The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 98

One day before CENTIX’s debut show was approaching.

In the official cafe and most communities, severe polarization was occurring.

Those who had obtained the right to enter the set that could accommodate up to 1,000 people.

And those who had to watch the once-in-a-lifetime moment only on TV due to a mere 0.0001-second difference.

Even during 〈Idol Stove League Season 2〉, people were divided between those going to the live recording and those not going, but now the weight of meaning was different.

What MILLENNIUM kept emphasizing over and over.

The symbolism of the ‘debut showcase’ that happens only once in an idol’s life.

Knowing how important that specialness was to the core fanbase, the losers had no choice but to pull their hair out even more.

—No, I was seriously all-clear at course registration throughout college, but why is this showing 01 seconds

└Are you the same age as me lol I graduated a year ago but my finger reflexes seem to have already dropped. I was even in the 4-second range so I had no dream or hope

└Mmm, 1n range tastes so good~~~

└Your hands are really fast, so jealous

—Still, I’m glad this isn’t sold as tickets but applied for like music show recordings. If they had done it in ticket format, resellers would have had a field day smelling our kids’ popularity lol

└I kinda agree with Rave

└Lmao just look at the hundred-year-idol senior team, when they did it in showcase concert format, only scalpers were happy

└Oh, did QS do it as a full concert??

└Yeah, they did it in a really big gymnasium but macros were running like crazy, so even if you clicked on grapes at exactly 00 seconds, everything was sold out. Personal experience

—They’ll give debut showcase photocards right, I’m drooling

└For real, if they’re making photocards or albums seriously, they’ll probably give them out

└But photocard sellers are also annoying lol. Since music show rumors are circulating, I’m getting PTSD from past fandom. I’m standing as preliminary number 11 but non-fans all got into the 100s range and just grab photocards and slip away

└Yeah, photocard sellers and ticket resellers are all disgusting

└But they’re bugs that will never disappear until the idol industry collapses, so I’ll just reach enlightenment and move on

└I wish CENTIX’s fan managers would properly catch the ones who run away

The format wasn’t ticket sales but submitting forms on the ‘Showcase Attendance Application’ page open only to those who joined MILLENNIUM’s first generation.

This is the format most idol management companies use for events like official broadcast live recordings.

Through this, they give priority to fans who truly love that group, but to some it’s just a simple money-making method.

The commonly called ‘music show photocards’ have very high acquisition difficulty, so their rarity naturally increases.

‘Photocard sellers’ targeting this join major idol groups’ fan clubs just to get these photocards and disappear from venues.

Though it’s better than online ticket formats where factory-level macros run, MILLENNIUM still felt various anxieties.

However, Rave Entertainment, which had properly grasped that the amount of capital invested in CENTIX was more enormous than ever, had transformed completely.

The day before the showcase, when this public opinion formed in communities, they immediately posted an announcement that evening.

[……In addition, on-site attendance checks will be conducted twice. Once at the first assembly time of 3 PM, and once just before showcase entry at 4 PM. If anyone leaves without prior notice to fan managers on the day, there may be restrictions on future participation in CENTIX’s official broadcasts, so please be aware of this…….]

The words that attendance checks would be conducted again just before entry, and the possibility of penalties attached afterward.

Though not emphasized in a harsh tone, quick-witted MILLENNIUM immediately captured this announcement and launched a praise relay.

—Wow amazing LOL (photo) Why is Rave doing their job so well lately? This is clearly targeting photocard sellers lol. If you carelessly leave early and get caught, you could get permanently blacklisted lol

└They might let it slide once or twice, but if you keep getting caught repeatedly, of course fan managers aren’t stupid so they’ll notice

└They’re laying the groundwork in advance that they could slap you with a blacklist lol. Good, good, only real fans should go to our kids’ music shows

└For real, I hated seeing people who only grabbed photocards and left standing there blankly during cheering not knowing any fan chants

└Speaking of fan chants, did our Chronic fan chant come out……?

└The music video and song haven’t even been released yet, how could a fan chant come out, teacher

└Then how do we cheer tomorrow……?

└Huh?

└No, you airheads LOL. Fan managers will give out lyric sheets with fan chants when we get there

It was an evening where everyone was satisfied with the quick response that somewhat eased fans’ minor worries.

After fans, idols, and entertainment company all finished their complete preparations.

The long-awaited 23rd dawned.

* * *

The filming set where CENTIX was holding their debut show was filled with hot energy.

From the moment fan managers were calling attendance outside, everyone was excited thinking they would finally see the six idols moving in reality instead of on screen.

When they each took their places in their sections hoping for the stage lights to turn on.

Pop, pop pop.

“Ooooh!”

“It’s starting, it’s starting!”

The entertainment reporters in the front rows and MILLENNIUM packed densely behind them all lifted their heads at once.

[Beautiful memories of a summer night. We can never forget them.]

[We who received more love than we deserved over the past few months, today.]

[Finally, we take the stage as one team.]

A promotional VCR that brought back memories of 〈ISL 2〉 played with narration.

Everyone gazed at the center of the stage with wistful emotions.

[It’s time.]

With that final line, the stage lights completely went out.

A very familiar BGM struck their ears.

[Gonna make it HIT]

With shining fireworks, CENTIX walked out powerfully from the dark center stage.

When people sent fierce cheers, the members who came out to the front of the extended stage briefly waved and greeted.

The group theme song 〈HIT〉 that originally 100 people sang, then 20 people sang on the final stage.

Through remastering and re-recording, it was reborn as a CENTIX song.

「Gonna make it hit, shouting toward you

All this burning heart, shouting it all to you

Gonna make it hit, you who made my heart race

I want to run only toward you」

CENTIX came out wearing uniforms with gorgeous epaulettes from the very beginning.

At the breathtaking visual feast created by the six, MILLENNIUM who came to the venue sent tremendous cheers that seemed to burst their throats.

Showing their consistent sharp group dance and finishing the 〈HIT〉 stage, CENTIX caught their rough breaths and shouted loudly.

“We’ll introduce ourselves, two three!”

“All eyes on us! Hello, we’re CENTIX!”

“Everyone, nice to meet you!”

“We missed you!”

Flashes burst from all directions.

Despite the situation where their eyes could easily be dazzled, CENTIX skillfully smiled and posed for the media press.

After the members caught their breath for a moment, the MC in charge immediately came up and conducted a brief interview.

“CENTIX! Wow, quite a lot of time has already passed since 〈ISL 2〉 ended. How have you all been? Starting with Seon-woo!”

“Hahaha, I don’t think it was any different from usual. Just practiced as always, ate, slept well. And worked hard on schedules to show a good side to our MILLENNIUM!”

When Kang Seon-woo mentioned MILLENNIUM, exclamations burst from the audience again.

Taking this opportunity, Kang Seon-woo smoothly inserted promotion.

“Our reality show will keep coming out, so please watch a lot! Everyone, was episode 1 fun?”

“Yes!!”

“It was totally fun!!”

“Oh, thank goodness you found it interesting. We might be quite noisy, so please adjust your TV volume appropriately while enjoying the show!”

Kang Seon-woo perfectly finished his interview with excellent speaking skills.

The MC seemed to want a slightly contrasting flavor and set his next target as Ma Si-hyeok.

“Si-hyeok, you’re really just one step away from achieving your debut dream. You’ve been running toward debut in 〈ISL 2〉 all this time, so please tell the fans how you feel about standing here today.”

“Um…… Actually, I can only tell you the same words I said during that live broadcast. This scene still feels like a dream, and I wonder if I really deserve to receive such excessive love. But I think because of that attention, all of us members including myself were able to keep running without giving up. So I’ll approach today’s stage as well with the determination to burn my whole body so I can finish and come down without regrets.”

“Haha, if Si-hyeok burns his body up, the MILLENNIUM who came here will be very sad.”

“Ah, ah—! That’s not what I meant—.”

After enjoying Ma Si-hyeok’s flustered appearance, the MC passed the microphone to Ryu Si-hwan.

“Our Si-hwan! As CENTIX’s main vocal, could you briefly tell us what key points this debut song has? It’ll be revealed soon anyway! Ah, I’m so curious too.”

“Hmm, key points……”

Ryu Si-hwan’s face appeared on the large screen.

When he slightly pondered while frowning, MILLENNIUM clutched their hearts fiercely, saying they witnessed a rare sight.

“Actually, it’s hard to choose just one thing. When you think of CENTIX, isn’t it sharp group dance? All the choreography has a strong feeling of us six creating it together—.”

“Ah, so you mean the entire song is all key points!”

“Ahaha, so um. Instead, I’ll sing a very short part of my section. Is that okay?”

MILLENNIUM stamped their approval beyond just saying it was okay.

One person with a loud voice even shouted ‘just sing the whole song by yourself.’

Grinning and clearing his throat, Ryu Si-hwan brought the hand microphone close to his mouth.

“In unreachable time, you call my name. I can feel the heat, shivers soak me.”

At the beautiful tone freely transitioning between falsetto and chest voice, MILLENNIUM covered their mouths.

Entertainment reporters and media press couldn’t rest their fingers as they took photos and wrote articles in real time.

“Well, at this point we can’t wait any longer. Let’s meet them right away! 〈Chronic〉!”

Finally, the moment when CENTIX’s debut song would reveal itself to the world approached.

While the members went down to change into rehearsed outfits, scenes from the 〈Chronic〉 music video teaser that would be released at 6 PM were playing on screen.

From black formal suits that targeted fans’ tastes to harnesses that appeared for just a fleeting moment.

Since debut shows often featured outfits worn during music video filming, MILLENNIUM naturally had no choice but to raise their expectations.

Formal suits or harnesses.

When everyone thought either would be good.

「My love is chronic, chronic

And only you can save me」

The first verse flowed out riding on deep house beats.

CENTIX appeared forming a neat W-shaped formation.

One MILLENNIUM who confirmed their outfits unconsciously let out profanity.

“Wow, damn.”

Why choose between formal suits or harnesses?

Just wear all the good stuff.