The Road to Glory

“Would you like to try catching that bullfrog that invaded Korea with me?”The old man’s eyes burned fiercely.In this moment, age became meaningless.It was the young Hwang Ryongpil looking back at him.There’s no mistaking who he’s referring to as the ‘bullfrog’.He had been monitoring the reactions, and knew that in Korea he was being likened to a ‘bullfrog’.He didn’t understand why he wasn’t compared to a cool animal like a lion or reindeer, but whatever.In any case, he understood well that the one Hwang Ryongpil wanted to catch was HALO.Halo grinned.Yes, this is what he wanted. It’s no fun burning alone. He wanted everyone to fearlessly jump into the pit of fire, their whole bodies ablaze.It pleased him that the singer he admired wanted to catch him. And he wanted to accept the duel issued to him, to that extent.Just like always.Collaboration is good, but so is clashing head-on.Like how knights of old would duel for their honor. They too, would properly engage with their sharpest weapons.He didn’t think he’d lose, but the result didn’t matter either way.What kind of impact would this match have on him?He felt thirsty, even before it began.“Goo-““Teacher!”That’s when it happened.Before Halo could answer, someone bellowed out. They seemed flustered, as if surprised at how loud their own voice was, but it passed quickly. Others raised their voices too.“Wouldn’t the new friend feel burdened?”“Teaching is great, but this friend hasn’t even made their debut yet…”Pretending to show consideration for Halo, but it seemed they really thought an inexperienced newbie wasn’t worthy of the teacher’s collaboration.Hwang Ryongpil leaned back on the sofa again.This transparent trick couldn’t fool him.He gazed warmly at his juniors.“Well, are you saying you want to do it with me instead?”“If you propose it teacher, we’ll make time any day.”“It would be an honor for us.”When did they change like this?Why not just say outright they want to do it?It was pitiful seeing these distant juniors being jealous, pretending to be considerate but just showing hypocrisy.On the other hand, it was shameful too.The genially smiling Hwang Ryongpil turned serious.“I’m disappointed.”At those words, those faintly smiling, those reading the air, all closed their mouths. The atmosphere froze stiff. No one could open their mouth here now.“I don’t want to do anything with you all as you are now.”No one could properly meet Hwang Ryongpil’s gaze.More than anyone else, Hwang Ryongpil was their life senior, teacher, and respected singer who paved their path.The more their gazes met, the more their shoulders and heads bowed down.“A young friend? Yes, a young friend indeed. But what use is that? You’re the ones who are worse than a junior who’s much younger than you!”The one who usually gave good advice to juniors, spoke only kind words, now glared harshly as he scolded them.“Lacking confidence? Inept? Feeling the wall? Talent? When were we ever so great! Do you really think you became great just because people admired you?”“…”“We’ve always been the same. Just people doing our music. My music was always lacking, but luckily I could make a living from it. But does my music suck? Are you too scared to release it because of the digital scores?”What Hwang Ryongpil lamented most, was that the seniors had failed to show their juniors their proper selves.Hwang Ryongpil had never once shown his juniors a regretful side. So he had the right to be angry.“Is that something to say in front of juniors? I’m not ashamed of your music, I’m ashamed of you!”The junior declares they’ll get number one no matter what’s in front of them, but these so-called seniors can’t even praise or encourage them, instead mocking and looking down on them. Shameless.Hwang Ryongpil glared sharply around the room.Last, his gaze landed on the awkwardly standing boy, and Sin Joohyeok who brought the boy here.These were kids already showing their music to the world, in the midst of Struggling. They shouldn’t be in this place yet.“Joohyeok.”“Yes, teacher.”“This new friend might get bored. Go outside for a bit. Seems I need to heat up this place for a while.”It was an instruction for them to go wait outside briefly.Sin Joohyeok, sitting properly listening, looked at Halo when ‘new friend’ was mentioned. Hwang Ryongpil too, regarded the boy with a warm gaze.“And you said Haeil, was it?”“Yes.”“I’ll see you again later then. Our conversation isn’t over yet.”Halo nodded his head.He, too, had many things he wanted to say, but it seemed Hwang Ryongpil had work to do right away.Perhaps Hwang Ryongpil made the proposal publicly to scold his juniors.He understood the intent.Halo glanced around at the people with bowed heads, then exited the room.The door shut with a click.Sin Joohyeok, whose eyes met his, shrugged.#They decided to wait briefly at the spot where the hallway and stairs connected, a place from which the living room and small rooms could all be seen at once.He had glanced around as they passed through earlier.Coming back again, different things caught his eye.The models who had gathered with stern faces were now heatedly debating whether or not to pick perilla leaves for a friend’s girlfriend. Raucous laughter rang out from another side.“Here, orange juice.”After accepting a cocktail for himself, Sin Joohyeok handed Halo an orange juice and leaned against the wall, asking:“Well? It may still feel a bit unfamiliar, but is it like the gathering you imagined?”Halo looked around. The lively people, and on one side the juniors getting scolded by the teacher,he saw none of the revelry he had imagined.Seeing them lightly enjoying just cocktails without excessive drinking.“It’s just a gathering.”“What, were you expecting like a drug party or something?”Sin Joohyeok casually made a joke that could be dangerous in Korea, then chuckled realizing Halo gave no response, taking it as affirmation.Well, it’s not strange.Just recently, a fairly famous singer was arrested on drug charges, and the rate is increasing among actual artists. Overseas is another story, but it’s quite prevalent in Korea too.Having seen all sorts of unpleasant things in his long entertainment life, Sin Joohyeok wanted to instill vigilance in his junior. Specifically, he didn’t want a talented junior to get hooked on drugs.“Just in case, I’m saying this. Never ever do that stuff. Don’t even hang around, no, don’t associate with anyone rumored to be involved with that. I know smoke comes from fires sometimes, but drugs are crossing the line, right?”Halo gave him a perplexed look, perhaps thinking it random. Still, Sin Joohyeok continued:“I see it a lot with kids doing music these days. Taking weird drugs claiming to get inspiration.”“Inspiration for music?”“Yeah, trying all sorts of things then resorting to drugs.”Halo let out a snort.“But they won’t gain anything from that.”“Oh, speaking like you’ve tried it?”Halo shrugged his shoulders.Sin Joohyeok clicked his tongue. This brat.“Anyway, never do it. I’m saying this sincerely.”“I didn’t really plan to.”“Well that’s a relief then.”He had never taken drugs claiming music didn’t come to him. Music always swirled around him, and even without drugs, like always, he could create his songs.So he didn’t quite understand people who relied on drugs to make music, becoming immersed in it.If it was just temporary pleasure that they managed well, that was fine.But usually drugs didn’t end as just a means.He had seen far too many cases of it ruining lives, wealth, music, even self-destruction.He didn’t know if inspiration came in that moment, but it was an instant for it to ruin those around them, families too.Back then, he had no family himself,yet it still looked so pathetic.Now, even more so, he had no desire for such things.Ding- Right on time, Halo checked his message.[Mom: Haeil, what time will you be home today? Let’s eat Korean beef together for dinner]‘I have family now too.’Halo smiled faintly as he replied.[I’ll be home before sunset]#As Sin Joohyeok and Halo chatted over two glasses of orange juice in the hallway, the door to the inner room swung open.Someone glanced at Sin Joohyeok and Halo as they slipped out, while those inside gestured for them to come in.When Halo entered, he sensed something had changed.Whether Hwang Ryongpil had really scolded them, or gave warm encouragement, some who had been candid now had a glint in their eyes. And for some reason, they glanced at him too. As if they had something to say.“Where did the teacher go?”“He’ll be back shortly.”As Hwang Ryongpil stood up with some others, the startled Sin Joohyeok saw it was for a smoke break and nodded.More than half left with Hwang Ryongpil. Smoking and drinking was life itself in this industry.Conversely, some newcomers had arrived too.A person in a cap and mask waved their hand.“Hello, did I arrive too late?”Liv, the undisputed digital queen of Korea.As she removed her hat, thin strands of hair spilled out. Despite her pale, innocent looks, Sin Joohyeok gave a dismissive wave.“Oh, long time no see.”“It has been a while. Have you been well, oppa? And this is-“Liv’s eyes went wide.“Could it be Roh Haeil? Ah, so Joohyeok-oppa brought you after that radio show together. Nice to meet you! I’ve been listening to your album. I put it on my playlist and listen every day lately.”“Thank you.”Knowing her musical tastes well, Sin Joohyeok could tell it wasn’t just lip service.“What about mine?”“…I listened to yours too, oppa. But anyway, about ‘Another Day’.”Liv casually changed the subject, her excited face bringing up his digital release. As the first music conversation here, Halo actively joined in too.“Seems you didn’t listen to mine though.”“Oppa, were you always this persistent?”“I’m saying it because it seems like you’re discriminating, Liv.”Sin Joohyeok, grumbling intermittently, soon joined in too.Of the three, one was Korea’s representative vocalist Sin Joohyeok, one the digital queen Liv, and the other the new artist Roh Haeil that the teacher proposed a collab with. Others began showing interest in their conversation too.One by one joining in, at some point it became a proper musical discussion.At least the music people present, whether actively or indirectly, chimed into the conversation bit by bit.The topic shifted from plagiarism to ranting about connecting basic triadic chords. In general they clashed, as each was a person with a distinct perspective.“Well, I think-“Age held little meaning here.More important than age in the midst of debate were voice volume and conviction.Those gathered saw the youth who absolutely refused to bend his opinion before his seniors.“The kid’s impressive alright.”His spirit of declaring he’d get number one before seniors hadn’t gone anywhere.However, if it seemed arrogant then, now it just seemed impressively confident.Some chuckled, saying it had been too long since they last saw such nerve.Age, career, appearance.The moment those biases were broken, someone spoke up.It was Lee Seongrim, the representative balladeer of the 2000s, with his trademark vocals behind countless hit songs.“Hey Haeil. Want to arrange one of my songs later? Just as well as you did for Joohyeok’s new song.”Halo looked at him and playfully replied:“But you said you wouldn’t be releasing music for a while.”“You remember that? Please forget it.”“So you will release it?”To that question, Lee Seongrim gave a faint nod.“I have to.”Like the others scolded by Hwang Ryongpil, he too reflected.He belatedly realized he had shown an unsightly side to his juniors, shocked at how the renowned Lee Seongrim had become so feeble.A distant junior casually declared they’d get number one. Recalling those words, Lee Seongrim murmured:“I can’t disregard even juniors.”“I won’t back down either.”“Hahaha. I really like your personality.”Talking about music together, clashing, evolving each other’s music further.Halo looked around satisfied, a smile on his face.Yes, this was the sight he had wanted.#At any rate, he still had things left to discuss with Hwang Ryongpil. As he chatted with people, Halo glanced around. Seeming to have the same thought, Sin Joohyeok searched too.“Teacher Hwang? He was just talking to PD Jang a minute ago.”“PD Jang?”Someone who had gone out for a smoke break with Hwang Ryongpil spoke up first upon returning.PD Jang was the star PD of KDS’s entertainment division. He heard the real variety show PD Jang was working on was nearing its end lately.Sin Joohyeok realized PD Jang had been present where Hwang Ryongpil proposed a collaboration to Roh Haeil and scolded everyone earlier.Wondering why he stuck around, it seemed he wanted to cast the teacher for something this time.“Seems PD Jang wanted to do some kind of music program with the teacher.”“Ah, now that you mention it, PD Jang is a non-smoker but he came out.”“If it’s a music program, are you saying he wants to cast the teacher as an audition judge?”Someone who overheard their conversation shook their head. The more they heard, the more questions arose.“Hmm, it didn’t seem quite like that. PD Jang was saying please do it, he won’t make it a survival show. The teacher doesn’t like survival shows and such.”“What kind of music program doesn’t involve survival?”Their brains, saturated in survival auditions, could only think of similar concepts.Idols…probably not that, King of Mask Singer guessing identities, trot singers?They all involved survival elements.That’s when Hwang Ryongpil came into view through the open door.And next to him, a neatly dressed man in a shirt.The man laughing and chatting with Hwang Ryongpil suddenly turned his head. Meeting eyes by chance, the man gave a little wink.‘What’s this?’Halo blinked in confusion.Did he…just wink at me now?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)!