Chapter 219

〈 Chapter 219 〉 Part 1, Chapter 10, 22

Phoenix plunged the entire world into a frenzy of mint and chocolate.

As those who had come to New Seoul pondered why they were there, all they managed to figure out was some sort of code related to Cheongnyeon, gaining nothing but an endless supply of free mint chocolate.

At the moment when the world’s attention momentarily shifted away from the Korean Peninsula…

Executioner Baek Hee-a declared a surprise announcement to the whole world.

***

<July 1st, 9:55 PM. Hero Association Press Room Lobby>

“Director, please understand. They threatened others if I spoke up.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Before stepping into the press conference, Baek Hee-a sought a private conversation with Lee Seung-hyeong.

“But at least you could’ve given me a hint or a sign. From what I know, it was something you wanted me to notice.”

“How was I supposed to know that? Every time I see you, you glare at me like I’m garbage.”

Phoenix, who wished for cooperation between the Executioner and Huakwon, only created misunderstandings between them without resolving anything. If Baek Hee-a hadn’t confronted Phoenix alone and revealed her true identity, she would’ve thought Phoenix and Cheongnyeon were completely different people for the rest of her life.

“So ultimately, you’re saying this person is the bad guy?”

“…If we trace the root cause, yes. Director, please reconsider.”

Lee Seung-hyeong pointed at the agreement document he had dramatically held up. He had been protesting by holding onto the document from Baek Hee-a.

“Do you really plan to team up with a villain?”

“No. I intend to work with a monster tamer.”

“That’s the same thing! A villain who kills people!”

“…Yes. But it’s something that can be mitigated. Frankly…”

Baek Hee-a glared coldly at Lee Seung-hyeong.

“They’re not trying to massacre civilians like someone else, are they? They even saved people.”

“But-”

“…I didn’t want to make this deal either. But what could I do? They threatened to kill me if I didn’t. Luckily, I had some value to them; otherwise, I would’ve been killed on the spot.”

Baek Hee-a lowered her head sorrowfully. Though it appeared she was being forced into an agreement through threats, those who knew the truth could immediately see it was all an act.

“…Director. Though it may seem presumptuous of me to say…”

And Lee Seung-hyeong was one of those who knew.

“Regardless of your intentions, I followed your orders. To atone for my uncle’s sins against your family.”

“…!”

Baek Hee-a’s expression hardened. Lee Seung-hyeong bit his lip as he glanced at his watch.

“…There isn’t much time left. When I heard you’d taken over as successor to Yeonghuo, I had many thoughts… But I’ve decided to trust and follow you. No matter how dark your intentions might be. However…”

“…You can’t follow a commander who teams up with villains?”

“Yes.”

“Tsk… You’re such a stubborn person…”

Baek Hee-a showed her true colors slightly to Lee Seung-hyeong, who was impossible to reason with.

“I’m merely using Cheongnyeon. Do you understand?”

“What’s the difference? Don’t you know Cheongnyeon is the villain who killed Gwanggeom?”

“Shh. Someone might hear us. Lower your voice.”

Fortunately, no one was around to overhear their conversation. Baek Hee-a warned Lee Seung-hyeong while responding to his question.

“I get it. But there’s nothing we can do about someone who’s already passed. Gwanggeom was ultimately Sun Icheol’s hunting dog, after all. What kind of future do you think would’ve unfolded if Sun Icheol had sent Gwanggeom to Seoul?”

“…Are you insulting Gwanggeom now?”

“Not at all. He was undoubtedly a hero of this country. My anger toward Phoenix for killing him reaches up to the heavens.”

Baek Hee-a bit her lips regretfully.

“But do you really think Settling Peak doesn’t know about this?”

“…Are you saying Seok Harang has ties with Phoenix?”

“Let’s rephrase that. There’s some connection between the two. There is one suspicious point…”

Without realizing it, Baek Hee-a started rubbing the ring on her ring finger.

“We’ll think about that later. Right now, we need to announce the agreement we made with Cheongnyeon. Give it back immediately.”

“…”

Lee Seung-hyeong stubbornly refused until the end. Finally, Baek Hee-a straightened her posture and used her final option.

“I command you as the Executioner. Huakwon, return that agreement document immediately.”

“…Understood.”

With great reluctance, Lee Seung-hyeong returned the document to Baek Hee-a. There was only about thirty seconds left. After quickly reviewing the document one last time, Baek Hee-a consoled Lee Seung-hyeong.

“Don’t be too disheartened. We’re powerless right now. Can you handle everything that comes after? The gap left behind by two SS-ranked individuals, or rather three SS-ranks leaving the country? You must’ve felt it too – the confusion and fear people experienced after Gwanggeom’s passing.”

“…”

Lee Seung-hyeong remained silent. Though he wanted to argue against Baek Hee-a’s words, he had no proper counterargument. Just as Baek Hee-a was about to leave, she added one more comment.

“I’m simply doing my best within the limits of what I can do.”

“Exactly what you want, right?”

“…Perhaps a little. And what I want is…”

Baek Hee-a raised her voice with unprecedented determination.

“To restore the past glory. The era when there were eight S-Rank heroes. Yes… The era when my older brother was still alive.”

Creeeeak.

The door leading to the press conference opened. Lee Seung-hyeong stared blankly at Baek Hee-a’s retreating back, clenching his fists.

As always, I am powerless.

* * *

Sorry for the late hour. This is Baek Hee-a, Tactical Commander of the Korea Branch of the Hero Association.

I imagine many of you are confused about why this announcement is being made so late at night. Allow me to explain today’s announcement.

Regarding the dispatch of <Beast Tamer> Cheongnyeon, the Korea Branch of the Hero Association will now officially manage and support him.

He will visit one nation per month, and the non-administrative <Baegnaroh> belonging to the Hero Association will be responsible for Cheongnyeon’s transportation.

Cheongnyeon is a unique hero but remains an individual, and as a citizen living in the newly stabilized Seoul, I earnestly ask that his private life not be disturbed by excessive attention.

Furthermore, the two S-Rank cores obtained by Cheongnyeon upon invitation from China’s Central Party remain his personal property. The association holds priority negotiation rights should Cheongnyeon wish to sell them.

The country Cheongnyeon will visit in July has yet to be determined. Nations wishing for his dispatch should formally request through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Details regarding this matter will be announced nationwide via official documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tomorrow morning.

This concludes the briefing. Thank you.

* * *

July 2nd, 00:00 AM.

I woke up from sleep and got out of bed. My body was fully prepared, and my physical condition was at its peak.

“Let’s check first.”

I inspected the part I was worried about. Fortunately, though only a day had passed, the Mint Chocolate Challenge continued worldwide without interruption.

“Good that there are more good people. Really.”

I teased him, who couldn’t hear me anyway, and opened the box. Thanks to the magic power I used to isolate heat, the ice cream inside maintained its original form.

“Hmm, maybe I should have asked for it to be packed tightly. Tch.”

I closed the lid and neatly tied the ribbon. The green veil wrapping the pink box would ensure the contents remained intact even if it traveled halfway around the earth.

“Phew.”

Carrying the box, I opened the door of the VIP room. In the brightly lit corridor, an old man with white hair leaned against the wall yawning.

“Haaaaaah… Hmm?”

“Hello?”

“Eh, um, hello there. Y-you… Cheongnyeon?”

“You can speak casually.”

Pungbaek seemed quite startled to see me suddenly come out. He appeared to be carefully scrutinizing every word of the agreement document announced by Baek Hee-a, glasses and all.

“Um, well, what brings you here at this hour-”

“I’m just heading out briefly to send a gift.”

“At this hour?”

“Yes.”

When Pungbaek tried to block my way, I surrounded him with magic power and positioned myself behind him.

“It’s late. Why don’t you go to bed?”

“Wha-!”

Pungbaek attempted to react by spinning his cane in response to my sudden move, but it was already too late.

Crack.

I grabbed Pungbaek’s neck and released magic power, burning away all the magic power within his body. Without a backup source of magic power, Pungbaek was just an old man suffering from osteoporosis and lower back pain.

“Cough…”

“I’ll bring a doctor to treat your disk problems, so rest here until then.”

I shoved the unconscious Pungbaek back into the VIP room and quickly hid myself. Though I intended to push three people in if there were three, strangely, there was only one.

“Then.”

Recalling the memory, I ran towards the rooftop. Reviving the memory of my escape mission from the association, I hid myself in the blind spot of the CCTV. Fortunately, the blind spot from five years ago remained unchanged today.

‘How hasn’t the security changed in five years?’

Though I don’t know what the future will be like five years from now, for now, I’m just utilizing it easily. I slipped out through the emergency stairs and arrived at my destination—the rooftop.

“Then-”

“Stop.”

On the terrace opened by the rooftop door, Hwakwon blocked my path.

“Where are you going?”

“Were you waiting for me?”

“…Let’s just say yes.”

Though Lee Seung-hyeong pretended to be calm, I caught sight of the screen he hid behind his back.

“Why? Are you deep in thought because Cheongnyeon’s mobilization was surprisingly peaceful?”

“Exactly.”

Lee Seung-hyeong looked at me with genuine confusion.

“Exactly what do you want? Why are you doing this-”

“I already told you.”

I cut off Lee Seung-hyeong’s words.

“In Gwanak. Personally.”

“…”

“The peace of the world.”

I approached Lee Seung-hyeong closely and placed my finger on his heart.

“As the price for obtaining this power, didn’t you promise to work for world peace?”

“Isn’t that just tricking me to eliminate the fire dragon?”

“Think whatever you want. One thing I’ll clarify here—no matter how much villains might want to run rampant, if the world ends, it’ll all be for nothing, won’t it? Hehehe.”

“…”

Lee Seung-hyeong frowned. I tapped his shoulder lightly with my tiptoe and stepped over him onto the railing.

“If you ever become truly strong enough to surpass me, come to Seoul. I’ll teach you personally.”

“What exactly are you…”

“Well, it’s the usual ‘Come kill me’ trope. Though I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”

“Why are you treating me so well? Honestly, you could kill me or take my power right now.”

I hugged the ice cream box close to my chest.

“I’m not treating you well.”

[It’s all necessary for raising you.]

With those words, I jumped high into the night sky and spread my wings. Even after rising to a height where I wouldn’t be easily seen, Lee Seung-hyeong kept looking up at me.

[You’re insurance. Insurance.]

Whether he heard that last part or not, it doesn’t matter. With that, I flapped my wings westward toward my real destination.

The United Kingdom.

In the country where the Mint Chocolate craze began, I plan to commit the worst possible act as a villain.

Operation name: <Mint Candle>.

* * *

<UK Time, July 1st, 4:58 PM, London, UK>

“Ms. Cheongnyeon is undoubtedly a goddess.”

Gawain, the (former) strongest of the Round Table, grinned widely at the mountainous pile of mint chocolate in front of him. He had already eaten several gallons of mint chocolate and even went around the UK, bringing back boxes of it to London.

“Now, if only I don’t get caught by the princess…”

Thud.

Gawain felt a strange presence coming from the east and shivered. That presence belonged to the villain known as <Phoenix>, who was rumored to be acquainted with <Undine> when Gawain met her on Oracle’s plane in China.

“Could it be.”

Is Phoenix finally taking over the Round Table? Gawain slowly drew the sword bestowed upon him by the queen. True to his senses, Phoenix had crossed the Eurasian continent and arrived in London.

“Heaven-sent enemies, ugh.”

Phoenix landed gracefully atop Big Ben’s spire, folding her wings. As Gawain rushed inside the clock tower, his gaze was drawn to the object Phoenix held.

“US Rabins packaging box…?”

Thunk.

Phoenix pulled out a half-gallon container from the icebox.

And then—

Fwoosh.

She gently placed a small blue flame into the ice cream container.

“What in the world is she doing?”

Villain Phoenix.

Right on top of Britain’s iconic Big Ben, began the bizarre act of burning mint chocolate.