The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 33

“Hmm, my NeoTube subscriber count has only increased a little lately…”

A woman staring at her computer in a dark room muttered to herself.

Scattered across the wide desk were countless printed photos and expensive camera parts lying around messily.

This woman, who had loved idols since middle school, naturally fell into the path of being a homma as she grew older.

How wonderful this title of homma was, going beyond simply fangirling over idols to directly leaving records!

She had been diligently collecting data by following famous male idols’ commute routes and filming locations, using various sources to grow her SNS platforms.

Since she still had some conscience left, she didn’t take profits like selling illegal goods.

Instead, hoping that the idols she passionately supported would become more popular, she posted promotional content on websites and Bluebird or created NeoTube videos targeting individuals who caught her interest.

Her reputation as a homma was building to some extent, but NeoTube growth was still slow due to lack of solid material.

“Should I seriously dig deeper into 〈ISL 2〉?”

The homma pondered deeply while looking at 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 videos that had completely conquered the NeoTube ecosystem.

Anyone could see it was a perfect blue ocean.

Videos related to 〈ISL 2〉 were easily hitting view counts in the hundreds of thousands as long as they guaranteed some level of quality.

Especially the self-PR videos filmed directly by trainees had already surpassed 500,000 views, proudly proving they were the current powerhouses.

There was a reason the homma hadn’t deeply immersed herself in 〈ISL 2〉 until now.

It was because she knew herself too well.

She knew better than anyone that once you start over-immersing in this type of program, there’s no end.

At this moment of serious contemplation.

“If I want to keep growing my channel toward idol-related content, I definitely need solid initial boosting…”

Naturally, there was nothing better than 〈ISL 2〉 as material for that initial boost.

The homma, weighing her current life against her channel’s future, came to a conclusion after much anguish.

‘Right, I should browse some communities once.’

After accessing ‘IdolNet,’ where she’d been active as a notable user since long ago, and doing keyword searches.

‘These kids are all appearing on this show?’

The homma couldn’t close her mouth.

Every single attached photo registered in the popular posts was exactly her taste.

After spending about 30 minutes browsing the currently popular trainees, the homma made up her mind firmly.

‘Ryu Si-hwan, Ryu Si-hwan is this season’s hot item.’

Her intuition from long experience was telling her clearly.

If she followed the participant called Ryu Si-hwan, there would absolutely be no chance of failure.

First, she needed to check the essentials.

Rewatching episodes 1 and 2 VODs was natural.

She also couldn’t forget to apply for the upcoming 2nd round audience recruitment.

Checking the date, today happened to be exactly Friday when the live broadcast aired.

‘I need to marathon episodes 1 and 2 before the live broadcast and pick out clips to cut in advance.’

To run a NeoTube channel with this type of survival program as the theme, you need a special topic.

After watching Ryu Si-hwan’s PR video and 〈HIT〉 stage highlight clips, she decided to set her NeoTube channel policy as ‘Ryu Si-hwan’s Debut Diary.’

Unless something really major happened, Ryu Si-hwan obviously seemed like he’d make it into the debut group.

He was maintaining top rankings in voting on the official website, and despite being an independent trainee, there was a lot of talk that he was receiving good push from KNet.

Then the key was to collect Ryu Si-hwan’s rookie clips well so people who would flow in after debut could look them up.

Something like laying the foundation to open the path called ‘debut moment.’

Organizing which parts Ryu Si-hwan appeared in each episode.

And cleanly organizing relationship charts with trainees he became friends with would make everything go smoothly.

‘Who is he close with right now?’

These were facts she’d naturally learn from watching past broadcasts, but there was no harm in doing preliminary research.

The homma started exploring more IdolNet posts.

Then a best post uploaded recently caught her eye perfectly.

[BEST: Si-hwan, Si-hyeok, Seon-woo, Ha-ru, Ha-woon sighting.txt (verification photos included!!) +7211]

My heart is still pounding while writing this… I really thought I was an unlucky person?? I failed to get 1st round audience tickets and even failed at match prediction T_T I really wanted to cry, but what’s this???

I went to Gangnam to hang out with friends and saw our oppas there!

Turns out the five of them came to take life shots together hahaha. No, they were so naturally wearing headbands and looking around at things, I was like ‘is this really them?’ but I recognized them immediately from Si-hwan’s voice and Si-hyeok’s shoulders. Their real-life visuals are seriously indescribable. It feels like cameras can’t capture them properly.

Si-hwan is seriously a noble young master himself, and Si-hyeok’s physique is really Pacific Ocean-wide shoulders even from far away. Seriously. I’m trying to save words as much as possible since this could be a spoiler, but Seon-woo’s style change made him look way better! Chae Ha-ru just… I can’t even describe this, he’s just a visual that tears apart manga. A manga-tearing man. It feels like AI is walking around? And Ha-woon who recently became my favorite T_T Ha-woon was really exactly as he appears on TV – small, precious, and cute. Yu Ha-woon’s cuteness destroys the earth, seriously.

I left verification photos below! I modestly mosaicked my face so look comfortably

Setting everything else aside, they played together so well that it was really nice to watch. I just hope they continue this chemistry going forward.

—What is this real??? Not a bug???

—No fuck. I want to see them too!! Why can’t I see them!!

—Wow I’m going to Gangnam today… Suddenly feeling so empty… I could have seen Ha-ru too

—LOL. But anyway the selfie lol. Look how all five of them squished their faces trying to barely fit in the frame hahaha

└Ah right LMAO. What happened to Seon-woo in the very back lol

└But even in that state, look how they’re all handsome. I really understand what the poster means about their insane real-life visuals

—But going to take life shots is so cute yet funny lmao. No kids… It must be your short vacation period, why aren’t you going to do other fun things but taking friendship photos first

└That’s the charm. How trivial and pure

—Making a sincere statement. If KNet has any conscience, let these five do the 2nd round together

└Right. Let us feast our eyes properly too

└Just imagining it already makes me all teary and snotty. I hit recommend while crying

└Aren’t all their rankings high though? In this kind of survival program, when an Avengers team is formed, the team always gets destroyed

└Don’t worry it won’t happen. We have Hwan-father

└Agreed. Hwan-father will work hard to somehow keep the team from falling apart LOL.

All five were popular trainees, so with even such small sighting accounts spreading online.

The homma predicted that synergy effect would definitely show.

Actually, there were people who said they decided on their favorite after seeing this post, and comments like ‘I support this combination’ were being posted on self-PR videos.

Seeing Ryu Si-hwan’s stock price skyrocketing before her eyes, the homma quickly turned on her work computer.

‘There’s no time. I need to quickly capture this floating population.’

First, she needed to download 〈ISL 2〉 episodes 1 and 2 VODs.

During that time, the homma accessed the 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 website to look at Ryu Si-hwan’s exact current status.

What rank he was currently and how many votes had accumulated.

‘An independent trainee maintaining 3rd place with pure vote count alone.’

1st and 2nd place were Seong-hwi and Kang Seon-woo, all trainees from major agencies who had made names for themselves to some extent.

Ryu Si-hwan fiercely pursuing between such formidable candidates was newly impressive.

That meant he had left a good impression on people in the early race. To the homma, he was an irresistibly attractive talent.

‘Huh, but what’s this?’

On Ryu Si-hwan’s profile displayed on the All-Star voting page, there was unusually a red dot.

A red dot that no one else had. Curious about what it was, she clicked around and found out.

The homma was truly shocked.

‘…Someone already sent sponsorship to Si-hwan?’

* * *

“〈ISL 2〉 is airing live in the auditorium too, so participants who want to watch, come down~.”

Since the break period lasted until the 1st ranking announcement ceremony, it was quite long.

So most trainees used their outside stay permits at different times, meaning the number of people remaining in the dorms changed each time.

They played the 〈ISL 2〉 live broadcast in the auditorium every Friday for the trainees remaining in the dorms to watch together.

I too judged it was slightly better to come down to the auditorium and watch with others rather than watching in the sparsely populated dorm.

…Actually, the influence of the guys next to me was stronger than my own opinion.

“Brother, did you bring snacks?”

“I bought popcorn snacks today, how’s that? Satisfying?”

“This makes it feel exactly like we’re at a movie theater!”

“Could I possibly have some drink?”

After bonding outside once, our group of five stuck together frequently if there was nothing special happening.

Even now we were seated side by side in chairs arranged in the auditorium, having come to watch 〈ISL 2〉 episode 3.

I munched on the popcorn Kang Seon-woo handed me while predicting the rough development of this episode.

‘The 〈HIT〉 stage recording process, 1st round team selection, and showing group battles as much as time allows.’

It was easy to predict since it’s a standardized format survival program. Moreover, we had even filmed it directly, so in a way it was natural that we knew.

[The tremendous benefits going to final A-grade trainees]

[Precisely… the opportunity to gain center platform and solo shots!]

By arranging trainees on different platforms by grade, the effect of the benefits stood out even more prominently.

[I wanted to get a solo shot too…]

[It’s all because I was lacking and couldn’t get A-grade, so I have to work hard.]

[Ah, I thought I really might not appear on broadcast for even one second.]

Trainer Shin Jae-hoon’s harsh on-site guidance and MC Go Hyeon-ju’s encouraging comments were appropriately woven together, making the atmosphere from that time feel vivid.

Finally, the long-awaited 〈HIT〉 recording.

The stage itself came out quite cleanly, so there weren’t any particular parts to address. Except that participants who made it to the center platform each received solo shots once and radiated presence.

Once again, my high note part was repeated three or four times, and I had to endure the embarrassment.

“That will probably keep being talked about over and over.”

“Stop teasing me.”

“Someone calls others silver hairtail fish but I can’t even tease you this much? How harsh, so harsh.”

After the 〈HIT〉 filming, the 1st round team selection immediately appeared.

They edited the process of fate being divided by the random lottery machine comically, creating contrasting joy and sorrow for individuals.

The scene of me lightly tapping Kang Seon-woo’s shoulder and moving aside also survived without being edited, drawing explosive laughter from the trainees.

“Brother Seon-woo, were you that openly disappointed?”

“I was only looking at Brother Si-hwan so I didn’t even see Brother Seon-woo!”

“How far will my image fall into the abyss…”

“It’s okay, brother.”

Chae Ha-ru offered words of comfort that weren’t comfort with an indifferent expression.

“You didn’t have a particularly weighty image from the start anyway, so I don’t think there’ll be much difference.”

“You’re the worst, Chae Ha-ru.”

The song selection running competition that had been like a track meet also appeared as expected.

I hadn’t realized while running, but seeing Ryu Si-hwan sprinting from this observer’s perspective, I could really feel how big the gap had been.

‘No wonder Seong-hwi had let out that flabbergasted laugh.’

Looking at the time, about half the broadcast had been consumed up to the song selection process.

Calculating that preparation processes and individual interviews would be included for each battle round… at most about 4 songs would come out today.

Since 〈Volt〉 had been second from the back, timing-wise it should appear in episode 4.

So I lowered my tension considerably and looked at the mid-episode preview.

[There’s that person in this team, right? Ryu Si-hwan?]

[He sings so well.]

[I saw the rehearsal stage… (covers mouth and gives thumbs up)]

[Team 〈Volt〉’s stage! Starting right now!]

“…?”

Suddenly scenes from our stage flashed by out of nowhere, making me very flustered.

Could they have even changed the round order for editing to raise viewership?

I straightened my posture and gulped.

I had planned to just watch comfortably. KNet seems to find even my resting annoying.

Just before episode 3 ended, greetings from Teams 4 and 9 who prepared 〈Volt〉 appeared, turning my wishful thinking into certainty.

And brilliantly, it cut off right there.

“What?”

“Our stage isn’t coming out?”

“Wasn’t the stage order changed?”

Kang Seon-woo, Yu Ha-woon, and Chae Ha-ru all had faces that couldn’t understand.

I pressed my forehead and let out a small sigh.

“…They just showed our faces for aggro purposes. They had no intention of changing the order.”

“Ehh? Then we have to wait until next week?”

“Wow… I got so nervous for a moment.”

“As expected, that’s how it turned out.”

Probably after today’s broadcast, individual fancams of the stages that appeared in episode 3 will be released.

With most participants’ battle teams running the current voting rankings’ top tier not appearing yet, KNet seems determined to pull maximum aggro.

Naturally, mentions and buzz about next week’s broadcast would increase, making viewership continue to rise.

And the sacrifice for this aggro was naturally the 〈Volt〉 team I belonged to.

‘Last time it was cut off with a mid-commercial, but this time they used the same trick.’

In the end, it means we have to wait another week.

Just as I was about to stretch and get up, a text message flew to my phone.

Wondering what text came at this late hour, the moment I opened it.

‘What is this.’

[Participant Ryu Si-hwan, congratulations! The support item ‘Bus and Subway Station Billboard’ sent by an anonymous sponsor is scheduled to be applied next Friday. For details, please contact the 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 event general director…]