The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 21

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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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“Good. That sounds interesting. If we say a 21-year-old genius composer participated in the work, it’ll create buzz too.”

Min Chan-hyeok seemed to already be planning how to promote the song.

“You have social media accounts, right? When the song is released, people will look you up, so delete any overly personal content. I’d also recommend creating a new official account.”

“….”

“You’ll do a few interviews too, and take profile photos.”

I hesitated for a moment, then shook my head.

“I… don’t want my face to be known.”

Min Chan-hyeok raised his eyebrows.

“Why? These days, all the newcomers want to be in the spotlight. If done well, it helps with song promotion and you can build a fanbase too.”

Composers are ultimately in the position of selling their songs.

Building one’s own image and branding was also one of the important business skills.

Before my regression, Mun Ah-rin was the same way.

She used her pretty face and young age to promote herself as a genius composer with massive publicity.

Thanks to that, all kinds of entertainment companies lined up to get songs from Mun Ah-rin. It could be said to have been quite an effective strategy.

Famous producers wield tremendous influence in themselves. There are even groups that debut with the title of being produced by certain producers.

But….

I answered firmly.

“I want to compete with my music alone. I want to be remembered only for my songs.”

And if possible, I wanted to separate college student Seol from composer YULE.

At least until I was done staying by Mun Ah-rin’s side.

After a brief silence, Min Chan-hyeok let out a hollow laugh.

“…Right. People are sometimes more swayed by what they see than what they hear.”

Min Chan-hyeok nodded as if he understood.

“With your visuals, I thought we could create buzz quickly. My thinking was short-sighted. Yeah, selling your face would just become bothersome later anyway.”

He chuckled and nodded.

“With your skills, you don’t need to use such methods, so let’s go with the straightforward approach, right?”

“Yes.”

“‘The faceless composer’ – that’s also a brand. But you’ll have to produce music that’s absolutely killer.”

I nodded with a subtle smile.

“Don’t worry about that.”

I already had plenty of songs I wanted to release to the world.

“Good. Then shall we write up a contract right now? We’ll need to adjust the specific details, but we’ll match your conditions as much as possible.”

Min Chan-hyeok acted as if he’d pull out a contract immediately.

I glanced at my watch. Oh no. Had time already passed this much?

“Ah, sorry. I need to get going now.”

“What?”

Min Chan-hyeok frowned at the sudden statement. I gathered my bag and said.

“I just stopped by during my free period. My next class time is cutting it close. I’ll head out first.”

“…Free period?”

“Please send the contract by email. I’ll review it and get back to you.”

After bowing in greeting, I got up from my seat first. If I didn’t hurry, I’d be late.

Until I closed the studio door and left, Min Chan-hyeok had a dazed expression.

Through the closing door, Min Chan-hyeok’s shout echoed.

“You were a college student?!”

Instead of answering, I smiled softly and walked away.

It was a pleasant first start.

***

I ended up being late after all.

“….”

I thought I could make it just in time. What was with the subway splitting into two lines? It had been too long since I’d ridden it, so I forgot.

Thanks to that, I was 30 minutes late to class.

Looking through the small window in the door, class was in full swing.

Of all classes, it was Professor Baek Ga-hee’s. She was the professor who specifically asked to see me in class, and I was late on the first day.

Swallowing a sigh inwardly, I carefully opened the back door.

Click.

“…?”

I tried once more, but it didn’t open this time either.

The door seemed to be locked. Mun Ah-rin, who was sitting near the back door, glanced this way and made eye contact with me.

Mun Ah-rin made a tearful expression, then picked up her phone and typed something quickly.

Buzz-, a KakaoTalk message came.

Moon Arin: Seol-ah ㅠㅠㅠ why are you so late

Mun Ah-rin : Prof Baek locks the back door after 10 mins,,

Moon Arin: If you want to come in, you have to use the front door ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

It was one problem after another.

Come in through the front door. The intention to not let latecomers off easy was clear.

Mun Ah-rin : but she’ll just scold u a bit and thats it so dont worry too much

Mun Ah-rin : just say sorry and hurry in!!

After taking a deep breath, I headed to the front door.

Creak.

As I opened the door and entered, I felt Baek Ga-hee stop what she was saying and stare directly at me.

Professor Baek Ga-hee smoothly pushed up her glasses with one hand and spoke curtly.

“Student Seol. Late on the first day?”

I felt the atmosphere freeze coldly at her sharp tone. The surrounding students looked at me with anxious eyes.

I immediately bowed and apologized.

“I’m sorry for being late.”

As I tried to quickly retreat, Baek Ga-hee stopped me.

“Oh my. You seem to not have heard. What happens to students who are late to my class.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Where are you going? Come here and stand.”

Baek Ga-hee pointed to the spot next to her.

The surrounding students had expressions of ‘here it comes’ with worried faces.

“Students who are late to my lecture have to answer a question I give before they can sit down.”

“…!”

“You must think there’s nothing to learn in my class since you’re this late, right? Let’s see how amazing your skills are.”

This was the first time I was hearing about this.

But everyone accepted it naturally, so it seemed to be passed down like a tradition within the Composition Department.

‘…Mun Ah-rin, you.’

I looked at Mun Ah-rin sitting in the back row. Then Mun Ah-rin smiled sheepishly with an apologetic expression.

I read what she was mouthing.

‘Sorry. I confused her with another professor. …was what she said.’

Since we used to communicate by lip reading when my hearing was impaired, I could read Mun Ah-rin’s lip movements perfectly.

Should I believe that half-hearted excuse?

“This is an ear training class, so I’ll give you an appropriate question. Please transcribe the song I’m about to play for you accurately.”

As Baek Ga-hee adjusted the beam projector, a staff was drawn on the white board.

“Here.”

It was a test where failure would mean public humiliation in front of everyone.

“How about it. If you take the challenge and succeed, I won’t mark you as late and will count it as attendance. But if you get it wrong, I’ll mark it as an absence.”

Not even late, but absent. It was a harsh punishment.

“Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll play the piece for you.”

I had no other choice. I picked up the marker and nodded.

“I’ll give you something very short. Just 10 seconds. Alright, let’s begin.”

Music immediately flowed from the speakers.

A violin and flute exchanged different melodies with each other, while a cello provided the foundation beneath.

A clarinet interjected intermittently, twisting the harmony, and timpani briefly enlivened the rhythm.

It was a complex ensemble with multiple instruments appearing simultaneously.

Exactly 10 seconds later, the speakers went silent. The lecture hall fell quiet in an instant.

“…Wow.”

“How many instruments was that?”

“I could barely make out the violin and flute.”

“That’s way too difficult? When she said 10 seconds, I wondered what was going on…”

Students’ sighs erupted from all around.

“Student Yoon Seol.”

Professor Baek Ga-hee’s cold gaze pierced straight through me.

“You can do it, right?”

There was even a strange compulsion in her eyes. It wasn’t that she was deliberately trying to embarrass me, but rather she seemed to genuinely believe that I could pull this off.

“The professor is really being too harsh.”

“How is anyone supposed to do that?”

“Even on regular exams, they’d play something like that at least five times.”

The murmuring grew louder and louder. Under everyone’s gaze of disbelief, I slowly walked toward the whiteboard.

Swish, swoosh.

The pen seemed to move on its own.

Starting with the violin’s melody, then the flute’s scattered arpeggios, the clarinet’s twisted harmonies, and even the timpani that struck intermittently.

Those 10 seconds replayed clearly in my mind, with each part flowing out separately.

Musical notes poured onto the board.

Quickly, and without a single moment’s hesitation.

As if I were writing down sheet music I already knew.

Tap.

When I finished writing the last note, the lecture hall was dead silent.

The students who had been whispering just moments before were staring at me blankly, completely stunned.

I put down the pen and asked.

“…May I go sit down now?”

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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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