Devil’s Music

Grace, looking slightly sweaty from the difficulty of the discussion, said, "Can you explain it a bit more simply for our viewers, Norman?"

Norman, facing the camera directly, prompted the producer to zoom in on his face. As his intense gaze filled the screen, he smiled and said, "If the first Fury was about expressing anger towards one's parents, the second Fury is different."

Grace turned back to the lyrics and asked, "So, in the second Fury, the target of the anger is oneself?"

Norman chuckled, leaned back against the sofa, shrugged his shoulders, and replied, "What we're seeing here is nothing short of a genius at work. Kay has changed the method of expressing anger from resentment to pure expression in the second Fury. Resentment, which is the lowest form of anger expression, usually directs the anger towards others. At first glance, the lyrics seem to speak of self-directed anger, but everyone who listens will feel it. You'll understand what kind of emotions you'll experience after hearing this music."

Grace, tilting her head, said, "Hmm, that doesn't sound like a simple explanation. Can you explain what emotions the listeners are supposed to feel?"

Norman was about to say something more but instead smiled and stated, "I don't want to create any preconceptions with my words. It's better if the listeners experience it for themselves."

After the news ended, Channel 5's news center homepage was flooded with comments triggered by Norman's words.

PM 09:16 Dervalient: I think I get it! I haven't heard the official album yet since it's still up for pre-order, but after listening to Fury, the excitement settled, and then a refreshing feeling washed over me! What about you guys?

PM 09:18 TaylorMaid: I agree. It’s like clearing out a bowel that’s been blocked for three days, isn’t it?

PM 09:20 TomasC: That’s a rather crude analogy for Kay, but I get what you mean.

PM 09:22 Laddude: I'm an official album purchaser. Actually, I couldn't play Fury loudly at home when my parents were around because the lyrics were openly resentful of parents. But the live video called Second Fury was really amazing! My mom and I watched it on the tablet PC, and we both got goosebumps!

PM 09:27 LadyManifesto: Whatever it is, good or bad, I only see Kay. I've been cursed to only see Kay for years! Because of this, I can't even date. When I go on blind dates, the guys look like squid monsters to me.

PM 09:30 Grumpa81: Live stream starts in 30 minutes!! I've been holding my phone for an hour already; it feels like the longest hour of my life.

PM 09:55 Daghi: The live stream of Montana Live - Fury Liverpool Sound City starts in 5 minutes, but it's already uploaded! Let’s listen to it now!

All major streaming services struggled to manage the traffic as millions of fans logged in simultaneously. After several server checks and repeated apologies, they managed to resume normal service after 40 minutes. Fantagio, celebrating a festival atmosphere, reached number one in real-time on every major streaming site worldwide. Thanks to the time difference between the UK and China, their staff worked through the night and into the early morning, but the enormous revenue made it all worthwhile.

**

The next afternoon.

Although he had only performed one song the previous day, the tremendous energy expended meant Kevin slept through the afternoon. He woke up zombie-like, opened the curtains to the harsh sunlight, grimaced, and headed to the hotel restaurant for lunch. Wearing a stretched-out t-shirt, bobbled pants, and dragging his slippers, Kevin waited for the elevator. As he was about to step in, screams erupted from inside.

"Kyaaaah!!! It's Kevin!"

Stunned, he froze as two women inside screamed.

"Do you know me?"

"Of course! The bassist from Montana! It’s Kevin, please give us an autograph!"

The women opened their notepads for autographs, and Kevin absent-mindedly complied. He then saw his reflection in the elevator mirror and recoiled.

"Yikes! I can't go out like this! Sorry, please go ahead without me."

After stopping the closing door with his arm, Kevin rushed back to his room. He showered, applied wax to his hair, changed into a black rider jacket and new black jeans, switched his shoes for boots, styled himself, and then headed to the restaurant. As he entered, he received many stares.

‘Good thing I changed. It would have been so embarrassing otherwise.’

Choosing a buffet-style meal, Kevin felt awkward as people followed him around with their eyes, making him walk stiffly like a robot. Finally settling at a secluded window table, he picked up his fork when the clicking of cameras

started. People thrusting their phones forward to take pictures of him eating made it hard to tell whether food was going into his mouth or his nose, leaving him nearly dyspeptic. Then, a loud scream erupted at the restaurant entrance.

"Uaaaah!! It's Kay! Kay is here!!"

"Ah! Where, where!!"

"Kyah, he's really handsome! I might fall for him!"

"Kay! Look over here! Kay! Kay!"

Nonchalantly with his hands in his pants pockets, Geon looked around the restaurant and noticed the stunned Kevin staring at him. He waved and approached.

"Kevin, you up?"

As he walked over, still receiving shouts from people, Geon smiled and waved back, sitting down opposite Kevin.

"I just got up. You up early?"

"Uh? Uh... no, I just woke up too."

"That's good. Oh, is that an avocado sandwich? Where's it from?"

"This? You want some?"

"Sure, hand one over."

Kevin passed a sandwich to Geon, who stuffed it into his mouth. Despite the camera flashes still going off, Geon nonchalantly chewed, prompting Kevin to quietly ask.

"Doesn't this bother you at all?"

With his cheeks full, Geon raised his eyebrows as if asking what Kevin meant, then glanced around at the fans and poked the table with his fork.

"Look, dozens of people in this restaurant are staring at us! I can't even tell where my food is going, but you seem unaffected?"

Geon looked around briefly, and as he turned his head back to the people, another scream erupted. Yet, he continued chewing his sandwich and smirked.

"You're from Montana. You'll probably live like this for the rest of your life."

"Huh, for life?"

"Yep, for life. You'd better get used to it."

Kevin looked around with a forlorn expression.

"So I'm never going to be able to eat in peace for the rest of my life?"

"Ha, no. You'll get used to it soon enough. I was like you at first, but it quickly becomes normal. Of course, I wear a mask to avoid recognition sometimes, but if people recognize me, I just deal with it."

Kevin looked at Geon enviously as Geon picked another sandwich from his plate.

"What did you do yesterday?"

After the performance, Geon had gone straight to his hotel room without stepping outside, so he asked Kevin about his previous day.

"After the show, I went to scout the location with Hose."

"Which place was it again? Some park, you said."

"Yeah, Saint John Gardens. It's a lawn in front of a Gothic-style building that's the concert venue."

"Oh, that sounds cool. And?"

"That's it, really. Except mom called to say she watched the show and suggested we have a meal together when I return to the States."

Geon casually listened while eating his sandwich.

"And?"

Kevin leaned on his chin and stirred his salad with his fork, saying,

"It's weird... Normally, I wouldn't go to a family dinner. I don't mind seeing my brothers or mom, but I still feel uncomfortable around dad. But yesterday, I just answered 'Yes, okay.' without thinking. After hanging up, I wondered why I did that. The funny thing is, I didn't feel any aversion. It's been almost 10 years since I've had a proper meal with my dad. Isn't that strange?"

Geon, grinning broadly, watched Kevin, whose confusion seemed to amuse him even more.

"Whoa!! Maybe I'm the weird one!"

Kevin banged his head on the table, which deepened Geon's smile.

"Stop it. You'll bruise your forehead. We've got a show to do today."

When the topic of the performance came up, Kevin quickly checked his forehead through his phone camera. Seeing only a slight redness and no bruises, he sighed in relief. Geon then stood up and asked.

"Going in?"

"Yeah, the show's at 7, right? What time are we leaving?"

"It's nearby, so leaving around 6:20 should be fine. Let's meet in the lobby at 6:15."

"Okay, see you later."

"And until then?"

Geon smiled and pulled out his phone, spinning it in his palm.

"I might call home for the first time in a while."

>

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