The Road to Glory Chapter 227 - [Side Story] Chapter 29. Song of the Sea

“It’s been a while since I’ve had this many people. Welcome aboard my ship.”

Halo stood at the bow, facing the wind.

Though the ship swayed with the waves, it felt good to cut through them and move forward.

“Have you all done much fishing?”

After sailing for a while and stopping at a spot, the captain asked Halo, Kwon Jaeik, and the VJ holding the camera behind them. They had agreed to speak casually.

“Looking at how quickly this one threads bait, it’s not his first time.”

“I go sea fishing here and there occasionally.”

“I thought so.”

And the other person-.

The captain noticed Halo staring blankly at the worm.

“I have to touch this?”

“Fishing starts with the bait.”

“With my hands?”

“Were you planning to borrow someone else’s?”

He thought the worm was dead, but it suddenly wriggled.

He’d seen rats in sewers and insects before, but a live worm… especially a sea worm was different.

“Come here, I’ll do it for you.”

“My, someone’s clearly from the city.”

Kwon Jaeik, unable to watch anymore, threaded the worm onto the hook.

“And then what you need to do is…”

This seemed like it would take a while.

It didn’t seem like they’d catch much anyway.

At times like these, an expert needs to step up.

Kwon Jaeik wanted to show the beginner fisherman the secrets of a master.

“Hmm…”

However, an hour later.

“Got one…!”

Kwon Jaeik pulled up a small fish.

“The water here doesn’t seem too good.”

“…There’s a bite… pull, young man!”

People ignored his words and only stared at the boy’s fishing rod.

The boy waited, reeling in and letting out the line as he’d been taught.

Fishing seemed to be an endless exercise in patience.

Cast the hook and wait indefinitely for a signal.

And even when the signal comes, you can’t pull impatiently.

They say you need to pull the fishing line gently while letting it out, so the fish doesn’t realize it’s been caught.

At the end of this time of endurance, the fish reveals itself.

“Whoa!”

“My, that’s a big catch!”

“Congratulations, Halo-ssi.”

Halo smiled brightly at the fish that was as big as a person’s face.

He thought he understood why people fished now.

“This is fun.”

“Right?”

The captain smiled proudly, having gifted a beginner the joy of fishing.

“The first joy is waiting without knowing what you’ll catch, the second is that it’s not yours until it’s in your hands, and the third is that even though you sometimes lose them, patience can be rewarded.”

“Isn’t it just like our lives? Sometimes we lose things and fail, but still, we must keep casting endlessly for something. Then occasionally, a big one bites, and we catch it like this. Once you get addicted to this thrill, you keep casting and casting until it becomes your daily life, and that blends together to become your life.”

Seeing the boy nodding in agreement, the captain raised one finger.

“Want me to tell you about the real joy you haven’t experienced yet?”

“The real joy?”

“Actually, this is why we fish. Hey, how much did you catch?”

Kwon Jaeik, finally getting attention, grumbled.

“You could have paid attention to me earlier.”

“Didn’t you say you fish a lot? Is this all?”

“The water doesn’t seem good here.”

“The water’s fine. Just look at this.”

Kwon Jaeik closed his mouth after seeing Halo’s fish.

It seemed even a fishing expert couldn’t beat a beginner’s luck.

“Just you wait.”

“?”

“My, such a petty fellow. Just wait and see.”

The captain chuckled and went inside, then came back out.

And when they saw what he brought, all three people’s eyes lit up.

“This is why you can’t quit fishing.”

A gas burner, ramen, chili sauce, and-.

The captain shook a plastic bottle.

Whirlpools formed like the sea inside.

“This is incredible.”

#

“Wow.”

Fresh sashimi and freshly cooked ramen.

Kwon Jaeik blew on his ramen with a face full of happiness.

He looked like a neighborhood uncle rather than an actor.

“I thought it was alcohol. It’s cider.”

“The laws are stricter these days, even passengers can get arrested for drinking.”

Kwon Jaeik let out an exclamation.

Right, an actor couldn’t get caught drinking on a boat.

Better stick to eating ramen.

“Young man, by the way, are you good with alcohol? Seeing how you don’t eat much, I wonder if you drink well-.”

At the captain’s question, Halo smiled faintly.

“I drink well, but I don’t drink when I sing.”

“Sing?”

In the old days, people would drink and smoke no matter what they were doing.

Over time, he realized his voice was becoming increasingly hoarse.

Though his throat was strong and there were no health issues, Halo, having experienced that Roh Haeil’s body was like glass, was being more careful with it now.

Maybe it was because he was a child back then.

And he didn’t crave alcohol as much as he used to anymore.

It’s not that he disliked alcohol or parties.

It’s just that he felt the joy of being surrounded by people at parties even without alcohol.

Since he could feel joy without drinking, as if he had drunk, he didn’t often feel the need to drink.

“The sound of the waves is nice.”

When Halo looked at the sea and added this, the conversation shifted.

The captain too, looked at the sea.

“How does it sound to you?”

Halo closed his eyes and listened.

“A sound that covers everything.”

Splash. The waves receded.

“Even when pushed back, it returns again.”

Seagulls cried out.

They flew away with the small fish the captain had thrown.

“Sometimes regular, but can change at any time.”

The wind rushed through with a whoosh.

It passed through the waves that gleamed golden in the sunlight.

“It sounds like an orchestra that’s everywhere.”

It must be a sound that everyone knows and everyone loves.

“Could be.”

The captain nodded while looking at the boy.

Whether he understood or just sympathized, his face was deep in thought.

“To me, it sounds like someone’s voice.”

All three people’s attention focused on him.

“Shouting at me to wake up when I’m dozing off.”

The captain recalled being startled awake by the sea’s sound.

“Scolding me not to drink when I try to.”

The waves were especially strong on days he brought alcohol.

“Sometimes whispering, asking how my day was.”

When he brought the boat to port, it would say he’d done well today.

“Like my wife. She was such a blessing.”

Past tense.

The audience, noticing this, grew solemn.

The captain waved his hand.

“I’m not saying it to make you sad. Just when you mentioned the sound of waves, it oddly reminded me. I haven’t even had a drink, but it feels like I have.”

As the captain laughed heartily, the VJ hurriedly grabbed his camera.

“Should I turn off the camera?”

It seemed like something that shouldn’t be casually recorded.

“Turn it off? I won’t say anything bad now, so you don’t need to turn it off. And you said you came to capture life. The life that everyone has. How could I interfere with such good work? I’m fine. Really, don’t worry about it. It’s from long ago, so there’s no sadness anymore. Rather, I’m glad. I wasn’t conscious of it, but it really seems that way.”

The captain laughed boisterously, saying it was okay.

“She must have been a wonderful person.”

At Kwon Jaeik’s words, the captain nodded.

“She was my greatest blessing.”

The captain looked around, then opened his mouth.

“Would it be alright if I shared a few old stories?”

“Please do. We met by fate after all.”

“If you tell us, I’ll edit accordingly.”

“Well, I’m satisfied just having someone listen to my story.”

“It’s just a story that everyone has.”

And so the captain’s story began.

A story that everyone has, but is special to each person.

At some point, the VJ sniffled, and Kwon Jaeik’s voice grew lower.

“I wonder if I made the atmosphere too gloomy.”

The captain laughed awkwardly.

He had just been happy to talk about his wife after so long, but others were getting sad. Well. He felt sorry.

They must have come to have fun, what old man’s nonsense was this.

“We should head back soon, did you enjoy fishing?”

“Thank you so much for taking us out.”

The captain looked at the boat deck filled with both gratitude and sadness, worried, then raised his head. The captain was especially grateful for the composed boy.

“Young man, could I ask for one favor? The radio is broken, so could you sing any song?”

Halo asked.

“Any song?”

“Any song is fine. I love all songs.”

Halo sat at the bow and held the guitar.

What song should he sing?

His fingers twitched.

Halo realized.

Ah, I want to make music.

His hands moved restlessly as they gripped the guitar.

Whether the captain and others were watching or not, Halo strummed the guitar a few times before finally casting his gaze to the sea.

The voice of the sea that the captain had spoken of came riding on the wind.

Halo, listening to the sea’s melody, strummed the guitar strings.

A slow but sweet melody.

Finally, the boy opened his mouth.

[One day the sea comes rolling in and tells me]

[Everything will get better.]

The captain’s lips slowly closed as he listened to the song.

[Even today I shine a light

On the dark sea

And live rowing my oar]

[One day you come rolling in

And tell me]

[Don’t cry today

For you who lives that day]

The boy smiled gently.

[I know

Everyone says the past is just the past

And today is the most beautiful

But to me, you are the most beautiful

The gentle wind and waves

The endless sea.

And you are part of all of these things.]

The captain’s body began to tremble.

Halo looked at him before casting his gaze to the sea.

The waves rolled in.

As if responding to his song.

[One day you come rolling in

And tell me

It’s okay to cry today

For me who lives today]

And gently pushes the boat.

It almost felt like an embrace.

[I know

Everyone says the past is just the past

And to let it flow away with a drink

But one drink can’t cover the sea]

The gentle wind and waves.

The endless day.

And you are part of all these things

Kwon Jaeik stared blankly at the boy.

The simple yet lyrical melody flew and pierced his ears.

It pricked his heart like sharp needles.

The boy sang with an even lower voice.

[I stand proudly

On the sea and say

As we promised

I am, doing well]

The performance was gradually slowing down.

It somewhat resembled the captain, who would say he was fine even as his words grew slower.

[One day you come rolling in

It’s okay to cry today

For us who will meet someday]

The captain’s breathing grew rough.

[I know

That day isn’t today

They say I need to have patience

But when will I be able to catch it]

When would he be able to catch what’s at the end of that fishing line.

The captain realized his earlier story was coming back to him.

[One day the waves come rolling in and tell me]

Finally, the song scattered with the waves.

[Everything will get better]

Though the music ended, that’s when the captain’s shoulders began to tremble.

Kwon Jaeik slowly patted his shoulder, and the boy who had put down his guitar came forward to fill the space.

The captain reached out and grabbed the boy’s hand.

Actually, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to grab.

But the captain gripped firmly and trembled for a while.

It was when the sun was beginning to set that he dropped them back at the port.

#

Humming broodgro~

Kwon Jaeik, who went fishing with Halo, kept humming, overcome with emotion.

He sang while eating, and after finishing his meal too.

The pronunciation was so twisted, it was hard to tell what song it was.

Lee Sora opened her mouth with a strange look.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“I wonder, did something happen?”

Lee Jeongmin and Lee Sora’s gazes landed on Halo.

Halo just shrugged, saying “Well…”

“Why’s Kwon Jaeik-ssi suddenly like this? What happened?”

“Something like… the sea happened, yeah.”

“And why are you tearing up again.”

PD Na patted the VJ who had accompanied them, and announced the end of today’s filming, leaving the outdoor fixed cameras.

“Good work everyone. Have a pleasant evening.”

“Get some rest.”

“Good work today.”

As the cast also exchanged greetings and dispersed, it happened.

Lee Sora, who had gone to her room first, came out carrying blankets.

“What’s that?”

“Blankets.”

“…Ah, blankets.”

That’s probably not why he was asking.

Whether Kwon Jaeik was dumbfounded or not, Lee Sora put the blankets down on the bench.

“I know everything. Are you having secret talks without me?”

Then she shouted indignantly.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

She pointed out that they spent time together every night.

Kwon Jaeik muttered.

“…Thought you didn’t know.”

“You didn’t make a separate group chat for just the three of you, right? Anyway, include me from now on.”

“We don’t have any secret talks though.”

And since when did you care about secret talks or group chats.

To Kwon Jaeik’s words, Lee Sora replied.

“I’m more sensitive than you think.”

“I haven’t seen that in ten years.”

“You just didn’t notice.”

Lee Sora plopped down on one side of the bench.

“Shouldn’t you go to bed?”

“It’s fine, Jeongmin. Did I tell you? I can’t sleep in unfamiliar places.”

“…”

Ah, I see.

Even Lee Jeongmin, who usually spoke kindly, couldn’t defend this.

“Who have I been seeing for over a week then?”

“Haeil, it’s cold. Here, let’s cover up.”

Lee Sora covered their legs with the blanket she brought.

“Ah, the stars are pretty.”

Then she lay down and looked at the sky.

It was filled with light that couldn’t be seen in the city.

Since she was already lying down, it was awkward to nag.

Kwon Jaeik and Halo also lay down one by one, and Lee Jeongmin sat sharing the same sky.

Around that time, episode 6 of Welcome to my world was uploaded to NuTube.