The Devil lives in the Music of Top Star

**Episode 8**

“Hey! What the hell are you doing going out?”

“Why can’t I perform?”

“Sigh… You should just stick to producing. What’s with the performance?”

After work, I went out for drinks with Im Tae-hyun, who had been whining about being bored.

“Oh, never mind. I was mistaken. You’re performing as a musician, right?”

“No, singing…”

As the conversation went on, I mentioned that I would be participating in the opening ceremony performance, and Im Tae-hyun was shocked.

“Hey, didn’t you make a fool of yourself in your freshman year?”

“Don’t bring that up…”

“Okay, that’s not important. But you’re not good enough to perform there. You’d never even pass the audition.”

“But I passed.”

“What? You?”

Im Tae-hyun, being a close friend, spoke without a filter, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“They accepted you? Why, is the school’s standard that low? Did everyone collectively lose their minds? Your university is known for its high musical standards. Is this a false rumor? Ah! You mentioned you saved up some money. Did you spend it? It didn’t seem like you saved much… Oh! You’re drunk, aren’t you? Two shots of soju and you’re this wasted! The university must have made you weak against alcohol.”

“Stop…”

Im Tae-hyun always criticized my singing, telling me to stop if I was bad, especially since I was the only one he could hear without feeling embarrassed.

It made sense, considering I was the only one he felt comfortable hearing sing, even if it was all high-pitched songs.

“Yeah, I know you like singing and you perform well with low-pitched songs. But that doesn’t mean you’re good enough for a performance like this. You know that too, right?”

“Sigh…”

He always said things like:

Songs sung with a casual tone, songs that don’t require high vocal range, etc.

He genuinely enjoyed listening to me sing emotional songs, but he begged me to avoid songs requiring strong vocal skills.

Our school’s small and large performances were quite well-known.

Sometimes, performances by outstanding talents even made it into small articles, so as a journalist, Im Tae-hyun surely knew this.

“Want to go to a karaoke room?”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah.”

“Sigh… My ears…”

So, we left the drinking spot and headed to a karaoke room, with Im Tae-hyun still a bit drunk.

His expression was mixed.

The last time he heard me sing was only a few months ago.

Before the incident at JH Entertainment, we had met up as usual, had a drink, and went to karaoke.

I was the only one he felt comfortable singing in front of.

Although it was probably a joke, he used to cover his ears with both hands whenever I grabbed the microphone.

Even now, he was preparing to cover his ears as I selected the song with the remote control.

“Please, teacher, open your heart and listen.”

“I can’t even bring myself to listen comfortably knowing you’re performing with your current skills.”

“Oh, come on…”

Without knowing what was about to happen in a few seconds, he seemed ready to laugh at me.

“Ugh! You’re going to sing this?”

The song I selected was by a male solo artist who debuted in 2001. Though he was originally an actor, he achieved great success as a singer and is still loved to this day.

The song featured soaring high notes and emotionally charged lyrics, which were often sung by men in karaoke rooms.

Finding someone who could perform it successfully was rare among the average Korean.

“Please! Stop the high notes!”

Ignoring Im Tae-hyun’s joke, the intro started, and I gathered my composure.

I felt my heart trembling.

[Shallow bastard…]

‘What?’

[Heh heh heh…]

I ignored the devil’s voice, as it wasn’t the time for conversation.

I began to sing.

The intro started with a low note.

I could feel my vocal cords vibrating smoothly.

The sound travels from my throat through my nasal passages to the microphone.

It was enough to convey deep emotions.

As the theme transitioned, my instinct led me to make the sound more solid.

With the slightly higher vocal range, I put more strength into my voice to create a solid tone.

Whether to use my chest, my throat, or my nasal passages.

I briefly pondered which path to take, but the answer came instantly.

Even if it was the result I could achieve in ten years, it was still unbelievable.

Then came the chorus.

While the original song was dominated by a rock-solid chest voice.

I wanted to try something different.

Despite the karaoke accompaniment, I could distinctly hear the string instruments.

I chose a falsetto technique that would fit well with that sound.

The high notes came effortlessly.

I mixed in falsetto occasionally.

The song continued for a while, leading to the bridge, which featured the highest note of the song.

Forgetting that Im Tae-hyun was watching, I sang with all my emotions.

Unlike the original chorus that was sung delicately in falsetto, I used my chest voice to deliver a powerful high note.

I carried the breath from that high note into the introduction of the final chorus.

I thought I heard Im Tae-hyun’s amazement from behind, but I was too engrossed in the song to care.

Four minutes later.

The lyrics at the bottom of the karaoke screen disappeared with my voice.

The accompaniment that concluded the song filled the room.

As all the instrumental sounds faded, the screen showed a score of 100.

With a comment about the singer’s skills, my song ended.

It was the first time I sang a song since the audition.

“Wow…”

I turned around to see Im Tae-hyun holding his chin and making a strange face.

“How was it?”

“Man.”

“Yeah?”

“It was friggin’ awesome…”

* * *

After spending an hour at karaoke, we moved to another place and continued drinking.

Throughout the evening, Im Tae-hyun kept asking how my skills had suddenly improved, which academy I had attended, and various other questions.

On the other hand, he seemed proud of my improved skills in both producing and singing.

I felt good.

Being recognized by someone, especially a close friend, was a wonderful feeling.

After the lively conversation, I headed home with a light buzz.

After a shower and changing into comfortable clothes, I lay down on my bed.

The slight dizziness from the alcohol pulled me deep into the bed.

As I tried to relax, the devil suddenly started mocking me.

[Heh heh heh… Hey, why did you show your skills to Im Tae-hyun?]

“Oh, right. Why did you call me shallow earlier?”

[Honestly, you just wanted to show off, didn’t you?]

“Of course.”

When you gain a skill, you want to show it off. That’s how you achieve satisfaction.

I thought this was a natural human instinct.

But the devil’s perspective was a bit different.

[This is why humans are so weak… Once they get something, they’re too eager to show off. Even someone like you, who wasn’t originally into flaunting… ]

“Well, that’s not necessarily wrong.”

[True, it’s not wrong. In fact, I enjoy it.]

“Then why does your tone sound like that?”

The devil’s tone seemed mocking, while also finding amusement in my actions.

[I enjoy seeing you being controlled by your desires.]

“……”

Thinking about it, the devil was a demon.

I decided to speak more seriously.

“If I change, does that benefit you?”

[To some extent.]

“Nothing bad will happen to me, right?”

[Don’t worry. Nothing bad will happen.]

“Really? I have to trust your suspicious tone!”

[If something goes wrong with you, it’ll affect me too.]

“……”

He was a devil.

But his calm tone somehow gave me a sense of trust.

[Remember the price you have to pay.]

“Yeah.”

I couldn’t forget.

The contract with the devil and the price I had to pay.

“That’s the most important thing to him, right?”

The devil never works for free.

That was true even for me, with the absolute pitch ability I had gained.

The problem was the terms.

The amount and timing of the payment were all unknown.

In my case, it was money.

A ridiculously large sum.

[I never expected my absolute pitch ability to be sold for just 250,000 won.]

A few days ago, an amount of around 500,000 won was supposed to be deposited for a commission.

But only 250,000 won had been deposited.

I questioned this anomaly and received an explanation from the devil.

It was considered as the payment.

I learned about the method of payment only then.

[Last time it was money, but what I really enjoy is emotions.]

“Emotions?”

[Yes, specific emotions that bloom from desires. That’s my favorite kind of food.]

“Hm… I don’t quite understand what that means.”

[It’s fine if you don’t understand. Just know that you won’t lose anything.]

“By the way, when will I have to pay the next price?”

[Even I don’t know. It depends on you.]

“Still complicated…”

I didn’t fully understand the exact meaning of what he said.

But what I did understand was that I didn’t know what or when the next price would be.

And it wouldn’t be something that would cause me significant trouble.

* * *

The next day.

Before my hangover had fully subsided, I went to the university office to get a new student ID issued, which I had lost.

When I opened the door to the department office, I made eye contact with Kim Jong-pil.

“Oh, you’re here. The student ID is ready.”

“Yeah, thanks…”

“Is university going well?”

“Well, it’s just going…”

Even I thought my response was too dull.

A typical example of a timid and pathetic outsider…

[Ugh…]

No wonder Kim Jong-pil used to bully me. Of course, that doesn’t justify his actions in any way…

My attitude, my responses, my tone, and my posture—all seemed to scream, “I’m easy prey.”

It seemed that I was still afraid of him.

I thought it would end after graduation, but school bullying was not as easily forgotten as one might think.

The atmosphere in the department office felt heavy.

Why did I say that?

I was just looking for something to say to break the awkwardness, and before I knew it, I blurted out something I hadn’t been asked.

“I’m planning to perform at the upcoming launch event.”

“Pfft! What?”

“……”

[Suddenly]

‘…….’

Kim Jong-pil couldn’t help but burst into laughter at my words.

“Oh, sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh… Ahem… Well, are you going to perform or something?”

“I’m going to sing…”

“Ah…”

If we were wearing school uniforms, he would have immediately smacked me on the back of the head and showered me with mockery.

Fortunately, he was now an adult with a lot more to consider.

“Well, well. Good luck. I’ll be cheering for you, Jae-hee!”

“Thanks.”

With that, I took my student ID and left the department office.

[Hey, why did you suddenly mention that?]

‘I don’t know…’

[You seemed really anxious, and it looks like you just blurted it out in your nervousness.]

‘I’m not really afraid. I don’t think he’d hit me now.’

[Then why this reaction?]

‘I’m not sure.’

The word “trauma” is the only explanation that fits.

Differences in physique, social skills, and hierarchy.

It’s true that he is far superior, but there’s no need for me to cower.

But for some reason, every time I stand in front of Kim Jong-pil, I feel like I’m at the bottom of the food chain.

[Sigh… Just hang in there. Someday, I’ll make you unrecognizable from who you are now.]

‘…….’

Listening to the demon’s words, I could feel it.

My whole body was trembling…

* * *

Tap, tap, tap, tap…

The department office where Yoo Jae-hee had just left was filled with the sound of tapping on smartphone keypads.

[Hey lol Yoo Jae-hee is going to universityl.

Kim Jong-pil was chatting with someone on KakaoTalk.

– Korean Language and Literature 13

A group chat with the 13th batch of Korean Language and Literature students.

A chatroom created by some close friends of Kim Jong-pil.

[For real, Jae-hee is back in university. I thought he was done with military service and had a job.]

[Must have quit the job then.]

[Yeah, looks like it didn’t work out. But that’s not the important thing lol – What’s so funny?]

[What is it?]

[He’s going to sing at the launch event lolololol – Really? lololol What’s he thinking?]

[Oh Jae-hee, please…ㅠㅠ]

[He’s still into music?]

[Ah, empathy level…]

[ He’s improved enough to perform at a festival?]

[Nah, he probably means he’s going to perform on the spot like last time. No way he’ll pass the audition lol]

The combination of “Yoo Jae-hee,” “festival,” and “singing” was a big joke to the classmates.

Of course, other classmates, excluding Kim Jong-pil, had no particular feelings toward Yoo Jae-hee.

They didn’t view him with any particular disdain or disregard.

But the incident from six years ago was a big source of laughter.

[ Want to come and see? It’s on March 24.]

[ Ugh… Do we really need to see that again…]

[Hahaha, I think it’ll be fun lol – Anyway, it’s been a while since we all met. How about we all get together?]

[Yeah, sounds good.]

[I can’t make it that day ㅠㅠ I have a workshop] [Ok, then the rest of us are available.]

The launch event would be held in a small festival-like setting in the university’s sports field, so outsiders occasionally came to visit.

Since I was a graduate, it wouldn’t be a big deal if I showed up.

[Alright, see you then.]

With that, Kim Jong-pil secured friends to watch Yoo Jae-hee’s second “black history.”

* * *

“Hey, but I’m still a bit awkward.”

[About what]

“Preparing for the performance. I can make music well, but preparing for the stage is still…”

[Well, you did well last time]

“I don’t even know how I managed that. It was too chaotic.”

My performance at the audition wasn’t bad.

Or so I was told.

The demon said my performance was even better than expected and that if I maintained that level, I would receive a good response at the main performance.

Of course, according to its standards, there were still many rough edges.

Anyway, as I prepared, I wasn’t sure what to prepare for and what constitutes a great stage presence.

I learned that instinctive actions and planned actions are different.

[True, your composition skills are excellent, but you do lack performance experience.]

“Yeah…”

[Just keep it simple and come off. That seems better.]

“Is keeping it simple better?”

[Yes, it seems like you’re trying to do too much and show off. That might be why you’re more confused.]

That made sense.

It was my first proper performance, so I kept feeling the urge to do something to avoid being unprepared.

[When you’re inexperienced with performances, trying to do too much can lead to a result that’s neither here nor there.]

“Hm, that makes sense.”

[So just perform as you are now.]

“Yeah. I think that’s the best approach.”

[And you never know. Maybe you’ll show another amazing side of yourself just like before, even with little preparation.]

“Well… I don’t know about that.”

[We’ll see.]

Essentially, the preparation was complete.

Popular song selection.

High-quality arrangements.

Excellent vocal ability.

Performance.

Of course, it was still a bit rough, just a good level for an amateur, but the essential elements for the performance were already in place.

Now, it was just a matter of showing it.

[Just don’t forget the lyrics.]

“Yeah, with only a little time left…”

With that, I tried to calm my excited mind about the upcoming performance and went to sleep.