Chapter 4

004. Revealed Talent (3)

As the new school year approached, I experienced a few changes.

First, I now had a real piano instead of a silent keyboard.

It was even an upright piano with 7 octaves and 3 additional keys.

Seeing a 7-octave piano in person gave me a new sense of wonder.

Thomas Broadwood, the British piano maker, had finally created a new piano!

I wasn't sure if he had given the piano to Mr. Ludwig as I had requested.

But since 7-octave pianos became popular across Europe afterward, Mr. Ludwig must have played a similar piano.

In any case, I began learning a piece on this new piano.

I don't know why my parents suddenly made this proposal, but it was an excellent opportunity for me.

I had been waiting for the right moment to say I wanted to learn the piano.

So, my first lesson began.

My teacher was none other than my father.

To me, who had only thought of a local music school, he was the best teacher. He was a pianist who had followed the elite course from a specialized middle school to a specialized high school and then a specialized university, before becoming a music director.

"What piece would you like to try? Since Seoho doesn't know much about classical music yet, shall I recommend something?"

In response to my father's question, I looked down at the 88 keys and replied casually.

"Beethoven."

I thought of Mr. Ludwig playing the piano under the moonlight.

What kind of pieces would he have composed with a 7-octave piano, given his tendency to use a wide range of scales?

My father slowly nodded at my unexpected answer.

"Beethoven... then the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata would be good."

It was a familiar melody.

A slow-paced piece that gently enveloped like moonlight.

I learned the piece with great enthusiasm.

And that day,

After the first lesson, my father looked at me with a dazed expression and said,

"Maybe the third movement would be fine too."

#

A month passed like the wind.

Just like the scenery outside the window.

I am now sitting in the passenger seat, looking out the window.

It's so fast. Even just to cover the distance to the next village, compared to the hardships of traveling by carriage, this is a revolution...

'Whoa, whoa. What are you talking about?'

There are limits to being nostalgic. Thinking about this while reminiscing about 200 years ago...

"Are you nervous?"

My father, who was driving, asked me. He must have imagined a very tense child from my shivering.

Yes.

To be honest, I am nervous.

It's not because the person I'm meeting today is a professor who only teaches prodigies.

I had interacted with many musicians like Mr. Ludwig, Wolfgang, and Franz, so I wouldn't freeze in front of a professor.

It's just that playing for someone other than my family is new and exciting. It still feels strange that I'm playing, so you can imagine how I feel.

"I've only been learning piano from Dad for less than a month. Why do I have to play for the professor?"

I stopped speaking seriously. My father was staring at me intently. Lately, my parents have been looking at me like this a lot.

Usually...

"You're becoming more and more mature in your speech?"

That's the reason.

Even though I try to be careful, it pops out like a needle in my pocket. As a result, I've been chanting 'I'm 12 years old' like a mantra lately.

It doesn't seem to help much, though.

"Isn't that what they call a precocious child? It fits Seoho perfectly these days."

I can't really deny it. Even without considering Brinner's life, my current mind is that of a 32-year-old man.

Blinking, my father chuckled and changed the subject.

"And you don't need to be too nervous. Just play what you've practiced. We can have a nice meal afterward."

I could sense a gentle confidence in my father's encouraging face. He seems to believe I will do well, even though he says otherwise.

It seems he really thinks I have talent...

Suddenly, I remembered Il Perso's words.

'I feel that you, my lord, are truly a genius in music.'

A genius.

Am I really a genius?

As Han Seoho and Brinner, am I a genius?

It feels awkward to say it myself, but I definitely have talent.

My father helped me overcome difficult parts, and I played the piano even when it made no sound. I surprised my father every week and completed the third movement of the Moonlight Sonata.

Is this enough to be called a genius? I don't know. I've never been a genius, so how could I know?

I can't even tell if this is talent I've always had or if it came from my past life.

Frowning, I wrestled with the unsolvable problem.

Before long, a large roof came into view.

A huge building, like a UFO that had crash-landed.

The Arts Center.

My father, who said the university next to it was his alma mater, started sharing various memories.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at our destination.

"We're a bit early. Since the professor has a schedule, he said he would arrive on time. Let's go into that cafe for a while."

We decided to spend time in a small cafe next to the building.

As if to prove it's the Arts Center, classical music was playing in the cafe.

Thanks to this, I didn't hear a word of my father's college memories.

Whose piece is this? What's the title? This piece seems to be arranged for piano.

...My mind was so full of these thoughts that my father's voice became background music.

I felt a bit guilty seeing my excited father, but there was nothing I could do.

Then, while my father was in the restroom, I had a chance to properly enjoy the music.

I closed my eyes and listened intently.

The calm piece ended, and a song with a completely different atmosphere began.

'Wow...'

From the start, the tremolos came in rapid succession.

The atmosphere was intense, rough, and eerie. The piano led the mood, and what was interesting was that it didn't just serve as an accompaniment but also created an image.

Like the sound of hooves or something slowly approaching.

In addition, the elaborate tremolos and the gradually intensifying modulation helped build the climax.

It was an experience of seeing a story, not just listening to music.

That's why I felt a sense of familiarity.

'Not just an accompaniment, but an instrument that tells a story...'

My growing doubts came to a halt, and I finally felt a sense of certainty, heading to the counter.

I asked the staff, who was clearing the coffee cups,

"Who's the artist of the song we're hearing now?"

"Huh? Oh, this is..."

The staff, who seemed unaware of the music, blinked and glanced at the monitor.

But the answer came from elsewhere.

"Franz Peter Schubert."

Turning at the sudden voice, I saw a man in his mid-50s looking down at me.

A man dressed formally enough to officiate a wedding was about to say something more when

my father returned. Seeing the man behind me, his eyes widened.

"Professor!"

#

"So, you're Seoho?"

My father's teacher, Professor Yun Seokho, who was going to test me today, smiled.

To be honest, his attire is neat, but he doesn't give a particularly good impression. Even his smile doesn't change that.

He seems a bit strict.

He reminds me of a section chief from a company I used to work at.

"Hello."

Of course, I greeted him politely. That man also considered greetings very important.

"So, I heard you're going to play the piano for me today. Have you practiced a lot?"

"Yes, Professor."

Professor Yun smiled at my polite answer.

"You're more mature than your father. I like it, I'm looking forward to it."

Then he glanced at my father and said,

"Why don't you go out? I need to listen to Seoho play."

"Are you still angry?"

"Still? I plan to be angry in the future. What can I do?"

"I was too busy with work."

"Someone who's so busy with work is so quick to deal with his son's issues?"

Professor Yun, who cut off my father's complaints in one go, gestured with a slightly smiling face.

"Go on. I'll scold you later. Let's have lunch together."

They exchanged a look that only comes from affection, and my father left the room.

I looked around awkwardly as Professor Yun's gaze turned to me.

There are more books here than in a study. Even I, who know nothing about speakers, could tell that the heavy speakers filling one side were very expensive.

And in the center, a black grand piano.

The Steinway brand name shone in gold.

Professor Yun called me over and had me sit on the piano bench. Then he sat next to me and started asking a few questions.

"Let's see... I heard you helped your father with music last month?"

"Yes."

"Actually, I heard that part. How did you manage to do that?"

I tilted my head at Professor Yun's question.

After a long thought, my answer was:

"Just because it felt right."

...It's a mess.

I know. My answer is strange.

What kind of answer is this, like something from a fairy tale?

So, it's not surprising that Professor Yun looked at me with a puzzled expression.

But I couldn't find a better answer, even for myself.

It was as if, even if part of a sentence was erased, we could naturally fill in the blank.

The notes just flowed in my head as if it were natural.

"Is that so? That's amazing. Recognizing the pentatonic scale and finding a non-cliché melody is not easy... Oh, did I make it too complicated? I'm praising you for doing a great job."

I nodded and smiled like a child.

Professor Yun, who smiled in response, said, "By the way..."

and asked with a feigned curious look,

"I noticed you were listening to the Erlkönig just now."

"Oh, yes."

That piece is called the Erlkönig. It sounds like something from a fantasy novel.

I was intrigued by the unique title, and Professor Yun asked,

"Was it so impressive that you asked who the composer was?"

Actually, it's a bit different. I had a good guess it was Franz and was confirming it.

But it was definitely impressive.

If his music wasn't impressive, what music in the world could be?

"Yes, it was good to listen to."

"It sounds good, but if you know the content, it's actually a scary piece."

"That's true. Being chased..."

Oops.

Turning my head, I saw a hint of surprise on Professor Yun's face.

It's understandable, as Franz's Erlkönig is a German art song. The lyrics are in German, of course.

"How did you know? About being chased?"

I couldn't not know, having been German in my past life... but if I said that, I'd end up in a hospital, not a prodigy education center.

I quickly thought and mentioned the part of the song I was most impressed by.

"The piano makes the sound of hooves and expresses the approach of a ghost."

I had imagined that it was possible, but it was the first time I heard a piano express various sounds in such a way.

It was a new experience.

Franz, who disliked instruments being limited to accompaniment, had truly brought instruments into the realm of storytelling!

If my letter had given him a hint, it would be even more delightful, but in any case, this expression is Franz's. He is indeed a genius... huh?

Suddenly, I felt a hot gaze and turned my head.

"..."

Professor Yun was looking at me.

This time, with a truly surprised expression.