Debut or Die-Chapter 235
“Human Rights... Commission?”
The sudden mention of the Human Rights Commission threw the hospital room into confusion—at least I thought it would. But seeing everyone else remain calm, it was clear they’d all been briefed on this except me.
“At least he told someone before and after the report.”
I pressed my brows, then remembered my IV drip and stopped.
“You mean... the National Human Rights Commission?”
“Exactly!”
That body... has no legal enforcement power, right? At best they can scold the company and that’s it. I doubt they’d even seriously investigate an anonymous idol rights complaint.
Yet Bae Sejin showed no sign of fluster.
“I know... they can’t fix everything, of course.”
“...”
“But it’ll hit the press anyway! We’ll get corrective recommendations in the media!”
“...?”
Still gripping his fist, Bae Sejin earnestly explained his reasoning.
So, to summarize, his plan was:
“The company’s blocking entertainment news, so I tried to get it into the social section instead... is that it?”
“Exactly.”
In short, a change of tack. I couldn’t believe Bae Sejin had this ambition.
Sigh...
Almost reached for a cigarette—no, never mind. I almost bit my tongue; better to compose myself.
I quickly ran through in my head what fallout this might cause.
“If it’s anonymous, there’s a high chance it won’t have the desired effect.”
A reporter getting a tip that an entertainment company is covering up an artist’s accident? The Human Rights Commission wouldn’t painstakingly investigate where this came from. At best, a few gossip column reprints scratching the company’s arrogance and that’s it.
However, the company would get nervous. If their annoyance at being reported outweighs their outrage at ‘Who dares to report us?!’, it might make negotiations easier...
“And anonymous doesn’t mean I didn’t give the group name.”
“Then...?”
“I only protected the whistleblower’s anonymity. I used my mother’s friend’s name...”
“...”
Bae Sejin swallowed hard.
“This way they won’t think it’s us. They’ll assume it’s a competitor or a former employee or something.”
It turned out he’d collected all the employment and labor issues at the company—everything from unpaid overtime to illegal industrial espionage and personal data breaches—and sent them off.
How far has this grown?
Part of me wondered if this too was just a daydream.
“...”
“I don’t mean to brag! But this was necessary...”
I held back a bitter laugh.
“No. I think you did well.”
“...!”
Bae Sejin’s eyes went wide.
“R-Really??”
“Yes.”
That most worrying part was behind us—let’s assume that’s true.
’T1’s parent company won’t dare crackdown on Testar now.’
A pity I can’t turn this into a loss for them...
It wasn’t like I’d suffered the accident alone, and there’s no moral imperative that I alone must profit.
‘I’m sure they’ve had grievances building up too.’
They might act on their own.
‘Though this scale... might blow up in a different direction entirely.’
That’s actually good. Once it blows up as a corporate social issue—power harassment, etc.—the headquarters and higher-ups will have to handle it. As long as our group can operate, we don’t care what their execs go through.
‘If they do it right, I might see the approval machine again.’
Just imagining it brings comfort.
I nodded, feeling much more at ease.
“Yes. I look forward to the outcome.”
“...Right!”
Bae Sejin brightened. The other members nodded; none wavered.
‘They must’ve clashed hard with the agency after the accident.’
I clicked my tongue internally and asked again the question I hadn’t gotten answered earlier.
“So, what date is it today?”
“...”
Then they exchanged looks.
‘What’s going on?’
Ryu Cheong-woo, who’d been silent until now, finally spoke in a small voice.
“Hyung.”
“Yes.”
“Today is July 6th.”
“...!!”
That’s a different month.
‘Wait—I lost consciousness on our debut anniversary, June 18th....’
That meant I’d been in a coma for eighteen days.
“...”
June just melted away.
While I stood stunned, Ryu Cheong-woo added quietly:
“So don’t think about anything else; just rest. We’ll worry about work later.”
“...”
“And from now on... put your health first.”
Ah.
I looked up at Ryu Cheong-woo.
He wore an unusually dark expression.
‘Right, that blow to his chest saved him from getting impaled by the rebar in the car’s roof.’
Honestly, swapping places seemed like a fair trade.
I eyed him warily but understood his sentiment.
‘He thinks I fell into the coma instead of him.’
Well, if it was the system’s doing, I needn’t feel guilty... but maybe I’ll owe ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) him a favor later.
I shrugged and stood.
“I’ll take care of myself. Honestly, I feel fine... maybe I just had fatigue stacking up and couldn’t wake up.”
“You really shouldn’t be up...!”
“Mundae, sit down!”
“You should get re-examined, just in case.”
“...”
What overprotective fuss.
A little later.
Because of their enthusiastic requests, the medical staff returned to the room sooner than planned.
They were horrified to hear that the patient had been in a coma for over two weeks and was already happily eating fruit.
“Melon?? Patient, tell me how your abdominal sensation feels right now!”
“...!!”
“I feel fine.”
“Doctor! The patient is....”
And calls flew in from everywhere.
‘Makes sense.’
After lying down for eighteen days, eating the sweetest melon was bound to raise concerns.
Big Sejin’s face had gone ashen, but thankfully the results were clear: nothing abnormal.
If my condition had been ordinary, swallowing melon would’ve triggered pain immediately.
“I get to eat it!”
Cha Yoo-jin lamented that he should’ve shoved all the melon into his own mouth, but I let it slide.
‘This feels like Nectar’s effect.’
I suspected my digestive system had rapidly recovered thanks to the “Full Health Restoration” trait.
‘Let’s confirm that.’
Once the commotion died down, I summoned the status screen’s trait list.
[Traits: Infinite Potential; Time of Indulgence (S); Nectar (S) – Activated; Keen Ears (A)]
Sure enough, the activation was marked.
It seemed I was in rapid recovery, and once the chest wound healed completely, it’d vanish.
‘So Bacchus’s effect ends now.’
I almost salivate. What a waste.
Of course, I hope the next draw gives me Bacchus again—it’s been so useful.
I stifled my regret and closed the status screen.
‘By the way... the 18th.’
Though it was wasteful, at least the tour schedule wouldn’t be greatly affected.
‘I’ll recover fully in a month.’
I think the others with braces said they’d recover within three weeks too.
With another month of prep, we could cover all dates except a few in Japan.
‘Perfect.’
I nodded to myself.
After the staff all exited, the members let out relieved sighs as they regained composure.
“Mundae... I’m really sorry.”
“No, it was delicious.”
“From now on, we’ll always get permission first....”
A little while later.
Finally, the thought that I should rest more seemed to dawn on them.
“I’ll visit again tomorrow!”
“M-My place is nearby... call us anytime if there’s a problem!”
“I’m not leaving the hospital yet.”
“Wow, Cha Yoo-jin’s really fresh—let’s go!”
“Sniff.”
“Rest, Mundae. You’ve really been through a lot.”
“Thank you.”
Ryu Cheong-woo smiled faintly, then the look vanished.
‘He still looks drained.’
He must’ve worried more than I’d realized.
Just as I was about to seize him for more probing,
“Park Mundae.”
“Yes?”
Bae Sejin, poised to leave, spoke seriously:
“If the Human Rights Commission investigation goes ahead... I’m going to see if we can sue T1 Stars based on it.”
“...What?”
“So if we win, I can move to a new agency...!”
“...?!”
What insane idea is that?
I felt like I’d been slapped from behind.
Surely he wasn’t planning to use public authority to take a lawsuit all the way to trial after getting social coverage?
Regardless of whether it’d succeed, why pick a fight with a conglomerate owning networks and studios?
Were they planning to kick aside one of the biggest platforms?
I stared at the one I couldn’t believe had agreed to this.
Big Sejin avoided my gaze.
‘Man...’
“If T1 looks like they’ll restructure the agency after this, perhaps the deal could get even better~”
“...”
“Even if not a new agency, isn’t that enough leverage?”
And just like that, he’d bought in too...
“This isn’t something to act on immediately; we’ll discuss it gradually... for now, let Mundae rest more.”
“Of course~”
“Now go.”
I need some time to think.
I waved, my thoughts swirling, and the members left the room, some laughing, some waving.
Click.
I sighed in the suddenly silent ward.
“Phew.”
A lawsuit, huh.
I can tolerate most things, but that’s not smart for a long-term career in this industry.
I’ve rarely seen an idol sue and come out okay career-wise.
Whether they win or lose, it leaves a mark in the industry.
‘If you want mass appeal, it’s most realistic to handle it as amicably as possible.’
Above all, even the best-case scenario takes too long—activities would be on hold until then...
Wait.
A chill ran down my spine.
‘...What about the tour?’
Can’t do it.
“...”
You bastards...!
If I can’t tour, I could fucking die!
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions—suddenly I faced the threat of sudden death.
While I wrestled with that chaos, the internet lit up with breaking news that I’d regained consciousness.
[(Breaking) Testar’s Park Mundae Regains Consciousness]
[Park Mundae Awakens... “Fans’ Prayers Reached Me”]
[Testar in Accident, Back from Coma After 18 Days]
– What are these articles?
– Is this real?
– Are you kidding? (link)
– Please, oh please
Fans feared it might be another false report, but just thirty minutes after the first alerts, the agency confirmed it.
[T1 Stars: “Park Mundae regained consciousness around 2 PM”]
Only then did congratulations, relief, and tears flood SNS and community comment sections.
– I’m scared it’s a dream
– I can’t stop crying
– Mundae, thank you for fighting for 18 days to come back; we’ll support you no matter what
– So grateful to be able to share this photo (2nd-anniversary Park Mundae shot)
– Love you, Mundae! I’m so happy to support the 24-year-old you, the 30-year-old you, the 40-year-old you...ㅠㅠ
Because he’d nearly died in a tragic accident and returned alive, the public response was overwhelmingly warm.
– What a talented young man given a new chance—recover well and dazzle Korea with great songs~~
– So glad this turned out okay, I’m no fan but I was so worriedㅠㅠㅠ
– Congrats congrats, live well
– 18 days in a coma and came back? Wow
In such dramatic moments, hateful comments withered:
– Isn’t this all part of Mundae’s plan? Maybe he woke up on day one and staged it?ㅋㅋㅋ
└ You’re obsessed with tearing him down
└ This is what crossing the line looks like
– Still can’t perform for a while, I guess that’s enough
└ Admirable humanity
└ K-haters even diss a 23-year-old in a coma for 18 days
– I wasn’t a fan but the internet is wild
└ Do you even have people around you?
└ kekekekekekekeke
Once the hype dies down, who knows what technicality they’ll grasp next, but for now everyone celebrated idol and fans alike.
A few days later, Bae Sejin’s Human Rights Commission filing exploded amid the joy and warmth.
[Entertainment Industry’s Shadows... Truth of Testar’s Accident Revealed?]
[“Series of Internal Rights Violations Reported”—T1 Stars Under Human Rights Probe]
– ???? What is this
– Wow
– kekekekekeke is T1 insane
And so the situation began unfolding quite entertainingly.
Because the exposure broke right after such happy news, it was mistakenly taken as yet more good news.
– T1’s getting thoroughly exposed kekeke
– Let’s get some justice!
Public sentiment, easily tired of anger, shifted toward craving a perfect happy ending.
The so-called cider moment.
Bae Sejin’s first victory.
