The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 125

“Ohhh……”

“Seon-woo’s really gotten so much better!”

Like Zefa, BK Entertainment’s male idol group Comet, who had recently finished their comeback activities, were huddled together in front of the TV screen.

The TV connected to NeoTube was playing CENTIX’s encore stage that had won 1st place on 〈Show! Music Time〉.

All five voices were continuously letting out admiring exclamations.

But there was one person whose volume particularly stood out.

“Our Seon-woo, it feels like yesterday when he was like such a baby!”

“That guy’s starting again.”

“Just leave him be, it’s not just a day or two.”

“Why are you all being so cold when our Seon-woo is appearing so coolly like that. Right?”

Comet’s leader Joo Han-ul, who boasted the longest trainee period at BK Entertainment of 6 and a half years.

As a result of spending tremendous years as a trainee at BK, he had seen countless colleagues leave.

When he finally achieved his debut dream and had to leave his trainee status behind, there was one particular trainee he cherished.

The protagonist who had received his one-sided affectionate offensive was precisely Kang Seon-woo.

When Joo Han-ul practically hugged the TV, the members watching shook their heads and laughed.

“Well, Seon-woo was about due to debut too. Plus he was Brother Han-ul’s most cherished junior, so how touching it must be.”

“He watched all of 〈ISL 2〉 too, that guy.”

“At that level, isn’t it obsession rather than fondness?”

“Come to think of it, the leader must be disappointed.”

Main rapper Jason tapped Joo Han-ul’s shoulder.

“Huh? What’s disappointing?”

“You wanted to meet Seon-woo on stage. But we already finished our activities, so that’s disappointing.”

“Ah, that’s true. But you know.”

The smile completely disappeared from Joo Han-ul’s face.

When the cold atmosphere he usually emanated returned, the Comet members’ bodies tensed up with a jolt.

“Not meeting was much better. If we had gone up against CENTIX with our new song’s performance, we would have been completely destroyed.”

“Really?”

“Come on, brother, that’s ridiculous. No matter how good they are with solid skills and fanbase, beat us? We’re still eating 2nd place on the music charts right now. Even though our activities ended quite a while ago?”

“Right. Since I’m just saying it like this, you guys can’t believe it.”

Joo Han-ul spoke as if he had anticipated even this reaction.

When CENTIX’s 〈Chronic〉 encore video ended, he stood up from his seat.

Then he swept over the members with meaningful eyes.

“One week, no. Just wait until this weekend. You’ll understand what I meant.”

“……”

“Ah, but the more I watch, the better our Seon-woo gets! Hey, Jason, didn’t they have a showcase stage too? Where can I watch that?”

“You’ll find it all if you look on NeoTube—”

“Really? Then watch the full stage with me.”

“L-Leader?”

“I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Joo Han-ul hugged the flailing Jason tightly and laughed like a child.

That chilling expression that had instantly made the dorm living room’s temperature plummet was nowhere to be found.

“Ah, I want to see our Seon-woo soon!”

* * *

The promised 3rd week of activities had arrived.

As the period that most MILLENNIUM had called a watershed began in earnest, anticipation mixed with faint tension spread.

Because there was quite a lot at stake.

Among those, it was time to resolve the most sensitive topic for CENTIX’s hardcore fanbase.

An existence like a business card that proves they’ve established themselves as a 1st tier idol.

Precisely the terrestrial triple crown.

Survival idols from KNet carry the stigma that they have privileges like a tag following them.

Since KNet is the channel that helped them debut, getting 1st place on 〈Music K Showdown〉 that they host doesn’t have much meaning.

Just like how parents cherish their own children, the strong prejudice exists that KNet music shows favor idols born from their own survival programs.

So most idol fans say that to gain the title of top-tier idol, you must win triple crown on impartial terrestrial broadcasts.

CENTIX, who had shown destructive records, was no exception.

One of the persistent hate comments that had been running since 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 aired was in this context.

—Kids who haven’t even proven their results yet, what’s so good about them lmao

—Yeah no matter how much you hype them up here, they’ll only get 1st place on Music K forever while being treated like nobodies on terrestrial 3 stations~

—Time-limited cable TV groups have clear limits hehe

MILLENNIUM, who had developed some immunity to hate through the passing years, were very annoyed that such public opinion didn’t stop even after getting 1st place on MBS.

It wasn’t a triple crown, but they had confidently gotten 1st place on terrestrial broadcast that they’d praised so highly.

Now the direction of criticism had continued with a slightly twisted direction.

—But honestly, isn’t this 1st place a bit of an empty house robbery……? Heh

—At the point when the big 3 Zefa Comet Magnus all left, getting lucky with 1st place once and being happy to death LOL

—Hey, robbing empty houses is also skill, don’t be too harsh or they’ll cry

—LOL if they can’t rob the remaining empty houses until activity ends, public opinion will be worth watching. That’s how the STS bubble will pop completely

People who were hitting them down again, saying it was a 1st place achieved because major idol groups had ended their activities.

MILLENNIUM knew well that writing angry replies here would only hurt their feelings without being able to reverse public opinion.

In the end, they had no choice but to clasp their hands tightly and wait for the most important timing, the 3rd week.

“Really need to shut all those people’s mouths.”

Ryu Si-hwan’s homma was desperately praying as well.

She suddenly looked at the post-it proudly displayed on her desk.

Just having it written ‘Sister Min-ah’ was enough to make her ecstatic, but her bias had even written [When all that’s over, you’re going to eat with me, right?] next to it.

To prevent her bias from getting hurt, the fanbase needed to unite even more.

[The long-awaited 3rd week of activities! Everyone don’t forget continuous streaming & online pre-voting & real-time text voting! (KBC Link) (MBS Link) (SBM Link)]

NeoTube [HwanFather] channel was showing good growth. Since CENTIX’s official debut, she could source Ryu Si-hwan’s individual clips from various directions.

Reality programs, CENTIX individual NeoTube self-content, and the recently successful 〈Weekly Idol〉.

Thanks to excellent sources falling into her hands, she had been consistently creating quality videos.

So now over 7,000 subscribers could check the community notices the homma wrote.

After pressing enter, she checked the time.

‘About 20 minutes left.’

If the first week had the debut showcase and the second week had 〈Weekly Idol〉, the third week’s highlight was 〈Born to Be Idol〉.

Even though it’s not a variety show that airs on TV, the impact of a NeoTube channel with over 1 million subscribers in today’s era…… is beyond words.

What MILLENNIUM had constantly told Rave Entertainment was ‘row when the tide comes in.’ And as they wished, CENTIX was continuously appearing on major programs while spreading their name in various directions.

To give a punch to those who still looked at CENTIX with bitter eyes, they had to raise their fierce firepower one more level through today’s 〈Born to Be Idol〉 release.

Actually, she wasn’t too worried.

Since it was already a channel that had created videos with over 8 million views by collaborating with outstanding idols.

It meant the table was grandly set, so they just needed to come and deliciously scoop it up with spoons.

‘Most importantly, everyone acknowledges our kids’ variety sense.’

That there were no overlapping characters within the group was a huge advantage.

The reason recently debuting idols have large member counts is also to place as diverse members as possible to maximize appeal.

Since people have different tastes, the method of widening variety has become almost standard practice.

But CENTIX was consistently proving outstanding variety sense despite their relatively small number of 6 members.

The homma looked fondly at the thumbnail of [〈WI〉 Ryu Si-hwan Cut] video currently showing steep view count increases.

She never imagined that kind Ryu Si-hwan with a father image would be portrayed as a merciless boss position in variety shows.

But watching her bias skillfully handle everything like an expert was also very delicious.

As soon as she prepared the recording program on her main desktop, a NeoTube notification popped up.

[(ENG SUB) “Brothers, taking CENTIX is really easy, right?” CENTIX: The Beginning of Rebellion∥Born to Be Idol]

An impressive thumbnail of Yu Ha-woon wearing sunglasses with a triumphant expression and the other brothers collapsing next to him.

When she only saw the 1-minute preview, she couldn’t tell what situation it was, but now she understood clearly.

‘It’s an age reversal concept.’

The homma clicked on the video while recalling leader Yu Ha-woon’s shouting from the middle of 〈ISL 2〉.

A length of 22 minutes and 47 seconds was a passing grade from the start. Since the running time was long, it meant the kids had produced tremendous amounts of content.

[A quiet practice room somewhere]

[We heard baby monsters live here, but it’s too peaceful for coming to see that……]

[???: Waaaaah—!]

[???: Practice, practice!]

[???: Practice, practice, practice, practice is good—.]

[As expected, this silence doesn’t last long.]

〈Born to Be Idol〉 characterized by monotone narration like old human documentaries and palace script subtitles.

CENTIX appearing with a bang while chanting the word practice like a slogan and adding dry commentary as if they were mysterious creatures was even funnier.

[It’s a perfect day for practice today, right everyone?]

[Yesss—.]

[Hey, your voices are small, fellows!]

[Eh, eh? Me? I answered loudly though—.]

[No excuses! Go turn on the music and practice group dance alone for 10 minutes!]

[……]

Ryu Si-hwan leading the 〈Chronic〉 practice session didn’t seem satisfied with Yu Ha-woon’s weak answer.

Just as he selected the youngest and sent him to the front.

[……PD! I can use this now, right! I’m using it! Am I using it?]

[(Suddenly threatening the main PD, the youngest)]

[(Then the PD also nods and takes out something from their pocket to give?)]

“What, what is that.”

The homma unconsciously let out a laugh.

Yu Ha-woon equipped the sunglasses and mustache he received from the main PD, then proudly unfolded a small paper.

[CENTIX World Reversal— Age Flip?]

[What’s this? Hey, Ha-woon, instead of practicing like you should, what did you get from the PD? Why is a kid who doesn’t even have real facial hair wearing a mustache—.]

[Hey! Shh! Where’s everyone talking informally!]

[……???]

When Yu Ha-woon shouted loudly, Ryu Si-hwan’s eyes, who had been showing overwhelming presence, widened in surprise.

Seong-hwi, Ma Si-hyeok, and Chae Ha-ru who had been quietly nearby also became startled rabbits.

Only Kang Seon-woo at the far end was holding back laughter while transforming into his familiar mask-like face.

Yu Ha-woon, completely unfazed by his brothers’ reactions, pushed up his sunglasses with his index finger and declared in a low voice.

[From now on, this instructor will take charge of CENTIX’s practice command! Understood?!]