Debut or Die - Chapter 82

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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 82
The YouTube algorithm.
The exact criteria remain a mystery, but it’s an algorithm that recommends videos nonetheless.
And the pre-release video of “Only One Verse” featuring Testa… was mysteriously chosen by this algorithm.
The first to arrive were related recommendations from overseas prank humor videos.
These viewers were thrilled to see Korea’s long-absent professional hidden camera variety show and clicked enthusiastically.
Haha, is our country making stuff like this again? That’s so cool.
-I hope lots of famous people appear and get totally freaked out, that’s just my fetish
Haha, celebrity reactions are so entertaining~
– I’m excited ㅠㅠ I’m so sick of healing entertainment now ㅠㅠ
Next, it appeared beneath various TVC variety clips. The similar sensibility brought even more traffic.
-Wow, is this a new TVC entertainment show? Hahaha Testa is cute!!
-We have to go on a Testa talk show and go on a healing trip… We have to come out and show off how harmonious we are together and make fans crazyㅠㅠ Oh, what are we doing on TVC? Let’s not get cast soon~~
-These are Ajusa kids, wow I was out of my mind back then but memories are flooding back… I miss the super spicy chicken flavor, gotta watch the original broadcast
And finally… strangely enough, traffic came from animal videos.
The bizarre bird prints captured in the thumbnail’s banner were classified as animals by the AI.
People who clicked in confusion at this unexpectedly surreal thumbnail aesthetic were everywhere.
-? Why is this eyesore showing up as a recommendation on cute puppy videos, I came here to complain
That’s fun…haha
hahahahahaha
Lol, there’s someone who thinks exactly like me
Could it be that this bird showed up in the recommendations because of that peacock drinking water video? It’s ridiculous but also kind of funny… My pride is hurt lolol
Are all the cast members here pre-arranged? I’m worried because they seem so surprised.
Thanks to this, the pre-release of “Only One Verse” Episode 2 began experiencing explosive view counts.
And in this process, the BGM that perfectly matched the video’s absurd sensibility began drawing attention.
It was Testa’s modified version of “Magic Boy.”
-This BGM sounds exactly like a chubby cat thumping its hind legs, my mind is getting hazy
Haha, that’s just a metaphor
Yeah, that’s exactly the feeling I’m talking about lol
-Does anyone know what the BGM is?
└It’s Testa – Magic Boy~ It’s the latest song by the idol who appeared here!
└Ah thank you~
Wow, an idol song? Lol their concept is totally ridiculous, right? Lol
└No, the original song is a great song!ㅠㅠ (Music video link)
└Oh I watched it and it’s cool
Lol, they changed that song like that?
And once again, people were drawn through the related videos cycle to the “Magic Boy” MV itself.
Did the algorithm pick you and bring you here? lol
-I was clearly watching a video about installing a fountain for migratory birds and when I came to my senses I was on a male idol music video. My mind is getting hazy.
-They were so cute and the MV is so cool too! Liking and leaving♡
-Wow, idols are doing songs like this these days? I graduated and didn’t pay attention, so I had no idea… but the song is really good
-Fans, is Ajusa fun? Now I’m suddenly curious
└Please remember that these guys are debuting when you watch
└It’s fun but you’ll get frustrated, cry, and want to smash your monitor. Highly recommend!
└????
This series of events triggered an unexpected butterfly effect.
People who had no interest in idols or the latest music suddenly found themselves drawn to the song.
As a result, it brought about a meaningful rise on the music charts.
[5th Place Magic Boy / Testa] ▲1
“Magic Boy,” which had been stagnating between 6th and 8th place, made a slight advance.
And good songs always accelerate their rise once they gain momentum.
Once a song gets exposure in the top 5, even people with biases against it start “giving it a try,” which dramatically increases the listener base.
As a result.
[3rd Place Magic Boy / Testa] ▲2
The next day, Tuesday. “Magic Boy” climbed two more spots.
By the way, a few days ago, VTIC ended its long reign at number one, surrendering the top spot to a streaming powerhouse rapper.
Among Testa’s fans, who were already streaming like madmen, a thought began to take root.
‘Is it possible?’
‘Could it be?’
And as always, the “could it be” got them.

* * *
The third week of music broadcasts was drawing to a close.
“Waaaaaah!!”
Though the microphone was off so no one could hear, the members still waved and bowed with exaggerated lip movements before sprinting backstage.
Colorful light sticks swayed below.
“That… that was so fun…!”
“Today’s outfit was amazing and the shoes were so comfortable, I really loved it!”
As Kim Rae-bin brushed off his sailor uniform outfit adorned with ornate precious metal decorative bands, warm laughter erupted.
“Haha!”
“Right!”
They were in the mood to laugh at anything. Sweat-glistened faces beamed with joy. Cha Yu-jin chimed in.
“We got first place!”
That’s right. We finally did it.
‘Though it’s not a public broadcast station.’
We took first place on this week’s Music Bomb, Tnet’s music show.
Disappointed? Honestly, yes. A major artist is coming back this Friday, so our chances of getting first place during this promotional cycle are already gone.
Plus… well, first place on Music Bomb doesn’t carry much credibility.
‘…It’s basically favoritism.’
When I checked, they had pushed us up with broadcast scores.
Anyway, since everyone’s saying it’s good, there’s no need to ruin the mood—let’s just applaud and nod along.
We’re performing without sleep, so we need this sense of accomplishment.
Even Lee Sae-jin added a comment.
“…It would’ve been better if we hadn’t had that rerun.”
“B-but we got the trophy anyway!”
“Yeah. We’re leaving with a trophy from this promotion!”
Ryu Chung-woo stretched with a laugh.
He seemed to be feeling the relief of wrapping up the week well.
And moments later.
“The first week of July, Popular Music number one is… yes, congratulations! Testa’s Magic Boy!”
“…?”
Suddenly, we had another trophy.
“…??”
Confetti exploded across the stage in front of the bewildered members.
Rat-a-tat-tat! Boom!
As the MC eagerly handed us bouquets and the trophy, not a single one of us had our wits about us.
That includes me.
‘What on earth is happening?’
And of all people, it was Kim Rae-bin who received the microphone.
“Uh… thank you….”
Kim Rae-bin, completely unprepared, looked around desperately for help and our eyes met.
“….”
‘Hey, I’m lost too.’
Sorry, but I have no idea what to say either. My mind went blank from the shock of this sudden reversal.
Fortunately, the second microphone went to the leader as expected… or so I thought.
“…Thank you. We… didn’t expect this first place, so… first, I’m grateful to our fans. And to all the staff members working with us….”
Ryu Chung-woo calmly thanked everyone who deserved it, then suddenly tears began streaming down his face. Reality had caught up with him.
‘This is crazy.’
Honestly, he had every right to cry. Ryu Chung-woo had basically been taking care of the kids all this time—practically doing half the manager’s job.
Fortunately, Big Sae-jin, who took the microphone from Kim Rae-bin, eagerly continued.
“Director Kwak Shin-gyun, Team Lead Kim Hye-jung. And to everyone who helped create this album with us, I’m truly grateful! And most of all… we really love our fans! We honestly didn’t expect this… thank you so much for giving us this undeserved first place!”
“Ahhhhh!!”
“Congratulations!”
Fortunately, we got a fierce reaction from below the stage. Since VTIC had finished their three-week domestic promotion and wasn’t performing this week, we managed to avoid real-time jeers.
…Wait, that’s right.
‘How did we even beat VTIC?’
But the prompter had already removed the score section, and instead, we were just before the encore began.
“Yes~”
The MCs came out with their microphones to deliver the closing remarks. It was time to wrap up.
In that brief moment, Cha Yu-jin, who had somehow grabbed the microphone, widened his eyes and shouted out his thoughts.
“Thank you so much, sir!”
“Cough.”
It was a broadcast accident.
While the members frantically restrained Cha Yu-jin, the MCs steadfastly finished their closing remarks.
“Haha, when you want to hear some popular songs?”
“Live Popular Music!”
“Come listen next week too~”
And then the intro to “Magic Boy” began to play.
The members shot Cha Yu-jin—who was full of question marks—several meaningful glances before finally letting him go.
I barely managed to start singing.
“…Tomorrow, I think of you whom I met today, tomorrow….”
Whether it was my imagination or not, the music box melody sounded oddly off-key, just like during the first variety show preview video….
I didn’t realize I’d gotten the lyrics wrong until I checked the encore video that evening.
It was an absolute disaster.

* * *
“You understand, right? From now on, whenever you’re about to say something on broadcast, you have to ask your hyungs first!”
“Yes….”
Cha Yu-jin had wilted after receiving thirty minutes of nagging from the Manager. Yet even so, he kept glancing at the trophy—his mind clearly elsewhere.
‘There’s no point saying more.’
He seemed to be reflecting, so I figured I should move on to what needed doing. I suppressed a sigh and spoke up.
“Hyung, I think we should take a photo with this too.”
“…Yeah. Go ahead.”
“Yes!”
Cha Yu-jin rushed over and tried to lift the trophy like a baboon proudly showing off a lion cub.
I stopped him.
“Hold the trophy and bow your head.”
“Huh?”
“You need to show remorse.”
“Okay….”
Cha Yu-jin obediently lowered the trophy with a dejected expression.
The composition would look good. After taking several shots, I sent the photos to Big Sae-jin, who was preparing to upload them to SNS.
“Add a note saying he’s reflecting.”
“Okay~ …but, doesn’t it look like there’s no need for that?”
“…?”
“Look at this.”
I checked the trending SNS post on the smartphone screen Big Sae-jin held out.
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[Is it true that Testa achieved a monumental first place on the airwaves, but the fandom name hasn’t been decided yet? Haha. This should be seen as Cha Young-young waving a carrot]
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“….”
“The atmosphere is fine.”
“Hold on.”
I took the smartphone from Big Sae-jin and began searching in detail.
And I found the answer at the top of the latest trending posts in the online community.
Testa’s #1 Commotion lol (feat. Couldn’t Escape the Survival Show Curse)
When I clicked on it, the encore performance video was already uploaded with subtitles.
With all sorts of subtitle effects added in the meantime, the bewildered and flustered expressions of the members became twice as funny.
… For reference, I received countless ‘ㅋ’ subtitles as Kim Rae-bin’s avoidance of help was combined with the ‘robot meme ignoring gaze’, and the mistake in the lyrics at the end was cross-edited with the original stage.
[Testa’s First #1 Award Becomes a Dark History.]
That’s the title, by the way.
‘This is insane.’
Anyway, Cha Yu-jin’s characteristic ‘shareholder comment’ was edited up there like a comedic highlight.
[Shareholder? Thank you!]
[!!!!!]
The subtitle attached was ‘The Ajusa Ghost That Won’t Go Away’.
“….”
Below the video, amidst comments of laughter and congratulations, fans’ frustrations about wanting to beat the Ajusa ghost sporadically erupted.
-Our kids debuted and took first place, but why is the only name fans still have for them? Juju.
-I’m already a fan of Azusa, but I’m suffering from PTSD, so why don’t I work for my agency? ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-I also want to hear the kids say “I love you ()” with a fan’s name inserted there… it’d be funny watching the kids get all lovey-dovey using fan names…?
But that wasn’t the end of it.
Recent opinions uploaded on SNS and online communities began taking a step further.
-lol the light stick and fan colors haven’t even come out yet? Isn’t this completely half-assed management? Honestly, things have been rough since the comeback within the past month, but I didn’t say anything because I was worried it might affect the kids’ debut lol
“The kids don’t have any additional variety show schedules, so they’re just doing events and stuff—honestly, they should just do a concert instead. For a boy group of this scale, that would make more money, but they don’t even know that lol”
-Come to think of it, the kids came up with the concept for the #1 song themselves. And Park Moon-dae did the PPT presentation. But isn’t it suspicious that they produced it within a month like this? How hard did they work the kids?
“…Hmm.”
Everyone was inadvertently approaching the truth.

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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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