The Road to Glory

There was once a question that caused a stir in the world.When you receive a slice of strawberry cake, are you the type of person who eats the strawberry first, or do you eat the bread first and save the strawberry for last?The answers were polarized at the time, and intense debates ensued.The reasoning of those who ate the bread first was as follows:They should eat the most delicious strawberry last so that it tastes better.Of course, it’s not that the strawberry becomes sweeter or changes in taste. However, the ‘anticipation’ made the strawberry taste sweet, like powdered sugar.Just as the fox was happier waiting for the little prince from three o’clock, people wanted to keep their anticipation for the strawberry longer.They believed that continuing to expect happiness would make them happier.Halo was on the opposite side of these people.He is the type who eats the most delicious part of the strawberry cake first. First the strawberry, then the whipped cream. He thought that if he postponed it for no reason, he might get full and lose the taste.You could say that Halo prioritizes immediate happiness over anticipation of the future.He always lived for the present,The future is tomorrow’s me.If someone asked if he wasn’t afraid of the future, he would say that it’s stupid to give up present happiness because of fear of the future.Therefore, as soon as Halo arrived in London, he did what he wanted most.A distribution deal?No, that was just a secondary purpose of his trip.He could sign a deal anytime, and if they missed him, it would be the company’s loss. A deal wasn’t that urgent for him.Rather, what he wanted to do wasLook back on his hometown that he had built up over a long time from his previous memories.His mind flashed back to the time when it was a major construction site.And then time began to flow over it.As if playing a time-lapse.Buildings were erected, and new buildings came in.Countless people and cars passing by on the streets.The seasons changed, colors bloomed, and the present was formed.“It hasn’t changed as much as I thought.”Alone at dawn, Halo snuck out of the hotel with his guitar slung across his back and strolled down the street. It wasn’t difficult to leave his parents behind. His music-respecting parents had booked him a room right next to theirs. Early that morning, he had just left a message and went out.They might be startled when they wake up, butHe could contact them then.Still, there was no need for his parents to worry.He wasn’t a little kid who would suddenly follow someone offering food, nor would he get lost.The city that preserved the classics hadn’t changed much from his memories. Even though it was a world he hadn’t lived in, the overall structure was similar.The place he wanted to see first was, of course, there.The house where he had stayed for a long time.And the hotel where he had stayed as long as that house.The name of the hotel was different from his memory.Time and world were different, so it was only natural.Still, the exterior looked almost identical, and Halo felt a sense of nostalgia he hadn’t felt in a long time.He starts walking again.The grandiose Trafalgar Square.Tourists are gathered in front of the fountain.They watch the performance artists dressed up with tin foil, and take commemorative photos.Unlike indifferent locals, tourists occasionally glance at the silver-haired boy.With his peculiar silver hair color and a guitar as big as his body, the wandering boy had an exceptional aspect compared to ordinary people. On top of that, his composed expression made him seem special.How should it be put?He alone seemed detached from the world.Click.Someone had captured the boy in their camera angle without him realizing.His silver hair fluttering in the wind was shining, greeting the dawn sunlight. The detached atmosphere remained perfectly in the frame.They were about to delete it, thinking of the camera’s storage space. But strangely, they hesitated when trying to press Delete.Like suddenly remembering lottery numbers that turned out to be correct, they had a strong hunch that they should keep this photo.The anonymous photographer, unable to delete the photo, turned their camera back towards the female model instead.When they turned their head to change position, the boy was nowhere to be seen.Halo got closer and closer to the London Eye and Big Ben. Soon, the wind from the Thames River blew towards him. It wasn’t as terribly cold as in Seoul, but it was still chilly like winter winds.At the intersection with Big Ben, Halo turned direction. He was heading towards the Thames River.He saw office workers commuting and young people running in sleeveless shirts despite it being a weekday.Morning was gradually approaching.#“Looks like you have some free time these days. Better work hard if you don’t want your desk to disappear one day.”“Only an elder would call the CEO who’s going to meet shareholders idle.”John Leonard, CEO of August Records, drank his Einspänner coffee with a gloomy expression. He always craved something sweet when meeting August Veil.“Did you happen to make contact?”“What contact? Ugh, I’m too old for that nonsense now.”“I’m not talking about your virility, you know.”“Weren’t you?”He knew full well, but still played dumb.After a long pause of making sly remarks like a mischievous raccoon, August set down his espresso and answered.“…There was no reply.”“Neither did you, sir?”“Looks like none of you did, either.”“Yes. He seems to have checked the email, but there was no response. I wonder what kind of offer he received from where. Universe must have run out of funds after recently signing someone, and Sona?”The names of major labels came out of John Leonard’s mouth. There was no mention of any music distribution companies.They had assumed ‘The Sun’ would naturally choose a label.While young people might not care, older ones tend to dislike hassles, so they prefer labels that can take care of everything from head to toe.“What did you bet on to make such a bold claim?”August Veil asked casually.“Of course, the greatest comeback. Our label’s artists Jenna, Ariadne, and Carl have confirmed for a collab, and the marketing will be top-notch. We were prepared to let him do a concert whenever he wanted. As you know, we have capable managers, house managers, asset managers, lawyers, and more ready.”“Is that all?”The old man let out a snort, and John Leonard furrowed his brows.“What’s unsatisfactory about that?”“How generic.”“Generic? That’s a given proposal, isn’t it? What’s dissatisfying about it, sir?”“Differentiation.”There needed to be a clear reason why he absolutely had to go with that label. Even John Leonard, who had been listening quietly, let out an “Ah!”“Our label has plenty of differentiation! Each of our artists has their own beautiful individuality. The fact that he can collaborate with them is the differentiation.”“Is that all? Isn’t the marketing, concerts, and managers, all just generic stuff? Who can’t say those things?”“It’s not generic, it’s a given! Those are the most essential things for a musician returning to reclaim their glory, aren’t they?”“I wonder. Is that really what he wants most?”John Leonard thought the elder was testing him. He always nitpicked and asked for his opinion until the very end like this. His answer wasn’t wrong.“You’re not expecting some childish fairytale stuff like love, friendship, overcoming adversity, passion, are you?”“Those are important values, too.”“Don’t spout nonsense about diamonds rolling around on London’s streets. This is business.”“Business, huh. Alright, it’s your company, so I won’t nag anymore.”John Leonard felt like he was being scolded by August’s words, even though he hadn’t said anything wrong.“Just one more question.”“Yes.”“What do you think shareholders prioritize most when appointing a CEO?”“Ability, of course.”John Leonard answered naturally.He thought August Veil had made him CEO because he recognized his abilities. The fact that a shoeshine boy with nothing could become a CEO was thanks to his excellent management skills.“Is that so?”The old man neither confirmed nor denied it. John Leonard found him frustrating, but he didn’t expect a clear answer. He was always like this.He mentally grumbled and finished the rest of his Einspänner coffee.“Well, it doesn’t matter since The Sun didn’t respond anyway.”“I see… is that so?”John Leonard looked up.Strangely dragging out his words as if unable to finish, August Veil was staring off somewhere.“Why are you like that, sir?”John Leonard turned his head to follow the old man’s gaze. There was nothing out of the ordinary there. Just the usual buildings and cars. Occasionally passersby, and one peculiar Asian guy.In fact, if that guy’s hair hadn’t been unusually silver-white, John Leonard wouldn’t have even noticed him. He turned his head back.The old man was still staring intently at something.His detached pupils were rippling, and the corners of his eyes were squinting.It was a subtle change, but John Leonard realized the old man was reacting to something.“Sir, why are you doing that?”Still, nothing in his field of vision stood out.Then, August Veil’s lips parted as he stared somewhere.“The light… is blinding.”“Pardon?”What was he talking about?The sun had been up for a while now.“John, not once have my eyes for spotting people ever been wrong.”“That’s true. Everyone you scouted became a star. I have nothing but respect for that.”“But that wasn’t my ability. No one believed me, but I really didn’t do anything.”“…”“I didn’t see them. They caught my eye. The light shone so brightly that I couldn’t help but notice.”Although John didn’t understand why August Veil was suddenly rambling, he knew there must be some meaning behind it, so he just listened without questioning further.He had always learned something from the old man.“John, can a person carry the sun?”August’s eyes narrowed.In them, he saw a brilliance as dazzling as the sun.“Pardon? Are you speaking of Atlas? Atlas shouldered the earth, not the sun.”“That’s the problem with you. You’re always trying to grasp numbers and information. The truly important thing is elsewhere.”Then August Veil muttered again.“Why is it shining like that?”“Perhaps it’s the refraction of light.”This time, August didn’t even snort dismissively.It seemed he hadn’t heard John’s response at all.“I’ve never once seen a light like that before.”With a sigh tinged with awe, John gave a bland reply.“Are you sure you’re not senile, sir?”“!”It seemed he heard that one.August Veil flicked John Leonard’s forehead with a teaspoon.#‘Why has that elderly man been staring at me like that since earlier?’An old man whose hair had turned white for a different reason was squinting and staring intently at him.Halo met the old man’s gaze unflinchingly.Then he realized his legs were wobbling.His body was still frail. Even after all that running, his muscles weren’t building up as well as his previous body.He decided to stop by a cafe to contact his parents.He could feel eyes on his back as he walked.Halo ordered an espresso and plopped down at an outdoor table. Setting down his guitar, he sent a text message.Saying he’d be back soon. It seemed his mother was more startled by the empty hotel room than the text.A rich aroma wafted up from the espresso.Along with it, a mellow classical piece played that suited him well, and Halo rested his cheek on his hand to appreciate the music.While he generally preferred more intense music, he also liked classical.The fact that it was called ‘classical’ and remembered by people forever meant it was excellent music. In a way, you could say it was the origin and most perfect form of all music.‘Still, preferences can’t be helped, I suppose.’Halo chuckled softly and turned his head to the left.Rather than the classical music coming from the right,The amateurish jazz performance drifting over from the left captured his attention more.The mellow saxophone and rich acoustic guitar tones. The people seated on the terrace seemed to prefer the jazz wafting over from across the street rather than the classical, so the sensible cafe owner gradually lowered the classical music.All that remained was the sticky jazz.Of course, a performance by top-notch professionals would have more polish than these amateurs.And yet, he enjoyed their performance more.Amateurish yet fundamentally sound.People are naturally charmed by what they lack, Halo understood brazenly.Ziiing-After listening for a while, his phone buzzed with a text.It was about where to meet up.The jazz performance was also ending, so it was probably time for him to head back.#“Quite a nice tune.”John Leonard agreed with August’s words.Neither of them thought the performers were particularly skilled, but it was enjoyable jazz all the same.“I should get going now. I’ve chatted for too long.”John Leonard glanced at his watch as he spoke. The coffee had already gone cold.“Right, you go on ahead.”“You’ll stay a while longer, sir?”“I have something to take care of.”The old man, who had been intently listening to the jazz to avoid drawing John Leonard’s attention, turned his head.Once John Leonard left, he could speak with the boy shouldering The Sun…“!”“Why’s that, sir?”August Veil abruptly stood up from his seat.“Gone. He’s gone!”“Pardon? What is?”“Where did he go just now?”He hurriedly scanned the area, but not a single silver strand remained in sight.“Who, sir?”Instead of answering, August Veil let out a sigh of disappointment.He was dejected at having missed that brilliance.At his own leisurely idleness that led to this.Even though in his youth he had learned to seize opportunities without hesitation, he had repeated the same mistake.August Veil gazed dejectedly at the spot where the boy had been as he muttered. As if to prove it wasn’t a mirage, an espresso cup lay abandoned there.Hi everyone, I've fully translated this series. If you love the series and wanted to binge read until the end, you can go to my Patreon "Shop" page. Instead of buying the advanced chapters one by one, you can buy them in one bulk (with discounted price too)!