The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 1451

< Coachella Music and Arts Festival >

The sun began to rise over the vast desert of Indio, California.

The grass, usually coated in sediment from the red dirt mountains, was unusually green today. The heat haze, which normally coiled under the hot sun, was being absorbed by the damp moisture and sinking into the asphalt.

Insects and birds scattered as the loud engine and audio sounds filled the air.

Friday, April 9th.

The first day of the Coachella Music and Arts Festival had arrived.

And-.

“Oh, my God… Thank you so much for your interest in participating in our festival.”

At the Coachella Valley office.

The Coachella director himself came out and placed a hand over his chest.

The sun necklace around his neck swayed.

The mustached man, looking as if he were about to cry, was at a loss for words, unable to even extend his hand.

On the other hand, the boy receiving such a welcome stood calmly, seemingly unfazed by the director’s effusive attitude, despite the man being old enough to be his father.

“Nice to meet you, Director-”

“Please, call me Jackson, Mr. Ro. No-”

Jackson continued, his voice trembling slightly.

“Halo.”

#

[Please, does anyone have extra tickets?]

[Anyone want to trade Coachella week 2 tickets for week 1 tickets?]

└ Me

└ Oh, you have week 2?

└ No, week 1

└ Forget it.

Coachella in 2032 was having a truly exceptional year.

Coachella typically opens ticket sales around early January each year. The official lineup is confirmed in early to mid-January, and tickets sell out quickly. From around February, people usually resort to resale sites or try to snag canceled tickets.

This year was expected to be no different.

Of course, the final lineup announcement was delayed, but the first two headliners and several other performers had been revealed through the initial announcements. Even though people were eagerly awaiting the final lineup, the tickets were already completely sold out.

Those who were planning to resell or trade tickets because they weren’t thrilled with the partial lineup protested to Coachella and anxiously awaited the final announcement.

And then, in early February…

Someone who was about to cancel their purchase because their favorite singer wasn’t on the lineup was met with an unbelievable announcement.

[HALO]

What happened after that is now common knowledge.

Suddenly, tickets that had been readily available on resale sites and Reddit vanished. People were offering exorbitant prices, dozens of times the original, but they still couldn’t easily acquire them.

Usually, tickets for the first week, which many celebrities attend (Coachella only sells 3-day tickets for week 1 and week 2), are more valuable.

However, this time, with the confirmation of Halo’s appearance, the value of week 2 tickets skyrocketed. The usual dynamic, where week 2 tickets might be traded for week 1, was completely reversed by one person’s presence.

Some people commented:

If you’re not a die-hard Halo fan, there’s no need to obsess over week 2. You can just come to Week 1 and see the celebrities.

But that’s a rather odd thing to say.

How can anyone be sure that celebrities will even come to the first week this time? Everyone is curious about Halo, so wouldn’t they be curious too?

Looking at social media, Hollywood stars were flaunting their Coachella week 2 tickets or desperately searching for extra ones. It seemed unlikely that other influencers would be any different.

Of course, that doesn’t mean week 1 tickets were going unsold. It’s just that week 1’s lineup wasn’t generating quite the same level of buzz as week 2’s. Besides…

[I’m just going to camp out for a week during the 1st week]

[Are they going to kick me out? I’m going to live at Coachella until I see the sun! Oh sun!]

Anyway, Coachella was booming from the very first Friday. A constant stream of spectators and the cars and buses they arrived in continued from early morning.

And it wasn’t just individuals; corporations were also heavily involved.

Broadcasting stations from all over the world, including the United States, seemed poised to launch fleets of helicopters, and the Coachella Valley was adorned with banners and logos of companies anticipating significant advertising revenue from the grand festival.

It goes without saying that companies from all over the world were eager to place advertisements at this year’s Coachella, even though advertising costs had risen significantly compared to previous years.

Everyone was preparing from the first Friday, eagerly awaiting the final Sunday when the real climax of the festival would arrive.

However, none of them imagined that Halo would already be at Coachella right now.

I mean, how many eyes are actively searching for him?

Even if he did come, they assumed it would be during the following week for rehearsals, not that he would be casually blending in with the crowd, enjoying the festival.

August Vail, who was presumed to be Ro’s companion, was currently in the UK, and companies or celebrities known to be associated with Ro had not yet made their appearance.

“Hey, is it really okay for you to be walking around like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t think you got permission to come out.”

“Do I need permission to go out?”

“That’s… not exactly. It’ll just be a hassle if you’re recognized.”

People’s gazes flickered towards the Asian boy and then quickly moved on. Two boys wearing cowboy hats weren’t particularly unusual in the California desert.

He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses, and his face was mostly concealed by a bandana, so they probably just assumed he was protecting himself from the strong sun.

In fact, if the boy had been carrying the guitar case that he usually had with him, he would have stood out even more.

“What did you do with the guitar?”

“I left it to be tuned and repaired.”

“Ah, right, you played in the rain.”

“Yeah.”

He had been careful, but all instruments are vulnerable to moisture.

When G offered to send a craftsman directly to look at the guitar, Halo readily agreed.

“Anyway, how have you been?”

“Well, as everyone knows. What about you?”

“I-”

Jang Jin-soo briefly thought of his report card.

A grade far from what was expected of a Korea National University of Arts student.

Still, it had improved quite a bit considering he was getting 6th and 7th grade at the beginning of the semester. The professor also encouraged him, saying that he had discovered the joy of studying and was feeling the pleasure of learning, so his grades would likely continue to rise.

“I think I’m doing well.”

Halo nodded at the quietly spoken words.

And soon, Halo looked around at Coachella, which was teeming with people. A model of the Leaning Tower of Pisa made of rainbow-colored glass, cone-shaped sculptures, white tents, and a variety of food trucks.

It was obvious that his attention was completely captivated, so Jang Jin-soo didn’t bother asking if he was doing well too.

“What do you want to drink?”

“Anything but Americano.”

“Iced Americano is the best on a hot day.”

What’s so good about that ashtray water?

Jang Jin-soo, noticing Halo’s expression, made an okay gesture and started looking for a place that sold drinks.

Then, a group of travelers who appeared to be Korean approached him. Jang Jin-soo was startled, wondering if they had recognized Noh Hae-il.

“Excuse me-”

“Yes, yes?”

“Aren’t you JJ from ‘Show Your Show’?”

“!”

Jang Jin-soo vividly remembered the program ‘Show Your Show’ that he had been on a year and a few months ago. When he confirmed that he was, they were amazed.

“We cheered for JJ a lot back then.”

“That’s right. We listened to the ‘Show Your Show’ soundtrack a lot back then too.”

Jang Jin-soo was flustered by the presence of fans he was seeing up close for the first time, and instinctively looked for Noh Hae-il at the mention of ‘Show Your Show’. Weren’t these people ultimately fans of the soundtrack that Noh Hae-il had created?

“But we liked JJ even if it wasn’t for the soundtrack. How should I put it? You were working so hard that we couldn’t help but cheer for you. Of course, the result was disappointing, but we believe you’ll do better in the future!”

“…!”

Halo turned his head while looking around Coachella.

Jang Jin-soo was surrounded by a group of women.

Halo, watching closely to see if they were trying to get his number, noticed Jang Jin-soo signing a piece of paper with an embarrassed face.

Ah, a fan. He knew instinctively.

He had been on TV too.

The sight of the boy, who had been struggling since his elimination from ‘Show Your Show’ and now had new dreams and goals, signing autographs for his fans was new to him. Still, like he said, it seemed like he was moving forward well. Continuing to grow.

Unlike himself, who was gradually getting closer to his past self.

Halo couldn’t tell whether he was moving forward or backward now that he was returning to his past self, a star who received attention from everyone. But it didn’t matter.

Still, unlike him, he was definitely moving forward.

Then, Halo turned his head at the commotion he heard nearby.

He saw a man.

The man, who didn’t have much hair, was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, and it said ‘HALO is Only White’.

“Oh.”

Halo exclaimed briefly.

If the goal was to get attention, he seemed to have achieved it effectively.

People who saw his clothes did a double-take in disbelief, and the number of gazes directed at him increased significantly.

The more that happened, the more triumphant the man became, puffing out his chest.

He even grabbed anyone passing by and said,

“Everyone knows, right? Ro is lying right now. There’s no way Halo is a 16-year-old kid.”

“Why, why are you doing this?”

“Fucking liar.”

He was making people uncomfortable.

The corners of Halo’s lips turned up slightly.

Coincidentally, the man was getting closer and closer to him.

It was then.

“What are you doing here? Looking like a homeless person.”

A soda-colored cup blocked his view as he sat on the lawn. Someone had approached him.

“Here. It’s heavy, so take this.”

Jang Jin-soo, who had bought a drink, handed him soda instead of Americano.

Halo looked suspiciously at the soda, took a sip, and exclaimed “!” in horror at the overwhelming sweetness.

“And don’t pay attention to things like that. It’ll just ruin your mood. Let’s go eat lunch. Auntie and the professor must be waiting.”

“Well, it’s okay.”

It wasn’t that bad.

Rather, he was interested in what would happen next.

However, Jang Jin-soo left without waiting for his answer, so Halo didn’t argue and followed.

“What’s for lunch?”

“I don’t know. Was it a lobster sandwich?”

Casually asking about the lunch menu, he glanced back.

The strange man was nowhere to be seen.

Where did he go?

Halo, thinking simply, soon looked ahead again.

Jang Jin-soo’s back.

It seemed like this had happened before.

‘What’s wrong, Noh Hae-il? What are you doing here, looking like a homeless person?’

It was Jang Jin-soo who had taken him, who had become Alice in Wonderland, to their secret hideout.

Unaware that Halo was reminiscing about the past, Jang Jin-soo was anxiously watching Halo.

He knew there might be people who would doubt him, but seeing something like that in front of his eyes was still hurtful.

Noh Hae-il wasn’t someone with a fragile heart, but everyone gets hurt.

It had already happened, so he couldn’t undo it. Jang Jin-soo kept making small talk so that Noh Hae-il wouldn’t dwell on it.

From the lunch menu to trivial things.

And he led the boy away with quick steps.

So, they didn’t notice the commotion that was happening behind them because they were preoccupied with their own thoughts.

A man approached and grabbed the back of the head of the man wearing the ‘HALO is Only White’ t-shirt with his large palm, and another man grabbed his collar and knocked him down. It happened in an instant, and people were surprised and quickly surrounded them.

“You bastardly heretic! Die, you bastard! Who do you think you are to judge the sun?”

“I know now! The sun hasn’t shown itself until now because of bastards like you!”

“Ugh, so you guys think that sixteen-year-old… kid is the king? That doesn’t make sense. Logically-”

“Shut up! You should know why Batman is against killing.”

“Why, why is he?”

“I’ll tell you right now!”

Bang-! The commotion continued until the sheriff, who arrived late, stopped them.

“What’s going on here?”

“They’re Heligans [A portmanteau of ‘Halo’ and ‘Hooligans’, implying zealous fans].”

“Ah, I understand.”

#

The first week of Coachella flew by.

Halo watched the performances with the crowds, sometimes dressed as a cowboy, sometimes as a Coachella staff member.

There were many things to hear and see at the performances of various pop stars.

Fireworks, lights, sounds that vibrated through your body…

The people enjoying the performances and the singers became one, creating the stage. Those were his favorite things.

Halo eagerly awaited his upcoming stage.

A stage where tens of thousands of people would come to see him and welcome him.

Jang Jin-soo seemed even more worried after seeing the strange person, but he didn’t doubt that people would welcome him.

Halo closed his eyes and imagined that moment.

It had been a year since he became Noh Hae-il.

The time he spent as an unknown was so enjoyable that he wanted to cherish it.

He lived with all his might, thinking that Noh Hae-il could return anytime – tomorrow, next week, or next month.

So that he wouldn’t regret it even if everything turned out to be a dream when day came.

And finally, the time had come.

The day he had been waiting for the most, and the day he didn’t want to come.

The day when the name HALO would resound on the stage again was just around the corner.

Halo had always thought that Noh Hae-il could return at any moment. Just as he had suddenly become Noh Hae-il one day, Noh Hae-il could suddenly return to his body one day.

“Please.”

Halo muttered softly.

He hoped that Noh Hae-il would not return that day.

He wanted to shine that day, burning with all his life’s energy.

It might be too much greed for someone who had stolen someone else’s body, but he was originally a greedy human.

A greedy human who had to have everything in his hands to be satisfied.

He hoped that next week would come quickly before Noh Hae-il realized that too much time had passed.

At that moment, as if his heart had been heard, the star on the stage said,

“Today was really great, but I’m looking forward to next week even more. I hope next week comes quickly.”

The pop stars, not feeling offended that all the attention was focused elsewhere, rather spoke coolly.

“It was hard to get tickets. Did you all manage to get them?”

“Oh, you all know, right? What day next week is.”

“I’ve always been most curious about him.”

She, who couldn’t possibly be unaware of the controversy surrounding the current Halo candidate, smiled subtly as she looked at the crowd.

“We’ll know when the sun rises in Ohio, right?”

“No. We’ll know when it’s night.”

Laughter spread through the California desert as an audience member pointed out that Halo’s performance time was at night.