The Road to Glory

“This is different from what we discussed!”“What do you mean? What did we discuss?”The general director recalled the boy who had firmly refused, saying he was busy, and chuckled.He was very pleased that the directing concerns he had been agonizing over were resolved. Professor Kim approached him, huffing angrily.“You said you would choose better music!”“Yes, I did choose better music.”The general director shrugged as if to say ‘What’s the problem?’Professor Kim noticed the SpongeBob pattern on his suit jacket.Even the SpongeBob shouting ‘I love Mondays!’ seemed to be mocking him.“You said you wouldn’t decide alone.”“I said that although I’m the decision-maker, I had no intention of deciding alone. Why?”Professor Kim thumped his chest in frustration.“But you mocked me and chose that kid’s lousy song?”“I mocked you? When?”The general director asked in return.Faced with his genuinely puzzled attitude, Professor Kim gritted his teeth and retorted.“That… that number that doesn’t even seem like a finale. Isn’t that why you chose it?”“What? …Hah. Look at this guy.”The general director scoffed in disbelief.“Making jokes about being the general director and all.”“I was serious about that.”Everyone seemed to have brushed it off as a joke, but he had never meant it as one.At that moment, he thought that if the boy had agreed, he might have handed over the general director role.Was it because of the joke that he refused after all?If only Musical Director Park hadn’t spit out his drink, it might have seemed a bit more serious.But.The general director’s eyebrows twitched as he quietly listened to Professor Kim’s grumbling.He was starting to get annoyed by Professor Kim interrogating him.He had intended to let it slide since he was in a good mood.But wasn’t he getting more and more uppity?Who was it that had overlooked one denial?“If you do this, I won’t stand by quietly.”“What will you do if you can’t stand by quietly? What, are you going to go find the investor and play the song for them this time?”“Director!”Professor Kim burst out angrily at the scornful words.The general director didn’t even blink. He knew Professor Kim didn’t have the guts to go to the investor, and even if he did, the investor would trust his choice more.“Professor Kim, do you perhaps want to have a power struggle with me?”Professor Kim finally flinched at the cold voice.He had momentarily forgotten that this eccentric-looking general director was no ordinary person in the industry.In his indignation, he had crossed a line.He also realized that if he pushed any further, he might end up buried in the industry for good.“Ah, no, how could I possibly…”“Right? I almost misunderstood your intentions. I almost mistook your attempt to play me the song because it was good as a solicitation.”“!”“This time, I almost mistook it as a challenge to my authority.”“If you took it that way, I apologize.”When the general director raised his hand, Professor Kim instinctively flinched.However, the general director had no intention of hitting him.The general director’s hand covered Professor Kim’s eyes.“What do you see, Professor Kim?”Professor Kim didn’t answer.“You can’t see anything, right?”The general director spoke first.“That’s your pitch-black future.”Then the general director removed his hand and covered his own eyes.“But you know what? Even with my eyes covered, I can see the future!”The general director pointed to the stage with his other hand.“The lights will descend there, and Jeongwoo will be standing on it. People over there will be hit with clubs and collapse. Jeongwoo will look at them and sing more desperately and joyfully! Oh! Can’t you see that stage, Professor Kim?”The general director spoke as if there really was something on the empty stage.Professor Kim’s expression grew increasingly pale.The general director, who had delivered a long speech, turned back to Professor Kim. As if to say, ‘What do you think?’“This is the future that kid you just denied showed me! You think I’m discriminating against and mocking you, Professor Kim? Hahaha!”His laughing expression suddenly contorted into a sneer.“Why would I? Who are you to me?”General Director!Musical Director Park, who had just returned from seeing off the boy, called out to him from afar.The general director waved with a brightened expression.As Park Jeongho stopped at his gesture to wait a moment, the general director dusted off Professor Kim’s shoulders.“Of course, don’t worry, Professor Kim. I have no intention of deciding alone. The meaning of the blind test is lost, but I’ll make a decision based on the majority opinion rationally. If your song is better, your song will be chosen. Isn’t that what we all want? Fairness.”So.Don’t try to climb over me.The general director patted Professor Kim’s shoulder with a smile and turned away.“Yes, Director Park. What did Haeil-ssi say?”“He promised to do a guide recording once the lyrics are complete.”“Hmm, good! Good.”A smile spread across the general director’s face as he briefly imagined it.For a creative musical, things were going more smoothly than expected.The fifth number made by Professor Kim and the fourth number made by Sin Joohyuk were flowing well, as if someone was helping them.Thanks to the scene the boy had shown, even the stage production was moving faster.Everything was going so well that it was almost ominous.When the guide track arrived, the general director closed his usually talkative mouth for the first time.Positive and negative. If he had to choose, it was closer to the former, but—“Hmm, I didn’t notice when listening to the MR, but with the guide vocals…”The problem wasn’t that the song was bad.Rather, it was problematic because it was too excellent.The recording with guitar and other session instruments could only be described as superb.That’s why he felt overwhelmed in a different sense.“Will… musical actors be able to handle this?”“Unless we’re going to bring in a rock band, a month or two might not be enough.”“What rock band are you talking about, leaving musical actors aside.”Just as they are called musical actors rather than musical singers, acting should be prioritized in a musical production. They couldn’t bring in a rock band that couldn’t act because of the musical numbers. That’s not what anyone would want.Of course, Korea has many excellent all-rounders, that is, actors who excel in both acting and vocals.However, it seemed that the vocal abilities of Jeongwoo, who is both a vocalist and guitarist, would be required more than expected.The guitar could be played with an MR, but the singing would have to be done like this.This wasn’t just the general director’s concern.From the musical director to the key personnel, it was brought up in meetings.“The vocal range of the song is more demanding than expected…”“Roh Haeil-ssi was already famous for his wide vocal range. This is what happens when the composer and vocalist are the same person. Thinking that if they can sing it, everyone else can too. Ah, is this just a problem with geniuses?”“Ha, this is the first time I’ve had this kind of worry.”The guide track turned out too well.As expected, but beyond imagination.If they played it for the cast actor later, he might be taken aback and ask,‘You want me to sing like this?’“Can’t Roh Haeil-ssi act?”“Are you thinking of casting Roh Haeil-ssi?”“No, not that. …Has Roh Haeil-ssi never acted before?”“How could he have?”“Roh Haeil-ssi is a genius. Can’t he act?”It’s just idle talk.Of course, he knows it’s impossible to cast him.The general director, who had been quietly tapping the desk, came to a conclusion.“For now, let’s move up the casting. Right after we finish production. We’ll need to give them 8 weeks of practice time, I think.”Typically, musical rehearsal periods are usually 4 to 6 weeks. At most, they take 8 weeks.For now, the general director just concluded that 4 weeks would be absolutely impossible for blocking, music, lines, choreography, and so on.“It’s the first time I’ve worried about the singing.”“Who do you think will do best?”“Who? The lead? Honestly, we might need to bring in someone in the top three to handle it.”“But it’s not just the lead that’s difficult, the supporting roles are no joke either.”“From the moment we brought in so many composers, this was inevitable.”And when such conversations were held at a restaurant in Chungmuro, rumors spread like ripples in a pond.Just as film actors keep an eye on Chungmuro to appear in better works, the same is true for musical actors.Everyone carefully selected works that would become part of their filmography.The creative musical ‘Rock’ was already well-known in this industry.Long production period. Nearly collapsed, then suddenly rose due to the unexpected popularity of rock. The special genre of rock and the names of the many participating composers were secretly known.Even though they couldn’t hear the song itself, rumors swept through the ecosystem that the final number sung by Jeongwoo was incredible. This meant it was enough to stimulate the curiosity of actors considered A-list in Korea.“Is it that difficult? To the point that I can’t sing it?”And around that time, Halo was in the studio.He looked down at the guitar.“Gasp! Boss, is your hand okay?”“It’s not injured, but.”The bridge of the acoustic guitar had fallen off.Well, it was a cheap model that Roh Haeil had bought with his allowance, and it had been overworked as much as his body, so it might be natural.He had entered Roh Haeil’s body in November, and since then, he had kept this guitar like a part of his body.After 9 months, the worn-out acoustic guitar was screaming to be put out of its misery.“It’s completely detached, so we’ll need to buy a new one.”“Let’s get a better one this time.”Actually, price was no longer an issue at all.He could buy any guitar he wanted with just a gesture.“You’re not going to throw it away?”But. Why?He didn’t want to throw away this cheap guitar with an ordinary sound and a fallen bridge.“If you want to repair it, shall we go to Nagwon Arcade?”Han Jinyeong, who remembered that the boy always carried an acoustic guitar wherever he went, asked kindly.“If we’re going to Nagwon Arcade, can I come too?”“Lord, did you call? Your eternal bodyguard Nam Gyuhwan is here.”“Ah, that concept freak, aren’t you embarrassed?”Halo put the acoustic guitar in its case and picked it up.“Shall we go?”At those words, there was no one who wouldn’t go.#“It’s been a while since we’ve been to Nagwon Arcade.”“Right. We haven’t been here in a long time. How long has it been?”It was the first time coming to Nagwon Arcade since he came with his mother before.However, unlike then, Halo entered the unchanged Nagwon Arcade with his band members. The number of people here hasn’t changed either.“Wow, look at that keyboard.”“I’m tempted to impulse buy some drumsticks.”He came to buy a guitar, but his members seemed more excited.“Maybe I’ll buy some more picks too?”As the four of them walked together, people’s gazes briefly turned towards them.The invitation to come in and look around for a bit was the same as always.Electric guitars displayed in showcases. And other instruments.As they chattered among themselves, the attention lessened a bit.If they had known Roh Haeil was among them, it might have been different.Not many people knew the faces of Roh Haeil’s band members.The eyes watching them as they chattered as if on a trip to an amusement park gradually sharpened.Since many people come as a famous tourist attraction, they might be taking them as tourists.But soon, their attitude had to change.Halo turned his head when Moon Seoyeon, who had been chattering away, suddenly stopped and looked at the window.It was a window full of synthesizers and audio equipment.There were mainly electronic keyboards and synthesizers from two popular brands.“Do you like that one?”“Ah, no. Just curious about something.”What does it mean for a keyboardist to just be curious while looking at a synthesizer?Halo smiled and went inside.“Oh, boss, no, really, it’s fine. I was just looking, I swear. I really don’t intend to buy it.”“You’re my session musician, so I should take care of you.”Moon Seoyeon stopped at those casually thrown words and nodded shyly.Unfortunately, since the synthesizer couldn’t be carried around, they had it delivered.“M-me too?”Halo seemed ready to buy whatever caught his members’ eyes.You’d think he should be more careful about purchases no matter how much money he’s making, but the boy was swiping his card nonchalantly as if collecting stamps at every shop in Nagwon Arcade.“I will cherish this as a lifelong treasure and pass it down to my descendants for generations to come.”And Nam Gyuhwan received the drumsticks with a face that looked like he might break down in tears.Even though he could have it delivered along with the new percussion, he insisted on carrying it.By the looks of it, he intended to keep it somewhere.“That might be a bit difficult.”At Halo’s words, Nam Gyuhwan tilted his head, then,“Now we have to record again. The 8th album and this and that. Practice is going well, right?”…His face gradually melted at those words.He was happy. He could achieve enlightenment like this.And so, Halo entered Nagwon Arcade, following his memories.There was the place where he had bought an electric guitar with his mother before.They said they did repairs too, right?Unfortunately, the acoustic guitar he had seen before was nowhere to be seen.The folk guitar with a white body and streamlined shape, that is.Well, it would have been hard not to sell in 6 months.The old man who had been playing Go-Stop with his colleagues inside stood up abruptly when he saw Halo wearing a cap among the customers who had entered.“Customers are here, everyone out.”“Come on, you can just deal with the customer and come back. Why do we have to leave?”“You lot, leave while I’m asking nicely.”“Since when did you have such good business manners?”The old men who had been playing Go-Stop with him grumbled as they got up one by one.It wasn’t long before they all vacated their seats.“Hello.”“Ah, hello.”The old man slowly looked around at the people.Moon Seoyeon, Nam Gyuhwan, and Han Jinyeong.After briefly scanning these unique individuals, he addressed the boy.“You’ve met some good people.”The old man seemed to remember the boy he had met six months ago.Though he had grown taller and his hair color had become lighter, the old man couldn’t forget him. Yes, how could he forget after hearing such music?“Is your business because of that?”“Yes.”At the old man’s gesture, Halo nodded and set down the worn acoustic guitar.When he opened the guitar case, the broken bridge was the first thing visible.The fact that he brought this here instead of throwing it away seems to indicate he wants to fix it.‘Hmm… This is difficult.’If it were a brand name, it might be different, but this is just a cheap model meant to be discarded when broken. There was no way to revive it.The bridge could be reattached, but it was unlikely to produce a sound satisfactory to that boy’s ears.“Will it be difficult to repair?”“…That’s right.”I see, as expected.Halo nodded calmly.“Then please just repair it.”“If you’re just going to keep it, well. By the way, you’ll need to get a new one. How about that one?”The old man pointed to a guitar from a decent brand.Actually, it’s the most expensive one. The boy who had been touching the strings plucked it a few times.“Can you play a good song like last time?”The old man who had been quietly watching the boy spoke up.“Then can I get a discount this time too?”“No. What’s the point of giving a discount to someone who makes good money?”“!”The members were startled for no reason, but Halo remembered that he had played HALO’s 2nd album for this old man. However, the old man didn’t specifically ask if he was Halo or call him that.Whether he lived far from the secular world, or just didn’t care either way.Well, he didn’t mind either way.“I just want to listen as an audience member this time, if that’s alright?”If that’s the case, well.Halo readily agreed.Before playing, the old man muttered softly.“Thank you for coming. I actually thought you wouldn’t come back.”Seeing him talk like this, it seems he’s not entirely unaware.Halo picked up the acoustic guitar the old man recommended and pondered his song selection. What would be good?Should he play something from HALO’s 8th album, like how he played “When we meet again” from HALO’s 2nd album when he came here before?Halo took his gaze off the old man and turned his head.He met the curious eyes of his members watching him, having heard he was going to play.He decided. Which song to do.“This time… unlike before, it’s an unfinished song.”“That’s fine too.”The old man was fine with any song.He just wanted to experience that miracle again.The miracle of feeling young again.And Halo strummed the guitar while facing his puzzled members.He had no intention of telling them the title yet.#And here, there was a man wandering around the second floor of the arcade.This man, who had been roaming Nagwon Arcade for days, was surprisingly not unemployed, but the marketing manager of the Korean branch of G, an American instrument manufacturer.The brand had recently launched in Korea, and to raise awareness, he had come out to conduct market research first. He perked up his ears at a melody coming from somewhere.‘By the way, where is this song coming from?’It wasn’t strange to hear music anywhere in Nagwon Arcade, but this music was different.It was a song he had never heard before, and he followed it as if entranced.People who seemed equally entranced by the song had already gathered at one shop.Middle-aged men and elderly.In other words, people from Nagwon Arcade had abandoned their own shops and gathered in front of someone else’s. Manager Kim, who squeezed in among them, opened his eyes wide in shock.The melody was surprising, but what was even more shocking was—‘Roh Haeil? Why is Roh Haeil here?’He had discovered the hottest singer in South Korea.‘Well, he probably came to buy an instrument. No, but do celebrities come to Nagwon Arcade to buy instruments too?!’As he listened to the melody, his eyes slowly fell on a guitar case propped up in a corner.A broken bridge. A completely damaged guitar caught his eye.It was clearly a guitar beyond repair,And it probably belonged to the boy right in front of him.He could tell why Roh Haeil had come here.At that moment, he felt like something exploded in his mind.G, which produces instruments for a select few rather than mass production,And an angel who could raise its awareness was right here.“This can’t be…!”This was nothing short of a God-given opportunity.The man pushed his way through the crowd of people.Hi everyone, I've fully translated this series. If you love the series and wanted to binge read until the end, you can go to my Patreon "Shop" page. Instead of buying the advanced chapters one by one, you can buy them in one bulk (with discounted price too)!