Debut or Die - Chapter 64

—————

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 64
The videos Park Moon-dae had been watching were indeed ones I had filmed, and even the caption I’d attached when deleting that YouTube direct camera account matched exactly.
-Taking a break to play games. Later.
I hadn’t wanted to ramble on about preparing for civil service exams or whatever, scattering personal information everywhere.
Then a flash of revelation struck my mind.
‘Could that be why the status window appeared…?’
Had I used gaming as an excuse, only for karma to come back through the game system itself?
‘…I don’t think I did anything wrong enough to deserve sudden death.’
Frankly, wasn’t it strange to think that someone would attach such significance to a direct camera video I’d filmed?
Still… the aftertaste felt off.
If that bizarre recollection I’d seen earlier was truly the ‘truth’, then my breathing really had stopped for a moment before I awoke.
Which meant the Park Moon-dae who had lived in this body before was truly dead.
He wasn’t the kind of guy who deserved to die like that either.
‘I wish someone had helped him… but it’s tough.’
Surprisingly, people don’t really care about others. Except when they’re cursing them out, of course.
Anyway, the process of how I entered this body is… honestly impossible in reality, but I understand what principle made it happen.
‘Park Moon-dae’s emotional connection was with me, after all.’
And since he deleted the account and moved on, the status abnormality including sudden death must have been included.
Whether whoever created this status window did it out of pity for Park Moon-dae or as some post-mortem mechanism didn’t matter.
‘At least he’d be satisfied with this.’
Thanks to it, the guy who used to film direct camera videos that he loved now gets to become an idol in his own body and get filmed in direct camera to his heart’s content.
I felt both pity and relief simultaneously. Now that the situation was clearer, even if only halfway, I felt like I could live.
“These are the 7 members of TeSTAR, brought to you by your investments, dear investors! We ask for your continued support and investment!”
At the MC’s voice calling from far away, flower petals burst and scattered down from above.
“Fighting!”
“You worked hard!”
“Let’s do our best~”
Among the successful candidates exchanging handshakes and hugs with smiles, the broadcast camera lights went out.
It was the ending.
People whose legs had given out collapsed one after another.
On the Stage, various figures appeared—successful candidates offering congratulations and consolation to the eliminated, crying participants.
And an endless wave of cheers and slogans.
I took a deep breath.
‘Now only the activities remain….’
Ding.
[Sudden!]
Status Abnormality: ‘Death if Not First Place’ has occurred!
“….”
[‘Death if Not First Place’]
: If you fail to achieve first place on a public broadcast music show within the designated period, death occurs
Time Remaining: D-365
Damn it.
If I ever meet the bastard who created this system, I won’t let them off easy. Not a chance…!

* * *
At the moment Park Moon-dae had reached peak frustration in his entire life.
Across every corner of the Internet—communities, SNS platforms—posts confirming Ajusa’s debut members had gone live.
========================
[Ajusa Debut Members Confirmed (7 Members)]
: In ranking order: Park Moon-dae, Cha Yu-jin, Sun Ah-hyun, Kim Rae-bin, Ryu Chung-woo, Big Sae-jin, Lee Sae-jin (Actor)
Debut Group Name: TeSTAR
========================
Despite the sluggish three-hour broadcast, Ajusa had shattered viewership records in the finale, igniting a firestorm of buzz.
As a result, both those who’d watched and those who hadn’t eagerly flooded the comments section.
Naturally, there was considerable discussion about Park Moon-dae’s dramatic surge and first-place finish.
-Park Moon-dae won?
-No way
-Wow, it was amazing at the end. I’m crying.
-Seeing how it went, it was worth it lol
-Congratulations. I hope everything goes well.
“Haha, emotional appeals really work, don’t they?”
Lol, wasn’t the resident registration copy actually leaked by Park Moon-dae himself in the first place?
Are you crazy?
Most comments were congratulatory, but occasional barbs appeared—people sneering that he’d “sold his family troubles for first place.” Some even began posting “analyses” of the situation.
========================
[Why Park Moon-dae Won First]
: Family scandal bomb solidified core fanbase + consolidated casual viewer votes.
The universe basically helped him out.
Cha Yu-jin is the type who sweeps fans through stage presence. Without the emotional narrative that casuals love, he attracted fewer casual votes than Park Moon-dae.
Plus, from the early stages, being locked in the top ranks created complacency—”Cha Yu-jin’s obviously debuting anyway lol” _< (photo)
========================
TeSTAR's official SNS account had been created.
The photo attached to the first post showed TeSTAR sitting together as a group against a Living Room-like backdrop, all smiling.
Given their casual clothing and relaxed postures, it was clearly their new Dormitory.
-!!
-Looks like they've moved into their Dormitory
-Looks like they got an Agency
-Ah, the debut album has already been successful. If that face doesn't make it successful, there's corruption ㅠㅠ
Fans were greatly relieved by just a single SNS post.
TeSTAR's SNS followers and shares began skyrocketing by thousands every minute.
People savored the photo down to the finest detail.
-Mundae's yellow hood is so cute. Where did you find such a cute thing?ㅠㅠ
-Mundaeng: I was worried because she always wore a t-shirt, but it seems like she got new clothes, so this old lady is so relieved…ㅠㅠ
-Kim Rae-bin got his ears pierced.
└Insane, seriously? That looks so good on him
└Please make him wear super flashy earrings during performances, please
-Cha Yu-jin is lying on the couch like it's already his home lol
└lol I was checking while laughing but his legs are so long I got a fright…
Since the group was formed through an Audition Program, far more people were still only mentioning their favorite members.
Members who had done many team battles together did receive some shared affection. However, depending on those preferences, the initial groupings of favorites had already begun to split slightly.
-Guys, please upload more in the future!ㅠㅠ
And so, filled with excitement and anticipation yet simultaneously harboring several sources of anxiety, TeSTAR seemed to be launching into full-fledged activities.
And the members themselves were already facing those very sources of anxiety.

* * *
"Sigh."
I'd finally made it into the Dormitory.
I suppressed a sigh as I stepped through the entrance.
Thinking back on a week of tedious corporate power struggles and the vague, dragging negotiations over the group Dormitory contract, I couldn't help but feel the weight of it all.
Of course, I couldn't let it show.
From here all the way to the Bedroom was a minefield of cameras.
"Hey! This is so amazing!"
"It's incredible!"
"Wow…."
We'd already signed the reality show contract, after all.

—————

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

—————