Debut or Die - Chapter 395

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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 395
Staged Aggression and Survival Stories.
The introduction of fresh participants with a unique color atypical of in-house survival shows, and stages so distinctly powerful that people naturally exclaimed, “That’s so LeTi Entertainment.”
As the finale of 【Wise】, which had gained a reputation as an entertaining survival show—not quite at the level of 【Ajusa】’s melodrama, but certainly compelling—approached, viewers’ sentiments converged on one thing.
-Why did they even take viewer votes if they haven’t used them once so far?
-Hahaha, the production crew forgot.
It was speculation about the whereabouts of viewer voting—a mechanic that had mysteriously vanished from mention at some point.
-If they don’t use it even in the finale, that’s legendary
If the CEO grades it, it seems like my role would be to give some kind of adjustment or correction factor to it lol
-CEO checks the rankings and makes them nervous please save Cha Yu-jin
And that mystery would be revealed in Episode 9, which aired just before the finale.
At first, everyone thought it was just an episode showing minor behind-the-scenes stories and trainees practicing for the finale stage.
A so-called breather episode.
-Chae-yul came to give Geon-woo a blanket and pillow?ㅠㅠ How can she be such an angel?
-Male idols playing with air during breaks… Kim CEO really managed to gather that face with that personality
-Wow, Ryu Chung-woo isn’t sleeping at all, seriously has that killer instinct, the national team experience didn’t go anywhere
-Shin Jae-hyun glasses B-cut finally revealed Finally you understood the demand, Broadcasting Station bastards
How close the trainees were to each other, what trial-and-error they’d experienced, and what they did to pass the time during breaks.
The production crew skillfully wove together various questions circulating among viewers and arranged them entertainingly.
The tension characteristic of survival shows naturally eased, but many viewers responded quite favorably, saying the production crew truly understood their audience.
A special episode? Well, given the time constraints, there’s nothing we can do about it. At least it turned out well, so it’s fine lol
-Still, the finale prep seems to be taking a while, so I’m looking forward to the stage
But the production crew’s final move was revealed at the very end.
Past the various behind-the-scenes moments that sparked laughter and the training room cuts of passionate participants sweating and dedicating themselves to preparation….
The camera cuts to the stage.
-???
Even more striking was the label in the upper corner: 【Live Broadcast】.
-What?
-Is this live right now?
-But you said this was the final episode 10? Shouldn’t that air next week?
It was the moment viewers, accustomed to the seemingly trivial flow of a side story until now, were caught off guard by the sudden live broadcast.
[Participants, before the finale, we have an urgent announcement.]
CEO Kim Tae-in, seated in the judges’ section, picks up the microphone again.
The camera captures the participants, bewildered yet tense, as the CEO’s voice continues.
[The viewer voting results are in.]
[!]
[The public’s choice is the absolute evaluation standard you will face as you move forward. Those who fail to meet that evaluation….]
The CEO deliberately paused to take a breath before finishing.
Saying exactly what everyone expected.
[Are eliminated.]
On the stage, viewers cried out as they watched the participants blink rapidly or avert their gazes.
-Out of nowhere??
Ugh…
-I seriously didn’t know it would be like this what do I do
-The kids’ expressions are breaking my heart..
But simultaneously, a wave of tension surged through the broadcast, and curiosity about the viewer voting results finally being revealed sent viewership engagement skyrocketing.
Such was the power of survival shows.
The CEO, unable to see the real-time comments flooded with crying emoticons and exclamations, slowly announced the results.
[First, the safe zone.]
The CEO announced four names in succession. Kim Rae-bin, Oh Yoon-shin, Jung Woo-dan, Han Kyung-mo….
‘Lower than expected’, ‘Since it was the CEO’s pick, fans lacked desperation’, ‘The Crazy Orchestra episode right before hurt them in cumulative votes’….
Various reactions and assessments flooded in, but thanks to the word “safe zone,” everyone seemed reassured regardless.
However, looking at the remaining eight participants, confusion set in.
-You’re saying it’s split between upper and lower tier here?
-Honestly I have no idea
-I only see six upper-tier participants?;;
With such a small pool of twelve people and no viewer voting tallies ever having been publicly disclosed until now, it was impossible to cleanly divide them into categories.
[Lower tier, announcing now.]
With tense BGM playing, the CEO announced each participant one by one.
[Park Nam-ho]
-Oh no
You worked hard, Namho! I’m sorry you had such a tough time!
-This can’t be right
Starting with participants who hadn’t particularly stood out—members people had somewhat anticipated—the structure gradually called unexpected names.
Ugh, nooo! / Argh, nooo!
-Just debut all twelve of them you crazy bastard
The atmosphere of people mourning and sympathizing while grudgingly accepting shattered at the announcement of the final lower-tier participant.
[And… Ryu Chung-woo.]
[….]
The person in question stepped forward with a composed expression, but the comments could not.
-What
-That’s impossible
-????
-Is this rigged
A fresh face from the national team with the Lucky Totem and skills that skyrocketed with insane presence—losing in the voting?
Reactions exploded for a few seconds saying it made no sense, but soon people grasped the situation.
He’d been eliminated because he was a newcomer.
-Maybe because he’s a late entrant
The voting accumulated over time, that’s why. You got in a few weeks late anyway.
-But then doesn’t that mean the Supplementary Class members who were brought in back then should just be eliminated? Are you joking
However, even as bewildered viewers flooded the comments, they naturally didn’t assume the CEO would eliminate all four of the people he’d just called forward.
-He called four people, there’s no way they all get eliminated. Probably just one or two who didn’t make the CEO’s picks.
-Please pleaseㅠㅠ
-If he sends Ryu Chung-woo home, Kim Tae-in is seriously a talentless bastard
And true to their expectations, the CEO spoke again.
[The Bottom 4 you selected through voting were originally scheduled for immediate elimination.]
Which meant immediate elimination was no longer the case.
[However, for a complete idol group to be formed, something more than just your support is needed.]
[It’s the idols themselves.]
-What obvious nonsense is this crazy bastard spouting
-Nobody thinks about idol groups without idols, only you do
Regardless of the viewers’ outcry, the CEO continued his announcement with grave solemnity etched across his face.
[Therefore, I will hear their opinions.]
The members’ confused expressions as they lifted their heads flashed across the screen.
[【Wise】 participants, you will vote for two participants you wish to continue with.]
[!!!]
Cuts of non-eliminated participants exchanging bewildered glances alternated with the CEO’s serious expression.
【Wise】, true to an in-house survival show, had always leveraged the deep bonds and collective consciousness built among trainees as another selling point.
And now, that final provocation turned against them was unfolding.
[Depending on your votes, the two people who receive the most votes will be able to survive until the finals.]
[The results will be revealed next week, before the 【Wise】 final stage.]
The camera pulled back, capturing the entire frozen stage.
Then fade to black.
Colorful advertisements began to appear, but viewers couldn’t stop commenting.
-Wow
-The production crew are devils
-You’re putting this on the kids? You decide it yourself, you bastard
This was a time when 【Ajusa】 Season 1 hadn’t even aired yet.
【Wise】 was burning its final spark before the finals with a uniquely spicy provocation.

* * *
I descended from the stage, my thoughts crystallizing.
‘Oh.’
The Production Team knew what they were doing.
Honestly, if they’d just glossed over it in the behind-the-scenes footage, the impact would’ve been diluted, but the provocative angle was a deliberate choice.
‘The word choice was solid too.’
It wasn’t “vote for who to eliminate”—it was “vote for who to save.” That’s acceptable. It didn’t cross the line into inhumanity.
Though if someone who survives through peer voting causes trouble after debut, that could become a problem… but I don’t need to worry about that here.
I’m aiming for a group that delivers maximum results in minimum time.
‘The real issue is that Ryu Chung-woo’s position has become ambiguous.’
The existing trainees had already formed a cartel among themselves, which limited his chances of getting votes.
‘I need to handle this.’
So the moment I removed my microphone, I went straight to find the one person who hadn’t told me yet which trainee he was sending out for today’s live broadcast.
Chung-ryeo.
“So this was your method of ‘naturally’ eliminating people.”
He answered with a laugh, completely unbothered.
“Of course. Why not use something this simple?”
“….”
“With the final results so close, they shake easily from the smallest shock. And planting one suggestion in that head is incredibly straightforward.”
Making sure they never vote for a specific person.
‘It’s rational, I’ll give him that.’
I frowned.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“If I’d warned you beforehand, your hands would’ve gotten tangled with the Junior Member’s preemptive moves. You’re not the type to sit idle, after all.”
“….”
Damn it, I couldn’t argue with that.
“You understand, right? So from now on, let’s do this: I’ll remove the elements that need removing, and you attach the elements you want to attach.”
He was talking about Ryu Chung-woo.
And he added with feigned courtesy.
“If you really can’t manage it, just say so. I’ll handle it.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
“You don’t ‘handle it’—you have to. Is there anyone in the lower ranks better than Ryu Chung-woo right now?”
Our goals were the same, so what nonsense was he spouting?
Then Chung-ryeo broke into a grin.
“Right? Got it. If you can’t manage it, I’ll change it so I handle it instead.”
“….”
I let out a short laugh.
“Fine, let me try first.”
Did I look like I’d get angry here? We were at the point where we’d use a cat’s paw if necessary. I’d squeeze every last drop out of this bastard no matter what.
“Sounds good.”
And the man who had been laughing walked leisurely down the corridor and disappeared. It seemed he was heading off to see other trainees.
A popup window appeared faintly above his retreating figure.
[So… will you be persuading the other trainees as well?]
Before that, there was one thing I needed to check.
I pulled up the popup window that had appeared on the Stage earlier.
[Quest: Fame Collection Activity 2/N]
I can see this appears to be a visual representation or diagram using Korean characters and symbols, but it doesn’t contain actual Korean text that translates to English words or phrases. It looks like a stylized arrow or pointer made with characters and symbols rather than meaningful Korean language content.
-50% Achieved!
Reward: I received a package….
Once I accumulated 500,000 Fame Exp, this intermediate settlement notification appeared.
Of course, I’d dumped all but about 100,000 points of it into recruiting colleagues.
‘This was a feature that existed in 【Section 127】.’
I’d seen it during test play.
-Since it’s a game with many branching choices and diverse endings, the main Quest is designed to be comprehensive and long-term to encompass all of that.
-Ah… yes, yes.
They’d said they prepared solid intermediate rewards to encourage and incentivize continued play.
‘The items are probably randomized.’
I went to the mailbox and checked the package image labeled ‘Progress Reward’.
[A package containing countless possibilities]
-It is the voice of stars encouraging you.
In other words, incredibly good things might come out, but with your luck, you’ll probably just get some gold and call it a day.
‘I probably have about 4,000 gold accumulated already.’
Recalling the useless scrap of text, I pressed the button to claim the package with an expressionless face.
But then.
[Package Contents – Invitation]
[A Colleague (★★★★) arrives….]
Huh?
Starlight bursts from the package. It seems it’s giving me a colleague instead of gold.
Not that I need one.
‘Four stars means….’
I recalled the 4-star colleague I’d seen before recruiting Big Sae-jin last time.
[★★★★ An So-hyun / Lead Dancer]
‘She was a Malang Dalcom Member.’
I’d nearly been shocked when organizing my inventory. I hadn’t recruited her as a colleague just in case, but I had added her to my inventory.
Anyway, based on that experience.
‘It seems like among colleagues with 3 or more stars, there are people I’ve actually met.’
I’d never seen any 1 or 2-star colleagues I knew, but starting from 3-stars, I occasionally saw familiar names I’d crossed paths with.
[Ah, there was that explanation about finding colleagues with ‘connections’. I wonder if something like that is being reflected here?]
I’d already made a similar guess myself.
‘Then could it be that this time too?’
Anyway, the light from the package faded quickly, and finally the explanation appeared….
A name I actually knew popped up.
[★★★★ Jung Woo-dan / Lead Vocal]
“…??”
That VTIC guy.
[You’re Ju Dan, right?]
Yeah, that Ju Dan.
‘What the hell.’
I moved my hand intending to stash it in my inventory, but… there’s no reject button?
[Confirm]
Only this appears. Could this be auto-registration?
[It seems so…?]
Well, it doesn’t matter. If push comes to shove, I can just accept it and delete him from my colleague list later.
So the moment I pressed the ‘Confirm’ button.
Zzzzzt!
…sparks burst from the button again.
“…??”
[Fortune Chance]
Strange text embossed in a bronze hue appeared, and words spun lazily inside a vintage pipe.
‘This….’
A luck event from a game.
And at some point, like gears meshing together, it clicked and stopped, combining the words.
[Additional Effect – Awakening!]
And 3 seconds later.
[Colleague: Jung Woo-dan has successfully awakened!]
“What….”
What?

* * *
This insane system gave me a bonus in the most infuriating way possible.
The moment I confirmed the situation, I bolted down the corridor, ransacking the practice rooms.
‘I have to find him.’
If I mess this up, I’m truly screwed…!
With my mind spinning at full throttle, I yanked open three or four different types of practice rooms in order of priority.
Finally, I came face to face with someone whose head was planted against the wall of the Choreography Practice Room.
Jung Woo-dan.
In other words… Ju Dan from VTIC.
“….”
“….”
He said nothing and didn’t lift his head from the wall. I approached him slowly, trying not to draw attention from those around us.
‘I need to be careful.’
My mind raced.
Just then, Cha Yu-jin, who’d been warming up in the corner, spotted me and raised his hand excitedly.
Wait. You don’t mean….
“Park Moon-dae!”
As expected.
“…Park Moon-dae?”
The guy with his head against the wall flinched at the familiar name, then jerked his head up urgently.
“Park Moon-dae, Senior?”
We’re done for.
His confused face swept across the surroundings, and when he spotted Cha Yu-jin and Kim Rae-bin behind him, he went even paler.
“Testa… wait.”
“Um, Senior.”
“I mean, that’s….”
Cold sweat dripped down the blank face of the guy muttering to himself.
But soon he seemed to be whispering something under his breath, trying to calm himself.
‘I need to get him out of here first.’
I was just grateful there were no cameras yet.
But before I could even gesture to Cha Yu-jin to help me drag him out by the arms, Ju Dan opened his mouth.
His voice far more composed now.
“Where’s the Production Team?”
“Why would you need the Production Team….”
“I’m withdrawing.”
“…?!”
My mind went blank.

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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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