Debut or Die - Chapter 377

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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 377
“Rae-bin, aren’t you eating~”
“I’ve returned after finishing my meal, thank you!”
Kim Rae-bin answered energetically as he emerged from washing his face.
After unexpectedly coming to Seoul, he’d stayed at Ryu Gun-woo’s Officetel for several days, but soon reached an agreement with his parents to stay at his maternal uncle’s place in Seoul instead.
However, the pattern had become repetitive: practicing all day, then following Cha Yu-jin to Ryu Gun-woo’s Officetel almost inadvertently, discussing strategy and sharing meals.
So in reality, the extent of his imposition seemed about the same.
‘Why are they being so kind to me?’
Kim Rae-bin still found that puzzling, but his body faithfully carried out this new lifestyle regardless.
Yes. This changed daily routine had seeped into his life with remarkable naturalness, as if he’d lived this way before.
Kim Rae-bin pondered for a moment, then reached a conclusion.
‘Come to think of it, it’s not that different from High School!’
The systematic nature of his days resembled the texture of attending classes!
Speaking of High School, Kim Rae-bin had been processed for transfer to a Seoul arts-focused high school where attendance hours were partially supplemented through performance activities, right after signing with LeTi.
‘Entertainment Agencies are remarkable places.’
Now that he thought about it, there was an interesting coincidence.
The very Entertainment Agency that both of them belonged to was the same company he’d first contracted with for a song.
-…You contracted a song with LeTi?
-…? Yes!
He had no idea how delighted LeTi’s new trainee manager had been when they brought Kim Rae-bin that day.
And why had Kim Rae-bin so easily come up to Seoul and begun his life as an aspiring idol, following two people he’d never met before?
It was because of what he’d heard on the way home from Strawberry House.
(For some reason, the other person had called him by the name ‘Moon-dae’) It was something Ryu Gun-woo had calmly brought up.
-I listened to some of the songs you’ve composed so far, and many of them suit choreography.
-What is choreography?
-Dancing. And recently, most teams doing the latest trend music with choreography are Idol Groups.
That older brother continued as if posing a question.
-So if you directly experience their stages, it seems like it would help with your composition going forward.
-…!
Kim Rae-bin had never tried it before, but… it was a persuasive argument!
After that, Ryu Gun-woo continued speaking as naturally as water flowing.
About the method he wanted to recommend.
An in-house survival show.
-A survival show is the essence of the idol stage experience you can gain in the shortest time. It’s easy to get eliminated, gain just the experience, and slip out.
Kim Rae-bin was impressed.
-…! I see. Then I would naturally get eliminated after gaining a dense, helpful experience for composition?
-That could happen.
No. That was Kim Rae-bin’s misunderstanding.
Park Moon-dae had only assumed that if he got eliminated, it would go that way—he never said it would necessarily happen.
And Kim Rae-bin was going to be kept in, even if it required manipulation.
And so Kim Rae-bin was set to debut without understanding what was happening, yet he remained absolutely convinced of his own elimination.
‘But to think I’d be the only one receiving a judges’ decision victory on the first stage….’
It was truly a survival show. No matter how I thought about it, two people who had delivered such flawless performances were facing elimination.
Yet the fact that both remained so composed only made me trust them more!
He nodded to himself anew.
-It’s fine, don’t worry about it. Let’s just focus on practice.
-Kim Rae-bin, you’re doing great!
So Kim Rae-bin found himself waiting for the live broadcast of Wise Episode 1 with an inexplicable sense of anticipation, even though he wasn’t the one appearing.
He wanted to see the stage of the hyung who had helped him.
“Hmm.”
The broadcast started precisely at 10:50 PM without any delay.
[Yes I am~]
A series of silhouettes turned their heads, struck poses, and raised their arms in rhythm with the theme song’s beat.
[Who can be a star?]
Fourteen trainees standing with their backs turned formed the final scene of the opening. It was a typical reality survival show opening.
After the grandiose agency introduction from the preview, the focus narrowed to an empty stage.
The tension-building, impressively expensive dark set, lighting, and music created an atmosphere of anticipation.
[Kim Tae-in, CEO: Let’s begin.]
One by one, the trainees climbed the stage stairs, and their performances unfolded.
This was different from the Ajusa days. Since the company had already completed its assessment of the trainees before starting, all fourteen had already been assigned distinct character archetypes.
Particularly centered around a select few they wanted to appeal to the public.
[Ace Leader]
For instance, this label attached to Shin Jae-hyun.
[He’s someone I truly respect.]
[He’s ranked first in almost every monthly evaluation.]
[Is there anything he can’t do?]
The editing intercut testimonies with everyday life and practice performances, giving him clear emphasis.
Keywords like ‘skilled,’ ‘reliable,’ ‘composed,’ and ‘capable.’
Of course, some keywords were formed by appearance alone.
-Wow, this guy is seriously handsome;
Kim Rae-bin, watching on television, didn’t know it, but the Internet was already buzzing with viewers chattering away.
Mostly existing idol fans who had become interested in the new male rookie from ‘that’ LeTi and came to watch.
-Shin Jae-hyun appeared
I’ve been waiting for you to debut, this account is for Jaehyun
Look at the reaction—fans are already swarming in like a truckload lolol I knew this would happen
-How can he be this handsome and also be good at LeTi? He’s gonna be the group’s face
Shin Jae-hyun, already somewhat known through word of mouth, commanded an overwhelming response, practically secured.
And on the brightly lit stage, Shin Jae-hyun’s performance was graceful, flawless—that of a consummate professional.
[That pain would sting]
The editing had arranged the sequence to contrast with the previous performance, which had been unnaturally strained and burdensome with excessive force, but his stage was perfectly appropriate regardless.
Just as Shin Jae-hyun intended.
-He decided it, Shin Jae-hyun, voting box;;;
“This guy’s the leader? Okay, okay. You gotta be the leader.”
-I can already hear Home Ma’s account followers multiplying
In survival shows, it’s crucial to make one more push upward in the latter half.
So by concealing his abilities just enough, Shin Jae-hyun obtained precisely the image he wanted, as always.
‘Indeed…!’
And Kim Rae-bin, who had been watching purely, nodded along.
‘His skills are as good as his character.’
-Welcome.
Recalling Shin Jae-hyun, who had even shaken hands with a favorable attitude, he jotted down notes. He was writing his impressions for each stage performance.
But it didn’t last long.
“Ah!”
Finally, the person he’d been waiting for took the stage.
On screen appeared Ryu Gun-woo, his hair neatly styled, dressed with clean composure.
And the Internet stirred once more.
-Glasses guy 1!! Oh, he’s not wearing glasses
-Ah, the cold prize is so preciousㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠThank you Leti!!
-Already pairing him with Shin Jae-hyun creates a strong Bermuda line vibe
He was one of the trainees who had become a hot topic for his good looks.
Then, a caption flashed across the screen with Ryu Gun-woo’s descriptor.
[Singing Genius]
It was so direct it was cringeworthy.
And it was a nickname no viewers had expected.
-???? Vocal ability?
-Genius what
Because there wasn’t a single descriptor about his appearance.
-What is this, could he really be the main vocal with that face?
Nah, they’re probably just pushing a different visual concept, so don’t get your hopes up, but damn, I’m hyped anyway.
Hahahahahahahaha
-Maybe it means face genius
Lol, the subtitles seem way over the top.
And the stage began quietly.
Ryu Gun-woo brought his mouth to the bluntly massive standing microphone and sang a song that was surprisingly rich and atmospheric.
Jazz.
The power to maintain emotional depth while properly showcasing high notes, low notes, and technical passages—the kind that makes you glance away, then suddenly pulls your eyes back to the screen.
-Ah
-?
-Wow
-He’s really good
Barely a gasp of admiration swept across the screen.
And Kim Rae-bin, watching the Television, clenched his fist.
His remarkable abilities were one thing, but there was something else—an odd sense of satisfaction.
It was like a puzzle piece clicking perfectly into place.
‘Is this what I’ve always imagined an ideal guide vocalist to feel like?’
It was peculiar.
But the evaluation stage lasted barely two minutes, and the song ended quickly.
Then came the ending that allowed viewers to savor the lingering impression from multiple angles, followed by the CEO’s cascading praise on screen.
Ryu Gun-woo simply stood composed, listening to the evaluation, but the Internet was now launching into proper criticism.
-He’s the guide vocalist alright
-The guy can really sing, like seriously sing
-The glasses guy but he dances well too?
└For real? Is it even possible to be good at everything?
-I picked him for his face but this is my first time seeing someone who’s so stage-perfect… is this falling for him?
As the interview with the CEO continued, new information kept emerging, and viewers were delightfully astounded.
-3 months of training
-?????
“Are you like the main character of a drama or something?? lol”
And his current status naturally came up too.
[CEO Kim Tae-in: Which university do you attend?]
[Ryu Gun-woo: Yeon-hee University]
[Ryu Gun-woo: I do.]
‘So he studies well too!’
Kim Rae-bin nodded. He seemed so erudite and spoke with such trustworthy fluidity!
Of course, not everyone moved past it as peacefully as Kim Rae-bin did.
-????
-Yeon-hee University? The one I know?
-Guide vocalist position, that face, good at studying, and only 3 months of training…
-Even modern manga doesn’t use this kind of setup, is LeTi for real
Claims of manipulation and impossibility flooded in.
“With a face like that, shouldn’t he already be famous at Yonsei by now? lol”
I’ve got everything with [them], and I think disliking [them] would be harder lol I’m already excited.
-Looks like they pumped his vocals with heavy correction to push him, you all fell for it nicely
└This is just jealousy
-I love it so crazy. Ah, this is my first time with an idol like thisㅠㅠㅠㅠLet’s debut quickly, Geonwoo!!!
Throughout it all, Ryu Gun-woo’s sincere closing remarks came across with a purity that made for perfect appeal.
His mention volume skyrocketed, but simultaneously, subtle antagonism also deepened.
The appearance of having no weaknesses, of a life without hardship, simultaneously sparked both admiration and resistance.
But thanks to that, Ryu Gun-woo’s buzz began to blaze more intensely, as if it had found a catalyst.
[The identity of the handsome glasses guy who appeared as a Malang Dalcom year-end dancer.jpg]
[LeTi Survival Trainees Who Look Like They’re About to Hit It Big]
And this momentum reached even to Ryu Gun-woo’s surroundings.

* * *
I picked up my smartphone.
Twenty-four missed calls.
Opening the messenger app, a cascade of chat windows with new notifications stretched endlessly down the screen.
They kept arriving in real time.
[Yeon-sa Lee Yu-jin: What’s going on? Why are you debuting?]
[Yeon-sa Lee Yu-jin: Don’t tell me being an idol was what you actually wanted to do? No…]
Messages like these had piled up.
‘…I didn’t think about this.’
But it was a development that made sense.
After all, Ryu Gun-woo here had suddenly appeared on television as an idol trainee while in the middle of university life, so it was natural for people who knew him to reach out out of curiosity.
‘He must have kept a low profile.’
Looking at the contact list, most of them were people I’d done group projects with, so I didn’t feel any real concern about rumors spreading. Still, I should monitor the High School online community just to be safe.
Hearing my phone ring from the kitchen, Ryu Chung-woo spoke up.
“Kids asked me today too—if you weren’t my cousin.”
They did?
“What did you say?”
“I told them we’re not cousins but twins, and asked how they didn’t know that.”
“….”
Was he serious?
Ryu Chung-woo looked at my face and burst out laughing.
“Just kidding—of course I said you were a cool and great relative.”
Then he sat down beside me and handed me a beer can frosted with ice.
“…!”
“What? Oh, you don’t drink that?”
“No.”
I gladly took the beer and tore open the tab. Then I downed it in one go.
Pssshhht!
The crisp, refreshing taste that rose up was something I hadn’t experienced in a very long time.
This isn’t reality anyway, so I can afford to enjoy it a little.
“Is the filming fun?”
“Quite.”
I lowered the can and replied.
Truth be told, I only told him about my participation after my profile photo appeared on the Internet.
He found out himself and asked me about it first.
-Hyung, you didn’t tell me you were appearing in something like this.
-…Yeah, well.
I made an excuse to Ryu Chung-woo that it wasn’t confirmed and I didn’t know how things would turn out, managing to smooth over the situation.
Once it actually aired, my attitude shifted a bit, though.
“I see. You really do seem to be enjoying the idol program, looking at it this way.”
He’d been watching the idol program quite favorably. Even now, he was naturally focused on the television screen.
Episode 2 was currently airing in full swing.
[New participants entering…?]
Episode 2 ended dramatically with the entrance of the supplementary class members.
The hardened expressions of the existing participants flashed across the screen….
‘Not bad.’
It was quite spicy, and thanks to the unpredictable setup, this survival show seemed like it would do pretty well.
‘Of course, I can’t just let it end at doing well.’
I chuckled softly, imagining what reactions would come in episodes 3 and 4.
I had to paint the picture as carefully as possible through the latter half.
People watching the early episodes now wouldn’t be able to easily predict where things would go.

* * *
[New competitors, the 【Supplementary Class】 arrives!]
“What are you watching?”
“Ah~ the newly released LeTi Survival.”
An idol group in transit by car.
The member sitting in the back seat, who had been watching the program seriously, was briefly interrupted.
The member in the adjacent seat, seeing the screen with the 【Wise】 and LeTi logo, made a light jab.
“Ah, another rookie from a major agency?”
“Mm.”
A couple of others reacted similarly, but most of the rest were too busy with their own affairs.
Socializing, gaming, dating.
“….”
Zairop from MS Entertainment, true to its reputation as a prestigious agency, had smoothly established itself in the music industry. It was already their third year.
As they started winning major awards at most award ceremonies and settlement fees grew thick from tours, everyone began showing signs of mannerism.
‘Ah~’
This guy doesn’t even know the schedule.
The member who had been watching the screen suppressed a sigh and turned his head with a smile.
“Come on, hyung, we’re appearing as mentors here anyway, so might as well watch~ I’ll keep a good eye on it!”
“Ah, yeah. Sure.”
Playing dumb.
‘All mouth.’
Lee Sae-jin naturally suppressed the urge to twist his lips and resumed watching with a light smile.
‘…He’s good.’
On the screen, which had been rewound to episode 1, a participant singing smooth jazz appeared.
Perhaps because there wasn’t an awkward moment anywhere on the stage, he stood out distinctly in memory.
“….”
Lee Sae-jin rested her chin on her hand and stared at it.
Despite finally achieving the debut she’d yearned for, with everything unfolding far more smoothly than she’d anticipated.
Yet she couldn’t shake this strange sense of dissonance—as though she’d received something that wasn’t truly hers.
‘Why am I like this?’
Winter still lingered, bitter and cold.

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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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