Debut or Die - Chapter 488

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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 488
I looked at Sun Ah-hyun.
‘Exchange cards?’
Moreover, the one who had called me outside his room pulled something from his pocket.
“…!”
Gold with a QR code attached.
Currency used for card exchanges.
“Where did you find it?”
“Well, actually….”
Sun Ah-hyun whispered quietly.
When he opened his eyes in the room, he had searched the space while simultaneously reading his profile.
“At that time, under the bed… I found it.”
“….”
In other words, he’d found it when the game started.
‘And he’s been keeping his mouth shut all this time?’
Sun Ah-hyun?
I couldn’t help but admire him.
‘They all know how to play the entertainment game.’
It was genuinely impressive. I was already curious how this would turn out after Ryu Seo-rin’s scripted scenario went through editing.
“But I’m not sure if using it like this is okay. You could save it for a critical moment.”
At that, Sun Ah-hyun nodded with a determined expression.
“Since we need information, it’s fine if I use my gold…!”
“Mm.”
Technically, if we were playing this seriously and cared about efficiency, the right move would be to wait until someone else used theirs first….
‘But this is entertainment.’
Getting the first attempt out of the way early was better for the narrative flow. So I nodded.
“Then let’s at least know each other’s classes before we do this. I think that would be better.”
“Well, I’m… a Scholar.”
Oh.
I nodded.
“What about Park Moon-dae?”
“I’m a Doctor.”
“Ah, I see!”
Sun Ah-hyun’s face flushed as he nodded, saying it was a good class.
The conversation ended there.
“We’ll exchange cards now.”
“Huh?”
“Did you find gold?”
I gathered the other members and stood in front of the entrance door.
“We’re just going to try it once as a test.”
“Okay.”
Big Sae-jin nodded.
I clarified the game rules once more.
“If one of us two becomes the sacrifice, this card exchange switches who the sacrifice is, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
It was like passing the joker in a card game.
‘Hot potato, then.’
But this seemed to be a survival game like Mafia, where there was a hidden culprit—a murderer.
However, whether Mafia or citizen, I didn’t think they’d necessarily assign roles like “Scholar” or “Doctor” right from the start.
I recalled the answer I’d given Ryu Chung-woo earlier.
Which role seemed most likely to die?
—Detective or Jester.
If the one who chose the sacrifice is Mafia, then Detective. If citizen, then Jester.
‘That’s the standard route.’
Roles like Scholar or Doctor weren’t the kind to draw aggro like those two.
So standing before the entrance, the only place still dark without light reaching it.
We picked up the cards, relying solely on the light from the panel.
“Let’s do it.”
“Yeah.”
Sun Ah-hyun and I scanned Gold’s QR code directly.
“….”
Then the screen on the entrance door panel began to swirl silently in a dark crimson hue.
“Ooh!”
“Wow, that’s scarier than I thought?”
Hearing the tense voices of the members, I kept my gaze fixed on the panel.
The swirl lasted three to four seconds before vanishing.
What remained on the screen were only two card backs.
[Token Exchange Complete]
[Park Moon-dae 【-】 Sun Ah-hyun]
“Oh.”
“So that’s how it works.”
The members let out small exclamations of wonder.
And I examined my card.
‘No other information.’
It seemed only the exchange record was cleanly stored inside.
“Nothing special.”
“Yeah. But… it was cool!”
“It was.”
There were no other complications. Sun Ah-hyun and I, satisfied with the demonstration, readily withdrew from the entrance door.
After that came an endless series of exploration.
“Moon-dae, Moon-dae~ Don’t tell me you couldn’t open the bathroom door in this dormitory either? Oh, if it’s this difficult, there’s probably gold in here too….”
“There’s a ghost inside.”
“Ugh—hack.”
And a comedic bit.
“There’s chicken in the refrigerator!”
“…!!”
“So they’re providing meals. Truly moving.”
Just as another comedic exchange was unfolding and the atmosphere began to loosen slightly.
The members, having grown somewhat desensitized to the environment, scattered and began poking around the two spacious dormitories.
‘Two hours have already passed.’
And shortly after.
Beeeeeep!
“…!”
An alarm sounded from the entrance.
And as if it were an emergency announcement, a voice began repeating along with the siren sound.
[Warning. Please enter the starting room.]
[Warning. Please enter the starting room.]
[Warning. Please enter the starting room.]
“What, what is this?”
“The starting room?”
The scattered members came rushing out. I shouted loudly, conscious of the siren sound.
“It seems like they’re talking about the room each of us started in!”
“Ah!”
“See you all in a moment!”
The ones who had run to the entrance quickly dispersed in perfect unison. They truly had the seasoning of broadcast veterans.
I also returned to the room where I had started.
The room recreated from my previous dormitory room.
Click.
The moment I entered and closed the door, blocking out one layer of the siren sound.
Ding dong!!
“…!!”
[It is now announcement time.]
…So there was a speaker here too.
‘…Sigh.’
They’re deliberately trying to startle people.
Before I knew it, I was sitting on the bed in the corner of the dark room, as the fluorescent light had gone out.
Then that eerie mechanical voice took the speaker again.
[Check the drawer at the head of the bed.]
Alright.
I moved my hand. Inside the drawer at the head of the bed was an electronic device.
It definitely wasn’t there before.
‘Did one of the staff filming over there come out and place it?’
They’re working hard. I muttered to myself while observing the black box in the corner with only the camera lens protruding.
Then I carefully powered on the electronic device’s screen. Whether it was received as product placement or not, it was an O-Sung tablet.
Beep.
The illuminated screen cuts through the dark air and gleams.
[Occupational Ability Disclosure]
[Your occupational ability is….]
‘Interesting.’
So that’s why they separated the members.
I slowly read through the entire text.
“….”
‘So this is what it was meant for.’
It was quite intriguing.
As I rubbed my chin while considering several applications, another notification sounded.
‘Hmm?’
The tablet’s screen changed again.
[01:00:00]
[※Mark Confirmation Available※]
The remaining time until the game ends, and… is this the mark on my card?
“….”
I raised my hand and touched the tablet.
[Kyahahaha!]
The first sound I heard was a child’s laughter.
That innocent sound created an uncanny dissonance, sending a chill down my spine.
And without warning, a massive crimson circular pattern filled the tablet screen.
A lamb skull emblem.
[Your card is the ‘Sacrificial Mark’.]
[Current Lamb: Park Moon-dae]
“….”
I see.
I briefly looked away from the tablet screen and steadied my breathing.
The Sacrificial Mark is in my possession.
Which means, if things continue as they are, I die.

* * *
“Alright, alright~ did everyone enjoy the show!”
“Yeah, bro!”
The siren wailed again, and the members emerged from their respective rooms.
The remaining hour passed in a blur.
Rather than continuing the gold search, the focus shifted to conversation and observation.
“Huh? You two over there—where are you going~ are you trading cards?”
“…Uh, we’re just reheating some chicken.”
“…Okay.”
Outwardly, the hour elapsed smoothly without any notable incidents or conflicts.
Yet a peculiar tension was mounting.
‘Soon.’
It would be over.
I watched the clock, waiting for the ending.
And moments later.
Beeeeeep!!
“Oh.”
“Looks like time’s up.”
This time, I wasn’t as startled.
But everyone’s faces showed a hint of tension.
‘An elimination has been decided.’
After spending hours in here, my immersion naturally deepened, and the word “sacrifice” had begun to feel somewhat unsettling.
Like stepping into a haunted house at an amusement park.
“There it is.”
And indeed, the panel at the entrance door had finished its countdown.
[00:00:00]
And overlaying it, massive text appeared.
[Exchange Complete]
“….”
A distorted mechanical voice began emanating from the speakers again.
[This is an announcement before the results.]
[Your first sacrifice mark was determined by a vote from your supporters.]
“S-supporters…?”
[Based on the voting results from your beloved fans,]
‘…Fans?’
A crimson graph surged endlessly across the screen, revealing a staggering figure of 20,374 votes.
Combining such a high number with the explanation….
“Wait… was this a fan vote?”
“When on earth did you receive it?”
‘That’s what I’m wondering.’
Regardless of the members’ shock, the panelist continued delivering the narration with unwavering composure.
[The occupation that received the most votes was one with 20,374 votes.]
Now everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the panelist.
[And now that the time limit has expired, the occupation bearing this sacrificial mark is….]
A gulp.
In that moment, I heard the sound of someone swallowing hard amid the ominous tension.
The result was announced.
[Scholar.]
“…!!”
“Ah.”
I reflexively glanced back at Sun Ah-hyun.
Sun Ah-hyun’s face had gone pale.
‘….’
-Yeah, I’m… a scholar.
Sun Ah-hyun had definitely said that.
And the members immediately began looking around, searching for the person in question.
“Scholar?”
“Who’s the scholar? Tell us!”
“….”
But silence prevailed.
No one stepped forward, and Sun Ah-hyun kept their mouth shut.
“Huh?”
“…Why isn’t anyone coming out?”
Bae Sae-jin narrowed his eyes, while Kim Rae-bin looked around in bewilderment.
“W-well, we can’t change the results anyway at this point, right?”
“Right!”
“But then why…?”
Everyone was chattering away with confused expressions.
[The sacrificial victim’s room has opened.]
Creeeeak.
“Gasp.”
The entrance door opened automatically.
And then, I saw another door open automatically as well.
The solo room in our dormitory.
That room which had remained sealed.
“Is that the sacrificial victim’s room?”
“It seems so.”
The memory flashed through my mind instinctively.
That note that had fallen beneath the door and which Kim Rae-bin had picked up.
-I open at the end.
‘So that room was meant to open when this game ended.’
Or perhaps when it was decided who would die, who would be eliminated.
I made that assumption and followed them, thinking I’d mention this during the interview later.
And there, before the open Solo Room door.
“I’m going in!”
Cha Yu-jin stepped forward without hesitation. But…
“Oops!!”
“Why, why?”
He furrowed his brow and pulled his foot back.
‘What?’
Everyone was startled by his reaction and peered into the room.
“…!!”
The room inside was… like some kind of cult altar.
Tattered black wallpaper and blazing red candles flickered ominously.
And in the center sat a massive coffin-shaped altar. Upon it was carved a crimson skull with ram horns.
‘This is insane.’
Boom!
“Aaaah!”
Even thunder effects, apparently.
Before that space where the art team had been ground to dust, the members became a huddle of penguins again.
“Moon-dae, Moon-dae, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep in this room anymore…”
“Good thing we’re moving.”
“Yeah.”
In any case, we carefully entered inside.
“…There are name tags.”
“Ugh.”
And soon we arranged ourselves around the coffin-shaped altar according to the marked names, like we were being seated at a reception table.
That was the moment.
[Participants.]
“I knew this would happen.”
“Me too.”
An eerie narration began flowing through the speakers again.
A camera emerging from the coffin rotates, capturing our faces.
[Welcome to the Chamber of Sacrifice.]
“Surely we’re not actually supposed to sacrifice a member here?!”
“Calm down, Rae-bin.”
[You participants must now find the black sheep among you.]
“….”
The black sheep?
[The participant who passed their sacrificial fate to another participant.]
[In other words, the culprit who made the ‘Scholar’ a sacrifice through the final token exchange is the ‘Black Sheep’.]
“Wow.”
“Man, this is getting more and more confusing.”
I quickly organized my thoughts.
‘Hmm.’
So basically, I need to find whoever passed the final token to the ‘Scholar’ who became the ultimate sacrifice.
It seems they’re judging that action as a kind of ‘mafia’ or ‘culprit’.
‘So I just need to find whoever exchanged with the Scholar last.’
For a moment, I thought this was almost too convenient to deduce.
Then an additional condition was added.
[If you correctly deduce the Black Sheep, that culprit will be burned along with the sacrifice.]
[However, if you fail to find the Black Sheep,]
“…Then what?”
[Everyone except the Black Sheep and the sacrifice will be burned.]
“Ahhhhhhh!”
“Wow, this is a complete horror game!”
At the mention of total annihilation, screams and intense reactions erupted from all around.
‘Oh.’
So if the sacrifice keeps their mouth shut, they can survive too.
‘In that case, they won’t say who they exchanged with.’
I marveled at the Production Team’s malice.
[Then we wish you good luck.]
Good luck, good luck, good lu…
The eerie echo from the speaker crackled and abruptly cut off.
And a red light illuminated the skull emblem on the coffin.
“Oh!”
“Seems like it’s time to start.”
Even as I clicked my tongue at this outrageous room, the atmosphere quickly settled into focus.
The members seemed to be organizing their thoughts so far and recalling what to discuss.
Of course, the priority was probably this.
‘Who is the Scholar that became the sacrifice.’
Really, if we could somehow press them and identify whoever made the final exchange, it would be over.
But the first to speak was,
“Wait! I have something to say first.”
Bae Sae-jin.
He continued calmly.
“I already knew what everyone’s occupation was.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m a lawyer.”
And just as he had told me, he began revealing all the information he possessed.
‘It’s the final stretch, so this is reasonable enough.’
I nodded inwardly.
If everyone knew what occupations existed, it would be easy to deduce who had which job through process of elimination.
“But here’s the thing—there’s exactly one person who claimed an occupation that doesn’t exist! That person is….”
And that was the moment Bae Sae-jin was about to say Kim Rae-bin’s name.
“Uh, uh? Hold on a second.”
‘…?’
Big Sae-jin suddenly interjected. Bae Sae-jin, caught off guard, paused, and Big Sae-jin immediately asked him.
“What’s your occupation, hyung?”
“…A lawyer. My lawyer ability lets me see what other occupations are, so….”
“…? Wait, you’re a lawyer?”
Big Sae-jin let out a dry laugh.
And he dropped a bombshell.
“That’s strange. I’m a lawyer.”
“…!!”
“Wh-wh-what?”
“There can’t be two people with the same occupation, right?”
“….”
The members stared at the two namesakes with their mouths agape.
Big Sae-jin rubbed the back of his neck.
“Hmm. From the reactions, it seems Sae-jin hyung has been going around telling people he’s a lawyer, but, well, a lawyer can’t do that in this mission.”
“…!!”
Big Sae-jin observed the members’ reactions, then furrowed his brow with a bitter smile.
And he sighed.
“Geez~ You all got completely fooled by hyung. Completely fooled.”
“….”
A moment of awkward silence cut through the group.
Then.
“Wait a minute.”
Bae Sae-jin spoke firmly, his face drained of color.
“You’re the one doing the fooling!”
‘Good heavens.’
I swallowed hard.
‘One of them is definitely trolling, isn’t it.’
I could already picture the viewers munching popcorn without breathing.
Literally, the chaos had begun.

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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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