Debut or Die - Chapter 356

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

A Fatal Illness if I Don’t Debut – Episode 356
“They’re not even eating?”
“I’m hungry. We need to get chicken.”
Park Moon-dae and Sun Ah-hyun had been holed up in that room for over an hour and a half now.
Bae Sae-jin, who had willingly surrendered his desk to Kim Rae-bin as he worked the keyboard and was sitting on the bed, grew increasingly anxious.
‘What’s going on in there with no sound at all… Could they be drinking or something?’
Bae Sae-jin even checked the refrigerator out of concern, but found no trace of alcohol. He knew his suspicion was baseless anyway—no one had brought any in the first place.
‘I didn’t think mediation was necessary…’
Sun Ah-hyun had seemed a bit dazed when he arrived this morning, but the atmosphere still felt considerably less tense because of it.
Bae Sae-jin ventured a casual remark.
“You two must be having a good conversation.”
A cutting response came back.
“Indeed. While I have no idea why you borrowed my laptop, I hope it was helpful for the two of you to have a deep discussion!”
“…Right.”
Bae Sae-jin decided to drop his suspicions. He felt somewhat embarrassed that he seemed to be the only one in this Dormitory worrying so much.
‘Still, I wish someone would check on them.’
Maybe I should text them to eat something.
But not long after Bae Sae-jin had gone through all that deliberation, Ryu Chung-woo and Lee Sae-jin appeared with Park Moon-dae poking his head out, calling them into that room for a moment.
‘So my roommate is the same age as me.’
It was a reasonable guess as to why he’d been called.
Bae Sae-jin, as the oldest, almost felt a bit slighted, but soon recalled his own conversational skills and accepted it.
Rather, he felt relieved.
‘Thank goodness it wasn’t me who got called…’
And like a prophecy coming true, that thought became reality.
The two who had been called returned two hours later, their faces looking worn out.
Lee Sae-jin didn’t say a word, just waved her hand dismissively and disappeared into the Kitchen for water.
‘…?’
Bae Sae-jin was bewildered.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well.”
Ryu Chung-woo shook his head with a bitter smile.
“Moon-dae is really something else.”
“…Huh?”
“He logically convinced us.”
This wasn’t a debate—why was he even bringing this up now?
Bae Sae-jin found himself asking without thinking.
“Of what?”
“Well, why we need to reconcile with him.”
“…??”
Logically convinced them to reconcile, he said.
Is such a thing even possible?
But Chung-woo added a word alongside his deflated smile.
“You did well.”
“…??”
Such a thing… actually works?
Bae Sae-jin sank deeper into confusion.
Yet it was true that a similar scene was unfolding in the room.

* * *
‘Good.’
I nodded in approval.
The two who entered the room utilized every form of transformed proof effectively.
Me guessing what Big Dal and those three discussed through written notes, answering questions they posed in random order, drawing pictures and wildly swapping them before describing what ended up in Sun Ah-hyun’s hands….
As the number of people increased, the process grew exponentially more complex, and the loopholes to suspect deception steadily diminished.
Having Sun Ah-hyun devise the method himself was the final touch.
‘A collection of eccentrics indeed.’
All the proofs proceeded smoothly. Thanks to Big Dal taking leave, there wasn’t a single flaw to catch.
Chung-woo did look at me with a rather meaningful gaze though.
-So you could do this too.
“….”
It was the look of twins communicating through telepathy.
I should have just called Big Sae-jin alone.
Either way, both of them executed their roles faithfully. Especially Big Sae-jin—the moment Sun Ah-hyun’s guard dropped, he drove home every contradiction I’d been sensing quite… thoroughly.
-Park Moon-dae has a different curriculum than us. Did you hear him say Korean-Math-English instead of Korean-English-Foreign Language? I thought I misheard?
-He can even drive. Last time he unconsciously gave advice to Manager. Ah-hyun, you’ve never seen Park Moon-dae studying for his license, right?
I wanted to shut them up several times, but the effect on improving the situation was so excellent that I let it slide.
And as time passed, Sun Ah-hyun grew increasingly proactive in proposing test methods.
By then, he seemed tired of being tense.
-Then… I, I’ll ask anything, so, um, if that person could just answer….
-Yeah.
And after countless resets and repetitions, now.
“….”
“….”
Sun Ah-hyun stares blankly into empty space, having completely abandoned his obsession with the notebook.
‘He was clinging to it like a lifeline, but finally let go.’
The notebook is scattered with questions and keywords.
-Magic
-Without electronic devices…
-Another person
Of course, they’re all crossed out.
That’s because I’ve systematically interrogated every doubt and suspicion Sun Ah-hyun harbored, methodically dismantling each one.
At this point, he has no choice but to accept it.
That I’m not just some lunatic—that there’s at least some substance to what I am.
“Any other questions?”
“….”
The space where the two guests I’d invited had been sitting fell silent. I tidied up Kim Rae-bin’s computer, then took a seat across from Sun Ah-hyun.
I heard Sun Ah-hyun swallow.
And he lifts his head.
“…No, no.”
Certainty returns to his eyes as he answers.
“I don’t have any.”
A resolute answer, as though he’s laid everything bare without reservation.
‘That’s right.’
Four hours of wringing him dry has finally paid off.
I almost clenched my fist, then released it.
“…Okay.”
This isn’t over yet. If I push now with “So you believe me?” I’ll shatter everything I’ve built.
‘If I end it here, there’s definitely something that will nag at him later.’
I need to address that first.
“Of course, just because something this absurd is possible doesn’t mean everything I’ve said is the truth.”
“…! That, that’s—”
Ability and truth aren’t the same thing.
Just because some madman can pull off magic tricks doesn’t mean everything he says is gospel, does it?
‘That’s a classic con.’
So I need to say this clearly.
Cut it off at the source.
“But there’s no real benefit for me to lie about this.”
“….”
“As you know, frankly speaking, we don’t really need the material things most people crave right now.”
Money, fame, social status.
I’m at the absolute peak of this short-lived profession right now, and unless I’m declining in a few years, there’s no reason to cling to those things.
I already have them.
Objectively speaking, the idol Park Moon-dae has already satisfied both his material desires and his need for recognition.
“There’s no reason for me to spout nonsense with this ability.”
And remarkably, Sun Ah-hyun responded immediately.
“I, I’ve never thought that way.”
“…!”
“I’ve never thought Moon-dae would… lie.”
“…I see.”
I didn’t expect to hear that.
But it’s not a bad feeling.
-Right, that’s true. Moon-dae wouldn’t lie about something like this… of course I know that.
‘Back then… was what he said sincere?’
The brief recollection ended.
…Thanks to that, I could move on to the next part without delay.
I paused for a moment before continuing.
“So then, let’s examine the hypothesis that I mistook myself for someone else.”
Why isn’t this valid?
Why is the premise that ‘Park Moon-dae’ confused himself with being ‘Ryu Gun-woo’ so awkward?
‘To prove that….’
I smiled bitterly.
“‘Ryu Gun-woo’… you know now too, but he didn’t live a life that ‘Park Moon-dae’ would envy that much.”
“…!”
Both of us were orphans living lives too busy scraping by to have time for anything else.
We could feel a sense of kinship, but to deliberately swap perspectives… wouldn’t there need to be something enviable or superior about the other person for that to make sense?
“If Park Moon-dae’s mind worked that way and he confused himself with someone else, it wouldn’t have been him.”
If anything, it might be Ryu Chung-woo, but Ryu Gun-woo doesn’t qualify.
“So that hypothesis doesn’t hold up either, honestly.”
And unlike that hypothesis, I’ve spent hours proving my case to support my claims.
Sun Ah-hyun stared at me with trembling eyes.
I released my hands.
“This is all I’ve prepared.”
“….”
“I think I’ve done everything I can. Honestly, at this point, there’s no more way for me to prove anything.”
I spoke honestly.
Having talked this much without leaving a single gap, I have every right to say this.
“I’ve mobilized everyone I could, and I’ve said everything there is to say.”
Sun Ah-hyun slowly nodded.
It felt like any moment now he’d say ‘Yeah, Moon-dae. I get it, I believe you now.’
I chuckled.
“So… I won’t ask what you think.”
“…Huh, what?”
Knowing his personality, isn’t it obvious? If he admits that I was fine after all that fuss about going to the hospital, what would happen?
‘He’d beat himself up over it again.’
There’s no need to watch that. So…. let me ease up on him.
“You can’t believe everything all at once. Take your time and doubt as much as you want. Keep doubting.”
“Keep… doubting…?”
“Yeah. If you have doubts going forward, you can ask me anything. I’ll keep answering.”
“….”
Sun Ah-hyun opened his mouth.
This guy isn’t the type to spread malice, so drawing this line is acceptable.
Besides, after going this far, I doubt anyone would actually disbelieve—isn’t it normal to trust at this point?
Still, I figured I’d lay down one more buffer just in case.
‘He’ll say yes here.’
I watched him with near certainty.
“Th-thank you… Moon-dae.”
Yet Sun Ah-hyun didn’t nod reluctantly.
“But, y-you don’t have to do this much. I-it’s fine.”
“…!”
“I’ve sh-shown you so many unreliable sides of m-myself.”
Sun Ah-hyun clenched both his hands tightly.
“But after you’ve s-said it so earnestly, for so long, I c-can’t just refuse to acknowledge it. And if d-doubts ever arise….”
Sun Ah-hyun took a deep breath.
“I’ll th-think it through carefully first, s-sort through it, c-consider it from every angle… and only if it d-doesn’t fade away then, only th-then will I ask you.”
“….”
“I r-really do… trust you. M-Moon-dae.”
Well, then.
“Alright.”
I extended my hand to Sun Ah-hyun. He reached out and grasped it in return.
This time, it wasn’t nearly as cold.
“Let’s continue working well together.”
“…Yeah.”
It was our first handshake in days.

* * *
Finally, Park Moon-dae and Sun Ah-hyun emerged into the Living Room.
And seeing the atmosphere between them, everyone from Testa realized the conflict had been resolved well.
“Good job. The winner gets chicken!”
“Cha Yu-jin! Your speech habits….”
“Fine. You buy it instead.”
“…! If Moon-dae hyung says so….”
“No, not you.”
A few more playful exchanges passed, just like usual.
And that night, around the time the leader called the Company with Miso about schedule-related matters.
“Ah-hyun~”
“Mm.”
When Sun Ah-hyun, standing on the Balcony, turned his head, Lee Sae-jin grinned and stood beside him.
“Why are you alone here? Aren’t you eating chicken?”
“Oh, it’s fine.”
Sun Ah-hyun smiled faintly.
“Ah-hyun seems to have a lot on his mind.”
Lee Sae-jin chuckled softly while bumping shoulders with him. The atmosphere softened gently.
But Sun Ah-hyun didn’t wave it off or brush past the concern.
“…Yeah. A little.”
He simply answered plainly. Yet Lee Sae-jin had hit the mark.
“Hmm… Are you worried you could have done a bit better?”
“…!”
That was it.
After the conflict was resolved, finally able to reflect on the incident without obstruction, I arrived at an objective judgment.
‘…I wasn’t thinking rationally.’
The moment I heard Park Moon-dae’s story, I was seized by fear, and because of that, I became consumed by it.
So step by step, without even asking Lee Sae-jin or Ryu Chung-woo, who already knew, I madly amplified my inner anxiety.
This conflict was a product of my own weakness.
I wanted to confess this fact right away.
Sun Ah-hyun opened his mouth.
“Y-yeah, a l-little. I guess so. N-next time I’ll do better.”
But what came out was only a light admission.
“Okay, I’ll do the same too~”
“F-fighting.”
I decided not to unnecessarily dwell on the conclusion and repeat admissions and apologies to those around me.
‘Because that’s just me wanting to feel better.’
It would only burden Park Moon-dae further and cause pain to the team.
Going through all of this, I felt one thing desperately.
‘If I want to ask others to share my burden, I first need to carry my own properly.’
To share burdens with others, I first need to appear capable of handling my own.
Rather than desperately trying to prove my qualifications, I needed to actually become that kind of person.
‘My share is something I have to bear on my own.’
However, Sun Ah-hyun would leave his lack of trust in Park Moon-dae as something only he could reproach and refine himself through.
Sun Ah-hyun made the decision without borrowing anyone else’s judgment.
On his own.
That’s why he ended the conversation with a remarkably light tone.
“Um, ch-chicken. Should we go get some?”
“Oh, sounds good.”
The two standing on the Balcony left their spot and returned to the Living Room. It was an ordinary return.
But within him, he had just finished a resolution that was anything but ordinary.
And the next morning.
“Ah, hey. Moon-dae.”
“Yeah….”
Park Moon-dae, stepping out of his Room to meet Sun Ah-hyun, confirmed something he hadn’t expected.
[Trait: Grit]
[!Abnormal Status: Self-Esteem Deficiency (Deactivated)]
“…?”
Sun Ah-hyun’s abnormal status had returned to a deactivated state.
Without any outside help.
‘What?’
Park Moon-dae had been planning to quickly proceed with reactivating the trait from today onward, based on the trust he’d recovered from yesterday’s insane five-hour relay demonstration.
‘Did I misread it?’
For a moment, Park Moon-dae almost squinted and looked at Sun Ah-hyun.
But he saw something else first.
[Grit (S): One’s mindset is something you create yourself. Therefore, you can bear it entirely on your own.]
-When activated, negates mental-type abnormal statuses. (Can stack)
“Um, Moon-dae…?”
“….”
Park Moon-dae read one sentence that caught his eye once more.
[One’s mindset is something you create yourself.]
That was it.
Whatever emotional shift had occurred, Sun Ah-hyun had broken through his slump on his own last night and reactivated his trait.
Perhaps Park Moon-dae would only be able to guess at the mechanism behind it going forward….
‘Still… that’s not so bad.’
Since he’d overcome it himself, Sun Ah-hyun would know it too.
Just as Park Moon-dae had cursed it as a cheat trait, he now looked at Sun Ah-hyun with something like admiration.
…Of course, if any problems arose later, he’d unravel everything from cause to result and find a solution.
But not today.
“Let’s eat.”
“Ugh…!”
The next day, Testa resumed activities with an official statement citing “recovery of condition,” proceeding as planned.
And as they reentered their orbit, the Billboard chart rankings were announced.
It was the beginning of a massive upheaval.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————