Debut or Die - Chapter 228

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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 228
Assembling a dedicated artist team exclusively for TeSTAR.
On the surface, it appeared the Planning & Coordination Department was handling it, but I anticipated the Director would have his fingerprints all over it as well.
‘There’s no way someone like him would pass up an opportunity like this.’
Even if the order came down from Headquarters, he’d want to adjust the direction to suit his own tastes however he could.
That’s why I was considering gently prodding the Management Office one more time to slip in under the guise of coordination.
I was even thinking about creating openings for myself, even if it meant accepting some token members….
But there was no need.
‘He just did it.’
-Ah, yes of course! TeSTAR’s opinions naturally need to be reflected….
Just by expressing my position, he’d already surrendered—ensuring TeSTAR’s input would be maximized in the dedicated team’s planning.
‘What is this?’
I couldn’t fathom how this was possible, but the answer turned out to be simple.
This comeback’s momentum was extraordinary.
Just one week in, and the response exceeded all expectations.
Beyond measurable metrics like album sales and music chart rankings, the impact was visceral and undeniable.
[Is this how you do it…? TeSTAR Nightmare Challenge!]
[Nail Art Following: TeSTAR Nightmare | Added Personal Customization and Interpretation!:)]
Non-fans began appearing in droves, replicating and referencing the trend, discussing it in communities and daily conversations completely unrelated to idols.
Broadcasting Station YouTube variety shows that rode trends quickly harvested music video elements and incorporated them.
To sum it up in one phrase, it was this.
‘The beginning of a phenomenon.’
I’d actually felt it on stage already.
Yesterday, some cultural arts promotion event was broadcast live on public television, and I felt it during that live performance.
-Ooooh~
I sensed that other groups’ fans were particularly excited watching our stage.
Even VTIC’s fans.
Until now, when other idols’ fans watched, they’d respond with measured restraint, but that hesitation had vanished.
A shared understanding of the trend had already formed.
No matter how internet-savvy idol fans are, in just one week.
‘…Though our fans’ response was more than impressive, I’ll admit.’
The relentless screams and shouts that echoed even into the in-ear monitors came flooding back.
-Kyaaaah!!
-Ahhhhhhh!!
Some of that was probably due to our concept’s nature.
In any case, the overall explosion of performance metrics and buzz was unmistakably extraordinary.
So much so that the artist closing the event started their greeting with this.
-Congratulations. You’ll probably take the award?
-…I don’t know how it’ll turn out.
-Haha. What do you mean you don’t know.
-….
-I can already see how this will play out.
With that, Chung-ryeo took the stage.
‘Damn it.’
I don’t think I’ll be grinding my teeth over that bastard’s incompetence anymore, but why does he still have issues rattling around in his head?
‘The dog seemed fine, though.’
Anyway, since his solo performance numbers hit the same celestial tier as the group’s, there’s no reason to blame TeSTAR for any slump he’s experiencing.
And honestly… what he said was right.
‘I think I could actually win an award.’
If activities continue without controversy like this, based on our current performance and momentum, at least one or two awards were practically locked in.
‘Since they usually split categories into 2-3 divisions, even excluding VTIC’s slot, we’d have solid angles.’
And if I had to sum all of this up in one sentence, it would be this:
My market value was skyrocketing.
“Moon-dae, Moon-dae, did you see the rate for our new commercial~?”
“Yeah.”
It was double the highest rate from the ‘Procession’ promotions.
The agency seemed to be carefully selecting only high-priced deals with solid image value, but even so, it was absurdly encouraging.
‘Even during Procession, first-tier treatment had already begun.’
Now talk of being VTIC’s rival and generational succession was starting to sound genuinely credible.
So the agency was thinking the same way.
‘This looks like it’ll be a long game, so let’s keep them happy and maintain good relations.’
The previous eagerness to squeeze every last drop of profit within five years before the contract renewal situation became clear had quietly vanished.
Five years felt too short to waste on us now.
Of course, at the same time, it seemed like they’d start trying to dig up weaknesses before the contract renewal season, but we’ll talk about that later.
For now, let’s focus on the fact that even when TeSTAR came on strong, the agency staff bent over backwards to appease us.
‘It seems like the precedent from when Kim Rae-bin worked from home and gave the agency a forceful, declarative notice about production issues also had an influence.’
They probably approved the dedicated team issue too, worried we might go completely rogue and cause chaos.
That’s why the internal group meeting about the dedicated team could be squeezed into this busy promotion schedule.
But it didn’t help much.
“First of all… I’d really like the AR Team members who worked with us since ‘Magic Boy’ to be here.”
Kim Rae-bin’s hand shot up.
“I completely agree with that! And they said they’d be happy to come!”
“…??”
An impromptu spokesperson had suddenly appeared.
“Rae-bin, when did you… um, ask them?”
Kim Rae-bin spoke proudly.
“Actually, as soon as rumors about the dedicated team started circulating, I reached out and they said they’d come!”
.”….”
“Rae-bin, there’s a security issue, so we should be careful….”
“Oh no, I’m sorry! The AR Team brought it up first….”
That’s why things were unfolding this way.
Those who already wanted to come had heard everything through the grapevine and finished their appeals to the relevant people.
And since the company was suddenly taking a favorable stance toward TeSTAR, it seemed like almost anything would be approved.
I touched my chin.
‘This is basically already agreed upon implicitly.’
So there was nothing left to negotiate except insisting that the company not provide the existing staff and instead bring in people from the rookie side.
“Alright, then let’s tell them we really want to work with these people.”
“Yes.”
But just as silence was about to settle, Bae Sae-jin opened his mouth cautiously.
“…So now we just need to see the newly hired people, right? Like… interviews or something.”
Oh, that’s actually a reasonable point.
It’s true we did decide to bring in some new personnel for about a third of the dedicated team.
Especially on the management side.
Ryu Chung-woo nodded.
“Yeah, it would be nice to have some time to get to know the new people coming in.”
But there’s a practical problem.
Big Sae-jin opened his mouth before I could even bring it up.
“But do we even have time for that? Right?”
Yeah. That’s right.
We barely managed to carve out time for this meeting—where would we find time to conduct interviews for other people?
I crossed my arms.
‘Even just creating preliminary questions to see if their work style matches would take time….’
Ah.
A method worth trying came to mind.
I murmured inwardly.
‘Status window.’
Maybe it’s time to spin the slot machine one more time.
‘Hmm, I’d like to draw “Sleep is for the dead” one more time.’
Or maybe an ability to stretch a day into thirty hours… or even increased work speed would be good.
Let me check my status first.
[Name: Park Moon-dae (Ryu Gun-woo)]
Level: 19
Title: None
Vocal: S
Dance: B+
Appearance: A-
Charisma: A+
Traits: Infinite Potential, Time of Indulgence (S), Bacchus 500 (B), Ear for Grabbing (A)
!Abnormal Status: Death if Not an Audience
Remaining Points: 1
‘Natural growth, then.’
All the strain on my vocal cords had paid off—S-minus had become S. Lately, the reviews seemed to be getting better for some reason.
I couldn’t deny there was a certain sense of accomplishment to it.
‘Good. What’s next?’
As for other changes… I’d leveled up once, and accumulated two trait draws from popup rewards.
‘Since it hasn’t been that long since the last check.’
In truth, accumulating this much in just a few months was impressive. It was proof of how impactful Spring Out and this current activity had been.
So… I decided to leave the points alone for now and just burn through the trait draws I needed.
‘Calling two draws a “burn” is kind of funny, though.’
Last time I’d spun five times and barely managed to get a single S at the very end.
But now I knew for certain.
‘Since you obviously don’t give me what I need right now, you better cough up something good.’
I stared at the glimmering ‘Click’ text in the popup window, then pressed it while pretending to stretch my arm.
Two spins would be done in a flash while these guys were talking anyway.
The lever in the image spun, and the slots flashed in various colors.
Passing through candidates I’d seen before, it came to a stop on a golden slot.
Grade B.
It might seem like an average result, but reading the text in the slot would change that assessment.
Papapang!
[‘Bacchus 500 (B)’ Acquired!]
“…!!”
[Trait: Bacchus 500 (B)]
-A clear mind and a healthy body!
: All fatigue accumulation speed -50%
The fatigue recovery totem I’d been using so effectively had appeared again.
And that popup I’d been hoping for also appeared.
[Identical Trait Detected!]
Would you like to synthesize ‘Bacchus 500 (B)’?
‘Finally!’
The timing to enhance this essential trait had finally come…!
I clenched my fist without even realizing it.
“W-Moon-dae…?”
“You okay?”
More than okay—I was thrilled.
“Oh, I’m just excited and in a great mood since we’re forming a dedicated team.”
“R-right!”
“Wow, Moon-dae really is in a good mood. When was the last time you gave such a long answer?”
No need for excuses anymore. Let’s go.
I immediately hit ‘Yes’.
A circular indicator appeared on the status window as if it were loading, then a brilliant fanfare erupted.
[Synthesis successful!]
Obtained ‘Bacchus 1000 (A)’!
A clear mind and a robust body!
-All fatigue accumulation speed –50%
All fatigue recovery speed +100%
This is insane.
‘I got an extra recovery option.’
With this, wouldn’t sleeping once every two days be enough?
What’s certain is that my activities won’t be hindered, and I can carve out time to prepare interview Q&A.
‘This is a tremendous long-term gain.’
As for the rebound during vacation… well, it’s always happened, so even if it’s worse, it doesn’t matter.
There aren’t even aftereffects—I’d just lie around for a few days. Actually, with the recovery boost added, I might not even feel worn out during vacation this time.
‘Come to think of it, I got through this vacation without complaining.’
I suspect that caring for Kim Rae-bin was processed as a work task, so the status window didn’t classify it as vacation time.
Anyway, I never expected this suspicious game system to produce something this useful this time.
‘Good.’
I hope it stays this cooperative going forward. At this rate, I might die anyway, so it should do at least this much.
I gazed contentedly at the updated trait window on my status screen, then nodded.
“Moon-dae, you’re nodding now?”
“Maybe… he’s imagining the dedicated team members?”
Close enough.
I was already looking forward to the dedicated team’s launch.
More precisely, the effects it would bring.

* * *
TeSTAR’s First Manager arrived at work with a furrowed brow.
‘Damn it.’
Ever since those brats became popular, they’d grown arrogant, making the job increasingly unbearable.
They said that once artists caught the celebrity disease, they started mistreating the staff—and wasn’t that exactly what was happening?
Worse, some parachute hire had come in and stolen the position he’d built up, blocking his promotion opportunities as well.
In his judgment, X-so Entertainment was as rotten as they came. The manager felt indignation welling up at this injustice, but without any recourse, he could only feel frustrated.
‘Just need to hold on a bit longer.’
In a few days, TeSTAR would hit their second anniversary. That meant his own tenure would soon reach two years as well.
With that milestone under his belt, he was planning to leverage it and try jumping ship as an experienced hire elsewhere.
‘When that time comes, I’ll backstab every last one of them.’
The manager, despite knowing about the confidentiality clause, had blustered this threat to himself as he headed to the company half-heartedly.
Because they’d worked through the night, TeSTAR was all gathered in the company conference room.
But the moment he stepped into the lobby.
He was suddenly summoned to the HR Department. And there he heard news that hit him like a thunderbolt.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m serious—this isn’t a joke. You don’t need to come in starting tomorrow.”
He was being fired.
The manager stared at the Team Leader in disbelief and exchanged a few words, but he quickly realized there was no room for negotiation.
“Pack your things and go, alright?”
Then, the emotions that had been suppressed by the fear of termination came surging up.
Rage.
“Wait, Team Leader. What is this—isn’t this wrongful termination?”
The Team Leader looked so exasperated that he didn’t even want to engage further, which only fueled the manager’s anger—but then the Team Leader played a recording that made him go rigid.
-Hyung, Kim Rae-bin’s grandmother just collapsed. We’re heading there now….
-What? In the middle of the night?
-…Yes, you ‘need to come’ in the middle of the night. We’re on our way, so please stand by nearby as soon as possible.
-…Okay, got it.
And as the call ended, a small curse could be heard.
“….”
If TeSTAR hadn’t become so popular, or if the manager had connections at headquarters, or if he had any pull at all, this might have been something he could have pushed back on.
Maybe he could have argued it away as being too familiar and therefore disrespectful.
But unfortunately for the manager, none of those three things were true.
“Yesterday, an artist’s phone cloud got hacked and almost leaked. You know that?”
“…Y-yes, yes.”
“Look, just… leave quietly, okay? If this hits the press, you’ll have to leave South Korea. Look at the mood right now.”
It was a death sentence.
And so the manager left the company on his own two feet.
And when Park Moon-dae heard the news from upstairs, delivered by the gossip-loving AR Team, he let out a quiet laugh.
‘Stupid bastard.’
He had never once disabled the call recording setting since high school.
‘One sent.’
A weight lifted from my chest.
With my body running smoothly thanks to my trait, I continued preparing for what came next.
‘…Two years.’
June 18th—TeSTAR’s debut anniversary—was just around the corner.

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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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