The Devil lives in the Music of Top Star

**Chapter 5**

[Hey, sorry. Looks like we need to wait a bit longer.]

‘Yeah, got it. It’s really gonna happen, right?’

The day before the audition for the inauguration ceremony.

Just like in the lecture, the demon and I were still struggling. The power the demon promised to give me had yet to manifest. Although I had begun to trust the demon to some extent, I couldn’t help but feel anxious. The audition was tomorrow, after all.

[I understand. It’s nerve-wracking, but hang in there. We’re almost there.]

‘How much longer, percentage-wise?’

[97.2 percent.]

Hearing a specific number put me at ease. While I didn’t know how long it would take to reach the remaining 2.8%, I was sure it wouldn’t be long.

“All right, everyone, great job today. The inauguration ceremony is coming up soon, right?”

“Yes!”

As today’s final lecture ends.

“We’ll have a lot of fun and drinking at the ceremony, so I’ll give you your assignments in advance.”

“Aww…”

“Ugh…”

The mere mention of ‘assignments’ elicited groans from all corners of the room.

[Hah… hey, professor, we don’t just take your class…]

‘Hey, show some respect to the professor.’

[I’m older than that bald guy.]

‘Oh, right. So are you bald too?’

[Are you crazy?]

Tears welled up in my eyes for some reason.

[Heh heh… let’s go home. You’ve got a lot of practicing to do today.]

‘Yeah…’

The demon sure had a knack for getting under my skin. 

No one really needed to tell me that. Who wouldn’t know that?

* * *

That evening.

At a pub in Sinchon, the Yeseong University Korean Language and Literature Department’s sophomore gathering was in full swing.

“But is that guy not coming?”

“Yeah, he said he’s busy today.”

“Doesn’t seem like he’d have anything to be busy with…”

Perhaps the snacks on the table had gone cold, but the conversation had shifted to making fun of Yoo Jaehee.

“He doesn’t seem to have friends. What could he be busy with?”

“Who knows? Maybe he has friends outside of school.”

“Didn’t he do something before he returned to school?”

“What did he do?”

“I don’t know.”

“He looks like a total outsider.”

“Haha! Yeah, right? He has a sharp look, but that’s about it!”

“But he’s good-looking, right?”

“Hmm, not sure.”

“Isn’t he a senior, same year as Jongpil? He’s a ’13 freshman, right?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Right, ’13 freshman… man, that’s so long ago. Being a sophomore now, his life must be a mess.”

“Poor guy…”

“Still, he did something before, so he’s not totally messed up.”

“He’s still a student, though.”

“That’s true.”

Conversations about Yoo Jaehee, which no one knew where they started, spread to everyone at the table. He was deemed gloomy, and lacking social skills, and while there were some positive remarks about his looks but they didn’t last long.

“Having fun?”

“Oh! Hey, Oppa!”

“Ah, Hyung! You’re here!”

Kim Jongpil joined the group. He glanced around at everyone seated.

“Where’s Jaehee?”

“Oh, he said he’s busy today.”

“Ah… I see…”

“Oppa, are you close with Jaehee?”

“Not really… we’re just classmates.”

The tone in Kim Jongpil’s response. That one word sealed Jaehee’s evaluation among the sophomores. “Try to be friendly with him. I’ll arrange something with Jaehee later.”

“Okay.”

Though they reluctantly agreed to the assistant’s suggestion, no one believed or wanted that gathering to happen. At least not until now…

* * *

Not always, but often, people who don’t blend well socially fall into two categories. The first is the typical outsider. The second is the loner who enjoys solitude.

Of course, these are just labels decided by others’ perceptions. And right now, I’m clearly in the former category.

[That’s why they didn’t push twice.]

“Alright, alright!”

[Once we succeed in this, your position will completely change.]

I shook my head.

“I don’t really want that.”

[Why not? Isn’t it nice to get a lot of attention? Is money not your top priority?]

“Being short on money is temporary. My goal is to join Groovy Nation, not to gain attention from classmates.”

[Isn’t it better than being the school’s official tone-deaf student?]

That’s not wrong, but it’s not what I want.

“That’s true, but small attention like that doesn’t interest me.”

[Such grand ambitions.]

“Well, I made a pact with a demon. Might as well aim high.”

[You were always like this, right?]

“Yeah.”

It was late at night, so I couldn’t blast music and practice. I put on my headphones and played the premier track “Word” that I had arranged a few days ago.

“Hmm~ hmmm~.”

I hummed the song while playing the piano. The piece playing through my headphones sounded phenomenal even to me. This song was 20% of the demon’s idea, 80% of mine. The demon’s 20% was to add performance elements to what could otherwise be a bland stage.

Originally, the piano line in the backing track was replaced with a live performance. Maybe it was because the song was so good, but playing the piano felt easier than usual. Every touch of the keys was perfect. I usually didn’t like singing because I wasn’t good at it, but at that moment, even humming the melody felt blissful.

“Great, it’s perfect.”

[Better than expected.]

“Really?”

[Yeah, well… not a flawless performance by my standards, but it’s still excellent.]

Usually, the demon loved to tease and hurt with words, but he was always honest when it came to music.

[Let’s do well tomorrow. It’ll be the first time we show our work to someone else.]

“Yeah, thanks.”

The moment was approaching when I’d take my first step, not as an outsider, but as a mysterious loner who enjoys solitude. But that’s just a secondary goal. The first grand step toward becoming a great artist was imminent.

* * *

[Couldn’t you have dressed a bit nicer…?]

‘It’s just an audition.’

[Sigh…]

‘Besides, if I had worried about dressing up, I’d have been late.’

[Seriously…]

‘And isn’t a sweatshirt and jeans fine?’

[The problem is that it’s just fine. You need to stand out!]

‘Next time, next time.’

[Alright…]

Even though it was just an audition, the demon insisted I should have paid attention to my outfit and hair. Of course, I didn’t disagree, but having practiced late into the night, I barely had time to get up and get ready.

‘I’ll dress nicely for the main performance.’

[Yeah, today just focus on showing your music.]

Seeing this made me realize that while the demon could grant me abilities and converse with me, he couldn’t control my actions.

After all the classes were over, I headed to the auditorium for the audition that started at 6 PM.

There were quite a few people entering through the entrance in the distance.

They were probably participants.

[Oh, there are quite a few competitors.]

‘Yeah….’

I started feeling somewhat intimidated.

The reason wasn’t just the number of participants.

[You should’ve listened to me.]

‘I should’ve….’

The crowd, presumably other participants, was all stylishly dressed.

Some looked like celebrities, while others were dressed in eccentric outfits that screamed attention-seekers.

[That’s a bit much, right?]

‘Yeah, but it’s cool.’

[That?]

‘Their confidence. I could never do that.’

[You might think so now.]

‘What are you talking about?’

[Nothing, let’s go in. You have an audition to attend.]

So, I forced myself to straighten my shrinking shoulders and entered the auditorium.

* * *

The participants inside the auditorium were briefed on how the audition would proceed.

The procedure was simple.

Receive a number, wait, and perform when it’s your turn.

The procedure was simple, but the competition was expected to be fierce.

Only four teams would pass the audition.

Meanwhile, there were 39 teams in total.

With only about 10 percent passing, my turn was number 16.

Along with the other participants, I gathered in the waiting room next to the auditorium.

Since the space was small, the first 20 teams occupied the waiting room, while the remaining 19 teams spent time outside, planning to come back in two hours.

‘I’m more nervous than I thought.’

[You’ve only produced songs before, never performed on stage.]

‘No, just shut up…’

[Hahaha…]

Somehow, the demon’s joke eased my nerves a bit.

Ignoring the demon’s nonsense, I scanned my surroundings.

There were people playing guitar, practicing their dance moves, and others memorizing lyrics with earphones on.

Meanwhile, some were relaxedly browsing social media and laughing.

‘Wait a minute… I have to sing…’

Seeing the person memorizing lyrics with earphones reminded me that the demon hadn’t given me the ability yet…

‘Hey, you haven’t given me the ability yet.’

[Soon. Just wait.]

Suddenly, my heart started racing.

‘Are you sure it will work…?’

[Yeah, at this rate, it should happen when the person before you starts their audition.]

I couldn’t relax yet.

Performing in front of so many people was a first… let’s just say it was my first time.

Even if I received the ability, I wasn’t used to singing, so anything could happen.

But I decided to trust the demon’s words.

Since I was already here, I wanted to give it a shot.

Just like how perfect pitch made song production easier, something good might happen.

And if the ability was delayed, I planned to sing to the best of my ability, even if I was lacking.

The initial range of the song wasn’t too high, so I thought I could manage somehow.

Of course, if I ended up embarrassed again…

I’d deal with it when the time came.

Anyway, I felt that no matter what happened, it would be better than this.

At that moment, the music outside the waiting room stopped.

[Looks like number 14 is finished.]

‘Yeah, next, next is me.’

And then, a thunderous announcement came.

-Click.

“Next, number 16, Yoo Jaehee, please come out.”

“…Yes, that’s me. Isn’t it number 15’s turn?”

“Number 15 dropped out. Please get ready quickly.”

“Oh…”

* * *

On the stage of the auditorium.

Several judges were looking at me.

‘What should I do…?’

I was understandably anxious since the ability hadn’t manifested yet.

They looked tired from the long judging process.

One of them had an especially aggressive gaze.

It was clearly a sharp look directed at me.

I couldn’t tell if it was my imagination, but now wasn’t the time to think about that.

[Hey, try to buy some time.]

‘How am I supposed to buy time here?’

[Just do it! It’s almost time!]

‘You’re driving me crazy…’

Fortunately, setting up the electric piano gave me a brief moment.

But it wouldn’t take long to set up just the keyboard, chair, and microphone.

After the setup was complete.

“Okay, contestant number 16, Yoo Jaehee, please begin.”

“Yes…”

The arranged version of Premier League’s “Word” I had submitted started playing.

As soon as the intro began, I brought the microphone to my mouth.

What came out wasn’t a song, but…

“Uh, excuse me! Just a moment!”

The judges gestured to stop the music.

“What’s the matter?”

“I need to check the keyboard.”

“Oh, go ahead.”

I slowly pressed the keys from the low to the high range, under the guise of checking for faulty keys, stretching my hands, or… stalling for time.

“Phew…”

“Are you done?”

“Yes…”

‘Hey, come out. I really need you now.’

[…….]

‘Are you there?’

[…….]

Despite the urgent situation, the demon was nowhere to be found.

‘Where did you go…?’

I was screwed.

“I’ll start the MR.”

“Yes…”

I couldn’t think of any more ways to buy time.

The intro flowed from the speakers.

I placed my hands on the keyboard, planning to just play the accompaniment.

My hands trembled, but I tried to stay calm and started playing.

The blend of MR and my playing was perfect.

The judges seemed curious as their expressions turned.

‘Phew…’

Though I wanted to run away, I decided to trust the demon and brought the microphone to my mouth to sing the first verse.

Rough breathing.

My vocal line was filled with mid-range notes.

As soon as I sang the first part of the verse, I made eye contact with one of the judges.

His eyes seemed to ask me a question I couldn’t decipher.

Though I couldn’t understand, it felt like he was saying something negative.

Because of the incident at the launch ceremony six years ago, I lacked confidence in my singing.

Maybe that’s why I felt like everything was going wrong.

I didn’t know what the judges were thinking, but one thing was certain: I felt defeated.

‘Ah… Is this a failure…’

Just then.

A sensation of warmth in my throat.

It spread quickly to my chest, stomach, and head.

[Ready now.]

‘Hey… Where did you go…’

[Sorry, I was focusing.]

‘…….’

[Shall we begin?]

I nodded confidently.

‘Alright.’