A singer could become a hot topic simply by being good at several instruments.
A moderately popular mid-career singer might suddenly find himself the center of public attention overnight. The reason? He played the piano at a high level on a variety show. Or there were cases where a rapper who had settled into a comedic image stunned everyone by playing the violin brilliantly, causing his image to change completely.
For a singer, instruments had the power to make the public see them through rose-colored glasses.
Idols were no different.
Recently, Korea’s idol market had become severely stagnant, so good looks were a given, and charm and talent had become the default. Amid all that, playing multiple instruments, composing, writing lyrics, and so on—if there was even one thing someone excelled at, it became a means to stand out clearly among countless members.
However, there were not many of them.
A small number meant there were few who had properly learned instruments.
If it was only at the level of “I can sort of play,” it was hard to become a talking point. Only skills that were shocking and far beyond expectations would circulate among a public whose standards had grown high. And right now, Kang Rojun had chosen the guitar as his first instrument to learn.
“Then should I grab a guitar too?”
At Kang Rojun’s words, spoken with a faint smile—
“Mm?”
“Huh?”
PD Woo Hanseok and 58 Sihu both froze slightly. A brief silence. After about five seconds, Woo Hanseok took off his glasses and asked back.
“…Rojun, you can play guitar?”
58 Sihu, eyes widened, quickly followed.
“You—didn’t you say you couldn’t play??”
Their expressions were completely opposite.
Of course, the current Kang Rojun couldn’t play the guitar at all. He was absolutely hopeless. But turning the tables wasn’t difficult.
‘Though I’ll have to spend some cash.’
After thinking for a moment, Rojun swept back his black hair.
‘At this timing, saying I have experience with guitar would be natural, right?’
Having reached a conclusion, he gave the two of them a suitable answer.
“I used to play a bit as a hobby.”
Woo Hanseok was smiling before he knew it.
“Why are you only telling us that now? Seriously, our Rojun has so many secrets.”
“It was literally just at a hobby level.”
“Haha, you say it’s a hobby and then you’re going to flip everyone upside down again, aren’t you?? Anyway, then can you play for us once?”
As if his curiosity had exploded, 58 Sihu pressed him too.
“Yeah, show us lightly. I’ll lend you my guitar.”
Rojun, who had somehow ended up receiving 58 Sihu’s guitar, answered while trying to appear as composed as possible.
“Yes, I’ll try playing.”
Woo Hanseok and 58 Sihu’s eyes widened. Just as their focus sharpened, Kang Rojun suddenly stood up.
“Before that, I need to use the restroom.”
“Ah—”
Woo Hanseok let out a hollow laugh as the tension drained from him.
“What is this, ‘We’ll be back in thirty seconds’? You really know how to cut to commercial. Hurry up and go.”
After leaving the meeting room, Kang Rojun entered the restroom on the same floor. Fortunately, no one was there, and after settling into an unfamiliar stall, he immediately took out his phone. Naturally, he accessed the “AI Simulation” app.
‘First, I should learn the acoustic version of “Survival 100.”’
Rojun tapped the “AI Automation” button among those displayed on the main screen. He had already learned the original version of “Survival 100,” both the Korean and Japanese versions. So he assumed the acoustic version, being something like a spin-off, would be cheap. He was right.
-[AI analyzing… Analysis complete!]
-[To derive your desired result, 10 coins are required.]
Learning the acoustic version of “Survival 100” was possible with 10 coins.
‘It really is cheap. The fact that I already learned the original must be big.’
Ten coins was a total steal. Even if it was an acoustic version, the vocal atmosphere was completely different, and the track itself would be released separately from the original. It wouldn’t be wrong to say he was learning a new song for 10 coins. The corners of Kang Rojun’s mouth lifted as he pressed permission to use the coins. After the familiar phrase appeared, he felt a brief tingling in his wrist.
He slowly closed his eyes.
In his head, in his senses, the acoustic version of “Survival 100” was vivid. It felt as though he could open his mouth and sing it passionately at any moment. Confidence. Certainty. After the first learning was complete, Kang Rojun—
-Swish.
Moved his finger again.
This time, he pressed the inventory button on the main screen of “AI Simulation.” One item immediately appeared.
-[1] AI Automation 50% Discount Coupon
When he tapped the discount coupon, the “AI Automation” phrases appeared again.
-[Through “AI Automation” analysis, your desired result can be derived. What would you like to derive? (Only things related to your desired profession, idol, are possible.)]
What he would learn this time was the guitar.
‘Hmm—if I only learn guitar for this acoustic version, it’ll be a bit cheaper, but since I’m going to learn it anyway, even if it gets more expensive, I should learn it properly like I did with languages.’
Rojun wrote his instructions in the blank space. It felt similar to when he had learned English or Japanese. The answer came quickly.
-[AI analyzing… Analysis complete!]
-[To derive your desired result, 380 coins are required.]
-[Would you like to use the item “AI Automation 50% Discount Coupon”?]
380 coins. Kang Rojun thought it was cheaper than he had expected.
‘Looks like my stat enhancements have had some influence.’
It seemed the musical understanding and knowledge he had steadily built up so far had helped. If he had spent on it in the beginning, it probably would have been more expensive. Whatever the case, applying the 50% discount to 380 coins meant 190 coins.
‘Learning an instrument with this level of investment is seriously sweet.’
Without hesitation, Rojun pressed “Allow.”
-[Applying… Application complete!]
Once again, he felt a tingling sensation in his wrist. Of course, this time it was twice as strong.
“Ugh.”
The buzzing passed through his forearm and reached his brain. Soon, unfamiliar knowledge began overflowing inside Kang Rojun. Technical terms he was certain he had never heard before became familiar, sheet music and chords struck him intensely, and with just a brief imagining, countless guitar melodies seemed to ring in his ears.
He stretched out both hands.
There was nothing in his arms right now, but when he closed his eyes, a guitar appeared. His left and right hands settled onto it. Slowly, his fingertips moved as his mind directed them. The acoustic version of “Survival 100” played softly. The restroom was quiet, but it was clear in Rojun’s ears.
It was then.
-Bzzzt.
-Bzzzt.
His phone vibrated briefly several times. The “AI Simulation” app had sent messages.
-[You have achieved the title mission “My First Instrument!” As a gift, 30 coins have been awarded.]
-[The title “Instrument Master” has met the conditions and will now be applied!]
-[As the title “Instrument Master” has been applied, 1 bonus coin will be added to mission-earned coins.]
They were phrases he had seen several times before. Along with the gift of 30 coins—
‘An instrument-related title?’
Kang Rojun quickly returned to the main screen of “AI Simulation,” and changes appeared before his eyes. Naturally, a title had been added.
-[Titles: Side Job Rich+3 / Awareness Monster+3 / Global Genius+2 / Instrument Master+1]
And in his status, like side jobs and global languages, “instrument” had also been embedded.
-[Instrument: [1] Acoustic Guitar]
Since he already had experience, Rojun could guess what would happen in the future.
‘This Instrument Master title will strengthen every time I learn an instrument.’
Just how many more titles were there? He didn’t know, but they were probably endless. In any case, what Kang Rojun had to do now was use “AI Simulation” as much as possible and climb higher and higher.
“Ah, from now on, I’ll earn 14 coins from daily missions.”
A little while later.
When Kang Rojun returned to the meeting room, Woo Hanseok sprang to his feet as if he had been waiting.
“Was it a big one??!”
Rojun smiled and answered.
“Yes. When I get nervous, my stomach twists up a bit.”
“Nervous, my foot. You’re someone who flies around even in front of thousands of people.”
When Kang Rojun turned his gaze, 58 Sihu, whose eyes met his, handed over the guitar he was holding.
“Here. I tuned it.”
At that moment.
“Wait a second, Rojun. Any acoustic guitar is fine, right?”
“For now, yes.”
“Hold on.”
Woo Hanseok hurriedly left the meeting room and returned about ten minutes later. Whether he had run or not, he was panting slightly, and in his hand—
“Here!!”
He was holding another guitar he had found from somewhere. And along with it, four or five female writers, including Kim Sehui, had been added.
“Why a guitar all of a sudden?? You told me to look for one, PD, so I did, but—huh? Don’t tell me both of you play guitar??!”
It was writer Kim Sehui’s high-tension shout. In an instant, curiosity and interest filled the writers’ eyes. Receiving the guitar from Woo Hanseok, Rojun confirmed the power a guitar possessed.
‘Well, it’s classic. A guitar is perfect for charming women.’
Then, when Woo Hanseok sat down, the writers lined up behind him, and PD Woo Hanseok made a request to Rojun and 58 Sihu.
“Since we’re doing this, try playing together. Like a rehearsal. Would that be too hard all of a sudden?”
58 Sihu, who had arranged the acoustic version of “Survival 100,” answered quickly.
“It won’t be hard, but—”
He turned his head toward Rojun, who was tuning the guitar beside him.
“Can you do it right away? The acoustic version, guitar or vocals.”
He had only heard 58 Sihu play it once, but Kang Rojun nodded as if it was nothing.
“Do you have the sheet music? I think I can manage.”
“…Seriously?”
“Yeah. But it’s been a while since I played guitar, so hyung, you lead.”
58 Sihu narrowed his brow slightly.
‘Fine, I can accept that he picked up the chords after hearing it just once… but the way he’s tuning that guitar—it doesn’t feel like he’s holding one for the first time in ages??’
PD Woo Hanseok and the writers felt the same.
‘Those familiar hand movements handling the guitar. Damn, I’m already looking forward to this.’
Meanwhile, 58 Sihu quickly came back to his senses.
“No, I have the sheet music.”
If he had seen this for the first time, his jaw would have dropped, but by now, he had witnessed many of Kang Rojun’s insane abilities.
“Okay, for now—”
Soon, 58 Sihu took out the sheet music he had brought and showed the side of himself that was a composer.
“It’ll be a bit complicated to divide the parts in detail right now, so let’s keep it simple and take one phrase each. Together on the chorus. Just up to the first verse.”
“Got it.”
And so, somehow, a guitar duet stage between Kang Rojun and 58 Sihu was created. Rojun held the tuned acoustic guitar in his arms and—
-Swish.
Lightly brushed the strings with his hand.
‘They’re rough.’
An unfamiliar yet familiar, strange sensation traveled through his blood vessels. A few dozen minutes ago, he had been completely clueless, but now he was filled to the brim with something. How should he put it? It was as if the guitar strings were calling to Kang Rojun. He felt like he could play any song.
‘Though I’ll have to learn new songs separately.’
In any case, he wondered if this was what it felt like to be able to handle an instrument. While Rojun was absorbed in enjoying that rich sensation, Woo Hanseok and the female writers, including Kim Sehui, were brimming with anticipation. Even though they were only in the preparation stage, a few of them covered their mouths with one hand.
At the same time.
“Rojun.”
“Yeah, hyung.”
58 Sihu, on his right, sent him a signal with his eyes. Picks were held in both their hands. Heads slowly nodding. It was the silent timing for the start. Then, from the guitars in their arms, there spread—
-♬♪
A calm guitar melody.
Without any processed melody, only the soft and refreshing sound of guitars rang out. It was entirely different from the original “Survival 100.” Before they knew it, the space was filled with an atmosphere that felt like enjoying leisure in a cool breeze.
An impeccable intro.
While playing guitar, 58 Sihu glanced at Kang Rojun. A faint chuckle escaped him.
‘He plays well, as expected. Even though this should be his first time, he plays like it’s his own song.’
The writers bounced in place and whispered softly.
“…Wow—‘Survival 100’ changes like this.”
“That two-shot with the guitars is insane.”
“My ears are melting from the intro, seriously.”
Of the two playing guitar, the first to open his mouth was 58 Sihu. At the same time, he stopped the hand that had been playing guitar. It was to focus on vocals. The one supporting the guitar melody was Kang Rojun. As if completely relaxed, 58 Sihu recited the lyrics Rojun had written.
A slight pretty tone was mixed in.
Next was Kang Rojun. When he took his hands off the guitar, this time 58 Sihu supported the melody. Rojun’s vocals had a little more strength. Like that, they exchanged phrases about twice. The vocal before the chorus belonged to 58 Sihu, and a bit of ad-lib went into Kang Rojun’s guitar playing. Scraping and strumming. It was calm, but one could tell it was gradually moving toward a climax.
In the chorus, the guitar melodies and Rojun and 58 Sihu’s vocals came together.
-♬♪
It had not been planned, but because their vocal colors were different, a subtle harmony formed.
Naturally, Kang Rojun and 58 Sihu met each other’s eyes.
Both of them stopped playing guitar for a moment. Their clean vocals remained. It was a section that gave the listener a sense of push and pull. Even without melody, there was no problem at all. Then Rojun and 58 Sihu played the guitars again in time.
After the chorus, both the guitar and vocals grew faint.
The tempo slowed.
At that moment, the frozen writers, within this quiet yet delicate melody, each found themselves thinking of their own past, present, and future.
‘Ha… the hair on my arms is standing up. Goosebumps.’
‘What is this?? It’s cool and dreamlike—I can’t get a grip.’
Some received comfort, some emotion, some encouragement, and some a tingling thrill.
‘I think I like this… better than the original. It’s easy on the ears. Seriously draws you in.’
‘Sihu is Sihu, but isn’t Rojun really a monster? How can purity and decadent beauty be mixed together?’
PD Woo Hanseok, too, had completely fallen into the duet stage right before his eyes, and in his mind, the order he had decided on for the small concert where countless audience members would gather—
‘This special stage. Originally, I was going to put it somewhere in the middle.’
Was overturned in an instant.
‘No, this… absolutely has to be the ending stage.’