The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 51

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“The end of the trilogy, finally it’s time for ‘Death.'”

 

The announcer called my turn. I jumped up from my seat, then quickly turned around before stepping out of the waiting room.

 

Kang Se-a smiled slightly as if to say she was fine.

 

Seeing that, I could only bite my lips tightly and walk forward.

 

At the far end of the corridor, I could see Mun Ah-rin walking toward me, having just come down from the stage. Her eyes were sparkling brightly, as if the excitement from being on stage hadn’t yet faded.

 

“Seol, fighting!”

 

Mun Ah-rin casually offered me words of encouragement with a nonchalant expression.

 

Her attitude was so confident that it was hard to believe she was someone who had shamelessly plagiarized Kang Se-a’s piece.

 

I smiled slightly and nodded in response.

 

After passing by Mun Ah-rin, I immediately hardened my expression.

 

-This composition was handled by student Yun Seol! She’s a student who was selected as a scholarship recipient right after transferring departments. We have very high expectations~!

 

The announcer’s voice came through clearly via the speakers installed in the corridor.

 

Before long, I was able to prepare right behind the stage where I would make my entrance.

 

‘Things won’t go your way, Mun Ah-rin.’

 

I muttered quietly to myself.

 

Since Kang Se-a had given up on raising objections herself, it had become impossible to expose Mun Ah-rin’s scheme.

 

But that didn’t mean I could just take it lying down.

 

-Then, please welcome her with a big round of applause!

 

Swoosh!

 

The curtain was drawn, and I stood under the bright lights. After bowing toward the audience, I sat down at the piano.

 

There was only one way to screw over Mun Ah-rin.

 

With overwhelming skill,

 

to completely erase the name ‘Mun Ah-rin’ from people’s minds.

 

***

 

Swoosh!

 

When the curtain that had been like a veil was finally drawn and ‘Yun Seol’ revealed herself.

 

Jeong Do-hyun stared at the stage, forgetting even to blink.

 

The hem of her black dress first caught his attention. The matte fabric that seemed to swallow even the luster looked exactly like a shadow.

 

Unlike her youthful face, a woman with a heavily oppressive atmosphere stood there. In contrast to Mun Ah-rin who had been smiling brightly earlier, she wore a coldly expressionless face.

 

The fact that she had matched her dress in black and white seemed intentional.

 

Life and death were also concepts at opposite ends of the spectrum.

 

“Does the Composition Department select scholarship students based on looks?”

 

“I’d believe it if you said she was from Theater and Film.”

 

People around whispered quietly with small laughs. It was because all three scholarship students who had appeared had outstanding appearances.

 

Whether Yun Seol heard those comments or not. She simply placed her hands on the piano keys.

 

-♪

 

And when the first note rang out.

 

Everyone’s mouths fell open at the musical feast that followed.

 

A thin, long melody climbed over gasping breaths and trembling skin.

 

Something completely new was sprouting through vivid death. Death was neither tragic nor frightening.

 

Rather than such an exaggerated form of death, it was expressing a body that seemed to gradually fade away.

 

Jeong Do-hyun held his breath.

 

The silence between notes sounded not like rests but like continuing music.

 

The placement of rests, their length, the next note that followed. Jeong Do-hyun knew this method.

 

It was exactly that chillingly beautiful method he had first encountered in 【Mercury】.

 

‘It’s YULE.’

 

He could be certain.

 

That the composer he had been searching for was right here.

 

Yun Seol slowly dissected death. He could clearly feel death approaching.

 

How was such expression possible?

 

‘As if she had actually died once.’

 

Of course, he knew it was nonsense. To discuss death, Yun Seol’s face clearly showed the liveliness characteristic of youth.

 

The audience drew in their breath silently.

 

Everyone was in admiration.

 

They were simply overwhelmed by the magnificent experience created by the young genius.

 

Trivial things were swallowed by a massive tsunami and sank to the depths of the ocean. Even the sound of sipping wine had long since disappeared.

 

The music was now racing toward its finale.

 

He noticed belatedly that her piano technique was also considerable. Jeong Do-hyun was surprised again by the fact that he had been so absorbed in the piece that he forgot to make such evaluations.

 

-♩♪♬♬

 

The continuing melody was somehow familiar.

 

Ah!

 

Someone unconsciously let out a small exclamation and quickly covered their mouth with their hand.

 

‘It’s the melody that appeared in Part 1, Birth.’

 

It was exactly the music that Cho Yun-je had performed. But it created a completely different atmosphere while being similar.

 

Death wandered aimlessly, then finally arrived at one place and stopped.

 

With a delicately trembling voice, it sang of birth and life. As if looking back on its own life.

 

And finally,

 

breathing stopped.

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

Clap clap clap clap clap!

 

Thunderous applause erupted a beat late.

 

“Bravo!”

 

“Magnificent.”

 

People couldn’t hide their excitement and jumped up from their seats. When one or two did so, others began to follow suit.

 

Jeong Do-hyun sat in the best seat without even clapping.

 

While watching Yun Seol, who seemed slightly flustered by the enthusiastic cheers but soon grabbed her dress hem and bowed to the audience.

 

Jeong Do-hyun made his decision.

 

He had to have her.

 

At that moment, his eyes met with Yun Seol’s.

 

Like clock hands that had been misaligned for so long finally overlapping as one, their gazes met in mid-air.

 

In that brief moment, Jeong Do-hyun clearly felt that they had recognized each other.

 

Yun Seol opened her eyes wide as if she had seen something surprising.

 

‘Hmm?’

 

But Yun Seol immediately composed her expression as if nothing had happened, then exited the stage.

 

The applause and cheers continued for a long time until Yun Seol was no longer visible.

 

Beside him, Oh Su-yeon muttered in a dazed voice.

 

“When did the students’ level become this high? That was really, wow. It’s been a while since I felt this. This kind of feeling.”

 

“….”

 

“What was that student’s name? Yun Seol? Who did she learn from…. Oh my.”

 

Oh Su-yeon was speaking when she made eye contact with Jeong Do-hyun and unconsciously let out an exclamation.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“What’s wrong, you ask. Your face looks murderous, that’s what.”

 

Oh Su-yeon wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

 

“You were smiling as if you’d discovered an interesting toy. I’ve never seen anything good happen after seeing that face.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“I was wondering why you participated in this kind of event. It was because of that student, wasn’t it?”

 

Oh Su-yeon swirled her wine glass as if finding it interesting.

 

“Yes. That’s correct.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun agreed calmly.

 

There was no need to keep it secret anyway. Soon everyone in the industry would know.

 

“I will lift you up high. Higher than you could ever imagine.”

 

YULE, no, Seol.

 

Jeong Do-hyun chuckled softly as he savored that name.

 

He intended to make sure no one would dare obstruct the path ahead.

 

***

 

“My goodness! Student Seol, that performance just now was really… Wow. I’m at a loss for words.”

 

Jeong Tae-seong was making a complete fuss. His excitement hadn’t subsided yet, and his voice was jumping all over the place.

 

I just grinned and kept repeating that he was being too generous with his praise.

 

“Whew. I got too excited there. Could you wait here for a moment? I’ll go check my schedule and come back. You worked hard, so I should at least treat you to a proper meal.”

 

Jeong Tae-seong huffed excitedly as he went outside.

 

It seemed like he wanted to go somewhere and talk about today’s performance.

 

Bang!

 

As the door closed, I could feel all the gazes pouring onto me.

 

Cho Yun-je was the first to approach and speak to me.

 

“You were amazing today.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah. I thought I had done just as well as you this time… Sigh. I still have a long way to go.”

 

Cho Yun-je shook his head back and forth.

 

“I was surprised too. Junior, you’re the type whose presence completely changes when you get on stage.”

 

Kang Se-a also added a comment.

 

“You’re too kind.”

 

I acted playfully modest and said this:

 

“It’s all thanks to Ah-rin.”

 

At those words, Mun Ah-rin, who hadn’t said a word until now, flinched.

 

She lifted her head, which had been hanging low, and looked this way.

 

“Huh, huh? Me? What did I do?”

 

“Thanks to your encouragement, I wasn’t nervous and could finish safely.”

 

I smiled brightly while making eye contact with Mun Ah-rin.

 

“Thank you, Ah-rin.”

 

Mun Ah-rin’s expression twisted beautifully.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————