The Road to Glory Chapter 143 - Then Come Quickly

It was a catastrophe.

Jang Jinsoo muttered while looking at the egg soup with floating scallions or just plain water.

“No way, Roh Haeil was Halo.”

“Hey, nothing’s confirmed yet.”

“Park Chansoo, don’t you have ears? The voice is exactly the same.”

“Voices can sound similar. There are so many people in the world.”

“Why are you getting more serious? No fun.”

“What, are you jealous? Weren’t you in the same class?”

The taste of school lunch was not at all proportional to the lunch fee.

“Park Chansoo, are you jealous of Roh Haeil? No, there are other people to be jealous of. Whether he’s Halo or not, he must have made a ton of money, right?”

“I’m not jealous of anything.”

“Your mom said you and Roh Haeil were rivals fighting for first and second place every day. Isn’t that why you’re jealous?”

The kids sitting in front got louder.

If all the group chats in school went crazy just a day after Roh Haeil busked in Paris in February 2032, then after school started in March, Roh Haeil’s name could be heard everywhere.

Not just on the internet, but on the streets, in stores, on broadcasts, in parks, and even at school.

Even school teachers started bringing up Roh Haeil’s story again, which had been sparse since the 2030 Festival Rendezvous.

Especially when teachers saw Park Chansoo and Jang Jinsoo, they couldn’t contain their curiosity.

The really fortunate thing was that they didn’t know Jang Jinsoo had been frequenting Roh Haeil’s house until recently.

If they had known that he was receiving math lectures from the professor, and that his mother occasionally sent chocolate milk gift certificates worrying about how our Jinsoo was doing these days, he wouldn’t have been able to live a normal life now.

That’s how crazy Korea was right now.

There were still doubts about whether Roh Haeil was really Halo, but some people were already convinced. Whether they were convinced after hearing his real voice or were unable to escape from a lethal dose of national pride, they were proud that they knew more about Roh Haeil, or Halo, than foreigners did.

“Hey, but foreign journalists were saying that Roh Haeil deliberately went off the grid to get attention as Halo.”

“Crazy. For real?”

“Ah, I saw that too. All the dramas, variety shows, and musicals Roh Haeil participated in are booming now, right? They’re saying it might be a set-up in Korea.”

“Wow, are they literature majors? Their imagination is off the charts.”

“I know. Roh Haeil was always like that.”

Even now, kids sitting in a corner were laughing, hitting their desks.

Giggling laughter echoed loudly in the classroom.

“Typical Roh Haeil, doesn’t communicate with fans.”

“For real, doesn’t even do DMs.”

“It’s a manly characteristic. I don’t do DMs either.”

“You probably don’t have anyone to DM.”

“Say that again.”

“But Roh Haeil doesn’t use a public account, right? He probably has a private account to do everything.”

That wasn’t true.

Roh Haeil didn’t even check KakaoTalk.

Of course, it could be that he was just not checking his KakaoTalk.

…That bastard.

Anyway, he was never good at keeping in touch from the old days. It’s incomprehensible why this is covered as being manly, but the school kids enjoyed the foreigners’ suffering.

“Ah, it’s so fun to see foreigners getting spicy over K-singers.”

“I thought Roh Haeil’s constant disappearances showed a lack of professionalism, but as I keep watching, it seems it’s just his personality.”

“I also wondered what kind of guy he was, but when I saw him not showing up to award ceremonies that give him awards and going on trips, I knew he was the real deal.”

“Aren’t geniuses usually a bit eccentric?”

“That’s probably why his fans don’t complain.”

“I wondered why people were fans of Roh Haeil, but now that he’s Halo, I completely understand. He wasn’t disappearing, he was busy working.”

“Oh, that’s right. It wasn’t disappearing. He was working on albums every month.”

Someone slapped their palm with their fist as if they had just realized. And this realization spread throughout the classroom. They had never thought about the reason for his disappearances, but if he had been busy doing Monthly Halo every month, everything made sense.

In fact, Roh Haeil’s fans had already accepted that he lived hard enough by releasing twenty songs a year, but if he doubled that, it would be strange for those who couldn’t understand.

“Ah, right. I’m going to see a musical.”

“What musical? Aren’t you preparing for the mock exam?”

Thursday, March 25th, was the day of the first mock exam for second-year students. It was hard to understand why someone facing their first mock exam would suddenly say they’re going to see a musical…

“No way, are you going to see ‘Rock‘?”

“How did you get tickets?”

“My mom got tickets for an additional show.”

“Wow, I’m just waiting for the extended run ticket sales.”

Other kids showed interest when they heard about going to see the musical Rock. No wonder, as the musical Rock, which was now in its final stages, was one of the kids’ biggest interests. Even kids who weren’t interested in musicals pretended to know about it, it was such a huge hit.

Of course, the musical Rock had been a hit since its premiere in December. Even for the premiere, ticket sales were already sold out for most seats and schedules by musical enthusiasts and Roh Haeil’s fandom.

That soon led to word of mouth, and with reviews saying it was awesome, even the cancelled tickets were all sold out.

People who heard the reviews late, which were full of praise saying it was chilling, were asking for an extension to the point where it was already a hit musical.

There was no need to add the modifier of being a premiere and original musical.

But the real frenzy began after what everyone called the ‘Champagne Supernova’ incident.

“Foreign kids were crying, begging for an extension.”

“Even if they extend it, I don’t think it’ll work because there are so many Koreans aiming for tickets.”

“Hey, so whose Rock are you going to see? Did you get Park Hyuk?”

“No… Dokgo Yeong.”

“Ah, that’s a bit disappointing.”

“They say Park Hyuk’s Rock is so awesome. Well, anyway, I’m still envious. Even though I don’t like musicals, I want to hear the songs Roh Haeil worked on.”

“For real. Won’t they release it as a sound source? Like on NuTube or something.”

While both Dokgo Yeong’s Rock and Park Hyuk’s Rock were praised, people still acknowledged Park Hyuk as number one. They said there was something more touching about ‘Jeongwoo’ played by Park Hyuk and Jeongwoo’s music. Especially the last scene where he sang with joy amidst everyone’s death was said to be tear-jerking and thrilling.

Jang Jinsoo, who had seen both Park Hyuk’s version and Dokgo Yeong’s version once with Roh Haeil’s parents, also preferred Park Hyuk’s version a bit more.

Well, people would want to see ‘Rock‘ regardless of whose version it was.

To be precise, the two songs that Roh Haeil supposedly worked on.

After the ‘Champagne Supernova’ incident.

That is, as the question of whether Roh Haeil was Halo spread worldwide, naturally all the programs Roh Haeil participated in gained attention.

Of course, the amount of attention varied by program, but at least the episodes featuring Roh Haeil were immediately sold overseas, and ‘From Today, We Are’ and ‘2030 Festival-Rendezvous’ had their copyrights sold.

News articles even reported that China and Japan were in the process of producing Chinese or Japanese versions of Rendezvous. Of course, the majority of reactions were ‘A genius like Roh Haeil won’t appear’, but it seemed those countries were hoping for a second Roh Haeil, or more precisely, a second Halo.

And the biggest beneficiaries were undoubtedly the musical Rock and the music program Spring Again.

While the radio shows, talk shows, music shows, and even Rendezvous that Roh Haeil appeared on were aired in the past, these two programs were currently airing or performing.

The Vienna episode of ‘Spring Again’ featuring Roh Haeil achieved an unbelievable rating (40%) for a variety show, not a drama, which would be hard to see again in the 2030s, and even now people were clamoring for the Paris episode, not just the Vienna one.

As for the musical ‘Rock’, well, as mentioned before, it was already a hit and now gained Roh Haeil’s (or Halo’s) name value.

Who wouldn’t be curious?

What would a musical created by Roh Haeil, who is currently suspected to be Halo and considered almost identical, be like?

That’s the same reason why all of Roh Haeil’s music sources re-entered the rankings worldwide.

Even though the production company of the musical Rock didn’t say which songs were made by whom, the musical community was buzzing that the last song must be a Halo song.

There was a lot of controversy between Jeongwoo’s – the musical’s protagonist – number at the beginning and the last number, but the last number was the decisive one.

‘You know it as soon as you hear it.’

Jang Jinsoo, who knew which songs were Roh Haeil’s, found it fascinating. He was amazed by the fans who could guess it, and also by Roh Haeil who made people exclaim ‘This is… The Sun.’ even though the song names weren’t written.

Every time he felt that it was amazing and incomprehensible.

As days went by and more people came to know the name Roh Haeil, it felt like the distance was growing wider and wider.

‘Is he going to work overseas now?’

Jang Jinsoo thought realistically.

Don’t Korean celebrities usually have big dreams like Hollywood or the overseas market? Roh Haeil would probably go abroad to work now too. He might be difficult to see in Korea for a while.

The gap had widened so much that it was hard to call him a ‘friend’ now. While Jang Jinsoo was terrified about whether he could keep up with him, he also pulled himself together.

While the ever-widening gap was frightening, he felt he didn’t have the luxury to worry and do other things. He just needed to look ahead and run now. And for now, the thing right in front of him was the March mock exam coming soon.

He had received an average of 4th grade in his final internal assessment of his first year and was praised by his homeroom teacher, but he still had a long way to go.

Korea, school, his report card seemed the most catastrophic.

#

“You seem to be doing well. Getting along well with the children too. I didn’t know you liked young children this much.”

“I don’t like kids though.”

“Really?”

August Veil chuckled, not believing him at all. Halo said once again that he didn’t like kids, but Veil, who usually listened to other things seriously, didn’t seem to be taking this seriously at all.

Then he pointed to the children running towards the mansion where he was staying, through the window.

“Roh! Roh! Let’s play!”

“They’re saying-“

“I don’t know why they’re coming.”

The boy flopped down on the sofa with an indifferent face, ignoring the children’s shouts.

August Veil, who had been giggling, opened the door and whispered something to the children.

“I need to talk to Roh for a bit, can you come back later?”

“Okay! See you later, Roh!”

They think he’ll play with them if they make promises on their own.

Halo looked tired.

“Is this about the 13th album?”

“That’s right. Did I tell you the cover was completed?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, the cover is completed.”

“…”

“But that’s not what I was going to say now.”

As August Veil folded his arms, Halo soon sat up. August Veil got to the point.

“Everyone is just waiting for your 13th album. They’re wondering if the unreleased song you sang at Scorpion’s concert will be included in HALO’s 13th album or not.”

“Then they’ll know soon enough.”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

Halo tilted his head.

The title track of the 13th album that people are waiting for is [Until dawn comes].

Whether in Korean or English, the meaning is the same and the melody is the same, so if they hear it, they would know.

That is, ‘if’ they hear it.

“Wasn’t the release date for the 13th album set for April 1st?”

“That’s right.”

“Then-“

What does this mean?

Halo looked closely at August Veil’s expression.

August Veil was smiling slyly.

“You’re not thinking of delaying the release until Coachella, are you?”

“No, the release will go as scheduled.”

Halo folded his arms.

Only then did August Veil complete his sentence.

“If the 13th album is released, surely, people around the world will be certain about who you are. Well, that wouldn’t be bad either. But I hope this interest will gather all at once and explode. That would be more-“

August Veil chose his words and grinned.

“Fun.”

Halo tapped the table.

He said the 13th album would be released, but at the same time, it seemed like he wanted people not to know.

“I’ve been thinking about it.”

August Veil whispered.

“You’ve never released a physical album before, have you? You’ve always released digital albums. So it suddenly occurred to me. While a physical album might be impossible, a digital album is possible.”

“Hmm.”

As he listened to August Veil’s words, Halo’s lips curled up at some point.

“It is interesting.”

“Right?”

When August Veil asked as if he knew it would be, Halo nodded. No further discussion was needed.

“Then we just need to decide one more thing.”

August Veil stood up, watching the children who had come back not long after, knocking on the door.

“There’s not much time left until Coachella. When are you thinking of returning home?”

“Returning home?”

“Isn’t your hometown Korea? If you need rest before Coachella, Korea would be the best place.”

“Ah.”

Halo realized why Veil brought up the topic of returning home. But he thought he was already resting well, so there was no need to go back to Korea to rest once more.

“If you don’t particularly want to go, you could visit the place I gave you as a gift before going to Coachella.”

Come to think of it, he did receive something like that. He had forgotten.

August Veil had explained about a studio in England as a birthday gift to him. A glint appeared in Halo’s eyes.

“That does sound quite interesting.”

“You’ll quite like it.”

“Alright.”

When Halo agreed, August Veil answered that he would prepare it and opened the door with a thud. The children came running in from there.

“Roh! Let’s go out!”

The kids rush towards Halo.

The children living in this village were really overflowing with energy.

“I’m not playing.”

“Come on, you’re going to come anyway.”

At first, the children seemed wary of him as a stranger and an Asian, but soon they came to Halo’s house and begged him to play. For Halo, who didn’t like children, it was really an unwelcome thing.

It’s incomprehensible why they like him so much when he’s not kind at all.

Halo finally couldn’t stand the commotion and got up. The children exclaim “Wow!” and cling to his arms and legs.

“Get away, let’s just walk.”

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

These kids didn’t listen to him at all.

Halo turned his head abruptly with a sullen face as August Veil smiled at him.

The boy’s footprints and the children’s footprints are left all over the snow field.

Children of about six or seven years old energetically cling to the boy who is showing signs of annoyance.

Then, a child following behind tripped on something and fell flat on their face.

Although falling in the snow didn’t hurt at all, the child somehow felt like it might hurt, and also felt embarrassed, so their eyes welled up with tears.

Halo, who had briefly turned his head at the sound of something falling, immediately turned his head back and started to move forward.

Again, he wasn’t kind to children at all, and wasn’t the type to take care of them well. He was consistently indifferent.

The child who had been about to cry out loudly, stopped crying in surprise when Halo didn’t stop walking and got further away, and called out “Roh!” with a sense of injustice. Then Halo’s steps came to a halt.

“Why, why are you leaving me behind! Going off alone!”

As the child was about to cry again with tears welling up, an insensitive answer was heard.

“Then come quickly.”

“…Okay!”

At those words, the child who was about to cry immediately smiled brightly and ran to Halo, grabbing his waist. The simple child forgot that they had fallen and started calling the boy affectionately, “Roh! Roh!”

Soon, the children’s singing voices can be heard.

The melody of a guitar blending underneath

August Veil smiled benevolently as he watched the boy who couldn’t understand why the kids were always being annoying.