Debut or Die - Chapter 378

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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 378
Posts about Ryu Gun-woo began appearing on the University Community immediately after the first episode aired.
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[Just saw an alumnus on TV]
Wait, we had someone that good-looking at our school?
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-? These posts should legally require proper subject notation
Hahahahahahahaha
-What is this, let me see his face
-He’s basically a celebrity anyway, so it’s fine to post right? (screenshot)
└Whoa
└Damn…
Those who had initially dismissed the post with sarcasm completely changed their tune the moment they saw the screenshot. Such is the power of facial features and photo enhancement.
What’s your name? Damn, I’m nervous…
└It’s literally in the subtitles, why are you censoring the consonants
Hahahahahaha
Neither Ferrouk nor Inheart have posted anything – looks like they’ve been living quietly.
-Seriously, nobody knows him?
Comments began multiplying on what was supposed to be a post disappearing into the recent pages, and eventually someone claiming to know Ryu Gun-woo showed up.
-Oh, this guy did a group project with me
└Spill the tea
└What was he like?
└Just quiet and worked hard on assignments, but he was seriously smart. Wore glasses
└He’s got it all, damn it, I’m jealous
└What major? What major was it?
└Seemed like business or economics
Fortunately, the stories about this Ryu Gun-woo matched up pretty well with how I lived back when I was a freshman.
‘No nonsense about freeloading, at least.’
I hadn’t become famous enough yet to warrant fabricated verification anyway.
I shook my head as I watched comments where people arguing about whether someone should expose my personal information started bickering with each other.
Of course, Ryu Chung-woo was apparently more famous than me, so his name started coming up too.
-Aren’t they twins?
…The nonsense Ryu Chung-woo had spouted nearly spread as-is, but fortunately it got corrected.
Nah, they’re cousins lol. They used to hang out together all the time.
-What kind of manga is this? A gold medalist and an idol who are cousins and honor students
Lol, she just whipped up a light novel in no time.
And these posts were promptly screenshotted and uploaded to other online communities before making their way to SNS.
It was a textbook viral process.
‘It’s spread quite a bit.’
Whether it was real or fake, viewers placed considerable trust in anything posted on a verified school community anyway.
‘There’s so little information out there—that’s what makes this fun.’
This kind of tendency is a double-edged sword, but right now it wasn’t cutting into me, so it was proving useful.
I don’t know why, but once he put on glasses, he suddenly gave off that quiet, hardworking group member nerd vibe. Seriously.
-Oh, so Ryu Chung-woo was a relative
-Now that I look at it, they really do look alike..? (comparison image)
Still, Ryu Chung-woo was being mentioned quite a bit, which felt uncomfortable.
He’d quit the National Team and found a new path, becoming an ordinary college student, yet people were treating him like a celebrity.
I asked him directly.
“The rumor’s spreading that we’re relatives. You okay with that?”
“My brother didn’t do anything weird, so why would I worry about that? Of course I’m fine with it.”
He said this wasn’t the first time his current situation had made it onto the internet, and Ryu Chung-woo brushed it off lightly.
‘Hmm.’
Well, then.
I continued exploring the internet.
First, the target demographic.
With nothing else out there about Ryu Gun-woo yet, he seemed to have stably positioned himself among those who grouped together people with similar “aesthetics,” as they called it.
So early fanbase capture was a success.
-Looking for people who like Gun-woo, Jae-hyun, and Tae-jun #Wise_Acquaintances
-Genius is so goodㅠㅠ
And the detailed mentions beyond the stage….
-Posture never wavered throughout the judging comments (video)
-Look at the way Geon-woo even put the blanket on his bed. It really feels like he received a good home education… ㅜㅜ (capture)
“….”
Reading similar posts, I roughly grasped the picture.
My selling points in this space.
‘Genius, composed, intelligent, pure, elite, silver spoon.’
A model student who’d grown up without falling out of favor.
It was a keyword that worked, but it was also one that had very firm detractors.
‘This is going to divide opinion like crazy….’
I ran a few more searches.
There didn’t seem to be any search-blocking nicknames yet. Well, this program was quite different from Ajusa, where everyone was a competitor.
Still, once we got past the midpoint, people would start criticizing in earnest.
‘I’m guessing they’ll probably mock my first stage performance and call me something like “Jazz” or whatever.’
Anyway, for now, searching just brought up positive reviews.
For instance, if I clicked on a post titled “Current trainees’ vibes” and looked at the Ryu Gun-woo section….
-RGW: Intense. Feels like someone who grew up without lacking anything, but the trainee period is short too? Once debut happens and schedules get hectic, attitude controversy will pop up immediately
Yeah, that was the vibe.
“Hmm.”
I let out a quiet laugh.
Since I’d prepared a move for exactly this, seeing posts like these didn’t really bother me.
I just wanted to check if things were rolling along smoothly.
‘When will he come.’
I rolled my shoulders back.
And a few days later, the official teaser for Episode 3 was released.
[Honor Class VS Supplementary Class?]
[An Unexpected Result]
[?? : Ahhhhh!]
[CEO Kim Tae-in : Regardless of affiliation, I will judge fairly.]
The performances were shown alternating between close-ups and wide shots without spoiling the overall narrative.
[Skilled Performers from the 【Supplementary Class】]
[Trainer : If this keeps up, (beep—) will definitely win. Got it?]
Kim Rae-bin got a brief moment too, but Cha Yu-jin received substantial screen time—a few seconds of the highlight from my stage with Chung-ryeo made it into the broadcast.
‘So they basically revealed who I’m facing through this sneak peek.’
Flashy movements were captured impressively, then cut short.
[Unexpected Struggle]
[Shin Jae-hyun : But I can’t lose.]
Chung-ryeo’s smug grin flashed across the screen briefly.
Other trainees who were nominated appeared with hardened expressions in succession, and then….
Soon, a face with a rigid expression breathing heavily was slowly zoomed in on.
Me.
[CEO Kim Tae-in : Why don’t I see any desperation?]
[Ryu Gun-woo : ….]
With that deep breath sound, the title logo rose and the teaser ended.
Ah, they did capture the scoreboard.
This one.
[【Supplementary Class】 ■■■ –Win!]
[The shocking result will be revealed this week.]
It meant someone from the Supplementary Class won.
I nodded with satisfaction.
‘Nice.’
They gave me the final moment, but not enough screen time to spark unnecessary controversy about favoritism.
‘Besides, the editing clearly isn’t favorable to me anyway.’
It made it look like I completely botched my performance. A skilled performer falling apart is definitely appetizing bait for attention.
Perhaps because no one expected me to actually be in danger, the SNS that had been anticipating the teaser erupted.
It went like this.
-What is Geonwoo’s marine look???ㅠㅠㅠCrazy
-That crazy boss bastard
The same person posted these two seconds apart.
Of course, it wasn’t just about Ryu Gun-woo. Overall, viewers were shocked by the teaser revealing that the 【Supplementary Class】 won.
Since they weren’t fools, they’d assumed from the Episode 2 ending teaser that the ‘Supplementary Class’ was just meant to be an obstacle.
-CEO Kim will never let go of the LeTi award, it’s just for broadcast manipulation lol
But he’s openly saying he won.
At this point, even the long-time fans of the Entertainment Agency are bewildered.
-It’s gotta be bait in the preview??
-Ugh the Supplementary Class ugh ugh where do they keep pulling these trashy ridiculous rules from
-Wait, isn’t he actually handsome…? (screenshot)
With all this chaos erupting, posts started appearing on entertainment community forums.
[LeTi Survival Preview Currently in Uproar (Participant Replaced)]
Brilliant.
At this level, it’s not just spicy for an in-house survival show—it’s outright scorching.
As the attention was properly drawn and the energy gathered across the internet, I turned away from it all…
and headed back to the Filming Studio.

* * *
“Sigh.”
One of the Wise participants exhaled deeply.
He knew the camera was there, but he couldn’t help it.
It was simply too suffocating and cruel.
That was the new treatment he received in this new filming.
“You are now ‘excluded.'”
If the Supplementary Class loses in the first one-on-one death match, they’re eliminated outright.
But the existing participants?
Literally ‘excluded.’
They become the marginalized, shut out from all main events.
And amid the terror of elimination, they must quietly pack their belongings and leave the Dormitory Bedroom.
And they must watch as a Supplementary Class participant takes their place and unpacks their things.
That’s what happened to him after losing to Kim Rae-bin from the Supplementary Class and facing elimination.
“I’m sorry. I’ll be careful. I’m sorry!”
“No, it’s fine…”
He had to suppress his irritation at the sincere apologies from the Supplementary Class member—all while the camera rolled.
‘This shouldn’t have to happen…’
It was all part of the entertainment business, but for someone still early in his trainee days and so young, it was quite a shock.
He shuffled along, following the Production Team’s directions.
He pushed aside the thought that just days ago, he’d subtly looked down on trainees who hadn’t been selected as participants in this survival show.
And then he saw the reality.
“Ugh.”
The ‘excluded’ didn’t even have beds. What he’d thought was a storage room all this time was actually where the ‘excluded’ would stay.
It felt like being treated as a servant.
It was utterly miserable.
‘This is infuriating, damn it.’
But he wasn’t alone in this.
Ryu Gun-woo. A senior trainee who, despite his brief time as a trainee, had received remarkably stellar evaluations as if it were all a dream.
That participant was right beside me.
It was somewhat gratifying, and it put me at ease.
To perform so brilliantly in your first stage and still face elimination—clearly, luck played a role too.
-Hyung….
-Don’t overthink it. We’ll see later.
Seeing him say this to the Supplementary Class member taking his spot suggested he still had considerable composure, though.
-We’ll see each other again soon, hyung.
-…Thank you.
Besides, I’d seen him shake hands with my roommate Shin Jae-hyun before leaving the room, but no matter what, wouldn’t he seem a bit discouraged now?
‘Where?’
I lifted my head slightly to check Ryu Gun-woo’s expression.
“…??”
It was remarkably serene.
My mouth fell open involuntarily.
“Um… hyung, are you okay?”
“I’m not okay, but… there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Ryu Gun-woo answered with an impassive face.
“I was eliminated because I wasn’t good enough. There’s nothing unfair about it.”
“…”
For some reason, I felt irritated. Did he have composure in this situation?
‘He has somewhere to go back to, that’s it.’
Isn’t he a University Student? I felt a surge of emotion and nearly looked at Ryu Gun-woo with defiant eyes.
But Ryu Gun-woo’s words didn’t end there.
“But I won’t be eliminated like this.”
“…!”
“I have to climb back up somehow. Even if I have to crawl.”
And I understood.
He appeared impassive, but that was only because he was steeling his resolve.
“…Me too.”
“Right. Let’s do our best.”
I gladly bumped fists with Ryu Gun-woo. Then, with my lips pressed firmly together, I thought.
Now that I looked at him, he seemed to be holding back many thoughts. As if he’d gained some kind of revelation….
‘Ah.’
It couldn’t be any other way.
Because that was exactly how he wanted to appear.
‘Good. I’m definitely getting out of here.’
After exchanging meaningful words with me, Ryu Gun-woo quietly exulted and grabbed his blanket.
‘Two trainees facing elimination making a vow. With only two of us, we’re guaranteed to advance.’
I got a proper cut of footage.

* * *
By the time I finished organizing my belongings in the Dormitory Storage I’d been banished to, the real filming schedule began in earnest.
Of course, there was no exemption for me.
“During the main event, you’ll just need to tidy up the Dormitory.”
“I… what?”
“Yes.”
That’s what they said.
‘Actually, this works out better.’
This main event was some public service campaign song performance, and I didn’t regret missing it one bit. There was nothing to showcase.
Even if it aired, it would be cut down to a 20-minute segment with most of the screen time going to the more dramatic team competition footage.
‘Fourteen people singing one campaign song? This is the better option.’
Housework would actually be more entertaining for viewers than that predictable performance. I threw myself into tidying the Dormitory and preparing meals.
The key was to work seriously and diligently so it didn’t look like I was just fooling around.
But I had to make sure I didn’t look pathetically miserable either.
“It looks so much better when it’s clean.”
“Yeah….”
My partner wasn’t being particularly cooperative, but that was fine—it all depended on how well I could manage him.
‘The more I do, the better for me.’
I needed to shake off the image of being some sheltered rich kid. I grabbed a pair of rubber gloves and made my resolve.
“I’ll go organize the Bathroom.”
After spending the entire day proving I wasn’t some pampered heir, the event finally ended and the real thing began.
Third performance preparation time.
“Before we announce this round’s theme, the exempted participants will move to a separate location.”
And here too, the exempted became outsiders.
Isolated in a different Training Room waiting, it would take another hour or two before a trainer finally came to explain how things would work.
“You don’t get to choose your team.”
First, they gave no other information whatsoever.
I could only wait for a team to choose me as a member.
But if no one came….
“You’re automatically eliminated.”
However, if anyone came, I’d be accepted as a makeshift addition…supposedly.
‘Considering the loss of parts, the smart teams wouldn’t come.’
But that’s not how this works. This is an Entertainment Agency survival show, after all.
“….”
I stood in place without showing anything, maintaining a serious expression as I waited.
Sure enough, about ten minutes after the announcement.
The Training Room door opened gently.
And what I saw was….
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Chung-ryeo. Shin Jae-hyun.
He stepped into the training room, naturally positioning himself in front of the camera beside the trainer.
I kept my mouth firmly shut.
“Does your team have an exception participant you’ve decided to accept?”
“Yes.”
He had nothing to hide, speaking openly while looking directly at me.
“The participant our team wishes to join us is Ryu Gun-woo….”
That’s when it happened.
Knock, knock.
The door opens again, accompanied by the sound of knocking.
This time, more urgently than before.
“I….”
“…!”
The one who entered was… Chae Yul.
The supplementary class member who climbed up alongside me. A VTIC Member in the original world.
“Your team also decided to accept an exception participant?”
“Yes.”
He seemed slightly flustered seeing another person already present, but answered immediately regardless.
“…It’s Ryu Gun-woo.”
Of course. I figured you’d come once you convinced your teammates.
So, what’s the trainer’s ruling?
“If both teams nominate the same exception participant, that participant gets to choose directly.”
Oh, that’s unexpected.
‘I thought they’d do first-come-first-served or make them play rock-paper-scissors.’
But honestly, this isn’t ideal. I can’t afford to appear high in the hierarchy here.
Right now, the position of climbing up from below is working perfectly in my favor.
‘Hmm.’
I blinked several times, feigning confusion. Then I quickly assessed both of them.
Without knowing how the teams are structured, I’m choosing based solely on their faces.
Based on what’s revealed, it’s unclear whether Cha Yu-jin and Kim Rae-bin are even in either of these two teams.
‘Hmm.’
I finished my calculations while pretending to glance at the floor.
And I decided.
“The team I’d like to join is….”
This one.

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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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