Debut or Die - Chapter 181

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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 181
When the Agency first learned of my hospitalization, they were naturally shocked.
They’d just sent me on vacation, and now I had four weeks of recovery ahead—it was like being struck by lightning out of nowhere.
And when I explained the full circumstances, they were even more alarmed.
“A, a stalker??”
“Yes. Some lunatic got to me….”
I gave them a similar excuse to what I’d told the members, but when I mentioned that “I hit them pretty hard too,” the Agency’s expression shifted noticeably.
I wanted to ask them to keep it quiet so public opinion wouldn’t spiral, but since they asked directly, they seemed almost relieved.
“That’s right, Park Moon-dae. We’ll expand our security personnel as much as possible, so don’t worry! It’s unfortunate this happened while you were on vacation….”
The way they subtly implied it wasn’t their responsibility since I was on vacation was quite skillfully done.
Though I was on vacation, they knew full well I was staying at the Dormitory, yet they hadn’t contacted me once for several days—so I felt a bit guilty myself.
‘How predictable.’
In any case, thanks to that, the article headline came together easily.
[Testa’s Park Moon-dae Hospitalized After Fall During Concert Practice]
Clean, wasn’t it?
The Agency decided to post an official announcement on their account, and the details were carefully packaged with sprains and contusions to wrap everything up neatly.
‘That works.’
Actually, I thought this topic would wrap up around here.
When I searched, word of my hospitalization had spread quietly through underground channels, but the atmosphere was hushed due to sourcing issues.
Naturally, the story had originated from those obsessed with idol private lives.
-Whoa, Park Moon-dae got hospitalized? Since he was on vacation, probably not faking it?
Park Moon-dae must be hospitalized… he’s not coming to the Dormitory. He’s making me worry.
-No sightings, but he seems to be texting.. what’s going on
Nothing more came out beyond this level.
Besides, the Hospital where I was admitted was one the Agency had already marked and frequented, so the staff kept their mouths shut.
This meant almost no detailed information about my condition got out.
While occasional truths slipped through, they were mixed with masses of rumors and lies, so they were treated as rumors themselves.
-I heard from someone that he got hit by a stalker and broke something somewhere… hmm
-It’s just a cold, honestly talking about it is pointless, we all know he complains about being sick every time he rests anyway
Wrist injury lol probably just from dance practice. Makes sense since he’s such a practice junkie.
Amid all this chatter, the excuse of “Stage injury during concert practice” seemed quite convincing and not particularly shocking.
Moreover, before the official statement, the Agency quickly moved into embargo management to prevent unnecessary articles.
Certainly, this Director seemed to run the Agency well.
‘This should be fine.’
I gave myself a passing grade internally and enjoyed the rest of my vacation.
‘I’m glad I salvaged at least four days.’
My hospitalization was extended through the end of my vacation to align our story for the Agency and official injury narrative, but I had no particular complaints.
In fact, except for the dates being cut in half, it was a private Hospital Room, so there wasn’t much difference from what I’d originally planned.
Though I felt somewhat unsettled.
‘…This place must be expensive.’
I heard that even a six-person room costs quite a bit, so a private room must have cost them a fortune.
What made it even more ridiculous was that my injury was actually mild enough for outpatient treatment.
‘I’ve really experienced everything now.’
Well, what’s done is done—the Company was footing the bill anyway, so I just rested comfortably and took it easy.
I read books, watched some videos, and ate the three meals the Hospital provided without thinking about anything else.
Whenever members stopped by, they’d bring outside food, which made for some nice treats.
“M-Moon-dae. I brought strawberries.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“I-I’ll wash them…!”
It was mostly Sun Ah-hyun, though others brought things sometimes too.
“Moon-dae, Moon-dae~ Pizza!”
‘This guy seems to use visiting me as an excuse to buy whatever he wants to eat.’
Anyway, those four days of lying around and consuming supplies were quite thrilling.
And on the last day of my leave.
The articles and announcements went live as planned.
[Park Moon-dae Falls During Concert Practice… ‘Four Weeks Off’]
[Testa’s Park Moon-dae Injured During Vacation]
But when I actually checked it, the situation unfolded quite differently from what I’d anticipated.
The response was far more intense.
-Oh no, what about Moon-dae
-I’m losing it, T1 you bastards, can’t you even manage the Stage properly?
-He finally got vacation and went to practice, and now he’s hospitalized? I’m so heartbroken I’m crying
-What did they make him do that he fell off the Stage and got four weeks off… please stop making him do dangerous things
-Park Moon-dae careless and falling? Don’t believe it. They probably ordered faulty equipment and this is obviously PR damage control lol so mad
Park Moon-dae’s fans were spewing worry and anger.
‘Wait a second.’
Cold sweat drenched me.
It wasn’t like I was in a coma or anything, not even a broken leg, yet this was happening.
I’d expected criticism to come from people complaining about missing group official schedules for about ten days after vacation ended, but there was surprisingly almost none.
And whenever it did appear, fans were beating those people down.
-Messing around on vacation and missing schedules lol what a mess
└lol that guy’s basically on vacation every day anyway, couldn’t book schedules
└calling practice “messing around” is very relatable fan behavior ok
└oh my! the words of someone who likes that dead-eyed idol! (clapping emoticon)
It was brutal.
‘I never expected the Agency to get attacked this badly.’
Since their own content frequently showed members participating in album and Stage production, I thought fans would accept the Stage equipment in that same light.
Perhaps… their worry had become so excessive that they desperately wanted to find the cause, implement corrective measures, and fix it.
‘…Does Park Moon-dae’s injury really concern them that much.’
A strange feeling washed over me.
“…Mm.”
I rolled up the sleeve of my hospital gown.
There was still some swelling, but most of the bruising had faded, leaving only faint yellows and blues scattered across my arm.
‘This should be fine.’
Since I was scheduled to be discharged to the Dormitory tomorrow anyway, I figured I should do something while I was still here at the Hospital.
Click.
I took a selfie and uploaded it to SNS.
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Hello, Reviewer.
This is Park Moon-dae.
I apologize for neglecting my health and having to miss activities.
It’s not a serious injury, and I’m scheduled to be discharged tomorrow. I’ll recover quickly and show you all a bright side soon.
(Photo)
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In moments like this, a formal tone seemed the best way to avoid sounding off.
“That works.”
No unnecessary expressions, just the essential information and a status update photo.
This should put everyone’s minds at ease.
I monitored the post’s reactions immediately, satisfied.
“…??”
And then I was bewildered.
-ㅠㅠㅠㅠI’m so unfamiliar with Mundae’s writing that doesn’t start with Mundae. What should I do? Mundae, let’s not blame ourselves for being sick. Ah.
-Moon-dae puppy is gone… Tibet Moon-dae is gone… Moon-dae without emoticons…
-You didn’t need to apologize so formally like this T1 is a garbage company why would you say that
-Mundae-ya, rather than pushing yourself to schedule quickly, I want you to rest well, recover well, and look at me with a bright face. Please don’t worry about itㅠㅠ
Below that, my post was being translated into English, Japanese, and countless other languages, each followed by endless crying emoticons.
It was almost a wave of sobbing.
Some fans were even adjusting the contrast of my wrist to identify the bruises.
“….”
What do I do about this?
Eventually, the next morning when I was discharged, I posted a photo taken with the members along with the caption “It’s me, Moon-dae.”
Only then did the atmosphere calm down somewhat, though the undertone of sobbing and obsessive concern remained.
‘I need to… put serious effort into preparing for the Concert.’
If I couldn’t show everyone I was fine, I had no idea where this mood would spiral. I made a mental note, feeling cold sweat creeping in.
And the moment I finished the discharge procedures and entered the Dormitory, another intense reaction was waiting for me.
Cha Yu-jin had just returned from his vacation.
“Moon-dae hyung! I’m back… Huuuuh?!”
“No!”
“Wh-Moon-dae broke his ribs!”
Having returned in the early morning without time for a briefing, the guy who had thrown both hands up in the entrance to pat my back was immediately physically restrained by the other members.
Cha Yu-jin’s eyes widened in shock.
“Ribs?? Meat?”
“Here.”
When I gestured vaguely at my waist, Cha Yu-jin pointed at me with an expression of disbelief.
“Really?? You didn’t hit him??”
“…I hit him and he hit me back.”
“His wrist got injured too.”
“Good heavens!”
Cha Yu-jin muttered with a shocked expression.
“You lost….”
“I won, I’m telling you. I hit him more.”
[Did you break his jaw or something??]
“Yeah, broke his jaw and smashed his head too.”
“Oh.”
Only then did Cha Yu-jin nod with admiration restored to his face.
“That’s awesome!”
“Yeah.”
Fatigue suddenly crashed over me.
‘…Now that I think about it, this guy’s my roommate.’
I’d forgotten with everything that had happened.
‘I want to go back to a single room.’
It was a sudden wish, but naturally it wouldn’t come true.
[So, Mother isn’t a huge fan of seafood. But she does love cutlassfish! The meat was so sweet.]
“…Cutlassfish is delicious.”
[I wish our team could go eat together too!]
The moment I lay down on my bed for the first time in a while, I listened to Cha Yu-jin and his mother’s Jeju Island travel stories until right before my schedule.
My attempts to sneak out to the living room were blocked by question bombardments three times.
At this point, not accompanying them on the schedule was my only hope.
‘Please.’
And as planned, the members including Cha Yu-jin left the dormitory for a brief evening schedule.
Starting tomorrow, the final concert rehearsals would begin in earnest, making this one of the rare official schedules I wasn’t attending.
“I’ll be back. Rest well.”
“Call the Manager if anything comes up!”
“I’ll return around 10 o’clock and see you then.”
“Yeah. Do well out there.”
The crowd disappeared from the dormitory like a receding tide. The moment they left, I lay back down on my bed.
“Phew.”
In my mouth was a half-dried persimmon that Kim Rae-bin had given me in return for the video call performance.
Sweet stuff.
The world was quiet.
“…Hmm.”
But contrary to my expectations, my mood wasn’t particularly good.
‘It’s like skipping an important class because I overslept.’
Missing a schedule in real time felt like suffering a loss with no gain whatsoever.
‘I should at least plan something.’
I needed to at least look like I was working. I furrowed my brow and recalled several pressing issues.
The top priority was, naturally, the Concert.
‘Should I change the Stage composition for my solo piece?’
Since it was a Stage I’d be performing alone, if the injury hadn’t recovered enough and the audience found the performance lacking, that would be problematic.
And for Park Moon-dae’s excuse of getting injured while practicing alone during vacation to seem credible, this approach was optimal.
‘The Stage needs to be one where a mistake could plausibly cause a fall and wrist injury.’
But simultaneously, it had to be a performance flexible enough to adapt even if my injured area hadn’t fully healed.
‘Hmm.’
I considered several options before settling on one.
“This is probably the best choice.”
And just past 10 PM.
I called over one of the members who had returned from their schedule.
“Ah-hyun.”
“Huh??”
“Can I ask you something about your specialty?”
“Wh, what??”
If I couldn’t cover everything, I’d at least maximize the impact in that moment.

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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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