The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 126

“I had a feeling from the preview.”

The homma muttered while reaching for her tablet.

The information obtained through the 1-minute teaser wasn’t very extensive, but at least she had witnessed Yu Ha-woon running wild energetically and scenes of the older members falling apart.

So she thought, ‘Ah, are the younger members going to flip the hierarchy concept?’

But seeing this with her own eyes was fresh and thrilling on another level.

She tried accessing the Bluebird timeline where probably thousands of MILLENNIUM including herself would be active in real time, and sure enough. Reactions were already running wild.

―Holy what’s with the youngest’s mustache LMAO

―I saw that visual somewhere yesterday…… Oh I remember, I definitely saw it in 1900s war movies LOL

―I understand giving him sunglasses to capture the instructor feeling but really that mustache LMAO

└In the midst of all that, Ryu Si-hwan’s genuine reaction is funnier. A guy with no real mustache going on about what mustache LOL

―I missed this spicy taste. There was only one time when Yu Ha-woon, who had always been a harmless existence, turned dark, but I missed that stimulating taste so much

└The pervert who often appeared in workshop chat was a Ha-woon fan, arrest complete

As usual, the homma watched CENTIX’s charming antics happily while multitasking with three devices.

[From now on, I’ll be commanding the practice. Does everyone understand!]

[Yes, yes―.]

[You only say yes once!]

[Yees―.]

[Don’t drag it out either!]

[Pff…… Pfft, pffft!]

Yu Ha-woon was proudly showing off the military-style speech he had diligently studied, but in one corner, a mask was making all sorts of sounds while dying.

Kang Seon-woo, whose face was all wrinkled from trying to hold back laughter, finally burst into loud laughter.

[You, you strangely-looking mister over there! What am I supposed to be when you laugh so openly like that! Huh?]

[Ah, ahaha! No, what can I do when our youngest is so cute!]

[That kind of sweet talk won’t work on me today! Drop and give me push-ups!]

[Eh?]

[(Kang Seon-woo’s common sense has logged out.)]

He seemed to think it would pass if he just petted him like usual.

MILLENNIUM watched Kang Seon-woo receiving punishment just 2 minutes into the video with bewildered expressions and created countless memes again.

―(Photo) (GIF) (Photo) This, how should I put it, I’ve never seen such a mysterious expression

└The first meme shows him super happy, then in the second his soul leaves, and in the third there’s emotional confusion LMAO

└This one also looks suspicious whether there’s a script or he’s just blurting things out, 100 percent

―Ahh Teacher Kang Seon-woo, what kind of trials happened in your life that made you age like this

└Our kid hasn’t even been debuted for a month

└That’s why I told you to stop showing that mask, Seon-woo T_T. Why is a fresh 21-year-old being treated like an old man, ugh T_T. But even I think he looks old

└What’s with that curveball LOL

└Even individual fans can’t cover for variety show Kang Seon-woo…….

Between these impactful scenes, intermittent interview segments were added, creating quite a serious atmosphere.

[Staff) You seemed to have a slightly ‘what is this?’ expression when receiving punishment.]

[Kang Seon-woo) Uh…… No! Since he’s today’s instructor, I have no intention of rebelling.]

[Staff) Isn’t this also reading the mood?]

[Kang Seon-woo) No, I am absolutely not in a state of being threatened and controlled, and I am spending time that is happier, more spirited, more pleasant, more meaningful and beneficial than ever before, which I will officially state again here!]

[(What just passed by……?)]

Kang Seon-woo had rattled off his thoughts machine-gun style without taking a breath.

Then the members behind enthusiastically supported their brother.

[As expected, CENTIX’s main rapper Kang Seon-woo!]

[When he speaks, even weird words become rap!]

[Wow, Brother Seon-woo is so cool. The best. I might fall for you. Why are you so cool?]

[Hey, Ma Si-hyeok, if you’re going to react so artificially, just don’t do it! It makes me more embarrassed!]

[Then the mission succeeds.]

Whether it was improvised or following the PD’s instructions, anyway Yu Ha-woon instructor’s first punishment ended.

CENTIX quickly changed into choreography practice formation and looked at Yu Ha-woon leading at the front with calm eyes.

[We’ll start from the intro! I’m going to watch really strictly today, so everyone better prepare yourselves!]

[Yes!]

[Instructor, what happens if the instructor gets the choreography wrong?]

[Don’t ask such questions now, Seo, Seo, Seong-hwi!]

[Ahaha, why did you pronounce my name like that.]

[Be, be quiet!]

Even though Yu Ha-woon had gained something like absolute power in this content, his habit of always using honorifics and Brother titles remained the same.

Already showing signs of struggle in these aspects, could he really properly conduct choreography practice?

―Somehow I feel like Ha-woon will mess up first, just like Hwi said

―Our baby is visibly nervous right now, how is he supposed to lead choreography in that state T_T

―No, I thought spicy Yu Ha-woon would come back but what is this… it came out somewhere ambiguously between cotton candy and hot sauce

└That is one crazy comparison LOL

└LMAO The youngest who wants to be strict with his brothers but instinctively shrinks back, cute

The homma also thought Yu Ha-woon would mess up right away, just like other people’s opinions.

And that intuition was spot on.

[Staff) You seemed quite nervous going to the front?]

[Yu Ha-woon) A, ahem! Well, I’ve always watched Brother Hwi or Brother Si-hyeok conduct from behind, so when I tried to do it myself it was really difficult. Yes, well…… there’s no room for excuses. I’m screwed!]

[Staff) The age reversal privilege isn’t over yet, but your speech returned to normal?]

[Yu Ha-woon) After I spun the wrong direction by myself, reached the wrong way with my hands, and caused complete chaos, how can I continue the instructor role. I think this is as far as I go. (Rips off mustache) Ow ow ow! It hurts!]

He started ambitiously but ended up returning to CENTIX’s youngest Yu Ha-woon.

The 〈Chronic〉 choreography practice conducted after returning to his original position surprised MILLENNIUM twice.

―What, are they doing it once at 1x speed and now again at 2x speed?

―These crazy practice addicts LOL. That’s why they could do the roller coaster play dance so easily on WI

└Was Seon-woo, who set up a lemon farm during the roller coaster dance, also relaxed?

└You…… you’re such a bad friend

―I missed this when they were always going full power during regular practice, so it shows completely on stage. My idols are the best, sob sob

―Somehow everything fits perfectly so even my stress gets relieved

CENTIX’s knife-like group dance was satisfying to watch every time.

The homma carefully watched through the body language game and snack battle that took place after choreography practice ended.

After double-checking the safely recorded videos, she went to the 〈Born to be Idol〉 main video.

She instinctively realized something was unusual.

‘It’s been about an hour since the video was released but the view count is already 330,000?’

No matter how big a channel with 1.55 million subscribers, not all those subscribers are CENTIX fans.

Since MuLike generates diverse content, there couldn’t be over 1 million people earnestly waiting on NeoTube just to watch rookie male idols.

But currently, the pace of 〈Born to be Idol〉 CENTIX episode was faster than ever.

Even clips from the terrestrial broadcast MBS program 〈Weekly Idol〉 didn’t accumulate views this quickly.

Either way, it was definitely huge good news for CENTIX and MILLENNIUM.

So just as she was about to write a happy nonsense post on her Bluebird timeline.

CENTIX hashtags that had taken over real-time trends welcomed her.

‘……I can feel it.’

The homma, who had been around the idol scene for a long time, could gradually assert with certainty.

The silence of the haters she had so desperately wished for.

That victory time was approaching.

* * *

The end of CENTIX’s first activity period after debut was approaching.

Sunday, the very end of the 3rd week.

I arrived in Ilsan just thinking I’d finish the week smoothly.

“First, our MILLENNIUM who sent passionate support today! Thank you so much……”

I held the 1st place trophy handed to me by the SBM 〈Music ON〉 MCs tightly and looked at the fans waving enthusiastically from below the stage.

I vividly remember trembling when giving my first acceptance speech. Now I’ve gotten used to it and words flow smoothly.

Actually, there had been various signs.

Initial sales exceeding 700,000 copies.

Although it was our home base, the first 1st place trophy achieved at quick timing.

Contrary to worries, even Rave’s booking when the tide was coming in and we rowed hard.

The members and I stayed up all night watching our content and laughing and chatting, but in the meantime I was calculating numbers in my head.

View counts rising unusually fast, our name taking over real-time rankings on numerous SNS platforms.

All indicators suggested that CENTIX’s buildup had hit the mark.

But when this actually became reality and fell into my hands, I felt bewildered again.

“I kept saying it, right? Absolutely not counting chickens before they hatch.”

“That was then, this is now. What can’t I say now.”

“Oh ho, why are you using that rebellious tone again, my roommate?”

“I’m, I’m sweating so don’t touch my chin.”

“Ahaha! Cute!”

Even after returning to the waiting room, everyone seemed like they still couldn’t get used to the terrestrial 1st place trophy, but only Seong-hwi didn’t lose his original maniacal smile.

Rather, he was just scratching the chin of Ma Si-hyeok, who had his eyes wide open as if he was cute.

{Master, master, scratch my chin too!}

‘Wouldn’t I look like a really weird person if I just scratch at the air with my fingers?’

{Hey, it’s okay! Master was already weird to begin with!}

‘Is that a compliment or an insult.’

After suppressing Cerberus’s opinion that he wanted to participate in that scene too, I gathered the members.

“Just getting to this point means we’ve accomplished all our goals and more. Everyone knows that, right?”

“Of course!”

“But our almighty leader Ryu Si-hwan will reveal ambitious aspirations that we shouldn’t stop here but aim for even higher places―.”

“Unfortunately, no.”

“Tch.”

Kang Seon-woo had a dissatisfied look since his brown-nosing was cut off.

I patted his back once and continued regardless.

“Rather, I want to ask everyone not to get too excited. Just getting this far as a rookie with the title of terrestrial 2-crown winner, I think it’s a miracle. Even if we debuted through Korea’s most successful audition program and started one step ahead of others, we’ve done well breaking through a path full of variables. So.”

When I stared directly at Seong-hwi, he grinned as if he knew what I was going to say.

“Don’t get carried away and dream big about triple crown being possible, right brother?”

“Exactly. Triple crown? Of course it would be great. It’s tremendous glory. But since the probability is slim, we need to be careful. The feeling is different between not achieving it with no expectations versus returning empty-handed after getting all pumped up.”

“Okay, okay. I understand what Brother Si-hwan is saying.”

I nodded briefly and looked into each member’s eyes once.

“Next week our first activity ends. Don’t worry about rankings or trophies, let’s approach it with the mindset of enjoying it without mistakes and coming down.”

“Yes!”

……Though I said that.

“This week’s KBC 〈Music Showtime〉 grand 1st place goes to! Congratulations, CENTIX’s 〈Chronic〉!”

I stared slack-jawed at the confetti flying more vigorously than ever.

“……?”