The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 183

The content of the message Joo Han-ul sent was surprisingly simple.

[Senior Joo Han-ul: You know the Chuseok special I mentioned before]

[Senior Joo Han-ul: I heard it’s been confirmed. They’re gathering a total of 6 male idol groups to make them compete in a battle format]

[Senior Joo Han-ul: They’ll select representatives from each group for mission battles, receive group votes, and do various other things]

[Senior Joo Han-ul: That’s what I know]

‘……The scale is bigger than I thought?’

Of course, holiday special broadcasts are generally large-scale.

For example, the once-popular 〈Idol Olympics〉 that was abolished due to injury issues used to gather an enormous number of idols, well over 100.

However, this was the first time seeing a special with a music competition format.

I pondered deeply about Baek Joo-won’s scheme.

‘He definitely said there would be battles against members from other teams too. So this could be a situation where Baek Joo-won deliberately orchestrated it to call out Seong-hwi.’

I still remember the provocation Baek Joo-won threw at me so blatantly.

Whether he could maintain his current stable appearance even under pressure.

I don’t understand why he’s so strangely obsessed with Seong-hwi.

But Baek Joo-won will definitely move to bring down Seong-hwi once more.

And as someone who wants to continue group activities safely, I naturally have to stop that.

The timing being similar was also a bit concerning.

Starting this month, our first full album idea discussions are supposed to begin, which will take quite a long preparation period.

A full album with significantly more tracks than a regular mini album.

With music video filming, promotional video filming, and various other things, it will definitely be released around July-August.

Considering that this kind of special filming usually takes place about a month before it airs on broadcast, it’s common for these two schedules to overlap.

I chewed on the sandwich Ma Si-hyeok had packed for me while shifting my thoughts.

‘No. This could actually be good since it could create a double promotional effect. Though the things we need to prepare will also double.’

I could see that the practice volume would become excessively high, but CENTIX had always prepared under such urgent conditions.

Now we might even be able to enjoy extreme conditions in reverse.

‘The agency people will bring it up. When the official casting offer comes in.’

Joo Han-ul’s advance information was very useful.

First, I need to keep this information in mind while getting started on the most important watershed—the first full album work.

Around that time, Yu Ha-woon and Cerberus, who had been running around the lawn enthusiastically, returned.

“Huff, huff! Brother, why doesn’t Cer get tired at all?”

{Of course! When I was in hell, I played for 14 hours a day!}

While Yu Ha-woon was dripping with sweat, Cerberus smiled brightly as if his body was just warming up.

Well, he’s a guy who used to play ball while facing that scorching heat of hell.

Running across the lawn with the cool spring breeze would be like lying down and eating rice cakes.

Cerberus, who climbed onto the picnic blanket, wagged his tail toward Seong-hwi’s camera while munching on smoked duck.

Has he been influenced by living with idols too?

His usual energy is completely different from normal.

“Ahaha, filming Cer from behind makes him look even smaller.”

“Brother Hwi, how much footage did you get?”

“Huh? The footage already passed 30 minutes?”

“Hicc! Can’t we stop filming now?”

“I was planning to fill up an hour today.”

“No wonder the editors curse every time……”

* * *

“Realize~ Realize~.”

Sweet humming tickled my ears.

I tapped my fingers along to the chorus melody I’d heard hundreds, no, thousands of times recently.

Then Chae Ha-ru’s head automatically turned.

“Brother.”

“Why?”

“Honestly, all the songs that came out so far were good too.”

“Yeah.”

“But I think this title track sounds the best.”

That makes sense.

After CENTIX’s first fan meeting ended successfully in early April.

Both buildings of Rave Entertainment moved very busily.

The business division, which had announced the tremendous ambition of releasing a first full album, was busy strategizing.

CENTIX, brainstorming with the planning team as usual, was busy producing ideas.

The firepower brought by the uniqueness of being the first full album was extraordinary.

The members were initially shocked by the tremendous announcement that it would contain at least twelve tracks.

“This is an opportunity, everyone. An opportunity!”

Led by Kang Seon-woo, they immediately clapped and clamored to put in thirteen tracks instead of twelve.

So there were quite a few tracks outsourced to external producers.

There were also many tracks being produced within Rave.

And there were quite a lot of tracks filling up Kang Seon-woo’s laptop as he began to awaken to composition.

“Si-hwan, I really want to……”

“Why are you using that ominous tone again.”

“I really want to make the most of you as a vocalist!”

“Don’t talk like a composer who’s been rolling around the entertainment industry for over 30 years.”

While the company was producing group tracks, Kang Seon-woo declared he would try making solo tracks for the members.

Since we had participated in songwriting from our first mini album, it was time to try composing to show our further growth.

Not just specific members getting solo track assignments, but so everyone could equally touch fans’ hearts.

Kang Seon-woo, who seemed to live off that passion, noticeably decreased the number of times he slept at the dorm.

When I went down to the composition room just in case, I could find my same-age friend sleeping soundly next to empty energy drink cans.

“If you live like that, your lifespan will shorten.”

“It’s okay. I heard all great artists originally live short lives.”

“What short lives in an era where people live to a hundred. Stop talking nonsense and sleep properly in bed tonight.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Kang Seon-woo only took breaks when I applied the brakes like this.

Well, I was grateful he was burning with passion to improve the album’s quality.

But it would be a disaster if his lifespan really shortened.

As a result of everyone running like racehorses in their respective positions.

Facing the increasingly hot June, our title track finally emerged.

“As I explained before, it’s about a liberated soul spreading its wings and finally realizing its essence. The title track’s name itself contains this message.”

The first full album 〈Emancipation〉’s title track 〈Realize〉.

If we had pushed concepts with clear identity to aim for fan base consolidation until now, this time we slightly turned the steering wheel.

We selected a song that was really pleasant for anyone to listen to.

By thoroughly utilizing the golden tower that Korean K-pop idols had built up.

Rhythmic sweeping beats, with appropriate pop sounds and groove added to them.

The catchy chorus that anyone could easily sing along to.

We also lowered the dance difficulty a bit.

Ah, of course, we only lowered the overall difficulty “a bit.”

The group dance appearing during the dance break is even harder than 〈Winning Shot〉.

In short, we matched the public’s eye level with the chorus that could concentrate attention.

And we maintained the hardness of the dance break so as not to lose CENTIX’s unique identity.

Finding the balance between these two nearly killed us.

Modifying and checking countless choreographies was solely our responsibility.

Still, good results were ultimately produced, so Chae Ha-ru is humming nonstop like this.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen you watching that survival expert NeoTube lately?”

“Ah, I already watched all of that during break time.”

An unexpected answer came back.

I thought it would be that videos haven’t been uploaded recently, or he was too busy to watch.

“Why don’t you watch before sleeping anymore?”

“Brother also falls asleep right when you hit the bed lately. I’m trying to sleep quickly too so I don’t cause unnecessary trouble.”

How like these guys who become corpses if you take away their manners.

I patted Chae Ha-ru’s head once and went down to the living room.

“Hey, did you rest well?”

“I rested well until earlier, but now I’m going to get tired from listening to your nagging.”

“That’s too harsh. You’re the one who suggested monitoring together first.”

“That’s true though.”

“Apologize, right now!”

Instead of saying sorry, he came back from the kitchen holding a real apple.

Kang Seon-woo, who had been staring at the red apple I gave him incredulously, immediately took a hearty bite.

“It’s ripe and delicious.”

“Right? I brought it knowing you’d like it.”

“You know me well—no wait. Are you going to brush this off like this?”

“Come, come. Stop talking nonsense and let’s monitor.”

I naturally turned on the TV while changing the subject.

The pre-set replay screen was showing a famous cable TV variety show.

Before starting our activities in earnest.

A good opportunity had come to attract more muggles to our domestic fandom.

* * *

Ryu Si-hwan’s homma, who was spending an ordinary weekend, suddenly noticed a title that appeared in the related videos.

[※First time ever※ First time including this in 4 years of history……. There’s an idol who voluntarily stepped forward and even volunteered for interviews? #SaturdayToday #CENTIX #Si-hwan #Seon-woo]

“……?”

It was such unexpected news that it took considerable time for her brain to process it.

Recently, news had been coming from various places that CENTIX was preparing for a comeback.

But for some reason, no trace of promotion schedules or teasers could be seen yet.

CENTIX had been invited to a hot variety show that no one expected!

The homma first activated her recording program and clicked on the video.

[???: I wanted to apologize in advance.]

[???: Everyone usually curses at me for not understanding what people say. Hahaha!]

[(This silhouette and voice seem familiar somehow)]

[???: But I can promise one thing for certain.]

An interview with a silhouette processed with mosaic passed by quickly.

Soon, the fixed members and MC fell backward as if fainting.

Even the staff who had been watching the filming site from the front were captured with their eyes wide as saucers.

And the person who created this chaotic scene leisurely returned to his seat.

BGM reminiscent of a movie opening began to play.

[???: Today, I’m going to sweep everything away.]

Kang Seon-woo, grinning with a mad smile, nodded toward the camera.

The homma saw Kang Seon-woo’s face appear with the majestic BGM that completely didn’t match.

Her mouth opened on its own.

[???: I came out to grab that guy by the scruff of his neck, just as I expected.]

[???: Are you good at listening?]

[???: Fans call me this.]

[???: What exactly can’t you do.]

Another BGM was inserted.

It was a sound quite familiar to the homma’s ears too. It felt like a boss monster appearing in a game.

Seeing Ryu Si-hwan slightly frowning and shaking his head, it immediately came to mind.

‘This is the BGM that plays whenever Si-hwan appears on variety shows!’

A scene appeared of Ryu Si-hwan raising his hand and saying something.

Then, opposite to Kang Seon-woo’s case, the fixed members’ faces passed by as they covered their mouths in genuine shock.

The chaotic preview ended with Ryu Si-hwan shrugging his shoulders with a dignified expression.

“……”

The homma, who had been slouching, felt completely drained.

She could only think about how she wished next week’s 〈Saturday Today〉 would come quickly.