The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 96

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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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Clack, tap-tap-tap. Clack clack.

The sensation of keys being pressed down.

The subtle vibration of hammers striking strings traveled up through my fingers.

Rather than speaking, this felt much more comfortable. Even though I couldn’t hear it, I had the certainty that music was flowing.

I filled in the sound with my imagination.

-♩♬♪♩

I was enjoying the music flowing gracefully along my fingertips when it happened.

Tap tap.

Someone tapped my shoulder.

When I turned my head, Cho Yun-je was standing there.

-The introduction.

His lips moved.

-It has good tension. But here. The rhythm wavers slightly in the 5th measure.

“You mean this part?”

When I played the fifth measure from the score again, Cho Yun-je nodded.

“Let me try again. How about like this?”

I tried playing it with a bit more emphasis. Then Cho Yun-je shook his head.

-No. Just show a bit of direction. There’s more after this, so just a signal not to let your guard down.

“Like this?”

-Wait a moment.

He simply played that part with just his right hand.

Though I couldn’t hear the sound, I could roughly infer the hand movement and distribution of force.

-Don’t strike it hard right away, much more delicately.

I memorized that image in my head. After making a note on the score, I pressed the keys again.

-Good. You’re doing well.

Only then did Cho Yun-je smile faintly and praise me.

“Thanks. The demo recording went much smoother because of you.”

The first round of this competition was judged based only on demos and sheet music. Live performance was an opportunity given only to those who made it to the finals.

‘Since professional composer debut is at stake, there must be many students challenging it. To stand out among all those demos, you need overwhelming skill.’

It meant that not only composition skills but also the ability to create demos was necessary.

And Cho Yun-je was a step above me when it came to piano skills.

‘The level of delicacy is definitely different. I was confident in performance since I was originally a piano major too. But I can’t compare to Cho Yun-je.’

I could vaguely understand why other people recommended the pianist’s path to Cho Yun-je.

That innate sense inherited from Oh Su-yeon.

Techniques that were vague to me, Cho Yun-je would look at with an expression of ‘Why can’t you do this?’

If he had become a pianist, he would have achieved great success.

-As I said before.

Cho Yun-je said as he sat on the auxiliary chair next to the piano.

-Demo songs aren’t asking you to send a ‘completed song’. It’s closer to ‘try to convince the judges’.

He placed his hands on the keys.

-Make the structure clear, melody distinct. If you don’t get too greedy, you’ll definitely pass the first round.

Cho Yun-je spoke with conviction.

-If they reject this, the judges aren’t doing their job properly.

He was even resolute about it. As I blinked, Cho Yun-je chuckled and continued.

He picked up the sheet music.

-There aren’t many songs with such clear emotional lines from the introduction. The middle part too. Usually student compositions throw in more chords here, showing off ‘I can do difficult things’ first. But your song is clean without that. You use exactly what’s needed.

Rustle. The sheet music turned in Cho Yun-je’s hands.

The blatant praise was somehow even embarrassing.

-And what’s this competition’s theme. ‘An unforgettable scene’, right? Of course, most composition contests are close to free themes, and the judging really just looks at ‘whether the song is good’. So the theme doesn’t have much meaning, but…

He paused for a moment, then met my gaze.

-When I first heard this song. I was incredibly shocked.

“Shocked, even?”

-Yeah. Usually when a song heads toward the highlight, when the emotional line reaches its climax, it’s bound to explode with something. But this song is the complete opposite.

Cho Yun-je’s gaze briefly brushed past my ear.

-You depicted the most painful scene in the quietest way.

I smiled faintly.

I had no choice.

Because for me, there’s always only one absolutely unforgettable scene.

-You depicted the moment when sound completely disappeared, right?

“Right. You were accurate.”

-The fact that you can’t hear. Honestly, since you converse so normally, I couldn’t really grasp it. But after listening to the song, I realized.

Cho Yun-je’s complexion had turned pale.

-How terrifying that must be.

“…”

-Anyone who does music would feel the same way. So there’s no way you’ll be eliminated. I guarantee it.

“You’re really building me up today. Thanks.”

I replied with a playful laugh.

Cho Yun-je exclaimed “No, I’m serious!” with emotion.

“Well, I don’t think I’ll be eliminated in the demo round either.”

When I first completed this song, I couldn’t pay proper attention because of my hearing loss. But I learned later through the system window.

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

> This song is no longer a ‘sketch’.

> It will be registered as a ‘completed song’.

> Would you like to give it a title?

That another version of myself had been born.

I could only decide on a title after countless deliberations.

That very night when I could no longer hear any sound.

The moment when I stared blankly at the fluorescent light, despairing even more because not even a ringing sound echoed in my ears anymore.

When only the trembling of my fingertips and the beating of my heart proved my existence.

I had tried to break my pen and quit composing right then.

Though I later became able to perfectly draw songs in my head, at that time I had no sense of it at all.

The only reason for living and breathing was music alone.

When even that one thing was taken from me. I can’t describe how resentful I felt toward heaven.

I pressed down pain worse than death and barely managed to type one line.

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

> Song Title: I’ll Remember You

> Save Complete!

I was now the only one who remembered my pre-regression self.

A bitter smile escaped helplessly.

‘Song analysis.’

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

> Analyzing…

The results came out shortly after.

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

> Analysis Complete!

> Song Title: I’ll Remember You

> Completion: 86%

> Commercial Value: S

> Trend Compatibility: A+

> Evaluation: Ominousness and beauty swirl together simultaneously, leaving listeners with unforgettable memories.

> Improvement: The structure is somewhat rough for maximizing emotional impact.

‘Commercial value S.’

Drop this song from the demo? Then the real problem wouldn’t be my song, but the judges’ ears.

It wasn’t confidence, but a rational judgment based on the song evaluation.

‘Besides, it’s a competition with professional composer debut on the line.’

They couldn’t ignore commercial value.

-Good. Then what’s important right now isn’t the demo recording, but what comes after.

Cho Yun-je cut in sharply.

-The finals are live judging. You’ll have to explain the song directly too. And answer questions from the judges.

These were things I had researched beforehand.

-Don’t worry. I’ll make you perfect by then.

Seeing his grinning face, somehow an ominous feeling crept over me.

Even now he makes me repeat the same section 30, 50 times until he’s satisfied. More than this?

Just what level would I have to grind and polish to reach Cho Yun-je’s standard of ‘perfect’?

No, was it even reachable?

“Um… you’re not trying to get revenge for last time, are you?”

-That was ages ago.

“Never mind then.”

Haha, as I laughed awkwardly, shadows fell across Cho Yun-je’s face.

-A gentleman’s revenge is never too late, even after ten years.

The ominous feeling crept up my neck.

I felt like I was getting goosebumps.

***

Ding!

[ Korean University Composition Competition First Round Qualifiers List ]

As the notification rang, my heart beat irregularly.

I clicked and followed the link to see names and song titles listed side by side.

Kim O-min – 【Hype me up】

Park O-chae – 【Written as Love, Read as You】

.

.

.

My fingers trembled slightly. As I scrolled down, I saw a familiar name.

Mun O-rin – 【PRISM】

Good.

Mun Ah-rin unconsciously muttered to herself. At that moment, the line right below caught her eye.

Yoon O – 【I’ll Remember You】

“…”

Mun Ah-rin chewed her nails.

In the darkness, only Mun Ah-rin’s face sitting in front of the monitor was brightly lit.

A twisted smile crept up one corner of her mouth.

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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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