Solo Swordmaster

Episode #112. Shut up.

* * *

Should I say I’m glad?

Should it be natural?

Even after Moon Cheon-yeop went, the live cafe remained calm as usual.

After persuading him a few times, Kim Seung-jun went back with his shoulders drooping.

After work, Eugene sang and sang on stage with excitement.

Customers regretted not having Limon, but were satisfied with the live performance.

President Jeong was pleased with the huge sales and wrapped up the remaining snacks.

crunchy

“It tastes like fattening.”

A park covered in light darkness.

On the bench where people disappeared due to the late hours and the remote location, Yoo-jin mumbled while chewing on the cookies she had received from President Jeong.

“It’s still delicious.”

sweet is good

Because eating makes you feel good.

It was exactly the taste that Yujin, who was already stressed out thanks to Moon Cheon-yeop, needed.

‘guff.’

After recalling Moon Cheon-yeop’s threat.

Yujin let out a big laugh.

It was Eugene who met many people while wandering around the world.

Among them, there were not a few people like Kim Seung-jun and Mun Chun-yeop who recognized Yu-jin’s talent and tried to use it.

But they didn’t get anything.

Even the general who was leading the army.

Even the gangsters who held their guns.

Even nobles who were proud of their lineage.

Even the businessmen who were discussing the benefits.

Because all of them failed, Eugene is still a wandering musician.

Not to mention, there was no reason to care about such things as Moon Chun-yeop and Bug Guild.

To put it bluntly, the fact that he couldn’t hear Limon’s performance was a factor that greatly increased Eugene’s stress.

“Um, feeling frustrated.”

Maybe it’s because I thought of Limon.

Only after singing for a long time.

Feeling thirsty again, Eugene swallowed the cookie and reached out to the side.

Then he picked up the heavy guitar and smiled.

“If it is lacking, it must be filled.”

In a quiet park without a microphone or an audience, let alone a proper stage, Eugene prepared to sing so leisurely.

whether or not anyone listens.

Whether you don’t have a partner to accompany you.

It didn’t matter to Eugene.

After all, she was a wanderer who always sang alone, listened alone, and was content with being alone.

Ding.

“…?”

But right after plucking the guitar strings.

Eugene hesitated.

Then I tilted my head and plucked the guitar string a few more times.

Ding diing diding.

“…???”

No matter how many times I repeat the tuning and change the note, I am puzzled by the guitar sound that sounds very unpleasant.

“ah.”

Eugene let out a sudden exclamation.

Then he hit his forehead with one hand and let out a deep sigh.

It’s because I’ve finally realized that the guitar sounds messy, not because it’s broken, but because there’s something wrong with me.

“I’m screwed.”

Growing up for a while.

Eugene lay down on the bench.

I didn’t feel like singing anymore.

No matter how frustrated I was, no matter what I tried to play, I was automatically compared to the sound of Limon’s guitar.

“I can’t sing by myself anymore.”

Of course, playing and singing are separate.

It didn’t matter if it was just a song.

But in the end, Eugene never touched the guitar again.

Just as a gourmet who is accustomed to the best delicacies cannot eat moldy bread with earthworm soup even if he dies.

Eugene knew better than anyone else that he had already become addicted to singing along to the fantastic performance of Limon.

That’s why Eugene put on headphones.

Ding Ding.

The moment you press the button on your headphones.

Ringing in the ears is a familiar melody.

A video of a student randomly filming a performance with Limon and spreading it.

Among them, Eugene smiled as he listened to a collection of Limon’s music.

Like an addict who finds the drug he gave up.

Or like a traveler who found an oasis in the desert.

The full soul mixed with the melody and seeping into her body made Eugene feel a thrilling pleasure and comfort that was a hundred times greater than when she sang alone.

“If I had known it would be like this, it might have been better not to accept the offer then.”

When I first met Limon.

If you haven’t lent me your guitar.

At least it wouldn’t have stopped me from enjoying my own songs like I do now.

“I don’t regret it, though.”

Nonetheless, in the end, Eugene laughed.

Instead of not being able to enjoy singing alone, the joy of singing along to Limon’s performance was more fantastic than that.

Is it boring pleasure?

Is it the pleasure of going through hell?

If I had to choose between the two, Eugene’s preference would always be the latter.

And Eugene’s feelings toward Limon, who gave him such hellish pleasure, could be summed up in just two words.

‘A strange partner.’

Eugene is an eccentric, but not an idiot.

So he knew how peculiar he was.

It wasn’t normal to be a singer who didn’t really want to be famous and extremely avoided making money from singing.

In fact, the reason why I have been working alone so far is that there are few performers who can match such eccentricities.

There were other reasons too.

In any case, Limon was a really unusual partner in that respect.

‘Why wouldn’t they try to change me?’

Among the people Eugene met while traveling around the world, there were sometimes those who genuinely admired Eugene’s talent rather than being greedy.

And their reactions were pretty much the same.

Admire it at first.

Next time, I’ll waste my talent.

In the end, I get angry for some reason.

It is said that if you are properly educated and debut, you are wasting your talent to become a singer of the century.

Limon was strange in that way.

Aside from not having any interest in fame or money himself, Limon has never forced Eugene to go his own way.

Even when there is no money.

Even if you watch your talent rot.

Because they didn’t tell me to make money with singing or to develop my talent.

‘Even so, he changed me in the end.’

When others tell you to grow your talent.

The reason Eugene ignored it.

It was because I didn’t like the fact that I had to learn to sing.

To learn something is to be dyed in something.

That means that even if it is a teaching that can sing well, it is eventually governed by that teaching.

That’s why I just enjoy singing.

For Eugene, who had no desire to sing better, singing training was just an act of increasing the shackles that deprived her of her freedom.

Nevertheless, the reason why Eugene received singing training from President Jung.

It was because of Limon after all.

‘Because it’s strange to have a partner who can’t even keep up with his partner’s performance.’

I didn’t know anything else, but I was able to know because it was Eugene who is more sensitive about music than anyone else.

And that Limon could play even better if he put his mind to it.

It is also the fact that he is not demonstrating his skills in order to be considerate of his songs that lack basic skills.

That’s why Eugene learned to sing for the first time.

Even if you give up some freedom.

Even if you lose your own song.

Because I didn’t want to be a burden.

‘Isn’t that what it is?’

Yujin tilted her head and finally smiled.

Eugene knew better than anyone else that he wasn’t such a caring person.

After all, there is one real reason.

I just wanted to hear it.

Limon’s sincere performance.

And his own song that accompanies the performance.

For Eugene, who had only enjoyed singing until now and hadn’t cared about the song itself, it was such a huge change of heart that even he couldn’t believe it.

‘I don’t know why my partner doesn’t enjoy playing with that skill.’

It was a question that I couldn’t help but feel more clearly because I was influenced so much by Limon.

If you don’t need money or fame and don’t enjoy it, why play a musical instrument?

And why does he come out and play while grumbling every time he calls?

I couldn’t figure it out at all.

However, Eugene often felt familiar in Limon’s strange attitude.

‘Somehow they look like those old friends.’

Eugene suddenly remembered.

when you were still young

Old people I saw all over the alley.

Just pass the time by playing chess or playing an instrument while basking in the sun.

Those who had already enjoyed the heyday of their lives, so rather than longing for the past and living in the present, they watched and interfered occasionally.

When I saw Limon, I thought of them.

This is especially true of veterans who went through tough times during the war.

‘Come to think of it, I really don’t know anything about partners?’

It was a thought that would surprise anyone who knew Eugene.

I only think about having fun.

It was unusual for Eugene, who neglected everything else, to be interested in people.

Nevertheless, Eugene went beyond simple interest and reflected on what he knew about Limon.

‘Bird lover fourth dimension and rich…?’

A bird lover who carries a blue bird on top of his head wherever he goes.

A fourth dimension that sometimes suddenly changes its expression or harasses birds, as if receiving radio waves from anywhere.

Strangely, even the behavior that seems not to be tied to money.

If you look at each one separately, you can’t understand it, but when you put them together, it’s a pretty strange feature.

‘It doesn’t matter anyway. A partner is a partner.’

But Eugene didn’t care about such trivial matters.

Limon is the geek in the world.

Or a crazy serial killer.

Because his playing skills were real.

And that one reason was more than enough for Eugene to regard Limon as his soul mate.

‘I’ll have to take my partner with me when this job is over.’

Eugene came up with a plan.

A bold plan to take an extended vacation once the job is done and go around the world full of concerts with Limon.

The fact that Limon might not come along was not taken into consideration at all.

Because if you can’t do it, stop it.

“Hehe.”

Is it because I feel better when I plan my trip?

Or was it because I was intoxicated by the melody coming from my headphones?

Eugene did not bother to restrain the hum that flowed from the tip of his nose.

Lying on a bench with an arm pillow, I was just immersed in enjoying myself.

“Hey what’s up? What kind of girl is there?”

“Since you are a foreigner, you must have come here not knowing that this is our playground.”

“Well, I don’t see Byeongsik’s or Hanseo’s around here these days, so outsiders might not know.”

“Oh, it looks pretty good, doesn’t it?”

But is it unfortunate or inevitable?

Eugene’s good mood was interrupted by an unexpected intruder.

“Young lady, can you speak Korean?”

“Can we guide you if you get lost?”

“Yes, yes. We are kind.”

“Puhaha! Is kindness dead?”

Walking around with their hands in their pockets, two men appeared to be far from concerned or considerate.

Look at the sloppy attire and attitude.

Look at the piercings on the ears and lips.

Do you see the gaze that blatantly scans the neck and thighs?

It was a shame to even call them gangsters.

But Eugene didn’t care.

No, I completely ignored its existence.

The only thing that mattered to Eugene was humming along to the melody flowing through his headphones.

“Hey girl? Can’t you hear us?”

Noise creeps in.

“Oh, you fucking bitch. How much do you turn up the volume on your headphones to chew on people?”

Annoying and insignificant noise.

“I tried to say it in a good way, but I can’t.”

I don’t want to care.

“It’s damn good, but the girl you saw before said that she was talking about it, and after doing XXXX in a very fucking way, she even got reported for XXXX.”

But the noise doesn’t go away.

“That’s because that bitch didn’t listen. ok? The sky-like guild leader’s nephew said he would play with me, so I should be grateful.”

“Come to think of it, what did he do in the end?”

“Somehow, I was kicked out of the guild and buried. A guild accepted a dtakari who was less than level 20 with a smooth face. How dare you report someone?”

“Ah, you heartless bastard.”

A voice that continues to growl.

Noise that disturbs the melody.

The dirty feelings mixed in it.

It forcibly brings out the mind that was immersed in Limon’s performance and disturbs the pleasant mood.

“Hey, this girl is just…”

“Shut up.”

“what?”

Eventually, Eugene stopped humming.

And it sounds like your ears are blocked.

He spoke in a cold voice to the two archers who were still blinking in place.

“It’s noisy, so shut up and get out.”