Chapter 41

〈Chapter 41〉 Part 1, Chapter 3 (9)

“The government has officially announced that they will retake Seoul. President Sun Icheol himself made the declaration.”

As Cheon Gaeul spoke, the villains listened intently. Whether it was due to her mysterious aura or their starvation for beauty, the villains were captivated by her voice.

“So far, over a hundred heroes, both officially and unofficially, have expressed their intention to participate. Heroes from Gyeonggi Province and Incheon are advancing towards Seoul right now. And not just any C or B-Rank nobodies like you guys—these are seasoned A-Rank veterans with extensive experience fighting monsters.”

“What?! Are you mocking us—”

“I’m still talking.”

One of the villains stood up in anger but when Gaeul pointed a finger at him, he quietly sat back down.

“Among them are two S-Rank individuals coming along. Do any of you here have an S-Rank member? Anyone want to speak up?”

The villains all fell silent. Only Sky Castle confidently responded.

“If we all attack together, we might be able to handle it. But can your organization defeat two S-Ranks?”

“Of course. We can. Both of them.”

Cheon Gaeul’s confident proclamation caused Land Dog, who was healing his wounds with magic power, to stand up and shout.

“Bullshit! There’s no one in Korea who can beat that ice witch! And what about that fire technique guy or whatever his name is!”

“That’s why I’m here. If you fight under the Blue Wind Sect, we can defeat the Hero Association easily. Simple as that.”

Land Dog pointed at his neck in disbelief. The wound on his skin revealed a pine tree insignia branded into the scar.

“Do you know what this is? This is the slave mark of reformed villains forced by the damn government! That woman, Princess Seolhwa, captured me and threw me in jail!”

“That’s because you were weak and got caught. We’re different.”

“Hmph. If you think you can win, go ahead and deal with it yourselves. Why are you wasting time here?”

Gaeul crossed her legs, causing her robe to slip slightly and reveal the outline of her jeans, making Land Dog gulp.

“This is an opportunity. An opportunity to join our Blue Wind Sect. Those who join immediately will be recommended for officer positions. How does that sound?”

The villains burst out laughing. Gaeul’s smile never wavered.

“Opportunity? Hahahaha! Who do you think we are, some street punks?”

“You seem to pride yourself on using telekinesis, huh? Lady, if you’re older than Seolhwa Princess and weaker, then please shut up. Don’t let jealousy get the better of you.”

Gaeul’s lips curled slightly. Her trembling shoulders radiated crude magic power as she rested her hand on her shoulder.

“I’ll ask directly without dragging this out. Is there anyone who wants to join our Blue Wind Sect?”

Naturally, no one raised their hand. Gaeul nodded as if she had expected this and continued.

“Alright. It’s understandable that you’d hesitate to suddenly join our organization. You all have your own groups and reputations. So, I’ll give this opportunity to just one person. Just one.”

Gaeul’s eyes scanned the villains. Her fingers walked across the table until they pointed at a man sitting opposite her. On his seat tag read “Songpa, Black Goat.”

“Are you B-Rank?”

“No, I’m A-Rank!”

Black Goat maintained a composed demeanor, causing Gaeul to smile.

“You’re barely clinging to the edge of B-Rank, which is different from A-Rank. It’s not like we’ll promote someone who scored 79 points on an 80-point test.”

“Yeah, I haven’t reached A-Rank yet. So, what do you want to say?”

Black Goat stood up. Flames of deep crimson erupted from his hands.

“Tell me if you want to burn to death right now. I’ll incinerate every last bone fragment—”

“Our Blue Wind Sect will elevate your special ability. To A-Rank, right now.”

Black Goat’s flames extinguished instantly. Shocked by such a bold declaration, his eyes darted around nervously, as did everyone else’s.

“This chick must be crazy. Sky Castle! How long are you going to let this continue? Let’s start the meeting properly already!”

“…Hold on.”

Sky Castle raised a hand to silence the other villains and pointed at the standing Black Goat. His slit eyes beneath white eyebrows glared at Gaeul and whoever was behind her.

“Blue Wind Sect of Guro, right?”

“We also have Yeongdeungpo, but yes, it’s the Blue Wind Sect.”

“If your group truly wishes to gain influence here, prove your strength.”

“How?”

Sky Castle calmed his trembling magic power and pointed at Black Goat.

“Make this man reach A-Rank right now, as you claim.”

“Sure. Easy.”

Gaeul stepped onto the table. Her high heels clicked against the surface, revealing glimpses of her legs through her robe, causing the men to swallow hard.

“Head.”

Gaeul stood before Black Goat and extended her right hand, resembling a baptism. Black Goat turned to Sky Castle incredulously.

“Sky Castle, do we really have to do this?”

“Just do it. If anything suspicious happens, I’ll intervene immediately.”

“If Lord says so…”

Black Goat suppressed his unease and mockingly clasped his hands together.

“So, which deity should I believe in now? God? Buddha? Allah? Or, have you founded a new religion?”

Gaeul frowned momentarily.

“…Sun.”

“What?”

Gaeul lifted her veil further with her left hand as she continued speaking. The glimpse of her slightly flushed neck visible through the veil added to the drama.

“Praise the Sun, once.”

“Hahahahaha!”

Black Goat clutched his stomach and collapsed in laughter. Other villains weren’t faring much better.

“Kuh, so after Pine Brigade chaos in the country, now we have a cult in Seoul! Kuh, so this works, huh?”

Black Goat, seemingly determined, dropped to one knee like a knight receiving knighthood and stretched his arms toward Gaeul, his face full of mockery.

“Praise the Sun! Kuh, kuhahaha! …Huh?”

A surge of magic power roiled within Black Goat’s body. His skin cracked, and flakes of dead skin rained down. Fiery crimson flames began to engulf his body.

“Insanity—”

“That ma—n!!”

Just as the men were about to rise with their weapons, Sky Castle unleashed a roar of magic power, freezing them in place.

“Not insane!”

Land Dog looked between Gaeul and Black Goat with disbelief. The momentary exchange of glances with Sky Castle confirmed they shared the same thought.

“Is this…a real awakening?”

The growth of a special ability user to the next level. Having personally experienced the time and effort required to ascend from B-Rank to A-Rank, Land Dog couldn’t believe what he was witnessing.

“Oh, ohhhh! Hi-yaaa! Krrroooohhhhh!”

Indescribable screams escaped Black Goat’s throat, tears streaming down his face. The fiery crimson flames enveloping his body were no longer dull but brighter than ever before.

Crackle.

With the shedding of old scales and impurities, Black Goat’s skin became smooth like that of a newborn baby. The villains could feel it.

“A-Rank…he evolved?”

B-Rank individuals sensed that Black Goat had ascended to a higher realm, while A-Rank ones realized someone below them had instantly reached their level.

“Praise…the Sun!”

A villain from Gangnam jumped to his feet, a desperate gleam in his eyes. Others shared similar expressions.

“Hmph. The train has left.”

Gaeul ignored the looks and descended from the table to sit back down.

“Can we resume the meeting now? I think this demonstration is sufficient.”

All participants nodded, glancing at Sky Castle. Already showing no intention to stop Gaeul, Sky Castle seemed just as eager as the others.

Among those present, Sky Castle was the most frustrated for not having achieved the next level yet. He prompted Gaeul with a question.

“What method did you use to forcibly awaken his special ability?”

“That’s something I can’t disclose. If you want to know…”

Gaeul pointed her index finger downward.

“Join our Blue Wind Sect. Based on your abilities and contributions, we’ll provide appropriate rewards. Remember, these rewards include…the awakening of special abilities.”

“Then why did you just awaken him for free?!”

Land Dog complained bitterly. Gaeul smirked condescendingly.

“The promotion is over, dimwit. You all know how difficult awakening is. In that sense, you’re lucky. You had the courage to step forward as a guinea pig.”

Gaeul’s words caused Black Goat to kneel again in gratitude.

“Please take me with you! I will join your organization!”

Black Goat’s eyes had been entranced by Gaeul since earlier. Other villains glared at him disdainfully.

“Disrespectful…”

“Shut up! She’s the one who made me an A-Rank! This lady is a saint sent by the gods! No, she is a god herself!”

His fanatic behavior annoyed even Gaeul, reminiscent of research materials she’d reviewed while filming a drama about cults.

Gaeul cleared her throat to regain attention.

“Hem. If you wish to join us, come to Yeouido at noon tomorrow.”

“Yeouido? That demon-infested place?”

Land Dog scoffed.

“Look. It’s the island where an S-Rank monster lives. The only way across the Han River. Even suicidal hopefuls don’t go to Yeouido anymore.”

“If you don’t want to come, don’t. We don’t need cowards.”

Gaeul stood up.

“There’s no need to rebel against the nation just to fight. You can run away if you want. However…”

Swish.

Placing her hand on the table, Gaeul ignited blue flames across its surface. Startled villains quickly rose and backed away, prompting Gaeul to smirk as she raised her hand.

Her delicate fingers pointed at each villain individually.

“Songpa, Gangnam, Seocho, Dongjak, Geumcheon, Yangcheon, Gangseo…Gwanak isn’t here because of the previous dimensional gate incident, right? Hmm.”

Gaeul locked eyes with the representatives of each region, as if deliberately memorizing their faces.

“When the Blue Wind Sect conquers Seoul, those who flee instead of fighting won’t be allowed to set foot in Seoul again.”

Her firm ultimatum silenced the villains. As Gaeul turned to leave, Land Dog blocked her path.

“Where do you think you’re going? Aren’t you just a spy for the association?! You’re luring us to Yeouido to arrest us all and brand us with the pine mark!”

“Isn’t your delusion getting a bit excessive?”

“Shut up! Saint? God? Stop bullshitting! This girl is a witch! A witch leading us to death!”

Wielding a concrete sword, Land Dog appeared deranged as he spat saliva everywhere. Gaeul shook her head pityingly.

“I don’t want to kill you. I want to save you.”

“Spare me the lies!”

Land Dog charged at Gaeul with his concrete sword. Sky Castle and Black Goat rushed to intervene, but Land Dog moved faster.

“Dieeeeee!”

Gaeul merely lifted her robe slightly.

[…….]

Hesitation.

Land Dog dropped his raised sword. His eyes fixated on the beads dangling from inside Gaeul’s robe, swinging wildly.

“If I wanted to kill you, I would’ve used these earlier, wouldn’t I?”

Lifting her robe, Gaeul revealed numerous beads rolling across the restaurant floor. The villains gasped upon recognizing their true nature.

They were all C to B-Rank cores.

“Why so surprised?”

Gaeul tossed a core to Land Dog. Catching it mid-air, he stared at the blue barrier surrounding it, mouth agape.

“Is this…a core?”

“It won’t show up on detectors unless deliberately broken. I brought plenty, so help yourselves after we’re done. Consider them invitations to Yeouido.”

Waving goodbye, Gaeul exited the restaurant. With the host gone, the villains began scrambling for the cores scattered across the floor.

“Mine first!”

“Hey! That’s mine!!”

Only Sky Castle remained seated, eyes closed, lost in thought.

* * *

Sometime later, above Gangnam.

“To be honest, Miss Gaeul, you’ve had a lot of experience, but you haven’t won any Best Actress awards, have you?”

“Now you’re mocking my acting?”

Gaeul pouted as Phoenix burst into hearty laughter. Since leaving S Hospital, Phoenix had transformed into human form and carried Gaeul gently toward Guro. Blue flames flickered beneath the night sky.

“Not mocking, but if intimidation is concerned, I think I might be better at it.”

“…Not acting?”

“Yes. Really.”

Phoenix fiddled with the veil while smiling. Gaeul tightened her grip around Phoenix’s neck as the wings flapped vigorously.

“But won’t we be spotted flying like this at night?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve cast a recognition suppression spell, and satellites can’t detect us. We’re high enough that no one can see us with the naked eye.”

“Magic…? What exactly can you do with your special abilities, Phoenix?”

“Since all special abilities and magic stem from magic power, pretty much everything except healing magic. Healing magic is water attribute exclusive, which is opposite to me.”

“…You’re rambling again, aren’t you?”

Phoenix winked playfully, searching for another topic.

“Don’t you feel the warmth charm I’ve placed on you? You should be freezing given how high we are.”

“…How high exactly are we?”

“As high as airplanes fly?”

Eep. Gaeul clung closer to Phoenix. Despite being cradled princess-style, Phoenix’s arms supporting her felt incredibly light.

Unfortunately for Gaeul, Phoenix was significantly smaller in stature.

“Could you carry me in your monster form instead?”

“Nope. Though called ‘monster’ form, it’s not human, so its mindset and thoughts drastically change. It feels like someone else entirely.”

“True. Your tone changes too. Ah.”

Gaeul exclaimed as if realizing something.

“Wager! What happens to the bet? I did everything you told me, but you just told me to come to Yeouido and ended it.”

Though prepared scripts existed, every line Gaeul delivered followed Phoenix’s hidden instructions. When Gaeul claimed to awaken the Gangnam villain, it was actually Phoenix, concealed via transparency, who performed the feat.

“Since we failed to persuade the villains, the bet is postponed. We successfully demonstrated the Blue Wind Sect’s dominance to the villains, but we didn’t recruit them as subordinates, right? Given Gaeul’s poor performance as an antagonist, I decided to delay accepting the results…”

“Hey!”

Interrupting Phoenix’s drawn-out explanation, Gaeul shouted loudly enough to make Phoenix pause mid-flight.

“Are you playing with me?! You told me exactly what to do, and now you should take responsibility for the outcome, shouldn’t you…Ah…yo…”

Gaeul’s voice trailed off. As Phoenix tilted her head upward, their faces drew closer.

Thump. Gaeul held her breath.

“Cheon Gaeul.”

Phoenix whispered into her ear.

“You can speak more casually when we’re alone.”

“Huh?”

Phoenix spread her wings wide, accelerating.

“Shall we return to base and prepare for the next move?! Do you like roller coasters, Gaeul?”

“Eep! Stop! Slow down! Why are you flying so fast all of a sudden?!”

“I’ll tell you the result of the bet when we reach Guro! If you insist, we should hurry!”

“What?! Hey, hey! Kyaaaaaaahhh!!”

Tilting side to side, ascending and descending, and even looping, Phoenix’s acrobatic flight caused Gaeul to cling tighter while screaming.

Phoenix’s lips curved into a mischievous grin.