘Until Dawn Comes’ and the live performance that continued until dawn, had a bigger impact than the owner of the helicopter who caused the accident.

Even at 00:00 AM that day.

The 13th album title song was uploaded to the music platform, completely confirming all the questions so far.

[I still can’t believe it no matter how much I look at it]

[I’m currently replaying it for the 12 millionth time;;;]

[I still tear up when I watch I am HALO. Why is it so touching]

[This Coachella was truly great]

[Our ancestors already knew]

Joseon (朝鮮) [historical Korean kingdom] = A country where the morning sun rises clearly

└ ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ [short for Daebak, meaning amazing] The wisdom of our ancestors

└ How far did our ancestors see;;;

└ They gave us hints from 700 years ago, but we didn’t know

└ Television is a box for idiots ㄷㄷ [short for Daebak, meaning amazing]

[Come to think of it, if you read No Hae-il’s English name Hae-Il Roh as it is, it’s Hae-Il-Ro, why are you all pretending not to know?]

[108 reasons why No Hae-il has to be HALO]

I didn’t want to believe it, and it seemed absurd, but I couldn’t deny it since it was streamed with tens of thousands of viewers.

People who had thought it wasn’t true until now began to dig up the old past one by one.

[1. The reason why No Hae-il often disappeared]

I thought this bastard was living the way he wanted, but he was so busy making his 13th album

[2. No Hae-il’s English name is HALO]

[3. Does everyone know that No Hae-il’s dad is a professor of astronomy at Korea University?]

HALO, I thought it was a game name until now, but it’s an astronomical term

[4. No Hae-il’s English pronunciation]

[5. Excerpt from No Hae-il’s US talk show video]

Actual conversation

-MC: Do you have a favorite song from HALO’s music?

-H: The 6th album that will be released in the future

-MC: You don’t know when it will be released?

– H: Let’s just say the 6th album will be released in May

[6. No Hae-il band = HALO session = May]

The time when No Hae-il’s band was recruited – first appeared during the Hongdae busking [street performance] before the release of ‘Lighthouse of the Night’ (May)

No Hae-il single ‘Lighthouse of the Night’ (May)

HALO album session composition period – HALO 6th album Dancing in the Rain (May 31st)

[7. The time when No Hae-il and Scorpion met around December 25, 2031 (Scorpion revealed that it was Trafalgar Square last Christmas)

Estimated time when HALO signed a contract with Veil in December

(HALO’s 1st and 2nd album were released in early January)

Therefore, the two were in the UK at the same time]

[8. It’s a paparazzi shot, but August Veil is also driving and managing the shopping]

[9. Why did No Hae-il become a luxury brand ambassador?]

Of course, there were some things that were wrong, but it was an analysis that resonated with many people.

[So, except for the speed of releasing music, all the clues indicate that No Hae-il was HALO]

└ In fact, the speed of releasing music was already out of common sense from the monthly HALO

└ Wow ㄹㅇ [short for Real] This is real, but how did we not know this?

As the analysis increased, that is, as the reasons why No Hae-il had to be HALO continued to come out, people couldn’t understand.

Why didn’t they find HALO in front of their eyes last year? Someone explained it anthropologically as the power of the frame, but it was still incomprehensible.

Even No Hae-il had sung Let It Be in Hongdae in the past. If they had only done a voiceprint analysis on that, it would have been revealed earlier.

[Are we really all average intelligence?]

[Wow, I found out the reason ㄷㄷ [short for Daebak, meaning amazing] I’m crazy]

└ What is it

[The year before last, 2030 = Gyeongseul year = Year of the White Dog

Last year, 2031 = Sinhae year = Year of the White Pig]

ㄷㄷㄷ [short for Daebak, meaning amazing] We didn’t know because we were dogs and pigs

└ Year of the whole nation of dogs and pigs ㄷㄷㄷㄷ [short for Daebak, meaning amazing]

└ This is it ㅅㅂ [short for a swear word] I knew something was strange

People were slowly understanding as they denied reality, and they were unable to escape from the lingering feelings.

HALO slowly opened his eyes.

The dazzling sunlight was shining on him.

Laziness enveloped him.

While normal life was impossible outside due to the lingering effects of Coachella, he was sprawled out in a hammock like a jellyfish.

Around that time. Someone knocks.

HALO didn’t care who came in and looked beyond the window.

He had secretly returned to Korea and was sprawled out on the top floor of the hotel. Since he couldn’t return to his home or label, he was planning to stay here until he moved.

“Hello?”

HALO slowly turned his head.

At first, he thought someone had lost weight, unlike his first impression, but he soon recognized him.

“Manager Park Dae-hyung?”

“Haha, thank you for remembering me.”

It was Park Dae-hyung, the marketing manager of G’s Korean branch, who had brought him the guitar before he left on his trip.

“But, I’m not a manager anymore.”

“?”

Did he quit?

His face looks bright for someone who quit.

HALO looked at the business card Park Dae-hyung handed him and chuckled.

“I’d like to reintroduce myself, Park Dae-hyung, CEO of G’s Korean branch.”

The person who first suggested to G to sponsor No Hae-il. G, who had re-examined the detailed email he had sent, fired the headquarters manager who had not properly seen it despite the Let It Be video, and Park Dae-hyung, who had suggested it, was recognized for his contribution.

Beyond simply finding HALO, No Hae-il received tremendous attention overseas with G’s guitar, performed at Coachella, and greatly increased G’s value, so it was a natural result.

“Should we call No Hae-il, or should we call him HALO from now on at G?”

When he shrugged his shoulders, saying it didn’t matter, Park Dae-hyung decided to call him by the more famous name.

“We have decided to actively support all of HALO’s activities.”

“All activities?”

“Yes, anything.”

It was an attitude that didn’t matter even if HALO had a dating scandal.

As if a dating scandal would be a problem now.

Anything was fine as long as it wasn’t a crime. G was already considering a future with HALO for the rest of their lives.

“Please tell me anything!”

Despite being the CEO, Park Dae-hyung bowed ninety degrees.

He was not a frog who forgot his tadpole days [a Korean idiom meaning someone who doesn’t forget their humble beginnings], and the head office also repeatedly told him. Never go against his will.

A deep smile spread across HALO’s face.

His heart fluttered as the person who controlled the world laughed. He was both scared and curious about what would happen next.

HALO’s mouth slowly opened.

“Then.”

“Yes!”

“Please tell them that I don’t need to go to the hospital because I’m healthy.”

“You don’t need to go to the hospital because you’re healthy… Yes?”

CEO Park Dae-hyung, who nodded and followed the words without thinking, belatedly asked back. What did you just say?

And the door burst open, and sensitive gazes were fixed on CEO Park Dae-hyung.

“Who?”

“Ah, I’m Park Dae-hyung, CEO of G’s Korean branch.”

“Ah, I see. Hello.”

They greeted him, but they didn’t seem interested and soon looked at the boy.

On the other hand, HALO nodded towards CEO Park Dae-hyung.

As if asking him to fulfill his request.

Park Dae-hyung, not knowing what to do, opened his mouth as requested, but-.

“Th-that, HALO doesn’t need to go to the hospital-.”

Sharp eyes were fixed on him.

Park Dae-hyung knew just by feeling it.

That he had chosen the wrong time.