Debut or Die - Chapter 186

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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 186
I crossed my arms.
“So… you’re saying it would be better to revise my solo Stage performance.”
“That’s right.”
Ryu Chung-woo nodded with a stern expression.
I hadn’t expected to hear this kind of talk while we were celebrating the successful conclusion of the Concert’s first day by ordering some special food at the Dormitory.
‘Could this be what he wanted to discuss later?’
We should just fire the stage technician and move on—why should I be the one forced to abandon my performance?
It’s my solo Stage anyway, so it’s not like anyone else would be affected, yet here they are telling me what to do. It’s ridiculous.
I answered reluctantly.
“We can just identify whoever made the mistake, replace them, and continue. I didn’t feel any particular strain during that Stage.”
“You might not feel the strain, but your wrists and back certainly will.”
I held back a sigh.
“…I’m fine, I’m telling you. If I couldn’t handle it, I wouldn’t have done it in the first place.”
Big Sae-jin interjected.
Right—not just Ryu Chung-woo, but all of them were listening intently as if they were in some kind of meeting.
“Park Moon-dae. Our tour schedule already has over three months booked. That’s twelve performances, excluding Seoul.”
I know.
“Can you really do that twelve times? Can you perform flawlessly in every new Concert Hall without a single mistake?”
“So even if I make a mistake, it would be—”
“No, it wouldn’t be fine.”
“…!”
…It was Sun Ah-hyun.
“Moon-dae, you collapsed… if something goes wrong, it could be really serious. Your wrists still hurt…”
“…”
My head throbbed. I rubbed my shoulders.
“…There’s still time before we go overseas anyway. I can recover fully by then if I rest.”
“Moon-dae.”
Ryu Chung-woo pressed his fingers to his temple.
“Are you a doctor?”
“…!”
“No matter what kind of injury it is… once a bone is damaged, you can’t guarantee there won’t be lingering effects.”
Ryu Chung-woo smiled bitterly.
“I’m guaranteeing it.”
“…”
This bastard’s pulling out the cheat code.
I fell silent at the words of a former national representative who had retired before reaching his prime due to injury complications.
Of course, this wasn’t a surrender.
‘I need to control my emotions first.’
Now that a sensitive keyword like ‘injury’ had been introduced, logic alone wouldn’t work on someone like him.
‘Either way, if I just phrase it convincingly enough, the “Now that I think about it, that makes sense” trait might activate.’
The odds are better than fifty-fifty, aren’t they?
I constructed an appropriate narrative. And I spoke as though hesitating.
This is how I’d appeal to them.
“But… I’ve practiced so hard to show you this.”
“…That’s…”
“I thought about it a lot from the conception stage and created it. And when I actually tried it, the response was really good, and….”
I finished speaking with gravity.
“It feels like such a waste to do it just once and stop. I want to push forward as far as I can. If my injury recovery is too slow, I’ll ask for your understanding later and make adjustments.”
Chung-woo’s expression darkened slightly.
‘Did it work?’
But Big Sae-jin interjected with an exasperated look.
“You’ve barely been on the apparatus for less than two weeks—what practice are you talking about?”
This bastard.
“…That’s why I said I planned it for a long time.”
“Oh yeah? You picked this to make an excuse for your injury, didn’t you?”
“…!”
“You got away with it doing it once, so let’s move to an alternative now. You can do it later once you’re completely recovered. You’ll keep performing through the concert anyway.”
Big Sae-jin continued speaking with a stern expression.
“Think long-term. Are you retiring after this tour?”
“…!”
“You’re not.”
Well… I don’t know.
I might not be able to continue.
Then, I realized it as though I’d been struck in the head.
‘Was I actually concerned about this?’
If all my abnormal conditions end with this tour, I’m not sure if I’ll continue to exist as Park Moon-dae.
‘So that’s why I wanted to do it while I could this time…?’
This is too sentimental, a bit…. Like I’m some kid.
I erased the sentence that had suddenly occurred to me and grasped a more rational nuance.
‘Right. I guess I just wanted to do well while I was at it.’
The Stage was more enjoyable than I expected, and it was rewarding work. Plus, the pay was good, so there was nothing to complain about.
Immersed in that sensation, lacking long-term certainty, I think my standards might have become a bit shaky.
While I was lost in thought for a moment, Big Sae-jin drove the point home.
“If lingering aftereffects from the injury keep hindering your performance, you should recover properly right now.”
“….”
Yeah, damn it.
You’re right too.
‘It does feel odd to just use my body recklessly like it’s not mine.’
Maybe I could continue living as Park Moon-dae after all.
I let out a sigh.
“Understood.”
“…!”
“Since I already have an alternative plan, I’ll check how things look tomorrow morning and reconsider then.”
Bae Sae-jin, who had been listening quietly, suddenly exclaimed.
“Don’t just look at it yourself! Go to the Hospital!”
“…Yes, I will.”
I could have ignored this and pushed through anyway since it was my solo Stage, but this time I decided to accept the advice.
“Good thinking.”
“Make sure the Manager goes with you to the Hospital tomorrow.”
“Of course.”
‘It’d be funny if the doctor says I’m fine after all this.’
I painted an unusually hopeful prediction and deferred my decision until tomorrow morning.
For the record, it was a meaningless course of action.
Because early that very morning, people who had Concert tickets got into a heated argument with each other.
A pretty serious one at that.

* * *
Right up until the Concert had just ended, the atmosphere was incredible.
-I love you guys, Testa forever
-I can’t come to my senses. Why am I not in All Concert? I should have found a middle Concert seat, you idiot.
-Seriously, every single Stage was amazing. The capital investment was overflowing, but the performance itself left an even stronger impression… I’ll post a detailed review after I get home
-Mundaengdang, my sweet apple rice cake, crybaby king updated againㅠㅠ (photo)
-I cried and screamed so much that typing is difficult, but knowing I have my seat this weekend is the best moment of my life
There were almost no laments posted under the radar, no ambiguous reactions of regret. It was simply a wave of joy.
Moreover, just as the twin Home Ma had predicted, Testa’s impromptu talk Stage became quite a hot topic even among non-fans.
Videos of that Stage filmed on smartphones flooded YouTube as soon as the Concert ended.
-That’s hilarious lol
-I would’ve cried if I’d seen it in person, I laughed so hard
-Taking off your clothes and throwing them away is so funny that you wonder if you’re crazy haha.
-I was happily watching the handsome guys in front get flustered and then ???
-No, was Kim Rae-bin’s original image like that? Haha, I can’t imagine that. It’s ridiculous, really.
-The fact that what he ripped open was a tissue box is also hilarious
The Company quickly jumped on the trend with a slightly witty post on SNS.
========================
Every combination of our Testa is precious☆
All impromptu Stages from the 【Enchanted ME】 tour will be included as special compositions in the VOD package.
========================
Fans gave skeptical glances, wondering “Is T1 moving fast?”, but they were reassured knowing they could still watch all the impromptu Stages officially compiled.
-It was so nice to continue the solo songs. At the end, when Cheongwoo finished, it was creepy to see the kids come out as a groupㅠㅠ
-Ah-hyun looked in great condition, flying all over the place. During the encore, he greeted people well here and there… but I hope Ah-hyun gets penalized tomorrow. Reviewer friends, please get it wrong (Sun Ah-hyun greeting photo)
-Cha Yu-jin’s dance break is something you absolutely have to see with your own eyes at least once in your lifetime
The night filled with detailed reviews from returning audience members and posts anticipating tomorrow’s concert.
Naturally, countless posts about Park Moon-dae flooded in as well.
-Park Moon-dae is an angel. I realized it today
-Even if I spent money on this, I’m wondering if it was worth it. A genius performance of the century. Everyone, please stan Moon-dae
-The timing and color when he floated in the air, the moment the cloth unfurled—it was exactly Moon-dae’s taste. I was convinced Moon-dae participated in the planning.
He did all that even while injured because he wanted to show us this. I had so many thoughts that tears streamed down my face on the way home. I became that woman with a story on the express bus
-Honestly, I was worried that the injury would remain, but he did really well. I’m glad that our dog recovered quickly, but let’s not overdo it.
Exquisite shots of Park Moon-dae floating elegantly in the air were shared across countless angles and versions, filling SNS.
While concerns about the injury occasionally surfaced, the performance was so good and Park Moon-dae seemed so composed that the overwhelming majority were pleased, thinking “he must have recovered quickly.”
Believing that way also meant people could actually see that performance again next time, which was more convenient.
But just as public opinion was about to move on.
A single post was unearthed.
[Male idol concert staff mid-review]
It was a part-time worker’s review post testifying to the fainting of an idol who performed the “solo aerial ascent” stage.
Though deleted fairly quickly, since verification photos had been uploaded, those who captured it naturally existed, sensing it felt real.
And when the circumstances lined up, it was obviously Park Moon-dae.
-Wearing an oxygen mask and fainting…?
-My heart feels like it’s dropping
-It’s so crazy. If it really was Moon-dae, I’m losing my mind
I’m embarrassed, I’m so embarrassed. Do these bastards have no brains? They actually believed that and shared it to spread it around lol
-Don’t all idols wear oxygen masks at concerts? Why are people making such a fuss? He’s trying to work hard, and here we are acting like servants after paying for tickets
-If his injury hadn’t recovered, he really would have been in pain. If he fainted that badly, I can’t even imagine it. I can’t even look at the photos. What do I do, really…
-This seems like just attention-seeking. Why are people following along so easily?
-There’s been no official statement, so I wish everyone would calm down… Could this be intentional sabotage of the genius’s solo stage?;
All sorts of opinions swirled as fans were thrown into turmoil.
Those already worried about post-injury aftereffects felt their hearts sink, but since it was just an unofficial post, various positions emerged.
And this division intensified as time passed.
-This is totally relatable
-There’s a concert today too. If he gets injured again while performing, I can’t stand it
-Please don’t get ahead of ourselves. Do we want to become a laughingstock to outsiders again?
-It would be good to verify if this is actually true first
-Scratching where it doesn’t itch… Ugh, what good is it if the idol does well? Is quitting fandom really the answer?
Movements to pressure the Agency crossed with skeptical opinions, creating chaos.
It was on the verge of splitting apart soon.
And Park Moon-dae woke up in the morning and confirmed this mess.
“….”
The back of my head throbbed.
‘Is this even going to resolve?’
He grumbled that calling it a “fainting spell” made it sound serious, when in reality he’d only felt momentarily dazed.
But with things having escalated to this point, even I had to admit the truth.
No matter what, I didn’t want the audience worrying about my health while watching the Stage.

* * *
I acknowledged it while eating breakfast.
“…I should stop.”
“Y-yes, that’s right!”
“Good thinking.”
I glanced at the members responding and added calmly.
“Yeah. But let’s finish Seoul first.”
“…??”
Their gazes screamed “what the hell are you talking about?”
I didn’t care. I pressed on firmly.
“I thought of a decent way to explain it to the audience. This is the best approach.”
“Moon-dae.”
“After Seoul, I won’t do it again until I’m fully recovered.”
It was amusing that I had to convince them to let me perform my own Stage, but somehow these guys reluctantly accepted it.
‘This is something.’
I contacted the Company immediately after.
And before the second day’s Concert began.
An announcement went out through the Company.
========================
[Hello. This is T1 Stars.]
….
During last Friday’s Testa 【Enchanted ME】 Concert, a Stage apparatus malfunction occurred during the performance of ‘Flower’s Last Crescent.’
Considering the risks of reinstallation, after consultation with the artist, the performance of that song has been modified.
However, at the artist’s request, the Concert being held in Seoul will proceed safely without alterations under the supervision of professionals.
….
========================
What followed was an extended statement saying “Park Moon-dae is perfectly fine.”
In short: “Park Moon-dae is fine—there was an apparatus malfunction, and we won’t use it going forward.”
The Agency was clearly conscious of potential fan backlash, and since the story was already spreading anyway, they agreed to disclose the apparatus malfunction.
They’d take some criticism, but if the performance had to be modified anyway, they apparently decided it was better to emphasize “prevention” rather than highlight my injury.
‘Either way, people will probably criticize them for another apparatus error and say they can’t do their job.’
That wasn’t my concern. Anyway, since the person in charge had been replaced with someone more professional, there shouldn’t be any accidents now.
The real issue came from what the Company told me next.
-The final members from this season of Ajusa are planning to attend today’s Concert. We’ll have cameras rolling, but they’ll only be here briefly, so you don’t need to worry about editing….
In other words, the participants from this season’s Ajusa Season 4 were coming to watch Testa’s Concert.
Of course, it was broadcast content. They probably planned to film a few shots of “participants reaffirming their dreams after witnessing Testa’s successful Concert” to include in the finals airing right after.
Anyway, if we debut, we’ll end up joining this Agency regardless, so there’s a sense of testing the waters.
‘Hmm, it feels like the Company is shooting itself in the foot.’
In truth, if it were merely attending the concert, it would be awkward for the members to refuse.
‘It’s ridiculous to ask them to give back the invitation the Company already provided.’
Besides, Tnet’s feelings would be hurt too.
I almost deliberated over it.
But immediately after, I realized there was no need for me to expend my mental energy on this.
It wasn’t even my problem.
‘If the Company really wants to see the sea of fire….’
Let it be, then.
I shrugged my shoulders.

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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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