Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 019
Chapter Title: Life is Real Combat (2)
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These kinds of guys were the worst. They had an uncanny knack for sniffing out the weak, knowing exactly when to kick and when to hold back. Classic bully behavior—weak against the strong, strong against the weak. What made it even more disgusting was how they strutted around like kings once they latched onto someone else's power.
Yeonwoo despised people like that.
“Looks like you’re finally getting the picture since you’ve gone quiet. Should’ve listened from the start and saved yourself the ugly words, right? Idiots always have to drink the bitter cup before realizing, ‘Oh, better not mess around now.’ That’s how it is with thick-headed morons.”
A sneer curled on Lee Deokchun’s lips. Sensing utter patheticness, he somehow mistook it for his total victory, puffing up with arrogance.
“Hey, hey. My throat’s dry from all the talking you made me do. Go buy some coffee. Get enough for all the staff while you’re at it. None of that cheap canned crap—Starbucks. Got it? Mine with extra Java chips, espresso, and a mountain of whipped cream.”
Lee Deokchun swaggered on, convinced the relentless threats had broken Yeonwoo. He even reached casually for Yeonwoo’s wallet like it was his due.
[That jerk’s definitely planning to squeeze the cash out of you and take all the credit!]
The way he tried to extort him so smoothly showed he was even lower than expected. No hesitation whatsoever—must’ve bullied and scammed plenty before. Vicious enough to trap any ordinary person.
But.
*You picked the wrong guy.*
Yeonwoo wasn’t some pushover.
That was Lee Deokchun’s mistake.
***
Lee Deokchun hadn’t liked the manager who’d tagged along with Kwon Seonghyeon from the start.
*What’s with that punk?*
A drama starring box-office guarantee Kwon Seonghyeon. At his age, idol life was winding down, so like the other members, he’d shifted gears to acting.
*I’m pretty decent at this, right? Coming from an idol background, this counts as good.*
Sure, some called it wooden acting, but Lee Deokchun was confident in himself. So what if he wasn’t great? The agency would handle any backlash.
“Why do I have to put up with this crap because of you? Do you even know how embarrassing you make me?”
Lee Deokchun scowled. Memories of Min Yerin’s icy glare flooded back—her haughty face as she snapped at him.
She’d opposed the agency pairing her with him for the drama.
“Come on, Noona. I won’t do anything to tarnish your reputation. I’ll do great.”
“Tell me to trust some stray dog.”
He’d tried lightening the mood with cheeky charm, but her frosty retort shut him down.
“Why not stick to what little you can do instead of chasing pipe dreams with no talent? You got an innocent actor booted because of you.”
Whatever. Not his problem who joined a mid-tier agency. If she was so wronged, go big-time. Landing a good agency was skill too. Still, her attitude pissed him off since he was just hitching a ride.
“Is that how you show commitment? Showing up late? Do you even grasp what you’ve done?!”
“Come on, Noona. Who’d dare talk back to a veteran actress like you? Life happens—sometimes you’re late.”
“Ugh. You’re beyond hopeless.”
*What a temper. No wonder the rumors say she’s a total bitch.*
So what if she had a pretty face and killer acting? She wasn’t soft and feminine enough. Entertaining such trashy thoughts she’d slap him for, he trailed her to the script reading.
And there.
*...What the hell’s that guy?*
He spotted someone annoying. Same age, decent-looking. Didn’t even flinch upon seeing him—just bored indifference.
*Is that the punk who supposedly snagged my spot?*
A peer at the script reading irked him. Good thing it was just a manager, but learning whose soured him more.
The peak came after, overhearing the director and writer.
“No way that guy’s just a manager, right?”
“His presence is insane. Better than most actors.”
They’d never praised *him* once. The director’s open disdain especially stung Lee Deokchun’s pride.
*What makes that lowly manager so special?*
Clearly Kwon Seonghyeon’s pull. They were sucking up to look good for him. Rage bubbled up.
He’d pivoted to acting years ago. It was ridiculous that some manager nobody outshone him.
*Lucky punk with good connections. Pisses me off.*
Lee Deokchun ignored his own nepotism. He decided to call the guy out, planning a little lesson.
The fact he was a manager loosened his reins further. Managers were managers—no big deal, even Kwon Seonghyeon’s. Not an actor.
[Min Yerin’s in this drama too, so tone it down! The agency won’t cover forever—watch your image! You know how hard I groveled to get you in?]
The executive’s nagging echoed.
*Grovel? You just name-dropped Min Yerin.*
This drama was *his* stage. Minus Kwon Seonghyeon, no one had his resume. He’d ride the ticket power, cement his face, become a household name. Decent actor for an idol.
But.
*What’s with that slick bastard?*
All the attention *he* deserved poured onto some pretty boy. Not a replacement actor—just a manager.
*A mere manager stealing *my* spotlight?*
No way.
Real name Lee Deokchun: born attention whore. Blessed with looks and talent, primed for the public eye. Sure, recent slacking blurred his features, but he blamed elsewhere.
*Idol life’s brutal. With seniority, time to...*
This drama was his launchpad. Yet some punk manager was stealing the show.
*Why’s that jerk taking *my* attention?!*
Legit reasons existed, but Lee Deokchun didn’t care. That manager had usurped his rightful spotlight.
*How dare he steal mine?!*
Only he was clueless he’d never owned it. He channeled loss into fury, ignoring the exec’s “behave.”
Like schooling cocky juniors, he unleashed rough discipline. A threat, some intimidation—and yep, the guy folded.
*Nothing special after all.*
Scared now, he’d back off. All attention would be his.
Satisfaction filled him.
Or so he thought.
“What’re you doing? Go get it already. Slow on the uptake and sluggish to boot. If you don’t wanna get fired, hustle... Gurk?!”
His throat suddenly constricted. Feet lifted off the ground in an instant.
Lee Deokchun yelped in shock.
But.
“Guh! Gack! Guh!”
“Coffee? Screw your coffee. Why the hell should I listen to you?”
“Guh! Kek!”
“This guy’s a riot? Bury me? Try it, punk.”
“Guh!”
“But fair’s fair—you’d get buried too. Wanna test who sinks first? An idol with a secret kid? That’d hit hard, huh?”
“Guhk!”
Even choking, Lee Deokchun’s eyes bulged.
“H-How, guh! Di...!”
“Dunno? Wanna guess?”
*Yes!*
His brain spun wildly.
Illegitimate child. His deepest, most buried secret—even the agency prez and bandmates were clueless.
“Getting curious? I’m just a nobody manager, but you’re public. Whose scandal hits bigger?”
“Guhk!”
Exposure meant doom beyond firing. Fans gone, agency ruthless—dropped from shows, sued by CF sponsors. Even if covered, spotlight lost forever.
That terrified attention addict Lee Deokchun.
“You’re a total lost cause the more I know. How’d a creep like you survive as an idol this long?”
“Kek! L-Let... guh... go!”
“Hey. Wanna nuke other people’s lives and keep yours intact?”
“P-Please!”
Dangling.
His feet kicked pitifully in midair.
“A-Air!”
Lee Deokchun’s eyes rolled back. Choked and hoisted, it was inevitable. Blood-starved face turned beet red—quite the sight.
“Human trash like you vanishing would benefit society.”
But before full blackout, Yeonwoo released.
Thud!
Lee Deokchun crashed like a meat sack bursting.
“Kek, kek! Kek!”
Coughing violently as air returned.
“Quit the drama?”
“Y-You... murd... psycho!”
“Still clueless.”
“Th-That’s... attempted murder!”
“Yeah? So?”
“Crazy bastard! I’ll expose you!”
“Then your bastard kid gets exposed?”
“...!”
Lee Deokchun flinched.
“H-How...? I didn’t tell her to keep it! I said abort...!”
“Worse than I thought.”
Yeonwoo clicked his tongue.
“Damn. I’m too nice even for me. Exorcising obsessions from scum like you... Ugh. If not for that lifespan.”
His gaze flicked to Lee Deokchun—snot-and-tear-streaked mess.
Satisfying.
*Not my style, primitive stuff. But words don’t work on dogs like him.*
Beat a mad dog, as the sages said. Yeonwoo honored ancestors dutifully.
*Why’d the longest lifespans stick to *this* guy?*
Actually, fitting. Nuclear waste drew grudges like magnets.
Tempting.
But.
*Life is real combat, you punk.*
No hobby dodging provocations. Return blow for blow, right?
Bullies learn only from tasting their own threats. Warped face from foul mouth? Good show.
“Don’t go threatening people lightly. Unless you want your life wrecked.”
“Ugh... You... bastard...!”
“Still not getting it.”
Yeonwoo tsked.
*Just end it?*
His obsessions were abnormally numerous and huge. Only a few bore lifespans—Yeonwoo had culled those.
*The rest linger...*
Blood-infused spiritual power outstripped talismans. Slam that into his eyes...
Heh.
A dark smile spread on Yeonwoo’s lips.
“Wh-What?!”
Instinct screamed danger; Lee Deokchun shrieked.
Maybe that’s why.
“Uh... everything okay here?”
A staffer with a name tag approached, tense.
“No, nothing...”
“You bastard! He choked me! See the marks on my neck?!”
Lee Deokchun shoved past Yeonwoo, spinning a drama in seconds. Perfect victim role—spotlight plus screw the oppressor manager.
“Choked you?”
“He tried to kill me! Psycho murderer!”
Trembling convincingly as attempted-murder victim, he bellowed.
The shocked staffer checked his neck.
But.
“...No marks.”
“What bullshit? I nearly died! How no marks from choking?!”
“So I’m lying? Show what isn’t there?”
Staffer’s voice hardened, annoyed.
Lee Deokchun’s eyes flashed.
“Ah, you’re in on it? Conspiring to kill top star Ayo?! Jealous of my rise?!”
“What? Top star? Nonsense... Ayo-ssi, snap out of it.”
“You two plotting my death! Even staff! Fuck! I’ll report you all!”
His eyes rolled. He’d *nearly died*—how was his neck fine?!
Clearly jealousy from these losers toward rising star him.
*What an idiot.*
Yeonwoo tsked again, smirking knowingly.
*How’d that thick skull make it as an idol? Think I’d leave evidence in a crowded set?*
Simple method. Spiritual power on hands mimicked physical force—no marks, like invisible gloves. Cost some power, but worth choking him.
No witnesses.
Fool humans, not ghosts.
“What’s the commotion? So noisy.”
His yells drew a crowd.
“Isn’t that Ayo? What’s with him?”
“Pathetic. What a mess.”
Onlookers chimed in.
“You bastard’s a murderer! Bribed staff to choke me! Marks clear, right?! Sabotaging my rise!”
“Murderer?”
“Choked him?”
“No way.”
“But sabotaging his rise? Mr. Wooden Acting rising where?”
Noise halted filming.
“What’s this racket on set?!”
“Director! Perfect timing! This guy needs banning from the industry!”
“What? Ayo-ssi, explain.”
“Look at my neck! He choked me! All to block my success...!”
Lee Deokchun vented again.
But.
“...Lee Deokchun-ssi. Think the set’s a joke?”
Not the sympathy he craved—just icy stares.