Debut or Die - Chapter 311

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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 311
Testa’s second act was an unrelenting succession of climaxes.
The narrative of Kim Rae-bin and Sun Ah-hyun’s unit stage unfolded, and the inner world of a boy ruled by impulse ultimately flowed toward something dangerous and dark.
A stage that expressed that passion.
[The day has finally arrived
Procession]
Where the sound of traditional instruments once played, fragmented electronic noise now created an ominous cacophony.
[At last, here today
Never get away from me ya]
The version of “Procession” far darker than the original was intensely sexy, almost grotesque in its power.
Ryu Chung-woo stood at center, nodding with an expressionless face.
‘Joseon zombie….’
The Gamer thought no concept could be more intense than this, believing it was the part where conflict reached its peak—the ultimate climax.
But it wasn’t.
Every time she thought this was the peak, a new buildup would enter and the intensity would continue to rise.
‘What, what, what?’
“Better me” followed, depicting the wandering of a boy who had won against his enemy but now harbored doubt in himself.
It was an overwhelming shadow performance.
‘This is the climax!’
It wasn’t.
The boy, having ended his wandering and gained enlightenment to return to his true self, held a magnificent return ceremony.
“…??”
The stage that unfolded was “daybreak,” a fusion of the two title tracks from his previous activities: “Wheel” and “Drill.”
Fireworks burst like pyrotechnics, and a wildly spectacular and exhilarating performance that left jaws hanging open captivated the gaze.
[Turn my ferris wheel around
Lights bursting like stars!]
A chill ran through me.
It truly was a stage worthy of a concert’s climax… but now the Gamer understood.
It wasn’t.
‘What else is there?? What??’
At this point, she had begun to anticipate it entirely.
Beneath that psychology lay a hope that this insane performance would never end and would continue on.
This stimulation and immersion were simply too delicious!
And as if answering that desire, the next stage began.
Thump.
But this time, something was different.
‘It’s taking longer…?’
The preparation time was longer than all the previous stages. Even after the VCR cut out, only the sound of drums echoed across the dark stage.
‘What is this?’
But everything returned to the stage at once.
With a cheerful whistle.
Whoosh!
“…!!”
Water was already flowing across the Stage.
‘Insane!’
I had no idea how much money had been poured into this, but torrents of water that you’d only see at some massive water show pooled across the floor, creating a reservoir.
And then light flooded in.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!
The lights, synchronized with the water jets, pooled on the Stage floor alongside the water, creating a fantastical landscape.
And in that moment, the performer appeared.
The performer leaped down from the darkness above the water jets at the front of the Concert Hall, landing in the water.
“…!”
It was Cha Yu-jin.
Unlike the unit stages where performers paired up, Cha Yu-jin was the only one to take the Stage alone this performance.
[Yeah, yeah, yeaaaaah]
And without further ado, he launched into a solo performance.
Like a fish in water, he unfolded a dazzling solo intro with light and water spray in the water that rose to his calves, moving with absolute command.
Water and light traced parabolas, creating diffuse reflections that sparkled. Yet all those effects were absorbed into the movements of the solitary performer.
Cha Yu-jin’s presence seized control of the Stage in an instant.
The Gamer couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
“Wow.”
Is he even human?
The moment Cha Yu-jin finished his intro performance, he ripped off his goggles and flashed a grin toward the audience.
Roooaaarrrrr!!!
Even at the deafening roar that felt like it might tear her ears off, the Gamer didn’t frown.
Because a familiar prelude was flowing out.
‘Oh, this one!’
Testa’s latest hit song.
It was “Promise,” which still held firm on the music charts.
It’s currently the hottest Testa song. Even the Gamer could hear it one out of every two times she went out, so she was familiar with it.
So she made a fairly plausible guess.
‘Ah, so here they’re going to induce group singing like a festival?’
Unfortunately, that wasn’t it this time either.
Instead, with the prelude, what had been there at the very beginning returned to the Concert Hall.
The lighting.
Hummmmm—
Undulating blue lights enveloped the Concert Hall. And this time, instead of dry ice, soap bubbles poured toward the audience like foam.
“Huh…?”
The final stage, tying everything together.
The Concert Hall transformed into the Ocean once more.
But this time, the boy did not sink.
[Umm]
Cha Yu-jin turned around, shrugged his shoulders, and lifted his gaze toward the ceiling—toward the ocean above.
And right there, the Stage floor opened, and six In-young rose up.
Testa.
[Take your STAR]
They were ascending toward the surface.
“…!”
The moment the first verse began, Testa laughed and started kicking through the water.
[The Day Stars Poured Down]
The performance they’d shown in the pouring rain now unfolded grand and brilliant, exactly as originally intended for a Concert.
The anxiety that the downpour had added was completely washed away by the ease and joy that countless rehearsals had given them.
In the pool where water flowed and the level had dropped to their ankles, refreshing choreography poured forth like a cool vocal line—beautiful and brisk.
[Kicking through the waves and running
To the sky, Run and Fly]
As their numbers grew, the water’s movement became even more spectacular.
“Wow.”
The intimacy of the ‘original song’ met with impact, transforming into complete immersion.
The melody swept past in an instant.
Lost in the performance that so brilliantly utilized the water spray, waving light sticks, and then….
[Sparkling like a star, Mood
Promise to go with me
Make you fly]
The song reaches its bridge in the latter half.
The members’ choreography becomes static, and the lights aimed at the water extinguish. Just when it seemed almost excessively dark.
Pop!
Suddenly, the entire Concert Hall itself began to sparkle.
“Gasp.”
And the Gamer was startled, seeing her own light stick shining brilliantly white at maximum output.
Every light stick in the Concert Hall, no—the countless small lights on the ceiling above the Stage—shone together, creating constellations.
[Beyond the horizon to the farthest Island
Today will surely sparkle]
It was beautiful.
The boy, who had been depressed and sunk into the consciousness of the past, awakens and returns to reality—to the starlit earth.
And now the members leave the Stage, where water has nearly drained away, and begin running into the stars.
[Umm, Umm, Umm~]
The ending.
The members, having emerged from the waterside, came to the very front of the protruding Stage and executed the final highlight dance.
The lights were no longer blue, and the Concert Hall, bright with golden radiance and swirling flower petals, resembled a summer Sandy Beach.
The true climax and finale.
A final story, clean and joyful without a single worry clouding it.
[Thank you!]
With that, Testa completely wrapped up their story as idols.
“….”
The Gamer watched the entire scene with a dazed expression.
It was because of the refreshing emotion washing over her.
Moments later, the Testa members came out one by one and took their bows like a curtain call.
The music playing was their first fan song, “Magic is You.”
[Today my mood is so good, it feels like
something wonderful is about to happen]
When their parts began, they burst onto the Stage with headset microphones, moving throughout the Concert Hall to provide fan service.
“Moon-dae!”
“Aaah, over here!”
It was a time for fans who lamented the distance, and the second fan song and the encore stretched on quite long as everyone sang along together.
But instead of growing bored, the Gamer remained seated like the other fans for quite some time even after the curtain call ended.
‘….’
And after everything was over, she belatedly opened her smartphone.
[PM 10:31]
The concert had started at 6:30 PM.
Four hours had vanished in an instant.
“Insane….”
She buried her face in her hands.
On the way back.
Her two friends laughed inwardly watching their Gamer friend, who was clearly impressed.
“So? Worth the ticket price, right?”
It was an obviously leading question, but the Gamer conceded.
“Yeah, it was fun…. Time just flew by.”
This kind of cultural experience was worth the money. Her fondness for idols was growing by leaps and bounds!
Eventually, she murmured like an exclamation.
“Man, they really… were amazing.”
“…!”
The two friends exchanged glances in an instant.
Since she said they were amazing, if it was about vocals or fan service, there was a good chance she meant Park Moon-dae!
“Who?”
“Who was your favorite??”
In that tense moment, the Gamer opened her mouth with a serious expression.
“I… liked them all.”
“…??”
“Performing as a group like that is the best. It’s just… this.”
That was it.
She had completed her first concert viewing with the mindset of an all-fan who regarded her as more precious than wild ginseng these days.
Similar confessions were popping up on the Internet as well, but the performers themselves were celebrating at a more primal level than that.

* * *
11 PM.
We were still at the Training Room working late into the night due to feedback issues, unable to leave. But the atmosphere was good.
The Concert had gone well.
“A huge success~”
“Ah, the best, the best!!”
“It was so fun!”
Everyone had executed that insane setlist and still had energy left—smiles never left their faces.
‘That was worth every penny.’
The exhilaration of succeeding at a new challenge was always unique. Even more so when it came to a large-scale project like a Concert.
I gave my assessment cleanly.
“Your idea was good.”
“…! Aw~ what are you talking about! I just added a spoon to an already completed setlist~ Park Moon-dae’s ideas went into it a lot too!”
Pretending not to have a split grin.
Anyway, W Live was planned to have a long after-party on the final day, so today we just needed to celebrate the success and do a check.
However, I had a few more things to say.
“Hmm, Eugene looked a bit risky here.”
“He was cool!”
“Yeah, he was cool, but let’s land a bit more safely.”
I passed by those exchanging feedback and found my conversation partner.
“Kim Rae-bin.”
“Yes!”
Kim Rae-bin was in the middle of a conversation with Sun Ah-hyun about the unit Stage. I exchanged a few words with Sun Ah-hyun, then sat down appropriately in front of him.
And I got straight to the point.
“How was it.”
“Pardon?”
“How did it feel performing on Stage.”
….
Kim Rae-bin’s face was slightly tense, but he answered without holding back.
“I had significant concerns about whether I could properly interpret another person’s producing work and express the creative intent in a way that wouldn’t be shameful as a professional….”
After the long preamble, the answer came.
“…This time, I seem to have digested it quite well.”
That’s right.
“Of course, I’m also aware that I benefited from performing alongside Ah-hyun, who displayed such outstanding abilities, but still….”
Kim Rae-bin’s eyes lit up.
“I was able to do it…!”
It was a solid answer. I smiled and asked again.
“Will you be able to keep doing this going forward?”
“…Yes!!”
Good.
After hearing that resolute answer, I pulled up his status window without hesitation.
And I confirmed what I’d been waiting for.
[!Abnormal Status: Repeat Sign (Deactivated)]
His abnormal status had returned to a clean, deactivated state.
‘That’s right.’
Of course, it hadn’t disappeared entirely, so perhaps someday the “my producing failed” status might recur.
But I wasn’t worried. Now he would be able to overcome slumps on his own.
Because he’d already done it once.
And… the option that it was okay to quit producing had been firmly planted in his mind.
That was enough.
“You worked hard.”
“No, sir…. I should be thanking you! I’ll work even harder from now on.”
Kim Rae-bin bowed his head respectfully. Sun Ah-hyun beside him clapped with a flushed face.
It was a decent conclusion.
With this, the worry about the next album’s tracks was over.
‘Well, then there’s just one thing left.’
I leaned my back against the Training Room wall, preparing to bring up the final matter I’d been thinking about for the past few days.
“I have a suggestion.”
“Hmm?”
Just before midnight, on the way home from work, I raised my hand inside the car.
“About that arrangement account.”
“Oh, that.”
The formal contact request for that game theme song that we’d put on hold because the Concert was urgent.
I spoke calmly.
“If it’s just something you want to try, I think it’d be fine to accept the offer.”
“…!”
“H-how…?”
Simply put, here’s the thing.
“We just donate the profits.”
“…??”
Give up the money, and it works.
“When we sign the contract, we redirect the profits to the Children’s Welfare Foundation.”
Besides, there’s no one here who desperately needs that money.
It’d be wasteful to just change accounts, and honestly, I’d rather avoid unnecessary attention.
So we just approve it once and keep using that account.
“Since it’s an anonymous donation, there won’t be any tax evasion issues, so even if it comes to light later, there shouldn’t be a problem. We can handle it by registering it under a business name.”
“I see….”
The manager wouldn’t go out of their way to illegally track down a novice entrepreneur just to dig up detailed personal information.
“I see! I have no qualms about profitability either, as I have no personal interest in it.”
Kim Rae-bin answered brightly.
He seemed completely unaware, but with the largest shareholder taking this stance, even if someone regretted spending the money, they’d have no choice but to keep quiet.
Well, it didn’t seem like anyone would bring up money in the first place anyway.
However, Bae Sae-jin asked with a confused expression.
“Can’t we just do a free contract…?”
No.
“If it gets exposed, they’d say we’re drowning in money and carelessly handling intellectual property rights.”
“….”
“Beyond attitude controversies, it could lead to discussions about negative impacts on the industry.”
Public opinion is always a formidable opponent for idols. I had to consider everything.
I passed by Bae Sae-jin’s face, which seemed to register both disillusionment and harsh reality simultaneously, and asked.
“So, if we’re going to do this, what do you think about handling it as an anonymous donation like this?”
A refreshingly positive response came back immediately. I knew it would.
“I’m good with it~”
“Me too!”
Even Ryu Chung-woo opened his mouth with a smile.
“Yeah, looks fine to me.”
It was unanimous.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
With this, the composition camp account could continue operating without any major issues.
“Yes. Then let’s go with that.”
And so, Testa’s arrangement account with Kim Rae-bin’s overwhelmingly large stake….
“Star’s Various Songs is building a career too!”
…Yes, ‘Star’s Various Songs’ would be responding to T1 Plays.
“….”
For the record, I opposed that account name.
I wondered why they had to create a connection to Testa, but I’ll just say I yielded to the majority.
‘Not all of my plans work out exactly as I envision them.’
The funny thing was, this time too, my plan didn’t roll out perfectly as intended.
A few days after signing a formal contract with T1 Plays, posts like these started appearing as trending topics on the Internet.
[Arrangement YouTuber doing the flex properly]
[The result of three visits and four requests.jpg]
[What does Star’s Various Songs even do]
“…?”
There was no need to trace the cause.
The manager simply left a public comment on the arrangement video.
-Thank you for the formal contract! Per ‘Star’s Various Songs’ wishes, the entire contract fee will be donated to the Sky Sound Children’s Foundation. (laughing emoticon)
-We were so moved by your warm heart that we’ve decided to donate an equal amount ourselves!
Thanks to that, things turned out this way.
-Donated entire proceeds to the Children’s Welfare Foundation lol
-Is this real?
-Star’s Various Songs is a god among gods!
-Look at that swagger man, that’s what a flex looks like
“….”
“….”
“Should we ignore it?”
“Yes.”
We stopped all feedback after sending a single protest email to the person in charge.
As my secondary account’s recognition skyrocketed out of nowhere, the weather grew increasingly cold, and time rushed toward the promised date.
Year-end was approaching.

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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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