Chapter 5 (2/2): Boss, one order of fried chicken with cilantro!

In the middle, the black-haired boy sat on a stone slab, bare left hand covered in Blood Crystal lifted to his lips, licking the blood from his fingertips.

Those crimson eyes stared straight at the viewer—smiling, yet radiating twisted, thick malice.

…No, maybe not just malice.

Chu Xiuyan: “Ah, I remember that panel. My knuckles were busted from punching Mutants so much, it hurt, I was pissed off, so my mood was bad.”

He glanced at the rolling bullet comments.

[Squinters are all monsters——]

[Ahhh so handsome!!]

[So dangerous and so alluring! Guys, I have a new husband——]

[That uncanny, inhuman aura and menace from the MC is so strong!]

[Knew it! The MC totally hates Mutants, he’s full of murderous intent! What a boss!]

[Damn! Blow up the cover, I can’t get a clear screenshot of him licking the blood! Ahhh——]

All these “handsome” comments—so why were there so many “cute” comments under the main page?

Chu Xiuyan scratched his head, confused, and kept reading.

Chapter two was all about arm wrestling.

Because the cover was so dramatic, there were fewer comments during the chapter itself.

Until the wrestling match began, and then the comments picked up.

[23333 Oh, so that’s it. Thought the cover meant a big brawl was coming, that’s why it’s so gory and gorgeous.]

[“Let me disinfect for you?”]

In the comic, the black-haired boy beamed, but unflinchingly snapped the other Mutant’s wrist across the slab.

“Didn’t you notice? This hand’s all Blood Crystal now—gotta break it and swap it for a new one.”

[That’s how you arm wrestle? Hold the enemy’s hand with one hand, pretend to use strength, and attack with the other—kicks, punches, eye-pokes… all the while smiling so brightly… yikes, natural dark?]

[So ruthless! So innocent and yet so cruel!]

[A cheerful, blood-loving, smiling big bro~]

[Wait, doesn’t anyone notice that this bossy MC has a really slick mouth?]

[Noticed, but that just makes him more special! Cold, cool bosses are great, but a smiling, sassy, ruthless boss… is even better!]

Chu Xiuyan: [System, I have a new persona—cruel and terrifying, but a cheerful big bro~]

Still no answer from the System.

Only now did Chu Xiuyan notice something was wrong.

[System, system? Are you there?]

No response.

Chu Xiuyan puffed up his cheeks, huffed, and threw himself into the comic.

Chapter two ended with the cover scene.

Chapter three began as the black-haired boy left the settlement on patrol, passing by Mutants with black eyes and bruised faces.

“So scary, such a scary newbie… How strong is he?”

“The boss sent Heiya and Shi Gu out on patrol—just to stop them from fighting in the camp, right?”

“Fanyi seems to have high hopes for him.”

“Feels like he’s some kind of advanced Evolver?”

The black-haired boy suddenly stopped, turned to them with a smile: “You’re whispering together—are you excluding me?”

In the next scene, the Mutants scattered like birds.

[Hahahahaha so strong and scary, but afraid of being left out, wwww]

[Yikes, is the MC really oblivious, or just curious?]

[One vote for natural dark!]

Then came the scene of the black-haired boy making Shi Yang catch rats, centipedes, and bugs, bringing them to the kitchen for stew, then eating alone by the fire as the others grilled bear meat in a crowd…

“Guess I’m really being left out, huh.”

***

The black-haired boy, gnawing on a centipede leg, expressionlessly watched the lively barbecue in the distance.

Then he scooped up a bowl of soup, walked over, and smiled—a cold smile, chilling to the bone.

“Please don’t be shy, I have plenty.”

His gentle words belied his ruthless act of forcing the soup down others’ throats.

Several struggling Mutants lay on the ground.

[I’m dying, what is this, forced group mascot?!]

[The MC smiles, everyone’s fate is uncertain.]

[He even uses honorifics, oddly polite.]

[Ah, here! The MC sitting alone with the stew, being doubted for possible poisoning, hands in pockets! So much contrast, so cute, www]

There it was! “Cute”!

Chu Xiuyan immediately went back to look for the details, and then…

He stared at his comic self, hunched with hands in his pockets, head drooping—a tiny, pitiful anime figure who was honestly…

“So cute!!”

[System, look! I’m really cute here!!]

The System didn’t want to talk.

At the forced-feeding scene, chapter three ended.

The last two chapters were mostly action—the highlight, in Chu Xiuyan’s mind.

Chapter four opened in the Yiren Leader’s wooden cabin, talking with the gray-haired Mutant Fanyi.

Not much information was given, which disappointed Chu Xiuyan.

Then, sensing something wrong with the stew, the Yiren Leader attacked the suspicious black-haired boy—only for him to dissolve into gray mist and slip into the cabin.

After a brief standoff, the black-haired boy returned to human form, taunting the Yiren Leader with provocative words.

[Hey, you call that “comfort”?]

[That’s definitely a provocation!!]

[Wait, the Yiren Leader really stopped! Is he afraid his OO will really get beeped?!]

[The MC’s usually such a boss, but with that mouth, the aura’s getting shaky!]

In the second half of chapter four, we see from the Yiren Leader’s perspective: suspicion, hesitation, finally the resolve to kill.

“You’re just weak.”

“No. You, always chasing the strong, are the weak one.”

The Yiren Leader’s body was huge and covered in Blood Crystal, radiating savage power.

When he grabbed the black-haired boy’s neck, choking him, their eyes met—like an unseen duel.

[Ahhh, blood! The MC’s getting choked! Damn!]

[Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be an OP villain MC comic? Suddenly it feels like a shounen battle manga now!]

[Yikes, even while being choked, the MC’s still smiling—rare to see him say something so serious and reasonable.]

[…His strength is directly linked to his pollution value—no wonder he rushed the big Blood Crystal.]

The bullet comments were normal—until the chapter’s end.

When a terrifying punch burst through the boy’s chest, the comments exploded.

[Ahhhhhhhhhh]

[Main character plot armor, MC plot armor! Someone bring the MC plot armor, ahhh]

[At first, I thought it was a villain MC show-off comic. Then, a hot-blooded shounen. Now… is this some sort of cult horror comic?!]

[Save him! So tragic, wuwuwu]

The comic auto-flipped to chapter five.

The cover was a cluster of massive Blood Crystals, sparkling like gems but laced with sinister black particles—eerie and twisted.

The story picked up where it left off: the boy, chest caved in, drenched in blood.

The panel focused on his pitch-black, lifeless eyes.

The dialogue box beside him was blank—no one knew his final thoughts.

Scene shift: the Yiren Leader turned to leave.

“That’s all?”

Suddenly, blood flashed, a sinister aura rising.

“That’s all? How arrogant.”

With his last ounce of strength, the black-haired boy finally touched the Blood Crystal, staggered up, his pale arm now layered in Blood Crystal, his chest healing rapidly.

He faced the Yiren Leader—eyes burning scarlet, smile wild and twisted, gray dust swirling around him like a blood-red fog, exuding a brutally sinister air.

“Now it’s my turn to say that—go to hell, scum!”

Like a monster consumed by slaughter and bloodlust, devoid of reason.

The comic went all-in depicting the mine battle: fists flying, blood spraying, the Yiren Leader shifting from calm to terror, the black-haired boy’s manic cruelty and toying with his opponent.

Crimson blood, black shadows, the huge Blood Crystal looming—countless details weaving a masterpiece of oppressive, bloody spectacle.

Just as readers thought the boy had lost all reason, become a pure killing monster, he suddenly broke into a radiant smile—clean, bright, but still those cruel crimson eyes.

His right hand plunged into the Yiren Leader’s chest, even twisting, as if savoring the warmth.

Such a sunny smile while killing—truly…

[Psycho! Damn! He’s clearly a psycho, why am I so excited?!]

[I’m twisted up like a pretzel in bed—ahhh, so hot, so hot (screaming)]

[Battle damage! It’s clearly battle damage, but it doesn’t even feel tragic! So much mad energy, a dom-S explosion! The MC is cute, but this contrast is amazing!]

[When God made the MC, he added some natural charm, a bit of madness, a smiling face, and then dumped all the handsome in at the end.]

[Chapter one’s villain boss image fooled me, but this: a normally smiling, sassy, natural MC, yet crazy and cruel in battle—a dom-S hottie—oh my god, I love it!!]

[Ahhhh, someone just jumped into the mine! Oh no, running into the battle now—isn’t that a death flag?]

[Who’s that Mysterious Uncle?]

The story continued.

The black-haired boy, fully berserk, ignored the Human Uncle, even inviting him to fight.

But the uncle said:

“I came for a promise.”

“…A promise?”

“My companions have already rescued the prisoners—only you remain… Will you come with me?”

“You’re inviting a monster to join you?”

“I’m inviting a Human.”

“…”

A flashback began.

Two days earlier, in the dungeon.

The black-haired boy sat, knees hugged, clouded by gloom.

Beside him sat the very Human Uncle who just jumped into the mine.

The scene was warm, peaceful.

Then three Mutants approached.

The moment the boy accepted the Blood Crystal, the memory was shattered by a flood of scarlet, then went black.

[It’s over… The MC and that uncle seem close, but now he’s totally berserk, don’t fight, ahhhh]

[Is it the Blood Crystal’s influence? The MC is polluted, so he’s become cold, battle-hungry, and bloodthirsty?]

[Yikes, the unpolluted MC was so cute, damn!!]

[Wait! The MC’s walking over to the uncle! Oh no! He’s smiling, smiling so madly! Don’t do it—]

[I can’t watch, is he going to kill his white moonlight right at the start?]

“If that’s the case…”

The black-haired boy kept smiling, blood smeared on his cheeks, hand raised and red, the background so censored it could be mosaicked.

He said:

“To save this world, make The Contract with me and become a Magic Girl!”

Chapter five ended.

Chapter five’s comment section auto-opened; there were already a dozen comments, all reeking of having been trolled.

[…]

[Huh?]

[Ahhhhhh???????]

[What the heck is this Magic Girl stuff?! You think you’re some Kyubey or a black bear or something?!]

[I’m done, my brain! Quick, someone help me forget that scene! That must be some meme edit, not canon!!]

[I’m dying here ahhh]

[Hahahaha, finally, I can comment! Surely no one will call me out for spoilers here? The MC of this comic is a total cutie!!]

[Seconded—the MC’s cool, crazy, dom-S in fights, and has a sharp tongue, but normally, he’s a sunny, lively big boy!]

[First read: fooled by villain boss filter. Second read: searching for the MC’s hidden cuteness.]

[By the way, five chapters in… What’s the MC’s name?]

[I remember Huga was the fake name he gave…]

Chu Xiuyan fell silent.

Huh, looks like he forgot to introduce the name.

The main character of the comic couldn’t possibly use his real name, but… that could wait.

Chu Xiuyan’s mouth curled up in a manic grin.

“I’m so cool——!!”

“And I’m super cute too!!”

He squirmed in bed for a while before calming down.

It was now 2:00 a.m. In two more hours, he’d have to head for the wasteland world.

[By the way, System. Didn’t you say my lifespan increases with the comic’s popularity? How long can I live now?]

System: [Only thinking of this now? Anyway, to repair your body, travel through time and space, and make a vessel for you in the other world, I’ve used up nearly all my reserves. So right now, you’re deep in debt, working it off.]

Chu Xiuyan raised his usable left hand, covering half his face with the back, and let out a weird laugh.

“Fufu, I see—just debt labor, huh. Not even a ‘gain X popularity or die’ time limit… Puhuhu…”

System: [I’m gonna electrocute you.]

[I’m warning you, System, if I go dark, I’m super scary.]

System: [Three.]

Chu Xiuyan: [Sorry!]

His face snapped serious as he opened his phone and went to the food delivery app.

“Let’s see if any fried chicken places are still open… Oh, barbecue is fine, too. Extra cilantro. System, want anything? …Ah, forgot you can’t eat…”

“Augh! Why are you zapping me again?!”