The Road to Glory Chapter 119 - Cannot be cut

It was a perfect birthday.

But it wasn’t over yet.

It had only just begun.

The true beginning was on Friday, November 14th, while the festival’s afterglow still lingered. Roh Haeil and Halo’s actual birthday.

At dawn.

Starting with the electronic display at Lotte Department Store in Myeongdong, birthday ads for Roh Haeil plastered Hongdae entrance, Jamsil, and Seongsu Station. Even though it overlapped with some actor’s birthday, Roh Haeil’s name occupied the most expensive spots.

Seongsu Station wasn’t a particularly special place, but fans seemed to pay extra attention to it since Roh Haeil’s label was located there.

As someone had said it was excessive for someone who wasn’t even an idol group, Roh Haeil’s fandom was serious.

It didn’t end with just advertisements.

The fundraising conducted independently by the fan cafe.

They jokingly said it was money left over from failed ticket purchases, and that it would be their last donation since they’d be broke next year – hoping for a successful concert.

The funds collected were sent to child care facilities, disability protection facilities, and organizations supporting surgeries for disabled children and youth under the name ‘Roh Haeil Fan Cafe Riding the Wave’.

The president couldn’t bring herself to list ‘Do We Look Like Jaws to You?’ as the donor’s name.

[Roh Haeil Fandom Riding the Wave Donates on Roh Haeil’s Birthday]

[Rookie Fandom’s Donation Amount is Astounding…]

They’re not sure if he’ll read it, but birthday wishes for Roh Haeil were being uploaded as well.

However, there was something that was being talked about as much as, or even more than, Roh Haeil’s birthday. It was Roh Haeil’s performance that brilliantly colored Korea University’s festival from evening to night on the last day of the festival.

Twelve hours was far too short to forget the lingering impression of the stage. Many idols and singers have left legends at university festivals, but this afterglow was enough to sweep away all previous memories.

More than review posts, photos.

More than photos, GIFs.

More than GIFs, fancams conveyed the real feeling of the moment.

Roh Haeil’s confident moment always seen at concerts: “You’ll have fun today too”

Followed by skillful interaction with the audience and the setlist.

Starting with ‘Another Day’, ‘Lighthouse of the Night’, ’17sec’, ‘Ever End’, Roh Haeil’s performance, which received countless encores and far exceeded the originally scheduled time while changing to a spare microphone, satisfied those who had formed a circle for ticket purchases.

[You mean only you guys saw this…?]

[I didn’t go because I thought he’d only sing a few songs, damn it, damn it]

Or not.

However, the most important point of this stage wasn’t simply that Roh Haeil recreated a concert.

There was something that was imprinted in people’s minds so deeply that it could rightfully be called a ‘legend’.

The first was Roh Haeil’s birthday event.

On the darkened stage, lighting candles and somehow blocking the wind with their bodies to deliver the cake to Roh Haeil, his truly surprised expression.

The fans were even more proud of their singer who seemed to have genuinely forgotten his own birthday and was at a loss for words, moved by the surprise event.

It was fine even without any special comments.

That expression, that reaction alone was enough to reward their efforts.

They would have been disappointed if he had just dryly said thank you. The gap of such a rare reaction, unlike the usual Roh Haeil, made the fans even more eager and ticklish.

Even non-fans couldn’t complain about why they were having a birthday party at someone else’s school festival, it was such a titillating reaction.

[Korea University student who attended: From now on, Roh Haeil’s birthday parties will be held at our school festival, bam bam]

└ Passing Korea University student: 2222

└ Snickering Yeonkuk University student: Who decided that? LOL

[Yeonkuk University student: We let it slide this year. We’ll bring him next year. LOL]

└ Passing Korea University student: Where do you think you’re cutting in line? lol

└ Writer: Don’t you know your juniors should respect their seniors?

└ What are those two above doing

└ Yeah~ Haeil promised he’d come to Korea University next year too

└ You know nothing beats blood ties, right? I’ll curse if you object lol

└ If you’re jealous, come to the awesome Korea University festival~~

[Honestly, Korea University’s sound system is a bit… for Roh Haeil to perform. He handled it well this time, but he must have been disappointed]

└ I apologize to my fellow students and Roh Haeil (View full text). [Source: Korea University Student Council and Sound Management Team’s Stargram apology notice + large poster]

└ The apology to Roh Haeil seems longer than the one to the students? lol

└ As a Korea University student, I agree ㅠㅠ Haeil please come again next year

While the birthday event gained attention due to Roh Haeil’s reaction, what truly drew the public in was the stage accident at Korea University.

The stage lights going out for 15 seconds was an event for the surprise, but the banners and confetti flying and making a mess of the stage was an accident, and the microphone breaking was a mistake.

If it had been a rookie, it would have been an overwhelming time, either breaking down mentally or getting flustered. Instead, Roh Haeil smiled at the bewildered people. He even burst into a refreshing laugh never seen before, followed by the most impressive performance of ‘Ever end’ in this stage.

He sang with his voice projection, without a microphone.

His voice resonated far, not drowned out by the session sound or people’s group singing. The people there sang along with all their might, swept up in indescribable emotions.

It felt like they might cry, or be too happy, or excited, or go crazy, or wish this moment would never end.

But as the title ‘Ever end’ suggests, the end was approaching.

The fact that there was an end made it wistful and regrettable, and it was more moving because it was a stage with a narrative.

[(311113) Ever end -Roh Haeil (no mic)]

└ No accompaniment and no mic??? I wondered what this meant for a while, but damn, it really works without a mic

└ Did Roh Haeil major in vocal music? His vocal projection was insane

└ I was late because of class but it really reached all the way there, I didn’t know he wasn’t using a mic

└ When he threw away the mic saying he didn’t need it, chills…

└ Did you see the music department professors’ eyes sparkling? They were drooling while watching Roh Haeil like they were seeing Lee Hwan-hee

[It was perfect because it wasn’t a perfect stage, really…]

└ The stage accident was truly a godsend

└ When I was watching that live, I was cursing about how Korea University manages things, but seeing Roh Haeil continue the stage like nothing happened, I was like who am I worrying about

└ When Roh Haeil threw the mic, the aura was really… Celebrities are born, not made

└ If the stage accident hadn’t happened, we might never have seen this? I was ignorant and didn’t recognize Korea University’s will. I’m sorry.

└ It reminded me of singers who can’t perform live. How are they in the same class?

└ Are all students good at studying?

└ Ouch

[I’ve always liked Ever End the best, but I really reached nirvana]

└ Didn’t this bastard complain about why 17sec wasn’t the title track a few days ago?

└ Last month at the concert, he said Welcome to My World was his favorite song

└ Honestly, it’s understandable for favorite songs to keep changing. Every time I see a live performance, I can’t help but be amazed

└ But what’s certain is that videos can’t capture it all. When you actually go and see it, it’s no joke

└ I saw it at Korea University and realized why Roh Haeil’s fans say the atmosphere is no joke. You can only see Roh Haeil

[??? Didn’t everyone say they weren’t going? What? Am I the only one who didn’t go?]

└ Yeah;;;;

└ You fell for it lol

└ Your seat was awesome

The fan cafe president, who was monitoring the feedback on Roh Haeil’s birthday party event, recalled that breathtaking day.

She had thought the perfectly prepared event had really failed.

The more she thought about it, the more she lost herself recalling Roh Haeil’s flexible response. He was already an incredibly talented singer, but she felt it anew.

Perhaps, no, this was certain.

Among the celebrities she had liked until now and would like in the future, there would be no one more outstanding than him.

Anyway, she recalled what happened after the stage.

Because she had to offer Roh Haeil a birthday gift.

The gift given on stage was just a part of it.

And not just gifts, but there were also things to say.

Of course, it was a nervous meeting.

She, who had lived an active life of fangirling, attending fan meetings, and movie premieres, felt different when she faced Roh Haeil.

There was something extraordinary, just like on stage.

What people commonly call atmosphere or aura.

Something beyond appearance.

Maybe it was a star’s aura.

Having already spent all her energy during the performance, losing stamina, her voice hoarse, and looking haggard, she stupidly even stumbled over her words. Though embarrassed by her own shabby appearance, she couldn’t help but talk about the fan cafe.

“Riding the Wave? Of course I know it.”

“You know?”

The president, who couldn’t bring herself to tell the boy the current cafe name, opened her eyes wide.

“Moon- I mean, I thought Haeil-nim didn’t even know our cafe existed.”

No, then why didn’t he leave any messages?

We could have communicated! The boy, unable to read her inner thoughts, calmly replied.

“I even joined.”

“You joined?!”

This was so unexpected that she lost her very serious president cosplay and shouted out loud. Of course, she forcibly regained her self-control under the boy’s gaze.

“I-I’ll upgrade your account right away. What’s your ID?”

In fact, the upgrade wasn’t the issue.

If the boy wanted to manage the cafe, she could rightfully transfer it, and if he opened an official cafe, she was even thinking of closing the unofficial one.

Anyway, she had to upgrade him first!

Also, her mind quickly turned to managing the cafe more strictly. These days, there were attention-seekers, troublemakers, and even masked antis appearing occasionally, so she had to deal with them before the boy found out.

As she was thinking so complicatedly, she discovered Roh Haeil’s troubled expression.

That was what happened that day.

The president unknowingly banged her head on the keyboard.

Although she didn’t do it directly, she was the one in charge, so it was her fault.

After banging her head on the desk again with a thud, she posted an apology on the cafe’s main page.

[(Notice) We were the culprits of the lack of communication that has been troubling you all this time]

The staff who had blocked him also hung their heads in the comments.

[I think I was the one who blocked Moon-nim. Just… I thought it was a troll… I’ve committed a mortal sin]

└ You…! You! You were the cripple…! I trusted you!!!

└ Moon-nim was trying to communicate with humans…

└ Live your life in service as Jaws

It goes without saying that the post where Roh Haeil directly left a comment became a new holy site.

This was the story from the outside.

The boy, who had fallen into a deep sleep without yet realizing what was happening outside, stirred and naturally opened his eyes to the sunlight coming through the curtains and the smell of espresso.

A fresh breeze came through the open door. He stretched even more and rolled his stiff neck as he came out of the room, discovering his mother and father sitting cozily on the sofa.

They also brightened up upon seeing their son.

“Son, happy birthday.”

“Happy birthday. You worked hard yesterday too.”

“Oh my, did you watch Haeil’s performance yesterday? You told me you weren’t going to.”

“…I said we should all go together.”

“So you watched it without me?”

As his mother pretended to be upset, his father gave him a look as if asking for help. Halo shrugged and ignored his father’s request.

As he looked around, he discovered a lavishly set table. There was always plenty to eat at his parents’ house, but today there seemed to be even more.

“Shall we have breakfast now?”

Beef seaweed soup and bulgogi, and more than 12 side dishes. Although it was a meal carefully prepared to look like a birthday meal that anyone would recognize, his mother winked as if to say this wasn’t the end.

“You don’t have any schedule today, right? Let’s have dinner together.”

“Ah.”

Halo’s response made his mother’s eyes widen.

“Did you make plans?”

“I was thinking of going to the studio.”

“It’s your birthday today, couldn’t you rest a bit?”

“Today-.”

Halo recalled the birthday event from the day before and the birthday wishes he received upon waking up as he spoke.

“There’s something I need to do.”

He thought he wanted to do it today.

It felt like he could do it better if he did it today.

“How long will it take? Will you be late for dinner?”

“Not that long.”

His mother nodded, seemingly relieved at Halo’s words.

“Did you make a reservation at a restaurant for dinner?”

“Something like that?”

If they made a reservation, they made a reservation, what does ‘something like that’ mean?

Halo didn’t bother to ask and ate the bulgogi. The amount of meat disappearing was greater than the rice. His mother watched her son, who could never become a vegan, with fondness as always.

“Then I’ll drop you off at the studio and pick you up for dinner.”

On a birthday when some might be busy playing.

Halo, who went straight to the studio after breakfast, found the lights were off. Usually, the studio would be bright with sunlight coming in through the south-facing windows even without turning on the lights, but it was strangely dark.

However, he placed his hand on the light switch without much thought, and the moment the lights turned on with a click!

With the sound of fanfare, fireworks went off.

Colorful string fireworks exploded, and the bright studio was suddenly decorated with a birthday garland that read ‘Happy Birthday’.

Also, on the bar were wine glasses and champagne, along with alcohol. Desserts like macarons. And in the center was a cake.

It wasn’t the cake he received yesterday, but seemed to be a custom order. However, the decoration stuck in the cake looked handwritten.

[Happy Birthday Halo, My boss]

Next to it stood the members wearing party hats.

“Happy birthday, Haeil.”

“Happy 16th birthday, boss!”

“Congratulations on your one-of-a-kind birth, Your Majesty.”

“Did you prepare this from the morning?”

Though they expected the same reaction as yesterday, Halo didn’t seem that surprised. He just smiled calmly and asked. Han Jinyeong’s words not to expect anything were right, but Moon Seoyeon, who wanted to see yesterday’s expression again, was a little disappointed. Nam Gyuhwan was a super fan who would be happy with however Halo reacted.

“Ah, boss, please accept this!”

Still, Moon Seoyeon brightened up again and handed over a gift. It was a gift they had prepared. Though it was something their boss could get anytime, they still prepared it with care.

Halo opened the box and took out what was inside. A custom microphone painted in matte white. When he looked up, they all nodded repeatedly with satisfied faces.

Hurry up and say you like it!

Show us your reaction! That was the expression on their faces.

“Thank you.”

With that one word, the expressions of the three became one and gradually brightened.

“You’ve worked hard since morning, and I want to do something. What would be good?”

“!”

The members’ eyes sparkled at Halo’s words.

He wants to give something. This implies he might give some kind of reward, doesn’t it? Although they didn’t prepare the gift expecting compensation, it’s human nature to want to receive if offered.

Halo smiled at the members looking at him brightly like meerkats and said,

“Let’s record the 10th album.”

“…What? What did you say?”

Moon Seoyeon doubted her ears.

She hadn’t expected an incentive, but she hadn’t wanted work either, so her pupils shook up and down.

“Recording.”

Although she asked if she had heard wrong, what came back was a firm answer. And a bright smile.

It was clearly a sunny day, but it felt like a storm of lightning struck. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.

“No way…!”

Amidst her denial of reality, a traitor opened his mouth.

“It was what I really wanted.”

Moon Seoyeon glared at Nam Gyuhwan.

However, Nam Gyuhwan paid no attention.

“Jinyeong-oppa, you’re not, right?”

Moon Seoyeon looked at Han Jinyeong, who she thought would feel the same as her. However, Han Jinyeong saw the boy who seemed to have no intention of changing his decision.

Whatever he was thinking.

Han Jinyeong soon opened his mouth.

“I’ll get ready.”

“Even you, oppa…!”

Moon Seoyeon cried out like Caesar calling Brutus. However, Halo knew. Even though Moon Seoyeon said this, she would actually do the best once they started.

Halo spoke while firmly grasping the snow-white microphone.

“I need to go eat dinner outside, so let’s hurry.”

“…Yes. I’ll get ready, boss!”

In the end, even Moon Seoyeon accepted.

Judging by the alcohol and champagne placed on the bar table, the members who had planned to play all day entered the recording studio according to his will.

Even with his sudden whim, the members followed along bravely. Halo thought as he watched them.

‘Let’s finish quickly.’

HALO’s 10th album was music that he didn’t sing as well as other albums because he got irritated just by singing it. So he wanted to sing it on the day he felt best.

As Halo put the first phrase in his mouth amidst the accompaniment, he suddenly realized. Even though it had been such a difficult song to sing, now it was nothing.

The audience celebrating his birthday, his affectionate parents, and the white microphone gifted by the members wearing party hats overlapped in his memory.

He looks forward to his birthday party in the evening.

The title of HALO’s 10th album is.

Cannot be cut