Debut or Die - Chapter 414

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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 414
Big Dal, swallowed by the System, turned the tables and suppressed the System’s consciousness, seizing control.
[Wooooah!]
I wiped the cold sweat beading on my chin and let out a dry laugh.
“Well done.”
[Yes! This is actually working!?]
‘I thought success would just be paralyzing the System through an error.’
In truth, the moment this failed, it was all over—this gamble was no different from betting everything. Yet I had been the one to suggest doing it myself.
-[Hyung, that’s… Plan B.]
-[If the moment comes when we need to use that… what if I try to transfer the error directly?]
And I had acknowledged it to some degree.
If this bastard returned to reality with the System still intact, the only ending left was absorption.
‘He’d just become a status window.’
The insane idea of detonating the System on an airplane in the first place was partly born from a future prediction that he’d lose his body and become a status window. I won’t deny it.
For him to live as Ryu Gun-woo after returning to reality, something else was needed.
For instance, a complete severance from the System.
‘Or otherwise.’
-Detonate the System itself.
This time, I’d eliminate it for good.
I swallowed and asked quietly.
“How is it?”
[Uh, uh….]
Looking at his own body as if bewildered, the one who had made the surrounding background writhe and distort suddenly lifted his head as if confirming something.
And those holographic eyes suddenly gleamed dark.
[It feels like I can do anything.]
“…!”
His body deepened in color, and the vague world suddenly began to become distinct.
[In here… there’s nothing I don’t know, nothing impossible, and if I just construct it properly, all wishes will flow naturally according to the current….]
He mutters. The background spirals toward him as if being sucked in.
Stars appear.
[…Hyung, there, I can make it so you can do everything you want too.]
This won’t do.
“You know that if you stay here, Testa disbands, right? Even if we just redo everything from ‘Magical Boy’ to ‘Savior’ as they were, it won’t have the same impact as when we first saw them.”
[…! Of course I know! No, what did I just….]
The hologram sparked, and expression returned to Big Dal’s face.
‘I can’t believe I said something like that about the impact of seeing it for the first time.’
It’s funny that I snapped him back to reality with something like that, but it worked.
It seems like watching Testa’s comeback was his only solace during those years of struggling with the condition where he’d die if he didn’t debut.
‘…I just remembered that I did something similar.’
I was about to unconsciously recall my days as a company employee watching STier, but the situation was too urgent for that.
[No, this is strange! It feels like I’m losing control. Wow, this kind of power….]
Regardless, that could potentially spread, so I needed to finish quickly. The System could recover from the error and come back online.
“Right, let’s hurry. You remember what I said, don’t you?”
[Yes!]
The final plan was simple.
‘Self-destruct sequence.’
I was going to blow up the System as it was.
Of course, if I did it in that state, Big Dal could be affected, so I’d put some procedures in between.
[I sent it, hyung!]
Ding.
A status window appeared before me.
[Player: Park Moon-dae (Ryu Gun-woo)]
[Delete the game?]
[Confirm]
A self-destruct launch button with no other options intentionally created—just press confirm and it’s done.
‘Phew.’
To be honest, it felt refreshing.
And at the same time, another status window appeared. I shifted my gaze to the one in front of me.
[GM: Shin Jae-hyun]
[Disconnect from Server?]
[Confirm]
“You go first.”
“Mm.”
Chung-ryeo glanced at the holographic Big Dal and spoke.
“Do you need time to prepare yourself mentally?”
“No.”
I’d already done all there was to do—just press the button.
The moment he heard my answer, he unhesitatingly brought his hand to the confirm button.
Click.
Then the world flickered with light and cracks spread across it.
Thud.
‘It’s going to collapse.’
Crackling silently, fissures formed in the background, and just as everything seemed about to crumble precariously, my vision wavering and on the verge of collapse.
[Designate new Server?]
“Don’t touch that.”
“That’s excessive suspicion.”
Regardless, he obediently lowered both hands.
‘Now what’s left….’
One thing.
I raised my hand toward my status window floating above the mirror-like background just before it shattered.
That was when it happened.
[Stop.]
“…?”
A popup appeared.
‘Big Dal?’
But he was over there….
[Hyung??]
Ah, I see.
This is the System.
It seemed that Big Dal had seized control of the System and bounced back, reversing the positions of our two consciousnesses.
The System’s consciousness now parasitizing the status window.
‘Yeah. Get lost.’
I tried to ignore it and press the button, but it persistently kept the popup floating above it.
[The System saved you from death. You know this yourself. You originally gave up on your remaining life.]
[Everything you have now comes from the opportunities the System gave you. Think of all the opportunities and achievements you’ve gained because you didn’t die.]
Look at this bastard.
Faced with the threat of deletion, it spouted off with such convincing empathy and appeals—absolutely pathetic.
“Hey.”
I laughed softly and spoke.
“It was Park Moon-dae who gave me opportunities in the first place, and all you did was exploit me—where do you get off opening your mouth?”
This bastard had been draining my energy sweet and steady for years under the threat of death if I failed, yet it was talking like it had done charity work.
One slip in the abnormal state and it would kill me.
[H-hyung?]
I wasn’t talking to you, so stay quiet.
I gestured to Big Dal. The popup refreshed.
[Irrational thinking. Foolish.]
Are you introducing yourself?
‘Did this bastard change tactics?’
It seemed like it was trying to drag out time by provoking me into responding. If that’s the case.
I opened my mouth as if I were about to respond to that popup.
And I shouted.
“Big Dal. Now!”
[Yes!]
In that instant, glitches flooded through Big Dal’s hologram, and his form quickly distorted and vanished.
[Aaaah!]
He abandoned the System’s control he’d created through the error and escaped, returning to my status window.
[What are you■ ■■?]
As the System’s consciousness that had been bounced out returned to the System.
“Get lost.”
I pierced through the popup and slammed the button.
Thud!
Game deleted.
The popup trembles violently.
[I am finally ■■■■■ ■…]
But that’s all.
Boom!
The System’s humanoid form, filled with glitches, bursts apart.
And the fractured world explodes outward as well.
Tens of thousands of shards shatter into the void in a transcendent spectacle.
An enormous shockwave rushes in a moment too late, threatening to obliterate everything.
“Whoooosh.”
The System that comprised this world shatters completely. A torrential surge of immense energy floods in all directions, threatening to destroy everything in its path.
The fragments scatter into dust. Nothing remains but emptiness.
I turned to look at Chung-ryeo. His status window crackles and flickers.
Mine does the same.
“Success.”
The moment I spoke those words, all sensation vanished.
A rush.
White.
[——-]
Silence.
And then.
“…Moon-dae?”
Sound returns slowly and dully, like hearing returning to ears numbed by violent impact.
“Moon-dae!”
“…!”
I opened my eyes.
And the first thing I saw was….
“Moon-dae’s awake!”
“Hyung!”
“You… you went through so much, Moon-dae…!”
The members surrounding me.
The guys who had been busily discussing and fleshing out Plan B were peering down at my face as if witnessing some spectacle.
Seriously.
“Yeah. I’m conscious.”
“Yeah!!”
“I thought we were done for when the chat window exploded in the middle!”
“Still, I’m so relieved, truly….”
If this continued, either my ears would burst or my shoulders would dislocate—one or the other was inevitable. I let out a soft laugh, shook my head, and sat up.
“I appreciate the concern.”
If this were reality, I should be on an airplane. If I were still in the System’s world, it should be the awards ceremony. But it was neither.
“This place is…”
…Ryu Gun-woo’s Officetel.
More precisely, it was the Officetel where Big Dal—the one who had won the lottery using Ryu Gun-woo’s body—was staying.
And through the Living Room window… a fantastical sunset from “Magical Boy” was setting.
This was a place I’d visited before.
[It’s the Mental World I created!]
It was the Mental World I had passed through when returning from Ryu Gun-woo’s body back to Park Moon-dae.
Big Dal’s grinning expression as he bounced out remained exactly the same.
There were some glitches flickering too, but that was identical as well.
‘If that’s the case.’
Then I must appear ambiguous—looking like both Park Moon-dae and Ryu Gun-woo simultaneously.
Sure enough, Big Sae-jin made a fuss as usual.
“Wow, you two look like brothers, really~”
It seemed like an attempt to maintain composure in this increasingly insane situation, but whoever was listening seemed to appreciate it.
[Hehe, thank you!]
I didn’t understand why.
In any case, the one who had been laughing and babbling soon realized this wasn’t the time for it and changed his expression.
[Um, the reason I brought everyone here first is to minimize the shock. I’m not sure if I borrowed some of the System’s power, but anyway, it worked!]
“Shock?”
[Yes. Well, you can choose when you leave.]
Big Dal stepped aside slightly.
Then the Entrance of the Officetel came into view.
-See you later!
The nameplate gleamed. It seemed that going through there would return me to reality.
[Whether you’ll remember what happened here, or simply forget it, or remember it vaguely like a dream—that’s your choice.]
“…!”
That was… certainly an excellent service, but still.
‘Is there really anyone who would want to forget?’
I hesitated for a moment, but then I realized again that this was overwhelmingly abnormal—perhaps because I’d been living with an abnormal condition for years.
One wrong word and people might think I’d taken drugs.
‘Forgetting would be easier on the mind.’
Let me correct myself. If it were me, I’d probably suggest we all just forget together…
“Of course I want to remember.”
“….”
“Agreed. This unique fantastical experience will definitely become new inspiration.”
“I don’t need to watch Limestone movies anymore. I experienced it myself.”
They’re just spouting answers without any hesitation?
I was somewhat taken aback, but not a single person wavered.
“…Wait, there’s something from what we did here that I really want to remember!”
“Oh, that’s interesting. Me too.”
Even Sun Ah-hyun, the last one.
“I felt like I learned so many new things and was able to grow… so I…!”
[Understood! Then just think that way and open the door to leave!]
Cheers erupted at that.
“Ah, finally!”
“Park Moon-dae, you… when you get back, turn the airplane around right away and come back to the Dormitory!”
It’s not my airplane, and honestly I have no idea what’s happened outside… but anyway, I got it.
Ryu Chung-woo patted the members’ shoulders with a smile.
“You all worked hard. Our group.”
“Hehe!”
“Moon-dae, don’t leave him out, come here~”
As if we’d just won some grand award or finished the final stage of a tour, we huddled together for a brief embrace.
These guys were suffocating me.
‘Not even penguins.’
It probably looked ridiculous, but I didn’t really care.
“Alright, let’s go!”
“Yes, yes!”
It seemed like all the preparations were complete. But Kim Rae-bin raised his hand.
“Wait, shouldn’t we invite the seniors first?”
“Oh.”
As if I’d nearly forgotten, everyone’s gaze shifted.
‘Now that I think about it, where are those VTIC guys?’
It was strange that I hadn’t seen them.
So when I turned my head accordingly, I spotted them in a place other than the Living Room.
The VTIC guys were sitting at the Kitchen Table with expressions so genuinely pleased it was almost unsettling, looking over at us.
‘What’s this.’
“The Testa members always get along so well, it’s really nice to see, right?”
“That’s right. It’s hard for a large group to do that.”
The ones with appearances from reality had debuted with Wishze without memories, but their real-world selves had grown much stronger, even their speech patterns had changed slightly.
Still, the person I’d been seeing for a year hadn’t disappeared.
Chae Yul walked out from the Kitchen with a shy laugh.
“Well, once we go back it’ll be hard to call you Gun-woo hyung… but is it okay if we drop the formality? Not Park Moon-dae, but Moon-dae!”
“Yes.”
“Great! Moon-dae, speak comfortably too, got it?”
The difference in seniority made that difficult.
Still, he seemed to take my silence as affirmation, smiled brightly, and naturally headed toward the Entrance after receiving Testa’s farewell.
And at the very end, he spoke with real vigor.
“Come visit us all! We have so few people that we get bored sometimes. I don’t think I’ll forget what it was like with Wishze.”
“It kind of felt like we experienced a project group too.”
“Wow, that’s it. Perfect!”
The two of them asked Big Dal once if they should just head in here, then waved their hands and naturally disappeared through the entrance one after another.
“….”
When I returned, we wouldn’t be in the same group anyway, so realistically I wouldn’t see them often… but well, now that I knew they were capable guys, staying in touch wouldn’t be a problem.
I leaned against the wall, waiting for the rest of the VTIC members to head inside….
“…?”
But why wasn’t that guy going in?
I saw Ju Dan standing in front of the entrance.
He turned his head and checked on Testa and Big Dal, who had rushed over to stop Cha Yu-jin from trying to open the living room window.
“Eugene, let me ask you something first….”
“You idiot!”
His focus was completely scattered, probably from already greeting VTIC.
Seeing that, Ju Dan muttered in a serious tone.
“This timing works out perfectly. I have something to tell both of you.”
“Hm?”
He spoke expressionlessly.
“You both have regressed to the past, haven’t you? It seems Shin Jae-hyun went first, and then the Junior Member.”
“…!!”
What the hell is this guy?
“What makes you think that?”
However, Ju Dan shrugged his shoulders as if he found it absurd.
“From the chat window to everyday conversation, you’re being so blatant about it that anyone with background knowledge could easily figure it out.”
“….”
“….”
No, you figured it out on your own.
“Looking at Park Moon-dae’s reflexive reaction, I was right. Then structurally… hmm, you narrowly avoided becoming an antagonist axis by just one step…. My goodness.”
The guy who had been muttering to himself let out a light sigh and tried to say something more.
“That….”
But then his eyes met with Chung-ryeo, who was staring at him expressionlessly.
And immediately he snaps to attention.
“I’ll keep my mouth shut and just enlist.”
“Good.”
“Then I’m off.”
Ju Dan fled without hesitation through the entrance. I asked Chung-ryeo, who was watching with his arms crossed and leaning against the wall.
“What do you think?”
“He could be a bit annoying. But since he’s enlisting soon, it’s not too bad.”
“….”
I held back a sigh.
“He doesn’t seem like the type to go around talking. It might not be annoying—it could actually be convenient.”
“Well…. I suppose so.”
He answered half-heartedly, but at least he didn’t spout something bizarre like a blown fuse.
‘That’ll do.’
I nodded.
“Then you go see the dog too.”
“Of course.”
He seemed to answer nonchalantly, but soon he touched his chin and added quietly.
“…It’s been ten months.”
A faint smile seemed to brush across his face before he left through the Entrance.
“See you soon.”
He left with those words.
“….”
“Has everyone left?”
“Yes.”
When I turned my head, I saw Ryu Chung-woo and the others who had brought Cha Yu-jin.
Ryu Chung-woo stood beside me with a smile.
“We agreed to drop formalities.”
“Oh.”
That’s right.
“Yeah.”
I immediately corrected my speech.
A brief look of surprise crossed Ryu Chung-woo’s face, but he soon grinned widely.
“Right, Moon-dae. Let’s go too.”
The Entrance door opened again.
“Contact me the moment you get back, and don’t forget to return to the Dormitory!”
“Understood!”
And we moved forward.
Nothing was visible beyond the door, only light poured in and stung my eyes.
But no one hesitated—we all rushed out.
And shortly after.
Whiiiiiing—
“…!”
I opened my eyes to the engine sound ringing dully in my ears.
Chung-ryeo’s Private Jet.
‘Ah.’
I looked around. Leather seats, ivory walls. A gleaming cart.
Everything remained exactly as it had been before we left.
And Gold 2 and Kwon Hee-seung, still asleep in their seats.
Breathing.
I immediately opened my smartphone. And checked the date.
“….”
[Saturday, July 9th]
Nothing had changed.
Everything remained the same.
“Sigh.”
I exhaled heavily and leaned back in my seat.
The man already awake and seated in his place handed me a glass.
Non-alcoholic champagne.
“Welcome aboard.”
“…Yeah.”
I took the glass Chung-ryeo offered me.
And so I returned to reality.

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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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