Devil’s Music - Chapter 95: The Leopard That Lost Its Fangs

On that day, Phil drank until the alcohol became like rice cakes.

Walter, noticing that Phil was not drinking in his usual melancholic manner, happily joined him. Geon drank four glasses of orange juice in a row and constantly visited the restroom. Despite the difficulty of going to the restroom due to the women throwing glances and making comments every time he went, Geon found the gathering where Phil, who was smiling and drinking, was talking with him shoulder to shoulder, very enjoyable.

Phil had accompanied Geon throughout his stay in Seattle. On the day Geon left for Manhattan, Phil, seeming disappointed, even followed him to the airport. As Geon was getting his ticket and preparing to board the plane, Phil looked at him with a regretful expression.

“Do you really have to go back to school? With your talent, you could succeed without bothering with school. How about forming a band with me?”

Geon chuckled and patted Phil’s shoulder.

“I need to finish my studies. There’s still a lot for me to learn.”

Phil expressed his regret, revealing a disappointed expression.

“I wanted to introduce you to Vinnie too. It’s a pity to part ways like this.”

Geon smiled and shook hands with Phil.

“I can’t help it if you’re too busy to come right now. I really wanted to meet you. Let’s see each other later.”

Phil shook hands with Geon and said, “Don’t forget our promise. When Vinnie comes back, we’ll definitely go meet her.”

Geon accepted Phil’s farewell gesture and boarded the plane. As Geon left Seattle and looked down at the cityscape from the plane, he thought, ‘Take care, Phil. Take care, Jimmy.’

Geon arrived in New York and returned home. After tossing his hat on the bed and placing Haku against the wall, he took a shower. Coming out with his hair still wet, Geon changed into comfortable clothes and realized he hadn’t eaten anything all day.

“It’s been a while. I should go to Logan’s shop and have an avocado sandwich or something.”

As Geon was about to leave, he suddenly saw the hat he had thrown on the bed. With a deep sigh, he left the hat behind, only wearing the black mask, and headed out. The distance from his home to Logan’s shop was about a 15-minute walk. As Geon walked slowly, taking in the sights, Dante Park came into view.

“I probably won’t be able to sit there leisurely anymore, right?”

Adjusting his mask, Geon entered Dante Park, and as he walked through the grass under the warm afternoon sun, he noticed three girls who had been observing him approaching.

“I shouldn’t get caught outside. I’d rather go into Logan’s shop, sign something, or whatever.”

Hastening his steps, Geon quickly arrived in front of Logan’s bakery. Glancing back, he saw the three girls vigorously following him.

“If I get caught outside, it’ll be troublesome. I should just go into Logan’s shop, sign something, and be done with it.”

Hurrying his steps, he arrived in front of Logan’s bakery in no time. Glancing back, he saw three girls enthusiastically following him. As Geon was about to open the bakery door to greet Logan, he froze when he saw the scene inside.

The inside of the shop was packed with people, with no space to move. Logan, despite having two employees, was still short-handed, managing the cash register while a large banner hung behind him.

“Julieard’s prodigy boy, Kei’s favorite spot.”

Geon stared at the crowd with disbelief.

“Goodness, I thought it would be better to come in and not get caught outside!”

At that moment, Logan, who was looking at the cash register, noticed Geon and his eyes widened. Before Geon could even put his finger to his lips, Logan shouted.

“Oh! Kei!! You came!!”

Even those who were choosing bread in the bakery and those sitting at the few tables turned to look at Geon. Before Geon could even put his finger to his lips, Logan’s exclamation burst out.

“Oh! Kei!! You came!!”

Even those who were choosing bread in the bakery and those sitting at the few tables turned to look at Geon. Having difficulty due to the pushing fans, Logan came to Geon’s rescue.

“Wait, wait! Please give us a moment! Kei, come to the kitchen!”

Geon grabbed Logan’s hand, avoiding those who wanted to touch him, and entered the kitchen. In the midst of the chaos, one fan managed to snatch Geon’s mask. In the kitchen, Logan closed the door behind Geon and apologized with a relieved smile.

“It’s been a while, Kei. I’m sorry it turned out like this. I was too excited to see you, haha.”

Geon sighed, looking around.

“Is the business doing well, Logan?”

Logan, sweating nervously, replied, “Haha, yeah. Thanks to you, it’s doing really well. All thanks to you. Haha.”

Geon, giving Logan a stern look, said, “How am I supposed to come in this state? I’m dying just trying to buy bread.”

Then, as if having a good idea, Logan said, “I’m sorry. How about I give you free bread until you graduate? How’s that?”

Geon, lifting his shoulders off the table, let out a sigh.

“In this state, how am I supposed to come? It feels like I’m going to die just trying to buy bread.”

Logan, with a somewhat awkward expression, continued, “I’m, I’m sorry. Haha. Instead, I’ll give you free bread until you graduate! How about that?”

Geon, lifting his shoulders off the table, let out a sigh.

“In this state, how am I supposed to come? It feels like I’m going to die just trying to buy bread.”

Logan, with a somewhat awkward expression, continued, “I’m, I’m sorry. Haha. Instead, I’ll give you free bread until you graduate! How about that?”

Geon, who was leaning on the table at the expected table, sighed.

“Fine, Logan. If you want to eat it, just call and I’ll bring it when I can.”

Logan, as if telling Geon to trust him, pounded his chest and said, “Yeah! Just call me, and I’ll bring you freshly baked bread, not the ones I’ve displayed.”

Geon, looking at the small window in the kitchen, said, “How do I get out of here?”

Logan, after glancing through the window to check the situation outside, apologized with a regretful expression.

“Yeah! Just call me, and I’ll bring you freshly baked bread, not the ones I’ve displayed.”

Geon, looking at the small window in the kitchen, said, “How do I get out of here?”

Logan, after glancing through the window to check the situation outside, apologized with a regretful expression.

“Um… sorry to bother you, but, well, as you might have heard earlier, there are people who’ve been coming here every day for a week, waiting. If it’s okay with your schedule, could you spare a moment for a signature or something?”

Geon, as if expecting this, sighed and replied, “Ah, I understand. But I’m hungry. Can you give me an avocado sandwich?”

Logan waved his hand, saying, “I’ll make one with fresh ingredients, not the ones on display! Just wait a bit! Want some milk too?”

Geon nodded, and Logan quickly prepared a sandwich, extending it to Geon. “Here! Logan’s special sandwich! I’ve put double the avocado compared to the ones we sell.”

Geon, apparently very hungry, stood there and devoured the sandwich. Logan looked at him with a satisfied expression and said, “Just three months ago, you were just a student. Never thought you’d become a star like this.”

Geon, after hastily eating the sandwich and gulping down some milk, said, “Yeah, I never expected this to happen either.”

Logan patted Geon’s back and said, “What now? Going back to school?”

Geon nodded, finishing the remaining sandwich. Logan then asked, “Can you go to school? Haven’t been to the front gate?”

Geon looked at Logan with a puzzled expression. Logan explained, “There are over thirty reporters waiting at the school gate. They’ve been waiting for over a week, even in the early morning.”

“A week? Reporters waited a whole week at the school gate for me?”

Logan nodded, saying, “Yeah, they’ve been rotating shifts 24/7. There are even people waiting in the early morning.”

Geon sighed and said, “Phew, causing trouble for them. We should at least give them an interview and send them away. Dodging now will only make it worse.”

Smiling, Logan asked, “Huh? Why does something look familiar? Do you know the right way to handle this?”

Geon chuckled, throwing the sandwich bag into the trash. “Let’s go. Quickly sign and go home. But Logan, you have to pack a lot of bread when we go to my place. No freebies, though.”

Laughing, Logan replied, “Sure! I’ll send them off with both hands full. Count on me, K.”

As Geon opened the kitchen door and stepped out, the people who had been waiting rushed in. When Geon raised one hand, the crowd quickly quieted down.

“We’ll provide autographs and take pictures. Please maintain order, everyone.”

Swiftly setting up tables and chairs, the attentive staff arranged everything, and Geon began signing. The line of people waiting for autographs extended beyond the shop, catching the attention of passersby. Spotting Kaya as they joined the line, more people joined, making the line even longer.

After signing for over two hours, Geon, with sore arms, left with the bread Logan had prepared. Arriving home, Geon rested for a moment, but suddenly remembered the reporters still waiting at the school gate. Putting on a new mask, Geon headed back to school.

Although it was evening, reporters were still gathered at the school gate, their attention diverted from the ongoing vacation. Geon approached the closest reporter cautiously.

“Excuse me.”

Startled, the reporter, who had been cautious, opened wide eyes upon seeing Geon. When Geon put his index finger to his lips, the reporter nodded frantically. Without waiting for a response, Geon whispered, “There’s a convention hall inside the school. I’ll be waiting there, so only reporters, please come in.”

Without waiting for the reporter’s answer, Geon dashed into the school. Seeing someone run into the school, the reporters looked back and forth before one reporter yelled. They quickly followed Geon, and soon, more than a hundred reporters gathered at the convention hall.

Geon answered the reporters’ questions patiently, realizing that providing answers at once was better than dealing with them every day. Feeling the frequency of questions increase, Geon stood up and said, “It seems there are no more questions. Do you have enough material for your articles? This is where students study, so please refrain from coming here. Promise me.”

After hesitating, a reporter raised his hand and asked, “Hey, K. Since you don’t have an agency, we can’t request an interview legally. What do you do in such cases?”

Stepping out of the door, Geon replied, “I do have an agency. I’ll talk to you all soon. We’re still in discussions.”

Closing the door and putting on a mask, Geon returned home well past 9 PM. Lying in bed, Geon made a call.

“Hello? Is this Director Son Rin? It’s Geon. It’s been a while, huh? Haha.”

>

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