The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 36
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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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“….”
“….”
Was this… a failure?
In the end, we couldn’t break through the fandom’s wall and would finish at 11th place.
My heart sank. I reflexively brushed my ear.
It was when that familiar feeling of resignation began to well up.
Click.
I pressed refresh one more time.
This time, the white screen lasted a bit longer. As if there was some delay.
That time felt like an eternity. When the screen finally returned,
【Shatter】 – 6th place(▲)
“…!”
The ranking had changed.
“We did it!”
Min Chan-hyeok jumped up first. He shot up so suddenly that his chair rolled back violently with a bang.
But he didn’t care about that at all. Min Chan-hyeok grabbed my shoulders tightly.
“We did it, we did it! We finally broke through Lamia’s wall!”
I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. It still didn’t feel real.
Blink.
When I closed and opened my eyes, three cards were floating before me.
[ SYSTEM – MAIN QUEST ]
> ‘Successfully Debut’ Complete!
> Rewards:
1. Inspiration Acquisition (B+)
2. Connection Free Pass (A)
3. Trend-Reading Ear (C+)
Choose 1
Each card had the name of a reward written on it.
The leftmost card was ‘Inspiration Acquisition (B+)’.
‘I know what this one is.’
It was thanks to this reward that I gained inspiration when composing 【Fracture】.
Back then it was definitely marked as B grade. This time it had gone up half a grade.
‘Does this mean I can get even better inspiration?’
It was quite an appealing reward. That thrilling feeling when gaining inspiration.
It was ecstasy that any creator would want to experience again.
Even with just B grade, I had produced a pretty good song. I was curious what kind of inspiration I could get with B+ grade.
My hand naturally moved toward the Inspiration Acquisition, but I held back.
‘But I’m curious about the other rewards too.’
The second card was ‘Connection Free Pass (A)’. I couldn’t tell exactly what kind of reward it was from the name alone, but I could roughly guess.
‘Knowing how important connections are in this industry, it’s hard to just ignore.’
This time I was lucky to connect with Min Chan-hyeok right away. But basically, composers are freelancers who have to wander around looking for clients to give them work.
Just because I made my name known a bit with Lee Ha-in’s new song doesn’t mean a smooth road will unfold before me.
This is a place where meteoric newcomers appear and end up as one-hit wonders all too often.
No matter how well you make music, it’s useless if you can’t sell it.
‘In that sense, Mun Ah-rin was naturally gifted.’
Though she stole all her songs from me. Thanks to diligently continuing social activities with that pretty face, she probably never ran out of work.
‘On the other hand, what about me? I don’t have proper connections, and I’m not very social either.’
In that sense, this reward was a card that could cover my weakness.
‘I also like that it’s the only A grade.’
But there was no need to choose hastily. My gaze immediately went to the third card.
Trend-Reading Ear (C+).
Being C grade, it seemed insignificant compared to other abilities, but that wasn’t necessarily the case.
‘In practical music rather than classical, there’s no element as important as trends.’
Even if the ability itself was C+ grade, if used well, it could be more useful than A grade.
Since I’m the one composing anyway, minimum quality is guaranteed. If I could pick and choose elements that the public would like, what ability could be better than that?
‘Sigh. It’s hard to choose.’
I looked at each card in turn with furrowed brows.
I slowly took a breath and closed my eyes tightly before opening them.
I had made my decision.
‘The reward I’ll choose is…’
I brought my hand to one card.
‘This one.’
When I poked it, the card spun around and brilliant light burst out. Soon that light seeped into me, and a new system window appeared.
[ SYSTEM – MAIN QUEST ]
> Congratulations!
> You have acquired a reward.
Then the window quickly changed.
[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]
> Congratulations!
> Normal Trajectory Recovery Rate: 13%
That sentence was clearly engraved in my heart.
I took a breath. The air somehow felt different. I couldn’t explain in words what had changed.
I only thought about making the most of this reward to climb even higher.
‘I can do it. This time.’
I muttered to myself while clenching my fist tightly.
“Hey! Why do you have such a serious expression?”
Then Min Chan-hyeok stopped bouncing around and looked at me with a question.
“Aren’t you even happy? On such a good day.”
“I’m happy. Very much so.”
“A young kid is making an expression like he’s lived through everything in the world.”
Min Chan-hyeok grumbled for no reason. He seemed embarrassed about making a fuss by himself.
“I should get going. The last train might stop running.”
“Should I give you a ride?”
“It’s fine. I’ll go alone.”
“Alright. I was just asking anyway.”
Since I rejected his offer every time, it had now become just a perfunctory question.
“Hurry up and go.”
“I’ll head in first~.”
I bowed in greeting and left the studio with light steps.
Click.
As the studio door closed, Min Chan-hyeok glanced toward where Seol had left.
“That guy usually doesn’t act like that, but he subtly shows his caring side in situations like this.”
He should know how to honestly express joy when he’s happy. But he just keeps suppressing everything.
If he hadn’t released it through music, he would have definitely developed some internal illness.
‘Sigh. Whatever. It’s not like I’m his father.’
Buzz-.
Min Chan-hyeok’s face instantly brightened at the ringing phone.
“Yes, CEO!”
The fact that the V-Tunes CEO personally called him at this hour meant that he too had been monitoring the new song’s progress.
Min Chan-hyeok broke into a wide grin.
“Oh, you saw the new song’s ranking, right? Hahaha. See, I told you it would work. Ah! What are you saying! It’s all because you have such excellent taste in selecting songs, CEO.”
Min Chan-hyeok skillfully praised the CEO, deflecting the credit to him.
“Ah, our composer? That friend is rather reluctant to meet people, so that’s a bit… Yes, yes. Please understand.”
Min Chan-hyeok picked up a cigarette while holding the phone against his shoulder. Since he had been restraining himself as much as possible when with Seol, he was quickly craving one.
Click, he lit it and took a puff, finally feeling like he could breathe. His head calmed down and his mind became clear.
But at the news that followed, Min Chan-hyeok couldn’t help but ask back reflexively.
“What?”
But the answer he heard remained the same.
Min Chan-hyeok muttered quietly in bewilderment.
“…They want to see me?”
***
Min Chan-hyeok ran his hand through his hair unnecessarily.
“Damn. I’m actually coming to places like this too.”
He muttered quietly and entered the store.
An employee immediately approached and guided him to an inner seat as if they had been waiting.
Every room he passed showed no signs of other customers. They had clearly rented out the entire store.
Slide.
The door opened, and the person who had been waiting inside looked up.
Jeong Do-hyun.
With features that wouldn’t look out of place on any movie screen, Min Chan-hyeok couldn’t help but admire him for a moment.
He looked like a painting that a famous artist had poured their heart into creating. Or else a face that AI had created unrealistically.
‘Isn’t it kind of unfair to be both rich and handsome? If he had any conscience, he shouldn’t work out too.’
Looking at the tightly fitted dress shirt, Min Chan-hyeok grumbled internally.
God really was unfair.
“Please sit.”
Jeong Do-hyun gestured to the seat across from him. Even though he used honorifics, it strangely felt like he was speaking down to him.
Min Chan-hyeok hid that discomfort inside and smiled brightly on the outside.
“It’s an honor that you called me, CEO! I’ve heard a lot about you through various channels.”
Bow. He bowed deeply in greeting and went to sit in the seat offered to him.
Min Chan-hyeok was also a veteran in this industry, but compared to Jeong Do-hyun’s influence, he was nothing.
Who was Jeong Do-hyun?
The son of the chairman of JHJ Group, one of the nation’s leading conglomerates. A second-generation chaebol who was born with a diamond spoon in his mouth.
It wasn’t just about having a lot of money. After acquiring a global private equity-based investment planning company, Jeong Do-hyun had been pouring in so much money that he was called a ‘big shot’ in the entertainment industry.
In other words, a money bag!
And this Jeong Do-hyun had suddenly summoned Min Chan-hyeok.
‘The reason is obvious.’
Min Chan-hyeok subtly studied Jeong Do-hyun’s face.
‘He must be quite curious about composer YULE’s identity, right? To the point of stepping forward personally like this.’
He muttered to himself.
‘Seol. What are you going to do 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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