Debut or Die - Chapter 179

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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 179
I had plenty to say to this bastard, but I needed to start with this first.
“First, let me ask you something. How exactly were you so confident that a insane kidnapping plan like this wouldn’t get discovered? The moment my vacation ends, everyone will be frantically searching for me.”
“….”
Chung-ryeo looked at me with dark eyes, then answered in a flat tone.
“I planned to finish it within ten days.”
So he’d checked my vacation schedule on my smartphone too.
“So you meant you’d kill me if I didn’t show signs of suicide within ten days. I understand perfectly.”
I adjusted my posture slightly. Then I asked again.
“And I get that you firmly believe you’ll go back too when I die, but where exactly does that confidence come from?”
This was a question I couldn’t avoid asking.
“Didn’t you ever consider that only you’d die and you’d be arrested here as the murderer of an idol from another group?”
“….”
“Senior.”
Chung-ryeo leaned back against the chair. His face was expressionless.
“Well… I wouldn’t have gotten caught.”
“…!”
“Your phone is here… and with just the right gestures, idol groups like Testa that have plenty of incidents don’t get police investigations when members go missing. The Agency blocks it.”
Chung-ryeo smiled faintly.
“They’d think you gave up from the pressure, or ran away after getting paid and losing your initial passion. And after searching among themselves… eventually the costs add up and they give up. The remaining group members still make plenty of money without you, and they’ll just focus on managing that.”
“….”
“That’s how Park Moon-dae disappears with a ‘health-related activity suspension’ label. Hmm… after a few years, only people reminiscing occasionally would show up.”
That’s a leap in logic.
With my contract period still intact and the Agency backed by T1, there’s no way they’d easily abandon Park Moon-dae.
Besides, my current relevance is at a level that could easily place me in the top ten among idols. The fallout from an unexpected activity suspension wouldn’t disappear so simply.
…But looking at the overall structure… there was a chilling plausibility to it.
‘Damn.’
I really almost fell for it. Even as I clicked my tongue, I was satisfied with the conversation itself.
“I see. Thank you for the testimony.”
“…?”
I pulled something from my pocket.
My smartphone—which had been recording the entire time.
“…!”
“You left it in such a predictable place that I found it quickly.”
Considering he might have location tracking, I’d turned it off and connected it to a laptop using a proxy connection to access the messaging app.
Anyway, my smartphone that I’d found in the dishwasher was fortunately intact.
I pressed the stop recording button.
“If I report this, it’ll just look like mutual assault from the circumstances, and if it spreads through the media, the controversy will only grow, and I think you were even counting on that issue dragging down my final mission.”
I tapped my smartphone.
“I’ve recorded everything and saved all the circumstantial photos with automatic cloud backup enabled.”
“….”
“If I walk out of here and report this, it’s over.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. So cooperate, you bastard.”
I leaned back in the chair and slammed my fist across his face.
Crack!
A sharp, dull sound rang out satisfyingly.
That felt good.
Chung-ryeo’s mouth seemed to have split—he was probing it with his tongue—but he showed no real disturbance.
“…Besides, I can’t even make a comeback anyway. Ugh, that hurts. They said you weren’t feeling well.”
“A guy who got knocked out by someone in poor health still has the nerve to talk.”
“Haha, well, but I don’t think you’ll actually report me, senior.”
Chung-ryeo met my eyes.
“Even with evidence, you won’t want to get tangled up in an incident like this and jeopardize the mission.”
“That’s right.”
I nodded.
“But if I get too pissed off… who knows. Maybe I’ll report you right after the final mission.”
….”
“It’ll get a bit noisy, sure, but there’s no one in the group who’d object. The report should go smoothly. What do you think?”
In reality, everyone would just be shocked at why I hadn’t reported it sooner. I could already picture their faces.
But his reaction to this was… unexpected.
“Huh? Hahaha.”
Chung-ryeo laughed brightly.
“I thought you were smart, but you’re just naive.”
“…!”
“The team is good right now? Sure, it’s amazing right now. Good results, plenty of external enemies to unite against—how perfect.”
Chung-ryeo lowered his head.
“But how long do you think that’ll last?”
“…!”
“Not even years, really. Just a year or two after you blow up, and some idiot starts spouting nonsense.”
He stared into empty space. His eyes were dull, as if recalling some tedious past.
“Some guy talking about ‘finding himself,’ others hanging around clubs and selling out the group—all kinds of people emerge. No matter how you build a team, it’s the same. Human passion and sincerity are exhaustible resources.”
“….”
“Even if it doesn’t seem like it now, think carefully. Weren’t there small flaws that bothered you? Later, those become major disappointments.”
His low, measured voice finished speaking.
“After the tour ends and you get one more payment, not a single person will come to you saying let’s quietly move past this. That’s what I’m saying.”
“….”
I don’t trust people much either, but this bastard’s cynicism—born from repeated experience—was on another level.
I found myself at a loss for words, so I just shrugged at him.
So what, don’t get attached for nothing and start fresh with efficiency in mind?
This is absurd.
“If it really doesn’t work out, we can disband later anyway. The mission will be over by then.”
“…!!”
“We can just work with people whose hearts are aligned… and if it doesn’t pan out, we stop. Why cling to the group like that? Ah, right. I’ve been thinking about this since we heard about the restart.”
I crossed my arms.
“Does VTIC have to avoid a decline?”
“What?”
“It’s not like you can stay at the top forever. Once your peak passes, it’s over.”
No matter how you slice it, an idol group’s popularity inevitably reaches its zenith and then enters a decline—whether after military service or simply with age.
“VTIC will experience a decline eventually, with or without this. I don’t understand why you’d restart just to delay it a little longer.”
Surely he wasn’t delusional enough to think VTIC could remain at the industry’s peak forever.
Chung-ryeo’s expression went blank for a moment, then he smiled faintly.
“You haven’t experienced it yet, so you don’t really feel it, but honestly, a restart or two isn’t that big a deal. If we can extend the group’s lifespan, it’s worth trying.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“And instead of letting unexpected incidents tank the group’s career, we plan for a very gradual decline curve. That’s how it’ll go next time, so don’t worry.”
I threw out my words.
“It won’t work.”
“What?”
“That perfect career trajectory won’t come.”
I tried to rest my chin on my hand, but it stung, so I stopped. Damn it.
“VTIC’s decline is inevitable—it’s going to happen no matter what. The only variable is timing. But how do you know which decline timing is most perfect? Are you going to restart every time album sales drop?”
I reached my conclusion.
“Then you’ll be restarting forever, rationalizing it as ‘next time will be better.'”
“….”
Chung-ryeo opened his mouth slightly as if to respond, but no words came out.
His face was expressionless.
‘I hit something.’
Whether it was a landmine or a switch, I needed to press the advantage now.
‘I have to break his momentum.’
I couldn’t let him interfere with my plans anymore.
Since I’d come this far, there was no point holding back. I’d end this here.
I spoke first.
“Anyway, I can’t restart even if I wanted to, so I won’t have that chance.”
Chung-ryeo opened his mouth almost mechanically.
“…So if the mission fails,”
“I die. Just like that.”
I uncrossed my arms.
And I told him the truth.
“I was never Park Moon-dae to begin with.”
“…!!”
“I was originally a college graduate preparing for the civil service exam. Then I woke up in Park Moon-dae’s body. It wasn’t a restart—I just ended up in someone else’s body.”
Even as I spoke, I found it absurd. I let out a quiet laugh.
“So if I fail the mission and die… even in the best case scenario, I’d probably just return to my own body and that’s it, right?”
“….”
“Wasn’t it strange from the beginning? I didn’t feel like someone in their early twenties. I was originally twenty-nine.”
For the first time, various emotions flickered across Chung-ryeo’s face. It didn’t seem like I was lying.
He muttered blankly.
“That can’t be right.”
“It is. Why would I lie when I’ve got you completely cornered?”
I laughed while rubbing the back of my neck.
I’d held back from mentioning this until now, worried it might become a weakness, but with evidence of attempted murder in my hands, I could afford to say this much.
It felt incredibly satisfying.
“You can’t restart anymore.”
“….”
There it was—he was definitely shaken.
Now… though I didn’t particularly want to, I’d offer a carrot instead of the whip for a clean resolution.
“So that means you don’t have to give up on life just because you’ve developed a flaw.”
“…!”
“What you have now won’t disappear. So just live a little more comfortably. Raise a dog, do what you want to do.”
If I could just make a clean break here, I’d even consider not pressing charges. Though I’d still demand compensation for damages.
‘As long as we don’t get entangled again, I’ll be satisfied with a clean break.’
I fidgeted with my wrist, feeling the itch rising from the raw wound.
“….”
Chung-ryeo lowered his head. His hands, bound to the table with a tie, trembled slightly.
At that moment, a popup appeared.
[‘That Actually Makes Sense (A)’ activated!]
I wasn’t sure what this notification meant, so I decided to wait and see.
“….”
It took Chung-ryeo quite some time before he lifted his head again.
His expression was surprisingly calm.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“You’ll have to figure it out yourself.”
“I see.”
Chung-ryeo’s voice was measured, but there was a strange melancholy to it.
‘That makes sense.’
He’d kept restarting whenever he failed to succeed as an idol, so he’d funneled all his value judgments into VTIC’s success.
‘Otherwise he’d have gone completely mad.’
And whenever a mission wasn’t cleared and he got reset, his brain probably processed it as ‘another opportunity for VTIC’s perfect success.’
But now I’d blocked that off and essentially shoved ‘that’s not an opportunity—that’s giving up’ into his face.
And while I couldn’t predict what would happen next, for now it was clear that he’d definitely lost his will to fight.
‘Done. F*** this.’
Now that I’d laid out the evidence in phase one, exposed my situation in phase two, and delivered a psychological blow in phase three, he’d rationalize it all on his own for the next six months or so.
‘And by then, the mission will be finished anyway.’
Excellent.
I stood up from the chair immediately.
“I’m leaving then. I’ll leave the tools next to you—figure out how to free yourself.”
With his movement restricted, it would be difficult for him to throw the tools even if he tried.
Thud.
“….”
Chung-ryeo watched silently as I kicked the toolbox aside, then spoke quietly.
“If you wait a bit, I can drive you back to the Dormitory.”
“No thanks. The anesthetic’s still too fresh in my head.”
“….”
Looking at it roughly, we seemed to be in the Seoul area, so a bus ride of an hour or two should get me back to the Dormitory without issue.
The wrist wound wouldn’t show under long sleeves anyway.
I grabbed only my smartphone and headed straight for the entrance door.
A voice came from behind me.
“…Sorry.”
That sentiment and attitude needed to last for more than six months. Otherwise, I’d put him away even if it cost me something.
I opened the door and stepped out immediately. The wind hit my face.
It felt refreshing.

* * *
I immediately caught an intercity bus at a nearby station and headed for the Dormitory.
I had to transfer once, but the route wasn’t complicated, so there were no major issues.
The problem was that the pain was starting to creep in.
‘I should get this checked out.’
My plan was to return to the Dormitory first and then come up with an excuse.
To distract myself from the pain, I checked my smartphone on the bus.
First, the group chat had quite a lot of messages since the vacation started.
Mostly status updates about what people were doing and casual chatter, but there were people calling out to “Park Moon-dae” who wasn’t responding.
It went like this.
[Big Sae-jin : Moon-dae? Did you cancel your phone plan?]
[Big Sae-jin : Looking for Park Moon-dae… Even for a vacation, cutting ties with the world… Tibet really is merciless]
And Chung-ryeo had replied like this.
[Me : Stop it.]
Honestly, the synchronization rate was eerie.
‘…He pulled it off pretty convincingly.’
I reluctantly checked the other private messages.
[Kim Rae-bin : Moon-dae hyung, my grandmother is asking for a video call. I’m really sorry, but could you possibly give her just one chance? I’ll adjust the date and time to whatever works for you!]
After that, there was a brilliantly colored image of Hallasan Mountain with neon text reading “I’m always grateful to you, dear one♬” attached.
“….”
What could I say… It was exactly the situation I’d anticipated.
And Chung-ryeo, impersonating “Park Moon-dae,” had cleanly declined.
[Me : Sorry. I want to rest. Would it be okay next time?]
[Kim Rae-bin : I’m really sorry. I understand. I’ll see you after the vacation!]
This one bothered me a bit.
‘It’s not even a difficult request.’
Thinking I’d handle it after I got back from the Hospital and regained my senses, I checked the rest.
They were all similar. The pattern was declining whenever someone suggested something.
[Bae Sae-jin hyung : I’ve picked out three properties. Which floor plan looks better to you? (photo)]
[Bae Sae-jin hyung : No need to reply if you’re busy]
[Me : I’m not sure. Sorry.]
Same here.
[Sun Ah-hyun : Moon-dae, I came on a trip with my family near Seorak Mountain and the autumn foliage is really beautiful. I didn’t take photos as well as you do, but I took a few shots to bring back to the Dormitory (photo)]
[Me : Thanks, I appreciate it.]
Same situation here too.
And Chung-ryeo’s final trace was found in the group chat.
[Me : I came to a Hotel to rest more seriously. See you all when the vacation ends.]
[Big Sae-jin : Wow, a Hotel staycation!(emoji) Moon-dae tell me, is it 5-star??]
From there on, there were no more replies.
“….”
Something felt off about it all.
I was starting to feel the weight of my vacation slipping away.
‘Damn it.’
Once that bastard’s abnormal condition clears up, I’m going to beat him to death.
Fortunately, checking the date showed I still had half my vacation left. I did my best to calm down and leaned my head against the bus seat.
It was a weekday afternoon, so the bus was empty, and no one recognized me with my mask and hat on. I managed to arrive at the Dormitory peacefully.
However, my body was anything but peaceful.
‘Damn.’
The moment I opened the Entrance door and stepped inside, I collapsed face-first onto the floor with a sigh of relief.
Thud.
The marble pressing against my cheek was barely noticeable beneath the burning sensation engulfing my entire body.
‘Damn it.’
This is bad. I can’t move.
It feels like all the cartilage has been stripped from my joints. I have no strength left.
‘An ambulance.’
No. If anyone saw my body with all these injuries, I’d look like a crime victim.
I’ve gone through all this trouble to cover it up—I’m not about to invite unnecessary controversy before the abnormal condition is resolved.
‘Maybe if I just pass out and wake up, I’ll be fine.’
My appearance is a mess, but lying collapsed in the Corridor like this might be the way to go…
Zzzzzing—
My smartphone.
Someone was calling.
I pressed the answer button almost unconsciously.
A voice I hadn’t heard in days came through.
-Ah, you picked up…
I cut them off.
“Right now… Dormitory… don’t call 119… Hospital, please…”
-What??
“Company… don’t contact them… please…”
-Park Moon-dae? Park Moon-dae!
I blacked out completely.
Strange as it sounds, it was the deepest sleep I’d had in days.

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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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