Raising a Neglected Singer-Songwriter - Chapter 178



Only Noblemtl

178. Seoul’s night sky

There were some stipulations attached to the bet with Justin Bobby.

First, there should be no featuring.

Second, the theme of the song is freedom.

Third. Without prior exposure or publicity to the media.

Fourth, the sound source is released through Sound Sky, not the official chart.

Each of them created new account nicknames, ‘Player B (Bobby)’ and ‘Player D (Device)’.

All the provisions meant one thing.

Let’s put aside external factors such as popularity or fame and just go for it with everything we have built up!

“The music release date is two weeks from now.”

It was such a tight time that if others had heard about it, they would have asked, “Why are you roasting beans over a lightning fire?”

“Why are you like this, players?”

Justin Bobby is a nurse.

“It’s too late. Even a week from now would be fine.”

Seongjun wasn’t flustered either.

He even showed off his super-fast impromptu compositions on TV.

If you quickly decide on a theme for the song and summon inspiration for it, you can finish recording it in less than two hours.

‘And rather, it is better to have a shorter preparation period for the concert.’

Of course, the bet with Justin Bobby was important, but the year-end concert was equally important to Sungjun.

Because I have to give the best performance to the fans who come to see me.

And actually, even if you lose the bet, you don’t really have much to lose.

The only disadvantages are that he has to give his information to Bobby and loses the wind-up of the music box.

There’s no way I’d go around telling the neighborhood that Barbie found out about me.

‘If you play idle games, you can become a genius singer-songwriter! Cha Sung-jun also became a genius!’

Even if you shout it out for a hundred days, who would believe such absurd words?

Rather, there are probably more people who think that Barbie is talking nonsense because she is obsessed with Korean web novels.

The music box wind-up side is also somewhat positive.

‘Given Orpheus’s personality, it doesn’t seem like the music box spring will be a reward for this mission.’

This is my feeling as a player who has been playing Bangsinki for nearly a year.

Orpheus wants to test the game he created through himself.

‘But, you’re ending it without showing the truth about the music box, which is the final content, to the one and only player in the world?’

If I were a developer, I wouldn’t do something so pitiful.

Even if it means lowering the mission difficulty, I’ll show off everything I’ve made and see the reactions.

Besides, Orpheus is a guy who brags about his genius with his own mouth.

He is the embodiment of narcissism.

So, I think he would want to show off the perfection of his work, ‘Bangsingki’.

‘And the only person he can brag about Bangsinki to is me, the ‘player’.’

That was Sungjun’s confidence.

That’s not all.

There was one more reason to think that the music box spring would continue to appear even if I failed to obtain it this time.

It is the ‘gap-eul’ relationship between Orpheus and himself.

At first glance, it seems like Orpheus, who lends his power, is the ‘A’ and he, the agent who borrows the power, is the ‘B’.

On the other hand, he becomes ‘A’ and Orpheus becomes ‘B’.

How can such a contradictory logic be established?

It’s simple.

‘Without that agent, the opening of the Ascension Gate that Orpheus desires would be impossible!’

The reason he granted himself such great abilities through the tool called ‘Bangsinki’ was so that he could return to his original world called ‘Story’.

But what if the agent is dissatisfied with not receiving more music box wind-up rewards and refuses to engage in activities to accumulate non-Vital Energy?

Orpheus’s return home goes across the water.

In other words, both sides held the sword.

This was Seongjun’s corner of faith.

“Then, let’s meet at Sound Sky in two weeks.”

After saying our final goodbyes to Justin Bobby, we left the suite.

Seongjun stands in the middle of the street and suddenly looks up at the sky.

It felt like we had been there for about an hour, but the sunset had already passed and the purple night sky had spread out.

“The night sky of Seoul is… hazy.”

It’s not easy to find stars.

It was similar to the situation Seongjun was in.

If you refuse the ascension offered by Orpheus, you will risk losing all the abilities you have accumulated so far.

Even a bet with a guy who isn’t even sure if he’s a player or not.

In Justin Bobby’s suite, he tried to act positive and not let it show to the guy, but inside, of course, he was worried.

“It feels like life has suddenly become more difficult… ”

It felt like the ordeal of the happiness I had enjoyed as ‘Bangsingki’ was given to me all at once.

It feels as if I was assigned to the front line after enlisting.

“That means the future is dark.”

But just as the end came, the discharge came to the private who had despaired.

Even in the midst of difficulties and despair, there is always hope.

The same goes for Seoul’s gloomy night sky.

If you look closely, there are bound to be stars hidden somewhere.

Those stars only reveal themselves to those who deeply desire them.

And just in time.

Twinkle-

Seongjun raised his head and the hidden starlight entered his eyes.

In the black darkness, you have to look very closely to see the faint twinkle of starlight.

That small but bright sparkle gives Sungjun strength.

“Let’s give it a try.”

Just as you have to hit rock bottom to gain momentum and jump higher.

The trials we endure will surely become the nutrients for further growth.

This trial will certainly be the same.

“I will make it happen.”

Seongjun repeated it as if he had made a promise.

Before I knew it, a smile had returned to my frozen face.

Then, Seongjun, who had starlight in his eyes, lowered his head and looked forward.

Seongjun’s footsteps, which had stopped for a moment, began to move again.

*

Two days later.

The photo in Justin Bobby’s Instagram was of the United States.

“That’s really amazing.”

There was no news or articles about my departure.

‘What method did you use?’

Added to the list of questions to ask Justin Bobby when he wins.

one side,

After meeting Barbie.

Rather than being absorbed in composing songs for a bet, Sungjun was living an ordinary life.

Anyway, writing a song itself is quick.

Rather, it was important to decide on the theme of the song and what message it would convey.

And that kind of inspiration doesn’t come from being locked in a studio and having your head wrapped around it.

Rather, there are more cases where ideas sparkle in everyday life.

So, he was able to handle the tasks assigned to him one by one with peace of mind.

“First of all, I had a good talk with the mysterious girl about [Cheonma Hwansaeng].”

I informed the Brave Cat CEO about the opening song for the webtoon [Cheonma Hwansaeng], which is currently in animation production.

Then he replied that he had already heard the news before he called.

– So, Sungjun, do you remember the sample song you sent me before? Why, you sent it to me because I told you that I wanted the next Mimyosoyeon comeback song after ‘Salgeum’ to be a song with Sungjun’s signature band sound.

If only Sungjun would allow me, I would like to send that song as the opening song demo for [Cheonma Hwansaeng].

Yonggo said that he had already contacted lyricist Choi Ha Na to ask if he could add some demo lyrics to the song.

Since it was a song that was written with the intention of being sung by a mysterious girl anyway, Yonggo was overjoyed when I told him to do so.

At the same time, a system message sounded.

[Guild member ‘Subtle Girl’s group mission has arrived.]

[Take the opening song from the famous webtoon-based animation.]

The mission occurred as expected.

If the composer is Sungjun, the vocalist is Mimyosonyeo, and the lyricist is Choi Hana, it’s great.

I was expecting that this mission would also have a fairly high chance of success.

So the anime song issue has come to an end.

Next up is the year-end concert that Sungjun has been working on for a long time.

Preparations for the year-end concert are also on track.

The two-hour setlist has also been released.

We have also finished discussing all aspects of the stage setup and production, including what kind of video will be played on the back screen and what special effects will be used.

So the rest can be prepared by the staff, and Sungjun just needs to meet and practice regularly with the performers who will be in charge of the live sessions.

Of course, bandmates Kang Seung-wook and Kim Ho-su were also included in the practice.

“Oh, hello! I’m Sungjun’s friend, Kang Seungwook on drums!”

“I’m Kim Ho-su, who plays bass! Please take good care of me!”

The two guys greeted the veteran musicians with stiff gestures, as if they were nervous.

“Hey, why is it so cold?”

Seongjun chuckles at the two’s unusual behavior.

One month before the concert.

We are currently rehearsing, going through the setlist over and over again, with several songs per day.

And today, it is the turn of Kang Seung-wook and Kim Ho-su, who are in charge of the session for the finale song that will decorate the end of the concert.

Professional session musicians visited the practice room to enjoy the two people’s performance.

The burden of having to perform in front of them is what made the two stiff-necked musicians they are today.

“I’m nervous because I think professionals are watching me… If I accidentally get my fingers crossed, I’ll be in trouble.”

“My hands are sweaty. They’re slippery and I’m going to eat the drumsticks. What should I do?”

Kang Seung-wook and Kim Ho-su muttering anxiously.

Seongjun, who was looking at the two people, lightly patted their backs with both hands and said.

“Don’t be scared and just do what you’ve been doing. You guys are good. And it’s better to make a lot of mistakes during rehearsal than to make mistakes during the actual show. You can get advice from the veteran hyungs. Oh, and it’s okay to make mistakes during the actual show. I’ll cover up all your mistakes with my vocals and guitar. Let’s just have fun.”

“Hey, what’s wrong? You. Why have you become so reliable? In the past, if someone made a mistake, you would suddenly become vocally unstable.”

“That’s right. He’s not the same Seongjun as before, really.”

The tension between Kang Seung-wook and Kim Ho-su gradually eases thanks to Sung-jun’s encouragement.

Soon the rehearsal began.

Three people standing in their respective positions.

There was even one guest speaker who would take charge of the keyboard.

After exchanging glances.

♪~ ♬~

The performance began with the keyboard strumming a chord.

Sungjun’s vocals flow over the gentle melody.

Then, the pick in his hand scratches the acoustic guitar, adding harmony.

And soon Kim Ho-su’s bass came in.

A thick string vibrates and produces a deep, resonant sound.

Adding to that, Seungwook Kang steps on the bass drum to create a slow but rhythmic beat.

“Oh, that’s okay.”

The professionals watching the four-person ensemble let out a soft exclamation.

Even though he was a member of the band of the genius musician Sungjun, I was worried because he was an amateur…

The performance skills of the two friends, who were absorbed in the ensemble with serious expressions on their faces, were beyond elite and were almost professional.

Of course, this is because the two of them devoted themselves to this one song.

“Still, it’s not easy to get this feeling.”

I don’t know if it would be the case with other songs, but with this song, I couldn’t guarantee that even professionals like themselves would be able to create this feeling.

Because it was the sum of the bond that grew between Sungjun and his two friends over the years.

The veteran session members gave a thumbs up to the three who finished their performance in this way to express their appreciation.

The faces of Kang Seung-wook and Kim Ho-su, who received professional recognition, were filled with bright smiles.