Debut or Die - Chapter 62

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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 62
Only the announcements for first and second place remained.
I wasn’t worried that Park Moon-dae might be eliminated.
‘There’s no one else.’
Among those remaining, there simply wasn’t anyone with the caliber to claim first or second place.
Well, that one participant who placed third at the last ranking announcement had their public favorability plummet after being spotted with a girlfriend.
It’s unfortunate, but… if you’re participating in an idol audition and meeting your girlfriend every time there’s a break in filming, isn’t that a disaster you brought upon yourself?
“We now reveal the two candidates for first place!”
The MC belted out a few hints into the microphone with theatrical flair. His voice had grown a bit hoarse from the lengthy proceedings.
And just like the previous rankings, after drawing out the suspense for a moment, the candidates were announced.
“Cha Yu-jin!”
Cha Yu-jin stepped forward with a confident smile. The crowd below erupted in cheers as if it were inevitable.
“And the other candidate is….”
Time to head up there.
“Park Moon-dae!”
As expected.
I received perfunctory congratulations from a few participants I wasn’t close with as I made my way forward.
“Congratulations, hyung.”
Gold 2 seemed to mean it, but I could see he was forcing enthusiasm as the reality of his elimination began to sink in.
I simply patted his back a few times and climbed onto the stage.
Cha Yu-jin, already standing there, extended his hand.
“Let’s shake hands!”
He looked genuinely excited. I hoped he’d carry this momentum all the way to first place.
I accepted the handshake without hesitation. For a moment, the Concert Hall’s atmosphere became warm and cordial.
‘So this confirms my debut, then.’
I checked if there were any changes to my status window, but all that appeared was the ‘Successful Stage’ notification from earlier.
“Both of you, now that you see your competition for first place, what are your thoughts?”
Cha Yu-jin quickly grabbed the microphone.
“He’s truly amazing!”
“Haha! A very straightforward answer~”
The MC laughed and threw out a tension-building bait question.
“Do you think you’ll take first place today?”
“I don’t know. But I like first place!”
Cha Yu-jin flashed a thumbs up.
It wasn’t enough to generate resentment from viewers for joking around in the finals, but rather the kind of composure that made the audience feel good.
“I see~ Well then, let’s hear Park Moon-dae’s thoughts. What do you think seeing your opponent?”
I took the microphone.
“He’s such a skilled performer that being mentioned alongside him still doesn’t feel real.”
“That was quite a humble statement~ But for first place… do you think there’s any possibility for you?”
I knew they’d ask me this question too.
I paused as if considering my response, then shook my head slightly before answering.
“…It seems difficult… Well, actually, even second place is a far higher ranking than my goal, so I’m just grateful.”
For some reason, when I said “it seems difficult,” a small laugh rippled through the audience below the Stage.
‘Did that sound too sincere?’
“Ah, you wouldn’t be disappointed even with second place? You truly wouldn’t be disappointed?”
“…Yes. Of course, if it happens, I’d be truly grateful.”
“Ooh, I see. Everyone, that was Park Moon-dae’s mindset.”
‘Persistent bastard.’
The MC finally stopped questioning and went back to building suspense.
He rattled off the buzz surrounding Idol Stock Company, the viewership ratings, reactions from all sectors, and even the (self-proclaimed) best treatment we’d receive upon debut.
And after dragging things out for a while, right before the announcement.
“And now, the long-awaited first place is… revealed after this commercial break!”
‘I knew this would happen.’
Normally at moments like this, the candidates would get tense and collapse, showing some dramatic reaction, but since the finalists happened to be me and Cha Yu-jin, it just resulted in applause and laughter.
Instead, groans of resentment and a few curses erupted from the audience below.
‘I think I just heard double curses.’
I was almost certain I heard profanity burst out from behind the ‘Moon-dae’ slogan banner.
“Hyung! Debut! Let’s do lots of fun things together!”
“…Sounds good.”
Cha Yu-jin started talking the moment the commercial break indicator appeared. He was so excited that anyone watching would’ve thought he’d already debuted and moved into the Dormitory.
‘Does he really not care about first place?’
Well, the first place benefits are still being kept alive with vague talk about “amazing benefits!”
Without ambition, it wouldn’t be strange to be in a state like ‘whatever, I’m debuting anyway.’
But knowing what the first place benefits actually are, I was nervous.
As I mentioned before, those benefits were essentially a punishment.
Cha Yu-jin was already in first place, and he was still in first at the last ranking announcement, so I knew the odds were higher that he’d win.
But people have intuition, don’t they?
Looking at the Internet reactions I saw yesterday, I couldn’t shake the anxiety that ‘Park Moon-dae’ would take first place.
‘…I don’t know. Then I’ll just take some hate.’
I gave up thinking. As long as I avoided sudden death, that was enough.
After exchanging a few words with Cha Yu-jin’s chatter, the live broadcast resumed.
“Idol Stock Company, about to announce the long-awaited first place!”
The MC repeated what he’d said before. I was practically memorizing it.
‘Just say it already.’
Honestly, when both of us are already confirmed, why drag it out this long?
‘I bet everyone’s changed the channel.’
Fortunately, the MC finally said the name.
The long-awaited first place is….
“…Park Moon-dae!”
It wasn’t the name I’d expected.
‘…So it’s come to this.’
I’d placed first.
I bowed my head deeply to hide any sign of it showing on my face, but then I realized something unexpected.
I felt… good.
First place penalty, whatever—the fact that I’d won sent adrenaline surging all the way to the crown of my head in a way I couldn’t quite explain.
The taste of achievement was exhilarating.
I nearly laughed out loud.
‘This is stronger than when I got into university.’
Thanks to that rush, I was able to share my thoughts without any need to hide my expression.
“Congratulations~!”
Cha Yu-jin embraced me with remarkable warmth.
‘American style.’
I returned the embrace briefly and took the microphone.
Looking out at the Concert Hall from the same angle as the MC, I could see several members of the Production Team below the stage, their expressions seeming to ask, ‘Aren’t you going to cry?’
‘Nope. Not happening.’
I simply smiled.
Well, honestly, half of it was luck and thanks to the status window… but I still did my part, didn’t I?
“Park Moon-dae, we’d like to hear your thoughts. Your comments, please.”
“Yes.”
I paused for a moment, then spoke honestly.
Maybe it was the adrenaline intoxication, but my mind wasn’t calculating anything—the words seemed to come straight from my spine.
“To be honest, I came here aiming for debut. I desperately wanted to debut, needed to debut… So first place never even crossed my mind. I didn’t expect it. I thought just debuting would be more than enough.”
I took a breath.
“But… doing it feels amazing.”
Cheers and light laughter erupted from various corners of the hall.
My follow-up words—’I honestly didn’t expect this’—were barely audible beneath the noise.
The MC received a signal from the Production Team to keep things going and asked me another question.
“Is there anyone you’d like to thank at this moment?”
I was planning to say something anyway.
“Hmm… I can’t think of anyone specific to mention. I’m simply grateful to everyone who invested in ‘Park Moon-dae.'”
A shriek erupted from below the stage, so I paused before continuing slowly.
“I wish I could repay you somehow… But whatever you’ve spent on me, I’ll make sure that investment delivers the best value for its price point. Thank you.”
I finished speaking and bowed my head respectfully. Amid the cheers and applause, I could hear sniffling sounds.
Even someone holding a “Moon-dae” slogan was crying so hard they were squeezing it, and the sign had become so crumpled it looked almost like “Noo-dae” instead.
‘Over those words…?’
I was a bit taken aback, but if they took it well, that was fortunate.
Seeing people celebrate something that wasn’t even their own achievement made my heart ache slightly.
‘Not bad at all.’
If this was the reaction, accepting the first place penalty wouldn’t be so bad.
By the time I’d composed myself, the MC was already conducting an interview with Cha Yu-jin, who’d placed second.
Cha Yu-jin grinned widely as he shared his impressions with his mother in English, waving enthusiastically toward the audience.
Now I understood why people had cast him—he was clearly someone who enjoyed the game. The type who didn’t impose unnecessary stress or emotional burden on others.
“Thank you so much~”
Cha Yu-jin wrapped up his remarks cheerfully. The Production Team signaled for him to join the Debut Group’s section beside the stage.
As Cha Yu-jin bounded away excitedly, the MC turned to face me.
Tension-building background music began to play.
“Now, the moment of choice has arrived.”
Here it was.
I stood at attention, my hands clasped together.
“The incredible benefit granted to first place—its true nature is revealed now! Park Moon-dae!”
“Yes.”
“What kind of benefit would you like?”
“…I’m not sure.”
I wanted to receive around 50 million won.
“I don’t really know. …A faster debut?”
“Ah~ That’s important, isn’t it!”
The MC spread his hands open.
“Now, let’s reveal the benefit!”
Then opening effects appeared on the massive display screen ahead and the screens beside it, and text soon emerged.
[Prize Money: 50 Million Won!]
“…!?”
Why is prize money appearing here?
“Yes! Park Moon-dae, as the first-place benefit, you can receive 50 million won immediately! Right after this live broadcast ends!”
“….”
This couldn’t be happening.
Even as I was taken aback, my mind quickly calculated the net amount. 39 million won after taxes.
Of course… it would be nice to receive it.
But as expected, I wouldn’t be walking away with 30 million won just like that.
“Or! There’s another option!”
Following the MC’s words, new text appeared on the display screen.
[New Member Recruitment!]
“As the first-place winner, Park Moon-dae, you have the authority to designate one person from the 14 participants who made it this far to the final ranking announcement as a teammate to debut with!”
‘There it is.’
This damned choice had finally appeared.
Essentially, the first-place winner would have to pick one of the final eliminations to join the Debut Group—a cursed benefit!
A punishment masquerading as a reward!
And it had become even more vicious.
‘So I had to choose between the prize money and this…!’
How could I possibly choose the money in this situation!
If I picked the prize money here, I’d turn all the people who voted for the other 14 into enemies—of course I had no choice but to select the new member recruitment option!
I can already picture the insults coming my way.
-Fifty million won is a lot of money, but it’s not exactly life-changing for someone else, is it?
Anyway, you’ll make a lot of money once you debut, but you really love money lol. I can already see your future together in a few years haha.
-I watched them struggle so hard and didn’t realize they’d choose the prize money… their image is definitely taking a hit
Honestly, no matter who stood in my position, choosing the prize money would have been impossible.
The Production Team clearly knew this and orchestrated this whole thing anyway.
Just like the ones who made negative voting an official rule, they’re psychologically torturing the winner by throwing in some drama for the finale—typical of them.
‘This is infuriating.’
Maybe I should just take the money and let them curse me out.
“Park Moon-dae?”
“…Yes.”
I barely managed to answer without hesitation.
The Audience Seating erupted in such a cacophony of screams that my ears rang.
The people standing below the Stage were also shouting names and shrieking, but my mind had gone blank.
“Have you made your decision?”
“…Yes.”
There was no point in dragging this out. I opened my mouth.

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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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