Chapter 81

〈Chapter 81〉 Part 1 Chapter 5 (14)

<May 7th, 11:50 PM, New Seoul Government Building.>

BANG!

The desk violently shook. The fist that slammed down on the black lacquer desk was red as if it were about to catch fire.

“Still no news?!”

Sun Icheol’s face was contorted with rage. The scar over his left eye twitched as he glared like a predator ready to devour its prey.

An unfortunate secretary summoned in the middle of the night now bore the brunt of this anger, looking utterly miserable.

“We’re searching everywhere, but the damage from the Daechun incident was immense…”

“The administrator has been incapacitated! Don’t you know their relationship?”

The disappearance of Association non-powered staff member Kang Soyeon caused many reasonable suspicions.

Director Kang Soyeon’s last known location was the Daechun research complex. Many wondered if she’d gotten caught in the crossfire.

“Light Blade would’ve noticed if someone got caught up in the fight, right?!”

“Oh, we finally got a report today. There was absolutely no sign of any people during the battle…”

“Then who the hell was he fighting?!”

Sun Icheol roared again, his anger reaching for the heavens without any signs of abating.

“Find her! By any means necessary! Even if you have to forcibly put the administrator in Daechun on leave, find her body. Understood?!”

“Yes, yes!”

The secretary bowed deeply as Sun Icheol trembled with rage while picking up his herbal tea.

“Shit!”

Cursing, the teacup shattered against the wall, yet Sun Icheol’s anger didn’t subside. He covered his face with both hands and tilted his head back.

‘You damn woman…’

Sun Icheol knew exactly who Cheongsong was and what her true motives were.

But Sun Icheol wasn’t someone who could be easily defeated by such an amateur. While skillfully manipulating and using Cheongsong, he had gained power.

The problem was that Cheongsong had vanished without a word.

She couldn’t be dead; the Pine Tree Unit was still under mental control. That left two possibilities – either she betrayed him and fled or she’d been captured.

There was only one group in South Korea brazen enough to make enemies with both the government and the association…

“…Didn’t you say those heroes went into Yu-sung?”

“Oh, yes! This morning, Yu-sung officially announced they’re developing next-generation suits with help from retired heroes…”

“Bullshit. Sounds like a company trying to build its own private army. Secretary, summon Yoon Jae-min tomorrow morning. This is a declaration of war against the Korean government.”

The secretary hesitated before answering.

“Mr. Yoon Jae-min flew to the US yesterday along with Mr. Yoon Jae-yoon of Yu-sung Tech and Mr. Yoon Jae-hwan of Yu-sung Life. The only remaining Yu-sung family member in Korea is Mr. Yoon Yuhwa, who’s visiting Seoul…”

“That idiot?”

The secretary nodded. The reckless young man who wanted to personally see the ruins of Seoul despite being allocated just one spot by the government. Yoon Jae-min himself had begged Sun Icheol to let Yoon Yuhwa represent the family.

“…Damn. Probably useless as a hostage. What good would summoning him do?”

The president-like troublemaker who mocked and raged against Sun Icheol directly. If not for Yu-sung’s protection, the Pine Tree Unit would’ve already kidnapped and tortured him secretly long ago.

“No. Still summon him. Even if the men of the Yu-sung family protect him, just making that gesture might provoke a reaction.”

“…That might be difficult.”

The secretary brought up a screen showing two smiling blonde and white-haired girls posing together.

[YU-HA★] #Harang_and_I_in_Seoul #Solo_Trip_to_Korea #Successful #3_Nights_4_Days #Seoul_HQ_Restoration_Necessary #Developing_New_Yogurt_Smoothie ^.^

“…Looks like Miss Seohwa will be keeping him company for quite some time.”

“Are they that close?”

“Mr. Yoon Jae-min and Miss Seohwa did have frequent scandals reported. Some even saw them alone together in the break room during the last Seoul restoration operation planning meeting.”

“So she’s his future sister-in-law, huh? Ugh. There’s nothing we can do about it then.”

At that moment, an urgent telegram arrived on the secretary’s smartwatch. Sun Icheol drained a water bottle sitting at the edge of his desk.

“What is it?”

“…Sir, it’s from Mount Gwanak.”

The secretary turned the screen around with a serious expression.

“…What?”

On top of Mount Gwanak, blue flames formed numbers in the air.

– 23 : 59.

The clock had just ticked past midnight into May 8th.

* * *

“…Of course.”

Light Blade sipped his canned beer while glaring at the screen. Through the drone feed, the blue flames counting down like a timer burned brightly.

He understood immediately.

Chang-yeom, the Dark Legion officer, was calling him.

“……”

Light Blade clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly. Though alcohol had no effect due to his magic power, his whole body trembled as if drunk.

“……Karma, huh.”

Setting down the beer can with a pop, Light Blade’s smartwatch alarm went off simultaneously.

[Seok Harang]: Teacher! It’s Harang. You’re not drinking again at night, are you? Stop drinking so much and start dating! Heroine seniors all say they like you, so why do you keep ignoring them? Ah, that wasn’t why I messaged…

“……”

Light Blade read Seok Harang’s text message with a deadpan expression. Another message arrived shortly after.

[Seok Harang]: Not much to say at midnight, but I just wanted to say this. Thanks to you, I’ve become famous and everything, so I’m really grateful to you. It’s not any special day, but I just wanted to send this message! ^-^

“……”

Light Blade picked up a new beer can to open it but put it down again.

[Seok Harang]: Love you ♥ Please give me allowance when you see this later! ♥♥

“……This.”

Light Blade chuckled while covering his face with both hands. He didn’t want anyone to see his current expression.

“……Alright.”

Light Blade didn’t reply. Instead, he stood up and took down the iron sword hanging on the wall.

“……I’ll uncover the truth when I return alive.”

Before Chang-yeom does anything to Seok Harang, Light Blade vowed to kill her.

Even if it’s his final mission, he repeated to himself.

And one day passed.

* * *

<May 8th, 11:55 PM, Haeundae D Island.>

Waves crashed against the cliffs.

In the quiet sound of the sea breeze, footsteps could be heard.

Clomp, clomp.

A blue-skinned maiden dressed in black suit pants carried a bouquet of chrysanthemums through the mountain path. The all-white bouquet resembled both flowers laid at a grave and a bridal bouquet.

In the middle of the hill path stood a grave. Without a coffin, only a lonely tombstone remained, inscribed simply with “~2000.10.13.” – the date of death.

Phoenix knelt and placed the flowers at the tombstone, then stood and prayed with clasped hands, bowing deeply.

“……”

A man waited silently beside her. In a similar black suit and tie, his neatly groomed hair and beard suited his mature age well.

After Phoenix finished praying and walked down the trail, the man followed.

The park was deserted at night. Phoenix pointed to a bench. Guangjian followed and sat down.

“Here.”

“……”

Phoenix handed over a canned drink. Guangjian accepted it silently. The coldness suggested it was freshly bought from a convenience store – a cola. Phoenix held an identical one in her other hand.

Silence. Though there was much to say between them, only the sound of soda fizzing mixed with the waves filled the park.

Phoenix broke the silence first.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“That I have to kill you.”

Guangjian gave a hollow laugh as the carbonation soothed his thirst.

“Is my death already set in stone?”

“Of course. You’re out in every way – according to the Dark Legion, socially, and in terms of this world’s fate. …Though.”

Phoenix slid the can sideways in a toast mid-drink, which Guangjian lightly tapped against.

CLINK.

“Do you not want to say goodbye to your daughter? Just a call before dying. If you ask, I won’t listen.”

“There won’t be such a need. Rather, are you alright? I didn’t come here to arrest you.”

Guangjian pointed to the sword at his waist. Dull and plain compared to Moonlight, yet this blade had been his soul partner through countless battlefields.

“I came here to kill you.”

“Is that so.”

Phoenix drank the rest of her cola in one go.

“One last question, may I?”

“One only.”

“Rusalka.”

Guangjian’s expression hardened momentarily.

“Did Rusalka pass peacefully?”

“…Yes. She left with a smile.”

“Really…?”

Phoenix laughed loudly, unable to contain herself despite trying. Guangjian felt uneasy watching her.

“It’s fortunate. She worried about many things.”

“…Isn’t this a time for seriousness?”

“Why?”

“Since an hour before you arrived…”

Guangjian’s eyes widened as the light barriers surrounding the island revealed themselves.

“…you’ve set up your ultimate technique.”

“…So we fight here?”

Phoenix pointed at Rusalka’s tombstone. Guangjian smiled for the first time while pointing to his heart.

“A tombstone is just a symbol. I’ve buried her here.”

“Woah, trying to be cool. But somehow it works coming from you. Middle-aged men really are the best.”

“…What?”

“Ho ho. Look at you getting flustered in front of your enemy.”

For the first time, Guangjian showed confusion. Phoenix waved it off as she stood up from the bench.

“Just idle talk. Since anyway, your attempt at conversation is just to buy time until your ultimate technique completes.”

“…Knowing that, why did you come here?”

Looking up at the night sky, Phoenix observed that the island was now completely surrounded by blades of light, blocking all escape routes.

The magical barrier cut off all external connections, including magic power itself. Once completed, even spatial transfer through Mini-Phoenix wouldn’t be possible.

“Well.”

Phoenix assumed a fighting stance, raising her fists and bending her knees.

WHOOSH!

Guangjian drew his sword. The steel blade glowed with golden light.

“With your ultimate technique active, you can’t escape either, right? Isn’t that so, Mad Dog?”

“To hear that nickname again.”

The gaps in the light barrier encircling the island disappeared. Now the island was isolated from the outside world, becoming a separate realm.

“Right? An ability that lets you resurrect endlessly as long as your will isn’t broken – do you really think that’s possible?”

“Therefore.”

Guangjian raised his sword into position.

“That’s why it’s called an ultimate technique.”

“Which is why powerhouses like you.”

The first ever person to surpass the Round Table’s limit and reach a harmony rate of 96. Had he revealed his full strength, he would have achieved the unprecedented SS Rank.

The legendary overpowered character exclusive to the Stone Harang route, whose 99% light attribute harmony made the original game practically “Wild Rampage of Guangjian” if he were recruited as an ally.

“Showing off your power only when necessary. Aren’t you embarrassed in front of others? It’s deceitful.”

Blue flames erupted from Phoenix’s hands, forming gauntlets.

“This side hides it too!”

The waves crashed against the cliffs. Rising high into the sky before falling back into the sea.

Tick. The clock hand on the streetlamp moved. All three hands aligned perfectly at midnight.

At that instant, both propelled themselves forward simultaneously.