Debut or Die - Chapter 417

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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 417
Testa fans had grown accustomed to a chaotic parade of malicious individual fandoms bickering behind the scenes, spreading rumors, and their agency courting controversy.
Of course, familiarity didn’t mean exposure to only negative things.
They’d grown contentedly familiar with breathtaking stage performances, heartfelt fan service, endearing little anecdotes, and heartwarming group episodes.
Yet there was something they felt ambivalent about.
It was Testa’s variety show nature.
-Testa variety = inferno party
-It’s all because of the production team
-They sent them to relax but we watched them get stranded lolololol
It was entertaining.
Certainly more than entertaining—the relentless developments without mercy generated buzz, giving Testa’s variety shows high mainstream appeal.
Yet throughout it all, the impression remained more of “idols caught up in variety” rather than “professional entertainers,” preserving their image without distortion.
Fans enjoyed the content and flow with delight. But simultaneously, they voiced different thoughts.
-I’d like to see them just do whatever they want without thinking for once
-Sometimes I think that it must be too hard for the kids. ㅠㅠㅋ They are the ones who are busy with their day jobs.
Since the group had faced so many obstacles from debut onward, there existed a subtle demand to see them enjoy themselves without any hindrances.
Moreover, when entertainers whose main work isn’t variety do special variety shows, isn’t it standard for them to escape that daily grind and enjoy gentle healing content?
‘Observational healing trip!’
But now… the members had suddenly done exactly that.
Fans initially loved it.
-The kids went camping, made s’mores, went to the hot springs, went horseback riding, and played with sheep. It’s crazy that they even took Mungge with themㅠㅠㅠ
-Huh?
-Wait, why isn’t there anything?
Until they realized there wasn’t a single photo.
The Reviewer was bewildered.
It was genuinely good—the kids came back well-rested, grinning about putting more effort into the concert, and they looked radiant with good complexions and overflowing passion from eating and sleeping well.
But here’s the thing.
-But we
-Why are you excluding the Reviewer?
-How can we not upload anything?
They’d assumed there would at least be self-produced content or videos.
Moreover, there were signs revealed on the W App.
[Hey, water’s here. But eat it after you wake up.]
[Hehe!]
[Wow, aren’t we going to break the car? Everyone’s sprawled out.]
They’d always been solidly bonded as a team, but this time felt like something had shed another layer.
-Wow the kids are speaking casually with each other
-(Confucian rabbit excluded)
Throughout the W Live, a comfortable atmosphere flowed as they all opened up, yet they listened to each other’s words with such tenderness it was almost touching.
A sight overflowing with unity as if they’d disbanded and reunited.
It was deeply meaningful.
-The group’s energy seems to have maxed out
-What did you do
Tell me! Tell me! 😭😭😭😭
Sensing that something like a narrative turning point had occurred at the glamping site, the W Live viewers cried out even louder.
And watching the members panic at the fact that we hadn’t brought a single photo, I understood the cause of this situation.
…We hadn’t even anticipated there would be demand for it.
-My kids always do stupid things on entertainment shows, so the formula for healing is stupid has gotten stuck in their heads. What should I do? ㅠㅠ
-Look at Park Moon-dae being careful, the photos would’ve been handsome but it’s your fault for not taking any, but it’s so cute my anger melts away
-Actually, wouldn’t the kids have had more fun without cameras around… but then they go and tell us everything and it’s driving us crazy
Hahahahahahahaha
-Everyone is so sorry that I can’t even cryㅠㅠㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋ
Testa, seeing the fans wailing and clamoring in the comments, did their best to explain what had happened.
[Um… ah, at the sheep farm, Eugene tried herding sheep like a sheepdog, and it actually worked. It was so funny!]
[That’s right, the owner laughed so hard.]
It had the opposite effect.
-Noooooo
-Yeah guys, let’s respect your own special camping experience hehe (actually crying please I wish you’d sold it for money)
-Sounds so fun and happy, so this is what jealousy feels like
And this wave of desire quickly began to occupy fan communities and SNS accounts alongside Testa’s drive broadcast.

* * *
Several days after returning from glamping.
-Hello Testa folks~ how are you all doing?
“…Yes, we’re doing well.”
I received a phone call that came in while I was in the middle of tour preparations.
To be precise, Ryu Chung-woo shook his head and handed it to me.
“How are you doing, PD?”
It was the representative PD of the Variety Show Production Team, who had created various gems of variety shows from selling hotteok abroad to carrot coins.
And I already anticipated what this person was going to say.
-Ah, we’re doing well! And it seems Testa is too. We’ve heard about it.
“Pardon?”
-Glamping~ ah, Testa’s healing camp!
“….”
Yeah. I knew this was coming.
I fell silent for a moment, recalling the internet situation over the past few days.
‘…I didn’t expect people would be stimulated to this extent.’
The fact that there was no video evidence at all seemed to have maximized the fans’ curiosity and expectations instead.
-Testa went on this insane vacation where they covered everything—cooking, camping, hot springs, horseback riding, even animals…
Based solely on what the fans were saying, the four-night, five-day Testa glamping trip was being transformed into an unprecedented camping variety show mixing emotion, comedy, and healing.
Moreover, amid that atmosphere, actual plot points began emerging—not mere teases.
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[Can I post this? Review after seeing Testa]
Was working part-time at the Glamping Site when suddenly these hilarious, suspicious-looking guys showed up and checked in so handsome it felt like a 007 operation
Here’s the proof shot (photo)
They were super cool about checkout too, everyone was so kind to these good-looking guys, and Mung-ge was cute
Ask me anything in the comments lol
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Starting with the long-suffering part-time staff’s review, the Glamping Site owner’s promotional post followed, and then sightings from employees at the Sheep Farm and Equestrian Center poured in.
The photos and short videos became indirect evidence and excellent plot fuel.
-Cha Yu-jin riding horses is insane, like 23413241324 cowboy movies just flashed by
-Wow petting sheep with backlighting coming in, it’s like a photoshoot, Sun Ah-hyun you absolute legend prince of the night elves…
-What’s the size difference between Chung-woo and the boss, no wait I love this
The shaky, low-quality short videos shot on smartphones and the handful of verification shots only left fans more parched for content.
‘There’s definitely evidence they were there, but without the substance… that’s the problem.’
Some people even rented the caravan and tent Testa had used to search for traces, livestreaming on SNS before getting flamed and backing off.
-These obsessive reviewers have no restraint, it’s way too heated right now, this is just privacy invasion
└They’re the ones who spilled the beans and spread it around, privacy invasion my ass lol
└Your mindset is what causes privacy violations
-Lol the way things are going these days is hilarious, you think Testa went quietly on their own because of you? You idiots lol
Just before things spiraled completely out of control, the tour promotion kicked in at full scale, and things finally began to cool down—though it was touch and go.
We barely managed to keep the extremely heightened excitement from tipping into overheating.
Still, the atmosphere of people demanding healing like it was a protest continued.
Internally, I clicked my tongue.
‘After doing group activities in a different time slot for ten months, I guess my sense of timing got rusty.’
From now on, turning on a live stream with the stupid idea of just doing whatever comes to mind is absolutely forbidden.
Anyway, in this situation, what the Variety Show Production Team—who we’d worked with before—had to say was predictable.
-The turnaround is a bit quick, but the timing is perfect, right? That healing variety show we originally promised! And since you’re in tour season right now, it’s perfect~ Let’s go, Testa.
It was supply creation.
They wanted to film the promised Testa healing variety show right now.
“A variety show?”
“Ah~ is that our PD? It’s been a while, PD Jung!”
The guys who’d been dozing in the car started stirring to life.
And the PD, who dutifully returned their greetings, launched into his pitch without hesitation.
-Even though our schedule is tight, we’ve prepared properly to host Testa.
They’re planning a YouTube-exclusive content series for their channel, which has over three million subscribers.
And they want to debut Testa as their first feature.
-If you film during your rest breaks in the tour, wouldn’t that be perfect?
Hmm.
I looked around at everyone.
‘Should I set the mood with a gesture?’
But Ryu Chung-woo laughs first and opens his mouth.
“Should we just do whatever you want, Moon-dae?”
Hm?
“That sounds good…!”
“Right~ honestly, Moon-dae can decide this one.”
“It’s only fair, since you felt the greatest sense of betrayal during the last 【That House’s Grandson】 variety show.”
Fair enough.
Since I’m the one who got the most thoroughly screwed over by these production crew bastards in the last show, it makes sense that the directing rights fell to me.
I stared at my smartphone for a moment, then nodded.
“Sounds good.”
-Ooooh!
This was the right moment to ease the fandom tension.
Besides, if we’re running this alongside the tour season, we don’t need to chase headlines so desperately—let’s think of this as a breather episode.
“A healing variety show. After this, I’ll trust the production team.”
-I’ll make a vow right here. I’m betting my entire variety show career on it!
“Surely you’re not saying that your vowed variety show career means you’re supposed to betray us here instead?”
A brief silence fell.
-…Moon-dae, we’re really sorry. I mean, this is the first time we’ve ever had an idol distrust us like this.
The PD continued with a trembling voice.
Of course, he was trembling because he was trying not to laugh.
-You must have been deeply wounded. I’m getting teary-eyed myself.
“No, I’m not.”
No, you bastard.
“Khup!”
From the other end of the call, I could hear the writers stifling their laughter with muffled sounds.
Similar chaos was unfolding around me too. I smacked Big Sae-jin on the back as he tried to hold back his laughter.
“Ow!”
“Anyway, that’s how it turned out. Thanks for everything.”
With Ryu Chung-woo’s mediation, everything was settled.
-We’re the ones who should be thanking you~
And so Testa’s healing variety show YouTube edition was confirmed.

* * *
And after the urgent meeting and practice.
From the moment we boarded the airplane for the tour and departed, filming had begun.
“We’ve come to save you all some time.”
“Mom!”
The Production Team couldn’t abandon a gag like this, so they performed a surprise appearance at the layover.
Looking quite chaotic, as if the Airport Lounge had somehow permitted it.
‘They really don’t seem to have any intention of cutting corners.’
Seeing them try to include even this kind of thing, it looks like they’re genuinely committed to healing us this time.
I observed the PD with angel wings, read the mood, and nodded.
“Now then, since you’re going on tour and shouldn’t have anything on your minds besides the Stage, we’ve made a choice that fully respects your preferences!”
“Ooh.”
“It’s self-planning!”
The PD with a profound expression then presents what’s already been discussed.
‘Simple enough.’
1. Testa pairs up in twos, and each team creates one healing course of their choice.
“And then you all enjoy them in turn! No exceptions or manipulation.”
“Ooooh~”
2. The one person who won solo in the mini-game can create a healing course of their choice alone.
“Congratulations, Kim Rae-bin!”
“Congrats!”
That’s Kim Rae-bin here.
Kim Rae-bin nodded earnestly, looking as though this reward earned from a mere territory-claiming board game was more than he deserved.
“I’ll try to plan an efficient course that everyone can enjoy and won’t feel burdened by…!”
“No, it’s fine Rae-bin, do what you want!”
How heartwarming.
The atmosphere really does seem like proper healing will unfold—peaceful and stress-free.
‘Hmm.’
Moreover, the conditions were like that too.
“You can’t check each other’s courses and sabotage or anything like that. Just do what you really want to do~”
“Yes!”
Simply do what you want.
There’s just travel budget and time limits, and without those there’d be awkwardness, so it’s right to have them.
So lastly, let’s look at the two-person teams formed within Testa.
“Should we do this?”
“…! I’m… fine with it.”
Team 1, Ryu Chung-woo and Sun Ah-hyun. Their team name is 【Happy Trip】.
“Ooh, this place looks nice.”
“…Isn’t that a bit over budget? Well, I’m fine even if we do this and cut back on other things.”
“No, I’m just saying it looks good, hyung~ Let’s look at other things too!”
Team 2’s name was 【The Sae-jins】. Naturally, it was a team formed by Lee Sae-jin and Bae Sae-jin.
I nodded in acknowledgment.
‘The dynamics are already taking shape.’
Either way, we’d end up with a perfectly fine healing course without any issues.
The first team consisted of naturally gentle guys, and the two namesakes had opposite preferences, so when they compromised in front of the variety show cameras, it would inevitably produce a mainstream course.
‘Which means…’
Ultimately, there would have to be a team that brought at least some element of excitement to the table.
I turned to look at my teammates.
“Hyung! Can I be the leader?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
Cha Yu-jin’s eyes gleamed as he logged onto the Internet.
That’s right.
Team 3: Cha Yu-jin and Park Moon-dae.
-Team Name: 【We’ll Do What We Want】
An American who imitated a herding dog and chased sheep around even at the camp, and a Korean who made his first impression by gnawing on chicken feet.
This was why image mattered.
‘Healing is ultimately a subjective expression anyway.’
I turned to my reliable teammate and contentedly began planning our healing—no, our killing course.

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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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