The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 25

The first to react was Cerberus, who had been following me around out of boredom.

{Master! Balls! There are so many balls!}

‘You’re right.’

{It looks perfect for playing catch! What should I do? I’m suddenly excited!}

‘Unfortunately, we can’t play catch together. Looking at it, it feels like dodgeball.’

{What’s dodgeball? Is it something to eat?}

‘You’ll find out when you see it.’

The participants naturally gathered toward where MC Go Hyeon-ju was waiting.

I moved my steps while inwardly lamenting.

‘I don’t want to play games that would make me sweat like this.’

“Did everyone sleep well yesterday? You would have needed sufficient rest for today’s game.”

Go Hyeon-ju smiled at us while holding a soft dodgeball in her hand.

“If you look at your feet, you’ll see stickers attached at designated spots. Please stand exactly on one sticker each.”

The participants swiftly adjusted their positions.

A square formation with neat rows and columns was instantly formed.

“First, let me explain the basics. Today is the day to film the long-awaited self-PR videos. 〈Idol Stove League〉 always refuses to have everything proceed in predictable ways, right? This PR video shoot is no different.”

Does saying they won’t do things the predictable way mean we always have to sweat and run around?

During the first battle round, they made us run, and now it looks like we’ll be playing dodgeball.

It almost feels more like a track and field meet than an idol competition.

“First, as you’ve all probably noticed, we’re planning to settle things with dodgeball today. A super-sized 50 vs 50 dodgeball match with all 100 participants. We need to choose teams first.”

MC Go Hyeon-ju came down from the stage and stretched her arm out while maintaining her fresh smile.

With her arm extended, she crossed exactly through the middle of the square formation.

“See the line I just crossed? The 50 people on the left will be one team, and the 50 people on the right will automatically become the other team.”

“Huh, what?!”

“We’re together!”

“Is it real that I’m separated by just one space difference?”

All sorts of cheers erupted from everywhere.

I quickly looked around to identify where the familiar faces were.

“Brother, we three are on the same team!”

“Thank goodness… really thank goodness…”

Yu Ha-woon and Ma Si-hyeok, who had been standing in front of and behind me, ended up on the same team.

Yu Ha-woon, whose tension had completely risen since the 〈Volt〉 stage, pressed his body against my shoulder like a puppy.

Ma Si-hyeok simply clasped his hands together politely and caught his breath, seeming grateful that he didn’t have to be separated from me this time.

“Hey, only we got separated! Why do I always get split from Si-hwan?”

“You’re like the Weaver Girl and Cowherd, Brother Seon-woo.”

“So I’m the Cowherd and Si-hwan is the Weaver Girl?”

“Who knows.”

Kang Seon-woo and Chae Ha-ru, who had ended up on opposite teams, were having a dizzying conversation.

Even the genius Chae Ha-ru with such a good head seemed to have fallen for Kang Seon-woo’s infectious charm.

Despite not having opened up to each other for long, they were radiating quite good chemistry.

‘Actually, this is better. I’ll just knock both of them out at once.’

“Now that the teams are divided, shall we change into the blue and red vests in front here?”

“Yes!”

With 100 people changing into their respective team uniforms, it really felt like being at a super-sized sports festival.

“Then I’ll explain the ‘All-Kill Dodgeball’ that can secure advantages for filming self-PR videos. The rules are simple. The team that gets the entire opposing team out first wins. If you hit multiple people with one thrown ball, they’re all considered out, so please keep that in mind. And due to the large number of participants, even if you catch a flying ball, the thrower won’t be out. We’ll release a total of 3 balls, so feel free to attack.”

50 vs 50 is chaotic enough, but they’re putting in 3 balls too.

Wearing the blue vest, I shook my head imagining the great melee that would unfold before my eyes.

‘Maybe it’d be better to get out quickly and rest on the sidelines.’

“So what do we get if we win this dodgeball game? This is the most important point. As I mentioned earlier, the winning team will receive benefits for everyone. Specifically, the right to choose the theme for today’s self-PR videos yourselves.”

“Huh, weren’t self-PR videos originally something we could film however we wanted?”

At Yu Ha-woon’s question, I sighed thinking about the increasingly cunning 〈ISL 2〉 production team.

“…Definitely until last season.”

“Then why is it changing this time?”

“They probably want to make the survival rate even more brutal.”

The winning team gets the chance to choose their self-PR video themes.

Conversely, it means the losing team has no choice at all.

“This machine looks familiar, right?”

When MC Go Hyeon-ju gestured, staff members busily transported something over.

As soon as the familiar machine came into view, the trainees let out loud sighs.

“Yes, it’s the lottery machine. The losing team will be randomly assigned self-PR video concepts through this machine. You wanted to sing but the machine gave you dancing! Then you have to film using dance. Everyone understands, right?”

Isn’t this too much?

This is the first personal video to be revealed to the national managers – the self-PR video.

If a weird theme comes out, situations could arise where you can’t fully showcase your charm.

Then… there’s really no choice.

Cerberus, who had climbed onto my head at some point, chuckled as if hearing my thoughts.

{Master, your eyes are changing to look quite fierce?}

‘I can’t help it, there’s too much at stake.’

{Honestly, I can’t understand what all that talk means, but if Master reacts like that, it must be incredibly important. We can just smash them all, right?}

For some reason, Cerberus seemed much more excited than me.

“Guys, warm up.”

“Brother Si-hwan? Your eyes look scary.”

“Brother, Brother Seon-woo is trembling on the other side.”

From the moment Ryu Si-hwan’s name had spread to many people, the choice was already decided.

I couldn’t slip from the tree even once.

I absolutely had to leave a good image with this PR video too.

I placed both hands on Yu Ha-woon and Ma Si-hyeok’s shoulders and declared in a firm tone.

“We absolutely have to win.”

* * *

The blue team and red team scattered to their respective courts.

Go Hyeon-ju, serving as the daily referee, placed 3 soft dodgeballs on the center line and brought a whistle to her mouth.

“Is everyone ready?”

Normally, spirited answers would ring out.

But now, with all the trainees’ gazes fixed on the dodgeballs, only tense tension lingered.

I too was gathering appropriate strength in my legs, preparing to rush forward.

“Then… let’s begin!”

The cheerful whistle sound cut through the air, and dozens of participants simultaneously charged toward the center line.

I also shot forward like a bullet, focusing my gaze on the blue dodgeball.

That’s when I faintly saw a shadow running toward the same ball from the opposite side.

The familiar maniacal laughter was nauseating at this point.

‘That guy again.’

Having reached there before Seong-hwi, I snatched the blue ball with relaxed footwork.

Seong-hwi, who arrived a step late, flailed at empty air and laughed.

“Why do we keep being on different teams? By now we should have been on the same side at least once?”

“Exactly. If you were going to say that, you should have tactfully stayed next to me.”

“Hahaha! Ah, as expected, it’s fun. Even though I lost in running before, I’m going to beat you this time, Brother.”

“Do whatever you want.”

After lightly snorting at Seong-hwi’s cute provocation, I returned to our territory holding the ball.

Then.

“Brother! Attack as much as you want!”

“I’ll catch every ball coming this way.”

“…Huh?”

Two bodyguards with solemn expressions stood in front of me.

Yu Ha-woon lowered his stance and raised both hands, while Ma Si-hyeok moved his broad shoulders around, fully expressing his motivation.

“Guys, you can just do your own thing—”

“No! You worked hard running for our team last time. Now it’s my turn to repay that favor!”

“I-I need to repay the favor of the water you gave me then.”

“No, I didn’t ask you to repay any favors—”

I clicked my tongue looking at Yu Ha-woon and Ma Si-hyeok, who were flailing their arms like national goalkeeper prospects.

‘No matter how I look at it, I’d probably do much better than them even using just one hand.’

Still, wanting to encourage their rare display of overflowing confidence, I decided to quietly accept their protection.

Currently, our team had secured 2 balls first.

Since the opposing team with fewer balls wouldn’t move first, we could attack leisurely.

I took a light breath and rolled my shoulders.

{Master, ready for total attack?!}

‘You might fall off if you stay up there like that.’

{Hey, do you think I’d actually fall? Don’t worry and let’s go knock down those insignificant humans! Yay!}

Cerberus was excitedly swinging both legs forward from atop my head.

In such an excited state, he wouldn’t listen no matter what I said.

I was confident about throwing balls.

It’s a bit of an extreme comparison, but the Cerberus-exclusive ball I used in hell weighed nearly 3kg.

This dodgeball felt as light as a feather in comparison.

Still, since I hadn’t thrown anything since returning to the real world, let me try throwing the first ball slowly as a test.

I spotted 2 trainees standing close together, perfect for hitting.

“Guys, duck your heads a bit.”

After briefly speaking to Yu Ha-woon and Ma Si-hyeok, I spread my feet front and back and accumulated power in my shoulder.

Then I smoothly rotated from my waist and scattered the ball forward with a short, concise swing.

Swoosh!

The blue dodgeball that left my fingertips fiercely cut through the air and precisely struck the shoulder of the trainee I had targeted.

“Huh—?”

The trainee, who couldn’t react at all to the ball that flew over in the blink of an eye, only let out a short exclamation.

Then he could only watch with wide eyes as the dodgeball sharply changed direction and hit his friend standing next to him.

{That’s right, knock down 2 people at once! Master, well done! Kill them all!}

‘…Isn’t “kill them all” a bit too scary?’

Contrary to Cerberus getting increasingly excited, the participants looked dumbfounded at the development that happened so instantaneously.

What broke the silence was MC Go Hyeon-ju’s whistle.

“Red team, 2 people are out at once! You better be careful! Trainee Ryu Si-hwan’s shoulder is no joke!”

This isn’t even a sports meet, so why are you giving sports commentary?

Just as I was embarrassedly touching my bangs, the two bodyguards I’d momentarily forgotten burst into cheers.

“Waaah! Brother, you’re so freaking cool!”

“Br-Brother Si-hwan! Amazing! Amazing!”

“Don’t get excited and let go of me, you guys!”

I waved my hands to calm the two down, but the entire blue team was already caught up in a festival atmosphere.

“We’re the nation that possesses the famous Ryu Si-hwan!”

“Hey, come at us! Throw all you want!”

“Let’s just smash them!”

Watching this boiling scene, I heard Seong-hwi’s anger-mixed shout from the opposite side.

“This is a team fight anyway! Don’t be scared and rush all at once! Let’s go!”

“Let’s gooo!”

Now both sides were completely fired up.

Dodgeballs poured out frantically from all directions, and with the frantically developing game tempo, trainees began getting out like autumn leaves.

“B-Brother! A ball is rolling toward the back!”

“I’ll get it! Ha-woon, you keep protecting Brother Si-hwan!”

“I’ll protect him even if it costs my life, Brother Si-hyeok!”

“No, you don’t need to protect me like that—”

“I have pretty good dynamic vision too!”

Even with such bold declarations, Yu Ha-woon’s athletic ability wasn’t very trustworthy.

Sure enough.

Exactly 1 minute later, Yu Ha-woon died gloriously while trying to forcibly catch a ball flying toward me.

“Sorry…”

“No, it’s fine. You did well enough, man.”

“I-I wanted to survive to the end!”

“Si-hyeok and I will handle the rest, so don’t worry.”

Though I sent Yu Ha-woon off with such shameless words.

Ma Si-hyeok also didn’t possess outstanding athletic ability compared to his build.

“Si-hyeok, behind! Behind!”

“A ball’s flying in front!”

“Don’t touch that! Just let it go!”

“Jump! Jump!”

I barely managed to drag him back from death’s door a few times.

But I couldn’t preserve Ma Si-hyeok’s life to the very end given his slower reflexes than expected.

“Si-hyeok, you can’t catch that—!”

“Ah, ahhh…!”

Ma Si-hyeok, who failed while trying to catch a ball curving toward my side, froze in place.

Seeing such a tall guy hang his head all the way to the ground looked too pitiful.

“Sorry, Brother…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. You survived well until now.”

“Still, I wanted to win, but because of me—”

“Hey, we haven’t lost yet. Get your head together and go pick up balls from the sidelines quickly.”

With my somewhat clumsy bodyguards completely wiped out like that.

While taking care of Yu Ha-woon and Ma Si-hyeok, I hadn’t been able to check our team’s remaining members, but the situation had shifted more than expected.

The number of people in the blue team’s court had noticeably decreased.

“Brother Si-hwan, what happened here? Where did that confident attitude from earlier go, and why is the team so empty?”

Seong-hwi’s relaxed tone came from the opposite side.

He spun the ball in his hand then threw it toward me with all his strength.

Thwack—!

“Wow, amazing.”

“He just caught Hwi’s ball with one hand!”

When I casually blocked his attack, Seong-hwi brushed his bangs back and laughed again.

“Ah, as expected, throwing like this won’t even come close, right? Okay, okay. Next time I’ll try throwing harder. You can’t get out before then alright, Brother?”

“Hey, hey, Hwi, stop the provocation! At this rate, if Si-hwan’s fuse blows, it’ll be big trouble—”

As Seong-hwi continued provoking, Kang Seon-woo, who had somehow survived, frantically waved his hands while watching my reaction.

He probably vividly remembered the group battle round running incident.

I took a short deep breath.

Then I rolled up my right sleeve and sent the world’s freshest smile while counter-provoking.

“Yeah, let’s see who wins by going to the very end.”