Debut or Die-Chapter 314
Public Service Exam, Grade 7.
It’s the very test where I, Ryu Geonwoo, failed the final third interview while living as myself. Just thinking about the years of cramming that go into exam prep brings it all back.
But why the hell does this pop up as a status ailment in this situation?
‘Are they insane?’
And it isn’t even appearing for me.
[Receiving reward]
That still shows for me. So that bizarre ailment must be tied to Park Mundae’s echo—only appearing when he calls up the status window.
‘Then why give stats but not show them? Fucking ridiculous.’
I swallowed the curse forming on my lips and asked,
“When did it show up?”
“I remembered you called the status window the day you bought the lottery ticket, so I tried calling it again the next day....”
Damn it.
‘He saw that.’
He’d only just gathered the /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ nerve to ask.
“By the way, that ‘Receiving reward’—did you do that too, Hyung?”
“Well, sort of.”
But before I could reply, Mundae rushed out everything he hadn’t said before, speaking without pause.
“I bought this officetel—was that the right move? Would renting have been better? And then something really weird happened....”
Aside from the death-if-you-fail ailment, the past few months in my body must’ve been quite shocking for him.
And the final boss is this:
– Re-Listing! Idol Corporation┃ Mundae’s MundaegaTto Moment☆
“Hyung! That was me, right?!”
“....”
Someone entering my body and joining an idol survival show.
‘So it really was the same timeline....’
This must be the actual past of the world where I lived as Park Mundae. I silently endured the highlights of “Mundae” on screen.
“I tried to reach you somehow, but there was nowhere to contact....”
Yeah, of course. Your smartphone was canceled.
Seeing a chicken feet mukbang makes my feelings even more mixed.
‘So that’s how you lived back then.’
I forced myself to speak.
“That’s me.”
“Huh?? Hyung, I think I’m misunderstanding....”
“No, you’re right.”
I held back a sigh.
“I lived in your body.”
“O-oh—oh my god??”
It felt wrong to scare him with the status window, but the explanation had to come first.
Sitting on the living-room sofa, I began calmly recounting everything that had happened.
It wasn’t hard. Summaries come easily.
A moment later, Mundae shouted,
“So... you were an idol in my body?! You’d die if you failed?!”
Yeah, that’s it.
He wailed like crazy.
“No wonder! It seemed too cool for me to be the one doing it!”
Was he serious?
He knew how to phrase it politely. I know my broadcast persona at that time—I’d be fine even if he called me a freak.
“So then, at the moment you were about to win the daesang, you woke up here instead?”
“Right. But that’s not the important part right now.”
“Uh...?”
I spoke grimly.
“Look at my case. You really could die if you fail this exam.”
“....“
I don’t know if Mundae could swallow, but I saw that he got the idea.
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Surprisingly calm.
“Actually... just in case, I bought some practice tests and studied, but I don’t really get it....”
Or maybe he’s given up.
‘I need to design this emergency plan first....’
I paused, then said,
“Listen. First, look again at the text on the status window hologram.”
The ailment’s name reads “Death if you don’t pass!”, but the description reveals the loophole:
– If you do not receive a score sheet without any subject failure in the first written exam of the Grade 7 Open Competitive Recruitment Test, you die.
That’s the crux.
“You don’t need to pass—you just need to avoid failure in any subject.”
“Wha—!”
“If you score at least 40 points per subject on the score sheet, you’re fine.”
And since they tagged it with “(1),” this surely isn’t the only status ailment. The next will likely require actual passing.
For now, “just avoid failure” is persuasive... but in the long run, it’s a death marathon.
“What month is it now?”
“It’s April....”
The first exam is in July—exactly three months away.
‘Why this bullshit....’
Who holds a grudge about failing a civil-service exam and turns it into this? I ground my teeth.
‘At least I could handle it if I could see the questions.’
The Grade 7 PSAT could be raised to passing level in a couple months if I rehab properly.
The problem is I just woke up after months, and if it stays this way, the exam might as well be lost.
And if the ailment really belongs to Park Mundae... then he’s screwed.
“....“
No choice. I pronounced my verdict.
“You should go to a boarding academy.”
“Hyung??”
Depending on the facility and instructors, you can pay about two million won a month for an all-inclusive boarding academy that lets you focus solely on studying.
We’ll invest whatever money’s left into stock or futures options I know, and he can just study his ass off.
“When the next status ailment appears with the actual passing requirement... a boarding academy is the most efficient option.”
Better than dying.
“Is there... another stage after that?”
“Probably.”
Heaving a shaky breath. Depending on the criteria, if it’s based on Mundae’s memories, he came from roughly six years in the past—there could be seven stages.
‘This is hell.’
Even after passing, promotion and performance reviews could follow.
But if they retroactively applied my “Talk with Park Mundae” reward—making all those ailments based on disappearing me manifest in his body...
‘Then... the standard would be when I won the daesang.’
Still about five ailments. I sighed.
Of course I can’t be certain how they apply, but the key point is: it’s hellish work.
Five or seven status ailments.
‘Fuck....’
I sighed and sat at the PC, opening the page to search for civil-service exam lectures.
[202X Civil Service D-100 Fast-Track All-In-One Package OPEN!]
“First, get the online lectures....”
Wait.
The banner ad caught my eye. Of course.
‘I definitely solved these year’s questions back then!’
It was the most recent exam during my PSAT-focused period. I clearly took notes and organized them while watching those lectures.
“....“
I grabbed the mouse again.
Mundae began humming as if in confession.
“Hyung, I... haven’t really studied since high school....”
“It’s okay.”
“Huh??”
I opened the PDF of the workbook he’d already downloaded on the desktop.
After skimming it, I laughed—it all came back to me.
“I’ll tell you exactly what will show up. Study it to the letter.”
“...!!”
I could save the boarding academy for next year. This year, if he memorizes the question types I predict, he’ll avoid failure.
...Assuming he has basic reading comprehension.
‘If he doesn’t, he’s done for.’
By the way, an astonishing result awaited me.
“So, question 3...?”
“....”
I nodded.
“That’s the correct answer.”
“Yay!!”
After running through it once, his head was fine.
No, more than fine... his basic comprehension was excellent. If he’d stayed in high school, he’d have aced the college entrance exam.
‘He’s a bit weak on memorization, but PSAT isn’t a memory test.’
And combined with my recollection of past questions, he’ll comfortably avoid failure in the first stage.
I slapped the closed workbook. I’d checked every similar type.
“Three months at this pace and you’ll be fine.”
“Really??”
“Yeah.”
If he hangs on like this, he’ll avoid failure.
“....“
Mundae hesitated, then hummed in a trembling low tone.
“Actually... this feels like cheating. I’m using what you studied....”
Surprisingly ethical for someone facing death, but I stayed silent.
I sensed he was oddly moved.
“But I’m so happy I can do it. Thank you....”
“...We’re helping each other.”
After all, I lived as an idol in his body.
When I said that, Mundae seemed excited.
“Then shall we watch it? You on Idol Corporation!”
“....”
Did we have to?
But after nearly ten hours of study, he deserved a reward.
‘Is it fun because it’s you on TV?’
Without a word, I switched the PC screen to YouTube...
– Latest scandal in Park Mundae’s past: sanitary pad controversy?
I nearly ripped the sofa but calmed down.
It was the newest recommended video—about that incident when he almost withdrew from Idol Corporation.
‘So that was today.’
The date matched perfectly. I exhaled.
It was a problem he’d address himself at dawn anyway. No need for me to feel anything new.
But Mundae was the issue.
“That... I know it’s not true. It’ll get sorted out soon, so don’t worry.”
Suddenly he was terrified.
“No, Hyung! You’ve helped me this much....”
He trembled anxiously.
“But... what if you can’t debut because of me?”
“You will.”
I already did.
But he didn’t answer for a while. Only when I started preparing food did he hum again.
“Hyung... I think I can get in touch with her!”
“Who?”
“I don’t remember her number, but I have her email address!”
“...!”
“I emailed a few times for group projects... it should still be there.”
They seemed close enough that some trace remained.
But was it necessary? She’d post her official statement at dawn anyway. Best not to do anything suspicious...
‘Wait.’
...No way.
I hurriedly recalled the past.
– Why would things suddenly improve if I did nothing?
It had felt odd back then too. No way everything would resolve magically so fast.
And if this is the same timeline...
“....”
I finally nodded.
“Write the email.”
“Wha—! Uh, it’s in my bookmarks!”
Following his lead, I drafted a fairly long message to her friend: concern, greetings, apology, and a heartfelt plea.
I could’ve edited it more effectively, but I only checked for inappropriate statements.
As I reread it, I instinctively realized she’d written her explanation post after reading this mail.
‘The wording overlaps.’
I could see the influence in her word choices.
So thanks to this mail, the explanation went up.
“I’m going to send it like this....”
“Okay.”
I hit send, swept by a strange feeling.
My hunch was right—things don’t improve by themselves. Someone had to work for it.
So the kindness was genuine.
That night, I lay in the unfamiliar bed and admitted,
“Thanks for sending that email.”
“No, it was the right thing to do....”
Mundae, oddly glum after hearing my thanks, whimpered,
“I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess.”
“You’re the one who has to take a Grade 7 exam in three months.”
His sigh carried more relief. He’d been afraid I’d sleep for months again.
“So I’m not going to sleep either.”
“Oh... okay!”
Mundae seemed lighter. He was scared I’d vanish again.
“I have a feeling the pattern will bring me back here again. If I disappear, don’t worry—just focus on your exam prep.”
“Yes.”
I glanced at the clock and made small talk with him.
It ticked steadily on.
– 11:55 PM.
And when the minute hand hit 12...
I fell asleep naturally.
When I opened my eyes again, it was morning once more.
‘If the day changes, I fall asleep no matter what.’
Refusing to sleep is hopeless. I clicked my tongue.
Then I heard a scream similar to yesterday morning’s.
“Aaah! Hyung! You’re back??”
“Yeah.”
Judging by the sleeveless clothes, a lot of time had passed. I sighed and sat up.
Then Mundae rushed out,
“I took the exam! I didn’t pass...but I had no failures!”
Even without telling him, I could tell we could still talk.
“That’s good. Well done.”
“–Thank you!”
He looked happy, then composed himself.
“But another status ailment popped up... Oh, and before that, I had a schedule today....”
“A schedule?”
“It’s on my phone alarm....”
His voice trailed off. He didn’t want to mention it.
‘Did he think I’d scold him for not registering at the academy yet?’
That would be less urgent than the ailment.
I smirked, stood, and grabbed the phone. I checked the alarm name.
– TeSTAR Festival Appearance 2:30 PM
“...?”
“Can we not go?”
I wanted to know what had happened from the start.
