Chapter 81: Five Hundred Million Years

A long silence. Lee Sua broke the stillness.

“Do you think that’s the correct answer?”

Her voice was calm.

However, there was no hesitation or fear of being wrong. It was a question asked to confirm something she was already strongly convinced of.

Lee Sua.

Even though she seemed to bow down, there was no servility in her demeanor. Ham Ah-yoon sensed a firm and strong temperament from her.

…This is strange. She doesn’t seem like someone who’s experienced music.

Since becoming a pianist, how many musicians had she encountered?

Ham Ah-yoon was confident that she could tell just by looking at someone’s face if they had done music before, and if so, what kind of music they were involved in. Yet, no matter how she looked at Lee Sua, she just seemed like an ordinary person.

For instance, she didn’t have the habits or traces typical of musicians. Just by looking at her white, unblemished hands, wasn’t that obvious enough?

Well, in any case, it was time to give an answer.

And in the next moment.

The expression gradually faded from Ham Ah-yoon’s face as she looked at the keyboard.

‘…What is this?’

It matched up with what she had played.

To be honest, identifying notes by ear isn’t that extraordinary. It’s merely a necessary skill to reach a high level.

However, getting multiple notes correct at once is a different story.

No, it would be fair to say it’s on a completely different level.

‘It wasn’t just pressing; she practically slammed the keys. It was close to noise, and yet she could identify the correct notes?’

She immediately denied it. It didn’t make sense.

‘No, maybe she saw where my hands landed.’

She decided to leave it at that for now. It was too surreal otherwise.

“Let’s try again. Close your eyes.”

Sua quietly closed her eyelids. Her long eyelashes gently rested like the eaves of an ancient temple.

Plink—

“La.”

Plink—

“C sharp.”

Plink—

“Mi.”

Even when changing octaves, the results didn’t change. Every time Kim Hyo-jin’s fingers touched the keys, the girl uttered the correct note.

Without even a moment’s delay. Every single time.

‘Who are you? Do you have perfect pitch or something?’

In the end, Ham Ah-yoon had to admit it.

Lee Sua’s ears were extraordinary. Far beyond her expectations.

However, she didn’t want to acknowledge it easily. If the girl before her was truly that remarkable, it would only make her feel even more resentful.

This wasn’t out of jealousy or anger toward Sua. It was just…

‘If such a prodigy exists, why wasn’t I informed?’

Yes, that was the problem.

She couldn’t understand it at all.

Why didn’t anyone tell her? That such a monster existed?

But Ham Ah-yoon soon had to abandon that thought. Looking around, everyone else wore faces of utter shock. They all seemed to have just realized the extent of Sua’s auditory abilities.

It was unfathomable. Everything about it was baffling.

Ham Ah-yoon continued, feeling a growing sense of intrigue.

“Your ears are incredible. Saying they’re top-notch doesn’t even do them justice.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“This is beyond just being good. Actually…”

Ham Ah-yoon left the sentence unfinished. She almost said that it might be a once-in-a-lifetime talent but managed to hold back.

“In any case, to play the piano, it’s not just about having good ears. Hands are just as important. Imagine having extraordinary hearing but not being able to express it through your hands. I don’t think there could be a curse more tragic than that.”

Sua quietly nodded.

Indeed, that seemed true.

Currently, she possessed hearing that was several times more sensitive than before. If she couldn’t produce beautiful melodies under these conditions, how frustrating and miserable would that be?

Of course, Ham Ah-yoon wasn’t simply trying to give affectionate advice to Sua. In fact, her eyes grew a little sharper.

“Let’s see how far your fingers can go. It’s essential for playing Kim So-hee. Let’s see if your fingers can move as sensitively as your ears.”

Lee Sua suddenly looked around.

Earlier, the environment had been distinctly divided, almost as if there were factions. But now, that was no longer the case. The dynamics were quite different.

“Who is that rookie?”

“Did she know how to play the piano?”

“…Did you see that? She got four notes right at once.”

Now, everyone was watching with immense interest, and all of that attention was focused solely on Sua.

Plink—

That was when Ham Ah-yoon pressed the keys loudly.

Daralararan—

And then the performance began immediately.

Sua’s ears were undoubtedly accurate. The piece Ham Ah-yoon’s fingers began to play was Chopin’s Etude Op. 10 No. 4.

Title: “Chase.”

Sua thought to herself. It was a bold choice.

“…Isn’t that Chopin?”

“She plays well. Too well, in fact….”

“But what is she trying to make her do?”

The gathered crowd murmured without restraint, loud enough for both Ham Ah-yoon and Sua to hear clearly.

After a short performance, Ham Ah-yoon tilted her head slightly and asked,

“I still don’t know how good your piano skills are. So, the basics. Chopin. What do you think? Can you play at this level? Is it possible?”

Sua didn’t respond.

“Take it easy. You don’t have to follow exactly what I played. Any practice piece will do. If I find it satisfactory after listening, I’ll concede the role of Kim So-hee to you.”

Meanwhile, the crowd surrounding Sua and Ham Ah-yoon pressed in even closer, eager to get a better look.

In the middle of it all, Sua thought to herself,

‘They keep making me do more and more.’

It was a standard progression, gradually climbing each step, but for Sua, who had already experienced so much, it felt a bit tedious. If there were more to come after this, it could even be a little annoying.

Coincidentally, the title of the piece just played was “Chase.”

A chase, huh.

To catch someone running ahead, you can’t run at the same speed. You either have to run faster or show something that stops them in their tracks.

It wasn’t difficult.

After all, Sua had just thought of something.

‘Let’s do it this way.’

Plink—

Sua sat down at the spot where Ham Ah-yoon had been and pressed the keys.

This time, it was Sua’s performance that began.

Dadadadan—

But something was strange. It sounded similar to Ham Ah-yoon’s piece, yet if someone were to ask if it was the same piece, the answer would be a definite no.

People began to tilt their heads in confusion.

Then suddenly—

“…!”

Someone exclaimed as if they had just realized something.

“The positions of the black and white keys are reversed!”

Sua was playing the same piece Ham Ah-yoon had just performed, but with the positions of the black and white keys flawlessly switched.

It was as if she intended to overtake Ham Ah-yoon, who had started running ahead.

It was more than impressive; it was downright uncanny.

“Playing Chopin’s Etude with the keys reversed?”

“That’s impossible. Not without prior practice…!”

“No, even if she had practiced it, it’s still incredible!”

There was no need to debate it. It was, without question, a resounding success.

“…”

Ham Ah-yoon’s mouth fell slightly open. The surrounding crowd was no different.

“…What.”

In a space now much quieter than before, Ham Ah-yoon spoke.

“I see, you do know how to play the piano. And it’s clear you were brought here as a genuine candidate, not just for show. But this is only the beginning. Should I give you some time to warm up your fingers?”

“No. I don’t need that at all.”

She showed not even a hint of anxiety.

Yet, it didn’t come off as arrogant. On the contrary, it seemed as if she was amazed at herself, which only deepened the confusion among those watching.

After reclaiming her spot at the piano, Ham Ah-yoon stretched her fingers.

It was confirmed that Lee Sua knew how to play the piano. But from this point on, it was purely out of her own curiosity.

…Did you make that expression because you understood my performance? The same expression my father used to make?

A moment later.

Dadadadadan—

Dandadadan—

Still, Sua remained calm.

What she had just played wasn’t an etude but a waltz.

She had mimicked Ham Ah-yoon’s piece exactly.

Even though it was a fast piece in 3/4 time, she played it perfectly.

Ham Ah-yoon’s face twisted unconsciously. By now, several beads of sweat had clearly formed on her forehead.

…This is strange, really strange.

Her skill was beyond expectation, but what truly unsettled Ham Ah-yoon was the sense of discomfort she felt from Sua.

She played well, but something was off.

She played incredibly well, but there was definitely something strange about it.

She felt an overwhelming need to understand why.

Just as Ham Ah-yoon was about to play the next piece,

“One moment, please.”

Sua requested a brief pause.

Only then did Ham Ah-yoon realize she might have been too harsh with her testing. Ah, without realizing it, I made it too difficult.

However.

“My hands feel stifled. Could you play something more intense?”

“…?”

Ham Ah-yoon’s eyes widened.

Her tone was polite, but the content was anything but light. It was an incredibly bold request.

Yet Sua stared at Ham Ah-yoon, showing no intention of retracting her words. After pressing a few high notes, she effortlessly handled even those.

Sua focused solely on the sound she was producing.

This… Now that I’m playing, it’s actually really fun.

Just as athletes enjoy moving their bodies, she found exhilaration in moving her fingers to create melodies. It was incredibly addictive.

Any earlier thoughts of it being bothersome had long since vanished.

One more. One more…

Sua perfectly followed everything Ham Ah-yoon played.

Dadadadan—

While Sua was absorbed in her newfound joy, Ham Ah-yoon blinked blankly, not even thinking to wipe away the sweat that had started to trickle down her face.

Thoughts of showing off or never giving up the role of Kim So-hee were already gone. All that remained was the shock of realizing the source of the discomfort she had felt while listening to Sua’s performance.

Yes, she had finally figured out the reason for that unsettling feeling.

‘…This kid, she’s definitely moving her hands for the first time.’

Lee Sua’s performance was elegant, yet oddly stiff.

Was it a mistake or intentional? Something only a trained eye could discern.

However, Ham Ah-yoon could clearly understand the reason.

Lee Sua’s fingers were incredibly stiff.

It was the problem that arises when the vision in one’s mind is perfect, but the hands can’t keep up. In other words, regardless of what was in Sua’s head, it hadn’t been long since she had truly started moving her hands.

…But how is that even possible?

‘That doesn’t make any sense.’

Did the spirit of a legendary pianist suddenly possess her? Or is she merely replicating Ham Ah-yoon’s finger movements from memory?

…Almost like a symptom of savant syndrome?

Either way, it was absurd.

It was nearly impossible, and if it was possible, it was an innate genius.

‘An act? Yeah, this kid is playing as if she’s acting. She moves her hands as if she’s recreating what’s in her mind. Even if she mimics the real thing perfectly, it’s still just an imitation. But the problem is…’

One day, those fingers will become more flexible.

By then,

The performance that started as mere imitation would eventually transform into the real thing. In this world, people commonly call such individuals geniuses.

‘What is she? Who on earth is she… just like Kim So-hee herself…’

“Move. Step aside for a moment.”

Ham Ah-yoon played a short section of a piece.

Dadadadada—

It was fast. Yet, a piece familiar to all.

“Flight of the Bumblebee…!”

“She’s asking her to play that? Seriously?”

“If she pulls this off too, then what does that even mean?”

Ham Ah-yoon paid no attention to the rapidly growing commotion around her. She kept her gaze fixed solely on Lee Sua’s fingers.

It was insanely fast.

She knew she was asking for the impossible.

However, it was perfect for confirming one thing.

If this girl was truly the type of genius who could memorize everything in one go and play as if she was simply recreating what was in her head, then her fingers would inevitably get tangled up with this piece.

It was too fast. Her fingers wouldn’t be able to keep up.

So even if she failed this piece, it wouldn’t be a failure. It would merely prove her genius in remembering every movement she saw just once.

In fact, if she only failed to recreate this piece, it would make her the perfect candidate for the role of Kim So-hee. In the story, Kim So-hee, who actually has savant syndrome, struggles because her fingers can’t keep up with her genius.

Soon, Sua sat down again.

Just as Sua was about to start playing,

“Wait.”

Ham Ah-yoon hurriedly stopped her. Facing this pivotal moment, there was one question she had to ask.

“You.”

After taking a few deep breaths, Ham Ah-yoon asked,

“How long has it been since you started playing the piano?”

“Hmm.”

After a brief moment of thought,

“…About five hundred million years?”

It was bizarre.

Because it didn’t sound like a joke at all.