Chapter 264

〈 Chapter 264 〉 Part 1, Chapter 12, Section 10

An A-Rank special ability user and an SS-Rank special ability user.

The difference was no exaggeration to compare to that between an ant and a human. Suborof’s swinging fists never once managed to strike the Light Blade.

“Damn piece of trash!”

Thus, Suborof vented his frustration through words and fists alike. Even if his fists couldn’t reach the Light Blade, his voice certainly pierced its ears.

“……”

The Light Blade focused solely on defense, swinging both swords held in each hand. When Suborof swung his fist, the blade would block it; when he kicked with his legs, the Light Blade leaped back to evade.

“You bastard! What exactly are you trying to do? Why waste time like this?”

“……”

The Light Blade remained silent. The sight of himself getting angry at Phoenix, whom he had once dismissed as trash, overlapped eerily with how Suborof now treated him as trash.

‘I might as well be doing the same thing as that trash.’

The Light Blade concentrated on avoiding death and purely on defense, hesitating to attack due to a pricked conscience.

“You’re playing with me, you rotten bastard!”

Naturally, Suborof’s pride was wounded by the notion that the Light Blade was holding back. Though he was an A-Rank special ability user who never failed, his opponent seemed to be a powerhouse beyond even S-Rank.

KAAANG!

Blade met fist. Suborof’s iron fist was shaved off by the golden sword, yet the Light Blade’s sword remained unshaken.

“Why!”

With every exchange, Suborof grew more confused. Through the blade, he could feel remorse emanating from the other side. He realized the nature of his opponent’s character.

“Why would someone like you do such a thing!”

The man before him was no one capable of causing terror. Yet the Light Blade had infiltrated the Vladimir family’s Side Palace, incapacitated its members, and now delayed Suborof one-on-one to buy time.

Even if he were called a Hero of the Round Table, why had he joined such an act of terrorism?

“I…”

Finally, the Light Blade spoke.

“I’ve only come here to meet my beloved wife.”

“Hmph.”

Suborof’s fist dropped. Perhaps there were others besides his daughter who would die without their significant other.

“To travel so far across lands just to meet the one you love? And to even seek help from the world’s worst criminal?”

“…For the sake of meeting Rusalka.”

“I can’t understand…”

To Suborof, villains were meant to be defeated. He couldn’t comprehend how this man could be blinded by love and ally with a villain.

“But does that mean you love my daughter this much…?”

This man was not only the first person his daughter had opened her heart to but also someone who genuinely loved her in return. Suborof wanted a strong man worthy of taking care of his daughter, and while the man before him raised concerns, his conditions were clearly satisfied.

“You will surely defeat me, young man.”

Beating Suborof one-on-one. That was the minimum condition Suborof set for Anastasha’s potential husband.

“You’re just defending because you’re holding back, afraid I’ll die from a single blow if you fight seriously.”

“…”

The Light Blade didn’t deny it. If he wished, he could decapitate not only an A-Rank but even an S-Rank with a single strike. Suborof had personally experienced the Light Blade’s power.

“Is this the arrogance of a master, or are you letting me off easy because you consider yourself my elder?”

“…Because Rusalka would grieve if you were hurt. That’s all.”

“Tch. Your words are smooth indeed.”

Suborof adjusted his stance, pointing his fist at the Light Blade.

“Fine! Then take my daughter away from me! If you truly love her, prove it!”

Suborof sprang into action.

“Kill me and pass through!”

“……I have no intention of allowing that.”

The same went for him. If Seok Harang suddenly found herself a boyfriend, he wouldn’t let him go easily either.

“……Do I lack the qualifications?”

The Light Blade lowered his hands. Sensing something amiss, Suborof reduced his magic power, but his iron fist had already struck the Light Blade’s shoulder.

KA—ANG!!

Suborof’s punch merely pushed the Light Blade slightly. His full-strength attack couldn’t even penetrate the barrier of magical energy wrapped around the Light Blade’s body. Suborof was shocked.

“You… what exactly are you?”

“Since I haven’t received your permission, I cannot call you father-in-law… cough, cough.”

The youth cleared his throat. Watching closely, Suborof felt chills down his spine at the familiar voice.

“Sorry, but I cannot—”

“Are you the Light Blade?”

“…”

The Light Blade’s expression stiffened. In that brief moment, Suborof instantly recognized the Light Blade’s true identity.

“The Light Blade, yes, the Light Blade! How could I forget? Before Pyongyang fell into ruin, when we met in Seoul… how could I ever forget the day you gave me my first taste of defeat!”

“….The Light Blade is dead.”

The Light Blade used polite speech, denying but not strongly refuting his identity. Suborof compared the young man before him to the Light Blade from his youth.

Though he looked younger now, there was no mistaking the features—it was undoubtedly the real Light Blade.

“You old geezer!”

Suborof was genuinely enraged.

“You touched my daughter despite being fifteen years older than her?! You piece of trash!”

“…”

In truth, there wasn’t more than a decade’s age gap between them.

“……There’s no excuse for this, but…”

Unable to reveal the truth—that Anastasha had died and Rusalka had taken her place—the Light Blade decided to accept being called trash.

“Does age matter when it comes to love?”

“You dog!”

Once the Light Blade revealed his identity, Suborof attacked like an enraged fiery bear, swinging his fists wildly.

* * *

Undine has been subdued.

Illusory Dragon successfully took control of Anastasha’s body, and Rusalka ceased resisting.

“Now we just wait for Suborof to arrive.”

I stretched my limbs while Illusory Dragon prepared Anastasha’s body for the act.

“What was our plan again?”

“Just now you told me not to worry about plans.”

“We achieved one goal, so now we should find the next. We need to cut off Rasputin’s penis…”

“Is that really necessary?”

Illusory Dragon feared unnecessarily provoking Rasputin. Neither of us wanted to stir up trouble, but Rasputin was undoubtedly a dangerous presence.

“My lord.”

Bonghyo Baeg Cheongyoung emerged from the floor. I cleared my throat.

“When did you get here?”

“I’ve been waiting for the barrier downstairs to break. Allow me to inform you of the current situation.”

Baeg Cheongyoung relayed information obtained from the Illusory Dragon Group.

“The special envoy team continues to wait in Suborof’s office. That’s fine. If they move, it might cause misunderstandings.”

Even if the timing comes to sever ties, both myself and the Light Blade must become uninvited guests on the special envoy team’s plane. No matter our reason for kidnapping the princess, starting a war is unacceptable.

“So what about the Light Blade and Suborof?”

“They suddenly disappeared.”

“Ah, the Light Blade must have used his ultimate skill… Why did he use it?”

It’s strange seeing the prince awaken the sleeping princess with a kiss while discussing things one-on-one with his prospective father-in-law using ultimate techniques. Was there some kind of change in his mindset?

“Anyway, it’d be nice if Seok Harang could resolve things soon.”

“That guy Seok Harang can achieve sync alone.”

“Yes, it’s the power of half-human, half-spirit.”

“Then can’t Sister Ru do it too?”

Illusory Dragon’s question was sharp. Could Rusalka reclaim her original water elemental powers? It’s quite an intriguing story.

“There are two possibilities. One is if Rusalka syncs with Seok Harang as Anastasha. Then they could share strength.”

Through familial love, as mother and daughter, they could reach mythic levels—if everything goes smoothly, that is.

“The other possibility… involves the Cube? Honestly, that’s impossible. The Cube is ultimately the power of an interdimensional deity, and all of Rusalka’s elemental powers reside within Seok Harang.”

“Such a pity…”

Illusory Dragon sighed while examining Anastasha’s body.

“It seems S-Rank is inherent talent.”

“Did Anastasha possess S-Rank potential?”

Approaching Illusory Dragon, I grabbed her wrist. Even a quick scan revealed abundant water-elemental magical potential within her, confirming she was gifted even before Rasputin and the Round Table.

“Bonghyo, where is Rasputin now?”

“…He has vanished.”

“What?”

If the main person responsible for resolving the chaos has disappeared, isn’t that absurd?

“The reaction from Hwakwon Lee Seung-hyung has also disappeared.”

“…Were they perhaps together at the end?”

“Yes. According to reports, that was the case. We don’t know what happened between then and when we began our operation.”

“Well, then. Even if Rasputin became a villain, he only targeted women. Hwakwon will likely be fine.”

Thanks to the ember planted in his heart, Hwakwon’s potential already soared toward the heavens. Given the right circumstances, he could reach SS-Rank someday without my help.

“We should really train him when we return to Seoul.”

“Who? Me?”

“No. <Hwakwon>. Blue feathers seem rather useless.”

It’s cute when heroines lose control thinking about me, but I can’t tolerate some random guy trying to mess with me.

“Bonghyo, didn’t Sa Jae find something? Contact Sa Jae and have him bring the core of Iron Spear.”

“What do you intend to do with it?”

“Dispose of it.”

It seems time to clean up those blue feathers one by one.

We gathered individuals with irredeemable pasts, unfit for the Blue Wind Sect, who were undoubtedly heroes masquerading as villains.

“Rasputin fits the bill too.”

“He’s a villain, right? Is he S-Rank?”

“No. SS-Rank. …A story for five years from now.”

Possessing immense talent in darkness, Rasputin reached SS-Rank in the original story, leading to dissatisfaction with ordinary women.

Living a life of abstinence until finding a woman to accept his essence, he eventually became a villain. Had the production company implemented forced seduction of heroines, they might have had to shut down long ago.

“If he’s hiding his strength, what will you do?”

“Rasputin? Not hiding his… you know what.”

“…Unclean.”

“Seriously though. They say Rasputin grows larger when he reaches SS-Rank.”

“EEEK.”

Illusory Dragon glanced downward at Anastasha’s body.

“Looks like we should escape with Sister Ru quickly.”

“Escape is one thing, but we still need to cut off Rasputin’s… you know.”

Both Rasputin and Lee Seung-hyung have disappeared. What exactly is going on here?

Crackling, crackling.

Blue flames erupted around my body. I instinctively shivered at the peculiar sensation akin to static electricity.

“Ugh, something feels off…”

“Wouldn’t it be awkward if Hwakwon dies?”

“He won’t die, but it does feel unsettling.”

If they fought as S-Ranks, Lee Seung-hyung would win. But if either reaches SS-Rank, the battle would tip immediately.

“Tch. Can’t stand seeing a flame wizard lose.”

Stretching out my hand, I molded a blue flame into a small canary. A mini Phoenix with Chang-yeom’s personality perched on my finger and spoke.

– Are you planning to evolve it?

“While I could regress it at will, it’s better to have insurance, right?”

Lee Seung-hyung is far superior to Rasputin. After commanding the mini Phoenix to locate Lee Seung-hyung and settle there, I turned around.

“You…”

Illusory Dragon stared at me meaningfully.

“Could you be Lee Seung-hyung?”

“Are you insane? That’s ridiculous.”

My unintended curt reply startled everyone—me, Illusory Dragon, and Bonghyo.

“…I’m not Lee Seung-hyung.”

Unless it’s a blonde Westerner coming from America, I’m definitely not Lee Seung-hyung.

“I’m Phoenix.”

“…Alright, alright.”

Closing her eyes, Illusory Dragon nodded. When she reopened them, they shimmered with the unique water hue of Rusalka.

“So, what do you intend to do with me now?”

“Finally willing to talk, huh?”

Spreading my arms wide, I grinned at Rusalka.

“For the record, I have no intention of being kidnapped.”

“But you wouldn’t want trouble with your current family, right? There’s a good solution.”

I pulled out a holographic masterpiece from the magical gear. Rusalka’s eyes widened.

“There’s a way for you to coexist as both Anastasha and Rusalka… Would you like to try it?”

Never would I have thought the Light Blade’s twenty years of pure affection would shine like this.

“We can think about marriage later, but for now, solve your relationship with the Light Blade using this. By the way…”

Anastasha’s gaze was fixed on the Rusalka 1:1 scale Xroid stored secretly in New Seoul’s Light Blade’s warehouse.

“This thing hasn’t been used, so it’s technically still a virgin?”

“…You.”

Rusalka adjusted her smartwatch and took a deep breath.

“Retrieve coordinates.”

Rusalka was ready to teleport at any moment.