Chapter 25

The first to react was Cerberus, who had been following me around, bored.

{Master! Balls! There are tons of balls!}

'I can see that.'

{This looks like a great area to play ball! What should I do about this? I'm suddenly excited!}

'Unfortunately, I don't think I can play ball with you. It looks more like dodgeball.'

{What is dodgeball? Is it something you eat?}

'You'll see what I mean.'

The participants naturally flocked to where the MC, Ko Hyun-joo, was waiting at.

I was lamenting inwardly as I walked along.

'I don't really want to play this sweaty game.'

"Did everyone sleep pretty well last night? You should've been well rested for this game we're doing today."

Ko smiled at us as he held a fluffy dodgeball in his hand.

"If you look right under your feet, you'll see a sticker in a certain spot, and I want you all to stand exactly on that one exact sticker."

In unison, the participants adjusted to their own positions.

In no time at all, a square formation was formed, with the rows and columns falling neatly into place.

"I guess we should start out with the basics: today is the day of the long-awaited self-promotion video. You know how 'Idol Stardig' always refuse to do things that are predictable, and that this PR video shoot is no different from it?"

"refuse to do things that are predictable", do you mean that I have to run around while sweating all the time?

They made me run in the first battle round, and now they want me to particular and play dodgeball.

It almost feels like a track meet up instead of an idol program.

"First of all, as you've all probably noticed, we're all going to be playing dodgeball today. A 50 vs 50 dodgeball battle for all of the 100 trainees. But first, we'd need to pick a team."

Stepping down from the stage, MC Ko Hyun-joo stretched out his arms with a fresh smile still on his face.

With his arms raised, he crossed the center of the square formation.

"Now, do you see the spot I just crossed? The 50 people on the left automatically become a team, and the 50 people on the right automatically become a team."

"Uhm, what?!"

"We're stuck!"

"Is it true that I'm the only one who'd missed by one space?"

Shouts had erupted from all directions.

I quickly scanned around me, trying to figure out where all the familiar trainees I knew were.

"Bro, we're on the same team!"

"Thank goodness...thank goodness...?"

Yoo Ha-woon and Ma Si-hyuk, who were both standing in front and also behind me, were on the same team.

Yoo Ha-woon, who'd been completely tense ever since the 'Volt' performance, leaned onto my shoulder like a puppy.

Ma Si-hyuk then clasped his hands together as if he'd been that grateful that he didn't have to be separated away from me this time.

"Hey, we're the only ones who fell! Why do I always get separated from Sihwan?"

"He's your brother-in-law, big brother Sun-woo."

"I'm Yeon-woo, and Yu Si-hwan is your brother I'm guessing?"

"I don't know."

Kang Sun-woo and Chae-haru had a messy conversation after they both went to opposite teams.

Even the brilliant genius Chae Ha-roo seems to have fallen for Kang Seon-woo's infectious charm.

The chemistry between the two of them is pretty good even though they haven't spoken to each other for a while.

"That's good, I'll just take them both out at once.

"Now that the teams are split, do you want to change into the blue and red vests in front of you?"

"Yeah!"

As 100 people changed into each other's team colors, I felt like I was at a giant athletic meet.

"So let me explain 'all-kill dodgeball,' where you can win the advantage of shooting your own PR video. The rules are simple: the first team to get the other team out of the game wins. If you hit more than one person with a single throw, they're all out. And since we have a lot of people, catching a flying ball doesn't make the thrower out. We'll have a total of three balls, so you can attack to your heart's content."

50 vs 50 is crowded enough, but three balls?

I shook my head as I imagined the melee that was about to unfold in front of me in my blue vest.

"I might as well just get a quick out and rest on the outfield.

"So, what's in it for us if we win this dodgeball, and that's probably the most important point. Like I said, the winning team gets the power. That's the "power to choose," the ability to choose the topic of your own PR video today."

"Uh, I thought we were supposed to make our own PR videos?"

Yoo Ha-woon asked, and I sighed, thinking about the 'Asri 2' crew that was slowly growing more clever overtime:

"...Until last season, apparently."

"Then why the change this time?"

"To make the survival rate even worse, I suppose."

Give the winning team a chance to choose the topic of their PR video.

Conversely, the losing team has no choice at all.

"This machine, do you recognize it?"

MC Ko Hyun-joo gestured, and a staff member came over, busily carrying something.

As soon as they saw the familiar machine, the trainees' sighs rang out loudly.

"Yes, it's a lottery machine. The losing team will be randomly assigned a concept for their PR video through this machine. If you were going to sing, but the machine gave you a dance! Then you have to utilize the dance in your video. You get the idea."

This is too much.

This is a self-promotion video, the first in a series of personal videos that will be shown to the national managers.

If it's a weird topic, it might not be attractive enough.

Then... I really can't help it.

Cerberus, now perched on top of my head, chuckled as if he'd heard my thoughts.

{Master, you have a very fiery look in those eyes of yours.}

"I can't help it, there's too much at stake.

{I honestly don't understand what he's saying, but if he's reacting like that, it's important enough that we can just smash it, right?}

For some reason, Cerberus seemed much more excited than I was.

"Boys, warm up."

"Si-hwan, you've got a scary look in your eyes."

"Big brother, Sun-woo is shivering on the other side."

From the moment Yu Si-hwan's name had spread to so many people, the choice was already made.

He must not slip from the tree even once.

This PR video must also leave a good image.

I put my hands on Yoo Ha-woon and Ma Si-hyuk's shoulders and declared in a firm tone.

"Let's win no matter what."

***

The blue and red teams spread out on both courts.

Ko Hyun-joo, the referee for the day, placed three fluffy dodgeballs on the centerline and held a whistle to his mouth.

"Is everyone ready?"

Normally, an energetic reply would ring out.

However right now, all the trainees eyes were all glued to the dodgeballs, and the tension was palpable.

I was also preparing to leap forward, putting just the right amount of power into my legs.

"Alright then... let's go!"

A cheerful whistle cut the air, and dozens of trainees rushed toward the center line in unison.

I too, moved forward like a bullet, my eyes being focused on the blue dodgeball.

Then I saw a shadowy figure running toward the same ball from the other side.

The maniacal laughter I'd gotten used to by now was getting tiresome.

'It's him again.'

Reaching Sung-hwi before him, I pulled out the blue ball with a leisurely footwork.

Sung-hwi, who was a step behind, giggled as he also fumbled around in vain.

"Why are you always on the other team, isn't it about time that we'd played together?"

"I know. If you were going to say that, you should have stayed by my side the whole time."

"Hahaha, that's fun. I may have lost the last race, but I'm going to try to beat you this time."

"Have at it."

After lightly snorting at Sung-hwi's cute provocation, I picked up the ball and returned to our camp.

Then.

"Hyung, attack to your heart's content!"

"I'll catch every ball that comes this way."

"...Huh?"

The two bodyguards that stood in front of me, their expressions were grim.

Yoo Ha-woon lowered his posture and raised his hands, while Ma Si-hyuk moved his broad shoulders back and forth, expressing his intentions to the fullest.

"Boys, even if you guys just take care of yourselves—"

"No! You played hard for our group last time, and it's my turn to return the favor!"

"Well, it's my turn to repay the favor of the water you gave me back then."

"No, I didn't ask you to return the favor."

I clicked my tongue as I looked at Yoo Ha-woon and Ma Si-hyuk, who were flapping their arms like they were possessed by a national team goalkeeper.

"Although I'm pretty sure I could do a much better job than them with just one hand.

Still, I wanted to give them a boost of confidence, so I decided to accept the escort.

At this point, my team has two balls.

The team with the unfavorable number of balls is not going to make the first move, so we can take it easy and attack.

I inhaled lightly and rolled my shoulders around.

{Master, are you ready for an all-out assault?!}

"You, you're going to fall off if you stay up like this.

{Eh, you think I'm going to fall off? Don't worry, let's just go take down those lowly humans! Woo!}

Cerberus was on top of me, swinging both of their legs forward excitedly.

When he's that excited, he won't listen to anything I say.

I'm confident about throwing the ball.

It's a bit of an extreme comparison, but the ball I'd use to play with Cerberus in hell felt like it weighed around nearly up to three kilograms.

This dodgeball feels light as a feather.

Still, you've never thrown anything in the real world before, so take your time with shooting your first ball.

I caught two trainees who were perfectly positioned to hit it.

"Guys, keep your heads down."

After a quick word to Yoo Ha-woon and Ma Si-hyuk, I spreaded my feet to the front and the back of me, then built up the strength in my shoulders.

Then, with a smooth turn from the waist, I scattered the ball forward with a short, and concise swing.

Shhhh!

The blue dodgeball left my fingertips and sliced fiercely through the air, striking the shoulder of the precisely targeted trainee.

"Huh-?"

The trainee, completely unable to react to the ball that flew through the air in the blink of an eye, let out a short exclamation.

Then, wide-eyed, he could only watch as the dodgeball changed direction sharply and hit his friend next to him.

{Yes, knocking out two at once! Good job master! Kill them all!}

"...Isn't it too scary to ask you to kill them?"

The participants were dumbfounded by what had happened so quickly in contrast to Cerberus' increasing tension.

MC Ko Hyun-joo's whistle broke the silence.

"Red team, you're out two at a time! You'll have to be careful with this one. Trainee Yu Si-hwan's shoulder looks bad!"

This isn't even an athletic competition, this is a sports commentator.

As I was fiddling with my bangs with embarrassment, the two bodyguards I had momentarily forgotten they'd existed then let out a cheer.

"Waaaah! You're so cool!"

"Si, Si-hwan, you're awesome, awesome, awesome!"

"Stop getting so excited and let it go, you guys!"

I held out my hand to calm the two of them down, but the entire blue team had already gotten into a festive mood.

"We are the holders of the famous Yu Si-hwan!"

"Hey, come on! Throw it to your heart's content!"

"Let's just smash it!"

Sung-hwi's furious shouts could be heard from the other side as he watched the scene unfold.

"It's a team fight anyway! Don't be stupid, we can just attack them all at once! Let's go!"

"Go!"

Both sides are now fully on fire.

Dodgeballs were flying everywhere, and at the breakneck tempo of the game, trainees began to drop like leaves in the wind.

"Tongue, bro, roll the ball to the back!"

"I'll catch it, Ha-woon, and you, Si-hwan, protect your brother!"

"I'll protect you with my life, big brother Si-hyuk!"

"No, you don't have to protect me like that."

"I'm pretty good at fuselage vision myself!"

Despite his assurances, Young Yuhayun's motor skills were not to be trusted.

Or maybe not.

Exactly one minute later, Yoo Ha-woon died a spectacular death trying to catch a ball flying toward me.

"Oops..."

"No, it's okay, you already did good enough. Dude."

"Off, I wanted to make it to the end!"

"Don't worry, me and Si-hyuk will take care of the rest."

With such shameless words, I let Yoo Ha-woon go.

Ma Si-hyuk wasn't that athletic for his size either.

"Si-hyuk, go back! Back!"

"The ball is flying in front of you!"

"Don't touch it! Just let it go!"

"Jump, jump, jump!"

I managed to force it away from death's door a few times.

I couldn't keep Ma Si-hyuk's life alive for long.

"Si-hyuk, don't grab that thing-!"

"Ah, ah, ah...!"

Having failed in his attempt to catch the ball that curved toward my side, Si-hyuk remained frozen in place.

His head dropped to the ground and he looked so pitiful.

"I'm sorry, hyung..."

"It's okay, it's okay, you're still alive and well."

"I really wanted to win, though, but because of me—"

"Hey, you haven't lost yet. Pull yourself together and go pick up the ball from the outfield."

And just like that, my somewhat sloppy escorts were annihilated.

I was so worried about Yoo Ha-woon and Ma Si-hyuk that I didn't check on the rest of our team, but they were more energized than I'd had expected.

The blue team court was noticeably thinner.

"Si-hwan, what happened? Where's the momentum from earlier, and why is the team so empty?"

Sung-hwi's relaxed tone came from the other side.

He spun the ball in his hand and threw it toward me with all his might.

BANG-!

"Dude, big time."

"I just caught a ball thrown by Hwi with one hand!"

Sung-hwi laughed again as he ruffled his bangs, having just blocked his own attack.

"Ah, you can't really throw like this, can you? Okay, okay. I'll try throwing harder next time, but can't you be out before then, big brother?"

"Hey, hey, Sung-hwi, stop provoking me, you're going to get yourself in trouble if you keep this up."

As Sung-hwi continued his taunts, Kang Sun-woo, who was still alive and well, waved his hand impatiently and glanced over to me.

He was probably remembering the group battle rounds.

I took a quick, deep breath.

Then I rolled up the sleeve of my right arm, flashed on my worldly smile, and returned back the taunt.

"Okay, let's just see who wins."