The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 38

After Ha-ru’s outside stay permit, I returned to the 〈ISL 2〉 dormitory.

Having returned to the familiar environment, I finished all my practiced training routine and flopped down on the dormitory bed.

‘Just yesterday it showed no signs of cooling down.’

I looked around once.

Fortunately, the 〈Volt〉 team members who were still sharing the same room were out.

Those who wanted to practice independently went to the practice rooms. Those who wanted to hang out with friends went to other rooms. Those who wanted to eat went to the cafeteria, all scattered about.

I try my best to view internet fan reactions alone like this. Because if Yu Ha-woon and Chae Ha-ru see me looking at something by myself, they definitely get curious and squeeze in next to me.

That means they could witness strange posts cursing themselves.

Maybe if they had a mentality forged in hell like me. But for guys who are still on their first life, there could be spicy posts that are too much for them to handle, so I need to watch these things quietly in the corner.

Most of the posts that had risen to the best board were still all related to my stage.

It’s still embarrassing to say this directly.

[Ryu Si-hwan’s high notes tear through the upper atmosphere]

[Is this an idol? This is just solo artist level]

[All of Hwan-father’s expressions that appeared during the episode 4 stage.jpg]

Titles full of gushing practically monopolized about a page.

My name had literally taken a rocket and lifted off to a degree that made me wonder if this was really right.

Entertainment reporters exploring the industry had also caught good prey, mass-producing articles with content like ‘Who is the participant who appeared like a comet among major agency trainees?’

When I was recklessly modifying the 2-tier high note part alone, I wondered if it was a reckless challenge.

But seeing it turn out like this as results, I felt quite proud inside.

However, after passing the stories related to Ryu Si-hwan and the 〈Volt〉 team, another hot issue stood firmly like a gatekeeper.

It was precisely the raw, unedited Team 10 content featuring Seong-hwi and Ma Si-hyeok that had been broadcast as is.

I sighed while looking at the traces of heated debates that had gone on among fans throughout the night.

‘I could understand why Ma Si-hyeok was so worried.’

Ma Si-hyeok, who had been watching the TV screen next to me, had revealed in a gloomy tone that Team 10’s footage had no editing whatsoever.

In other words, such a catastrophe had occurred even without KNet’s proud devil editing taking effect.

Even while watching the broadcast, I had felt like, ‘Is this really right?’

The 〈ISL 2〉 production team had essentially abandoned half of Team 10’s members, no exaggeration.

If there was a participant using rough language, they would usually soften it somewhat before broadcasting.

If there was a participant lacking motivation, they would delete as much of the practice process as possible before broadcasting.

But yesterday they had shown editing that was truly bewildering.

‘It wasn’t like I couldn’t understand Seong-hwi’s position at all. Even I would have definitely thought I wanted to abandon guys who didn’t listen like that.’

The behavior itself was something anyone could empathize with, but perhaps controversy arose because of his aggressive tone.

I scrolled down and checked out a post with as many as 5,000 comments.

The argument over whether Seong-hwi was wrong or the team members were wrong seemed to lean toward supporting Seong-hwi.

The fan base watching 〈ISL 2〉 was mostly in their twenties, and most compared it to university life, dubbing Team 10’s situation the so-called ‘nightmare of team projects.’

This post, which analyzed episode 4’s content in detail, explained well with screenshots how Seong-hwi, who initially tried to explain things as positively as possible, came to turn dark.

Seong-hwi had chosen to become the villain to protect the stage at least.

Therefore, the fundamental responsibility for the leader speaking like this lay with the uncooperative team members.

As this public opinion gained strength, Seong-hwi could deflect some of the arrows of criticism.

But did that mean the firepower from anti-fans had calmed down?

Of course not.

—Lol no matter how difficult the situation, talking like that shows problems with his character

—I didn’t have bad feelings toward Seong-hwi but seeing his shielders act like this makes me dislike him naturally

—This is why they say fans create antis lol

—That punk Seong-hwi, I hated seeing him act up from the beginning lol, as expected, physiognomy is science

No matter how amazing an entertainer, antis exist everywhere. This is an inevitable process.

But one important fact is that even the people hurling curses like this ultimately watched 〈ISL 2〉.

No matter how much controversy participants stir up and get criticized, the broadcast’s ratings and recognition keep rising.

I browsed through the individual fancams released right after episode 4 ended, reflecting on this rising recognition trend.

[〈KPD Fancam〉 Team 9 Ryu Si-hwan Fancam 4K ‘Volt'(RYU SIHWAN FanCam) @Idol Stove League Season 2 @Idol StoveLeague Season 2]

[Views: 200,000]

Such destructive numbers in just one day.

I had thought the 110,000 views achieved during the PR video were insane, but the individual fancam’s firepower exceeded imagination.

My fans, who had deliciously consumed all the previous buildup, mobilized passionate firepower and thoroughly left likes and comments.

The audience’s cheers that burst out along with my high notes during the bridge part also played a role.

—[02:53] The screaming sound that goes up matching Si-hwan’s high note, why is this so funny LOL

└Like they made a promise, pressing the accelerator at the same time and the sound getting louder hits my funny bone lmao

—How exhilarating must it have been for people who watched this live…… I can only say I’m envious

└After I came back from watching this stage, my mouth was itching from wanting to talk about it so badly T_T but now I can proudly say it! Ryu Si-hwan tears up the stage!

—Born to be idol, his name is Hwan-father

└Came to make a pilgrimage to this holy site, Hwan-men

└Hwan-men

—Everyone, likes and comments on the video are natural, but please make sure to go to the homepage and vote once a day! It seems like Si-hwan could even get 1st place but the firepower is still lacking T_T

└I went and voted right after seeing this, I don’t usually stan boy groups but somehow I want to support this guy

└Thank you, sir, for real this is a coin you won’t regret

Not only me, but other participants also thoroughly enjoyed the benefits of these fancams.

Especially Seong-hwi’s individual fancam was currently chasing right behind mine with 180,000 views.

People’s reactions became more favorable as his momentary talent clearly displayed on stage.

—[01:24] Seong-hwi’s charisma when he hits the highlight is seriously insane

—He’s really handsome…… four minutes of my life flew by in an instant

—Putting everything else aside, Seong-hwi just performs too overwhelmingly well lol. If he had given up the center position, the stage balance probably would have been completely shattered

└True facts…… his personality is too strong, but when you think about it, he didn’t say a single wrong thing

—If you’re this much of an all-rounder, other people’s skills wouldn’t catch your eye

—His dance lines are so damn sexy, oppa…….

—Right, he wouldn’t be an X2 alumnus for nothing, even if rotten, he’s still a croaker~

In the end, it was proven once again that everything must be verified through skill.

I checked the date on my phone calendar.

The real competition starts now.

Because the next filming is the 1st ranking announcement ceremony that could overturn the landscape of 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉.

* * *

[Song Ji-won: Hey guys, did you all do predictions on the homepage?]

[Kang Eun-young: Of course!]

[Jo Ju-hyeon: I want to earn some real money too T_T]

[Jang Han-na: I don’t want much, KNet please just let me get 5 right, please]

Two hours before 〈ISL 2〉 episode 5, the 1st ranking announcement ceremony, aired.

Song Ji-won, who had sent a message to the group chat, checked the names of the teams she had entered on the match prediction page once more.

‘I entered them all correctly, right?’

Song Ji-won had already hit the jackpot from the beginning, but still, as they entered the latter half of the race, the amount of money held became even more important.

Most people who participated in prediction events would accumulate some capital, so everyone would support items like the 5,000 vote benefit.

If you wanted to definitely push your favorite, you had to work twice as hard as others.

“Alright, let’s go earn more money!”

With spirited words, Song Ji-won pressed the confirm button.

Unlike last season, the results announcement for the group battle round was announced to be revealed all at once during the 1st ranking announcement ceremony.

If the winner of each battle was announced immediately on site, spoilers would happen 100% and could eliminate the fun of match prediction.

It seemed they had delayed it until the ranking announcement ceremony so that even people who attended the live audience wouldn’t know the results.

Moreover, since tremendous benefits awaited the winning teams, the crossroads of victory and defeat could very likely divide the participants’ life and death.

Today is also a very important day for the national managers.

Because 5 times the amount of money bet is paid out each time they correctly predict the winning team.

If she was just lucky, Song Ji-won could recover the 1.2 million money she had invested in Ryu Si-hwan all at once.

‘Please, let me get all the predictions right and let Si-hwan’s ranking shoot up too.’

If that happened, it would be a perfect happy ending.

Song Ji-won unconsciously accessed the idol community that Kang Eun-young had spread to her.

Initially she had lived just for the fun of lurking, but as time passed and she became overly invested in Ryu Si-hwan, she found herself writing posts at some point.

[(Prayer Post) Please let Si-hwan just make it into the top 5…… Si-hwan fans, you didn’t forget today’s voting, right?]

Until yesterday he was in the top 3 but the vote count really isn’t much, so if we let our guard down he might fall T_T Let’s work a little harder so our Hwan-father can stand at the very top of the podium!!

—Of course, I did predictions today and voted on my way back!!

—If only I could vote more for Si-hwan, I’d give up all my money

—Still, shouldn’t top 5 be certain at this level?

└Even in Season 1, there was a kid who kept running in the top tier but fell at the end because fans got complacent TT…… Let’s push from the beginning so that history doesn’t repeat itself

Fortunately, even before the main broadcast started, Ryu Si-hwan’s fans kept posting many firepower-raising posts.

Not just Song Ji-won, but other people were also collectively using the ‘prayer post’ tab, desperately hoping for Ryu Si-hwan’s early success.

While searching with the keyword ‘Si-hwan.’

[NeoTube 〈ISL 2〉 Ryu Si-hwan exclusive channel opened! Si-hwan cuts from episode 1 to the finale will be uploaded, so everyone please come visit (NeoTube link)]

She discovered a NeoTube channel established by an individual fan.

Curious, when she entered, all scenes where Ryu Si-hwan’s face appeared from episodes 1 to 4 were uploaded as videos.

Only the truly necessary parts were smoothly edited, with each video not exceeding 10 minutes in length.

So she could conveniently review what kind of appearance Ryu Si-hwan had shown in previous episodes and what conversations he had.

‘I should have learned a bit more editing.’

Song Ji-won, who had been interested in video editing before falling into programming, internally swallowed her regret.

Still, she was really happy that someone else was promoting her favorite with such quality videos.

After subscribing to the channel and watching all 4 videos, she eagerly waited for 〈ISL 2〉 episode 5 to start.

Unfortunately, this week her friends’ schedules were all different so they couldn’t meet to watch together.

[Kang Eun-young: 1 minute left ahhhhh]

[Jo Ju-hyeon: Guys, let’s shoot up in ranking, please, big sister is begging like this]

[Jang Han-na: Drink a can of beer while watching, then at least your mind gets hazy and it’ll be okay]

From their respective places, their hearts supporting the participants were the same.

Song Ji-won also clasped both hands tightly and watched MC Go Hyeon-ju appearing from the darkness.

[National managers, you’ve waited a long time. Then from now on, we’ll begin the 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉 1st ranking announcement ceremony.]