Chapter 133

〈 Episode 133 〉 Side Story 3: Hot Spring Trip (Part 1)

It all started as a simple exchange of pleasantries.

“Yo, I’m going to Busan to celebrate my SS promotion. I’ll treat ya’ll.”

At the Round Table, the Oracle had arrived, and Gawein, who had come from China to stabilize the dimensional gate situation, was boasting about Korea’s newly crowned strongest hero, <Snowflake Spirit> Seok Harang, who had just been added to the Round Table. Harang ended the call with a laugh.

“I wonder what kind of good food there is in Busan?”

Phoenix asked Deokbae while processing a request ordered by Ryu Cheonseong. Except for times when only the executives were present, Phoenix insisted on maintaining her previous persona externally, while Deokbae, though finding it repulsive, was searching for famous restaurants in Busan.

“Hey, seems like you guys are planning to go eat something in Busan. Any ideas?”

Deokbae asked Ji Hwa and Gaeul for their opinions. Ji Hwa teamed up with Yu I-shin to find eateries that would suit the tastes of the Blue Wind Sect executives, staying up all night, while Gaeul was already planning to book accommodations and have a blast since they were going to Busan anyway.

“In that case, do you know any good places to stay?”

[Are you stupid? How many hotels does Yu-Sung own in Busan?]

Yuha officially began arranging the best accommodations among the hotels she owned. Should it be a hotel or a quiet pension? While Yuha and Gaeul debated, the couple, who had been reminiscing nonstop, recalled old memories.

“Do you remember? That time we stayed on the southern island and played around. The hot spring was really great.”

“It was mid-June, wasn’t it? I think we paid extra for cleaning fees when we left.”

Taking the couple’s suggestions into account, Yuha also considered a hot spring trip. However, due to the influence of Moby Dick, all the accommodations with attached hot springs were temporarily out of business, and Guangjian couple and Yuha were deep in thought over breakfast at the hotel.

“Hot spring? That’s actually my specialty.”

Just as they were having breakfast, Himeji Hayate recommended a hot spring he knew. Rejecting all the hot springs selected by Yuha, Hayate finally revealed a secret place known only to him. Fortunately, it was still in operation, though the exact dates and times were unknown.

“Huh? What’s the problem with that? Just hack it. If it’s done through the system, I can handle it. Big brother has suffered enough because of me; this much I can do.”

Himeji Hikari offered a simple solution, and Hayate confidently promised to entrust the hot spring reservation to her as a token of gratitude for showing them such a wonderful place.

Eventually, the story reversed its flow and even became an official agenda item during the Blue Wind Sect executive meeting. Phoenix, caught off guard by the sudden vacation talk, absentmindedly nodded.

“It would be nice to have a team-building event.”

Unintentionally, the Blue Wind Sect’s Busan workshop was set.

* * *

<June 6, 2020, 10:00 AM, Padre Juan in Seomyeon>

“Seriously, if you tell someone to come down, they actually do, huh? What an idiot.”

“We’re here to relax, dumbass.”

Phoenix swallowed her strawberry smoothie with a spoon. The weather was getting quite warm, already approaching 28 degrees Celsius, marking the beginning of early summer. Relatively lightly dressed, Phoenix slightly pulled up her rolled-up pants that had slipped off her chair. Seok Harang sipped his Americano with plenty of sugar cubes and asked,

“So, where are you staying? Are you gonna crash at my place?”

Harang seemed pretty hopeful. Since achieving SS rank, Harang had grown fond of treating Phoenix as a friendly rival. Of course, Phoenix also judged it better for the future and had let go of past grudges.

“…That might be a bit awkward.”

But there was no way she could bring herself to say she’d sleep at Harang’s house. Not with that annoying couple lurking in the corner, their powers suppressed to the minimum.

Trembling. As the man cutting the cake with a plastic knife saw a golden edge appear, the woman across from him hastily kicked his knee with her heel. Harang, who had been fiddling with his smartwatch, furrowed his brows.

“…I feel a familiar power somewhere.”

“I’m not alone.”

Jingle jingle. The café door opened, and a familiar blonde woman walked in. Despite the heat, she stubbornly stuck to her suit attire. She sat next to Phoenix, removing her sunglasses and mask.

“It’s been a while since we’ve met face-to-face, Harang.”

“That’s true. Yuha-ssi.”

Harang’s tone was slightly cold. Yuha gave Phoenix a sidelong glare, and Phoenix shrugged while drinking her smoothie.

“There’s no reason to hide anymore.”

“Still, I appreciate you giving me a heads-up.”

As Yuha was about to lash out at Phoenix, she restrained herself and turned her gaze to Harang. After hesitating for a moment, she bowed her head.

“Sorry. If possible, I wanted to keep it hidden forever. I didn’t want to feud with you either. It’s just…”

“Your apology is enough.”

“……?”

On the contrary, Yuha was surprised. Harang calmly drinking his coffee made Phoenix tut disapprovingly.

“You went and read someone else’s emotions again.”

“If they’re radiating it so openly, not noticing makes you an idiot.”

“……What exactly are you talking about?”

Phoenix explained, pointing between Harang and her.

“Something like an SS-rank privilege. Something akin to ‘The Eye of the Heart’ that lets you read the true feelings of those weaker than you.”

“So, sis, you’ve known since you came in that everything was laid bare. Why kneel for something that’s entirely your fault?”

Harang shot an ice shard, which Phoenix countered with flames. The distant couple looked somewhat regretful, but with the unexpected turn of events, Yuha was flustered.

“Uh…so…”

“Just go back to how things were before. All misunderstandings are cleared now, so whenever you need help, sis, you can consult me. I’m a Round Table member now.”

Harang smiled faintly, and Yuha covered her face with both hands, overwhelmed. All the simulations she ran through her mind on how to sincerely apologize to Harang felt both unjust and fortunate at once.

While Yuha was collecting herself, Harang took a bite of his cake and momentarily lost himself in thought. Then, he nudged Phoenix’s knee with the tip of his shoes.

“Now that I think about it, why are you lying? Snow Moon Flower? Ha! They gave me a more ridiculous nickname.”

“It’s not a lie.”

Phoenix jabbed Harang’s lower back with her other leg. Harang slammed his fist on the table in pain while Phoenix gave a stern look to the couple staring at them and continued stirring her smoothie.

“It’s just a matter of order. Both are your nicknames. Since Snow Spirit came first, your myth-level title will likely be <Snow Moon Flower>.”

“……Can’t I lobby those high-ups in the association to change it?”

“Destiny. Accept it.”

Harang clutched his head in despair. Meanwhile, Yuha, having barely regained her composure, tried to maintain her usual coolness while asking Phoenix for an explanation.

“Then, do I have another name too?”

“……Yeah.”

Phoenix held up three fingers. Yuha was shocked for an entirely different reason.

“I really…?”

“There are only eleven people in the whole world capable of reaching SSS rank.”

Phoenix pointed at Harang and Yuha. Realizing she was being referred to, Harang lifted her head, and the distant couple perked up their ears despite trying to stay quiet.

‘Is what she’s saying true?’

‘If that’s what she means…’

Though they whispered concerning matters that were rather nerve-wracking, Phoenix forced herself to calm down and swallowed her smoothie. Rusalka and Anastasha, like Changyeom, had no intention of providing her with any information.

“We need to get a cube soon.”

“A cube?”

“A fragment of the Otherworldly Spirit Core.”

Pfft! Anastasha spat out her coffee. If it hadn’t been a separate seat arranged by Huan, it would have easily been noticed by Harang. Luckily, Harang was too busy listening to Phoenix’s rapid-fire explanations.

“To put it simply, aside from awakening the spirits, we separately need to gather these?”

“Currently, yes. Originally, each of us should recover six cubes and meet here, but…”

“But we need to act earlier than planned? So, esteemed customer, do you happen to know the location?”

Phoenix shook her head. Harang glared at her with half-open eyes, but Phoenix pressed down on his knee with her slipper.

“Why are you glaring like that?”

“……Tch, fine. Got it.”

Harang raised both hands in surrender. Though Yuha seemed uneasy, she didn’t press further.

Jingle jingle. Other customers entered, and Phoenix quickly adjusted her collar.

“That’s all for work talk. We’re here to relax, so let’s truly unwind.”

“……You really do make things harder for yourself.”

“Am I the only one striving not to use dialect?”

“Hey, let’s go. Let’s play a round.”

Harang gulped down his Americano in one go, threw on his cardigan, and cracked his neck from side to side. Phoenix stood up without hesitation. Yuha anxiously scanned the surroundings. The café was utterly peaceful.

“Miss, fighting here—”

“Not that kind of fight. This is different.”

“Big sister is overly worried. Hehe, sis, come along.”

“…What?”

Caught off guard by the antics of the spirit and the half-spirit-half-human, Yuha couldn’t regain her senses.

* * *

<11:00 AM, Useung Department Store>

“I can’t understand those two at all. How can they get along so happily?”

Dukbae complained while carrying heaps of paper bags in both hands. Ji Hwa, carrying relatively fewer bags, nodded in agreement before denying Dukbae’s complaints.

“We’ve died for the director, yet we’re managing to get along somehow, right?”

“That’s because our lives are in their hands, unlike them.”

About 30 meters ahead, in the underwear section, Cheon Gaeul and Yu I-shin giggled together as they tried various lingerie against each other’s bodies. Watching them, Dukbae turned away in disgust, and Ji Hwa pushed up his sunglasses.

“Wasn’t it Yu I-shin who shot an arrow into Cheon Gaeul’s heart?”

“Yeah. A core of some tentacle beast got stuck in that arrow wound, didn’t it?”

“Then why doesn’t Cheon Gaeul seem to mind or show any dislike toward Yu I-shin?”

“How should we know? We can’t read minds.”

Dukbae sat down in a chair and stared blankly at the ceiling. Sure, it was technically called a workshop, but it was practically a vacation. And here he was, reduced to a shopping cart.

“That old man Ryu Cheonseong sure slipped away quietly knowing this would happen. Tch.”

“…He said he’s meeting someone he knows in Busan. It’s different from us.”

“For what? Some acquaintance from his old days as a congressman, right? Ugh. Where did James go again?”

“Don’t know. Damn, I should’ve noticed when he started spouting nonsense.”

How long does women’s shopping take? Dukbae checked his watch and frowned.

“We’re supposed to meet at 5 PM. Will we finish before then?”

* * *

“Ishin, don’t you think this would suit Phoenix?”

Gaeul picked up a sky-blue lace-trimmed lingerie set. She’d long ago mastered sizing by eye. Ishin marveled and nodded.

“Indeed, Lady Gaeul’s choice is impeccable. But allow me to recommend this.”

Ishin grabbed a nearby undergarment. A semi-transparent grayish-white piece draped over the other caused Gaeul to gulp audibly and turn pale.

“T-this is too daring, isn’t it?”

“Not at all. Consider this: the deity holding the end, lifting it gently with both hands—”

Ishin struck a pose as if nibbling on something with his lips.

“Directly in front of me, blushing bashfully—that image.”

Suddenly, Gaeul’s tension eased, nearly unraveling the tentacles barely tied under her dress. Ishin kept provoking her.

“While doing that, imagine the figure of the deity gracefully mounting your massive pillar! It’s not what you do, Lady Gaeul. The deity ‘willingly’ approaches.”

Inspired by Ishin’s passionate attitude, Gaeul nodded and picked both items. Having successfully chosen the most debated item, she checked her watch and grew restless.

“No, there’s not much time left. We need to finish shopping before 5 PM!”

“Keh, with unlimited money, who would’ve thought time would be so short!”

Feel free to scratch. With the store owner’s permission, the two women went wild, picking clothes indiscriminately.

It was only 11:10 AM.

Their battle had just begun.