Debut or Die - Chapter 178

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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 178
Some time later. A moment where time becomes impossible to gauge due to blackout curtains.
“Let’s organize this from here. Was your participation in Idol Corporation truly an excellent choice?”
Chung-ryeo, seated across from me again, calmly explained while jotting keywords into a notebook.
“It was certainly efficient for clearing the initial mission. You chose without knowing about the next mission, so… it was sound judgment.”
Not grateful for that one bit.
“But looking long-term, it’s an unfortunate choice. Your image deteriorates far too quickly over a five-year contract… the company lacks structure, and contract renewal remains uncertain.”
Chung-ryeo offered a faint smile.
“If you were confident about clearing the initial phase, it would’ve been better to skip the Survival Show Program.”
“….”
“If you restart, come find me at LeTi. I’ll place you directly in a position ready for debut.”
I could practically hear his unspoken intention: ‘I’ll keep you nearby so I can reset immediately if my team screws up again.’
I suppressed a bitter laugh.
‘All mouth, this bastard.’
In his status window, the abnormal condition that triggers reset—’School Grounds’—remains deactivated.
In other words, the method of restarting through his own death is already blocked.
And this bastard, who understood the concept that ‘if the mission fails, you die and return,’ has surely figured out by now that since his mission is complete, dying won’t send him back.
That’s why he wants to use me… but there’s a snag here.
‘How is he so certain?’
Why is he convinced that if I die, I’ll restart? Even a madman wouldn’t blindly believe something like this.
I want to dig into this and shake some answers loose, but the timing isn’t right.
‘One wrong move and I’m getting a taste of his wrath.’
Antagonizing this bastard right now would be unwise.
‘If I provoke him, he might think: “So you’re not planning to drop out this life either. Then taste some of my fury,” and I have no idea what he’d do.’
So I have to rely on something else.
An advantage only I know, that he doesn’t.
My status window. My traits.
‘I need to think.’
But first, I’m irritated enough to grind my teeth, so I’ll give him this much.
“So the goal is: if I debut at LeTi and your career hits problems again, I should just reset, is that it?”
“No. That’s not it.”
…Chung-ryeo looked somewhat embarrassed.
“I’m sorry about this. As you’ve heard, there’s simply no right answer in this situation. If you want, next time I’ll definitely help you finish the mission faster than now.”
“….”
“Of course, we’ll also plan together to make group activities more comfortable and beneficial than they are now.”
The fact that this seemed genuinely sincere was what hurt most.
‘This bastard will suggest another reset the moment something similar happens again.’
Of course, I don’t think my death would actually allow him to restart, but regardless—isn’t it obvious? He’s done it once, so he’ll keep asking.
But the real problem was that in this madman’s logic, the current situation felt exceptional and one-time, and he believed he’d prepared sufficient compensation for me.
‘He doesn’t think it’s a big deal.’
Since our standards differ, forcing a single reset feels more like an embarrassment and something to apologize for. Naturally, he listens even less.
I sighed, and Chung-ryeo stood up from his chair again.
“You seem tired, so let’s stop here for now… Is there anything you’d like for dinner? I’ll get it if it’s within reason.”
So it’s evening right now. At least I managed to salvage that one detail.
“Nothing in particular. How about you just let me go and fend for myself?”
“That won’t work. Hmm, give me a moment.”
And with that, Chung-ryeo left the room again. I hadn’t expected much, but seeing his oblivious reaction made it clear that appealing to emotion wouldn’t work.
In other words, without building momentum, I had no chance.
‘I hope this works.’
I confirmed one of my traits that I’d mentally selected while making pointless conversation.
[Trait: Bacchus 500 (B)]
-A clear mind and a healthy body!
: All fatigue accumulation speed –50%
Bacchus 500.
My trait for maintaining condition. Thanks to this, I can manage on just an hour or two of sleep for a few days during comeback week.
Of course, I’m not delusional enough to think I could use this to explore while that bastard sleeps.
‘He cleaned up so damn thoroughly.’
There was nothing in this room to begin with. Even the bathroom I’d checked earlier with that awkward, ridiculous motion contained only bare fixtures.
‘It feels like he’s done this before.’
I don’t know which staff member he threatened during the reset to extract information, but it’s a pretty convincing theory.
In any case, the moment to use this trait won’t come during “while everyone sleeps”—it’ll come at a different time.
‘I’ll wait until then.’
I’ll observe the situation carefully until he thinks I’ve given up, until he thinks I’ve adapted.
I looked down at the handcuffs and clicked my tongue.
This was going to be a difficult vacation.
And then, several days later.
Based on sleeping intervals and meal timings, I estimate about four days.
To prevent his suicide suggestions from becoming more extreme, I carefully adjusted my statements to gradually appear to align with his “New Life Plan” during that time.
Like this.
“Does LeTi start the settlement after billing all trainee expenses?”
“No. We start as soon as revenue is generated at debut. That’s fine, right?”
“Sounds like a good place. …Though I have no intention of going.”
“Haha.”
After repeating this pattern several times, I began touching on slightly sensitive topics to gather information.
“Even on vacation, if I don’t contact anyone, they’ll definitely get suspicious. Haven’t you received any calls?”
“Well…”
“…So you did get contacted.”
“Haha, is it that obvious? Don’t worry, I replied appropriately. In your usual manner.”
“….”
Does this bastard know my screen lock pattern too?
‘That insurance commercial.’
I recalled unlocking my smartphone while filming a puppy back then.
‘Damn it.’
I couldn’t expect outside help until my vacation ended completely.
Still, I’d figured out that this bastard kept checking my smartphone.
If that was the case, he was likely still in this house. I made a mental note of it.
After that came days of pointless persuasion and excuses, and—annoyingly—surprisingly decent idol-related tips briefings from Chung-ryeo pouring down on me.
Finally, that moment arrived.
“Today is… junior?”
“…senior.”
Third time waking up. Probably morning or dawn.
I buried my head in the pillow and sighed. My nose and throat felt hot as air passed through them.
My head was heavy. I spoke slowly.
“Do you happen to have any cold medicine?”
It was that relentless body ache that came every time I took a break.
This time too, timed perfectly with my vacation, an enormous fever and fatigue crashed down on my body.
Even though this wasn’t a moment when my mental tension would naturally ease.
‘Just as I expected.’
My hypothesis had been correct.
‘This body ache must be a backlash from the condition trait.’
It was the same with the one-time trait “Sleep is for the dead” as well as Bacchus.
Every time I used those traits to their fullest and only fell ill when there were no ‘activity schedules,’ it looked oddly suspicious no matter how I looked at it.
So I’d formed a hypothesis, and this confirmed it almost entirely.
‘It’s a mechanical classification that the status window seems to be involved in.’
The physical burden only piling on whenever I took a break from entertainment activities.
And this painful timing could be used to my advantage.
“…Medicine?”
To throw this bastard off balance.
He probably couldn’t have imagined I’d be bedridden with body aches in just four days, let alone from an injury.
“Just a moment.”
Chung-ryeo, who had come in, closed the door again and left.
‘Good.’
At least he hadn’t made some remark like “might as well die since you’re sick anyway,” so the direction of things was looking decent.
‘I let my guard down.’
Thinking he had everything under control, he’d reflexively let his anxiety slip. He was probably already treating a reset within the next few days as a foregone conclusion.
Chung-ryeo returned with medicine and water in his hands.
The kind of medicine you could buy without a prescription.
‘…He’d prepared over-the-counter medicine.’
This is a bit disappointing. That meticulous psychopath.
“It’s pain reliever and fever reducer. Take some.”
It’s in the packaging. There was no need to mix in any other potion, so I’ll take it.
And I broached the subject carefully.
“…By any chance, the Hospital…”
“The two of us would stand out too much. I’m sorry. Um… if we restart, my body will recover right away.”
So we’re back to that argument. It’s a suggestion, but still.
‘Now’s the moment.’
I hesitated, then spoke quietly in a hoarse voice.
“…I’m telling you again, but honestly, I like my current team. Even if we restart and form the exact same team, it could never be the same as now. The incidents and stories we’ve shared would be different.”
“….”
“Could you please just let me continue living here? I’m begging you.”
Well, it wasn’t something I’d normally say, but when you’re sick, you can become a bit more emotional, can’t you?
And right on cue, my trait activated.
[‘Now that you mention it, that makes sense (A)’ activated!]
Excellent.
Of course, since it only triggers the other person’s ’emotional disturbance,’ it doesn’t guarantee persuasion.
But look.
“…I’m sorry.”
Chung-ryeo muttered briefly with an almost expressionless face.
Seems like he only felt a sense of ‘sorry.’ Got it, you bastard.
Exactly as planned.
“….”
I deliberately stayed silent for a moment, then slowly opened my mouth.
“…My head hurts and it’s hard to move, so could you support me just to the Bathroom entrance?”
“Of course.”
I knew he wouldn’t refuse.
Chung-ryeo supported me under the shoulder like he was helping someone with a leg injury.
The moment his thoughts wavered and his attention scattered.
That is—when he was more conscious of his own thoughts than my movements.
‘Now.’
I wrapped both arms around and hooked them around Chung-ryeo’s head.
“…!”
And I began pulling the handcuffs against his neck.
“…Ugh!”
The metal between the cuffs pressed hard against his neck, and naturally his resistance was fierce. Even as I shifted my posture unstably by putting my full weight on him, his strikes kept coming.
‘Damn it.’
My ribs feel like they’re broken. But I absolutely cannot let go.
I forcibly twisted my arms and snapped his neck.
“…!!”
“Ugh.”
In this condition with two hands restricted, it’s nearly impossible to break the neck of a healthy adult.
I’ll just keep pressing until this bastard’s mind goes hazy…!
“….”
As oxygen cuts off and his face pales, he rolls his eyes to glare at me—damn it, it’s so fucking creepy….
It doesn’t matter.
‘Just execute the simulation exactly as planned!’
As a final measure, I twist the handcuffs and strike the back of his head.
Thwack.
With a sharp, violent sound, the pressure vanishes.
“….”
I’ve subdued him.
“Gasp.”
I haul myself up, trembling.
“Damn it, really.”
My wrists are completely destroyed. This is bullshit.
Still, the rush drowns out the pain.
I writhe about, push through the door, and fortunately find something usable.
A lightbulb, of all things.
Crash!
The book I hurled shatters the fixture, and sharp fragments scatter across the floor.
It’s an old model, so the damage is worse.
“Perfect.”
My hands get cut a few times, but I manage to free the bundle of cable ties binding my legs.
Now that escape is easier if things go south, I proceed as planned.
I rotate my stiff neck. There’s still a long way to go.

* * *
“….”
“You’re awake.”
Chung-ryeo, bound tightly to the chair across from me with cable ties, lifts his head without a sound.
“You really did stock up on cable ties.”
“….”
“And with tools so readily available, I managed to slip the handcuffs off easily.”
I hold up my free hands to show him.
“You’re quite thorough in your preparations, senior. It made things convenient for me.”
And I smile wickedly.

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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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