Devil’s Music

Two hours later, the ship arrived at the waters in front of Manjaedo.

As the port at Manjaedo was narrow, restricting entry for medium-sized and larger vessels, the group switched to a small fishing boat to approach the island after a short sail. Finally, they set foot on land.

Manjaedo was a truly tiny island. It wasn't something seen from afar but a serene place where colorful houses with small, bright roofs gathered together behind the serene mountains, visible from the nearby sea as they transferred onto the fishing boat.

Listening to Geon's song, everyone had a cheerful expression, whether it was due to the joy of setting foot on land or the resonance of Geon's song. Yeongseok greeted the islanders who came to see the port and quickly gave instructions.

"Actors, wait here for a moment. Leave the luggage here by the carrier and take a rest. AD! Go home and check if Sang-gil's team has set up the cameras and audio properly. VJs, stick with your assigned actors; we'll be rolling cameras for the next 24 hours continuously. No breaks. Also, keep an eye on the fixed cameras at night."

Shortly after, when the AD's radio crackled with a response, Yeongseok spoke again.

"We're about to start filming the island's arrival scene now. Hey, Haejin, give a round of applause as a substitute for the slate."

With an amused grin, Haejin clapped, and the actors, carrying their belongings, greeted the villagers before heading towards their houses.

The houses with blue roofs were nestled in narrow alleys, requiring a slight turn to allow a single bicycle to pass. Despite this, they were lovely, snug homes where one could sit on the front porch and have a clear view of the sea. Geon, entering a small room to unpack, discovered a small puppy and a cat. Forgetting about unpacking, he happily played with them for a while.

Seeing Geon's playful interaction, the youngest writer of the standby team already present on the island, Sanche, raised an eyebrow.

"Huh? Sanche, that doggie is a real people-lover, but what's up with that reserved cat? Why's she showing such affection only to Geon? That's odd, isn't it? Oh my, look at that."

The cat named Star, joined them, lying on the floor, playfully batting at Geon's hand. Star's actions went beyond mere playing; they carried the significance of complete submission.

Cats, initially wild in Africa, gradually established a symbiotic relationship with humans in civilizations where their prey, mice, flourished. Dating back to 4,000 to 5,000 years in Egyptian tombs, cats were revered as beings transcending the boundary between humans and the underworld.

Though Star was just a kitten, she instinctively sensed an unprecedented power from Geon and expressed the ultimate display of submission to him. Feeling a momentary fear of the immense power he could sense, Geon smiled and reciprocated Star's affection, understanding his status as the youngest in the group, swiftly changing into training clothes before stepping outside. Outdoors, Seungwon checked each pot, while Haejin inspected the stack of firewood. Chunho sat on a bench, contemplating their next move.

Approaching Seungwon, Geon asked, "Seungwon senior, how can I help?"

Seungwon, inspecting the pots, replied, "No, no. There's nothing to help with for now. Later, I heard Haejin will go fishing, so accompany her. I don't want to get scolded for giving you hard tasks. Besides, I'm heading to China next month; I need to return alive."

Geon, scratching his head, helped Haejin with firewood and lighting the fire. He assisted Seungwon with cooking, gaining the nickname "First Assistant" from both Seungwon and Haejin. With a love for the sea, Haejin was called "Sea Chan" while Seungwon, adept at nagging and skilled in cooking, earned the nickname "Mom Cha."

The trio never lost their smiles, managing meals with available ingredients and, as the night fell, gathered on the porch, enjoying beer and the sight of the darkening sea. They briefly stopped by a fishing pier, taking out some snacks. Geon noticed Chunho bringing out a guitar and taking a seat, prompting him to do the same.

Observing Geon, Chunho smiled lightly. "Seeing you sing earlier, it seemed like you instinctively know how to infuse emotion into your songs. It made the journey here more comfortable."

Nodding vigorously, Seungwon added, "I really don't even know when I fell asleep. It felt like being put to bed by my mom when I was a baby. At my age, missing Mom, huh?"

Agreeing, Haejin said, "Yeah, yeah. I asked both of you to be okay, yet I dozed off while you were here?"

As they praised Geon, he blushed in embarrassment. Observing him, Chunho asked respectfully, "But, Geon, may I ask you something?"

Geon replied politely, "Yes, please, ask away, sir."

Chunho raised his hand to the guitar, wearing a serious expression. "Your singing talent. Who taught you? I've heard you haven't had any mentors yet, is that true?"

As Geon nodded, Chunho continued, "So, are you naturally singing with your original voice?"

Geon continued to nod in agreement, prompting Chunho to ask, "So, what kind of life do you plan to lead? Will you be a musician, expressing your thoughts and beliefs through music?"

Geon responded without hesitation, "I want to become a musician. Someone who expresses my thoughts and beliefs through music."

Chunho observed Geon for a while before speaking again. "A musician? I see, Geon. Are you currently taking lessons?"

Geon replied, "I haven't started lessons yet. However, I'm planning to take lessons in playing instruments and vocals soon."

Chunho nodded, revealing, "I actually heard you sing at 'Studio Experience.' You recorded there, right?"

Geon blinked as Chunho chuckled, "I'm somewhat acquainted with Yongtae. He's still young, but in this industry, he's gaining recognition."

Looking up at the sky briefly, Chunho continued, "When I first heard your song, I was amazed. Your vocal technique wasn't conventional, not like established singers. Yet, somehow, I found myself captivated by your singing."

"I'm curious. Can your playing, not just your voice, move people's hearts? How much of your emotions can the instrument convey through its sound?"

Pointing at himself with his finger, Chunho asked, "Would you like to learn guitar from me?"

And that's how their conversation led to Chunho offering to teach Geon how to play the guitar.

Chunho sat on the bench, stretching his legs out.

"Oh, aging must be making my legs ache."

Tapping his legs lightly, Chunho turned to Geon.

"I'm a guitarist, so all I can teach is about guitars. If you want to learn other instruments, just let me know. I know plenty of great teachers."

Geon straightened up and responded, grateful, "Thank you, sir. It'd be an honor to learn from you, even if it's just your advice."

Chunho nodded, smiling politely. "Well, it's no joke. Let's schedule some lessons after shooting. But aren't you busy?"

Geon chuckled, shaking his head. "Hey, if I can learn from you, I'll make time. I haven't booked many broadcasts yet, so I've got some room."

"Playing guitar while singing is great. I'm still at a level where I play guitar separately from singing, but I'll get there, haha," Chunho said with a warm smile.

"I'm not good at teaching singing, haha. Seems like I lack talent for it. But I can help you find a great vocal trainer. You're like a clean slate, still fresh and quick to learn," Chunho suggested.

"Opportunities to teach a talent like yours don't come easy," he added, watching Geon's guitar.

"Do you have any favorite or influential guitarists?" Geon scratched his head, hesitating. "Um... that would be Jimi Hendrix."

Chunho nodded approvingly. "Ah, I see. You might not be at a level to claim being influenced yet, but your favorite guitarist is Jimi Hendrix. How about Ingvay Malmsteen or Steve Vai?"

Geon slightly shook his head. "Steve Vai is fine, but... I'm not particularly fond of the shred type of guitar playing. I do it when necessary, like when expressing intense emotions. But otherwise, I prefer playing at a moderate tempo."

Chunho raised an eyebrow, asking, "But isn't Jimi Hendrix primarily a shredder? Ah, I think I understand. You're talking about a guitarist whose priority is the expression of emotions and thoughts, not just speed?"

Geon nodded in agreement, and Chunho continued, tapping his index finger.

"That might be a misinterpretation, Geon. Even Ingvay Malmsteen or Steve Vai are proper musicians expressing emotions and thoughts through their music. Musical preferences can differ, but it's not good to judge between liked and disliked musicians in that manner."

Geon nodded, "Yes, I understand. It's just that I personally don't favor music with excessive shredding, hehe."

"Is that so? I see. Keep an open mind when it comes to music. It's okay to study music you don't like; it's beneficial," Chunho advised.

"Shall we consider today as our first lesson and learn some basics?" Chunho suggested, with Geon nodding eagerly. He then handed Geon the guitar with a smile.

"Basic strokes first. Let's start by learning how to hold the pick properly. Hold the pick with the sharpest and longest part touching the strings. Cross your index finger over the triangle of the pick, and then lift your thumb, as if drawing a cross. Strumming down from top to bottom is a downstroke, and strumming up from bottom to top is an upstroke."

Chunho showed Geon the guitar's soundboard. "Two downs, two ups, one up, one down. Down, down, up, up, down, up. This is the basic stroke. You mentioned learning arpeggios earlier; it's similar. The basic arpeggio on the G chord is 6, 4, 3, 4, 1, 3, 2, 3, right? Strokes also have formulas that vary with the beat. It's not too difficult, so memorize it. You can freely incorporate strokes within the rhythm; think about it later. Got it?"

Chunho handed the guitar back to Geon, who tried the strokes based on the foundational C, Am, Dm, G chords. Initially stumbling, Geon gradually found his rhythm after a few attempts.

Chunho tapped his foot to the melody he played while looking at the sea under the black and blue island sky.

"Oh, it feels so good! Both the guitar sound and the sound of the waves. Days like this call for a song. Let's put the guitar aside for now and sing a bit," Chunho suggested, taking the guitar from Geon.

Geon pondered which song to sing. Watching him, Chunho tapped his shoulder, saying, "Geon, when choosing a song, pick one that resonates with your feelings at that moment. The best songs come from the heart."

Listening to Chunho, Geon nodded. "Well, given the night and the sea here... a calm song... Oh, but that might not work. If a serene song plays in this atmosphere, it might turn into a documentary instead of entertainment, haha."

Geon glanced at Yeongseok and grinned, "So, I want to go for a somewhat brighter melody in a country style. Do you know Don Gibson's 'Sea of Heartbreak'?"

Chunho chuckled, adjusting his grip on the guitar. "Who do you think I am? But honestly, it's more surprising that a young guy like you knows such a song."

With a shuffle rhythm typical of country music, Chunho began playing. The uplifting melody blended beautifully with the night sea. Even the staff filming, and Seungwon and Haejin, secretly watching from their hiding spot, couldn't resist tapping their feet to the rhythm.

Chunho's melody painted over the black and blue sky above the island, and Geon's voice soared along.

"The harbor lights don't shine for me

I'm like a lost ship adrift on the sea

Sea of heartbreak, lost love and loneliness

Memories of your caress, so divine..."

Geon's voice, carried by the waves, filled the air:

"How I wish you were mine again, my dear

I'm on this sea of tears

Sea of heartbreak, lost love and loneliness

How did I lose you? Oh, where did I fail?"

Chunho accompanied Geon's soulful rendition:

"The lights in the harbor

Don't shine for me

I'm like a lost ship

Adrift on the sea

Sea of heartbreak, lost love an' loneliness

Memories of your caress, so divine

I wish you were mine again, my dear

I am on this sea of tears

Sea of heartbreak

(Sea of heartbreak, heartbreak)

How did I lose you

Oh, where did I fail?

Why did you leave me

Always to sail

This sea of heartbreak, lost love an' loneliness

Memories of your caress, so divine

How I wish you were mine again, my dear

I am on this sea of tears

Sea of heartbreak

(Sea of heartbreak, heartbreak)

Oh, what I'd give to sail back to shore

Back to your arms once more

Oh, come to my rescue

Come here to me

Take me and keep me

Away from the sea

Yes, this sea of heartbreak, lost love an' loneliness

Memories of your caress, so divine

How I wish you were mine again, my dear

I'm on this sea of tears

Sea of heartbreak

(Sea of heartbreak, oh)

It's a sea of heartbreak

END"

Chunho played the last notes, and the melody dissolved into the night, embracing the island in a blanket of melancholic tunes.

"This is the sea of heartbreak, filled with lost love. Even memories of tender embraces seem distant now. All I truly want is for you to return to me as my love," Geon softly concluded, his voice fading away into the sea of heartbreak.