Chapter 100

〈 Chapter 100, Part 1, Episode 6 〉

Cheon Gaeul doubted her eyes.

What is this? Is someone deliberately testing my patience with a hidden camera prank? Just when I needed some solace after coldly driving Seung-hyeong away, the very person who’s been messing with my emotions lies there on my bed.

‘Hmm… Oh, you cleaned up.’

The clothes I had carelessly thrown around were neatly hung on hangers. The slime from practicing with Yu Ishin was completely gone, and the characteristic tentacle odor was nowhere to be found. The bathrobe distributed in Yu-sung smelled fresh like sunlight.

‘There’s even a faint scent of bread.’

Gaeul quietly followed the smell to its source. On the table was a caricatured farmer wearing a straw hat, smiling with the words “Padre Juan” written next to him. Gaeul cautiously checked the contents inside the plastic wrap.

‘A cake?’

A small slice of cake sat untouched inside the box. One was a shortcake layered with diced strawberries, and the other was tiramisu.

‘Well, the tiramisu makes sense, but she really loves strawberries, doesn’t she?’

Sometimes it felt excessive. Every time we went out to Incheon, there was always a strawberry drink in her hand. It was easy to pick up Phoenix’s preferences. Even though Phoenix always seemed to choose last when buying drinks, if the strawberry option was taken, she’d get slightly down.

‘Did some strawberry-loving ghost possess her or something?’

Assuming this was bought for us to share, the tiramisu must be for me, and the shortcake for Phoenix.

‘She probably waited for me and fell asleep.’

It was already close to midnight. After reviving the Light Blade by taking down the snake at city hall, Phoenix minimized sleep to work and occasionally rested whenever there was a brief pause.

‘She’ll probably just go back to work if I wake her up.’

Perhaps after finishing the cleaning, not knowing when Gaeul would return, she decided to take a quick nap. Gaeul gently prodded Phoenix’s cheek with the tip of a tentacle.

“…”

No response. Gaeul pressed harder this time with the tentacle on Phoenix’s cheek. Still no reaction.

“…!”

Gaeul covered her mouth with both hands. From the few times they’d slept in the same bed, Gaeul knew that once Phoenix fell asleep, she slept deeply.

‘This is my chance.’

Gaeul was surprised by her own thoughts. What kind of opportunity could this be? Why was her magic power surging so wildly?

The demon lurking within woke up after a long while and whispered into Gaeul’s ear.

‘Rich snail slime…’

Gaeul shook her head violently. What kind of relationship did she have with Phoenix? Not some sticky, physical entanglement, but rather a companion-like bond where they supported each other spiritually.

Just a little… maybe a tiny bit selfish, but certainly not to the point of such disorderly thoughts. The demon sneered.

‘What about all that practice you did with Yu Ishin?’

‘That was purely training to use the tentacles better!’

An angel appeared and punched the demon in the chest. But the demon wouldn’t back down this time and countered.

‘What about Ishin’s heat?’

‘That’s because she’s naturally wet! Gaeul has never been flustered or anything by Ishin!’

The angel and demon engaged in a heated debate. Plato versus Eros. Rationality versus instinct. They wrestled endlessly in Gaeul’s mind, turning it upside down.

“I’m really going crazy because of you…”

Gaeul covered her face with both hands. She had harshly rejected a good man and now her heart was unsettled, only to find the one causing these feelings sleeping in her bed. The demon urged her on.

‘Don’t you see that S-shaped curve? Don’t you notice how she’s pulling her hips back?’

‘Good thoughts! Good thoughts! Good thoughts!’

Both the angel and the demon should just disappear. Desperate for advice, Gaeul’s heart burned with anxiety.

Suddenly, a frog-like figure flashed through her mind.

A well-dressed gentleman frog scolded her.

‘Have you forgotten what Deokbae said? That if you came home drunk, trouble would ensue.’

The angel and demon fell silent. The gentleman’s words of conscience made her feel nauseous. Deokbae clearly foresaw what might happen if Gaeul came home intoxicated.

‘Are you just going to wait then? Like last time, just sit beside her?’

How futile it was waiting after the battle with the Light Blade. For nine long hours through the night, Gaeul waited anxiously, only to find Phoenix chatting with a much younger girl upon her return.

‘…That fool.’

Gaeul instinctively sensed it. Yun Yuhwa kept subtly flirting with Phoenix.

‘Am I insane? Where does this woman-to-woman attraction come from…? This isn’t my place to comment.’

Feeling awkward for a moment, Gaeul fiddled with her mask and shook her head fiercely.

‘No! It’s different when I transform into a monster! So serious and stoic without saying a word!’

Gaeul recalled the day she awakened as an ability user. How many times had Phoenix worried over her, quietly revealing her veil in a seemingly indifferent manner?

‘If her human tone is just an act…’

Gaeul was certain that Phoenix’s aloof yet subtly caring tone was her true nature. And this tendency leaned more toward male characteristics than female. Yet most of her activities were conducted in her maiden-like human form.

A tentacle slapped Gaeul’s cheek. She snapped back to reality.

‘Right. I didn’t fall for a woman. I fell for Phoenix.’

Gaeul decided not to dwell on gender issues. After all, Phoenix described herself as transcending spirits and humans. Gender might not matter at all.

‘And if it does bother me…’

Gaeul put her mask back on. Just as Phoenix could switch between human and monster forms, Gaeul could transform into others too. She could become the ideal man Phoenix desired. That’s how she reasoned it in her mind.

‘I’ll slowly open her heart instead of making a drunken mistake.’

The angel and demon looked disappointed. Conscience clapped and quietly disappeared, but the demon quickly whispered again.

‘You’re approaching your unlucky year next year. And the year after, you’ll be thirty.’

Gaeul’s resolve wavered. The angel countered from the other side.

‘Compared to that, Yun Yuhwa is still fresh in her early twenties. Wasn’t she twenty-one this year?’

Gaeul’s determination crumbled. Though confident in her appearance and figure, she couldn’t fight against the inevitable flow of time.

‘But… I can’t possibly do something indecent to someone who’s sleeping!’

‘Will it end with Yun Yuhwa?’

‘Maybe there’s something going on with Seok Harang too.’

The angel and demon whispered simultaneously. Gaeul pondered repeatedly. Countless fantasies flooded her mind.

Tentacles teasing Phoenix’s limbs and caressing her whole body—

Snap!

Gaeul slapped her own cheek hard with a tentacle.

‘…Ah, forget it. She’s worked hard enough. Waking her up now would only make her more tired.’

Phoenix had sacrificed rest to stabilize Seoul, traveling tirelessly between Seoul, Busan, and Kaesong. While clothing could be sourced from department stores, without Phoenix, the people of Seoul might have had to eat monster meat.

‘And why should I rush to confess first?’

Gradually, Gaeul’s competitiveness kicked in.

‘Am I that easy? Let’s see who wins—me or her.’

Gaeul decided she would receive Phoenix’s confession first. Until Phoenix said “I love you, Cheon Gaeul,” she wouldn’t make the first move. This wasn’t like Seung-hyeong’s messy advances. It was a strategy to win Phoenix’s heart, a fierce determination that would never fade.

‘I’ll definitely win against that fool.’

“…Ugh.”

Phoenix slowly opened her eyes.

Gaeul glanced at the clock. 1:00 AM. An hour had passed since Gaeul began wrestling with her thoughts, indulging in various fantasies and finally steadying her resolve.

“Ah, you’re here?”

Phoenix greeted Gaeul with an innocent smile. Her slightly askew clothing momentarily made Gaeul’s tentacles twitch, but she exercised superhuman restraint and reined them in.

Though her heart raced, there were things that needed clarification.

“…What are you doing in someone else’s room? Who gave you permission to barge in?”

“Hehe. Between us, what’s the problem?”

Gaeul wanted to ask, “What exactly is ‘between us’?” But she lacked the courage. Afraid of jeopardizing their precarious relationship, Gaeul fretted silently. No matter her feelings, the one who liked someone first always lost.

“Let’s eat while we talk. There’s something I need to discuss.”

Still half-asleep, Phoenix got up from the bed and sat at the table. Knowing full well what was coming, Gaeul pretended ignorance and peeked curiously.

“What’s that?”

“This? A cake made by the world’s best barista. I grabbed it during a business trip to Seomyeon.”

“Is that your future knowledge thing?”

“Yes. Hehehe. It’s really delicious, trust me.”

Phoenix opened the box lid. Gaeul placed the tiramisu in front of her and picked up a plastic fork. Phoenix pouted slightly.

“…”

“…”

Gaeul slid the tiramisu closer. Phoenix immediately brightened and scooped up the edge of the tiramisu with a fork. Gaeul couldn’t take her eyes off the tiramisu entering Phoenix’s mouth and asked in surprise.

“Don’t you prefer strawberry cake?”

“……? Ah, hahaha.”

After swallowing the tiramisu, Phoenix immediately speared a strawberry.

“I love it. A lot.”

With a loud slurp, Phoenix shoveled a large bite of shortcake into her mouth. Gaeul used a tentacle to lick the cream off Phoenix’s lips.

“Did you bite into a strawberry?”

“Nope? There weren’t any. Hehe.”

Phoenix twirled the veil around her neck with her fingers. Gaeul furrowed her eyebrows slightly before scooping up some shortcake with her fork.

“That’s right. These days, strawberries are so hard to find. Let’s share.”

“Doesn’t eating late at night make you gain weight?”

“Monsters don’t gain weight. Everything we eat converts into magic power.”

Gaeul swallowed the cake without chewing. Her hand moved like lightning, scooping out another piece.

“Really?”

“Yes. Our organs convert everything into magic power. Have you ever seen me use the bathroom?”

“…That’s true. What did you want to talk about?”

Phoenix chewed on the tiramisu.

“I’m planning to visit China soon. It’s perfect timing. There’s a spirit there skilled in illusion magic. If things go well, I might be able to increase your compatibility limit further.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I mentioned it to Deokbae, but sometimes spirits and humans can merge. The final third stage is called <Synchronization>. The unity of spirit and human. Becoming soulmates to transcend limits and reach the mythical level of deification. If we achieve that…”

Phoenix crushed the strawberry atop the shortcake with her fork.

“We’ll surpass Seongju and even defeat interdimensional gods.”

“Hmm…”

Gaeul swallowed nervously.

“Can synchronization between a spirit and a monster also be possible?”

“With a monster? …Hmm, I don’t know about that.”

Phoenix ate the crushed strawberry with her fork and clapped her hands.

“Ah! We can experiment with Deokbae! Hehehe.”

“Ultimately, he’s just convenient, huh? Tsk.”

Gaeul offered condolences for Deokbae in advance. Phoenix grinned mischievously.

“Isn’t he the perfect guinea pig? Oh, by the way. Before I go to China, I wanted to propose something to you, Gaeul.”

“What is it?”

Gaeul counted on her fingers. Trying to calm her racing heart, she awaited Phoenix’s words. After finishing the last piece of tiramisu, Phoenix spoke.

“When Seoul stabilizes, what do you think about bringing your parents here?”

“Ahh…”

Gaeul sighed. She hadn’t expected those words from Phoenix and was thoroughly confused.

“While fighting the Light Blade with Seok Harang, I realized how important family is… I understand now why you tried so hard to call your parents back then.”

“…”

Gaeul couldn’t say anything. The words from Phoenix’s mouth were far from what she anticipated.

“When you reach the true SS-level, you’ll be able to fully control your tentacles. You can hide them inside your body or transform them into tails.”

“But my body? It’s practically corpse-like, devoid of any vitality.”

“Couldn’t we just explain it as a feature from your ability awakening? Or say it happened trying to survive in Seoul?”

“…”

“Besides, Gaeul.”

Phoenix gestured towards Yongsan.

“Didn’t I ask Architect to restore your old house because you missed your parents?”

“……Ha, you really…”

Gaeul hid her face behind her mask. She couldn’t muster the courage to face Phoenix right now. Her magic power churned, and her core began to pulse wildly.

Phoenix approached and patted Gaeul’s back.

“I’m sorry for pressuring you to make that choice. I won’t do that anymore.”

“……What’s gotten into you suddenly?”

What change had occurred in Phoenix in just a month and a half to make her somewhat gentler? Gaeul was extremely curious.

Phoenix fidgeted with the white butterfly-shaped pin on her shirt collar and smiled sheepishly.

“Just realized how precious family is, that’s all.”

* * *

<June 2nd, 4:00 AM, Milky Way Cruise>

[Hey! Do you wanna die?! Jump now!!]

“Big brother, look who’s talking? We’re in the middle of the ocean! No way~ I’m heading back to Korea!”

[You crazy broad! War might break out there!]

“Big brother, what’s worrying you? I plan to invite that fire-fist hero to our dinner table!”

[What?! Who, who spread such lies?!]

“You’re losing it again. Do you think I’ve fallen for your tricks once or twice? You’re such a bragger.”

[Dang it. Hey! Stay put when you arrive in Busan! I’m heading there now!]

The cheerful girl froze for a moment.

“Again, you’re not killing anyone, are you? Big brother, this will be the seventh recall order if-”

[No! Gawein and I are going together now! To hunt the monster near Okinawa!]

“That monster disappeared from Okinawa ages ago.”

The girl chuckled. Fortunately, the whale-like monster only caused mild waves before vanishing. To the Japanese islanders, that level of tsunami was as common as daily occurrences in this era.

“He’ll waste his time. The Defense Ministry issued a statement. The monster headed towards the Pacific-”

[You idiot! It’s changing direction and heading north! Damn it, why do you believe such nonsense?!]

“Eh?”

The girl’s heart sank.

[Now listen! The S-rank monster Moby Dick is moving towards Tsushima Island!]

* * *

“Of course. I am a genius.”

Seok Harang shook seawater out of her slippers as she stepped onto the sandy beach. Despite it being early summer, she seemed quite pleased with her outfit, standing on the shore dressed similarly to how Phoenix had styled her.

Harang’s eyes showed slight dark circles, as if she hadn’t slept for days.

“Now I can control water, not just ice.”

While at a café with Phoenix, the moment she turned a hot coffee into an iced Americano sparked an idea in Harang’s mind. Since her power originated from a water-element spirit, perhaps she could manipulate water as well as ice?

With that thought, she rushed to the sea. Dragging her three-layered slippers, she stood ankle-deep in seawater and released her magic power. The result was a resounding success.

Although only a little, she managed to move the seawater according to her will.

“Come to Busan whenever you want.”

She’d give them a taste of Haeundae’s seawater. Harang grinned widely as she manipulated the water.

Unaware that the residual traces of her magic spreading across the sea might be plotting something sinister.