Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: Music Production and Mythic Promotions
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I was learning music, something that wasn't even in my fate.
No choice.
Even if Ardania's musicians sent over all the sheet music, turning it into actual music with the program required skill.
Boom boom cha! Boom boom dum!
I ran the music production program Orpheus according to the sheet music. Still unfamiliar with it, my progress was painfully slow.
"Ah. This is tough."
But how hard could it be compared to martial arts, magic, or chakra training?
As the teacher of millions, I scoured the internet and MyTube, adapting to the program. I began producing Ardania's music.
It took two hours to make the first piece.
"Ha... And there are over 120 songs to copy..."
Even after filtering heavily, this was the count. The past decade had too many hits.
If I hadn't tossed out genres that felt alien on Earth and emperor-praising anthems, I'd have to drop everything and spend months producing thousands of tracks.
Ting ting liriling~ Ting ting!
"Log in."
As I inputted songs into the program, my face twisted.
"What the hell is a floria? I told them to use standard instruments only...!"
That wasn't the only issue.
"What's this lightning pattern? Some kind of note? These damn musicians!"
I summoned the supervisors and chewed them out harshly.
I punished the offending musicians severely.
Not with jail or fines, but by making them compose 10,000 points' worth (1 million won) of new songs using standard instruments and standard notation.
"No meals until quotas are met—just plain water and wild boar hindquarters. All seasonings banned."
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, we were wrong! At least some salt...!"
"Drag them away."
"Your Majesty~~!"
I kept the artistic types in line while producing the music.
Orpheus, which generated virtual instrument sounds and voices, gradually filled with a playlist.
"Hmm."
But the more tracks I added, the more lost I felt.
[Lord, do not test me. My faith in You shall never waver.]
It was "The Path I Walk" by Fletcher, a master from the Children of Light choir of the Holy Empire.
A masterpiece that drew standing ovations at every performance, no matter how many times it was played.
"Not sure..."
The music seemed good. But just that.
I couldn't tell what made a song good or what would be popular.
[My eternal sorrow is...]
"Ah, is this it...?"
With web novels, I could just churn them out, and reader favorites would rise naturally.
But music was different.
Uploading to composition sites only got comments from other musicians—no revenue or public exposure.
"As expected, the music scene is nothing like novels."
Customers didn't flock on their own. A single song wasn't complete content.
It needed a fitting singer.
'To shop tracks to agencies, better to select and focus rather than spam.'
"Log out."
Back on Earth, I played one song. A male solo.
'Not bad.'
Another—a male-female duet.
'Pretty good.'
Another—a choir piece.
'Seems okay...?'
I was going insane. Couldn't judge them.
[Curse me all you want
Some must wonder what's true
Here, there
I'll lose and leave
Curse me, kill me
Stab me with that knife]
A new track played.
'This was... Harmony, right?'
[If you wanna expose me
To kill me by trampling
Be more precise
If you wanna expose me
To kill me by trampling
Be more cruel]
The sharp, neurotic lyrics made me sigh. I was on the verge of snapping.
"This one's good too..."
Right then.
"Huh? Ooooh? This is awesome."
"Hm?"
I turned at the sudden voice.
Ruby had poked her head into the studio without me noticing.
"Ruby. I said no entering during work."
"Nah~ I was just passing by, and I spotted a gem among trash."
"A gem among trash?"
Bewildered, I glanced at Orpheus's playlist.
128 tracks.
I'd cherry-picked the best—how were they trash?
"Aren't they all good?"
"What? They don't fit trends at all, and most messages are hot air. Where's this one from?"
"Well... it's my song."
"...Huh?"
Ruby froze. I had to brazen it out—admitting I "copied" it would stall things.
"Yeah, chakra training. Literature and... music. This is the output."
"...First time hearing chakra used like that. Who completes it that way?"
Ruby was baffled, but as I listed tracks, she started believing it.
"Flower! Flower, come here!"
"What is it?"
Calling into the air, Flower appeared through spatial warp, holding a kitchen knife swirling with transcendent mana. Spotting me, she vanished it in surprise.
'What was she cooking?'
Anyway, Ruby told the revealed Flower:
"Jaeyeon made songs!"
"Oh, songs too?"
"Songs too?"
"He churns out novels too. Dozens a day."
"Huh? What? Not magic or martial arts training—it was novels?"
"Wait. Snow! Blackie! Sapphire!"
In the end, all Five Dragons gathered and listened to my 128 tracks in order.
"I'm for Knife."
"Me too."
"Hmm. With all the hate comments and gossip lately, it fits the vibe?"
"Agree."
"Hand up."
Opinions aligned instantly. I raised my hand.
"What about the others? 127 tracks... I'll sell 'em cheap."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The Five Dragons eyed each other.
It didn't take long to conclude.
"Yeah, no thanks~"
"Give 'em to Odukseoni oppa. He'll distribute to mid-tier companies."
"Glad we got at least one."
"Practice time. Practice!"
Watching them scatter, I could only shrug.
"Well... they won't scam me."
And so.
Time passed.
* * *
"Edward."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"From this moment, I appoint you to The Nine Swords. I bestow upon you the Mythic class Phoenix Knight, Mythic pet Phoenix, Mythic guardian spirit Phoenix, and Phoenix Aura manual. Fulfill your duty with unyielding resolve."
I handed over three cards and a skillbook.
Then.
Rumble...
Boom!
Storm clouds gathered. A familiar yet majestic sight hushed everyone.
"Ooh. This scene..."
"Unbelievable. Seeing it again—not from His Majesty, but someone else..."
"Incredible..."
The darkening sky from the clouds didn't scare anyone—it had happened multiple times because of me.
Dong... Dong... Dong...!
With grand bell tolls, the clouds parted, light pouring into the city.
-Finally ascending to transcendence in human form.
-Lord, forgive us.
It was the continental fanfare announcing a Mythic class awakening.
[All praise Him. The 19th Mythic has been born here.]
[His name is Edward.]
[For the next 24 hours, all hunting grounds grant 100% EXP buffs.]
[Reannouncing: The 19th Mythic has been born here.]
Having collected all 18 Mythics, Edward—practically the second owner—was the 19th.
Not just that.
[All praise Him. The 19th Mythic (pet) has been born here.]
[His name is Edward.]
[For the next 24 hours, all hunting grounds grant 100% EXP buffs.]
[Stack activated!]
[For the next 24 hours, all hunting grounds grant 200% EXP buffs.]
I'd collected all Mythic classes, pets, and guardians.
Yes—I'd achieved 100% Revenge collection.
Unprecedented, the pinnacle of Revenge!
'Not in Ardania yet.'
But with full pay-to-win power, I could anytime. Just postponing since no rush.
Crack! Creak!
Like my old self, Edward's body strained under the massive buffs and growth, but he didn't blink.
"I pledge my utmost loyalty!"
"I trust you."
Phoenix Knight was a job I'd long considered for him. It fit his blockhead, poor-sense-of-direction style, and his Taiji Fist and Taiji Sword perfectly.
Of course, the real power job for him was elsewhere.
'Holy Lord.'
Revenge's set [potential] for Edward—a parallel future where he overcomes outer god temptation to become a transcendent, not a zealot.
But I couldn't waste such talent that way. "Other universe memory" sounded nice, but class erosion risked corrupting his ego.
Hayes was lucky—no aliens or madness in his setup.
'Of course, I can experiment.'
I eyed the lined-up knights.
Today's [bestowal ceremony] included not just Mythic recipients, but many below them—Legends.
And among them...
'Namgoong Ilgeom.'
Former Murim Alliance Lord, current Demon Subduing Knight.
He'd stormed my castle, taken me hostage to absorb my forces—the emperor's right hand.
But defeated, he became a POW. Unlike the emperor who died of frustration in prison, he lived as an Imperial Knight.
'Right. He's the Sword King. Sword Saint... and Sword God.'
Today, using the awards, I'd satisfy a long curiosity.
How far did [potential] go? Could a class card propel him to transcendence instantly?
[All praise Him. The 20th Mythic has been born here.]
[His name is Hayes Starlight.]
[For the next 24 hours, all hunting grounds grant 100% EXP buffs.]
[Reannouncing: The 20th Mythic has been born here.]
No need for parades or fanfare—Mythic impacts and global announcements were the grandest festival.
[All praise Him. The 21st Mythic has been born here.]
[His name is Steelstone.]
[For the next 24 hours, all hunting grounds grant 100% EXP buffs.]
[Reannouncing: The 21st Mythic has been born here.]
I bestowed Mythics one by one. Now, even non-transcendents could rival them.
With transcendent-equivalent stats and skills, they wouldn't die easily in Mythic dungeons.
Emergency return scrolls sealed it.
[All praise Him. The 22nd Mythic has been born here.]
[His name is Red.]
[For the next 24 hours, all hunting grounds grant 100% EXP buffs.]
[Reannouncing: The 22nd Mythic has been born here.]
Edward, Hayes, Steelstone, Red, and top healer Healing (name changed, obviously) received Mythics.
Naturally, they couldn't fight immediately. They'd need time adapting to transcendent stats and skills.
'Now, the key is Namgoong Ilgeom.'
[Beautiful form is the Lord's form. Ecstatic voice is the Lord's voice.]
[Sing the Lord's wrath in a voice of fury.]
[Grand Angel (Mythic)]
But my thoughts derailed by an unexpected twist.
"...Huh?"
I groaned, watching Harmony engulfed in light.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"Something's..."
Others sensed it too.
[Where... am I? Who are you all...?]
Harmony stared at me with blank eyes. I felt something gravely wrong.
'No, why Harmony!?'
Before summoning the Sword God.
Ardania's second transcendent awakened.
In the most unforeseen way.