Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 137
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 137
37. Performance
A few days ago, at a mansion somewhere in New York.
An old man with long, disheveled hair sits on the sofa and gulps down a beer.
“Ahh!”
The refreshing sensation that drives away the drowsiness pressing down on his blinking eyelids.
“Yeah! Go! Go! Go!”
“Hmm. Should I move to E8 here?”
An old man shaking a beer can while watching a sports game, another old man wearing reading glasses moving chess pieces while looking at a book with a chessboard in front of him.
These are the ordinary scenes of elderly men you could see anywhere.
‘How long has it been?’
Since resting so comfortably like this.
In 2012, after releasing an album they had worked on for a full eight years, they finished their North American tour and worldwide tour half a year ago.
Returning to being old men who love rock feels both refreshing and regrettable.
The fans’ cheers that still echo when they close their eyes.
The heat of the concert venues.
‘It would be nice to start again soon…’
Concerts. Tours.
Unfortunately, the old man’s stamina is limited so the chances of rejection are high, but thinking he might as well try his luck, the old man looks around at his friends.
“Hm?”
The long-haired old man, Steven Tyler, approaches an old man who is concentrating on a laptop with a guitar pick in his mouth.
“What’s that? A video?”
“Are you watching porn by yourself?”
“Selfish bastard!”
The old men who dropped what they were doing and came running over – no, the members of America’s legendary rock band Aerosmith.
Guitarist Joe Perry, whose bangs are snow-white as if highlighted, snorts.
“This is called YouTube, you old geezers.”
YouTube, which he learned about from his child after watching online how Joe Walsh and Jimmy Page recruited a guest vocalist in 2009 and sparked another rock craze.
This was the alpha and omega that came after rock and family.
“Everything’s here. Our songs, other friends’ songs too.”
And that’s not all.
There are young rock bands of the current generation, plus sports, news, economics, current affairs – you can watch everything.
Even fishing videos.
“It’s completely MacGyver.”
The spy action drama MacGyver that aired from 1985.
With just simple tools, he could get through any danger – he was every man’s wannabe back then.
“It’s pretty much at that level.”
“Oh ho. Really? What’s it called?”
“Try it once first.”
“YouTube. Here, look. If you click on this square thing like this…”
-Murmur murmur!
“Ooh!”
A video that seems to show someone busking.
“He’s young? Is he Asian?”
“Oh, his form holding the sticks is pretty good?”
Pleasant smiles spread across Steven Tyler and the members’ faces.
Because young friends like this continue doing rock, rock continues its legacy without being forgotten even today.
It was the moment they looked at the video with proud eyes, like grandfathers watching their grandson’s antics.
Boom!
The stick striking the floor tom powerfully.
Their expressions change completely.
“…Ooh.”
“Look at this friend?”
A master recognizes another master, they say.
Though it’s just two beats, they recognize that the boy in the video is a master of drums.
And they make strange expressions at the song that follows.
“Rap rock?”
A genre that wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say was created by them, Aerosmith.
They close their mouths and stare intently at the video.
“…Not bad.”
“Whew. It’s been a long time since my eyes and ears had such a treat.”
It feels even more so thanks to the boy playing drums.
It seemed like he had studied Charlie Watts, as his habits appeared here and there.
This is why music is great.
Such geniuses keep appearing, and music continues to develop because of them.
“Are there other videos of this friend?”
“Wait a minute. Oh, there are!”
Entering the uploader’s channel, there are other videos too.
Joe Perry clicked on the next video, and this time he closed his mouth at the intense guitar riff that struck his ears.
Pop rock – this too was a genre that started because of them.
-Waaaaaaah!
“Whew.”
“Ha.”
When all the videos ended, Steven Tyler and the members look at each other with heated eyes.
They understand without speaking.
Let’s start concerts and tours again.
“How about including these songs in the list?”
“Good idea.”
Songs that feel like rock from their era while being thoroughly infused with youthful sensibility.
With these songs, they could have a blast with the fans.
“What are the titles of these songs?”
“Let me see. For things like this, you can find out by looking at the comments…”
Joe Perry’s complexion hardens as he opens the comment section.
After quickly scrolling through with the mouse wheel, he soon looks at the members in a daze.
“These… they say this young friend composed these songs?”
Bang!
It feels like lightning piercing through the crown of his head and reaching his toes.
Their faces grow hot.
“Contact him.”
Let’s meet once.
Steven Tyler’s mouth split wide like a washbasin.
* * *
Clatter!
A dark night in a New York residential area, a teenage girl runs into the house.
“I’m home!”
“Did you eat?!”
“I did!”
The girl gives her mother a kiss and rushes to her room.
She throws her bag on the bed and grabs the remote control.
-The best adhesive!
“Phew. It hasn’t started yet.”
The girl picks up her phone.
“Yeah. Hal! Where are you?”
-In front of the TV!
In three minutes, the show they’ve been waiting for will begin.
A few weeks ago, a broadcast featuring the sexy guy who mercilessly shook the hearts of girls nationwide.
It’s Mr. Warner and LA Arirang TV’s ‘Trip Road’.
-They say it’s a show like never before, what do you think?
“How many times have broadcasting stations said that?”
When a new show is planned, broadcasting stations always promote it with that kind of comment, but when you actually watch it, it’s all the same.
This broadcast will probably be the same, but it doesn’t matter.
Their only purpose is to see Johann.
“It’s starting! Huh?”
-Is this coming through well? Ah, ahhh.
-Camera check, sound check.
‘Oh?’
Fresh.
A conference room with blue sky visible through a small window.
People who appear to be production team members are doing camera checks.
An opening style they hadn’t seen before.
That’s when it happened.
Knock knock knock!
The moment the door opens, both the girl and her friend on the other end of the phone fall silent.
-Hmm. Am I late?
-No! You’re right on time!
“Ma… rk?”
Though the young ones aren’t particularly interested, Mark Wahlberg always ranks in the top 20 sexiest male actors.
It was him.
‘Wait?!’
Her eyes widen as she recalls the gossip articles from a few weeks ago.
And so the broadcast began in earnest.
-Ah, there he is.
The partner Mark Wahlberg wants to take on the trip.
The moment the camera focus shifts at those words, not only the two girls but all the girls nationwide watching the live broadcast hold their breath.
In front of the vast beach and blue ocean.
The boy’s sweat drops flow down his neck toward his firm chest visible through his swaying shirt. His forearms with defined muscles and veins showing sweep across the guitar strings.
Mysterious eyes gazing somewhere.
His plump pink lips part, and his tongue moves.
-Tell me softly, your eyes seem like they want to say something.
Guns N’ Roses’ Don’t Cry.
“My goodness…”
From the first episode, the violence of sexiness was striking their eyes and ears.
* * *
-I’m done sleeping for today…
└Oh, my darling. Johann.
└Give up. He has a girlfriend.
└Shut up! Nothing can stop my love!
└Ha! Those bad LA girls!
└Right! They’ve been keeping this sexy guy to themselves?
-Crazy bastard! He chose his girlfriend as a travel member!
└Is this even allowed?
└The girlfriend was totally my type though…
└She must be a queen. Definitely.
└She is a queen! Name Emily Sherman! Age 16!
-The CEO of Larisa Company is his aunt?
└His father is the CEO of Rocky Management.
-What did I just hear? Grapevines? From 120 years ago?
└And they’ve even adapted to cold damage! Crazy-!
└Wow. Wine-related gift stocks are going crazy right now.
└So this is what high school students talk about these days…
└Not at all! Those kids are weird!
-Anyone watch California Evening?
└If it’s Mark Wahlberg, shouldn’t he appear on The Ellen Show or Jimmy Kimmel Show, Conan Show?
└Huh, what kind of place are the Rocky Mountains anyway.
-I just watched Trip Road episode 2? But… Hallelujah?
└Give us episode 3! You bastards-!
-Breaking news! Vatican statement released!
└Wa, wait? They’re giving him a knighthood? …Why?
└Episode 3! Give us episode 3-!
└The appointment ceremony is today!
The eyes of countless people turned toward the LA diocese.
* * *
A bright blue March.
Many Catholics gather at the LA Archdiocese.
“A knighthood at 16… Does this make sense?”
Moreover, they heard he’s not even Catholic.
“I heard His Eminence Cardinal Levada pushed this through forcefully?”
Both hardliners and moderates express the same sentiment today.
Historical documents from 200 years ago.
They say it’s precious historical material from when Spanish Catholics were evangelizing in California, but awarding a knighthood based on just that is too excessive.
Catholic believers who already expressed their disagreement when the Vatican announced its position.
However, Cardinal Levada pushed through with his will, and ultimately this ordination ceremony came to be held.
“No matter how I look at it, this seems like a mistake.”
“Has he already become senile?”
“Ha, I hope this doesn’t affect the next papal election.”
Cardinal Levada, the great clergyman born from LA.
Because of this, LA Catholic believers secretly hoped he would become Pope beyond just Cardinal.
The papacy is the highest honor for a Catholic clergyman.
“Sigh. He said we’d have no choice but to acknowledge it after today, so let’s just wait and see.”
“Tsk.”
Their steps slow down momentarily as they click their tongues and enter the archdiocese.
Whirrr!
-The Lord proclaims to the ends of the earth-.
A majestic yet delicate orchestral performance piercing through their ears.
A passage from Isaiah.
“…Was there such a hymn?”
“Since it’s in Spanish, it must be a Spanish hymn.”
“It sounds like an old hymn, not a modern one?”
“Hmm. Passages from Isaiah are often used in Jewish contexts.”
“Why is that? It suddenly reminds me of Indians.”
“I don’t know what it is, but it sounds good.”
A sacred song that echoes against the massive, high cathedral walls of the archdiocese, making one feel reverent just by listening.
The complaints filling their hearts pause momentarily, and their eyes and ears naturally focus on the sound.
Watching the orchestra and the choir with clear, beautiful voices, people find empty seats and sit down.
Cameras focus on the platform at the front.
Soon the cathedral fills up completely with no empty spaces.
“It’s Cardinal Levada.”
“Your Eminence.”
Though each person’s thoughts about the knighthood award may differ, at this moment the believers show respect with one heart.
Cardinal Levada standing on the platform smiles gently as he looks at such believers.
“How do you find the new hymn?”
“…Oh, don’t tell me the Archdiocese of Los Angeles composed it?!”
“It’s wonderful!”
“I feel like I’ve taken one step closer to the Lord!”
Cardinal Levada’s smile deepens.
“That’s fortunate.”
Because it seems the heart toward the Lord always connects, even across eras.
‘Huh? Across eras? Could it be?’
“Yes. These hymns are 200-year-old Californian hymns restored by Sir Johann Jefferson, who is being ordained today as a member of the Order of St. Sylvester.”
“…?!”
The Catholic believers doubted their ears.
* * *
A room in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
A cushion is dabbed on Johann’s face, his wavy hair swept back and fixed.
His eyes become sharper, and the color of his lips stands out.
“I didn’t know Catholics… did makeup.”
“You didn’t know? The Holy See even has a dedicated makeup team for the Pope! Catholics are serious about ceremonies!”
“My goodness. To think I’m receiving a medal…”
Eventually the production staff also came to be recognized for their contributions.
Among the production staff receiving makeup like Johann, the Catholic believers can’t contain their excitement and keep making the sign of the cross.
Johann looks at them with a displeased expression.
“Are you really okay with just that?”
They were to receive Benemerenti medals instead of knighthood honors.
Even this wasn’t awarded to individuals but as a collective commendation to the ‘Trip Road’ production team.
“It’s enough!”
“This is an honor worth bragging about for generations, Johann!”
Though the Benemerenti medal is a general merit decoration, its meaning is special since it’s being awarded directly by a Cardinal.
When even Mark Wahlberg starts spitting with excitement, Johann clicks his tongue.
Mark Wahlberg, famous in Hollywood as a devout believer.
‘Since they’re this happy, well…’
Even if it’s disappointing, he should probably stop complaining any further.
‘Honestly, my knighthood honor doesn’t make sense either.’
Cardinal Levada, whose reason for awarding the knighthood honor is incomprehensible.
He could find out his true intentions through Reading, but he didn’t particularly want to go that far.
“It’s… finished.”
As the archdiocese makeup team employee who had been speaking while touching up his lips steps back, Mark, Emily, and the production staff’s mouths fall open.
“…Wow.”
The knighthood uniform covering his entire right chest.
The top fitted from broad shoulders to the waist and the sleek, straight lines of the lower body.
The neatly swept ash-mixed blue hair and the eyeliner that emphasized his topaz-like eyes transformed Johann into a complete wolf.
A solitary knight who had crossed countless dangerous battlefields.
A young European archduke.
“Jo, Johann! Look here!”
“No! Start from here!”
As Emily’s heart races and she holds up her phone, the production staff also hurriedly grab their phones.
When Johann quickly uses Absorption Reading on ‘Ines de Fresang, The Speaking Mannequin’ and strikes a pose, people’s souls are further captivated.
How much time had passed like this?
“It’s time to enter, Sir.”
“Yes.”
As the clergy come to find him like in the rehearsal a few days ago, Johann rises and follows behind them.
Mark, Emily, and the production staff in suits and dresses also follow.
Soon they stand at the entrance of the archdiocese cathedral.
“Ah!”
“Oh.”
While those visiting the archdiocese for the first time are momentarily distracted by the tall, majestic appearance of the cathedral, Johann nods slightly.
‘Indeed, cathedrals are one of Catholicism’s greatest arts.’
More reverently.
More faithfully.
More majestically.
Since cathedrals are places where the Lord dwells and spreads His will, they must express divine beauty, not human beauty.
Built to inspire devotion just by looking at them and make people confess their sins spontaneously, cathedrals are always artistic masterpieces representing Catholicism.
Murmur murmur.
‘They seem displeased with me.’
Discomfort mixed in the gazes directed at him.
They’re surprised by his younger appearance than expected, then frown.
Someone shows respect.
Someone tries to gauge whether it’s true or not.
Yet someone else sends a distrustful gaze.
After passing through such gazes, Cardinal Levada looks at him warmly from the front.
Just come to this place.
It’s almost over now.
‘Hmm.’
This too is an experience, a precious experience that may never come again, so he accepted the ordination ceremony.
Johann sees Larry, Ada, and Esa-Pekka Salonen sitting among the crowd.
Their encouraging gazes, eyes full of pride saying ‘that’s my child indeed.’
Johann looks at the believers again.
‘I’ll receive countless such gazes from now on.’
Distrustful, measuring, hostile looks.
Even if he turned around now and ruined the ordination ceremony, Larry and Ada would understand, but he doesn’t want to show such a pathetic sight.
‘From now on too.’
A frontal breakthrough.
He just needs to prove that he has the qualifications.
The moment he makes up his mind, the hymns change.
“You may enter.”
As the murmuring clergy take their steps, Johann closes his eyes for a moment.
“Search. Order of Pope St. Sylvester.”
The vast universe, the galactic river winding and stretching beyond the edge of sight.
Johann thrust one of the flying pure white orbs into his chest.
Murmur!
“What’s wrong, why isn’t he moving?”
Johann stands in place even as the clergy walk forward.
He even closes his eyes.
“Oh my, he must be scared.”
“This is… what have we done to a mere 16-year-old… hmm.”
The disapproving gazes freeze.
Because of Johann’s slowly opening eyes.
The moment he suddenly kneels on one knee and makes the sign of the cross, because of some spirit that overwhelms his body.
His eyes become clear as if set with topaz.
And they become rough, shining strongly.
Composed, emanating a heavy presence.
‘The Lord is your shade at your right hand.’
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
‘The Lord will keep you from all harm.’
He will watch over your life.
A verse from Psalms.
Johann rises and walks forward, looking straight ahead.
The spirit of faith rises from his entire body and extends toward the lambs.
The ‘Knight of St. Sylvester’ says ‘The Lord God protects me, so your disbelief is no sin at all’ as he straightens his shoulders and pushes his back forward.
Faith fills his eyes, a pillar of belief is erected on his back, and blood-soaked proof descends upon both shoulders.
Discipline fills his steps.
The mouths of people gradually falling into silence.
Cardinal Levada’s eyes also tremble.
He extends his hand to Johann.
Without realizing it.
As if he must.
Johann takes his hand and kisses the ring.
“Johann Jefferson, servant of the Lord, greets Your Eminence the Cardinal.”
“…I greet the Knight of St. Sylvester.”
Courtesy toward the Pope’s direct knights order.
Words that came out reflexively.
Everyone held their breath and watched the two of them.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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