Debut or Die - Chapter 18

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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 18
“Wow, I’m really nervous!”
“I hope we get a lot of screen time.”
The voices of perspiring teenagers echoed through the Training Facility Auditorium.
‘Their energy is good.’
Here we were in the dead of night, having come all the way to the Set, dressed in uncomfortable uniforms and sitting in uncomfortable metal chairs while being filmed.
Well, with cameras everywhere, it’s hard to show any discomfort anyway. I was no exception.
Gold 1, Gold 2, and Big Sae-jin had grown tired of chattering among themselves and were now refraining from pestering me here.
“Park Moon-dae, how do you feel about Episode 1 approaching?”
“Ah~ I heard you said you’re ready to become a legend in ranking evaluations?”
“That’s amazing, Park Moon-dae!”
“Stop it…”
The fact that I couldn’t ignore this ridiculous nonsense—that was the real legend of my life…
I wanted to drink something cold.
‘…Ah, there’s a drink.’
Looking around, I noticed an ion drink placed beneath each seat. The way the label was positioned so prominently meant we’d finally landed a PPL deal.
It was from an obscure manufacturer, but I didn’t care. I poured the drink and gulped it down.
And I nearly spat it right back out.
“…”
Now I understood why they’d included the PPL.
It tasted absolutely terrible.
“Countdown starting now! Count down from 10 with us!”
As the staff member’s voice rang out, the logo disappeared from the beam projector screen in front, and numbers appeared.
“10! 9! 8!…”
When the countdown ended and the theme song “It’s Me” began to play, cheers and applause erupted from all around.
And so the long-awaited Episode 1 aired.

* * *
The first episode received special programming treatment, spanning a full two hours.
This meant the participants had sat in metal chairs for 120 minutes, unable to move except for broadcast-appropriate reactions.
But I doubt the participants minded much about that.
There was only one thing that mattered.
‘How much screen time did I get?’
Of course, far more participants must have been disappointed.
What about me?
Well, let me review the content along with the reactions I found by searching the Internet after filming wrapped.
First, all sorts of Internet responses—critical articles about Ajusa, top-rated comments, and more—were displayed openly on screen.
Then subtitles appeared.
[Numerous Controversies!]
[So how exactly was the real filming of 《Relisting! Idol Corporation》 conducted?]
The viewers reacted exactly as before.
They cursed the broadcast while continuing to watch.
-No way, they’re airing this unfiltered? Classic cable quality, nothing to complain about lol
-Feels like chewing numbing spice popcorn
-It’s so boring, just show it to kids
Fortunately, the opening passed in a flash, and the first participant appeared.
[Ah~ I’m so nervous!]
‘Oh, Choi Won-gil.’
That’s right. The group evaluation featuring Choi Won-gil aired first. Choi Won-gil, occupying a typical maknae position, received quite a bit of screen time.
‘I could’ve sworn the first participant was someone else.’
And that first participant never received screen time afterward.
‘They won’t appear again.’
The overall pattern was the same.
The Production Team had already completed their own selection process. Some participants didn’t even get proper reaction cuts.
What was interesting was that the participants who had been on my team in the previous round received quite a bit of screen time.
Starting with Choi Won-gil, before Part 1 even ended, the evaluations of Big Sae-jin and Gold 1, 2 aired.
It felt good. Starting the team competition with favorable coverage was nice.
‘Of course, the most important thing is my own screen time.’
If my evaluation wasn’t completely cut, I should have appeared in Episode 1 based on the order.
And fortunately, I did.
[Next participant, now entering!]
My segment first appeared at the very end of Part 1.
Watching Park Moon-dae walk up onto the Stage on screen was a strange feeling. It was like watching someone else imitate what I had done.
Behind me, Big Sae-jin and the Gold members started slapping my back, grabbing my shoulders, and shaking them.
They didn’t give me a moment to get lost in thought.
“Hey hey hey, you’re on! Can you see?”
“…Yeah, I’m there.”
If you shake it any more, even with eyes open you won’t be able to see anything. Stop.
I couldn’t say that, so I gave an appropriate response and refocused on the screen. A conversation with the judges was playing.
[Yes, participant. Please introduce yourself.]
[…I’m Park Moon-dae. Nice to meet you.]
The moment Park Moon-dae’s greeting ended on stage, an interview was immediately inserted. It was evidence that effort had gone into the editing—a positive sign.
[Q: Is there anything you’d like to say?]
[Park Moon-dae: No. (silence)]
[Park Moon-dae: Nothing in particular.]
The humorless BGM and cold sound effects were just the cherry on top.
“…Hmm.”
Let me think… that seemed to be an answer to a question about whether I had any complaints about my teammates.
They’re using it like this?
It was editing that made me retract the “positive sign” comment in just seven seconds.
‘This is rough.’
The judges’ bewildered reactions flowed across the screen in exaggerated fashion.
[What, that’s all?]
[Yes. I have no career worth mentioning.]
The moment that answer ended, another interview clip appeared.
[Park Moon-dae: (Before appearing on this show) I have no experience in the entertainment industry.]
[Q: Have you received training?]
[Park Moon-dae: No.]
I knew it was over right there.
I’d deliberately spoken in a way that made it hard to cut my answers, but I never expected them to turn it into short, clipped responses like this.
The Internet reaction was brutal too.
-The answer really lacks sincerity
-Is this a concept?
-You look unmotivated so why are you even here as a regular person;;;
-Either he’s so bad it’s infuriating or it’s supposed to be funny
And all the judges’ bewildered whispers on screen came with subtitles.
[Ah, looking at his application, there’s really nothing here.]
[Right?]
Clips of the other participants who’d already been judged sitting with hardened expressions and whispering to each other flashed by in an instant. I was curious where that footage came from.
The judge’s next words also had a screen effect that made it sound like he was being sarcastic.
[Then let’s see your performance.]
[Yes.]
Park Moon-dae on screen grabbed the microphone, and the backing track began.
And the moment the first verse started,
[Ding-dong! It’s the sound of an ice water dispenser~]
An advertisement appeared.
The privilege of cable television—a mid-show commercial break.
“Wow!”
“Don’t worry so much, hyung.”
Exaggerated reactions and concern poured in from those around me.
“Are you alright?”
‘This guy hasn’t even had a single cut aired yet, and he’s worried about me…?’
He seemed to be reading the atmosphere too much—probably just a camera thing.
I answered flatly.
“As long as it airs, that’s all that matters.”
Obviously, that was complete nonsense. No matter what actually happened, editing could fix anything.
But…
I couldn’t help but smirk internally.
‘It doesn’t seem like they’re going to completely destroy me.’
The fact that a mid-broadcast commercial break was inserted during the evaluation meant they could afford to break the flow once.
In other words, the content after the commercial wouldn’t irritate the viewers.
The brief commercial ended quickly, and the intro played again.
By this point, Internet opinion was in uproar.
-Not even curious and they’re showing ads lol
-Give screen time to the ones who are actually good, not the ones who suck
-Not accepting this ordinary person concept
-Don’t want to see this talentless guy who thinks he’s so good at survival shows anymore
And the moment Park Moon-dae grabbed the microphone and started singing, the comments paused briefly.
[I remember the me I once knew…]
[…!!]
Quick cuts alternated between judges with widened eyes and contestants suddenly lifting their heads.
-?
-What
-Huh
-Why is he good
Haha, what are you doing? Just do well.
To be honest, I was just as bewildered as the Internet reactions.
‘…He’s good.’
With the editing, it looked like some reclusive genius had appeared at an audition.
Even the awkward hand movements that couldn’t really be called choreography were edited so cleanly that they looked convincing.
The editing was far more favorable than I’d expected.
‘I figured they were going for the reversal appeal by killing expectations upfront and then showing a strong stage.’
[Like every day’s a PARTY, wooo~]
During the high notes in the second half, there was even a cut of judge Moody covering her mouth.
‘That doesn’t look like it came from my evaluation…?’
So they were offsetting the interview they’d torn apart with this.
While I was feeling conflicted about it, Internet opinion reversed in an instant.
-and he’s really good at it
-honestly, I’d want to escape from that group too lol
-oh the high note was insane
-his voice is so good lmaooo I’m flustered
-It’s been a while since I heard someone who sings Party In Me wellㅠㅠ Park Moon-dae? stock buying
The Production Team even preserved a brief moment of silence after the song ended.
[Thank you for listening.]
[….]
As they zoomed in on the other participants’ reactions during that silence, it became an unnecessarily dramatic scene.
The explosive judge reactions that followed were each highlighted in quick succession, and large subtitles were added to the Choreographer Judge’s words as if he’d just uttered some profound wisdom.
[You know you did well, right!?]
[…I practiced hard to sing well.]
[No, that’s just something you’re born with. You have talent.]
The problem was that with the editing done that way, my reaction to his words came across as incredibly bland by comparison.
And it seemed intentional.
[So you’ve never had special lessons?]
[No.]
[Not at all? So no academy either?]
[Correct.]
Even looking at the Internet reactions, it was the same.
-lol yeah he doesn’t seem like he practiced hard
-Moon-dae your responses have no soul
-but he had soul when singing where did it go
The positive part was that people didn’t think Park Moon-dae’s reactions were malicious anymore; jokes were starting to mix into the comments.
Hmm. I was getting a sense of how this was going.
‘So I’ve locked in the character of an oblivious, self-centered talented amateur.’
I’d probably take some hate, but it wasn’t a bad start.
Actually, it was good.
As long as the team battle editing that followed wasn’t insanely weird, it seemed like I’d coast through to the second round with this initial recognition.
‘With this momentum, I might be able to package the dancing decently and get through.’
With hopeful anticipation, the relevant content began appearing on screen. It was the part where judge Young-rin requested a dance.
The Internet reactions around this point had been ambiguous.
-so he can’t dance huh
-wow but they’re asking him to dance
-I feel like I’m going to be solemn.
-I’m already embarrassed
[Yes. Can you do this song then.]
[Um…?]
But the moment the broadcast showed Park Moon-dae requesting a song choice and the staff members’ flustered reactions to it, the comments started buzzing with excitement again.
-what’s happening
-What did they request?
Why is the staff member’s hand like that lol
-I can’t even imagine what it could be
Then, as the wildly upbeat 【POP☆CON】 began playing, both the editing and comments went absolutely insane.
[!!!!]
The atmosphere went completely surreal when the subtitles flooded with exclamation marks and the judges sprayed water everywhere, cross-cut with Park Moon-dae dancing 【POP☆CON】 with a dead serious expression.
“….”
“Bwahahaha!!”
Bursts of laughter erupted from the contestants all around.
I was genuinely… mortified.
‘No… I was just trying to look like I was putting in effort on an easy song.’
I came across like some lunatic who was dead serious about popcorn.
I worried whether this would actually become an Internet meme, but the score was the only thing that mattered in the end.
Hahahahahaha
What, is Moon-dae cute or something? lol
-He’s sincere on stage anyway, so there
You’re really working hard at it lol
‘The response is… good?’
The reaction was even better than when I was singing. Good grief.

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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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