Chapter 108
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Trying to Do Some Righteous Bad Things
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Life is always a circus.
Stuff happens when you're living it.
Rimon, who'd lived a long life, knew that better than anyone, which was why he usually just shrugged off unexpected events.
But right now...
He couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"How the hell did things end up like this...?"
[Why do you think? It's because the hotshot team leader showed up to say hi to his friend.]
"No, I mean, what did I even do?"
[Are you seriously asking when you know damn well?]
Yuna Kyung shot back in disbelief.
"If I knew, why would I ask?"
Rimon scowled, furrowing his brow.
All he'd done was walk into the cafe.
That was the only problem.
The moment he stepped in, President Jeong, Yujin, and a crowd of dozens had half-dragged him onto the stage.
And they'd even kindly shoved a guitar into his hands.
"Fine, Yujin's a music nut, but why the hell couldn't they let anyone else play and make such a fuss over me?"
[It's because it's been a whole week since the team leader last showed up.]
"And what does that have to do with anything?"
[What do you mean? These people haven't heard you play in a week—they're half out of their minds over it.]
"Is my playing some kind of drug? They can't go a measly week without it and cause all this chaos?"
[If it were drugs, at least they could buy 'em. The problem is, no amount of money can buy your performances.]
Yuna Kyung grumbled.
Truth be told, it hadn't been this bad at first.
No matter how great Rimon's playing was, it still fell short of top-tier artists like Julia.
Besides, in this era where players with music skills were popping up everywhere, pumping out first-rate musicians left and right, it wasn't exactly standout stuff.
[Especially your friend's singing.]
"Hm, yeah, I'll give you that."
The real issue was Yujin.
Unlike Rimon, whose technique was already polished to perfection, Yujin was still green as a singer.
Her innate sense and emotion often went to waste because her skills couldn't keep up.
But while working at the live cafe and on her days off, President Jeong had given her basic vocal training.
Basic as in real basic.
Stuff any regular person could pick up easily.
Yet the results...
Yujin had exploded in growth.
[Birds of a feather flock together, huh? How does a few days of training turn her into that?]
"They say even a three-day separation makes you see someone in a new light."
[There's a limit, even to that!]
Yuna Kyung was spot on, actually.
Yujin was a lot like Rimon.
Just as Rimon had absorbed Julia's lessons in a flash thanks to his Sword Master physique and the senses honed by his Heartblack violin...
Yujin, blessed with raw talent and years of street musician grit, had awakened her potential with just some simple training.
Her growth was so steep that...
Comparing her singing from a month ago to now, no one would believe it was the same person.
These days, plenty of people even came to the cafe just to hear Yujin solo.
Of course, what the customers craved most was still their joint live show—her voice backed by Rimon's playing.
[And why the heck did your skills level up even more while you were at it?!]
"My playing hasn't gotten any better."
[Then why does it sound so different?!]
"It's not that my skill improved. It's just that since she's singing better now, I stopped holding back."
[From the listener's side, that's the same damn thing.]
Rimon replied indifferently.
Back when Yujin's singing was still rough around the edges...
His playing focused on covering her weak spots.
But now that she'd built a solid foundation and those gaps were closing, he could finally pour everything into elevating her voice.
That was the extent of it.
And yet, that alone transformed his performance completely.
Think of it like pushing a wheelchair versus riding tandem on a bike now.
His technique had to evolve.
And the result of Yujin's evolved singing paired with Rimon's unleashed playing? This.
A live cafe so packed it was spilling out the door, with people lining up outside and handing out waitlist tickets.
[You know what? On days you show up as a customer, those waitlist tickets get scalped on the black market.]
"...What kind of insane bullshit is that?"
[It's not bullshit. It's true.]
Yuna Kyung jabbed pointedly.
Sure enough, outside right now, scalpers were hustling back and forth, hawking tickets.
And why not? Yujin performed every day, but Rimon only dropped by occasionally in his spare time, making his shows rare as hell.
Treated like a legendary raid boss, basically.
But Rimon refused to take responsibility.
Instead, he cursed the culprit behind it all.
"Damn it, who the hell uploaded our videos without permission...?"
[What, some kid did it. Wasn't for commercial use—just sharing with friends.]
"And that's what caused this mess after it leaked."
[He came to the cafe in person to apologize, deleted everything he shared too.]
"What's the point if it's already spread everywhere? No one's missed it."
It had been a fluke.
And inevitable, at the same time.
As their live shows gained fame, some customer filmed one and shared it, sparking the leak.
The video was crap, of course.
Shaky smartphone footage, echoey audio—nowhere near the live quality.
But it was enough.
'Peninsula Cafe Live.avi' spread like wildfire online, eventually hitting the top of real-time search trends.
"Don't these kids have anything better to do? What's worth pushing some random video to top 10 trends?"
[When are you talking about? It hit number one ages ago.]
"...It hit number one already?"
[Yeah, a while back.]
"No, seriously, why?"
[Why do you think? Your live shows are that addictive.]
Yuna Kyung grumbled curtly.
In a way, she was the biggest victim of their performances.
The awe had worn off after the first few times.
But tagging along with Rimon every time meant she now heard their music in her head with her eyes closed.
No skills involved.
Once you heard it, you couldn't forget it—that was baseline.
And the more you listened, the more you craved. Their music had that strange pull.
[That's why everyone's going nuts to see you and your friend.]
Yuna Kyung spread one wing wide.
It pointed out the window.
Right at the swarm of people mobbing the cafe entrance.
"Hey, I'll pay! How much? 500? 1,000? Name your price—I'll cover it. Just come over!"
"Who do you think you are, talking like that? You can't hire artists with money! Let's keep it classy—talk it out!"
"President Jeong! Let's do a coupon discount event with my shop!"
"You bastard, that's cheating!"
"Hey, you lot—cut the recruiting crap and get in line! We've been here an hour already. No cutting!"
"Ahem, I'm not cutting. I'm from an entertainment guild..."
"Shut it and line up!"
Local shop owners from every business imaginable.
Regular fans just there for the live.
Even entertainment guild reps.
The chaotic tangle of voices was a full-blown flea market.
But the loudest by far was someone else.
"Today's live is over—go home! No encores! Hwang and Kim, you too—pack it up! Yeah?!"
The cafe owner himself.
President Jeong, who'd been thrilled by sky-high sales not long ago, now looked half-dead dealing with the mob.
Put simply, Rimon and Yujin had gotten too famous.
More customers? Great.
Entertainment scouts? Inevitable since that WIM guild's Moon caught wind.
The problem was the local bosses swarming in after hearing sales had skyrocketed dozens-fold.
Turn them away harshly, and he'd be the neighborhood asshole. Let them linger, and they'd protest to share Rimon and Yujin with the whole district.
Wasn't it just yesterday they whispered the cafe was doomed when it was empty?
Now they acted like same-block buddies sharing the wealth.
President Jeong's gut was churning.
"Just leave already!!!"
His patience finally snapped.
He bellowed outright.
Watching him argue like it was a street brawl, with bystanders filming gleefully, Rimon clicked his tongue.
"Show's over for today."
[Feels like it'll be over every day. Or is that just me?]
"Don't jinx it."
[Truth hurts.]
Rimon lightly clicked his tongue at Yuna Kyung, who was strutting with her plump belly thrust out.
That was when Yujin returned, having raided the sandwiches after their set because she was hungry.
"Partner, whatcha doing? Not prepping for encore?"
"Dunno. Looks like that encore might not happen."
"Huh? Why?"
"Can't you tell?"
Rimon glanced aside.
Yujin followed his gaze out the window, tilting her head at President Jeong, who was practically grabbing collars now.
"What's that got to do with our show?"
"What's the point of performing in this mess? He's about to shut down the place."
"So? Why's that our problem?"
"Huh?"
"Whether he gets arrested for brawling or closes shop, a show's a show. If someone's there to hear it or not, why care?"
She could sing—that was enough.
Nothing else mattered.
Rimon stared at her, then chuckled and nodded.
"Hits the nail on the head."
"What nail?"
"Just realizing why I can't enjoy music like you do."
"Huh? Music not fun for you, partner?"
"I don't play because I love it."
"...???"
Yujin blinked blankly, totally lost.
Rimon snickered.
And added one more thing.
"Besides, I didn't even come to play today. Just to give notice."
"Notice?"
"Yeah. Looks like I won't be able to come here for at least a month."
"What about our lives in the meantime?!"
"Won't happen."
"OH MY GOD!"
Yujin deflated like a kid whose Christmas gift got postponed a year.
Rimon chuckled.
"Don't look so bummed. We can do lives later, right?"
"Partner, that's a future live. Today's live is only today."
"What, carpe diem for music?"
"My experience. Postpone it, and it never happens."
"Probably 'cause skipping a day meant starving back then."
Rimon teased the earnest Yujin.
"Tell you what—promise? Next time, we'll jam all night."
"For real?"
"I don't go back on my word."
"Deal! I'll let today slide then!"
Yujin beamed and accepted.
Then, as if it just hit her:
"But partner, why a whole month?"
"Eh, nothing big. Just gotta do some righteous bad deeds for a bit."
"...???"
Bad deeds keep you busy, huh.
Yujin could only float a question mark over her head at Rimon's mischievous smirk.