The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 20
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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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Min Chan-hyeok let out a hollow laugh at my bold proposal.
However, when I didn’t laugh along, he leaned forward and stared directly at me.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“You need to watch your words. If you want to become a pro, you can’t just say things like that carelessly.”
He used a tone as if he was teaching me. But I was serious.
Min Chan-hyeok made a face like he couldn’t believe it, then crossed his arms and asked.
“If I ignore your skills and just fail you unconditionally, then I get the source for free?”
“Then it would mean I misjudged someone, so it can’t be helped. But you’re not the type to foolishly throw away an opportunity to build a friendly relationship with such a talented composer, are you?”
When I answered immediately, Min Chan-hyeok’s eyes widened. He looked like he couldn’t figure out where such a bold kid had popped up from.
He groaned ‘hmm’ and pondered for a moment, then made this proposal.
“Forget about free. Let’s proceed with a buyout contract instead. But no complaining later, okay?”
Who would complain.
“I can tell you write songs well. Just looking at 【Fracture】 shows that. I can’t make songs like that. But this industry isn’t just about being good at making tracks.”
Min Chan-hyeok snapped his fingers.
“Beat making, arrangement, mixing. You need to be able to handle everything to earn the title of ‘producer.'”
Most producers knew how to compose, but that didn’t mean they handled all the composition themselves.
A producer ultimately played a role similar to a movie director.
Just like a director oversees everything but has people underneath who handle the camera work and write the screenplay. Producers also kept various composers and lyricists by their side.
“Show me what kind of song you can make using this 【Fracture】 as source material. Beyond just a simple ‘source,’ make something worthy of being released to the market.”
I could understand the intent of the test.
The eye to read current trends, the sense to incorporate that into a song. And the skill to utilize the ‘source’ appropriately so it neither gets buried nor stands out too much.
It was a test that could evaluate all of that at once.
‘It’s also a test that an ordinary rookie composer could never pass.’
Sure enough.
Min Chan-hyeok’s face showed an expression that said ‘What do you think? Will you still take on the challenge?’
“Sounds good.”
“Huh, what? You’re really going to do it?”
“Yes.”
Then, a Quest window appeared.
[ SYSTEM – SUB QUEST ]
> Prove your skills!
> Content: Min Chan-hyeok doubts your abilities. Use 【Fracture】 to complete a new song.
> Achievement condition: Receive a ‘pass’ judgment from Producer Min Chan-hyeok
> Reward: ‘Skill Proven’ success – Composer debut confirmed
> Penalty: ‘Insufficient skill’ judgment – Forced buyout contract
“Ahem! Don’t underestimate this and get a rude awakening, okay? Well then, I’ll give you a week, so complete it within that time…”
“No.”
I looked directly at Min Chan-hyeok and said.
“I’ll play it for you right now on the spot.”
***
Min Chan-hyeok watched with his arms crossed as Seol handled the equipment.
He had no idea how things had flowed this way.
‘I was planning to sweet-talk him appropriately and just make a buyout contract…’
First offering to give the song for free, then acting arrogantly like he looked down on the industry, trusting in his meager talent.
Instead of just ignoring it, he had completely fallen for it.
Somehow being pushed around by this young kid left him feeling nothing but unpleasant.
‘Oh. His handling technique is quite skilled. Has he learned under some famous composer?’
Like someone who had been working with this equipment for years, there was no hesitation in his hand movements. It was hard to see this as just copying what he saw on YouTube.
That was only momentary.
Swoosh, click!
Tap!
Seol’s fingers moved rapidly between the keyboard and mouse. Drag, cut, loop, EQ adjustment.
Everything was smooth without a single moment of hesitation.
‘Wh-what is this.’
Min Chan-hyeok unconsciously gaped his mouth open.
‘Is this even possible?’
Usually a rookie would take quite a while just to load the source and place it on the track. But Seol was different.
‘It’s like… he’s already finished composing in his head and is just transferring it as is.’
Even as he thought it himself, he considered it impossible.
Do you know how many virtual instruments are used in composition? The subtle differences between them all couldn’t be memorized, so even Min Chan-hyeok would listen and adjust as he went.
But Seol picked out exactly what he needed from the various virtual instruments.
He set up loops, added kicks and snares, and a decent groove emerged.
【Fracture】 also blended in naturally.
Min Chan-hyeok had unconsciously pulled his chair forward and was watching the spectacle.
This was no longer a test. It was closer to some kind of amazing performance show.
Click.
When Seol finally put down the mouse, Min Chan-hyeok snapped back to his senses.
“Would you like to listen to it now?”
“A-already finished?”
“…? Yes.”
Seol answered in a tone like he was wondering why I was asking something so obvious.
Of course he’d ask if I wanted to listen since it was finished. I know, I know that.
‘But it doesn’t make sense!’
Min Chan-hyeok wanted to shout that if he could. But his meager pride barely kept his mouth shut.
Instead, he cleared his throat several times and continued while pretending to be composed.
“Good. Let’s hear it then. You know that making it fast isn’t everything, right? I won’t go easy on you just because you made it on the spot.”
“Please listen.”
Soon the song began flowing from the speakers.
-♪♪♩♬
At the continuing melody, Min Chan-hyeok momentarily held his breath.
A cleanly organized beat over rough, anxious textures.
The more he closed his eyes and followed the song’s flow, the more amazement washed over him.
‘This is similar to the direction I was thinking of.’
The detailed progression was slightly different, but this was exactly the kind of feeling Min Chan-hyeok had in mind when he first heard it.
Taking the dissonance of 【Fracture】 and making it this groovy, pulling it to a middle point between EDM and pop.
‘The concept? Good. The completion? Insane.’
Moreover, the chorus was addictive even to Min Chan-hyeok’s ears, and looked like something the public would enjoy singing along to.
‘He even took care of commercial appeal?’
Min Chan-hyeok clasped his hands together and brought them under his chin.
‘…There’s no way this guy is a rookie.’
He stared at Seol, who was looking back at him with a calm expression, and muttered inwardly.
‘Where did such a talent come from?’
***
As the song ended, silence flowed through the studio.
Min Chan-hyeok crossed his arms and just stared at me intently for a long while. It would be nice if he said something.
There was no evaluation at all—whether the song was good or bad.
When he wiped away his smile and put on a serious expression, his cool impression was emphasized, creating an unnecessary tension in the air.
‘Is there something he doesn’t like about it?’
To my ears, the song wasn’t bad at all.
Since Min Chan-hyeok showed no signs of speaking up, I couldn’t hold back and spoke first.
“Is there some kind of problem?”
“…There is a problem.”
Min Chan-hyeok muttered in a low voice.
“A serious problem at that.”
My heart sank.
Then Min Chan-hyeok suddenly lifted his head and spoke in a quite serious tone.
“The big problem is that I’m only discovering a composer like you now.”
“…What?”
“You said you’re 21, right? What have you been doing all this time, letting this talent go to waste? I can see it without even asking. You probably only studied during high school. Your parents probably opposed you doing music. Am I right? This is the reality of Korea’s education system. A kid who should have debuted long ago and been soaring high!”
For a moment I wondered if he was being sincere and looked at him carefully. He couldn’t have been more serious.
Min Chan-hyeok slammed his palm on the desk and shouted.
“You absolutely must become a composer!”
“…Pfft.”
I burst out laughing because it was so absurd.
I mean, what kind of thing is that to say after all that buildup?
I laughed out loud until tears formed in the corners of my eyes. When was the last time I laughed like this?
As I wiped away the tears with my fingertips and was finally calming down, Min Chan-hyeok’s dumbfounded face came into view.
“You… your whole impression changes when you smile, doesn’t it?”
“What?”
“No. Just talking nonsense.”
Min Chan-hyeok fidgeted with the back of his head for no reason, then quickly composed his expression.
“So. Can we write up the contract now?”
A blue window flashed before my eyes.
[ SYSTEM – SUB QUEST ]
> ‘Prove Your Skills’ Complete!
> Reward: ‘Skill Demonstration’ Success – Composer Debut Confirmed
I glanced at the Quest window and then looked back at Min Chan-hyeok.
“You’re more rushed than I expected.”
Min Chan-hyeok grinned and replied.
“What you showed me warrants that kind of urgency.”
[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]
> Congratulations!
> You have secured the ‘Composer Debut’ route.
> Normal Track Recovery Rate: 7%
It’s incomparably different from before. And now it’s only 7% of the normal track.
I held back the corners of my mouth that were trying to rise on their own and said to Min Chan-hyeok.
“Let’s do it. I’ve become curious myself.”
Just how high I can climb.
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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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