The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 225

[Bonus] Episode 27. The Forest of Piano

After dinner, Lee Jungmin spoke first when he saw the boy touching the guitar.

“Hey Halo, aren’t you going in?”

“What about you, hyung [older brother or male friend]?”

“I’ll stay out a little longer…”

Halo nodded, and then wrote something down in his sketchbook again, a slight smile on his face as he concentrated. Lee Jungmin watched him with curious eyes.

“Are you still working on that dice game? You’re really putting in the effort.”

“Yeah. I feel like I can’t rest until I finish it.”

“Ah, is that why?”

Lee Jungmin chuckled.

The kids acted like it was a bother, but to anyone else, it just looked like they were having fun.

In fact, even if he threw the finished sketchbook at them, the kids wouldn’t tell him to stop playing with them.

“Why are you laughing?”

“No, it just looks nice.”

Even Halo probably knew that, but it was cute how he pretended otherwise. That’s probably why the kids called him ‘hyung’ or ‘sam [teacher]’ and followed him around.

“Yo, what are you all doing here? I know you’re young, but shouldn’t good kids be sleeping now, right?”

Just then, Kwon Jaeik draped his arms around Lee Jungmin and Halo’s shoulders.

Kwon Jaeik poked his head out between them. He had a lollipop in his mouth, and Lee could smell strawberry milk.

“Can you even see that at night?”

Kwon Jaeik glanced at Halo’s sketchbook and rubbed his eyes.

“Ugh, you’re going to ruin your eyes.”

While other people always made a big deal when they saw Halo composing, as if they were witnessing something amazing, Kwon Jaeik just looked at it casually and then stopped.

In his eyes, it just looked like he was doing his job, and that was it.

Since everyone else was already showering him with expectations, he didn’t think there was any need for him to make a fuss. He needed to relax too. After all, he came here to have fun.

If you asked him if he wasn’t envious as a fellow musician, Kwon Jaeik would say he didn’t really know. He seemed envious of the fact that Halo was actively engaged in musical activities, but since he was already satisfied with his own music, he wasn’t envious of anything else.

He just listened to the music diligently, and that was it.

“I can’t sleep either, so I’ll stay out here a little longer.”

Kwon Jaeik flopped down in the empty space instead.

Then, he ate his lollipop and looked up at the sky.

The stars in the night sky filled the peaceful silence.

And so, another night came.

#

Welcome to my world

Episode 5. Welcome to My Label.

Unlike the other two members, one member hadn’t decided what to do, so the daily life of the label filled the content.

If we’ve been focusing on Halo until now, today we’ll zoom out a little.

We’ll cover Halo’s label and the people who work there.

It’s similar to a regular company in some ways, and different in others.

First of all, the rest area and audio experience center are the first things that catch your eye.

As you’d expect from a music company, they had new audio equipment on display, and anyone could try it out. There was also a welfare program that supported audio purchases within the company.

[ㄷㄷ Entering the world of audio is a really expensive hobby]

[Audio purchase support?? That’s insane! Even if they don’t cover everything, the percentage is something. It’s not even a company that makes audio equipment]

When we grabbed a passing employee and asked them to tell us about the advantages of the label, one out of three mentioned these benefits.

In the label’s underground theater, they watched movies voted on by the company, and they could also get tickets to other performances, and…

The VJ asked.

Q. Many viewers have requested this, but do label employees have priority for albums, merchandise, or concert ticketing?

“We sometimes set aside tickets for staff, so it’s possible. I don’t know what will happen if we have more employees, but it’s still okay. And for merchandise-”

The employee couldn’t hide their smile.

They said to tell them if they wanted anything when they picked the next merchandise.

So all the employees said that they didn’t need a vote, and they could just deduct the cost from their salary, so please give it to them.

“For employees… um, no comment.”

[?]

[It works]

[Sorry, but do you have any hiring plans?]

[Open a merchandise shop!!!!]

[What about the previous merchandise?]

“Ah, can I talk about this?”

The employee hesitated.

Well, it would be edited out if it became a problem.

“We have previous merchandise left in the label.”

There was stock left in the Seongsu-dong label.

It was thanks to ordering generously when it was custom-made.

The chat window went wild at that.

“However, there isn’t much stock to sell online. So we’re planning to hold a flea market within the label. We’ve decided to do it with other artists, so it’s not just about the leftover stock, and we’re going to donate all the proceeds to a welfare foundation. We hope you’ll participate a lot.”

[OMG]

[Open the door now!!!]

[Who are the other artists?]

[So you’re selling merchandise?]

[The last chance to get the Sun and Moon merchandise that isn’t even on the auction site]

[Let’s give way to those who have none]

[Please do the free market in Australia (translated)]

The story digressed for a moment, but eventually covered most of the employee interviews. There was an employee who said they gained several kilograms in a month because the boss didn’t skimp on the pantry and lounge.

A new employee, who was used to the Korean corporate culture, was talking to Halo about the reason for taking a day off or half-day off, and was met with a face that didn’t understand why they were saying such a thing.

The rookie, who had inadvertently shared TMI [too much information], later realized that Halo didn’t care about such things at all.

People were surprised that Halo, the artist, was surprisingly not that sensitive, even if they didn’t know anything else.

Usually, artists are known to be neurotic, impulsive, and very sensitive to emotions. Especially recently, he was said to be going through a slump.

Everyone had assumed that to some extent.

“Ah, of course, he has a free-spirited personality. There are some difficulties with that, though.”

The manager smiled without saying that if he experienced other celebrities, those things would be nothing.

“I’m satisfied.”

Q. What are you most satisfied with?

“Uh… salary?”

[How much are you getting…?]

[Managers are paid poorly, but the fact that he smiled as soon as the salary came up means he’s getting a lot]

[They must be paying a lot]

[The best welfare = salary]

[I thought it would be tiring to be a Halo employee, but everyone’s faces are bright considering that. They don’t call him ‘boss’ but ‘Halo-ssi [Mr./Ms. Halo],’ but they really like it when they call him, should I say respect?]

[It’s good for a company with no future with only Haloㅋ]

└ ?

└ To talk about the future, Halo is only twenty years old now…

└ Seeing that you don’t know about copyright income, you must be a middle/high school student

└ Before that, don’t you know that you can’t beat one top star even if you bring a truckload of unknown celebrities?

[I want to join Halo’s label, how do I get in?]

[Heligans [Halo’s fans] will apply even if there is no welfare lol]

[??: You can hear the Song of the Sun first?]

[Oh…? I like that too?]

And slowly, the end of Welcome to My World was approaching.

Around that time, Nam Gyuhwan, the last member of the Halo band and percussionist, burst into the practice room.

“I’ve decided.”

The members looked bewildered.

And the scene changed, showing a familiar landscape.

[Oh… that’s]

In the early morning, figures in black clothes boarded the Saemaeul train [a type of Korean train] in droves,

Halo’s butterfly gold case guitar case was zoomed in on one of the seats.

The members handed Halo, who took off his hat, hard-boiled eggs and banana milk [common train snacks in Korea], and the video ended, showing the destination of the Saemaeul train.

[Seoul Station?!]

[Didn’t Halo get spotted at Seoul Station once before?]

#

Halo felt that something was wrong when it was almost time for Baekun Elementary School to end.

“Huh? I don’t see Gyeoul today.”

That morning, Lee Sora was the first to look for Gyeoul.

Ever since she came to the island, Gyeoul had always followed Halo around like a chick. It was inevitable that she would be worried because she hadn’t seen the child she saw every day unless there was something special.

On the other hand, Halo didn’t think much of it until then.

“She probably went to school with her friends.”

“Is that so?”

He just thought he’d see her if he went to school.

And it seemed like she came to school.

He didn’t know he wouldn’t see her all day.

No, to be exact.

“!”

The moment he saw her, he didn’t know she would avoid him so openly.

He was the type to not care whether anyone avoided him or not, but no one could ignore such blatant avoidance.

“Why don’t you go check on her?”

“…”

Halo stared intently at her retreating figure.

“I know you have class soon, but please pay a little more attention to Gyeoul, Halo. She’s more sensitive than the other kids. And she likes you the most.”

Sensitive?

Halo tilted his head, but nodded anyway.

He couldn’t avoid class, so he was going to talk to her then.

But.

“…”

“Gyeoul?”

Even when the teacher called her name in music class, Gyeoul’s voice didn’t come.

It was obvious that she wasn’t there.

“Kids, have you seen Gyeoul?”

“I don’t know.”

“Teacher, why aren’t we going to the music room today?”

“I’m going to have class in the classroom today, but have you really not seen Gyeoul? Where did she go?”

The other kids didn’t seem interested.

Halo glanced at the embarrassed teacher and opened his mouth.

“I’ll go find her.”

“You will, Halo-ssi? Then I’d be grateful. Do you know where she is?”

“No, but… I have a hunch.”

“Then please.”

Halo walked down the hallway.

He didn’t stop walking and stopped in front of a classroom.

The broadcasting room was locked, so there was only one place to go.

If it were the old him, he would have gone straight out of the school without hesitation, but Gyeoul wasn’t the type to skip school that much.

The door slid open.

Halo found the child sitting in front of the piano in the music room.

“What are you doing here.”

“…”

It was clear that she had some complaints about him.

Gyeoul glanced at him and obviously turned her head away, only looking at the piano.

Seeing her just looking at it without playing, Halo closed the door and walked in.

Step by step.

Gyeoul flinched noticeably at the creaking floor.

Halo leaned against the piano and looked at Gyeoul, regardless.

“Try it.”

“Huh?”

Gyeoul answered in a daze and lowered her head in surprise at her answer.

“Aren’t you here to play the piano? You’re not just looking at the keyboard and reflecting.”

“…I don’t know.”

“What don’t you know? The sheet music? Just play anything.”

Gyeoul slowly puffed out her cheeks.

She was expressing that she was angry, but Halo didn’t notice at all.

Still, when he told her to try, Gyeoul raised her hand but couldn’t press any of the keys.

“I don’t know. I can’t think of anything.”

When she came to the piano, countless sounds disappeared and only she remained.

Gyeoul liked that feeling. It felt like the world was telling her to play the piano.

So, Gyeoul stood in front of the piano at every moment.

When she wanted to play the piano, when she wanted to be free from the noise. When she wanted to be alone. And when she wanted to feel good, she stood in front of the piano.

When she stood in front of the piano, her hands moved freely, but strangely, she didn’t feel better today. She wanted to be alone, but the world was still noisy and she felt terrible.

It had been like that since yesterday.

When Halo casually taught music to other kids.

‘I… he said no and wouldn’t let me, but to them.’

“Then shall we play together?”

It was then. Gyeoul raised her head sharply at Halo’s voice.

Halo wasn’t looking at her and had his right hand on the piano.

“I’ll play with my right hand, so you only play with your left hand. The left hand is more comfortable, right?”

“! How did you know that?”

The writing was blurred, and there was a lot of something on her left hand, so he couldn’t not know.

Halo shrugged without answering and continued.

“It’s a game of stacking sounds with each other.”

“…”

“I can only make it with my right hand, and you can only make it with your left hand. We have to keep playing until one of us stops, and the person who stops loses.”

“How can we play together?”

Without sharing the sheet music. Gyeoul couldn’t understand how two people with different thoughts could each play.

“You don’t have to if you’re not confident.”

“No, I’ll do it.”

“Then let’s do it.”

Halo smiled and started moving his right hand.

Gyeoul followed that sound.

“Shall I watch you?”

“No, don’t watch me! I can do it too.”

“Okay. I wasn’t going to watch you either.”

Gyeoul glared at Halo for being mean at those words for a moment.

However, as Halo played faster and faster, she quickly focused on the piano.

She wouldn’t think of anything else.

That’s how the sounds stacked up.

It was like a mature adult playing with a child, or like they were fighting.

Gyeoul thought it would be a mess, but it was better than she thought.

“It’s okay, right?”

“…”

It was okay, but Gyeoul didn’t want to say it was okay, so she closed her mouth.

However, her expression was revealed without being hidden.

She was playing so happily with her mouth open that anyone would tell her to close her mouth so flies wouldn’t get in.

“Shall we do it with both hands now?”

As Halo unbuttoned his cuff buttons and rolled up his sleeves, Gyeoul rolled up her sleeves.

It was a full-fledged start.

:

“Who’s playing music during class! Gyeoul, is that you again?”

The sound of footsteps approaching.

The security guard grandpa, who burst into the music room, looked around.

He clearly heard the sound of the piano.

The piano lid was open, but no one was to be seen.

The grandpa, who looked around, glared sharply around, then closed the door and left.

Quite a while after the sound of footsteps faded away.

“Hoo…”

Someone let out a breath they had been holding in.

Halo and Gyeoul, who were hiding under the teacher’s desk, sighed at the same time.

They crawled out from under the desk and fanned themselves because they were hot, then soon burst out laughing.

“It’s fun!”

Gyeoul shouted.

The stuffy feeling was like a big wave had swept it away.

“Do you do this kind of thing in Seoul too?”

“Yeah. We play like this when we’re bored.”

Later, after hearing this, the viewers said, [Who?] [Do we?] [lol Seoul people have afternoon tea and listen to classical music when they wake up in the morning] [Hahaha, you got caught. Everyone remembers, right? We study Nietzsche’s theory in the morning and have discussions about the current situation while playing chess in the afternoon] It was a statement that spawned denial of reality and various drips [sarcastic comments].

Gyeoul exclaimed, “Wow.”

“Seoul people are cool.”

“It’s fun here too.”

Halo was starting to like this island called Baekundo more and more.

He was getting musical inspiration, and he felt like he knew why he couldn’t make ‘Noh Halo-like music.’ If he stayed a little longer, he might overcome his slump.

Anyway, Gyeoul seemed to be feeling better.

“So, what do you want to say?”

“Huh?”

“You have something to say to me, right.”

At Halo’s words, Gyeoul’s expression gradually changed.

Then she blurted it out.

“I have nothing to say.”

“Really nothing? Then shall we go to class now?”

As Halo tried to get up, Gyeoul grabbed his arm.

She told him not to go. And she hesitated and opened her mouth.

“You know.”

“Yeah.”

“Am I weird?”

“Huh?”

It was like the question she had heard before.

Gyeoul hesitated.

“Why can’t I do it?”

“?”

“Don’t you want to teach me? Is it because I’m weird?”

Gyeoul felt sad again as she spoke.

“You taught the other kids well.”

When she said she didn’t know the sheet music, he told her such a fun song, but why wouldn’t he teach it to her? She wondered if it was because she was weird and he didn’t like her, as other people had said.

Halo had already said that she wasn’t weird, but that was the only thing that bothered her.

“Ah.”

Halo suddenly remembered.

When Gyeoul asked him to teach her a song before, he said he didn’t want to.

He didn’t know she was holding that in her heart.

“I just.”

Gyeoul looked at Halo.

Her eyes were half crying.

“I don’t like teaching music.”

“To me?”

“No. To everyone. I’ve never taught music to anyone.”

It wasn’t that no one had asked him to teach him music until now.

Even in the past world and even in this world, he had even received quite a few lecture proposals.

However, he always refused and said.

“That’s just-”

Halo recalled an old memory.

“Because it’s something you learn on your own.”

He learned it while hanging out with his brothers in the past.

They didn’t directly teach him much, but he learned a lot while hanging out with them. Halo thought that’s how you learned music.

And, even if that wasn’t the case.

Halo looked at Gyeoul.

“You can do it.”

“!”

“You already know it and you’re good at it.”

Gyeoul’s cheeks slowly turned red at the words of recognition.

Ah, so that’s why.

It’s not that he doesn’t like me, but that he trusts me.

The sad feelings disappear completely.

She felt embarrassed because she seemed to have whined and acted too childish.

“Still, I can help you with that.”

Halo opened his mouth, breaking the silence.

“With what?”

“What you want to do.”

What I want to do?

As Gyeoul looked like she didn’t understand, he added.

“The reason why you make music.”

“!”

The memories slowly come back.

– You said you wanted to connect the sounds. What sound do you want to connect?

-I want to connect the sound my mom hums

That trivial conversation.

-Still, you made it well.

-You’ll be able to connect it well.

At that time, he recognized her,

-Still, I can help you with that

This time, he remembered her.

He even says he’ll help her.

Gyeoul’s face slowly bloomed like a flower.

“I like it!”

She didn’t even know what she liked.

She just liked everything.

“Then shall we go to class first now?”

“Yeah.”

If it was now, class was good too.

Gyeoul nodded repeatedly like a lively chick again.

Then, the bell rings.

The bell that ends class.

“…”

“…”

The child and the adult who looked at each other soon burst out laughing again.

And then, it really started.

Just like the brothers used to take Halo around.

This time, Halo became the brothers and started a full-fledged music class.