The Road to Glory

[Heetae song won’t stop playing in my head ㅠㅠㅠ]The viewers’ message board was only restored the next morning.From then on, among all the posts, the one with the highest view count and number of comments had the following title.Below it, discussions about the drama’s content took place.They were mostly about Heetae, though there were also some about the main character.However, everyone mentioned the OST without fail.Even when talking about the main character, the conversation inevitably turned to Heetae’s theme. While characters, events, and settings are all indispensable in creating a scene, everyone saw the OST as playing the biggest role in making those standout scenes.[Wow, is this the main OST? It’s better than Guardian sung by Sin Joohyeok][Who’s singing this?? It’s mind-blowing][The singer sings in a calm way but the emotional expression is insane][Why is this so hard to sing along to? It seemed easy when listening but I’m already panting trying to sing the first verse. And those high notes, wow]There were posts marveling at the song, as well as analyzing its role.[Thinking back now, Heetae’s theme was a divine move]I thought it was too intense when I first heard the themeThe more I empathized with Heetae, the more dissatisfied I became with the original endingBut…Heetae changedIt doesn’t make sense, but it doesWhen I think about Heetae’s growth, wow…I’m just in aweAll of Heetae’s actions don’t make sense, but they doThe insane song just devoured all semblance of plausibilityIn fact, Heetae never showed any signs of change in the original webtoon, so his transformation could be seen as a breach of plausibility and character dissolution.However, there was a reason why no one pointed out the lack of plausibility.[Heetae’s theme is finally up on Watermelon][Finally ㅠㅠ][I’ve been holding my breath waiting since Episode 2, I’m the first to ascend]The theme songs of existing characters had already been released as singles. In that situation, the production team only uploaded Heetae’s theme to music sites after its reprise adorned the ending of Episode 13.Unlike other characters’ themes, it came in two versions.The tracks, along with the famous scenes, were:[89. A Repeating Life (‘From Today On’ Heetae theme (Reprise)) │ Roh Haeil][100. A Repeating Life (‘From Today On’ Heetae theme) │ Roh Haeil]The chart reflected it.This was not the end of it.The very next day, the final episode of ‘From Today On’ landed another strike.Ten years later.A man returns to his old school as a teacher.Now an adult, Heetae looks back fondly at the playground, only to find a fallen child there.No one was helping the child up.Then, Heetae reached out his hand to the fallen child.The child took his hand and stood up, Heetae’s face captured by the camera.“It’s okay to be late.”The same warm expression as the teacher who had waited for him in the past.“Go at your own pace. I’ll wait for you as long as it takes. I have plenty of time as a teacher.”Accompanied by Heetae’s reprise.“Let’s go.”The camera zoomed in on the shadows of the adult holding the child’s hand. The words [From Today On] were etched over the shadows, Heetae’s reprise ringing out loudly.Even though [From Today On] had a separate main OST, the reprise of Heetae’s theme adorned the final episode.This showed that the new protagonist who had inherited the will of the original was Heetae. A complete branch from the source material.Yet the viewers did not find it strange at all.Heetae’s reprise taking the spot of potentially the most important ending in the drama made them think Heetae had become the protagonist.Catching up to the existing released tracks was instantaneous.The character theme songs occupying the top 100 were rapidly overtaken, even reaching the same ranking as the main OST sung by Sin Joohyeok.While the top ten remained undisturbed, it was explosive growth.[Wow Heetae’s song already climbed to 21st, though it is a masterpiece][Heetae’s theme is such a masterpiece that I can’t think of any other songs][This is the first drama OST in ten years to give me chills][Wasn’t Heetae’s theme the main OST?]Achieving tremendous NuTube view counts, it even boosted the final episode’s viewership ratings. Heetae’s theme song rising in the ranks was inevitable.However, no one thought Heetae’s song would reach number one.[It would’ve been number one already in any other case][No one can get in now][It’s just insane]And for good reason – an enormous iron wall from 1st to 17th place existed. At some point, a British pop singer had occupied the charts like an American bullfrog, driving out all other songs.A popular idol group’s lively dance track that had made a comeback,A veteran singer’s heartfelt ballad,Even zombie songs that slyly appear during certain periods – songs that should have been playing in the top ten were instead loitering around the 20s.[1. I am HALO │ HALO][2. When we meet again (title)│ HALO][3. Struggle (title) │ HALO][4. Even so we do (title) │ HALO]In a way, it was unbelievable.That a foreign pop singer, with every track from their album, had occupied the Korean music charts. And that group wasn’t even number one on the Billboard charts.However, no one could criticize the iron wall.Even if opinions were divided, once someone tasted that intense emotion, they couldn’t bring themselves to dislike it. Moreover, if any criticism arose or other songs tried to encroach, fanatics would rush in and tear them apart.Everyone was convinced that no one would be able to penetrate this concrete until a certain amount of time had passed.In total, seventeen songs, with Heetae’s OST settling right after.[18. A Repeating Life (‘From Today On’ Heetae theme (Reprise)) | Roh Haeil]It was certainly an excellent achievement for surpassing other established singers, but people lamented that it would have definitely reached number one at any other time. However, no one denied that 18th place was a fitting result for this song.Halo felt the same way.Halo also expected this song to rank around 18th place.However, Halo didn’t feel as disappointed as others.After all, it wasn’t his own complete song, just a reprise he had put his name on for co-composing and arranging out of a whim at the time.Knowing that the disappointing result was due to his own album, he wasn’t upset. Rather, he thought it was only natural. What mattered was the music he would release next.But then.[16. A Repeating Life (‘From Today On’ Heetae theme (Reprise)) | Roh Haeil]“?”Halo tilted his head.Others felt the same way.Heetae’s OST had pushed through the wall that even other established singers couldn’t breach. It was a very slight rise, and it couldn’t beat those formidable title tracks, but it had clearly entered.That day, Halo received messages of congratulations and consolation.It was a song that wouldn’t have been strange at all if it reached number one, just unlucky.This ranking was more valuable than number one.Since ‘he’ was human too, he would receive even better results during his rest period, and so on.Public attention was also drawn.After all, it was a newcomer who had pierced through the music of a Billboard artist that even established singers were stuck on. And people watched to see how much further the song would climb.Heetae’s reprise eventually rose all the way to 10th place.It was an achievement that no one had expected.Not even Halo or anyone else had anticipated it.“Why is that?”Halo was puzzled.While everyone else congratulated him, Halo blankly stared at the song’s ranking.He wasn’t angry.He just didn’t understand.Heetae’s reprise was made in a way he had never tried before. A variation made for the character ‘Heetae’, not himself.Yes, it was a song made purely on a whim.Yet such a song was being loved by people as much as HALO’s music.The one who had calmly handed over a towel while his mother wept now searched for the clip video of Heetae’s reprise for the first time.It contained content he already knew, and his usual singing voice was present.It didn’t sound bad.It sounded as pleasant as his songs always did.However, he truly couldn’t understand how this song, rearranged on an impulse, could fight on par with his original music.Below the video clip, the number of ‘likes’ and comments were displayed.Quite a large number was shown, comparable to any of HALO_OFFICIAL’s videos.Instinctively, Halo scrolled down.As always, the popular comments sorted by likes were at the top.[I can’t stop crying ㅠㅠ At first I was moved to tears seeing Heetae’s growth, but now I keep getting choked up because of the song. I used to really dislike Heetae, but now I realize that what I disliked was just my own ineptitude and frustration. But the song keeps telling me that it’s okay to be lacking like this, that I can become an adult like Heetae, that it’s not strange to be slow, and that reassures me. It’s Heetae’s song but I’m the one being comforted. It’s really strange.]Unlike his channel, there were many long comments.Halo slowly scrolled down.[It’s been years since I last cried. I’ve suffered from depression for a long time, but then I happened to watch this drama-.]There were many similar stories.[This song doesn’t sing about Heetae’s growth, but rather seems to console those of us who are like Heetae.]The commenters said they were healed after listening to Heetae’s song.Halo suddenly wondered,‘Have I ever heard someone say that before?’Halo had never heard anyone say they were healed by his music.And for good reason – his music had always been focused on himself.It was created solely to express his own emotions, which he then presented to people. People were always enveloped by his music, overwhelmed by his intense emotions, and soon poured out words of praise.In contrast, with Heetae’s song, people didn’t focus on his emotions.Rather, they related it to their own stories, empathized, and spoke of being healed and growing.It didn’t feel bad.In a way, it was even wondrous.It felt like he had discovered a new path laid out before him.A path he never would have found if he hadn’t worked on an OST, or more precisely, if he hadn’t become Roh Haeil.Yes, it was like Heetae meeting a good adult and walking a new path.His mother hummed Heetae’s song in a light tune.She hummed with a warm expression, and he wondered what she was thinking.Was she also relating it to her own story, empathizing?When their eyes met, his mother smiled brightly.“Since even the OST turned out so well, your music will surely do great too. Everyone will love it for sure.”Without a shred of doubt, she believed his music would be a success.Halo played the music he had made in MIDI.The music to be released under the name Roh Haeil was already finished recording, needing only promotion and release.But upon listening to it, he felt this impulse.To stir people’s emotions once again.Not in his original way, but through the new path he had just witnessed.Perhaps it was arrogant.He couldn’t even handle his own emotions properly,Yet he wanted to touch others’ emotions.It was arrogant, and perhaps even more difficult.But Halo picked up a pen.[It’s such a happy song][I feel like I can move forward now]He wanted to hear those words again.Not as just one element of a drama scene, but solely through his own power.Screeeech!At the harsh sound, his mother flinched and turned around.Halo was drawing lines through his notes with a magic marker.It was the original score he had made.The score he had created to try something new.After seeing an even newer path, these felt dull.“What are you doing?”“A new attempt.”Halo answered with a wry smile.It was a pretty decent melody, but he didn’t mind discarding it.He would make even better music.Halo nonchalantly did something that would make others tremble.The staff lines were divided in two.After neatly erasing them, Halo inscribed a new tune on the next page.#At that moment. Yeongdeungpo-gu, Yeouido, KDS Broadcasting Station.“PD, one group postponed their entire comeback, leaving an open slot. What should we do?”“Who was scheduled for that day?”“Sin Joohyeok. The time slot before him is empty.”“Isn’t there anyone we can book as a guest?”The PD let out a sigh after briefly glancing at the Watermelon charts.It was a shame to postpone comebacks just to avoid clashing with high rankings.Of course, he understood the fear of the American bullfrog that had occupied up to 18th place on the charts.“Would it be difficult to book this person?”“For them, even NDC wouldn’t be able to book them.”“They’ve already made a move?”“No, it’s not just anyone else, it’s the one who built the Great Wall on the Billboard charts. PD, it’s not surprising that America would react immediately to this.”Seeing the gesture of thumb and index finger touching, the PD nodded.Right, that nation was truly capitalist.Anyway, there was something more important.“PD, so what about this artist?”“Hmm?”“Teacher Lee Hwanhee was hinting at it today too, asking if we’re not going to book them.”“He-. Is still a newcomer who hasn’t even properly revealed his face…”As he spoke, the PD wondered when exactly they had started keeping that a secret. He checked the only song that had pierced through the American bullfrog’s wall.The hot main OST of that popular drama these days.No, they had actually said it was the theme song of a supporting character.The PD had enjoyed watching it too. It certainly left a striking impact.It wasn’t just about the rankings.As someone who listens to a lot of music due to the nature of his program, he had gotten goosebumps watching the drama for the first time in a long while.“The teacher did mention wanting to see them.”“Yes, yes. He said he wanted to see their face once.”The PD spoke as he put down the schedule for ‘Lee Hwanhee’s Drawing Book’.“Let’s book him.”Hi everyone, I've fully translated this series. If you love the series and wanted to binge read until the end, you can go to my Patreon "Shop" page. Instead of buying the advanced chapters one by one, you can buy them in one bulk (with discounted price too)!