Player who Returned 10,000 years Later

Side Story Chapter 11: Oh Kang-Hee, Cupid of Love (5)

During the five days since the operation commenced, Oh Kang-Woo purposefully clung to Kim Si-Hun blatantly in front of Layla to get under her skin. Layla was boiling with rage inside, but she couldn’t do anything since she and Si-Hun had broken up. The crevice between them was getting deeper and deeper.

"There’s… something missing," Kang-Woo said in dissatisfaction.

He was in their luxurious apartment penthouse on the coast, where he lived together with Lilith, Han Seol-Ah, and Echidna, who had been absent as of late.

"Are you referring to Layla and Si-Hun?" asked Lilith, who was hugging Kang-Woo as his left buttock was on her lap.

Kang-Woo had already explained to Seol-Ah and Lilith the complex situation between Si-Hun and Layla. Not only was there no need to hide it, but he also needed help from Lilith to create the Oh Kang-Hee persona.

"Unnie, scooch over a little. Kang-Woo is uncomfortable," Seol-Ah said as she pulled Kang-Woo’s right buttock on her lap closer to her.

"My, what are you talking about? He was right in the middle."

"He was a little closer to you."

The two women on the couch bickered with each other as they pulled Kang-Woo on their laps.

"Enough. I’m thinking," said Kang-Woo in slight irritation as he was being swayed left and right.

The two women stopped.

"I’m sorry, Kang-Woo…" Seol-Ah lowered her head in dejection.

"It’s okay."

Kang-Woo smiled and shook his head to uplift the mood. Seol-Ah smiled brightly again and brought a slice of fruit on the table to Kang-Woo’s mouth.

"Here, have some fruit," Seol-Ah suggested.

"Thanks."

"That aside, what do you mean by something is missing?"

"There’s something about to bloom between Si-Hun and Layla… but it’s dawdling for some reason," answered Kang-Woo as he frowned.

He was getting frustrated out of his mind as they were both only standing by and watching.

"Fufu. How kind you are, my king. You’re working so hard for those two."

"He’s my precious little brother. It’s the least I can do."

’And I might take the brunt of the effects if I do nothing about it.’

"More importantly, could I see your female transformation?" asked Seol-Ah, her eyes shining.

"No," Kang-Woo answered.

"Why not~?"

"I can only use it once a day."

"Just once. Please, just once!"

Kang-Woo sighed as Seol-Ah desperately begged and used Mimicry, turning instantly from a little boy to a maiden from a rich household.

"W-Wow! Y-You’re so pretty!!" Seol-Ah shouted excitedly.

"Hmm." Lilith stroked her chin as if she were not interested in the Oh Kang-Hee mode and asked, "Maybe they’re lacking stimulus?"

"Stimulus?"

"Yes. I believe you just clinging to Si-Hun isn’t stimulating enough."

"Then what should I do?"

’I can’t have Si-Hun clinging to me. That’s gonna do way more than induce jealousy.’

"Oh, how about something like this?"

Lilith clapped her hands together as her eyes shone, having thought of a great idea. She smiled widely and let Kang-Woo know of her idea.

"That’s… not bad."

Kang-Woo nodded with great interest. It would certainly be effective in forcing Layla’s jealousy to reach its tipping point.

"Fufu, right?"

"I’m gonna go tell Balrog," said Kang-Woo as he jumped out of the two women’s laps.

Balrog was imperative for this plan to work.

’Alright.’ Kang-Woo clenched his fists. ’I’ll put an end to this by today.’

It was rather entertaining at first but he was getting tired of the Oh Kang-Hee mode. He could tell it was time to complete Operation Cupid of Love.

"Oh right, Kang-Woo," Seol-Ah called.

"Hm?"

"You have to come back by 8 PM today."

"To do what…?" Kang-Woo glanced at Seol-Ah warily.

"It’s not what you’re thinking. I mean, we’re also gonna be doing what you’re thinking of."

"..."

"You were curious about what Echidna has been up to lately, right?"

"Yeah."

"You’ll see what it is tonight."

Kang-Woo stared at Seol-Ah curiously and nodded. "Alright. I’ll be back by eight."

Kang-Woo opened the front door as he waved. He took the elevator down to where Balrog was, told him of Lilith’s plan, and walked out of the apartment. The summer of Haeundae was as sweltering as always.

"Right, then."

’It’s time for the final phase of Operation Cupid of Love.’

***

"Hi~ It’s nice seeing you so often these days."

Kang-Hee smiled as she looked at Si-Hun, sitting in a coffee shop near Haeundae station.

"Yes. Did you come across any issues as you came here?" Si-Hun asked.

"Come on, why are you speaking so formally? Loosen up."

"Haha, fine."

Si-Hun got up from his seat and gently pulled out a chair for Kang-Hee to sit.

’Dayum. I think my heart skipped a beat there.’

Kang-Woo’s heart beat faster for some reason as an extremely handsome man showed him impeccable manners.

’No, no, fuck no. This isn’t the time.’

He quickly shook his head. Now was not the time for his heart to skip beats.

"Oh, you’re here too, Miss Layla."

"Yes," replied Layla as she chugged a hot coffee.

She was staring at Kang-Hee with narrow eyes with a hard frown.

’Yeah, that’s it.’

Kang-W— no, Kang-Hee smiled in her head as she stared at Layla’s reaction.

’Her jealousy has gotten a lot stronger compared to what it used to be.’

Her eyes were so ferocious that she looked like she would explode from just one touch. It was proof that she still had feelings for Si-Hun.

"What do you usually get for coffee? It’s on me," Si-Hun remarked.

Kang-Hee’s phenomenal acting was mostly what drove Layla this far back into a corner, but Si-Hun’s honest responses to her acting also played a big part. Kang-Hee glanced at Si-Hun as she smiled on the outside.

’This son of a bitch isn’t capable of acting this good.’

He was awkward beyond belief at the start of this operation, but his acting(?) got better and better as time went on for some reason, and now he was staring at Kang-Hee as if he were actually in love.

’Isn’t this fucking bad?’

Si-Hun knew Kang-Hee’s true identity, but that did not relieve Kang-Woo in any way. In the first place, this operation was commenced so that Kang-Woo could protect his bottom from Si-Hun, who had lost his way.

’I need to end this soon.’

Kang-Woo could not take his time any longer.

"Iced americano, please. Oh, with one less shot," Kang-Hee replied.

"Got it."

Si-Hun stood up and headed to the counter.

The air turned awkward as soon as Si-Hun left. Kang-Hee swept down her jet-black hair and glanced at Layla.

"Aren’t you busy, Miss Layla? You don’t have to go out of your way to be with us…"

"Not at all. You are a very important individual for Guardians."

"My, I appreciate your consideration, but I think Si-Hun is more than enough."

"Hoho. Are you uncomfortable with me here?"

"Hoho. Of course not. Why would I be?"

Sparks flew between the two women(?). Kang-Hee smiled and stared intently at Layla.

"What is it…?" Layla asked.

"It’s nothing. I just thought… you must like Si-Hun quite a lot."

"Pfft!" Layla spat out her drink. "Wh-What are you talking about?!"

"Hohoho. Did you think I wouldn’t know?" Kang-Hee elegantly put one leg over the other and glared at Layla sharply. "I’m not gonna give up on Si-Hun."

Layla’s expression hardened.

"Here’s your coffee," Si-Hun said as he walked over with a tray containing a cup of coffee.

"Thanks." Kang-Hee casually took the coffee and continued, "Right, since I’ve been in your care all this time, I would like to treat you both to a meal."

"A meal…?"

"Yes, I’m sure you’ll like it. It’s a famous place." Kang-Hee downed the iced americano and stood up. "Let’s go."

Layla and Si-Hun glanced at each other and stood up to follow after Kang-Hee.

***

"Oh, let me get my car. Please wait here," said Kang-Hee as she walked to the parking lot.

Si-Hun and Layla, left by themselves, stood awkwardly as they looked away from each other.

’Good.’

Kang-Hee smiled as she noticed that and then took out her smartphone to call someone.

"Whistle~ Damn, girl! That’s a killer body you’ve got there!"

Soon after, a flirtatious voice sounded from the entrance of the parking lot, which was devoid of people because a barrier was placed beforehand.

’Wow, Balrog. You’re going all out. I like the commitment.’

A man wearing sunglasses with tanned skin and hair dyed blond, the textbook appearance of a thug, walked toward Kang-Hee. Balrog, who was wearing an outrageous aloha shirt he had gotten who knows where, was also wearing a pendant that allowed him to transform into a human, made by Vaal Zahak.

’I’ll hammer the nail in the coffin with this.’

To summarize Lilith’s plan, Balrog, transformed into a thug, would hit on Kang-Hee. Seeing that, Si-Hun would rescue Kang-Hee in front of Layla. Kang-Hee would then be moved by Si-Hun’s heroics and confess to Si-Hun in front of Layla, who was already at her tipping point after her earlier conversation with Kang-Hee.

’She won’t stand for it!’

It sounded a bit too cliché, but such tropes became clichés for a reason. A woman saw a man whom she loved saving another woman, who was also in love with him, in front of her. That other woman then confessed to the man on the spot. Layla, who would be put in such a situation, would no doubt become so anxious that she would explode.

’Alright, bring it!’

Kang-Woo smiled he exchanged glances with Balrog.

"Wh-Who are you?" Kang-Hee said as she stepped backward, using her acting ability to the fullest.

"I just wanna talk. Why don’t you come with me for a sec, yeah? Kekeke."

Balrog’s eyes beamed lecherously as he walked toward Kang-Hee.

’Alright, now once I scream and summon Si-Hun, Operation Cupid of Love will be complete…!’

"Kang-Hee, I have something to discuss with— Gasp!"

"Huh?"

Layla appeared out of nowhere before Kang-Hee had a chance to scream. She stared wide-eyed at Balrog.

"Y-You’re…!"

’What? Did she see through the disguise?’

"A tanned blond man!!!"

’What’s wrong with being tanned and blond?’

"Arghhh!!"

’Why are you so angry, Layla? Balrog hasn’t even done anything yet.’

"YOU NTR SCUM[1]!!"

’Pardon?’

"DEATH TO TANNED BLOND MEN!!!"

’What the hell is this woman talking about?’

Layla charged at Balrog, the tanned blond man, with supersonic speed before Kang-Woo even had a chance to react.

"Huh? Wait a…"

Balrog stepped back in confusion as things were not progressing to plan.

"TAG: NTR KICK!!!"

Bash—!!

Layla’s flying kick smashed into Balrog.

"Kurgh!"

Balrog was blown away as if he was struck by an eight-tonne truck.

Crack.

Balrog wouldn’t be hurt by such an attack just because he transformed into a human, but his pendant shattered like a figure that a nephew dropped when they came over on a holiday.

Silence fell.

"Huh…? What is Balrog doing here…?"

The tanned blond man turned into a five-meter-tall demon.

Balrog, who had turned back into a demon was looking up dumbfoundedly at Layla, who was also staring at him with her mouth agape. Si-Hun, who only just arrived, was completely frozen.

Kang-Woo slapped his forehead.

"Fuck my life…"

’I think we’re fucked.’

1. A thug with tanned skin and blond hair (known as ??? in Korean) is pretty much the symbol of NTR in Korea because they are the staple of many Korean NTR media. ?