Debut or Die - Chapter 127

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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A Fatal Illness if I Don’t Debut – Episode 127
The abnormal condition related to the Rookie Award was lifted faster than I’d expected.
‘I thought it would last until February.’
The fact that it was lifted the moment I received the award at the last major awards ceremony meant the current public opinion was overwhelmingly in my favor.
It must have been the effect of pushing forward head-on during the chaos of the Rookie Award controversy. I never imagined it would influence the timing of the abnormal condition’s removal.
‘Well, being able to confirm it quickly is a good thing.’
Since I had no intention of clicking ‘Truth Confirmation’ for a while anyway, there was no risk of facing a new abnormal condition too early just because this one was lifted ahead of schedule.
“Thank you!”
While I was thinking, Big Sae-jin finished his remarks and stepped aside, yielding the spot in front of the stand microphone to me.
It was my turn.
I walked out slowly and stood before the microphone.
The glittering waves in front of me dazzled my vision.
The brightly luminescent light sticks visible from a distance—they were Testa’s support lights.
‘…There are overwhelmingly more than at other awards ceremonies.’
It seemed to be because VTIC wasn’t attending. I confirmed that sight and brought my mouth to the microphone.
“First, I’d like to start my remarks by saying thank you as well.”
There was nothing wrong with giving an acceptance speech, but I’d never felt particularly eager to do so either.
‘I only did it because it’s something you do while you’re up there.’
But looking at it now… it seemed like a decent way to express gratitude.
“…Testa is not a group that prepared as one team over a long period. As an unproven team, we went through considerable deliberation and effort during our short preparation period to debut as a group.”
Of course, we didn’t just deliberate—we cursed the Company too—but regardless, it was the truth without lies.
And the next part was the same.
“And I think the driving force behind that was… the fact that there were people waiting for us.”
…It wasn’t just about our debut preparation.
It was the same with this Rookie Award controversy. Because I knew there were people who would respond immediately when the situation reversed, I could choose even such a primitive method.
Isn’t it strange and remarkable that there are people waiting, ready to appreciate something simply because we put out good work?
“Thank you for believing in us and waiting, for having expectations for us.”
I was grateful that they hadn’t abandoned their expectations even amid tiresome public opinion and frustrating circumstances.
“So that when you think of Testa’s future, we can be a group that brings excitement rather than worry, I promise to do my best going forward without forgetting this feeling. Thank you.”
I bowed my head. And I continued the bow for a moment longer.
Brilliant cheers poured down over my head. That powerful sound, as luminous as the support lights, somehow felt warm.
And I felt hands patting my back.
‘It must be the members.’
Just as I was trying to think positively that it would make a good picture, I heard a slightly flustered whisper.
‘Hey, Moon-dae okay?’
‘Are you crying?’
I’m not crying.
Another guy whispered seriously.
‘If you’re too embarrassed to lift your head, cover your face and turn around.’
Why on earth did they think I couldn’t lift my head because I was embarrassed about crying?
‘Isn’t it normal to think that greetings get longer because of emotion and gratitude?’
I held back a sigh and lifted my head.
Then countless light sticks shimmered and undulated, brilliant as the cheers themselves.
They looked even larger than before, like a river of stars.
“….”
‘That was close.’
If I’d lifted my head without thinking, I really would’ve gotten swept up in emotion and nearly shed tears.
Thanks to those who misunderstood my silence as sadness, the moment had cooled and neutralized—saving me from an embarrassing display.
‘Cold sweat is pouring down.’
And at the same time, I remembered a trait I’d discarded months ago.
[Trait: Tear Faucet (B)]
-Open and close it freely!
: Tear control ability MAX
A chill ran down my spine.
‘…Could I actually need it?’
I briefly wondered if I’d end up like someone who discards composure only to desperately need it—but I quickly shook my head internally.
‘No matter what, I can’t give up another trait for something like this.’
If worst comes to worst, I’ll just be embarrassed for a moment.
And besides, how often would something like this happen? Only on days like today when multiple circumstances converge.
‘Just wave.’
I waved toward the audience with an attitude that said “You thought I was crying!” while those beside me jabbed at my ribs, and I bowed my head.
The lights were still burning hot.

* * *
After the awards season wrapped up, full-scale concert preparations began in earnest.
Among them, of course, was the preparation process for the unit Stage performance with cameras.
[The Magical AI Secretary of Magical Boy Testa!]
“Now it’s showing up on YouTube too.”
“It’s Ryu Chung-woo!”
Just as Cha Yu-jin said, Ryu Chung-woo was appearing on the TV screen connected to YouTube.
With new wing graphics composited over his shoulders, Ryu Chung-woo smiled, winked, and made a subtle shooting gesture with his index and thumb.
[Catch, Curious!]
It was a perfectly polished advertisement scene with Ryu Chung-woo coming across as a cheerful, handsome man.
“What!”
“Why does hyung get to do something so cool!?”
“…An animal, right?”
Bae Sae-jin’s final question sounded almost ominous.
But Ryu Chung-woo seemed embarrassed by even this, simply laughing and shaking his head.
“Ha ha, it’s not really cool… The fans compare me to a ‘bird’ a lot, so I guess it just turned out this way trying to match that.”
However, the members’ reactions were cold.
“You could’ve done a cute chirping chick instead, but you went with something cool.”
“I was about to hit skip, but there was no need.”
“Hey, I didn’t decide this myself, you guys!”
Ryu Chung-woo was briefly flustered, but soon realized their reactions came from lighthearted grievance, so he laughed and let the situation pass with a cute perspective.
‘…I’m glad his image animal is a bird.’
Someone else had ended up in that mess after pushing a dog image.
I quickly brushed aside the advertisement cut that came to mind and focused on the playing video.
[Je te donne des fleurs que….]
A slow and beautiful chanson flowed from the screen. It was the unit song that Kim Rae-bin and Ryu Chung-woo had chosen.
Big Sae-jin asked out of habit, impressed.
“Oh, you’re using that song?”
“Yes.”
Kim Rae-bin nodded and his eyes sparkled.
“I think it’s a melody that suits Ryu Chung-woo’s tone well. If we keep only the keyboard instrument sounds and change the rhythm in a kitsch way, it’ll become a very sensational instrumental…!”
“Right. Rae-bin seems to be having fun with it, so I’m looking forward to it too.”
Ryu Chung-woo laughed and nodded.
I could guess what kind of atmosphere this team was working with.
‘They’re just letting Kim Rae-bin run wild.’
Since it’s just one unit Stage anyway, Ryu Chung-woo isn’t being conservative and is fully accepting Kim Rae-bin’s ideas.
‘This should turn out to be an interesting picture.’
It was quite intriguing.
Next, Cha Yu-jin excitedly searched for and played a video.
An old pop song played against a brown album cover background.
‘…Why a pop song?’
I’d thought it was an unfairly advantageous choice for Cha Yu-jin, an American-born Korean, but I quickly realized that couldn’t be right.
Big Sae-jin had probably just maintained the appearance of accommodating Cha Yu-jin before selecting the song he actually wanted.
‘If that bastard actually compromised in this round, I’ll eat my hat.’
My hat was already eaten, but I wagered it once more.
When Big Sae-jin’s eyes met mine, his eyebrows twitched in the faintest of smirks. It seemed the pop song was indeed his orchestrated choice.
“I love this song! I’m so excited!”
“Right, let’s create an amazing Stage performance~”
“Let’s do it!”
As Cha Yu-jin raised his hand enthusiastically, Big Sae-jin responded with an equally energetic high-five.
‘Well, if both are satisfied, that’s good enough.’
Nothing seemed problematic so far.
“Then… we’ll play the song we selected…!”
“Ooh~”
The final group was mine—Bae Sae-jin and Sun Ah-hyun.
Sun Ah-hyun stepped forward as scripted and manipulated the YouTube screen.
Then a rustic, leisurely band arrangement began to play.
[Woo! I can hear your heart~]
“Huh?”
Seeing the slight confusion on the other teams’ faces, I smiled and explained.
“It’s Miso’s 【You Are Wonderful】.”
A song by a female solo artist who was active throughout the late 1980s. Moderately bright, moderately emotional.
The chorus “Woo woo woo~ Wonderful!” likely had enough recognition that even teenagers and people in their twenties had heard it at least once through variety shows.
But that was all there was to it.
For a song to be used in a recent concert, it seemed to lack both impact and atmosphere.
Ryu Chung-woo’s face showed slight shock.
“You three are performing this song?”
“Yes.”
I nodded calmly, and my other two teammates affirmed with slightly flushed faces.
Ryu Chung-woo examined their expressions, then barely nodded.
“So… you chose it?”
“…? No. Sun Ah-hyun and Sae-jin hyung selected it.”
They’d added it to the candidate list first, then we discussed and chose it together.
“…I see.”
Ryu Chung-woo nodded immediately, but I could sense him concealing his worry.
‘If there were no cameras, he’d already be asking if we’re really okay with this.’
Sun Ah-hyun, oblivious to his concern, simply murmured with an excited expression.
“I think it’ll suit us well, and I’m already looking forward to it!”
Bae Sae-jin also hesitated before speaking, but ultimately opened his mouth toward the camera.
“…It seems like it’ll be a wonderful Stage performance, so you can look forward to it.”
Watching Ryu Chung-woo’s expression as the two of them expressed their opinions with rare enthusiasm, his face gradually relaxed.
Seeing how much they liked it, he seemed to think there must be something appealing about this song after all, even if he couldn’t quite grasp it himself.
Ryu Chung-woo glanced at me one last time, then asked with a face seeking final reassurance.
“…You’re confident too, Moon-dae?”
“It’s difficult to be unconditionally confident about any Stage. I’ll do my best to perfect it.”
“….”
“Let’s all do our best!”
“Let’s do this!”
“Testa fighting!”
The moment filming ended, Ryu Chung-woo asked “Are you really sure about this?” about three times, and I nodded in response to all three.
Only then did Ryu Chung-woo disappear to brew coffee, his expression noticeably more at ease.
‘Did I just mess with him for nothing.’
I’d been planning to tease him a bit to escape the commercial Russian roulette alone, but since he was naturally so conscientious, it worked better than expected.
‘Though my real concern is actually something else.’
What I was truly worried about was the new song Stage.
‘Performing it for the first time at a concert before the audio even drops.’
The title track and sub-track—unfamiliar to the audience and unvalidated by the public—I had to make them enjoy two songs that hadn’t been tested yet.
It was crucial to keep the momentum going and prevent the atmosphere from sagging.
“…Hmm.”
I deliberated for a moment, then arrived at a short and decisive answer.
‘Invest capital.’
Fortunately, the Company had plenty of money.

* * *
While Testa was fully immersed in concert and new album preparations.
The concert date was finally announced.
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[Concert Announcement Released]
: March 30th~31st Weekend Two-Day Schedule
(Announcement Image)
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-Insane finally a concert
-Ahhhhhhh
-Wait so the venue booking was real
Please, just let me have one seat.
-A concert just 9 months after debut? What’s happening with our boys
-I’m not asking for much. I really wish I could go.ㅠㅠ
-Already imagining myself waving a light stick and singing the fan song
The fans had already confirmed through the grapevine that the Agency had booked the Gymnastics Arena, so they were brimming with anticipation.
And the moment expectation became reality, people shrieked with joy and immediately began preparing for ticketing.
-If you are a local lover who is going to a concert, if you quickly find accommodations and take your time, reservations will quickly fill up and the price will rise significantly.
-Where do I check the server time for the ticketing platform?
-Is there anything special to prepare for the fan club pre-sale?
-I really want to get standing room tickets
But before they could even calmly begin their ticketing preparations, fresh news came pouring in.
-Wait our new album pre-orders start next month? (Notice Link)
└?? What
└Out of nowhere?
└They’re announcing an April 1st comeback already?
└Wait that’s the day after the concert
└Comeback right after the concert? I love the content but… uh…
The fans were already flustered, but the news wasn’t over yet.
-An article just dropped… they’re doing the new song’s world premiere at the concert (Article Link)
└…What?
└What is even happening
└So they’re performing the song for the first time at the concert before the music video even drops?
└I’ll lose my mind if I can’t go to this concert…
There was more.
-At Testa’s first concert, they’ll be doing unit stages, and the Stage production process will be released as reality content on YouTube. (Interview Link)
└Excuse me?
└Wait suddenly so much is happening lol
└They’re doing unit stages AND making reality content for it?
└I’m so happy I can’t stop being suspicious… there’s no way VTIC would actually do this…?
The fans were desperately trying to process the flood of information, yet one fact crystallized with absolute certainty in their minds.
‘The concert competition rate is going to be insane!’
And within this maelstrom of chaos and tension, Testa posted something on social media.
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[Testa is finally holding her first concert! >_< Will everyone come to see us? ㅠㅠ We are also trying to reserve tickets for the concert with Loveviewer!]
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It was a declaration of war in its own right.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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