Starting Over from Scratch (2)
"A sound mind in a sound body... my ass!"
Right now, it was hard enough just focusing his mental strength on reforming this cursed body.
At least it was a relief that the body's original owner was unemployed.
Having lived in Korea in his past life as well, he had no trouble adapting.
He spent the entire day cleaning the apartment, setting aside the legacy the original owner had left behind.
He pushed aside the question of whether he was currently 'Ed' or 'Moon Saebyeok' for now.
"Let's see..."
The closet was a festival of pure black. Even in a society where men were scarce, wasn't this a bit much?
Well, maybe he lacked confidence.
He tried to be understanding, but no, this was just wrong.
Sorry!
He searched for anything resembling athletic wear, but as expected, there was nothing.
Knowing the sheer power of Korean delivery services, he quickly ordered a few things from the site famous for its Rocket Delivery.
When was the last time I bought something myself?
Thinking of Christine, a soft chuckle escaped his lips.
You must have had a hard time too. I hope you aren't hurting anymore over there... Be happy.
It was a relief he had organized his copyrights and other assets along with his will in case of an emergency.
Surely the lawyer would handle it well.
His only heirs were Christine and Jin Taesu. Since they were the only friends he had truly opened his heart to, he had no regrets.
Both of them would live in luxury for generations to come.
You're welcome!
Friends...
He would have to be a total bastard not to have noticed Christine's feelings for him during all their time together.
It wasn't like he had abstained from dating entirely.
He knew that even his casual flings with other women had hurt her.
He had always rationalized it, telling himself it couldn't be helped.
Was it cowardice, hoping she would eventually tire of him and leave?
Or was it a shallow selfishness, fearing that if their relationship progressed, they could never go back to being friends and colleagues?
No, it was simply the fear of losing her forever.
It would be a lie to say he had no regrets as he accepted reality, but by the second day of waking up, the truth had fully sunk in.
He could never go back.
After drifting in a vast ocean of thoughts, he chose not to despair. Instead, he wished for the happiness of the only two friends he had left in his will.
He might have seemed impulsive and disorganized, but his close acquaintances and fans knew just how passionately he had lived.
As if meeting those expectations, his goal became clear.
Rather than wasting his life clinging to the illusions of the past, it was better to run forward.
For us, there's only music. Right?
As a classical music major and aspiring composer, Moon Saebyeok actually possessed a deeper, more academic understanding of music in some areas than Ed did.
He felt like he had gotten a two-for-one deal, a blessing in disguise.
Still, these fingers that looked like literal chicken bones were a bit much.
"How on earth did you play the piano with fingers like these?"
Perhaps talking to himself in empty rooms was already becoming a habit.
Shaking his head, his eyes fell upon the equipment Saebyeok had left behind.
A well-worn synthesizer, and a computer loaded with a solid selection of MIDI software.
There were acoustic and electric guitars from Fender, Gibson, and Taylor—brands he had used frequently in his past life—and even a bass.
Was there really no cure for Gear Acquisition Syndrome, regardless of borders or parallel universes?
The necks and fingerboards showed clear signs of use.
How did he manage to fret with these hands? It was going to take a lot of effort to adjust.
They weren't high-end models, but judging by how well they were maintained, Saebyeok's love for music had been genuine.
Since he probably couldn't work at high volumes in a studio apartment, several pairs of studio monitoring headphones lay nearby.
Hmm... none of these are really my style. Should I... buy a new one?
Let's think about it.
No!
Even if he could excuse the lack of drums or a grand piano, how could a crucial piece be missing?
Not having his soulmate was crossing the line.
"Hmm... is there really no microphone?"
To a man who had been a singer in his past life, a microphone was a lifelong companion.
He hadn't decided if he would perform as a singer again, but he couldn't even conceive of a life without singing.
A sudden, ominous thought struck him.
"Come to think of it... I haven't tried singing yet. Surely it's impossible to have perfect pitch and be tone-deaf at the same time."
Looking around warily as if someone might be watching, he timidly began to sing.
It’s lazy…
Humming his signature song out of habit, he froze in surprise at the very first note.
The voice was a clean, beautiful tenor that sent a pleasant shiver through his ears.
Has his voice not cracked yet? Or is this just what men sound like in this crazy world?
His vocal cords were pristine, and with his experience, he instantly recognized it as an unpolished gem.
Having produced countless singers and trained disciples of his own, the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
"Training myself... now this is going to be fun."
In an instant, he decided to install a soundproof booth in the room and began adding music equipment to his online shopping cart like a madman.
To his past self, the total would have been pocket change, but since he was currently just an unemployed Korean youth, he hesitated at the checkout button.
"Maybe I should have set up a slush fund... Oh, fuck!"
Even if he wanted to, how could he possibly bring money over from another universe?
Left with no choice, he decided to check his bank account.
He should have inherited all of Saebyeok's memories, right?
Yet, the original owner apparently hadn't cared about the money in his account either.
With a heart trembling from anticipation, he opened the banking app.
"Let's see, the zeros... Oh my gosh!"
Balance: ₩725,514,000
"Seven hundred million dollars?... Ah, right, this is Korea. Still, seven hundred million won is a lot of money, isn't it?"
Although he didn't know the exact cost of living in this world, digging through Saebyeok's memories confirmed it was by no means a small sum.
Just as he was about to sigh in relief, he realized that this money was essentially the life insurance payout from the parents' deaths.
The original Saebyeok probably couldn't bring himself to spend it frivolously.
Naturally, investing in music equipment didn't count as frivolous, so Ed's conscience remained clear.
For a moment, various worries crossed his mind.
But after searching through his memories, he let out a sigh of relief.
Unlike in some trashy soap opera, there were no greedy adults trying to steal his money (to them, it was probably pocket change anyway), and the legal procedures until he reached adulthood were well-organized.
It was a relief, but he couldn't help but feel a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Don't worry. What's seven hundred million won? I'll make sure you earn seven hundred million dollars easily."
Believing that whatever he did, he would never live an ordinary life—a future that felt as good as guaranteed—he tapped the payment approval button.
Whistling coolly as if worry were a luxury, he jumped in surprise when his phone, which hadn't rung once since he woke up, suddenly went off.
"What's this? Who is it? Should I answer?"
A brief moment of panic washed over him, but with a sudden surge of defiance—why shouldn't I answer?—he picked up the phone.
Seeing the caller ID 'General Secretary' on the screen, he slapped his forehead. An ally.
"Yes. Hello?"
"Young Master! I received a notification that a rather large sum was withdrawn from your account, so I called to check..."
"Yes, I spent that."
"...I will visit you at the end of the month."
"Sure. See you then!"
Ed was slowly starting to like this little nest.
Of course, that was only from his perspective; in reality, it wasn't normal for an unemployed person to live alone in a studio apartment of this size.
This author-biased world is actually pretty decent.
Just planning where to install the newly ordered equipment in his head made him happy.
It's the best! Always fresh! Thrilling!
Hormones really were a scary thing. This must be what they call finding happiness in the little things.
"Shall we start from scratch, step by step?"
His clock began to tick rapidly.
Meanwhile, Kim Jehak, who had just finished his first call with Moon Saebyeok in a long time, found the boy's unusually cheerful voice unfamiliar.
"General Secretary Kim?"
Lost in thought, Kim Jehak quickly put out his cigarette at the call of a subordinate.
"Haha... thank you. I almost burned my fingers there."
"Ah, no, sir. I'm just glad I didn't disturb you."
Giving the subordinate a light pat on the shoulder, he smiled warmly. The employee, thinking they had scored some points, walked away with a small smile.
Still thinking about Moon Saebyeok, Kim Jehak pulled out another cigarette but hesitated to light it.
Should I speak with his doctor?
Kim Jehak had been looking after Moon Saebyeok in secret ever since his private meeting with the late Chairman.
Less than a year after the Chairman's death, Saebyeok's mother had also met a sudden, tragic end.
The inheritance that should have gone to Saebyeok was torn to shreds by his aunts and uncles.
Of course, Kim Jehak had not intervened.
He knew doing so would only cause more trouble.
The result of the compromise was a mere pittance compared to the fortune he was originally entitled to, and thus, he was abandoned.
That was the best we could do back then.
It was only natural for him to think this way.
He knew the ruthlessness of chaebol families better than anyone.
Since Saebyeok had needed a legal guardian until he reached adulthood, Kim Jehak had taken on the role. Now, he felt it was a stroke of luck that he had.
Following the death of the Chairman who had taken him in, the group was still embroiled in a war of succession.
Perhaps the former glory of the predecessor being defiled by greedy beasts was...
Not my problem to worry about.
Kim Jehak stubbed out his cigarette, brushing away his stray thoughts.
"Installation's all done, kid!"
As expected of the nation of speed, the veteran workers had finished the job in the blink of an eye.
He bowed deeply from the waist out of respect.
The middle-aged women—who carried themselves with the gruff energy of middle-aged men—let out hearty laughs before making a swift exit, leaving a mini-studio in their wake.
It had eaten up most of his living room, but hey, this was a massive win.
Rubbing his hands together like a fly, he booted up the computer.
"Saebyeok, this is where it begins. Hehe..."
Why did the boot-up feel so slow despite it being a high-spec PC?
Postponing the joy of composing MIDI tracks and proper recording for later, the first thing he needed to do was obvious.
He pulled the familiar, neatly installed Shure microphone toward him and carefully fitted the pop filter.
Was it because this was his first recording in this world?
Driven by the lively hormones of youth, he pressed the 'REC' button with a fluttering heart.
❮ Mmh, mmh— ❯
❮ Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah... ❯
He slowly descended into the bass register.
G → F → E → D → C
He had worried the low notes wouldn't come out well due to his tenor voice, but this range was more than enough to handle pop music comfortably.
The extreme lows will need some practice...
Now, let's go up.
1st → 2nd → 3rd → 4th octave...
His voice spread clearly and effortlessly, lifting his spirits.
Should I try singing that song that drove so many singers to despair?
❮ Hater ❯
❮ You'll curl up in a dark room. ❯
❮ Just relying on the lights on the monitor. ❯
❮ Your hand will— ❯
"*Cough, cough!* Yeah, screaming is definitely going to need some practice."
Taking a gulp of water, he cleared his throat and tested his voice in various other styles.
It was still too early to execute all the techniques he had mastered in his past life.
Even so, the grin on his face refused to fade.
"Wow... Saebyeok. If you had been in my world, I might have actually been nervous."
Even as he blustered to himself, he knew the truth.
In fact, Moon Saebyeok's potential might actually surpass his own.
But that was still a story for the distant future.
He needed to refine his breathing and build up his physical stamina first.
On the other hand, he had no doubt that his current self would soon usurp the throne from the legend he once was.
He would gladly surrender it.
"I look like a crazy person doing this. Am I the mastermind behind the scenes?"
Though they had never communicated, he felt something instinctively.
He believed the original owner would be pleased with today as well.
Even if it was just his own delusion.
It would never be in vain.
In truth, he had already decided on his path before he even built this small studio in his room.
This time, even if it took longer, he planned to take things slow.
If he gained weight and took consistent care of himself, he would at least become quite handsome. And while he wasn't as tall as his past self, he was still on the taller side.
In this parallel world where men were scarce to begin with, he figured there would be plenty of places looking for a musically versatile Moon Saebyeok.
He was a rare character, so there was bound to be demand.
After talking to himself for a long time, the conclusion he reached was to start a ViewTube channel.
It was a great platform to build recognition without any interference.
Debuting at a young age would come with too many difficulties. It meant entering the ruthless world of business, which was far removed from the music he wanted to pursue.
So, Pass!
It might have been difficult if he didn't have a single penny.
He had to be grateful for his blessed circumstances.
Even in the music world, it was impossible to escape the influence of school ties, regional connections, and bloodlines.
Writing and composing was an option, but even publishing composers didn't enjoy complete autonomy.
Well, he still had plenty of time.
Now that he was officially unemployed, he planned to dive deep into classical music studies this time.
Youth really was a beautiful thing.
Still, he would need more time to adjust, wouldn't he?
Besides, even though he had reached the summit in his past life, it hadn't been in a world as crazy as this one.
A male-to-female ratio of 2:8!
How on earth was the population even being maintained?
Hey, Author. Does this even make sense?
It wasn't just a simple difference in sex ratio; the very societal perceptions of gender roles were completely reversed.
The bastard author's explanation was probably just that "everything somehow works out."
Was this the heaven that men from his original world dreamed of?
In any case, women were the dominant force in this world.
The president, the chaebol chairmen, even the soldiers...
Not even having to undergo basic military training—was this true happiness?
It made him want to scream with joy to the four winds.
But still, he had absolutely no desire to live a life squealing and being protected by women.
In a world crawling with crazy bastards like that, he would have to stand strong on his own. Yeah.
"Working out is the only answer..."
It was somewhat depressing that turning himself into a decent human specimen was more urgent than starting his ViewTube activities, but he had to find the strength.
Leaving his regrets behind, he stepped out of his "My Own Little Studio" and tore the Rocket Delivery boxes open with all his might...
...Or rather, he carefully sliced them open with a utility knife.
Various athletic outfits of different sizes spilled out.
His heart swelled with anticipation.
He would change quickly and do some late-night exercises.
Shuddering at the sight of his own skeletal body, he managed to pull on the athletic wear...
"What the hell?"
Most of the athletic wear in this world consisted of tights.
"Fuck!"