Debut or Die - Chapter 401

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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 401
Music flows across the Stage. Beneath the puppy costume, a singer’s voice emerges.
The College Student leaned in to listen.
-With the most beautiful heart
I offer you my confession
Soft and gentle lyrics continue.
-With an infinitely kind heart
I give you my love
It was a love song famous as a marriage proposal and wedding blessing song.
‘Ah.’
Yet here, it didn’t sound like ‘that kind’ of love.
Whether because of the puppy’s form or the fault of the voice, she couldn’t tell.
-When you hear love
Think of me
A puppy rescuing its family.
What was written on the placard was clearly a joke, but somehow when that joke connected with the lyrics… the humor vanished.
-Today and tomorrow
I love you
The duet sung by both male and female voices resonated plainly through the singer’s voice inside the puppy costume.
They could have chosen something more radical or more intense, yet they selected this song.
That choice only amplified the Stage’s impact. Subtly.
-I love you
The Welsh Corgi concluded its final song with a remarkably deep and rich tone.
Applause lingered long from the Audience Seating.
“….”
The College Student froze before the Television, lost in some inexplicable emotion.
A strange longing seemed to call to her—nostalgia beckoning.
She paused her thoughts for a moment, and quietly….
[‘Your House’s Welsh Corgi’s moving Stage!]
“…! Phew.”
The MC’s loud voice and subtitles rang through the audio. The College Student barely shook her head and found her grip on reality.
‘Anyway… that was good.’
Unless the broadcast transmission had undergone an enormous correction process, the winner was all but decided.
Without flaunting tremendous vocal power or high-note techniques, they had created a beautiful song where every necessary sound fell precisely into place.
[The winner is… ‘Your House’s Welsh Corgi’!]
As expected, the winner emerged with an impressive point margin.
[With this, the singer to be created on 【I Made a Singer】 has become ‘Your House’s Welsh Corgi’!]
The Welsh Corgi pressed its cheeks with both front paws as if moved.
It was quite cute and there was genuine sentiment in congratulating the victory, but the real matter came next.
‘Identity reveal!’
After the runner-up offered a bittersweet farewell before the finish line and departed, the flow finally returned to the Welsh Corgi.
[And now, at last~ it’s time to meet our champion!]
Confetti explodes.
As laughter-filled cheers pour down on the Welsh Corgi performing with the picket sign clutched to its chest, the MC finally opens his mouth.
[The creator of 【Your House Welsh Corgi】 is….]
The Welsh Corgi lowers the picket sign on cue, raises both front paws again, and then—whoosh—removes the mask.
And what emerges from within is… sweat-dampened black hair and a coldly handsome face.
“…!!”
[Wishze’s main vocalist and rising star, Ryu Gun-woo!]
…He was an idol after all.
But rather than feeling a thrill at her deduction proving correct, shock seized her entire body.
Not an unknown—but already… a familiar face!
‘Ryu Gun-woo??’
The main vocalist from that survival show she’d once considered dipping her toes into was smiling faintly.
‘No, I did think he performed well on the show…!’
I had no idea it would be to this extent. Well, his face wasn’t really my type anyway, so I only gave it a passing glance.
I never imagined his identity would turn out to be a rookie.
The way he walked that fine line between attention-seeker and wit, his aegyo and the spectrum of his songs—I would have sworn he was an idol with at least five years under his belt… but a rookie?
‘And one who trained for only three months at that…!’
That face, wearing a Welsh Corgi costume and performing such innocent antics so naturally?
As I sat with my mouth hanging open watching the television, Ryu Gun-woo smiled and tucked the costume under his arm.
Then he picked up the microphone again.
[Hello. I’m Ryu Gun-woo from Wishze. Thank you so much for voting for ‘Your House Welsh Corgi’.]
The audience’s groans and strange exclamations blend together into an odd response, and laughter erupts again.
[Could we hear your thoughts on winning?]
[Honestly, I never dared to think about winning. My goal was just to work hard on creating something I love and showing it to you all, but really… I still can’t believe it.]
[In what way?]
[That everyone shares such similar comedy tastes with me.]
Applause erupts. The MC barely suppresses a grin and asks again.
[Do you like the Welsh Corgi too??]
[I like yellow dogs.]
Saying so, Ryu Gun-woo hugged the yellow dog head costume and laughed.
His cold, delicate impression suddenly softened, and somehow he looked… cute.
[Let’s give our winning creator one more round of applause!]
[Ryu Gun-woo’s ‘Your House Welsh Corgi’ will serve as the Broadcasting Station’s mascot for this month.]
Tada-da!
As a grand BGM plays, the Welsh Corgi, masked once more, lifts one paw and waves the picket sign adorably. The College Student almost reflexively waved back at the screen.
And so the broadcast ended.
But the turmoil that had begun in her heart did not.
“….”
The College Student finally picked up her smartphone.
It was thirty seconds before a new Ryu Gun-woo fan account would be created.

* * *
I’d gotten lucky.
The guest lineup for the special program wasn’t particularly impressive, but the fact that the response would be solid once the broadcast aired was truly the best condition possible.
‘The editing turned out well too.’
I was already satisfied as I watched “Wishze Ryu Gun-woo” trending in real-time searches.
I had plenty of time since I was sitting at the Shop waiting for an interview schedule in the evening.
I could even check the congratulatory messages coming through on my smartphone.
That’s when I was checking the group chat where emoticons were streaming endlessly.
A personal message came in.
-Big Sae-jin: hahahaha
-Big Sae-jin: Moon-dae did you see this (link)
“Hm?”
I checked the link address.
‘It’s SNS.’
Did another meme pop up with that Welsh Corgi again?
Since I hadn’t properly monitored it yet, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to take a look and clicked it.
A new post that had been uploaded just minutes ago appeared.
-Gun-woo is seriously so cute I’m going crazy haven’t slept in over a week just waiting for crumbs
…Is this one of my fans?
Judging by the variety show mention, it seems like someone who became interested because of the dog costume this time.
‘So they’re telling me to monitor properly.’
If the intention was encouragement, I couldn’t say it failed. I chuckled and scrolled down.
Welsh Corgi fan art with sparkling eyes, the costume, and a video of removing it passed by, then my debut activity photos went by before casual chatter appeared again.
-Actually, I’ve seen Gun-woo in person. I did a hug event with another member during the Wise guerrilla concert…
Oh.
└Ackㅠㅠ
└Why didn’t you choose Geonwoo?ㅠㅠ
└My friend asked me to support a different member… but that member was cute too. The problem is my heart only beats for the main vocal…
And as the conversation grew more lively, this person even attached a verification photo.
-The participation bracelet I got back then.. stop with the fake talk (photo)
What was in the photo was a paper strip worn around the wrist with a bracelet.
And… it was the fabric I remembered.
The light blue knit that the person hugged by Jin Chae-yul was wearing. And the bracelet.
That was the outfit Park Moon-dae’s first Home Ma had worn back then.
“….”
No way.
-Thought my taste got reformed but it didn’t seem like it cold Gun-woo doesn’t work on me Gun-woo will always protect
-Haha, I know renting out a cannon would be crazy, I know that, but I kinda want to do it…
The post ended there.
“….”
I quietly lowered my smartphone.
“Gun-woo, did something good happen?”
“Yes. A little.”
“Oh~ Ah, that Welsh Corgi thing!”
It was similar.
Nothing had actually changed because of this, yet somehow it felt like I’d returned to where I belonged.
I put extra care into finishing that day’s interview beyond what we’d originally planned.
And in the meantime, the ripple effects from the variety show were growing increasingly uncontrollable.

* * *
Let me rewind time a bit to look back.
Before “I Made a Singer” aired, the momentum began building from the moment the articles dropped.
-The kids are going on a variety show (link)
-Wow disaster escape lolololol how am I so hyped
-Lol they must’ve gathered only kids with fun reactions to cast them!
Since it was fairly common for groups to designate variety-show members and push them onto programs, people reacted as if that’s what this was.
And the first to air was a disaster simulation program featuring three VTIC members, showcasing various response methods.
Let me say this upfront.
…Chung-ryeo’s casting choice was right.
-Lololololololol
-I thought this is how shamanism comes about
-Me saying methods I saw in manga (Jung Woo-dan screenshot)
Friends being swayed (Jin Chae-yul, Oh Yoon-shin screenshot)
The two yes-men startled by sudden alarms or earthquakes, yet eager to try anything quickly, drew responses calling them admirable.
And Ju Dan spouted nonsense there too, but it actually worked, making him appeal as the spiritual pillar for both of them.
While these three were appealing to younger fans who primarily used SNS.
A variety show targeting a different demographic also aired.
-All three male idols with the four-legged friend are insane please come back next season
-Shin Jae-hyun appeared on four-legged friend, no wonder mom kept saying our Jae-hyun sounds like that
-Everyone be happy watching Ryu Chung-woo effortlessly lift a 60kg Malamute (screenshot)
The two fixed cast members on the new season of “Four Legs But Friend,” a problem dog training program, took care of the dogs quite well.
They focused on heartwarming rather than humor, but that’s precisely what made them gain something.
They built a favorable image as dependable and mature.
-Whoever it is, let’s get married
-I need to see Ganggeoljwi, but I see Shin Jaehyun next to him. So why is he so calm and kind? ㅜㅜ
-Wow you’d think he’d get sick of it at some point but what’s with that patience
Thus they succeeded in appealing to a broader middle-aged demographic as well.
Up until now, fans had grown uneasy about the octopus-like sprawl of individual activities, but nothing had completely exploded. It felt appropriately balanced, and the success was undeniably evident.
However, massive backlash arrived with the next announcement.
-Kim Rae-bin appearing on 【School Rapping】, Cha Yu-jin appearing on 【The Art of Military Service】…
-????
Cha Yu-jin’s military entertainment show and Kim Rae-bin’s rapper survival appearance.
Fans erupted at this gem of a lineup.
“Kim Tae-in is crazy, he’s crossing the line lolololol is he joking?”
-Wait, you’re putting the kid who just did a survival show through another survival show? And as a rapper? The kid who wasn’t even aiming to be an idol, you barely made him one and now you’re insane?
-Hey, no matter how entertainment it is, sending high school students into the military is a bit too much for a baby.
The atmosphere heated up as if fans were about to send a fax barrage to the agency, but the entertainment program aired first.
Specifically, Cha Yu-jin’s military entertainment show.
-Damn
And the situation seemed to unfold exactly as fans had worried.
Hahaha, this guy’s hilarious, the instructor’s speechless.
-Probably heading back to the States after the program ends
-If they wanted to send someone exempt, why didn’t they send Ryu Chung-woo instead, that’s what I’m curious about
-It’s so funny but at the same time I feel like biting my nails, is that possible?
Early in the broadcast.
Cha Yu-jin appeared like any other foreign character—providing four-dimensional charm through communication barriers as a supporting role, or as an outsider meant to elicit reactions.
Because of his young age, viewers laughed it off, but the image of a “foreign maknae oddball” was inevitable.
-I know Yujin must be frustrated too, but it’s so funny haha.
-But he’s still brave and cute. He doesn’t even cry.
This was the general mood.
But this evaluation completely flipped starting from episode two.
Cha Yu-jin, in crude terms, had work sense.
[Cha Yu-jin: I’ll take it!]
-Why doesn’t Eugene fall behind on the forced march
-He’s holding up incredibly well
-Surprisingly diligent and no complaints, is this really someone from the land of the free America, Korea-style hierarchical order adaptation complete what’s going on
He’s doing helicopter rappelling while smiling lol
Since it was entertainment, the actual military life only borrowed the form and framework—the training schedule itself was structured inconsistently for maximum stimulation.
As a result, there were many segments that squeezed courage and stamina, and Cha Yu-jin stood out noticeably in each of them.
Moreover, people were shocked that he didn’t complain either.
-He’s doing obstacle courses non-stop but doesn’t gripe once? This must be edited
He was originally a football player, so that makes sense lol. A quarterback from the US.
Is that for real? lol
-So he was an athlete, that explains it
-Good that there’s no unnecessary over-the-top reactions, I hate those entertainment-style reactions when they set up a military camp
Ultimately, during the ten days of filming, Cha Yu-jin received flawless ace editing in the final four days.
Since it was already a popular entertainment program, after the ten days’ worth of content aired over two months, Cha Yu-jin’s recognition rose to almost meme status.
“Congratulations.”
On the day we returned after finishing filming, Cha Yu-jin—who had left the remarkable impression that “everyone except me thought I was a football coach”—shrugged his shoulders listlessly.
“I hate you, hyung. I won’t forget this.”
Yeah, yeah.
“Any other impressions?”
“The food there was terrible. And everyone talks like Kim Rae-bin.”
Four days later, after finally recovering his own speech pattern, Cha Yu-jin pointed at the television and pouted.
The culprit himself was on screen at that very moment.
[Kim Rae-bin: I will do my best.]
[Lee Sun-joong: I’m scared of that phrase now.]
It was School Rapping, currently preparing for the semifinals.
By this point, Kim Rae-bin had become almost like the grim reaper within the program’s narrative.
Of course, there had been absurd twists and turns, but I’ll explain those later—the bottom line is that his recognition skyrocketed here too.
Jin Chae-yul sat down in the living room with a grin spreading across his face.
“Wow, a lot of people think Rae-bin is a rapper, right?”
“He mentions Wishze every time he introduces himself.”
“Unbelievable.”
And now that my identity had been revealed today, every former member had made their mark on the public through entertainment programs, each getting their moment in the spotlight.
Naturally, the anticipation that had been building finally exploded.
-What exactly is Wishze?
-I suddenly realized I know every member but not a single song—is this even possible? Are they actually a comedy group?
Hahahahahahahaha
└Surprisingly their stages are even better. Check out their legendary debut stage—not a single member slacked off, they all killed it. (link)
└They’re really good
“I can’t believe this is actually happening with my mouth wide open in shock.”
└But when they’re all together like that, it feels like the entire worldview collapses
When the buzz reached its peak.
‘Perfect timing.’
It was time for a new album.

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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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