Debut or Die - Chapter 283

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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 283
The situation unfolded as I’d anticipated. Though it proved more pleasant than I’d expected.
I’d assumed I’d be doing something hellish like rock climbing, given that a former National Team member frequented this place.
“This place is decent, right?”
“Yes.”
I shifted my feet and surveyed the surroundings.
This was a hiking trail on the Outskirts of Gyeonggi Province, reached after nearly an hour’s drive.
It wasn’t particularly well-maintained, but the incline was gentle and walkable.
‘…Is he taking it easy on me?’
His words from the last time on the Deserted Island came to mind.
-Your stamina’s already depleted from the aftereffects. A hike like this wouldn’t have winded you so much back then.
It was a conjecture with several flaws, but I decided not to resist and simply accept the situation.
‘Pride matters less than work-life balance.’
There was one odd thing, though.
“But there really aren’t many people here.”
Aside from a few middle-aged hikers in my field of vision, there was no one.
Even on a weekday afternoon, you’d normally see quite a few people hiking.
“Ah, there was construction work next to this trail. See?”
Ryu Chung-woo pointed to the small stream on the left with his hand.
Nets and construction materials were scattered sparsely along the path.
“So most people probably go the opposite direction. They say that path is better maintained.”
“I see.”
“Well, it’s a neighborhood mountain to begin with, so it doesn’t get that many visitors anyway. No mineral springs or notable rock formations.”
“You know this place well.”
“I grew up around here.”
Ryu Chung-woo laughed somewhat sheepishly.
“The Archery Range I used to go to was nearby, so I kept coming even after we moved.”
“….”
That he’d deliberately come near his regular Archery Range despite being unable to shoot properly due to aftereffects… never mind.
‘He’s not in a position to deserve sympathy right now anyway.’
I simply nodded appropriately.
“It must have been a nice facility.”
“More than that, it’s just memories.”
Ryu Chung-woo closed his mouth for a moment, then continued speaking with a slight delay.
“I think it’d be nice to come here with the others next time. The owner’s quite kind.”
If I flatly rejected this, I’d be someone who threw social grace into the fire.
“Sure, why not.”
“Good.”
Ryu Chung-woo smiled brightly.
“The tour ended, so we haven’t had a chance to hang out separately. This works out. I had schedules when you all went out a few days ago.”
Ah, you mean that.
I recalled a few members going out on Sun Ah-hyun’s birthday.
Back then, Ryu Chung-woo and some others had separate schedules, so they couldn’t make it.
“We didn’t do much. There were too many people.”
“Haha, but you even left a commemorative photo for that?”
“….”
I twitched my eyebrows, recalling the Polaroid that Big Sae-jin had left after the escape room.
-Testa Friendship Forever☆ 5/7
Happy birthday, Ah-hyun!
If I said I didn’t know it would be posted online so quickly, that would be a lie, but at least the fans enjoyed it, so that’s what matters.
“We left that and headed straight back to the Dormitory. There were too many people gathering.”
“I see. This job certainly has its rewards, but that aspect seems difficult. Going out becomes problematic.”
“That’s right.”
I jogged lightly along the path and shrugged my shoulders.
“But I think you’d be in the same situation even without this. Being on the National Team for archery and all.”
“What? Haha!”
Ryu Chung-woo didn’t stop laughing for quite some time.
“You’re right. That sort of thing doesn’t really suit my temperament. I guess it’s unavoidable with performance arts.”
Ryu Chung-woo’s tone sounded refreshing rather than lamenting or complaining. Well, it was evidence of success, after all.
‘This is the kind of worry only winners can afford.’
Ryu Chung-woo and I continued running on the Hiking Trail in the Outskirts of Gyeonggi Province, a place we’d found to escape the side effects of victory.
And only after a while did I realize something was wrong.
“Huff.”
The incline grew steeper the higher we climbed. After several deep breaths, I realized my stamina bar—which I’d built up considerably—had already depleted by more than half.
‘At my level, I should definitely be above average for an adult male.’
Moreover, looking around, it didn’t seem like many people made it this far up.
…And more than that, we were the only ones running up.
And then I realized it.
‘I’ve been tricked.’
The angle had subtly steepened from the flat Walking Trail, gradually boiling me like a frog in water, forcing me to keep hiking….
The flat Hiking Trail wasn’t a courtesy—it was bait. I suppressed a groan.
Well, Ryu Chung-woo wasn’t an idiot, and he’d seen me exercising, so he’d naturally realize my stamina had improved.
‘I’ve been thoroughly played….’
It seemed like it would take quite a while to reach the summit.
But complaining would only damage my social standing and wouldn’t help me descend anyway, so I decided to just shut up and keep moving my feet.
It wasn’t like I couldn’t do it.
‘Getting quite the workout in.’
I silently looked upward and continued forward.
After some time had passed like that.
I felt a hand tapping my shoulder.
“Moon Jung, look over there.”
“Phew, what….”
We still had a ways to go before arriving.
I lifted my head and followed his hand with my gaze.
“….”
Before my eyes stretched a city bathed in midday light.
Winding mountains and fortress walls, streams flowing down beneath them, and densely packed apartment complexes.
A vibrant spring city.
Whoosh.
The wind blew. Mountain air rushed through my nostrils.
It was beautiful.
“Not bad, right?”
Chung-woo spoke leisurely.
“There’s nowhere higher to go. This spot has the best view. I climbed up here every day while preparing for this work after quitting archery, and that’s when I figured it out.”
“….”
I gazed at the landscape while leaning against the railing.
‘So he never intended to reach the summit.’
Well, well.
“How is it? A bit motivating, right? Isn’t it nice? Better than just exercising. That’s how it was for me.”
“Yes. It works.”
I gave a definite answer. A secured route, anticipated hardships, certain rewards.
It’s not really my preference, but hiking might not be such a bad hobby after all.
“Good, I’m relieved.”
I leaned against the railing with him, slowly gazing down at the mountains below.
And only after sufficient time had passed did Chung-woo open his mouth.
“Should we head down?”
“Let’s do that.”
My mood was quite refreshed.
I was about to stretch when I finally voiced the words that had been on my mind since seeing the hiking trail.
“Hyung.”
“Hm?”
“Everything’s fine, but I was supposed to do anaerobic strength training.”
“Ah.”
I’d kept quiet because refusing the moment I saw the hiking trail would make him think I didn’t believe him, and it would ruin the mood.
Chung-woo answered with an awkward expression.
“Since it’s uphill… you must have used some muscle strength.”
“….”
That’s quite the professional rationalization. I see.
I descended without any particular complaints. And I agreed to Chung-woo’s suggestion to come running here occasionally.
‘The exercise intensity is appropriate, and since we’re roommates now, it might be good to try this sometimes.’

* * *
Two weeks after the room swap.
Not just us, but all the new room occupants had adapted to their situations in their own ways.
“Would you like some?”
“Yeah, sure.”
For instance, Bae Sae-jin had surprisingly reduced his tendency to hole up in the Living Room. Now he only came out during the day to avoid Cha Yu-jin.
“It’s a bit noisy at night, but with earplugs, there’s no problem at all!”
Bae Sae-jin had said this with a brightened expression. Surprisingly, Cha Yu-jin respected his roommate’s individualistic tendencies well.
‘Maybe it’s because he’s American.’
Of course, there were limits to that.
“If I just watch some games or videos with him occasionally, he sleeps quietly….”
I calmly informed him of reality.
“That won’t last long.”
“What?”
“If talking doesn’t work, he’ll start shaking your shoulder soon.”
….
“Congratulations on becoming nocturnal.”
Bae Sae-jin stared blankly at his own room.
And the guy who ended up with a Solo Room alone… was living well, moving between rooms.
“Wow, you’ve become best friends with Moon Jung and Chung-woo hyung~ You’re going to exercise tomorrow too, right?”
Today it was this room. I answered Big Sae-jin, who was playing on his smartphone while lying on Ryu Chung-woo’s Bed, with reluctance.
“Well… since we’re roommates, might as well. If you want to go, you can go too.”
“Aw~ I’m not that tactless! You’re great at exercising~”
….
Big Sae-jin didn’t add anything else, but the meaning was unmistakable.
‘He’s telling me to completely change the atmosphere with this opportunity.’
There were still people rehashing how terrible my attitude toward Ryu Chung-woo had been during that summer package shoot.
They seemed to be scratching at the wound over this roommate assignment too, but there was no need to leave such kindling in the fandom we’d barely managed to hold together.
‘I just need to look comfortable.’
They were the type to even provide motivation when I’d already decided we needed to get along.
I waved at Big Sae-jin and went to wash up.
And the next day on the Hiking Trail.
“Do you want to go all the way to the summit today? Just as a test.”
Ryu Chung-woo made a new suggestion. He’d been quiet on the way up, so he must have been thinking about this.
‘Well, it wouldn’t hurt to try once.’
The window for leisurely outdoor exercise was slowly coming to a close.
Now I really needed to focus on comeback preparations again.
I calculated my remaining stamina and immediately nodded.
“Let’s do it.”
“Sounds good.”
And so we began our ascent toward the summit at 4 PM—an awkward hour of the afternoon.
Since the slope had grown steeper, we didn’t need to run, making it manageable.
After climbing for another forty minutes or so.
The summit came into view.
“Hah.”
No one else was there. Ryu Chung-woo and I picked up our pace slightly, reaching the summit marker in one final push.
“Hah, it’s been a while.”
Ryu Chung-woo gripped the wooden railing beside the marker and stood there, while I took my place beside him, gazing down at the landscape below.
And I confirmed that what Ryu Chung-woo had said on the first day of hiking was true.
“You’re right—the view from down there does seem to look better.”
The scenery from the summit wasn’t as striking as what we’d seen from the midway point. Of course, the higher altitude did lend a certain grandeur.
“Yeah.”
Ryu Chung-woo nodded while taking in the view. Then he pulled out water from his backpack and drank.
I did the same with mine, and for a moment, a peaceful silence settled between us.
Hmm, I’m definitely more at ease than before.
“….”
“Moon Jung.”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course. Go ahead.”
I answered without much hesitation.
Ryu Chung-woo kept his gaze fixed on the landscape, then slowly opened his mouth.
“Actually… I asked Moon Jung a few more times about that person you mentioned after watching the family video last Chuseok.”
“…!”
“That ‘Ryu Gun-woo’ person.”
I nearly choked on my water.
I quickly lowered the bottle and formed a hypothesis.
‘Could he have found out where he is?’
“Is there any word on his whereabouts…?”
“No, sorry—it wasn’t that. I just… ended up hearing about his past.”
“….”
“Everyone in his family except him was in an accident during a trip to his maternal relatives’ place. Apparently a traffic accident compounded by a fire.”
Ryu Chung-woo paused once, then continued with an almost artificial composure.
“And that traffic accident… it’s the same one that left me with aftereffects.”
Damn.
I took another drink of water to escape this unwelcome topic.
‘If Moon Jung didn’t know where he was, they’d just say they didn’t know and leave it at that.’
Why would they dig into this?
But Ryu Chung-woo’s words weren’t finished.
“And Moon Jung, do you know something?”
What.
“…Your parents didn’t die in a car accident. It was a plane crash.”
“….”
What did you just say?
“Actually, an article was supposed to come out last year, but the company blocked it. It could’ve been a shock to you, so I only discussed it briefly with myself. It was right after you were discharged from the hospital.”
I lifted my head.
“But you… you have trauma from car accidents and fire situations. Not planes.”
Ryu Chung-woo had already turned his gaze away from the scenery and was looking at me.
“That’s the story of Ryu Gun-woo that you’ve been searching for.”
“….”
“Moon Jung. Who exactly are you looking for?”

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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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