Chapter 25: Melodies, Idols, and a Song of Death

Life in the Myth Guild’s Silver Raid Team was enjoyable.

The team members treated me very well, and Team Leader Cha Jihye always used polite speech and showed consideration.

Like that, I slowly adapted to life in the Silver Raid Team.

While devoting myself to hunter life like that.

For the first time in a long while, I headed to Daphne Entertainment as Eunbyeol’s guardian.

“Ah, Father. You’re here?”

Entering one of Daphne Entertainment’s many recording studios, a woman greeted us.

Her name was ‘An Hyeji’.

An Hyeji was a member of the A&R team, helping Eunbyeol with composition.

Since Eunbyeol could compose but couldn’t handle computers or composition programs.

“Hyeji, hello.”

“Hyeji Sister! Hello!”

I handed over the coffee I bought in advance, and Eunbyeol hugged An Hyeji.

The two, hugging and expressing joy, looked like sisters.

Sisters with a big age difference.

After chatting about recent events, Eunbyeol and An Hyeji dove into serious composition work.

“Eunbyeol, did you make some songs?”

An Hyeji asked with a warm smile.

“Yes! I made them!”

“Oh, really? Can you play some for Sister?”

“Yeees! Sure!”

Eunbyeol said that and took out her phone.

It was the new pink smartphone I bought her.

Bought for calls and to make composing easier.

“Sister, shall I play it now?”

“Yeah!”

At An Hyeji’s answer, Eunbyeol played the songs recorded on her phone.

Hmm! Mmm! Hmm hmm!

Humming flowing from the phone video.

Just humming along to the accompaniment, but An Hyeji listened very focused.

“This is the first one!”

When the first video ended, Eunbyeol shouted brightly.

“Wow, amazing. Eunbyeol, it’s really good?”

“Really?”

“Yeah! Really good! Father, amazing. The melody is super good!”

An Hyeji looked at me and gave a thumbs up.

“Haha, is that so?”

“Yes! I’m known in the team for writing good top lines, but Eunbyeol is better!”

“Oh come on, no way. Hyeji is much better.”

“Huh? No! Eunbyeol’s melody is really better!”

An Hyeji said, widening her big eyes even more.

Haha, what a grateful person.

Saying such nice things to boost our Eunbyeol’s self-esteem.

“Hyeji Sister! Eunbyeol will play the next one!”

“Next one? You made more?”

“Yeees!”

“R-Really? Then play it for Sister!”

At An Hyeji’s words, Eunbyeol played the song.

An Hyeji focusing again.

She listened to the whole song and then.

“Wow, amazing. This is really good too?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Super super good? No, Father. What is Eunbyeol? How are all the songs she makes good?”

An Hyeji looked at me with a surprised expression.

I just made an embarrassed face, and Eunbyeol said.

“Sister! Then I’ll play the next one!”

“Huh? What. There’s more?”

“Yeees! Over 100!”

“What?”

An Hyeji’s mouth opened wide.

Shocked that there were over 100 good melodies.

In fact, Eunbyeol kept playing the composed songs, and An Hyeji exclaimed each time.

It wasn’t exaggeration.

An Hyeji was a bright person, but this was clearly a ‘real reaction’.

Otherwise, she couldn’t keep opening her mouth wide, slapping her forehead, or washing her face dry each time.

“Wow, Eunbyeol. You’re really a genius?”

After listening to about 50 songs, An Hyeji said with a dazed expression.

“Hehe, really?”

“Yeah. Sister has been doing music since young and is confident in composing, but Eunbyeol, you’re the best. You’re a real genius. I feel a wall?”

“Wowww! Hyeji Sister praised me! Excited!”

Eunbyeol raised both hands with an innocent expression.

Seeing Eunbyeol’s face, I smiled contentedly too.

Because it was so proud that my daughter was recognized.

That was when.

Knock knock.

While about to listen to the remaining songs, a knock sounded on the recording studio door.

When An Hyeji said come in, the door opened and a group of people entered.

“Hello, Composer Hyeji!”

Five women entering with bright greetings.

Women who looked late teens or early twenties boasted stunning beauty.

Seeing them, An Hyeji said.

“Oh my, what brings you here?”

An Hyeji stood up quickly to greet, then said to me and Eunbyeol.

“Father, these are Daisy. The new girl group launching this time. Eunbyeol, these are the girl group members who will sing the songs you make!”

Ah.

So that’s it.

No wonder their beauty was extraordinary; they were idols.

“Hello, Sisters! I’m Seo Eunbyeol!”

“Hello. I’m Eunbyeol’s dad, Seo Juwon.”

Eunbyeol greeted brightly as usual, I a bit embarrassed.

It felt awkward facing women beautiful enough to shine.

“Ah, I see! Hello!”

“We wondered who the little composer making our title song was, and it’s this friend!”

“Wow, Eunbyeol? Nice to meet you! You’re really pretty!”

“Our composer is this young! Really amazing!”

Daisy’s members cheered seeing Eunbyeol.

They said they greet composers and had already greeted Kwak Daesu before coming here.

A Daisy member said.

“Composer Hyeji, is our song coming along well?”

“Ah, of course. It’s coming out super well.”

“Really? Really going with Eunbyeol’s song as title?”

“Of course. Teacher Nam Seungha strongly recommended Eunbyeol, and I’m completely satisfied too.

Eunbyeol is a real genius.”

“Really? Wow! So amazing!”

Daisy’s members looked at each other and giggled.

If not met inside Daphne Entertainment, they looked like ordinary high school or college students.

Fortunately, they didn’t look at Eunbyeol discriminately.

No reactions like what to do entrusting songs to such a young composer.

“Anyway, Eunbyeol, please do well with our song!”

“Eunbyeol, we’re counting on you!”

“It’s our debut song, so make it good! We’re looking forward!”

“Father, we’ll come greet again next time!”

“Eunbyeol, bye! Composer Hyeji, see you next time!”

Daisy’s members greeted with bright smiles and left the recording studio.

The studio quiet again.

There, I barely calmed my excited heart.

In my life, meeting a girl group.

Even after Daisy’s members left, I was still dazed.

Me, who lived extremely ordinarily, meeting a girl group and hearing please do well.

Even though I experienced it just now, everything felt like a dream.

This is all thanks to Eunbyeol.

Eunbyeol showing enthusiasm, saying she’ll bring better songs next time.

I smiled contentedly watching her.

Because everything I enjoy now seems thanks to Eunbyeol.

The sweet dream of seeing a girl group was brief.

I returned to Myth Guild as a hunter.

And today, for the first time, I set out to clear a gate as a member of the Silver Raid Team’s Nova Team.

“Everyone, attention please.”

A gate opened in the middle of an 8-lane road.

In the center of the road controlled by Hunter Association staff, Nova Team Leader ‘Cha Jihye’ said.

“As always, but this gate requires special caution. The reason is…….”

Cha Jihye, with long red hair as her trademark.

She briefed on this gate like a team leader.

What monsters appear in this gate.

What to be careful of.

And what to focus on for a smooth clear.

Worried because she’s young, but unnecessary worry.

Standing among the team members, I admired Cha Jihye’s explanation.

Honestly, I was worried because Cha Jihye was too young.

Worried if a woman in her mid-20s could lead the team well.

But that was unnecessary.

Though we hadn’t entered the gate yet, just from her speaking, I could tell Cha Jihye was performing the team leader role perfectly.

“Then we’ll enter. Everyone remember what I said, and always be careful.”

Cha Jihye said that, held a thin sword, and entered the gate.

Soon, team members entering in a line and the gate fluctuating wildly accordingly.

I also pushed my body into the blue gate in order.

Eunbyeol, Daddy will do well and come back.

Until my consciousness snapped, I recalled Eunbyeol’s face and resolved.

To successfully complete the first gate clear in the Silver Raid Team.

Actually, my hunter career is short.

Nevertheless, I’ve become somewhat accustomed to the gate environment.

Meaning, I’ve adapted to the fact that passing through a gate connects to a completely unexpected place.

But…….

What is this……..

The field unfolding before my eyes now was hard to adapt to.

I was surprised by the sea of fire too, but this was more surprising.

Not because it was hell-like.

Rather, because it was too ‘heaven’-like.

“Wow, really pretty.”

“Yeah. Really feels like coming to heaven.”

“Wow, like in a dream?”

“Haha, look at the cloud floor! Like pink cotton candy!”

“Wow, so pretty. If I brought my daughters, they’d love it?”

“Ah, really pretty! If smartphones worked, I’d take selfies!”

Nova team members exclaimed.

It wasn’t because they were overly reactive.

In fact, this place was like ‘heaven’.

The floor like pink cotton candy, the sky shining in colorful hues, and a sweet scent blowing from somewhere.

A gate interior like this. 

Really surprising.

A space evoking words like cherry blossoms, first love, dreams, love.

Such a sweet and beautiful space being inside a gate.

I, like the team members, couldn’t adapt.

That was when Cha Jihye said.

“What is everyone doing now? Didn’t I say not to let your guard down?”

At Cha Jihye’s words, the team members who were looking around the scenery immediately said sorry and got into position.

They had momentarily lost focus in the beautiful scenery but realized this was a gate.

“Don’t let your guard down. As I said earlier, the monsters appearing here are vicious.”

Cha Jihye said that and signaled to move out.

Team members following in a line behind the leading Cha Jihye.

I also walked on the pink clouds among them.

That was when.

..?

Something flew from the distant sky.

A being flying while flapping beautiful wings.

It was none other than a ‘woman’.

A woman with angel-like pure white wings.

“It’s a harpy! Everyone, snap out of it!”

Cha Jihye said, raising her sword.

As she said, the monster appearing in this beautiful gate was a ‘harpy’.

A monster with a beautiful woman’s appearance and bird wings.

“La la la.”

At that moment, the harpy opened its mouth and began singing.

A voice beautiful enough to seem not of this world.

A voice as sweet and beautiful as a nightingale.

When it struck, Cha Jihye shouted.

“Everyone, stay alert! The harpy’s attack starts now!”

The warning she gave before entering the gate.

But despite Cha Jihye’s words, an incident occurred.

“Uuugh…….!”

A male team member made a strange sound; turning, his eyes were rolled back white.

Moreover, the hunter holding a dagger gripped the sharp weapon in reverse and.

Stab!

Plunged it into his own abdomen.

Sudden self-harm.

This was because the harpy’s song had ‘mind manipulation’ ability.

“Ch-Charge! Everyone charge!”

At Cha Jihye’s shout, some team members ran out.

But the number was only half.

The rest were covering their ears against the harpy’s song.

Though the song infused with mana couldn’t be blocked by covering ears.

Pabat! Pat!

Anyway, team members charged toward the harpy.

Ranged dealers prepared casting.

But…….

“Kuh, heok……!”

“Ugh……!”

“Kyaaak……!”

The charging team members stopped in the middle of the pink clouds and began self-harm.

Slashing their own forearms, aiming arrows at themselves, casting fireballs at themselves.

“Huk……!”

Even Team Leader Cha Jihye was sitting on the pink clouds, suffering.

Even she, the team leader, couldn’t withstand the harpy’s mind manipulation.

Like that, the entire Nova Team was on the verge of annihilation.

But amid that, what was surprising.

I’m fine.

Was that only I was unaffected.