Devil’s Music

It took Geon 6 days to complete the basic score for the "Song of Water." Unlike other compositions he had written in just a few hours, Geon, who felt a deep affection for this piece, had asked for assistance from Shizuka and Kevin in the morning.

After receiving Geon's call, it took less than an hour for the two to gather, and while each analyzed the scores, Geon, who was sitting in front of the keyboard, also made a call to check the schedule with Arthur.

"What do you think?" Geon approached Shizuka, who was pressing the keys silently.

Shizuka, looking slightly flustered, replied, "Well... it's not that it's a difficult piece, but I think it needs some practice to bring out the right feel."

"Yeah, I suppose so? If you find any difficult parts while practicing alone, let me know immediately."

"Okay, what will Kay do?"

"Well, I'm about to start recording the guitar part."

"I see, and the drummer?"

"Ah, the drum part should be recorded first, but the drummer is in the UK. He's arranging his schedule, so just practice until then. There should be plenty of time."

"What about the drummer, can't we use Jose?"

Geon chuckled and shook his head. "He's my drummer, named Arthur Hodgson."

As soon as Geon mentioned "my drummer," Kevin and Shizuka simultaneously froze. Confused by their intense gaze, Geon asked, "What's wrong?"

Kevin, with a serious expression, set down his bass guitar and pointed at himself with his index finger.

"Me?"

Geon frowned. "You, what? You're Kevin."

"No, what about me?"

"What are you talking about?"

Shizuka joined in the confusion. "And what about me, Kay?"

"Huh? What are you talking about, both of you?"

"Am I not Kay's pianist?"

Geon finally realized what they were talking about and laughed. "Haha, that's right. Shizuka is obviously my pianist, of course!"

Shizuka blushed and giggled softly. Although her laughter was small, the joy seemed to spread across her face as she immersed herself in practice.

Watching this, Kevin, still covering his face with his hand, pressed on, and Geon shrugged helplessly with a smile. "Phew, wonder when we can find a bassist?"

Kevin's face fell, and as Shizuka covered her mouth to stifle her laughter, Geon patted Kevin on the shoulder and said, "Kevin Winston. My bassist. The only bassist in the world for me."

Kevin's spirits lifted, and with tears welling up from the disappointment, he asked, "Really?"

"Haha, of course! Really."

"Giggling, okay then! I'll burn it up with practice today!"

After patting Kevin's shoulder a few more times, Geon left to prepare for recording. Having arranged studio support with Sharon, he walked into the recording studio with a J-200 and froze as he opened the door.

"Hello?"

Expecting the studio to be empty, Geon was surprised to find it packed with professors from Juilliard. Sharon and John Corigliano, along with retired professor Price and the dean, along with professors from the piano and brass departments, were among over ten professors sitting on folding chairs and chatting.

"This is Studio S, right...?"

Geon double-checked the studio number on the door, wondering if he had come to the wrong place, when Professor Leontine Price spoke up from inside.

"Kay, you're in the right place."

"Ah, Professor! Long time no see."

"Hehe, yes. Come in."

John Corigliano got up, brought a chair across from the professors, and gestured for Geon to sit down, creating an awkward interview-like atmosphere. Geon stammered, "Um... what's going on?"

Sitting in the front row with Leontine Price, Sharon smiled and explained, "It seems everyone wanted to see Kay record his official album, and the dean came to check for credit recognition."

A large elderly man with white hair chuckled. "This is my third time seeing this."

Geon bowed politely and said, "Hello, Dean Christian Pulisic."

"Hehe, yes. Credit recognition is something the board will decide, so I came out to check personally. I hope I'm not causing any disturbance."

"Ah... I see. Well, today I'm just recording the guitar, so..."

"Hehe, that's fine. Just check that the work is progressing well."

"Ah, got it, Dean."

"Right, we'll consider ourselves not here. Go ahead and record."

Geon, internally screaming 'how can I ignore that?', reluctantly nodded, grabbed his guitar, and entered the recording studio.

Once the studio door closed, John Corigliano adjusted the control box so that the music being played inside could also be heard outside. Geon, facing away from the professors, frowned.

'I need to concentrate! Darn it!'

Eventually, he recorded only the basic structure and decided to re-record when he could focus better. However, it was neither blues nor rock music, and with the guitar playing a relatively minor role, Geon worried if he could gain recognition from the professors as he repeatedly tried to concentrate.

Finally, after a heavy sigh, Geon stood up, took several deep breaths, closed his eyes, and submerged himself in meditation, observed by Dean Christian Pulisic, who whispered to Professor Sharon, "It seems we're being a distraction, aren't we?"

Professor Sharon, smiling at Geon's meditative figure, replied, "Yes, of course. But he's not the kind of student to be overcome by this level of pressure, just watch."

"Ah, more than that, he's already gained a global reputation, so we don't necessarily need to interfere, just see the results," said the dean with a chuckle.

"Sure, just stay anyway."

Professor Leontine Price, smiling gently, added, "Kay is different from regular students. He will focus soon, just wait."

Dean Christian Pulisic, nodding without a word, chuckled, "The professors' confidence in him is impressive, considering Kay's level..."

As he spoke, the dean suddenly turned his head at the sound of clear guitar tones. With his back turned, Geon began to play.

Although they could only see his back, the dean, realizing Geon was focusing with his eyes closed, shut his mouth, and fixed his gaze on him, soon becoming absorbed in the reverberations of the music.

The sea.

Not a typical sea, but one so clear that the ocean floor was visible, with a white yacht floating on it.

Lying on a net hammock installed on the yacht, Geon whistled, enjoying the pleasant sea breeze wrapping around his body.

Even the slight movements of the calm sea felt good, and as he dove into the emerald waters, the clear visibility allowed him to see colorful seaweeds dancing with the waves and pretty small fish approaching to play.

Unable to open his eyes underwater, Geon found it strange that he could still see the beautiful underwater scene clearly when a dolphin with sparkling scales approached, gently biting his foot to invite him to play.

Without needing to catch his breath, Geon grabbed the dolphin's dorsal fin, and as it started swimming slowly, it suddenly sped up, jumping out of the water and sending him high into the sky where he cheered.

"Yay!!!"

Suddenly standing up and exclaiming in excitement, Dean Christian Pulisic came to his senses and, embarrassed, looked at the professors.

"Oh... sorry...?"

The professors, all with their eyes closed, were each imagining something, but seeing deep smiles on every professor's face, the startled dean looked inside the studio at Geon, who was just playing the guitar. As the dean of prestigious Juilliard, he had managed the institution in his late forties, witnessing countless prodigious musicians pass through, and had overseen countless performances. But he had never experienced anything like today and muttered in amazement.

"What kind of performance..."

Seeing the masterly figure of Geon from behind, Dean Christian Pulisic whispered again.

"This is the first time I've felt this from a student who hasn't even graduated... There was a reason the professors cherished him so much. It wasn't just because he was popular worldwide; they recognized the power of his music."

Feeling a renewed pride in his colleagues, Dean Christian Pulisic sat back down, closed his eyes, and surrendered to Geon's playing.

After about 30 minutes, when Geon finished recording and came out of the studio, about ten professors sitting at the control box all stood up and applauded.

"Bravo!!!"

"Outstanding performance, Kay!"

"I really want to play this for our students too!"

Geon, knowing he had delivered a satisfying performance, merely grinned and bowed in thanks.

"Thank you, professors."

John Corigliano, beaming with pride, continued applauding.

"I've never been prouder of our school than today, Kay, you are Juilliard's pride! Haha."

"You flatter me, Professor. I'll work even harder."

Laughter burst out in response to his humble reply.

"If you work any harder, the rest of us will split our pants, haha!!"

"Right!! Haha!!"

"It's not about teaching anymore; we should be learning. I'm embarrassed, but I guess we'll have to practice all day today, right, professors?"

"Haha, yes! Let's all go practice, haha!"

>

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