The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 18

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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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Read.

The notification that appeared next to my sent message showed that Min Chan-hyeok had read my proposal.

‘So, what will you do.’

I muttered to myself like that.

It was a bold request for a newcomer to make. But I was confident. I also had faith that Min Chan-hyeok would recognize the true value of this song.

‘He was famous for having good ears after all.’

If that reputation wasn’t false, I’d get a response soon.

‘If he tries to negotiate by half-heartedly raising the conditions, there’s no need to discuss it further.’

I knew the quality of my song best. I had no intention whatsoever of selling it cheap just because I was a newcomer.

It probably wasn’t something he could decide rashly.

Since it was something he’d need to discuss with his own team members who were already participating in the project. It seemed like it would take quite a while for a reply to come back.

‘But it’s strange. It was definitely the first time I was sending a message. But it showed up as a blocked user.’

I hesitated at first when sending the message because of that. I unblocked them first, sent the message, then set up notifications…

‘The fact that I left a comment saying the message didn’t seem to be delivered. Could it really just be a system error?’

Though I felt suspicious, I couldn’t find any clear clues from Mun Ah-rin’s reaction. I could only tilt my head in confusion.

Meanwhile, the front door of the lecture hall burst open.

Bang!

No, the door didn’t just open—it made a loud noise as it hit the wall.

All the students turned their gazes toward the commotion in unison.

The first thing I saw was a worn khaki trench coat. The fedora perched on his head was incongruously neat.

The toolbox he was carrying in both arms made me wonder if this person had confused the engineering department with the music department.

His hair stuck out in all directions, and one lens of his glasses was cracked.

While other music department professors were also free-spirited compared to professors from other departments, this person was on another level. It looked like he might have been hit by a bomb somewhere.

“Hey, Drill Moon-ho is here.”

“Today’s another legend.”

I could hear students whispering.

‘Drill Moon-ho.’ I could guess where that nickname came from.

I’d heard he once brought a saw and electric drill to class.

Thunk, the man set down his heavy toolbox and stood in front of the podium. He pushed up his cracked glasses with one hand and looked this way.

“Ah, nice to meet you. I’m Cha Moon-ho, and I’ll be teaching ‘Aesthetics of Experimental Sound’ for one semester.”

It was bewildering how normally he spoke.

When the students clapped, he grinned and curled up the corners of his mouth.

“Now. Let me tell you in advance. I don’t take attendance or anything like that. So if you want to skip, you can leave right now.”

It was a shocking opening.

“I’m not interested in this class! Students who think that, stand up now. I won’t deduct points either. Everyone gets full marks for attitude in my class.”

Murmur murmur.

Students began whispering to each other, reading the room.

Cha Moon-ho placed both hands on the podium and leaned forward.

“And assignments. I’ll give assignments every week, and they’ll be extremely difficult.”

Weekly assignments.

Everyone held their breath at the ominous words. But Cha Moon-ho chuckled and continued.

“You don’t have to submit these either! I won’t deduct points for not turning in assignments, so students who don’t want to do them, don’t!”

I couldn’t tell if he intended to teach or not.

“However, students who submit assignments will get direct feedback from me. I don’t have teaching assistants. I’ll stay up all night reading, listening, and tearing them apart.”

Silence fell over the classroom again.

“So how do I grade? Only with midterm and final exam scores. I’ll make problems that you can solve even without attending class. It doesn’t matter.”

Students already exhausted by classes and assignments perked up.

Well.

‘Problems you can solve without attending class probably means he’ll make problems you can’t solve even if you attend every class.’

There’s always a reason why other students avoid certain things. Everyone finds the easy classes like ghosts, don’t they.

“Now then! What’s good about taking this class that doesn’t require attendance or assignments!”

Cha Moon-ho shouted loudly.

“Your ears will open up. You’ll be able to distinguish good sounds from bad sounds. You’ll hear sounds that no one else can hear. Your ears will become the most sensitive and delicate instruments in the world.”

His tone was confident.

Though his behavior seemed eccentric, it was strangely persuasive. Students were looking at him with curious eyes.

“So before we officially start class! Students who want to leave, leave now~.”

Students looked around at each other. After glancing around, one or two courageously left their seats, and then a dozen or so followed.

‘Quite a lot remained, didn’t they?’

It seemed like everyone except three or four would run out. Still, about two-thirds remained in their seats.

“Hahaha! Good. I’ll assume all remaining students have the will to learn.”

Ahem, Cha Moon-ho cleared his voice and began like this.

“Since it’s the first class today, let’s start lightly. Everyone close your eyes, take a breath, and then…”

Soon,

Screeeech!

The sound of fingernails scratching the blackboard filled the lecture hall.

“Ugh!”

“Eek.”

Several students couldn’t stand it and let out short groans. Everyone flinched.

“Now! When you hear this sound, you feel anxious, right? Fear, tension, discomfort! Don’t you feel these things?!”

Cha Moon-ho excitedly chattered away.

“Next, these tools! Using these, we can make many interesting sounds. From anxious sounds like before, to cold, eerie, and somehow dizzying sounds!”

Rustle.

Students who packed their bags quietly stood up from their seats.

“Wow, this is a bit much.”

“I can’t do this.”

The sound of footsteps leaving the lecture hall could be heard one after another, starting from the back rows.

Still, Cha Moon-ho didn’t mind.

Instead, he smiled brightly and shouted to the remaining students.

“Then let’s keep listening!”

Cha Moon-ho’s class was bizarrely strange, living up to its notorious reputation. He scratched the desk, pulled out a drill, and played terrible noises one after another.

But.

Even so, I remained until the end.

‘The method is extreme, but it’s not completely nonsensical.’

What we hear as ‘music’ are well-processed, pretty, smooth sounds, but the world isn’t filled only with such sounds.

Subway roars, the sound of buses braking, someone’s hurried footsteps.

All these discordant sounds were part of what constituted our lives.

‘If I could just develop the ability to find good sounds within that.’

Cha Moon-ho was trying to narrow that gap.

It was a training method that broke down the barrier between our daily lives and music, forcing us to face discomfort.

‘Since I’ve regained my hearing. I need to train it to be more sensitive.’

If I did that, this could become another weapon for me, and might open up yet another path different from now.

‘…Of course, it’s normal to want to run away seeing that sight.’

Just then, Cha Moon-ho was pulling out an electric drill.

Probably ‘Drill Moon-ho’ would take up a section on the school’s anonymous bulletin board today.

I was half-enlightened, watching Cha Moon-ho’s tool show, when it happened.

-Buzz.

A SAPL notification appeared.

It was from Min Chan-hyeok.

[ Hello. This is Producer Min Chan-hyeok from Vtunes.

I’ve confirmed the content you sent. I understand that you want to join as a composer, not just a simple source provider.

However, it’s difficult to make a hasty decision based on just listening to 【Fracture】. No one gives up credits to a rookie without talent.

Therefore, please visit Vtunes headquarters directly and prove your skills.

I will personally verify them. If you pass the skill assessment, I will officially bring you into this project. If you cannot, then unfortunately, even if it means we can’t receive 【Fracture】, joining will be impossible.

If you wish, please let me know the days and times you’re available to visit. I will arrange a meeting. ]

After reading the entire message, I burst out laughing.

Prove my skills, they say.

There was no sound more welcome to my ears than that.

I stared intently at my phone screen and muttered.

“Let’s give it a try then.”

The corners of my mouth curved up with confidence.

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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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