Debut or Die - Chapter 177

—————

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

—————

A Fatal Illness if I Don’t Debut – Episode 177
Whether I viewed Chung-ryeo as a top-tier competitor from the same industry or as a lunatic afflicted with Reset Syndrome, he was absolutely not the type I’d want to contact on the first day of vacation.
‘I should just ignore it.’
The temptation to do so was strong.
…But what bothered me was that this time it was a call instead of a text, which was unusual for him.
‘Normally he would’ve sent a text message, but he’s calling instead.’
If this happened to be some kind of emergency, not answering would create an even more annoying situation. For instance… something related to the composer.
‘Damn it, I just want to rest.’
I finally let out a sigh and picked up the call.
“Hello?”
-Ah, junior. Sorry, but you’re on vacation right now, correct?
This bastard saw my status message but still decided to call anyway.
“…Yes. I’m currently on vacation.”
-Then you must be at the Dormitory.
I had a gut feeling that if I confirmed that, I’d be facing an incredibly annoying situation.
I changed my answer.
“Actually, I was just about to head out. I was thinking of going down to the provinces to rest.”
-I see. Then do you have a moment right now?
“Pardon?”
Just as I was thinking this made no sense, an explanation followed immediately.
-Ah, we’re filming right now.
“…!”
-Um… it’s KBC’s Instant Roadmap, and “close junior” came up as a keyword for location recommendations.
Instant Roadmap. A show where viewers submit requests that get drawn in a lottery, and cast members travel around the country for half a day based on luck or misfortune.
In short, a luck-based travel show.
And it was a program that had been doing consistently well, well enough that VTIC—ahead of their comeback—would choose to appear on it.
‘I heard there’s a segment where they spontaneously bring acquaintances onto the show. Is this it?’
Probably among people who seemed to have time available, I had the best recognition value, but I had no intention of working on my first day of vacation. Especially not with this guy.
Of course, with cameras rolling, I couldn’t show my displeasure, so I deflected politely.
“Well… I really appreciate it, senior. But I’m heading down very soon, so… I barely have any time. What should we do about this?”
Speaking with an appropriately regretful tone, a flustered voice came back through the phone.
-Park Moon-dae happens to be right nearby, so I reached out… Would you be able to spare just a moment? We only need you to draw once from the lottery.
“….”
-If it’s too inconvenient, I understand.
‘Damn inconvenient, you bastard.’
But if I refused now and the editing didn’t come out right, I’d be the only one losing.
With me being on vacation and supposedly at the Dormitory, people would definitely spin a narrative that I couldn’t spare even a moment to help out a senior, making me look bad.
And this guy definitely came at me with that humble approach precisely because he was counting on that.
‘He’s crossing the line.’
I’d definitely return this favor.
“There’s no way that’s true. Since you said so, Senior, I’ll make time somehow.”
-Really? I’m sorry and grateful. I’ll buy you something delicious later.
I’d tried to subtly push the hesitant junior into accepting my favor, but this approach didn’t work. Damn it.
“Are you coming now?”
-Yes. That should be the case. Um… I think I’ll arrive within five minutes.
“Understood.”
-See you in a bit.
I heard Chung-ryeo’s laughter through the phone before the call ended.
‘What a hassle.’
I suppressed a sigh, grabbed my mask and hoodie, and headed outside.
‘I should’ve gone with the others when they called.’
It would’ve been better to follow Bae Sae-jin’s suggestion and go look at Seoul brand apartment listings instead.
‘At least that would’ve left me with some profit.’
This? I just got frustrated.
Since it was early morning just after rush hour, the apartment complex was quiet. I spotted a black sedan already waiting in front of the main gate.
Someone waved their hand slightly out the window, apparently noticing me.
‘Is that it?’
As I approached, the passenger door opened immediately.
“…!”
On the other side, I saw Chung-ryeo gripping the steering wheel.
“Hello, Park Moon-dae.”
“Hello, Senior.”
“You came down quickly. I’m really grateful. First… should we greet the camera over there?”
Since the staff hadn’t arrived yet, Chung-ryeo was alone in the car. Various cameras were visible around the driver’s seat.
The camera Chung-ryeo was pointing at was mounted in front of the passenger seat.
I leaned into the passenger seat appropriately and greeted.
“Hello. I’m Park Moon-dae from Testa…. Senior, about the lottery draw?”
“The PD said they’ll explain it while we’re moving. We’ll just take a quick lap around this area, so could you answer if they call?”
This became even more of a hassle. But having come this far, I couldn’t complain in front of the camera.
“Yes, of course.”
I got into the passenger seat. The moment the door closed, Chung-ryeo turned on the audio.
“Don’t forget your seatbelt.”
“Okay.”
As if I wouldn’t buckle up without being told, you bastard.
I fastened the belt and turned my body, when I suddenly became aware of the smartphone in my pocket.
‘Come to think of it, shouldn’t I contact the company?’
I hadn’t thought about it since they suddenly called me on my first day of vacation, but even if I only appeared briefly as a cameo, it was better for both sides if I reported it.
‘I should do it right after I get out.’
For now, since we’re filming, it’s best not to touch my smartphone as much as possible.
That’s when it happened.
‘…?’
A strange sense of unease washed over me.
…We’re filming.
I looked back at the camera.
‘The light isn’t on.’
The on-air signal is usually indicated by a red light, but this camera had no indicator.
Not just this one either—the others were the same.
‘…Is it a filming setup issue?’
Still, wondering if it had malfunctioned or something was wrong, I reached toward the camera.
That instant.
Whoosh.
Something suddenly flew at my face and clamped down roughly.
“…!”
“Done.”
A white cloth-like material sealed my eyes, nose, and mouth. My breath caught suddenly, and a strange volatile smell stabbed through my brain.
“Ugh,”
I tried to raise both hands immediately to tear the cloth away, but my consciousness grew hazy in an instant.
‘Damn it….’
I tried to bite my tongue, but it was too late.
Everything went black.

* * *
“…Gasp!”
“Ah, you’re awake?”
My head was pounding like hell.
Reflexively trying to press my head against the throbbing pain that felt like my brain was shaking, both my hands came up together.
Clink.
Silver… handcuffs.
‘…Handcuffs?’
Even as my head felt like it was splitting apart, a powerful sense that something was wrong gripped me.
“Have some water.”
A silicone cup suddenly appeared before my eyes.
The owner of the hand holding it was… damn it, Chung-ryeo.
“What the hell is this situation?”
“Well, just drink some water first….”
“If you were me, do you think water would go down your throat right now, you bastard?”
“….”
If my head were clearer, I’d respond more calmly, but I had a rough idea of what was happening, which only made me angrier.
I pressed my head with both hands and tried to analyze the situation.
This bastard said it was a broadcast and got me in the car, and then some cloth….
‘Was it an anesthetic?’
If so, then naturally, the broadcast was a trap designed to catch me.
The camera obviously wasn’t even on.
‘Damn it…!’
I can’t believe I fell for something like this. I mean, this isn’t some crime movie, and the situation itself is completely absurd.
I took a deep breath and lifted my head again. Finally, my surroundings came into focus.
‘…It’s not an apartment.’
Looking at the ceiling and floor, it seemed like an old house. In other words, it was likely somewhere remote.
‘Even if I screamed, there’s no way this bastard didn’t account for that.’
In other words, it seemed like the kind of place where you could kill someone without immediate interference.
‘This is insane.’
Why the hell is this happening all of a sudden?
I swallowed hard. And I thought as calmly as I could manage.
First, a question.
“…Why exactly did you knock me out and drag me here? Where is this place?”
“I have a proposal. Since you don’t seem like you’d be interested, I prepared it to try long-term.”
Chung-ryeo shrugged and placed a cup of water reasonably close to me. And I realized my legs were also adequately restrained.
Thorough. Damn.
“What kind of proposal?”
“Well… it might be a tired topic. Starting over, I mean.”
I figured this crazy bastard would bring up something like this.
But the timing was completely out of nowhere.
“I told you I was satisfied with the current state. And you said you’d try to adapt, senior.”
“Ah, that.”
Chung-ryeo looked down at me without the slightest movement.
“A problem came up.”
“…What?”
“One of the members is about to be indicted on criminal charges.”
“…!!”
“It’s gotten pretty messy. It doesn’t look like it can be cleaned up. Expelling that person from the group is obvious, but… the aftermath means the comeback probably won’t happen as scheduled.”
Damn. My vision darkens. I swallowed.
“…Still, if only that person leaves, there shouldn’t be a problem with the group, right?”
“What? Haha. Junior. Why are you playing dumb?”
Chung-ryeo smiled.
“VTIC isn’t some massive group with like ten members. One person leaving has a huge impact. There’ll be image problems too, so it’s almost certain this will be the signal for a downward spiral, right?”
Chung-ryeo pulled over a chair and sat across from me.
“The company was already talking about the next group, so, well, wouldn’t it be fair to say it’s the end?”
This won’t do. I need to turn this around.
“…In the future I came from, I never heard any major news about VTIC. It probably won’t blow up into a big incident and will just pass….”
“You said you didn’t know much because you were studying for the civil service exam.”
“VTIC is such a massive group that if something like that happened, I’m sure I would’ve seen it in the news somewhere….”
“Ha, don’t strain yourself too much.”
“….”
I’m in no state to be eating anything. It wouldn’t even be strange if he smashed my head in right now….
‘A weapon.’
I immediately scanned my surroundings within his reach. I was checking if there were any tools I could use as a weapon.
“What are you doing.”
“…I was curious where this place is.”
“Ah, you have plenty of time, so you can be curious about that slowly.”
What is he even saying now.
“Of course, it depends on your choice, junior… anyway, I should get back to my proposal.”
Chung-ryeo asked with a smile.
“Won’t you commit suicide?”
Chills ran down my spine. This crazy bastard.
“Are you insane?”
“I thought you’d say that. It’s the right time to have reservations.”
He nodded naturally.
“Dying directly is one thing, right? But I’d prefer to avoid killing you myself too.”
He didn’t offer any reasonable excuse like ‘it’s unsettling’.
“I’m not sure if you’d come back even if you were murdered…. I don’t want to introduce unnecessary variables.”
“….”
“You’re the same way, right? We should avoid the horrific situation of not coming back for the first time, just in case.”
“I already said enough that I don’t think I’ll come back when I die….”
“You’ll come back.”
Chung-ryeo met my eyes.
“Even if you don’t want to, you’ll come back. Don’t worry.”
“….”
“Ah, and I wanted to tell you… junior, you can’t trust casting offers like that. Of course, we discuss bringing in acquaintances beforehand and film it. You might fall for fraud or bad checks next time, so remember that.”
Chung-ryeo stood up from his chair.
“So when we start again, let’s slowly plan out what direction would be better for you. Ask me anything you’re curious about.”
“….”
“Get some rest. You said it was a vacation.”
Chung-ryeo hummed softly as he opened the door and left.
Click.
The door closed again with a polite, quiet sound.
“…Phew.”
I felt cold sweat trickling down my spine, which had been tense. Sweat also formed on my wrists beneath the handcuffs.
‘I avoided becoming a corpse for now.’
But who knows when that bastard’s mind will work further and he’ll decide ‘it’s easier to just kill him’. What kind of shitty situation is this….
I got caught here?
‘Has my brain melted from this vacation, damn it.’
I slammed my handcuffed fist against the floor, cracking the concrete while the shackles remained intact.
It didn’t matter.
‘I’ll crawl my way out of this hellhole in one piece, no matter what.’
I’d make that bastard regret not smashing my skull with a hammer when I was unconscious.

—————

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

—————