Chapter 6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: A New Dawn
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ting. He pressed a key, and a sound came to mind.
To be precise, it wasn't a physical sound he heard.
It was merely a sound that surfaced in his mind.
N-No way.
But to Yuhyeon, this moment felt like a miracle.
The melodies in his memory had been slowly fading, but now, they were returning.
Especially for someone with a hearing impairment who had to rely solely on memory, this was nothing short of a miracle.
Ting.
He pressed a key again, and once more, a sound arose in his mind.
As vividly as if he were hearing it with his own ears.
As the sounds emerged, so did his inspiration.
He felt like he could finish the commissioned piece in an instant.
I should start right away, before I forget.
Yuhyeon composed himself and began creating a melody on the master keyboard.
The flowing inspiration turned ceaselessly into notes, like a torrential waterfall of pitches.
Ding. Ting!
To Yuhyeon, music was an outlet for his emotionsa process of expressing the images in his mind.
Then what was performance? It was a medium that aided expression. A device for conveying those mental images.
That was why Yuhyeon would readily switch to any instrument better suited for his expression.
His ability to play various instruments, his knowledge of ballet, dance, and even composition, all stemmed from this reason.
His inner world was too vast and varied to be expressed through a single instrument.
But ever since he lost his hearing, everything had started to fall apart.
Unable to find new inspiration, the wellspring he once had began to run dry.
This was why, at some point, his compositions started receiving feedback like 'it sounds somewhat melancholic' or 'I hear dissonance.'
As the sounds faded and his inspiration withered, it was only natural for a darker tone to seep into his work.
The inspiration just keeps coming!
And now, at the edge of this cliff, a sound had miraculously returned to him.
With the sound came inspiration, filling him endlessly like a magic jar.
Pressing the keys instantly translated his emotions, and as the melody built, the image he wanted to convey became even more vivid.
This was different from when he used to churn out songs just to make money.
In a way, this was true composition.
At least this piece would carry a clear emotion, a distinct message.
Thud.
It's done
After reinforcing the entire melody, he hit the save button. Only an hour had passed since he started.
The mastering, a process that usually required hours of meticulous checking, was finished in just one hour. Something that would have been unimaginable before.
Without hesitation, Yuhyeon sent the email.
Final version of the runway music.
There was no need to double-check. He was certain he couldn't create a more perfect piece at this moment.
Phew I guess I should get some sleep.
He glanced at the clock; it was already two in the morning. Normally, he'd be in bed by now, but tonight, his eyes were wide open.
Inspiration continued to bubble up inside him, as if his body was signaling him to create something more before sleeping.
Maybe I'll compose a little more.
Yuhyeon opened a new project file.
How many years has it been?
He couldn't remember the last time he'd composed a song that wasn't a commission.
This was the first time he had worked on a personal piece since he started composing for a living.
Was it about five years? Perhaps that was why just opening the project file filled him with excitement.
It's not for sale or anything, I'm just making it.
Yuhyeon tapped the master keyboard lightly, letting his joyful heart express itself through bright, cheerful notes.
Strangely, though he had started this to pour out his inspiration, the more he expressed, the more new inspiration seemed to follow, one idea leading to the next.
He wondered if he'd be able to sleep at all. To get it all out, he felt he would need at least a day or two.
Time passed, and he gently pressed the final note with his finger.
Done!
By then, the reddish glow of the morning sun was seeping through the window.
Has it been five hours already?
He had been so engrossed that he'd written the entire piece in one go, completely unaware he had pulled an all-nighter.
How long had it been since he'd felt this immersed? It was just like when he composed Moonlight.
I'll call it 'SUN'.
The sun was rising, and the name felt like a fitting counterpart to Moonlight, giving it a strange sense of thematic unity.
Yuhyeon renamed the untitled file to 'SUN', saved it, and closed the program.
I should let Sangcheol hear this later.
What if his reaction is good? Should I pitch it to the CEO of Soomare?
Heh, as if.
The thought brought a chuckle to his lips.
Why overthink it? He'd started this piece simply to pour out his emotions.
Ah, maybe I'll upload it to the cloud.
If nothing else, he could just upload it to the cloud.
Back when he first started composing, he used to upload his practice pieces all the time, but it had been over ten years since he'd last done that.
Were those old files still there? It was through those uploads that he had met the CEO of Soomare, after all.
I've forgotten the ID anyway. I'll check later.
Yuhyeon slowly walked to his bed and slipped under the covers.
I hope I get feedback from the CEO soon.
The piece turned out so well for a change; he hoped for a quick response from the CEO.
Though he didn't have high hopes, since the man was quick to rush him for work but slower than anyone to pay
First, sleep.
His mind buzzing with thoughts, Yuhyeon gently closed his eyes.
He must have been quite exhausted, as he fell into a deep sleep the moment he closed them.
It was the end of a rare, pleasant day.
Bzzz.
Bzzzz.
Yuhyeon's wristwatch vibrated loudly.
Ever since his hearing loss, he always wore a smartwatch to bed, using its vibration as an alarm.
Ugh
What he didn't understand, however, was that he hadn't set an alarm since he'd pulled an all-nighter, and second, there was no one who would be contacting him this early.
Who could it be at this hour
But why was it vibrating so incessantly? As if something terrible would happen if he didn't check it immediately.
Because of that, Yuhyeon, who had planned to ignore it and go back to sleep, groggily opened his eyes.
Haa, I barely slept.
He opened his eyes to see it was still morning. Judging by the white light filtering in, it wasn't even noon yet.
Sure enough, the clock read 9:30 AM. He had only slept for about three hours.
Bzzz.
Meanwhile, the smartwatch continued to vibrate. To be precise, new messages were arriving nonstop.
Who in the world is this?
Even if it were a text, it would come once or twice and then stop. What was going on?
With an annoyed expression, Yuhyeon took out his phone and opened it.
CEO of Soomare: The file you sent is fantastic!
CEO of Soomare: The mastering is excellent, but more importantly, the whole mood has improved so much.
CEO of Soomare: It's brighter, maybe? So much more lively than the last version.
Messages were flooding in from the CEO who had commissioned the work.
CEO of Soomare: This is the most satisfied I've been with your work so far. The other parties involved love it too.
CEO of Soomare: With this level of quality, I can confidently introduce you to other companies. I'll look around and help you get in touch with some good places.
The The CEO?
Yuhyeon's eyes widened.
He could understand the quick reply, given the looming deadline, but the content of the messages was absolutely astonishing.
The most satisfied he's been?
Not only was the CEO praising him, but he was also offering to introduce him to other companies.
Aside from the early days when he first got contacted through the cloud, he had never received such a positive response.
What a strange feeling.
The praise for his work felt like a rush of dopamine.
Before, it had always been a business relationship, taking commissions from a client. But now, he felt like a composer whose work was being genuinely recognized.
And it was praise from the notoriously picky CEO of Soomare, no less.
The surprises didn't end there.
Web Message
NH Bank Deposit 1,063,700 Won
09:40 1772--52
The payment? Already?
On average, payment came in a week at the earliest, or two weeks at the latest.
To be paid this promptly was a first for him in several years.
CEO of Soomare: I liked the track so much I wanted to do something for you, so I processed the payment as quickly as possible.
CEO of Soomare: Please keep up this great work. Thank you.
The CEO of Soomare has sent you a gift and a message.
Stunned by the unexpected series of events, Yuhyeon was speechless.
It would have been easier to believe this was all a dream.
Why is he acting like this? Ah!
It was a chain of incomprehensible events, but upon reflection, it all boiled down to one reason.
He had written a better song than usual. That was really all there was to it.
This is nice
This positive attention, the first he'd received in a long time since his disability, made the corners of his mouth lift into a smile.
At the same time, the desire for recognition, something he had long forgotten, began to stir within him again.
He wanted to hear more sounds, to summon more inspiration.
To do that, he had to return to that place from yesterday. Besides, he still had gold to collect there.
Thankfully, this should be enough for this month's living expenses.
Yuhyeon's gaze soon fell upon his front door.
Are the capsule rooms open in the morning?
That'll be 200,000 won for ten hours, sir.
Yes, here you go.
Payment complete.
Yuhyeon's hand trembled slightly as he took back his card.
20,000 won for an hour.
He knew the game was essential for him right now, but he couldn't help but be shocked by the price every time he saw it.
At least he got a free hour for paying for ten hours at once.
I wonder if I'll be able to enjoy this without worrying once I can pay my rent on time.
Bzzz. His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Sangcheol: I have to go straight home after work today, so it's not looking good :(
Reading the message, Yuhyeon clicked his tongue in disappointment.
He'd just gotten paid and was planning to treat him.
Well, we're planning to meet tomorrow anyway. I'll treat him then.
Yuhyeon casually slipped into an empty capsule.
Having been here once before, getting in felt much more natural.
Launching
He put on the VR goggles and closed his eyes for a moment. Soon, a new world unfolded before him.
The world of Wonderland, which had let him hear sound and awakened his inspiration.
Chirp
The chirping of a sparrow reached his ears. A sound he couldn't have heard just a short while ago.
It really is nice to be able to hear.
He was standing with his eyes closed and arms outstretched, savoring the sound.
Just then, he heard the sound of someone rushing over, and an urgent voice called out to him.
M-Musician! I've been waiting for you!
F-Finally! H-Hello!
Two men stood before Yuhyeon.
Musician! I've been waiting. Do you have a moment to talk?
I-I've been waiting longer! User, could I have a word with you?
They both spoke at once, then glared at each other.
As if they were competing to be the first to speak with him.
In this baffling situation.
With me?
Yuhyeon asked, looking at them with bewildered eyes.