Chapter 31: Country Bumpkin

Heo Dong-sik was foolish.

He assumed that inflicting such excruciating pain would have somewhat quelled Sang-woong’s anger.

Perhaps it was natural for him to think so. After all, his ankle wasn’t just fractured—it was completely shattered. Even with the best treatment, it would never fully recover.

“You still don’t seem to grasp your situation,” Sang-woong said in a low, chilling voice.

Heo Dong-sik’s face drained of color instantly. This man was far more ruthless and cold-blooded than he’d ever imagined.

As a seasoned black market veteran, he couldn’t fathom why he hadn’t recognized this monstrous presence from the start. Was it because Sang-woong’s initial impression as a naive, clumsy country bumpkin had been so convincing?

Of course, that played a part, but he never could have dreamed that beneath that innocent facade lay the sharp, merciless nature of a battle-hardened warrior.

Due to this misjudgment and arrogance, Heo Dong-sik soon witnessed a sight so horrific he wished he could claw out his own eyes.

Sang-woong’s cold, unrelenting foot struck his lower abdomen without hesitation, effortlessly piercing through. In that moment, Heo Dong-sik instinctively knew his mana circuit—the core of his existence as a hunter—had been utterly destroyed.

A mana circuit, resilient against even significant external shocks, had been shattered so easily by a single blow from this monster. Unable to wield mana any longer, Heo Dong-sik was reduced to a powerless insect, stripped of his life as both a hunter and a black market dealer.

With his ankle mangled, even living a normal life would be a struggle.

“How… how could this happen…” Heo Dong-sik muttered, his trembling voice barely audible.

His eyes swirled with a mix of disbelief, deep despair, seething anger, and overwhelming fear. But he didn’t dare let his emotions flare again. If he lost control like before, this cold-blooded monster might snuff out his life without a second thought.

This vile man wouldn’t bat an eye at killing him.

As if to prove it, Sang-woong was repeating the same brutal act on the unconscious Lee Chung-woo—crushing his ankle and destroying his mana circuit, his last shred of hope.

Perhaps the only mercy was that Lee Chung-woo, knocked out from the blow to his jaw, couldn’t feel the agonizing pain.

Only after ensuring the job was thoroughly done did Sang-woong leave, his expression cold and unyielding.

Heo Dong-sik gritted his teeth, glaring at Sang-woong’s retreating figure with venom. But his gaze, now devoid of the mana that once made it sharp and threatening, held only impotent rage and despair.

“Damn it… I’ll make you pay…” he swore under his breath, burning with a bone-deep desire for revenge.

Yet, with his broken body and shattered mana circuit, his vow was nothing but an empty cry. All he could do was watch helplessly as Sang-woong’s cold silhouette faded into the distance.

On a peaceful afternoon, warm spring sunlight streamed gently through the large restaurant windows, filling the space with a soft glow.

Somewhat out of place with the serene atmosphere, the upbeat music of a trendy idol group echoed through the restaurant.

“Mister, you listen to this kind of music? It doesn’t really suit your vibe,” Lee Ji-an said with a playful grin, her cheeks stuffed with delicious pasta.

When she first started coming to the restaurant, she could barely finish a bowl of rice, but now she could polish off a plate of pasta with ease.

“This? My younger sibling manages that group, so I end up listening to it a lot without realizing,” Sang-woong replied.

“Whoa, your sibling’s a manager? That’s so cool! Can you maybe get me an autograph from a celebrity I like?” Ji-an asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Sang-woong scratched his head awkwardly. “Uh, that might be a bit tough.”

“Be honest, Mister, you’re not that close with your sibling, are you?” Ji-an teased, hitting the nail on the head.

“Hahaha,” Sang-woong laughed sheepishly, deftly changing the subject.

In truth, after his regression, his younger sibling was the most difficult person for him to deal with. In his past life, he’d been so consumed with his hunter duties that he neglected his family, often burdening his sibling with responsibilities, including financial ones.

As Sang-woong hurried to the kitchen, Ji-an’s gaze naturally shifted to Koo Eun-woo, who was savoring katsu at the table across from her.

“Eun-woo oppa, is the katsu good? You’ve been eating it every day lately,” she said.

“Uh, it’s… fine,” Eun-woo replied awkwardly, quickly swallowing a mouthful of katsu.

“Why do you always get katsu? There are tons of other delicious things on the menu,” Ji-an asked innocently.

Eun-woo hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “Well, uh…”

Oddly enough, at some point, he’d started craving katsu constantly. At first, it was just because it suited his taste, but eventually, it felt like his body instinctively demanded it. Strangely, his condition had noticeably improved since then.

It was like a professional athlete sticking to a ritual before a big game. To maintain his peak condition, Eun-woo had made eating katsu a habit.

“When did you dye your hair?” Ji-an asked, her attention shifting to his hair color.

Eun-woo’s signature bright blonde had been replaced with natural black.

“Uh, well…” He rubbed the back of his head shyly. “I got it dyed when I went for a haircut. You said the blonde didn’t suit me before.”

“Good choice, oppa!” Ji-an nodded approvingly. “Black hair looks way better on you. No more damaging your hair with that tacky blonde.”

“Got it,” Eun-woo said, a small smile forming as he accepted her praise.

“Oh, oppa, you brought the power bank, right?” Ji-an asked, beaming.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation for their new project.

“Yeah, of course. I even grabbed all the ones from hyung’s room just in case,” Eun-woo replied confidently, reassuring her.

“It’s finally happening today!” Ji-an exclaimed, clenching her fists with enthusiasm. “Let’s do this right! We’re Team Pink!”

With shining eyes, she extended her arm. Eun-woo, cheeks slightly flushed, shyly crossed his arm with hers, a ascend smile.

“Leon, Cross!” Eun-woo called out softly in response.

Sang-woong watched the lively, youthful pair from the kitchen with a warm smile, touched by their energy.

Just the day before, Ji-an and Eun-woo had come to him with a plan to start a YouTube channel featuring Pink and Leon. Sang-woong had gladly supported their passion, even promising to sponsor a GoPro camera for their project.

“Thanks, Mister, it was delicious!” Ji-an said brightly.

“I’ll come watch you guys film in a bit,” Sang-woong replied warmly.

“Sweet!” Ji-an responded energetically, bouncing out of the restaurant.

Taking advantage of a lull in customers, Sang-woong stepped outside. “Wonder how those kids are doing,” he mused.

The fresh, vibrant emotions he felt watching them were still unfamiliar after his harsh past life, but they filled him with pleasant excitement. The pure passion and laughter of these kids in their simple daily lives felt like true, precious happiness seeping warmly into his heart.

“Hello, viewers! Today, we’re thrilled to launch our little but precious YouTube channel, Pink and Leon’s Happy Stories! I’m Ji-an, your burst of energy!” Ji-an announced with her signature bright, positive vibe into the smartphone camera Eun-woo was holding.

“Let me proudly introduce our adorable mascot and indispensable star, Pink!” she continued.

She confidently led the way to Pink’s cozy home. “Pink is a charming cat with a freer spirit than anyone. She roams these vast green fields and lush forests every day! At first, she wasn’t quick to open up to us, but with time and genuine care, she’s started to show us her warm side.”

“Nice! This first shoot is off to a great start!” Eun-woo exclaimed, genuinely impressed, giving her a thumbs-up.

Encouraged by his praise, Ji-an continued with even more enthusiasm. “The moment I carefully fed her a treat with the tip of my tongue is still vivid in my memory.”

She gestured gently toward Pink’s cozy home. “And this is the adorable, happy house and fun playground my friend and reliable partner, Eun-woo oppa, painstakingly built for Pink!”

Eun-woo quickly caught her cue, smoothly adjusting the camera angle to capture the stunning scenery. The lush natural landscape under the blue sky, the majestic tree serving as Pink’s roof, and the quaint house and playground crafted for her formed a picturesque scene like a watercolor painting.

“Wow,” Eun-woo gasped, unable to contain his awe. “I didn’t realize this place was this beautiful…”

The harmonious blend of these elements was a work of art in itself. Ji-an leaned into the camera frame, calling out to Pink with a soft, affectionate voice.

“Pink, can you look over here?”

At her gentle call, Pink emerged from her cozy home, striding forward with a proud yet graceful demeanor.