The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 1521

< Crazy Bastards -152 >

Things blew up.

No, they *were* blowing up in real-time.

‘Spring Again No Hae-il, Paris Edition’ being re-aired as a special, like ‘Home Alone’ on Christmas, wasn’t even the biggest part of it.

The sudden explosion involved the company building.

Originally, they were planning to find a suitable property in Seoul.

Now that their main residence wasn’t in Jamsil anymore, and Halo had a preferred location, they planned to buy a decent building nearby and remodel it.

Especially since there were quite a few buildings that had been used as entertainment companies or studios, it didn’t seem like it would take too long.

That is, when they were only considering remodeling.

August Veil was serious and wanted to create the best facilities. If Halo wanted it, he was willing to build the best studios in every location he desired.

And it wasn’t strange that the first studio was in Korea.

One thing he overlooked was that there was a Sun Clan [Halo’s dedicated fanbase] everywhere in the world, and they were relentlessly clever when it came to him.

He was planning to hire a talented architect, but one day, he received emails from famous architects, each adding heartfelt sentiments about wanting to build it themselves. One architect even jokingly threatened him with their age, saying they wanted to build a temple before they died.

This was like finding an illustrator for Halo’s album cover.

No, it was even worse.

They hadn’t even been officially informed about Halo’s company building project. They seemed to have spread the word throughout the industry about who the building—which would become a label and studio—was for, using only two keywords: ‘the location of the request is Korea’ and the client is ‘Veil.’ It was as if they had been waiting.

Maybe they really had been waiting, at least considering the labels currently in Seoul.

From architects who had just graduated from college to world-renowned architects, they sent reverse proposals.

Saying they desperately wanted to build it.

Clearly, some of the people Veil knew were the kind who would chase after someone for months or years, begging them to build something, but would sneer if it didn’t suit their taste.

There was even one hasty person who sent a proposal showcasing the kind of feel they wanted to create for the building, which was quite… something.

It was a beautiful building.

Whether they had looked at the environment of Seoul, which has many high-rise buildings, in advance, it didn’t feel out of place. It was also in the form of a company building. However, looking at the sculptures depicting the exterior walls and the details of each window frame, it seemed like it wouldn’t be much different from a cathedral.

Did they want to create a Sagrada Familia [famous, large Roman Catholic minor basilica in Barcelona, Spain] disguised as a company building?

Were they planning to reveal it after Halo’s death?

Caroline, watching Veil laugh, thought that he and the architect weren’t much different, but she didn’t bother to mention it to her employer.

“Still, some of them aren’t bad.”

Halo wanted to create a small concert hall in the basement.

In addition to the rooftop garden and swimming pool, Veil knew what Halo wanted most.

Veil selected those who had experience in building opera houses or concert halls and soon told Halo about the idea of building a new company building in reverse.

The architects he was talking about…

Some of them had names he had heard of, and most of them he didn’t know, but when he searched the internet, the members were embarrassed to see portfolios and news articles lined up at the top of the search results.

They thought they could get luxury furniture, but the scale was getting bigger and bigger.

“It’s good. Please do it.”

Despite the sudden increase in scale, Halo calmly agreed with August Veil’s insight while looking at the proposal.

No one hates a new building.

However, one thing that bothered him was—.

“How long does it usually take to build a building?”

“Usually a year. Even if it’s fast, it takes a few months, right?”

Seo Yeon-yi’s pupils shook, thinking it would take about 3 or 4 months at most.

They were still practicing in the hideout, but it couldn’t be as comfortable as the label’s facilities. There was even the advantage that the president periodically bought instruments, so they could use them whenever they wanted.

“··· Then practice—.”

Although there were no special activities yet, Seo Yeon-yi wanted to practice as usual, so that they could be active at any time.

“Ah, I almost forgot.”

Halo smiled at Seo Yeon-yi, Nam Gyu-hwan, and Han Jin-young, who were blinking their eyes. Building a company building was unexpected, but in some ways, it seemed okay, because there was something to do in the meantime.

Of course. It was just in the planning stage, but the members had to know.

“Let’s go out and practice.”

“Go out?”

“Are we going on a trip?”

“Abroad?”

The members, imagining August Veil’s villa, smiled brightly, and Halo added calmly, as if suggesting kimchi stew for lunch.

“On stage.”

“···!”

There was no way they wouldn’t know what that meant.

Unless they were idiots.

A foreign stage. That could only mean one thing.

“P, President, the progress is too fast.”

World tour.

Of course, again, the place and time had not been decided yet. He had only told August Veil that he wanted to do it, and it was in the planning stage.

August Veil told him to think carefully about which country or region he wanted to go to.

As if he would book a concert even if he suddenly mentioned Everest or the Sahara Desert.

Of course, he doesn’t have a hobby of making his fans suffer by going to such extreme areas.

Rather, he loves those who love him.

That’s why he prepared so many gifts, so that they can have fun at the concert and go home with their arms full. The aftereffects of the concert, that empty feeling after it’s over, is not just for him, so he wants to keep giving them things.

It’s a pity that he can’t give watches to everyone, but he hopes that this will be remembered as an interesting element.

#

Halo came out of the hideout after a long time.

The secretary August Veil brought was driving, and he headed to Chungmuro after a long time.

It was almost the end of the musical ‘Rock’ performance.

‘Rock,’ which started at the end of last December and ran until March, and was extended until May, was truly a successful musical.

He never thought he would see the musical he saw at the end of the year again, but this time the lead was someone else, which he was also looking forward to.

Originally, he was going to discuss the curtain call for the last performance of the musical ‘Rock’ and see the matinee performance.

This time, he received a seat on the side of the second floor, not in the front row.

Halo looked down at the stage in the dark and saw another Jungwoo.

As Dokgo Young, who was double-casted, he was curious about how he would interpret Jungwoo.

Halo, with his arms folded, watched Jungwoo’s dying last stage and thought it wasn’t bad.

It’s just that Park Hyuk’s Jungwoo was more impressive, but Dokgo Young’s Jungwoo wasn’t bad either. In the musical industry, Park Hyuk was more recognized for his singing skills, but Dokgo Young also practiced hard and had excellent skills.

However, what’s bothering him is what should he say.

It feels like he’s seen this interpretation somewhere. Exactly, before he brought up the story of composing to Park Hyuk, Park Hyuk also interpreted Jungwoo like this.

If Jungwoo in the early stages valued his inner fears or his own safety more, as he went into the later stages, he overcame those fears and became a sacrificing character. The motive is due to the world that has been destroyed. Because he did nothing and stood by, his first love, friendship, band, and music all disappeared.

So Dokgo Young seems to have portrayed Jungwoo as a person who goes from a selfish petty citizen to a sacrificing hero.

On the other hand, Halo didn’t think so when he composed Jungwoo’s song. To him, Jungwoo is not a sacrificing person. He is still selfish and petty. He just learned how to fight.

Even if he jumped into the flames at the risk of his death, he didn’t want to die, but wanted to live and see the world he would create. Also, he wanted to prove that they were right.

Sacrifice? Jungwoo is not a hero-like figure enough to do that. Well, someone might have thought of Jungwoo as a hero, but Jungwoo wouldn’t have thought of himself as a hero.

Jungwoo is just an ordinary citizen. Someone you can see anywhere. Thus, someone who can become anyone.

The difference between Dokgo Young and Park Hyuk’s interpretation is that.

To Dokgo Young, Jungwoo is a *born* hero, and to Park Hyuk, Jungwoo is someone who can become anyone.

There may be likes and dislikes, but Halo liked Park Hyuk’s Jungwoo better.

Halo applauded.

He also enjoyed the following curtain call.

People were constantly waiting for the curtain call, and the actors seemed to have prepared a lot, so they kept doing the curtain call.

And when the stage was over, he headed to the staff room with Veil’s secretary.

Since he had already told them that he was coming this time, the general director, Nok Ji-dam, would be waiting.

“!”

“No Hae-il···?”

“It’s Halo.”

The people who met his eyes were surprised by the appearance of No Hae-il. It was the appearance of someone whose whereabouts had been mysterious since Coachella. Halo calmly greeted the people who were whispering and sending glances at him and went inside the hallway.

“I enjoyed the show.”

“T, Thank you.”

There were also some who hurriedly took out the sun necklace [a piece of Halo’s merchandise].

It was like the miracle of Moses happened.

Just as the sea opened the way for Moses,

The people who were talking after finishing the stage looked at him and opened the way.

“Hae-il!”

And as if he knew, the general director burst open the door and called him. Next to him were the music director, Park Hyuk, who didn’t have a performance today, and the lead actors.

In fact, the lead actors didn’t have to come, but it seemed like they came because of the responsibility of the last stage. Or maybe, to see him.

“Hello, it’s been a while.”

As the general director first attempted a handshake, he ended up shaking hands with everyone else. Originally, greetings should come first based on seniority, but Halo was used to handshakes, so he exchanged them casually.

“Hae-il, look at you.”

The general director, as soon as he saw him, said he was disappointed he couldn’t see the first day of the performance, then pointed to Park Hyuk.

“Do you know how much Park Hyuk was looking for you that day?”

“Director.”

“Hae-il should have seen Park Hyuk that day. He was so disappointed.”

He was always friendly to him, so it was natural for him to whine about why he didn’t come. In fact, Halo didn’t know that he was quite selective with people. Since the first time he met him, when he offered him the role of general director, the general director had remained a talkative and sociable person to him.

“Anyway, Hae-il, did you have a good trip?”

Everyone probably knew how Halo had been doing, but the general director treated him as if he didn’t know or didn’t care that he was Halo.

Halo smiled faintly and nodded.

“I had a very enjoyable time.”

The lead actors and music director, who knew very well what he had been doing on the world stage, had subtle expressions, but the general director nodded, pleased.

“I’ve been busy for five months thanks to you, Hae-il. Did you hear that our musical was a huge hit?”

It wasn’t just a hit.

Later, due to speculation that No Hae-il was Halo, they sold the license at a higher price, but the real success of the musical was ultimately due to its content and music. Whether No Hae-il was Halo or not, could the musical have been such a hit if the music had been bad?

Therefore, No Hae-il’s identity was not that important to the general director. Of course, he might be more grateful for No Hae-il’s identity in the future, but what was more important was the music that No Hae-il had created.

With the decision to release the musical’s soundtrack, the general director began to talk about the final performance in earnest.

The reason they gathered was for the final performance’s curtain call, and the composer of the last number would grace the occasion.

In fact, the general director wanted to add another day to the performance and see No Hae-il play Jungwoo himself, but he didn’t want to put pressure on him. If No Hae-il had shown any desire for it—even if No Hae-il wanted to film a drama or movie in the current situation, investors would flock to him—No Hae-il only seemed interested in the curtain call chorus.

A singer is a singer by nature.

Well, who would say that Halo isn’t a singer?

“Um, Hae-il… can I call you that? Or, Halo?”

While the general director and Park Hyuk were casual, the other lead actor seemed to be a bit wary of him. The realms of musical actors and singer-songwriters were somewhat divided, and who would see HALO as just an ordinary singer?

“Please, call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

Also, as a fan who liked Halo’s music, it was even more difficult.

Halo acted as usual, regardless of the reaction.

He was used to people treating him as usual,

and he was used to people being awkward or uncomfortable.

Well, he was also used to people suddenly showing greed,

and there were people who treated him badly and then suddenly became kind, so this was nothing.

If he were a real 17-year-old, he would have had a hard time going through a turbulent adolescence due to the sudden changes, but Halo wasn’t a real 17-year-old, and he had already experienced it, so there was no reason to have a hard time.

After a short discussion, Halo, who decided to gather in the practice room and rehearse, with the schedule to be decided later, stopped at the smell coming from somewhere as he headed to the restroom.

“Wow, did you see? Halo is here right now.”

“Why are you making such a fuss?”

The smell of electronic cigarettes wafted from the emergency exit, and voices could be heard through the slightly open door.

“No, Halo came, so of course—.”

“It’s not even certain.”

The secretary, who understood Korean, glanced at the boy.

Before he told her to go, the boy raised his hand as if to tell her to wait a moment. The words to take good care of the boy and to do whatever the boy wanted were conflicting.

The reason the secretary was staying still was that the boy didn’t seem depressed or hurt. Rather, he was smiling brighter and brighter. As if he was enjoying it.

The secretary already knew that there was such a debate. Not exactly a suspicion about his voice—.

“Why? His voice and Coachella—.”

“Well, voices can be similar. Okay, let’s say he sang on the Halo account. But is it certain that he wrote that song too?”

“What?”

That was the old debate that Halo wasn’t one person but a team. Of course, this emergency exit friend doesn’t even want to believe that No Hae-il is Halo.

“Then who made it?”

“Well, another composer…! Who is it?”

The secretary couldn’t stop him.

Halo burst into the room and asked, and the people who were smoking jumped in surprise.

“Oh, Halo… I’m sorry.”

The person wearing a white shirt, who seemed to be playing a commoner [a minor role in the musical], was startled and bowed his head. On the other hand, the other friend didn’t.

At first, he was surprised, but gradually his expression became confident.

“Did I say anything wrong? It’s not certain that No Hae-il is Halo. How many people in the world have similar voices? And how do you know Coachella wasn’t fooled?”

“Is that so?”

Halo asked back, as if he found it interesting.

There were people like this in his life.

Of course, in the past, no one asked him if he was Halo, but there were people who tried to create controversy, such as whether his composing skills were real, whether it was plagiarism, or whether he had stolen someone else’s work, and there were people who simply didn’t recognize his music itself.

So, what did he do?

Did he just let it go?

Of course not. He rather enjoyed these squabbles.

Halo took a step closer.

As his smile deepened, the man took a step back, sensing the danger. But he didn’t want to admit that he was scared, so he came forward again.

In fact, in times like these, the more famous person loses out if they fight. He had nothing to lose. Unlike the boy standing on the fragile glass in front of him.

“You don’t think I’m Halo?”

Halo whispered.

The fledgling rookie spoke informally, so he also spoke informally, thinking it was a good opportunity.

“Y-yeah. You haven’t proven it yet. Prove it, prove that it’s you!”

The man who had nothing to lose shouted.

Halo smiled and asked back.

“Why should I?”

“…What?”

“If you want to prove that I’m not, you have to prove it.”

“!”

“Who knows? If you look hard enough, you might find some evidence.”

The boy, who spoke nonchalantly about his own destruction, didn’t seem to be in his right mind at first glance. The man, who had seen No Hae-il’s music scores but hadn’t heard that No Hae-il’s personality was crazy, was stunned.

“Should we make a bet? If you find evidence that I’m not, I’ll do whatever you want. But what if you can’t find it?”

Moreover, No Hae-il wasn’t the type to stop easily.

No Hae-il grinned like a madman. He seemed to be enjoying the situation. The more he did, the more the man thought he was being ignored. He didn’t know that No Hae-il’s personality was like this, he was a real psycho.

“Hae-il, are you okay?”

Before he knew it, a colleague who had run out said something, and the general director came himself, only defending No Hae-il, whom he cherished so much. The lead actors, who had been friendly until then, also had cold eyes.

No Hae-il said nonchalantly, ‘We were just talking,’ and the general director softly replied, ‘Is that so?’ but it was clear that things were getting colder and colder.

The general director, who had been smiling all the while he was sending No Hae-il off, suddenly turned serious and looked back at him.

“What’s your name?”

At that one word, his lips trembled.

It was nothing more than a conversation. Why is this happening?

He had nothing to lose, he shouldn’t have had anything to lose.

Sensing that something was wrong, the manager of the supporting actor from the same agency came.

And he made him bow his head unconditionally.

He didn’t even hit No Hae-il, he just had a question. Is it this much?

As the manager, who said he would take care of it, sent him away, he returned home, kicked the floor, and turned on the computer. He couldn’t stand it, he was so frustrated that he was going to post today’s conversation on the community. Then No Hae-il’s voice flashed through his mind.

-You don’t think I’m Halo?

That arrogant brat.

At the same time as clenching his fist, he thought of how to screw him over. That crazy fandom that was on the social pages. If they turned their backs, No Hae-il would be in real trouble.

Surely, if it was Heligan [Halo’s fan community], there would be guys who wouldn’t recognize No Hae-il.

He hadn’t recorded the conversation with No Hae-il, but as he recalled what he had said and entered the community.

“!”

[Korea University, the No. 1 university in Korea, is here. He had a concert here last year and promised to perform again this year]

└ Taeyang performed? And he’s doing it again?

└ Taeyang even took classes in ‘Astronomy’ himself

└ I think I know why Korea University is No. 1

└I just gave up Stanford and decided to go to Korea University, but how do I get in there?

At first, he thought he was on the Taeyangdan community, not Heligan.

They’re the ones who should be the most suspicious.

[Haa, is there anyone who can get me more pictures of my little baby Taeyang?]

[Sixteen-year-old Halo is what I’ve been dreaming of]

[I want to put him in my pocket and raise him]

“What! These crazy perverts.”

No Hae-il is over 180cm tall, aren’t these crazy bastards? He was horrified and ran out.