Devil’s Music

Chapter 63: Song of Water (11)

Himalayas.

It had been a week since people began scouring the mountains for traces of Gusion.

Gusion, who could have easily eliminated a few individuals without anyone noticing, was now being relentlessly pursued by thousands, grouped into dozens, and had been driven up to the very summit of the Himalayas.

At the peak, adorned with various national flags, a white monkey, supported by the flag of an unknown country, gritted its teeth.

"Shiva... Why has this suddenly started happening?"

Gusion, sensing the essence of Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu from those chasing him, hadn’t realized that this situation was orchestrated by Gamagin.

The blizzard, obscuring the view, only affected humans. Gusion, looking in the direction from which the people were ascending, muttered as he observed those marked with Shiva’s symbols.

"These people know exactly that I am a demon. It's not a time when they can't tell if I'm an angel or a demon; they know for sure and search accordingly. Revealing myself now would only prove that angels exist as well, which I cannot allow. That would be doing the angels a favor."

"Those angels will handle him if I leave him be. There’s no way they would just watch over a human who has crossed the line. Damn, I need to return to hell for now."

As Gusion was grinding his teeth, purple smoke rose from where he stood, and his body disappeared.

Unaware of this, the search continued, and a few days later, Gusion’s cave was discovered. The entrance was sealed with explosives and thoroughly destroyed.

However, the Hindus and Tibetan Lamas who had failed to find Gusion did not let their guard down and maintained vigilance at the entrance of Gusion’s cave.

After Gusion disappeared, Gamagin arrived at Shiva's place in the Himalayas and sat down on a chair.

"Thank you for this time."

Shiva, serving tea, said with a grave expression.

"It’s not over yet. You know that, don’t you?"

"Mm... I am aware."

"Just before the child’s music was completed."

"It is already complete. It’s just not considered complete by human standards."

"Well, if that music can heal those who are hurt, that would be great."

As Gamagin stared intensely, he took off his sunglasses.

"Aren't you affected at all? You are a god, and the child has transcended human boundaries."

Shiva, locking eyes with Gamagin for a moment, smiled.

"Gamagin, whether humans are sick or die, that is the will of gods. But humans becoming mentally ill is not. The greatest gift gods have given to humans is forgetfulness. When a human who has experienced something hard and shocking enters into forgetfulness, they can forget that event and resume a normal life and thinking."

Gamagin nodded as Shiva continued.

"However, constantly forcing them to remember, preventing them from receiving the gift of forgetfulness, is the interference of demons. Reminding them of bad, hard, and shocking events breaks down their fragile mental strength. That's what demons aim for."

Gamagin crossed his arms and sighed.

"I'm well aware of that. I've never done such things myself, but I know other demons do."

Shiva took a sip of the steaming tea and added.

"The angels have sided with the child for this reason. I, too, hope that the demons' antics are reduced. The music the child is about to create is of such nature. I have no reason to oppose it."

Gamagin stared at Shiva and asked.

"If the child’s music had been in a different direction, does that mean you would have changed your stance as well?"

Shiva, observing Gamagin’s intense gaze, chuckled.

"Would you have let it happen? Your goal is clear. Although you're currently a demon, you're gathering holy power because you want to become an angel. You wouldn't have let the child stray. I don’t know the child well; I've only met him briefly. What I trust is not the child, but you, Gamagin."

Shiva glanced at Gamagin, who was silently watching him, and then looked outside the cave as he brought the tea to his lips again.

"So please, make sure I can keep trusting you."

* * *

Two weeks had passed since Arthur arrived in the U.S.

The band's recording began with Arthur's drums, and they hadn’t practiced together even once during this time.

Geon had intentionally prevented it, so they only recorded their parts individually, and they hadn’t yet heard any music that included instruments other than Arthur's drums. Kevin and Shizuka had listened to the music several times and expressed a desire to revise it, but the time wasn’t right, according to

Geon, so the other members just shrugged.

Arthur promised to return to the U.K. first to take care of business, and to come to the U.S. as soon as the next piece of music was completed.

Shizuka’s piano was recorded to match Arthur’s drums, and Kevin’s bass was recorded last. Geon’s guitar was recorded last, and although there were no lyrics, the music was finally completed.

At the New York Downtown General Hospital.

Geon, who had experienced severe headaches, sat in the waiting area as per Bok-jun's insistent recommendation for periodic brain CT scans.

"Hmm… I need to add a few more guitar notes to the transition into Verse 2."

Geon, whose mind had been filled with the Song of Water recently, didn’t hear the nurse calling his name as he nodded along to the music.

"Kay? Is patient Kay not here?"

Normally, the next patient would have been called, but no nurse was unaware of the famous Geon. Seeing Geon listening to music, the nurse approached and lightly touched his shoulder, prompting him to open his eyes and smile.

"Is it my turn?"

"Oh, yes. You seem to really focus when listening to music, being a musician."

"Ah… did you call me several times? Sorry about that."

"No worries. The radiology doctor is waiting, so please go for the scan, and then it will take about 30 minutes for development and analysis."

"Thank you, nurse."

The brain CT scan took about 20 minutes. Even during the scan, Geon continued to mull over his thoughts and then sought out a bench in front of the hospital to get some fresh air.

While waiting for the development and analysis, Geon sat on a hospital bench, not noticing the passing time as he observed the people limping or staggering around him. Then he looked up at the shadow covering him.

A frail, white-haired old woman approached Geon, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Alex, you’ve finally come back."

Startled by the old woman who suddenly grabbed his hand and sat next to him on the bench while crying, Geon was at a loss for words.

"No, I—"

"You don’t know how long I’ve been looking for you, Alex. Where have you been? No, it doesn’t matter. I’m just so thankful you’re back. Thank you, thank you."

As the tearful old woman spoke, Geon knew he had to tell her he wasn’t Alex, but somehow he couldn’t find the words and simply extended his hand to her. A nurse quickly intervened as she saw the old woman, who had disappeared while her back was turned.

"Barbara! I was so worried when you disappeared just now."

Despite the nurse’s efforts to hold her back, Barbara clung even closer to Geon.

"My son is here, please let us go. I want to live with my son."

As Barbara tried to hide behind Geon, he had no choice but to step back to give her space. Recognizing Geon, the nurse gave a discreet nod.

"I’m a fan, Kay."

"Ah, thank you. But why is she acting this way?"

The nurse sat next to Barbara, gently stroking her hand.

"She has Alzheimer’s. Do you know what that is?"

"Do you mean dementia?"

"Dementia and Alzheimer’s are similar brain diseases, but they’re a bit different. Alzheimer’s disease starts with the loss of recent memories and eventually only early memories remain."

Geon looked at Barbara with a sad expression as she rested her head against his back.

"Is there no treatment?"

"Sigh, there is no cure found yet. The best we can do is slow its progression with medication."

"I see…"

Especially soft-hearted towards the elderly, Geon turned to face Barbara. She had been looking at him with eyes full of a mother’s love, and now touched his face and asked.

"Have you eaten? I’ll make your favorite food. Let’s go home, okay?"

As Geon looked into her eyes, filled with a momentary clarity, she suddenly recoiled in surprise.

"Oh, who are you?"

"Excuse me?"

"I’m sorry, did I—"

Surprised by her sudden change in demeanor, Geon looked to the nurse, who shook her head in disbelief.

"She’s lucid now, but she goes through this several times a day."

As Barbara stood up and spoke to the nurse, her balance wavered slightly.

"Lisa, I’m sorry. Did I lose my mind again?"

Lisa, the nurse called by name, smiled and helped her sit back down on the bench.

"No, Barbara. You were just having a conversation with this gentleman."

Barbara turned to Geon and after studying his face for a moment, smiled.

"What a handsome young man. Nice to meet you."

"Ah… yes, nice to meet you too, Barbara."

"Phew, I’m tired. Shall

we go inside, Lisa?"

As Barbara stood up, struggling to keep her balance, Geon quickly rose to support her.

"I’ll help you. Let’s go to your room."

"Oh, thank you. You’re very kind."

"Hehe, I hear that a lot. Shall we go, Lisa? Where’s the room?"

Lisa indicated with one arm while supporting Barbara with the other.

"It’s in the psychiatric ward, room 403."

As Geon entered the psychiatric ward supporting Barbara, he was taken aback by the sight. An elderly woman sat perched on a bed, pretending to fish, while a young woman on the next bed continuously nodded and murmured something. The woman next to Barbara’s bed was covering her face and crying.

After helping Barbara onto her bed, Geon looked around the ward with a sorrowful expression. Lisa pulled the blanket up over Barbara and spoke.

"A lot of people are suffering, aren’t they?"

"Indeed… Sigh."

Geon was about to sit on a nearby daybed when he accidentally nudged the next bed.

"Oh, I’m sorry."

The crying woman raised her head, and as Geon was about to apologize, he froze upon seeing her face.

She looked at Geon briefly before covering her face again, but Geon couldn’t look away.

Tightening his trembling hand into a fist, he softly said to the crying woman.

"You were here... ma’am."

One summer day.

In the psychiatric ward of New York Downtown General Hospital, Geon reunited with the mother he had met in Chicago, who had lost her daughter.

>

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