Debut or Die - Chapter 372

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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 372
“Survival shows have too many variables like you said. There’s no need to insist on one.”
“Is that so? I thought you’d prefer survival shows since you debuted through one yourself, Junior Member.”
Chung-ryeo looked back and forth between me and Cha Yu-jin, then spoke gently.
“Don’t worry too much. The right people will make it, won’t they? Haha!”
“….”
Chills ran down my spine. This bastard had already made his judgment.
This won’t do.
“Hold on.”
I grabbed Cha Yu-jin’s arm and stood up.
“I get that you’re upset, but let’s cool off and talk about this again.”
“Hmm, I’m not really angry. It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
Don’t pretend you’re not furious when you clearly are.
“He said he’d give everyone equal opportunities, so why are you overreacting?”
“I like that… ugh!”
You stay quiet for now.
“Alright, let’s meet again tomorrow and talk about this.”
I hurriedly gathered Cha Yu-jin and stood up, then turned back to Chung-ryeo.
Whatever. Let me just say it.
“…Thanks for coming all the way to the airport today. Safe travels.”
“….”
Chung-ryeo seemed slightly flustered, but right now I needed to deal with this wild colt first.
“You need to… watch your mouth.”
“Ow! Brother, that hurts!”
The moment I stepped out of the gaming cafe, I smacked Cha Yu-jin’s back.
“The situation’s already a mess—you need to read the room before spouting truths.”
“That senior didn’t read the room either! There’s no reason only I should!”
“….”
Well… this bastard really does only speak the truth.
‘Chung-ryeo was more openly aggressive than I expected.’
It was surprising. I thought he’d try to sweet-talk me into becoming a trainee at his agency and spout something about “eliminating the competition.”
Instead of calculating how to use me, he went straight to establishing hierarchy.
I clicked my tongue. The taste in my mouth wasn’t pleasant.
‘…That bastard’s mental state must be shot too.’
After barely surviving by taking hits to the mouth and adapting to a single reality, he suddenly has to start over?
It was a miracle he hadn’t gone insane.
I released Cha Yu-jin’s arm and suppressed a sigh.
“…Look. You didn’t do anything wrong. But that guy has his own circumstances too.”
Cha Yu-jin shrugged his shoulders.
[We all have our own circumstances, but that doesn’t mean we get to act like assholes.]
“….”
He’s speaking nothing but the truth, so there’s nothing for me to say in return.
“Right. Anyway, you need to adjust to the time difference today, so get some sleep first. Where did you book your accommodation?”
“I don’t have any!”
“….”
“The airplane ticket wasn’t expensive. Should I just go to a motel?”
He says it so cheerfully.
“Just… come with me.”
I have no idea how to explain this to Ryu Chung-woo, but I can’t exactly leave this guy sleeping on the streets just because he’s broke from coming to South Korea.
‘If only this bastard weren’t seventeen….’
I dragged Cha Yu-jin along and returned to the officetel I’d only stayed at a few nights myself.
Ding-dong.
I even pressed the doorbell out of courtesy.
“Hyung?”
And when Cha Yu-jin sees Ryu Chung-woo coming out to the entrance, his face brightens.
“Chung-woo hyung is here? Did you come first?”
“He said we’re relatives living together, so that’s how it is.”
“OK….”
Cha Yu-jin speaks to Ryu Chung-woo with a slightly deflated expression.
“You didn’t know about me?”
“Huh?”
Ryu Chung-woo seemed to ponder the situation for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Since the kid looks young, he doesn’t seem particularly suspicious.
“Did hyung introduce me?”
“Yeah. This is Cha Yu-jin.”
I roughly explained that he was doing an international pen pal exchange as part of a school program and suddenly came to South Korea.
Ryu Chung-woo was impressed.
“That’s a brave friend.”
“Brave, my ass.”
If that were actually the case, he’d have no excuse even if he got beaten with a broom and dragged back home.
Apparently there was quite a fuss at his house too, but since their family culture is so free-spirited, he ran away first and got permission afterward.
I pressed my eyes.
‘…They’ll send living expenses, right?’
At least it’s not the worst situation. The guardian is continuing to look after him.
“Would it be okay if he stays just for a few days until we find him a place?”
“Of course. My friend slept over before, so what’s the big deal?”
“Thank you so much! I appreciate your help!”
Cha Yu-jin took over the guest room that doubled as a storage space, and I entered my room to begin serious deliberation.
How on earth am I supposed to handle this mess?
I checked my status window just in case… but let’s not talk about that.
[Colleagues]
[Shin Jae-hyun: Working hard (//-^)]
[Cha Yu-jin: Adapting to the new room (>ㅅㅅ</)]
The moment Cha Yu-jin exchanged contact information with Kim Rae-bin and returned to Seoul, he'd been intermittently displaying that expression.
'It worked out well.'
I let out a hollow laugh while shaking my head.
With that personality and that talent, it wouldn't be strange if he got swindled into a contract in an instant, but his fierce appearance seemed to have balanced things out.
Of course, his persuasion method was unique too.
'I'll reminisce about that later.'
For now… I needed to figure out what to do about this guy.
I shifted my gaze over Cha Yu-jin's explanation.
[Shin Jae-hyun : Thinking About Puppies (//~^)]
"…."
This is driving me insane, seriously.
I shook my head and stood up from my seat. It looked like I'd be leaving the Officetel at this late hour.
As expected, he was in the Company Practice Room.
And alone in that practice room at that.
I went inside. He didn't move an inch.
"It's past midnight. Why are you still here?"
"…I'm not sure."
Chung-ryeo stared expressionlessly at the mirror on the wall.
"There's no particular reason."
Was he trying to practice because he had too many thoughts on his mind?
Instead of saying that, I went and sat beside him.
"There's something I wanted to say before but didn't."
And I carefully choose my words before speaking them aloud.
"I… wanted to thank you for sending those photos of Kongi."
"…."
"I couldn't keep a dog myself because the conditions weren't right, but looking at the photos was nice."
Chung-ryeo gazes silently into empty space for a moment, then asks curtly.
"Is Kongi doing well?"
Kongi.
"I prefer to believe in what I can verify directly."
"I suppose."
Chung-ryeo neither grows excited nor angry. He merely mutters slowly.
"Belief isn't a matter of probability, is it?"
"It isn't."
Meaning: whatever you believe in, don't expect it to actually come true.
But I've had my own thoughts these past few days.
"Still, I have a hunch."
"What kind?"
I cross my arms and take a deep breath.
"The system is being far too favorable."
Chung-ryeo shifts only his eyes to meet my gaze.
"If you were trying to kill someone, would you be favorable to them? You'd eliminate them."
If the system were truly omniscient and could implement an entire world from scratch, it would simply process this nuisance as an accident and be done with it.
"But instead… it only filled in good conditions. Age, environment, abilities, economic circumstances…."
I suppress the lump rising in my throat.
"Even parents."
"…."
Chung-ryeo flinches slightly.
"Enemies don't show kindness without reason. There's something it needs. A reason to appease and win me over."
"Choice."
"…!"
Chung-ryeo covers his chin with one hand as he continues.
"It wants to make me choose this side, doesn't it?"
"Exactly."
I continue my deduction calmly.
"If there were no way to leave, there'd be no reason for my choices to matter. It's tempting me to simply stay because I can leave."
"…."
"And structurally, the highest probability point would be… the end."
"The end."
"Yes. Clearing the game. If I succeed as an idol again, there must be something waiting."
At that point where all the quests end and I see the ending.
Whether to exit and return to reality, or to choose to remain in the world after the ending.
I lay down in the Training Room, resting my head against the floor.
It felt oddly like I was lying in my original Company Practice Room.
"Of course, this is all hypothetical. But I think the suspicion itself is convincing, don't you?"
"…."
Chung-ryeo lowered the hand that had been covering his chin.
"I'm curious about something."
"What."
"Is there a reason we can't just stay here?"
"Because I want to return to reality."
I answered without hesitation.
"And deep down, you want that too."
"…."
"That's why you never even mentioned it until I brought up the dog, right?"
It was an unconscious desire to erase everything and pretend none of this happened, rather than suffer pointless psychological damage.
"…."
Chung-ryeo leaned his body against the wall.
It was a similar posture to when I first woke up in this body.
And then he slowly opens his mouth.
"I'm not sure."
That damn defense mechanism of his was really something.
But instead of calling him out, I closed my mouth. How many times had he thought about wanting to return, only to be disappointed? Damn it—I had to tolerate at least this much.
And it was worth tolerating.
"But… Kongi hasn't been born yet."
"…!"
"I need to meet him before that happens."
"Then we'll make it happen."
I sat up.
"So, let's form that kind of group."
Not VTIC or Testa—just a group we can squeeze for maximum efficiency in the shortest timeframe.
A risk-taking group that prioritizes profit over stability, without accounting for future variables.
"A group that can win both the Rookie Award and the Grand Prize in the same year right after debut."
I declared it.
"And then we watch the ending and go back."
It was a short-term project group proposal.

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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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