Chapter 135

〈 Episode 135 〉 Side Story 3: Hot Spring Trip (3)

Phoenix had practically been kicked out of Seok Harang’s house. Left alone with Harang, Yuha couldn’t help but feel that Harang seemed oddly distant.

Harang displayed behaviors she’d never shown before when around her—like casually stripping down for a massage—or exhibited combat prowess on an entirely new level after reaching SS Rank. Though Yuha knew she should celebrate Harang’s promotion, it was awkward trying to treat her the same as before. Yuha hated how meek she felt, but given her past sins, she couldn’t bring herself to face Harang eye-to-eye.

“Big sister, you’re making *me* uncomfortable.”

Harang tidied up her clothes and sat across from Yuha.

“I’ve heard everything, and I understand why you said those things to me back then. At first, I was pretty upset, sure…but in the end, thanks to you, my dad came back to life. Let’s call it even.”

“…Did that person tell you all of this?”

Harang shook her head while tapping her wrist.

“Are you kidding? With so many people claiming Light Blade is still alive somewhere in Joseon, do you think I wouldn’t investigate? I have ears too, you know! If you’re gonna hide something, at least do it properly!”

Grumbling, Harang leaned back onto a bean bag.

“Even when we were fighting the monsters influenced by Moby Dick or earlier at the café—I saw you sneaking glances at me.”

“…Then why did you pretend not to notice?”

“I would’ve confronted him immediately if he were alone. But…”

Harang gave an awkward smile.

“…there was someone there who I’ve never met before—my supposed ‘mom,’ reincarnated into someone else’s body. You know her, right? The Undine of Russia’s Round Table. We were always compared.”

“Yeah, that person claimed to be the spirit of your mother.”

“Gold Horse says she committed suicide to save me. She didn’t expect to come back like this… Honestly…”

Harang looked up at the ceiling.

“I don’t even know what to say to her. ‘Thank you for giving birth to me?’ Or ‘Thanks for reviving me?’”

“You could tell her you love her.”

“…Big sister, have you been brainwashed by Gold Horse? Look, there’s no point hiding it—you’re into him, aren’t you?”

“That may be true, but it’s different from what you think, Harang.”

Yuha leaned forward earnestly.

“What I feel isn’t for some womanizer spreading his seeds everywhere—it’s for the owner of Blue Wind Sect, who brings me immense profit.”

“…What does that even mean?”

Yuha recounted what she’d learned, mixing in her own speculations with Gaeul’s. Harang listened with a skeptical expression.

“So Gold Horse was originally a man in his past life, married to both you and me—and possibly several other women—before being reincarnated?”

“It’s a theory we can’t completely dismiss. It’s currently the most plausible one.”

“Huh. That actually sounds kinda believable.”

Though Harang nodded approvingly, her expression soon hardened as she made her stance clear.

“But what does that matter? Whether it’s a past life or a previous timeline, it has nothing to do with me.”

“…Harang?”

Harang straightened up and faced Yuha directly.

“On the contrary, I’m the pitiful one here. Gold Horse married me but couldn’t find a way to save me without killing our father. And every time we see each other, he’ll probably be reminded of his old marriage to us, right?”

“Would he?”

At Yuha’s question, Harang nodded. Still, she couldn’t help but notice how deeply confused Yuha seemed.

“Where’s the genius Eun Ha-su gone? All that remains is chaos.”

“…Haha, exactly.”

Yuha chuckled softly, lowering her head.

“I just can’t comprehend what the Eun Ha-su from the previous timeline saw in him to have seven children with him. Could I really fall in love with him?”

“……”

Harang wiped the sweat forming under her chin, suppressing the words bubbling up to her throat. Of everyone around her, Harang was certain Eun Ha-su was the best at engaging in witty banter with Phoenix.

“Big sister, I’m sorry.”

It was hard for Harang to voice that Phoenix loved *her,* Phoenix herself. Unlike Harang, who had developed an unfortunate rivalry with Phoenix, the two seemed quite close—almost intimate. Moreover, the feelings Yuha harbored toward Phoenix went beyond mere friendship.

“I have plenty to think about myself.”

Her own issues were piling up.

Both women fell into deep contemplation, lost in their thoughts.

“……Wanna grab some food?”

“Sure. Chicken sounds good, hasn’t been long since we last had it?”

“Deal. Let’s tear through wings and necks alike.”

“Great idea. Let’s crush the leg bones too.”

* * *

<1 PM, Yoo Sung Department Store>

“Haaachoo!”

When Phoenix sneezed, the officers nearby jumped. Gaeul asked worriedly,

“Are you catching a cold?”

“Nope. Just got debuffed after using magic. Anyway, what did you buy so much stuff for?”

Phoenix stared in disbelief at Deokbae and Ji Hwa, laden with bags. They’d agreed that Yun Yuhwa would lend his card, and Phoenix would pay him back accordingly—but the purchasing power of these two women exceeded all expectations. Gaeul nibbled on her nails while deleting items off her wishlist on the screen.

“Nah, there’s still plenty left. So much more to go.”

“Will the Spirit join us? It will surely be a pleasant experience.”

“I decline offers suitable for shopping. Clothes can easily be conjured with magic anyway… Hmm…”

Phoenix smirked, stroking her lips as an idea struck her. She glanced Gaeul up and down.

“This might work as a business venture, though Gaeul-san seems unsuitable for it.”

“What are you talking about? Explain clearly.”

Under Gaeul’s sharp gaze, Phoenix pulled out a dress from one of the bags Deokbae was carrying. Holding up the slightly translucent white dress against the sunlight, she scanned the surroundings.

“Is this infused with magical craftsmanship?”

“Yeah. Made at the Daejeon factory.”

Deokbae placed the paper bags on a corner chair, taking a breath. Despite no physical strain, he was mentally exhausted. He planned to use Phoenix as an excuse to rest, and Ji Hwa quickly followed suit.

“What’s this? If you lost the bet, you should follow orders willingly.”

“Didn’t we agree you’d accompany us shopping until 3 PM?”

Gaeul and Shin weren’t pleased with their break. Phoenix tilted her head, pointing at the two.

“Betting?”

“It wasn’t anything serious—we just played some games at the arcade. But…”

Ji Hwa shot Gaeul a reproachful glare. Gaeul blew her nose haughtily while brushing her hair.

“If a former game company employee loses at gaming, they shouldn’t complain. What’s with that long tongue? Aren’t you going to challenge again? I gave you two hours already, but it seems it wasn’t enough.”

“…Cheating won’t get you anywhere.”

“Cheating?”

Gaeul pointed to the mask pinned in her side hair.

“I told Kim Ji Hwa to use her strongest skill, so she turned into Kim Ji Hwa. Foolish child. Turns out my luck was better.”

“You guys seem to be having fun. …Gaeul-san, I’ll take a few outfits with me.”

Phoenix grabbed one of the bags Deokbae had set down. Gaeul and Shin turned pale, reaching out, but Deokbae blocked them with a hearty laugh.

“Hey, since you’re taking it anyway, take this too.”

“Jo Deokbae!!!”

“…I’ll curse you.”

“What is this thing?”

Without hesitation, Phoenix pulled out clothing from the bag Deokbae handed her. Staring at the adult-level garments in front of her, Phoenix marveled, unable to put them back.

“…Indeed, Cheon Gaeul.”

“What do you mean by ‘indeed’?!?”

Gaeul screamed, snatching the item from Phoenix. People nearby started whispering about Phoenix and her group, causing her to hastily gather a few bags of clothes.

“Everyone sort out their own meals. I’ll be leaving now.”

With that, Phoenix dashed down the escalator. Deokbae smiled contentedly at the lighter load, while Ji Hwa groaned under the remaining weight. Shin quietly whispered into Gaeul’s ear.

“At least she took ours, right?”

“Yeah, they weren’t mine.”

The two women exchanged mischievous smiles as they eyed the bags Ji Hwa carried. Deokbae’s face contorted.

“…How am I supposed to distinguish between them?”

“That’s why we buy and differentiate everything. Hey, we need to revisit the underwear section. Follow along.”

There were still about two hours left of their hellish ordeal.

* * *

“So, fashion business again?”

“A money-making proposal. Watch closely.”

Phoenix picked up a thin blouse from the pile scattered across the living room and pulled out a core from her inner pocket.

“First, imbue with magic.”

Phoenix clenched the core in her hand. The extracted magic fully soaked into the blouse fibers. Yuha shook her head indifferently.

“Besides being durable and resistant to tearing, there’s no advantage. Rejected.”

“How about this?”

Phoenix grinned confidently, channeling her magic into the enchanted blouse. Wrapped in blue flames, the blouse transformed into a new form of clothing. Yuha’s eyes lit up.

“Shape transformation via magic restructuring. What do you think?”

“…Too costly. Wasn’t that C-Rank just now? Can it be mass-produced in factories? Are the processes shareable?”

Phoenix shook her head.

“Only someone at my level can pull this off. Right now, I’m the only one capable.”

“Then what’s the point? You didn’t come here to boast about how amazing you are, did you?”

“What are you saying?”

Harang emerged in a bathrobe after finishing her shower, startled upon seeing Phoenix. Phoenix flicked her finger, dispelling the water droplets clinging to Harang, who quickly covered herself out of embarrassment.

“Let’s continue talking.”

“Hold on. Stay still.”

Phoenix approached Harang and grabbed the bathrobe. As Harang prepared to throw a punch, she realized the robe had changed and widened her eyes.

“Whoa, jackpot.”

The robe transformed into a pristine hanbok. The white jeogori was adorned with butterfly patterns, while the navy skirt flowed like silk. Yuha gasped in admiration, and Phoenix stepped back satisfied.

“Stand up, Eun Yuha.”

“Surely not?”

Phoenix nodded. Yuha quickly stood up, and Phoenix touched her shirt and skirt, releasing her magic.

Whoosh! Flames swept over Yuha, transforming her outfit into a black hanbok. Disappointed with the plain appearance, Yuha was mesmerized by the sight of the Milky Way reflected through the semi-transparent skirt.

“Wow…”

“Isn’t this worth branding as premium? Using B-Rank cores or higher adds slight protective functions.”

“Selling it as a limited edition luxury item rather than mass production seems appropriate.”

“…Wait, why sell such great products exclusively to the rich? This is better protection than most hero battle suits.”

Harang prodded her hanbok with an ice shard, questioning Phoenix and Yuha, who were engaged in discussion. Harang pointed inside the hanbok.

“If you make this into underwear or undergarments, it’ll be a huge hit. Imagine regular folks—attacked by a monster in their sleep, but saved because the monster’s teeth were blocked by your restructured clothing. There’s no need to sell it expensively. Think about everyday people. Protecting them from danger.”

“…I never considered that perspective.”

“Instead of targeting hardcore enthusiasts, meeting the needs of the general public is also valid. Great idea.”

Phoenix patted Harang on the shoulder with a smile.

“In that sense, I’ll need you to handle this moving forward.”

“…What kind of nonsense is that? Did you snap after stepping out for a bit?”

“There’s no better training for fine-tuned magic control.”

“Wow, subtly trying to pass this off to me now? Are you serious? How dare you ask a top Round Table hero to do something as trivial as stitching doll eyes?”

Phoenix chuckled derisively.

“Think about it. If an ordinary person survives a surprise attack by a monster thanks to your magically restructured clothing…”

“…That was my line. …Tch, don’t think I’ll fall for that. Do you really believe I’d get tricked by you?”

“Unfortunately. Losing Korea’s top model hurts.”

Phoenix glanced sideways at Yuha. Yuha also looked regretfully as she scrutinized Harang’s hanbok up and down.

“There’s nothing we can do if you dislike it. It’s unfortunate. Enhancing the brand value of hanboks… Ensuring national safety… Elevating Yoo Sung’s fashion brands… Debuting an SS-Rank hero officially… These ideas alone popped into mind, but if Harang doesn’t want to, there’s nothing we can do. We’ll have to look for another model.”

“…Ah! Fine! I’ll do it, alright!”

Harang stormed off to her room in frustration, while Phoenix reveled in her victory, snapping her fingers. Yuha sneakily asked,

“Was the top model comment real?”

“Of course not. That’s not what I meant.”

Phoenix tapped her chest with a laugh.

“Models are supposed to represent the most common body type, right?”

“……”

Yuha crossed her arms, shielding herself. Phoenix hesitated briefly before whispering carefully,

“There was a girl who grew to S-Rank alongside other rankings.”

“Customer, hurry and catch that lightning-speed spirit! There’s no time for this! I’ll fly you there immediately, so let’s go!”

“…I don’t know where she is right now.”

Phoenix clamped her mouth shut. Seeing Yuha’s hopeful eyes sparkling with dreams, Phoenix refrained from revealing the devastating truth.

‘I didn’t lie.’

Phoenix told the truth—just not that the girl in question was Yuha.

By the time Harang returned with an armful of outerwear, Phoenix had been exchanging business plans with Yuha.

“These too, transform them all like my current clothes!”

The fashion-awakened maiden proved surprisingly loyal to her desires. Despite grumbling, Phoenix summoned every design she knew, altering Harang’s clothes. After converting nearly thirty outfits, Phoenix checked her watch and stood up.

“It’s almost dinner time. Where are we headed?”

“……We already ate together.”

“Not expecting you to return, I’ll whip up some instant noodles for you.”

“……”

CRASH! Phoenix shattered the window and flew away.