Debut or Die - Chapter 397

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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 397
【Wise】 Filming Studio was in the midst of intense practice.
The trainees appeared utterly serious and wholly focused on the finals, but conversations still flowed beneath the surface.
Who among the lower-ranked participants would survive?
-Who are you voting for?
-I don’t know. I’ll decide when the time comes.
Though they called it anonymous voting, the interviews subtly probed people’s intentions.
-Have you already made up your mind, by any chance?
One participant from the Supplementary Class gave a vague answer like “I’m still thinking it over carefully,” but in truth, he believed the decision was already made.
‘Why would there be anything to agonize over when I get to vote for two people?’
Normally, it would be difficult only if you had to choose between one person to eliminate and one to advance. But when you could vote for both your first and second choices, what was there to struggle with?
‘I just need to exclude the one I won’t vote for.’
One person had already become implicitly disqualified.
-What, you bastard!
Ugh.
‘Why would I work with someone who suddenly goes berserk while eating and tries to beat people up?’
Unaware that Shin Jae-hyun, knowing the assault incident would explode three years later, had orchestrated everything from the action to spreading the news cleanly, the participant simply nodded in agreement.
So naturally, after excluding one person, three remained.
And excluding one more from those three was even simpler.
The one less close. The one he didn’t know well. The one with no trainee experience.
Precisely the most recently added member of the Supplementary Class.
Ryu Chung-woo.
‘He’ll manage fine on his own anyway.’
There was no connection with the retired national team member receiving a pension, nor any sense of familiarity.
‘So if I vote for the remaining two, that’s it.’
The existing trainees had already made up their minds—they’d practiced together before and had some rapport, and there was something uncomfortable about eliminating them, so they’d chosen the safe two.
The people being voted on could also vote themselves, and since those two were already close, the atmosphere had already been set among them.
‘That’s how it’ll go, I suppose.’
After the participant reached this conclusion, he was lounging about, savoring a brief moment of sweet idleness, when it happened.
Click.
The training room door opened and voices were heard.
“…which is why voting becomes such a dilemma.”
“That’s true.”
Familiar participants’ voices.
‘Oh.’
In that instant, the participant lying behind the training room sound equipment realized he wasn’t visible.
Ryu Gun-woo and Jung Woo-dan’s voices continued their conversation.
“Do you have someone in mind?”
“Well… hyung, you’re voting for Ryu Chung-woo hyung, right?”
“For now. What about you?”
They conversed comfortably, unaware someone was present. The Inferior Section participant inadvertently eavesdropped on their conversation in silence.
“I was thinking about Kim Da-hwan.”
“Ah.”
Kim Da-hwan was one of the two people he had planned to film.
Since the topic he’d just been contemplating had come up, the participant held his breath and suddenly focused on the conversation.
“I’m fine with it. Though the dance position does seem a bit oversaturated.”
Ryu Gun-woo paused slightly, but soon seemed to remember there was no camera and spoke freely.
“We don’t mind. We’re vocalists.”
‘…!’
Position?
“Yes. If skilled people join and raise the average competency, that’s beneficial.”
“Right. The CEO will handle these decisions.”
Ah.
The two then agreed to film the person they’d decided on for each other and left the Training Room, which still appeared empty.
“Everyone hasn’t arrived yet.”
“It’s still early. Then let me go somewhere else for a moment….”
Thud.
“….”
The door closed. But the participant felt somewhat troubled.
The dance position was oversaturated?
“…That’s right.”
That was accurate. Among the remaining people, the vocal position had at most four people including those two.
Considering the rap position only had one intimidating person left from the Supplementary Class, the dance position alone was oversaturated with seven people.
But at the top tier, there was Shin Jae-hyun, who had no equal, and Cha Yu-jin from the Supplementary Class, who seemed to appear from nowhere….
‘…There’s no spot.’
Nearly double the difference.
The participant, who was himself in the dance position, swallowed hard.
Moreover, another remark bothered him.
-The CEO will handle these decisions.
Members weren’t selected by individual viewer votes—the CEO selected them.
Given the CEO’s tendencies, he would naturally consider position balance when selecting, which meant… it was truly dangerous.
“….”
Faced with this sudden sense of crisis, the participant bit his lip.
When choices are free, people inevitably rationalize decisions that benefit themselves.
Especially when debut—that massive prize—dangles tantalizingly as the goal.
So the conclusion came quickly.
‘…I need to eliminate competitors as much as possible. I’m not an idiot.’
-Dance position candidates for elimination should be sent away from here.
He hesitated briefly, then resolved himself, quietly left the Training Room, and ran down the Corridor.
And Ryu Gun-woo and Jung Woo-dan, sitting in the Vocal Practice Room across the way, noticed it.
“It really came out.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you confident this will work?”
“Mm.”
Ryu Gun-woo let out a quiet laugh. There was only one thing he was certain of.
My position.
Top-tier public recognition among participants, buzz factor, skill, and even the CEO’s high evaluation.
‘It’s hard for fellow contestants to ignore.’
It was the power of hierarchy and authority, not affinity.
Since that differed in nature from personal liking, direct persuasion might trigger resistance, but circumventing it would suffice.
‘People believe more when they think they’ve analyzed the other person’s words and figured something out themselves.’
In truth, position saturation could be managed by pushing one side as the main focus depending on the group’s style, but this way they couldn’t feel assured enough to think that way.
Of course, he had no intention of explaining that far, so Ryu Gun-woo simply put it this way.
“I’d bet money the atmosphere changes by tomorrow.”
“I won’t fall for urging such uncertain gambling, but I respect it as courtesy toward a key player.”
“….”
Ryu Gun-woo fell silent. Ju Dan briefly marveled anyway, then rested his chin in his hand.
“How many times do we need to do this?”
“Just one more time with a different source changed.”
“Will that be enough?”
“The word will spread anyway. Since all the remaining trainees are in similar situations, they’ll try to band together. You saw them standing out.”
Since Testa and VTIC had already monopolized the vocal positions, the remaining trainees in dance positions faced similar circumstances.
Then they would share this strategy among themselves. Meaningful numbers needed to emerge, and since everyone’s situation was similar, the word would spread well.
‘Then no matter how those votes scatter, if Ryu Chung-woo just gets a third, he’s in the safe zone for passing.’
With just the members from VTIC and Testa whose memories had returned, that was already six people.
Half the quota was already secured, so this much should suffice.
Ryu Gun-woo shrugged, and Ju Dan quite seriously… agreed.
“You seem to think a lot about human psychology. I do sometimes too. It’s quite an interesting habit.”
“….”
Ryu Gun-woo didn’t bother responding and quietly decided to continue with an explanation of the next target.
Meanwhile, beyond the corridor where their gazes had withdrawn, something Ryu Gun-woo hadn’t predicted was unfolding.
“Gasp.”
1. The trainee running down the corridor stumbled.
“Ow!”
2. Pain shot through their ankle.
“Are you alright?”
3. Ryu Chung-woo, returning from his interview, witnessed it.
And immediately moved.
“Wait. Don’t move.”
Ryu Chung-woo reflexively handled the situation as he’d been taught during training.
“Does it hurt here?”
After checking for pain in different areas.
“Your muscles seem a bit startled, but you don’t need to worry about injury.”
I reassure them by drawing on my own experience. I even went so far as to find a spray-type pain relief balm from the nearby rest area and hand it over.
“Use this.”
“Ah… yes. Thank you.”
And without saying anything more or offering further advice, I leave.
It was a light gesture of goodwill that could easily be treated as routine—the kind of thing Ryu Chung-woo would naturally do.
Only the situation was somewhat special.
“…Hmm.”
The participant who finished applying the balm and stood up evaluated the moment thoughtfully.
Composed, generous in spirit, quick to respond. It made sense he came from the National Team.
‘If he’s on the team, he could be someone to rely on.’
And… he’s a vocalist. There’s no need to compete over positions.
Come to think of it, if we’re not picking Kim Da-hwan, who’s in the dance position anyway, the only remaining candidates are Ryu Chung-woo and that impulsive loser.
This naturally stirred up some sensible feelings.
‘…Wouldn’t someone who’s good at teamwork be better than that anger-management-disorder loser?’
The participant quietly revised the sentence they’d been about to blurt out to someone else about voting. Then I slowly walked down the corridor toward the dormitory.
And days later. The long-awaited final broadcast.
-And finally
I want to see them, but I’m also hesitant… I hope the kids are okay.
-Is it really going to be fun?
While viewers, unable to contain their curiosity, tuned in to the live broadcast, the CEO personally announces the lower-ranked survivors.
In order of votes received.
[Having received a total of 11 votes, this survivor will join us on the final stage.]
-Wow, overwhelming
-With that many votes, it’s probably an existing member?
-Da-hwan?
As light speculation circulates, the voting screen passes by in a VCR, and finally the person in question is confirmed.
[It’s Ryu Chung-woo.]
[…!!]
Ryu Chung-woo became the first to pass, securing 11 out of 12 votes.
Essentially a clean sweep, except for one vote from the lower ranks where elimination was a real threat.
-????
-10 votes for Ryu Chung-woo?
-Is this even possible?
Viewers were taken aback, but seeing the participants clapping with smiling faces and little disturbance, they understood.
-Ryu Chung-woo must have a really good personality
-Popular people really are different
-Did they not get along well at their agency? lol That’s wild
However, Park Moon-dae was somewhat taken aback.
‘What is this.’
I hadn’t expected Ryu Chung-woo to sweep up votes like this.
‘I figured around 8 or 9 votes.’
And then I realized.
‘That guy doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean.’
-I’ll secure the votes myself.
Ryu Chung-woo truly had confidence in his influence.
The fact that he could have easily secured second place without going to such lengths proved his confidence wasn’t baseless.
‘…He’s a guy with good instincts.’
After all, he’d led at Ajusa as naturally as breathing.
‘This time must have been similar.’
Park Moon-dae accepted my miscalculation with good humor.
Ryu Chung-woo’s face flushed slightly as he solemnly delivered his acceptance remarks before heading inside.
[I’ll show you that I live up to my teammates’ trust by performing well on today’s final stage.]
Park Moon-dae, wearing Ryu Gun-woo’s face as Testa’s member, gladly applauded the leader.
Then another vocal position trainee was called, confirming the elimination of two contestants.
It was cold, but since they ranked low in the voting, there wasn’t much backlash.
-Oh my gosh ㅠㅠ
-They won’t even let them perform, how cruel
-They’re all still young, I hope they debut somewhere else!
After a brief pause to let viewers feel appropriately sad.
[Yes I am!]
The final stage unfolds.
Thanks to the four lower-ranked contestants sharing the same part and practicing two different formations, the ten-person stage flows seamlessly.
And naturally, the viewers poured out emotions befitting those watching the final broadcast of a survival show.
I’m crying / Wah wah wah
-Please let everyone debut
-Tae-in please don’t be late no wait K-pop’s pioneer the CEO with the golden touch please
-Tae-in please use common sense
Ten people wasn’t many—nowadays groups with over eleven members debut just fine, people cried.
Because there seemed to be no one to cut.
But the expression on CEO Kim Tae-in’s face sitting in the judges’ section was unreadable.
So while viewers poured out curses, resentment, and jokes.
Suddenly the screen shifts.
And what appears… a familiar face wearing a mask.
-???
-Wait just now
-Lee Sae-j;n
-Isn’t that Lee Sae-jin?
A handsome man stood with his arms crossed in the front row of the standing section—not even in the reserved seating for staff.
-Crazy
-Why is Lee Sae-jin here?
-Haha, right?
-??Is Lee Sae-jin with Retti?
└No way lol
Lee Sae-jin.
Here, he was still the actor Bae Sae-jin, before the name change.
An actor famous for minimal media exposure and shooting films like cattle had suddenly appeared in the audience seating for the final episode of a male idol survival show.
Naturally, reactions about him poured in like a frenzy.
And from the moment the camera director and PD noticed Lee Sae-jin, he began appearing on screen quite frequently.
[Who can be a STAR?]
Each time he was caught for one or two seconds crossing with the stage, passionate cheers for the trainees alternated with comments about Lee Sae-jin in the comments.
His reactions were visible on camera.
[Talent crossing the stage, that’s mine]
Whenever someone appeared on screen, he would widen his eyes nervously or swallow hard.
-He’s supporting Ryu Gun-woo
-Yeah
-Seems to like Cha Yu-jin too
-Lee Sae-jin likes skilled performers, me too
-With that lineup, isn’t he just a face fan lol
Viewers who were tired of focusing on audience members found the mysterious actor’s appearance quite entertaining.
-You can see so clearly who he’s supporting
-Why does he act so badly in real life lol
-That’s why he’s good at villain roles, he’s already so immersed in one field that he can’t see anything else
└lololol
That small bit of fun soon faded, but it did have a decent effect drawing attention as it spread across SNS in real time.
-Is this male idol survival show the one Lee Sae-jin watches?
-Tell me quick who I should support
-What is this, a survival show without any narrative? What’s fun about watching it
As the final episode viewership increased that way, the finale finished two stage performances and prepared to enter the climax.
And there was one more element that couldn’t be missing from the climax.
It was empathy and tears.
And the easiest way to draw out this element was already standardized.
[Surprise letters for the trainees]
A warm, middle-aged voice echoed from the quiet stage’s large screen.
[?? : How are you doing, our Yoon-shin?]
Family, of course.
“…!”
Bae Sae-jin in the audience seating nearly clenched his teeth.
‘…No way.’
Brief, fragmented video calls and affectionate voice recordings flashed past—had he collected them from every trainee?
‘…No way.’
Bae Sae-jin didn’t know the intimate details of Park Moon-dae’s—or rather, the current Ryu Gun-woo’s—true family circumstances.
But watching his honest reaction whenever his parents came up, it was impossible not to understand.
That Ryu Gun-woo’s situation wasn’t so different from Park Moon-dae’s.
‘…But here, how will he react?’
Since they’d never discussed this topic before, Bae Sae-jin found himself breaking into a cold sweat, his eyes darting between the massive screen and Ryu Gun-woo standing motionless on stage.
And when he confirmed that Ryu Gun-woo remained expressionless and still.
[Gun-woo. How have you been?]
The screen went black, and finally Ryu Gun-woo’s name began to appear.
[These people sent us a mail all the way here, so we’re having this call.]
[A letter from the Antarctic Base]
Comments flooded in.
-Wait, both of Ryu Gun-woo’s parents are researchers?
-Antarctic base, that’s so cool;;;
“Wow, your family background is no joke—you’re from a real elite family.”
-So jealous, silver spoon
Ryu Gun-woo’s head bowed slightly.
At first glance, he appeared moved and attentively listening to his parents’ voices, but Bae Sae-jin, who had endured hardship alongside him for years, caught the true emotion in his gesture.
‘He’s holding it in.’
Bae Sae-jin clenched his fists tight.

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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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