Debut or Die - Chapter 67

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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 67
The sudden emergence of the baseball club concept stemmed from the Director.
Apparently, he had rejected the existing concept the production team brought yesterday evening.
“The Director decided to go with a more animated, fantasy-like world setting. Since it’s a school-based story, he said it should be sports-themed, so… we settled on a baseball club.”
For reference, the previous concept had been retro-inspired.
‘Isn’t this also a stretch for a school-based world setting?’
At least that one would have suited a disco track.
Disco and a baseball club were… oil and water.
The staff members seemed aware of this, as they kept talking only about the song itself.
They clearly felt wronged and had let the Director’s name slip, but now they were regretting it.
“We did work under tight time constraints, but we genuinely think the song turned out well.”
“Yes, I see.”
Now that I thought about it, I had heard this song before. It was the debut track for Ajusa’s successful applicants. The arrangement was slightly different, and it still lacked lyrics, but.
“I’d really appreciate it if you all could approach this with a youthful, student-like concept that doesn’t feel too disconnected.”
“Yes. We’ll do our best.”
“If it doesn’t work out, it’s fine to just pick the song and go with that!”
“Ah… yes.”
“Don’t worry about it, just let us know quickly~”
‘There’s not much hope here.’
I only sensed the desperate urgency of office workers trying to meet a deadline.
‘Time really is running out.’
If things got more rushed, it seemed like “Testa’s involvement” would be used purely for marketing purposes, and the company would handle everything themselves.
As for how this hastily prepared album would turn out… well, it wasn’t exactly a promising prospect.
“Thank you!”
The atmosphere among the members as we left the meeting was awkward.
They all instinctively sensed it. That our debut activities weren’t going to be spectacular.
Ryu Chung-woo spoke up.
“…Should we just do what we can?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s ask to use the studio!”
Surprisingly, everyone agreed to pull an all-nighter if necessary to produce results quickly.
These guys, unable to forget the habit of running desperately during auditions, had grown accustomed to producing results first and worrying later.
“Hey, guys, wait!”
I watched the manager urgently contact the reality show production team, and I felt a strong premonition wash over me.
‘I won’t be sleeping more than five hours for a while.’
The mad dash to pull off a debut within a month was only just beginning.

* * *
The studio hastily set up with reality show cameras was in the basement of a building near the company.
‘They said there aren’t even spare studios or dance practice rooms in the company yet.’
Our agency truly lacked any systematic structure, whether mentally or physically.
“Hey there~”
“We’re getting started now!”
After giving appropriate reactions to the camera, we immediately began our discussion.
“Let’s choose between number 2 and number 7. Should we go with majority vote?”
“Yes!”
The one I wanted to push for was number 7.
The result was 4:3.
“So we’re going with number 2?”
“Yes~”
Number 2 had won.
‘…This got complicated.’
Those who voted for number 2 were Ryu Chung-woo, Big Sae-jin, Sun Ah-hyun, and Lee Sae-jin.
“Since the company’s song is an upbeat disco track, I think it’d be better for us to choose something more comfortable to listen to.”
“Number 2’s medium tempo is definitely easy on the ears. You could call it that nostalgic youth vibe? I think it could work well with a school concept too?”
“I, I also… go with number 2.”
To summarize, they were conscious of the company’s song and considering a school concept.
‘Hmm.’
I wanted to try persuading them, but since they’d settled it with a majority vote from the start, the timing to bring it up felt awkward. If I seemed unable to accept the result, my persuasiveness would suffer.
‘Maybe I should bring it up again in a bit.’
And shortly after, unwelcome news arrived at the perfect moment.
“Huh? No way!”
“Ah…”
While eating dinner and glancing at my smartphone, I saw this article pop up.
[June’s Comeback War: From VTIC to Chadol Che]
The article was listing singers making comebacks in June, the following month.
And VTIC was listed under the ‘Scheduled for the second week of June’ section.
Our scheduled date was right around that timeframe.
‘Damn it.’
In other words, one of the few artists capable of crushing Testa’s first-week debut performance—backed by Ajusa no less—was launching simultaneously.
“If the article’s accurate… our promotion period would overlap exactly with the senior members of VTIC?”
Big Sae-jin muttered after quickly doing the math.
“…We might be able to get their autographs, at least.”
“Ugh, um…”
The members made awkward sounds and forced bitter smiles.
If the schedule was truly locked in like this, it was essentially a death sentence for public broadcast first place.
Moreover, watching how the company operated so far, the picture was becoming clear.
‘Looking at how the Director got hyped up, he’ll probably spout some nonsense about VTIC being beatable. Even if the operations team tries to convince him, we’ll be lucky to buy a week.’
Even in the best-case scenario, we’d be competing in VTIC’s second week. We’re still outmatched in terms of scale.
‘Their last album definitely exceeded 1.8 million copies sold.’
Which meant we’d need to nail the title track to even have a shot at first place.
‘I can’t waste this chance to avoid a sudden career death.’
Now was the moment to speak up.
“…Wait a moment.”
I shifted my stance immediately.
“I apologize for bringing this up after we’ve already agreed, but no matter how I think about it, I want to push for Track 7.”
“Huh?”
The members looked startled.
‘…?’
I expected them to get annoyed at me rehashing a settled matter, but the vibe felt different.
“Why, why?”
“Oh, this is the first time I’ve seen Park Moon-dae like this. He’s being emotional?”
“It seems Demo Track 7 really captured your heart.”
“Did competing alongside VTIC’s seniors awaken something in Park Moon-dae?”
“….”
These guys were just finding it fascinating.
Say whatever you want. Either way, we’re going with Track 7.
“Look, Park Moon-dae. I get that you’re disappointed, but it’s hard to overturn a decision that’s already been made. It was a majority vote, and we don’t have much time.”
Ryu Chung-woo glanced at the other members with a slight smirk, but he was trying to wrap things up quickly.
‘This won’t work.’
Just imagining how frustrated I’d be if we missed first place by a hair’s breadth and had to wait for the next album made my head throb.
‘And if our form drops and we can’t even hit first place on the next album, that’s a genuine sudden death crisis.’
“Just give me five minutes. I want to at least try to convince you.”
“…Really, seriously?”
“Park Moon-dae is going this far?”
“This is strange!”
Unintentionally, the members began to stir with curiosity.
‘…What did they think Park Moon-dae was like?’
Either way, stirring up their interest was a good opening. I quickly organized my thoughts.
‘If it’s going to come down to a majority vote anyway, I just need to sway one person who’s easier to convince. The score was 4 to 3.’
“First of all, Big Sae-jin… and Chung-woo hyung chose Track 2 because of concept ease, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“That’s correct.”
Both of them nodded readily. At least they were willing to listen.
If I went past five minutes, Ryu Chung-woo would shut me down again, so I needed to move fast.
“If we compare the songs objectively without the concept, Track 7 wasn’t bad either, right?”
“I actually liked Track 7 a bit more. But that alone isn’t enough to change things, is it?”
Big Sae-jin answered immediately.
‘Got it.’
“It doesn’t match the company’s title track?”
“Exactly.”
“Then what if we change the company’s song instead?”
“…??”
In an instant, the members erupted in unison.
“Hyung, that’s a bit….”
“That’s impossible!”
“…They’d never agree to that.”
“But I do want to change it.”
“Wait.”
Ryu Chung-woo steered the conversation back on track.
“Park Moon-dae. Think about it. Even setting aside the company track, Track 7 itself isn’t really suited for themes like school or youth.”
“That’s true.”
Kim Rae-bin nodded glumly, having selected Track 7 himself.
“Track 7 is a deep house piece. Moreover, since we’ve crafted the riff melody with a kalimba, it carries a somewhat ethereal quality… it’s difficult to emphasize a ‘youth’ theme like that. If we remove that element through arrangement, the song’s charm will disappear.”
I shook my head.
“We can bring out that concept without removing it.”
“…!”
While the company had been discussing the concept, I’d been quietly formulating an idea in my mind. Now I voiced it.
The members fell silent.
“….”
‘That looks promising.’
Kim Rae-bin’s vacant expression was already the face of someone constructing something in his head.
“I mean, it’s a good idea, but…”
Ryu Chung-woo spoke with difficulty.
“I’m not sure if the company people will be convinced. And we’re running out of time.”
“….”
I couldn’t help but think the same thing. Of course he’d be worried about the Director, who was notoriously difficult to deal with.
‘I didn’t want to say this.’
I swallowed hard.
Well, whatever.
I just needed to cater to the Director’s tastes.
“…I’ll prepare a presentation.”
“…!”
“By tomorrow morning.”
“…!!”
What other path was there but to demonstrate effort and passion?
‘So this is where my college education pays off.’
I swallowed my sigh.

* * *
Park Moon-dae pulled an all-nighter at the Dormitory that night. The other members didn’t sleep either.
Conscience and loyalty had robbed them of rest—they couldn’t dump everything on the presenter.
As a result, the presentation materials became a collaborative effort.
“What do we need to find?”
“I’ll write this part.”
“This image looks great! It’s perfect!”
Yet the person who’d initiated the all-night PPT creation wasn’t particularly pleased.
‘Too many cooks spoil the broth.’
Park Moon-dae had only planned to show them the finished version in the morning and get feedback.
After all, help from twenty-year-olds who’d barely made presentation materials before wasn’t really necessary for the work.
‘Kim Rae-bin does some research, and I’m decent at it too, so it doesn’t matter.’
Besides, there was a subtle ulterior motive.
‘…If I go this far, they won’t be able to push for a second round.’
His intention was to silence the minority voters for song two through a sense of obligation.
Sun Ah-hyun was a prime example—a member who’d chosen song two purely because it suited his taste.
“H-hey, Moon-dae. W-would you like something to drink?”
Yet Sun Ah-hyun was actually going all out to help complete the PPT. His enthusiasm was almost excessively earnest for someone merely following their conscience.
“…?”
Park Moon-dae felt a strange disconnect and eventually asked.
“Are you sure about this? We’re basically making this to push song seven.”
Sun Ah-hyun nodded eagerly.
“I-I thought about it carefully before deciding. Song two c-can just happen next time!”
“Yeah… thanks.”
“N-no! W-we’re all doing this together…!”
“….”
‘Why do I feel indebted now?’
Park Moon-dae decided to treat Sun Ah-hyun more kindly.
“Where’d Cha Yu-jin go?”
“He’s sleeping in the Kitchen~”
Regardless, the night passed smoothly.
And when morning came with the rising sun.
“Good morning.”
Park Moon-dae and the members entered the Company’s morning meeting with their PPT in hand.
“You’re full of passion.”
“Thank you.”
The Director, still unaware of the presentation’s content, was favorably impressed by their speed and attitude.
After all, they weren’t some uncertain rookie group—they were the golden goose that would secure the Company’s future, so his goodwill was only natural.
And five minutes later.
The Director found himself in a state of extreme bewilderment.
“Director, I heard the baseball club concept was created by drawing references from animated films.”
“That’s right.”
“If we’re talking about school-related manga, sports stories do seem to be the dominant trend.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And there’s one more thing—in school-related manga, there’s a genre that’s equally a steady seller alongside sports stories.”
“Oh~ What is it?”
Park Moon-dae advanced the PowerPoint slide.
A magical staff filled the entire screen.
“Magical girls.”
“…?!”
The conference room descended into a vortex of chaos.

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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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