The Road to Glory

[Is something wrong?][Me: What do you mean?][Never mind if not.]“…”Halo closed his eyes after reading the abrupt, bland message.In the dark studio, he blinked his eyes, alone in the building after everyone else had left.He knew exactly what that message meant.This was the second time.Not long after HALO released their 7th album, he received a late-night call from Teacher Hwang Ryongpil.He had asked how Halo was doing in a similar way, then hung up after hearing his cheerful voice.[What’s going on with him? HALO’s 7th album “Requiem for the dead peter”][What does “dead Peter Pan” mean?][HALO’s 7th album, a tribute to the late Tomato Paprika?][HALO’s narrowing identity… Long-standing Hollywood connections?]Such articles had appeared when the 7th album was released before.While this time it was a song released after just a month, back then it was their first release in 2 years, so it drew even more attention.Plus, since his every move was known to the world, reasonable speculations abounded.Ex-lovers, friends who committed suicide, managers who quit.It seemed like everything from stories of cutting ties with parents to common controversies surrounding rock stars was dug up.When it was just based on a dream he had one day.A dream where he became Captain Hook, killed his eternal nemesis Peter Pan, and liberated Neverland.As befitting a requiem, the first line was in Latin:[Eternal rest grant unto you]Followed by lyrics longing for and mourning Peter.“You were a brave person” – lyrics like that.While he didn’t know which deceased Hollywood star it referred to, it wasn’t wrong to see it as a tribute song.Anyway, he didn’t expect this level of response again.Except for the main title track, the other songs on the album had a light atmosphere.The theme of this song wasn’t fairy tales, requiems, or mourning,but “dreams.” It was a collection of dreams he had actually had.So perhaps it left room for interpretation by others.“This is what I want. I think this kind of atmosphere would be good for this number – what do you all think?”And now.At the music production meeting for the original musical [Rock].The reason Halo suddenly recalled his 7th album in an office in Chungmuro was,“Why are you talking about HALO’s songs for the musical?”“No, don’t you feel that restrained yet mournful tribute? I meant it’s exactly the atmosphere needed for the number where Jeongwoo gradually loses his friends. Ahem.”Professor Kim, who majored in classical music and also taught composition, and was now invited as the composer and lyricist for the original musical [Rock], responded as if it were obvious.“If we analyze the songs of HALO, who is currently very popular overseas, the classical foundation and structure are excellent. This is the kind of classical elegance we should reference.”“…”“Ahem, of course I listen to Roh Haeil-ssi and Sin Joohyeok-ssi’s songs too, but I think our country lacks classical awareness, so we need to supplement and grow more in that area.”While it’s true that many musical composers majored in classical music, it had been a while since someone so openly praised classical music in a meeting like this. Well, there was nothing wrong with it.However, it was surprising to hear that HALO’s songs had a classical structure.‘That’s the first time I’ve heard that.’Halo was genuinely impressed.He never expected to hear something he’d never heard before, even after revealing his face.His eyes met with Sin Joohyeok sitting next to him.Sin Joohyeok was just covering his mouth with his hand, resting his arm on the desk.Especially since Professor Kim started subtly putting down and questioning the qualifications of popular music singers like them by citing HALO, he couldn’t hold back his twitching lips, and had been covering his mouth continuously.“Let’s start the meeting now.”Music director Park Jeongho shook his head wearily at Professor Kim, who had dominated the atmosphere with 30 minutes of classical music praise followed by 20 minutes of Halo praise as soon as he arrived.He apologized for not being able to stop him and gestured to the young man and the boy.“That guy’s a bit narrow-minded, but he’s capable.”During the break, Music Director Park Jeongho called the two over.“Thanks for just letting it slide. Phew, that guy. He was so against bringing in pop singers for a rock musical. I didn’t expect him to be like this even after coming this far.”“Well, I understand. It’s such an anticipated production after all.”“Thanks for understanding.”Just as Sin Joohyeok was speaking uncharacteristically kindly, as they entered the recording studio, he tossed out a casual remark to Halo as usual.“We’ve got someone who seems to have lived through the 60s and 70s, so the historical accuracy should be good.”“!”“Why are you so startled?”“It’s nothing.”Sin Joohyeok didn’t realize the stone he carelessly threw could hit a frog.When the break ended and they returned, Professor Kim seemed to have heard something from his colleagues and opened his mouth again.“You all know, right? I’m saying all this to help.”“We know. Then shall we listen to Haeil-ssi’s song last?”Music Director Park hurried to cut him off, but the lecture continued to flow smoothly.“Just. I’m worried if Sin Joohyeok-ssi, and Haeil-ssi who’s only 17, truly understand the historical background of this musical. You can’t say the spirit of that time is the same as the childish rebellion of kids these days. Right?”“Is it really that different?”“Of course it’s different. How can the fighting spirit of the 60s and 70s be the same as what do you call it? YOLO? Generation Z?”Sin Joohyeok finally couldn’t hold back and asked mockingly, and Professor Kim, realizing the mocking nuance, answered mockingly. The music director held his head.It was all his fault.Meanwhile, the boy who should be most angry in this situation had an unreadable expression.He seemed intrigued, and also amused.The music director decided to stop the meaningless argument before the boy with the unusual personality exploded.“Then I’ll play it.”A gesture from another composer to hurry and play it.The music director pressed the space bar before Professor Kim could open his mouth.And soon the song began to play.The story of a youth who lived through the 60s and 70s.The story of a college student who only watched from afar the public opposing the military regime, out of fear or because he had something he wanted, began.While the first number was a song of the public opposing the military regime, the second was the monologue of Jeongwoo, a Korea University student, and that was the part Halo had been requested to do.Actually, Halo didn’t understand it well.He had never suppressed his own desires,and had never turned a blind eye to the present for any reason.When his passion for music bloomed, he immediately fought and ran away from home. So he couldn’t understand Korea University student “Jeongwoo” who hid his desires inside while watching from afar.But well, it was the same with Heetae from [From Today On]. He was so different from them that he couldn’t understand them at all.But he decided to try to understand.Once. These people.Just as Roh Haeil, the original owner of the body he couldn’t understand, chose the quite good method of reconciling with his parents. He tried to understand college student Jeongwoo’s heart by watching documentaries.He wasn’t sure about the right amount.Unlike ginger tea, you can’t distinguish music by its color with your eyes.There might not be the classical structure that Professor Kim liked so much.After all, he expressed it softly with just an electric guitar, without adding any session musicians, like kids these days. The fragile youth that will bloom someday. He was going to use an acoustic guitar at first, but chose an electric guitar because Jeongwoo’s passion seemed to match a deep red color.The passion inside, though fragile.A selfish heart that still loves the world.“How is it?”Halo raised the corner of his mouth as he stared intently at Professor Kim, who was gaping.“The music of kids these days.”:It was Sin Joohyeok who offered to take the boy home, who had neither a license nor a manager.Well, it wasn’t just offering a ride, he seemed to have a main point.After laughing for a while about what Professor Kim’s expression was like, Sin Joohyeok suddenly threw out a comment.“At this rate, you’ll be found out soon.”“Well, it’s not that big of a secret.”“If it’s not such a big secret, you should hire a manager and bodyguards first.”If it’s revealed, he won’t be able to move around as freely as the current Roh Haeil.Won’t people be crowding in front of his house, office, just everywhere in Korea?Yet the boy didn’t look like he was listening attentively at all.“But maybe you won’t be found out.”Sin Joohyeok muttered while staring ahead.“Why? It’s rock.”The confidence that rock is the music you do best and that expresses you best is evident.Sin Joohyeok didn’t find it strange that the boy showed that confidence.At first he didn’t know, but from the moment he learned his identity, it was natural.“It’s rock, but it felt different.”“Different how?”“A bit.”There are many opinions on the characteristics of HALO’s music, but above all, it’s said that he talks about himself.His emotions, his anecdotes.While countless musicians on Earth discuss the world or talk about humanity, HALO only talked about himself. As if that was enough. In fact, it was more than enough.However, the music he heard this time didn’t sound like HALO.Rather, it partly resembled Roh Haeil’s music.Well, it wasn’t lacking or particularly different, but…“Hey, you said HALO’s songs were practice pieces, right?”“Yes.”“Then I guess that’s it.”“What?”Seeing the indifferent expression in the mirror, the words he was about to say retreated.‘These kids these days, really.’Sin Joohyeok had an old-fashioned thought as he focused on the road again.He was going to say something nice like ‘I guess you’ve improved too’, but he’d have to think about it again.“How bland.”“!”Then came an arrogant remark.That brat. The kid whose head was still wet behind the ears and hadn’t even been to the military tended to think of him as a peer. He felt like he should teach him a lesson about being an old fogey sometime.#The time is July, the season when ants and grasshoppers live passionately.However, this period can be the most anticipated holiday for some.As all universities go on break and elementary, middle, and high schools start vacation.Of course, only a minority can really rest during vacation.Looking at the academies bustling with students and people preparing for their future in university libraries, it seems that “rest” is something only the chosen ones can enjoy.Yes, July. At a time when they should be rolling around in bed with the air conditioner on,the Korea University Student Council, called to school, thought the same.“Why are we preparing for the November festival 4 months in advance?”“You know it’s too late if we start after the semester begins.”It is late if they decide in September.Considering celebrities’ schedules, it’s the norm to decide in July or August.“Hardly any of our school’s students know when the festival is.”“The president said we should break the boring image this time. Just cooperate.”“Hah, it wouldn’t hurt to just accept it.”Korea University’s festival has been famously boring for generations.It’s so uninteresting that even enrolled students don’t know when the festival period is, only realizing it’s the festival when they see something unusual. They even say it’s better to go to other schools’ festivals than attend Korea University’s. That’s how bad it is.So this year’s student council president gathered the student council in July to break the image that Korea University students only study,To make the fall festival perfect.They started the meeting with a list of celebrity booking fees from agencies posted in the group chat.While you might imagine a solemn image for the student council, it’s ultimately a gathering of students, and especially regarding the festival, there’s no need to maintain a formal structure. The meeting proceeded as if they were running a late-night snack business.“Okay, raise your hand and name one celebrity you want to see.”First, brainstorming(?)The motto of this meeting is to write down all opinions on the blackboard, and then gradually eliminate through the process of elimination.A returning student in a department jacket raised his hand.“Halo.”“Wow. You’re crazy.”The president cursed while writing the name on the blackboard.“I’ll acknowledge you if you can book him.”“How much is Halo’s booking fee?”“Wouldn’t we have to pull out our school’s pillars?”“If Halo comes, couldn’t we sell tickets for 2 million won?”“Wow… if we bring Halo, we’ll never hear that our school is boring again.”“Ah, so who’s going to book him?”Everyone giggled and just fantasized.Then, one female student quietly raised her hand.“Yes, Seulgi, go ahead.”“How about Cold Brew?”“Oh.”A male idol group, huh.“I’ll respect your opinion.”Just respect it.The president wrote the name carefully.Seulgi would know too.That there’s no possibility,When booking a popular male idol group, the booking fee is high, but they’re rarely invited because there’s a high chance of only satisfying half the gender ratio. Female idol groups are preferred instead.Because both guys and girls like female idols.“Hyung, how about Liv?”“Wow, Liv is really pretty these days.”“What about Sin Joohyeok?”“Now we’re finally mentioning some realistic people.”Whether it’s Liv or Sin Joohyeok, they’re actually A-list celebrities in terms of booking fees, but after hearing Halo, everything else sounded realistic.“How about Haeil?”“Roh Haeil?”“That’s not bad.”Other students added opinions to the student council president’s words.“Isn’t it ambiguous? Shouldn’t we have someone sing more cheerful songs at a school festival?”“That’s a prejudice. And you haven’t heard him, but Roh Haeil’s live performance is amazing.”“Sounds like you haven’t heard it either.”“That’s why I want to hear it this time.”“Well, he does suit our school. National #1.”Other students laughed in agreement at those words.Where there are as many national #1s as grains of sand on a beach.Isn’t this Korea University?“Isn’t the rarity good too? He’s almost disappeared lately. It would be a hot topic if he suddenly appeared at our school.”“But what if Roh Haeil doesn’t accept the booking?”“…”They hadn’t thought about that.Everyone fell silent.Come to think of it, isn’t Roh Haeil’s current disappearance his own will?There’s no reason for broadcasting stations or advertisers not to call Roh Haeil.“Does anyone here know Roh Haeil?”“As if.”There are no other opinions now.The student council president looked at the blackboard and erased the impossible names.HALO, nope, not possible.Trump? No way.Sherlock Holmes, are they hoping to open Arthur Conan Doyle’s coffin?In the end, what remained were, as always, the A-list celebrities who heat up university festivals.The student council president, a fan of Roh Haeil, seriously looked at Roh Haeil’s name.Looking at his recent activities, it seems like he’ll get even bigger soon.If they’re going to book him, it would be better to do it quickly.“Meeting adjourned. Now let’s go get a drink.”“Call. President-oppa, what are we eating today?”“Korean beef?”“You’re talking nonsense. Let’s go eat some pork bone soup.”These guys are definitely not helpful.The president took a photo of the meeting contents with his camera and vaguely thought.‘But I heard Roh Haeil’s father is a university professor, I wonder if he’ll go to that university?’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)!