The Road to Glory

The process of creating and releasing music is often referred to as a time of endurance.Like a farmer sowing seeds in a field, one toils under the hot sun, but there’s an uncertainty about how these seeds will turn out, along with a vague fear of the future.One doesn’t know if the reward will match the effort. Often, one doesn’t get the desired reward. Considering such results, making music while facing a wall is by no means easy.Finally, the time comes to release the music to the world. For some, it’s a time of increased fear and anxiety. On the other hand, Halo liked the harvest time that came after sowing the seeds.Someone might ask him this:Aren’t you afraid of failure?Or, do you never think about failing?It’s not that Halo didn’t consider the possibility of his music failing.Of course, it’s hard to imagine.Because whether criticized or praised, his albums were always in the public eye.Well, someday Halo might hear that he’s past his prime. A day when his music no longer charts, and people stop talking about it.‘Still, I can’t imagine it.’But if such failure comes, he would humbly accept it. Well, he’d be disappointed, but wouldn’t he also be happy to have somewhere to climb up from again?It’s an opportunity to succeed once more.Plus, the catharsis when turning failure into success would be no joke.It’s already so enjoyable to put critics in their place every time, how much more fun would it be to do that to the whole world?He’s not sure how he got to thinking about this, but what he wants to say is this:For now, failure is a story for later. Right now, he wants to enjoy the approaching harvest time.For him, the harvest isn’t about performance.It’s about showing the world the music he’s put out there again with his own hands.Don’t understand what that means?Halo got out of the car.People who spotted the celebrity van whispered, but it would soon be passing interest.[Yeonkuk University Founding Memorial Hall Concert Hall]He stood in front of the hall with its familiar architectural style.The members followed him out.“Wow… We really came to a performance venue.”“Did you think we were going to perform right away? In those clothes?”“Is there a law against playing keyboard in a dress? If it doesn’t work, I can wear gym clothes.”“… You have a point.”A small theater concert for a week in September.Thinking that a concert lasting several hours might be tough, he decided on a small theater.A small-scale performance where the stage is close to the audience, and voices can be heard without necessarily using speakers.It will be a satisfying performance for both the singer and the fans.“Roh Haeil-ssi? I can’t believe you came in person.”The university theater manager hurriedly came out to greet Roh Haeil.“Thank you for coming like this. Please feel free to look around. It’s the first time in my life a singer has come to check out the theater in person.”That’s right. Usually, people from the company would come.Even Halo, in his previous life, had never checked out a performance venue in advance except for rehearsals. That was the job of the staff he led around.But he thought this wasn’t bad either.Personally finding the place where he’ll perform, visiting it directly, and imagining the stage.Music shows are fun too, but he was looking forward more to a concert with greater stage freedom.‘It reminds me of the old days.’Halo mainly did large concerts, but he quite liked small theater or club performances too.Isn’t it attractive how people’s excitement fills the enclosed space, and they’re really within arm’s reach? The drinks shared after finishing the songs were nice too.The stage lighting. The members’ faces were also filled with anticipation after seeing the stage movement and where the session musicians would be placed.They had done busking too, but this was really different.“When will ticket sales open?”“Soon.”Halo raised the corners of his mouth.The Yeonkuk University Founding Memorial Hall, consisting of two floors, had a total of 830 seats. Roh Haeil’s first concert, lasting a whole week.However, it’s uncertain whether the fans who have to face the ticket sales will be purely happy.But Halo, who didn’t have to deal with ticket sales directly, thought everyone would be happy since it’s the concert they’ve been waiting for.“I should try buying tickets too.”At Moon Seoyeon’s words, Han Jinyeong and Nam Gyuhwan’s eyes lit up.“Oh, I should invite Deoksoo and Gonghak too.”“I’ll invite my parents.”Looking at them, Halo says playfully,“I was going to give you tickets, but I guess you don’t need them now.”“!”Their shocked reactions were identical.After squabbling over tickets for quite a while, they got in the car.“So now we go back to the studio?”“…”At Han Jinyeong’s question from the driver’s seat, those who had been chatting just now fall silent simultaneously. Moon Seoyeon with her hands on her knee-length dress, Nam Gyuhwan glancing out the window from the passenger seat. And Halo, arms crossed, also looking outside.“Um, I guess it would be hard to perform in these clothes, right?”“It is a bit uncomfortable.”To reiterate, Moon Seoyeon, who had gone to watch a classical performance, was wearing a neat dress, and Nam Gyuhwan was in a short-sleeved shirt and suit.“We should change clothes.”At Han Jinyeong’s words, Moon Seoyeon and Nam Gyuhwan closed their mouths again.Everyone realized.No one wanted to go back to the studio.Well, they had been cooped up in the studio for a while, so they were tired of it.Above all, having just seen the small theater, they had a strong desire to jump on stage right away.“If we’re going to perform after a long time-“That’s when Halo spoke up.Everyone’s attention focused on him, and Halo smiled his characteristic mischievous smile.“We need to warm up first, right?”Although the performance was still a month away, no one in the car tried to nitpick. Everyone’s faces brightened simultaneously.“I’m a slow starter, so I might need a long warm-up!”“I’m fine even if I get steamed to death.”“It is good weather for getting steamed to death.”Han Jinyeong looks out the window.The asphalt was sizzling.It looked like it could cook samgyeopsal and fried eggs better than most grills.He might be fine, but it would be troublesome if the younger ones got steamed to death. Thinking this, Han Jinyeong suddenly raised his head.“We might know a place where we can perform.”“Really?”“Sometimes there are last-minute cancellations the day before or on the day. Haeil, do you remember? The place where you suggested forming a band to me.”“Ah. The place I went with Sin Joohyeok-ssi-““Yeah… The place you went with him. Should I give them a call?”“Sure.”The Hongdae live cafe he went to with Sin Joohyeok comes to mind. Was the name Live House?Come to think of it, he received a business card from the boss at that time.“It’s been a while, boss.”Sin Joohyeok probably said the same thing.The greeting was identical, as if someone might say they weren’t in the same band once.“Have you been well? Yes, yes. I’m always the same.”Moon Seoyeon and Nam Gyuhwan stare intently at Han Jinyeong’s phone. Their gazes are so intense they could devour Han Jinyeong’s phone.“Yes, the reason I’m calling is to ask if there’s any availability today.”Suddenly, Han Jinyeong’s face reflected in the mirror gradually becomes awkward.“Ah, it’s your day off today?”Moon Seoyeon and Nam Gyuhwan’s expressions change following Han Jinyeong’s. Like catching a disease. Halo chuckled inwardly.“Ah, you don’t have to come out if you don’t want to. It’s not urgent.”Han Jinyeong glanced at Halo through the rearview mirror.“We were planning to do some busking, our band.”[What!]At that moment, the voice from the other end of the phone became so loud that it reached everyone in the car.[Jinyeong, your band is, is, that is, Roh Haeil’s band?]“That’s right. I didn’t mention it before, but you know?”[Come on, what don’t I know about you guys. But more importantly, our Haeil wants to perform at the shop?!]“Our Haeil… boss, when have you ever seen Haeil? Oh, was it then?”Han Jinyeong recalled the day he encountered Sin Joohyeok and Roh Haeil. If he came with Sin Joohyeok, there was a good chance the boss had met him too.“Well, if it’s your day off, I guess it can’t be helped.”[Who said it’s a day off!]“Huh?”[Hey! Can we close a well-running shop? Come without fail! As our ancestors said, sleep when you’re dead. Our shop is open today.]“What? Boss, earlier you said…”[Roh Haeil-ssi, you’re definitely coming, right?]At that timid question, Halo chuckled and reached out his hand. The bewildered Han Jinyeong obediently handed over the phone, and Halo spoke.“Hello, boss. This is Roh Haeil.”[Oh my, Haeil-ssi, have you been well? Do you remember me?]“…This is completely different from when you were talking to me.”Thinking it would have been better to hand over the phone earlier, Han Jinyeong made an OK gesture to the members with his thumb and index finger touching.It’s done? Really done? It’s done! Hooray!The entire band silently cheered.#The boss of the Hongdae Live House contentedly opened the shop door and entered. He put the “Closed” sign that had been hanging into his pocket and started cleaning.Roh Haeil is coming, so of course he’ll lend the place.There wasn’t a single live club in Hongdae that wouldn’t lend their space after hearing Roh Haeil’s name.As he was waiting for Roh Haeil’s band like this, suddenly a problem occurred to him.“I wonder if it will be promoted if I suddenly post it on the site.”The boss’s face instantly became serious.Usually, promotion is done by posting posters on the site a week in advance.There’s no way promotion will work by posting a poster for a schedule that suddenly appeared two hours ago.Moreover, today is the monthly day off. All the regulars know it’s a day off.He’ll post a poster right away, but he’s worried. He didn’t have any special SNS channels, and even if he posted, it’s just a few hours away. Even with a celebrity name value, it’s tight.The Live House was also deep in Hongdae, making it difficult to find. It was like a sacred place only known to those in the know.The boss’s eyes wavered.Maybe it would have been better to let them do a guerrilla performance.It’s Roh Haeil, so there’s no way no one will come.But people need to know that Roh Haeil is performing here to come.“I don’t know any reporters either. What should I do?”As the boss was trembling and looking for his phone…Halo and the band members were in a clothing store in Hongdae.The midsummer of Korea is sometimes compared to Africa. As if to prove that saying, everyone had been drenched in sweat for a while.Moon Seoyeon needed pants to wear under her dress, so they stopped by a clothing store before going to the Live House.It was an offline store for Hongdae street fashion, [Custom Stella], a designer shop slowly making a name for itself online as well.When various people suddenly rushed in, the part-timer who had been keeping the store alone in the middle of the day stood next to Moon Seoyeon, observing the situation.“What kind of product are you looking for?”“Um… comfortable and casual clothing?”It’s the customer who ended up asking, making it awkward for the part-timer.Usually, tracksuits are considered casual and comfortable, right? It’s not difficult to answer that.The part-timer, thinking Moon Seoyeon’s face was particularly familiar, pointed to a new product.“How about this new gradient product that came out a few days ago? The colors are ivory, purple, blue, and orange.”It was a tracksuit that was casual but all four colors were unique. The letters saying Custom Stella on the chest were sentimental, and above all, the stars embedded on the sleeves were pretty.“For customers with fair skin like you, I recommend purple. And for the gentleman next to you, I recommend ivory or blue.”“Oh, you startled me. When did you get here?”Regardless of Moon Seoyeon’s surprise, Nam Gyuhwan approached with his hands in his pockets and looked at the new product.“Four types.”It was a mutter without any particular thought.However, words spoken without thought sometimes take on meaning for someone else. It did for Moon Seoyeon.“Oh? You’re right. Exactly four. The four of us. Four colors.”“?”Before Nam Gyuhwan could ask ‘So what?’, Moon Seoyeon called Halo.“Boss said he’s buying clothes too, right? How about we get matching outfits?”‘Boss?’The part-timer tilted her head at the unusual title and looked at the boy wearing ripped jeans. She hadn’t paid much attention to him as he was loitering near the entrance, but perhaps the person she should have been focusing on was the financier over there.He was a boy wearing a hat and mask.She felt sorry for him, thinking he might have caught a cold, but that was only for a moment. The eyes visible between the hat seemed familiar somehow.“Matching outfits?”“Yes, clothes we all wear together when performing. Is a tracksuit set too much?”Halo didn’t think it was a bad idea in response to Moon Seoyeon’s question. Everyone came to buy clothes anyway.“Well, if everyone’s okay with it?”At that voice, the part-timer’s eyes flew open.This voice, this nuance.Since her singer didn’t appear on broadcasts often, the part-timer who had endlessly rewatched the broadcasts he did appear on doubted her ears for a moment.Come to think of it, those eyes are a bit like our moon…She stared at the boy, half in doubt.Regardless of the part-timer’s reaction, the band members agreed one by one, and Halo soon nodded as well.“Then let’s buy one in each color.”“What, what are your sizes?”As the boy approached, the part-timer felt her heart pounding. A fan’s heart was beating wildly.A fan’s heart that recognizes their singer even if they can’t recognize their own roommate!The boy shrugged and held out a card.Those delicate hands in her eyes.And engraved on the card, the name she loves most. Haeil Roh.‘Oh my goodness!’The part-timer unconsciously grabbed the boy’s hand with both of hers instead of the card.Tears were welling up inside her.Above the words “fangirl who can’t recognize”, a slot machine appears with 7s appearing one after another.777! Winner! Congratulations!“Excuse me, but are you perhaps Roh Haeil-ssi?”The part-timer stared at the boy without swiping the card.She asked, but she was already certain.Her unsurprised singer soon gave her an eye smile. His mouth corners were probably turned up behind the mask.“Could I ask you to process the payment?”“Payment? What payment! Roh Haeil-ssi, I’m a fan!”The moment she was certain he was her singer, the thought of payment disappeared from her mind.“Just wear them, please. I beg you. Please.”And what was that word again?She almost lost her Korean language ability due to the joy filling her chest. But before her singer could refuse, she quickly put the word in her mouth.“It’s, it’s sponsorship. You don’t need to feel burdened, and our brand actively engages in influencer marketing. We have a system in place to immediately provide items if an influencer visits an offline store, so please don’t feel burdened.”“Ah.”“If I may make one request-“The reason to inform the boss is not in the part-timer’s mind. The part-timer who absolutely refused to accept the card happily took a proof shot and got an autograph.“Thank you so much.”Just as she thought she could die happy now, Roh Haeil opened his mouth.“If it’s not too much trouble, could I ask for one more favor?”She had a reason to live again.“Yes, anything you say!”“I have a performance today, so…”“…A performance?”What did he just say? A performance?The part-timer’s eyes flew open.“Wh-where?”“At the Hongdae Live Cafe just in front. So, could you possibly take a promotional photo for us?”“Yes, yes, how would you like me to take it?”It wasn’t a difficult request.The part-timer, who was ready to give him even the safe if he asked for it along with all the clothes in the store, took his phone.Her singer is writing something on an A4 paper – borrowed from her.[See you at Hongdae Live Cafe today at 6:20 PM – Roh Haeil]Halo, who even wrote his name, took off his mask and held up the paper with both hands. He thought it was good timing since the Live House boss had asked for something like this to be taken.Click.“C-could I perhaps post this too?”“Yes, that’s fine.”It would be good to spread the word any way possible.When Halo nodded readily, the part-timer took another photo with her own phone.Her heart swelled at the photo that would soon make Green Window cafe, shining brightly on her phone application, buzz with excitement.“Thank you so much, please come again anytime. Please.”The part-timer, handing over the sponsored items and telling them to come anytime, waved her hand until Roh Haeil and his band were out of sight.Then she quickly uploaded not one but a total of three photos – including the photo taken with Roh Haeil and his autograph – to the Roh Haeil fan cafe [Riding the Wave], and then closed her phone again.No, I should contact the boss.The part-timer pressed the numbers with an annoyed face.“Um, hello. It’s me-“The sweet, high-pitched voice she had used with Roh Haeil was gone.It didn’t take even thirty minutes for the three proof shots left by an active member of [Riding the Wave] to spread. Especially the photo at the very bottom.Those who longed for their singer who had disappeared,Especially those who were endlessly streaming while desperately waiting for Roh Haeil’s performance.The photo of their singer smiling brightly while holding a white paper was like a spark falling on an oil-soaked street.[$%#[email protected]$%#@][So this is saying it’s the last performance in August?]└ I want to say it’s not, but I can’t deny it…[It’s first-come-first-served entry here, so if the person in front doesn’t leave, you absolutely can’t get in;;;][Kill them all]The Live House boss, who knew nothing, thought:“Still, we should be able to fill all the seats, right?”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)!