The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 1461

< Until Dawn >

The Coachella main stage was covered by a large tent.

Inside this tent, scheduled to open on Thursday night, Coachella staff were bustling with activity.

Rehearsals for the singers who would grace the Coachella main stage from Friday to Sunday were in full swing. Due to limited space, they had scheduled rehearsal times, and as soon as they were done, they vacated the space for the next team, ensuring smooth progress.

But today was different.

Thursday afternoon.

With rumors swirling about Roh Hae-il’s rehearsal, the singers sat quietly in the staff seats as if they belonged there. Even though their rehearsals were over, they acted nonchalant, or pretended to be, while their eyes darted around busily.

They couldn’t be asked to leave since they had dismissed their own teams and were just sitting there. The staff were equally curious about Roh Hae-il, who was making his appearance after two months, so under a tacit agreement, the rehearsal site was becoming increasingly crowded.

Tension flowed beneath the rehearsal stage, amidst the joyful music and performances. As time passed, the tension grew.

Finally, a boy wearing a straw hat appeared. It was a bit earlier than his scheduled time.

The boy, who didn’t seem to have tanned at all under the hot sun, took off his sunglasses and entered with a friend of his age.

“Roh, you’re here early? Where’s the band?”

“They’ll be here soon.”

“Ah, so is this the manager?”

“I guess you could say that?”

Jang Jin-soo, who had submitted a career exploration application for a week at school, entered cautiously.

He was still unsure about whether he was allowed to be here. Roh Hae-il said the rehearsal atmosphere was relaxed, so it was okay, but how could he trust the words of a guy who had never been to a rock festival except for university festivals?

But soon, he had no choice but to forget his confusion.

‘Wow…’

A total collection of pop stars he knew.

Seeing people he had only seen on TV right in front of him made him nervous and excited. He found Roh Hae-il, who was going to perform with these people, amazing and enviable.

‘When will I ever be able to perform here like Roh Hae-il?’

If I ever did, wouldn’t I be too nervous to handle it?

Roh Hae-il, who was calmly talking to the staff in this situation, seemed to have an incredibly large liver [meaning he was incredibly brave or composed].

Just then, Jang Jin-soo sensed a subtle atmosphere flowing through the rehearsal site. The subtle atmosphere, buried in the joyful sound, was familiar to Jang Jin-soo, something he had experienced somewhere.

Glares that didn’t directly address him, but seemed to be wary or observant. It was the same as the participants from the ‘Saw’ era [referencing the tense atmosphere of the ‘Saw’ movie franchise].

Well, foreigners may not be able to distinguish Asian faces well, but there’s no way they wouldn’t recognize the face of the boy who had turned the world upside down for two months.

Everyone is conscious of Roh Hae-il, pretending not to be.

Perhaps some of them are positive, and others are negative.

To those people, Roh Hae-il is no different from a stranger. Maybe he’s the guy who stole the spotlight from their stage.

“Hi, guy.”

Or not?

A pop star wearing a sleeveless top and hot pants approached Roh Hae-il and smiled kindly. And started talking in English.

Jang Jin-soo, who still lacked listening skills beyond greetings and simple words, couldn’t understand, but both seemed cheerful.

The two, who had just met, even hugged like foreigners. Jang Jin-soo thought Roh Hae-il was sociable, unlike his personality, and was shocked to see him doing a ‘biju’ [a Korean term for a cute pose, often involving a V-sign] with his favorite singer.

‘I want to be Roh Hae-il for just one second…’

At this moment, he envied Roh Hae-il more than ever.

“Hmph, he’s really in his element.”

Jang Jin-soo instinctively turned his head at the voice he heard nearby. He didn’t know what they were saying, but judging from the nuance, it was quite hostile.

“Hey, Watson.”

“What.”

“I heard Halo is coming today, when is he coming?”

“!”

And this time, he understood without difficulty.

The word HALO. And the basic English interrogative When.

When does he come.

The man who shouted to his manager so that everyone at the rehearsal site could hear clearly didn’t consider Roh Hae-il as Halo.

And then another cheerful voice was heard.

“Why are you like that, there’s a little Halo here.”

Roh Hae-il’s gaze slowly turned.

Jang Jin-soo realized that this nuance was definitely not a good one either.

“Well, I don’t know if people will acknowledge it.”

As Roh Hae-il’s lips curled up, Jang Jin-soo jumped up from his seat. That was definitely the expression he made right before causing an accident.

But the pop singer who was talking to Halo retorted first.

“Is that advice from your experience? I heard you have a lot of visitors at your house these days.”

“Cassie, shut up.”

Halo’s eyes flashed as he heard their conversation, and soon he spoke as well.

“Ah, so you’re the 86th Halo. Nice to meet you.”

Pfft.

Laughter rippled through the rehearsal site.

It wasn’t a good look to bully a young singer, and the fact that the person doing the bullying had pretended to be Halo in the past was also a funny element.

Jang Jin-soo felt a little relieved as he watched Roh Hae-il laughing among the people. Since Coachella last week, Jang Jin-soo had been worried that people would deny him. He had felt a bit uneasy since encountering that strange psychopath.

But seeing him chatting with people like this and lightly brushing off the malice, he seemed okay.

‘Was I worrying for nothing?’

Jang Jin-soo tilted his head and decided to get some drinks since he was here as a manager anyway. It would be about time for him to get thirsty.

Since Roh Hae-il hated Americano [a type of coffee] the most in the world, he decided to buy water and fresh fruit juice.

After such an eventful rehearsal, Coachella’s second weekend arrived.

And Coachella welcomes people who might be called ‘legendary’.

Friday morning was splendid from the start.

It’s not just about the number of spectators, as many as the blades of grass in the Indio desert. Celebrities who had passed Week 1 relatively quietly moved and visited Coachella in person.

It seemed as if only celebrities had grabbed tickets.

Including SNS [Social Networking Service] and YouTube influencers, models, and actors who had gained popularity in certain dramas, numerous celebrities visited.

Korean tourists doubted their eyes.

“Wow, crazy.”

If they had seen Chun Young-hwa, an actor from a ten-million-viewer movie, while parking and coming out, this time they saw Lee Jung-min, the hottest male actor these days, and a top star couple. People who seemed like they would only be seen at the year-end awards ceremony of a broadcasting station began to appear one by one.

It didn’t even end there.

People who are commonly called Roh Hae-il’s golden connections were seen. They were people who were very busy these days, but they seemed to have come to Coachella in the midst of their busy schedules.

The parking lot, which consisted only of broadcasting station’s huge vehicles and sports cars, and the flock of helicopters swimming in the sky were not new.

It was rather new that there were more than one or two people wearing sun necklaces among them. The Sun Clan that existed all over the world may not have only existed in the internet world.

Among them were actors and singers, as well as doctors, teachers, prosecutors, politicians, and many other occupations.

Above all, the real deal was from Sunday, the day of the event.

Businessmen who wouldn’t even have time to pick up money if it fell on the ground were seen.

From the representative of G, one of the three major guitar manufacturers in the United States, to the chairman of Arvo, a luxury brand that has Roh Hae-il as an ambassador. August Veil was also with him, and corporate figures who had created advertisements with Halo’s music also visited one after another.

The chief designer of a luxury perfume company that once advertised that they would find you all over the world even came in person.

The most splendid Coachella in 2032 was clear.

Coachella announced that it would provide live broadcast permission and streaming services, which was unusual, but everyone took heavy steps to come directly.

That soon proved that they were curious about Halo as much as they couldn’t be satisfied in their rooms.

To be exact, whether he is a real 16-year-old kid, Roh.

‘What happens if it’s real?’

Someone wondered.

If Roh is really Halo. If it’s the same person as the voiceprint analysis results, what will happen?

That’s because the Halo that the world has drawn so far was very different from Roh. Even excluding the white story, a middle-aged British alcoholic.

The man, who was considered to be generous, had a body that everyone could respect, and had a large tattoo on his body, seemed to be completely on the opposite side of Roh.

On the other hand, what should I say about Roh?

The appearance was close to a typical K-pop idol.

He was tall but thin, and had the image of a model student with white skin.

Causing a commotion in the world and disappearing was not at all a K-pop idol style, but that was the first impression.

‘Will those guys acknowledge such a Halo?’

Muscular men with sun necklaces around their necks pass by in groups. Just by looking at them, they were Hooligans [referring to the Sun Clan’s more aggressive members]. On the internet, they are worshiped as dark knights who punish liars, but in reality, they are just hooligans. Breaking into other people’s houses and smashing cars-.

“What did you say?”

“Ha, Halo-.”

“Huh?”

Thugs who oppress passers-by.

Can a 16-year-old kid control them?

No, before that, could they accept a 16-year-old kid as their sun, or their king?

“I’ll make an exception just for today. Shut up and listen.”

“Yes, keep etiquette. Turn off your phone alarm, don’t kick the front seat, and don’t talk loudly! I’ll kill you if you break even one of them.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Ah, my sun… Today, I have also reformed a lost sheep…”

No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like they’re in their right mind.

Doo doo doo doo

People briefly raised their heads at the sound of the helicopter.

I thought it was a heli taxi that came to the Coachella base camp, but it was a broadcasting station helicopter.

The broadcasting station mark to conduct the Coachella live broadcast was clearly stamped. I already know that they are doing it, but seeing the broadcasting station helicopter like this, it felt like something really happened.

How many people are waiting for the sun?

“Wow, I’m seeing a broadcasting station helicopter for the first time.”

“The helicopter also has lights. It looks like a rescue helicopter.”

“It’s really awesome.”

“But is that driving a bit unstable? Isn’t it going to fall during the performance?”

Doo doo doo doo.

Someone thought the loud helicopter sound was uneasy.

“Then the broadcasting station will disappear that day. The bereaved families and Hooligans won’t let it go.”

“Why the Hooligans?”

“The performance is ruined because of the helicopter, and today is the last performance-.”

“Ah, that’s right. Finally today-.”

Sunday, 5 p.m.

The sun, which had been blazing in the highest place, gradually fell and the time of night approached. The time people are most waiting for.

In some ways, it’s an ironic statement.

“The sun’s time is night.”

“Hehe, that’s right. So the Sun Clan says that the White Nights are coming.”

“That’s a bit plausible.”

Someone said that the stage that might be held today will remain in music history, and someone ridiculed that the identity of a mere pop singer is revealed, will it be an event that will appear in music history.

But even he waited with a pounding heart.

#

After the sun sets, I’m not even hungry.

That was true for the audience who could go to the food truck at any time, and it was also true for the members who were behind the main stage with nervous faces.

“Hoo ha hoo ha.”

“Finally, the day has come.”

“I don’t think it jumped from 1,000 people to 70,000 people?”

“There will be more next time.”

Halo approached them.

Halo, wearing a dopo [a traditional Korean overcoat] made by Arvo, was holding his guitar. A guitar engraved with H.

“That’s right. Next time, we’ll be standing in front of 6 billion people.”

“No.”

Moon Seo-yeon, who was catching her breath at Nam Gyu-hwan’s words, laughed with an absurd face.

“It’s a real world tour.”

I was so dumbfounded that the tension was relieved.

“What did you say to the staff?”

“Ah.”

Halo recalled the words of the Coachella director who called him right before the stage.

Roh Hae-il’s performance time is from 8:30 to 9:20.

He explained that Halo’s performance time was from 10:30.

-Originally, there is a certain term for each performance, so it was divided arbitrarily.

“He told me to do well on my own.”

“Huh?”

Literally.

-From the moment you step on stage, the Coachella main stage will be your stage. Until you want it.

“So you’re saying it’s a free roll [meaning he has complete freedom and control].”

Halo smiled and nodded at Han Jin-young’s question.

“Shall we go then?”

Without saying anything, the members held out their hands.

Hands are stacked on top of the back of the hand.

The order didn’t matter.

The neatly stacked tower was so solid that it would never collapse even if someone made a mistake. Well, they weren’t people who made mistakes so easily.

Halo went on stage side by side with the members.

The pop star who had been on stage before smiled and held out her hand to him.

She, who had been friendly since the first time she saw him, winked, “I’ll be looking forward to it,” and shook her long hair and went down.