The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 201

20. The Course of the Bet

“Heh heh. Heh heh…”

Halo found that perverted laughter grating on his nerves. But he didn’t want to see the happy look on his face, no matter what he said, so he looked away.

If he’d known it would turn out like this, he wouldn’t have helped him in the first place.

“Jin-soo.”

“Yes, hyung [older brother or male friend]. …Heh heh heh.”

“When is the filming?”

Jang Jin-soo answered Han Jin-young’s question right away.

Judging by the speed of his reply, it seemed like he had been waiting for that question.

“That’s later than I thought.”

“Ah, they said the announcements are being made sequentially. Some people haven’t been reviewed yet.”

“Ah, come to think of it, the announcement itself came out early this time.”

“Right. They said the broadcast is earlier than before, too.”

If ‘Show Your Show S.2’ aired last year after Christmas, ‘Show Your Show S.3′ was undeniably early.

They were announcing the results sequentially in the second week—how they were doing it was a mystery—when the review usually took a month. And filming was scheduled for around the 23rd or 24th, roughly two weeks later. And the first broadcast was on the 7th, two weeks after that.

Considering the teasers and trailers that had to be released in between, the production team was practically running a forced march.

“Oh, is NS short on cash?”

“It’s more that the program is urgent. It all went down the drain because of the drunk driving incident.”

Jang Jin-soo made a scissor motion with both hands.

Only then did Han Jin-young nod as if he understood.

There was a behind-the-scenes situation where the previous program had flopped, so they pulled up a popular program.

“That must be tough.”

“I like it, though? Because I can be on TV sooner.”

He had clearly forgotten the possibility of being eliminated in the second round. Jang Jin-soo was more than elated; his shoulders were soaring into the sky.

“Hae-il, wish for him to stop being so cocky.”

“Pardon?”

Bae Gong-hak spoke, unable to watch any longer.

At this rate, he would be giggling all day.

“What wish?”

“You guys made a bet, didn’t you?”

“What bet? No, it’s not over yet?”

Last weekend, they bet on whether Halo’s video would exceed 10,000 views. He had checked the views yesterday, and it was still far from 10,000.

Jang Jin-soo tilted his head at the sudden remark.

“If it’s about the views of the video Hae-il is in, isn’t it already over?”

“What do you mean? That doesn’t make sense…”

“I saw Hae-il’s busking video with a million views.”

“!”

“That’s right.”

Kim Deok-soo agreed, and Jang Jin-soo’s nostrils flared.

“No, that’s too much!”

What he had bet on was Noh Hae-il’s album.

Busking videos and whatever else were invalid.

“How can you say that! Hey, Noh Hae-il, you tell me. Our bet was on your video, right?”

“Isn’t a video with Hae-il in it Hae-il’s video?”

It was nothing more than a play on words, but objectively, it wasn’t wrong. They hadn’t specified exactly which video when they made the bet.

“Hae-il. It’s not, right?”

When he made the bet, he hadn’t anticipated that the busking video would be uploaded to YouTube and reach a million views. He had completely forgotten about it since then.

He felt wronged to death, but none of his hyungs were on his side. This was all his karma.

“The bet isn’t over yet.”

Halo felt a sense of satisfaction at the expression that had now lost its smile. But he didn’t want to grit his teeth and win against a kid. There was still plenty of time left, and although the views were low compared to the busking video, he was satisfied with the reactions that were updated every time he checked.

“That’s right, that’s right. As expected of Noh Hae-il! You’re a man!”

He waits for the day he can crush Jang Jin-soo, who thinks he can win if it’s a [struggle]. He has no basis, but he still doesn’t feel like he’s going to lose. Why is that?

“What are the views now?”

“3,000.”

“Hmm.”

The hyungs let out subtle groans.

It could be said that it was doing well for a channel without channel art, but he didn’t know if he could win the bet in the remaining time.

“If you go to the busking video right now and say this is Hae-il’s account, it’ll easily hit 10,000.”

“10,000? It’ll easily hit 100,000.”

“Wow. That’s too much.”

“Jin-soo, life is a battlefield.”

Jang Jin-soo couldn’t understand why the hyungs were cheering for Hae-il instead of him. Wasn’t he closer to them?

“Hey, Noh Hae-il. Let’s fight fair and square, man to man.”

Halo clicked his tongue, watching Jang Jin-soo, who was serious and didn’t realize he was being played with by the giggling hyungs.

He’s got four kids to look after.

Even at this moment, the YouTube he had turned off notifications for was still ringing. Chaotic emoticons and abbreviations, long messages, as if it had been hacked. It was dizzying, but roughly, the song was good, and they wanted to keep listening to it. The fans’ pleas to add it to their playlists.

His popularity was like this when he was a rookie. Chaotic and insane. He could say he was already used to it.

And so, Halo casually skipped over a comment with an unusually large number of replies.

[Hello, this is ‘Special Gemstone Radio.’ We are enjoying your album ‘struggle.’ May we recommend your music on today’s playlist?]

#

The destructive guitar performance grips and shakes his windpipe.

The man with the bulging belly pretended to play the guitar flamboyantly before panting and exhaling roughly.

In the dark room.

The man had no idea that the 6-minute, 30-second video he had happened to see last night would drive him crazy.

Last night, he was searching for music as usual.

Stone Chamber, the owner of the ‘Special Gemstone Radio,’ or SGR channel for short, loved rock. Everyone said it was outdated music, but he had been steadily creating playlists and running a radio show for three years.

To show people that rock was still alive.

And to let more people hear rock.

His channel, which had been consistently recommending rock and sometimes Britpop, suddenly blew up due to the algorithm one day, and now it was a popular channel with over a million subscribers.

Last night, he was steadily creating a playlist.

The video he was going to upload this time was ‘hippie,’ not hip-hop, and he was looking for a song that fit.

He was pulling music from the SoundCloud app, focusing on ‘hippie,’ ‘rock,’ and ‘Bohemian,’ when he went to YouTube to take a break.

‘Struggle’ wasn’t actually found while he was working.

He was about to monitor the latest comments on the existing video while taking a break.

-A fucking song you must listen to

“Oh ho.”

A fan had recommended a video.

It happened often. His channel subscribers were people with similar tastes to him, and they occasionally recommended music to him.

Some of them were really good music, and some of them were just okay. Even if it was a promotion or advertisement, Stone, who listened to at least 20 seconds, remembered that this fan was an old fan.

He used to recommend pretty good songs.

It was the first time he had seen him use profanity, but Stone clicked the hyperlink, thinking nothing of it.

He wondered how much of an internet ghost this person was to watch a video with only 3,000 views.

Before listening to the music, he first checked the song’s information.

The composition, lyrics, and song were all done by one person (or group) called HALO. Judging by the absence of an official distributor mark, it was obviously an indie band or amateur.

The account was also newly created, and only four songs that seemed to be from an album were uploaded. The title was appealing, but if a good title meant a good song, his playlist wouldn’t be his job.

‘Still, the reactions are good.’

There were a lot of likes and comments compared to the views.

This was either a really good song or absolutely minor.

“Should I give it a listen?”

He brought headphones and listened.

He had an audio system bigger than a television, but he obviously had no intention of using it. Thinking about it now, it was his biggest regret. He should have listened to this loudly on the audio system first.

The beginning was a calm piano.

“Is it jazz?”

He thought it wasn’t bad.

And the atmosphere gradually reversed.

“Oh, it’s not bad…”

And Stone Chamber didn’t know.

That he wouldn’t say a word after that.

The electric guitar and rough vocals that were heard fiercely. His windpipe was blocked by the wild music. His whole body seemed paralyzed.

No, is he trembling?

Stone Chamber jumped up from his seat.

“What is this…!”

His head told him to play the next song right away, and his body told him to run out and fight right away.

There was no way an amateur could have made this kind of song.

“This is amateur?”

There was no way an amateur could have made this song.

It was an established singer who had already made a name for himself.

His voice was young, but his music style was like that.

It reminded him of the music that dominated England in the old 20th century.

The comments didn’t seem to think that far, but Stone Chamber, who had been listening to rock and Britpop all his life, was sure.

Several names flashed through his mind.

Who the hell is it?

There was no way anyone could do this kind of music.

It was as if some sly musician was testing his fans, no, the world, to see if they could discover his song. As if asking if they could recognize him.

Like the entertainment show ‘Masked Singer UK’ that aired sometime ago,

It was like asking him to find out what his identity was.

“I’m not the only one who thinks this way, right?”

Stone Chamber solemnly accepted this challenge.

Calming his excited heart, Stone Chamber writes a comment.

[We are enjoying your album ‘struggle.’ Please-] No. [Please] It’s too desperate. [Your teacher on today’s playlist] No. Why is it like this when it was going well. [Your fucking] [Amazing]….

He kept using profanity.

Pressing the Delete button, Stone Chamber finishes the sentence.

[May we recommend your music?]

#

Trying to talk to Noh Hae-il’s mother was definitely a good choice.

But her sudden change in attitude sometimes embarrassed him.

As soon as he got home, his mother greeted him as if she had been waiting.

“Hae-il, come here for a second? Mom has something to say.”

“What is it?”

She was so active and passionate that he wondered if she had always been like this.

“Mom looked up how to become a singer.”

“Yes.”

“They usually sign a contract with an agency. They train as trainees and then debut.”

It was the right thing to say.

Halo nodded.

“That’s usually the case.”

“…?”

Then his mother tilted her head.

“Why? Don’t you think so?”

His attitude seemed a little indifferent.

“Or are you worried that you won’t be able to get into an agency?”

“It’s not that.”

It was ridiculous to say he couldn’t get in.

Hadn’t he already received scout business cards?

He had thrown them all away, but he would be able to get in.

If he wanted to join an agency.

“I simply don’t need it.”

But he didn’t need an agency.

Agencies were places where students were gathered and professionally trained. Halo, who was not a student, didn’t feel the need to go in and learn or be bound by a contract.

“I want to do my own music. Without being disturbed by anyone.”

If it was another child in this place, not Halo, it would have been an unreasonable insistence on doing whatever he wanted. If Park Seung-ah hadn’t seen anything, she would have thought so.

But Halo had at least shown something. He hadn’t learned the acoustic guitar separately, but he played it skillfully, composed songs, and sang songs that made people cry.

“You want to do your own music.”

Park Seung-ah lost her words.

Not because she was dumbfounded, but because she really didn’t know what to say.

In fact, she had a hard time dealing with him after talking to Hae-il properly.

This was a really strange thing to say, but she was worried about dealing with her son.

She was looking into it a bit, but she was still ignorant about music and the industry.

She was afraid that touching it carelessly would have a negative impact.

“Then, how can Mom help you?”

Park Seung-ah decided to take a step back.

She postponed finding information and tried to talk to Hae-il.

“Hmm…”

A question he didn’t expect.

Halo, who didn’t think he would hear the word help, glanced at his mother and pondered.

What he needed.

In other words, what he lacked.

What he didn’t have right now.

First of all, what came to mind was still-

“I lack physical strength.”

“Huh?”

“Lung capacity, endurance, stamina, muscle strength. I lack everything in general. My legs tremble even after singing one song.”

“Then you need to exercise. Mom will look into a gym. What else?”

What else?

He lost his words for a moment because his mother, who had suddenly brightened up, looked strange.

Why does she seem to like it when I make requests?

“…I wish I could compose at home.”

Another problem was the studio.

It was nice to go to the hideout, but it took an hour to get there.

Besides, it wasn’t his property. The desire for a studio always existed.

“I’ll have to look into that, and?”

“If possible. I want to take a look at the instrument. It’s for beginners anyway.”

“This is easy. Let’s buy a new one. What else?”

“…That’s it.”

His mother was happier as he asked for more.

She didn’t seem to be asking him for anything in return.

“When should we go shopping together?”

“Anytime is fine.”

It was natural that he should buy it since he asked for it, but his mother smiled brightly.

“Then let’s go tomorrow. Let’s look up the instrument, buy clothes while we’re out, buy a bag, buy everything you need. And let’s eat something delicious. To make your father jealous.”

“Okay.”

Luxury is always welcome.

He usually wore a school uniform, but he was thinking of wearing comfortable clothes. Well, even if Halo couldn’t do it.

By the way, the story of Noh Hae-il’s father, whom he had never seen, came up.

Yes, he still had one more task left.

“But when is Father coming back?”

“Your father? He’ll be back before Christmas after finishing his research. Should I buy a Christmas present in advance?”

“Should I prepare a song as a gift?”

“Oh my.”

It was a joke, but his mother covered her mouth and was surprised. As if it was a really good idea.

“He’ll really like it. Like Mom.”

She liked it so much that he couldn’t cancel it.

“And that song. Let’s play it for Father first and then upload it to YouTube.”

“YouTube?”

“People are already looking for the next song-.”

“YouTube?”

Park Seung-ah was momentarily taken aback when she saw her son’s puzzled expression.

Hae-il didn’t know she had seen the video.

It seemed like he was trying to hide it by not saying anything, but she had already seen it, so what should she do?

Park Seung-ah finally confessed cleanly.

“On your YouTube.”

“You uploaded a song there.”

‘Song?’ Hae-il’s memory went back to the past.

In fact, there was only one song he had played for his mother.

‘Could it be.’ In the past, Noh Hae-il had uploaded the [Confession] video to his account.

Hoping that someone Noh Hae-il loved would see it.

“Did you see [Confession]?”

“Yes.”

His mother said shyly.

‘Wow.’

Hae-il admired without realizing it.

Noh Hae-il’s account, which he thought would be buried among countless channels. He didn’t know that the song would reach its real owner.

He was a little dazed.

“You should upload other songs to your account. Everyone will like it.”

‘Everyone’?

“If everyone?”

“Oh my, didn’t you know?”

His mother goes to YouTube.

There were only two channels subscribed to her account. The channel where Hae-il’s busking was uploaded and [wave_r]. That channel.

The number of subscribers there

“Five thousand?”

His mother was proud of Hae-il’s reaction.

As if her YouTube account was doing well.

Hae-il was also embarrassed and liked the fact that there were more numbers than he thought.

It seems that Noh Hae-il and his collaboration were somewhat successful.

‘But how many views did my channel have?’

However, when the accident reached his channel, Hae-il suddenly gasped.

He thought his channel was developing quickly for something that wasn’t known. He was happy that 3,000 people had already listened to it.

Noh Hae-il’s song was hundreds of times more popular than his song. Isn’t the number of subscribers greater than the number of views of his album [Struggle]?

This clumsy little kid’s song is more loved than his song.

He arranged it and sang it himself. His pride as a composer is hurt.

“That’s how I found out. Someone mentioned it in the busking video. I don’t know how they found it. There are so many sharp people in the world.”

He roughly understood what his mother was saying.

How Noh Hae-il’s account reached his mother.

That’s how it connects.

It can be seen as a butterfly effect.

Still, the fallen pride cannot be restored.

Hae-il gritted his teeth.

He didn’t know he would feel competitive with a middle school kid at this age.

He feels like he has to run as soon as possible.

So that it can’t be compared to this kid’s.

To quickly let the world know about his remaining album,

And furthermore, to write new songs.

HALO’s past is just a task to be known.

What he has to move forward to is the future.