Debut or Die - Chapter 243

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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 243
On the monitoring equipment, VTIC on stage continued their talk fluently without any awkwardness.
[Actually, the longer you’re active, the fewer opportunities you get to cover songs from fellow idols, right?]
[That’s right, that’s right~ Once we can fill our concerts entirely with our own songs!]
[That’s truly wonderful. Still, preparing a cover stage after such a long time was really fun.]
Without even looking, I could already imagine the comments flooding in: ‘Even without the rank insignia, they could’ve done it, so they must’ve felt unfairly treated lol’
I started to cross my arms but stopped myself. I didn’t want to interfere with the staff adjusting my microphone position.
Those two bastards couldn’t pull their weight in professional variety shows, but they sure know how to talk convincingly when it’s just among themselves.
“Y-your talk… you’re quite good at it.”
“I’ve been doing this for over eight years, so of course I should be.”
“R-right?”
Bae Sae-jin responded gruffly to Sun Ah-hyun’s admiration. He clearly wasn’t thrilled about Chung-ryeo being here.
Well, it was expected. He was shocked when I first brought it up.
-Why is that crazy bastard coming to an event like this…!!
-The platform belongs to his agency. It would be difficult to refuse.
-Ugh…!
-So… I think it might be better to just invite the whole group. What do you think?
-…Yeah. That would be better, honestly.
After that came a lengthy discussion that eventually transformed into ‘Do we really have to hold this concert on that platform anyway?’, but Bae Sae-jin ultimately lost the vote.
By the way, the only other person who knew that Chung-ryeo was the bastard I’d gotten into a vicious fight with during his vacation was… well, he was in full yes-man robot mode at the time.
-…Really? Got it~ I’ll have to work hard then.
That was the extent of Big Sae-jin’s reaction back then.
The problem is that he’s been making some rather disrespectful gestures now… Hey, don’t mime beheading while pretending to fan yourself.
Looking at it this way, everyone seems tense and on guard, though of course there’s one person who’s just excited.
For instance, Kim Rae-bin.
“That was quite an adventurous yet refined arrangement. Next time, I think it would be fun if we tried arranging your seniors’ 【Mountain Army】 in a more contemporary style. What do you think?”
“….”
No. That’s not it.
‘If it goes that far, it’ll turn into a real power struggle…’
‘How dare you use the imperial procession like that? I’ll do the same thing to Mountain Army’ — that’s how it’ll look.
Right now, under the guise of a charity concert, we’re barely managing to keep things warm and fuzzy on the surface, but if it goes that far, there’s truly no saving it.
It’s not even a competition show — issue-hungry YouTubers will jump on it as if it’s a diss battle, and then real chaos breaks loose.
Fortunately, before I could open my mouth, Ryu Chung-woo gently cut off Kim Rae-bin’s words first.
“Let’s try it if we get the chance.”
“Yes!”
He has no idea that chance will never come.
“….”
Well… at least one person’s happy, so that’s something.
Actually, there’s one more.
“We want flags too!! Flags are so cool!!”
Cha Yu-jin looked ready to compose an entirely new song. Bae Sae-jin asked him with a dubious expression.
“…Aren’t you nervous?”
“Why would I be?”
“Well… the people before us performed well.”
“It’s fine. I’m good at this! I mean, we’re good at this!”
“…!”
Bae Sae-jin’s face suddenly hardened with determination.
“Y-yeah, that’s right!”
“Exactly!”
Right, let’s pump ourselves up.
I nodded and added my voice.
“Let’s give it our all out there.”
“Y-yeah!”
“That’s right, Park Moon-dae, who pushed so hard for this concert~”
“Park Moon-dae, who hired the Choreographer Judge just one day after being discharged.”
“….”
Even Ryu Chung-woo?
I’d better nail this stage performance. If I mess up, these guys will hang me upside down and pour ginseng extract down my throat.
Of course, I have no intention of failing.
‘Just execute what we’ve prepared.’
I smiled and stood up with the others.
Soon, it’s Testa’s turn again.

* * *
“Wow!!”
The Graduate Student sitting in front of the computer was marveling at VTIC’s performance she’d just witnessed.
There was no denying it had been a truly spectacular stage!
‘Hmm, though I still think the original song performance was better… but there’s no helping it! It’s Testa’s original, after all!’
She felt a renewed sense of pride in Testa for pulling off such a masterpiece as their title track, and she applauded VTIC as well.
‘Our country’s idols really are amazing~’
This was the assessment of someone who hadn’t tasted the depths of the industry.
Unlike casual fans cheerfully praising both groups, the hardcore fans were pulling their hair out, debating what on earth this meant.
-Damn VTIC bastards, can’t they control themselves? Coming to a junior’s concert and pulling this crap
-It would’ve been enough if they just performed among themselves.. this is seriously so arrogant and gross
-They came as guests to a charity concert and brought all their dancers with them? Like, seriously? This is infuriating
-I need to quit the internet
VTIC’s fanbase wasn’t much different, though as the initial shock and anger subsided, some began to enjoy themselves.
The performance had been overwhelmingly impressive, after all.
-They could’ve sent variety content instead of doing this, but whatever, at least we beat the other guys lol
└lololol gotta use this for promotional videos^^
└Let’s get another reverse-trend run going, and while we’re at it, let’s request a VTIC version of the song too hehe
-It’s so funny how these guys keep getting mysterious 1st place wins that nobody else knows about. This is why I stan VTIC
-If you have time to do something like this during the initial release period, grab a fan hug ㅠㅠ Ah, there’s going to be a dog fight.
As VTIC’s surprise performance spread across SNS and online communities.
[VTIC will be heading backstage now~]
[We appreciate your participation!]
VTIC finished their brief talk, gave a friendly wave, and exited.
While tapping the LED board that displayed the new text.
[The next performance is]
1. Testa covering VTIC
2. Testa covering VTIC…?
It was similar to the previous choice.
However, the option that originally read “VTIC covering Testa” had disappeared, replaced by a sentence with a peculiar punctuation mark.
-?
-It’s option 2
-Why is there a question mark lolol
Naturally, the comments gained momentum again as everyone struggled to understand the meaning.
The fans who’d logged in because of VTIC also paused before leaving, momentarily distracted by the name mentioned again.
-Yo, it’s definitely option 2
-I’m curious why there’s a question mark
-Something funny’s about to happen, vote for #2 real quick
-lololololol this is so fun
Along with the excited murmurs of countless spectators, votes instantly flooded in for the unpredictable option.
2. Testa Covers VTIC…? (179557)
The result was a complete victory for option two.
‘Is this really okay?’
‘I have a bad feeling we’re going to keep hearing about VTIC.’
Testa’s fans grew anxious just watching, but they couldn’t voice their concerns to the excited audience, so they quietly waited for Testa’s next performance.
And just like always, the screen suddenly went dark.
Normally, this would be when the stage changed—the standard way performances began—but….
This time, instead, sound came first from the darkness.
-Mountain Lord
Their claws are hella sharp
Readily tear you apart
“…!”
Those were the lyrics from Mountain Lord… the song VTIC had just performed.
-Is Testa doing Mountain Lord too?
-This is insane
-What
Beyond the bewildered comments, a spotlight descended onto the stage.
Click.
It illuminated a table sitting alone on the dark stage. The camera zoomed in on it.
On the table sat a red retro-style radio with an antenna.
From the staging, it seemed as though the song was coming from the radio itself.
But suddenly, a firm hand rose above the table and sharply pressed the radio’s button.
-No, you can’t….
The song cut out with a burst of static noise.
Then the head of the hand’s owner rose above the table.
It was Cha Yu-jin, wearing a playful expression.
[hum, hum, hum~]
Cha Yu-jin eagerly hummed along to Mountain Lord’s melody with an excited expression, even swaying his shoulders to the rhythm.
Anyone could see he was a fan having the time of his life.
But just as the audience’s tension was about to ease, Cha Yu-jin suddenly stopped humming and, without warning, grabbed the table and flipped backward over it!
BBA-BAM!
A bright brass flourish exploded.
In sync with that brass note, the stage lighting around Cha Yu-jin burst brilliantly, illuminating everything in a dazzling glow.
And spread across the stage before the audience’s eyes was… a teenage party venue overflowing with gold, purple, and red balloons and LED lights.
Testa’s members sat frozen at sofas, the bar counter, and tables, holding drinks.
A brief, silent moment as if the tape had been paused, and then….
BBABAM, BAM, BBA-BAAAM!
Ornate, flourishing harmonies fill the brass.
And around Cha Yu-jin, as if seeping in, Ryu Chung-woo and Lee Sae-jin in jeans rush in and form a formation.
The moment they began their choreography, spinning around the pillar cluttered with stickers and banners, a fast-paced electro-swing beat exploded into life!
[Hey partner
Are you thinking of me
I’m curious, My Owner
Where will our connection go]
Cha Yu-jin sang these lyrics with a bright, cheerful laugh.
It was a song every audience member knew.
-Night Sign
-Night Sign!!!
-???? This?
That’s right.
Testa’s song choice was 【Night Sign】, VTIC’s immortal hit that would remain forever.
The title track of a monster album that sold 1.8 million copies on its first week.
It was also the song that had knocked Testa out with a simultaneous release right after their debut.
This song boasted a notoriously difficult stage difficulty with its sensual lyrics and languid melody, contrasted by an intense instrumental and performance.
But Testa didn’t sing it ‘that way’.
-Wow, didn’t notice
That’s crazy/insane! haha
-Was it such a fun song
Testa had lifted the tone completely with a cheerful electric guitar and drums, an arrangement full of disco-style electronic sounds.
The lyrics sounded almost like innocent flirting.
[When our two hands held together
Intertwine and twist
I remember it again
Night after night]
From the sofa directly to the bar, then to the table.
As Testa moved around the space, they naturally passed the center to the next member’s part.
On a stage without a live audience, there was no fixed front. So the performance shifted its focus freely depending on the camera angle.
When the camera captured Park Moon-dae lying on the sofa, it descended from above; when it caught Sun Ah-hyun sitting at the bar, it came in from a bartender’s perspective.
And the members laughed playfully, standing on the sofa or bar and joining the center with large, dynamic choreography.
[Until the end of this night
Remember my eyes
Like a night sign
drag you into a trap]
A radiant multicolored glow-in-the-dark mirror ball sparkled, and confetti exploded.
The members applied disco movements with large hand and foot gestures to the staccato rhythm, showcasing energetic choreography that filled the camera frame.
It was a clear early-80s retro high-teen atmosphere.
Damn, that’s hilarious lol
-It’s cuteㅠㅠ
-Bouncing in my seat
As the junior member host, Testa hadn’t chosen a direct confrontation, instead accepting the challenge head-on.
Instead, VTIC—now seasoned in the industry—had chosen a direction that Testa could no longer showcase as effectively.
The raw heat and youthful innocence of childhood itself.
[Whoo~
Whoo, whoo, whoo
Like a night sign]
The members spun their turns until their cheeks flushed crimson, danced with boundless energy, and sang with precision and respect woven into every note.
Moreover, the main vocal part that Park Moon-dae commanded stirred an inexplicable poignancy.
Because VTIC could never sing that part quite like this anymore.
-And the high notes;
-The vocals are genuinely exceptional
-Of all people, it had to be the main vocalist lol
That alone deflated the audience’s soaring excitement from VTIC’s stage. The overwhelming momentum had cooled.
Testa, channeling that overflowing energy without a single stumble, carried the stage forward with crisp, exhilarating precision.
And the difference between second and first place revealed itself only at the very end.
Just as the stage seemed to conclude with an exuberant party, the moment the members in their colorful outfits took their final formation.
The lighting suddenly shifted to black and white.
Screeeech.
And the members froze in place, their heads bowed, all movement ceasing.
Upon the monochromatic stage.
A narration echoed.
[Welcome, welcome
This is the sound calling for you]
The chorus from their own song, “The Calling”—a nightmare concept track.
A sinister voice.
Behind the party venue, a massive banner suddenly unfurled, revealing behind it an enormous gothic inscription.
[To be continued…?]
Crash!!
With a thunderous boom, the members snapped their heads down to stare at one another.
Like a trailer from a classic American teen horror film.
And then… the stage cut to black, the lights vanishing entirely.
[—-.]
When seven chairs arranged on a peaceful talk-show set naturally reclaimed the screen in its place.
-????
-If you cut it here
-Fine, I’ll vote lolol ಥ_ಥ
-Show us The Calling!!!!
-Do we have to donate to see it?? What’s the minimum amount?
Naturally, after a brief moment of bewilderment, the comments began seamlessly demanding the voting window.
Transforming the curiosity to compare into anticipation for the next stage.
Testa had audaciously wielded VTIC in precisely this way, keeping the audience’s attention riveted to the screen.
It had been a successful plan.

* * *
Moments later. During the break when commercials aired.
We changed clothes at breakneck speed without a moment to rest, then began socializing with VTIC.
“Wow!! That was really great!”
“…Thank you.”
“Look at the dancing—we can’t move like that anymore. Everyone should take joint supplements too. In this profession, your knees are everything.”
“Right! I use a product I could recommend to you??”
“…Sure.”
These bastards really knew how to act close.
I watched these guys—whom I’d only seen once on a variety show—dispensing personal advice without hesitation, and glanced back at Chung-ryeo.
“….”
He was talking with Kim Rae-bin, but when he looked my way, he grinned knowingly. Yeah, I could tell what kind of people had been selected.
“Oh, I just texted you the product name. Take a look.”
“Sure, yes.”
I suppressed a sigh and pulled out my smartphone.
Both their eyes lit up.
“Oh~ By the way, how do you have our names saved….”
[VTIC Shin O Senior]
[VTIC Chae Yul Senior]
“Oh….”
“Very… professionally organized….”
What were they expecting.
I muttered some vague thanks about the supplement recommendation and extracted myself from this conversational quagmire.
“Hyungs, it’s been a while~”
“Oh, Sae-jin!”
I won’t deny that it was convenient having him back me up.
And shortly after, just before VTIC left for their next schedule.
I heard a question from Chung-ryeo, who was still wearing his stage outfit, instead of a farewell.
No—a certainty dressed up as a question.
“You got what you wanted, right?”
“….”
I pulled up my status window.

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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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