The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 1431

< Then Hurry Up >

It’s a disaster.

Jang Jin-soo muttered, looking at the egg soup with seaweed floating in it, or just plain water.

“No Hae-il was Halo.”

“Hey, nothing’s confirmed yet.”

“Park Chan-soo, are you deaf? The voice is the same.”

“Voices can be similar. There are so many people in the world.”

“Why are you getting so serious? No fun.”

“What, are you jealous? You were in the same class.”

The taste of the school lunch was not at all proportional to the cost.

“Park Chan-soo, are you jealous of No Hae-il? No, there are other people to be jealous of. He probably made a lot of money whether he’s Halo or not.”

“Why would I be jealous?”

“Your mom said you and No Hae-il were rivals, always competing for first and second place. Is that why you’re jealous?”

The kids in the front seats were getting louder.

In February 2032, just one day after No Hae-il busked in Paris, all the group chat rooms in the school went crazy. After school started in March, No Hae-il’s name was heard everywhere.

Not just on the internet, but on the streets, in stores, on TV, in parks, and even at school.

Even the school teachers started talking about No Hae-il again, who had been quiet since the 2030 Festival Rendezvous.

Especially the school teachers couldn’t resist their curiosity whenever they saw Park Chan-soo and Jang Jin-soo.

Fortunately, they didn’t know that Jang Jin-soo had been visiting No Hae-il’s house until recently.

If they knew that he was taking math lectures from the professor and that his mother occasionally sent him chocolate milk gift certificates, worried about whether Jin-soo was doing well, he would not be able to live a normal life now.

That’s how crazy Korea was right now.

There was still doubt as to whether No Hae-il was Halo, but some people were already convinced. Whether they were convinced after hearing his real voice, or whether they couldn’t escape the lethal dose of national pride, they were proud that they knew more about No Hae-il, aka Halo, than foreigners did.

“Hey, but the foreign reporters are saying that No Hae-il deliberately went into hiding to get attention as Halo.”

“Crazy. Really?”

“Yeah, I saw it too. All the dramas, variety shows, and musicals that No Hae-il participated in have blown up. They’re saying that Korea planned it all.”

“Wow, are they liberal arts students? Their imagination is amazing.”

“I know, No Hae-il was always like that.”

The kids sitting in one corner were laughing, slapping their desks.

The giggling echoed loudly in the classroom.

“No Hae-il’s thing is that he doesn’t communicate with his fans.”

“Real, he doesn’t even DM [direct message].”

“It’s a manly trait. I don’t DM either.”

“You just don’t have anyone to DM with.”

“Say that again.”

“Hey, but No Hae-il doesn’t do it with a public account. He probably has a private account and does everything behind the scenes, right?”

It wasn’t like that.

No Hae-il didn’t even check his KakaoTalk [Korean messaging app].

Of course, he might only not be checking his KakaoTalk.

…Son of a bitch.

Anyway, he wasn’t a guy who was good at keeping in touch from the old days. I don’t understand why this is being covered as manly, but the school kids enjoyed the foreigners’ pain.

“Ah, it’s so funny to see K-singers getting spicy.”

“I thought No Hae-il’s constant disappearance was unprofessional. But after seeing it, I think it’s just his personality.”

“I didn’t know what kind of guy he was, but after seeing him go on a trip without attending the awards ceremony where he was supposed to receive an award, I knew he was the real deal.”

“Aren’t geniuses usually a bit eccentric?”

“That’s probably why his fans don’t say anything.”

“I didn’t know why people were stanning [supporting] No Hae-il, but now that he’s Halo, I understand immediately. It wasn’t a disappearance, he was just busy working.”

“Oh, that’s right. It wasn’t a disappearance. He was busy working on a monthly album.”

Someone slapped their palm with their fist as if they had belatedly realized. And that realization spread throughout the classroom. They had never thought about the reason for his disappearance, but if he was busy doing monthly Halo, it all made sense.

In fact, No Hae-il’s fans accepted that he lived hard enough by releasing twenty songs a year, but if he asked and released a double, it was strange for those who couldn’t understand it.

“Ah, right. I’m going to see a musical.”

“No way, a musical? Aren’t you preparing for the mock exam?”

Thursday, March 25th, was the day of the second graders’ first mock exam. It was hard to understand why a kid who was about to take his first mock exam was suddenly going to see a musical…

“Jackpot, are you going to see Rock?”

“What, how did you get tickets?”

“My mom got tickets for the additional show.”

“Wow, I’m just waiting for the extended performance ticketing.”

Other kids show interest in the fact that they are going to see the musical Rock. It’s one of the biggest interests of the kids in the musical Rock, which is currently in its final stages. A super hit musical that even kids who weren’t interested in musicals pretended to know.

Of course, the musical Rock was a hit from its premiere in early December. The premiere ticketing was already sold out for all seats and schedules by musical enthusiasts and No Hae-il fandom.

That soon spread by word of mouth, and all the canceled tickets were sold out with rave reviews.

People who belatedly heard the reviews that were only rave reviews and praises asked for an extension, so it was already a hit musical.

The modifier that it is a premiere and a creative musical does not need to be attached.

However, what really caused a stir was after the Champagne Supernova incident that everyone was talking about.

“Foreign kids were crying and begging for an extension.”

“Even if it’s extended, there are so many Koreans who are aiming for ticketing that it won’t work.”

“Hey, so who are you seeing Rock with? Did you get Park Hyuk?”

“No… Dokgo Young.”

“Ah, too bad. That’s a bit disappointing.”

“Park Hyuk’s Rock is so amazing. Well, anyway, I’m still jealous. I don’t like musicals, but I want to listen to the songs that No Hae-il worked on.”

“Real. Will that be released as a sound source? On YouTube or something.”

Dokgo Young’s Rock and Park Hyuk’s Rock were all praised, but nevertheless, people recognized Park Hyuk as the number one. There was something more heartbreaking about ‘Jung-woo’, the character Park Hyuk played, and Jung-woo’s music. In particular, the last scene where he sang joy in the midst of everyone’s death stimulated tears and caused chills.

Jang Jin-soo, who had seen Park Hyuk’s version and Dokgo Young’s version once each with No Hae-il’s parents, also liked Park Hyuk’s version a little more.

Well, people will want to see ‘Rock’ in any version.

To be precise, the two songs that No Hae-il worked on.

After the ‘Champagne Supernova’ incident.

So, as the question of whether No Hae-il was Halo spread around the world, it was natural that all the programs that No Hae-il participated in also received attention.

Of course, the size of attention varied from program to program, but it was natural that the episodes No Hae-il appeared in were immediately sold overseas, and the rights to ‘We From Today’ and ‘2030 Festival – Rendezvous’ were sold.

There were articles saying that Chinese or Japanese versions of Rendezvous were being produced in China and Japan. Of course, the majority of the reactions were ‘A genius like No Hae-il will not come out’, but in those countries, they seemed to be hoping for a second No Hae-il, or more precisely, a second Halo.

And the biggest beneficiaries were, of course, the musical Rock and the music program Spring Again.

No Hae-il’s radio, talk show, music show, and Rendezvous were broadcast in the old days, but the two programs are currently being broadcast or performed.

The Vienna episode of ‘Spring Again’ that No Hae-il appeared in was not a drama, but a variety show rating that was hard to believe, with a rating of 40%, which is hard to come by again in the 2030s, and even now, there are many complaints asking for the Paris episode instead of the Vienna episode.

The musical ‘Rock’ has already gained No Hae-il’s (or Halo’s) name value in the hit, as I said.

Who wouldn’t be curious?

What would the musical made by No Hae-il, who is currently suspected of being Halo and is considered almost similar, be like?

That’s the same reason why all of No Hae-il’s music has re-entered the charts around the world.

Even though the musical Rock production company didn’t say which song was made by whom, the musical community was buzzing that the last song was definitely a Halo song.

There is a lot of controversy between the number of Jung-woo – the main character of the musical – in the early part and the last number, but the last number is confirmed.

‘I know it as soon as I hear it.’

Jang Jin-soo, who knows which song is No Hae-il’s song, found it amazing. He was surprised by the fans who guessed it, and No Hae-il, who made them shout, ‘This is… the sun,’ even though he didn’t write his name on the song, was also amazing.

I feel like the more people who know the name No Hae-il, the more distant I become.

‘Is he going to work overseas now?’

Jang Jin-soo thought realistically.

Usually, Korean celebrities have big dreams of Hollywood or the overseas market, right? No Hae-il will also go overseas to work now. It may be difficult to see him in Korea for a while.

The gap has widened so much that it’s hard to call him a ‘friend’ anymore. Jang Jin-soo was afraid that he could keep up with this, but he pulled himself together.

He is afraid of the widening gap, but he also thinks that he has no time to worry and do other things. He just had to run forward now. And the first thing in front of him is the mock exam in March.

He received an average of 4th grade in the last internal test of the first grade and was praised by his homeroom teacher, but he still has a long way to go.

Korea, school, and his report card seem to be the most disastrous.

#

“You seem to be doing well. You get along well with the kids. I didn’t know you liked young children so much.”

“I don’t like kids.”

“Really?”

August Veil chuckled with a face that didn’t believe it at all. Halo said once again that he didn’t like kids, but Veil, who listened seriously to other words, didn’t seem to be listening seriously this time.

Then he pointed to the children running towards the mansion where he was staying beyond the window.

“Roh! Roh! Let’s play!”

“-They say?”

The boy lay down on the sofa with a nonchalant face and pretended not to hear the children’s shouts.

August Veil, who was chuckling, opened the door and whispered something to the children.

“Roh has something to talk about for a while, can you come later?”

“Okay! See you later, Roh!”

Do they think he’ll play with them if they make promises on their own?

Halo looked tired.

“Is it about the 13th album?”

“That’s right. Did I tell you the cover was finished?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, the cover is finished.”

“…”

“But that’s not what I was going to say now.”

As August Veil crossed his arms, Halo soon got up. August Veil soon got to the point.

“Everyone is waiting for your 13th album. They are wondering if the unreleased song you sang at Scorpion’s concert will be included in HALO’s 13th album.”

“Then they’ll know soon.”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

Halo tilted his head.

[Until dawn comes], which people are waiting for, is the title song of the 13th album.

Korean or original, the meaning is the same, and the melody is the same, so they couldn’t not know if they listened.

So, ‘if they listen’.

“Wasn’t the release date of the 13th album set for April 1st?”

“That’s right.”

“Then-.”

What does it mean?

Halo watched August Veil’s expression carefully.

August Veil is smiling slyly.

“Are you going to postpone the release until Coachella [music festival]?”

“No, the release will go as planned.”

Halo crossed his arms.

Only then did August Veil finish his words.

“If the 13th album is released, people around the world will be sure of who you are. Well, that wouldn’t be bad either. But I want this attention to gather at once and explode. That’s more-.”

August Veil smiled as he chose his words.

“It will be fun.”

Halo tapped the table.

He says the 13th album will be released, but at the same time, he seems to want people not to know.

“I’ve been thinking about it.”

August Veil whispered.

“You’ve never released a physical album before. You’ve always released digital albums. So it suddenly occurred to me. A physical album is impossible, but a digital album is possible.”

“Hmm.”

Listening to August Veil’s words, Halo’s lips went up at some point.

“It’s fun.”

“Isn’t it?”

August Veil asked back as if he knew it would, and Halo nodded. No further discussion was needed.

“Then we just have to decide on one more thing.”

August Veil got up from his seat, watching the children who had come back and were knocking on the door.

“Coachella is not far away. When are you planning to return home?”

“Return home?”

“Isn’t your hometown Korea? If you need a break before Coachella, Korea would be the best.”

“Ah.”

Halo realized why Veil had brought up the story of returning home. But he thought he was already resting well, so he didn’t need to go back to Korea and rest again.

“If you don’t want to go, go to the place you gave yourself as a gift before going to Coachella.”

Come to think of it, I received something like that. I forgot.

August Veil explained a studio in England to him as a birthday present. Halo’s eyes lit up.

“That’s quite curious.”

“You’ll like it quite a bit.”

“Okay.”

As Halo nodded, August Veil replied that he would prepare it and opened the door with a thud. The children run in from there.

“Roh! Let’s go out!”

The kids run to Halo.

They live in this village and are full of energy.

“I’m not playing.”

“Hey, you’re going anyway.”

The children, who seemed to be wary of foreigners and Asians at first, soon came to Halo’s house and begged him to play. It was not a welcome thing for Halo, who did not like children.

I don’t know why they like him so much, who is not friendly at all.

Halo couldn’t stand the noise and got up from his seat. The children shout,