Become A Music Monster Overnight! [EN]: Chapter 82

Musical Monsters Overnight! Episode 73

Chapter 25. Advancing into America

To say they were merely imitating masters wouldn’t be quite right.

That’s because my uncles’ skills in handling instruments are at a level that doesn’t fall short compared to those masters.

‘It’s not surprising. My uncles have dedicated themselves to music for nearly 40 years.’

It wasn’t for nothing that I wanted to be with my uncles.

No matter who I was, the world stage was too high and formidable to simply rely on affection alone.

To ascend to this world stage, talent is necessary, but so is the rigorous training to make that talent blossom.

Unless you share the essence of effort—that relentless drive achieved by pushing forward even when your fingers are torn and you feel trapped in endless boredom and helplessness—

Ascending to the world stage was close to impossible.

In that regard, my uncles managed to grasp the essence of their efforts during this Asia concert tour. At least in terms of instrumental technique, they are at a level comparable to masters.

“But the real deal starts now.”

If we compare it to a computer, technique is the hardware.

To handle hardware that has reached the cutting edge of technology after investing effort and time, you need the right software.

My uncles’ current software level is truly appalling.

In terms of operating systems, it’s like they’ve just moved from DOS [Disk Operating System, a command-line interface] to GUI [Graphical User Interface, a visual interface].

Even this was the result of me force-feeding them inspiration.

If I only talk about this, the future seems bleak, but that’s not the case.

“Now we can focus all our tech tree efforts solely on software.”

Until now, we’ve been raising the tech tree by dividing it evenly between hardware and software.

No, it would be more accurate to say that we’ve been tilting the tech tree towards hardware at an 8:2 ratio for noticeable skill improvement.

Since we had already acquired the essential skills to raise the final tech tree, it was a natural choice.

Thanks to that, haven’t we already become able to imitate masters?

Anyway, now we just need to focus on software while maintaining the hardware.

And in this area, I was extremely confident.

If you compare me to a computer, my hardware is barely scratching the surface of nanotechnology, while my software is at a level achieved by torturing aliens to extract their secrets.

The reason why that guy in my memories, despite being naturally clumsy, could handle things at a master level with both hands full was thanks to this fraudulent software.

Of course, if his software was at the level of just finishing development, mine is like finishing that development, re-versioning it, and even adding a performance boost.

Anyway, what I want to say is that I am more confident than anyone else in these software updates.

“For now, we’ll use some quick fixes, but my uncles will understand.”

How unbalanced they are. How utterly inadequate their level is.

Parts that they couldn’t understand no matter how much I told them before, they will now begin to grasp.

‘That means they will face a terribly painful time.’

Unlike tangible hardware, software, or inspiration, is invisible.

You can’t know where you are now or if the path you’re taking is correct.

If you just run blindly, you’ll soon get lost, and it will take ages just to return.

In that regard, I can be a better guide than anyone else. And not just a guide, I could even hand them the inspiration that suits them.

‘The key is whether they can handle it.’

When they didn’t know any better, they didn’t know what it was and ate whatever I shoved into their mouths, but now that they know what it is, swallowing it, let alone chewing it, will be too much.

“They’ll do well.”

If it’s the uncles I know, they can handle it well enough.

They’ve lived through an era that can’t even be compared to mine, who thought I had spent a time of adversity.

And if they overcome that adversity once again, my uncles will be able to confidently stand on the stage they so desire.

“…Water. Someone, some water.”

As I was organizing my thoughts while looking down at the skyscraper, I smiled and got up at the sound of Uncle Moon Il-beom’s voice, who was looking for water as if his throat was burning.

-Gulp, gulp-

The uncles, who hurriedly took the honey water I handed them like baby birds, finally let out a sigh of relief after emptying their glasses.

It had been a while since I had seen the uncles, who were famous for their heavy drinking, struggling like this, so I couldn’t help but ask.

“How much did you guys drink?”

At that, Uncle Park Si-young tilted his head, then nodded.

“Ah! Right, you went out in the middle. Sigh~ Don’t even mention it. These guys suddenly caught fire…….”

In short, after sending off the G1 band, Uncle Jang Tae-shik and Uncle Kwak Do-hoon started bickering, and a drinking contest broke out.

In the process, the other uncles somehow started joining in one by one, and eventually, they exceeded their limits and ended up like this.

-Clang!-

Uncle Moon Il-beom, who had drunk the least, seemed to have regained some energy and showed off the empty whiskey bottles hidden behind the sofa with a playful expression.

Looking at the uncles feeling proud as the endless whiskey bottles came out, I could understand their feelings, but I was also dumbfounded.

‘Ah! Now I understand Mom’s feelings.’

I suddenly felt sorry for my mom, who used to nag me when I came down for holidays and couldn’t come to my senses with bottles of alcohol next to me.

‘I should call her later.’

When I contacted her a few days ago, she was adapting better than I thought.

My younger sibling, who had been busy bickering after going to study abroad, also seemed to have found psychological stability.

Looking at that, I thought it was definitely a good decision to have my mother and sibling live together.

“Ahem. So, what did you want to say?”

Uncle Jang Tae-shik, who was clearing his throat as if his hoarse voice was uncomfortable, asked, and I finally snapped out of my thoughts.

And after looking around at the uncles who were showing curiosity like Uncle Jang Tae-shik, I said.

“We’re probably going to advance into America.”

“……”

Contrary to my expectation that they would be greatly surprised and happy, the uncles’ reaction was quiet.

I wondered if they hadn’t heard me? Just as I was about to open my mouth again, Uncle Kim Il said, tilting his head.

“Am I still drunk? I think Young-chan said something about advancing into America?”

“……Did you hear that too? I heard that too.”

“Haaam. Am I still dreaming?”

“Damn’it! What are you saying when my head is killing me?”

Only then did I realize that the uncles were too dumbfounded even though they had heard me.

“Hey! You shouldn’t be joking with your uncles from the morning! How can you joke when your uncles have a headache from drinking?”

I could be sure of my thoughts from Uncle Park Si-young’s tone, who was usually restrained but was now slipping into his dialect.

I was dumbfounded because I never expected them to react like this, but I soon began to explain step by step.

Of course, by the time all the explanations were over, the uncles’ eyes, which had been full of disbelief, had turned to astonishment.

-Gulp-

A suffocating silence continued to the point where Uncle Moon Il-beom’s swallowing sound was loud, and then Uncle Kwak Do-hoon’s wailing exclamation burst out.

“oh! Jesus!”

Following Uncle Kwak Do-hoon, who was looking for God, the other uncles were busy expressing their surprised feelings by slapping or pinching their cheeks.

“Are you crazy! Is this really reality!”

“America! We’re going to America! Really?”

“Good heavens! I’m going to America with a band! What on earth is going on!”

“……Really? Really! Really?”

“Ugh. Yes. It’s real.”

Among them, Uncle Jang Tae-shik seemed to be the happiest. Judging by the fact that he was asking again like this even though I had explained it so elaborately from the beginning.

Looking at the uncles who were restless as if they didn’t know what to do, I got up and said.

“Get your condition up as much as possible by lunchtime. You know? The Billboard is full of monsters, right?”

“!!!”

Although I spoke incoherently, the uncles immediately understood what I was saying and nodded.

That’s right.

Unfortunately, the break was now over.

If we didn’t want to be embarrassed in America, we had to diligently learn even the quick fixes from now on.

We spent two days in Hong Kong like that.

After returning to Korea and spending three more days, we were able to advance into America in the form of an invitation.

* * *

“Thump, thump, thump!”

It wasn’t the sound coming from my heart.

It was the sound coming from the uncles’ mouths.

‘Are they crazy?’

I couldn’t help but think seriously.

Because the uncles were so wrecked that they couldn’t sleep throughout the 14-hour flight, it was really pitiful to see.

They were so nervous that they refused all the free alcohol and snacks given in first class and flew silently to America with their eyes wide open.

It wasn’t just one person, but five healthy adult men were showing such a sight, so the studio staff’s faces showed anxiety.

In particular, Uncle Kwak Do-hoon was the owner of a body that could be called a weapon even by the large American standards, so it was even more so.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t rest properly either because I was trying to break down that atmosphere.

“Ah, we took the expensive first class for nothing.”

I felt unnecessarily regretful and wasteful because I couldn’t escape my petty-bourgeois thinking, even though I had astronomical personal assets and this activity alone had exceeded 100 billion in revenue.

Then, when we finally set foot in America, the uncles, who were crazy with tension, were doing such strange things.

“Well, it’s okay since there’s no schedule today anyway.”

Among the schedules that Taylor had set up, the main schedule was set for three days later.

Until then, the main activities were magazine interviews and radio appearances.

Among them, I and Uncle Kwak Do-hoon were the only two who could speak English, so we didn’t have to worry about mistakes.

However, reality always presents unexpected events.

As we were approaching the exit, airport security guards boasting cyborg-like physiques were approaching us.

“???”

Instead of me, who was having a hard time understanding, the head of the headquarters approached and talked to them, and then looked at me with surprised eyes.

“……It seems that the local reaction is hotter than I thought. CEO.”

“Yes?”

At first, I didn’t understand what he was saying, but soon I was forced to understand.

-Waaaaah!-

As soon as the door opened, a huge cheer swallowed us up.

“Is it this much?”

Surprisingly, local American fans were waiting for us at the airport.

I was so surprised, so the uncles were beyond words. In the case of Uncle Moon Il-beom, he was even hiccuping.

Anyway, I couldn’t control my aura because I was so surprised.

And the repercussions of that were more intense than I expected.

-……Kyaaaaaaak!-

After a moment of silence, an even bigger scream-like cheer erupted than before.

Thanks to that, I was able to directly witness the airport security guards, who seemed like emotionless cyborgs, flinching right next to me.