Chapter 4

4,

“No, Mr. President, honestly, I did better! Competing with this guy in front of the customers...”

Jeon Tae-chan protested.

He didn’t seem to want to go that far.

“If you don’t like it, then don’t do it. But if you don’t... you know, it means you’re admitting that you’re not as good.”

However, Jung Seon-woo shrugged indifferently.

Jeon Tae-chan, having heard such words, found himself in a situation where he couldn’t back down.

With a scowl, Jeon Tae-chan finally nodded.

“Fine, whatever. This guy needs to be convinced too.”

Jeon Tae-chan growled and glared at Han Ji-hyuk.

“If I win, you’re done.” He said, as if confirming it. Han Ji-hyuk nodded without batting an eye.

“Sure, if Mr. Jeon Tae-chan wins, I’ll quit cleanly.”

After saying that, Han Ji-hyuk smiled and continued.

“But if I win, what will Mr. Jeon Tae-chan do?”

“What?”

“I’m taking a big risk, but you don’t seem to have anything at stake. Isn’t this supposed to be fair?”

“You have a point.”

Jung Seon-woo interjected and nodded.

Jeon Tae-chan stared at Han Ji-hyuk in disbelief.

“Do you really think you can beat me? With music? Me?”

“Why not?”

Han Ji-hyuk said with a deliberate chuckle, intending to provoke him.

And his intention hit the mark.

Jeon Tae-chan gritted his teeth and spoke.

“Alright, even though it won’t happen... if you beat me, I’ll quit cleanly.”

Jeon Tae-chan said.

The stage was set.

Although he had agreed to do it, a bit of hesitation crept in after the situation settled.

Han Ji-hyuk went into a small room used as a storage area for the café and leaned against the door.

“Phew...”

He exhaled.

He closed his eyes and raised his hand to wipe his dry face.

“I don’t even know how I played.”

He wasn’t sure why he had agreed to do it.

At the time, a great confidence had enveloped him.

It wasn’t just a baseless confidence that Han Ji-hyuk had; it was the kind of confidence that only those who had reached the top could possess.

And Han Ji-hyuk knew very well that he wasn’t that kind of person.

“The things that keep appearing in front of me are a problem...”

Moreover, it was time to reconsider whether he had really returned to the past.

Han Ji-hyuk furrowed his brow and ran his fingers through his hair.

His head was not just complicated but starting to throb.

It was hard to accept, but no matter how he thought about it, he had indeed returned to the past after the accident.

It was too vivid to be a dream, and the sensation of playing and singing was almost too realistic.

“Ultimately, the conclusion is that I really did return to the past.”

Does this make any sense?

He had heard such things before.

Regression, reincarnation, or time travel.

He naturally thought they were fiction.

He would even laugh at anyone who claimed they were real.

But now that it was happening to him, it wasn’t something he could just laugh off.

He felt so confused that he wanted to swear, and at the same time, a great joy enveloped him.

The chance to dream again.

The thought that he could correct the immense regret he felt at the time of his death brought him immense relief.

He thought God had abandoned him, but it wasn’t so.

He had been given another chance.

After about five minutes, his muddled mind began to clear, and his head felt clearer.

The throbbing was still there, but it would probably get better with time.

Having accepted the reality to some extent and assessed the situation, he now faced the immediate problem.

‘Go on stage and sing.’

Before the regression, Han Ji-hyuk had been told he had no talent.

That’s why he eventually had to give up on music.

In other words, he had experienced failure once.

That’s why he knew exactly how terrifying failure could be.

Fear was creeping up on him again.

What if I fail again?

What if people don’t like my music?

Such thoughts began to arise one after another.

What organized his thoughts was the semi-transparent window that had been bothering him.

-‘The King of Pop’ bursts into laughter, telling you that you’re worrying unnecessarily and giving you a smile.

-‘Another Queen’ nods seriously, empathizing with your struggles but wanting to tell you that you can have confidence.

-‘The Wizard of Six Strings’ says that with the skills you just showed, there’s nothing to worry about.

-‘The Inaudible Artist’ shakes his head and focuses on the new musical ideas that are emerging.

The semi-transparent windows appeared and then disappeared.

Reading each one, Han Ji-hyuk was able to regain his composure.

No, there was no need to worry.

He didn’t know exactly what these things in front of him were, but they were helping Han Ji-hyuk.

They were giving him confidence.

The performance and singing he had just done were clearly influenced by these windows.

‘I can do it.’

If he just does what he did earlier, it will be fine.

Then everyone will like his music.

Even if they don’t, what does it matter?

Rather than having such a huge regret at the time of his death, it wouldn’t be regrettable to continue making music even if no one listens to it.

Han Ji-hyuk came to this conclusion.

Since he had returned to the past, this time he would correct the biggest mistake he had made to himself.

This time, he would go all out with music.

He would climb to the top through music, as he had originally dreamed.

He would achieve it by any means necessary.

If he could die once, what else could he not do?

“With the resolve to die, something will surely come of it.”

Han Ji-hyuk chuckled to himself and stood up.

His eyes now shone with a deep light, showing a firm resolve.

President Jung Seon-woo didn’t say anything about Han Ji-hyuk’s brief disappearance.

He just patted Han Ji-hyuk on the back and continued with the opening preparations.

“I’m opening up!”

Han Ji-hyuk said to Jung Seon-woo.

Jung Seon-woo gave him a thumbs up.

Han Ji-hyuk, with a smile, turned the sign on the door from “01056” to “0^*11”.

Since there were quite a few regular customers, it wouldn’t be long before they started to arrive.

And Han Ji-hyuk would sing in front of them.

Earlier, he was worried, but now he wasn’t.

After organizing his thoughts, he couldn’t understand why he was so excited.

He was looking forward to it.

The confidence that he could do it was what moved him.

While preparing to open and serve the customers, the sound of a bell rang.

“Welcome, it’s ‘0068’.”

Han Ji-hyuk said in a bright voice.

A regular customer entered and smiled at Han Ji-hyuk.

“You seem particularly happy today?”

“Yeah, something good happened.”

How could it not be a good thing to get another chance?

The regular customer nodded at Han Ji-hyuk’s words and chatted a bit more before placing an order.

Since he had some free time, he usually went to the customer’s table to take orders, so Han Ji-hyuk took the order, made the drink, and brought it to him.

As the customers gradually increased, the café was soon more than half full.

Seeing that it was time to start, Jung Seon-woo approached Han Ji-hyuk.

Han Ji-hyuk, noticing Jung Seon-woo approaching, looked at him.

“Are you okay?”

Han Ji-hyuk nodded at Jung Seon-woo’s question.

“I can do it.”

“Well, with the skills you showed earlier, you’ll win hands down, so don’t worry.”

Jung Seon-woo patted Han Ji-hyuk on the shoulder.

Han Ji-hyuk gave a warm smile in response to Jung Seon-woo’s encouragement.

I don’t understand why I was so afraid of what Jeon Tae-chan said in the past.

I thought I would be fired if Jeon Tae-chan said something to Jung Seon-woo, but...

Jung Seon-woo was not that kind of person.

“I’m going to do something a bit special today.”

Jeon Tae-chan, who was on stage, said, noticing the conversation between Jung Seon-woo and Han Ji-hyuk.

Han Ji-hyuk turned his head to look at Jeon Tae-chan.

“I made a small bet.”

Jeon Tae-chan began to explain.

“I’m number 1, and the person who will come up next is number 2. You’ve heard my song, so after you hear number 2’s song...

Jeon Tae-chan paused and subtly glanced at Han Ji-hyuk.

Han Ji-hyuk moved to get ready to go on stage.

“There will be a piece of paper on each table. Just write the number on it. If you liked my song, write 1, and if you liked number 2’s song better, write 2.”

Jeon Tae-chan said and gestured for Han Ji-hyuk to come up.

Han Ji-hyuk moved with a smile.

He went up on stage.

The people in the café clapped and laughed, welcoming this light event.

Since about half of the customers were regulars, many recognized Han Ji-hyuk.

Some were surprised, and others were looking forward to it with interest.

“Don’t forget. You’re quitting cleanly.”

Jeon Tae-chan whispered in Han Ji-hyuk’s ear.

Han Ji-hyuk chuckled.

As he went up on stage, his heart was filled with confidence and anticipation.

Feeling this, Han Ji-hyuk turned his head slightly and spoke to Jeon Tae-chan.

“Mr. Jeon Tae-chan, are you nervous? Why are you talking so much?”

“What?”

Jeon Tae-chan looked bewildered, then, perhaps remembering to manage his expression in front of the customers, forced a smile.

“Ha-ha! Then, let’s hear Mr. Han Ji-hyuk’s song.”

Jeon Tae-chan said, offering his guitar.

But Han Ji-hyuk didn’t take it.

As soon as he went on stage, his heart raced, and an instrument that seemed to pull him in appeared.

It wasn’t a guitar.

He carefully moved and sat in front of the piano on one side of the stage.

After adjusting the microphone, he placed his hands on the keys.

Then...

-‘The Inaudible Artist’ watches your hands with interest.

-‘Another Queen’ gives you a warm smile and pulls you in tightly.

His hands began to move.

It was the moment a legend began.

Oh.