Debut or Die-Chapter 365
First of all, Mireina’s comeback was a tremendous success.
In terms of generating buzz, at least.
“Honestly, it feels like they were aware of Pawty—the song vibes are so similar.”
└“No way—that’s the opposite. Pawty fans have no shame😭”
└“ㅋㅋ From their debut, Mireina was all about trendy + intense concepts. Stop talking nonsense.”
“Man, but these survival-show idols have insane aura. Can’t compare to Pawtyㅋㅋㅋ”
As expected, the presence of a comparison target set the public discourse alight. People just love ranking things they can measure side by side.
Plus, although each group’s positions are similar, their strengths differ, so everyone’s evaluations inevitably varied.
In short, there was a lot of chatter.
“It’s madness.”
One thing’s for sure: Mireina’s comeback made a firm impression on the public and reignited interest that had been fading.
“Now that’s noise marketing done right.”
Thanks to that, Mireina is climbing the digital charts again after a long time.
Their track, aimed at the US market, wasn’t much different from before, but riding the “global-friendly” wave like Pawty’s US hit, it was received like a pop song overseas.
“The song itself is really good, too.”
I shrugged as I watched the heated public debate between the two groups.
“So TeSTAR is completely out of this conversation.”
Being the same gender and survival-show origin meant we naturally weren’t mentioned at all.
And that “grandson of that house” variety show—damn it—had cemented itself so well that TeSTAR’s buzz was flaring up in other directions.
“Sold-out merch kings (as consumers),”
└“ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ”
...The path wasn’t exactly what I’d predicted, but it hit similar objectives. That’s how I have to see it.
Moreover, reactions overseas were surprisingly positive.
From the start we’d agreed on a global strategy, so T1 handed the variety show to NetPlus instead of their own OTT service.
And it performed well. The production team even texted to brag.
“NetPlus World TV Show Ranking #6! All thanks to our TeSTAR—you rock, congrats 😊”
“Mundae? Next time we’ll take you to an actual hot spring. Please accept our apology and love 😭 (Check your gift)”
A hot spring? I don’t buy it. I can’t believe these suckers got certified overseas, too... But anyway, the playing field ended up balanced just as I’d envisioned.
“And the PR campaign kicked off.”
Even before the finale aired,
they’d contacted media outlets and timed everything perfectly.
[TeSTAR: From double Billboard entries to variety shows... Where does their domestic & international power come from?]
[From Dotify to Billboard. How did “idol of the year” TeSTAR’s two songs become hits?]
Our promotional cycle was now in its final phase.
With our Billboard ranking holding up well, this level of response would settle in naturally without any uproar.
“Fans will love it.”
Thanks to the favorable image from that explosive variety show, now was the perfect time to spread the news smoothly.
“Good.”
A few days later. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
A status window popped up.
[Mission clear!]
[Calculating rewards...]
I smiled. It’s always satisfying when things go exactly as planned.
Of course it should have been this way—damn that variety show...
I let out a short sigh and looked back at the status window.
The line I expected had appeared.
[Hyung!]
Right—if the status window speaks, of course you’d pop up.
Big Dal.
“How have you been?”
We’d kept in touch occasionally, but his new district office posting was incredibly busy, and I’d been traveling abroad, so it’d been a while since we talked properly.
[“Of course! Congratulations on clearing the mission!”]
Still the same. I nodded at the text that was rapidly growing as if excited.
“First, congratulations.”
[“And the variety show was so much fun. Mung-ge was adorable... and the twist was hilarious! I can’t believe you came up with that story!”]
“......”
I fell silent.
The status window vibrated.
[“It wasn’t all staged?”]
“No.”
[“I’m sorry...”]
He shouldn’t have to apologize, but I knew I’d have to see mockery from everyone I met for a while. I brushed my face with one hand and glanced at the popup.
The rewards had been calculated.
[Rewards complete!]
[Reward: Enhanced status-window intervention power]
This one was extremely satisfying.
The status window shook up and ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) down, as if curious or trying to get a better look.
[“Hyung, but... why did you want this reward? “Enhanced”? Did you want to subdivide the display categories or something? You could’ve done that anyway!”]
“No.”
I wouldn’t accept a record-breaking hard mission just for that.
I raised a finger.
“Watch closely. The subject isn’t me.”
[“Huh?”]
“It’s the status window itself.”
That’s right. I’d chosen as my reward that the status window strengthen its own intervention power.
[Gasp]
“In other words, I empowered your abilities as the status window. In a broad sense.”
To avoid tripping any system flags, I’d deliberately been vague, even using the word “intervention power.”
[“But... why?!”]
“Because there’s someplace to use it.”
If I wanted to prevent you from returning to being just a status window, I had to eliminate the system ultimately. I called Kwon Hee-seung, Gold 2—the current system holder.
“Ow, my bones all ache.”
“Do we really have to do the DuvApp today? Can’t we push it to tomorrow?”
Near the end of their Japan tour, Spacer—Kwon Hee-seung’s group—was feeling the aftermath of a first one.
Of course, one member, glad to have another chance at life, was fully alert.
“Hey, hey, this is where slacking off starts the downward slope.”
“Uwaaa!”
Despite whimpering, Spacer nodded and moved at Kwon Hee-seung’s words.
“No one on our team has bad character anymore, you know.”
Kwon Hee-seung secretly shook his head.
“It’s just that some people really clash!”
Spacer had more members than TeSTAR. Even after Chae Seo-dam’s departure, which was Seon Ah-hyun’s schoolyard nightmare, the size remained.
And more members means conflict grows exponentially without firm leadership.
...It was tough.
“But we’ve made it this far!”
Spacer, though not as mainstream as TeSTAR in their hit Ajusa re-listing season, had a solid fandom thanks to their survival-show roots.
And Kwon Hee-seung prided himself on playing the mental‐leader role well!
“All right, seniors and juniors, let’s smash it again today!”
“Okay...”
Despite being exhausted right before their comeback, everyone applied their professionalism to their livestream.
“See you again~”
“I’ll be right back!”
After a quick mukbang, members dispersed to their hotel rooms.
“Aigoo.”
Kwon Hee-seung, patting himself on the shoulder in celebration of a successful day, was just drifting to sleep when his phone rang.
[“TeSTAR’s Mundae hyung????”]
“Huh?”
So sudden?
Some people prefer calling first, but this definitely wasn’t his style.
“He’s calm, cool, and strategic.”
But Kwon Hee-seung didn’t dislike Mundae; he was a good senior, even if intimidating at times.
-Don’t pick fights there; better to just back off.
-Don’t ever say something like that by mistake.
-Maybe just separate their rooms.
I’d sometimes asked about his worries, and whenever he sought advice, I’d answered sincerely.
He seemed genial to those within his circle. Kwon Hee-seung rubbed beneath his nose.
“He’s been like that since Ajusa, too.”
I vividly remembered the civilian contestant Park Mundae, who calmly handled Choi Won-gil’s antics while caring for those around him.
I even got an apology from Choi Won-gil via Mundae recently, so Mundae really did have a generous spirit.
“He was pretty forgiving when I almost blabbed nonsense on the radio, too.”
-When stuff happens, just handle it. The problem is when you can’t.
...That truth made cold sweat form on my spine.
“So I never thought he’d share his own situation... publicly, on the radio, to me!”
Maybe it was to set an example—“This is how you share”—or just timing so perfect.
“Man, so cool.”
Blinded by the aura of a first-tier idol returned from the future, Kwon Hee-seung reached an improbable conclusion.
Indeed, Mundae had become close to his role model!
Not just because of our “future-knowing idol club.”
“He’s genuinely someone to respect as an idol.”
His character was remarkable—and he’d let his team win on that variety show. A cool move not many could pull off.
-“Puppy dance~ Mung-ge Mundae dance~ (video)”
-“Park Mung-ge and six phantom thievesㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ (screenshot)”
“All right, idols really need variety shows to stay in the A-tier. He’s living proof!”
Recalling those funny tweets that even my own fans posted, Kwon Hee-seung nearly laughed aloud.
“Oops.”
Lost in thought, his ringtone looped once.
He tapped the screen before it could ring again.
“Hello, Mundae hyung!”
-Yeah.
His calm voice came through the line.
“What’s up?”
-I just need to confirm something.
“Sure~”
He was about to get straight to the point—must be urgent!
Then Mundae asked the unexpected question.
-What exactly was your mission this time?
It referred to the mission paid for by gaining a new life from the future—Mundae said he’d already completed his. Kwon Hee-seung still had his left.
“Why ask now?”
Still, Kwon Hee-seung answered immediately. Though he wasn’t satisfied with it himself.
“...Uh, our self-produced album.”
Ugh.
Why did that come to mind? Or rather, was it because I’d been told it was my “mission” that I felt drawn to it?
“Either way, it’s not great....”
An album put out by the whole team... that’s usually something you do with more seniority.
We’d each chipped in, but with the release looming, I was honestly worried.
“Actually....”
So Kwon Hee-seung laid out his concerns frankly, trusting the advice I’d given before.
-Right. I remember that.
I answered in a calm tone.
But there was a hint of amusement in my voice.
“...Amusement?”
Why?
Then I continued slowly.
-I think I can help you.
“Huh?”
He blinked. A few seconds of silence passed, then—
“Aaaaah!”
Something flashed before his eyes.
[!Status Effect: Make It Work]
-Idols know teamwork is the answer, huh?
: If the team fails to release a collaborative work within the period, “failure.”
Translucent gray text crackled with sparks.
It shimmered and disappeared, but I’d definitely seen it.
“W-wait, did you just show me that?!”
-I showed you your “mission.”
He covered his mouth.
“Aaaaah!”
