Chapter 26

026. Comfort (3)

"Chairman."

Chairman Baek Hangeul ignored the voice and looked out the window.

Sitting in the heavy wheelchair, which was inevitably bulky due to all its functions, he listened to classical music as usual.

"Chairman."

...But the scenery outside was different from usual.

Many people had rushed into the garden to prepare for his birthday party.

"Chairman."

...How persistent.

"Why?"

Chairman Baek Hangeul tried to turn his head sharply but soon realized he couldn't and moved his wheelchair instead.

Professor Jang, his attending physician, pushed up his old-fashioned horn-rimmed glasses and said, "Rest is the top priority."

"I know, I'm resting. Listening to music while sitting like this is my way of resting."

"You'll be going out soon, won't you? The temperature difference is still significant. No matter how warm you are, you can't control the air you breathe. Didn't you feel it yesterday? It's really dangerous now."

As Professor Jang spoke, Chairman Baek Hangeul involuntarily frowned.

It was because a bad memory came to mind. The terrible pain that had overwhelmed him just last night...

"I really thought I was going to die."

"It's only temporarily suppressed by painkillers. We don't know when the next episode will occur. You should inform us about your condition now..."

"Hey, Professor Jang."

Chairman Baek Hangeul called him softly.

Professor Jang, who had stopped speaking, replied, "Yes, Chairman."

"How long do I have left?"

"That's..."

Professor Jang, who suddenly fell silent, made Chairman Baek Hangeul feel bitter.

You don't know, do you?

That's what ALS is like.

Symptoms and conditions vary widely from person to person.

A disease that even doctors can't be certain about.

But all patients end up going in the same direction, with the same consistent pain.

Paralyzed limbs, but with a fully conscious mind and senses, feeling every bit of pain.

An incurable disease.

Even Chairman Baek Hangeul, a man of great power, is afraid of the sudden episodes. Just thinking about it makes his heart tremble.

But because of that.

He had to go out today.

"...Then let's change the question."

Chairman Baek Hangeul spoke again.

He asked Professor Jang, who was still hesitating, "How many more times will I have the chance to gather with my children?"

#

Another garden, structured to overlook the one below.

Two people were waiting for me there.

Vice President Baek Sun-hwa and a man who looked to be about the same age.

For a moment, I thought he might be President Baek Jong-woo of SJ Distribution, but upon closer inspection, it didn't seem to be him.

I greeted Vice President Baek Sun-hwa, who had a gentle smile on her face.

"Hello."

"Welcome. Did you have any trouble getting here?"

Since she had sent a car, there shouldn't have been any trouble.

"Not at all. Thanks to your consideration, I came very comfortably."

I even clicked my tongue, thinking that a carriage couldn't compare to the ride of the high-end sedan I had taken for the first time.

Vice President Baek Sun-hwa smiled and said, "That's good." Then she introduced the man standing next to her.

"Oh, and this is Manager Park."

So it wasn't President Baek Jong-woo. Maybe he was Vice President Baek Sun-hwa's secretary?

As I was about to greet him, Manager Park extended his hand first. When I shook it, he said, "Nice to meet you. I'm a fan. Haha."

A fan?

Reading the question mark on my face, Vice President Baek Sun-hwa explained the situation.

She started with the fact that he was Chairman Baek Hangeul's secretary and that he was the one who introduced Chairman Baek Hangeul to the OST of "The Boy Who Became a Wolf."

Then, taking over, Manager Park began to talk about what surprised him about my music. Listening to him, I realized that his musical knowledge was not ordinary.

'So this is how it feels.'

To have people I can't gauge listen to my music.

Reactions are already pouring in on the internet, and my employees and friends often relay them, but hearing them in person is a different experience.

It's a thrilling feeling to know that someone I've never met knows about and talks about my music.

I naturally engaged in conversation with Manager Park, and Vice President Baek Sun-hwa, who had been watching from the side, checked her wristwatch and said, "I should go up to get my father now. Where should Seo-ho wait...?"

"I'll show him."

Pushing aside the employee who was about to step forward, Manager Park volunteered.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

Vice President Baek Sun-hwa moved towards the building.

And we also went down to the still bustling garden.

I had guessed he would be talkative, but he was even more so once Vice President Baek Sun-hwa left.

"Are these the first songs to be released as digital music?"

"When did you start learning piano? Other instruments?"

"Did you meet Professor Yun at the Arts Center? I've met him a few times, and he has a strong presence, making it hard to get close to him."

His unexpected chattiness wasn't bad. It subtly overlapped with Ilferro's personality.

"Once you get close, there's no one as comfortable as Professor Yun."

He's a bit nagging...

I swallowed the rest. His nagging isn't entirely wrong.

Meanwhile, as Manager Park guided me to the inside of the tent, he smiled and said, "I'd love to sit here and talk about music until the party starts, but I can't. I'll look forward to your performance today."

"Thank you. See you later."

With that, the regretful Manager Park went off to prepare for the party.

I immediately called my parents.

My worried mother, curious father, and envious colleagues' cheers filled the phone call. By the time I finished, the outside had become noisy.

Guests were starting to enter the mansion to celebrate Chairman Baek Hangeul's birthday.

This meant the party was about to start.

...And my turn was coming up soon.

"Let's start getting ready."

I quickly straightened my posture and closed my eyes.

Today, I won't practice by placing my hands in the air. There's something more important than virtual practice.

It's immersion.

I raised my fingertips and waited.

Han Seo-ho disappeared,

and I became Brinner.

#

"Happy birthday, Father!"

Gifts to celebrate Chairman Baek Hangeul's birthday piled up,

and finally, President Baek Jong-woo placed a large box on the table.

Opening the lid, which was covered in gold leaf, revealed neatly arranged ginseng.

"These are really rare ginseng, Father. You can't get them even if you have the money. Haha."

Seeing President Baek Jong-woo's excitement, Chairman Baek Hangeul said, "Thank you."

Next, the attention naturally shifted to Vice President Baek Sun-hwa. It was her turn. But she just smiled and said, "Happy birthday, Father. And..."

Drawing out her words, she looked at Manager Park. When he nodded, indicating he was ready, she continued, "My gift is music."

Without turning his head, Chairman Baek Hangeul raised an eyebrow.

"Music?"

"I commissioned a composer to write a tribute song for you."

The guests, who had been watching the conversation, began to turn their heads.

They looked at the white grand piano placed in the center of the garden.

Someone was approaching it.

A boy who looked to be in middle or high school.

Seeing this, President Baek Jong-woo laughed loudly.

"Sun-hwa, that's a great idea. Since all the grandchildren are studying abroad, it's nice to have a talent show like this!"

Seeing the sneer on his lips, Vice President Baek Sun-hwa barely held back her retort.

"...A talented composer."

"Seems a bit too young for that, doesn't he?"

Chairman Baek Hangeul, who had been watching the boy, said casually, "Age isn't a significant measure in music. Schubert composed 'Erlkönig' at 17."

"Haha, Father. So this student is a Schubert-level musician?"

President Baek Jong-woo joked, but Chairman Baek Hangeul just watched the boy without responding.

Feeling awkward, President Baek Jong-woo cleared his throat and looked away. Then, Manager Park whispered to Chairman Baek Hangeul, "You've already heard this student's music, Chairman."

"Me?"

Chairman Baek Hangeul, who was confused, was further enlightened by Vice President Baek Sun-hwa.

"A few days ago, I explained to you that these were movie soundtracks."

As Chairman Baek Hangeul tried to recall, his eyes widened. A clear interest shone through.

"...This boy?"

Chairman Baek Hangeul, looking dazed, then chuckled and said, "I just said age isn't a significant measure, and I'm surprised that the music I heard was from such a young student."

Vice President Baek Sun-hwa, smiling, added, "He composed a tribute song for you with the theme of 'Comfort' and will perform it today."

"Is that so?"

Chairman Baek Hangeul, looking intrigued, turned his gaze to Han Seo-ho.

With a seemingly calm look, he murmured, "But to comfort someone... it seems you still see the world as beautiful."

"Huh? That's..."

Vice President Baek Sun-hwa, taken aback by the unexpected comment, was momentarily flustered.

But Chairman Baek Hangeul, shaking off a brief moment of melancholy, smiled again.

"Still, music is always good, so I'll look forward to it."

#

The garden was filled with people who had come to celebrate Chairman Baek Hangeul's birthday.

While walking towards the piano, their gazes felt piercing.

Perhaps because this wasn't a performance for them, they disappeared the moment I sat down.

Now, I could only feel Chairman Baek Hangeul's gaze.

Smiling, I slowly raised my left hand.

Lifting it a bit too high, I prepared to play.

...

Silence stretched on.

It had to.

A lot of preparation was needed.

This was the most difficult piece I had composed.

It wasn't just a matter of playing skills.

While the sheet music wasn't as difficult as some of Liszt's or Ravel's pieces,

the expression was challenging.

I needed to deeply immerse myself.

To comfort Chairman Baek Hangeul, I needed to understand Brinner's pain.

I had to become Brinner completely, on the same level.

Only then could I show the comfort Brinner received without any distortion.

I entrusted the performance to my hands.

And I rewound time.

To when I was Brinner.

And even further back.

To before Brinner met music.

The introduction of this piece,

showed Brinner living in despair.

"Phew..."

A small deep breath.

A hand lifted into the air.

I could feel my fingertips trembling.

It was that difficult.

To play as Brinner.

Lifting my arm to a certain point and aiming,

at the far left of the piano.

The lowest note the piano could produce.

A0.

Finally, my arm dropped—

and the first note was struck.

And...

───!

A scream echoed.

A blood-curdling scream from the dark, ancient castle.

It was almost a howl, and it came from my own mouth.

I thrashed, but even that was beyond my control.

Ultimately, I fell from the bed to the floor.

The impact of hitting the stone floor was nothing compared to the pain I was experiencing.

At any moment, without warning,

the convulsions, which felt like a blessing compared to death, left me powerless.

The door opened urgently.

My vision was blurry from the dizziness.

Seeing the familiar shadow, I spoke.

"Ilferro..."

"Yes, Master. I'm here. I've called the doctor, so—"

Click, slide—

My hand grabbed him, but it slipped away weakly.

"Master..."

I was speaking with my whole body.

Does it matter?

Just like I can do nothing,

they can do nothing for me.

What more can I call out for, what more can I do?

This isn't a disease.

It's a malevolent curse.

One I was born with.

And one that won't end until the moment I die.

'So. Therefore...'

I clung to him.

No words came out.

The pain was too intense.

But I forced myself to speak.

'Let me...'

Silently,

I pleaded with all my might.

...Let me go. Please.