Debut or Die - Chapter 373

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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 373
A short-term project group designed solely to escape this place through maximum efficiency and results in a brief timeframe.
For this to be accepted, I ultimately had to acknowledge that reality existed separately and that we could return to it.
‘The problem is whether this bastard can even get that far.’
I closed my mouth. And Chung-ryeo slowly opened his.
“Yes, I agree.”
It had worked.
‘Done.’
I clenched my fist and held back a sigh. There was no need to show relief.
“Then the survival show now….”
I was about to say to cancel it. If only the next words hadn’t come.
“Hmm? That’s already scheduled to proceed.”
“…!!”
Where the hell has this bastard been listening this whole time….
“Cancel it.”
“Hmm? I’m not the president of the Broadcasting Station… it’s difficult at this point. Haha.”
I wanted to punch him just once.
As if he sensed it, he finally offered a worthwhile reason.
“Isn’t a survival show the best way to generate initial buzz?”
“….”
I touched my chin.
“That’s true.”
And I’m living proof of that.
If we appeal properly to the target demographic, there’s no better method than a survival show for concentrating firepower in the short term.
The problem is that this bastard holds the knife.
“As long as you don’t pull any nonsense.”
“Nonsense?”
As long as you don’t try to destroy Cha Yu-jin on broadcast just because you find him annoying, you bastard.
Though I didn’t say it outright, Chung-ryeo seemed to grasp the implication and shrugged his shoulders.
“Hmm, I think there’s been a misunderstanding here.”
And he splits hairs again.
The way he looks at the youngster with pity makes my mood foul.
“Surely you don’t think your junior’s group members can debut just as long as there’s no unfair interference?”
“Yes.”
This bastard must have seen that insane competition at Ajusa too, yet he’s spouting obvious nonsense.
If someone broke through that insane competition and debuted, there’s no way they couldn’t handle a 2010s entertainment agency survival show.
‘If coaching goes in properly, pushing through the chaff is nothing.’
I didn’t retract my statement.
“Hmm….”
Chung-ryeo stroked his chin.
“Then shall we make a bet?”
“What?”
“Between VTIC and Testa, which one will debut more people from here.”
That’s nonsense.
“This isn’t something to bet on. Besides, I’ve only gathered two so far.”
“I only have two right now as well.”
“….”
To begin with, wasn’t VTIC’s capacity half of Testa’s?
“Hmm, have you lost your confidence?”
This bastard really.
I nodded slightly.
“Let’s do it by ratio instead. Make it fair.”
“I see. You’re overflowing with confidence.”
He laughs with a ha ha.
“Alright then. Junior. Shall we… make a plan?”
And he extends his hand.
“….”
I shook the hand he offered.
It was a temporary alliance.
But then, his grip tightened.
“However, if we reach the end and there’s nothing to show for it.”
His expression vanished.
“If your deduction is wrong, Junior.”
“…!”
Chung-ryeo narrows his eyes and cuts through.
“From that point on, you’ll follow my plan unconditionally.”
“….”
He’s really digging into something.
‘That won’t happen though.’
I nodded silently. And I also tightened my grip.
“Ha ha, if this were reality, it would have been quite the uproar.”
“A nightmare.”
Thus, in reality, a mix-and-match survival show that would astound any fanbase came to fruition.
And after several days of preliminary work.
Starting from late February, articles began to be published, and preview teasers started appearing on YouTube.

* * *
The teaser trailer followed the typical format of a major entertainment agency survival show.
First, it showcased LeTi’s new headquarters with impressive camera work, presenting it like some grand palace.
[The cradle of global idols representing South Korea, LeTi]
[Producer: We’ve never seen anything like this before.]
[Artist Team Leader: It’s unprecedented. Even we’re amazed at how we managed to gather such talent.]
[Malang Dalcom So-hyun: But ultimately, whether we can capture the public’s heart…]
[Malang Dalcom So-hyun: That seems to be a different matter entirely.]
The officials delivered their loaded remarks.
Then came the massive title.
[Who is Superior?]
The initials were elegantly bound together in 3D graphics.
[WiS]
[LeTi’s Next Generation Survival Show]
[【Wise】]
Wise.
The word meant “wisdom,” but the pronunciation cleverly blended “Who is” and “Why”—capturing both meanings: “Why must they debut?” and “Who are these members?”
-Though everyone just calls it the Retti survival show anyway.
I’d expected as much. I recalled Chung-ryeo’s words and began warming up my body.
Cameras were already lined up throughout the waiting room below the stage.
“Face!”
“Yes.”
Since these were all trainees who hadn’t debuted yet, the makeup artists’ tone lacked any service industry politeness. But paradoxically, it felt less mechanical than at Ajusa.
‘Maybe it’s because there are fewer people.’
I surveyed the remaining faces around me.
Sitting on this floor right now were fourteen people total.
Seven from the debut group plus seven other trainees.
‘I recognize a lot of these faces.’
I realized that many of the people the Manager had gathered on my first day here were included in this group.
Had I been instructed to scout them out?
‘I can see Shin O and Ju Dan too.’
Whether the existing VTIC members were naturally here or if Chung-ryeo had inserted them, they were definitely part of this.
I crossed my arms.
‘Cha Yu-jin and Kim Rae-bin will make their appearances at the right time too.’
The problem was the others.
The remaining Testa members…
Before the survival show started, they’d scattered somewhere, and of course I’d already checked online to see where everyone had gone…
“….”
In multiple senses, the only ones in a position to participate right now were the two youngest. For now, we’d proceed as planned.
‘There will be other opportunities anyway.’
I mentally briefed myself once more on the structure of this survival show that I’d heard from Chung-ryeo.
-From an outside perspective… it will all appear to revolve around the CEO’s eye for talent.
Soon the main camera begins rolling, and lights and people take the stage.
Fourteen trainees enter in a line.
The CEO with his smug face, seated at the judges’ table right in front of the stage, begins his briefing.
He was the face of a popular singer-songwriter group from the 90s.
“You are no longer trainees but fellow singers to me, so you’ll be hearing formal speech. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then let me explain the rules of this program to you, who will become LeTi’s new generation.”
He pauses deliberately before continuing his explanation.
“This is a survival show.”
“…!”
“Pardon?”
Everyone’s heard the rumors around the company, yet they all act surprised convincingly enough. It’s natural—with fourteen of us, eliminations are obviously expected.
I just kept my expression neutral and stood there.
“Who gets eliminated, how many get eliminated, who debuts, how many debut… it’s all unknown.”
Isn’t that just saying the same thing twice?
Either way, everyone swallows hard with tense expressions.
“You chase your dreams, but to achieve those dreams, you must overcome countless competitions.”
“….”
“So from now on, those who win the competition survive.”
-Upper tier, lower tier. We start by dividing them that way initially.
It was exactly as described.
The first task everyone had been notified about beforehand.
[Show us a solo performance.]
It was the main content of episode one.
“You must perform well, but what’s just as important as skill is star quality. I’ll use that intangible charm as an evaluation criterion as well.”
In other words, if the judgment seems unfair, just accept that it’s because you lack charm.
“Yes!”
They answer energetically, then come out one by one to show their dancing, singing, or special talents before leaving.
‘They’re interpreting performance pretty broadly.’
Though it shouldn’t happen, I manage my expression carefully to avoid giving anyone any opening to criticize, and watch the stage.
The quality is… quite good for trainees. However.
‘There’s quite a gap compared to the debut group.’
I inwardly smirked.
‘They deliberately told us late.’
They put the remaining seven of us as bait to make the seven debut group members shine in episode one.
At this early stage, the difference between one week of practice and one month of practice is absolutely massive.
They probably didn’t do it overtly. They likely created the gap by subtly spreading rumors to the debut group.
Something like this.
—Have you heard about the solo performances? Oh, you haven’t yet? Never mind, you guys keep practicing~
‘I’ve been here for three months, so I wouldn’t have picked up on rumors anyway.’
Either way, the upper and lower tiers are splitting almost exactly as expected.
The Debut Group goes to the upper tier. Everyone else goes to the lower tier.
I watched Shin O and Ju Dan move into the lower tier. Chung-ryeo’s expression didn’t change at all.
‘Hmm.’
Were they trying to create an image of climbing upward?
That’s when it happened.
“Next performance…. Ryu Gun-woo.”
“Yes.”
It was my turn. I stood up and moved.
Ninth. An ambiguous position.
My first stage.
‘In truth… it’s not that important.’
In a massive survival show like Ajusa where half the participants are eliminated in an instant, a single memorable impression matters, but this needs a longer perspective.
All the stages will be broadcast anyway.
‘Here, I’ll just establish a stable image.’
I grabbed the head microphone and waited quietly.
The music began to flow.

* * *
The president of LeTi Entertainment, now seated in front of the stage for the survival show, actually had little interest in individual trainees.
What interested him was the company’s growth and greater success.
The fame and fortune that came from that!
‘That’s business.’
The former singer and current businessman, more than ten years removed from releasing an album, cracked his knuckles.
Still, he had an eye for talent. He’d carefully selected and screened such excellent prospects.
The president had quickly skimmed through rehearsals and practice videos, identifying the candidates he’d been briefed on through documents.
[Candidate List Summary]
The refined information processed through multiple experts rarely missed the mark. And he had no time to waste on each individual.
Besides, this one in particular matched the description exactly. The one who just came out now.
—Twenty-one-year-old Ryu Gun-woo.
Once he reviewed the personal details, the first line of the characteristics section read like this.
—Visual type pursued by the project
‘He’s got quite an impressive presence.’
Among these carefully selected candidates, he was strikingly handsome.
Clean lines, an intellectual aura—that’s how I’d describe it.
If he showed even slight displeasure, the public would probably foam at the mouth fighting to pick him.
‘Okay.’
He made his decision. First, I should be a bit harsh to make it interesting.
The CEO crossed their arms.
“Begin.”
The filming lights around the stage dimmed, and a spotlight descended upon Ryu Gun-woo like divine radiance.
Then came the sound—elegant and weighty music.
“Mm.”
Jazz pop.
Beneath the slightly dim lighting, a pale face brought lips to the standing microphone.
[A sweet life requires
certain things, doesn’t it?
Music, dance, wine, perhaps roses]
Pop songs had recently become a frequent performance choice among idol hopefuls.
Tone over high notes. Most songs in this genre had structures that suited a decent lead vocalist well.
If this were a song selection meant to showcase maximum potential within mediocre abilities, it would have been ideal—but this time was different.
[A life among clouds
sparkling stars]
No trace of tension, no awkward tone, no clumsy vocalization.
What resonated from the microphone was flawless like the original, a sound without flaw.
“…!”
Not a single note of amateurism.
The timbre flowed like deep wine.
[When the piano sings
blooming within white smoke
jazz….]
The CEO reflexively scanned Ryu Gun-woo’s evaluation sheet.
-Proficient vocal ability
…wasn’t evaluating this as merely “proficient” actually an underestimation?
-Ranked 3rd in this month’s evaluation.
And on top of that, the dancing was decent too?
And….
-Weaknesses: /
Blank.
A chill ran through me.
[Hmm umumm, Lalala-la….]
A flawless raw gem without a single flaw, premium goods that hadn’t consumed a single image—it shone on stage.
And still, the voice filled the stage.
Until the first verse ended with soft yet weighty technique.
[sparkling stars]
With that final high note a cappella, the sound that had richly filled the ears vanished in an instant.
All that remained was a handsome face pulling away from the standing microphone.
“….”
For a moment, the silence felt terribly hollow….
The CEO wasn’t deliberately quiet—he had genuinely lost his words.
‘Where on earth….’
Where had this guy been hiding before suddenly appearing at twenty?
That was when it happened.
A low voice rang out.
“Thank you.”
“…!”
“Ah.”
Clap, clap clap…!!
At Ryu Gun-woo’s words of gratitude, applause erupted from various corners a beat too late.
This atmosphere of being overwhelmed.
‘…Right now!’
And the CEO grabbed the microphone.
He could save the detailed impressions for later editing and use them in an interview. But he had to say this now.
That’s what his instinct told him. The instinct of a broadcaster and businessman!
“Our Gun-woo has only completed three months of trainee life, right? He was originally a university student.”
“Yes.”
“Which university do you attend?”
The young man before him answered calmly without any change in expression.
“Yeon-hee University.”
Perfect, a cut-in moment. And the CEO inwardly laughed.
‘Be grateful.’
For giving him this much airtime.
“So why do you want to become a singer?”
“….”
He deliberately didn’t mention idol. It was to prevent Dance from intruding on his thoughts.
‘If he sings this well and the editing comes out smoothly, it’ll definitely be an amazing shot.’
Then everyone would want this guy to become a singer, but….
“It seems like you could graduate from university as planned and still pursue plenty of other good opportunities.”
This is where it explodes.
‘Come on!’
Ryu Gun-woo looked at him without much change in expression.
He didn’t seem conscious of the camera. Words tumbled out naturally.
“I’ve never felt this happy in my life.”
And a faint smile spread across his face.
“So I think this is the answer. And I can’t choose something else while leaving the answer behind. It’s only this.”
“….”
Without entertainment affectation, candid and unadorned like a student.
A rare gem in the trainee survival show.
This is it… I’ve got it!
The CEO picked up the microphone with an electric thrill running through him.
“Did you see that, everyone? The timeframe isn’t what matters. What matters is that mindset.”
He raised his hand, pointing to the trainee on stage.
“That crystal-clear determination to debut! That’s what ranks first.”
And he delivered it with flair.
“Congratulations, Ryu Gun-woo. There’s nothing more to say. You’re in the elite class.”
This was the highlight moment.
“…Thank you.”
Ryu Gun-woo’s throat tightened as he answered a beat late, bowing his head respectfully.
‘He’s useful material.’
The CEO wore a satisfied smile beneath the surface. But it was mutual.
‘How do all the higher-ups, big or small, always come up with the same ideas?’
Hard work and mindset.
Ryu Gun-woo, who had carefully calibrated his responses to let the CEO deliver his pearls of wisdom, was inwardly nodding along.

* * *
[Hyung, congratulations for real! Your first shoot was amazing!]
“Yeah.”
After filming wrapped, the agency said they didn’t have enough footage yet and sent me home instead of back to the Survival Show Dormitory.
‘At least I got some time to think.’
Ryu Chung-woo had gone on a company trip. Judging by the mountain photos he kept sending, his hobby remained unchanged even here.
And I sat in my room, lost in thought.
…But I never expected Big Dal to say something like that.
[At this rate, it looks like you’ll debut smoothly?? Hyung!]
I swallowed a bitter laugh. And rested my chin in my palm.
“I have to.”
[Yes…?]
I have to do well.
Otherwise, I’d end up in a humiliatingly pathetic situation.
I recalled my prior conversation with Chung-ryeo.
-But ultimately, no matter who you debut with, you have to debut.
-That’s true.
Because the system phantom would attach itself to me again, and I’d be the one gathering experience points.
Then he rested his chin and spoke as if it were serious.
-Should I make it so you can definitely debut?
-What?
-Ah, no. I misspoke. This isn’t a suggestion anyway. It’s something that has to happen naturally.
-….
-Haha, surely you’re not being stubborn about pride here?
And I, damn it. I realized that if I stopped this bastard here because my feelings were hurt, I’d be admitting I was an idiot who couldn’t see the bigger picture.
-There’s no way that would happen.
So this is how it came to be.
[You’re… manipulating things??]
“…In the worst-case scenario, yes.”
If it looked like I’d be eliminated, ultimately that bastard would pull strings and get me into the group through the back door.
I suppressed the grimace threatening to crease my face.
‘That can’t happen.’
A person has pride—I couldn’t let myself end up in such a pathetic situation, receiving an award but failing to debut.
“I won’t let it come to that. I’ll plan this out carefully and strategize my way through, so don’t worry unnecessarily.”
[Y-yes! I trust you, hyung!]
Right.
Like with Ajusa, I needed to plan meticulously at each crucial moment. I began mapping out the landscape ahead, predicting my image step by step.
‘They’ll probably focus my image on the University Student angle and push me toward a special position.’
The questions had pointed in that direction anyway.
So I’d need to show a more mature side primarily. And it would be better to cooperate quietly with group assignments.
Looking a bit innocent wouldn’t hurt either. Since the CEO has strong say, I need to appeal to him.
“Hmm.”
[It’s going to work out!]
“Yeah.”
After laying out several contingency plans, I fell asleep that night.
And that very week.
Unlike Ajusa, Wise Entertainment had already provided the broadcast production team with all participant data—their tendencies, attitudes, and characters were already known to the agency.
So with sufficient observation time already gathered and no need to construct storylines from scratch, that day’s footage was edited quickly and the second teaser dropped immediately.
And the moment the profiles of all fourteen participants were released….
-Mimi’s here with the cute glasses guy
Ugh, seriously, you’re the best!!
“…??”
I… grasped reality.
Hadn’t I felt this through the data sales and all the way to Ajusa?
An idol’s first impression was unconditionally about appearance.

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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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