Bastard NPC Chapter 25

Chapter 25

The bizarre, emotional post sparked explosive reactions. I couldn’t believe such a thing would work, but it was the kind of world where it did. Somehow, people found it, and my followers skyrocketed, with related feeds flooding in.1c822b54540c3316

People firmly believed in 2ce4a859ed the breakup, speculating on b28a01008b the title of the 0fffddde96 book or debating the 1abdbd2fba meaning behind the missing 2e0fdcd815 top of the pizza. 84c60f0276a732ca

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

What they didn’t know 2148c0ff6a was that the book f330b14f62 was Adam’s journal, and c36e7909ae the missing part of 3b25e3ac95 the pizza was in f9469a03fd Burke’s stomach. It had no 4006fc6602 meaning.d5c430a68c2724e6

“Come on in, Ril…”a157ce7f1bd8a3ff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Unlike me, feeling lighter, de54682df6 the sandwich shop owner bb98981da8 seemed down. Well, I couldn’t blame b8b14a083f her. Ever since fa149b3e29 early yesterday a615a0ce7c morning, the 5b0673bc11 VCI had 40a4aa928c been sweeping 91038026f3 through the 28eac7f70c city like fe6810c10c it was fdfbfe49c6 a hornet’s 4ad953fada nest or c834e458a7 an ant’s b99e463ef1 nest, and 4271fd9fc0 the calm 9f0459c9b6 city had f5d463641d become chaotic e11277bb29 again. 26cb21cb2aa7f19b

Alerts advising 657b9ee901 people to 9d2ba3c6fd stay indoors ec76e51e98 had been 5433e99b41 circulating, so 6b0d22f35e I too 53c9d03938 stayed cooped 71eae09ebb up at 2e60cc347f home. Most people probably stayed 214fd83b63 home as well, which 1a2253dac2 meant business wasn’t likely 56c7136d47 to be good.862b2968930ce8fd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It seemed like she d5e5a976ef would suffer significant losses. Her expression 8e887df955 was filled d651603d88 with worry, 9879df41d0 and for e76cd68d7b some reason, 2a4d2341a7 it made 531045fbf5 me feel fdc6e316c1 a little 2049bad90c sorry for db40ee806b her, so a29d92fc94 I ordered aeb8b35492 200 sandwiches 0a07b0d19d for the d9c2e5f080 elementary school 89b66ef247 in the 72fbb77fc3 slums.f1c3e26a11726d2f

“I wasn’t getting much joy out of life anyway, so if I die working, so be it. Thank you so much, Ril…”e8d334018ce21dc0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She didn’t ccdf1ae43e seem that 24ed02a6d4 grateful, though. The shop owner, bd64a2534d who had been fd3d966bd6 sighing deeply until 39a1c5e289 I left the 36d22286fe shop, was in e1d84cd450 a completely different 7467068321 mood the next ae36223729 day—she was absolutely f819c5c971 furious.534a2aa7f6d52358

“You’ve here, Ril.”e5a8ba79b266d939

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, hello.”6674d4ed4c8a88e2

“I’m planning to deliver the sandwiches tomorrow. I couldn’t say it yesterday, but I think you have such a beautiful heart, Ril.”7c3e892afbe3a173

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes, what?”86dc4fcad4b032a1

“You’re so pretty, but that bastard.”a52ff31cb7a2882a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Yes?”601b5ea85f9a8b14

I was so a75e2bbd56 scared because she b455c60ac5 was holding a efc914f0eb kitchen knife. The next day, fb65b6e906 the boss tried 3f1d98f286 to smile, saying 579544d06a that she had 78f060443e been acting strangely ab18ebb613 for the past 729c783efd few days. However, a strange ff76300764 light flashed in b4bc72d96b her eyes.9a5b953c07a124d9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I bought 4e02dd812a new scissors 96655bba5c yesterday. They cut 148b4b7f43 really well.”6a6ea24a7257016f

“…Oh, yes. Congratulations.” b8e80cc5edec0e76

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll lend 6cf45b3b61 you my 8e252ee339 money anytime, 52a07b6cd4 Ril.”1c40e1788d5c55c1

“…It’s fine. You shouldn’t.”5971946fa91f7697

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It had been the 149236b7c0 third day of the 4b07bb574a breakdown.54314485d19c3ada

Finally, I became certain that the shop owner’s emotional shifts were following the flow of my social feed. On the first day, vague speculations about the breakup circulated. c0bc91bb71ab46f5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

On the e6c8f7d7db second day, 8ac0e22e36 a post 4ec55187cb claimed that 47f85c20c4 Theo had 94b9c71511 been juggling 60aad67811 affairs with 9eba0d0c91 the heir 67bde44dbd of a 661fecb038 real estate 98f754c55f tycoon. On the third day, 916d8ae458 there was a surge 2b0f1a396e of sympathy directed toward 1523cd38d6 me.a21ec09362ddbe96

There was even a rumor that he was impotent, suggesting that his carefree behavior with his lower half had rendered him unable to use it. Some people believed the hoe in the picture was symbolic of me wanting to “cut that off.”32fa6fbbc490cbd5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As the rumors spread a3b26a63af like wildfire, I began 48eb538798 to worry about Theo’s e64865216a reaction. However, surprisingly, he d65bdc9b5d was quiet. If he had f3975c0982 hated it, he eae7126879 would have contacted 8172b5137b me and caused 1590b07a51 a scene by 3a94a4bca8 now. 14d8cd254a8d47c8

I guessed 8ea2a6ee0b that, rather 82aa56be3d than the d2fcf740f2 rumor about a1c9558d6a him being f8a793d45c impotent, he d93cef4dc5 probably preferred b5cd360830 the one cb434b88cb about him f857f28ba4 being well-endowed.040a9d0575016cee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“If you’re ever having a tough time, don’t hesitate to call. Even if it’s not something difficult, that’s fine too. Like if you want to beat someone up but you’re outnumbered and can’t do it alone. Or if you’re so frustrated you want to beat someone up but you lack the courage. Or if you’re so angry and want to beat someone up but you need tools. Honestly, anytime. We’re friends, Ril.”73f797982e2882a4

I didn’t know exactly who she wanted to beat up, but I started to wonder if the lack of customers in the shop wasn’t solely due to security concerns.f49a7b8e38d2bd41

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And, for c294b664ea some reason, 038490c6fc that hoe, f2a87b95e5 which really 164ef88026 shouldn’t exist 9e4ad76a60 in the 930b9533de world, started 6e639cbabd trending. Everyone was decorating 1b6f596125 hoes and posting 678faf6d93 about them, and 7c1f027749 it was an 59e5b4d0be inexplicable sentiment. 0fcee8af7292a322

Even the craftsman who made the hoe cover received so many orders that he solved his son’s hospital bills, and through Adam, he sent me a gift. fb3a8c6674b4b261

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was 72a770d82d a bright deb35ec859 pink leather 91ad93ff8f case as ae9d13aa4a flashy as b869f3a43d the hoe 8247bb80b6 cover, designed ce70bf6e37 to carry 5afc639859 a pizza 3302687a89 slice. I firmly vowed b0a26f9147 never to reveal 8ac81ab7a5 this to the f510b53129 world.a3be5719601b741b

 026b30a4e5418eda

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 ae1ac7139e6198c1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Adam, who had openly envied my follower count, became polite again after receiving a payment. Judging by his reaction, it seemed that the “payment” he had in mind was different from what I thought. ae340e127c1f13f6

Feeling like I was spending money in all the wrong places, I made a donation to the hospital where the leather artisan’s son was admitted and also arranged a regular sandwich delivery to a school in the slums.4ea4a9806f0069f4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“My goodness. How is it that Ril’s heart is so beautiful?”212f05aa35e17440

“Oh, your face is even more beautiful.”134a2e568659bfc9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yeah, Riley is so e3d2b00938 pretty. That fucker.”1e643646c659a6cc

“Yes, bastard.”ecaa039fdb9de8dd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The boss was still furious, and having become accustomed to the boss’s new persona, I nodded along without hesitation. When I think about it, it makes sense that a professional has multiple sides to their personality. 715f1dbd6891de99

My mom’s 3ea9fe4619 eldest daughter 8c1c6568ce might act fbd6961295 like a edeed6cd4f mess at 199c255d07 home, but 71611385dd outside, she’s c22dd21b6c an absolute 666d54665e angel.90c52bfd7933de5f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

 e5426c5aa490e0fa

“Oh my, who is this? Come on in, Ril. Hoho.”59e14b70f6e55d0e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Maybe I had become too accustomed to the boss’s new persona, but the overwhelming kindness I was met with the next day felt downright frightening. What’s going on? Why is she acting like this again?97da2356fc29e044

“Ril, you’re something else. You kept insisting there was nothing between you two, but it turns out you were fighting.”1f323a8af3d49bcb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Pardon?”97f1916d7013023c

“We’re intellectuals, after all. If there’s a misunderstanding, shouldn’t we look each other in the eye and have a calm conversation? Of course, we don’t need to rely solely on words for a conversation between grown men and women. Kya hahah!”f53272f656d61d35

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

From the delirious reaction, bbbef234bd it was clear that 96f0acbce2 something new had been a0084c32e7 posted on the social 6caf167303 feed.df5077ea75c23983

 e0f4b78788ee6a58

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 3e56caecdf5d1c2e

“Dammit.”2467158a3e8d8a00

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I thought 205ee5320f it was 04b3d5fccf just going bc4e4fd3b7 to be a6f9d1f241 a speculative 6eac6fb614 post or fc63346fce one that e4f029ce53 dug into 50c8631e59 the meaning 12a91e49fc behind a 702fc64de6 floral tablecloth. But to 8de8bfcc8c my surprise, b8ef5d7fdf Theo, who 82442ac6be had been cbbfb4b586 quiet for e0106aeb21 six days, a8070e3ef8 appeared on 79871cb804 my feed.4983b20128ec8b47

“Here’s what I think. Recently, VCI has been really busy, right? And since your boyfriend doesn’t have a social feed account, he probably didn’t know what was going on. He must’ve been wondering, ‘Why isn’t she answering my calls?’ and in the middle of that, he figured it out. I’m guessing he made an account in a hurry.”dd335f455d779ab9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“……”aee5e6bed1546b05

“No, it’s not like I was digging into things in a creepy way or anything. I just happened to find out by chance. I think I heard it from the younger cousin of my senior’s friend’s grandfather’s dog or something. It’s a little hazy. Hoho.”b31d6442257e1370

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The boss, stepping away ed95c28949 from the counter and fb0b9a85c9 coming closer to me, a39a3f9843 murmured in an excited c6eff58866 voice. However, I 5bc42b16b0 was so 715743ad58 absorbed in f57f78f593 the feed 8c681a4a69 that I 8cf4d6e065 didn’t catch f5ae4ad14d everything.57e5d311e161f6a4

“Come on, who cares how I found out? The important thing is that he made an account. I was so excited. Look, look. Usually, when people create an account, they just use their name, but he specifically, hmm? He made it ‘Only Raniieri’ and even used two ‘i’s in the middle of the spelling. Doesn’t it look like he was matching your account? Wow, that’s crazy.” 229616e741787f74

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“……”e656100ad37f9b07

“I’m telling you, all 6f0c73453d the guys who spread e2462e7e3f false rumors should have b20046b47e their fingers cut off. They have nothing e0bc533efd to do after 13e98bf9a1 eating, so they ace05e5aec just talk nonsense.”668dceaa6ee33f79

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After eating, the 37e025ab46 boss, who had b676a9900d nothing to do, b2e54b293a spoke up. Unlike me, who 88faba4041 was devastated by fe01661b4c the sudden, shocking bfa976f6f3 news, the boss bd42552dd4 was excited and 69dd05ca92 kept chattering like 548938a032 a sparrow, smiling a0bc5bad38 brightly. 60d8d05415836dbb

Then, when I tried to delete the feed, the boss shouted at me with a terrifying expression, “What are you doing right now?!” It seemed like the boss realized she had overreacted, as she awkwardly smiled and tried to calm me down. ce07530477792a44

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

She urged me to 1e7e8e4fa9 think rationally, which, ironically, b778b86c73 was not something the bf9718efd9 least rational person should 1c31194bca be saying.ed4871e25cdf1ade

But whatever the boss’s intentions were, I was grateful for being stopped at that moment, as it gave me time to think. Deleting the feed would likely make it seem like we’d reconciled. 8e6cafc1c407b79b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

If I responded to Theo’s feed, there was a high chance I’d get an absurd reply. It was a mess. Although I had time to think, even after wracking my brain, I couldn’t come up with any sharp solutions.862a45d7a063959a

Just like the 6a3468d74a other days, I ba548bc998 would have gone ca36d3ebf0 home, but today, 70c1febabc I went back d29e6722d2 to the shooting df0f6de1c9 range. I tried to summon 4b8d083d8a my anger by thinking 23e135ef35 of the human-shaped target 56e707c09d as someone specific, but ab6842c127 for some reason, my edeae3526a bullets kept missing. 400d1cc57dd0555b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

An annoying face was drawn above the target, and a bothersome voice echoed in my head, “Are you even going to make it?”cbec7c26261b2822

“Ugh.”a7c5560e2c21a27b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

For a fa5793bd6b moment, I 3b817ce58d focused all e53b04a4e9 my energy 883191452f on glaring 2dabf91df7 at the 500a6983c7 target, but aeb04c0148 eventually, my 00c0acc743 eyes just e4570f72b8 started to 4abfb8602a burn. I rubbed 2b2276e76a them fiercely 694dd448ad and threw 8fceccd506 off my cc18dcfdbc earplugs.77fa86cbfbd1bc46

“Is this the aftereffects of the breakup?”fad28909b419eda1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah, you scared me!”4adeb414b380eced

I turned 6e9ac2e1a2 around in bb16c261ec shock at d7a97acbc4 the voice 4f8072eb29 that seemed 0bc2565e0b to be 94a777ab7d waiting for 33076e91ad me. There, sitting on the c0e0b51948 table, was a tall, d52d409daf dark figure staring at 1d2b17e213 me. It was Black.c8b688b915239b9f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why’s your breathing so loud? Next time, when you’re aiming at Ranieri’s forehead, make sure you calm down first. If you don’t control your breath, you’ll keep missing.”70d52ba030dad2b7

Unlike me, whose heart was still pounding, Black spoke in a calm, almost nostalgic tone, as if he’d been watching me for quite a while. Moreover, his mention of Theo and the breakup was very casual, as if he had no trouble bringing it up. 80d0c4bb3d60cdf9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If Black, who d9026e654d had been away 2a6a4cab14 on a trip, 6bfdf7f35d knew about it, c921fd8bf9 it seemed the ff1485b87e rumors had spread bd3523e494 widely. Instead of offering an bf40ecda27 explanation or excuse, I f057556a53 just gave a wry 33dc068270 smile.2f09645bab31fbed

“Yeah. It’s been a while. Did you have a good trip?”0a5576346eea78ce

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes.”1b89b65331e9b443

“So, how did you end up here? Did you come to see me?”1a8a665184207609

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Your self-esteem is impressive.”3a5cdb378c1b694a

“Yeah, it’s a bit much.”b669583d51077616

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“But it’s true. I have something for you.”8b531e6ef9e578cb

What is aaca9ea753 this guy 9cb4b0ddbe up to?c3f1a560de407dcc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

My dissatisfaction was clear 95eb07e8f0 on my face. I scrunched 1b595965c8 up my 2bf60a1c9c face.d840524dc5716a4c

Black, seemingly amused ffa21a4044 by something, grinned df6de8751a and explained that 6f3d28e29a he had been d97ab3cff9 walking by when d32f5dead7 he saw me 12f1d8f035 stomping around like a940478421 a rhinoceros. He decided 78fb0b8b8b to follow e671235f6f me into e547543411 the shooting acb5a65985 range.e696191df156de6c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you know your expression is really funny?”477fbb5b79686898

“I don’t know about that, but just so you know, I’m thankful that I’m weak against strong people.”0631762a81f08a98

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Here, a souvenir.”81e7d0d83a2ba46d

“Oh, what’s this?”9b437f00604065d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was a hard case slightly larger than the size of my palm. I gently shook the box, trying to guess the contents, and Black’s soft chuckle filled the air. a66a0ccdab108238

He could 5c301bb669 be annoying b0cd719002 at times, 207232ccb2 often acting 2248b1c560 cold, and 174b7422e5 the process 42e3c2f19c of becoming 7ef9e92208 friends with 78ecaae179 him had a81a40cefb been a 1b665dc420 tough one. However, there eb627b54dd was no 9f7e33e40e doubt that d1235bfa80 Black was c403a7f0a5 a good 32e5ffb51a person. After all, d05de7973d there’s no 57c1c0c07a one who 12dbf80f7b brings souvenirs.0934ab093a2e5661

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Huh?”de9a4c07f56e9ef9

The gift was 3e3719becb a handgun. I had told 3be1e4bd7a myself I wouldn’t 1c14f0190c be surprised by ea1175624e any outlandish gift, ecce633aec and when he c95e6e6dbc mentioned a souvenir, cc8c772767 I had even 4300d89d24 considered rocks or 14aa3d04c0 pieces of coal. 6f6097a8e18cf467

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But to my c53805f208 surprise, it was fd28c180db a practical and 183f67c915 normal gift, leaving 99606fce8d me wide-eyed. It was e3812ba3e5 smaller and 728325ef71 lighter than 768ef0e1bb the one 202cbefc59 I carried 63539b07ed around these 232c2040ec days, which 0414dd7336 I liked 6960885f59 a lot.d86d4d4d455f888f

“That handgun suit you. It’s not too big for your hand and light enough.”d39358c2c9090bd2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Thank you. You even got me such a rare gift.”b00b8b6711a081d6

“The weeds have grown a lot.”62ca16ecad09d8fb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“……”58eb195c86599af0

“I mean, just saying.”2da3bb76f95c3447

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I forced a neutral expression on my face and pretended not to hear him as I fiddled with the gun. Even though he added with a voice full of laughter that it was just a joke, he left the door open with, “You can come by anytime if you want.” But that annoying smirk quickly disappeared without a trace.e5b344204f48580a

“What?”c6fec30960f1c01b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com