The Road to Glory Chapter 225 - [Side Story] Chapter 27. Piano Forest

After dinner, Lee Jeongmin spoke first when he saw the boy touching the guitar.

“Haeil-ssi, aren’t you going in?”

“What about you, brother?”

“I’ll stay a bit longer…”

Halo nodded as if to say ‘is that so,’ then went back to writing something in his sketchbook. His lips slightly curved upward as he concentrated. Lee Jeongmin looked at him with curious eyes.

“Are you making that dice game now? You’re working hard.”

“Yes. I feel like I can only rest after I finish it.”

“Oh, is that the reason?”

Lee Jeongmin laughed.

The kids acted like it was troublesome, but to a third party, they just looked like they were having fun.

Actually, even if he just threw them the completed sketchbook, the kids wouldn’t say they didn’t want to play.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Nothing, it’s just nice to see.”

Even though the boy probably knew that too, it was cute how he pretended otherwise. No wonder the kids followed him around calling him brother or teacher.

“Hey, what are you all doing here? I know you’re young, but good children should be sleeping by now, right?”

At that moment, arms landed on Lee Jeongmin and Halo’s shoulders.

Kwon Jaeik poked his head between them. There was a strawberry milk scent – looking closer, he had a lollipop in his mouth.

“Can you even see in the dark?”

Kwon Jaeik peered at Halo’s sketchbook and rubbed his eyes.

“Ugh, this’ll ruin your eyes.”

While others would always add a comment with eyes of amazement when they saw Halo composing, Kwon Jaeik just looked at it casually.

To his eyes, it just looked like someone doing their job, and that was it.

Everyone else was already pouring out all their expectations anyway, so he didn’t think he needed to make a fuss too. The kid should feel comfortable too. After all, he was just here to have fun.

If asked whether he was envious as a fellow musician(?), Kwon Jaeik would say he wasn’t sure. Sometimes he felt envious of how actively involved in music the other was, but he was already satisfied with his own music, so there wasn’t much to envy.

He just appreciates it diligently, the end.

“Since I’m not sleepy anyway, I think I’ll stay a bit longer too.”

Instead, Kwon Jaeik flopped down in an empty spot.

Then, eating his lollipop, he gazed at the sky.

The stars in the night sky filled in for the peaceful silence.

And so another night arrived.

#

Welcome to my world

Episode 5. Welcome to My Label.

Unlike the other two members, since one member hadn’t decided what to do yet, the label’s daily life was filled with content.

If until now they had covered the boy, today it would be bigger.

They would cover the boy’s label and the people working there.

It’s similar to regular companies in some ways, and different in others.

First, what catches the eye are spaces like rest areas and audio experience zones.

As expected of a music company, they displayed new audio equipment that anyone could try out, and there was even a welfare benefit for purchasing audio equipment within the company.

[OMG getting into the audio world is really expensive as a hobby]

[Audio purchase support?? This is crazy? Even if they don’t cover all of it, what’s the percentage? They’re not even an audio company]

When stopping passing employees and asking about the label’s advantages, one in three mentioned these benefits.

They could watch movies voted on by the company in the label’s underground theater, get tickets to other performances, and-.

The VJ asked.

1. Many viewers are asking this, but do label employees get priority for albums, merchandise, or concert tickets?

“We do sometimes set aside staff tickets, so it’s possible. I’m not sure what will happen if we get more employees, but it’s fine for now. And as for merchandise-.”

The employee couldn’t hide their smile.

When they were preparing the next merchandise, they were told to speak up if they wanted any.

To which all employees said they didn’t even need to vote, they’d be happy to have it deducted from their salary, just please give it to them.

“For employee use… um, no comment.”

[?]

[It works]

[Sorry but are there any hiring plans?]

[Open a merch shop!!!!]

[What about previous merch?]

“Ah, can I talk about this?”

The employee pondered.

Well, if there’s an issue, it would be edited out.

“There is previous merchandise remaining in the label.”

There was inventory left at the Seongsu Station label.

Thanks to ordering generously during production.

The chat scrolled up rapidly at those words.

“However, we don’t have enough inventory for online sales. So we’re planning to hold a flea market at the label. Since we’re going to do it together with other artists, it won’t just be leftover inventory, and we plan to donate all profits to a welfare foundation. We ask for your active participation.”

[omgomgomg]

[Open now!!!]

[Who are the other artists?]

[So you’re selling merch?]

[Last chance to get The Sun’s merch that doesn’t even show up at auctions]

[Those who already have some should yield]

[Free market requested in Australia (translated)]

Though the conversation got sidetracked for a moment, they covered most of the employee interviews. There was an employee who gained several kilos in a month thanks to a boss who didn’t skimp on break room and pantry supplies.

A new employee used to Korean corporate culture tried explaining their reasons for taking annual and half-day leave to Halo, only to be met with a face that couldn’t understand why they were explaining such things.

The rookie who accidentally overshared belatedly realized that the boy didn’t care about such things at all.

People were surprised that Halo, as an artist, wasn’t particularly sensitive about these things.

Usually, aren’t artists known to be neurotic, impulsive, and very sensitive to emotions? Especially since it was said he was going through a slump recently.

Everyone had thought he would be like that to some degree.

“Ah, well, he does have a free-spirited personality. That comes with its own difficulties.”

The manager smiled, not daring to say that after dealing with other celebrities, such things were nothing in comparison.

“I’m satisfied.”

1. What aspect are you most satisfied with?

“Um… the salary?”

[How much is he getting…?]

[Managers usually get paid poorly, but seeing them smile right away at the mention of salary, how much are they getting]

[Must be paying a lot]

[The best welfare = salary]

[I thought being Halo’s employee could be tiring but everyone looks bright for that. They call him Halo-ssi instead of boss, but respect? When they call him they seem to really like it]

[Pretty good for a company with only Halo and no future lol]

└ ?

└ To talk about future, Halo is only twenty…

└ Looking at how they don’t know about copyright income, this kid must be young

└ Before that, don’t you know one top star beats a truckload of unknown celebrities?

[I want to join Halo’s label, how do I get in?]

[Hellygan would apply even without benefits lol]

[??: You get to hear The Sun’s songs first?]

[Oh…? I’d like that too?]

And slowly, Welcome to my world was coming to an end.

Around then, Nam Gyuhwan, Halo band’s last member and percussionist, burst through the practice room door.

“I’ve decided.”

Puzzled looks from the members.

And as the scene changed, it showed a familiar view.

[Oh… that’s]

Dark figures in black boarding the Saemaul train at dawn,

And Halo’s butterfly gold case guitar case is shown in close-up on one of the seats.

As members hand Halo, who had taken off his hat, mineral-stone boiled eggs and banana milk, the train’s destination is shown and the video ends.

[Seoul Station?!]

[Wasn’t there a Halo sighting at Seoul Station before?]

#

Halo noticed something was strange around the time Baegun Elementary School was ending.

“Huh? I don’t see Gyeowool today?”

That morning, Lee Sora was the first to look for Gyeowool.

Since coming to the island, Gyeowool had always followed Halo around like a baby chick. Unless something special happened, they saw the child every day, so it was impossible not to worry when they couldn’t see her today.

On the other hand, until then, Halo hadn’t thought much of it.

“They probably went to school with her friends.”

“You think so?”

He thought they’d see them at school, and it seemed like they did come to school.

He didn’t expect not to see them all day.

No, more precisely-

“!”

He didn’t expect them to so obviously avoid him when he did see them.

While he usually didn’t care if someone avoided him, even he couldn’t ignore such obvious avoidance.

“Why don’t you go check on her?”

“…”

Halo stared intently at their back.

“We have class soon so it can’t be helped, but Haeil, pay a bit more attention to Gyeowool. She’s more sensitive than other kids. And she likes you the most out of everyone.”

Are they sensitive?

Halo tilted his head wondering, but nodded anyway.

He thought he’d talk to them during class since they couldn’t avoid that.

But.

“…”

“Gyeowool?”

During music class, there was no response to the teacher’s call.

They were clearly not there.

“Kids, have you seen Gyeowool?”

“Don’t know.”

“Teacher, why aren’t we going to the music room today?”

“We’re having class in the classroom today, but really, no one’s seen Gyeowool? Where did she go?”

The other kids seemed uninterested.

Halo glanced at the troubled teacher and spoke up.

“I’ll go find them.”

“You will, Halo-ssi? I’d appreciate it, but do you know where they are?”

“No, but… I have an idea.”

“Then please do.”

Halo walked out into the hallway.

Without stopping, he went straight to a classroom and stopped.

Since the broadcasting room would be locked, there was only one place to go.

The door slides open.

Halo found the child sitting in front of the piano in the music room.

“What are you doing here.”

“…”

They clearly had some complaint about him.

Gyeowool glanced at him and pointedly turned their head away, just staring at the piano.

Seeing them just staring without playing, Halo closed the door and walked in.

Step by step.

Gyeowool visibly flinched at the creaking floor.

Regardless, Halo leaned against the piano and looked at Gyeowool.

“Try playing.”

“Huh?”

Gyeowool who answered reflexively ducked their head, surprised at their own response.

“You’re here to play the piano, right? I doubt you’re just staring at the keys to reflect on something.”

“…I don’t know.”

“What don’t you know. The sheet music? Just play anything.”

Gyeowool slowly puffed up their cheeks.

They were trying hard to show they were angry but Halo wasn’t acknowledging it at all.

Still, when told to play, Gyeowool put their hands on the keys but couldn’t press any of them.

“I can’t. Nothing comes to mind.”

In front of the piano, countless sounds disappear and only they remain.

Gyeowool liked that feeling. It felt like the world was inviting them to try playing the piano.

Because of that, Gyeowool always stood before the piano.

When they wanted to play the piano, when they wanted to escape from noisy sounds. When they wanted to be alone. And even when they wanted to feel better, they stood before the piano.

Usually when they stood at the piano, their hands would move freely, but strangely today their mood wouldn’t improve. Though they wanted to be alone, the world was still noisy, and their mood was a mess.

It had been like that since yesterday.

When Halo casually taught music to other kids.

‘I… He told me no when I asked…’

“Then should we play together?”

At that moment, Gyeowool’s head shot up at Halo’s voice.

Without looking at them, Halo had placed his right hand on the piano.

“I’ll play with my right hand, you play with just your left. Left hand is more comfortable for you, right?”

“! How did you know?”

With smudged writing and lots of things stuck to just their left hand, it was impossible not to notice.

Halo just shrugged without answering and continued.

“It’s a game of stacking sounds together.”

“…”

“I can only use my right hand, you can only use your left. We have to keep playing until one person stops, and whoever stops first loses.”

“How do we play together?”

Without sharing sheet music. Gyeowool couldn’t understand how two people with different thoughts could play separately.

“You don’t have to if you’re not confident.”

“No, I’ll do it.”

“Then let’s try.”

Halo showed a small smile and started moving his right hand.

Gyeowool followed along with his notes.

“Should I go easy on you?”

“No, don’t! I can do it!”

“Alright. I wasn’t planning to anyway.”

At those words, Gyeowool briefly glared at Halo for being mean.

But when Halo started playing faster, they quickly focused back on the piano.

They wouldn’t be able to think about anything else.

And so the notes built up.

It was like a mature adult playing with a child, but also like they were fighting.

Gyeowool thought it would be a mess, but it was better than expected and-

“It’s good, right?”

“…”

Though it was good, not wanting to admit it, Gyeowool kept their mouth shut.

But their expression couldn’t be hidden.

Anyone looking would tell them to close her mouth before flies got in – Gyeowool was playing with their mouth open, clearly enjoying themselves.

“Should we try with both hands now?”

As Halo unbuttoned and rolled up his sleeve, Gyeowool rolled up their sleeves.

It was the real beginning.

:

“Who’s playing music during class time! Gyeowool, it’s you again isn’t it?”

Thump thump approaching footsteps.

The security guard grandfather who flung open the music room door looked around.

He definitely heard piano sounds.

The piano lid was open, but no one was in sight.

After looking around, the grandfather shot sharp glances around before closing the door and leaving.

Well after the footsteps had faded away.

“Phew…”

Someone let out a held breath.

It was Halo and Gyeowool sighing simultaneously from where they were hiding under the teacher’s desk.

They crawled out from under the desk and fanned themselves saying it was hot, then burst into laughter.

“That was fun!”

Gyeowool exclaimed.

Her troubled heart felt like it had been swept away by a huge wave.

“Do you do this kind of thing in Seoul too?”

“Yeah. We play like this when we’re bored.”

Later when viewers heard this, it spawned various jokes like [Who?] [Us?] [Haha yes, we Seoul people listen to classical music while having afternoon tea in the morning] [Hahaha we’ve been found out, remember everyone? Study Nietzsche’s theories in morning classes, then have summit meetings about current affairs while playing chess in the afternoon] denying reality.

Gyeowool went “Wow.”

“Seoul people are so cool.”

“This place is fun too.”

Halo was starting to like this island called Baegun more and more.

He got musical inspiration, and felt like he was understanding why he couldn’t make ‘Roh Haeil-like music.’ He thought he might overcome his slump soon too.

Anyway, Gyeowool seemed to be feeling better.

“So what did you want to say?”

“Huh?”

“You had something to tell me, right?”

At Halo’s words, Gyeowool’s expression gradually changed.

Then she threw out:

“I don’t have anything to say.”

“Really nothing? Then should we go to class now?”

When Halo tried to get up, Gyeowool grabbed his arm.

Don’t go. And hesitating, she opened her mouth.

“You know.”

“Yeah.”

“Am I weird?”

“Huh?”

That sounded like a question he’d heard before.

Gyeowool hesitated.

“Why only me not allowed?”

“?”

“Do you hate teaching me? Is it because I’m weird?”

Gyeowool felt disappointed again as she spoke.

“You taught the other kids well.”

When she said she didn’t know sheet music, he taught such fun songs to others, but why did he say no only to her? Just as others had said, she wondered if it was because he disliked her for being weird.

Though Halo had already said she wasn’t weird, that was the only thing that bothered her.

“Ah.”

Halo suddenly remembered.

Back when Gyeowool asked him to teach their songs, he had said no.

He didn’t know they had been holding onto that.

“I just.”

Gyeowool looked at Halo.

Her eyes were half crying.

“I don’t like teaching music.”

“To me?”

“No. To anyone. I’ve never taught music to anyone.”

It’s not that no one had ever asked him to teach them music before.

Both in the previous world and this one, he’d even received quite a few lecture offers.

But there’s something he always says when refusing.

“That’s just-.”

Halo recalled old memories.

“Something you figure out on your own.”

Back then, he learned while hanging out with his bros.

They didn’t directly teach much, but he learned a lot while spending time with them. Halo thought that’s how music should be learned.

And even if that wasn’t the case.

Halo looked at Gyeowool.

“You can already do it.”

“!”

“You were already doing well on your own.”

At these words of acknowledgment, Gyeowool’s cheeks slowly turned pink.

Ah, so that was it.

It wasn’t that he disliked me, but that he believed in me.

Her disappointed feelings completely disappeared.

She felt embarrassed for whining and acting so childish.

“Still, I can help with that.”

Halo broke through the silence.

“With what?”

“What you want to do.”

What I want to do?

What’s that? Seeing Gyeowool didn’t understand, he added:

“Your reason for doing music.”

“!”

Memories slowly surfaced.

– You said you wanted to connect sounds, right? What kind of sounds do you want to connect?

– I want to connect the sound of mom humming

That small conversation.

– Still, you made it well.

– You’ll be able to connect them well.

Back then he acknowledged her, and

– Still, I can help with that

This time he remembered.

He even says he’ll help.

Gyeowool’s face slowly bloomed like a flower.

“Okay!”

She wasn’t quite sure what was good.

Everything just felt good.

“Then should we go to class first now?”

“Yeah.”

Right now, even class seemed good.

Gyeowool nodded repeatedly like an energetic chick.

Just then, the bell rings.

The end-of-class bell.

“…”

“…”

The child and adult who looked at each other soon burst into laughter again.

And then, it really began.

Just like how his bros used to take Halo around.

This time Halo became the brother, and the real music lessons began.