Chapter 95

〈 Episode 95 〉 Part 1, Chapter 6 (1)

June 1st.

Before we knew it, the cherry blossoms had faded and early summer had arrived. South Korea, though having lost its great star, Light Blade, still saw the eradication of major monsters thanks to the efforts of the remaining heroes.

Hwakwon Lee Seung-hyung and Snow Princess Seok Harang—these two S-Rank heroes traversed all eight provinces, drying up the seeds of monsters so thoroughly that the absence of Light Blade was barely felt.

And an unbelievable piece of news from Seoul greatly shook New Seoul.

– I hear the refugees really took back Seoul.

The existence of a mysterious villain organization that uses Blue Flame as its symbol and exterminates monsters, the “Blue Wind Sect,” began to gradually come to light.

* * *

“Having boldly taken on this monumental responsibility, I am filled with deep emotion. We dedicate all the credit for reclaiming Seoul to our esteemed citizens.”

Sky Castle, now Acting Mayor Ryu Cheonseong, greeted the camera with the happiest expression on his face. The reporter looked like they’d bitten into dirt.

Of course, the one who handed Ryu Cheonseong the mayor’s appointment letter, Baek Se-joon, had no expression at all. He mechanically read out the appointment letter and tossed it to Ryu Cheonseong, who continued to smile without fail.

“Most importantly, I will tirelessly persuade and convince until the righteous group, the <Blue Wind Sect>, joins the embrace of South Korea. To all residents of New Seoul and citizens of South Korea.”

Ryu Cheonseong pounded his chest as he declared his ambition.

“Our journey does not end in Seoul! We shall reclaim the old lands that were stolen from us! I shall stand at the forefront!”

* * *

“Doesn’t that guy look most excited in front of the camera?”

“That guy hasn’t even reached S-Rank yet and is already going too far in the middle of Seoul.”

“He must be happy now that he’s achieved his life’s goal.”

Deokbae chuckled wryly, Gaeul shook her head, and Ji Hwa responded. The three sinister officers had developed some camaraderie through their shared trials and tribulations. Deokbae asked Ji Hwa,

“Hey, did you get promoted?”

“No. What about you, Gaeul?”

“Not yet… You two are different from me. For me, it’s the S-Rank wall, but for you guys, it’s A and B. The rarity is different.”

Gaeul rolled her eyes. Ji Hwa and Deokbae were still stuck at B-Rank and C-Rank, respectively. Ji Hwa adjusted his sunglasses.

“The leader makes it way too easy to become C-Rank or D-Rank… Nowadays, everyone’s an ability user…”

“Whether it’s Fire Nobles or Water-Touching Commoners, they’re as common as ants these days.”

After Light Blade broke free from his coffin and returned as a monster, Phoenix genuinely awakened the citizens of Seoul into ability users.

Though the number of people who broke through the 50% fire affinity barrier was less than a hundred, they still considered it a miracle, and every single one who awakened applied to join the Blue Wind Sect.

Besides those hundred-plus individuals, hundreds more had submitted applications. Ji Hwa discarded another application form on the screen and asked,

“How did Snow Princess manage to recruit? She should be our sworn enemy.”

Both nodded at Ji Hwa’s question.

Phoenix said that Korea, thanks to Rusalka for the past twenty years, had become a place brimming with water energy.

As a result, people’s water affinity unconsciously increased, leading to the bizarre statistic where 30% of Korean heroes possessed water-based abilities.

That’s why water attribute users were called “Water-Touching Commoners” in Korea. And now, they were everywhere.

“Isn’t five thousand a bit much? Like Yulgok Yi Yi? Enough to argue for raising an army of a hundred thousand heroes?”

“Most of the survivors in Seoul were high-affinity individuals who managed to survive.”

“And others have lower affinities for fire and water, but if other spirits come, they’ll awaken soon enough.”

Out of the sixty thousand Seoul residents, five thousand awakened as water attribute ability users.

Of course, most were weaker than D-Rank, but at the very least, they could draw moisture from the air to shoot streams of water.

There were no A-Rank members, and only twenty B-Rank members, but the fact that they themselves now had the power to fight against monsters was nothing short of a miracle to the residents.

“Thanks to that, you guys must be thrilled, huh?”

“It’s the grace of the gods… Though the existence of another deity does give me pause.”

Yu I-shin raised an eyebrow, making exaggerated expressions while speaking. It annoyed Deokbae immensely.

“Look at him bragging about reaching A-Rank!”

“Ho ho. Thanks to awakening, she got her head back. Isn’t it something to be proud of, naturally?”

It wasn’t a regrown head—it was a new one sprouted during awakening, leaving Gaeul speechless.

Among the Dullahan, Yu I-shin was the only one who found her neck, rising to the rank of junior officer. Ji Hwa spoke with a sour expression.

“Thanks to that, the feathers are flying high. A religion might emerge in Seoul.”

Yu I-shin playfully slapped Ji Hwa’s arm and laughed.

“Didn’t you know? It already has. It’s called Spirit Worship.”

“You don’t mean…?”

At Deokbae’s words, Yu I-shin dramatically raised both arms to the sky—an embarrassing pose to witness.

“I am a follower of the Sun Sect, which worships the spirit of fire. Although currently in Seoul, we are overshadowed by the Lake Sect, which worships the spirit of water, thus our influence is weak…”

“In the 21st century, what kind of animism is this? Do people actually believe in this?”

At Gaeul’s question, Yu I-shin wagged her finger side to side.

“People have already experienced the power of the spirits. To the powerless, they grant abilities; to those with abilities, they provide the next level of awakening. What else could they be but gods?”

“Gods should act godlike.”

When Deokbae teased her, Yu I-shin’s eyes turned cold. With an aura that seemed ready to draw a bowstring, Deokbae reacted aggressively.

“Exactly! Here, everyone except Gaeul has died and been resurrected by that so-called ‘god’! That’s not a god, it’s a demon!”

“Yet He possesses the power of resurrection. What else could He be but a god?”

“Aah! Forget it! We can’t communicate, seriously!”

Deokbae threw the chair and stormed out of the lounge. Gaeul tidied up the chair with her tentacles and sipped coffee.

“She’s been getting more hysterical lately. Is she on her period?”

“…Cough, cough!”

Ji Hwa blushed and turned away as Gaeul teasingly whispered to him.

“My my. Such a shy person. But do you want to know something amazing? When a woman becomes a monster…”

Gaeul happily stroked her lower abdomen.

“Does she stop menstruating?”

“Aaah! Already this time?!”

Ji Hwa hurriedly left. Despite his rise to considerable power within the Blue Wind Sect, he remained a virgin. Yu I-shin timidly sat beside Gaeul.

“Please, don’t tease Lady Lighthouse too much…”

“Why? Do you…?”

Yu I-shin silently bowed her head. Gaeul scratched her head with a tentacle and stood up.

“…It’s a good time, really. Some people are still pining for unrequited love.”

“Lady Gaeul is still young.”

“Shut up. Soon to be forty, and what? Ah, thinking about it, it’s annoying.”

Gaeul grabbed Yu I-shin’s limbs with her tentacles.

“It’s a good time, really. No other missions? Then let’s go to your room. I need more practice to use this skill proficiently. I don’t want to look like a beginner when we enter the main game with Phoenix.”

“No, no! Stop with the tentacles alreadyuuugh?!”

A tentacle was shoved into Yu I-shin’s mouth as Gaeul cheerfully dragged her away using her tentacles.

* * *

<11:00 AM, New Seoul, Yu-Sung's Mansion.>

“One hundred cores, please.”

“Checked the goods. Always a pleasure, dear customer.”

Yun Yuhwa smiled happily at the cores inside the bag. Phoenix took a big spoonful of strawberry parfait and popped it into her mouth.

“Twenty-two A-Ranks. The rest are mostly B or C ranks collected. This is practically everything gathered from Seoul.”

“Sufficient. By the way, there’s a custom-made hero suit order coming in, perfect timing.”

“Custom-made?”

Phoenix asked with the spoon still in her mouth. Yun Yuhwa elegantly lifted his coffee cup and took a sip.

“Yes. We specially tailor-make suits for A-Rank heroes. Lady Unsah almost spent all her savings to request it. Seven A-Rank cores worth.”

“…She got a bargain. After working so hard in Seoul.”

Phoenix maintained her composure while scooping another spoonful of parfait. Yun Yuhwa seized the moment to tease her.

“Oh my. Did you also extend your claws to Lady Unsah? How many children have you had with her?”

“…Sigh. I shouldn’t even talk.”

Phoenix lifted the spoon toward Yun Yuhwa.

“Let me ask you instead. If I married you, how many kids do you think we’d have?”

Yun Yuhwa quickly held up his hands, showing three folded fingers.

“Seven!”

“…Really.”

Phoenix leaned her head back against the chair. Her gaze met Heo Yoon-hwan, who was about to open a makgeolli bottle. Heo Yoon-hwan immediately closed the bottle as if it were filthy waste.

“What are you looking at, trash? Don’t ruin the taste of alcohol by staring.”

“What about you, Lolicon? Aren’t you scared of public authority? Nowadays, Rusalka is smaller than any elementary schooler.”

“Living with Rusalka would make such trivial things like public authority meaningless. By the way, did you have seven kids with the chairman? Leaving behind our beautiful daughter?”

“What are the police doing? They don’t arrest such sexual harassment criminals?”

Heo Yoon-hwan and Phoenix growled at each other. Meanwhile, Yun Yuhwa stayed neutral, quietly sipping his coffee before speaking.

“By the way, how did you persuade Harang?”

“Hmm, interesting.”

Heo Yoon-hwan sat down. Phoenix fiddled with her veil.

“What about it?”

“Given the customer’s personality, it’s unlikely they told lies and probably just told the truth. So why didn’t Harang try to kill you and help awaken the people of Seoul?”

“Until Seongju dies, we’ve agreed to temporarily cooperate. Harang also wants to protect Seoul.”

“Hmm. That’s what makes a hero.”

Phoenix glared icily at Heo Yoon-hwan.

“What are you saying? If anyone finds out you’re alive, you’re the first one headed to the freezer among us three. Don’t even dream of lurking around the orphanage trees like before wanting to see your daughter.”

“…Won’t get caught, right?”

“Hey, you-”

Just as Phoenix was about to speak, Yun Yuhwa quickly interjected.

“There won’t be such a situation, so don’t worry, Father. I’ve prepared a special hero suit just for you. As per your requested design.”

“But the design itself is a spoiler… Wait, Father?”

Phoenix stiffened and repeated the word. Heo Yoon-hwan pointed at Yun Yuhwa and burst out laughing.

“Sharp girl. Until Harang finds her match, she announced she’s getting married herself. Officially to Eun Jae-min.”

“Harang is someone I care for as a younger sister. I can’t leave her with a scumbag who abandons his pregnant wife and chases after other women.”

“…Yeah, I’m trash. Fine?”

Phoenix raised her hands in surrender. Yun Yuhwa leaned closer with a meaningful look.

“Miss Phoenix.”

“Nnn?”

For the first time, Yun Yuhwa addressed Phoenix by her name. Phoenix’s hands tightly gripped the chair handles.

“Were you happy when we were together? Do you still love the version of me in your memories?”

“……”

Phoenix briefly closed her eyes, then slowly opened them again.

“I loved you.”

“……Is that so?”

Yun Yuhwa sat back in his chair and drank his coffee. He took a long sip, hiding his face behind the cup.

“Someone, whoever they may be, is truly blessed. To take away the love of Customer’s Love.”

“The most beautiful and lovely person in the world.”

Phoenix took a big bite of her parfait. Yun Yuhwa set down his coffee cup.

“Then it’s hostile M&A or something.”

“…What do you mean?”

Confused, Phoenix furrowed her brow. Yun Yuhwa smirked and took another sip of coffee. Heo Yoon-hwan toyed with the makgeolli bottle and clicked his tongue.

“President, you’re quite the remarkable woman.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“…Light Blade? Can you explain this?”

“Nope.”

Their obvious evasion made Phoenix pout.

And just as she was about to say something, she touched the badge on her collar and giggled.

“…Puhaha. Miss Yun Yuhwa, it seems I shouldn’t be worrying about myself right now.”

“That’s what, ah. Harang’s call.”

Yun Yuhwa left his seat. Phoenix mischievously asked Heo Yoon-hwan, who was about to down his makgeolli,

“Hey, Light Blade. If Harang-”

“Don’t pretend to be close to my daughter.”

“…If Seok Harang ever gets married-”

Clang! Light Blade drew his sword from the scabbard. The blade stopped millimeters from Phoenix’s forehead. His face contorted.

“This is the problem with becoming a monster. Even though I want to clean up trash, I can’t.”

“……”

Phoenix attained enlightenment. Revealing the truth might lead to Light Blade killing the protagonist, so she decided to become the trash.

“Haa. Got it. But remember this, Light Blade. You…”

Phoenix snapped her fingers. Her lower body began to burn, teleporting her elsewhere.

Right before fully vanishing via space transfer, she quickly quipped and disappeared.

“Whether you’ll stand as the father-in-law on the bride’s side or the groom’s side at Seok Harang’s wedding—I don’t know.”

Phoenix vanished. Only the spoon in the empty parfait bowl remained. Heo Yoon-hwan quietly mulled over the words she left behind.

“Yeah, Harang. Your sister is resting now.”

The voice of Yun Yuhwa, who had moved to the next room, reached his sensitive ears.

“No, your sister isn’t tired at all. Really? There’s a café in Seomyeon? Thank you so much for telling me! Your sister will visit Busan soon. What? Saying you love me? Oh my, you’re embarrassing me. Remember, your sister loves you super duper much? Got it?”

“……Impossible.”

Surely, his lighthearted flattery wouldn’t turn into reality.

Suddenly, the image of Seok Harang dressed in a tuxedo flashed in his mind. Heo Yoon-hwan missed Rusalka.