The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 4

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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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“Phew, that’s done.”

I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.

“Haven’t set up equipment in a while, worked up quite a sweat.”

In the middle of the room, gleaming composition equipment was lined up in a row.

It was a beginner’s set I’d managed to get by emptying out my bank account.

Instead of the old laptop that could barely handle document work, a decent-spec assembled computer,

I couldn’t even dream of a soundproof booth, so I got headphones for now as a quick fix.

Along with an audio interface, master keyboard, and a budget condenser microphone.

I’d scoured second-hand sites and done plenty of legwork to get them at a reasonable price.

‘It’s not like Mun Arin’s Studio, but this is pretty good for what it is.’

When I hung the headset around my neck, the familiar weight gave me a strange sense of stability.

It had already been a week since I’d regressed.

I still didn’t know why this had happened, but I continued to remain in the past from 10 years ago.

This mysterious system was still there too.

I’d gotten pretty used to it by now.

My gaze turned to one side of the room. Stacks of sheet music piled along the wall.

“I really need to organize these.”

The first thing I did on the night I regressed.

It was transferring all the songs stored in my head onto paper.

The old laptop’s specs were too low to run MIDI programs, so I ended up drawing them by hand.

A full 10 years.

The time I’d endured doing nothing but composing, unable to escape from Mun Ah-rin’s shadow.

‘I had so many practice pieces they were practically overflowing.’

I stayed up all night transferring them.

When I came to my senses, sunlight was already streaming through the window.

When I looked up, an enormous amount of sheet music was piled up, filling about half of the small studio apartment.

These were all my songs.

From beginning to end.

They lay there without a single note stolen away.

“I’ll organize them later. Let me start working first.”

I turned on the computer and launched Cubase. The familiar interface filled the monitor.

Before regressing, whenever I faced this empty project window, I always felt suffocated.

It was because of fear, self-loathing, and the inferiority complex that ate away at me.

But this time was different. My heart was pounding as if I’d met my first love.

‘Right. This is how composition was supposed to feel exciting.’

I hated competitions that repeated fixed scores and textbook-like interpretations, so I escaped to blank sheet music.

I wanted to be free, to move toward something newer.

‘Let me try recording this one first.’

Among my many original compositions, one song came to mind.

【Mercury】

A cold, dreamlike song like the dawn air of a city.

It was characterized by an unstable beauty that seemed to slip and flow.

I placed my hands on the keyboard.

The first track was a low tempo kick. A dull but inward-sinking kick drum, with gently spreading synths layered on top.

-♩♪♬♪….

Yes.

This is it.

Instead of adding lyrics, I laid down a guide with humming.

And so 【Mercury】 was completed.

It was the first song I’d finished after regressing.

A smile naturally formed on my face.

That’s when it happened.

Buzz-.

My phone, which rarely rang, vibrated on the floor.

‘Is it Mun Ah-rin?’

When I glanced over, it was a name I’d never heard before.

[ Lee Hyunji: Is there anyone who can fill in for piano tonight?ㅠㅠ ]

[ Lee Hyun-ji : It’s a Study Group preparing to transfer to Composition Department but our accompanist flaked ]

Ah. Come to think of it.

‘Winter break of freshman year was originally a really busy time.’

Some were preparing for practical exams, some for competitions, and others for supplementary basic theory.

There were also many kids preparing to transfer departments.

Moving from piano to composition or conducting was quite common. That’s why I had consulted Mun Ah-rin about my concerns at this time too.

The number next to the message quickly dropped from 20 to 15. But no replies came back. Somehow everyone seemed to be avoiding it.

Before long, people started responding one by one.

[ Kim Ye-ram : I have a lesson today so I don’t think I can ]

[ Park Dong-min : I have a family event so I can’t either,,, ]

No one readily volunteered for the sudden request.

‘Lee Hyun-ji… Was she the class president?’

There were about 20 freshmen in the piano department. We all knew each other’s faces, but the close groups were divided into several cliques.

Among them, I was.

‘A complete outsider.’

Aside from Mun Ah-rin, I barely talked to anyone. At most, Lee Hyun-ji would contact me occasionally for official class business since she was the class president.

‘They’ll figure it out themselves.’

Wanting to try out the new equipment, I was about to turn off notifications and put my phone down when.

Buzz, the phone rang again.

This time it was a private message.

[ Lee Hyun-ji : Seol!! If you have time, would you like to come tonight? ]

[ Lee Hyun-ji : I remembered you were considering transferring to Composition Department, so I’m contacting you! I thought it would be good for you to come see the atmosphere and how other kids are preparing ]

[ Lee Hyun-ji : The songs are easy too! You just need to keep the chords and rhythm ]

[ Lee Hyun-ji : We need a little improvisation hehe but it’s not a difficult level ]

[ Lee Hyun-ji : Let me know if you’re interested! ]

It was obvious I was being squeezed in as a last-minute substitute, but honestly, it wasn’t a bad opportunity.

‘Before regressing, I ended up dropping out so I never properly took the exams. But this time I’m seriously applying for a department transfer.’

It would be good to confirm what kind of exam I need to prepare for.

Rather than bothering to look it up later, I figured it would be best to hear it firsthand.

In the end, I slowly typed a reply.

[ What time does it start? ]

[ Lee Hyun-ji : 7 PM! ]

[ Got it. I’ll come. ]

[ Lee Hyun-ji : Yes!! Just come to Practice Room 3 later! ]

She even added a bouncing puppy emoticon.

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at that sight.

I didn’t realize it at the time. But looking back now, we were all so young.

‘This works out perfectly. While I’m at it, I can do a sound check at the university practice room too.’

With that thought, I saved 【Mercury】 onto the USB.

***

‘Wow. This brings back memories.’

I muttered to myself as I walked through the university. I never dreamed I’d come back here again.

After losing my hearing, I lived cut off from people. Mun Ah-rin was my only conversation partner.

I was practically no different from a shut-in.

I wasn’t particularly close with people at school, but even the few connections I had were completely severed around that time.

I was lost in memories when it happened.

In the narrow alley leading to the practice room, a familiar window suddenly appeared.

[ SYSTEM – SUB QUEST ]

> Let’s create a chance encounter!

> Content: A little coincidence is necessary for inevitability. Use the USB containing an excellent song to aim for a fateful meeting. This encounter will become a connection that leads you to the right ending in the future.

> Achievement condition: Leave the USB at the designated location

> Reward: Unlock connection with important person (□□□)

> Penalty: Block meeting with important person (□□□) (※ You may receive disadvantages in subsequent Main Quest progression.)

My hand hesitated.

‘Not a Main Quest, but a Sub Quest?’

The content was simpler compared to Main Quests too. Just ‘leave the USB behind’ or something like that.

The reward and penalty were also somehow vague.

‘Who exactly is this important person?’

I couldn’t even guess since the name wasn’t showing properly.

‘They want me to just leave this here?’

I took out the USB from my pocket and held it. Then, as if telling me this was the place, a corner of the ground began to glow brightly.

‘This feels unsettling.’

Who knows whose hands my carefully crafted song would end up in if I just left it here.

I felt very uneasy about it. What if someone else claimed this song as their own? That would be another headache.

If it were up to me, I’d want to ignore this important person nonsense and just walk past.

‘…But that warning message bothers me.’

It said I might receive disadvantages in subsequent Main Quest progression.

That was an equally unsettling phrase.

“…Sigh.”

I irritably ran my fingers through my hair and placed the USB on the glowing spot.

Then I quickly moved away before I could have more regrets. I tried not to look back.

‘It said this would become a connection that leads to the right ending.’

I comforted myself with that thought.

***

A black shadow slowly fell over the USB.

Long, neat fingers brushed against the ground.

“…USB?”

The man picked it up. The small USB placed on his palm glinted alone.

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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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