The Road to Glory

The tree drawing with branches stretching out freely gave off an intense heat. The tree, not yet in leaf, seemed to be waiting to bloom at any moment while absorbing the water and nutrients needed for growth, rather than withering and dying.Halo quietly stared at the cover, then turned the album page. It contained information about Arbor’s founder, her vision, and subsequent history.The next pages showed photos of Arbor’s fashion designs and fashion shows over the years. As he turned the pages, time flowed forward to the present. Photos of Arbor’s past ambassadors were also included, as if to show the image Arbor pursued.After flipping through it briefly, Halo closed the album.“You don’t need to be so nervous.”Moon Seoyeon whispered, handing him clothes. Despite saying that, her pupils couldn’t stay still even for a moment.Nam Gyuhwan was also unusually quiet today. He stood still in one spot with his arms folded, while Han Jinyeong went to get some red ginseng.“Everyone is friendly, and they say you just need to follow the director’s instructions well!”Moon Seoyeon said, and Nam Gyuhwan nodded vigorously in agreement.What was this about? Even though they weren’t the ones being photographed, they seemed to be the most nervous.“It’s natural to be nervous since everyone has a first time. So… fighting.”Moon Seoyeon hastily concluded, realizing she was rambling.Halo chuckled as he looked at them.It’s absurd that they’re more nervous than him who’s doing the photo shoot. But he doesn’t dislike it.How could he dislike the members who came to the photo shoot studio disguised as staff for him when he had no manager, even though they had been given a vacation for their hard work on the 9th album recording?As Halo was heading to the changing room, he suddenly turned and asked.“Since you’ve come all this way, shall we ask to take a group photo together at the end?”“What? Can we do that?”“We can ask. They usually allow it.”“Really?”“If the shoot goes well.”The faces of the two people who had been bright-eyed at his words suddenly fell at his addendum. They didn’t seem to think he would do well at all.Halo twisted the corner of his mouth.He hadn’t planned on being half-hearted to begin with, but their attitude stimulated him quite a bit.The two hurriedly added excuses, but it was already too late.:In fact, it wasn’t just his members who were worried about Roh Haeil’s photo shoot.The photographer who had terribly experienced someone’s first photo shoot had cleared his schedule in advance, and experienced staff felt PTSD at the words “first shoot”.The Japan-Korea manager for Arbor felt the same. Standing next to the photographer and chattering away, he seemed to want to inject the image Arbor desired somehow.Although they had shown Roh Haeil Arbor’s photo album, the directing of a professional would be better than trusting a rookie’s composition.Especially since Roh Haeil wasn’t just a rookie model, but a rookie singer. With no experience in commercial shoots.Although he had stage and broadcast experience, it was clearly a different field.The photographer, who had been listening well to the manager at first, now looked completely fed up. If it weren’t for the manager, he would have had an expression that screamed “Shut up”.“Let’s start shooting.”As he spoke, barely suppressing his irritation, the manager finally realized he had gone too far and took a step back. Then he began to follow the protagonist who would be the subject with his eyes.‘Not bad.’At first, he thought the clothes looked good. Roh Haeil, much taller than in his debut photos, stepped forward with long legs.‘Just barely 180cm? It would be better if he were taller.’He had grown so far, and since Roh Haeil was only 17, there was still potential. The marketing manager was now observing as keenly as the photographer.‘And…’The atmosphere that made him think the creative designer hadn’t recommended him for nothing.Yes, the marketing manager honestly admitted it. As they said he was called a genius in Korea, he had a unique atmosphere.Uniqueness and freedom. And even genius.There was one more atmosphere they wanted, but since he still looked young, that couldn’t be helped.The boy with the atmosphere Arbor wanted most had a charm that caught people’s eyes.Now the manager felt his wishes would be fulfilled if Roh Haeil just did the basics. Then, the professional photographer would take care of the rest.A slightly noisy studio and cold air.And bright lights.While the director and photographer held the camera and discussed composition, Halo calmly came out and looked around at the props.Just as they had requested black hair for him – he wore a wig – the first concept seemed to be a restrained, ascetic atmosphere.A single-person sofa and a low table.“-.”Just as the director who had finished discussing the composition was about to give him some instructions.Thud-. A noise echoed through the photo studio. As the noise subsided and silence fell, everyone in the studio was now looking at the boy who had made the noise.The boy who had put his foot up on the low table as if kicking it and stood askew, raised the corners of his mouth when attention focused on him. As if he had intended it.And with the recoil of pushing away the desk, his coat fluttered, and the crane embroidered on it seemed to take flight for a moment, creating the staging someone had hoped for.Click-.The photographer who pressed the button on impulse, feeling he had to capture it, exclaimed “Oh! Good.”And from then on, the boy’s solo performance began.The director, who had planned to directly instruct the novice photo shoot boy on composition and even teach him expression acting, closed his mouth, and the manager who had been biting his nails blankly stared at the boy.Click click.The excited camera shutter and“Keep going! So good.”The photographer who had become one with the camera.The boy seemed to instinctively know how to draw attention. Not everyone could kick away a desk, and after that there was no need to give instructions.The languor that couldn’t be seen before the shoot was now visible in the boy who had somehow leaned back on the sofa, and the white face in the shadow created by the lighting and black hair even looked decadent for a moment.“…Wasn’t this Roh Haeil’s first photo shoot?”“It should be his first official advertisement?”“But why is he so good at it?”The staff whispered and chattered.“There are really a lot of celebrities who can’t do their first photo shoot well, so it’s hard to say he’s good just because he has broadcast experience.”While one can be born with talent, photo shoots are exactly what changes depending on effort and experience. Even models who are said to create legends with every photo shoot didn’t do well from the beginning.“Maybe he’s actually secretly shot before?”“Judging by Roh Haeil’s band’s expressions, it doesn’t seem like it.”All of Roh Haeil’s band members who had accompanied him as staff had their mouths wide open as if they hadn’t expected this, watching the shoot.“But Roh Haeil seems to be born to receive attention, if nothing else. Did you see when he kicked the desk earlier?”“He doesn’t seem to have an ordinary personality. But even though he’s intense now, won’t it be a problem later? Seems like the power struggles would be no joke.”“We don’t know about that.”And it’s not bad to be known as having some personality to a certain extent.Well, this isn’t a field where everyone is kind and easygoing. Even if they treat you kindly at first, future attitudes are often determined by how a person behaves in certain situations. In this field, they tend to ignore those who seem docile and pay more attention to those who seem to have strong personalities.He hadn’t caused any trouble, and it was just putting his foot on a desk so it couldn’t be said he had shown bad character, and judging by the photographer’s reaction, it seemed a good shot had been taken.Whether he intended it or not, he seemed like a shrewd kid.“And don’t you know that in this field, if you just do your work well, you’ll keep rising?”“There are people who don’t like that kind of style though.”“Well, those people don’t seem to be included for now.”“Who?”The staff nodded towards the photographer and Arbor’s marketing manager.And if you add one more, the director who came to give pose instructions.“Why did you call me?”Although he grumbled like that, he couldn’t take his eyes off Roh Haeil. He seemed quite pleased, watching Roh Haeil’s poses intently and occasionally nodding.“I wonder if that friend has thought about being a model? Seems like he’d be good if he just grew a bit taller.”Maybe it was more than simply being pleased.Roh Haeil gave off a languid yet intense atmosphere. It was strange how glimpses of someone in their 20s and 30s could be felt from a 17-year-old boy.The brand representative was grinning with his mouth open at the unexpected gem, or rather jewel. He might start drooling soon.The staff looked at the boy who had taken off his wig and returned to platinum blonde hair to shoot the second concept.The boy holding a guitar exuded endless freedom. The staff thought about how much more amazing he would become as he aged, then realized it was meaningless.“Someone might think he’s been doing photo shoots for 10 years somewhere.”Because his age of 17 was already imperceptible.“No, Mr. Haeil, is this really your first time doing a photo shoot? I feel like I got off easy today.”The photographer, who had called him Mr. Roh Haeil and only said what was necessary when they first met, showed familiarity as he showed him the shots.Roh Haeil with black hair wearing a coat, and Roh Haeil with platinum blonde hair wearing a jacket. Halo, looking at them seriously, answered casually:“Actually, it’s not my first time, it’s been about 10 years.”“What? Hahaha, no wonder it showed so much. Shouldn’t you act a little? You’ll be found out soon at this rate.”The photographer laughed as he bantered, taking his words as a joke.“We have some shots left, so is there anything you’d like to do to finish, Mr. Haeil?”“Hmm.”It wasn’t for nothing that he said he’d do anything if he did well. Halo recalled what he had promised with the members earlier.“Would a group shot be possible?”“Oh, you came with your band members, right? Of course!”So everyone gathered in front of the camera angle.Two big men and one adult woman huddled next to the boy was strange yet well-matched.Maybe it was because the boy was looking at the members with a warm gaze.Not a mature man in his 20s or 30s,But a 17-year-old boy smiling happily filled the angle.#And finally, time passed and that day arrived.Cameramen and anchors gathered at Incheon Airport’s international terminal. As soon as the doors to the arrivals hall opened, flashes popped.“It’s Scorpion!”“Scorpion! Look over here please!”“Do you know Kimchi?“Although they’re a minor metal music band in Korea, they’re a global band with a thick fan base. Also, since this was their first visit to Korea, the reaction of fans and reporters who came to greet them at Incheon Airport was heated.However, they also watched the back of Scorpion. That was because of an old man who had joined the Scorpion tour in Taiwan.August Veil.A shareholder of Augustus Records, one of the top four record labels in the world. The old man who had disappeared from the social scene after handing over August Records to John Leonard, recently rose again with another issue.As the owner of Veil, a music distributor (aggregator), not a music production company.In fact, there are many reasons why Veil, a music distribution company that would rarely be known to the general public, has become so famous. Such as how singers contracted with Veil show rapid growth, and so on.However, everything became meaningless in front of the name of ‘one man’.HALO.As someone who knows the identity of The Sun, August Veil was at the center of all media.As already mentioned, people attributed meaning to all his actions, believing HALO would be at the end of them.Knowing this, Veil may be distancing himself more from HALO and mingling with other singers.Rill, the leader of Scorpion, twisted the corner of his mouth as he noticed the reporters’ reactions sneakily looking behind them.Damn old man.He said he would show him sincerity or whatever, but he handed over all interviews and attention to him and ran away to the hotel first.“Have you decided on the concert guest?”“When did you start listening to Roh Haeil, or rather Roh’s music?”“Roh said he would consider your offer, have you contacted him since then?”Rill lowered his sunglasses.And stared blankly at the reporters.He was planning to do an interview after a long time, but this wouldn’t do.He couldn’t stand the sight of that old geezer throwing him here and going to see The Sun first.“Concert guest?”The reporters stared at his mouth like baby birds waiting for their mother bird.“Hmm, how did that go again? Ah.”As Rill snapped his fingers and opened his mouth, flashes popped.:And back to the studio.“Don’t those people ever get tired?”Han Jinyeong muttered towards the people under the blazing sun between the blinds. He didn’t know how many days they had been waiting there.At that moment, Moon Seoyeon, who had been pondering how much syrup to add to strawberry fresh fruit juice to make the most delicious juice, pricked up her ears.“By the way, who turned on boss’s music?”“Not me.”“Is it really coming from here?”“Where else would it be coming from?”“…The stairs?”At that moment, thud. As footsteps coming up the stairs were heard, everyone’s gaze turned.[Put your hand out the window and divide a cool breeze.]The door opens gently like the cool music. It seems they forgot to close it again after opening it briefly for ventilation. As Nam Gyuhwan got up in surprise to try to block it, a man pushed the door open and entered.He was a man who exuded presence no matter what.A piercing on his lip.A small scorpion tattoo on one cheek.And above all, the letters engraved on his neck.SCORPIONRill, who looked around impassively, spotted Halo leaning on the sofa and grinned.“Hello, The Sun?”From Rill’s phone, the sound of HALO’s 9th album title track, not yet finished, played.[Nothing’s gonna get in the way]“We’re old acquaintances, aren’t we?”As people’s eyes grew wider and wider, Halo said calmly.“It’s been a while, Scorpion.”Hi everyone, I've completely translated this novel! For those who love this novel and wanted to binge read until the last chapter, you can go to my Patreon "Shop" page. There, I have a product in which you can read them with discounted price instead of buying them here with normal price. Thank you for the attention! 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