Debut or Die - Chapter 460

—————

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 460
“Oh! Hello, Testa!”
“Hello!”
We stepped through the open office door.
The ones who opened it were the very creators of 【127 Section】.
T1 Plays—when we were under T1’s subsidiary, the office had been larger. But this one thrummed with energy.
Enthusiastic greetings poured out.
“We never expected you to reach out like this—we’re truly delighted! It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve seen you in person…”
“Ha, yes. This is actually the first time we’ve met face-to-face since the collaboration. Oh, this is… a belated opening gift.”
“You didn’t have to… Wow, thank you so much.”
Ryu Chung-woo presented SF-concept mood lights, one for each staff member. The executives’ faces lit up—true to form for a company that genuinely appreciated such things.
‘I knew it would work.’
I’d made the right call ignoring Cha Yu-jin’s fierce objections.
The conversation naturally drifted to reminiscing about the past.
“Seeing this brings back memories of when we worked on tutorial characters together! You all communicated so well and made it so enjoyable—it was really fun.”
“Really~? We felt the same way!”
The atmosphere grew even warmer. Well, we’d certainly handled the work professionally back then without any awkwardness.
There were reasons this meeting came together so smoothly… but there was definitely a more pragmatic explanation too.
I studied the executives’ faces.
‘Network management.’
These people had literally kicked T1 out on their own terms and left.
Gutsy as they were, they couldn’t be entirely without concerns. They’d made an enemy of a major corporation, after all.
Even if T1 wasn’t such a massive player in the gaming industry, their influence across culture and platforms was substantial.
‘Starting from scratch as a startup would definitely come with some pressure.’
But when a verified star—someone who’d already proven their marketing value—requests a meeting, I’d accept it too.
‘Especially if our situations are similar, curiosity would naturally arise.’
We’d kicked out T1 ourselves, and then even left that company. There was no reason they’d be wrong to see us as ‘comrades.’
That’s what I was banking on.
We exchanged a few words and moved to what appeared to be a conference room, taking our seats. Game posters, artwork, and figurines were scattered throughout.
‘There’s even a 【127 Section】 character.’
They wouldn’t have the copyright anymore… so maybe it was more about sentiment than company pride.
I scanned the space and finally spotted an unfamiliar character poster on the wall—a character in engineer’s uniform wielding a grotesque flesh weapon.
‘This is…’
This wasn’t in their portfolio. Good.
“Is this also a game character?”
“Oh, yes!”
“It looks really impressive.”
“Really? So this is Park Moon-dae’s taste!”
Kim Rae-bin peered at the poster with curious eyes.
“Is this perhaps a new game?”
“It’s the main character image for a new game we’re currently developing. However, the launch schedule is quite far off….”
“Do you happen to know when that might be?”
“The plan is… well, around the end of next year.”
Impossibly distant.
‘And they’re not even mentioning a specific quarter.’
It meant development wasn’t proceeding smoothly or on a tight schedule.
Vague.
It could slip into the year after next.
‘Hmm.’
I smiled inwardly.
Then I examined the poster again carefully.
It had a somewhat eerie yet contemporary feel. The quality was good—it still maintained a sense of restraint.
“So formal promotion will probably start around next summer. It’s a story about the train to the afterlife….”
Thinking we’d shown interest, the male representative’s eyes lit up as he launched straight into the story.
Goodness.
‘So he’s hoping Testa will do some promotion or collaboration around that time.’
Certainly, they’re a bit clumsy when it comes to business development.
I listened while glancing to the side. Big Sae-jin was nodding at the representative with what seemed like genuine interest.
But I remembered.
When I’d told the members that the Documentary Production Crew had found a newly established company called the Ruins Industrial Complex.
His reaction to that.
-Wow… of course it was Moon-dae who found it! But you’re not thinking of doing another game collaboration, right?
He’d acknowledge I’d found it, but he was telling me to abandon any idea of a collaboration.
Of course, I also remembered my response to that.
-Of course not.
That’s not what we need.
“Actually, hearing you talk about it, the games that the Ruins Industrial Complex people make still seem uniquely impressive and fun.”
“…! Ah, thank you.”
“So there’s something I’d like to say.”
I moved to the main point.
The reason I’d come here.
“I’d like to make a request. Could you create a game for us?”
Not a game collaboration—an actual game.
“…!”
The representatives’ eyes widened in shock.
And they seemed to be checking the reactions of the others, wondering if I was joking.
But unfortunately, none of the other members looked surprised.
Instead, Ryu Chung-woo simply said this.
“Well, we’ve already prepared the scenario.”
“….”
The executives exchanged glances among themselves before one of them spoke up.
“Well, developing a single game typically takes an enormous amount of time. Even with a scenario in place, creating original artwork, graphics, UI, and writing and implementing code are entirely different matters… it requires complex stages.”
Rather than shouting that I was spouting nonsense as an outsider, they were making an effort to explain things kindly from a perspective the general public could understand. That earned them points.
‘I really would enjoy working with these people.’
I smiled inwardly while maintaining a serious expression on my face and nodded.
“Of course, we’re not so shameless as to monopolize the time of the Ruins Industrial Complex team for that long.”
“Pardon?”
“Actually, I’m not talking about the kind of game you seem to have been developing originally….”
I continued my explanation.
A game content format that would fit naturally within the Venn diagram of the existing idol business.
Precisely because of that… the volume is smaller and more specialized.
‘This is definitely doable within the timeframe.’
We just need to work like dogs. We just need to squeeze out our labor.
And as I spoke, the executives’ expressions gradually shifted.
It was unmistakably interest.
“Ah, ah~ that’s….”
Well, that’s that.

* * *
“Thank you so much~”
After several rounds of explanation and meetings.
The contracts were finalized without a hitch.
Ryu Chung-woo transmitted the signed contract to the company and spoke brightly.
“Since we have the authority, this kind of thing is convenient.”
“Right! Not having to listen to unnecessary complaints is definitely a plus!”
Bae Sae-jin chimed in enthusiastically, turning his head with a rare expression of excitement.
“So that’s settled. Now we’re going to do that thing again, the album prediction… right?”
“Yes.”
That’s how it should be.
Then, suddenly, an interruption came.
“Ah, Park Moon-dae, Park Moon-dae—before that, one thing! Everyone’s probably heard this, but let me say it just one more time.”
Big Sae-jin smiled faintly.
“Whether it’s on broadcast or anywhere else, let’s not go around saying we’re company executives or anything like that!”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, we have contract authority and all that, but let’s not mention it. Just like before, let’s keep it to ‘we handle the album production!’ That’s all.”
Right, that made sense.
This was important.
If we didn’t want to be implicated in responsibility when the company did something stupid, we needed to draw that line early.
Now that we’d become independent, it was even more crucial. The risk of people conflating us with this company was greater.
Look at how much T1 got criticized. There’s no guarantee that Orbit won’t follow in those same footsteps.
…Sometimes, you make choices that earn criticism for reasons outsiders don’t understand.
So.
‘I don’t need to benefit from an executive image.’
The image I can cultivate as an idol is more than enough.
“Yeah, got it!”
“Mm… sure.”
“Sounds good~”
Some of them seemed to accept it, while others weren’t sure if it was really necessary to go that far, but either way, everyone agreed.
And after we entered the company conference room.
“Um, Park Moon-dae must be tired too… should we do the album projection after we go back to the dormitory and rest…?”
“No, it’s fine to do it now.”
It doesn’t particularly drain my stamina.
I simply connected my laptop to the conference room screen and began typing up the album production hologram.
‘Since company people could walk in here by chance, I should obscure the personnel section a bit….’
I filled in everything else properly.
[Album]
[Personnel: A]
-Kim Rae-bin(★★★★★), Kim**(★★★★), Park**(★★★★), Park**(★★★)….
[Capital: S]
-5,000,000,000
[Duration: B]
-60 days
(Personnel bonus + 150%)
(Capital bonus + 200%)
*Begin production ← Click!
Everything appeared almost unchanged.
Neither the personnel nor the timeline.
However, behind that abbreviated ‘personnel section,’ something else was attached.
‘External personnel.’
I recalled the external staff we’d brought in through our contract with the Ruins Industrial Complex.
And based on that, the direction of the album project we’d created.
-We won’t reveal that critical weakness—that T1 is blocking us.
…If we just proceed as planned.
‘Definitely, an impressive album will be created.’
I clicked the ‘Begin production’ button.
Effect credits began to burst forth.
[External Personnel: Configuring]
[Bonus Effect Activated!]
Moreover, using this method meant we didn’t need to rely on the industry’s top one or two manufacturing companies like before for the physical album production.
‘It doesn’t matter if T1 tries to interfere.’
[Production Company: Being Determined]
[Negative Effect Neutralized!]
‘The concept… has been decided.’
[Concept: Game]
[Positive Effect Triggered!]
It wasn’t limited to just games, but it seemed everything was unified under that umbrella. Well, it didn’t matter.
‘What matters is that the effect has activated.’
The text glowed brilliantly.
[Positive Effect]
External Personnel: New Attempt
-Promotion ↑↑
Concept: Premonition of Immersion
-Quality ↑
[Predicted Final Product Complete!]
I didn’t take my eyes off the screen, reading every word.
And finally, the moment the rating appeared.
“….”
I clenched my fist tightly.
[Estimated Album Rating: S+ ~ A+]
That’s right.
“…Let’s produce it.”

* * *
A few weeks passed.
It was one of those days when the weather had begun to warm.
-Insane Testa comeback!
-For real?
-How are they pulling this off so fast
The idol gossip forums erupted at the sudden news of Testa’s ‘album pre-order announcement’.
It hadn’t even been a month since Testa switched companies.
How was this even possible?
The answer came quickly.
-It’s a repackage
-No way!
A repackage.
An album released anew with only one or two additional tracks added to the previous release.
Originally, Testa had planned to create an entirely new mini-album or single. It was due to the insistence of a few members who argued, “Let’s not provoke T1 any more than necessary.” But after T1’s manipulation was exposed, everything changed.
“We’re already marked anyway, so what does it matter?”
Thanks to that shift in perspective, they boldly decided to strip the previous tracks and concepts wholesale and use them!
Still, people were even more excited.
They switched companies, yet they could release their previous album?
-That company must have acquired T1 Stars and owns all the copyrights lolololol That’s insane, so that’s how it’s possible lolololol
-Wow, Testa playing 4D chess…
-Orbit loyalty forever
Orbit loyalty loyalty
The previous high-teen concept album—the one that had only been promoted for two weeks and never even had a proper concert—was being resurrected!
Fans were ready to place their pre-orders regardless of comeback timing or anything else.
-Please make money
Please earn some money.
And that sentiment… was shared by Home Ma, Park Moon-dae’s first fan.
Home Ma gripped her smartphone as if she were wringing it dry.
‘This is what I’ve been working and saving for…’
She had grand plans. Even if attending every single fan sign event was impossible, she wanted to make it to at least half of them… that desire burned within her…
But first, to be a source of strength for Moon-dae’s fresh start, the pre-order sales figures for this album had to be strong!
‘Ugh… Music Bomb definitely won’t feature them.’
Casual fans might celebrate the T1 escape as refreshing or whatever, but she knew better.
Cutting ties with the Broadcasting Station—especially their home station—wasn’t a good sign for promotions.
‘This activity is really, truly crucial!’
Surely Moon-dae, being as sharp as he is, understood that. So the fact that he rushed this out made her a bit uneasy… but that’s exactly why sales matter! Only sales!
She nodded to herself.
In that moment, an SNS popup appeared on her smartphone.
At that moment, an SNS popup appeared on the smartphone.
“…!”
‘Testa Company’s official account…!’
This was clearly an album sales announcement. She clicked frantically.
And quickly recalled the information she’d known beforehand.
This album came in three versions, and….
-The company’s insane, right? They’re only producing 1,000 of these limited sets with special bonuses attached to the three-version bundle?
The article was about a ‘limited set’ that would sell only 1,000 copies before ending production.
It had received praise for the considerate notice that ‘general edition merchandise will be produced later,’ but the company faced criticism for not revealing the exact contents—people were dying of curiosity.
‘…It even looked like they’d lost their minds over money.’
And now, that mystery was being revealed.
She scrolled through the SNS post in seconds, her eyes nearly bulging out of her head in shock.
“…A board game?”
And that same day at midnight.
In the newly released Testa music teaser.
[Mmmmm….]
A dimly lit attic draped in blankets, seven members in comfortable casual clothes gathered in the center under lamplight and fairy lights.
The high-teen concept Testa that had appeared in their previous album concept.
They were sitting in a circle on the attic floor.
A board game placed in the center.
-Let’s start
Let’s begin this game
The dice rolled.

—————

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

—————