Devil’s Music

When Byung-jun entered the next room, Geon Kim and Chang-han Kim were sitting face to face, with Yoon-jung and Jin-yeon sitting at the edge of the table beside them, their expressions tense.

Although Byung-jun had been out of the office planning Geon’s tour concert when the incident occurred, having heard the details through Clara, he deemed it risky to let Geon, Yoon-jung, and Jin-yeon meet with Chang-han Kim alone and decided to enter the room.

Byung-jun glared at Chang-han Kim and then took a seat in the middle of the table, opposite Yoon-jung and Jin-yeon, directly across from Geon and Chang-han Kim.

Byung-jun glanced at Geon, who was silently observing Chang-han Kim, and spoke first, though his tone was unusually unkind.

“What is it? The past event should have already ended, what more do you have to see?”

Chang-han Kim slowly rose from his seat. As the eyes of everyone in the room followed his movement, the elderly Chang-han Kim bowed respectfully towards the younger Geon.

Under normal circumstances, Geon would have bowed in response, but he merely watched, arms crossed, showing no particular reaction.

Bowing, Chang-han Kim said without straightening up, “I deeply apologize for the past incident.”

Geon’s expression remained unchanged. Though he mentioned forgiveness, Geon, being human, couldn’t fully rid himself of contempt and hatred.

“There’s no other intention. I merely wanted to apologize and express my gratitude in person.”

“If that’s all, you may leave now. I’ve already heard it through Director Lin.”

“Would you accept another person’s apology?”

“If you mean Manager Lee and Miss Soo-jeong, I’ve heard theirs as well.”

Chang-han Kim straightened up and sighed. Glancing at Yoon-jung and Jin-yeon, who still seemed frightened by him, they flinched.

“I understand that look. I have wronged you. I’m sorry, kids.”

During his time at YDN, it was the first time Yoon-jung and Jin-yeon had ever seen Chang-han Kim bow to anyone. They looked surprised, and Chang-han Kim turned to Byung-jun.

“Could you give us 10 minutes? You may record or film the conversation.”

Byung-jun was about to shake his head but, realizing what kind of person he was dealing with, switched his phone to record mode and placed it on the table.

Seeing the phone’s screen turned downward, Chang-han Kim nodded slightly towards Geon.

“I understand if my presence is uncomfortable. And I acknowledge that. Please, just give me 10 minutes, Kay.”

Geon looked up at him and nodded slightly, as if to grant a gesture of thanks. Chang-han Kim bowed once more and took his seat across.

After closing his eyes and taking a moment to breathe, Chang-han Kim began speaking after some time had passed.

“I entered the entertainment industry 31 years ago, when I was twenty-six. At that time, the Korean entertainment industry was intertwined with politics and rife with corruption.”

Suddenly diving into his past, Chang-han Kim captured the attention of everyone present. Looking around, he continued.

“At twenty-six, the first entertainer I managed was a fairly popular actress at the time. Naively, I only wished for her success, and through her, my own.

A year later, my decision to reject a power broker’s entertainment demands led to her downfall.”

Chang-han Kim took a sip of water from a glass on the table, then licked his lips.

“I hated to see her involved in such things, and I believe she did too. So, without consulting her, I rejected it on my own. And then she was implicated in a marijuana case without ever having been involved, which forced her out of this world. Watching her path to ruin, I was in agony.”

Byung-jun furrowed his brows.

“She was implicated in a case she wasn’t involved in?”

Chang-han Kim grimaced.

“People didn’t know, but at the time, she smoked cigarettes. Not much, just a couple a day. She smoked a cigarette at a nightclub table with friends, and that day, she noticed the cigarette tasted odd.

Thinking it was just not the usual brand, she put it out immediately, but she never thought it was a trap set against her.”

“Was it marijuana?”

“Yes, while she was dancing with her friends, someone switched her cigarette. Eventually, the police investigation showed traces of drugs in her blood, and that ended her life.”

“Hmm… I see.”

After responding to Byung-jun’s inquiry, Chang-han Kim turned back

to Geon.

“Having lost everything, I ran to her house, where she was hiding, and shouted that it was a trap, that she was innocent. I revealed there had been a vile demand from the political sphere, and I had refused it.”

Geon quietly watched him.

“And so?”

Chang-han Kim’s eyes moistened slightly as he lowered his head briefly, struggling to continue. After a pause, he resumed.

“I thought she would share my indignation. But what came back was a cold reproach. She said, ‘Why didn’t you just accept it? What’s so hard about giving in just once?’ Ultimately, I hindered her success, not helped.”

Chang-han Kim took another sip of water.

“I didn’t expect her to think that way. She was pure and so beautiful she hated even filming a kissing scene. I was her manager and wanted to protect her, but what she wanted was not to maintain human dignity but to succeed in the entertainment industry.”

Setting down the glass, Chang-han Kim spoke again.

“That was when I changed. No matter what, I would ensure my entertainers' success. Even if it involved dirty dealings, I would make them successful, so they would later be grateful to me.”

Byung-jun made a face of disdain, and Chang-han Kim smirked.

“Of course, I realized early on that this was not the answer. Not everyone thought like she did back then. There were entertainers who resisted my methods and some who wanted to expose me. I went as far as to ruin the careers of my own entertainers to prevent this.”

Chang-han Kim looked back at Yoon-jung and Jin-yeon.

“But by the time I realized this, it was too late. I had already committed too many misdeeds, and ironically, these had brought me money and fame. I didn’t want to let go of that, and so I told more lies to cover the lies, did worse deeds to cover the bad ones.”

Looking at Geon, who was listening, Chang-han Kim continued.

“After our incident, upon returning to Korea, I lashed out at Soo-jeong and the team manager every day for the first few days. I was furious, angry at them and myself for not planning more meticulously.”

Byung-jun’s expression turned cold, and Chang-han Kim quickly added.

“And then a few days passed. I felt relieved that the matter had concluded to that extent and tried to return to my routine. But during those days, I repeatedly dreamed one particular dream when I slept.”

Geon, arms crossed, spoke in a low voice.

“What was it?”

“The dream was interestingly enough of a press conference, where you were at the back, smiling warmly. Some days, I woke up pondering what that smile meant, and other days, I was enraged by the thought that it was you mocking me, mocking the sloppy trap laid by YDN.”

Chang-han Kim glanced between Byung-jun and Geon before continuing.

“A few more days passed, but the dream kept recurring. And now I know. Your smile was one of the most sublime, filled with forgiveness.”

Geon’s rigid and guarded expression gradually softened. Seeing this, Chang-han Kim shifted his position and knelt.

Past his mid-fifties and nearing his sixties, Chang-han Kim knelt before Geon, in his mid-twenties, but no one in the audience was shocked or tried to stop him.

“I am truly moved by you. And though it may be too late, since returning to Korea, I have sought out the entertainers I ruined to apologize.

Most of them had moved on from the entertainment industry, engaged in business or married. I’ve had cold water thrown on me at their front gates and been unable to even step into their stores while being cursed and covered in the salt they threw. I was that cruel to them.”

Chang-han Kim bowed deeply while kneeling.

“I have one question for you, who have forgiven me.”

Geon slightly nodded, permitting the question. Chang-han Kim raised his head and asked.

“I’ve realized that forgiving is harder than seeking forgiveness. And that has turned into gratitude towards you, who forgave me. How were you able to forgive me?”

Geon quietly looked into his eyes, recalling a conversation he had had with Bira in Nepal, on a terrace in Rochi. Smiling faintly at the memory, Geon spoke softly.

“I sing of forgiveness. Forgiveness is the role of a king, but revenge is merely the act of the base. And love.

It’s impossible to become wiser while loving someone, but try loving the world instead of an individual.

A person who loves only themselves makes society harsh and barren. Someone told me that. I live by his words.”

Chang-han Kim clasped his hand over his heart, as if to engrave Geon’s words there, and closed

his eyes.

“Who was that?”

Geon smiled.

“I don’t know who he was, whether he was just a person I met by chance on the street, or perhaps a god.”

Seeing Geon’s beautiful smile, Chang-han Kim bowed even deeper.

“Thank you for your answer. And I am certain, the one you met then must have been a god.”

As Chang-han Kim bowed, a smile lingered on Geon’s lips.

>

Unlock exclusive early access to more than 100 Chapters before anyone else by becoming a valued member of my Patreon community.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

As a cherished member of our Patreon community, here is what you'll get:

For just $5:

• Early access to 100s of chapters before they go public. (You can find all the novels I'm translating HERE.)
• Your name will be prominently featured on the "Wall of Gratitude".
• The power to vote on which novel I translate next.
• You Get Ad-free Chapters.

For $10:

• You get to suggest a Novel for me to translate.

For $20:

• You get to recommend an abandoned Novel and I will immediately start translating it.

Don't let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!