Chapter 215

〈Chapter 215〉 Part 1, Chapter 10, 18

At the moment Phoenix declared Six Mint.

Seok Harang was at a café he’d become a regular at thanks to Phoenix’s recommendation, drinking three different kinds of beverages while watching a live broadcast of Phoenix’s antics.

“Mint…and chocolate…?”

Seok Harang shuddered in horror. Just imagining it made him want to curl up and cry. He quickly swallowed some cooled Americano to wash away the phantom taste lingering in his mouth.

“Really, the world is going to end.”

“It’s surprisingly not that bad though.”

The café owner Huan placed a blueberry tart he had baked for Harang onto the table.

“Thank you.”

“This month’s new item. Mmm.”

Huan glanced at the TV on the wall with a somewhat uncomfortable expression as even foreign late-night live news broadcasts were covering Phoenix’s “Six Mint” performance.

“Why? Don’t you like it either, boss?”

“Not really. But I’m thinking it might be fun to bake cookies with mint chocolate.”

“Ugh.”

Seok Harang winced at Huan’s suggestion.

“Sorry, but I’ll have to pass on that. This is my best.”

“One can’t force something on someone who dislikes it. Especially when preferences are so divided. Even your beloved blueberries have their detractors. Everyone has different tastes.”

“Are there really people who don’t like blueberries?”

Seok Harang was genuinely surprised. Huan, who had been pouring coffee, raised an eyebrow.

“Isn’t she right here?”

“Who?”

“Phoenix.”

Surprisingly, Phoenix didn’t bother to hide her identity—revealing herself as the head of the Blue Wind Sect and an SS Rank Villain named Phoenix.

Huan took it all in stride. Since settling in Busan, Phoenix had been his top customer, bringing in massive sales every time she visited. As long as any customer enjoyed his coffee, Huan was happy to welcome them.

“That young lady doesn’t seem to like blueberries much.”

“Huh? No way. She drinks it fine at our place.”

“She’s probably just pretending to like it. Look.”

Huan pointed at the screen where Phoenix was happily eating a mint chocolate ice cream handed to her by Baek Hee-a.

“Do you really think she’s enjoying that?”

“…But she’s smiling, isn’t she?”

“She may be smiling, but it’s not a genuine smile. It’s not the kind of smile that comes from truly enjoying something. Hmm…what was it called again?”

Huan snapped his fingers as if remembering something.

“Oh yeah, a capitalist smile.”

“You mean she’s faking it?”

“Exactly.”

Seok Harang muttered under his breath while sipping on yogurt with fresh strawberries blended in.

“So…was she putting on an act with me too…?”

“Aha, still thinking about that, huh?”

On the screen, Phoenix was eating strawberry-flavored ice cream she’d ordered herself. Baek Hee-a had lined up various kinds of strawberry-based ice creams in front of her.

“She looks like she’s eating out of obligation.”

“What? No way. That girl loves strawberries more than anyone else.”

Seok Harang dismissed Huan’s sharp observation. While he could understand disliking blueberries, the idea that Phoenix disliked strawberries was laughable.

“Rather believe the Round Table turning villainous.”

“Hmm…”

“Yeah, exactly. Does she look like someone eating something they dislike?”

On the screen, Phoenix was enthusiastically enjoying various types of strawberry ice cream, kicking her feet in delight. Seok Harang finished his blueberry smoothie in one gulp and stood up.

“In that case, I should go too. Thanks for the meal, boss.”

“Already leaving?”

“Yeah. Though I don’t want to…”

Seok Harang pointed at the boxed Six Mint with his thumb.

“I’ve decided to do it too.”

A little later.

Reports flooded in about Snow Lotus appearing at US Rabins in Busan’s Seomyeon district and performing the Six Mint gift wrapping.

***

<Meanwhile, Central Party Monster Management Bureau in Beijing, China.>

“Just kill me now.”

“Not possible. You must do it.”

“Even if you stab me, I won’t!”

“But it’s not Mr. Motae Kyung’s body that will die, right?”

Huan Dragon and Bonghyo were locked in a fierce argument. The tension between them was so thick it could cut with a knife as they exchanged verbal blows. Members of the Illusory Dragon Group could only watch silently.

“It’s an order from Lady Phoenix.”

“Nope. Not doing it. Rather die. Are you insane? How can you ask someone to eat this?”

Huan Dragon slammed his hands on the table in fierce resistance. If he were still the gray-clad girl from his Chaos Dragon days, it might have been cute—but now, as middle-aged Motae Kyung, his tantrum was anything but adorable.

“Youuuu, h-how dare you use my body to do such strange things?!”

Black Sand screamed, shaking her large bosom. The panic room secretly installed behind the director’s office had become Black Sand’s nest.

“Shut up already…”

When Huan Dragon scratched the desk with his nails in irritation, Bonghyo hastily signaled one of the Illusory Dragon members.

“Silence her.”

“Yes sir.”

The member entered the panic room through a secret passage.

“K-kyaaa?! D-don’t come here! N-no way! Ughhh?!”

The member gagged Black Sand. After a moment, the director’s office fell silent, and Bonghyo cleared his throat before trying to placate the sulking Huan Dragon.

“Hem, my lord. So, what punishment did Lady Phoenix decree?”

“Why should I be punished…?”

“For starters, failing to stop me from backstabbing Lady Phoenix?”

“Then isn’t that your fault?”

Of course, between Bonghyo and Huan Dragon regarding who bore more responsibility for Bonghyo striking Lady Phoenix from behind, capturing the Earth Dragon Core first, and awakening Black Sand—it was clearly Bonghyo’s fault.

However, since Bonghyo’s master was Huan Dragon, and a subordinate’s mistakes reflect on their master, Huan Dragon ended up being forced into the torment of eating mint chocolate by Phoenix’s twisted logic.

“Try it again. I think it’s not bad actually.”

“Nah, that’s because you’re addicted to sugar. You turned Motae Kyung’s blood into pure sugar water.”

“Sugar supply is essential for intellectual work. In that sense, my lord.”

Bonghyo pulled out his ultimate trump card.

“Regarding the ‘punishment’ which Lady Phoenix requested us to ‘favorably consider,’ depending on how my lord performs, we’ll plan the summer vacation schedule.”

“Huh?”

Huan Dragon’s face stiffened. Bonghyo smirked behind his black ox mask.

“If my lord performs well, there’s no need for further involvement. I’ll grant you five days, no, a whole week off. What do you say?”

“Bonghyo.”

Huan Dragon stood up, grabbing his coat.

“Let’s go to US Rabins immediately.”

“Yes sir.”

The only thing that could motivate a lazy ghost to work was the promise of rest.

A little later.

Unbelievable reports spread that Director Motae Kyung of the Monster Management Bureau was seen at US Rabins buying six cups of mint chocolate and sharing them with his subordinates.

* * *

At that moment, in the Yoo Sung family mansion in New Seoul.

“As expected. Lady Phoenix started it, followed by Miss Snow Lotus and other key figures confirming the Six Mint challenge.”

“Good. They’re doing great marketing without any help. Is the supply chain holding up across regions?”

“Yes. We’ve sent enough ice cream to handle twice the average number of visitors.”

Baek Sang-woo compared the locations and visitor numbers of the scattered US Rabins stores nationwide. With only three cities—Incheon, New Seoul, and Busan—holding these stores, they were bound to be packed for a while.

“And the mint chocolate?”

“Following your instructions, each store is set to consume ten tubs per day.”

Though originally a foreign company, US Rabins became a subsidiary of Yoo Sung thanks to Yun Yuhwa’s efforts. The hardships Yun Yuhwa endured during this process were unimaginable, but he wasn’t about to take any losses.

“We need to maintain quality while producing as much as possible. If we miss this opportunity provided by our esteemed customer, we’d be fools.”

“The content creators and internet broadcasters we’ve secured are already starting challenges. In about four days, the entire nation will know.”

“Will it stay within the country? Hmm.”

Yun Yuhwa chuckled softly at the information streaming through his puppet. Soon, he showed Baek Sang-woo a video that made him smile.

“Wanna see this?”

“…Isn’t that Director Motae Kyung?”

The video showed Director Motae Kyung personally visiting a store to wrap up a load of mint chocolate gifts. People were confused seeing the usually iron-fisted authority figure seemingly cozying up to Qinghua through this mint chocolate challenge.

“Hmm, should I join? Perhaps the chairman and board of directors of Yoo Sung—”

“Miss.”

Baek Sang-woo answered seriously.

“Miss, your personal appearance would hinder sales.”

“…I know.”

Yun Yuhwa felt slightly hurt.

“I’ll leave then.”

“Yes sir.”

After dismissing Baek Sang-woo, Yun Yuhwa threw himself onto his bed. Though busy handling matters in Seoul, he wanted to enjoy a brief rest.

“Hehehe…”

Yun Yuhwa replayed a video in the dark. There, Phoenix was joyfully kicking her legs in bliss.

“So adorable…”

Beside the screen,

US Rabins’ stock prices began skyrocketing sharply.

***

<Three hours later, VIP Room at the Hero Association in New Seoul>

“There’s also fun in starting with Step One rather than jumping straight to Six Mint.”

I used fire to shape an ice cream and explained my strategy to Xiao Lin.

“When famous global figures suddenly start buying mint chocolate, people will naturally get curious. Why are they going crazy over mint chocolate?”

“I agree.”

Xiao Lin was separately purchasing another one to attempt Four Mint. She handled the mint chocolate better than expected and was eyeing the package I prepared as a gift.

“This one has an owner.”

“Who?”

“It does. Mr. Kim.”

“…Is it for Beacon?”

I shook my head. Given the ongoing disputes among the senior staff over Heaven and Earth issues, I preferred avoiding conflicts over mint chocolate preferences.

“There’s another Mr. Kim. So, you eat yours and head back to Seoul first.”

“Eh? What do you plan to do?”

“I intend to stay in New Seoul a bit longer.”

Since a powerful ally like Yun Yuhwa was nearby, I planned to explore New Seoul with his help to find heroines.

“An invitation to the academy, I presume.”

“Are they individuals worth your attention?”

Xiao Lin showed interest, fueled by competitive spirit. I nodded.

“Yes. Their potential might surpass yours.”

“Hard to believe. I was S Rank.”

Xiao Lin pouted, apparently offended by the comparison. But I wasn’t lying.

“My apologies. Two out of four are S Rank talents.”

“Such beings haven’t awakened yet?”

“They’re minors.”

If they were in their early twenties in the original timeline of 2025, they would naturally be late teens now.

“They’re still focused on their studies.”

“Then do you plan to bring them to the battlefield?”

“…No. I’ll just let them grow in Seoul. They’ll only enter serious combat once they reach adulthood.”

Perhaps due to having lost his childhood to Motae Kyung and being confined to the estate, Xiao Lin showed significant disapproval towards my plan to seek out talented children.

“Don’t worry. I won’t lock them up and raise them like you. I’ll just provide dormitory accommodations for those who need it.”

“Hmm…”

Xiao Lin seemed deep in thought. With no further questions, I lay down on the bed and skimmed through the launch of the Great Mint Era triggered by Qinghua.

[Whoosh whoosh! Hello everyone, this is Pungma from PungmaTV! Today, I’m diving into the mind-blowing flavor that made me travel all the way from Seoul! Let’s try <Six Mint>!]

While some fearlessly tackled my Six Mint Challenge,

-Clearly Qinghua Lian Dorai!

-How can anyone think of eating this enough to travel from Seoul?

-Naive. It’s a gift-wrapped challenge; Qinghua didn’t eat it lol.

-The Executioner’s indirect kiss scene with ‘Ah’? Didn’t she take a bite?

-The comment above is creepy haha. Maybe jealousy?

Others tasted mint chocolate and were shocked,

-Qinghua is a goddess, a pioneer, the sun. My life before tasting the mint chocolate introduced by Qinghua was like wandering blind in darkness. Qinghua is undoubtedly a radiant deity.

Though exaggerated, some indeed discovered a new taste sensation. Online debates raged between those who found mint chocolate delicious and those questioning its appeal.

“Conflict always covers another conflict. Fufufu.”

Soon, the scent of mint chocolate would spread worldwide, waking up a monster obsessed with mint chocolate.

“Xiao Lin.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll nap for a bit. Could you stand guard?”

I relaxed and drifted off to sleep.

Little did I imagine then that my challenge would attract not Penril, but some other crazy entity.