The Road to Glory Chapter 168 - Laugh

“Looks like Jason prepared thoroughly this time.”

Frau, greeting with a light shoulder bump typical of a Californian, briefly shared his story and that of his friends.

“For some reason, he’s gritting his teeth.”

After saying that, Frau asked, “Do you know anything?”

Halo shrugged nonchalantly and played it cool. But Frau, still grinning, insisted he tell.

“You two are neighbors, right? What did he say?”

“That was the last time we saw each other.”

“Hmm, really?”

The last time they met was at the small party held in Jason’s yard to celebrate “The Last DaY” hitting Billboard No. 1.

For some reason, Jason had disappeared after that.

He might be busy preparing for the album, but Halo didn’t think so.

Because when they could have bumped into each other, Jason quickly ran away. He clearly remembered the drunken rambling from that day. How many times did he kick the blanket after sobering up? Halo sent a text with a crooked smile.

He seemed too kind.

Even sending such a nice message to someone who drunkenly ranted about beating him.

[Good luck (crying with emotion emoji)]

After sending the message, he faced Han Jinyeong, who had a subtle expression. He seemed to have a lot to say but didn’t say anything.

And Halo is certain.

That the text with words of encouragement had been delivered well to Jason Dyke.

It had been delivered so well that there was only a read receipt, not even a reply, but he decided to understand since Jason said he was releasing a new album.

“But why that all of a sudden?”

Halo, who didn’t bother explaining that trivial anecdote, asked Frau about the intent behind his question.

“Well, he asked me to tell you something.”

“What?”

“March, he said.”

There was no subject, but it was impossible not to know what he meant.

It’s ridiculous that he doesn’t say this directly and uses Frau’s mouth, but.

Halo finally burst out laughing.

It’s now early November. Giving him ample time and informing him of the new song release date was clearly a provocation to come in.

“But why ask to relay this? Did you agree to do a feature or something?”

Since only Halo had heard the drunken rambling, Frau couldn’t understand why Jason was telling him the release date. Even when he asked what it meant, Jason, true to his character, only said to relay it, and the boy in front of him didn’t intend to answer honestly either.

It’s not like he’s some owl delivering letters.

Frau begged that if he was going to use him for free like this, he should at least tell him something.

Halo didn’t explain kindly.

However,

“You come in too, Frau.”

“What?”

“In March. Your favorite movie was Star Wars, right?”

“Why is Star Wars suddenly…”

Star Wars. As Frau was wondering why this masterpiece representing SF and one of the most successful IPs in 20th-century pop culture was mentioned here, he soon caught on.

Star Wars, if translated directly, doesn’t it mean the war of stars? If he didn’t understand after being told this much, he couldn’t be called a ‘star’.

And soon he throws up his hands in shock.

“You know I just released a new song not long ago, right?”

“It’s just a single, isn’t it?”

“Single? Just a single? Are you saying I should release a full album in March?”

Frau, aghast at how someone could say such a terrifying thing, faces the boy smiling brightly.

Ah, right.

He was the inhuman life form who released albums – not even singles, but EPs – every month for 5 months without even preparing.

“I’m human.”

“I’m human too.”

“No, don’t say that. You alien.”

Halo didn’t stop laughing at Frau, who was genuinely shocked.

Until they resumed rehearsal.

:

“Alright! Standby.”

Hamilton, about 70km south of Toronto in Ontario, is one of Canada’s top metropolitan areas, but to people from New York or Seoul, it seemed like a very leisurely town.

That’s because while the night view and facilities were those of a big city, there was somehow a leisurely and quiet atmosphere. The FirstOntario Centre, Halo’s concert venue, was similar to the city’s first impression.

Those who visited Hamilton, Canada a few days earlier for a preliminary survey(?) thought the area around Halo’s concert venue was too empty.

They wondered if it wouldn’t have been better to have another concert in Toronto or even in the U.S. again.

However. The day before the concert. The FirstOntario Centre was bustling with suspiciously many people coming and going, and from the morning of the day, it was covered with crowds.

To the extent that it seemed like all 530,000 Hamilton residents had gathered here.

A stream of people. White tents filled the open space for them.

A Canadian public broadcasting station’s drone captures the scene of the FirstOntario Centre. There was no empty space around the circular center of the FirstOntario Centre. Beyond the surrounding parking lots being full. High-end cars were parked on the streets.

The Canadian public broadcasting station came out to film on the street, a sight rarely seen unless it’s a festival.

“Can you see this? People from all over the world who came to see HALO’s concert-.”

The anchor spoke passionately, and the cameraman filmed the long line of people. Usually, quite a few people avoid the camera when they see it, but these physically imposing individuals rather glared at the cameraman with a ‘What are you looking at?’ expression.

Intimidated by their presence, the cameraman turned the camera to a female fan. As he was about to approach the pretty-smiling female fan for an interview, a sinister voice was heard.

“Just try to show it… I’ll get it somehow.”

The cameraman flinched.

It sounded like something that might get caught at the security checkpoint for carrying cold metal.

There was a joke going around that even if you offered money now, you couldn’t get the golden ticket, Halo’s watch.

They said if you wear the golden ticket on the street, you might lose an arm right there. Maybe that’s why there weren’t many posts verifying the watch. Rather, existing posts were being deleted.

Although no crime had occurred yet, it seemed the golden ticket holders had become cautious. The company organizing Halo’s concert announced that they would allow a delivery service only for golden ticket holders, saying many people had inquired. There was a notice that if you fill out a personal information sharing consent form and address before the concert, they would send the limited edition watch to your home.

However, that was a service for those who were well-informed.

Clearly, someone here would take it today at this venue with a golden ticket.

Halo’s limited edition watch.

No, a couple watch with Halo!

Apart from the watch, the atmosphere of the crowd waiting for the concert wasn’t bad. Veil said they would start the second album sale, and aware that they had given people despair during the first sale, they said they might proceed with pre-orders.

As the clock’s hands slowly fell, the sun’s time began to approach.

Night and lights.

And,

Aaaagh!

The last day of the world.

#

While the LA concert started with a countdown along with Halo’s new logo, this time was different. 1 minute before 8 o’clock. The stage was empty, but a video played on three electronic display boards.

The quality characteristic of the 20th century.

And a black and white video played.

It was a video mixing various disasters.

Glaciers melting due to global warming, massive floods engulfing cities, and fires rising. War and mushroom clouds created by bombs. And asteroids flying towards Earth from outer space, unfolding a true dystopia.

It wouldn’t be strange if the Earth perished tomorrow.

“This is the last news.”

A scream echoed from somewhere.

“Today. The day has dawned and now we have only one day left.”

Although it quieted down after the following sound.

It was impossible not to know why they screamed.

The voice from the infinitely replayed video flew into reality.

“I hope you have a good day.”

-day. The last word was uniquely repeated.

Along with it, the lights came on on the diamond-shaped protruding stage. People’s gazes turned to the protruding stage. Along with the accompaniment that started. And-. They saw a man in a checkered suit jacket raising pointed sunglasses and bringing the microphone to his mouth.

“Well, Let’s do the last project.”

A reenactment of The Last DaY music video.

This is, what, a plan that grabs you by the collar and pulls you in?

People were instantly drawn into the music video.

Frau immediately sang Michael’s part.

Frau handled Michael’s unique pronunciation well, spitting it out like rap.

[Oh, and welcome the $100 angels coming down from the sky.]

Frau shot the money gun he had tied around his waist.

As the toy cash that fell from it flew to the audience, people roughly tried to catch it.

The accompaniment continues before Dick comes in.

In the music video, Dick filled the gap with a scene of him lying on a recliner sofa listening to classical music.

However, since they couldn’t play the music video in reality, people focused on Frau. At that moment, Frau turns around and points into the darkness.

Hearts are pounding.

A figure walked out of the darkness.

His silhouette filled the gap in the scene, and people watched him with their hands over their mouths.

Eventually, Halo, who came out onto the diamond-shaped protruding stage, wore the white shirt and belted shorts he wore in the music video and sang Dick’s part.

[George, thank you for teaching Helena. Oh, look at that elegant swan-like figure. I’m not saying this because she’s my daughter, but isn’t she a bit lovely?]

At the unbalanced word ‘daughter’ in the mouth of a 16-year-old boy, the audience couldn’t help but scream internally.

Yes, lovely! People shouted the chorus together.

Whether that was meant for Helena or for the boy they love.

[A seagull cutting through the waves. The sound of crashing waves. The white foam of the summer sea. I should feel what the sand feels like on the soles of my feet. The hands that used to touch cold machines will gently stroke themselves. And they’ll remember the promise made to you. The naive times when I promised to pluck the stars from the night sky for you.]

Lights fell like comets above Halo’s head.

[What about you, Frau?]

As the lyrics were changed to Frau in Jason’s absence, Frau winked as if he did well and answered with Jason’s lyrics.

The lights that were as blue as the night sky rose-red.

Jason, standing under the sunset, ran down the long road stretched out before him.

Like a gunslinger in the West.

Frau blew on the end of the money gun that now wouldn’t shoot no matter how much he pulled the trigger.

The dry ice on the floor scattered like heat from the gun barrel.

[Now, it’s the last project. The last day left for me and you and us. It’s the last day fair to everyone. Or-.]

Now Halo’s part is coming back.

People shouted “Wooah” and cried out.

Unfair!

The boy smiled in response.

And the long interlude.

People expected the boy’s attempt that would soon come.

Halo met their wishes and sang.

The yodel everyone had been waiting for.

As he excellently handled the long yodel, the stage rumbled even more.

Halo sang his short part, and soon returned to the hook.

The lights brightened.

[You probably spent time without regrets]

[You must have spent it with the people you like.]

Frau raised his fist towards Halo, and Halo bumped it together. Eyes of jealousy were directed at the two fists.

And Halo sang out the song that was slowly reaching its climax.

[It was a time without regrets]

[I’ll say I won’t regret it]

[To the people I love]

[Because it was a day full of everything I like]

[I was quite-]

Alright.

People repeated the chorus.

[Now it’s the last project, boy. We have only one hour left now. One hour left for everything.]

Eventually, the boy raised the microphone and brought it to the people.

We don’t like goodbyes.

Because that’s really the end.

And we’re not over yet, right?

Everyone shouted, expecting the ‘next’.

[Morning!]

Good morning!

The accompaniment continues for a long time.

Frau, who was riding the rhythm, starts dancing.

The eyes looking at the boy deepen.

Halo sighs deeply, and finally starts stepping.

Frau, just as the accompaniment ends, raises the microphone and says.

To me who showed you everything you wanted to see-.

“What do you have to say to me?”

The fans’ answers poured down like monsoon rain.

“I love you!”

“Thank you! Frau! You know well!”

“Come here, I’ll give you a kiss!”

Halo couldn’t help but smile at the honest and naked gratitude.

He conducted the stage opening speech together with Frau.

Halo greeted calmly, and Frau was a bit louder as always.

If they had already talked about how they came to collaborate with Halo on the talk show, more private stories came out here.

For example, the story about the last scene in the music video.

“Actually, I didn’t think you’d allow it.”

“If I didn’t allow it, were you not going to upload it?”

“Um… to be honest, No.”

When Halo looked at him as if to ask why he asked then, Frau said proudly.

“I was going to whine until it worked. If I could upload your video by sacrificing myself, pride doesn’t matter!”

Right on! Someone shouted.

“But can I ask why you allowed it? Again, I didn’t expect to get a yes so easily.”

“It wasn’t too bad.”

“What wasn’t?”

“My dance.”

As Halo said proudly, people couldn’t help but smile. The boy’s words weren’t wrong. The boy seemed quite talented in dancing, and it wasn’t ridiculous at all.

They laughed for the same reason Frau burst out laughing.

The boy who said his dance wasn’t bad looked really confident.

“That’s right, I felt your soul. I’ll admit it honestly.”

Frau, who had been laughing holding his stomach, finally admitted it.

After revealing the anecdote of the music video, they briefly shared their future plans. Halo spoke first.

He showed his characteristic mischievous smile and looked around at people.

“I think it’s about time now. Of course, if you all don’t want it, I might have to think about it once.”

So that’s about the next album.

Knowing that everyone would want it, and in fact, he would do as he pleased whether people wanted it or not, the boy deliberately spoke badly, and people groaned and shouted ‘Oh please’.

“Do you really want it?”

“So wicked!“

Someone couldn’t help but shout.

People and Halo both burst out laughing.

On the other hand, Frau revealed unexpected news about his future plans.

“So I’m thinking about stand-up comedy.”

“Oh. I think you’d be good at it?”

“Really? Actually, I think I’d be good at it too. But I’m scared because the offer is too good.”

“Since when did you have anything to be scared of?”

“Ok, actually I wasn’t scared. Just.”

“If I were to do it, would you come out once?”

It’s clear that he just said he was scared for the build-up to this proposal.

Stand-up comedy. Halo, who had been the subject of comedy there but had never gone out, nodded readily.

“Of course, if you invite me.”

“Oh!”

Frau was surprised by the easy answer, and the people who hoped Halo would come out with anything were excited and said it was good.

“I’ll prepare well and come.”

“No, that’s okay. You don’t need to prepare anything. Just come and sit next to me.”

When Halo was puzzled, Frau whispered very seriously.

And whenever people make scary faces, you say.

“Laugh.” he said.

Again, he was very serious.

Having made people laugh once more, Frau proved his talent for stand-up comedy. After singing one more song, Frau exited cleanly like that.

But that didn’t mean the concert was over.

It just became his complete time.

9 o’clock.

The concert that started with The Last DaY music video realized a part that appeared in that music video.

Halo, like his wish in the music video

Sang all night, and finally in the last turn, threw himself at the audience.

The staff were startled by the singer’s sudden action, but Halo wasn’t hurt at all.

Those who loved Halo wouldn’t hurt him.

If anything, they might treat him like a fragile glass candy.

If someone were to drop him here, that day might become their execution day.

And so another night passed.

A night faster than any other, and more regrettable than any other.

Halo woke up late in the afternoon on November 8th.

And he found messages from his mother and father had arrived.

Before checking the messages, Halo stretched as he came out and pulled back the blackout curtains.

And naturally, he began to think about the next concert.

Is it Korea now?