Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 651

As soon as he rented a waiting room, Seo-jun headed straight to the Library of Life.

His destination was, of course, the Library of Goodness.

“This one looks good, and that one too.”

To give the best gifts to the people he was grateful for, Seo-jun started to choose the most suitable books from the ones he had read in the Library of Life. 

He had already sorted out the abilities of similar types by shelves, so he didn’t have to read the books again.

“I’m glad that the books of life don’t go back to their original places.”

Otherwise, it would have taken him much longer to find the books again.

Seo-jun picked up a book of life and examined the ability of that life.

He had to be more careful because it would be recorded on video. 

He remembered how the [Baby Mukbang] video he filmed 20 years ago was still popular, and he thought that [Over the Rainbow 2] would also last for a long time.

He was tempted to use the upgraded version of the ‘Baby Angel’ ability that he had left in the old photos and videos, but there was another ability that he liked more. 

It seemed to have a synergy with the abilities he would use for playing, and he thought it would be nice to use them together.

“Then I’ll go with this one…”

[(Good) The Hymn of the Nameless Cleric – Intermediate]

It is the song of blessing sung by the one who serves the god, the nameless cleric.

It makes the listener healthy.

Health.

Seo-jun was deeply moved by the episode he had filmed a while ago.

***

After lunch, he spent his break time eating snacks prepared by Whale Studio. 

The audience in the Bread Hall also received juice and cookies.

“Meditation, huh? That’s pretty serious.”

Catherine nodded her head with interest at Paul’s words, who had set aside some orange juice and cookies for Seo-jun to eat. She looked at the direction where Seo-jun had gone.

“I know. I knew he was working hard, but I don’t think he ever said he meditated before filming.”

“Maybe we didn’t know because we haven’t worked with him for 10 years.”

“Oh. That could be possible.”

When they came back after lunch, they heard that the actor in charge was meditating. 

The new manager who had heard that had a similar reaction.

“Director An. Does Seo-jun meditate often?”

He wondered if there was anything he needed to prepare for meditation.

An Da Ho smiled and answered Choi Tae Woo’s question.

“It’s rare, but he does it when he really wants to focus. And the results afterwards are always amazing. You don’t need to prepare anything, just find a quiet place for him. If there isn’t one, the car is fine too.”

The people who passed by and overheard the manager’s conversation had their eyes sparkle with anticipation. 

A scene that even the manager praised. 

The news spread quickly among the staff.

“I want to hear it from the audience seat.”

“Me too.”

If only it wasn’t filming.

They wished without realizing it. Even though it was filming, actor Seo-jun Lee was going to play.

“Should we film first?”

“Shall we?”

Sara Roth, the director, and Emily, the assistant director, felt the same way.

“I’m glad we came today.”

“Me too.”

Jason Moore and Benjamin, the professor, smiled brightly. 

They were looking forward to what kind of performance he would show them with the Stradivarius. 

The priest who was smiling while expecting Seo-jun’s performance looked exactly like him.

Seo-jun’s meditation didn’t take long. 

Paul and Catherine ran to Seo-jun with excited faces as he came out of the waiting room. 

They had orange juice and cookies in their hands.

“How was it?”

“Did you do well, meditation?”

“Yeah. It was fine.”

Seo-jun took the juice and cookies and smiled, thinking of the symbol he had engraved on his neck.

“Here.”

Jason Moore handed Seo-jun the violin case after he had eaten the snacks. He didn’t throw it, but he handled it roughly.

…Gasp!

The actors and staff who knew what was in the violin case were shocked by Jason Moore’s careless touch. 

Choi Tae Woo, who had belatedly heard from An Da Ho that there was a Stradivarius worth billions of won in it, was also startled.

“Be careful with it, will you?”

Benjamin, the professor, slapped Jason Moore’s back lightly. He was still the same guy even after he got old. 

Jason’s face crumpled as if he was in pain, and Seo-jun, Catherine, and Paul burst into laughter.

***

The break time was over and it was time to start filming again.

The scene was a continuation of the previous one, where ‘Gray Vainy’ had learned the identity of the audience sitting in the Bread Hall.

“Ready, action!”

Gray wiped away the tears that flowed from his reddened eyes. But no matter how much he wiped them, the tears didn’t seem to stop. He couldn’t believe that all the people who had supported him and the ones he had sponsored were gathered here.

“And this.”

George and Rebecca’s surprise didn’t end there.

Gray looked at the violin case that George handed him. He was nervous about what kind of surprise it would be, and his hand trembled as he opened the violin case.

The case opened slowly.

In the gap, he saw a wooden violin with a reddish hue. It had a graceful curved body that looked old but well maintained. And the tight strings and sturdy parts of the violin.

It looked no different from a normal violin, but Gray Vainy, who recognized what it was at a glance, froze on the spot.

Stradivarius.

It was one of the three great instruments.

“The person who sponsored you sent it to you. He said he hoped you would play with this Stradivarius from now on, if you don’t mind.”

“…What…?”

It was a voice that sounded like a scream.

He was so shocked that he couldn’t speak properly.

“Gray! Breathe! Breathe!”

He seemed to be not breathing at all.

Huff!

He gasped for air. 

The blood drained from Gray’s face, which had turned pale, slowly returned… or not. He still looked pale, and his eyes trembled as he looked at the centuries-old violin in the case.

“I… play the Stradivarius…?”

“It’s okay if you don’t play it.”

Gray turned his head at George’s words.

“It’s up to you. If you want to, you can. If you don’t, you don’t have to.”

Rebecca also said.

“It’s all up to you. Gray.”

George and Rebecca’s eyes relaxed somehow.

There was not a trace of doubt in their eyes. 

They felt that they would trust and support him whatever decision he made.

He had felt burdened by that at one point.

But now, he felt like he had a huge shield that would protect him from any danger.

The human heart is strange.

Even he couldn’t believe it, but a small smile appeared on Gray’s pale face.

George and Rebecca smiled along with their friend.

“What do you want to do?”

“I want to. Play.”

Gray Vainy reached out for the Stradivarius. His touch was cautious but full of excitement.

“I want to.”

Gray Vainy’s eyes sparkled and shone like they did 10 years ago.

***

Because of the previous filming, the audience’s break time was longer.

The audience members who had gone to see the LA Music Academy and the nearby area according to the filming schedule returned and sat down one by one.

“Ugh. I’m nervous.”

“Me too. I’m all tense.”

Choi Yoo Sung, Natalie, and their friends sat down with faces full of anticipation. They still remembered the performance from 10 years ago.

“Is it because we watched Over the Rainbow yesterday?”

“Maybe.”

To enjoy today’s filming more happily, they all gathered and watched [Over the Rainbow 1] and the busking videos that were uploaded on YouTube. 

Of course, the scenes where Choi Yoo Sung and Natalie appeared were full of laughter.

[The filming will start soon.]

The announcement came out right on time according to the schedule, and the instructions for using cell phones or filming were also given. 

Cameras were installed all over the audience seats, and the atmosphere seemed to indicate that the filming would start soon.

Soon, the Bread Hall darkened.

Beep—-

As they had been informed beforehand, the sound that replaced the ‘action!’ sign announced the start of the filming. 

All the audience members looked at the stage and waited for the violinist to appear.

At the same time, behind the stage.

Sara Roth, the director, spoke in a low voice.

“Ready, action.”

Gray, who was standing in the darkness, looked at the bright stage.

The bright stage that he had started to fear at some point, the audience’s expectations, his performance that filled the hall.

Gray looked at the Stradivarius in his hand.

The violin that felt heavy until today felt light. 

No, it was heavy. But it was warm. It was hot. It felt like everyone’s hearts were materialized into the violin. He felt like he was not alone anymore.

So Gray was no longer afraid of the light.

Gray looked behind him.

There were his precious friends who had prepared such a big event for him with difficulty. He felt like laughing at the worried eyes of George and Rebecca.

Yes.

10 years ago. And after that.

His friends were like that.

How could he repay them? 

They gave him so much love that he would agonize and worry about it.

Gray knew.

The words that would ease his friends’ worries.

“I’ll play and have fun.”

Rebecca and George’s eyes widened. And then they curved.

“! Yeah!”

“Have fun, Gray.”

Just one word.

That alone made his friends smile with joy. 

Gray hid the tears that seemed to come out with a smile. His friends were the greatest gift God had given him.

Clank.

It sounded like the heavy chains that had bound Gray’s hand and violin were loosened.

The violin in his hand felt light.

Clank.

The chains that had tied Gray’s legs.

His steps toward the light were easy.

Clank.

The chains that had wrapped around Gray’s body.

His walk across the stage was cheerful.

Clank.

The chains that had wrapped around Gray’s shoulders and neck.

His bow in the midst of the roaring applause was splendid.

Ha!

It felt like all the chains that had wrapped around his body were gone.

With a light heart and body, the violinist Gray Vainy rested his chin on the Stradivarius.

The first song was [Over the Rainbow], the OST of [Over the Rainbow].

***

‘The outfit…’

As he watched ‘Gray Vainy’ walk to the center of the stage with a very cheerful step and sent him a fervent applause, Choi Yoo Sung remembered where he had seen the outfit that Gray Vainy was wearing.

Of course, black suits all looked similar, but he had to know that outfit.

It was the last scene of [Over the Rainbow 1] that he had watched yesterday.

That is, 10 years ago, here in the Bread Hall, the scene where ‘Young Gray Vainy’ had appeared in that outfit.

‘Why…’

As he tried to continue his thought, Choi Yoo Sung was quickly captivated by the melody of [Over the Rainbow] that filled the Bread Hall.

***

[(Good) The Basic Lesson of the Violin Dream Fairy is activated.]

[(Good) The Melody of the Goblin Violinist is activated.]

In addition to the abilities he had used during the filming 10 years ago,

[(Good) The Hymn of the Nameless Cleric – Intermediate – is activated.]

A new ability,

[(Good) The Basic Breathing of the Elf is activated.]

And his skills that had improved over the 10 years.

The waves of the amazing (but Seo-jun adjusted it properly) melody pushed against the audience.

Gray Vainy’s performance, which was much more mature than 10 years ago,

Made the audience happy with excitement and joy,

Made them ache with more poignant despair,

And finally made them grip the chair handles without knowing it with a brilliance like a wave.

He didn’t know when he blinked, when he breathed.

He was just immersed in the music and couldn’t come to his senses.

But even those who had heard this song many times had a feeling.

It seemed like only a few seconds had passed, but [Over the Rainbow] was heading towards the end.

As the last note echoed loudly in the hall, Gray’s bow stopped.

The audience members stood up one by one and applauded as if they had promised, as Gray Vainy showed them a passionate performance. 

It was partly because it was already decided, but partly because it was a compliment from their hearts.

Then, someone who looked like a staff member handed Gray Vainy a microphone.

Gray, who had neatly combed his hair, opened his mouth with a smile. His expression was full of confidence, and a gentle smile was on his face.

“I didn’t expect so many of you to come.”

‘Gray’ looked at the audience seat with a grateful face.

The people who had sponsored Gray Vainy, and the people who Gray Vainy had sponsored, who had only been shown in letters, were all sitting there with bodies.

It was amazing.

He suddenly thought of the tombstone.

There must have been people who couldn’t come…

‘They’re watching.’

Gray, who had looked around the audience seat with his lips tightly closed, opened his mouth.

“Thanks to your sponsorship, I was able to stand here. I sincerely thank you for your long support.”

Clap clap clap clap!!

The applause sound filled the Bread Hall.

“And I also thank you very much for overcoming the difficulties and gathering here. It was a really wonderful performance.”

Wow wow wow!!

The people who had been sponsored by Gray Vainy shouted with gratitude.

“I have a song that I want to play for you and my friends.”

George and Rebecca, who had been clapping their palms until they burned with red eyes behind the stage, opened their eyes wide.

He seemed to know what kind of expression his friends would have without looking, and Gray smiled slightly and said.

“The title is For My Friend.”

It was [For My Friend], the OST of [Over the Rainbow 2].