Arena Chapter 80:
Arena Chapter 80 – Bella (Part 2)
I started researching violins on the internet .
The first thing I learned was that they were ridiculously expensive?
The violin itself is crazy expensive, so is the bow, and the case they go in is expensive too .
On the internet shopping mall, I searched in order of highest price and looked in the middle but it was still about 10 grand .
It said it was was from the 19th century from Italy or something like that in the description .
For someone trying to learn it for the first time, having a violin like this would be like putting pearls on a pig .
‘Ok, order . ’
Wel,l who cares, I’m drowning in money .
As a complete newbie me, I went ahead and ordered the 1$0,000 grand violin .
When I get good, I’ll buy the most expensive one .
I just went ahead and called the seller and asked for expedited delivery
“Yes, we can send it right away . ”
As a buyer purchasing an expensive item, the seller was very compliant .
“As long as it’s a good product, I’ll order right away . ”
“Well, if you do we’d be grateful . No need to worry about the product . If there is a defect in such a grand item, that would be a problem . ”
Then that takes care of the violin, now back to surfing the web .
In the Bucheon area, I’m looking for a violin instructor .
There are rather a lot of specialists looking for jobs so it wasn’t hard .
-Hello?
It was a woman’s voice . Some name brand music school was listed in the blurb and her voice sounded about that age .
“You teach violin? I am calling in regards to your blog message . ”
-Ah, yes!
“I am a complete noob, and I have a child from out of the country and she is pretty good . ”
-Oh, does the child speak Korean?
“None at all . She can’t even say my name . ”
The woman laughed .
-I understand . First, I’ll meet and see the level and then decide .
“Yes . ”
-When should I come by?
“Immediately, today . ”
-Excuse me? Oh, yes, what time today?
“Would 8 pm work?”
-Sure .
Hmm, rapid events indeed . Having money makes things this easy .
A few hours later, the delivery came by and dropped off the violin .
“Bella . ”
Bella, who had been in her room excitedly playing the violin, ran out .
“Look at this . ”
Bella’s eyes shined bright and she touched my violin .
She tried to lift it and put it under her chin but it was too big and she couldn’t get the grip right . Haha, even that is so cute .
But she persevered and managed to lift the bow too .
“How is it?”
I raised my thumb and asked . Bella nodded her head and raised her thumb the same way .
Hmm, seems good .
We fidgeted with the violin together and while Min-jeong prepared dinner for us .
Today was a feast too and I told Min-jeong .
“You must be tired . Make it simpler from now on . ”
“I have the Korean food cooking certification skills exam so I am practicing for it . Once I get the certificate I’ll start cooking simpler meals . ”
“I’m sure you’ll get it . You’re so good . ”
“Hehe . ”
At my compliant, Min-jeong put on a bashful expression . What, why is she like this . Not cocky like before .
We ate and then watched some TV and at 8 pm, the tutor I called arrived .
“Ah, hello . ”
“Please, come in . ”
Min-jeong greeted the music tutor .
Min-jeong glanced at me with narrow open eyes . Here it is again, that blocking instinct .
But the music tutor was a noticeably beautiful woman, so she’s right .
With long straight hair like Min-jeong’s was before she cut it, with clear features, it all made for an innocent looking face .
“Rest easy . I’ll go bring some snacks, yubo . *
(TN: An endearing way of calling someone ‘honey’ . Usually only used by married couples though . Pronounced yoh bo . )
At Min-jeong’s words, I flinched and nodded my head .
“Uh, okay, do that, yubo . ”
“Your wife is a beauty . ”
“Isn’t she?”
“She is very young . ”
“Yes, she looks young for her age . ”
But really, she is young . She is only in her early 20’s .
Min-jeong probably has her ears raised in the kitchen and was listening to this conversation .
I introduced Bella and then started the lesson .
“You must start from reading music . ”
“Yes . ”
“And Bella is about a Suzuki level 2 . ”
“What is a Suzuki?”
After listening to the explanation, it is the most famous 10 book violin instruction . I wonder if it is easy to level 3 and then incredibly difficult henceforth?
It is such a popular teaching material that it is also used among amateurs to discern talent amongst them .
I learned to read the music .
Bella, who had been listening on the side, followed like a parrot to the teacher . It suddenly became a simultaneous Korean lesson .
I was hard at work taking notes as I went along and Min-jeong brought us snacks and with lynx-eyes looked at the teacher and me .
Like that, the 2-hour lesson was over .
“How many lessons would you like a week?”
Asked the teacher .
“Is every day possible?”
“Um, every day?”
“Yes, I will pay handsomely . ”
The teacher consented .
***
Now that I had learned how to read the music, it was full on and the fun violin learning began .
The violin is a disgustingly difficult instrument . Even just making the sound isn’t easy . But still, the teacher was surprised .
“How did you learn so fast?”
“Is this fast?”
Having practiced a week and it being a feat to make one good sound, it made me dubious .
“You are very quick . The reason office workers attempt the violin as a hobby and give up is because of the time it takes to make the proper sound . ”
Is that so?
What a cursed instrument .
I now realized how great violinists are .
“Bella is incredible . ”
I mumble while looking at Bella, who was playing with ease by my side .
Bella opened her eyes wide and I gave her a thumbs up to say that she’s the best .
Bella gave a big smile .
“Ugh, so cute . ”
“She is . ”
The teacher was smitten too .
With two flames of life being given to her every day, Bella has become energetic and her violin skill made daily progress .
Even an amateur like me could see the daily progress .
It was as if the skill that was suppressed because her disease is now in full bloom .
Bella, with joy that her fingers are moving as she wants now, excitedly played the violin .
2 weeks passed by like this .
I asked Sylph for noise reduction and practiced the violin like crazy on the terrace .
‘If someone sees, they’ll think I’m crazy . ’
For real though, sometimes Min-jeong looked at me with eyes like that .
But this is training .
More so than training with martial arts, raising the reflex skill level is the profit .
Reflex .
The ability to move the body at will .
In some ways, it can be said that it is the most fundamental martial art .
The violin is the fastest training method to raising that skill level .
‘It will definitely work . ’
Intermediate level 1 reflex was being used, which is why my violin skill was improving so much faster than the average person .
So that is why I must practice the violin as hard as I can, so I can raise my reflex level .
I did a lot of drastic exercises in the elf village . But timing every finger correctly, delicately moving, that kind of movement is a first for me and it makes it a very high difficulty level training .
“Oh, oppa, aren’t you going to work?”
“Yea, I don’t have to work . ”
“You’re going to become a violinist?”
“No, this is a hobby . ”
“What hobby are you doing like you’re possessed?”
“Because it’s fun . ”
Min-jeong worried about me, playing the violin all day like an unemployed man .
But there were results .
2 weeks later, I played the last gavotte in the Suzuki book 1 .
“How in the world…”
The teacher looked like she couldn’t believe it .
Bella, with a face full of surprise, also started clapping .
“Am I a fast learner?”
“Too fast! Mr . Hyun-ho, you are a genius, a genius! Why did you not take up music to begin with?”
“Uh, not sure . ”
At the teacher’s strong reaction, it makes me feel shy .
I moved right onto Suzuki book 2’s first piece, Judas Maccabeus .
A crazy learning speed .
***
“Huanag!”
Bella exploded into tears . She collapsed to the floor and kicked her legs and cried .
Odin made a bitter smile .
Today is December 31 .
It was the day Bella goes back to Denmark .
Her father Odin came to get her personally, and Bella was crying saying she doesn’t want to go . She has grown quite attached to us during that time .
While Min-jeong soothed Bella, Odin came out with me to the terrace and we had a conversation with just the two of us .
It is because no one can hear us speak in the Arena language .
“It has been a long time since I’ve seen Bella sob like that . ”
“She’s grown very attached . I’m upset about it too . ”
“I am glad . ”
“Huh?”
“Even as she cries and resists and tantrums, I can tell Bella’s health has improved quite a bit . I can tell in one glance that she has gotten much better . ”
“Hahaha…”
“Thank you very much . ”
Odin held my hands tight .
“I think she has gotten much better but I don’t know that it will heal her disease . ”
“I will observe the results and if needed, I may request your assistance once more . ”
“Please do . ”
“Then next time, I shall see you in the Arena . ”
“Yes . ”
We went with them to the Incheon airport to see Odin and Bella off .
Before Bella left, she stayed in Min-jeong’s arms and sobbed . A cute little girl, miserably crying, it made our eyes naturally water too .
On our way home, Min-jeong said .
“Wasn’t Bella so cute?”
“Yep . ”
“Hing, I want a daughter like that too . ”
“… shall I give you one?”
Min-jeong chuckled aloud at my bad joke .
Thankfully, that talk ended there .
Somehow, I feel that bit by bit that Min-jeong was wanting to get married and it made me nervous .
Right now, I don’t have the capacity to think of things like that .
I don’t know when I will die and I don’t want to leave a family behind .
***
We spent the new year together and in the middle of January, Min-jeong started going to work at her cousin’s company in the Gasan digital district .
The days of leisurely sticking together and playing have ended .
“Darn, the good days have gone . ”
“To eat and live, you have to work . ”
“Hmph, oppa, you can be responsible for me . ”
“Now now, one must be responsible for one’s own life . ”
“Hmph . ”
With a slightly disappointed face, Min-jeong left for work .
Dear girl, even as a joke, if I say I’ll take care of you, the atmosphere will somehow start feeling like we need to get married . That won’t do .
Being alone, the training became easier . I did the training I was unable to do because Min-jeong might have seen .
“Teleport . ”
Pat!
In an instant, I fekt my body lift and I was suddenly standing in front of the mu ren zhuang .
“Weapon Neilson H2, Divine Protection of the Wind . ”
I held the dual pistols in both hands and the Divine Protection of the Wind activated .
I lightly took a step and quickly moved from left to right and hit the mu ren zhuang .
Dodging between the stick arms while twisting my hands to target the mu ren zhuang . I repeated these movements like a machine .
Jumping using and using the wind, I instantly increased the distance . I leapt again and shortened the distance and aimed again .
In the time it took to blink, I flew to the opposite side and kicked the sandbag while aiming the dual pistols at the mu ren zhuang at the same time .
While pouring sweat, I finished the training and afterwards, I practiced the violin . I got rid of the sound with Sylph and repeatedly played the pieces I had learned thus far .
The playing of a violin was not easy so even a bit carelessness while practicing is very obvious .
I’m already doing it so I look at the next piece I’ll be learning .
And then .
-Reflex (synthesis skill): know how to move your body well .
*Intermediate level 2: In all actions requiring body movement, possess prodigious abilities .
“Yes!”
I lifted the violin and bow and shouted out .
Yes, the reflex skill level was raised .
A fairly high level intermediate level 1, I raised it in a month so it’s a pretty impressive result .
Playing tag with the elves and fighting zombies on the cliffside, I went from entry level 5 to intermediate level 1 and that took a long time .
‘It seems a new training that I’ve never done before will be of more aid . ’
When I get good at the violin, I thought I’ll pick up another instrument .