Debut or Die - Chapter 374

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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 374
Let me think back to the 【Ajusa】 days.
Even when I debuted on my first stage with platinum ratings, I didn’t garner much initial attention—just a handful of comments.
But now?
My profile alone has been released, and new posts are already appearing.
[There’s a guy with glasses from Malang Dalcom in LeTi Survival Wise]
[LeTi Survival’s trainee lineup looks properly stacked]
[Where does LeTi keep finding these monsters? (Compilation)]
Most of these posts include me whenever I click on them.
“….”
I scrolled down, then lowered my phone and swallowed hard.
So appearance stats really were… everything.
Of course, standing as a Malang Dalcom dancer right before this seemed to act as a catalyst, with people saying I “looked natural on stage”…
‘But the difference in buzz is this extreme?’
I touched my face awkwardly. Then I went to the washroom and looked in the mirror.
“Hmm.”
I’d thought about it from the beginning, but I definitely looked better than my former self when I was preparing for the civil service exam.
Whether it was because the stats Park Moon-dae had naturally increased stayed with me, or because this version of Ryu Gun-woo had lived well, I wasn’t sure.
‘Probably both.’
There seemed to be about one letter grade difference in stat rankings.
But even so, to this extent?
– Damn it’s Leti-san ㅅㅂSacred Boneㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-Shin Jae-hyun and Ryu Gun-woo, I’m putting both of you in my basket starting today and holding strong LeTi1 LeTi! LeTi!
-This is what you call a real male idol agency
‘…It seems like it’s also a matter of preference.’
My appearance from Testa seemed to have mixed and softened somewhat, but Ryu Gun-woo has a rather austere impression.
And that’s apparently what they call the “LeTi type.”
LeTi’s in-house survival hasn’t aired yet. Of course, only people who were already interested in that agency would click on these posts, so that factor seemed to be at play.
‘Since all these trainees this time are uniformly like that, it seems to be creating a synergy effect too.’
All fourteen of them have a similarly dark, moody vibe, as if they were deliberately selected.
Because of that, not just Ryu Gun-woo but about four or five others are getting quite a few posts just from their profile pictures.
‘The VTIC guys are also getting decent mentions.’
Mentions of Ju Dan and Shin O are fairly noticeable too. One of them seemed to have lost out because his profile picture didn’t capture his real appearance well.
In any case, the program was receiving quite substantial interest for an in-house survival and was steadily building buzz.
And I received the benefit of that.
[Your fame is increasing…]
+Exp 15000
My fame increased generously again this time.
‘That’s about fifteen rounds worth of recruiting companions.’
I closed the popup and looked at the basic status window list below.
[Colleague List]
Shin Jae-hyun: Planning in progress (*^^~♪)
Cha Yu-jin: During intensive training (+s+=3)
Both of them are fired up.
Cha Yu-jin is probably putting Kim Rae-bin through special training right now. Kim Rae-bin is the type who picks up choreography quickly once shown, so he’s probably just running through routines.
“Hmm.”
Still, it would be nice if Kim Rae-bin showed up on this list too.
I stared at the reputation popup I’d just earned and made a decision.
[Why don’t you try recruiting colleagues, hyung?]
Right.
If Kim Rae-bin appeared, that would be ideal given the circumstances, but from the moment Cha Yu-jin came out on the first pull, there’s no predicting anything. Still, statistically speaking….
‘Cha Yu-jin appeared after eight pulls.’
So far, the odds of getting someone I know seemed decent. Alright.
I pressed the 10-pull button.
And I saw reality.
[★★ Kang Sung-bin / Sub-Rapper]
[★ Kim Jae-hun / Sub-Dancer]
[Failed!]
[★★]
[★]
….
Nothing.
Just ten pulls? Not a chance.
And just like that, I’d blown through a full bar of experience points for nothing.
“….”
Is this a game?
Or is this even real? I don’t even know the odds, and it looks like I’m about to dump all my reputation into this lottery?
And on top of that, another notification pops up to really get under my skin.
[Colleague Connection Storage is full! Would you like to expand?]
2000 Exp required
“….”
My inventory’s already full with 1 and 2-star pulls? They’re really trying to squeeze me dry.
Screw this.
[Colleague Connection released.]
A farewell bonus arrived….
+20G
I decided not to spend the remaining 5000 and just leave it. It was infuriating. Big Dal pops up a massive notification.
[F-F-Fighting! You’ll get them next time! (ง •̀_•́)ง]
This guy’s using emoticons now too—who knows where he picked that up from.
“…Yeah.”
I rubbed my face and came to my senses. Then I asked the question I’d been pondering for a while now.
I needed to hear an answer that might provide a clue to our current situation.
“By the way, what exactly is your current state right now?”
I meant Big Dal’s present condition.
He was conversing with me, but only through text. Without a body, I needed to understand what was actually happening to him.
[Hmm… I’m not entirely sure. But I definitely have consciousness….]
It was a vague answer.
I followed up with several more questions.
Whether the system was trying to interfere. If there were any uncomfortable feelings or suspicious points, or changes in the abilities he could use.
Most came back as ambiguous denials.
‘Unclear, but not bad, I suppose.’
The final question was no different.
“You couldn’t access your body or anything like that originally, right?”
[Yes…]
I’d anticipated that answer. The real question was what came next.
“…Does it feel like your body has disappeared?”
[No. It’s more like… I feel blocked by something! Like when the internet connection cuts out because there’s no WiFi!]
It was quite a unique analogy, but I understood it. And it was actually rather reassuring to hear.
[W-wait, that’s good, but how is that reassuring…?]
I smiled faintly.
“Because it means the world where I lived as Testa and you lived as a civil servant hasn’t disappeared. If it’s blocked, then it still exists beyond that barrier.”
[Ah!]
The popup expanded with hope. I nodded.
“If that state becomes too uncomfortable, tell me. I can at least listen.”
After all, being connected to someone who exists only as consciousness without a body couldn’t possibly feel pleasant.
[Ah, it’s not like I’m in pain or anything! It’s more like… how do I put it? Like browsing the internet in a dream? That kind of feeling!]
“I see.”
At least for now, he seemed to be in a fairly stable state, which was fortunate.
I nodded and stepped away from the washroom sink. Then I got dressed.
[Where are you going?]
“To check on the kids.”
Since the gacha had failed, I needed to see with my own eyes whether the plan was at least proceeding smoothly.
I managed my aching stomach and joined Cha Yu-jin and Kim Rae-bin for a half-day routine practice session.
“Kim Rae-bin, great work! Let’s do it once more!”
“Ah, got it!”
These two not yelling at each other like idiots was a rare sight, but by that evening, both of them had reverted to looking no different from their Testa days.
And the genuinely seventeen-year-old Kim Rae-bin seemed somewhat flustered.
“I’m normally not the type of rude person who speaks so casually to people I’m meeting for the first time, but without realizing it, I’ve ended up in this situation…!”
“If your heart feels at ease, that’s what matters. We’ll be seeing each other’s faces going forward anyway.”
“Yes….”
“That’s right, Kim Rae-bin—don’t just do whatever you want!”
“You’re being too reckless…!”
Kim Rae-bin reflexively started to retort before catching himself with a sheepish expression.
In any situation, even with his memories gone, he remained consistently himself. I let out a quiet laugh.
“Let’s do our best.”
“Yes!”
With Ryu Chung-woo away at the team outing, his room was empty, so Kim Rae-bin could sleep at the Officetel.
And the very next day, new filming began.

* * *
The start of the second survival filming was unremarkable.
“Let us introduce your dormitory!”
“Woooow!”
Entering the dormitory.
Of course, true to survival show fashion, it was sadistically differentiated.
What else would it be? They’d divided it into Superior and Inferior Sections—nice rooms and bad rooms.
“Ah, so this is the Superior Section….”
“But wait, the kids who went to the Inferior Section have their names here too?”
“You can only use them if you move up to the Superior Section, right?”
All fourteen name tags were duplicated across the two sections divided around the central living room.
‘Well, the Inferior Section isn’t really that bad.’
It looked better than my studio apartment from university days. It’s basically motel-grade. The problem is comparing it to the Superior Section, which has a separate hotel.
“….”
Still, it was very much in the Broadcasting Station’s style to show the Inferior Section their spots in the Superior Section first, then not let them unpack before taking them to different quarters.
Watching the dejected faces of those leaving while the Superior Section members enjoyed it wasn’t exactly subtle.
-Using editing that highlights character flaws.
-If they’re a trainee the company doesn’t prefer.
I recalled my prior conversation with Chung-ryeo and managed my expression.
Conveniently, there was someone right beside me.
“Thank you for your guidance, hyung.”
“Of course.”
To prepare for any contingencies, I’d arranged to share a room with Chung-ryeo. As planned, our name tags were placed side by side.
‘Good.’
Clean. I deliberately avoided mixing much with the rest of the Superior Section members who would inevitably be swept away.
‘That bastard will definitely get sent out by some scheme.’
No matter how much they claim cuts are based on ability, there’s no way they’d keep people who’d already exploded within three years.
I’d find a way to send them off anyway, so there was no need to build friendships now that would become poison later.
In any case, the subsequent filming proceeded smoothly.
“Let’s go again.”
“Yes!”
The Superior Section would create one special stage among themselves, and the Inferior Section would do the same.
It was the theme song.
-Yes I am
There’s so much we can do
Pull the gear up there
(Who can be a star?)
Yes I am
【Yes I am】
The title sounded like something from a middle school first-year English textbook, but they’d actually produced it quite well in a reality show opening style.
Moreover, unlike Ajusa which just threw things at you and demanded memorization, everyone had already practiced this, so it would be done once we synchronized the movements for a day.
‘How peaceful.’
Was I getting the impression that despite putting on a somewhat spicy front, it was indeed less vicious than an in-house survival show from a few years back?
I’m sorry, but that’s a misunderstanding.
The real capsaicin gets dumped on everyone’s heads that very evening, the moment the kids finish their stage and steel their resolve.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
“Woooo!”
When those who’d finished filming the theme song were dancing amid the pouring pin lights and flower petals.
A new episode begins.
“You all did well. Let’s continue like this going forward.”
“Yes!”
The CEO sitting in front of the stage nodded and grabbed the microphone.
“As you go through this program, you’ll face endless obstacles.”
The Writer/Producer held up a sketchbook labeled ‘Position Arrangement’. The participants, reading the mood, began shifting subtly into position.
It was the perfect moment for some ominous background music.
“Even if you debut and are loved for a long time and perform well, eventually new rookies emerge and you must keep competing.”
I caught those nodding with hardened expressions from various spots.
Here comes the main point.
“【Wise】 is the final gateway to debut. As a microcosm of the entertainment industry, we’ll apply realistic evaluation methods to you all.”
The CEO raised his hand.
“So we’ve prepared this. Your first competitors.”
Pop!
“Whoa!”
As those startled flinched, a massive stage apparatus shrouded in dry ice opened beside them, and seven people walked out.
“Your current roster consists of seven from the Superior Section and seven from the Inferior Section, for a total of fourteen.”
The CEO struck a cool expression.
“These people are additional members outside that roster. The 【Reserve Section】.”
“…!”
“If the Reserve Section defeats one of you by targeting them, they’ll participate as a contestant in 【Wise】.”
I heard a gasp from beside me.
None of the trainees had been told about this until now.
“And anyone who can’t beat the Supplementary Section is in danger of elimination.”
The dry ice clears, and seven figures emerge from the haze.
And I recognize some familiar faces.
Cha Yu-jin, his confident smile spreading across his entire face.
And Kim Rae-bin, whose expression has vanished, replaced by something resembling a mid-boss from a video game.
Right.
In the last filming, these two weren’t among the fourteen participants. They’re not LeTi trainees, after all.
The timing for their arrival was right now.
In this filming studio that’s about to descend into chaos with the Supplementary Section’s deployment.
“Win and survive.”
The Supplementary Section walks forward and lines up across from the stage.
The participants face off against them, their pupils trembling, unable to control their expressions.
The atmosphere grows tense.
And I found myself thinking indifferently.
‘Well, most of them are just disposable pieces for creating tension.’
The more fierce the competition, the better for drawing attention and highlighting the winners, isn’t it? Of course they’re meant to be used—most of them are candidates for elimination.
So aside from Cha Yu-jin and Kim Rae-bin, the rest have to be faces I don’t recognize… Wait.
[Whoa, whoa, whoa! That person!]
There’s one more familiar face.
“…!”
[Isn’t that VTIC?]
Chae Yul.
A VTIC Member who hasn’t appeared until now.
A young kid with sparkling eyes and brown hair, who looks to be in his late teens… standing at the very end.
“….”
So this guy was being deployed here?
Is that why Chung-ryeo never found him? Because he was supposed to appear around now? Or was this deployment intentional this time?
Regardless of how my mind is working, the filming proceeds steadily.
“Now, Supplementary Section members, please find a participant you’d like to challenge and stand in front of them.”
Cha Yu-jin and Kim Rae-bin move their feet. They must have already discussed who to target….
Why is that bastard going there?
Cha Yu-jin stopped in front of… Chung-ryeo.
“Ah.”
“I look forward to this!”
[Kyaaaaaaah!!]
“….”
This crazy bastard…!
I bit my tongue to suppress the expression trying to change on my face.
But the unexpected situation didn’t end there.
[Why is that person coming here?]
…There was someone from the Inferior Section who walked up and stood before me.
He moved forward with nervous, flushed features, then stopped in front of me with an excited expression and bowed his head respectfully.
“Please take care of me!”
“…Yes.”
Chae Yul.
This guy had chosen me as his partner.
“….”
I turned my gaze away.
Chung-ryeo, standing before Cha Yu-jin, was smiling.
[Shin Jae-hyun: Planning something (*^^~♪)]
So this was it.

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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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