Chapter 4: The Growing Illusion (1)

After warning Jace, who I suspect might be gay, I received a message while heading back to the Association.

It was from the new receptionist, claiming to be my exclusive contact.

‘Exclusive, huh… That b*tch Ria Moa always acted like she hated me, and now she’s pawned off my case to a newbie.’

I was already in a sh*tty mood, and this just added fuel to the fire.

The new receptionist’s message annoyed me too.

Those “^^” at the end of every line felt like she was subtly mocking me.

‘The time… it’s probably after hours. I’ll head straight to settle the mana stones and give her a taste of overtime hell.’

I sent a message saying I was coming to settle the mana stones and headed to the Association.

Just by meeting my eyes, the receptionist named Shine fainted.

‘What the… Was my face that disgusting? I’m not even wearing the mask.’

I thought my looks were above average, maybe mid-tier… or lower?

Guess I was wrong.

Ria Moa’s reaction made me think she might’ve been showing some interest, but it must’ve been a form of contempt.

After nine years without a single kind glance, I must’ve misread it. Embarrassing.

Wait. So my looks aren’t even mid-tier—they’re bottom-tier?

Honestly, on Earth, Easterners tended to be seen as less attractive than Westerners. Not me, of course.

Still, with this face, I’d be decent on Earth…

Beauty standards vary by person, country, and world, so it’s hard to judge objectively.

But fainting at the sight of me? Really?

‘F*cking hell…’

My left eyebrow twitched with humiliation.

Calm down, calm down. This isn’t the first time I’ve been insulted.

I know female receptionists are obsessed with looks and despise ugly men.

What can I do but be the bigger person and let it slide? F*ck…

I decided to settle the mana stones later and just leave.

I considered helping the fainted rookie receptionist lying on the floor, but that felt wrong. I’d get no thanks and might even get reported for harassment.

“Excuse me, ever thought about becoming a celebrity?”

A random woman approached me while I was walking through the city.

Celebrity? What kind of bullsh*t is that?

Oh. Is this that?

It reminded me of my student days on Earth.

Scammers targeting kids dreaming of fame, saying, “I’m from such-and-such agency. You’re so pretty or handsome, ever thought about being a celebrity?” while handing out business cards to anyone.

I later learned it was all a scam.

They’d charge hefty lesson fees and swindle tons of money.

Back on Earth, my unapproachable looks kept those scammers away, so I never got a card… but I heard friends got scammed after receiving them.

‘Sigh. Now that my looks are subpar, I’m attracting these con artists.’

First, Jace’s gay advance.

Then Ria Moa, who found me so repulsive she dumped my case on a newbie.

That crazy catgirl who fainted at my face.

And now a scammer trying to prey on me because I look easy.

Four infuriating incidents in a row unleashed the crude mouth I’d been suppressing.

“Piss off, you scamming b*tch.”

“Huh?”

You can’t be nice to these types.

Parasites who leech off hardworking people’s spines. Trash who don’t earn money honestly but lurk for chances to stab innocents in the back.

I wanted to rip open a manhole cover and shove her in, but I wasn’t about to commit a crime. I was just pissed, not irrational.

Still, I had to say something.

“Didn’t hear me? Want me to carve out your eardrums with my dagger? Get lost.”

“Why are you being so harsh…”

“Harsh? You think scamming naive kids isn’t harsh? What a crazy b*tch.”

“What are you even talking about? I’m from SJ Entertainment—”

“Shut your trap, it reeks of tofu.”

“Hey! What did I even do!? Your behavior is way out of line!”

Oh, so that’s how you’re playing it?

Blaming the victim? You’re done for today.

I’ll reform this villain into a saint.

“Apologize right now!”

“Apologize?”

Perfect timing.

I reached into the bag I was holding.

I pulled out an apple I’d bought from a fruit shop earlier.

Crunch!

I crushed it with one hand and held it out to the scammer.

“Want to end up like this apple?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”

“Hey, scammer.”

The little performance was over; now it was time for real reform.

Phew. I burned white-hot.

After unloading every curse I knew, all my pent-up stress vanished.

It felt like a weight lifted off my chest. So refreshing.

Sniff, sob…

The scammer put on a dramatic act, squeezing out tears, drawing a crowd of onlookers.

I didn’t say anything that harsh, but she was cunning.

“What’s going on?”

“He’s yelling at a woman? Man, his words are brutal.”

“But maybe she did something wrong? For a guy like that to snap?”

“Looking at his face, it seems possible.”

“I wouldn’t mind getting yelled at by him…”

They were whispering among themselves, but I couldn’t hear clearly.

If this keeps up, I’ll be painted as the bad guy.

I’m the victim here.

Before things escalated, I turned to slip away.

“That voice… Minhoo Seol?”

I came face-to-face with someone I really didn’t want to see.

What a lucky day.

“Minhoo? It’s Minhoo, right?”

I kept walking.

Hands in my pockets, I ignored her and kept going.

“Why are you ignoring me? Don’t you remember me?”

I remember. Vividly, you fcking btch.

The 13th party I joined, “Trip.”

One of the harem members under a sleazy male leader. Dragonkin, Anflea.

Blood-red short hair.

Even fiercer crimson eyes.

Two horns sprouting from her head.

And a lava pouch as big as her face… never mind.

When I first saw her, her captivating beauty almost stole my heart.

I even had some fondness for her until I learned her sadistic nature.

Now, she’s just a lizard roaming the streets, nothing more, nothing less.

“Wow~ They said if you took off that mask, you’d be the world’s greatest heartthrob!”

Yeah, my old face.

Not handsome enough now, so you’re mocking me? What a crazy b*tch.

I kept ignoring her and walked faster, but this lizard b*tch blocked my path.

“Hey! Why do you keep ignoring me!?”

Does this airhead not remember what she did to me?

She’d probably keep following me, so I decided to say something.

“Who are you?”

I didn’t want to get involved, so I’d pretend not to be Minhoo Seol.

Now, back to my path…

“What? You don’t remember me? I’m Anflea! Why are you pretending?”

Sigh. Persistent b*tch. She doesn’t know when to quit.

“Who’s that?”

“We were in a party together! Minhoo Seol, stop pretending!”

“I’m not Minhoo Seol.”

“Yes, you are!”

“I said I’m not.”

Anflea puffed out her cheeks dramatically.

Trying to act cute? To me, it’s just disgusting. Pocket lizard b*tch.

“Then what’s your name?”

“…Jace.”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, I used Jace’s name, the guy I’d just parted ways with.

He’s the gay guy who showed interest in me, so it’s fine.

“Jace? Not Minhoo Seol?”

“That’s what I said.”

“…”

Anflea scanned me up and down, eyes narrowed, then seemed to think deeply before holding out her phone.

“Fine. Whatever. Give me your number, Jace.”

What a wild turn. Is this conversation even making sense? How does it jump to asking for my number?

“I don’t have a phone.”

“Don’t lie! What’s that bulge in your pocket?”

“My piss pouch.”

“…”

Anflea’s face turned red.

“You keep messing around—”

I’m done with this.

This is getting exhausting.

Whack!

I smacked the back of Anflea’s head.

“Ow, what the—!?”

And I ran.

My agility is SSS-rank. No hunter could catch me.

“Hey!!! You’re dead if I see you again!!!!”

Likewise.

If we meet in a gate later, I’ll stab you in the gut and vanish without a trace.

For now, it’s a strategic retreat.

I can’t cause a scene in the city outside a gate.

Looking forward to future revenge, I sped up.

There’s no way she’d catch me… but if she did, I’d be truly screwed.