Devil’s Music

After breakfast, the group gathered at the hotel lobby's cafe noticed Geon Kim coming down last. With a nonchalant expression, Geon quickly approached with an apologetic tone.

"Looks like I'm the last one. Sorry."

Byungjoon waved his hand dismissively.

"No, no. Shall we head out?"

Carlos glanced at Geon, who looked much better than the day before, and smiled broadly, extending his hand.

"Alright, hands in!"

Jose was the first to place his hand over Carlos's, followed by Kevin. As Geon placed his hand last, Carlos nodded toward Byungjoon and Lyn.

"We're all in this together, right?"

With a smile, Byungjoon and Lyn joined in, and Carlos lifted their hands up high, exclaiming,

"Haah!!!"

As everyone raised their hands together, they laughed, grabbed their luggage, and boarded the van. After about five minutes, the van stopped, and music could be heard in the distance. Kevin, seeing a crowd at the entrance of a large building, turned to Byungjoon with an excited look.

"It's a daytime show. Where are we? It looks like we didn't even check out the venue beforehand."

After observing the scene outside, Byungjoon replied.

"It's the Liverpool One Shopping Center. It's a large mall, and the venue is outdoors. Don't worry, Director Lyn has already checked the route, and all the sound systems have been checked as well. But why aren't the staff coming out?"

Frowning, Jose, who was glued to the window, asked.

"What staff? Can't we just go in?"

Byungjoon raised his hand as if to say wait.

"Montana isn't just some indie band. How can we walk through all these people? The staff said they would control access so we can drive right up to the stage."

Soon after, a knock on the opposite window caught the group's attention, focusing on a man tapping on the window outside. Byungjoon leaned out and gestured for the man to come around to his side. As the man walked around to where Byungjoon was sitting, Byungjoon opened the window and asked,

"Are you from Liverpool Sound City?"

The staff member, wearing a red hat marked 'Staff,' peeked inside the window and responded.

"Yes, that's correct. Sorry for being late. I've confirmed it's Fantagio's vehicle. Are all the Montana members here?"

"Yes, we're all here," replied Byungjoon.

The staff member cautiously asked,

"Is... Kay here?"

Geon, who had been in the front seat, leaned back and stuck his head out.

"I'm here."

"Wow!"

The staff member, surprised to see Geon so close, stepped back and then extended his hand.

"What an honor to meet Kay up close! I really got the right part-time job, haha!"

As Geon shook his hand, the impressed staff member exclaimed,

"Thank you! I'll make sure you can safely get to the stage!"

The staff member headed to the front of the van, blowing a whistle and shouting at people shopping or heading to the venue,

"Please make way!"

As people turned around to the noise, they pointed and shouted at the sight of Fantagio's logo on the van.

"It's Montana!!!"

"Montana is here! For real!"

"Kyaaah!! Where's Kay? Kay!!"

"I don't know, the car windows are too tinted!"

"Try knocking on them!"

As people slowly passed by the van, tapping on the windows and pressing their faces against the glass, Kevin, who was witnessing such a scene for the first time, looked around curiously. The rest of the group, accustomed to such occurrences, calmly observed the people. Geon, too, watched the crowd screaming and cheering, then murmured softly.

"These people came to enjoy our music, right?"

Kevin, unable to hear well due to the noise, cupped his ear and yelled,

"What? Say that again."

Geon turned to Carlos, who had been watching him, and finally said,

"These people came to enjoy our music, right? They came to enjoy our performance together?"

Carlos, after a moment's pause, smiled and nodded. A smile slowly spread across Geon's face. Kevin, not understanding the conversation, looked dumbfounded as he watched the two laughing and looking at each other.

Geon bent over and stood up from his seat, prompting Byungjoon to say,

"What are you doing? Sit down, it's dangerous."

Ignoring him, Geon opened the sunroof and stood through it, causing the cheering from outside to flood into the van. Geon had thought it safe since people couldn't climb onto the van, and he looked at Carlos and Kevin, saying,

"Let's enjoy this together."

No answer was needed as Geon emerged through

the sunroof, and hundreds of people around the van raised their hands, cheering.

"It's Kay!!!"

"Kyaaaaah!!! Kay!!!"

"I love you!! You're so handsome!!!"

As Geon appeared on the roof of the van, those clinging to the windows stepped back a few paces so they could see him on the roof. Contrary to concerns, this actually facilitated the vehicle's entry. Byungjoon, still uneasy, scanned the surroundings but saw no one engaging in dangerous behavior, which allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief, though he still grimaced.

"Ah, that damn kid!"

Just as he exclaimed this, the lower half of Geon's body disappeared from view, causing Byungjoon, who had been staring blankly, to lean out and shout towards the sunroof.

"Hey! It's dangerous on top of the car!"

The crowd outside cheered even louder as they saw Geon climbing onto the roof.

"Kay! Kay! Kay! Kay! Kay!"

As strangers began to link arms and chant Geon's name, Geon rolled his feet on the roof of the 11-seater van. Seeing enough space for him to run around, Byungjoon shouted at the driver,

"Hey, hey! Drive slowly!"

The driver, already moving at a crawl, turned back and laughed,

"We're already going slow, there's no way to speed through these people, hehe."

Byungjoon, holding his head as if it were about to split, looked at the open sunroof and said,

"Oh my, that kid, really! Hey! It's dangerous!"

As Geon's footsteps thudded on the roof, Carlos's lips curled into a smile, then he suddenly stood up and climbed out through the sunroof, joining Geon. As they bounced around on the roof, the crowd shouted,

"Montana! Montana! Montana! Montana!"

Carlos, laughing, waved at them and then touched Geon's shoulder as he jumped around on the roof. As their eyes met, the people in the crowded shopping center slowly followed the van, and a fully smiling Geon placed his hand on Carlos's shoulder and shouted,

"Hello Liverpool!!!"

"Kyaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Kay! Kay! Kay! Kay! Kay!"

Geon turned to Carlos with a grin.

"Let's jump, Carlos!"

As Geon initiated a shoulder-bump and began jumping, thousands of people following the van started jumping and rolling their feet too.

Thump thump thump thump

The sound of thousands of feet pounding the ground resonated like a heartbeat, shaking Liverpool. People who were watching other bands or shopping far away craned their necks to see what was happening and, upon spotting Geon and Carlos jumping on the roof, ran out screaming.

"Aaaahhhhh!!! It's Montana!! It's Kay!!"

"Kyah! They're really here!!"

As Geon and Carlos made themselves sufficiently visible, the fans, excited and happy, made room for the van to pass more easily. The men in the crowd yelled excitedly, and the women, unable to take their eyes off Geon and Carlos, covered their mouths in awe. Geon, still shoulder-bumping with Carlos, looked up at the sky. Seeing this side of Geon, Carlos smiled.

"Having fun?"

Looking at the sky and smiling, Geon then looked down at Carlos and playfully winked.

"Not yet, the real fun is on stage. Okay?"

"Phahaha!!! Great!!!"

Soon after, the van arrived in front of the stage. As Geon, still on the roof, saw the previous performers still on stage collecting their instruments with a dazed expression, he jumped down onto the stage. Extending his hand to one of the indie musicians, who was frozen in place, Geon smiled and said,

"We'll take it from here."

The musician, momentarily stunned, then grinned widely and high-fived Geon, shouting,

"Handing it over!"

"Haha! Alright!"

As Geon looked at the members and staff struggling to unload their instruments, he gestured for them to hurry up.

"Quick, quick!"

Byungjoon, carrying Jose's bass drum and red-faced, yelled,

"You only sing and don't even bring your guitar! Help with this!"

The idea of making major musicians carry gear seemed absurd to the Liverpool Sound City staff, who rushed to assist, allowing Byungjoon a moment to breathe before he attempted to reprimand Geon for his dangerous antics. Instead, seeing the stage set up and Geon already syncing with everyone, he smirked. Standing beside Byungjoon, Carlos also watched Geon and remarked,

"Looks like he's ready to enjoy the stage."

Byungjoon wiggled his eyebrows at Carlos then laughed again, nodding,

"Yeah, not bad at all. Haha."

Kevin quickly helped Jose set

up the drums and connect the bass guitar, checking the sound. As Carlos, the last to arrive on stage, finished connecting the equipment, Geon, seeing all the members ready, smiled and placed his hand on the microphone stand. As the fans screamed, they gradually quieted down at the sight of Geon waiting quietly above the mic. The shopping center's stage, now silent, awaited his performance. Geon scanned the crowd and then, staring straight ahead, shouted,

"Here we go! Second Fury!!!"

>

Unlock exclusive early access to more than 100 Chapters before anyone else by becoming a valued member of my Patreon community.

As a cherished member of our Patreon community, here is what you'll get:

For just $5:

• Early access to 100s of chapters before they go public. (You can find all the novels I'm translating HERE.)
• Your name will be prominently featured on the "Wall of Gratitude".
• The power to vote on which novel I translate next.
• You Get Ad-free Chapters.

For $10:

• You get to suggest a Novel for me to translate.

For $20:

• You get to recommend an abandoned Novel and I will immediately start translating it.

Don't let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!