The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 209

“Huaaahhhh…..”

The homma who entered the hotel near Gocheok Dome collapsed straight onto the bed.

The tremor dwelling throughout her body still hadn’t subsided.

She looked at her two hands and laughed foolishly like an idiot.

Just a short while ago, she had been in the same space as CENTIX.

She had breathed together in the same space.

She had sung together in the same space.

And with these two hands, she had directly captured countless legendary moments.

‘If I keep lying here like this, I’ll just fall asleep!’

That won’t do.

While the adrenaline from the concert was still remaining, she needed to thoroughly check today’s results.

The homma jerked her body up.

She picked up the camera that had been carefully placed on the desk and sat back down on the bed.

Today was a day when she had taken thousands of photos, enough to almost fill her SD card that boasted excellent memory capacity.

Now she just had to filter out the gems from here.

‘More than anything else, I need to check this right away.’

There was a moment when the homma had instinctively felt while taking photos.

That this absolutely had to turn out well.

It was all the more important because it was the scene MILLENNIUM had so desperately wanted, and the main character’s face was in the best condition ever.

She turned the camera wheel while checking relatively recent photos.

‘……This is really insane.’

What appeared on the preview screen was none other than Ryu Si-hwan’s face streaming tears.

His bleached blonde hair had gotten slightly wet, turning it platinum.

With his white skin and hair like that, he looked like nothing less than a noble young master.

Seeing him drop tears beautifully like a waterfall while doing that made her heart race like crazy.

‘And who cries while smiling so brightly like that!’

When planning the paper airplane event, the homma and MILLENNIUM had imagined Ryu Si-hwan sitting collapsed on the floor and wailing.

They thought that would create a clear gap difference from his usual appearance they couldn’t see normally.

That’s why they never expected him to shed tears like chicken droppings while wearing such a bright, radiant smile.

The homma was observing the preview with her mouth unknowingly hanging open.

‘It looked like the members were talking to each other about something.’

Looking at other photos, it seemed like the CENTIX members were having some kind of conversation with each other.

Since the surrounding cheers were so loud and there was distance to the stage, naturally she couldn’t hear.

She was dying of curiosity about what they had talked about to make Ryu Si-hwan smile so broadly.

‘I wonder if they’ll tell us when they film behind-the-scenes concert videos.’

Setting aside her curiosity for now, the homma selected one of the best tear shots of Ryu Si-hwan and took a preview.

Then she posted for her Bluebird friends who would be waiting eagerly.

[Solo Concert First Day Ryu Si-hwan Preview]

Unit stage, solo stage, group stage, needless to say our Si-hwan worked so hard during all of them T_T I was so worried whether he’d like the paper airplane, but he seemed really happy so I was relieved

And why is even his crying face sexy, seriously…

The whole world is Ryu Si-hwan

#CENTIX #Centix #Ryu Si-hwan #Si-hwan #Hwan-father #Hwanmen

―Waaaaa this is seriously insane

―He was always noble young master style normally, but he really went crazy today Si-hwan ah wow…. I let out vocal admiration

―This 1 person is already grinning thinking about being able to see this noble visual in ultra-high quality later

―You took the photo so well, this is insane T_T T_T Thank you so much really

―For real this is the kind of photo I should be begging to buy first but you just released it as a preview, you’re just light itself

―No why was I at school seriously T_T. The tragedy of not seeing this face in person

―Are you going tomorrow too?? Please take lots of previews tomorrow too please, you’re the joy of my life lately

The retweet speed was truly incredible.

The homma’s account, which usually took hours for the first digit to change when posting a preview, was now passing 3,000 in just about 20 minutes.

That much of the first day’s high was still remaining for everyone.

Since they all desperately wanted to return to that magical scene right away.

The homma looked at the reactions with a pleased expression.

―The event organizers really worked so hard T_T. It was so good how each section decided on different paper airplane wing messages and the kids were so moved reading them you could see it

└When the CENTIX kids cried I really put my fist in my mouth and wailed T_T. Haaahh no the kids crying isn’t a once or twice thing you know? But today for some reason I don’t know why I wanted to cry too…

└As expected of hundred-year-idols fans, they collectively did their elaborate fangirling beautifully, wow… Anyone would think they gave birth to them

└If you’re by any chance a legendary-fa fan who got destroyed like a dog at All Star, raise your hand voluntarily~

└Yes that’s me

└The dedication of having so much time left over that you specifically come into CENTIX’s real-time timeline to pick fights just left me speechless… LOL. Are you that threatened?? legendary-fa got beautifully sliced up in front of the entire nation though?? We’re not threatened by legendary-fa at all but you’re doing shadow boxing by yourself ㅋ.ㅋ

└LMAO. Ah the sight of pathetically throwing punches alone is ridiculously funny lol

―But isn’t it natural that paper airplanes get thrown away in reality? They’re all trash in the end ㅇ.ㅇ

└(Photo) Please go look at CENTIX’s official account…. The members requested to collect all the paper airplanes that couldn’t make it onto the stage and took them all back to the company

└What the hell? They really collected everything from the floor and took it all, are they crazy

└Ah of course our babies are such cuties

└I’m a Comet fan but this is pretty heart-fluttering lol

└Just looking at previews of other members that went up, most of them are shedding tears reading letters, you can feel how much they loved this event

A few troublemakers who found the explosive positive reactions annoying mocked that MILLENNIUM’s sincerity wouldn’t get through, even nitpicking the post-processing of the paper airplanes.

However, as if this had been predicted, a post went up on CENTIX’s official SNS that they had collected all the paper airplanes and returned to Rave Entertainment.

In short, it became perfect advance suppression of forced criticism.

‘How satisfying.’

The homma, whose mood had become very good, forgot about fatigue and went off to find more previews worth posting.

Only after posting three or four more previews and getting more retweets could she wash up and pass out.

The second day of CENTIX’s solo concert.

The homma, who attended Gocheok Dome without fail, tasted a new experience from the second floor section.

‘It’s Si-hwan!’

CENTIX appeared by riding wires from the audience seats just like the first day.

And she could see so clearly as Ryu Si-hwan’s form flew right over the section where the homma was sitting.

The following set lists were also so enjoyable.

The unit stages that adopted slightly different concepts from the first day were also cute.

The costumes had all changed to completely new designs too, so the viewing pleasure was even greater.

And for the highly anticipated fan event time, another unique event was prepared.

「I’ll be your Polaris」

Around the middle of the song 〈Polaris〉, a countdown appeared on the LED screen behind CENTIX.

Timed with that, MILLENNIUM simultaneously pulled out slogans they had hidden under their seats.

Around when the choreography had them turn their backs to the audience, MILLENNIUM shouted loudly “CENTIX, turn around!”

Slogans with different messages for each section welcomed the members.

[Always together]

[I’ll set you free]

[I’ll find you wherever you go]

When phrases taken from CENTIX’s song lyrics beautifully unfolded, the members became extremely agitated.

There definitely must have been aftershocks from yesterday’s paper airplane event still remaining.

When a surprise video prepared by fans was shown along with the slogans, this time everyone burst into tears simultaneously.

That meant that Ryu Si-hwan, who hardly ever cried, wailed for two consecutive days.

The homma, who had been comfortably taking photos from the second floor section, felt that thrill again.

‘This is why preparing surprises is worth it!’

And the final day of the solo concert.

MILLENNIUM, who had really come prepared, combined all the events from the first and second days.

When the combination of soap bubbles + paper airplanes and slogans + video came mercilessly, CENTIX had no choice but to collapse on stage like autumn leaves in the wind.

The members, who had repeatedly said they couldn’t believe it was the last day of the concert, shed tears wanting to savor this moment even more.

MILLENNIUM, who were watching that sight, also reddened their eyes while shouting the chant “Don’t cry!”

After the concert at Gocheok Dome was completely finished, MILLENNIUM who returned to their respective homes still held that tingling feeling.

While harboring the wish in their hearts to see that scenery again.

Then one day.

A headline that no one had expected suddenly appeared in entertainment news.

* * *

The first one to enter the conference room was me.

While I was always the one who woke up first, today I was in a slightly special situation.

‘When will the other guys come.’

Each returned to their respective agencies and would come to Rave Entertainment with high-level executives.

None other than to reach an agreement regarding CENTIX’s contract extension.

We were the ones who had ‘3 years and 6 months’ specified as our activity period in our contracts when we first formed.

However, due to the recent solo concert and overseas tour results.

The rise in recognition and the special value of CENTIX’s identity.

Most importantly, due to the influence of MILLENNIUM, CENTIX’s fandom’s incredible cohesion, this talk came up from the company higher-ups.

Just six more months. How about extending activity for just 6 more months to cleanly complete 4 years.

It might seem strange that contract extension talk is already coming up when it hasn’t even been 2 years since CENTIX debuted.

But X2, Seong-hwi’s agency, along with other major and mid-major agencies would obviously try to pull their trainees back from CENTIX at any time.

So there was also the purpose of proceeding with negotiations quickly before the disbandment period arrived.

I leaned my head back on the chair and took a deep breath.

Anyway, since I debuted without an agency, it wouldn’t be a problem for me to continue remaining with CENTIX.

However…… the other members were realistically in a position where they had to return to their original nests.

‘I don’t know how this will turn out.’

{Ah, why are you worrying already, Master! It’ll work out!}

‘This isn’t something that can be solved even with your positive talk.’

{I think there’s nothing in this world that can’t be done, Master. You know that, right? Master is also an idol who died and returned from hell.}

……I’m speechless because that hits right on target.

I had no choice but to smile at the transparent Cerberus.

During that time, the conference room door opened and members started entering one by one.

“Si-hwan was here first?”

“Why are you so late.”

“Of course I’m late, I’m not coming alone.”

Kang Seon-woo shrugged his shoulders while glancing back slightly.

Along with murmuring sounds, an executive from BK Enter entered the conference room along with another man in a suit.

Seong-hwi, who had been following right behind them, whistled as he sat in the seat next to me.

“You seem to be in a good mood?”

“Of course I’m in a good mood. I think I can definitely get extended.”

“Why?”

Honestly, I thought X2 would be much harder to convince than BK.

Because of Zefa’s influence, that image was engraved in my head.

However, Seong-hwi winked at me with a confident attitude.

“You’ll see.”

A few minutes later, the conference room was completely packed with people.

Go Hyeong-seok, Rave Entertainment’s representative, whom I was seeing after a long time, cleared his throat and spoke.

“Then we’ll begin. First, thank you for coming all this way……”

A strange tension flowed.

When they got to the main topic of ‘please tell us your thoughts on the 6-month extension,’ the X2 executive grabbed the microphone first.

“Seong-hwi is an enormous asset at X2. Both the representative and we think getting Seong-hwi back as quickly as possible is right. However……”

The man in the suit clicked his tongue briefly.

“Due to unsavory reports breaking internally recently, a situation occurred where many trainees left en masse. Therefore, the representative judged that even if Seong-hwi returned right now, there aren’t enough talented people to debut with him. He also said that 6 months would be a period where we wouldn’t lose out either.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Seong-hwi poked me.

“See, see, wasn’t I right? I told you you’d understand when you saw?”

“What was this internal incident?”

“Hehe.”

Seong-hwi hummed very quietly.

“I don’t know the details either, but a while ago one trainee quit X2 and exposed them. Saying the seniors above him were being total hardasses with discipline. Saying rather than debut at a place like this, he’d leave for somewhere else. Well, that kind of thing happened and the company was turned upside down. They have to redo personality checks and whatnot. So several guys who felt guilty followed and left.”

“……The company changed this easily?”

“It’s Zefa’s legacy. I should say thanks to Baek Joo-won for leaving behind this military-style culture.”

What a truly ironic situation.

I quietly blinked while listening to the other officials’ statements too.

“6 months seems positive enough.”

“I thought it wasn’t possible but the representative……”

“Ha-woon also conveyed that he wants to gain more experience. The representative said it was fine too.”

I couldn’t tell if I was hearing correctly.

I definitely thought it would be difficult. No, I thought it was close to impossible by common sense.

As positive statements continued in Rave Entertainment’s conference room, I felt like my sense of reality was disappearing.

“If there are no further objections from all the companies, would it be okay to proceed like this?”

I’m dazed.

I just can’t believe this situation flowing naturally like water before my eyes.

I was still in a dazed state even while signing the contract as an individual trainee.

“Wow, it ended up like this after all! Ah, why do I feel so good?”

After all the meetings ended, we returned to the dorm.

I kept staring at Kang Seon-woo stretching as if refreshed with blank eyes.

“Does anyone know why Ryu Si-hwan is being like this?”

“He’s been muttering that it doesn’t make sense since earlier.”

“Is he shocked that he has to see me for another 6 months?”

I snapped to attention at Kang Seon-woo’s playful tone.

“Oh. My legs are already trembling at the thought of being roommates with you again.”

“Hahaha! What, I thought you weren’t listening but you were listening well. Please keep taking care of cleaning the room in the future, alright Ryu Si-hwan?”

“Please clean up your own clothes yourself now that you’re older.”

Everyone burst out laughing at the usual scenery.

Cerberus, who had been lying in the living room suite house, also wagged his tail enthusiastically with his transparency lifted.

I looked once more at the eyes of Kang Seon-woo, Seong-hwi, Ma Si-hyeok, Chae Ha-ru, and Yu Ha-woon.

“……I like this scenery the most after all.”

‘Do I have to say something embarrassing again when the concert just ended not long ago.’

This kind of thing really doesn’t suit me after all.

Still, sometimes I have to keep conveying my sincerity.

I slightly clenched and opened my fist while grinning.

“I’ll skip saying ‘please take care of me’ since I already said that.”

“What’s that supposed to be!”

“Originally in situations like this, it’s the rule for the leader to say those embarrassing words―.”

“I already said it.”

“That’s mean! You still have to do it!”

I somehow restrained Yu Ha-woon who was running at me with full force while adding more words.

“Let’s go eat.”

“Food sounds good! I was hungry.”

“Ha-ru, should we go eat Korean beef?”

“Korean beef!”

“This kid really only grew physically, nothing changed from 〈ISL 2〉 days.”

“Steak!”

“Got it, got it. Let’s go eat steak.”

I watched the members leaving the dorm in high spirits from behind.

‘Right, the reason isn’t anything special.’

To become an idol again.

To stand on that dreamed-of stage again.

And to meet these guys who you never know where they’ll bounce to, I returned from hell.

THE END

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Translator Note:

This is the first time that I write translator note without an Author Note from the author themselves. Anyways.

Thank you so much for going along with this journey and also reading the novel to the end. It wouldn’t be possible to finish translating this novel without you guys.

And a little review from me. Honestly, I didn’t expect the author to write the story like this. I can see that this author is fans of idols. Though, don’t take my words for it. Anyway, I expect more of like how CENTIX would work after debuted. You know, like the back side of the entertainment environment more instead of focusing more on fans POV. Cause I feel like there are more chapters that focused on fans POV than how idols work behind the scenes etc.

But nonetheless though, I had fun. And I also feels like the author is really consistent about bringing each character’s personality throughout the story while also having unique personality for each of them and because of that each character feels alive.

That’s it for me before I started rumbling nonstop. If you feel like my translation is good and have the same taste as me (as in novel/story wise) do check other novels that I translated (keep in mind though my early translation was quite bad because of my English skill) here: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/107744/

Ah I almost forgot the most important thing LOL. If you like this novel or if you feel like you need to share your thoughts about this novel, please, I beg, write a review on this novel NU’s page. I love to read them! Bye, guys! See you in the next novel that I translated!