The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 11

Isn’t beer after work the most delicious thing in the world?

Originally, beer tastes even more refreshing when drunk with snacks, but unfortunately it was getting late at night, making it a bit burdensome to eat late-night food.

—A message has arrived.

“What’s with all these messages coming nonstop?”

Song Ji-won, who had finished showering, shook the water from her hair while picking up her phone.

With a whopping 14 messages arriving in just 20 minutes, she wondered what it could be, but the moment she saw the message preview, she could guess who it was from.

‘Today was that day, right? The day 〈ISL 2〉’s theme song comes out.’

After finishing university and immediately getting hired at her desired job, she had one hobby.

A hobby she couldn’t really call just a hobby since she was more devoted to it than her actual job.

A small oasis she could find in her frustrating daily life—idol fangirling.

Song Ji-won, who hadn’t been particularly interested in idols until middle and high school, underwent a change in values after entering university.

While enjoying the freedom she gained after becoming an adult, she happened to see an incredible live performance by an idol group at a festival she attended.

From that moment, Song Ji-won understood why people went crazy over idols.

Once you start fangirling, they look like the most handsome and beautiful people in the world.

Since they’re good at singing and dancing too, there’s no time for their charm to fade.

When they’re on stage they seem like heavenly beings, but when they show their faces on broadcasts or SNS they’re just like friends from the real world.

They consistently treat fans with smiling faces, allowing you to temporarily forget this harsh reality.

Song Ji-won’s fangirl life started later than others, but progressed at tremendous acceleration.

She thought it was fortunate that she started fangirling only after becoming an adult.

The biggest advantage was spending autonomy.

While in her student days she needed parental permission or allowance to do anything, now she could pay directly from her own wallet.

While following various idol groups, there was a program that caught Song Ji-won’s attention three years ago.

〈Idol Stove League〉, which induced tremendous viewer participation unlike other survival programs.

Working at a game company, Song Ji-won was impressed when she saw 〈Idol Stove League Season 1〉’s voting system, feeling like she was playing an actual idol development game.

She could support her favorite with her own hands.

She understood a hundred times over why 〈ISL 1〉 viewers were called managers.

The nine participants who won in this brutal survival and brain battle between viewers debuted as a group called QS (Quality Start) after 〈ISL 1〉 ended, and disbanded after a total of two years of activities.

The fate of project groups created through survival programs, you could say.

QS fans had no choice but to fangirl even knowing the future of automatic disbandment once the predetermined contract period ended. They had already become overly invested in the members who must have experienced countless difficult situations during all the broadcast content.

Due to QS’s activities reaching the highest position of respect in Korea, expectations for 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 continued to rise.

When will they make it, will they cause our kids the pain of disbandment again this time, if they’re going to debut with disbandment in mind please at least extend the activity period—accompanied by such outcries.

Of course, Song Ji-won was one of those crying out.

After dragging on like that for several months, a notice finally went up on the KNet website last week as if all preparations were complete.

[‘Please develop your idol!’ 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉, theme song 〈HIT〉 scheduled for release June 10th]

The moment that news appeared, tremendous firepower hit to the point where servers including the KNet website and internet portal sites’ green windows were temporarily paralyzed.

SNS sites like Bluebird and Stargram, as well as Fakebook which had recently become inactive among young people, overflowed with stories about 〈ISL 2〉.

Realizing that idols she could obsess over again were finally coming after QS, Song Ji-won had anxiously looked at the calendar every day with her university classmates who had become close while going around workshops, fan signings, and concerts together.

And at the end of that wait, today at 6:30 PM, 〈HIT〉 would be released.

The season of that survival program, majestic yet harsh, beautiful yet desperate, was returning.

Song Ji-won, who had finished drying her hair, quickly launched a real-time group video call app on her tablet PC.

Shouldn’t such historic videos be watched while seeing the faces of fellow fangirl mates?

Song Ji-won’s friends who entered the call room one by one all boasted highly flushed cheeks.

“What should I do? My heart’s pounding so much I can’t watch!”

“You don’t even know what kids are appearing yet and you’re already clutching your heart making a fuss.”

“Sister, didn’t you see the gallery? They say famous major agency alumni are appearing in the trainee gallery! Not just any names, but from BK and X2!” (+) ^[1] TLN: TIL, the term “gallery” (갤러리) in Korean is equivalent to “community”. If you want to know more, it originated from popular online community website in Korea (DC Inside) where individual topic-based forums are called “갤러리” (galleries)

“Wow, that’s worth clutching your heart over.”

Song Ji-won, who wasn’t the type to check SNS apps daily, hadn’t known this news.

When a classmate who was an expert on Blue Bird and galleries shared the rumor that there might be major agency alumni participants posted on the trainee gallery, everyone went crazy.

At least this season’s commercial success and eye candy were guaranteed, they said.

Song Ji-won placed the tablet on her studio apartment desk and checked real-time live talk reactions coming up on her phone screen.

Just like the previous season, 〈HIT〉’s stage video would appear at the end of 〈Music K Showdown〉.

Even though there was still some time left, the live chat room was already bustling with tremendous numbers.

—I heard this season demands even more viewer participation than Season 1, already getting a headache…

—Didn’t we get money when our predictions succeeded last season and support them with various things? It’s getting worse than that? Is that possible?

└I don’t know. Is everyone’s saying that?

└It’s a broadcast where not even previews have come out yet, where the hell do such rumors come from lol. Is there someone from the production team among people you know?

—What if it gets stronger, doesn’t that mean the trainees’ skills are guaranteed? If it was shit, they wouldn’t have pulled out that format thinking about fan reactions exploding lmao

—Ah lol the happiness circuit is running~

—I can hear the burning sounds all the way here

As expected of impatient Koreans, they were excitedly arguing using rumors spread across various communities.

Song Ji-won sipped her beer while waiting for 〈Music K Showdown〉 to end.

While there were some decent idol groups in between, there wasn’t yet a team that struck Song Ji-won’s taste enough to beat QS in her heart.

She could only hope that 〈ISL 2〉 could fill this empty void.

Around the time she was shaking the last few drops of beer into her mouth.

“Ah, Chae-hyeon! The time I’ve been really, really, really waiting for has come!”

“What is it, what is it! Seong-hyeon, this is the first time I’ve seen you this excited since your debut!”

The figures of 〈Music K Showdown〉 idol MCs appearing with lively comments filled the screen.

“You know what, honestly speaking, watching handsome guys is the joy of my life, you know?”

“Oh my, Seong-hyeon, is that your preference?”

“I was so sincere that you’d think that way! Yes everyone, I was also a huge fan of 〈Idol Stove League Season 1〉! It’s already been three years since I tasted that hot excitement.”

“Wow, has it already been three years?”

“Time passed so quickly, right? I think viewers who watched 〈ISL 1〉 live with me probably felt the same way. Then I shouldn’t drag this out any longer!”

When the male idol MC coolly flipped his cue card backward, the live chat room was frantically sending drum rolls collectively.

—LET’S GOOO LET’S GOOO LET’S GOOO!

—Heave ho heave ho

—Para

—dise

—Para!

—dise!

—Para! dise!

—Hell

—fall

—Don’t say unlucky crap like hell fall… (+) ^[2] TLN: Okay so, the joke here, the person who said “Hell/나” was trolling. Because the other were trying to spell “Paradise/극락” per syllables. 극. 락. And that troller wrote 나 instead of 극. So combining the troller with the normal chatter 극+락 resulting to “hell fall.” Hope my explanation make sense lol

“Once again, I’ll introduce the 100 boys who will heat up this summer! 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉, right now, 〈HIT〉!”

“It’s starting, it’s starting!”

“What should I do, I think my heart’s going to burst!”

“Haven’t you been saying it’s going to burst since earlier? If needed I’ll call 119 for you, so be quiet and watch.”

“Too mean!”

Behind her classmates’ pterodactyl-like screams, Song Ji-won seriously watched the dazzling special effects of being sucked into rippling constellations.

The camera angle that had soared high up slowly descended again.

Because it was an angle shot from such a tremendously high position, the majestic three platforms spread out below began to appear faintly.

And above them stood countless trainee figures wearing identical gray uniforms.

After 3 seconds, a heartbeat sound like a pounding heart rang through the speakers.

「You ready?」

“I’m ready!”

Along with the tremendous response of a classmate’s scream, 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉’s theme song 〈HIT〉 began powerfully.

Her shoulders naturally bounced to the trendy house-style beat harmonizing with the majestic EDM bass.

‘The song’s good for starters! Great beginning!’

In time with the intro, trainees on the left and right turned their bodies toward the center.

When the gradually building atmosphere finally reached its peak, trainees positioned on the central platform showed off brilliant turn moves and smiled toward the camera.

“Gonna make it HIT!”

A thrilling group chorus filled with insane refreshment—Song Ji-won got goosebumps on her arms.

Yes, this was exactly what she had wanted.

As if sharing identical cells, the 100 trainees formed unified group choreography, amplifying the catharsis.

Whether it was because of the subtle filter applied over the video, some of the trainees’ faces really seemed to glow on their own.

“Wow, sister, sister! Did you see that guy just now? His face is insane!”

“It was too brief, I didn’t see!”

“Wait, this guy coming out now is so cute too. Look at his expressions, it’s insane!”

Song Ji-won’s friends looked ready to burst through the tablet PC screen. Honestly speaking, she wanted to join this pterodactyl group too.

But Song Ji-won, who was more serious about fangirling than anyone, judged rationally.

While clapping and making a fuss, she might unknowingly pass by gems.

So she temporarily completely turned her back on her classmates and looked only at the TV.

The real-time live chat was also pure madness.

—The song’s really good for real

—Is it just me who thinks it’s better than last season?

└Yeah just you~

└Yes next social media troller picking fights~

└Both of you shut up instead of starting fights in this sacred venue

While songs were of course an area involving personal taste, Song Ji-won thought 〈HIT〉 was slightly more addictive than 〈ISL 1〉’s theme song 〈Run with U〉.

The melodies were similar, but how should she put it.

Should she say it was a bit richer?

But this was actually a funny impression too. Feeling richness in chorus parts that 100 people all recorded together?

Along with song impressions, analysis of participants’ dancing/faces/atmosphere was also happening so actively it was rough.

—Wow what’s that hairstyle just now, a bandit? LMAO

—Who comes to an idol audition with that long hair lol… totally doesn’t suit

└Didn’t he kind of look like a sheepdog? lmao

└LOL apologize to all the sheepdogs in the world, you crossed the line

└Sorry sorry

The charm was how reactions completely changed whenever a handsome trainee appeared.

—This is what eye cleansing should be

—Really looks classy as hell, noble young master style

└The guy just now is the major agency alumni from that rumor, alright. Famous in the trainee gallery

└Ah that’s Seong-hwi? I only heard the name but didn’t know his face, he is handsome but too much of a gisaeng brother style

└Then should burly muscle men do idol work? Just imagining it is horrifying lol

└Tsk tsk you… when you get older you’ll naturally learn the charm of muscles…

That friend must be the famous major agency alumni trainee.

‘He is handsome.’

While Song Ji-won was thinking that to herself, naturally the spirits on the tablet PC were also in chaos.

“I told you! It wasn’t just a rumor!”

“I feel like I have a reason to live every week.”

“Are you going to pick him as your one-pick right away?”

“Don’t know, his face is interesting for now!”

Of course the trainee called Seong-hwi was handsome too, but somehow he wasn’t exactly the style Song Ji-won ultimately pursued, so it was slightly disappointing.

But right then.

Around when the second verse was about to start, the formation of participants on the center platform changed and new faces that had been hidden appeared en masse.

At the dead center of that changed formation was one trainee who boasted 100% accuracy while making eye contact with the camera every moment.

“Wow, fuck.”

Song Ji-won unconsciously cursed.

The empty beer can in her hand also clattered onto the table.

She had seen countless idols.

Since dozens of groups debut every year and might disappear without a trace—that’s the Korean entertainment industry.

Even in such an overflowing talent pool, there really weren’t many idols who boasted outstanding presence.

But right now at this moment, Song Ji-won’s radar was spinning like crazy.

The sense to grasp which camera was filming him.

The wit to show different expressions every time the choreography changed.

And finally, dancing, looks, singing—ability stats boasting a perfect hexagon without leaving anything out.

“Put all of your heart into it, powerfully HIT!”

At the beyond-idol-level high notes bursting out like carbonation, Song Ji-won and all viewers couldn’t get their bearings.

At the point choreography like shooting bullets with his hand, her heart ached as if actual bullets had been fired.

Song Ji-won clutched her chest while holding only this one thought.

Found him, my one-pick.

• 1. TLN: TIL, the term “gallery” (갤러리) in Korean is equivalent to “community”. If you want to know more, it originated from popular online community website in Korea (DC Inside) where individual topic-based forums are called “갤러리” (galleries)
• 2. TLN: Okay so, the joke here, the person who said “Hell/나” was trolling. Because the other were trying to spell “Paradise/극락” per syllables. 극. 락. And that troller wrote 나 instead of 극. So combining the troller with the normal chatter 극+락 resulting to “hell fall.” Hope my explanation make sense lol