Devil’s Music

Upon arriving at The Morrison, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, located along the River Liffey in downtown Dublin, they each checked into separate rooms and unpacked their luggage. After some time had passed in the evening, feeling tired, they decided to rest in the hotel for the day, each spending time relaxing in their own room. Younger than the other two, Geon soothed his regretful feelings by looking at the River Liffey from the hotel window.

After tossing and turning in bed out of boredom, Geon finally couldn't stand it anymore and abruptly got out of bed.

"Alright! Maybe it's okay if it's just downtown? I'll just go for a short walk by myself!"

Geon, having decided to go out alone, rummaged through his suitcase and picked out clothes after considering taking photos with his phone and changing outfits multiple times to find a suitable look. He ended up wearing dark blue destroyed jeans, a black shirt, and a long khaki parka that reached his knees. Disliking wearing a hat that pressed down on his forehead, he wore a round-brimmed khaki boater hat over his bangs and put on sunglasses, which he took off after seeing it was already dark outside. He then wrapped a thick knit scarf around his neck, covering up to his nose, leaving only his eyes visible. Satisfied with his appearance in the mirror, Geon pocketed his hands in the parka and headed to the hotel lobby.

Waiting his turn, Geon got into a taxi and told the driver.

"Please take me to Grafton Street."

The chubby Caucasian driver started the car and, seeing Geon in the rearview mirror, asked.

"Looking at your outfit, you seem to be involved in music? Are you going to Grafton Street to watch busking?"

"Haha, yes, that's right. I wanted to see it since it appeared in a movie."

"Ho ho, that movie has brought a lot of foreign tourists here. The music store featured in it had so many visitors that they had to expand."

"Oh, the shop where the two protagonists play the piano?"

"That's Walton's. It's on South Great George's Street, not too far from Grafton where we're heading."

"Thanks for the tip."

"Ha ha, I hope you make good memories in Dublin."

After chatting with the friendly driver, when Geon arrived at Grafton Street, it was already dark. Despite the late hour, the bustling street was alive with bright lights from numerous signs, and many people were on their way amidst the performers who were busking here and there. Geon smiled brightly at this sight.

The first artist Geon encountered was not a musician but an elderly mime artist, painted green on his body and face, wearing a ridiculous Irish traditional hat, performing pantomime. Most people just glanced and walked by, but a few, including some children, stopped with interest to watch. After watching the mime for a while, Geon took out 1 euro (about 1,300 won) and placed it in a can in front of the mime, who bowed his head slightly with a comical expression.

Smiling at the mime, Geon spotted another artist about 50 meters away. Following the worldwide hit of the movie Once, many people flocked to Ireland for busking, leading to a rule on Grafton Street that artists perform at least 50 meters apart to avoid interfering with each other. Before Geon had walked ten steps from the mime's performance, guitar sounds reached his ears, surprising him.

"This is... my song?"

The musician busking on Grafton Street was playing the intro of Geon's song, "If I could change the world." Astonished, Geon hurriedly approached and saw a young man in his mid-twenties with a stylish two-block haircut playing the guitar. The passersby seemed interested in Geon's song, stopping to wait for the performance. Making his way through the crowd, Geon stood a bit behind and watched the man with amazement.

"My song is being sung by someone else. Does this happen elsewhere too?"

Geon, not yet fully aware of his global stardom, did not realize how often his song was covered by street performers. Seeing this scene for the first time filled him with wonder. As the guitarist continued to play, the listeners began nodding their heads and moving to the rhythm, prompting a smile from Geon, who found the scene intriguing and satisfying.

Overhearing a conversation among three young Irish women nearby, Geon listened in.

"I always love listening to Kay's songs. Don't you?"

"Yes, they somehow calm me down."

"Did you see the opera performance?"

"Of course! I got goosebumps all over my body. Did you see the ending?"

"Yes! The high note, right? I screamed so loud I got scolded by my mom. But the funny thing is, when

I showed it to her, she screamed too, ho ho."

"It was truly a performance of the century. But it was titled Leontine Price's retirement concert, and all I saw was Kay."

"Ho ho, girl, that's because you have a crush on Kay!"

"Oh my, look at you? Don't you have one?"

"Ho ho ho, yes! I'd date Kay even if he asked me for just an hour."

"An hour? Really?"

"Of course! Wouldn't you?"

"Um...if it were me...I guess so? Haha"

"See! Ho ho."

Although they didn't realize Geon was there, hearing their conversation made him slightly embarrassed. Just then, the artist finished the intro, and his song began. The man sang at an amateur level, but it was good enough to keep more people staying than leaving. Although Geon had covered others' songs before, this was his first time hearing someone else perform his own. He quietly sang along to the lyrics.

"If I could change the world. (If I could change the world.) Back in time, I'll be back then. (If I could turn back time, I'd go back to then.)"

Even though he sang softly, the three women next to him turned with surprised expressions. The woman who had been focusing on the performing artist now glanced sideways at Geon, her eyes widening as they exchanged looks and focused their attention.

"When I had to hide in a place where no one knew. (When I had to hide and could only watch from a place unknown.) If you can go back then and save you. (If I could go back and save you.)"

The eyes of the three women twisted in shock. They huddled together and whispered urgently.

"Did you hear that just now?"

"Yes, yes!! It sounded exactly like Kay's CD!"

"Isn't it even more amazing than Kay? The voice is incredible!"

The three women turned back to look at Geon again. The man, stylishly wearing a boater hat on his head with black hair falling to his eyebrows, was mostly covered by a scarf up to his nose, but even the glimpse of his eyes was enough to recognize his incredible handsomeness. The most confident among the three women blushed slightly and brushed her long blonde hair behind her ear. The other two pushed her forward, whispering.

"Vernin, you've fallen for him, haven't you?"

"Go talk to him. You're the best among us."

Vernin pushed back against her friends' urging arms, saying.

"Oh, stop. What should I say all of a sudden?"

"You're good at this kind of thing. You even managed to charm that handsome American at the Temp bar last time!"

As Vernin glanced at her friends, she heard the man's song again. But as the busking artist's voice drowned out the sound, she looked at the stage with annoyed eyes and muttered.

"That's supposed to be singing?"

Unaware of the situation, Geon continued to sing softly. As the performance reached its climax, his voice grew slightly louder, causing the people around him to step back a bit and start watching him. The artist, noticing the attention shifting, stopped playing and spoke into the microphone.

"The man wearing the boater hat?"

As everyone's gaze focused on Geon, he took a step back and smiled awkwardly, looking around. The street performer called out again.

"The person with the scarf. Could you come up here for a moment?"

Seizing the opportunity, Vernin approached Geon, gently tugging at the sleeve of his parka, and said with a shy expression.

"Go on. We all heard you singing."

Geon looked at Vernin with a puzzled expression, but feeling the collective gaze upon him, he stepped onto the stage, not wanting to disrupt the performance. The guitarist extended his hand for a handshake.

"I'm Beamard."

Geon was about to introduce himself but hesitated. After a moment, he smiled and said.

"I'm Geon."

"Geon? Like the gun? Is that a nickname?"

"Haha, no. It's just a name from my country."

"Ah, a traveler. I thought your black hair looked unfamiliar."

Beamard glanced around at the roughly twenty spectators and said to Geon.

"People seemed more interested in your song than mine. Are you a musician?"

"Yes, I'm a student."

"I see. I'm not a singer but a musician. I know my singing is just so-so. Today is my last day in Ireland before I leave. Would you give me the chance to sing with you?"

"Oh, you're leaving?"

"Yes, I'm going to study in England. Tonight is my last night in my hometown, Dublin."

Geon looked around at the people, hesitant. About twenty people were watching, but with the street bustling with passersby, the number of those just walking by seemed to be in the thousands. Watching the

street filled with the leisurely pace and bright smiles of the Irish people, Geon smiled at Beamard.

"Sure. It would be an honor to be part of your last night here."

>

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