Devil’s Music

The next day, Geon began visiting the studio every morning. Since it was a task requiring focus, Geon had to leave Red Castle before Kiska woke up, departing at the crack of dawn with only three members of his team. While driving towards Lincoln Center in the early morning, Geon spotted that Logan's store was open and, excited, he parked the car. Since it was early and the streets were nearly empty, Geon got out without covering his face and pushed the store door open, ringing the bell attached to it.

Ding.

Busy moving around and placing freshly baked bread on the shelves, Logan bent over and shouted.

"Welcome! I'm still setting up, but there are plenty of freshly baked breads."

After Logan placed the remaining breads from his tray onto the shelf, he looked up, surprised to see Geon.

"Kay, Kay!!"

Geon spread his arms out, laughing.

"Haha, Logan! You start selling early, don't you?"

Logan threw down his tray and tongs and ran around the counter. Wiping his hands on his apron, he gave Geon a hug and said with a smile all over his face.

"Wow, what brings you here so early? Bakeries naturally open at dawn. We bake bread on the same day to make it tasty. We start baking around 4:30 AM, and open the shop around 6 AM, though customers usually come around 7 AM. But right now it's..."

Logan turned to look at the wall clock, his eyes widening.

"6:10 AM? Really, what's going on?"

Geon shook his head, smiling.

"It's nothing serious, I just have some music to work on, so I was heading to the studio early and thought I'd pick up a sandwich since I saw the door was open."

Logan grinned, rubbing his hands together.

"Really? Since Kay is here, of course, I have to make one! I need to keep my promise from last time! Logan's special avocado sandwich, and it's on the house! Just give me a minute!"

"Haha, thank you, Logan."

Logan quickly went to the kitchen and returned with two sandwiches packed in a paper bag. As he came out alone, he saw Geon sitting by the window, staring out. It seemed like Geon was pondering something, so Logan quietly approached and placed the bag on the table.

"Hmm.. Are you worried about something?"

Startled out of his thoughts, Geon looked up at Logan and laughed as he grabbed the paper bag.

"Ah? Haha, no, not really. Thanks, I'll enjoy the meal."

Logan sat opposite him, his face serious.

"Come on, tell me. Sometimes the answers to our problems come from unexpected places."

Geon stared at Logan for a moment before speaking.

"Um.. Can I ask you a question then?"

"Of course! You can ask as many as you want!"

"Haha, then... Logan. Do you know the band Montana?"

"Huh? Of course, who doesn't know such a famous band?"

"Ah, I see. Then, do you know the last album or song they released?"

Logan thought for a moment before responding.

"A bit... It's been a while.. My last memory of an album was 'Supernatural.'"

Geon chuckled.

"Ah, that was an album from 1999, Logan."

Logan scratched his head.

"That, that's right. Anyway, every album from that band is the best."

Geon narrowed his eyes and asked.

"If it's the best band music, why haven't you listened to it since that album?"

Logan paused, his pose of scratching his head freezing as he fell deep in thought. After waiting for a while, Geon spoke again.

"Following that album, there were 'Just Feel Better' in 2005, 'Into the Light' in 2007, and 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' in 2011. Why didn't you listen to them afterward? Were the songs not good?"

"Ah.. No, it's a great band with a unique Mexican rock feel but..."

"That's right. But why then?"

As Logan struggled to find the words, Geon asked again.

"Let's ask the opposite then. Why did you like Montana?"

Logan brightened up as if confident about this question.

"It's because of the unique feel of Latin rock. They made albums that perfectly blended energetic and sad songs."

Geon nodded.

"Right? Were the later albums different? Surely, the feel of Latin rock must have been alive in all their albums."

Logan made a troubled face again and muttered softly.

"Well... um... honestly, every album sounds the same... That band is..."

Geon's eyes widened, and seeing this, Logan, remembering that Geon was close to Carlos, started sweating and quickly corrected himself.

"Ah, no. That's not

 what I meant..."

Geon raised one hand, palm showing.

"Wait, what did you just say?"

"Ah, no, sorry. I think I misspoke."

"No, Logan. Say it again. It's okay."

Considering Geon's expression, Logan spoke softly.

"Um... what I meant was... although it's a band that keeps the Latin rock feel alive, each album feels like the last... each song feels like the other. Maybe cliché? You know it's a Montana song as soon as you hear it, but perhaps because they've been active for so long, it doesn't feel new anymore. Well... something like that. Keep this a secret from Mr. Carlos, please."

Geon's expression turned grave. Watching for Geon's reaction, Logan fidgeted and then Geon's face brightened a bit.

"Thank you, Logan. Haha, you've been a great help."

"Uh? What, what help did I..."

Geon stood up, picking up the paper bag as Logan looked up.

"Huh? Leaving already?"

"Haha, yes. Thank you for today. And thanks for the sandwich."

"Uh.. Come by more often. It's always free for Kay."

"Haha, if you keep saying that, I won't be able to come as often."

"Don't be like that, come by more often. Better than coming at dawn like this, come when there are more customers, I'd appreciate it haha."

"You're showing your hand, haha. Well, I'm off. Might come again tomorrow, Logan."

"That would be great! Drop by anytime!"

Leaving Logan's store, Geon got into his car, his gaze deepening.

'Cliché... Montana's cliché...'

It took less than a minute for Geon's car to stop in front of Lincoln Center. As he got out, Geon showed the paper bag to the team member driving.

"It's going to take a while today. I packed lunch, so I won't be coming out until dinner."

The team member, wearing sunglasses since dawn, nodded and smiled back at Geon, who then went down to the Lincoln Center basement, passing a sleeping security guard and opening the door to the deserted and chilly studio. He turned on the light and pressed the heater button, rubbing his hands together and sitting in the chair until the studio warmed up a bit. Then he opened the door to the recording room and picked up the guitar.

'Montana's songs are of course rock. But maybe trying something other than Latin rock would be good. It shouldn't be thought of just as Kevin's song. This is Montana's song, and it should be a song that shines because of Kevin.'

Geon took out the lyrics Kiska had written from his bag and smiled. After reading the lyrics from beginning to end, Geon slightly nodded, plucked the unplugged electric guitar quietly, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and quickly started writing the music.

** 

Nine in the morning.

Kiska woke up in her studio apartment and stretched out of bed in her pajamas, glancing at the clock.

'Geon said he'd be working from today, right?'

Quickly getting up, Kiska rummaged through the refrigerator.

"Where did mom put the Sisamo?"

After searching for a while, Kiska pulled out a jar full of Sisamo eggs, smiling.

"Great! Here it is!"

She cooked the Sisamo in a frying pan and packed freshly cooked rice into a lunchbox, quickly preparing side dishes as well. Checking the time nearing ten, she hastened her actions. After a brief glance at the schedule posted on the fridge door by Byungjoon the previous night, Kiska packed the lunchbox, thinking.

'My schedule starts at three today, so if I go now, I can spend some time with Kay. Lulu'

Dressed in a black coat and fur hat, Kiska covered her face with sunglasses, grabbed the shopping bag with the lunchbox, and left the apartment to catch a taxi. She got off in front of Lincoln Town during the busy morning rush and quickly ran down to the subway.

'Huh? Is another band working now?'

As Kiska approached Studio C where Geon was working, the sound of loud metal music grew louder, making her eyes widen.

'Wasn't this song supposed to be Montana's?'

Kiska peeked through the small window in the studio door, and as she opened it, a powerful sound burst forth, making her feel as though her head was being blown away. Surprised, she looked around the studio and soon spotted Geon in the recording room, while Kiska, sitting on a sofa with a view of the recording room window, looked triumphant as she noticed Kiska.

'Kiska?'

Kiska raised one hand with an awkward smile.

"Ki, Kiska. Ah, hello? You came together today?"

"No

, we came together."

Startled by a deep voice from behind, Kiska jumped and turned to see Byungjoon's broad, dark face.

"Ah! Manager!"

Byungjoon pushed her inside as if indicating they weren't together by choice but because Kiska had insisted on going since morning, stepping over his sleeping belly.

"It's not that we came together; I came reluctantly because she kept nagging me from morning. Anyway, it's good timing. There's a schedule today, and we can leave together from here. What's that? Lunchbox?"

Kiska showed the shopping bag she was holding with reluctance.

"Yes... Do you want to eat?"

"Oh, great. I was hungry since I skipped breakfast."

As Byungjoon greedily took the shopping bag and started eating the lunchbox, Kiska playfully clapped her hands. Byungjoon, who had been focused on the food, looked up in surprise at Kiska's laughter. Watching the lunchbox disappear as quickly as a crab's eye, Kiska looked into the recording room where Geon was intently wearing headphones and focusing on his work, then asked.

"Wasn't this supposed to be a session for Montana's album?"

Byungjoon, with a grain of rice stuck on his cheek, looked up at Geon and replied.

"That's what I thought. But what the heck is this song? It sounds like something from Megadeth or Metallica."

All three turned their attention to Geon, who was passionately recording the guitar part, surrounded by dozens of scattered sheets of music.

Geon, absorbed in composing music with his headphones on, didn't notice three people outside watching him. After pressing the stop button on the recording track, he sighed deeply. Upon opening his eyes, his gaze fell upon the floor littered with crumpled and torn sheet music. Picking up a piece, he frowned as he smoothed it out.

"Phew, this is harder than I thought."

The sheet music Geon was looking at was filled with red notes. After examining it briefly, he picked up another piece that was half-torn from the floor. This one was filled with black notes. Alternating his gaze between the two, Geon sighed, placed the music on his thigh, and crossed his arms.

"The challenge is how to interpret this. Should I go with the anger-filled red, or with the black that represents anxiety, darkness, despair, and silence..."

Lost in thought, Geon was scratching his head and pulling at his hair, which made Byung-jun, watching from outside, look baffled.

"What is he even doing right now?"

As Geon seemed almost mad, tearing and then smoothing out the sheets before tossing them into the air, Kiska laughed amusedly, while Byung-jun, concerned, tried to enter the recording booth. Just as he grabbed the doorknob, Shizuka's pale hand landed on his dark one. Turning to Shizuka, she shook her head slightly.

"Creativity comes with pain, you know that, Manager."

Byung-jun, trying to detach Shizuka's delicate hand from his wrist, pointed at the door.

"Can't you see what he's doing in there? What if something happens to him? Maybe he should take a break."

Shizuka's eyes hardened as she shook her head decisively.

"No, it's better to leave him alone. I can assure you that."

Seeing the determination in Shizuka's eyes, Byung-jun hesitated for a moment before stepping back with a resigned lick of his lips. Fortunately, music started playing again from the recording booth, and Byung-jun, checking his watch as he heard Geon's playing, was relieved.

"Wow, time really flies. Kiska, let's go home. I need to drop you off and take Shizuka to her schedule."

Byung-jun, putting on his coat, called for Kiska, who sulkily hid behind the couch, clearly reluctant to leave. After a chase around, Shizuka finally caught her. Kneeling down with a serious expression, she held onto Kiska's shoulder firmly.

"Kiska, you don't want to disturb Kei, do you?"

At the mention of Kei, Kiska stopped struggling. Shizuka quickly pointed towards the recording booth, where Geon was visible through the window.

"Kei needs to concentrate right now. Your presence would disrupt that, and so would mine. That's why I'm still here, but Manager will take you home while I step outside. There's only one reason for that. I don't want to be a disturbance to Kei. You feel the same, don't you?"

Kiska stopped writhing and stared at Shizuka's face before turning her head toward Geon in the recording booth. After a moment, she resumed struggling and pushed Shizuka away, running to grasp Byung-jun's hand. Shizuka laughed as she watched.

"See, our Kiska is such a good girl."

Byung-jun looked down at Kiska, who was scoffing elsewhere, and chuckled as he checked his watch.

"Let's hurry. We might be late."

With a longing look towards Geon in the recording booth, Shizuka quietly closed the door, making sure no sound was heard, and exited. Unaware of their visit, Geon continued to fill the music sheets, tearing them up and starting anew. He vigorously scratched the back of his head and mumbled to himself.

"What are my feelings right now? Do I hate my father? Am I still unable to escape from this hatred? It seems a bit faded now. So, should I cling to this faint emotion? No, that would make this music meaningless. It would be better to express the anger I felt at that time."

Geon picked up a sheet filled with red notes from the floor and smoothed it out again.

"From the beginning of the verse, I will express anger. Not only to highlight Kevin's performance, but also to maintain the tension of the song, the guitar and bass must constantly clash. In that clash, they must find harmony again."

Clearing the chair away, Geon propped his guitar up and lay on the studio floor, continuing to write notes on the sheet music. As Geon was obscured by his position, the studio door quietly opened. A blonde young man with a cold expression entered first, sitting on the couch where Kiska had been. Soon after, a man with long

 black hair, dressed in a stylish suit and wearing black leather gloves, entered. After a moment of observing the recording booth where Geon was, he sat next to the blonde youth.

"Should we just leave him be, Gamagin?"

Gamagin, stroking his chin, looked through the window at Geon with a complicated expression.

"Hmm... What do you think, Pyemon?"

Pyemon, not taking his eyes off the recording studio window, responded.

"Sir, it's different from your goal. Those who listen to the boy's music will likely emit negative energy. We must stop it."

Gamagin sighed deeply with a troubled look.

"Huh... I see."

Pyemon turned his head towards Gamagin, his expression serious.

"You know why you're hesitating, but we must do it, sir."

"Uh-huh..."

As Gamagin continued to look troubled, Pyemon continued.

"If it were just about achieving your goal, you would have attacked his mind already. Turning him into your puppet would have been quicker."

"I know you consider the boy as more than just a proxy. I understand this, as I have been watching over the child with you for over twenty years."

Pyemon stretched his hand into the air, and golden musical staff lines appeared. He reached into the recording booth with his hand, seemingly absorbing something, then sprinkled it over the golden staff lines, where the red notes embedded themselves.

"Every note is red, and the instruments are clashing. This kind of music will surely be well received by professional musicians, and it could become a new form of rock for those who enjoy it. However, those who listen to it will emit negative energy."

Gamagin pressed his lips tightly together, just looking out the window. Pyemon, seemingly frustrated, spoke out.

"Are you going to leave it like this? The child is already loved by many in the human world. If he releases this music, many will listen, and the negative energy they emit could blow away all the positive energy you've gathered, sir."

Gamagin closed his eyes.

"Call Amdusias."

"Yes, sir."

"Not now."

"Pardon?"

"When the child's manager goes to Mexico to make a deal, he'll bring the music sheets with him. That's when you act."

"Ah... I see."

Gamagin got up from his seat.

"Before you act, report to me."

Pyemon also stood up, asking,

"Do you have something to say, sir?"

Gamagin, putting his hands in his trouser pockets, responded.

"Tell him not to change all of the child's music."

"Pardon? What do you mean, sir?"

Gamagin briefly looked down at the floor before answering.

"Just ten notes from the child's music sheets. That's all. Minimally interfere."

"Is that sufficient?"

"Don't underestimate the demon of music, Amdusias. He may be lower in rank than us, but there's no one who can match him in music."

Pyemon chuckled, raising his hands.

"Haha, I often forget he's one of the 72 demons because he's so frivolous. Understood, I will do as you say."

Gamagin nodded and was about to leave when Pyemon, attempting to erase the embroidered music sheets, stopped him.

"Sir, may I ask one thing?"

Turning around, Gamagin asked,

"What is it?"

Pointing at the music sheets hanging in the air, Pyemon crossed his arms and touched his lips with a finger before pointing from the eighth bar to the end of the sheet.

"Looking at this sheet music, can you feel the guitar and bass fighting to devour each other? It's like two beasts battling. Does this make music?"

Gamagin smiled at the section he pointed out.

"Do you know about a sea creature called a squid among the things humans eat?"

Pyemon tilted his head and moved his fingers toward the ground.

"Is it the flimsy thing with a hat?"

"Yes, that's the one."

"Sure, I know of it, but why bring it up now?"

Gamagin approached Pyemon in front of the music sheet.

"Squids are temperamental and die shortly after being caught in the sea. The price of a live squid versus a dead one is vastly different. Humans go to great lengths to keep them alive until they sell."

Pyemon quietly listened to Gamagin's words, then he continued.

"Do you know how they keep squids alive to the shore?"

"Um... Do they create an environment like the sea?"

"Haha, they couldn't possibly have such a facility on a small fishing boat."

"Then what do they do?"

Gamagin pointed at the part where the guitar and bass were clashing, causing the embroidered music sheets to disperse like wind.

"They put the squids in a tank under the boat and throw in a couple of their predators."

Pyemon looked shocked.

"Really

? Wouldn't the predators just eat all of them?"

"Haha, I said just a couple, didn't I? They can't eat all the numerous squids."

"Ah... How does that method help keep the squids alive?"

"Haha, seeing the fish, the squids struggle desperately to escape. It gives them a will to live. They constantly fight for survival until they are brought to shore, maintaining their freshness."

Pyemon quietly watched Gamagin and then nodded deeply.

"If you just replace the word 'squid' with 'music,' you can easily infer what it means."

Gamagin walked towards the door, adding,

"Exactly, it's profound. That's also why I chose music to return to being an angel. When they fight each other like that, those listening to the music cannot let go of the tension until the end. Finding harmony in that is up to the child."