Chapter 78

〈Chapter 78〉 Part 1, Chapter 5 (11)

One of the research buildings at the Daedaeon Research Complex had been annihilated in a shocking event on the morning of May 2nd.

New Seoul was thrown into chaos from Saturday morning. Emergency disaster alerts kept ringing out without pause, and due to the aftereffects of the battle, all magical artifacts temporarily went dead.

The chaos deepened as Light Blade, who held all the keys, went into seclusion without providing any answers.

Rumors even spread that President Sun Icheol had visited the Association to request a private meeting with Light Blade.

Is Light Blade the type to blow up buildings while drunk? No. But neither the Association nor the government could get him to speak.

The Association was in turmoil. Ten heroes who survived the incident in Seoul immediately declared their resignation from the Association. To make matters worse, Kang Soyeon, a non-powered supporter, went missing.

Complete chaos. If only they could say they fought off an unknown enemy, it would bring some reassurance. But Light Blade remained silent as ever.

– Is New Seoul really becoming unstable?

It had already been five days since Light Blade went into seclusion – May 6th.

President Sun Icheol launched a major publicity campaign to reassure New Seoul’s residents. Personnel were dispatched from both the government and the Association to account for the survival of 60,000 Seoul residents.

Then, at 9:00 AM on May 7th, representatives from Seoul and New Seoul finally met at S University.

Ryu Cheonseong, supposedly dead but actually hiding underground in Seoul gathering people…

Jang Hujung, who had finally been promoted from long-time deputy minister to full minister of the Monster Countermeasures Department…

The day began with these two shaking hands in Gwanak.

* * *

<May 7th, 10:00 AM, Blue Wind Sect Hideout>

“Yes. With the help of James Lee, an American-Korean, I’ve built an underground city to ensure the survival of Seoul’s residents. Though the quality of life isn’t what it used to be, we always believed the government would come save us…”

“Uncle, you’re definitely a politician. How do you spout such lies so smoothly in front of the camera?”

Gaeul shook her head in disbelief. Deokbae chimed in:

“You act pretty well in front of cameras too.”

“That’s different! Acting is my job, but that man has a duty to tell the truth to the citizens!”

“As long as it makes the viewers happy, that’s all that matters.”

“So everything Sun Icheol says is fine then?”

Gaeul started getting hysterical. The person who took her life was Yu Ishin, but the one who gave the order was Sun Icheol. Deokbae tapped his fingers on the chair armrest.

“That’s not what you’re saying right now.”

“What do you mean ‘not’? I died because of Sun Icheol. Honestly, why did people vote for someone like him?”

“But Sun Icheol has done good things too, hasn’t he?”

Ji Hwa interjected. He knew about Sun Icheol’s actions since becoming president. Ji Hwa waved his hands at the ambiguous looks the other two were giving each other.

“No, I’m not defending Sun Icheol! It’s just…after the Pyongyang incident when the president blew up the Han River bridge, he actually handled the aftermath quite well. Otherwise the country might have really fallen apart.”

“…No way. Someone else would have cleaned up the mess even if it wasn’t Sun Icheol.”

“Still, Sun Icheol is our enemy now, right?”

Gaeul and Deokbae’s question made Ji Hwa feel gloomy again. His shoulders slumped visibly as Deokbae scratched his cheek.

“Hey, do you like Sun Icheol?”

“No. I don’t care about him anymore. I used to trust him, but now…”

“Why are people without voting rights talking about politics? Monsters can’t even register as residents.”

Phoenix appeared in slippers. Gaeul narrowed her eyes.

“What? Where’s Architector?”

“He said he’d go give interviews. Don’t worry, he’s not going anywhere today.”

After Phoenix’s secret trip to Daedaeon, the three of them took turns keeping watch over her during the day.

They spent mornings handling various citizen complaints with Sky Castle, afternoons rebuilding buildings with Architector, evenings clearing out remaining monsters in southern Seoul, and nights sleeping curled up in bed wrapped in Cheon Gaeul’s tentacles.

To prevent her from wandering off alone, they assigned guards. While Seon Icheol and Ji Hwa were restricted by orders, the human Sky Castle and Architector guarded her during the day.

And at night, Cheon Gaeul watched over her. Using the psychological debt Phoenix felt toward her despite being a monster, Cheon Gaeul threatened to cry embarrassingly if they didn’t stay together, leading to Phoenix sharing a bed with her.

Today was busy with outside visitors arriving. Cheon Gaeul looked suspiciously at Phoenix.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I have someone to meet.”

“Who?”

Cheon Gaeul’s tentacle tip sharpened dangerously. Phoenix calmly pointed at the screen.

“There they are.”

On the screen were the government and association visitors arriving. Thirty people total from previous negotiations.

Besides Minister Jang Hujung, around ten government officials had come for administrative duties. There seemed to be a few more people, but Gaeul’s eyes were drawn to the heroes standing further back.

“Ah.”

An elite team consisting of 13 A-rank and 2 S-rank members. Gaeul noticed Lee Seung-hyung looking pale.

Deokbae whistled.

“They brought a nuclear bomb. Didn’t we get the list beforehand? Can Sky Castle handle all this alone?”

“It’s fine since they’re facing a former congressman rather than a villain. They probably don’t want to fight anyway.”

“What if they do want to fight?”

“In that case, there will be more hostages.”

Phoenix’s calm response satisfied Deokbae as he nodded. Meanwhile, Ji Hwa nervously calculated the enemy’s strength, and Gaeul remained silent.

Phoenix checked on Gaeul’s state.

“You can go greet them if you want.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You need to sort things out emotionally too. Shall I escort you?”

“No, I won’t go.”

Gaeul decided against meeting Lee Seung-hyun. There were many reasons, but most of all she was worried about Phoenix.

Though acting cool, Phoenix surely wanted her not to go deep down. Gaeul steadied her resolve.

Phoenix’s smartwatch alarm went off.

“Oh, they’re here.”

With a snap of her fingers, Phoenix changed her outfit into her usual priestess robes. Pointing at the hideout, she instructed the three:

“Alright, listen up monsters. To avoid unnecessary trouble with the S-ranks, absolutely do not leave this barrier. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“Understood.”

As Deokbae and Ji Hwa’s gazes turned to Gaeul, Phoenix also fixed her stare. Gaeul reluctantly nodded.

“Fine.”

Phoenix left the hotel with a smile. The three quietly watched the live feed on the lounge screen.

“Seriously, they’re not going to start a fight, right?”

“Of course not. Everyone’s watching, so no crazy stunts this time…probably.”

Deokbae anxiously tapped his leg. One could be stopped with a single finger, the other had already been defeated once before.

But wouldn’t Phoenix do something reckless? Gaeul dismissed Deokbae’s suspicion.

“No way. She would have fought already if she wanted to.”

“True, can’t have an S-rank brawl in the middle of Dongjak. Look at Guro – completely trashed.”

“Then will Architector really kill himself?”

“Absolutely not. We’d just revive him as a monster anyway.”

Ji Hwa and Deokbae exchanged words while Gaeul fell into anxious thought.

“So who is she meeting?”

The monsters fell silent.

“Lee Seung-hyun?”

Deokbae suggested first. Ji Hwa tilted his head.

“Why? After clashing with Princess Seolhwa, maybe she doesn’t care about her anymore?”

“Is that so?”

Deokbae tried to hide his decade-long concerns. The bomb planted in Lee Seung-hyun’s heart was a secret he couldn’t share with anyone.

“Maybe she wants to see both?”

Gaeul cautiously offered her opinion.

“She probably had a spat with Light Blade and is thinking about what to do with the other two S-ranks.”

“Hmm…oh?”

Ji Hwa noticed someone unexpected on the screen.

“Isn’t that Yun Yuhwa from the Yu family?”

“Who’s that?”

When Deokbae asked, Ji Hwa opened another screen and played a different live broadcast. On the economic channel, panelists were discussing.

[…In that sense, what do you think about Miss Yun Yuhwa from the Yu family joining the special envoy team?]

[Social experience. Her brothers work so hard, so she must be pressured to stop playing around at home all the time.]

[Can you really talk so bluntly?]

[What’s the problem? Everyone knows Miss Yun Yuhwa is a wild child. Look at this.]

The panelist pointed to the drink box Yun Yuhwa was carrying. Four different beverages taken out from a Yu Group cafe.

[Is this a picnic? She’s just playing around. I feel sorry for the Yu family…]

“Straw hat, dress, totally…”

Ji Hwa shook his head. Though familiar with Yun Yuhwa’s antics as the wild child of the Yu family, he didn’t expect her to be this immature. Deokbae pointed at Yun Yuhwa.

“How old is she? Looks young.”

“Born in ’99. The cursed generation.”

December 25th, 1999 – the first seven dimensional gates appeared worldwide, resulting in countless deaths from rampaging monsters.

The following year, 2000, saw birth rates drop to 30% of the previous year’s level.

Even those born struggled to survive. Society referred to them as the “cursed generation.”

Children who faced calamity before they could even grow up. The infant mortality rate for ’99 babies skyrocketed, while the birth rate for ’00 babies hit rock bottom.

Deokbae clicked his tongue at passing footage.

“Younger than Princess Seolhwa yet acting like this? Seriously. Some become pillars of the nation while others are complete messes… What are you staring at so intently?”

“Hm? Nothing. Just…”

Deokbae questioned as Gaeul crossed her arms. Her drumming fingers on her forearm betrayed her agitation.

“Nah, it’s probably nothing.”

Among the drinks Yun Yuhwa carried, a pink strawberry shake sparkled particularly brightly.

* * *

At the rebuilt city hall in Dongjak, while Architect welcomed government officials and heroes to meet Seoul’s residents, Seok Harang struggled with unease.

“Onee-san, you really shouldn’t just run off like this.”

“I’m fine. Who’s going to bother with me?”

Yun Yuhwa laughed with her arms spread wide. True to her word, no one in Seoul paid her any mind. Instead, Seok Harang heard murmurs.

– That brat should just die already…

– Why did God make her the youngest daughter of the Yu family?

“That’s it…”

Seok Harang rolled up his sleeves to charge forward, but Yun Yuhwa shook her head.

“Let it go. People will just be shocked when they learn the truth – all my brothers are dead and I’m the last of the Yu bloodline.”

“For how long are you going to keep hiding it?”

In response to Seok Harang’s question, Yun Yuhwa simply smiled.

“Well, it’s fine for now but I don’t know what’ll happen. Hyung Jae-min is over 35 now, so introductions keep coming in. Not to mention the government and association keep pressuring him.”

“What?”

Yun Yuhwa pointed at Seok Harang.

“To marry you.”

“Bullshit. …Ahem! That’s impossible! That means you’re suggesting marriage to Onee-san!”

Yun Yuhwa shrugged at Seok Harang’s heated reaction.

“Our hyung had a good personality. Had lots of assets too. Though he’s dead now.”

“No, it’s not that I dislike Mr. Eun Jaemin. How can people of the same gender marry? Onee-san, if you love women, would you marry them?”

“…”

Yun Yuhwa fell silent. Uncharacteristically frowning, which startled Seok Harang.

“Wow, really?”

“Onee-san.”

“Yes?”

Seok Harang swallowed hard. As Yun Yuhwa walked between alleys with surprising determination,

“Don’t ever tell anyone where you saw this. Got it?”

Yun Yuhwa winked and put a finger to her lips. Seok Harang froze in shock.

“…Damn, creepy.”

Seok Harang carefully hugged himself.

Inside the alley, the blue-haired maiden Phoenix greeted Yun Yuhwa stiffly. Holding up the drinks she carried, Yun Yuhwa smiled cheerfully.

“Not sure what you like, so I got the top 4 bestsellers. What do you prefer?”

Yun Yuhwa, the wild child who stayed cooped up in the Yu mansion, finally stepped foot in Seoul in her true form rather than through a proxy.