The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 13

‘This is intentional.’

I watched the demonstration machine and calculated the possible outcomes in my head.

It was a typical ball lottery machine you’d see on variety shows. When you press the start button, air blows inside to scatter the balls around, and one comes out through the exit at the top.

Exactly as MC Go Hyeon-ju said – determined purely by ‘luck.’

No strategic games or reading between participants involved.

I could end up with an A-grade participant similar to my skill level, or I could really end up with D-grade or F-grade participants at the bottom of the pyramid.

At times like this, it would’ve been great if Cerberus had future prediction abilities instead of just scent detection.

The Yorkshire Terrier who came with me from hell was resting in the dorm room after hearing my words. It would obviously be tiring for him to follow along to filming that would take a long time like today.

‘In this case, team composition becomes meaningless and it turns into a song selection battle.’

Unless the goddess of fate helps me, I’ll most likely inevitably end up on a team with lower-grade participants. There are relatively more lower-grade participants than A-grade ones.

Then ultimately, I need to find ways to draw out maximum synergy under similar conditions.

While MC Go Hyeon-ju continued with additional explanations, I decided to first identify the songs written on the placards.

“Inside are balls numbered 1 through 16, as many as your numbers. Some numbers have 7 balls, others have 6. Come out in order and go to the placard with the number you draw from the lottery machine to form your team. Now, shall trainee number 1 come out?”

The order wasn’t by grade but by the numbers used during the initial level test.

“What number were you, Si-hwan?”

“Si-hyeok and I were next to each other. 77, 78.”

“Oh no, I’m going to be sold off first all by myself.”

Kang Seon-woo’s number was 51. It wasn’t that early, but compared to Ma Si-hyeok and my numbers being so far back, it stood out.

About 10 minutes passed.

I observed the team status while watching people leave in order.

‘All the A-grades are latecomers.’

As of the current progress through number 55, only 3 A-grade participants had gone to team placards.

In other words, other A-grade participants would go out around the same time as me.

Knowing this fact, the trainees who had already drawn their teams kept looking at where we were sitting with anxious eyes.

‘If 2 A-grades end up in one place, that would be a real blessing.’

The method for winning hasn’t been announced yet, but it probably won’t be too far removed from typical on-site voting methods.

If on-site voting happens, naturally interest would gravitate toward teams with high-recognition, skilled A-grade participants, so the more the better.

I also secretly hoped there would be at least one other A-grade for a smooth start.

“Trainee number 77, Ryu Si-hwan, please come out and draw a ball.”

When my turn came and I went to the lottery machine, I felt the atmosphere in the auditorium change slightly.

The trainees who had just been sending glances were now openly praying with clasped hands, and those who knew me were even gesturing.

“Si-hwan, pick number 4! Number 4!”

Kang Seon-woo was waving four fingers like he was campaigning for an election.

“Brother, please number 9!”

Yu Ha-woon clasped both hands tightly and shouted in a voice like he was holding onto a departing lover.

Which path would the goddess of fate send me down?

A ball rolled out of the lottery machine and I swallowed nervously while checking the number written on it.

[9]

‘Judge, are you perhaps watching from hell? If so, I’m truly grateful.’

Although Team 9 didn’t have any A-grade participants, the balance wasn’t bad yet. Most importantly, having Yu Ha-woon, who I knew, gave me initial relief.

As I moved with the ball in hand, everyone held their breath and looked forward.

I hadn’t intended to draw this much attention.

Those KNet guys would just be happy to have more material to edit.

Since the atmosphere had shifted to me, should I show some showmanship here?

“Oh, could it be…?”

When I slowly walked toward where Team 1 was standing, the participant at the front opened his eyes wide.

I felt bad for coldly dampening his expectations, but I bowed and moved to the side.

“Ahh…”

A heartfelt sound cut through the air.

Getting the same reaction each time, I reached Team 4.

“Si-hwan, stop teasing and just go—”

“Blame the ball, not me.”

I lightly patted Kang Seon-woo’s shoulder and succeeded in crushing his expression.

He looked so devastated that everyone in the auditorium burst into laughter.

“Please take care of me.”

Finally standing in front of Team 9 with a grin, the Team 9 members who had been waiting in a line rushed out and grabbed my hands.

“We did it, we did it!”

“Totally doable!”

“Getting a main vocal, is this a dream or reality!”

“Yeeeeah!”

Yu Ha-woon was on the verge of tears.

Since it would look strange if he burst into tears before we’d even chosen a song, I quickly pinched Yu Ha-woon’s cheek and said quietly.

“Ha-woon, if you’re going to cry, let’s cry after winning the battle.”

“Gasp—! Yes sir!”

With Yu Ha-woon still clinging to my side like a poodle, I greeted the other members too.

Looking roughly, there was 1 A-grade (me), 3 B-grades, 2 C-grades, and 1 D-grade.

Even though the lottery wasn’t finished, we already had all 7 members.

There weren’t any participants who had stood out notably during the level test or final grade evaluation, or any that KNet would push with overwhelming screen time.

As I said before, it was a team with ‘balance that wasn’t worse than other places.’

I equipped a smile on the outside but calculated various strategies like a storm inside.

If the first advantage I noticed was ‘balance isn’t bad,’ that could become a problem in itself.

Overall, vocals and dance could blend well, but on the other hand, that might really be the end of it.

Just a decent stage without standout points.

Given the nature of survival auditions where you need to make an impression on judges and the public, if this group’s unique advantages don’t show, it would be total destruction.

‘I have too many aspects to address.’

If this is how it goes, I need to put my heart into song selection from the start, and above all, quickly grasp the team members’ strengths and weaknesses.

My shoulders felt heavy in an instant.

Meanwhile, Ma Si-hyeok, who was next after me, trudged over with a gloomy face.

Passing in front of me, he subtly showed me a ball with the number 10 written on it.

He must be even more depressed since we missed being on the same team by just one number.

“Wow, amazing!”

“We definitely won. There’s no way we can lose!”

I turned my head to spy on the neighboring team making a ruckus.

The first thing that caught my eye was none other than Seong-hwi wearing a confident smile.

“This worked out really well! Such good reinforcement came.”

There was a reason Team 10 was so excited.

The only place among the 16 teams where 2 A-grades ended up together.

And it was Seong-hwi, who had garnered tremendous buzz from the beginning, meeting Ma Si-hyeok, who wrote a reversal story during the final grade evaluation.

It was obvious it would be quite troublesome if we had to battle against them.

“Please take care of us!”

“P-please take care of me…”

Unlike the teammates welcoming him enthusiastically, Ma Si-hyeok bowed his head with unconfident eyes.

I was worried about our team’s situation, but seeing Ma Si-hyeok like that made me concerned about that side too.

I hadn’t heard the exact reason, but Ma Si-hyeok had consistently shown a dejected attitude since the first filming of 〈ISL 2〉.

Just when I thought he was changing a bit with my help.

Like a duckling left behind alone, as soon as he separated from me, he reverted back to the original Ma Si-hyeok.

‘With Seong-hwi there too, it’s going to be no joke. I don’t know how that crazy narcissist will act.’

Once all 100 participants were assigned to their respective teams, MC Go Hyeon-ju delivered the long-awaited next announcement.

“16 teams formed entirely by luck. How is everyone feeling? Do you like the result?”

“Yes~!”

“Yes…”

Responses of vastly different volumes came from here and there.

“Then what remains now is exactly those placards in front. From now on, I’ll tell you how song selection for the first round, Group Battle Matches, will proceed.”

I had been examining the songs written on the placards and considering the best options.

I had narrowed it down to about 3 songs that would have the least risk so far.

Please let this go smoothly.

“Before explaining the process, please select one representative from each team and come to the front.”

Those evil KNet bastards.

If they do it this way, it’s no different from a lottery machine.

Telling us to pick representatives when we don’t even know what the method is.

‘I was wrong to think I could deal with these broadcasters reasonably from the beginning.’

Team 9 members looked at each other hesitantly.

“Um, anyone who wants to go out…?”

“Since we don’t know what we have to do…”

“Well…”

Then, as if it were an inevitable process, all eyes focused on me.

“W-well, isn’t it right for Brother Si-hwan to go out here?”

“They might give opportunities in grade order or something!”

Yu Ha-woon even massaged my shoulders while radiating sparkling eyes.

“Brother, fighting!”

“R-right.”

I wasn’t given the right to refuse.

Going to the front of the auditorium, representatives who had been semi-forcibly selected from other teams were gathered together.

“Same situation for you?”

“Haha, Brother Si-hwan came too?”

Kang Seon-woo with an expression clearly showing he was pushed forward, and Seong-hwi laughing as if he found this whole development very interesting.

I started with light probing.

“Do you have a song in mind?”

“Well, honestly speaking, all those songs there are too famous, right? Songs that trainees would have tried at least once. So I think it’ll be six of one, half a dozen of the other.”

“I’ve got my eye on exactly the song I want.”

Seong-hwi brought his face very close and grinned.

“Of course, I won’t tell Brother Si-hwan.”

“I didn’t expect you to tell me anyway.”

“Aw, why are you being like that? So cold. This is real ‘competition,’ right? I think showing your hand carelessly is something only amateurs do. Please understand.”

The crazy narcissist’s wall easily blocked the opening for reconnaissance.

Confirming that all team representatives had come out, Go Hyeon-ju grabbed the microphone and drew the participants’ attention.

“Now that team representatives have been selected, let’s move on to the full-scale song selection process. Those placards in front look very grabbable, don’t they?”

I have a bad feeling about this.

Both gathering the representatives at a point far from the placards like this.

And if she’s making comments about them looking grabbable, one scenario comes to mind.

“If you look carefully, you can see there are 2 placards for each song. And behind the line where you’re standing, there are exactly 8 slots to insert placards.”

I increasingly had a gut feeling about where this atmosphere was heading.

I rotated my wrists and ankles while speaking in a low voice to Kang Seon-woo, who was staring blankly at MC Go Hyeon-ju.

“Hey, warm up.”

“Huh?”

“I said warm up, starting with rotating your ankles.”

“Suddenly?”

Kang Seon-woo’s curiosity was soon resolved.

“If teams were formed purely by luck earlier, now you must seize the song you want with your own strength. Just like in baseball, and to be an idol, this should be the most basic foundation. From now on, let’s see how much basic stamina you all have.”

When MC Go Hyeon-ju gestured, a large number 10 appeared on the big screen in the middle of the auditorium.

“Exactly 10 seconds from now, team representatives will run hard to grab the placard with the song name they want. Only the first 8 people to insert their placard into the slots will get the opportunity to select that song. Now, everyone get ready!”

As soon as the word ‘run’ was mentioned, the auditorium’s air heated up.

Participants watching their representatives from their respective teams began shouting countdown with tremendous voices.

“10! 9! 8! 7!”

“Ah, so that’s why you told me to warm up.”

Kang Seon-woo scratched his head and laughed as if he finally understood my words.

“But what should I do? I’m terrible at running.”

“What’s telling me that going to solve?”

On the other hand, Seong-hwi stretched his legs while wearing his characteristic crazy smile.

“Ah, as expected, bumping into each other and fighting like this is fun. Don’t you think so, Brother Si-hwan? I hope your team and our team don’t want the same song. I’m pretty fast, you know.”

“6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1!”

We came to just before the starting whistle.

I crouched down while harboring very small resentment inside.

‘Damn production crew.’