Chapter 63: Welcome to the Kindergarten of Destruction! (63)/ 787 |
TL: Hanguk
PR: MiniPixelZ
“Dingiri. Ding ding~ daeng daeng giri~”
Sejun hummed a melody with his mouth, creating it for the song project with Paespaes later that night.
At that moment
Shoo shoo shook.
Something yellow flew rapidly toward Sejun from afar.
What is that?!
“Bunker!”
At that moment
Boom!
Something hit the Bunker.
“Meow?! Great Hybrid Chairman Park, what’s going on, meow?!”
Theo, who had somehow ended up clinging to Sejun’s knee, asked. Sensing Sejun’s crisis, he had immediately rushed over using Light Speed Meow-Step.
But why is the Bunker still intact?
It’s sealed off on all sides, so how did he get in?
As Sejun wondered about the intact shelter even after Theo entered,
Shoop.
“Kyoo-kyoo- Sejun-nim, what happened?”
Iona also appeared inside the shelter, having used teleportation magic.
Kueng!
Boom! Kwa-kwang!
Apparently Cuengi had flown in too, as his cries and explosions could be heard outside.
Looks like it’s safe to go out now.
Feeling reassured once his party had arrived, Sejun said,
“Deactivate.”
He deactivated the Bunker and stepped outside.
“Please spare me! I just heard a loud noise…”
In Cuengi’s hand was a yellow oriole caught in his grip.
As Sejun appeared,
This is all your fault!
The oriole glared at Sejun with eyes full of resentment.
Kueng! Kueng!
[You shouldn’t look at Dad like that! You’ll get punished!]
Thump.
He was struck by Cuengi and knocked unconscious.
“Puhuhut.”
Press.
Theo naturally stamped its forehead.
Kihihit. Kking!
[Hehe. It’s time for Great Blackie’s mental education!]
Blackie, who had woken up at some point, naturally headbutted the oriole as well.
An efficient division-of-labor system by the Park Triplets: Theo, Cuengi, and Blackie.
“Blackie oppa, Taecho too!”
Taecho followed Blackie, lifting the unconscious oriole and bonking its head.
Thud.
They moved to the mental world.
A short while later.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been sensitive lately, and when I heard Sejun-nim’s song… Ah. I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Kwerolloe, hero of <Shyongk> and member of the Yellow Oriole Tribe.”
Having completed Blackie’s mental education, the oriole Kwerolloe bowed his head and apologized to Sejun, then introduced himself.
“I see. If you don’t know music, it happens.”
“No…! No, Sejun-nim, you’re absolutely right. It’s because I don’t understand music….”
Sejun-nim understands music?!
Kwerolloe wanted to challenge him immediately, but held it in due to Blackie watching nearby. He didn’t want to meet Blackie’s terrifying mental form again.
At that moment
Bbookjjeokppik!
Bbucheepba!
A bizarre sound rang from a distance.
“What’s that sound?”
“It’s the Dissonance Giant! That’s the sound! That’s what’s been making me so sensitive! Because of that, the mating success rate of the orioles has dropped significantly, and baby birds aren’t being born!”
Kwerolloe shouted in an agitated voice.
“The Dissonance Giant.”
Found it.
He felt it instantly.
[A quest has occurred.]
…
..
.
At the same time, [System Eok-Samchiri] issued a quest to Sejun, confirming his thoughts.
The quest content was just as Kwerolloe said: due to the noise caused by the Child of Destruction, the number of living creatures in <Shyongk> was decreasing, leading to extinction.
“Vice Chairman Theo, go with Iona and catch it.”
Sejun sent Theo and Iona in the direction of the noise.
“When you come back, teleport the kid first and then go buy some ice cream bars.”
“Meow?”
“Don’t just come back, do a few pulls on the gacha machine too.”
“Puhuhut. Got it, meow! With great Hybrid Chairman Park’s trust, I’ll use my golden front paw to pull something good, meow!”
“Good. Don’t rush, take your time and look around.”
Thank you, Sejun-nim.
Iona gave Sejun a thankful look for giving them some time alone.
Sejun had told Theo to do gacha not because he expected anything, but to give Iona and Theo time to date. Wandering around doing gacha would make that happen naturally.
Of course, it’s not like he had zero expectations. If it’s Theo, he might pull something good.
Have a nice date with Theo.
While Sejun flashed a sly smile at Iona,
“Puhuhut. I don’t want to, meow! I, Vice Chairman Theo, am competent, so I’ll find something good and return quickly, meow!”
Theo wrapped Iona in his tail and vanished in an instant.
“But what does noise have to do with mating success rate?”
Sejun, bored of just waiting, asked Kwerolloe a question.
“Ah. The male orioles sing beautiful songs to court mates, but the Dissonance Giant’s noise ruins their songs.”
Apparently, the Dissonance Giant usually stayed quiet but would make noise only when the orioles were singing, as if trying to sabotage their courtship. The stress on the male orioles was said to be tremendous.
So when Sejun had started singing, Kwerolloe, who had been in the middle of courting, got angry and flew over.
“But if you’re courting… Kwerolloe, are you single?”
“Yes.”
“Hehehe. Perfect. I’ll coach you in romance.”
“Huh? No thanks, I’m fine.”
Kwerolloe tried to decline.
However,
Keureurung.
[Grrr.]
You’re ignoring great Blackie’s butler?!
“Ah. On second thought, I do need a coach.”
As Blackie bared his teeth and growled beside him, Kwerolloe quickly changed his mind.
“Hehehe. Don’t worry. I’ve matched six couples so far.”
Though Sejun was unaware of the current situation with Gongdori and Gongsuni, he was confident they had become a couple.
“Listen carefully. First, give them something to eat….”
And thus began Sejun’s romance coaching, though popular only with non-humans and those of other races.
***
Forest of Creation.
“You cannot take the fourth trial yet. It’s currently being prepared. So wait.”
The original content of the fourth trial was to restore the five Great Wastelands, but since Flamie had already turned them into lands overflowing with life, the trial was now irrelevant.
Since they couldn’t just create more wastelands by force, a new substitute trial was needed.
[What?!]
Flamie was flustered by the words of the Statue of Trials.
Yes! I’m saved!
Podori cheered internally.
But then.
[Statue of Trials, how about this idea?]
“You have a good one?”
[Yes. Saving worlds suffering from remnants of destruction!]
“Oh! That’s a great idea. Hmm. If it’s remnants of destruction… gathering 10 would be about as hard as restoring 5 wastelands.”
Thanks to Flamie’s suggestion, the fourth trial was formulated.
[Then please start the trial quickly!]
Flamie hurried the Statue of Trials along.
No!
Podori screamed in despair.
“Very well. But this trial must be completed alone, without anyone’s help.”
Still, there was a sliver of hope.
Doing the trial alone without Flamie’s help naturally meant Podori’s progress would be slower, giving him time to rest and slack off along the way.
[That’s too bad. I understand.]
“Good. Then let’s begin the fourth trial. Save ten worlds suffering from the remnants of destruction without anyone’s help.”
The Statue of Trials issued the fourth challenge for becoming a Tree of Creation.
[Podori, what are you doing? Hurry up and go!]
[Yes, ma’am!]
Urged by Flamie, Podori quickly extended his roots into the Sea of Dimensions in search of worlds contaminated by remnants of destruction.
Not here…
Not here either.
Podori leisurely traced the surfaces of worlds with his roots, searching for one affected by destruction.
However.
[Podori, are you slacking off right now?! Your roots are just lazing around! If you don’t need them, should I just burn them?!]
[No, ma’am!]
[Why aren’t you checking that world over there?!]
[I don’t have enough roots…]
[Then grow some lateral roots!]
[Yes, ma’am!]
[Seriously? How can a candidate for Tree of Creation only grow five lateral roots at a time?! You should be making at least ten at once!]
[I-I’ll try my best!]
Flamie began pressuring Podori from the side. Though she wasn’t allowed to help, there was no rule against nagging.
Sigh. Maybe becoming a Tree of Creation quickly would be better.
Podori suddenly felt that it might be best to finish the trial fast and escape this nagging hell.
***
A recording studio at CK Entertainment.
“Hm hm hm.”
Jo Kyung-su of the A&R Team 2 came back from lunch at the company cafeteria.
And then.
Thud.
He flopped down on the sofa and giggled for a long while as he stared at his smartphone.
Though lunch break had long ended, Jo Kyung-su showed no sign of wanting to work.
In truth, he had been completely isolated from A&R Team 2 under the excuse of “equipment inspection day”.
37.150.24.137
Despite having zero composing ability, Jo Kyung-su had repeatedly badmouthed other people’s work, nearly starting several fights with his teammates.
From the team leader’s perspective, he wanted to kick Jo Kyung-su out since he was no help to the team, but Jo Kyung-su was a parachute hire placed by one of the real power players at CK Entertainment.
So they couldn’t fire him, and instead made sure he didn’t interact with the other team members in this way.
At that moment,
Ding.
A company messenger notification sounded from his laptop.
“Ugh. What is it? They don’t even let me have my fun time….”
Grumbling, Jo Kyung-su sluggishly got up and sat in front of his laptop.
Then,
“Ugh. Nothing to watch.”
It was only after about 30 minutes of watching YouTube that he finally checked the message.
-From sjbb_music keeps sending demo songs to the company’s official account, so I’m forwarding them to you.
-1.mp3
…
..
.
-5.mp3
“Pffft. Seriously? Who the hell sends demo tracks through the official company DM in this day and age?”
Jo Kyung-su had no intention of listening to the demo tracks.
This was the same for most A&R employees. Demos sent like this were almost never reviewed seriously.
Most people who send tracks this way are beginner composers. A&R teams already had to focus on listening to dozens of songs a day from top-tier composers, they had no time or room to spare for beginner demos.
However,
“Not like I’ve got anything else to do. Maybe I’ll give it a shot?”
With nothing to do, Jo Kyung-su played the first file.
Let’s see just how bad it is.
He planned to tear it apart and boost his self-esteem by mocking the poor quality.
Jingle. Jingle.
As the music started, a strange and unexpected bell sound played.
Huh?
The bell sound snapped Jo Kyung-su out of his drowsiness and sharpened his attention.
Tung tung. Clap. Clap. Tong tong. Clap- clap-
Then came two kinds of drum beats, light and heavy, along with claps.
(Have you had a hard day again today?)
A clear, pure voice flowed out.
Jo Kyung-su, captivated by the song’s charm, nodded unconsciously. He was drawn in, immersed in the music without realizing it.
After a while.
Once the song ended.
“This is insane.”
The accompaniment was nothing more than two drums and claps, yet the melody and vocal expression were overwhelming.
Jo Kyung-su proceeded to listen to the remaining four songs.
This is it!
He was certain. These songs were guaranteed to blow up.
“Where did this come from? sjbb_music?”
He hurried to check the DM sender.
“What… there’s nothing here.”
The Instagram account had no bio, no pictures, and nothing came up even after searching online.
“Looks like there’s nothing special here.”
Should be safe to steal.
After confirming that sjbb_music was an unknown, small-time company, Jo Kyung-su smirked wickedly.
There might be accusations of plagiarism later, but by then, the song would already be a hit. The company would have no choice but to respond, and it would be hard for a poor composer to win against a massive agency.
Plus, lawsuits take a lot of time and money.
When they get exhausted from the legal battle, I’ll go over, throw some cash, and buy the rights, then they’ll probably say ‘thank you’ for it.
Jo Kyung-su planned to swallow up sjbb_music and use them like a song vending machine.
He launched his music software for the first time in a while and began rearranging the songs he had just heard. Though he called it arranging, it was little more than adding a few instruments.
Since the original accompaniments were so minimal, even those minor additions significantly boosted the songs’ polish.
Once he finished the arrangements,
“Time to put all those jerks who’ve looked down on me in their place.”
-Just whipped these up out of boredom. What do you think?
Jo Kyung-su uploaded all five files to the group chat shared by all A&R staff, pretending he had made them himself.
He had just dared to claim ownership of songs composed by Sejun and his party.
His time to meet the devils was drawing near.