Debut or Die - Chapter 19

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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 19
To be honest, I was quite nervous right up until I turned on my smartphone to check the response to Episode 1.
‘I thought I might have overdone it and become a laughingstock….’
But surprisingly, the viewers showed a reaction closer to favor than ridicule.
By the time the chorus of 【POP☆CON】 came around, public opinion had completely shifted.
Toward genuine affection.
-Absolutely hilarious
-You’re so cuteㅠㅠ You were so focused.
Honestly, I came to this audition just to do this, haha.
-Yeah, since you came, you should give it your all. It looks good
No, it’s a different person from the interview lol
-He’s so adorable
‘They think this is cute?’
My strategic song selection had paid off.
But I’d expected something more like “he tried hard enough, so we’ll let it slide”—this was an unexpected bonus.
Wasn’t it the unwritten rule of audition program viewers to despise anyone who performed poorly?
I was a bit confused at first, but soon understood the situation.
‘It’s because I sang well right before.’
Since I’d satisfied the traditional expectation that a singer must sing well, my dancing only needed to avoid being embarrassing for viewers to be generous. And it seemed my character appeal was amplified by the humor as well.
Though that character aspect was somewhat… disconcerting.
‘Even though I deliberately chose only universal answers, it came out like this.’
Fundamentally, it was to avoid giving anyone grounds for criticism.
On top of that, to emphasize my main vocal position, I’d responded smoothly to everything.
In the interview, I didn’t mention any personal opinions and only gave objective statements that aligned with social consensus.
‘But… they actually extracted that as if I were soulless.’
Anyway, all roads lead to Seoul. I’d planned to take the KTX, but taking an express bus would work just as well.
‘I’ve cleared the first hurdle.’
I’d definitely secured initial recognition. This wasn’t a premonition—there was tangible evidence.
A status window popup appeared while I was watching the broadcast.
[The Beginning of Renown (2)!]
10,000 people have remembered your existence!
: Points +1
[The Call of Renown!]
50,000 people have remembered your existence!
: Rare Trait Draw ☜ Click!
The unit jumped to 50,000 with just one broadcast.
‘I’m losing my sense of reality.’
For now, I decided to check the rewards from the popup later and instead opened the search bar to enter a keyword.
[Idol Stock Company Comeback – Viewership Ratings]
Idol Stock Company Viewership Ratings
The results came out immediately.
[Average Viewership: 3.7%, Peak Viewership: 6.8%]
Good grief.
‘…Is this really the first episode of some failed cable variety series?’
It seemed I’d successfully drawn attention.
Of course, objectively speaking, the viewership wasn’t insanely high.
Yet the fact that a hundred thousand people remembered Park Moon-dae meant I’d left quite an impression, regardless of whether they liked me or not.
So then, should I take a closer look at the ‘like or dislike’ section?
After finishing my review of the overall public sentiment from the first episode, I immediately checked my evaluation video clip.
[A Shocking Twist from a 100% Ordinary Participant! Park Moon-dae]
I felt like I was losing my limbs.
‘…Let me just erase this from my mind quickly.’
I checked the best comments first.
“Huh? Popcorn here?” *laughs*

7326 /
181)
I was dozing off while watching, but then I woke up completely. Noona Moon Dae is saying she’ll keep buying until you skyrocket.

4522 /

294)
-Yeah, this time the main vocal is Park Moon-dae (

2061 /

372)
“Hmm.”
First of all, it was a good sign that comments praising me so enthusiastically had risen to the top—embarrassingly so. It felt unfamiliar, but… I was grateful.
However, the relatively high proportion of dislikes was a concerning factor.
Compared to other participants who received favorable editing—say, Cha Yu-jin—it seemed like it would be roughly 1.5 times higher.
It meant there were quite a few people who felt aversion toward the “Park Moon-dae” shown on broadcast. It was probably because I came across as antisocial.
So what was the most efficient appeal I could make at this point?
The negative image that had already formed was unavoidable, but many idols turned this into a gimmick and got laughs from it.
Just thinking of examples off the top of my head… well, every successful idol group had at least one member like that.
So there was one thing I needed to do in the next shoot.
‘I need to appear approachable.’
I immediately thought of the next search term.
[Idol Corporation PR Video]
The next shoot was going to be a PR video production.
Three days remained—let me find the most meaningful examples I could before then.

* * *
The Idol Corporation’s PR video shoot was conducted live.
However, the process of preparing the PR video was recorded like a variety show. It was filler content inserted to kill time during the ranking announcement ceremony.
“Everyone! Are you all ready?”
“Yes!”
The participants answered enthusiastically to the MC’s predictable words.
‘…I feel like I see this sight every shoot… or is that just my imagination?’
In any case, what mattered was that the participants had become more desperate.
“You all seem to be doing well, and that makes me happy too! So, do you know what we’re preparing today?”
“A PR video!”
“Self-introductions!”
“That’s right!”
Everyone would have seen the first episode’s reception.
They all would have realized it: if something doesn’t get broadcast in front of the camera, it’s as if it never happened.
‘So no matter what anyone does, a PR video that airs live is desperately needed.’
In truth, it wasn’t fair competition at all.
Conducting a live broadcast competition when recognition had already been determined by the first episode was essentially having the results half-decided.
Yet in every season, someone managed to turn things around with their PR video, so everyone seemed to be preparing their videos desperately without complaint.
With 77 amateurs doing live broadcasts, all sorts of controversies naturally followed… but somehow no one seemed to care.
The participants figured as long as it wasn’t them, and the production team was happy about the increased buzz.
“Today at 8 PM this evening, you will all be doing a live broadcast just for yourselves on Tnet’s global YouTube channel!”
“I’m really nervous.”
Big Sae-jin, standing nearby by position, muttered softly.
His expression showed no nervousness whatsoever. What a deceiver.
“Oh, wait a moment! I think I misspoke!”
“?!?”
“This isn’t just a live performance for you all!”
The MC encouraged the audience’s reaction with sweeping arm gestures. The bewildered participants let out excited shouts.
“What do you think is an entertainer’s dream?”
“A dream…?”
“It’s commercials, everyone!”
“…!”
The MC spread both arms wide open.
“Each of you will select a collaboration item to promote, and you must advertise both yourselves and the item together!”
“Excuse me?!”
These bastards were determined to get a free ride.
I could’ve bet my left hand that these so-called collaboration items were actually products from T1, which had Tnet as a subsidiary company.
If one or two of them went viral, great—if not, no skin off their backs.
Among all of Idol Stock Company’s insane marketing tactics, this ranked among the most brazenly capitalistic.
‘Did someone upstairs hastily shove this in?’
A series they’d written off as a failure suddenly got traction, so they jumped on the bandwagon.
Regardless, the MC’s pitch sounded reasonable.
“While this item might feel like a burden you’re obligated to promote, please remember that you can also use it as a prop to showcase your own appeal!”
“Ah~”
The participants seemed reasonably convinced. Not that they had much choice in the matter anyway—a pragmatic attitude.
“So how will you all obtain this prop?”
“A race?”
“Rock-paper-scissors?”
“Karaoke?”
Examples from past seasons and similar programs came from all directions. The MC shook his head with a regretful expression before announcing the answer.
“It’s… a treasure hunt!”
“What?!”
“The production team has hidden treasure balls containing ‘items’ throughout the Dormitory. You have 15 minutes to find and retrieve them!”
Big Sae-jin let out a slightly impressed murmur.
“This actually sounds kind of fun?”
“…Yeah.”
For viewers watching, it’s definitely an entertaining format. For the participants doing it, though, it’s a recipe for a dogfight.
With 77 people tearing through one building, there’s bound to be hurt feelings.
Of course, the ranking announcement segment was designed to defuse tension. It didn’t seem like things would get too serious.
But they could easily drop subtle insinuations.
‘I can already picture the Internet flooded with speculation and rumors.’
“Ah! True to the spirit of an Audition Program, these treasure balls come in different grades. Please examine the balls carefully with that in mind!”
They probably just painted them gold, silver, and bronze.
“Alright, get ready….”
Everyone got into position to rush forward.
“Go!”
“Ahhhhh!!”
With screams, seventy-seven people charged into the Dormitory. I slipped away quietly and turned my steps in a different direction.
I’d sneak in through the back entrance instead.
No matter how I thought about it, going in through the front with everyone else would likely mean I’d come away empty-handed.
If I went around back and entered through the side door, I’d face less competition with the other participants.
Then Big Sae-jin and Gold 1 came trailing after me.
The way they grinned made them look like scheming sycophants.
“Thanks, Moon-dae. The bus was comfortable.”
“You’re really smart, hyung.”
“….”
Two people tagging along wasn’t a problem, but… for some reason it irritated me.
Gold 2 and Sun Ah-hyun, who had been standing a bit further back, seemed to have been swept up in the crowd and gone through the front entrance.
Life really is all about timing. Too bad for them.

* * *
“Oh, Moon-dae~ found one right away.”
The moment I entered through the back door, I immediately spotted a ball on the threshold.
It was silver.
Just as expected.
Big Sae-jin nodded at the sight of the opaque silver ball.
“Looks like they divided them by rank—bronze, silver, gold?”
“Hey, let’s use proper Korean! Gold, silver, bronze! Isn’t that nice!”
“Wow~ what a patriot.”
If he keeps talking, I’ll just leave him behind.
“…How about we search quickly? Other people will be coming soon.”
“Sure~”
“I feel reassured having the practical Moon-dae around.”
I quickened my pace. The two of them surprisingly followed without any unnecessary chatter.
First, the Warehouse.
“If you think about it backwards, it’s easier. Places where the Production Team would hide things… hmm, here?”
Big Sae-jin chuckled and pulled out a bronze-colored ball from a chalk holder in front of the camera.
“…!”
“Wow~ bronze for real?”
“Damn it. Bad luck doesn’t go anywhere.”
Surprisingly… they’re useful.
These guys had quick hands. Thanks to them, we divided the area without fuss and thoroughly searched the entire Warehouse in no time.
“Oh, found another silver one! Should we move on?”
“Agreed.”
“I agree.”
My judgment was quick. Without hesitation, I moved swiftly to the next area.
“Where to?”
“The Dining Hall first. There are cameras there.”
“Park Moon-dae’s got a good eye.”
“Of course, the man who found the back door.”
“….”
I wish they’d stop with comments like that, but what can you do.
The Dining Hall search wasn’t a waste of time either.
All three of us implicitly began searching around the areas where cameras were installed.
It was when I opened the utensil holder.
“Found it.”
“No way!”
“It’s gold.”
I obtained one golden ball.
“Why does Park Moon-dae find the Gold grade first when it’s ours?”
“Can’t be helped, hyung. Park Moon-dae must have a golden touch.”
“Right. Talent really is something you can’t overcome~”
“The others are coming.”
“Oh.”
I finally figured out how to shut them up. Give them work to do.
Anyway, after hearing the sound of footsteps rushing toward us, I quickly left the Dining Hall.
“Upstairs?”
“Yes.”
We repeated the same search on the upper floor. It was efficient.
“Man~ it was good that three of us came!”
“Right! Honestly, Park Moon-dae agrees too, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh~”
To be honest.
I benefited thanks to these two. Searching as a group of three was highly productive.
Their overall observation skills and mobility were excellent, making the search and movement quick and convenient. Their judgment was decent too.
Since they weren’t the stubborn type, the distribution wrapped up cleanly.
“So we found four gold, two silver, and four bronze balls?”
Big Sae-jin distributed the palm-sized plastic balls smoothly.
Gold 1 spoke carefully.
“That’s right. Hmm… each of us takes one of each color, and since Park Moon-dae led us here, let’s give him a gold instead of silver. How’s that?”
“Sounds good to me~”
It was clean, but I shouldn’t leave any room for malicious editing.
Having experienced the power of editing firsthand, I felt uneasy about it.
“Ah, then I won’t take the bronze one. You two take two each.”
“Oh~ Thanks!”
“Okay!”
As we each grabbed our balls, an announcement echoed through the Dormitory.
-200 seconds remaining~
For context, we were currently hiding in the Storage beside the back door to avoid the flood of incoming participants.
If we got caught here, it would be absolutely ridiculous.
“Hyung, the others are coming!!”
“Hey! Let’s bounce!”
We quickly slipped out the back door and headed toward the Assembly Point.
“Ah~ Farming nice~”
“See, it’s all about our teamwork. Merciless, right?”
Those guys had relaxed their guard—their mouths were running free again.
At the Assembly Point, participants who’d already found one or two balls were opening theirs.
There hadn’t been any overt attempts to snatch them yet.
‘The cameras are obviously everywhere—they’d notice.’
Openly snatching someone’s ball seemed to create psychological resistance.
“Wow, should we open ours too?”
“Sounds good~”
“Yeah.”
We returned to our spot and began opening the balls.
Big Sae-jin and Gold 1 had so many balls in their hands that envious eyes were fixed on them.
Still, two high-grade ones would be better. Getting multiple mediocre ones just makes choosing a headache.
I twisted open my two gold balls.
And I froze.
“….”
Wait.

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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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