Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Beethoven: Bonn to Wien (3)
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There’s a saying that a promising tree is known from its cotyledons.
Beethoven’s life was much the same, and Kim Yul had schematized his early years very simply yet densely, cramming them into the initial serialization arc.
His grandfather was the court Kapellmeister, his father a tenor singer.
In cliché terms, that meant he was born into an extraordinary lineage.
But the grandfather who seemed like he’d be a sturdy patron passed away quickly, and instead, he fell under the harsh exploitation of an alcoholic father who sought fame by selling out his son.
But if you feed readers sweet potatoes with an unfortunate environment,
you have to follow up with a cider arc by granting them a fateful encounter.
Flipping the somewhat gloomy early atmosphere was
his teacher, who would become the lifelong mentor in Beethoven’s heart.
Christian Gottlob Neefe.
"Beethoven. People may call you a prodigy and applaud, but your current playing is merely for earning money. Accept music not with your fingers, but with your head and heart. And feel it—the harmony, the order of music."
To Beethoven, who until now had been his father’s puppet, unable to fully unleash his brilliant genius,
Neefe taught him the basics of music.
Further, the foundations of composition that would make him an immortal composer.
Thanks to that encounter, the story of Beethoven finally stepping onto the path of a true musician unfolded in a compressed manner.
At first, since it dealt with the life of a musician, which was somewhat unfamiliar to the general public,
and the setting was contained in the author’s original worldview rather than the familiar empire or holy kingdom,
some people had hesitated to pick it up.
Extraordinary talent.
A somewhat unfortunate environment.
But awakening and blooming upon meeting a mentor.
And subsequent success.
With a plot no different from a typical hero protagonist novel,
Beethoven began to gradually gain popularity.
“Harmony, melodies... it’s all so complicated...”
“But the protagonist pulled it off again, right? This time he became an official organist.”
“It’s tricky, but seeing him steadily rise feels good. Für Elise or whatever, that piece is pretty nice too.”
Even viewed as a modern web novel,
people read medical novels not for the medical descriptions themselves, but to see patients come alive at the protagonist’s fingertips and the praise from those around.
From Kim Yul’s hands, who understood that psychological structure to some extent,
Beethoven’s life was reborn true to historical accuracy in broad strokes, if somewhat commercialized, unfolding in the fantasy land.
What’s more,
“Oh my, oh my oh my! This is it, right? They’re getting close!”
Scenes began to appear little by little that had Roselin freaking out in delight, finally rewarded for her anticipation and devotion.
Around the time the protagonist Beethoven, now grown tall, turned sixteen.
"Hello, I’m Eleonore. Feel free to call me Lorhen casually."
"Greetings. Ludwig... van, Beethoven."
With the depiction of his first meeting with Eleonore von Breuning,
from Kim Yul’s hands—who would balk for eons if told to birth as many characters as he’d killed—a genuine romance arc unfolded along delicate emotional lines.
Freshness unbelievable from the pen of Ulysses, the author whose only heartfelt love scenes were the adulterous affair of the married dog lover Chojo and Lady Chu!
“I thought he only excelled at kill-or-be-killed scenes.”
“He’s pretty good at these everyday developments too.”
“But what’s the difference between organ and piano?”
Gaining recognition through performances, composing piano sonatas, and earning acclaim for his composition skills as well,
the developments reliably delivered dopamine satisfaction through vicarious thrills to readers.
.
.
.
Of course, if asked whether all that was Kim Yul’s work, at least one person would deny it.
“That wasn’t mere passion. His left hand slammed the keys hard, pouring out melancholy and rage. Rebellion against the world exploded through the keys. The parlor air vibrated, but Eleonore didn’t look at the grubby Beethoven with contempt. Not pity, but admiration. Through the young girl’s eyes, Beethoven appeared feral. The phrase ‘beauty and the beast’ suited him perfectly.”
“That metaphor just now is a bit iffy.”
“Indeed. ‘Beauty and the Beast’ does feel a bit Disn—”
“Stop! Saying that name might summon the copyright demon from another dimension... Anyway, describe a bit more of the fresh, delicate emotions between a boy and girl.”
“Lorhen praised Beethoven with sincerity. Beethoven stared at her blankly. No peer—let alone a girl—had ever called his raw, unrefined emotions beautiful. A small crack formed in the sturdy wall of wariness in his heart. It wasn’t just any crack...”
Unfortunately, Kim Yul—who had never once had a proper romantic relationship in either his past or present life—
was far too insensitive to grasp the fresh yet poignant emotional flow between crushes.
Thus,
much like Korea’s great modern literary giant Mun In-seop,
he relied on Historie’s help for dating courses and the psychology of romance between men and women, due to his own lack of experience and ability!
“...But somehow, when it comes to Lorhen’s psychological descriptions, it feels like the author changes a little...”
“Well, the emotional line is different, so maybe that’s it. The style does get a bit more feminine. Is Ulysses a female author by any chance?”
“Now I’m suddenly interested in the novel.”
Of course, some readers felt a slight sense of incongruity,
but readers in this medieval fantasy land couldn’t imagine the over-the-top idea of churning out first drafts via TTS clicks.
“Hm...”
Though the numbers were a bit lacking to claim the title of Novelpia’s flagship serialization,
purely in terms of popularity, it was quite decent.
The public reception, which had usually topped at “mostly positive,” had risen another level,
and with reader numbers steadily trending upward, if he could just defend well during the deafness drift...
“I wonder what skill Beethoven will give.”
“Heart... Hm, hard to gauge. But probably something music-related.”
“That might be a bit disappointing.”
Still, considering the skill drought from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he was grateful, and if worst came to worst, he could use it as synthesis material.
He’d written some theater-original novels in between, but long serializations like Three Kingdoms inevitably left regrets at points like this.
Let’s make Beethoven short and punchy, wrapping at 100 chapters.
“By the way, about that favor?”
“It’s ready.”
“Thanks as always, Historie.”
“Hic!”
The moment she heard my sincere thanks,
Historie suddenly started hiccupping.
What?
What does this signify?
“...Calling me by name feels awkward, Kim Yul.”
I flicked the forehead of the fully corrupted tin can.
Anyway.
No normal people around me. None.
.
.
.
“Why’s the sheet music so dang thick? What a waste of paper—ack!”
This philistine scraping the bottom of artistic appreciation was no different.
How could piano miniatures and piano concertos be the same?
To punish her blasphemy with lines like some director skimping on electricity bills, I delivered punishment to her pointy ear tip.
Thanks to that, the crap flooding Kanpeu’s head flew out for a moment,
and Chloe, with reading comprehension on par with mine for bean sprouts, flipped through the sheets with a furrowed brow.
“But why not Beethoven? Mozart? Who was that? Did he appear?”
“He did, Kanpeu.”
To explain Beethoven’s musical world,
one couldn’t skip over the era’s musical genius, Mozart.
Especially the score in Kanpeu’s hands now.
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466.
Surpassing classical balance, it fully embodied romantic passion, sure to have stirred young Beethoven’s heartstrings,
and Beethoven himself not only performed it but composed and left his own cadenza.
It lacked nothing as a representative piece of the era’s music.
“But why only piano score for a concerto? Where’s the rest for other instruments?”
“Oh. So you’ve got that level of eye now?”
Kanpeu puffed up her nonexistent chest proudly.
“As Novelpia’s president, understanding my writers’ worlds is essential! I’ve studied some myself, hehe!”
Commendable effort, so this time, a forgiving pat.
“Ah, eek.”
She’d clearly expected her ear pulled, squeezing her eyes shut.
This back-and-forth between abuser and lover.
“Concertos are tough, and playing under that peach world tree would be awkward, so it’s an arrangement for piano solo.”
Aha. And yeah, there’s a separate arranger name. Charles-Valentin... some old guy, Valentin—ahh!
Maître Charles-Valentin Alkan.
Are you watching?
I’ll personally punish Kanpeu for insulting you.
After fine-tuning details with Chloe on serialization manuscripts, music releases, etc.,
“By the way, the musicians?”
“All secured. But they all insisted on meeting Kim Yul in person.”
Hmm...
I was close to a musical illiterate,
but even if I were a musician, I’d probably feel the same.
The moment you see that score, play its melody,
you’d go mad with curiosity about the composer.
“Then I’ll schedule it separately. Oh! And someone else wants to meet Kim Yul too.”
“Who?”
Kanpeu handed me a business card.
Republic First University
Graduate School of Letters, Demon Language Research Lab
Professor Sordinan Pesil
“She really wants guidance on demon language matters. I looked into it, and she’s quite famous in academic circles.”