For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Read it only at Utoon.net!
Discord         

Gulp―!

Ria’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily. Though her eyes were bloodshot, her gaze never left the VCR. She’d been sitting in the editing room for hours, day turning to night. Documentaries by nature require separating scenes to edit from scenes to highlight. However.

“It’s just too interesting.”

That was the problem. The days at the Chapel were filmed using observation cameras. In the past, there was nothing worth capturing. Since sensitive musicians gathered there, far from interacting with each other, the cameras only caught them playing violin day and night. But this batch was different.

“Jjim, Jjimdak?”

Wasn’t it like watching a teen drama? Of course, Kang Hyun was undoubtedly at the center of that drama. A child from the East. Despite his small frame, he had a charisma that captivated everyone. He was as charming as when he played the violin. Especially in the scene where he comforted the crying William, it was hard to tell who was the older or younger brother.

Also, Anna from Russia followed Kang Hyun well. Like treating an older brother. Somehow that sight was captivating.

‘The director was right!’

Experience wasn’t for nothing. There was a reason they picked an unknown young child among countless rising stars. As one master said, not only would the music world be stirred when the second round video is released, but when the days at the Chapel are shown, there would be immense interest in Hyun. That’s when.

Suddenly, Ria’s eyes widened.

Something amazing happened in the scene where Hyun was correcting the violinists’ postures. After their postures changed, the tone in their immediate performances changed subtly. The other rising stars rushed to ask for help after witnessing this magical sequence of events.

“Huh.”

A scene so surprising that even exclamations couldn’t emerge. These were people with strong musical pride. Moreover, weren’t they competitors facing a competition? Yet now, everyone seemed united in spirit. Through Hyun.

Gulp.

That child, what exactly was his identity?

*

“How did you know?”

How should I answer?

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.

A symphony I often listened to in my past life, but I had never memorized or even seen the full score. An orchestra with string section V and full orchestration. Would you believe it? That a momentary disharmony among these countless harmonies caught my ear? When I hesitated to answer, Eden instead showed a bright smile.

“Come down, you need to greet the members?”

I hurried down the stairs with my short legs.

“Are you really 14 years old?”

It wasn’t a lie since I was 14 in Korean age. The orchestra members all looked at me with curious eyes. They probably never imagined someone as young as me would make the final list. Moreover, hadn’t I just shown an unbelievable sight?

“Hyun, is this your first time performing with an orchestra?”

“Yes, Maestro.”

Eden looked at me with a peculiar gaze.

“Rather than hearing theory, it would be better to experience it firsthand, right? Feel free to tell me any musical expression or conducting flow you want during practice.”

When I picked up Fantasy, exclamations burst out from everywhere. Even Eden’s eyes showed that ripple. Suddenly, the red curtains fluttered in the moonlight.

Performing with the orchestra was like a continuous dream. It felt like a grand stream of water was moving toward me. Barely getting over the surprise of experiencing such majestic melody for the first time, my bow and strings kept meeting without rest.

“How fascinating, you really resemble someone I know.”

Eden looked at me as if reminiscing about the past.

“What parts would you like to modify?”

They were all exceptionally skilled members. But collaboration was different. The violinist’s interpretation of the score could differ from their thoughts. Eden treated me comfortably to ensure I wouldn’t feel pressured. Naturally, like dealing with a beloved grandson. I immediately accepted the red pen and full score from Eden. Then, without hesitation, I suggested modifications to the string section V with the red pen.

*

‘How fascinating, really.’

He never imagined that the one who solved the riddle after decades would be so young. Usually, people were busy listing subjective impressions instead of correct answers. And what about his playing ability? Throughout the conducting, he couldn’t take his eyes off him. It had been a long time since he felt this way.

“Here it is, Maestro.”

The modified score made Eden doubt his eyes. Because he had found every problem point that Eden himself had felt. It wasn’t that the members’ pitch was wrong. It was just the difference in interpretation between the orchestra and violinist. How could someone so young immediately notice such things?

“Hyun, you’re truly gifted.”

Even with conducting talent.

His humble gesture of slightly bowing his head while denying it made his age questionable. What master was crouching inside that child’s body? He even wondered if the rumor circulating in Brussels might be true.

That Mozart had been reborn.

* * *

“How does it feel when a solo concert ends?”

A complex question.

“Should I say it feels like candy melting away in your mouth?”

Though she had been playing violin for decades, this feeling after a solo concert remained unchanged from then to now. Rather, its intensity seemed to deepen with time. She didn’t know why this heart pursuing endless melodies grew hotter with age. Perhaps it was because of meeting that child.

“Ms. Hirose, there are rumors that someone with your letter of recommendation is in Brussels. Is this true?”

Hirose nodded briefly without hesitation. At this, Tanaka swallowed hard. This hadn’t come up during their previous interview about Brussels.

“Do you know that person made it to the final list?”

Hirose indicated affirmation through silence.

“And do you know they possess the Stradivarius ‘Fantasy’?”

At the mention of Fantasy, Hirose’s expression changed. Her calm eyes wavered, showing considerable surprise. But soon a faint smile settled on her lips. Stradivari was a violin with a soul, finding its true owner after traveling a long path connected by red thread.

“Ms. Hirose, you said you’ll take a sabbatical after this concert, what’s the first thing you plan to do?”

“First, I plan to take an evening flight to Belgium.”

At the mention of Belgium, Tanaka’s eyes widened. The reason for her visit to Belgium was contextually very clear. It was time to verify whether the rumors circulating in the classical music world were true. Tanaka deliberately paused before speaking.

“Ms. Hirose, could that person in Queen Elizabeth be your student?”

Had the Queen of Violin ever taught anyone before? That’s why this recommendation letter became such a topic. Moreover, now she’s heading to Belgium herself? Queen Elizabeth’s final competition is famous for being open to outsiders.

At that moment, Hirose’s white hair rippled.

“Friend.”

A short word implying much meaning.

*

Eight days is not a long time.

Especially for those pursuing endless melodies, it must have felt like a fleeting moment. As the final day approached, I realized I had become quite close with everyone. Rather than preparing for a competition, everyone was busy helping each other as if preparing for a grand finale. Of course, I was the busiest among them.

“Let’s eat dinner right away!”

Eric, resembling a Viking, shouted heartily. It seemed he was in charge of tonight’s dinner. Probably salmon or pickled herring would be served again. These were the inevitable menu items when Eric was on cooking duty. Joseph’s claim that Eric must have been a bear in a past life seemed increasingly credible.

“Oh? What’s this?”

It was a dark, deep stew.

“Well, I tried to recreate the Jjimdak that Hyun made.”

The recipe he had copied earlier looked somewhat similar. Except the potatoes, carrots, and chicken were chopped as large as Eric’s body. He was even cutting the chicken with a knife. The taste was quite good, actually. Is it true that people with big hands are good at cooking?

“Anna, why do you look so sad?”

At Daniel’s question.

“I got scolded by the Maestro. I made a mistake because I was nervous.”

Anna answered with her characteristic whimpering expression. Was Eden really someone who scolded people? He always seemed to have a smiling face.

“Maestro Simeon is famous for being strict. In his younger days, he was even called the ‘Red-Haired Witch’. Even I get nervous performing violin in front of the Maestro.”

The Maestro seemed stricter than expected. Even William and Zhang Yan agreed. I looked at Anna’s dejected face.

“Anna, don’t worry too much. You’ll do well.”

“Th-thank you, Hyun.”

Anna nodded with a determined expression. Eric, who was tearing into a whole chicken leg, added:

“I can’t tell who’s the older or younger sibling here.”

After the warm dinner, everyone headed to the practice room to play violin. With the final competition now imminent, they were all dedicating every moment, even reducing sleep, to practice. Thanks to this, melodies never ceased at the Chapel day or night.

A full moon appears.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

The sound of leaves interlocking and falling pierced my ears.

A cool autumn breeze brushed my cheeks. At times like this, it seemed a waste to be stuck in the practice room playing violin. In front of the Chapel was a large garden, with bushes emitting a mysterious energy under the soft moonlight. I carefully took out my violin.

Under the fluttering full moon,

Zing.

A fantastical melody rang out. Sometimes the bow and strings continuously touched, boasting of fast passages and brilliant techniques, and then suddenly showed a melody as languid and slow as a puppy’s breath. With wind and insect sounds as accompaniment.

Zing―!

As I pressed the strings strongly with the bow, a cheerful high note made fish leap from the pond. Now I understood why the Chapel was called the sanctuary of violinists. I could focus solely on melody as if returning to an ancient time with nothing else. How much time had passed? Dawn was gradually breaking. I was wet as if caught in a heavy rain. My arms hurt? Compared to the happiness I was feeling now, that was nothing.

That moment.

In the burning dawn.

Tap―!

A clear footstep sound was heard.

Thump, thump, thump.

A sharp horn suddenly appeared through the misty fog. The bushes swaying in the breeze simultaneously stopped, and slowly its form was revealed. It was a white deer. But its miraculous halo was so divine that I wondered if I was dreaming. In the burning dawn, the pure white deer approached me to within a step. Its eyes emitted an indescribable energy, as if capturing nature itself.

In that moment when my heart was beating madly.

“Hyun, have you been playing violin outside all this time?”

A voice came from behind. Turning my head, I saw Anna standing there. Her face clearly showed worry. Probably because I had been playing violin outside all night. But what was this deer?

Huh?

When I turned my head back, the pure white deer from before was gone. Only fish were swimming leisurely in the pond below. The bushes were swaying again as if nothing had happened. On the last day at the Chapel, I encountered another fantasy. Like a mirage in a fleeting moment.