Chapter 10

20-second composing genius, becoming a monster in 200,000 seconds - Chapter 10

The Giant's Evaluation (1)

I took a normal class, went home, ate dinner, and turned on Logic Pro.

One might think that my life is no different from before the regression, but in fact, I was desperately short of time.

"Just roughly jot down the melody."

I spent an incredible amount of time in hell.

It was a very long time, so long that it was hard to gauge exactly how long, and I was alone.

Being alone, I naturally had a lot of time to think, and ideas for songs kept coming to me.

And I had carved all of that into the walls or the monster's skin.

"I lost everything, but…"

It's a shame I couldn't bring it with me. But I have the rough scores all in my head, so I need to write them down somewhere before I forget.

Another day passed like that.

I went to school as usual and opened the classroom door. Then,

"…"

"…"

Just by showing my face, the classroom froze as if everyone was stunned.

"…What are you looking at?"

Unable to bear the glances, I finally spoke.

The class president was the first to turn her head in surprise.

"Sure enough, you're a loose-lipped president…."

"U… Uh?! Me?!"

It's not that the president did anything wrong.

After the music appreciation class, the way people looked at me changed, and the president being loose-lipped is not directly related.

"Why…?"

"Just…"

Actually, I just wanted to scold her, that's all.

Of course, I couldn't say that, so I just went back to my seat with a sad face that made people uncomfortable.

"Come on in."

"Thanks for the welcome."

Bomi, who was sitting next to me, was watching an anime again today.

It seems to be completely different from what she watched yesterday. Did she finish it all in one day?

"You've changed…."

"Huh?"

Ever since we became partners, she never spoke to me, but she's been talking to me since yesterday.

It wasn't a bad feeling. I don't plan to put up a wall like before the regression.

"You look like someone who has regressed."

"Status window."

"O!?"

"Like hell it will."

Who doesn't know that? I've tried everything. Everything.

It didn't show up.

I tried everything, from the status window to the inventory window, but nothing appeared in front of my eyes.

'That's being greedy.'

I have information about the future. I didn't read much about economics, but I know the major, significant information.

If I put my mind to it, making the youngest son of a chaebol family disappear wouldn't be a dream.

However,

'I want to make music.'

I will need money. But more importantly, I want to make music.

This is a crucial value I realized after spending a long time alone.

"Did the status window show up?"

"S-class Hunter."

"O…."

I chatted casually with Bomi.

Class started, Bomi watched anime, and I drew sheet music during the breaks, or rather, most of the time.

Of course, that's not the end.

I had to plan out what I needed to do in my head.

'First, I need to make a name for myself.'

Creating a YouTube or Instagram account right away is good, but for a composer, it's B2B. Gaining popularity among the public won't immediately translate into added value.

My target is people who want songs.

And I need to catch the eye of those who want songs.

'It's not easy.'

Painful memories from the past flashed through my mind.

Struggling to send portfolios and trying to catch the eye of famous singers or companies.

If I became famous in the industry, I could be a complete tyrant, but if not, being a composer was quite a humble and miserable job.

However,

'There are opportunities everywhere now…!'

I'm young.

You might think, what's the point of being young? But being a student is quite important.

Even if the song isn't perfect, if it shows potential, it can receive a lot of attention.

And with that attention, my songs will spread, and when my songs spread, many people will listen. Then I'll be happy.

What's not to like?

It was a perfect plan.

So, even during class, I accessed a site that compiles music-related contests and downloaded all the pamphlets.

If I win first place in all these contests… wouldn't my name quickly spread?

I couldn't contain my joy and smiled.

"Hey, you two are using your phones during class, aren't you?"

"…!"

"…!"

Was it because I was too focused? I got caught by the teacher.

Of course, Bomi, who was sitting next to me, was caught too.

We ended up having our phones confiscated until lunchtime.

"You're really bad at hiding your phone. Your head isn't big enough to hide even with earphones…."

"But I didn't even put in earphones."

Even though we both have bad attitudes in class, I'm better than her, right?

Anyway, I still listened to class half-heartedly, and as soon as lunchtime came, I went to the office to get my phone back.

But….

"…?"

Because I was late, I was the only one going to the cafeteria when a student from another class entered ours.

I thought it might be a thief, so I peeked, and she was looking at my seat…?

"I'm poor, so there's nothing to steal."

"…!"

As they say, the thief's feet are itchy. The girl, who was loitering, was startled and quickly turned her head.

I recognized her.

"Academy?"

"…Yeah."

I see. The first student I gave advice to after my regression.

I'm not particularly good at remembering faces, but I definitely remembered her.

"I see. Why?"

"Do you want to… eat lunch together?"

"Lunch?"

I tried to look suspicious but quickly suppressed it.

'Don't reject people who come to you.'

It's not that I want to be scammed. It means I want to listen to their story and judge.

"Sure. Let's go."

I answered very cheerfully.

"Uh… What?!"

"Why."

"Why did you accept so quickly?!"

"You said let's eat lunch."

Looking back, I always ran at full speed to the cafeteria when lunchtime came. It's a tradition at our school, regardless of gender… or is there a high school student who doesn't do that?

I'm sure my usual lunch partner, Hosik, also ran at full speed.

So, there's no better time to make friends than this moment!

"Uh… Yeah. But I didn't expect you to accept so cheerfully…."

"Is that so?"

"It's not in a weird way. Don't misunderstand."

What misunderstanding is she talking about? Is she thinking I'm confessing?

She seems to have quite an active imagination.

We went to the cafeteria, got our food, and took the first bite.

The food… to be honest, it was just okay.

Our school's cafeteria ladies and nutritionist would definitely be outdone by three construction site food ladies. Four wouldn't even be necessary.

"So, why."

"I want to be friends with you."

"Suddenly?"

"No, since yesterday…?"

"Yesterday?"

"Actually, my dad is interested in you."

"…?!"

Pfft!

I couldn't help but spit out my rice at the sudden information.

Plop!

Unfortunately, an incident occurred.

"Ah… Ah! Ahh!"

"Ow, damn."

The rice grains landed in the girl's soup.

I immediately looked apologetic and used my spoon to scoop out the rice grains from the soup.

"Sorry, sorry."

"Aaaah!"

But the girl screamed even more.

"I can't eat the soup now…."

"Friends usually share saliva and all that."

"Ah…"

The girl, who seemed to have lost her appetite, picked at her food and eventually put down her utensils.

"My dad didn't mean it in a weird way…."

"You have a talent for making things sound weird."

"My dad wants to meet you. He's a composer."

"Oh?"

"Our academy is his too. You asked for a discount last time. So…."

"Want me to listen to it once?"

"Yeah."

…Not a bad deal?

No, it's not just not bad; it's a very good deal.

'A composer…'

Now that I think about it, she seems to be a composition major too, like me, in MIDI composition.

I subtly checked her name.

Lim Dayun….

Unfortunately, it was a name I didn't remember.

But it didn't matter.

I'm currently not connected to any active composers. If I want to work, I need to create even the slightest connection.

"Sure."

"Let's go together when we're done."

"Sounds good."

"Meet at the school gate."

Dayun immediately buried her head in her phone as soon as she got a response.

I ate the rice I received like a servant.

The conversation didn't continue.

Making friends is really hard.

Friends in hell are easy to make.

Even if they're hard to be around, every creature has a point that hurts a lot when pressed.

After inflicting enough damage, pressing that point makes it easy to control them.

Ah, but this isn't a friend, is it?

Anyway, the afternoon classes went smoothly.

I immediately ran to the school gate and met up with Lim Dayun.

Fortunately, it didn't seem like a trap.

However,

'She doesn't seem interested in being friends.'

It seems Lim Dayun's only goal was to get me to come back to the academy.

I returned to the Naksung Music Academy where I had loitered the other day.

"Let's wait here."

The place I was directed to was clearly the main studio. It was filled with equipment that would make anyone's eyes widen.

The most noticeable thing, however, was the monitor screen, which displayed sheet music.

I immediately started reading the sheet music.

"Classical…?"

That was my first impression. But upon a second read, I noticed it was a bit different from classical music.

"Did you write this?"

"I did."

A deep voice came from behind me.

I immediately turned my head to identify the source.

A clearly expensive suit, a black all-back hairstyle with pomade, and wrinkles that only appear when someone frowns.

A slightly tired expression.

…What kind of cruel twist of fate is this?

I recognized him.

Not just an acquaintance, but a nemesis.

"Professor…?"

I swallowed hard and spoke.

"Me?"

Of course.

I couldn't forget him.

Jaecheol Lim, a professor of classical composition at the Korea National University of Arts.

…He especially hated MIDI composition, chased away students from the same department who came to his class, and tore apart my compositions.

To think this man was the parent of a classmate. I hadn't noticed at all.

I didn't even know he had a child.

I thought he had sold his soul to music to the point where I couldn't imagine him having a child!

I shivered at the thought and managed to respond.

"…Since I've heard the piece."

"Hmm?"

I was taken aback. The moment I saw his face, a wave of emotion hit me.

But when he asked,

"…What do you think?"

My mind was in turmoil.

'…Did Jaecheol Lim compose this?'

The Jaecheol Lim I knew was a noble bastard who only loved classical music and was a madman.

Even if he was the father of a friend, he was a madman to the point where I couldn't give up this impression.

Did he compose this?

"Did you write this?"

"I already answered, didn't I?"

…He's demanding an answer.

Not just any person, but a 'giant' in the music industry.

I suppressed the jumbled thoughts in my head and started playing the piano.

The giant's composition was being played by my hands.

Is it bad?

No, it's not bad.

Is it worth listening to?

It's worth listening to.

…Can it be sold?

"…I don't think it can be sold."

That's not true.

"…Hmm."

Jaecheol Lim's eyes sparkled.