The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 109

There are several ways for newly debuted rookie idols to make their names known to the public.

First is stamping their faces through official stages like debut shows and music broadcasts.

Second is posting announcements and communicating through official SNS accounts.

And the third, which has the greatest impact, is appearing on popular variety shows.

“We’re actually going to be on the show we always watched at home.”

“I know, right? It still feels so surreal.”

Among those variety programs, there exist shows that fans call the ‘national rule tech.’

Broadcasts that idols who have gathered some recognition after debut appear on for full-scale takeoff.

〈Weekly Idol〉, which sent us a direct invitation, is also one of those main programs.

Since it’s a program that world-famous senior idols also visit every comeback, the members all looked like they couldn’t quite believe it.

Well, these are kids who still say “I still can’t believe we debuted!” like it’s their daily bread back at the dorm.

How much more overwhelming must it be to appear on a variety program that consistently hits high ratings.

I threw an appropriate question to calm the guys’ excitement.

“What’s the recording and broadcast schedule like?”

“They contacted us saying all the preparations are done, so we can start filming tomorrow. And next week is our second week of music shows, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Originally recordings air about 2 weeks after filming, but since we need to maximize our firepower next week, I asked if they could change the order and they said it was fine.”

Even moving up pre-filmed previews and changing broadcast order wouldn’t be easy.

When that thought showed on my face, the manager patted my shoulder with a don’t-worry attitude.

“This shows just how much you guys are currently in the top priority casting tier. Enough that the broadcasting station is offering favorable conditions first.”

If I think about it rationally, this is natural.

CENTIX is currently sweeping all the titles a rookie can have.

But if this were happening to someone else, it would look calm enough.

When it actually becomes our reality, the shock comes back doubled.

“W-we’re above the broadcasting station—?”

“That’s right, that’s exactly the expression I wanted to see, Ha-ru! Make the most of your unique charm!”

“Huh?”

Due to the aftermath of 〈ISL 2〉, Chae Ha-ru still seemed unable to believe we had a higher position than the broadcasting station.

And there was no way Kang Seon-woo would let that slightly glowing light in those vacant pupils pass by.

“If you spout power-hungry comments with those eyes, the fans will immediately clutch their hearts and collapse. Hey, how about solidifying your character on this variety show?”

“Solidify my character?”

“Yeah! Just go out with an ‘I’m number one’ attitude no matter what comes up. For example, rebelling against our leader here—”

“So this was all buildup for that kind of conclusion?”

“Nooo!”

I thought so, but it was exactly as expected.

I pinched Kang Seon-woo’s cheek before he could suggest weird schemes to Chae Ha-ru.

‘So filming is tomorrow.’

It seemed like there would be quite a lot to do once we got back to the dorm.

“Have the recording format and concept been decided?”

“There will probably be a corner for writing debut profiles. For the rest of the games, they said they’d accommodate your opinions.”

“Then we need to decide among ourselves by this afternoon and let them know.”

“Hehe. Hehe.”

I deliberately ignored the ominous laughter coming from behind me.

‘I need to finish the meeting quickly before that silver hairtail fish comes up with weird ideas.’

* * *

The next morning.

The road to MBS Studio in Ilsan was noisier than ever.

“Hey, Hwi. What was the opening choreography again?”

“We watched it all yesterday. When the intro starts, right foot snap. Left hand flies up to here above the shoulder while spinning snap.”

“Ah, right. I got confused about whether it was left hand or right hand—”

“Wouldn’t it look weird to thrust out right foot and right hand at the same time?”

“Ah, that’s true.”

The same-age pair were enthusiastically reviewing random play dance, befitting main dancers.

“Brother Seon-woo, how about this? Ahem, ahem! Bamboo propeller!”

“That’s better than your earlier individual talent. But I think it would be good if you mixed in a bit more nasal tone.”

“When my nose was stuffy, it worked really well! Let me try again!”

“Should I play the video in front too?”

“Please do!”

The oldest and youngest were absorbed in polishing individual talents they’d been researching since last night.

“Brother Si-hwan.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m only going to think about this one thing.”

“What thing?”

Chae Ha-ru clenched his fist with a determined expression.

“If Korean beef comes up as one of the game prizes, I’ll go on a rampage regardless of whether you’re my senior or junior.”

“…Okay.”

“I’m not joking. For Korean beef, I could even step on Brother Si-hwan to climb up.”

“As long as you don’t physically step on me.”

“I’d do it even if it was a game about physically stepping on people.”

Wrong.

I guess watching other idol episodes of 〈Weekly Idol〉 at the dorm yesterday wasn’t monitoring.

Ever since a corner where they got to taste Korean beef if they won games appeared in one of the episodes we monitored, foodie Chae Ha-ru has been fixated on only that.

{Master, don’t worry! If it’s a luck-based game, I’ll help as much as I can with this nose.}

‘Can I make one honest statement?’

{Yeah?}

‘You might deliberately guide me toward penalty situations.’

{Am I really that untrustworthy?!}

Cerberus’s transparent tail smacked my shoulder repeatedly.

Of course, since he doesn’t exist physically, there was no impact at all.

‘It’s not that.’

{Then why! What’s wrong!}

‘You also secretly enjoy watching me suffer. It’s a unique taste.’

{P-people might misunderstand if they heard that, Master! No, no!}

‘But why are you denying it with your mouth while your tail wags faster and faster?’

{Ugh, this tail is acting up again—!}

I should just rely completely on myself.

〈Weekly Idol〉 is filmed in a special studio on the 3rd basement floor of the MBS building.

Since they play music loudly and the cast moves around without holding back, they gave us an entire wide space to use alone.

One characteristic is.

“Wow, it’s even more brilliant white in person!”

“I really can’t tell where the floor ends and where the wall starts when looking from the front.”

“I can’t get used to it.”

Everything surrounding us was white.

Floor, walls, ceiling.

Having always watched it on broadcasts, coming to the actual recording site felt different.

‘In my previous life, I died pointlessly before even appearing on official variety shows like this.’

“Hello. You must be tired from the long journey.”

“Ah, hello!”

“No, our condition is perfect!”

Before entering recording, we had time to greet the 〈Weekly Idol〉 MCs in advance.

Everyone looked lost at the appearance of veteran entertainer Jung Hang-seok, who had shown tremendous presence on one of the old national variety shows.

Even the most mischievous Kang Seon-woo was completely frozen, stiffly shaking hands, so Jung Hang-seok offered a warm smile.

“You don’t need to be that nervous, everyone. No matter how much older I am, currently CENTIX is at the peak of popularity, isn’t that right? By that measure, I’m the junior here.”

“Oh no, oh no, you can’t say such—!”

“Hahaha, that’s how comfortable you can be. This is variety. The viewers probably expect to see CENTIX members’ usual selves more than stiff comments, don’t you think?”

“Ah, yes!”

“Especially.”

Jung Hang-seok looked at Kang Seon-woo as if he’d found delicious prey.

“Our Seon-woo apparently has great variety sense? I’m looking forward to today.”

“Haha, ha. Should I release the seal right away?”

I shook my head repeatedly inside.

How can you encourage that guy’s crazy tendencies even before recording starts, MC?

The one who has to bear that pain is me.

We then greeted the other MC, Tycoon, the rising variety icon of the hip-hop scene.

After all cast and staff preparations were complete.

“We’ll start filming!”

The start call dropped.

“Power in your eyes, power in your eyes.”

“Ha-ru, there’s already enough.”

“Power in your eyes, power in your eyes.”

“Can’t you hear me?”

Before the full-scale first corner started, Chae Ha-ru next to me kept up his self-hypnosis.

Probably because of the manager’s instruction not to make his usual default dead fish eyes if possible.

With Chae Ha-ru making his double eyelids look even deeper by widening his eyes, MC Jung Hang-seok began his opening comments.

“Now, today we have really, really, really hard-to-book super special guests!”

“That’s right, that’s right! Hey, Seo-gi. Do you know how hard we worked to book these guys first?”

“I don’t know? I have no idea.”

“Stop pretending you don’t know when you do.”

“If we keep chatting randomly, the writer will definitely scold us, so let’s introduce them right away. The monster rookies currently breaking every record that exists. Welcome to 〈Weekly Idol〉, CENTIX!”

Whenever articles about us come out, the headlines always have that kind of nuance.

Honestly, I thought I’d built up some immunity, but hearing it directly still felt embarrassing and awkward.

Still, since there was no warmer welcome than this, we stood up and bowed 90 degrees.

“We’ll greet you, two, three. All eyes on us! Hello, we’re CENTIX!”

“Wow, really hot topic personified! The very people who made South Korea burn hot! And I heard this is your first variety show—?”

“Ah, yes. This is the first variety show we’ve appeared on since officially debuting.”

“That’s right, that’s right! Because of this symbolism, everyone was making a fuss saying we had to cast them quickly.”

The give-and-take between Jung Hang-seok throwing appropriate comments and Tycoon enthusiastically responding.

Since the two MCs always set up the basic framework, we could get through more than half by just giving appropriate reactions while watching for timing.

“If it’s your first variety show since debut, we naturally have to start with self-introductions, don’t we?”

“Yes!”

“Then should I greet first—?”

“No, no. Sit down! We don’t do general methods like that here!”

Jung Hang-seok pushed me back into my chair as I was half-lifting my butt from the seat.

Then he pulled over panels prepared nearby.

“To introduce yourselves to viewers and reveal debut points not yet disclosed to fans. This corner is something you absolutely must go through, right?”

“That’s right, 〈Create My Own Profile〉! First, we’ll give each of you one panel. Here are markers too.”

“Thank you!”

We placed the panels Tycoon distributed on our knees and listened to the corner explanation.

“You can see various items you need to fill out, right? The pre-revealed items are common items everyone fills out. The items covered with tape in various places have different questions for each member. I don’t know what will come up either! Now, let’s tear off the tape and write carefully.”

The common items written on the panel were quite simple.

Name, age, birthday, height, nickname, position in group.

Then the probability of unique and weird things coming up in these covered items was very high.

{Master, let’s tear it off quickly!}

‘Okay, okay. Let me write my name first—’

{You can do that later!}

Cerberus, who had climbed onto my shoulder at some point, urged me excitedly.

I had no choice but to skip the common items and open the first personal item.

‘Oh ho.’

I raised the corners of my mouth slightly.

Something quite good came up.