Debut or Die - Chapter 98

—————

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 98
‘The broadcast is definitely starting now.’
I checked the screen one more time to make sure it looked good, then took my seat.
Soon, people began to filter in.
Since there was a slight delay, I waited a moment on purpose before greeting them once the comments started rolling in.
“Hello everyone. Um, broadcasting video personally on the Internet like this… I think it’s my first time since that PR live.”
I spoke deliberately slowly, observing the delayed reactions. The comments were filled with hearts, greetings, and provocations.
‘It’s still too hard to read them all.’
I continued with my introduction.
“I was wondering what to do… but I’m nervous. So I prepared something we’re all familiar with.”
I manipulated the smartphone’s angle slightly and lowered it.
“Today is… ta-da.”
The camera revealed what was in front of me. Today’s menu—wrapped rice with side dishes—came into view.
“I prepared a content where we eat together.”
I picked up my utensils.
“Then, let’s eat well.”
And I put one of the pre-prepared wrapped rice portions into my mouth. Mm, it tastes like braised pork.
‘This is nice.’
Since it was my first broadcast, I felt guilty about just ordering delivery, so I made it myself instead—and it turned out better because the familiar taste made it easier to eat.
‘I need to pay attention to the audio.’
I finished chewing and swallowing the food in my mouth before continuing the conversation.
“I timed it for dinner on purpose, but if you have other schedules, you can watch it later… while you’re eating,”
-Camera angle!!
-Can’t see your eyes
-Oppa, give me your cameraㅠㅠ
-Already started eating
“Oh.”
When I checked the smartphone again, whether it was a mounting issue or not, the angle had dropped so my eyes barely appeared and disappeared.
‘This should be fine, right…?’
It seemed manageable enough for showing eating content, but since they said they didn’t like it, I adjusted the stand and pulled the smartphone back slightly.
“Just a moment.”
I rotated the stand to secure it more firmly, then tapped the smartphone.
“I think it’s fixed now. How does it look?”
I waited calmly, and answers began to mix in with the comments. I quickly absorbed only the ones I could read.
-Ohhhhh
-My idol is holding and shaking me
-Your collarbones are perfectly straight
-Looks good
-Good
-Love it
“Looks like it’s working well.”
As I watched the comments responding to me shaking my smartphone, it felt as though this small screen was filled with tiny people.
‘This is actually pretty fun.’
I chuckled softly and sat back down in my chair to continue eating. Between bites, I picked out appropriate comments to respond to.
“You’re asking what my favorite menu is? Well… I tend to like anything that’s objectively delicious, so the taste here is pretty good.”
“…’Did you have it delivered?’ No. I made it myself.”
Now that I think about it, I haven’t been cooking much lately.
With my schedule being so packed, I mostly just buy food and eat it. To be honest, it’s much more convenient that way.
-Are you good at cooking?
-I want to eat it too.
-Came here because I heard you were doing a mukbang with chicken feet
-How did you make it?
-Wow homemade
-Describe the tasteㅠㅠ
Oh, the response was surprisingly intense.
“I see people saying they want to try it. Once the broadcast ends, I’ll upload a simple recipe to our account. Well, there’s nothing particularly secret about it, so… it probably won’t be that different from what you normally eat.”
I put another spoonful of rice and side dishes into my mouth. It tasted like bulgogi.
“As for the detailed taste… the meat and rice are well-coated with a sweet and savory seasoning that pairs nicely, the sauce adds a slightly spicy kick, and the lettuce finishes it off with a refreshing note.”
My eyes continued scanning the comments.
‘There’s surprisingly a lot of foreign languages.’
-MOONDAE I love you♡
-No eng sub?
-hello (laughing emoticon)
-is it mukbang?
-did you got KIMCHI refrigerator?
It’s impressive how they managed to find the personal broadcast of a group that just debuted. Ajusa did talk about a global launch or something, but judging by the fact that I haven’t seen a single promotional article about us making waves overseas, that doesn’t seem to be the effect.
‘Maybe they found out because my activities overlap with VTIC.’
Or perhaps it’s thanks to the YouTube algorithm’s depths. Either way, it’s quite surprising.
“Ah, the kimchi refrigerator. I haven’t received it yet. I’m just waiting patiently for whenever they decide to send it.”
I continued answering appropriate questions and eating, but selecting these ‘appropriate questions’ turned out to be surprisingly difficult.
Even when I looked through for about a minute, there were quite a few cases where only foreign languages and provocative comments dominated.
-Boring
-Eat a lot!
-Why did it have to be a bear
-Moondae are you using your phone?
-Something’s moving in the back
-Change the filter
Hmm, among all these random provocations, I barely managed to catch one worth responding to.
“Ah, this is the Company phone. Mine is here.”
I picked up the old smartphone I’d set aside earlier and shook it appropriately in front of the camera.
And of all moments, a message came through.
Ding—
[VTIC Chung-ryeo Senior]
“….”
The timing is absolutely terrible.
At least I’d disabled the popup preview, so that was something.
-Chung-ryeo
-Whoa, VTIC
-Are you close?
-Ugh, I hate this
The comments had already caught it all. I quickly assessed the situation.
“Ah, since 【Let’s Get Close】, I’ve been exchanging occasional greetings with the senior.”
If I don’t reply immediately, will VTIC use this against me and get me criticized?
But if I do reply, it might spark controversy about my attitude during my first W Live. Let me ask for permission first.
“Since I’ve seen it, would it be okay if I send a brief reply?”
You don’t need to ask for permission.
-Yeah yeah
-Show us the content
-What are you gonna send?
-Are you close?
‘This is driving me crazy.’
I quickly checked the message. It was just work-related small talk. I replied with something like “Yes, understood” and turned it off immediately.
‘I need to change the subject.’
Fortunately, I had something prepared.
I quickly found an appropriate comment—a question that had been coming in steadily since the broadcast started.
-Where are the other members?
“Well, lots of people are asking about the other members. Some are busy with schedules, and some are at home. Just a moment.”
I stood up immediately and stepped out of the camera’s view.
Then I went outside the room and brought back the person who was already waiting in the Living Room.
“I brought a friend who was at home.”
“Ah, hello…!”
It was Sun Ah-hyun, radiating “I’ve made a big decision” with his entire body.
After receiving counseling for nearly two or three weeks, he’d apparently gathered enough courage to make an appearance.
However, since he said he wasn’t ready to stay on for long yet, I’d structured it so he’d just pop in briefly and then leave.
Fortunately, the comment reaction was positive.
-Whoa, Ah-hyun
-Sasumi, welcome.
-Love you
-Where’s Chung-woo oppa?
-Call Yu-jin
A few negative reactions seemed manageable—Sun Ah-hyun’s complexion remained quite composed. With his face slightly flushed, he waved his hand at the smartphone.
“H-how has everyone been…?”
However, due to the comment delay, what Sun Ah-hyun could see was mostly along the lines of “his face is insane.”
“Everyone seems to be doing well. What have you been up to lately, Sun Ah-hyun?”
“Oh! I-I learned how to knit…! W-would you like me to show you?”
“Sure.”
Thump-thump-thump. Sun Ah-hyun immediately bolted to his room. I turned to the camera with a request.
“…Could you all give him lots of applause when he shows you something? He just started learning and is really into it right now.”
If I say that, they’ll definitely spam the chat with encouragement.
“H-here it is…!”
Sun Ah-hyun returned at lightning speed and promptly thrust several colorful objects toward the smartphone.
They were dishcloths. He’d made them in various designs—from bread to strawberries.
And as I’d requested, the moment Sun Ah-hyun came back into view, people immediately flooded the comments with applause emojis.
“Ah… th-thank you so much!”
Unaware that people were applauding before they could even see the dishcloths due to the delay, Sun Ah-hyun’s face brightened and he bowed his head gratefully.
‘This should be enough.’
If I let it go on longer, some unexpected cruel comment could suddenly appear and shatter Sun Ah-hyun’s mental state like a trauma bomb.
But Sun Ah-hyun, having gained confidence, casually sat in front of the table and began explaining the dishcloths.
“I-I made the bread one first, and the shape is a bit odd, but I th-think the strawberry turned out well.”
Just as I was thinking it might be time to wrap this up, someone knocked on the door.
The door swung open, and someone walked in.
“MC~ we got a report that the PR mukbang was supposed to end 10 minutes ago, but you’re still going~”
It was Big Sae-jin.
“If you give me one wrap, I’ll pretend this never happened~”
“Me too! A wrap for me!”
Right after, Cha Yu-jin burst in with his hand raised. Anyone could tell these two had abandoned watching the broadcast to crash the stream.
‘…There’s definitely still meat left in the pan in the Kitchen.’
The only reason they came here instead of just going to the Kitchen where they could eat was to crash the W-Live broadcast.
And in an instant, the room became chaotic.
“Wow! This is actually delicious.”
“There’s plenty of meat in the Kitchen, so eat some.”
“Nah, this one was carefully prepared in advance for the broadcast, so it tastes even better.”
“The best!”
Cha Yu-jin gave a thumbs up like a typical eating show guest. Then he began encouraging Sun Ah-hyun to eat as well.
Sun Ah-hyun seemed to want to eat but was hesitant, glancing at me nervously. A headache was creeping in.
“…Eat freely.”
“Y-yes!”
“Can I eat a lot too, hyung?”
“Do whatever you want.”
“Okay!”
I watched the wrap of lettuce and meat fall apart in an instant, then spoke to the camera.
“…Next time, I’ll prepare more generous portions… and come back.”
The comments were going wild with laughter. At least I’d given them something to laugh about.
“Since we’ve run out of wraps… I think we’ll wrap up today’s mukbang here.”
I was trying to think of appropriate content—maybe a Q&A segment or something—when Big Sae-jin, who’d only eaten one wrap, waved his hand.
“Wait? No, don’t do that. We’ll just make some wraps for you right now!”
“…!”
…So for the next 20 minutes, I moved my smartphone to the Kitchen and broadcast us wrapping lettuce.
“How many lettuce leaves did Cha Yu-jin even use??”
“The, the wrap is as big as a face….”
And shortly after, the other three members who’d been to the Hospital for health checkups joined in as well.
“What are you all doing?”
“Hyung! Try this!”
Eventually, after feeding the newcomers wraps and hearing their taste tests, I turned off the W Live broadcast.
I wondered what on earth had just happened, but seeing the viewer count turn out well, I couldn’t deny that it had been engaging content….
‘…But I never got to say what I originally planned to.’
It was a side effect of the broadcast getting hijacked by those guys and flowing however it wanted.
Instead, I opened SNS. In the process of briefly checking the Internet, the reactions were quite decent.
-I definitely clicked on a mukbang but when I came to my senses I was watching the greatest wrap competition under heaven
-The chicken feet video fanatics saw W Live trending today and got so excited they rushed over
If he had done that on YouTube, the “chicken feet faction” would have to rebrand as the “wrap rice faction” from now on, lol.
-Wrap getting torn apart (screenshot image)
‘I’d say that was successful.’
I shrugged and wrote up the short meat recipe for wraps I’d promised as a new post.
And uploaded it with an additional note.
[+ Started preparing a new album.]
By the way, the kimchi refrigerator mentioned that day arrived at the Dormitory just two days later.

—————

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

—————