The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 29

The level tests had all ended, and immediately afterward, the class assignments proceeded for those who would practice the 〈HIT〉 stage together until the final grade evaluation.

[Oh, we’re in the same class!]

[That’s right.]

“Si-hwan and Seon-woo already look close, don’t they?”

“I saw them talking a bit even after their level tests ended.”

“Oh really? It must have been at the end of episode 1, I missed it.”

Song Ji-won put down the chicken she was eating and watched Ryu Si-hwan steadily building relationships with his class members.

It felt like people naturally gathered around Ryu Si-hwan without him having to make any special effort.

The highlight scene came after the harsh lesson from famous dance trainer Shin Jae-hoon.

[The trainees looking very hot…]

The participants who came out sweating profusely kept bowing as they grabbed ice water from the ice box prepared by the staff.

[Thank you! Thank you!]

[Thank you.]

Ryu Si-hwan, who had grabbed a water bottle while greeting together with the other trainees, turned his head back with an expression like he remembered something.

[Ryu Si-hwan suddenly turning his head]

[What lies at the end of his gaze?]

Then they could see a tall participant trudging out with difficulty, lagging far behind.

He was definitely the one who had taken the level test right after Ryu Si-hwan.

Right, his name was Ma Si-hyeok.

Seeing Ma Si-hyeok coming out of the practice room much later than others, Ryu Si-hwan suddenly ran somewhere.

[Excuse me, writer! Could you give us just one more bottle of water?]

“Don’t tell me he’s looking after him because he couldn’t get water?”

“So sweet…”

Ryu Si-hwan, who received one more water bottle, approached Ma Si-hyeok who was sweating like rain.

[You seemed like you couldn’t get water by yourself.]

[Ah, ah. Thank you so much!]

[You looked thirsty.]

At this moment, Song Ji-won’s heart felt like it was exploding.

How could he do such kind words with such a face?

The live chat was also in chaos.

—Si-hyeok almost couldn’t get water by himself but he ran to get water for him, what is this really T_T

—Si-hwan, what are you going to do if you keep showing only perfect sides like this

—I actively recommend the Si-Si duo

└Si-Si duo lmao. but doesn’t it feel more like Si-hwan is one-sidedly taking care of him rather than a duo feeling?

└Then it’s father, father

└Lol that’s not bad? Hwan-father fits perfectly for real

—Hwan-father LMAO. No, what’s with calling a 21-year-old father, everyone

—It suits him so well I can’t argue lol

Song Ji-won couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“People are calling Si-hwan ‘Hwan-father.’ Getting a father nickname at this age is kind of frustrating but it suits him so well.”

“Oh, he already got a nickname? Hwan-father really does fit perfectly.”

“Somehow I feel like there’ll be many similar scenes in this direction, don’t you think?”

Kang Eun-young’s words also made sense.

In this type of survival program, establishing each individual’s character is the main point.

The KNet production team generally tends to spot trainees who seem to have debut potential early and push editing in the direction of their envisioned image.

It would be nonsense to abandon Ryu Si-hwan, who received quite high attention in the early race. So there was a high probability they would consistently highlight his image of faithfully performing the leader’s role, as shown in these detailed scenes.

Meanwhile, episode 2 of 〈ISL 2〉 moved into the preparation process for the theme song 〈HIT〉 stage.

It was indeed time to add appropriate tension to this peaceful flow.

[Make my heart beat—!]

[Again.]

[HIT! HIT your heart!]

[Again.]

[I want to run only toward you—!]

[Again.]

The trainees struggled to digest the melody of 〈HIT〉, and Min Si-hyeon, in charge of vocal training, demanded repetition with an expression showing no satisfaction at all.

Seeing Min Si-hyeon’s complexion gradually hardening, the participants were busy reading each other’s moods.

“At this point, isn’t Min Si-hyeon a saint?”

“This is just one class. If you think about repeating this at least five times… ugh, how horrible.”

This was quite predictable editing.

Since there weren’t many participants who received vocal A-grades during the level test, harsh training scenes were unavoidable.

The comments were all quite disappointed with the participants’ unreliable singing skills.

—But don’t you have to be able to sing somewhat to appear here? Why are they all like that?

—For real lol. If they can’t even sing, at least be good-looking

—Why is this so frustrating, it feels like eating 100 sweet potatoes, I didn’t come to see kids who can’t do this

└Wait, my intuition from watching KNet broadcasts for 5 years tells me they’ll soon highlight really good kids with comparison editing

The highlight came during the high note part in the latter half of the second verse of 〈HIT〉.

Everyone was hesitant to step forward for the verse that required hitting really high notes that even ordinary people could tell were high.

[Could I try it once?]

[You’re trainee Park Chang-jung, right? Let’s try it then.]

In that flow, a trainee named Park Chang-jung voluntarily raised his hand.

—Who is this? Is he good at singing?

—Idk, it’s a face I’m seeing for the first time too

└Guys, Chang-jung appeared briefly during the dance class earlier T_T He was trying really hard to lift the mood

└Oh really? I didn’t remember him at all so I didn’t know sorry, sorry

└Oh lol well if he sings here he’ll be remembered

└He’ll be equally remembered even if he completely fails at singing lol

Everyone seemed not to know who he was.

‘Actually, I don’t remember seeing him either.’

Song Ji-won was slightly displeased.

Just looking at it, this part suited Ryu Si-hwan well.

She didn’t like another kid taking it before her favorite could even raise his hand.

Then her classmate sitting next to her slapped her thigh and waved her finger.

“Ji-won, why do you look like you ate poop? Si-hwan did that part during the 〈HIT〉 pre-release stage.”

“Did he?”

“Then obviously there’ll be a natural flow where that kid completely fails here and Si-hwan takes over the part. Watch comfortably, comfortably.”

Her classmate’s foresight was accurate.

Park Chang-jung failed to hit the high notes and received a failing grade.

[Isn’t there a vocal A-grade here too?]

Min Si-hyeon asked everyone with a dissatisfied tone.

Then, as if they had been waiting, Ryu Si-hwan… didn’t raise his hand.

[Yes, Si-hwan is here! He sings really well.]

[Br-Brother Si-hwan is vocal A-grade.]

Instead, Kang Seon-woo and Ma Si-hyeok, who were standing on either side of Ryu Si-hwan, actively recommended him.

[Production team) What was the reason you recommended trainee Ryu Si-hwan then?]

[Kang Seon-woo) Actually, I’ve been keeping an eye on Si-hwan since the level test. Wow, that 〈Spotlights〉 stage came out! He dances so well and above all, he sings really well. So I talked to him first and such, but it was kind of fulfilling my personal desires. Haha!]

After Kang Seon-woo’s interview time, scenes from their first meeting were inserted.

[I’m Kang Seon-woo. You’re Ryu Si-hwan, right?]

[Ah, yes.]

[How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?]

[I’m 21.]

[Wow, really? We’re the same age! It’s hard to meet friends.]

[Haha…]

Everyone burst into laughter at the sight of Kang Seon-woo continuing to talk with the brightest expression while Ryu Si-hwan became a machine that only gave brief responses.

—LMAO. Oh my, Seon-woo LOL

—Seon-woo is totally extrovert type lol. The kid is just a bulldozer, a bulldozer

—Completely pushing forward Kang Seon-woo and Ryu Si-hwan naturally swept up in that pace lol

—I wondered why they kept sticking together, turns out Seon-woo was determined to become friends with Si-hwan from the start lol. So cute T_T

The editing direction further built the relationship between the three by adding Ma Si-hyeok’s interview, which was very opposite to Kang Seon-woo’s.

[Ma Si-hyeok) Actually, I’m… not quick to act and I’m not good at reading the room, so I tend to fall behind a bit. But Brother Si-hwan kept trying to talk to me from when we first met…]

Soon after, the scene of Ryu Si-hwan and Ma Si-hyeok’s first meeting also appeared.

[How old are you?]

[Ah, twenty. You’re younger than me. I’m 21.]

[Which agency are you from?]

[Did you eat?]

Opposite to before, this time Ryu Si-hwan was bombarding with questions, causing great confusion among many viewers.

—Seeing Si-hwan being dragged around by Seon-woo made him seem like an introvert, but now he seems like also an extrovert?

—He seems to adapt to people’s personalities as much as possible T_T. He treats Seon-woo by listening to him as much as possible, and tries to open up and become friends with Si-hyeok first

—The scene where he brought water earlier too, just ‘Hwan-father’…

└Ah really the nickname was made so well lol

[Ma Si-hyeok) And above all, listening to him sing next to me, he sang so well that I unconsciously recommended him.]

[Ryu Si-hwan) I was a bit flustered. I never imagined those friends would suddenly recommend me. Still, um, I don’t think I thought I wouldn’t be able to go up at all. I might be lacking in other things, but I believed I could compete with singing…]

Ryu Si-hwan, who came forward like that, met their expectations and definitely secured his share of the high note part.

Moreover, since he even raised the pitch at Min Si-hyeon’s suggestion, he was truly outstanding among the flock.

—He really does sing well

—I’ve never seen someone raise the pitch of an idol song like this on the spot in my life

—So that’s how he got the center platform spot

—I’m going to buy Si-hwan coins right now, for real this will definitely skyrocket

└You still haven’t bought them? They’ve been skyrocketing since the day before yesterday lol

└To Mars we go!

The screen time KNet gave to Ryu Si-hwan didn’t end there.

With the final grade evaluation not far away, scenes of him helping other trainees were also depicted.

[That’s right, Ha-woon. Should we try extending the breathing a bit more?]

[Si-hyeok, this part too…]

[I’ll show you this part once more. Follow along well.]

—Just god Si-hwan

—Just Hwan-father

—This is almost one-on-one tutoring level? He teaches so carefully and well

—It must have been hard for him to practice his own part, but look at him helping Ha-woon and Si-hyeok…

—Honestly, if he had meddled like this without much skill, it would have been annoying to watch, but I acknowledge him

Song Ji-won’s friends were patting her shoulders and toasting for her.

“Wow, sister’s favorite is getting insane push!”

“The editing went in really well too! It seems like they put some effort into image-making too!”

“Wow, but he really is someone who’ll make it. He sings well and teaches the kids diligently. I don’t know who it was, but praise to whoever gave him the Hwan-father nickname.”

“Sister, you need to gather money quickly! You have to properly support Si-hwan!”

“If I could do that, I’d have no regrets.”

When money was mentioned, Song Ji-won suddenly snapped to attention.

She picked up her phone as if drawn by something.

“Come to think of it, the real-time prediction hasn’t appeared yet, has it?”

“It feels like it’ll appear soon!”

“Right, there’s not much time left until the final grade evaluation—!”

Their prediction was exactly right.

When they were past the midpoint of episode 2.

[Real-time match prediction has arrived! Participate right now in the 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 match prediction section! Time limit: 3 minutes]

A notice appeared in large letters on the 〈ISL 2〉 website.

“Only 3 minutes, is this for real?!”

“Quickly, quickly!”

When they hurriedly went to the match prediction section, the topic everyone had been thinking about appeared before their eyes.

[How many trainees will receive A-grade in the final grade evaluation? Please enter the number you predict and the money you want to bet!

※ Since the difficulty is extremely high, the payout is 30x. Please choose carefully ※]

“3, 30x?”

“Wow, aren’t they pushing too hard from the beginning?”

Song Ji-won swallowed and concentrated all her focus.

The basic money given to all national managers was a total of 100,000 won.

If she could just succeed in this real-time match prediction, it meant she could start with initial funds of 3 million won.

‘I can sponsor Si-hwan several steps faster than other people!’

First, she absolutely had to go all-in.

Song Ji-won calmly entered the betting amount of 100,000 won and tried her best to recall when she went to watch the group battle round live.

‘It would have been really nice if I could know all their grades. There was nothing like that, so I have no choice but to guess. Then let me roughly think about how many kids caught my eye well, and also think about how many there were last season. Ji-won, you can do this.’

Time passed quickly, but no matter how much she thought, no definite number came to mind.

“Ah, I don’t know!”

Song Ji-won randomly guessed the number 14.

She didn’t know if this was right or wrong, but anyway, the dice of fate had been thrown.

“Sister, how many did you guess?”

“I did 10…?”

“I did 12.”

“Why did everyone guess so low? I predicted 16.”

“I did 14.”

“Wow, we’re all different!”

Surprisingly, no one’s numbers overlapped.

With nervous hearts, they watched the trainees’ final grade evaluation scenes.

[The participants who received A-grade in the final grade evaluation total 14.]

“…”

“Wow.”

“Amazing.”

Everyone was speechless at the result announcement that appeared at the end of the broadcast.

Song Ji-won was so dumbfounded that she dropped the chicken she was eating to the floor.

The jackpot had hit.