The Road to Glory

[Has Monthly Halo Really Come to an End?]At midnight, as July 31st turned to August 1st, an article that seemed familiar was posted. Registered at 00:00:35 British Standard Time, it was clearly pre-written.The content of the article, as everyone could guess, was about the exhaustion of genius. It used metaphors that would make anyone think of “downfall.”The reaction to this article was quite negative.While it was called Monthly Halo, everyone knew how difficult—practically impossible—it was to release an album every month. Moreover, HALO’s 5th album released around April had already taken 44 days.Making a fuss over something everyone was joking about couldn’t yield good public opinion.Especially stars from America, Britain, and Europe directly voiced that even once a year was difficult, let alone once a month. Needless to say, HALO’s fans, known as Hellys in Europe, were upset.In response, the article that directly mentioned “exhaustion of genius” was taken down. However, that didn’t mean the issue of Monthly Halo disappeared.As HALO’s Billboard rankings kept rising, the anticipation for their next album grew.Then, as the 31/32 season of the English Premier League returned, the issue came to an end.[LOL The Sun can’t resist football either LOL][Which team is The Sun a fan of?]Whether by coincidence or intention, [HALO’s 8th Album “No one was there”] was released on the same day, August 9th.This day was a festival of jokes from overseas football fans and The Sun fans.[There was nothing there and only you… (JPEG)][There was no championship there… (JPEG)][There was no hair there]└You…!A few days before HALO’s 8th album was released, Halo had a conversation similar to August Veil’s. As it happened to coincide with the Premier League season, they talked about football.Well, he too was once passionate about football. He made songs for the team, watched games when he had time, and was friendly with football players. He did have a team he loved and cared for, but-“Not anymore.”The team he used to like no longer existed in this world. There was a team from the same hometown, but he couldn’t feel any connection to it.The team he liked wasn’t very successful, but the team that exists in this world was too successful. Even bad feelings are feelings, and Halo had currently quit watching football.Unaware that the team Halo liked no longer existed, August Veil listed unsuccessful teams and laughed heartily.And as usual, he asked about today’s schedule. For someone who didn’t call often, he seemed quite interested in Halo’s daily routine.“Today.”Halo looked at the calendar once and then out the window.Heat waves shimmered off the asphalt.It seems the rainy season is still far away.“I’m going to do a featuring.”Today is the day to meet someone Sin Joohyeok introduced. Actually, it’s not really a meeting, just a recording day.Halo recalled the day Sin Joohyeok came to his studio.-You mean an amateur?-No, not that. Do you watch musicals?A question was answered with another question, but Halo could understand the intent behind it.-Is it a musical actor?-Yes.-Well, I don’t mind.He knew that even among musical ‘actors’, there were many good singers. However, it was a bit unusual for Sin Joohyeok to introduce a musical actor rather than someone from the singer community.-That kid’s a singing genius too. You’re a music genius, and she’s a singing genius. How about it? Want me to introduce you?-Let me listen first.-Of course, that’s a given.Sin Joohyeok shrugged his shoulders.His attitude suggested that Halo would obviously like the person.A singing genius acknowledged by Sin Joohyeok. While Halo wasn’t entirely convinced, he was curious.A day later, he received an official vocal video from a company. It was a company famous for actor management. It was also Lee Sora’s agency, whom he had seen at an old drama filming set.Oh, and there’s that too.As Sin Joohyeok was leaving the label, he added jokingly.-Oh, by the way, that kid has a personality just like yours? Not that it’s bad. More like, hates losing. Well, be careful. She won’t go easy on you like I do… Hey, what’s with that expression?Anyway, the girl in the video sent by the company didn’t have the same tone as Liv, but she had a pleasant tone and solid vocal basics.He thought she would use classical singing techniques as a musical actor, but in the video, she sang regular pop songs.“By the way, don’t you take a break, Moon Seoyeon?”“Me? I’m resting right now! I’m not practicing yet, right?”Halo turned to look at Moon Seoyeon, who remained in the recording studio while waiting.Moon Seoyeon was sitting in a recliner chair, looking at her notebook. He wasn’t sure what she was doing, but it didn’t seem like resting.Moon Seoyeon smiled brightly and said she was resting.Halo actually thought Moon Seoyeon would have similar stamina to him. In other words, he thought she would tire first in this marathon. But rather, it was Nam Gyuhwan and Han Jinyeong who had collapsed.They were currently passed out sleeping on the comfortable, stable beds Halo had set up downstairs—he had bought the entire building a while ago.It’s not for nothing that she’s a former pianist from the Korea National University of Arts. Whether it’s good stamina or good stamina management, she’s clearly passionate.“Oh, right. Boss, by the way.”“Yes?”“This title track. It’s the song you played at Nakwon Arcade, right?”Halo was surprised for a moment, then closed his mouth.“When are we recording that?”“You practiced that too?”He didn’t even give her the sheet music.“Yes, you played the completed song for us, remember?”Moon Seoyeon spoke as if it was obvious.It seemed she had practiced from memory without sheet music.Halo finally spoke.“That… There won’t be any session recordings for that.”“What?”Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, Moon Seoyeon closed her mouth for a moment.“I’m planning to go with just guitar.”“…Don’t you need keyboard?”When Moon Seoyeon asked dejectedly, Halo flinched.Actually, he was surprised from the start that Moon Seoyeon had remembered the melody and practiced it.But still, he wasn’t going to change it.This title track doesn’t include sessions from any members. Including Moon Seoyeon, as well as Nam Gyuhwan and Han Jinyeong. Because that’s how the song needs to be.“No, I’m not angry at you, boss. I was just asking.”Before Halo could say anything, Moon Seoyeon waved her hands and spoke. Then she looked out the window and her eyes widened.“Oh, she’s here!”As she said, a black van stopped in front of the label building. First, a manager wearing a black hat got out of the car, known as the “celebrity van”. A woman followed him.The woman, wearing a long-sleeved shirt and jeans despite the hot summer, had a brief conversation with the manager and then entered the building. The manager didn’t follow her in, so it seemed he had told her to go ahead.“Hello.”The woman who finally opened the door and came in bowed slightly. Her long hair cascaded down with the movement.“Am I very late?”“Oh my.”Moon Seoyeon, upon seeing her, covered her mouth with one hand and waved the other.“Oh, no, you’re not late at all! You’re thirty minutes early!”She even seemed flustered, her eyes suddenly sparkling.In contrast, the woman, who seemed to have a calm personality, smiled back and greeted them composed.“I’m actress Joo Yeonwoo. Nice to meet you.”“I-I’m keyboardist Moon Seoyeon. It’s a pleasure!”Halo thought Moon Seoyeon’s sudden rise in tension was strange, and greeted next.“It’s quite hot today, isn’t it? Do you like ginger tea?”“Ah, thank you. I eat and drink anything well.”“Please wait a moment!”Moon Seoyeon dashed towards the refrigerator.Judging by her swift movements, it seemed like she was going to take out everything in the fridge. Seeing Moon Seoyeon open the refrigerator door, Joo Yeonwoo turned to the boy.“I’ve heard a lot about you, Roh Haeil-ssi. I’ve been listening to your music too.”“I’ve heard a lot about you as well.”“If it’s from senior Sin Joohyeok, he probably didn’t say nice things.”Halo chuckled at the playful remark and retorted.“I guess it was the same for me?”Joo Yeonwoo laughed along.It was clear he had told her about his personality too.“Joo Yeonwoo-ssi, here you go.”“Wow, thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”“Um, I’m a fan of yours, Joo Yeonwoo-ssi.”“Have you seen my musicals?”“Yes, yes, that debut work-““Yes, that’s right! Oh my…”She looked just like any other girl, chatting happily with Moon Seoyeon.After leisurely enjoying a cup of ginger tea, they started the actual recording.Originally, he was going to give her the sheet music separately, but Joo Yeonwoo took out a sheet music filled with notes and stood in front of the microphone.He doesn’t think she’ll record right away.As already mentioned, since the song was based on Liv’s vocals, he was planning to add some arrangement.He couldn’t judge perfectly just from the video sent by the agency, so he wanted to try it once.But it was better than expected.‘This is good?’Not only did she handle the song well, but she had the ambition to make this song her own. No, rather, it fit her perfectly as if the song was made for her from the start. Delicate yet soft, as if telling a story.“What’s wrong? Did I make a mistake somewhere?”When Halo remained silent, Joo Yeonwoo turned her head and asked.Halo, in the control room, shook his head.She didn’t make a mistake. It was just, a bit unexpected.“No. You’re doing well.”“I got in through connections, so I have to do well.”Joo Yeonwoo clenched her fist and smiled proudly.There was no trace of musical theater style singing. If someone didn’t know Joo Yeonwoo, they would have thought she was a singer or an aspiring singer.And while he knows Liv has a high vocal range too, it seemed like this side wouldn’t struggle with range issues either.Of course, he thought arrangement would be necessary, but at this rate, it might be good to go like this. Or maybe the tempo could be- Halo tapped rhythmically, pondering the inspiration that had just come to his mind.Joo Yeonwoo quietly watched him, not rushing him.She had cleared her schedule for today, so there was no hurry.To some extent, it could be said that she got Roh Haeil’s featuring opportunity through senior Sin Joohyeok’s connections. But she didn’t think she had taken someone else’s chance.She loved singing, and knew she was good at it. Honestly, she was confident she could handle it better than anyone else.Fortunately, he didn’t seem displeased, and she really liked the song too.The composing process of a musical genius is fascinating all the same.It might be a great help if she ever has to act as a genius later. Joo Yeonwoo carefully observed Roh Haeil’s movements, trying to remember them.The recording proceeded smoothly.Even with occasional arrangements, Joo Yeonwoo adapted quickly. Sin Joohyeok’s description of her as a “singing genius” wasn’t just an exaggeration.Nineteen years old in Korean age. So she must be 17 or 18 internationally. There probably wouldn’t be anyone her age who could compare.What about him back then?Halo briefly recalled his past self.Between releasing his first album at 16 and his second at 20. He had fun playing around. It all became good experience.Halo spoke when Joo Yeonwoo was moistening her throat.“Do you sing like that when performing musical numbers too?”“Like this? Well, not exactly. It’s not completely the same, but it’s not classical singing either.”“Can you sing one for me?”“A musical number?”Halo nodded.He wanted to see how different it was.Joo Yeonwoo, who had put down her water bottle on the chair, thought for a moment and asked.“Do you need it right now?”“Not really. I just want to hear how different it is.”“Then-.”Joo Yeonwoo raised the corners of her mouth.“-I won’t sing.”Before Halo could say anything, Joo Yeonwoo continued.“If you come to see my musical. I’ll let you hear it then.”Halo, who had been listening quietly, chuckled.He could somewhat understand Sin Joohyeok’s last words now.He didn’t completely agree, but she did seem to have an unusual personality.“I thought your musical had ended.”“I’m going to do another one soon. One you know well too.”Halo only knew of one.That original musical ‘Rock’.By the way, she talks as if she’s already been cast in a musical that hasn’t even finished production yet.“You’ve already been cast?”“Not yet. But soon, right? I’ll sing Roh Haeil-ssi’s song beautifully for you then.”“Hmm.”Confidence is good, but Halo shrugged.“You won’t have a chance to sing my song then.”“Why not?”This seemed unexpected.Joo Yeonwoo asked with an intense gaze.“Because there’s no way you’ll be cast as Jeongwoo.”“So why can’t I…”Joo Yeonwoo, who had gotten a bit worked up, paused for a moment.First of all, ‘Jeongwoo’ sounded like a male name no matter how you heard it,And having skimmed through the script, she knew it was the name of the male lead in the musical.“It’s a male song…”“Yes.”“But couldn’t Jeongwoo be a woman?”“You should ask the director about that.”Joo Yeonwoo, realizing it wasn’t possible, lowered her head for a moment.She seemed a bit dejected. He had noticed it earlier, but she seemed to have a strong desire for singing.He liked that kind of ambition and passion.Halo smiled faintly and asked.“Have you ever thought about becoming a singer, Joo Yeonwoo-ssi?”It was an unexpected question, but Joo Yeonwoo responded seriously.“I love singing, but I love acting just as much. That’s why I like musicals the most, because I can do both. But someday, I’d like to release an album under my own name. I’m not confident about composing though, since I’ve never tried it.”“Ah, so you can’t compose.”Joo Yeonwoo’s lips, which had been confidently declaring her love for musicals, slightly stiffened.“It’s not that I can’t, I’ve just never tried it.”“That means you can’t do it.”“Well…”As Joo Yeonwoo was thinking of how to refute, she suddenly smiled brightly and changed the subject.“Then have you ever thought about becoming a musical actor, Roh Haeil-ssi?”“No.”He had never once thought about it.Not just as a musical actor, but as an actor in general.“Why not? I think you’d be good at it.”“I don’t really act.”“-But you’re not bad at it, right?”“…”As Joo Yeonwoo smiled widely, Halo smiled back and thought.This cheeky little brat.If he said he had never tried it, he knew what kind of answer he would get. She would throw his own words back at him.The question about whether he had thought about becoming a musical actor wasn’t just idle talk.-Oh, by the way, that kid has a personality just like yours? Not that it’s bad. More like, hates losing. Well, be careful. She won’t go easy on you like I do.He could see now that she hates losing.The two people’s smiles grew deeper.From the outside, it looked like a very amicable and smiley recording studio.“What’s going on, what’s going on between you two?”Moon Seoyeon was making a fuss peeking from outside, unaware that they were watching each other intently.The recording didn’t take long. They could have made mistakes or gotten distracted, leading to exchanges of sincere words disguised as good sounds.After the recording was over, Joo Yeonwoo returned to her calm and composed attitude and bowed slightly.“This was my first featuring, so thank you for the opportunity. If there’s any problem with the recording, please call me. I had fun today.”“That won’t happen, but. I had fun too.”As Joo Yeonwoo was about to leave, she seemed to remember something and stopped to look back.“Ah, if I offended you today, I’m sorry for that too.”“I wasn’t particularly offended.”“Then that’s good.”When Halo smiled faintly, Joo Yeonwoo also smiled slightly, bowed her head once more, and left.“Boss, what was that~”And what remained was Moon Seoyeon with sparkling eyes.Her gloomy attitude from earlier flashed through his mind, but now Moon Seoyeon’s tension was too high.“Did the recording go well?”Halo nodded.She did sing well.The recording turned out satisfactory.“What about the other thing?”“Other thing?”Moon Seoyeon tilted her head and focused on his answer. Just as Halo was wondering what she meant, he suddenly realized.He wasn’t a fool, and he couldn’t misunderstand the meaning behind that mischievous gaze.Moon Seoyeon seemed to have misunderstood something.Right, it’s human nature to try to pair up young men and women.“Isn’t Joo Yeonwoo-ssi really pretty? When I first saw her earlier, I was really! Shocked.”As expected.Halo snorted.Regardless of Joo Yeonwoo’s appearance, he had no such thoughts at all.This is something he had felt since he went to the drama filming set, but everyone in this neighborhood, that is, Korean people, looked very young. Even Lee Sora, who was in her 30s, looked like a teenager to him.At that time, he thought that dating would be difficult for a while.Even if he tried to date someone in their thirties, that thirty-year-old would probably not want to date him, who was a minor, and conversely, he didn’t like the idea of dating someone Roh Haeil’s age.He had no interest in dating minors.“She’s too young.”“What? Joo Yeonwoo-ssi is two years older than you, boss.”Moon Seoyeon was puzzled by this brief answer, but Halo had already re-entered the control room.He thought it was time to start the real work.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)!