Devil’s Music

Two hours later, the ship arrived at the waters in front of Manjaedo.

As the port at Manjaedo was narrow, restricting entry for medium-sized and larger vessels, the group switched to a small fishing boat to approach the island after a short sail. Finally, they set foot on land.

Manjaedo was a truly tiny island. It wasn't something seen from afar but a serene place where colorful houses with small, bright roofs gathered together behind the serene mountains, visible from the nearby sea as they transferred onto the fishing boat.

Listening to Geon's song, everyone had a cheerful expression, whether it was due to the joy of setting foot on land or the resonance of Geon's song. Yeongseok greeted the islanders who came to see the port and quickly gave instructions.

"Actors, wait here for a moment. Leave the luggage here by the carrier and take a rest. AD! Go home and check if Sang-gil's team has set up the cameras and audio properly. VJs, stick with your assigned actors; we'll be rolling cameras for the next 24 hours continuously. No breaks. Also, keep an eye on the fixed cameras at night."

Shortly after, when the AD's radio crackled with a response, Yeongseok spoke again.

"We're about to start filming the island's arrival scene now. Hey, Haejin, give a round of applause as a substitute for the slate."

With an amused grin, Haejin clapped, and the actors, carrying their belongings, greeted the villagers before heading towards their houses.

The houses with blue roofs were nestled in narrow alleys, requiring a slight turn to allow a single bicycle to pass. Despite this, they were lovely, snug homes where one could sit on the front porch and have a clear view of the sea. Geon, entering a small room to unpack, discovered a small puppy and a cat. Forgetting about unpacking, he happily played with them for a while.

Seeing Geon's playful interaction, the youngest writer of the standby team already present on the island, Sanche, raised an eyebrow.

"Huh? Sanche, that doggie is a real people-lover, but what's up with that reserved cat? Why's she showing such affection only to Geon? That's odd, isn't it? Oh my, look at that."

The cat named Star, joined them, lying on the floor, playfully batting at Geon's hand. Star's actions went beyond mere playing; they carried the significance of complete submission.

Cats, initially wild in Africa, gradually established a symbiotic relationship with humans in civilizations where their prey, mice, flourished. Dating back to 4,000 to 5,000 years in Egyptian tombs, cats were revered as beings transcending the boundary between humans and the underworld.

Though Star was just a kitten, she instinctively sensed an unprecedented power from Geon and expressed the ultimate display of submission to him. Feeling a momentary fear of the immense power he could sense, Geon smiled and reciprocated Star's affection, understanding his status as the youngest in the group, swiftly changing into training clothes before stepping outside. Outdoors, Seungwon checked each pot, while Haejin inspected the stack of firewood. Chunho sat on a bench, contemplating their next move.

Approaching Seungwon, Geon asked, "Seungwon senior, how can I help?"

Seungwon, inspecting the pots, replied, "No, no. There's nothing to help with for now. Later, I heard Haejin will go fishing, so accompany her. I don't want to get scolded for giving you hard tasks. Besides, I'm heading to China next month; I need to return alive."

Geon, scratching his head, helped Haejin with firewood and lighting the fire. He assisted Seungwon with cooking, gaining the nickname "First Assistant" from both Seungwon and Haejin. With a love for the sea, Haejin was called "Sea Chan" while Seungwon, adept at nagging and skilled in cooking, earned the nickname "Mom Cha."

The trio never lost their smiles, managing meals with available ingredients and, as the night fell, gathered on the porch, enjoying beer and the sight of the darkening sea. They briefly stopped by a fishing pier, taking out some snacks. Geon noticed Chunho bringing out a guitar and taking a seat, prompting him to do the same.

Observing Geon, Chunho smiled lightly. "Seeing you sing earlier, it seemed like you instinctively know how to infuse emotion into your songs. It made the journey here more comfortable."

Nodding vigorously, Seungwon added, "I really don't even know when I fell asleep. It felt like being put to bed by my mom when I was a baby. At my age, missing Mom, huh?"

Agreeing, Haejin said, "Yeah, yeah. I asked both of you to be okay, yet I dozed off while you were here?"

As they praised Geon, he blushed in embarrassment. Observing him, Chunho asked respectfully, "But, Geon, may I ask you something?"

Geon replied politely, "Yes, please, ask away, sir."

Chunho raised his hand to the guitar, wearing a serious expression. "Your singing talent. Who taught you? I've heard you haven't had any mentors yet, is that true?"

As Geon nodded, Chunho continued, "So, are you naturally singing with your original voice?"

Geon continued to nod in agreement, prompting Chunho to ask, "So, what kind of life do you plan to lead? Will you be a musician, expressing your thoughts and beliefs through music?"

Geon responded without hesitation, "I want to become a musician. Someone who expresses my thoughts and beliefs through music."

Chunho observed Geon for a while before speaking again. "A musician? I see, Geon. Are you currently taking lessons?"

Geon replied, "I haven't started lessons yet. However, I'm planning to take lessons in playing instruments and vocals soon."

Chunho nodded, revealing, "I actually heard you sing at 'Studio Experience.' You recorded there, right?"

Geon blinked as Chunho chuckled, "I'm somewhat acquainted with Yongtae. He's still young, but in this industry, he's gaining recognition."

Looking up at the sky briefly, Chunho continued, "When I first heard your song, I was amazed. Your vocal technique wasn't conventional, not like established singers. Yet, somehow, I found myself captivated by your singing."

"I'm curious. Can your playing, not just your voice, move people's hearts? How much of your emotions can the instrument convey through its sound?"

Pointing at himself with his finger, Chunho asked, "Would you like to learn guitar from me?"

And that's how their conversation led to Chunho offering to teach Geon how to play the guitar.

>

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