The Road to Glory

“So, are you just going to leave him be like that?”“What do you mean?”“Your son. He seems to be doing well these days.”At the Natural Sciences Building 500, 1st floor, Korea University.Freshmen wearing lab coats chatter as they enter, then freeze upon seeing a familiar face.They quickly backpedal.The president, who had come out hearing the jingling bell, tilted his head.‘Their energy seems low lately. This is the third time today.’The president then brought a bowl of fruit to the middle-aged men.“Professors, please enjoy.”“Oh my, so much! Thank you, president.”The natural science professors, gathered after a long time, leaned back in their chairs and stuffed their mouths with rice. Though they needed to prepare exams and assignments, they were taking their time, saying this too was for making a living.How to create assignments that would satisfy all students – that was a constant concern, but right now they were more curious about a colleague’s family affairs.Especially if that colleague’s son was a famous celebrity these days.“I told him he could do as he pleased for a year, so I should keep that promise.”At Professor Roh Yunhyeon’s nonchalant words, one professor raised his fork while cutting meat.“It’s surprising. I didn’t think you’d actually not send him to school. Plus, wasn’t Haeil originally aiming for Korea University?”“Forget university, high school was the unexpected part.”“Well, Professor Roh must have some thoughts, right? You must have considered the GED at least.”Professor Roh Yunhyeon rinsed his mouth with a glass of water.In the meantime, quite a lot of conversation had passed.“But does he really need to go to university? He’s already achieved something harder than getting into Korea University. Haeil should just continue as he is. Watching his broadcasts, it seems he should pursue music. If it were me, I’d have done the same as Professor Roh.”“That’s right. If my son had done even a fraction of what Haeil has, I would have allowed it.”“What does your son want to do? How old is he again?”“Pro gamer. He’s almost half-thirty now, so he tells me not to interfere with his life.”“I know what half-fifty means, but what’s half-thirty? Don’t tell me… Tsk tsk.”“Kids these days all talk like that.”The professor sitting opposite Roh leaned forward slightly and asked.“So are you really not going to send your son to university?”“Why are you so obsessed with someone else’s son’s education?”“No, it’s just that I heard something. Listen, Roh. I happened to meet a music professor, and we talked about Haeil. They asked if he wasn’t going to apply to Korea University.”“Isn’t our school’s music department focused on vocal performance?”“Does Haeil only sing well? There’s another area, you know. Composition.”“Oh, so the composition department is eyeing Haeil?”“I hear they’re in competition with Korea National University of Arts right now. The one who’ll actually give him the opportunity isn’t even thinking about it. That’s why I’m asking. If your son just takes the GED, he could pretty much go anywhere, right?”“…Well, I have some thoughts.”At Professor Roh Yunhyeon’s response, Professor Heo across from him opened his eyes wide, as if he knew it all along.Judging by Professor Roh Yunhyeon’s actions of sweeping up overseas exchange university pamphlets, he didn’t seem like someone who would give up on university.It’s not simply an obsession with university. Rather, he’s someone who knows how to efficiently use the merits and power relationships that university brings.“University would be a good fence, I suppose.”“Indeed, indeed.”Professor Heo nodded with his toad-like face.“But wait, did you receive something from the music professor? Why are you so keen on recommending university for Haeil? That’s a violation of the Kim Young-ran Act.” TLN: The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act is a 2016 anti-corruption law in South Korea. The bill is associated with Kim Young-ran, former head of the Anticorruption and Civil Rights Commission, who proposed it in August 2012, and is often referred to as the Kim Young-ran Act.“An autograph is priceless, so it’s fine. Thanks for your concern. Anyway, Professor Roh, think about it carefully. Korea University School of Music! What a wonderful name. Well, since he’s a celebrity, even if he doesn’t attend school, just the name itself would be enough, wouldn’t it?”“Korea University is good.”Professor Roh Yunhyeon nodded with a faint smile.Professor Heo, who had exchanged an autograph instead of money, smiled along, sensing a positive signal.Then came a single remark:“But I think Korea might be a bit too small.”“?”Professor Roh Yunhyeon smiled contentedly.As someone who had never once boasted about his child at school, they gasped at his next words.“To contain my son, that is.”#The Midday ShowThey said it was a talk show hosted by Lucy Midday at TDS Broadcasting. As the name suggests, it airs at 1 PM and is a talk show watched by viewers of all ages.“I’ve never heard of it before.”“The talk shows we know are just Ellen Show or Conan Show. But there must be many more than that. It’s America, after all.”Like Moon Seoyeon and Nam Gyuhwan’s exchange, Halo had never heard of it either. To begin with, he didn’t know much about popular talk show programs. He didn’t often watch variety shows.“Well, it’s not a political program. Like other talk shows, it usually invites celebrities to talk about specific topics. It’s usually focused on current affairs.”Han Jinyeong shared the information he had found through searching.“The host’s style is gentle. She doesn’t curse much and is quite gentlemanly. But when she gets excited, she speaks faster. Can you understand her well?”“Does Roh Haeil-ssi speak English well?”“I heard rumors that he doesn’t.”Nam Gyuhwan shared the gossip.It was already well-known that Roh Haeil didn’t go to high school, and his middle school classmates had said he wasn’t good at English.“I can handle the basics.”“Like ‘Hi, nice to meet you’? I can do that basic stuff too.”“Do you think Roh Haeil-ssi is you?”Smack.Moon Seoyeon slapped Nam Gyuhwan’s back.“So why are they inviting you? That’s the most important part. Did they hear Roh Haeil-ssi’s music over there?”Nam Gyuhwan, who hadn’t seen the email content, asked while rubbing his sore back.“They want me to sing a cover.”At Halo’s words, Moon Seoyeon tilted her head.“A cover? A music cover? Have your arrangement skills already spread that far? Anyway, I think it’s a good opportunity.”On the other hand, Nam Gyuhwan raised his hand with a puzzled expression.“I’m against it. It’s not even asking you to sing your own song, and for your first American broadcast, I think it’s a bit off to make a name for yourself as a cover NuTuber. Well, it would be different if Roh Haeil-ssi could sing your new song.”“Of course they’ll give him a chance to introduce his music. They’ll have to talk for at least an hour, after all.”“You said they sang something else there, right, Haeil?”At Han Jinyeong’s question, Halo nodded.He said they invited other influencers to do Halo covers.“Oh… Five NuTubers? Then… there might not be a chance.”“I disagree.”“Still, isn’t it a good opportunity? TDS is a famous broadcasting station.”Neither of their opinions was wrong.With several guests invited, if things go poorly, he might end up as mere background.Han Jinyeong listened to their opinions silently, then asked what he was most curious about at the end.“By the way, what’s the topic of this talk show? I heard it changes every time.”Surely it wouldn’t be something like ‘The World of Influencers’ or ‘The World of Cover Singers’.“Is that important? I’m agai-““It’s a Halo special.”At that moment, Nam Gyuhwan froze with his lips parted.“So the cover they’re asking for is what you sang at Rendezvous?”Han Jinyeong’s calm voice.“Yes.”“Hmm. You’re really singing as a cover artist, not a singer. It bothers me a bit that you’re singing as a cover artist, not a singer.”“Seoyeon, you’re reserving judgment?”“Yes, are there no other invitations?”“Gyuhwan, you said you’re against it”The sound of people’s conversations becomes increasingly muffled.Among them, Nam Gyuhwan, who heard the word ‘against’, stood up abruptly.“Wait a minute!”Aware of the silence around him, Nam Gyuhwan cautiously added.“…I think we should go.”“You didn’t change your mind just because you heard it’s a Halo special, did you?”“It’s a good opportunity to increase Roh Haeil-ssi’s recognition.”“Didn’t you say it wasn’t good because it’s a cover?”“Don’t other singers do covers too? A cover is also a way to showcase one’s skills. Yes.”Han Jinyeong, who had been watching their bickering benevolently, opened his mouth.“What do you want to do, Haeil?”Han Jinyeong was fine with whatever.After all, only Haeil received the invitation.Since they invited several influencers, the broadcasting station will probably prepare the MR or session.“Well…”“We must go! No matter what!”“Hey, don’t force our boss.”Halo thought for a moment.A talk show with multiple guests.He had never done such a talk show before.He always focused only on Halo and his music.Then again, what host would invite other guests when Halo is in front of them? They were people who would surely comply whether Halo asked for a day off or two.So while he wondered if he really needed to go,He was also intrigued by their request to sing a Halo cover.Above all, the location of the filming studio caught his eye.Los Angeles, California.A place with all his favorite bars, weather, people, parties. He had quite good memories of LA.“I’ll think about it for a day or two more before deciding.”Moon Seoyeon, taking the boy’s answer as positive, exclaimed.“Then I’ll go get my passport reissued!”“Me too!”“I don’t think you’ll need passports.”“Why…?”Han Jinyeong looks awkwardly at Moon Seoyeon and Nam Gyuhwan, who seem to have misunderstood. They slowly realized the ominous situation.“Don’t tell me… we’re not going?”“Well, only Haeil was invited. Even if we go, we probably can’t all go, right?”The broadcasting station said they would provide accommodation and flights, but that only applied to the boy. Even if they bring someone, they’ll probably only allow one manager or editor.Just one person…?Nam Gyuhwan and Moon Seoyeon become conscious of each other.The guessing game begins.Moon Seoyeon was the first to shout “1”.“Me! Boss! Despite appearances, I’m an elite graduate from Korea National University of Arts! Although I dropped out, I speak English brilliantly. I’ll serve as an excellent interpreter for the boss!”“I’m better…”Nam Gyuhwan, who doesn’t speak English well, stuttered but managed to say:“…at cleaning.”“What? English?”“Something… similar to cleaning?”Moon Seoyeon chuckles.“Cleaning similar to English? Well, can you use some cleaning magic? Huh? Can you do Wingardium Leviosa?”“I think I could manage Stupefy.”Nam Gyuhwan raised his fist. Moon Seoyeon pretended to be scared and screamed.What harmonious session members.Halo, looking at the two people he wanted to chase out of the studio, said:“Let’s all go together.”“Huh? Is that okay? What about the flights and accommodation…?”The boy suddenly holds up a card.Although it’s a shiny new one made recently, Han Jinyeong knows what’s inside. Haha, Halo’s song was in some Homme perfume advertisement recently, wasn’t it?“I’ll serve you with all my loyalty, boss.”Halo smiled at Han Jinyeong’s tone imitating Moon Seoyeon.Anyway, the American invitation seems to have been decided.Han Jinyeong recalled the work they had left unfinished.“Shall we start working on the album again?”“Sure. What should we do first?”“Can we start with percussion?”Nam Gyuhwan, already anticipating the America, no, the Halo special, pointed at himself. Halo nodded.Nam Gyuhwan realized that the talk about album work still remaining wasn’t just empty words.“Are we going for overdubbing this time?”“I’m thinking about the session. Do you happen to know how to play other instruments?”“Well, depending on what kind of percussion.”Nam Gyuhwan follows Roh Haeil into the recording studio.How long has it been since they worked on the single album?Was there separate work going on in the meantime? Moon Seoyeon tilted her head.“Didn’t we just work on a single recently?”“That’s right.”Han Jinyeong nodded as he watched the recording studio door close.“Then is this work for a full album? So quickly?”It’s not just one person in the world who releases an album once a month.The world seems more amazing the more you know about it.But-.Moon Seoyeon looked up at Han Jinyeong when no answer came.Han Jinyeong sometimes had this subtle expression. Like he was debating whether to say something or not.Well, she didn’t tell everything either, so she wasn’t upset.“It’s similar.”“…Similar?”If it’s a full album, it’s a full album, so what does ‘similar’ mean?Does he mean it’s not a full album but an EP album?“Well, we’ll know soon enough.”“I suppose so.”When the recording is finished, the song will be complete, and then they’ll know for sure. Han Jinyeong said with a grin.“In the near future.”#“I knew you’d have overseas opportunities soon, but are you really okay going alone?”Although he’s not really going alone, it’s still worrying for a minor child to go to a foreign country without a guardian.“I’m just going for filming.”Looking at Halo smiling as usual, his mother asks primly:“Are you going to wander around alone at dawn this time too?”How many times had he already gotten up at dawn and sneaked out of the lodging during his European trip? His mother asked, remembering those times, as if interrogating him.Halo just smiled without giving a specific answer.He doesn’t make promises he knows he can’t keep.“Mother, I’ll follow him closely.”“Yes, that’s right, mother, don’t worry! I’ll be responsible for the language.”“Security guard Nam Gyuhwan here, I’m good at hitting things.”But the band members answered instead.His mother nodded gently with a soft smile.“Wow, this is my first time in business class.”“Me too.”After saying goodbye to his mother and entering the airport, they looked at their tickets in wonder.Business class. That’s what was written.They worry about the financial situation of their employer, who casually booked business class tickets. It seems he paid for the hotel separately too.They know he topped the music charts and appeared on broadcasts, but they wonder if it’s okay to spend money like water like this.“But how come there’s not a single reporter?”“It’s nice and quiet, what’s the problem? And it’s midnight now.”Nam Gyuhwan glanced around subtly.He didn’t expect a flurry of cameras like a top star’s press conference, but even the occasional glances they were getting disappeared after completing the check-in.“Well, since we didn’t tell anyone, no one knows.”If they had told, wouldn’t there have been a flood of patriotic articles by now?At least it wouldn’t have been this quiet.“Shall we go then?”“Let’s go!”It was time.People who had been boredly watching the electronic board stood up abruptly.As someone started humming a song excitedly, Halo smiled and harmonized.Come to the land of fantasyWhere a joyful festival is heldThe land of eternal happiness[Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Los Angeles International Airport]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)!