Player who Returned 10,000 years Later

"Wh-Why is Balrog here…? What is going on…?"

Layla stared at Balrog in confusion. She had exacted divine judgment on a tanned blond man who tried to make a pass at Oh Kang-Hee, but it turned out to be Balrog; it was only natural she would be confused.

’Could Balrog have been dealing in depravities like this in secret all this time…?’

A horrible thought popped up in her head, but she shook her head.

’That’s impossible.’

Layla knew what kind of person Balrog was; she couldn’t imagine him secretly turning into a human and making passes at women. In the first place, Balrog was a demon; Layla heard that demons, who had different beauty standards from humans, couldn’t distinguish between beautiful and ugly. In other words, Balrog would have no reason to make a pass at Kang-Hee just because she was a bombshell human woman.

"Uhh… well…" Kang-Hee stammered.

Not even Kang-Woo could immediately think of a way to explain an absurd situation like this.

"Layla…" Si-Hun slurred, his face pale.

Si-Hun was the bigger problem; Kang-Woo couldn’t expect him, worse at acting than a K-Pop idol, to smoother over this situation.

Layla narrowed her eyes. Unlike the goddess she served, she was very quick-witted. It was not difficult for her to notice something was wrong.

"Si-Hun. Could you explain to me what is going on here?"

"W-Well…"

"No, let me ask someone else." Layla turned to Kang-Hee and asked, "Could you explain to me what is going on here, Kang-Woo?"

Kang-H— no, Kang-Woo shut his eyes tightly.

’Fuck.’

The situation couldn’t be salvaged anymore. Kang-Woo boiled with rage as he stared at Balrog, lying on the ground dumbfoundedly.

"Balrog, you stupid son of a bitch. You could’ve easily dodged that…!"

"I didn’t expect her to just attack me out of nowhere!" shouted Balrog in frustration. "What kind of woman attacks a man because they’re tanned and blond?!"

’That fucking woman next to you.’

"I am not in the wrong!"

’I know you aren’t, dammit. But there’s no one else to blame.’

"Hyung-nim… It’s all over now."

Si-Hun lowered his head as if the world had come to an end. Now that Layla found out about their absurd plan, Si-Hun couldn’t hope to get back together with Layla. Everything was over; his love and the five days’ worth of effort.

"Arghhh!" Kang-Woo screamed as he pulled on his hair. He had no idea where it had gone wrong. "Shit! We should’ve just gone with a love letter like I suggested!"

"Why are you so obsessed with that love letter nonsense?!" Si-Hun screamed back.

"It worked perfectly fine back in my day!"

"You hadn’t dated a single woman back then! Don’t lie!"

"Gasp, y-you son of a bitch, how dare you?!"

"Kurgh… Muscles! We should have just gone with building muscles from the start instead of this stupidly tedious method!!" Balrog yelled.

"Shut the fuck up! You were talking about how jealousy would breed desire or some shit like that!"

The three men were back to square one, bickering with no sense of agreement. The screams of three idiots echoed throughout the empty parking lot.

"Enough," Layla commanded as she stared coldly at the three idiots.

The yelling stopped instantly.

Layla slowly walked in the silence and repeated, "I believe I asked what is going on here."

The three men couldn’t open their mouths, pressured by her overpowering aura. Kang-Woo bit his lip and clenched his fists.

’I never expected the operation to fail in this way…!’

This was the first time in his ten millennia of life that an operation failed in such an idiotic way.

’What’s so bad about tanned blond men? Forget that, even if someone were to witness someone getting followed, wouldn’t they normally figure out exactly what’s going on before attacking?’

Kang-Woo did not expect Layla to outright kick Balrog.

’This is slander to all tanned blond men! Do you have any idea how they must be feeling right now? Huh?!’

Kang-Woo criticized Layla in his head but couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud since it was true that he was caught pulling bullshit. It was only natural for the liar to keep their mouth shut and look down after they were caught in their lies.

"It’s my fault, Layla," Si-Hun expressed.

"Si-Hun…?"

"I was the one… who asked hyung to do this." Si-Hun approached Layla and bowed deeply. "Ever since we broke up a year ago… not a single day has passed that I did not regret it."

’Dammit, Si-Hun. This isn’t the time to be putting on a pity show. Just shut up and keep your goddamn head down.’

"I know that my lacking self… and my petty obstinacy left you with an unhealable wound."

’Bro, stop with the bullshit and just get down on the ground! This isn’t the time for a confession, dammit!!’

"I wanted to ask for forgiveness, but… I didn’t have the courage to. I don’t even know if I deserve to be forgiven… after how much I’ve hurt you."

’You have to first get on your goddamn knees and smash your head on the ground to be forgiven! What the hell are you doing, standing so tall? Look at me, my head is on the ground. I’m not above begging like this.’

"I’m sorry, Layla."’

"You call that… an excuse?"

’See? She’s angry because you’re not doing a dogeza.’

"You did something so absurd just to ask for my forgiveness?"

’You’re gonna get a flying kick from Layla too. That’s on you. It’s not my problem.’

"You’re an…" Layla slurred as her shoulders trembled and tears flowed down her cheeks.

’Here comes the eight-tonne truck!’

Kang-Woo closed his eyes as if he couldn’t bear to watch the brutality that would ensue.

"Idiot!"

Kang-Woo heard not a critical strike but the delicate sound of kissing.

’The fuck? What’s going on?’

Kang-Woo opened his eyes and looked up to see Layla and Si-Hun kissing passionately.

"The fuck?"

’Why are they going at it like that?’

Kang-Woo turned to Balrog in confusion but he was also wide-eyed, unable to understand the turn of events.

"Layla…"

"You idiot… You could’ve just been honest with me instead of doing something as stupid as this." Layla leaned her head on Si-Hun’s broad chest as she cried. She muttered lovingly, "I’m… also sorry that I couldn’t properly reach out to you back then."

"Layla!" Si-Hun shouted as he embraced Layla and they kissed again.

"Wait just a goddamn second. Excuse me, you two?"

’What do I become if it gets resolved that easily? Huh? What becomes of my five days’ worth of effort?’

"Shouldn’t you be slapping Si-Hun in the face and getting angry at him? Huh? Am I misunderstanding something?"

’Why does he get forgiven without even a slap on the wrist for deceiving? Is it because he’s hot? Hm? Is it?’

"I’m extremely disappointed in you, Kang-Woo," Layla said.

"What? Why me?"

’Why is Si-Hun forgiven and not me?’

"You’re the one who planned this, aren’t you? There’s no way Si-Hun would think of such a thing."

"I mean, I can’t deny that."

"I knew you were the mastermind."

"This is so fucking unfair."

’I only wanted to help my one and only little brother!!’

"Just you wait," Layla expressed.

"Hah."

’Wait for what? What can you possibly do to me? Huh?! I’ve done nothing wrong!!’

"I’m going to teach Seol-Ah something more extreme than mommy roleplay."

"Wait just a fucking second."

’I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s all my fault.’

"Stop, Layla. I asked hyung to do this. That is the truth."

"Really…?"

"Yes. I wanted to do whatever it took… to get back together with you. I’m sorry."

Si-Hun got on one knee in front of Layla and lowered his head. It would have been cringe if any other man did it but Si-Hun made it feel like a scene out of a movie.

"S-Si-Hun…" Layla muttered.

’What the fuck is with this difference in treatment? You’ve never shown me that kind of expression, woman.’

"This… This isn’t fair…"

’Why am I the only one reproached? What did I do so wrong?’

A few moments passed.

"I’ll be going to talk in private with Layla," Si-Hun said.

"This is the last time, Kang-Woo. Do something like this again, and I will teach Seol-Ah some unimaginable roleplay."

The two people, who managed to confirm their feelings for each other after a year, left with a smile.

Balrog placed his hand on Kang-Woo’s shoulder and patted it as if consoling Kang-Woo. "Let us… go home."

Balrog turned around. Kang-Woo was left alone as he stared blankly at where Si-Hun and Layla were.

"Fuck…"

Although Operation Cupid of Love was a success, all that was left were wounds.

***

Click.

"I’m back."

"Welcome back, Kang-Woo~"

A gentle voice healed Kang-Woo’s soul as soon as he opened the front door.

"Darling~!"

"My, wh-what’s wrong, Kang-Woo?"

Kang-Woo hugged Han Seol-Ah and buried his face between two voluptuous mountains.

"It’s not fair… Life isn’t fair…"

He vented his sorrows in her arms. Seol-Ah looked down at him in worry and then smiled as she patted his head.

"Now, now. It’s okay, Kang-Woo."

A warm feeling spread throughout Kang-Woo as Seol-Ah whispered gently in his ear.

"Fuuu," he exhaled.

"Did something happen?"

"I’ll tell you later."

"Mm… Okay." Seol-Ah did not pry for details. "Right, Kang-Woo. It’s almost 8 PM."

"Oh, right." Only then did Kang-Woo remember that he was supposed to be back by eight. "Where’s Echidna?"

"Hoho, you’ll see," Seol-Ah replied as she dragged Kang-Woo by the arm to the living room couch in front of the TV.

"Hm?"

Kang-Woo tilted his head as he sat on the couch, and Seol-Ah sat next to him, so close that their butts were touching. She picked up the remote and turned on the TV.

- Ladies and gentlemen! The time we’ve all been waiting for is here!

Seol-Ah changed the channel to a show host shouting on a flashily-designed stage. The electric signboard had Idol Wars! written on it.

"What is this?" Kang-Woo asked as he tilted his head and stared at the TV.

- Today’s highlight match stars one of our strongest winner candidates! The rookie who arrived like a supernova and has been winning every Rookie Award ever since! The star who has been rewriting the history of the idol industry…!

The stage lights moved erratically and then all focused on a girl standing in the middle of the stage.

- Echidna!!

’What?’

- Hm! Hm! Hey, everyone!

’The fuck is going on here? Why is Echidna there…? Am I dreaming?’

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