The Road to Glory Chapter 198 - The Road to Glory (Main Story Complete)

With a click, the player starts spinning.

Soon, piano music fills the air.

The melody was like a shallow ripple on a quiet lake.

As the sound grows louder, people in the bookstore begin to lean in and listen.

A sad and fragile piano accompaniment begins. It seems like it could break at any moment, with long pauses between notes.

However, the sound continues unbroken, and small noises are added.

Children’s voices, people’s conversations, and laughter gently spread like white noise.

Finally, a boy’s monologue rings out.

Unlike his usual self, his voice was small and slow.

May this world that I love be a warm world for you.

May this world that I love be a warm world for you.

But there was a deep resonance.

So I hope you can love this world.

So I hope you can love this world too.

HALO’s first full-length album.

Or rather, it was the monologue version of [Love this World], the title track from his fourteenth album [Shape of Love].

When the monologue ends, the piano melody that was lying in the background grows louder, and a regular rhythm is layered on top.

The boy’s voice would complete the already beautiful melody.

For the first time, a boy’s voice singing about love echoed throughout the world.

Ripples form in hearts that were as quiet as lakes.

Along with it, stomachs quietly churned.

At this moment, people stopped what they were doing and listened to the boy’s song.

Critics said that the 14th album Shape of Love wasn’t like Halo’s music.

That it wasn’t the music they had expected.

Some said Halo had changed after revealing his identity.

It was true.

Up until Halo’s 13th album, there was a connected story.

From the 1st to 13th album, time flowed through Halo’s music, containing one person’s lifetime.

People talked about his joy and despair, and enjoyed losing themselves in his emotions.

His music was him, and he was the sun that pulled in all planets.

Some people say the mood of the songs changed from the 13th album, but while the number of instruments decreased, there was clearly something in common. Like a star at its peak trying to end everything. Like a star’s time ending, causing a supernova explosion. Quite a few people believed the rumors of Halo’s retirement.

A year passed since then.

He did world tours and collaborations, but some thought Halo was going through a slump.

Releasing an album every month might seem impossible to others, but hadn’t Halo shown it was possible? For such a person to rest for a year could only be seen as a slump.

When he made a bet with Jason Dyke, some considered it a rebuttal to the slump theory and noise marketing.

Either way, many people were paying attention to Halo’s next album.

Whether they were Halo’s fans, people wanting to prove their points, or just those who liked gossip, it wouldn’t be wrong to say the world was watching.

Finally, March 21st arrived.

The day Halo had announced.

Jason Dyke opened the curtain on that day.

At 00:00 California time.

Right as March 21st began, Jason Dyke released an album after a long time, and the quality was excellent as if he had prepared for quite a while.

Especially two songs.

As soon as it was released, the title track’s only flaw was its shortness, with singing rap and addictive beats. And with lyrics that seemed to speak to his ex who had him wrapped around their finger, it perfectly hit the easy-listening demographic’s taste.

On the other hand, another hip-hop track, while no one specifically pointed out who it was about, was about someone anyone familiar with Jason Dyke’s story could guess.

People were enthusiastic about the diss track claiming that person who acted so confident would end up being devoured by him.

Of course, some of Halo’s fans thought he was shameless for being an impersonator, but hadn’t the impersonation issue been cleared up by the person himself?

It truly became a song with lots of talk and popularity.

Meanwhile, there was no news of Halo’s album until that evening.

Since it was already the 22nd in Korea, critics began saying that Halo had admitted defeat.

That with Jason Dyke’s songs being of unexpectedly high quality, plus seeing his diss track, he was buying time to counterattack.

Heated arguments continued between fans and haters.

Harsh words were exchanged that could have led to incidents if they had met in person.

Then. Halo’s album appeared on the music charts.

Along with the announcement of physical album (CD) pre-orders.

Halo’s fans eagerly played the fresh new songs, and others did the same.

If they wanted to say anything, they had to listen first and know what it was about.

And so Halo’s first full-length album.

The 10 tracks could be heard in someone’s home, workplace, on the streets, day and night.

The most un-Halo-like music.

However,

[(Title) Love this world⎪HALO 1st Album]

The story of a man who never compromised with the world coming to love it,

-May this world that I love be a warm world for you.

And his wish was enough to move people to tears.

The music containing the wish of the world’s most beloved boy swept through people’s hearts like a spring breeze.

Perhaps it might be similar to the music Roh Haeil made.

Because people listening to the song remembered the world that was warm to them too.

But it wasn’t exactly the same.

[Love this world] was ultimately the boy’s story, containing his desperate love for the world.

People sympathized with the boy’s story and recalled their own stories.

Some shed tears without realizing,

Some quietly stare at the text engraved on the CD.

Some said it wasn’t like Halo,

Others said it was music only Halo could create.

The love of the world’s most beloved person reaches them.

The results appeared immediately.

[1. Love this world – HALO]

Halo chuckled at the message sent like an ex asking “Did you really have to do this?”

When Jason Dyke talked about his love and dissed Halo saying he was better, Halo sang about the world and talked about the people he loved.

Jason Dyke felt deflated hearing music that didn’t even bother to respond.

People wouldn’t remember their bet anymore.

Under this music [Love this world], everything was forgotten and only love remained. It was a complete defeat for him.

Meanwhile, Halo felt relieved.

It felt like he had put down some burden.

Though he still carried the burden about Roh Haeil, Halo felt freer than ever.

After releasing the new album, he hadn’t received any contacts from acquaintances yet.

He wasn’t too worried. He figured they would contact him when the time was right.

After all.

Moon Seoyeon wipes her nose.

Nam Gyuhwan’s voice was still hoarse,

Han Jinyeong seemed lost in deep thought.

The members who created [Love this world] with Halo had been in this state the whole time.

It wasn’t meant to make people cry.

Perhaps the members’ sensitivity was particularly high.

“It’s clearly not a sad song, but why do tears come?”

“Well, maybe because you won’t get to rest and will be busy from now on?”

When Halo joked, Moon Seoyeon’s eyes widened before she burst out laughing.

“That’s fine, boss. Please work us hard.”

“Really… Won’t you regret it?”

“!”

“I. As long as I can be together even if we go to hell, I’m happy.”

Though Moon Seoyeon closed her mouth at the meaningful expression, Nam Gyuhwan’s loyalty pledge continued.

“Then, please work me… moderately hard.”

“Are you sure?”

“! …Then, maybe a little more hard?”

At the heated atmosphere, Han Jinyeong reluctantly smiled and fanned himself with his hand.

“Hot, it’s hot.”

“For respecting the elderly, Jinyeong-hyung…”

“Gyuhwan.”

“Yes.”

This is a story from a day in March.

And so complete spring arrived.

“You decided on the ending?”

Halo received a late contact from BB.

BB, who had already entered pre-production, informed that actors had already started working behind the scenes.

How did they know when the Halo music film adaptation hadn’t even been announced.

People of all ages and races had applied for Halo’s role.

Halo didn’t care who played his role.

BB would handle the casting. He was only curious about one thing.

“What kind of ending is it?”

BB didn’t say he found the answer after hearing his new music.

That could be known when watching the movie’s ending.

So the current answer is the same.

“You’ll know when you watch the movie.”

“It’s my story, won’t you give me a hint?”

“You left the ending to me. If you regret it-“

At the words suggesting he could change the ending if he regretted it, Halo smiled and shook his head.

“Instead, I’ll show you this. It’s a preliminary sketch of the movie poster-“

BB revealed what seemed like a top secret as if making a huge concession.

Soon Halo saw the poster BB sent and burst out laughing.

On the surface, it was an ordinary poster with a movie title and casting board written over an electric guitar illustration.

But that casting board…

—

CAST

HALO – HALO

MRS. HALO – HALO

RIVAL – None

DIRECTOR – HALO

WORDS & MUSIC – HALO

PRODUCER – HALO

BASED ON TRUE STORY

—

It was completely plastered with HALO.

It looked so crude and like a doodle that officials would grab their necks if they saw it.

That meant it was exactly to Halo’s taste.

He laughed for so long that his curiosity about the ending disappeared.

It wouldn’t be too late to see it when the movie comes out.

Halo imagined watching his movie in a theater he rented entirely.

The film is being projected in a dark and quiet theater.

Halo will watch the movie holding popcorn.

He’ll drink cola too since he’ll get thirsty sometimes.

Before he knows it, he’ll be immersed in the story, crying sometimes and laughing frivolously at others.

And finally, he’ll see the ending.

Though he doesn’t know what ending BB prepared, it will be a satisfying one.

Soon the ending credits will roll with his music playing.

When all the film ends and the music stops, he’ll coolly walk out of the theater.

Throwing away the remaining popcorn and cola.

Leaving the black screen behind.

That would be enough.

Halo ended the chat.

He had broadcast schedules set up to promote the new album.

Time to start today.

#

A car crosses the dark road.

While loud music spreads creating excitement, the van entered the glamorous city.

What a beautiful night.

Celebrating the new year, the night was more magnificent than ever.

“Grammy surrenders to Halo”

The one reading the article snickered.

“Grammy isn’t much. They rebelled last year but surrendered in less than a year.”

It was amusing, but they had no choice but to surrender.

There was no music to compete with, so Grammy had no choice.

What music could be stronger than music containing a message of love?

“Why is that person riding here anyway?”

“His car broke down, apparently.”

“An American pop singer got in someone else’s car because his broke down? Suspicious. There must be another reason.”

When the members complained dissatisfied, Halo chuckled.

Though he couldn’t understand Korean, Jason, who had an uncanny sense for these things, retorted.

“I didn’t want to ride either, you know?”

“Want me to let you off now?”

Jason’s expression contorts.

He seemed to imagine calling an Uber while people swarmed around.

After considering which would be better, Jason chose the lesser evil and turned his face away with a huff.

In the van played music from some rookie singer, neither Halo’s nor Jason’s.

Halo hummed along to the melody.

Then, despite it being dawn, the energetic members asked.

“What will you do after getting the Grammy?”

At the strange déjà vu, Halo looked at them for a moment.

Seeing their eyes full of curiosity, he felt mischievous.

Maybe he should play a little prank.

Halo spoke words he had forgotten for a long time.

“Should I retire?”

“…?”

“!”

The van fell silent instantly.

Halo had expected them to burst out shouting.

However, different reactions followed.

“Hmm, retirement.”

Han Jinyeong didn’t take it seriously at all

“As long as I can stay by your side.”

Nam Gyuhwan, on the other hand, was unnecessarily serious.

Moon Seoyeon tilted her head alone before smiling brightly.

“Should we all go on a trip after retiring?”

“Oh, good idea. Where should we go this time?”

“A resort would be nice, or how about Croatia?”

Just hearing it makes it seem like they should go on a trip right away.

While keeping quiet at the unexpected reactions, finally the guest muttered quietly.

“Then am I the real Halo now?”

This bastard.

Halo’s mouth corners lifted.

No way. He couldn’t let his name be stolen like this.

“Hey, if you’re gonna retire, why not do it at the awards ceremony? That would really throw Grammy into chaos.”

Jason Dyke imagined it for a moment before cackling with laughter.

Finding it so funny, he kept punching the seat cushion.

Once, Halo too had hoped to see the Grammy judges’ faces crumple, but he didn’t want to do what this guy wanted.

The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed and he let out a snort.

Having his prank backfire, Halo threw his gaze out the window amid the noisy atmosphere.

Small lights shine like stars.

Though they look like they shine on their own like real stars,

In reality, they’re just masses that can’t shine without electricity.

Just like himself who can’t shine without Roh Haeil’s gift.

People call him The Sun, but he who can’t shine without someone’s help must be like those lights.

However, it wasn’t meaningless.

Just as small lights gather to form a galaxy,

He, too, will become one of the lights forming a galaxy.

And the lights around him will shine together.

So as not to look shabby when day comes

So that even when that pitiful true nature is revealed, everyone can understand

He will shine now with all his might.

Halo thought if his life were a movie, the ending credits would be rolling about now.

His most magnificent music would play as background music

And the casting board would roll up.

The sentence ‘This movie is based on a true story’ couldn’t be left out.

And at the end, text like this would appear:

To be continued.

A post-credits scene hinting at part 2 wouldn’t be bad either.

Halo finished imagining and hugged the guitar that symbolized him.

The driver tactfully turned off the music, and the members leaned in to listen.

Love this world.

His music that made even Grammy fall in love plays.

Though unlike his usual music, it fit well with this night.

He continued the lyrics while turning his head toward the window.

Banners hang in the magnificent city.

Welcome to Las Vegas

And below that, a message for him.

Love this world

Love this time

And All of us Love you