Debut or Die - Chapter 322

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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 322
A few days later.
A clip of Testa’s stage performance from the year’s first awards ceremony was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of the music source company that hosted it.
It was the stage right after this year’s first Grand Prize award.
[Whoosh—!]
Water and light burst forth from a makeshift underwater device adapted from the concert stage, backed by dazzling choreography.
We’d crafted a stage that fans who’d seen the concert would eagerly promote, saying “Isn’t that cool? The concert was even better than this,” so it turned out like this.
Naturally, it ranked in the real-time trending videos.
[(RMA) TeSTAR | Intro + Promise Live Performance]
Of course, VTIC’s performance was also ranking, but whether those guys were swinging capes or riding boats—what did I care.
My stage, which I’d done after so long, had left such a strong impression that it consumed all my mental capacity.
I held back a sigh.
‘Thank goodness I didn’t mess up.’
My body barely remembered the choreography and I survived. I’d almost made a mistake during that stage right after winning the Grand Prize.
‘From that point on, it would’ve been brain death.’
Strangely, my acceptance speech had gotten an unexpectedly amazing response… but if the stage had gone that way too, excuses like ‘I was overcome with emotion’ would be finished.
It simply comes down to whether you have professionalism or not.
However, such a thing never happened, and instead what remained was… just a few unnecessarily intense close-up shots.
[Sailing through the sky’s island
We Fly so far!]
“Oh~ Moon-dae hyung Smile~”
“….”
I’ll admit it. I got a bit excited.
The thumbnail of the comment compilation that had appeared in recommendations earlier was already ridiculous.
Moon Daengdaeng is 100% happy lol
-I know, that’s the expression a squirrel gets when it goes for a walk
-Tibet concentration zero hyper pure puppy state
I watched my close-up with my mouth split wide open in laughter, then silently turned off the screen.
“What the…! You’re watching that!”
Don’t talk like that guy who popped out while brushing his teeth was watching.
I changed the screen to a magical girl cover stage, and Cha Yu-jin fled.
“Hyung, that’s not fair!”
If you’re upset, next time just grab the remote first.
I watched Cha Yu-jin return to the bathroom, then was about to turn off the screen when I casually spotted those T-Holic guys standing in the background of the magical girl performance.
[Flying magic Heart bullet!]
Their eyes had no focus. Their overwhelmed expressions were perfect for creating that absurd atmosphere.
‘Come to think of it, those guys seemed to have sent congratulatory messages for the Grand Prize too.’
I opened my smartphone and checked the contents.
It wasn’t as much as Big Sae-jin, who managed messages and calls the moment he got home on the day of the awards ceremony until his phone died, but I’d received quite a few myself.
After winning the Grand Prize, I’d received contact from everyone from Young-rin to entertainers I’d only seen once on variety shows, so those guys definitely must have sent something too….
[Listen up, Testa. We each managed to snag one award trophy, so we hope you’ll continue treating us as seniors.]
[Please.]
[Of course, we didn’t actually take them. They’re probably in the company president’s office.]
“….”
These bastards created a whole new group chat just to send this?
On top of that, I’ve got personal messages asking if it’s okay to post screenshots on their entertainment SNS.
‘They really know how to hustle.’
It wasn’t for nothing that they’ve milked the entertainment route for so long, even after their prime.
I politely replied with “you can post, but handle any controversy yourselves.”
For the minor stuff, responding with basic courtesy should be fine.
That’s when it happened.
“Wait, why is Park Moon-dae doing a penalty performance… Oh, T-Holic senior~”
The one with the sharpest instincts here shoves his face right at my smartphone.
‘This guy’s losing all sense of privacy.’
But I didn’t bother covering the screen. Dealing with T-Holic is basically work anyway.
However, that wasn’t his real point. Big Sae-jin grinned and plopped down on the couch.
“Just as expected from T-Holic senior~ Your KakaoTalk has some bite to it! So, uh, what did the other senior say?”
No need to ask who. He’s talking about the senior who narrowly missed the Musician of the Year award.
VTIC.
So it made sense he’d be curious.
‘If he showed reactions at all those award shows and then stayed silent here, that’d be even funnier.’
Of course, VTIC did showcase their strength by winning Album of the Year at the finale.
And I’d bet in about half the remaining award ceremonies, they’ll push us aside and take Musician of the Year.
‘Still, if we keep winning and then lose it, that’d feel like shit.’
They probably won’t send one-sided friendly messages anymore.
“What did they say to you?”
“Just congratulations, you know? But we can read between the lines too, right? So I was wondering what you sent to the other members!”
As if.
He’s asking if there’s a hint of wariness in my message. I chuckled and scrolled through the message window I’d left open for organizing.
And finally, I found the VTIC Member’s message.
“…!”
But… the content wasn’t congratulations.
[VTIC Senior Shin Chung-ryeo: Do you have something to say now?]
Ah, this.
‘He’s reading the room.’
He’d been talking about it since November, and after seeing my reaction to winning the Daesang, he seemed to have picked up on something.
‘This bastard’s been waiting all along.’
Then, I hear a quiet murmur from beside me.
“…Something to say?”
Right. From the perspective of someone who knows my relationship with Chung-ryeo is absolutely terrible, this reads almost like a challenge.
‘He’s picking a fight by asking if I have anything to say.’
Of course, our relationship had been rough. So the excuse came easily.
“Ah, we almost got into it again over the target issue.”
“What??”
“Nothing serious, just a verbal argument. We’ll settle it by call in a bit and get a decision victory.”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“This bastard can’t beat me. I have a recording.”
“…You’re something else, Park Moon-dae. Really something.”
Big Sae-jin shook his head as if fed up. Yeah, if I just redirect the conversation like this….
“Give it to me. I’ll listen and tell you who won, hyung.”
Smooth.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be polite when I call. Nothing like last time will happen.”
If he remembered the Chae Seo-dam recording incident, it made sense he’d react this way.
But Big Sae-jin narrowed his eyes.
“Who’s worried about that? Well, I am worried about it, but… look, Park Moon-dae, you’ve been weird lately.”
“….”
Hmm.
“You seem to have forgotten the choreography, and when you’re supposed to sing your part, you’re doing something else in this weird way, then coming back and regaining your feel….”
No way.
I stayed quiet, and Big Sae-jin finished his thought.
“Did you secretly go do some National Intelligence Service mission or something?”
“….”
Look at that imagination.
I stared at him incredulously, but Big Sae-jin just grinned.
“When would I have time for that with daily practice and schedules?”
“Early morning? Oh wait, Chung-woo hyung is a morning person anyway, so it could actually work?”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“You caught Rabin composing at dawn before. Maybe~? You saw him leaving the house?”
This bastard’s joking around.
But even as he spouted nonsense, there was awareness on his face that he was doing exactly that.
He knows something’s up, but he’s trying to smooth it over with jokes.
“….”
I held back a sigh and spoke.
“I said I’d tell you once I can talk about it.”
“…!”
“It’s not serious, and everything’s being resolved fine.”
I continued slowly.
“Obviously it’s not the National Intelligence Service. It’s just personal stuff. There’s no problem with Testa.”
“…I know.”
Big Sae-jin sighed, then offered a bitter smile.
“Sorry. We’ve been swamped with work, so I was wondering if maybe you were in a tight spot but didn’t want to say anything.”
It sounded like genuine honesty.
I deliberated briefly, then answered with equal sincerity.
“If something’s wrong, I’ll tell you.”
“Really?”
Yeah.
Big Sae-jin’s bitter smile faded the moment I nodded, and he tapped my shoulder before rising from the couch.
“Okay. I trust you, Moon-dae~”
He dragged Cha Yu-jin, who happened to emerge just then, toward the kitchen.
“Phew.”
I leaned back against the couch.
‘I have no idea how long this excuse will hold up.’
But blurting out such an absurd situation in a moment of frustration and asking them to believe it would be insane. There’s a reason I’ve kept my mouth shut until now.
‘Guess this is what happens when you stay together as one group for so long.’
It’s hard to hide things. Especially from people with sharp instincts.
And honestly, part of me just wants to spill it all.
‘Is there another way?’
I’ll work out a countermeasure later. For now, I need to handle what’s in front of me.
I stepped onto the balcony and made a call.
[VTIC Senior Shin Chung-ryeo]
After a fairly long ringtone, the call connected. A drowsy voice came through.
-Mm… junior.
Did I wake him? This won’t do.
I immediately launched into my scripted apology.
“Senior, I’m sorry for waking you up.”
-No. I have an early morning schedule, so… mm.
Chung-ryeo fell silent for a moment, then replied in a perfectly alert voice.
-It’s fine.
Decades of experience weren’t wasted. He’d completely adapted to irregular sleep patterns.
-So what’s the reason for calling?
I detected anticipation in his tone. I answered flatly.
“I have ‘something to tell you.’ Just as you messaged.”
-Ah, finally.
Chung-ryeo’s voice grew stronger.
-How is it? Seems like you’ve returned well.
“I’m fine. No issues. And I received the target as expected.”
-Good. Congratulations on your first target. I hope you’re enjoying this moment.
Meaning I won’t be able to enjoy moments like this going forward.
I considered forming a retort like ‘I hope the same for you, senior,’ then discarded it.
There was no time for that. Instead, I got straight to the point.
“Thank you. Then, may I ask what happened to that phone call you promised to make back then?”
Chung-ryeo’s body also had him agreeing to make a confirmation call.
-Ah… that person.
Chung-ryeo answered casually.
-I did try contacting that phone number several times. But… the phone was turned off every time, he said.
“….”
What?
“Then what about his current situation?”
-Huh? Haha. Junior Member. How would I know something like that? He’s just not answering calls, that’s all.
“….”
This damn bastard….
-The next day was already scheduled for departure. How would I have time to look into domestic matters while doing a concert?
“…Yes.”
Right. That’s a reasonable statement.
But hearing it from the mouth of someone who dug up the Officetel address on his own made it feel like I was being played.
‘Sigh.’
I pressed my temples.
Why was I so eager to find out Ryu Gun-woo’s whereabouts right now?
It was because the original Park Moon-dae—in other words, Big Dal—hadn’t sent me a separate message yet.
I’d lifted the recipient restriction to receive it, and all I got was a flood of spam and stalker-like messages pouring in.
‘Hmm.’
I decided it was better to wait until he wanted to contact me. He’d just passed the 7th rank, so he’d probably be busy.
Still, I thought this guy would naturally reach out… but it’s been days since I received the target, and there’s been no contact.
The feeling didn’t sit right with me.
‘Back then… he definitely said it like that.’
-Then… I’ll use it well for a while.
Why did he set a time limit?
Of course, I knew Ryu Gun-woo’s Officetel address. If things got bad, I could just go find him.
‘Of course, there are useful methods before that too.’
First, I’ll end the call.
“Understood. Then please get some rest.”
-Wait. Is that it?
“Yes?”
What is this now?
-I thought you’d share some impressions or something.
…It sounds like he’s a bit disappointed. This bastard… disappointed?
“….”
It’s creepily out of character, but… yeah, in my own way… I did hear advice when I was in Ryu Gun-woo’s body.
I can’t deny it. He’s a stakeholder now too.
I finally added something more to say.
“This isn’t something we should discuss over the phone. Let’s meet up when we can find the time.”
-Mm… I see. That works.
I never thought the day would come when I’d casually arrange to meet up with this bastard.
I ended the call with a lukewarm feeling in my chest.
But I didn’t turn off the screen.
Instead, I immediately manipulated the display and pressed the ‘Messages’ icon again.
Then I opened a new text message composition window.
‘I’m not an idiot.’
Of course I’d memorized Ryu Gun-woo’s number, at least roughly.
If I’m the one reaching out, that’s all there is to it.
‘I’ll throw in a couple of confusing numbers and write something that only this bastard would respond to.’
I entered the number I remembered and had just typed “Big Dal, why haven’t you been in touch? I last saw you in November…” when it happened.
“Moon-dae!”
“…!”
Taking Big Sae-jin as a lesson, I quickly closed my smartphone.
When I turned my head, Ryu Chung-woo was walking from the corridor and waving his hand from outside the balcony door.
“Are you busy right now? Or would you be able to go to the Company with me for a bit?”
He’s less composed than usual. It seems like he has some urgent news.
If I refuse during break time, it’ll look suspicious.
“Yes. But what’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you on the way.”
Ryu Chung-woo opened the balcony door and urged me forward. This too is rare.
‘It must really be urgent.’
I reluctantly grabbed my coat and followed him out the entrance door. I was planning to continue writing the text message once I got in the car.
But the moment I sat in the front seat and saw Ryu Chung-woo manipulating the navigation, I realized something was off.
“Hyung.”
“Hm?”
“That’s not the Company, is it?”
“Ah. Just a moment.”
The car departed. Ryu Chung-woo’s vehicle quickly exited the underground parking lot and slipped out of the apartment complex in an instant.
And with a face full of smiles, Ryu Chung-woo spoke again.
“Moon-dae. You know, the person you asked me to look for?”
“…?”
Why is he bringing that up right now…?
“Moon Jung got in touch saying they found him.”
“…!”
“Ryu Gun-woo.”
What?
Ryu Chung-woo lowered his voice slightly.
“He’s apparently a Grade 7 civil servant. It seems his whereabouts were unclear because he was busy studying for the exam.”
“….”
“It seems they passed and got in touch just now.”
A sudden sense of dread washed over me. I barely managed to open my mouth.
“Don’t tell me… right now….”
Ryu Chung-woo let out a smirk.
“Exactly. That’s why we’re heading to meet them right now.”
“…!!”
“Since I have a car anyway, and I wanted to meet them in person… Park Moon-dae?”
Damn it.
I was suddenly going to meet Park Moon-dae, who was inside both Ryu Chung-woo and Ryu Gun-woo’s bodies.

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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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