Chapter 163
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: The Ex's Intrusion
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Another dawn swept clean by those crazy human locusts.
Click!
I let out a small gasp of admiration as I opened the lid of the lunchbox Yoon Sua had personally made for me. Braised short ribs, kimchi, stir-fried fish cake. It was high-quality enough to sell for money. And considering the care put into it, the value was beyond measure.
"Thanks for the meal."
I picked up some of the braised short ribs first and logged into the familiar novel platform.
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[Yes/No]
Humans are creatures of habit, after all.
The event hype had died down. Fewer customers came with each passing day. Plus, with three people at home taking care of my mental health, I was holding up better than expected.
I'd even checked the community earlier, and Oh Hanam's bizarrely generous event had apparently ended today.
'Maybe that's for the best?'
The women, having learned I'd been tormented by Oh Hanam, had been even more attentive than usual. Yoon Sua's lunchbox was one example.
It suddenly made sense why a kid craving attention might fake being sick. It wasn't bad at all.
Now that it was ending today, I felt a bit regretful. The store manager must be genuinely devastated.
I chuckled and glanced at my smartphone.
A white bolt of lightning slammed into the ground, pounding eardrums. Everyone on the battlefield whipped their heads around. Their breaths caught in unison.
The figure that emerged amid the deafening noise—could they even call it human?
"I... am the heavens now."
In that moment, no one could deny the Lowly One's words.
"Whoa... this hits hard."
I couldn't help but marvel.
How did every single sentence stir the soul like this? No wonder the store manager had been lost in it, acting like a fool.
My heart was pounding too.
Right now, it felt like I could wield that peerless sword myself.
"Worth the wait for episode 162."
The protagonist had dominated up to 150 without a hitch, so the sudden crisis felt a tad frustrating at first.
But the comments were next level.
Did the author change? Form dropped off a cliff. Time to drop this sweet potato...
"It wasn't that bad, honestly."
Maybe because I was new to webnovels.
It wasn't frustration-free, but I couldn't relate to those comments. Generational gap?
"No, without that crisis, we wouldn't get this rush."
Personally, I loved the slow build-up over those seven episodes.
The frustration piling up, then exploding in catharsis—it was indescribable.
[Kim Hyunwoo: Really enjoyed it.]
A guy who didn't even know what comments or likes were, now leaving one and hitting like. That was the power of this story.
"Phew, that's enough for today."
Funny thing: it was so good it drained me instead. The lingering aftertaste made me hesitate to hit next episode.
Just as I set down my phone, savoring the vibe—
Ding-a-ling!
I jumped up at the bell, turning toward the entrance. The guy walking in felt oddly familiar. I'd dealt with plenty of community-inspired customers lately, but this wasn't one.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing here? Get out."
If he were a customer, I wouldn't talk like that.
Bloodshot eyes under bushy beard growth, dandruff-caked hair unwashed for days. Torn, stained clothes everywhere. A stench like garbage wafting from afar.
These almost disguised him, but the intruder was Lee Ginhyeong—one of Oh Hana's ex-boyfriends.
Regardless of how things were going with Oh Hana now, this was a face I never wanted to see again. Bluntly, I hated him more than Oh Hanam.
"B-bro! Just a sec, please. Let's talk!"
"..."
He begged desperately, but I felt zero pity for Lee Ginhyeong. Knowing what he'd done to Oh Hana made him even more repulsive.
"I got nothing to say. Fuck off. Before I beat you senseless and drag you out."
Every second facing him fueled the fire in my head, spreading to my body. Overwhelmed by disgust, I was already grabbing the counter's folding shelf, stepping forward.
Lee Ginhyeong freaked out as I approached.
"T-twenty-five billion! No, thirty billion! I'll give you thirty!"
"...What?"
I froze.
Even in my half-lost rage, that absurd sum stopped me cold. But I scoffed soon after.
"Bullshit. You expect me to believe that in your state? Get out—"
"Fr-from Oh Hanam! Money he promised me!"
"..."
"H-he said if I just get back with Oh Hana, fifty billion is mine. I guarantee it. Oh Hanam isn't the type to lie about this. Date Oh Hana, get fifty billion."
Lee Ginhyeong dropped to his knees with a thud.
"H-help me out, bro! Fifty billion! Money you couldn't earn in a lifetime! I'll give you thirty from it. Honestly, with that, you could fuck women way hotter than that slut Oh Hana..."
Thud! Before he finished, my foot slammed into his gut.
Shelves crashed down with a racket.
I didn't care, raising my fist.
"Guh—hack! Sp-spare... guhk!"
Blood sprayed, teeth shattered.
My knuckles bled, but stopping never crossed my mind.
If not for the third party, I'd have kept going.
"That's enough, Hyunwoo."
A cold voice rang in my ears.
Four burly guards—built like the ones from Hanban Group's mansion—pinned me down, barely stopping me.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
I panted a beat late.
Oxygen hit my brain, reason creeping back.
"..."
The more it returned, the dizzier I felt. My eyes flicked to the CCTV, then to Oh Hanam nudging Lee Ginhyeong's face with his shoe.
'I'm screwed.'
No sweat beating him, but now cold sweat poured down my back.
'Played.'
Knowing Oh Hanam, I clocked it fast. This was his planned move.
Lee Ginhyeong half-dead? Ironclad evidence.
Oh Hanam could ruin my life anytime.
What now? Han Se-ryong, quests, even extreme thoughts swirled. But the outlook choked me—then Oh Hanam's voice cut through.
"Dead?"
"No, still alive."
"Good. Clean it up."
"Yes, Vice Chairman."
As they dragged Lee Ginhyeong away, Oh Hanam's grinning face was suddenly in mine.
"You're no fool, Hyunwoo. You knew I used him, right?"
"Uh..."
Words stuck. The situation was that dire. Worse than committing a crime with cops watching.
"Pale as a ghost—you get how bad this is."
Oh Hanam eyed me steadily before speaking.
"Normally, I'd wreck your life with this. But we'll handle it ourselves this time."
I snapped my head up.
"...What?"
"Don't overthink it. I don't lie much."
True, but...
Too absurd to buy. What scheme now? Felt off.
"If you must know, I like you more than that scum Lee Ginhyeong. He crossed the line. I figured there was a chance, but he won't make my sister happy. So, we let this slide."
"What kind of bullshit..."
"I don't need your understanding. At my level, more hate than understanding comes naturally. Don't crave pity from inferiors."
I'd heard that from Han Aebom too.
"Mm, yeah. I have high hopes for you, Hyunwoo. To reach this spot, you need more ruthlessness. Losing it over this won't cut it... Oh, not bragging—I don't flinch at death right in front of me. No one believes it."
"I do."
"Pardon?"
"Believe you, you bastard. You look the type."
The guards tensed, yelling.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
"How dare you speak to the Vice Chairman like that!"
I snorted.
They, who'd been with him longer, seemed less aware. If they knew him, no overreaction.
"Enough. I'm fine. More than fine... actually good."
I stared at Oh Hanam, bowing slightly with a genuine smile.
Every time, it confirmed: total psychopath.
"So, sincerely—don't break over trash like this. And sorry for the zombie horde customers lately. Wanted to tip you, but handling Ginhyeong covers it."
"Fine. Business done? Scram. Don't play hero after poisoning then curing."
The guards flinched at my tone, but Oh Hanam smiled satisfied, turning away.
"See you next time, Hyunwoo."
"Yeah."
I nodded readily.
Like some wuxia enlightenment? That brief chaos taught and changed me profoundly.
Even so—
[Would you like to listen to Bicheonjaerim episode 163?]
The more I read about the protagonist, the more Oh Hanam fit the bill.
Tension snapped; strength drained. I slumped to the floor, muttering.
"Hah, fuck... Guess that makes me the extra shining light on the protagonist."
I thought I'd grown, changed a lot.
Still just an extra.
Could someone like me ever become protagonist-level? Possible?
After brooding, I slowly stood.
"Has to be."
I repeated it while cleaning the wrecked store. No way I'd end as an extra.