Debut or Die - Chapter 410

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

A Fatal Illness if I Don’t Debut – Episode 410
The competition program that Wishes is appearing in this time, 【True Victory】, reduces talk segments but doesn’t dwell long on the narrative of stage preparation.
It’s to maintain the concept of a skill-based showdown where ‘everything speaks through the stage.’
That’s precisely why Ryu Gun-woo was pleased.
‘If we show too much of the preparation process, the impact falls flat.’
Since they’re all veterans, they’d breeze through with an unseasoned efficiency that wouldn’t fit a rookie image.
That’s not the character I wanted to project.
‘I need to give them the taste of defying expectations.’
As a result, Wishes received the typical editing of a ‘breakout rookie who hit it big with one song’—with almost no preparation footage.
[【The fifth team is?】]
[The idol you desire~ Hello, we’re Wishes.]
A polished introduction, promoting their current hit song, ‘Timer,’ like an advertisement.
Under normal circumstances, they would’ve received far more airtime. They’re absurd monsters of rookies with individually hot members.
But the remaining early segments went to a team with superior positioning and image.
That’s T-Holic.
[Ah~ Welcome!]
[【Here come the nation’s idols!】]
Because they have higher public recognition and more hit songs, the viewers’ reactions—for better or worse—concentrated on them.
However, a few people who prided themselves on sharp analysis left their comments.
-They seem to overlap quite a bit.
-This was a casting failure. Their images are too similar.
-They should’ve differentiated with Ryu Chung-woo instead to get more airtime lol
Members who excelled through individual activities have hot recognition, and they possess commercially successful hit songs.
By those facts alone, Wishes was clearly a latecomer in T-Holic’s tier.
Moreover, even the theme of this 101st episode performance doesn’t favor Wishes.
[Theme: Back to Basics]
[A theme for singers challenging 【True Victory】 as it moves beyond the 100th episode into a new beginning]
Back to basics for rookies?
And remembering the festival-like 100th episode special with its lavish stage production and famous composers’ masterpieces, it could only feel dull.
Even when Shin Jae-hyun, the leader, was asked to deliver his ‘words of resolve’ before the stage, people seemed underwhelmed.
[Through various individual activities, we’ve been fortunate to gain recognition, but the truth is, we’re people who perform group stages.]
[We want to show you that.]
-That sounds like a death flag
-Anyone would think they’ve only been on variety shows for like five years lol
-Didn’t they do a lot with Timer?
When viewers reacted with a somewhat deflated attitude to the remarks of promising rookies already holding a hit song.
A fan leaving supportive comments couldn’t hold back and typed away.
-lol You guys don’t know. Wishes came from a Survival Show Program
-Group competition itself is their back to basics
The post was instantly buried and disappeared, but at that moment, the broadcast screen changed.
[Live Broadcast]
The moment the real-time broadcast indicator appears in the upper corner and the screen’s texture shifts, the camera moves and illuminates the Stage.
The opening Stage, preparations complete.
Massive cursive lettering glows brightly on the upper display panel.
[Yesterday]
Sunlit yellow lighting descends onto the Stage.
Before the display panel that resembles a blue sky, the Stage set is an elegant school Entrance built of brick.
And between those panel structures, the performers emerge.
Members of Wishes dressed in neat private school uniforms.
Gathered along their movement lines, they form a large formation, and Chae Yul with blonde hair smiles from the center.
[Shall we turn back the timer and go to the past]
It was the entrance of a song everyone knew.
The Stage, with its movement lines and vocal delivery altered somewhat theatrically and brass accompaniment added, feels rather retro and cheerful.
A sense of fullness and joy.
Moreover, with each of their parts, they playfully blended in the characters they’d built from entertainment shows.
Ryu Cheong-woo wearing glasses and reading a book. A cast that performs a magic trick of lighting newspaper on fire. Cha Yu-jin narrows her eyes as she ends her rap with ‘I’m sorry’.
They mix in trending phrases or recreate situations.
And Ryu Gun-woo, who had been holding a campaign sign like a protest placard, hugged the sign tightly before singing the chorus with a smile.
[In my running heart, you were
A falling star above us
I still remember, even today]
Members dancing while swinging their hands.
Every single moment of it… felt so natural and gave off a pleasant sense of support. The successful arrangement and the members’ relaxed appearance, which didn’t seem nervous at all.
-Not bad
-They’re doing well, the proper function of idols~~ feels like we’re being cheered on^^
-They must’ve gotten some votes, they sing pretty well too
It might have been somewhat plain, but as an opening, it was a good, pleasant Stage. The vocals were flawless.
In that moment when I thought it was worth letting pass without criticism.
-Huh? Where’s Kim Rae-bin
While unnoticed amid the complex movement lines and distorted camera work.
In-young climbs along the railing behind the Stage set.
The camera that belatedly follows captures Kim Rae-bin with white hair placing his hand on the school clock.
When his downward gaze meets the camera’s eye.
[D——-ing—–]
The camera work swiftly pulls back.
The blue sky on the display panel writhes, and a new sound cuts in, carrying the bell tone.
A minor-key recorder.
And the tempo of the accompaniment changes.
-????
As Kim Rae-bin leisurely descends the railing one step at a time, the remaining seven have already gathered and showcase their choreography.
It resembled a dance break interlude, yet the off-beat rhythm and subtle slowness created an unsettling, peculiar sensation.
By the time Kim Rae-bin descended completely and joined the formation, the bell chimes and original backing track had already faded.
Within white noise.
Kim Rae-bin walked to center stage and tilted his head.
Then came a hoarse, low voice.
[Move the timer]
[Grant my wish]
A strange rap seized the mismatched melody like a predator, and the song unfolded anew.
A piercing riff melody that struck downward with intensity.
[A spell I’ll never forget
Teach it to me, teach me
Your world]
The massive display had already transitioned past the crimson-stained hour into darkness, and a crescent moon rose.
The time of night.
[Yesterday]
The moment the text at the top changed, the real choreography began.
And whenever a member emerged to find their part in “Timer,”
[Turn the timer]
[I’m here, I don’t change]
They were blocked.
A new minor melody that seized the Timer’s melody and surged forward.
Contemporary MIDI sounds naturally displaced the classical arrangement.
At this point, the viewers couldn’t help but be bewildered.
-What song is this
-Isn’t Timer their debut song?
No.
Their debut track—one that perfectly matched K-pop fandom tastes and transcended domestic music popularity—was something else entirely.
[Even if I remember forever
Never tire of me, hold me
Keep me here]
‘Wish’
The urban legend story of a school trapped eternally in the dead of night consumed Timer.
Devoured it.
Every time Timer’s riff melody emerged, Wish’s beat gnawed at it relentlessly.
And the choreography shifted to block it.
[A photograph glimmers]
[The hunting night, the prey’s breathing
I’m the one who grants wishes]
As Cha Yu-jin’s eyes blazed and he seized the dance center, pushing back Jin Chae-yul’s movement line from Timer’s chorus, the members who had intentionally received fewer parts in Timer came to the forefront.
They emerged fully into view.
The beat accelerates progressively, growing fiercer, and the choreography becomes rougher—the formations pushing outward with raw, aggressive momentum.
The night of the hunt.
A desolate high note pierces through.
[Ohohohoh-]
Beneath it, a dark and intense voice anchors the sound.
[Make me enhanced
Make me better
Come- in-]
The moment the hands that had stretched outward and the static poses crystallize into stillness.
The song ends.
Lowering his hand from the empty air, In-young steps forward from the center.
[One
Two
Three
Now grant my wish]
Neat and composed.
After tidying his clothing with his fingers, Shin Jae-hyun turns with a smile, and the formation solidifies into a pyramid shape.
But those behind him still face forward, and they open their mouths.
[Ooh… ooh….]
A mocking acapella rings out.
In the crimson midnight school, a bell tolls.
[Ding-]
Their upper bodies sway to the rhythm.
[Dong-]
The lights cut out.
[…g]
On the darkened stage, only the lingering bell tone remains as the opening stage concludes.
The MC’s voice soon echoes through the VCR for the next performance, but….
-???
-What song was that just now?? Someone please tell me
-That was electrifying
-What did I just witness
The viewers’ reactions couldn’t keep pace with the flow—they were consumed by shock.
-? I went to the bathroom and came back, why is the atmosphere like this
After all the live broadcast stages concluded that day, came the ten-minute voting period with a fifty-fifty split between the audience and viewers.
Wishes pulled off a stunning feat, climbing from the bottom to second place for their final ranking.

* * *
Before leaving work, I stopped by the Bathroom and scrolled through my smartphone screen in the Corridor on my way back.
Every time I turned the page, stories about this group popped up.
The main keyword was surprise.
-Is Wishes’ Stage always like this?
The Stage for “Timer,” which targeted the music charts, was deliberately composed to be easy to follow and comfortable to watch.
It wasn’t primarily about shocking audiences with insanely difficult choreography or commanding presence that made jaws drop—nothing that drew attention in an almost bewildering way.
Just a Stage where talent shone through pleasantly.
Because of this, the public had understood Wishes’ strengths and direction as the “mainstream-friendly T-Holic line.”
But this Stage made them realize something.
This group’s true aspirations.
-So variety shows really were their side gig
Surprisingly, it was the truth. I nodded while reading the best comment.
-No, it’s not a scam? Do this on live>??ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Wow, how did they nail the timing? They’re all so good, wow they’re insane, live…
-I didn’t expect the indie aesthetic to go this far, but it’s charming. Was their original debut supposed to feel like this?
While such reactions poured in from entertainment communities interested in idols, general viewers were even more enthusiastic.
The dominant reaction was rapid-fire surprise—they were so skilled it almost felt jarring.
Moreover, this wasn’t just any ordinary program.
-That was a satisfying Stage. Since they’re young, they know how to take on challenges. We saw geniuses.
-To think they’d open like that~~it was amazing!
-With this level of skill, they must have suffered emotionally because of that heartless Company only putting out variety shows. They really sing and dance well.
A long-running competition program.
These viewers, already stagnant in their tastes, had been craving more intense and stimulating competition Stages.
After watching over 100 episodes, everything seemed like a cliché to them—so this level was exactly the right kind of stimulation.
Both in terms of Stage performance and narrative.
‘The skilled ones are the good ones, after all.’
Thanks to that, the vast majority seemed to have shifted their stance, and it was pleasant to see.
‘Good.’
I nodded and closed the Internet, thinking that once I released articles tomorrow, I could effortlessly boost the group’s image.
Now to go inside, stretch out, and finally get more than 6 hours of sleep for once…
“Uh, excuse me.”
“Yes?”
I turned my head and saw a familiar face…
‘Hmm.’
Who was this bastard again?
‘Ah, T-Holic.’
But the reason I didn’t recognize him was because he was a former member.
Sorry, but in reality, it’s been a long time since you left. I wouldn’t have had any reason to see your face.
I quickly bowed respectfully like a newcomer would. He nodded in acknowledgment.
“I watched your stage. You prepared so hard—you definitely deserved second place!”
“Thank you.”
I grasped the hand he extended with courtesy. A flicker of something between contempt and wariness crossed his eyes.
“I think your next comeback would be amazing with that kind of stage presence. Wishze seems to do that sort of thing best.”
Was he telling me to chase mass appeal?
Well, this bastard probably knew a rookie didn’t have the authority to make that decision anyway.
He was probably just bitter about losing, so he deliberately lingered around our waiting room to get treated like a senior.
‘Oh.’
So he knew how to throw his weight around.
Whatever. He’d be retired in a few years anyway.
I suppressed a smirk internally and nodded.
“Ah, thank you.”
“Right, right. Next time when we appear on a variety show, I’d love it if you guys came along too so we could see each other’s faces.”
“Yes, of course.”
Maybe I should deflate his ego a bit.
My waiting room door was right in front of us, and I couldn’t leave because of this, so I wasn’t in the best mood. Would he just shut up and get out of here?
Then, suddenly, that door opened.
Click.
And out came someone in casual clothes.
Chung-ryeo.
“Hello, senior.”
“Ah, Jae-hyun. Good to see you. Yes.”
As the leader, he must have made connections with this guy better than the others did.
‘I’ll just slip past and go in.’
I watched him approach with a rare smile.
The T-Holic dropout’s lips moved.
“You always have a good attitude. You need to keep it up if you want to last long.”
“I’ve always respected you.”
“Right, right.”
A meaningless certainty that he would never leave this position. And arrogance.
‘This is getting tedious.’
Just as I was about to speak.
Chung-ryeo opened his mouth slowly first.
“Still, nothing can stay at its peak forever. Not groups, not people.”
“…!”
Shin Jae-hyun’s smile froze, and he stared at the T-Holic member.
It meant you won’t last longer than me.
‘…That bastard.’
He got me.
But I never expected him to say something like that so openly.
A peak is only a peak because it ends.
I recalled what I’d said to him before.
The guy who’d left the group’s face grew redder and redder, and he began to harden his expression.
“You right now….”
“Oh, hyung, you’re here!”
At that moment, a bright voice cut in again.
The figure who came rushing around the corner was another member of T-Holic.
“The Manager was looking for you. Oh, and the Wishes members.”
T-Holic’s youngest member, who was the owner of ‘Party in me’ that I’d performed during the first Ajusa evaluation, winked.
“Your stage was amazing. Let’s have a friendly competition so we can see each other for a long time at the Broadcasting Station!”
“Oh no. We wouldn’t dare compete….”
“How humble of you.”
No, back in reality, we can’t compete because of the generational gap. At that point, it’s basically attacking the elderly.
In any case, the kid seemed to be laughing as if impressed, but soon changed his expression.
“Thank you~ Come on, hyung, let’s go!”
T-Holic’s youngest member quickly dragged away the guy who was about to leave.
“….”
I looked at Chung-ryeo. He shrugged and let out a thin laugh.
“So, how does it feel to have your own words quoted?”
“That’s all I need to know.”
“Haha!”
I opened the Waiting Room door, leaving him to his laughter.
And so all the conditions were in place.
Now the target season arrives.

* * *
“Hello, viewers~”
Lee Sae-jin from the group Zairop, holding the microphone at the MC’s seat at the Awards Ceremony, greeted with a smile.
He, who had received high praise for his black-dyed hair, stood here thanks to his steady group activities and outstanding individual performances throughout the year.
Of course, the fact that he was one of the rare people capable of handling live broadcasts with such skill was also one of the reasons, but the company didn’t know the real circumstances.
‘…I think it’ll go well.’
Lee Sae-jin was here for any unexpected situations that might arise.
For the plan and strategy.
‘Ah, I’m doing all sorts of things.’
He swallowed nervously in secret while maintaining an unbothered smile and lifting his head.
“The Lemon Music Awards curtain is rising!”
The year-end Awards Ceremony had begun.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————