Chapter 13: Offer in the Glass Studio

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My anger toward Noh Youngjin slowly grew bigger.

If he had been picking on me because I was bad at my job, I might have let it slide, but bullying me just for being a fellow parachute hire made me furious too.

So I spent my days grinding my teeth at Noh Youngjin.

Of course, I couldn’t live like that outside Myth Guild.

Returning to being Eunbyeol’s dad instead of a Myth Guild member, today was a special day for me.

Because there was a place I had to visit with Eunbyeol.

“Woooow! Daddy, the building is really cool! Right?”

Eunbyeol, holding my hand, looked up at the building and said in a bright voice.

I also stood in the middle of the street, gazing up at the dazzling structure in admiration.

“You’re right. It’s really amazing…….”

I genuinely exclaimed.

The building I was looking at was simply too magnificent.

A height that seemed to pierce the sky, sparkling glass walls, and the huge company logo embedded on it.

Seeing in person a building I had only occasionally seen on TV made my heart swell.

‘So this is the Daphne Entertainment headquarters.’

That’s right.

The place I had come to, holding Eunbyeol’s hand, was none other than Daphne Entertainment’s headquarters.

The undisputed number-one entertainment agency in Korea.

“Daddy, this is where the composer uncle who wants to see Eunbyeol is, right?”

“Hm? Y-Yeah. That’s right.”

“Hehe, okay! I’m excited! I get to meet the composer uncle I saw on TV!”

Eunbyeol hopped up and down while holding my hand.

She seemed thrilled at the thought of meeting the famous composer and celebrity Nam Seungha.

‘Well, I’m just as excited.’

I smiled warmly at Eunbyeol, but honestly, I was just as nervous.

Meeting Nam Seungha, the greatest composer in Korea.

And not just a tour—he had personally contacted me to meet.

Life really was full of surprises.

“Eunbyeol, shall we go in now?”

“Hm? Yeah! Good! Let’s gooo!”

With Eunbyeol’s energetic shout, we stepped into the Daphne Entertainment headquarters.

Daphne Entertainment’s security system was truly strict.

Even though I had already confirmed at the first-floor reception desk that I had an appointment with Composer Nam Seungha, the staff still made us go through several layers of security checks.

Well, thinking about it, it wasn’t that strange.

The celebrities under Daphne Entertainment were the most popular in the country, which meant they suffered from an insane number of sasaeng fans.

After passing through several thorough security checks with the staff, we finally entered Composer Nam Seungha’s recording studio.

“Oh my, you’re here! Nice to meet you. I’m Composer Nam Seungha!”

The moment we stepped into the studio, Nam Seungha—someone I had only seen on TV—hurried over and offered a handshake with both hands.

“Hello. I’m Seo Juwon.”

“Ah, yes. Welcome. Really glad you came. And this must be……?”

Nam Seungha turned his gaze to Eunbyeol beside me.

Following what I had taught her, Eunbyeol neatly placed both hands on her belly button.

“Hello! I’m Seo Eunbyeol! I’m five years old and a kindergartener!”

She bowed politely.

Good.

Well done, Eunbyeol.

“Oh, I see. Hearing your voice, I recognize you right away. Nice to meet you, Eunbyeol!”

Nam Seungha made a truly touched expression and shook hands with Eunbyeol.

Her hand was so tiny compared to his.

“You’ve come a long way. Please, sit over here.”

Nam Seungha led us to the conference room attached to the recording studio.

Once we were seated, he spoke.

“Thank you for coming all this way to this humble place.”

“Humble? Not at all. I was shocked at how huge the recording studio is.”

“Haha, really?”

“Yes. Honestly, I’ve only ever seen small studios on TV. I never imagined there could be such a spacious one. I was truly surprised.”

I looked around the studio through the transparent glass wall.

An overwhelmingly large recording studio and other sections.

It was big enough that not just one singer, but an entire orchestra could fit comfortably.

Nam Seungha said.

“Haha, we at Daphne Entertainment put extra effort into our studios. As you know, we strive for the highest quality in music.”

“I see. Well, if I were the CEO, I’d give Composer Nam Seungha the best studio too. You’ve produced so many hit songs, after all.”

“Oh, no, not at all.”

Nam Seungha laughed and waved his hand.

But I knew, and the world knew.

Daphne Entertainment’s rise to the top entertainment agency in Korea was largely thanks to Nam Seungha.

In other words, without the genius composer Nam Seungha, this grand headquarters wouldn’t exist.

“Hm, good. Shall we get to the main topic now?”

Nam Seungha smiled warmly and continued.

“The reason I contacted you two is simple. Because the song Eunbyeol made is absolutely amazing.”

“I see. But is the song really that good? For even Composer Nam Seungha to praise it?”

“Yes. It’s not just ‘she has talent, so nurture it.’ It’s a truly perfect and creative melody. Even I, who have composed for decades, couldn’t make something like it.”

“You’re saying it’s a melody even you couldn’t create? Are you serious……?”

“Yes. Completely serious. I swear on my decades-long career as a composer.”

Nam Seungha looked straight at me and spoke firmly.

I swallowed dryly.

Honestly, after seeing the comments on <Music Engine>, I had expected the song to be good.

But for Nam Seungha to go this far was truly shocking.

If someone who had devoted his life to music was staking his entire career on it, he meant it.

“Eunbyeol.”

“Yeees!”

“I’m really curious, so can you tell uncle how you made that song?”

“Hmmm…….!”

Eunbyeol put her finger to her lips, thought for a moment, and answered.

“It just came to my mind?”

“It just came to you?”

“Yes! The song just started playing in my head. So I sang it!”

“Oh ho…”

Nam Seungha nodded in amazement and continued.

“Then, do you have any melodies swirling in your head right now?”

“Yes! Lots and lots!”

“Lots? Not just one?”

“Yeees!”

Eunbyeol answered clearly.

Nam Seungha blinked at me in shock.

He turned back to Eunbyeol and asked.

“Then, could you sing one for uncle?”

“Sure! But which one should I sing?”

“Anything you want. Sing whichever you feel like.”

“Okay! Got it!”

Eunbyeol answered energetically, and Nam Seungha looked full of anticipation.

I also watched Eunbyeol with a pounding heart.

“La la la la la la la! La!”

Eunbyeol started clapping clap-clap and singing happily.

There were no lyrics, but the melody was clear.

She sang without a single hesitation, as if it were a real song.

‘As expected…….’

While Eunbyeol sang, I glanced at Nam Seungha’s expression.

Unlike the cheerful Eunbyeol, Nam Seungha listened with an extremely serious face.

Watching him, I desperately hoped.

That the song Eunbyeol was singing would please Nam Seungha.

“La la laaaa!”

Eunbyeol’s nearly one-minute song came to an end.

The enthusiastic clapping stopped.

Nam Seungha still wore a grave expression.

Seeing him like that made me anxious.

At that moment.

“ ….. Genius.”

Nam Seungha murmured softly.

“Eunbyeol, you really are a genius…….”

He said it as if he couldn’t believe it.

I was still dumbfounded.

“Father, Eunbyeol is a genius. A composing genius.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes. This goes beyond just being good. Eunbyeol is a genius. No other word can describe it.”

“Huh, I see…….”

I nodded blankly, as if my soul had left my body.

Meanwhile, Eunbyeol remained cheerful.

“Wooow! Eunbyeol is a genius! Genius!”

Genius or not, she was just happy.

Nam Seungha looked at her joyfully and continued.

“The song you uploaded to <Music Engine> was great, but this one is just as amazing. Depending on the listener’s taste, this one might even be better.”

“Really?”

“Yes. If the previous song was spring, this one is summer. It felt full of life, like flowers blooming under the hot sun joyfully singing together. Incredible. Truly incredible.”

After that, Nam Seungha went on at length about why Eunbyeol’s song was good, why it was creative, and why it was so charming.

Having showered Eunbyeol with praise for a long time, he turned to me.

“Father.”

“Yes, Composer.”

“I have a proposal for you and Eunbyeol.”

“A proposal?”

“Yes.”

Nam Seungha continued immediately.

“How would you feel about bringing Eunbyeol into our Daphne Entertainment A&R team?”

“Pardon? The Daphne A&R team? Composer, are you saying……”

As I trailed off, Nam Seungha spoke firmly.

“Yes. We would like to officially hire Eunbyeol as a composer at Daphne Entertainment.”

 *** 

Nam Seungha’s words—that he wanted to hire Eunbyeol as a composer.

They were utterly shocking.

Not just wanting to nurture a five-year-old, but to hire her as an official composer.

A position that others achieved only after learning instruments from childhood, attending arts high school, music college, and years of training—just from humming.

And not at some startup agency, but at Korea’s top entertainment company’s A&R team.

It was so shocking it felt like a dream.

I even wondered if I was dreaming.

But this wasn’t a dream, and Nam Seungha in front of me wasn’t a mirage.

He repeatedly insisted Eunbyeol was a genius and that he absolutely wanted to hire her.

Of course, he didn’t pressure me to decide right there.

He said Eunbyeol was still young, so I should think it over carefully and contact him once I had made up my mind.

After returning home, we decided to think about it and went back to our daily lives.

Becoming a professional composer was a serious matter that required careful consideration.

“Hello.”

I entered the Myth Guild office as usual.

Team Leader Ju Namgyu and the other members welcomed me.

Ah, except for one person.

Deputy Team Leader Noh Youngjin.

Having finished treatment and removed his bandages, Noh Youngjin glared at me.

But I didn’t look away.

Since he hated me for garbage reasons, I had no reason to back down.

Then Ju Namgyu spoke.

“Alright, everyone, pay attention. You know we have a gate raid today, right?”

“Yes!”

“Good. Today is a joint raid with other guilds, so be extra careful. No unnecessary fights. Everyone okay?”

“Understood!”

“Great. Then gear up and assemble in front of the guild headquarters right now.”

“Yes!”

With the team’s loud response, we began preparing for the gate raid.

Today wasn’t just Myth Guild—it was a joint raid day with other guilds.

I busily put on the Myth Guild uniform and various equipment.

That was when it happened.

Thwack!

Someone hit my shoulder hard as they passed by. When I turned around, I saw Noh Youngjin’s back.

Annoyed, I was about to shout, but he had already left the office.

“Hey, hey, Juwon. Don’t mind him. That guy’s always like that.”

A teammate patted my shoulder tap-tap and said.

“Ha, still, it feels a bit much.”

“Let it go. And today the deputy seemed weird.”

“Weird?”

“Yeah. His expression was grim, more serious than usual. Feels like he’s planning something strange, so just avoid him if possible. No point getting shit on you.”

“Got it.”

I nodded and stared at the door Noh Youngjin had exited through.

He’s planning something?

‘Do whatever you want.’

I didn’t care what Noh Youngjin did.

No matter what he tried, I planned to pay him back several times over.

With the power of a necromancer.