The Road to Glory Chapter 120 - The Reason for Travel

Clink!

The crystal glasses clinked together melodiously.

Warm voices of familiar people flowed from the sky lounge overlooking the Seoul cityscape. Soft music, drinks, and laughter.

The rented restaurant only allowed his acquaintances to enter.

For example, from his band members to people he met in the industry. Though unintended, stars who rarely gather in one place gladly showed their faces to celebrate his birthday.

His mother received an autograph from Teacher Hwang Ryongpil like a fangirl, not knowing what to do, while his father shared drinks with Nam Gyuhwan and Han Jinyeong.

Halo lamented that he was the only one who couldn’t drink alcohol at his own birthday party.

“When will you become an adult?”

Sin Joohyeok approached leisurely with a glass of white wine, picking a fight as usual.

“Don’t you have any schedules today?”

When Halo shot back with the implied meaning of “Are you free today?”, Sin Joohyeok snorted, saying he was quite cheeky.

“I don’t plan to stay long. I just stopped by on my way to the radio. If I didn’t have a schedule, I would’ve been drinking already.”

Halo nodded. Sin Joohyeok swirled his wine, then suddenly asked something that occurred to him.

“By the way, don’t you go on broadcasts? Radio or whatever. Han Rayeon-ssi was wondering.”

“Ah, no. Not yet.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll make sure to tell the PD.”

Sin Joohyeok felt wronged after answering like that. Should someone of Sin Joohyeok’s class even have to convey other singers’ refusal opinions?

However, if he didn’t do at least that much, it was obvious the PD would pester him.

Recently, a PD had proposed a real documentary entertainment show of him happily playing with friends. Sin Joohyeok could bet his wrist that Roh Haeil would be on that list of “friends”.

Of course, Sin Joohyeok was also a target that PDs drooled over, but this year, no one would be able to beat this boy.

Every broadcasting station in Korea, not just entertainment but all fields, and even the whole world wanted the boy.

“Well, wouldn’t it be good to appear on one or two?”

“What?”

Sin Joohyeok thought he sounded like a nag, but he didn’t stop his meddling. The boy would make his own judgments anyway, so he was just voicing an opinion as the top singer in Korea, or rather as a friend.

“If you have a reason, that’s fine, but if not, it would be better to film one or two. This is a world where interest can turn into hatred at any time. What’s the point of making enemies with broadcasting stations?”

That hatred might turn back into love with the name HALO, but the problem was that the boy was too young.

“And your fans, though they don’t say it. They probably have a lot of wishes. I feel like I shouldn’t be saying this, but they’re curious about you as much as your music. What you do in your daily life, how sassy your usual personality is, things like that.”

Only after saying everything he wanted to say did he think he had said unnecessary things.

“Just ignore what I said.”

By then, Sin Joohyeok put down the glass he had been swirling in his hand.

He had wished him happy birthday, attended the birthday party, taken a proof shot – which would later circulate among fans as a golden connection shot of Roh Haeil’s birthday party – so it was time to go to work now.

“Happy birthday again, kiddo.”

While there were people like Sin Joohyeok who stayed for a long time, there were more who sent long letters and gifts due to scheduling issues.

It was a sudden birthday party, and everyone had six months’ worth of schedules, so it was natural.

Still, they didn’t forget to send birthday messages to him.

From 00:00 to now. His phone battery was depleted from the constant texts and calls.

Looking at his phone with only 10% battery left, Halo felt a strange feeling. It was odd to receive birthday messages on November 14th that he would have received in April.

“Shall we get some fresh air for a moment?”

Finally. As the night deepened and peeked a little into the next day, August Veil, who had been talking with others, approached.

After sending off Hwang Ryongpil, the party was slowly coming to an end, so no one paid much attention to the boy and August Veil’s company.

“Now I can properly wish you a happy birthday.”

“Didn’t you already do that?”

This restaurant.

His mother and father couldn’t have rented it out. Though they were well-off, they weren’t the type to spend money unnecessarily, so they would have reserved a room in the restaurant but not thought of renting out the whole place.

Also, a restaurant like this wouldn’t rent out to just anyone. No matter when they made the reservation, a sky lounge restaurant overlooking Seoul would be fully booked for months.

So Halo simply concluded.

The only person with the wealth, scale, and interest to rent out a restaurant for his birthday was August Veil.

“No, I haven’t even started yet.”

“As if renting this place would be a gift.”

Halo chuckled, thinking it was just like August Veil who said he would give him a plane or a ship.

Facing the cool November wind, August Veil, who had sobered up from the alcohol, opened his mouth after a while.

“The reason I’ve been busy lately. Aren’t you curious?”

Veil, who had been busy for a while after talking about the paparazzi, hadn’t been by Halo’s side as much as he wanted.

He wouldn’t have spent that much time just dealing with paparazzi, so it must have been business issues.

From the nuance, it sounded like it was related to him.

“Haven’t you heard yet?”

“Heard what?”

“You made a musical, didn’t you?”

To be precise, he didn’t make a musical but composed two numbers for a musical. But that wasn’t important to August Veil.

What was important was that Halo had composed songs.

“Since I didn’t know how it would turn out, I didn’t tell you. I bought that.”

“What?”

“The license, I mean.”

“!”

“I wanted to buy the whole thing, but they didn’t need any more investors. It’s really a shame. If I had known you would participate, I would have gotten involved earlier.”

Listening to Veil grumble, Halo recalled that the time August Veil got busy coincided exactly with when he visited the musical rehearsal room.

It seemed he had started a business after hearing that he had composed numbers.

“Is this the gift?”

“Of course not! I’m just saying I haven’t lost interest in you. I’m always passionate about your music.”

“I already know that well.”

Halo answered as if it were obvious, brushing off news that a Yeouido man would have shouted was good.

“After the Korean premiere ends, it will proceed straight to London.”

“What if it fails?”

Halo said nonchalantly, even though it was a musical he participated in.

He didn’t think his music would fail, but since he wasn’t involved in the entire musical, it could fail. There was also the risk factor of it being an original musical.

But August Veil declared confidently.

“It won’t.”

It seemed like “It’s your song, so” was implied before that.

The Korean premiere is scheduled from the end of December to early March. Early March-.

Halo raised the corners of his mouth.

Right, a businessman wouldn’t do business that would incur losses.

It was natural for August Veil to be certain.

By then, HALO would be revealed to the world.

Now that interest in HALO had grown beyond his expectations, it was obvious that the musical numbers composed by HALO would receive attention.

To be honest, Halo found the current HALO phenomenon quite unexpected.

When he delayed revealing his identity, he thought interest in him would be less than before.

His album couldn’t benefit from his looks, which were praised as the “incarnation of Apollo”, and not knowing his identity could cause aversion.

An album of purely music without concerts, live performances, or even radio appearances.

But people were even more enthusiastic. Even critics who always criticized him praised him with all sorts of artistic words. Halo didn’t understand why he was more loved when he hid his appearance.

“Don’t we have something to talk about now?”

Halo was called back to reality by Veil’s voice.

“Have you thought about how you’ll reveal your identity?”

Just as Halo had told Scorpion “not much time left”, Veil also had it in mind.

“It will be revealed somehow, I guess.”

With so many hints thrown into the world, someone might gather them and reveal it, or suddenly many people might come and call his name in front of his house.

Even if not, it would be confirmed when his 13th album comes out.

So, Halo honestly revealed.

“I haven’t thought about it deeply.”

Halo had left everything to the flow of the world and hadn’t made any specific plans. He was always impulsive and whimsical. He had postponed things, thinking he would figure it out when the time came.

“I did tell Scorpion I would reveal it at my performance.”

“That’s just like you.”

August Veil nodded his head.

“You mean you’ve never thought exactly at which performance and how you’ll reveal it?”

“That’s right.”

“Then”

“How about Coachella?”

Coachella Music and Arts Festival.

Since the end of Coachella 2031, the directors had been persistently sending love calls to Halo.

Such persistent people.

They sent emails so creatively that it was almost a shame to refuse, as if they had nothing better to do. One email contained words of praise, while another detailed reasons why Halo should come to Coachella.

However, August Veil didn’t have Coachella in mind because of their love calls.

The first reason was that it attracts global attention as the world’s largest music festival where various music performances are held.

And the second was,

“I thought about Donauinselfest or Summerfest too, but isn’t summer too far? Coachella seems appropriate.”

It was a matter of timing.

Donauinselfest held in Vienna, Austria and Summerfest held in Wisconsin, USA take place in June, which was too far away.

The Super Bowl didn’t seem to consider offering a performance to someone who hadn’t revealed their identity, and August Veil, as a pure Englishman to the bone, couldn’t understand why people were so enthusiastic about American football.

“They emailed me.”

Veil’s eyes lit up at Halo’s answer.

If they hadn’t sent it knowing HALO’s identity, it meant one thing.

Roh Haeil had also received a casting email.

“I don’t know if I should call it a coincidence.”

It’s not strange that they sent an offer to a boy who, though a rookie, has shown a path unlike a rookie.

He had already become a topic overseas with Scorpion’s concert and HALO cover songs, and Roh Haeil’s name was already being mentioned among Asian fans who listen to K-pop.

“What do you want to do? We’ll do whatever you want.”

Will you participate as Roh Haeil?

Will you participate as Halo?

At that question, Halo’s lips quivered.

Strangely, it was something to contemplate.

“You can think about it a bit more. It’s an important issue, so you can’t decide hastily.”

“I-.”

It felt like fog had settled on his thoughts.

Halo suddenly realized what this was.

He was hesitating.

He who had always lived impulsively and made clear choices suddenly felt like an idiot.

The old man waited for his answer, and the longer he waited, the longer the silence grew. The boy finally spoke honestly.

“I know what the answer should be. But-.”

“It’s hard to choose?”

“I don’t know why I’m hesitating.”

“Well, such moments do come sometimes.”

The old man seemed to read his inner thoughts.

“Then how about this? Why don’t you try to find out why you’re hesitating? In a short time, you’re smart enough to find it.”

“…”

“If you can’t find the answer nearby, going somewhere further might be the answer. There’s a reason people travel to refresh themselves. Problems you’ve been pondering for a long time can be solved at once.”

“You’re saying I should go on a trip.”

When the old man asked if he disliked the idea, the boy shook his head.

Travel was familiar to him.

He had suddenly gone somewhere before, and secluded himself to spend time alone. And on some summer day, he thought he wanted to travel.

“It might be the last trip as ‘Roh’.”

Halo stayed still for a moment before answering.

I’ll think about it.

The old man nodded with a faint smile.

This is what happened on Friday, November 14th. The old man spent time at his label until the weekend, and returned to England on Sunday afternoon with HALO’s 10th album in hand.

Then at 8 PM on Sunday, November 16th, UK time.

At the time when British people would be having dinner with their families, HALO’s 10th album “Cannot be cut” was uploaded.

The album with an illustration cover depicting a warm family dinner of three had, on the contrary, a completely opposite atmosphere.

Music swirling with hatred and love-hate.

People started murmuring as they realized what the album title and title track meant.

However, the controversy didn’t grow bigger because as the music flowed, the remnants of that love-hate scattered, leaving only gentle and warm affection on top.

That gap had a corner that somehow tugged at the heartstrings.

People thought.

Maybe HALO isn’t a 2m tall giant, a gym rat who can lift 1500kg, or a macho man in his 40s or 50s with a beam coming out between his legs.

Some were disappointed by this change, but some began to see HALO as a human being. The worship and praise for him didn’t disappear.

It’s just that if they had only wanted HALO as a star until now, they’ve started to see HALO as a human being.

They were curious.

What time does HALO usually wake up and how does he spend his day, what food does he like, and who does he spend time with? How does he laugh when he’s happy, and what expression does he make when he’s sad?

And that was somewhat similar to Roh Haeil’s fandom being curious about Roh Haeil’s life.

#

On the weekday after Roh Haeil’s long birthday ended.

Not sure if there are many salary thieves in the world or many unemployed people, but the community was as lively as ever.

[People who congratulated Roh Haeil’s birthday + Birthday party attendees]

└ 2031 Haeil Chart Awards OMG

└ But the level of people who came is one thing, seeing so many come means his personality must be good too

└ What does personality matter? If Roh Haeil is popular now, they have to go even if they don’t like him

└ Why would people like Liv, Sin Joohyeok go to the birthday party of someone they don’t like? Talk sense;;

└ What’s with such a birthday party for a rookie lol

└ If you’re jealous just say you’re jealous, he’s having the party with his own money, why interfere over something like this

With Raon’s group shot on Stargram and proof photos, and those who couldn’t attend the party leaving messages like “It’s our Haeil’s birthday” on SNS, the topic of Roh Haeil’s birthday heated up the weekend.

And as much interest as who congratulated Roh Haeil’s birthday was what he received as birthday gifts.

Although Roh Haeil doesn’t use SNS, people put a price on gifts seen in proof photos or glimpses here and there. Among them, what became the hottest topic was-.

[Scorpion, “Picked it up on the way” as Roh Haeil’s birthday gift]

└ No, Rill’s Stargram says he wrote politely that it’s a gift for you, you trash reporter, now you’re just making things up, not even summarizing

└ How old is this trend even, even my dad doesn’t use it anymore

└ Gasp, that Ducati figure is just… the toy I secretly bought and sold again after getting hit on the back by my wife was just a toy…

└ Is he a real fan. He just gives something worth thousands OMG

└ I mean it’s all good but what if Haeil gets hurt, why give something like this;;;

└ But can he even ride that?

└ Can’t Roh Haeil get his license now?

└ He can’t ride just any motorcycle, right? If it’s over the engine displacement

└ He can’t ride until he’s an adult? LOL. That’s hilarious, the world is fair after all.

└ ;; He’ll be able to get his license in a few years, how is this fair?

Scorpion Rill’s racing bike gift. By openly posting it on SNS, anyone could know the price.

Another place was the luxury brand ‘Arbor’.

Arbor’s Stargram also revealed the December issue photoshoot while congratulating their ambassador’s birthday.

They don’t know what gifts they sent to Roh Haeil, but it was revealed later when Roh Haeil’s label opened SNS after the fan meeting.

The creative designer, Per Aspera, gifted him a guitar case and a jumper embroidered with a white tiger.

On the other hand, some things were never revealed to them. For example, what August Veil, the CEO of the music distribution company who eventually failed to contract with Roh Haeil and returned to England, gifted.

What he gifted was simple in a way.

A new label.

For Halo, who was gradually surrounded by more people, August Veil gifted the real estate he owned.

He said he gave London first, interior work is in progress in LA, and if he wants, he’ll give one in Seoul too.

He said the interior work was originally all finished, but after seeing Roh Haeil’s label, he ordered additional work, saying it would be completed by this winter. And then he said to look forward to next year’s birthday.

Since he gave real estate, is he thinking of giving a vehicle next year? Halo thought calmly.

Anyway, while people were noisily discussing Roh Haeil’s birthday gifts, one article buried the others.

[Roh Haeil donates 1 billion won on his birthday │Daily Star-in reporter Baek Won-man]

Singer Roh Haeil practiced sharing on his birthday.

On the 16th, H Label, hereafter Roh Haeil, donated a total of 1 billion won, 100 million won each to various social welfare organizations on Sunday, two days after his birthday. This donation will be used for child care facilities, disability protection facilities, and surgery support for disabled children and youth.

└ ? Wait, not 100 million but 1 billion?

└ These are the organizations Roh Haeil’s fan cafe donated to… But the money unit is not

└ This goes beyond flexing, he’s just crazy?

└ But Roh Haeil hasn’t even done any commercials, is this possible?

└ Isn’t this a bit excessive?

└ They say not to worry about celebrities, but this is a bit worrying… What will he do when he can’t earn money later

Because it was an excessive amount for a rookie to donate, even the fandom couldn’t take it entirely positively. Thanks to this, reactions like “tax reduction” or “it’s natural since they earn so much money” or “pretending to be nice” that usually come out when celebrities donate didn’t appear.

[HALO’s 10th album “Cannot be cut” tops major music charts simultaneously upon release at 4 AM on November 17th (UK time 20:00 on November 16th)]

How shocking it must have been for even HALO’s music release to be overshadowed by Roh Haeil’s actions.

Around that time, Halo met with the president and staff of the fan cafe. The president came to discuss issues like the existence of the fan cafe and profits from goods, but Halo met to convey his schedule.

The first news he delivered when communication with the fan cafe became possible after the fan cafe block was lifted was-.

“Wait, a fan meeting?”