The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 100

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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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The stage lights slowly dimmed.

After Mun Ah-rin struck the final key, the air rippled once.

I could tell even without hearing it.

No, perhaps because of that, I felt it even more vividly.

The sight of the judges nodding their heads simultaneously, even the professor who had been clasping his hands together curling up the corners of his mouth.

-Wow. Was there such talent here?

-Excellent. The name was, Mun Ah-rin? I should remember that.

Their chatter among themselves was crystal clear to me.

It was the same in the audience. I could see a student in the front row swallowing, the shape of their mouth visible.

Though there was no sound, I could tell applause was rolling in like waves. Sometimes above their heads, sometimes striking their own thighs. Each person was pouring out their own praise.

‘This is…’

I slowly drew in a breath.

‘This won’t work.’

I could tell instinctively.

It wasn’t simple admiration, nor an expression of fear. I came to a calm conclusion.

‘I’m going to lose this.’

A system window flashed in one corner of my vision.

‘Song analysis.’

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

> Analyzing….

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

> Analysis complete !

> Song title : PRISM

> Completion : 91%

> Commercial value : S

> Trend compatibility : S

> Evaluation : The meticulously designed emotional structure stands out. It perfectly captivates the listener.

> Improvement : Beautiful, but somehow hollow.

I recalled the evaluation of the song I had composed.

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

> Song title : I’ll Remember You

> Completion : 86%

> Commercial value : S

> Trend compatibility : A+

> Evaluation : Ominousness and beauty swirl simultaneously, giving listeners an unforgettable memory.

> Improvement : The structure is somewhat rough for emotional maximization.

‘As expected.’

There were noticeable differences. While both received an ‘S’ for commercial value, Mun Ah-rin’s was superior in trend compatibility and completion.

‘No, to be precise, I should say it’s Park Hee-jae’s song.’

This young genius had created a completely new song. It was unbelievable that I hadn’t properly heard her name before my regression.

‘I suspected it, but I didn’t think it would really be like this.’

Seeing it confirmed with documented data made it even clearer. At this rate, the judges might give Mun Ah-rin a higher score.

‘Am I going to lose like this?’

I could feel the sheet music in my hand getting crumpled.

I saw Mun Ah-rin bowing on stage and then walking into the backstage.

Since I was next, our eyes met as I waited.

With flushed red cheeks, wearing an expression of being intoxicated by the praise that had just been showered upon her.

Mun Ah-rin smiled brightly at me.

-Seol~!

She looked surprisingly fine for someone who had just finished performing. Her slightly panting breath was the only evidence that she had just swept all eyes on stage.

-How was it?

Hiss.

The corners of her mouth slowly curled up.

-My performance. You listened well, right?

I didn’t bother to answer. I couldn’t hear it anyway. Besides, the fact that it wasn’t Mun Ah-rin’s song was something we both knew.

-Really. Everyone praised me so much. I don’t know what to do with myself.

Mun Ah-rin shrugged her shoulders once.

-Oh right. Seol should go now too. Sorry. Did I keep you too long?

The corners of her mouth rose a little more.

-Then, fighting!

And with that, Mun Ah-rin walked away. I could see those waiting backstage showering Mun Ah-rin with praise.

I watched her retreating figure for a moment, then checked the system window again.

[ Duration : 00 : 14 : 53 ]

Only 15 minutes left. But there were less than 5 minutes until my performance.

I could no longer delay.

-Next, our seventh participant is waiting. Please welcome them with applause!

As soon as the announcer finished speaking, I was pushed onto the stage by the staff.

I surveyed the audience.

Most people still had faces that hadn’t recovered from their excitement.

I could see their mouths chattering.

-Who was that person earlier? Mun Ah-rin?

-She’s a sophomore at our school. Wow, that’s no joke.

-With that level of skill, why is she even attending school? If it were me, I’d debut as a pro right away!

‘They’re not focused at all.’

I could tell immediately.

The afterglow left by Mun Ah-rin hadn’t faded yet. As if they had already tasted the highlight of the performance, people no longer had any expectations.

They couldn’t imagine that a song better than Mun Ah-rin’s would come out.

‘Performing at a time like this, even a good song would have trouble getting a good evaluation.’

Probably several people were grateful that they weren’t the one performing right after Mun Ah-rin.

Other students would have been swept up in this atmosphere and become intimidated without being able to properly demonstrate their skills.

A staff member gestured.

I could see them mouth ‘Are you ready?’

I checked my sheet music again.

But nothing had changed.

With this song, I can’t beat Mun Ah-rin.

***

‘Damn it. Everyone just be quiet.’

Cho Yun-je glared at his surroundings and muttered to himself.

Even though Mun Ah-rin had exited and Seol had taken the stage, people were still longing for Mun Ah-rin.

In such a chaotic state, there was no way Seol’s song would be properly heard. Several people in the front row were already sitting as if lying down diagonally.

It was about time to get tired anyway. The timing was the worst.

‘What are you going to do, Seol?’

Cho Yun-je looked at Seol standing on the stage.

Unlike Mun Ah-rin, he wore neatly dressed slacks and a white shirt. With his tidy appearance, everyone would glance at him briefly before turning their gaze away.

‘How are you going to overcome this?’

Even in Cho Yun-je’s opinion, the opponent was too formidable.

He had helped Seol practice several times, but he couldn’t imagine him being able to overwhelmingly defeat Mun Ah-rin.

‘No, rather Mun Ah-rin has a slight advantage.’

That was the cold truth.

Seol sat in front of the piano, quietly looking down at the keys.

Like that for 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute.

At first, those who had been lost in other thoughts began to wonder when no music came.

“What? Why isn’t he playing?”

“Right.”

“Did he freeze up? Because the person before was too good?”

“That might be it.”

People whispered among themselves. The audience’s gaze began to focus on the stage.

One of the judges gestured toward the announcer. It seemed like he was asking if there was a problem.

The announcer kept sending hand signals toward Seol, urging him to hurry, but Seol only stared at the piano.

‘Don’t tell me…’

Cho Yun-je gulped.

‘Has he lost his fighting spirit? Is he scared?’

He knew Seol wasn’t like that. If he were the type to run away, he wouldn’t have entered the competition in the first place while unable to hear.

But still,

Once actually on stage, it might be different from what he had imagined.

‘Especially in a physically impaired state like now, even more so.’

Realizing that he was the only person who knew this fact, Cho Yun-je became even more anxious.

“It’s not a sound system problem, is it?”

“Looks like his mental state is shot.”

“Is this okay? They should change him to the last slot or something.”

The murmuring gradually grew louder.

Each time, Cho Yun-je muttered inwardly.

‘Don’t collapse. You can’t collapse here.’

As he chewed on his lower lip, blood suddenly welled up. But he didn’t even notice the pain.

It was right when people’s murmuring reached its peak.

Seol turned his head.

“Huh?”

“What?”

As if an NPC in a game had suddenly responded to a player. People cleared their throats awkwardly to wash away their embarrassment.

The noise subsided and the audience became quiet.

At some point, the lingering impression that Mun Ah-rin had created disappeared completely.

And was filled only with gazes directed toward the person called Seol.

Hands that had been touching phones stopped, and those who had been leaning back straightened their postures slightly.

Seol’s right hand lingered in the air for a moment before striking the piano keys.

-♪

The first note that shattered the silence filled the hall.

Then the second and third notes connected, and one measure was completed.

Cho Yun-je took a deep breath.

‘Just do it like you practiced.’

Then he would be able to receive a pretty decent evaluation.

So, please.

Just as Cho Yun-je was unconsciously singing along to the melody in his mind.

-♩

“…!”

Seol’s finger pressed a completely different key than expected.

‘He made a mistake!’

It felt like his heart had dropped.

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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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