A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 63

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 63. The Distant Beyond (3)

 

“Have you ever participated in competitions, Grandfather?”

 

“Competitions?”

 

Choi Man-bok thought about it.

 

There hadn’t been many competitions in his life.

 

He had simply stood on stages.

 

He didn’t particularly remember being tested anywhere.

 

“I haven’t participated in many competitions.”

 

“Really? That’s surprising.”

 

“I performed on stages more than competitions. Well, it was a different era back then.”

 

The difference between competitions and stages was the presence of people judging you.

 

The children had to be evaluated by someone on their first stage.

 

As Choi Man-bok continued speaking, the principal’s gaze gradually lowered.

 

It was because the path ahead seemed even more daunting.

 

“Actually, I think it would be better not to think of it as a competition.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Aren’t competitions and performing on stage essentially the same thing?”

 

Competitions were about showing your skills to judges.

 

Stages were about letting many people hear your performance.

 

That’s right.

 

Both were about proving your abilities through performance.

 

“I think it’s enough if the children enjoy it.”

 

Choi Man-bok said this.

 

It was a truly clear and straightforward answer.

 

It was something he could say as a senior.

 

How many people had performed on stages abroad?

 

Choi Man-bok was one of them.

 

His words became great advice for the principal.

 

“We’re seniors, aren’t we? Right?”

 

“Seniors…?”

 

“Principal, you also used to do music, didn’t you? I’ve seen you before…”

 

“Ah, that’s… right.”

 

At Choi Man-bok’s words, the principal’s expression darkened slightly.

 

She looked pained, as if recalling an unpleasant past.

 

Choi Man-bok noticed that expression.

 

He had worn such an expression himself before.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“Huh? Oh, I’m fine.”

 

The principal hurriedly managed her expression.

 

She put on a pleasant face and quickly continued speaking.

 

Watching her, Choi Man-bok felt she seemed somehow precarious.

 

Like an old tree that had endured for a long time but now looked ready to collapse under its own weight.

 

He knew something had happened to the principal.

 

‘It’s not really my place to say anything, but…’

 

Perhaps due to an old man’s meddlesome nature, he opened his mouth.

 

“You must have many worries because of the children.”

 

“…I suppose so. Yes, I think that’s right.”

 

“Think about whether the children will struggle because of the competition later.”

 

“Then?”

 

“For now, it would be good to think about what kind of reward to give them.”

 

“Re…ward?”

 

Choi Man-bok knew too.

 

For young children, the stage was something terrifying.

 

Something scary that they didn’t even want to approach.

 

But the children had to overcome their fear of the stage.

 

No, they would be able to overcome it.

 

The first stage is scary.

 

It’s nerve-wracking and makes you want to run away, but once you overcome it, you’ll think it wasn’t such a big deal.

 

“Rather than training, practice would be more appropriate. It would be good to make the stage not scary for the children.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Since you’re also a senior, you can teach them.”

 

“A senior?”

 

“Yes, a senior who started music first.”

 

Those words were engraved in the principal’s heart.

 

Though she didn’t say it aloud, they were definitely clearly engraved.

 

“Children easily lose their way. So we need to show them the path from over there.”

 

Choi Man-bok spoke sincerely.

 

The reason he opened the academy was partly due to his promise with his wife.

 

But it was also because he wanted to teach children who had dreams.

 

Therefore, what he was saying was something he always thought about.

 

At his heartfelt words, the principal raised her head and looked straight at Choi Man-bok.

 

Seeing the principal’s eyes come alive, Choi Man-bok changed the subject.

 

“Are all the children in the special class participating in the competition?”

 

“For now, yes. I’ll have to ask the children, but I think most of them will want to participate.”

 

“Is there a reason you think that?”

 

“The children love music.”

 

It was a short but strong answer.

 

Those who loved music wanted to share it with people around them.

 

At least the two people sitting on the bench were like that.

 

They often wanted to play the pieces they practiced for friends and family.

 

Though it wasn’t the case now, they were like that when they first learned music.

 

The current children were the same.

 

‘Garam was like that too.’

 

Thinking of Garam pestering him to teach him violin, Choi Man-bok chuckled.

 

Then, as if remembering something, he asked the principal.

 

“Is Hee-seong also participating in the competition?”

 

“Uh…”

 

The principal hesitated.

 

The reason was none other than what she had asked Hee-seong yesterday.

 

As the principal’s hesitation grew longer, Choi Man-bok called her.

 

“Principal?”

 

“Ah, yes! Hee-seong is participating too.”

 

“Oh? Then he’ll be composing again this time.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

The principal was flustered.

 

She never imagined that Choi Man-bok would know that Hee-seong was composing.

 

Just as she was about to ask how he knew, Choi Man-bok spoke first.

 

“He performed with Garam over the weekend, and I was amazed that he composed a violin piece.”

 

“Hee-seong did…?”

 

“Of course! I realized that boy has truly extraordinary talent.”

 

“Is he having a hard time with it?”

 

“I’m not sure about that, but I’m certain he’s really enjoying it.”

 

At those words, the principal felt relieved.

 

She couldn’t stop someone who enjoyed music.

 

The principal herself knew this all too well.

 

The exhilaration of performing.

 

She knew all too well that overflowing happiness that affected even those around you.

 

That’s why the principal thought Hee-seong had already fallen into that feeling.

 

‘Still, it’s not good to overdo it, so I should check on him often.’

 

Hee-seong was already departing.

 

So she had no intention of stopping or holding him back yet.

 

“I should tell Hee-seong’s parents too.”

 

“Seems like your worries have disappeared.”

 

“Thanks to you. Thank you, Grandfather.”

 

“No, I should thank you, Principal. Thanks to you, our Garam can attend Hanseol.”

 

The principal bowed her head and entered the kindergarten.

 

In her hand was a red ginseng candy.

 

She carefully unwrapped it and ate it, the bitter taste filling her mouth.

 

‘Phew! Good. Now soon…’

 

The competition was important, but the children’s happiness came first.

 

She thought she needed to focus a little more to make the children happy.

 

“Talking with Hee-seong won’t be too late even then.”

 

Then the sign for the Moran Class caught her eye.

 

The principal quietly crept up to the door and saw.

 

-Hee-seong is going to play piano with me.

 

-This time he’s going to play violin with me!

 

There was Hee-seong caught between Aeyeon and Garam.

 

The child’s eyes looked vacant as if he had given up on everything.

 

And there was even Ajin looking at him with pity.

 

At that scene that looked like something from a comedy show, she couldn’t help but smile.

 

“Oh! It’s the principal!”

 

Then one child saw her and spoke loudly.

 

Momentarily flustered by the sudden call, she waved her hand.

 

The children put their hands on their bellies and bowed their heads.

 

That sight was her happiness.

 

‘What kind of song would a child like that create?’

 

Before moving her feet, she took in Hee-seong’s appearance for a long time.

 

***

 

What’s important when composing?

 

Musical ideas?

 

Images?

 

No.

 

“Hee-seong! Let’s listen together with Aunt!”

 

It’s that there shouldn’t be anyone clinging to your side.

 

When I finished kindergarten and came home, Aunt was waiting for me.

 

The reason she came wasn’t anything special.

 

The song for the contest had been completed.

 

Aunt seemed excited for some reason.

 

Her expression was confident as if she was sure about the song.

 

Her reaction made me excited too.

 

‘I won’t be able to compose today.’

 

But I wasn’t disappointed.

 

If the song I wrote before became more complete through Aunt’s hands, it would be a great honor for me.

 

Aunt said we should eat dinner and listen to music together in Father’s studio.

 

Father was disappointed he couldn’t listen with us because he had an appointment in the evening.

 

“Can’t we just hang out today so I can listen with Dad?”

 

“Not a chance. Hurry up and go! I’m going to enjoy listening to the song intimately with Hee-seong.”

 

“Trip and fall on the street.”

 

Hearing their childish conversation, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

Father left the house like that.

 

Mother also finished eating and enjoyed her rare alone time.

 

In other words, it was just Aunt and me in the studio.

 

“Now, shall we listen?”

 

Aunt’s words became the signal, and as always.

 

Click.

 

The spacebar was pressed.

 

The piano sound was still the same.

 

I could feel the night air.

 

I felt the refreshing coolness, and the electric guitar came up over it.

 

It was exactly as I had composed it.

 

‘She didn’t change much.’

 

But if there was something different, it was the balance of the sounds.

 

In other words, they were harmonizing well.

 

Everything was flowing naturally without any part sticking out.

 

The drum beats were like that, and so was the piano.

 

The night scenery I wanted was being painted.

 

Aunt knew well what I wanted and expressed it generously.

 

I was grateful for that.

 

‘If you’re a musician, your own color would inevitably seep in.’

 

But Aunt Sujin didn’t do that.

 

She plainly expressed the song as best as she could.

 

-Juaang-♪

 

The electric guitar sound rippled.

 

The synthesizer came up over it too.

 

The sound ringing with a twangy tone captivated the ears.

 

It was the completion of the city pop I had envisioned.

 

But the music didn’t continue.

 

Stop.

 

Aunt suddenly stopped the playback.

 

“Ah!”

 

I was enjoying it well, but when it suddenly stopped, a sigh escaped me without realizing it.

 

I turned my head to look at Aunt.

 

I saw Aunt making a mischievous expression.

 

It seemed like she had some intention.

 

“Hee-seong, didn’t something seem strange when you heard the song?”

 

“Something strange? I’m not really sure…”

 

“Then listen to this one. You’ll know what’s different.”

 

Aunt clicked the mouse and opened another file.

 

And once again pressed the spacebar.

 

The music played.

 

The beginning was the same.

 

The piano and electric guitar reflected the cityscape.

 

It felt like a gentle breeze brushing through hair.

 

The synthesizer’s sound was the same too.

 

There was nothing different….

 

-Bam- Ba-bam-

 

There was.

 

It wasn’t something you could hear right when the song started.

 

You could tell after some time had passed.

 

Enough time for the intro to flow.

 

After that, the organ burst out.

 

The heavy sound bounced playfully.

 

Those sounds were Aunt’s intention.

 

“Can you tell what’s different?”

 

“Yes! I can hear organ sounds!”

 

“Oh~! You got it right. Then, can you guess what role it’s playing?”

 

I put my mind to work.

 

The organ sound didn’t come in as soon as it started.

 

It came in like how vocals enter after the intro flows in popular songs.

 

‘Wait, vocals…?’

 

Listening to it, the organ’s sound harmonized with the song.

 

But something felt different in texture.

 

Something stood out.

 

As if it was becoming the protagonist.

 

So the organ’s role was….

 

“Vocals!”

 

“That’s right, my smart boy.”

 

I got the answer right.

 

Aunt had transformed my song into one with vocals.

 

This was another fascinating experience.

 

“Heeseong, you’ve never composed a song with vocals, have you?”

 

“No, I haven’t.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Um…. I never thought about it…?”

 

“Try making songs with vocals too. Like this.”

 

Aunt gave me advice.

 

Songs with vocals.

 

I had never thought about that.

 

Voice was also an instrument.

 

But since I was clumsy with it, I had avoided it.

 

Aunt seemed to be saying there was no need for that anymore.

 

“Now, when there are vocals, there’s something you need.”

 

“Lyrics?”

 

“Right. What Aunt just did was work before writing lyrics. It’s roughly showing how it would be sung.”

 

“Aha!”

 

But I had never written lyrics before.

 

I never had the opportunity to begin with.

 

In my life, the only things I’d written with pencils and fountain pens were musical scores.

 

But me writing lyrics?

 

“It would be good if Heeseong wrote lyrics directly too, but since you’re young now, someone else will do it.”

 

“Won’t you do it, Aunt?”

 

“Aunt can’t write.”

 

“Me neither.”

 

“We’re alike, aren’t we?”

 

Knock knock.

 

Just as Aunt finished speaking, the sound of someone knocking on the music studio door was heard.

 

Aunt heard the sound too and told them to come in.

 

Creak.

 

The door opened.

 

‘Huh, why is that person here?’

 

Someone I never imagined appeared.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————