The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 1641

< The Day Arrives >

[Did you see the watch he’s wearing?]

[So, what brand is the watch he’s wearing?]

His outfits had been analyzed long ago.

I mean, the two outfits from the concert scene and the street scene.

From the fact that the shirt is a product of OO brand worth several hundred dollars, thoroughly.

Not only Halo, but the clothes worn by the five members were dug up by those who were interested.

Mostly fleetingly.

The only thing that couldn’t just pass by was the ‘watch’ Halo wore.

First of all, in the two scenes, Halo had completely different styles of hairstyle, outfit, and shoes. A music video expert interpreted that the two scenes might mean dream and reality, or wish and reality. Therefore, the costumes were intentionally designed not to overlap at all, and in fact, Frau also did not overlap a single outfit in his wish (what he wants to do if the earth is destroyed tomorrow) and reality scenes.

Jason, Dick, and Michael were the same, and so were Halo’s clothes.

But only one thing, the watch.

The watch Halo wore in the concert scene – although it was hidden by his clothes, it was definitely the same watch – was clearly the same as the watch exposed while walking side by side with Frau on the street.

Moreover, the watch Halo wore had a unique design with two large and small beads embedded instead of the hour and minute hands, so it couldn’t help but stand out more.

However, strangely enough, the watch was not found in searches.

Judging by the quality, it seemed to be a luxury item, but people couldn’t find the product model.

Luxury watch collectors, who always jumped at the chance to show off, even lost their initial enthusiasm, wondering where Halo’s watch was from.

[Isn’t it a gift? He’s Halo!]

[Or maybe it’s a collaboration with a watch brand]

[I like the watch, is it a Halo edition?!]

No one associated it with the golden ticket.

There was already a precedent with the music box, but who would put a music box and a luxury watch on the same level?

Logically, there was no one in the world who would give a luxury watch as merchandise.

With the number of people authenticating the golden ticket rising from a few units to dozens of units, it was known that there were not just one or two. Giving out dozens of luxury watches per concert was impossible.

So, the only thing left was a collaboration with a luxury brand.

The opinion that it was a collaboration became more certain when Frau wore the same watch on a talk show.

Since Frau wouldn’t have stolen Halo’s watch, he must have received it as a gift from Halo, which means that at least the same design is being produced.

[Since Frau said he received it as a gift, it seems like a collaboration is right]

[Crazy… finally a collaboration… it was about time]

[There are perfumes, cars, fashion, and everything else, it’s likely that a watch will come out too.]

[How much would you all pay for a Halo watch?]

[I have to buy it no matter what…]

[Considering Nohaeil’s style, there’s a possibility of a limited edition. If you don’t buy it this time, there might not be another chance]

They were worried about how much the merchandise would cost, but they didn’t think about the situation where they wouldn’t be able to buy it even if they had the money. The same was true for Koreans. They felt PTSD because it was Halo merchandise, but still.

[But surely they’re not only selling ten in the world, right?]

[It’s impossible for a corporate collaboration. What crazy company would only release ten items for merchandise purposes?]

[It’s a corporate collaboration, so that’s unlikely, but I’m a little anxious… right? Haeil, isn’t it?]

[Even if they take reservations… and even if they limit it, they’ll keep releasing editions 1, 2, 3, 4. We just have to worry about the price]

Anyway, in this situation where everything from the music video lyrics to the watch worn by the performers is a hot topic, the new song collaboration was clearly a success. From the song’s performance to the streaming index, YouTube views, and buzz volume, it was far superior to any other song.

From the beginning, didn’t they boast to each other that the song was well-made even before its release?

Frau even went on a talk show and said, looking around at the team members, that he was already sure of success.

Frau, who went on the radio and talk shows, thanked them for participating in the collaboration and said he would buy them drinks in their busy schedule. Of course, one person would have to drink juice.

For Jason, who couldn’t come because he was preparing a new album, they decided to hold a special party without Jason at Jason’s house.

“Damn bastards.”

Jason, who almost had his house taken away, ended up coming.

“By the way, do you know that people are asking about you here and there these days? Hey, Frau, you hear it a lot too, right?”

“That’s right. Everyone asks me when Halo’s album is coming out. As if I know.”

The conversation, soaked in a glass of alcohol, flowed like water, and without context.

Talking about Michael’s daughter, for some reason the topic of conversation arrived at Halo, and Frau joined in Dick’s complaints.

“Everyone is curious about my album.”

Halo replied nonchalantly.

It was annoying, but everyone laughed.

If they had said that to each other, they would have cursed, but as fathers with children around elementary school age, the 16-year-old’s annoyingness was just cute.

“No, he’ll do it when it’s time.”

“That’s right. Frau also kept playing around and released a new song after 3 years.”

“Playing around? How hard I’ve lived.”

“Anyone here who has lived more diligently than Halo?”

Everyone shut their mouths and turned their heads.

That’s right, there weren’t many people who could say they lived diligently in front of someone who released thirteen houses last year.

“Isn’t Jason also coming back with a full album after a long time?”

“It’s been a little over a year. He lived like he was dead for a while.”

“Uh…”

And this time it became quiet in a different sense.

If it was a playful atmosphere before, this time it was a little more quiet.

Michael said it without much thought, but it was a word that could reach Jason greatly, so Michael realized his mistake.

“It’s not wrong.”

“Sorry.”

Michael quickly apologized when Jason, who was still drinking, came in without a word. Jason took another drink.

“Should I go out for a smoke?”

“I was just about to go.”

“Can I go too?”

Frau and Dick. And finally, Michael got up from his seat, looking around.

Jason, a smoker, didn’t seem to have any intention of smoking, and nodded as if to say do as you please.

“Halo, should I buy you a Dr. Pepper?”

Halo, who only had to drink juice at the drinking party, raised his eyebrows.

“Hahaha, just kidding.”

Frau put his arm around Michael and Dick and left the seat. Halo wondered what was going on, as the atmosphere suddenly froze and the three of them hurriedly left.

It’s not like a star gets cursed once or twice.

I didn’t think last year was anything special.

Only two people left.

Then, Jason, who put down his beer glass with a thud, opened his mouth.

“Hey. Why did you say you’d do this?”

It was a sudden question.

“What? The party?”

“No, this collaboration.”

Did he forget that it was Jason who brought him to the collaboration?

“You didn’t have to do it. You didn’t even think about it at first.”

That wasn’t wrong.

If the subject wasn’t interesting, he wouldn’t have done it.

“But still, you deliberately stepped up to clean me up-”

Jason looked up at the air for a moment as if trying to think of the right word.

Then he finally frowned and said.

“Are you trying to make me owe you?”

Tok. Halo chewed on fried spaghetti.

The noodles broke with a snap.

“Or are you trying to make me feel guilty?”

Todododok.

A sound that wasn’t serious at all echoed.

But Jason didn’t care at all.

It was as if he didn’t hear the sound of the spaghetti breaking.

“Do you want me to apologize to you?”

“Sorry for pretending to be you?”

Suddenly Jason asked.

It was a conversation they had once before.

-Hey, should I apologize?

-No. Would you if I wanted you to?

-No.

Halo wondered why the conversation that had ended then was coming up again.

Just as he was about to say that he didn’t want it like then, Jason spoke first.

“I still won’t apologize.”

Seeing him say the same thing he said then, he must have been drunk after a few beers.

The pronunciation was also gradually slurred.

It was the most clumsy word, but also the most unsuitable word for a liar.

“I, I. I’ll still claim to be Halo even if I go back to the past. I like being on top even if I get cursed a little. Rather than being at the bottom where no one pays attention.”

In the past, when the identity of Halo was hidden behind a veil, there were many who claimed to be Halo and gained popularity. Most of them collapsed because they couldn’t prove it, but some survived. Jason Dyke was one of those cases.

He has been labeled as a liar by the Halo fandom until now, but he still doesn’t regret it.

Being able to get this mansion in LA, perform at Coachella, collaborate with Frau and these guys, and rant to the real Halo is all thanks to that one lie.

Jason Dyke couldn’t regret that lie.

It became the biggest criticism, but at the same time, it made him a star.

A half-baked star who couldn’t rise on his own didn’t even deserve to feel guilty.

“The apology-.”

Jason glared at Halo again.

He still couldn’t figure out what Halo’s intention was in cleaning him up.

But whatever the intention, it was true that he was cleaned up.

The collaboration with Halo was seen as a gesture of Halo forgiving him, and the negative perception of him decreased. Some people would still hate his lies and him, but the gesture of the person himself was definitely meaningful.

“When I beat you, then…”

Then. When he can stand on his own two feet someday, and when his lies are only left as his dark history.

If that time comes, he will regret his lies and scold himself for being stupid.

If that time comes, he will be able to apologize.

For borrowing your name because he couldn’t stand the short time he could have risen on his own.

And… the reason he borrowed your name was not because he hated you.

Because your music was so beautiful, and the life reflected in that music was so beautiful that I wanted to be you even for a moment. I thought that if I became you even a little, I could change too.

“You’re going to beat me?”

Then, Halo’s voice was heard.

Jason was irritated when he clearly felt a sneer.

“Why? Do you think I can’t beat you?”

Music is not a sport, so winners and losers may not be clearly distinguished.

Still, it can be sufficiently shown in terms of performance. Jason believed that he could beat Halo someday. He wanted to win. To be exact, he wanted to be able to put the awe he felt in Halo’s album into his album.

Hiding that inside, Jason shouted.

“Damn it, when are you going to release an album? Just tell me. I’ll release it on the same day.”

I don’t know why the conversation went this way.

“It’s not long now.”

However, Jason said, puffing up at Halo, who seemed to be ignoring him, while his head was getting heavier and heavier. The staggering drunkard faces Halo beyond the glass bottle.

Halo is looking at him-.

I want to see what kind of face he’s making, but I can’t see it because it’s covered by my hair.

Jason gave up trying to see and shouted, puffing up.

“You’ll regret cleaning me up.”

His voice gradually scattered.

Jason thought he was lying on a cloud.

At that moment, he heard laughter between his sleep.

It was the brightest laughter he had ever heard.

There was no ridicule in it.

Rather.

The joy he once felt listening to Halo’s music-.

Jason couldn’t forget his thoughts anymore and fell asleep.

“Do it if you can.”

Halo was happy.

“Let’s see.”

The words of a drunkard cannot be trusted, but still.

Maybe he was drunk from the smell of alcohol.

Slowly, Frau, Michael, and Dick approached, asking if the conversation was over.

Long ago, Hwangryongpil’s words to beat Halo flashed through his mind.

Still, there was no one who had openly said in front of Halo that he would beat him.

Halo smiled brightly.

Thinking that he might have a rival someday.

He earnestly hoped that the day would be really enjoyable, that the day would come.

Like that. Time starts flowing quickly again.

The hot summer and short autumn passed in an instant.

[What the hell are they building?]

Around the time news of the temple, no, the label in the middle of Seoul was being spread.

The release date of Halo’s LP album was approaching.