Debut or Die - Chapter 289

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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 289
Inside the Waiting Room before the live broadcast of MusicBOMB, a music show on Tnet.
“Park Moon-dae, want something to drink?”
“Water, please.”
I accepted water from Big Sae-jin, who was volunteering to distribute beverages, and continued monitoring the metrics.
We still had plenty of time before the broadcast.
‘First, the album sales.’
The album trend was proceeding as expected… or rather, the inflation was more severe than anticipated.
Both VTIC and TeSTAR.
‘Is it competitive psychology?’
[TeSTAR “The Ocean of Wonder” – 1,317,215]
We’d already surpassed 1.3 million copies.
I stared at our album sales figures, which had exceeded projections in just four days, then recalled VTIC’s first-week numbers and paused in thought.
“….”
What kind of madmen exceed 2 million copies in initial sales for a repackaged album?
‘They’re really something else.’
To appear competitive with them in this situation, I needed to scrutinize the numbers more carefully.
I checked the music charts.
[7th Place VTIC – H.E.L.P.]
[9th Place TeSTAR – Promise]
We’re chasing their daily rankings closely. The 24-hour chart is already fluctuating, and there’s a high probability it’ll flip in our favor soon.
This was because the response to our new track had been as good as expected.
With its easy-listening quality and seasonal appeal, existing TeSTAR listeners seemed to have immediately added it to their playlists.
‘It’s perfect for listening to while driving.’
And the buzz factor was strong enough to attract new listeners. There’s certainly attention from the simultaneous release with VTIC, but….
“Ah-hyun really seems to suit this concept the best.”
“Right? I think Ah-hyun would look perfect even if she actually had a mermaid tail~”
“That’s enough tail! We’re not doing that!”
“Hey, Eugene, your tail didn’t even appear in the music video~”
“Haha.”
Yes, that’s definitely contributing to the buzz.
The massively viral mermaid concept and its shock value.
‘Just hearing about it is a bit alarming….’
Our existing fans are accustomed to how we produce videos, but when people just hear “the music video features mermaid makeup,” they can roughly imagine how it sounds.
‘Like a children’s anime or a B-grade movie.’
Once you think of typical CG, the image doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
-TeSTAR’s mermaid concept is insane
└Mermaid? Like the mermaid that lives in the ocean? Did I mishear?
But when people click on the music video drawn in by that shock factor, the mermaid only appears briefly much later.
And it’s not even CG—just animatronic tails we actually built, inserted separately into cut scenes at the end to make them look like they belong to the members.
Men in short sleeves playing in the water at sunset on the Beach—just enough to accept that they were going for a mermaid concept.
‘If I’m being honest… it’s closer to the sensibility of an art film.’
Those who had clicked expecting to see Testa’s actual shirtless members glistening with sparkles and CGI tails in full-body shots had essentially been baited.
-?? What is this, it’s so much better than I thought
-Just a well-made aesthetic music video but with a ton of capital thrown at it
-That tail fin means mermaid? Oh I get it now lol
-Shirtless was… only Chung-woo huh, got it.. I can settle for silhouettes
Watching people drawn in by the provocation leave confused but pleasantly surprised became excellent Internet fodder. Thanks to that, the music video’s view count climbed steadily.
And as word spread that the song was good, it was providing significant help to the audio streams as well.
‘Of course… it’s still hard to avoid mixed reactions.’
I love mermaids so much~ the best concept
└That’s not it
Give it back without that, damn it. Mermaids are really not it…
└Just watch the stage performance then
└Sorry but I’m writing this because I’m scared the mermaid will show up on stage, please look at this instead you T1 guys
From people like that to those genuinely disappointed they didn’t get actual mermaid makeup, all sorts of reactions swirled around, but ultimately if the majority liked it, that’s a success. It even became noise marketing.
‘I factored this in anyway.’
Since the music video wasn’t so poorly made that it would become a dark history when I looked back years from now, there was nothing to regret.
I had actually considered giving the mermaid concept only through implication… but that felt like it wouldn’t generate enough buzz.
‘We needed impact.’
If we’d just gone with a safe travel concept, we never would have created a dual-power structure with VTIC.
The volume of mentions changes.
‘Image is ultimately about momentum.’
Positioning ourselves as the populist Testa against VTIC’s fandom-focused image was awkward since we didn’t have mass appeal at Young-rin’s level.
Plus, the concept VTIC had chosen this time was performing even better overseas.
I recalled the moment I’d encountered them in the Corridor just now.
-Hello, Testa juniors!
-It’s been a while seeing you in person~
The VTIC guys, whatever their true feelings, greeted us with bright smiles and asked how we were doing, and we exchanged appropriately friendly conversation.
‘There were so many staff members and performers coming and going that we had no choice but to be cordial.’
And among the words of encouragement we offered, there was this.
-Congratulations on Billboard album chart number 2, seniors~! I really respect you!
-Aha, thanks!
These guys had updated their ranking and entered the Billboard charts.
Turns out that bizarre cosmic horror concept was actually a well-established and fairly traditional worldview known in foreign countries.
Thanks to that, fandom latched onto it hard and their America schedule seemed fully booked. Probably intentional.
‘If this gets plastered all over the media, it could get pushed aside as a national prestige issue….’
At least we managed to secure trending hotness with the mermaid buzz before that happened.
I shrugged my shoulders and stopped reminiscing.
The conclusion was obvious anyway.
‘I need to nail this stage performance.’
I had to elevate the current momentum even further through the stage. Only then could I maintain this delicate balance.
I lowered my smartphone. Ryu Chung-woo, who had been listening to Kim Rae-bin’s complaints about Cha Yu-jin, turned his head and asked.
“Should we stretch?”
“Yeah.”
The live broadcast stage was coming up soon.
TeSTAR’s slot was third from the end.
After us was a girl group with quite a bit of seniority, and last was naturally VTIC.
Waaaaaah!!
I suspected they’d arranged it this way to avoid direct comparison between the two groups, but since we were sharing the same concert hall anyway, it didn’t make much difference.
‘There are so many.’
I caught the formation as I watched the nearly divided fans of VTIC and TeSTAR standing below the stage.
In live broadcasts, the pre-recorded portions often have minimal effort or just go through the motions, but the audience’s focus somehow makes you perform earnestly anyway.
‘And these get captured on fancams and circulate online too.’
We waved our hands as we took the stage, then locked into formation.
The first song was a Latin pop-adjacent performance-type B-side using chairs.
[Como tu dulce y amargo café
My sweet love]
Cha Yu-jin handled the Spanish chorus, delivering the choreography and vocals with dazzling flair.
‘He’s improved.’
His singing had gotten noticeably better.
The thought of checking my status window flashed briefly, but vanished the moment I remembered I was on stage.
[Charm in the scorching air
Your heart blooming like smoke]
I sang the melody part of the second verse intro. After executing the choreography that involved spinning steps and jumping, I slid sideways, grabbed the chair, and shifted formation.
Then Kim Rae-bin sat alone on the chair for a singing rap.
We cleared the second verse chorus and final climax without incident.
Adrenaline surged through me.
“Phew.”
Aaaaaahhh!!
The crowd’s reaction was great.
‘The performance difficulty was definitely demanding on this side too.’
I prepared for the title track that would follow immediately, glancing down at my feet just before the interlude.
And I couldn’t help but smirk.
There was something amusing about this.
The current outfit was somewhat mismatched for the sticky vibe of the B-side.
We were dressed for the title track that would air on the broadcast.
[Take your STAR
The day stars pour down]
We were all wearing jeans and white t-shirts.

* * *
‘Perfect!’
Park Moon-dae’s first Home Ma couldn’t help but clench her fist in victory upon seeing TeSTAR’s debut broadcast outfit.
It was inevitable—this was the costume she’d loved most from the music video.
‘Anyone who dislikes that must be blind.’
Blue jeans and a white t-shirt? With a good physique, there’s no way it could look bad!
Whether they’d deliberately trained for this or not, everyone’s silhouette was sharp even in the lightweight fabric. She instinctively began preparing to record clips.
Simultaneously, the candidate outfits for the coming weeks flooded her mind.
Probably the first week would feature music video costumes too. The professional outfit, the vacation wear, the beach look with the robe….
‘…and maybe a mermaid-inspired outfit at some point?’
But that outfit had never appeared in the music video, and mermaids existed only as a story concept, so she quickly abandoned the speculation.
‘From the first broadcast choice, it looks like they’re going for consistently beautiful styling without anything experimental. Please keep that direction all the way through, please.’
The stage begins!
She cleared her mind immediately and focused all her attention on the stage unfolding before her eyes.
A refreshing backdrop of blue sky and white sandy beach.
And the stage that unfolds….
Was the pure essence of visual and auditory pleasure distilled to its purest form.
[Sailing through the sky’s island
We Fly so far]
There were no walking patterns in this choreography.
Every step—whether sliding, running, or bouncing—contained an element that captured the eye and rhythm.
Moreover, the choreography’s style shifted distinctly with each part, drawing attention through perfectly matched, impressive movements.
For instance, Lee Sae-jin’s bridge featured tango-inspired leg kicks, while Cha Yu-jin’s chorus burst with locking.
Meanwhile, any empty space was created solely through variations in tempo. There wasn’t a single moment where anyone rested.
It was designed so people couldn’t help but watch, mesmerized.
[Make you fly!]
“Park Moon-dae!!”
When the refreshing, crisp live vocals joined in, it felt like drinking an ice-cold carbonated beverage—pure exhilaration.
And during the ‘Take your STAR’ section, the point choreography that subtly employed gestures and gaze stuck to the song like a sticker.
Extremely catchy.
‘The choreography makes the song sound even better, doesn’t it?’
Lee Sae-jin and Cha Yu-jin would have been moved if they’d heard this—they’d nearly fought while drafting only dance moves worth imitating.
But on screen, they were uncannily finding the camera, bringing out their expressions and atmosphere, flying across the stage.
As formations shifted, the stage consumed time in an instant.
Before you knew it, the ending arrived.
[Beyond the horizon to the farthest island
Today will surely sparkle]
Sun Ah-hyun is captured in close-up amidst large formations shaped like waves, utilizing camera work to its extreme.
There, emotional vocals and drums interweave, and the acrobatics that appear for the first time are equally impressive.
[Umm~ UmmUmm]
The members executed the final melody with head tilts and cross-legged sits as key choreography points.
Smirking members struck various poses—linking arms, resting chins on hands—as the song drew to a close.
Impeccably groomed, handsome faces flashed across the screen in rapid succession.
[TeSTAR – Promise]
“Phew.”
Home Ma exhaled deeply only after the title card appeared on screen and Park Moon-dae’s closing close-up faded away.
‘This is absolutely brilliant.’
So, to draw a conclusion….
‘This will work.’
The choreography challenge alone would take off. With buzz already spreading, I could already envision countless videos flooding the internet the moment this stage aired.
The music video had already hinted at it—the choreography wasn’t impossibly difficult, yet it was striking and addictive in the most captivating way.
Even a quick glance at real-time social media confirmed the same reactions pouring in.
-Is it over already?
“Wow, she’s seriously so good. Forget about being a mermaid or whatever, you really gotta be good at the Stage lol”
-The song sounds even better after watching the stage, is this an auditory illusion?
-This stage is a masterpiece
-The waist and hand movements in the chorus are so cool, gonna see this nonstop on TikTok (video)
“Perfect.”
No matter what VTIC fans complained about, TeSTAR was the domestic trend!
She confidently predicted the future, and that prediction would unfold remarkably close to reality.
However, the attention they’d drawn wasn’t consumed by TeSTAR alone.

* * *
“The explosive joy of music! MusicBOMB~”
“This week’s number one is… Congratulations! VTIC!”
The Music Broadcast Studio MCs respectfully handed the bouquet and trophy to VTIC.
It was inevitable. Today’s rankings included last week’s performance, and if VTIC wasn’t number one, it would be rigged.
“First, we’d like to thank all of TiCA for supporting us until we could receive this award….”
I clapped enthusiastically while smiling at those giving their acceptance remarks. Everyone was doing the same.
There wouldn’t be a single idiot here who couldn’t manage their expression at a moment like this.
Still, they were probably thinking various things internally, but in my case… well, I’d say I was in the process of evaluating.
‘These guys are definitely skilled.’
This was the first time I’d properly watched their title track stage with a critical eye.
And it was quite… impressive.
‘They’re really committed to their niche.’
The music video was apparently a compilation of content their fans would love, and the stage followed the same direction.
‘Intense, provocative, high-quality.’
It wasn’t that they’d abandoned mainstream appeal entirely, but that snake-fighting-like performance in the intro was clearly composed for their fanbase, no matter who was watching.
‘And their stage capabilities are exceptionally outstanding.’
It made sense that they were gaining new fans at their career stage.
“MusicBOMB! See you next week!”
I bowed to the number-one winners waving their hands, then descended from the stage and reached a conclusion.
Though our activities had different flavors, it seemed neither side would collapse on stage regardless.
And the reactions actually came out similarly.
The following week, TeSTAR continued climbing the music charts through word-of-mouth and social media users’ picks.
And eventually, what was bound to happen, happened.
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[TeSTAR Just Overtook VTIC on Music Charts]
: Climbed to 5th place, it really seems TeSTAR is the top male idol group for music sources (screenshot)
========================
-Insane
-Awesome testa hahahaha
-Honestly the song is just so good, I’d say it’s the song quality
└Kim Rae-bin composed it
└ㅋㅋㅋ You may have seen it once or twice to keep track of the names of the producing members, but at this point, they just put their names at the end.
└This is the first time (screenshot)
Hahahahahahahaha
It was worth coming in a week late – the album sales figures aren’t inflated or anything lol
-I knew they’d do well, the stage was so good, the music video story was great too
-Lucky
└Salty
-The atmosphere is really intense, will it stay like this until there’s a final decision
Our song had flipped positions with VTIC’s on the charts.
For a while, there was chaos with people saying the conclusion was already decided, but it quickly settled down. VTIC continued to shine brilliantly with their global records that were simply absurd.
Starting with “number one in 76 countries,” they had interview invitations and award show appearances, plus mentions in English-speaking regions and music video views that were staggering.
It was extraordinary.
Thanks to that dazzling status, people kept seeking out their music, and VTIC’s title track remained firmly planted at the top of the domestic charts.
It was the same with overall buzz—not just in terms of music. We had become the ones holding our ground.
‘It’s a close call.’
We had swept first place this week according to plan, but whether public perception would shift around August remained uncertain.
‘Still, what’s satisfying is that the two-power system has solidified.’
Now I barely saw comments like “how dare they even mention TeSTAR in the same breath as VTIC.”
We had to maintain this tension through the end of the year.
With that in mind, I waited for the decisive moment to arrive.
And so the Music Broadcast Studio schedule came around again.
TeSTAR’s third week of comeback performances on the Music Broadcast Studio.
And VTIC’s final domestic Music Broadcast Studio appearance for this album.
They should have wrapped up last week, but since it’s a special, it seems Tnet is clinging to them for dear life.
And I realized—this was the first decisive timing.
‘I need to capture public opinion.’
We had to create buzz once more.
However, I had no idea that this special would bring an unexpected and rather unwelcome situation.
A Junior Member was appearing as a special stage guest.
Ajusa’s debut group for this season.

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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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