Chapter 292

〈Chapter 292〉 Part 1, Chapter 13, Section 9

There is no way to prove the existence of the parasitic monster, Wind Dragon Turbulence. It can only be proven by directly extracting it; there is no method using modern technology to confirm that Turbulence is parasitizing inside Park Ra-on.

“Wouldn’t a deworming pill work?”

“Would an S-Rank monster really fall for a deworming pill? And it’s already inside.”

“……”

Park Ra-on’s face was openly reluctant.

Excluding the unconscious Tempest Lady, all the people around me were women, and they were all furious at my explanation.

“How could such a monster… The world shouldn’t have something this twisted…”

“It’s because the world is like this in the first place.”

One lady was shocked by the existence of a gaseous-type monster that parasitizes vital female areas.

“I can’t forgive this! A monster that steals magic power?! Phoenix Sir, could it be that I stayed at B-Rank because of this?”

“You were purely and simply B-Rank.”

One ability user was angry about having their maximum magic power drained by the monster.

“What are you trying to pull with Yunsa? Are you scamming her?”

“How do you see people? If I wanted to, I would’ve turned her into a monster right away.”

“That’s true. I thought the same thing. I also thought ‘this’ might be the case with you. Let’s talk later?”

“……”

One heroine hit the nail on the head with her assumptions.

While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, the party involved quietly lowered her head but then raised it again.

“Assuming what Cheongnyeon said is true, if I discard Tamshik Un, does that mean my role in this expedition team becomes obsolete?”

Park Ra-on was worried about being phased out. I grabbed Park Ra-on’s hand and shook my head.

“No. That’s why I’ve already taken measures. Didn’t you notice anything during the battle just now?”

“……I saw so many things, I don’t even know what you’re asking me to look for.”

I inwardly rejoiced.

“What did you see?”

“Something hard to describe with words, but if I had to express it, I felt something akin to ‘the flow of magic power.'”

“S-Rank.”

“……??”

I gave Baek Hee-a a thumbs-up, and Baek Hee-a sighed in relief, brushing her chest.

“Luckily. I was worried you’d stay at A-Rank forever.”

“Even if the physical specs are SS-Rank, it’s useless if the person doesn’t realize it themselves.”

Boosting affinity with a cheat key only refers to the ‘maximum amount of magic power one can use’; actually using that much requires spiritual enlightenment fitting the level.

“First off, Park Ra-on, this is confidential information. Are you sure you won’t tell anyone?”

“I will not tell anyone.”

There was no need for elaborate conditions like mine. Since Park Ra-on said she wouldn’t speak, even if a knife came to her throat and she died, she would keep the secret.

“Alright. Let me explain how you became SS-Rank.”

I revealed that Park Ra-on had been enhanced by Seok Harang.

“Seok Harang’s magic power will circulate within your body and gradually become yours. Since it’s the magic power Seok Harang placed inside you for your benefit, you’ll be able to freely use it.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“What is it?”

This is why talking with Park Ra-on is good. She asks exactly what I plan to say next.

“There are several, but may I ask one at a time?”

“As many as you want.”

It’s what I hoped for. I nodded, waiting for Park Ra-on’s question. Park Ra-on folded and unfolded her fingers, raising one index finger at me.

“First, if there are two types of magic powers—wind attribute and water attribute—does the wind dragon in my stomach not drain the water attribute magic power?”

“Yes. The wind dragon only eats wind attribute magic power.”

Almost A-Rank level water attribute magic power remains entirely hers, while the wind attribute has been drastically reduced due to the wind dragon.

“Then here’s my next question.”

Park Ra-on extended her second finger.

“Other than… that act, what other methods exist to remove Tamshik Un?”

Park Ra-on was quite stiff.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“In that case, it’s a relief.”

Park Ra-on let out a sigh of relief, and the other three felt the same.

“Truly fortunate. We’re glad we don’t have to do that.”

“That monster… we should obliterate it once we get it out.”

The idea of having a monster inside was horrifying enough, but the thought of needing to perform something unthinkable as a woman to remove it made the three shiver.

“There are two ways to extract Turbulence. One is to find a wind attribute spirit.”

Penril could easily remove Turbulence without issue.

Whether Penril is a high-ranking spirit or not, Turbulence would perceive Penril as a more appetizing target and immediately leave Park Ra-on’s body upon seeing Penril.

“The other is to destroy the foundation of your magic power.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a simple principle. If there’s nothing left for the monster to eat, it will abandon its host and disappear.”

In the original story, Park Ra-on was ambushed during the Seoul Recovery Operation, part of her heart was torn off. Fortunately, she fully recovered through surgery, but her core that stored magic power broke, causing her to fall from A-Rank to E-Rank.

“If all your wind attribute magic power disappears, Turbulence will leave to find another host, right?”

Turbulence would immediately abandon Park Ra-on and switch to another ability user. Thanks to Turbulence, that ability user awakens to wind attribute magic power but eventually becomes a monster due to the continuous decline in power.

“We can’t do that here. If we do, Turbulence might settle into another talented individual.”

“Wind attribute…?”

The four alternated glances between the unconscious Tempest Lady and Pungbaek. Then Park Ra-on firmly rejected the second option.

“I don’t mind losing all my magic power, but I cannot inconvenience others.”

“I expected that answer.”

Very much like Park Ra-on, but ultimately, she decided to maintain the current situation.

“Isn’t the wind attribute cat who loves mint chocolate that guy?”

“The Gale Penril. No one knows where he is now.”

With no clue where Penril disappeared to, suggesting we go find him would be absurd.

“So, in the end, the only method left is to find another host.”

“Isn’t that unacceptable? Is there an ability user more talented than Yunsa?”

“No. Even if someone with more magic power than you is nearby, Turbulence won’t leave until it has consumed all the host’s magic power.”

If it had left Yunsa at the appropriate time, the next host would have undoubtedly been either Pungbaek or Tempest Lady.

“I absolutely do not want to inconvenience others.”

“Even if it consumes your magic power?”

“Yes. Even if I hadn’t reached SS-Rank thanks to Seok Harang, I don’t want to pass this child onto someone else.”

“A child…?”

Baek Hee-a’s expression became subtle at Park Ra-on’s wording. Park Ra-on chuckled bitterly and placed her hand on her lower abdomen.

“Regardless, Tamshik Un is a comrade and fellow soldier who has fought alongside me on the battlefield for years. Although it’s a parasitic beast and has settled inside me, I cannot release this child to devour others.”

Park Ra-on chose the path of self-sacrifice. A kind protagonist might respect Park Ra-on’s decision, but unfortunately, I’m not that type of person.

“If we could extract Turbulence without harming others or causing any problems, what would you do?”

“Is that possible?”

Park Ra-on’s eyes lit up with joy, but realizing her inner thoughts might have been exposed, she coughed awkwardly.

“Hmph.”

No matter how strong Park Ra-on is, having a monster inside must be nerve-wracking. I patted her back reassuringly.

“Don’t worry. This one will take your place.”

“KYAAAAHH?!”

I tapped “Yu I-shin’s back,” and Yu I-shin’s body dissolved into a green bow, leaving only the core.

You said you couldn’t transfer it to another ‘person,’ right? How about a different ‘weapon’?

* * *

In the original story, Park Ra-on is a virgin yet not a virgin.

To clarify, she lacks a hymen but hasn’t lost her virginity.

‘Thinking that something happened while she was unconscious.’

During her encounter with the protagonist, no blood flowed, but Park Ra-on believed it was her first consensual love-making while conscious.

‘She thought of using her body to remain close to the protagonist, believing the protagonist was the only one she could rely on.’

But if you ask whether something happened while she was unconscious, that wasn’t the case either.

Park Ra-on often faced situations where she could have been compromised but successfully protected herself through sheer perseverance.

‘Instead, she ghosted like crazy whenever those situations arose. She didn’t earn money while working at the factory, acting as though she was being chased.’

Because of this, her money ran out, and she wandered like a beggar until she met the protagonist. Leaning on this small connection, she finally approached the protagonist, who accepted her into his team, and she fell in love with him.

‘The only one who reached out when times were tough was the protagonist.’

As an A-Rank ability user walking the golden path, Yunsa fell to E-Rank after her core shattered.

No one cared about heroes like Yunsa anymore since Seon I-cheol’s reckless attempt to restore Seoul resulted in countless injured or broken heroes.

Having spent all her fortune on rehabilitation over five years, with no one helping her, the only one who provided food and shelter was the protagonist—a kind fool.

Providing her with a place to live, giving her an advance on her paycheck despite having no money, and investing heavily to help her regain her abilities as an ability user.

‘It was because, as a player, Park Ra-on was the only companion available to cultivate early on.’

Ultimately, with the protagonist’s help, Yunsa grew steadily and regained her former glory through some method.

After defeating the near-enemy-like monster <Wind Demon>, Park Ra-on realized who had taken her virginity.

Wind Dragon Turbulence.

While unconscious from the excruciating pain after her heart was pierced, Turbulence judged there was nothing left to consume from this host and crawled out of Yunsa on its own.

When entering, it carefully made a small hole, but when exiting, it tore through the barriers holding it back.

‘Turbulence proudly boasted about controlling the Wind Demon’s body.’

Finally, after defeating the Wind Demon and completely annihilating the rampaging Turbulence, Park Ra-on regained her magic power. This event marked Park Ra-on’s growth into a Wind Attribute SS-Rank, and depending on whether she confessed after the battle, her route was determined.

‘So currently, Turbulence is still inside Park Ra-on, and Park Ra-on’s core hasn’t broken yet.’

Since Turbulence has no intention of leaving on its own, it must be forcibly removed.

Fortunately, I know a method that would prevent Turbulence from escaping violently, but the problem is that there’s a high chance Turbulence will cause Park Ra-on immense pain before fleeing.

Losing one’s virginity might hurt less than having one’s heart pierced, but it’s still terrifying and painful.

To eliminate Turbulence, it’s necessary to break Park Ra-on’s hymen by some means.

* * *

“…Thinking of it as growing pains to reach SS-Rank, isn’t that a bit extreme?”

“Are you insane?”

“…That’s a bit…”

Cheon Gaeul screamed, and Baek Hee-a hesitated, avoiding expressing her opinion. Asking inexperienced people like them about such a topic was indeed frightening.

“So, what do those with experience think?”

I asked someone who had gone through the act. Yu I-shin’s core gleamed brighter than ever, filled with excitement.

[What wrong have I done? Why humiliate me in front of others?!]

“You haven’t done anything wrong, but you do have experience, right? Isn’t that correct, Phantom?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Gaeul rolled her eyes hidden beneath her mask. I extended nine fingers, and Gaeul’s eyes widened larger than the holes in her mask.

“You…?”

“Pretending to be innocent won’t help. I found out from this guy when I cleaned your room once.”

[I had no choice but to answer! Phantom, you ordered me to ask!]

“…Ugh.”

Gaeul groaned, clutching her mask. Baek Hee-a glanced around nervously before laughing softly.

“So, Phantom is still a virg-”

“Shut up. Be quiet.”

“……”

Baek Hee-a fell silent. For Gaeul, who had heard endlessly from me about how to lose her virginity, it was practically a trauma trigger.

“So, what do those with experience think?”

[It’s truly difficult to answer…]

Yu I-shin avoided answering. Ultimately, the decision rested with the party involved.

[Wait! So am I supposed to keep Turbulence inside me, eek?!]

“Don’t worry, I’ll let you tell your version later. So, Miss Park Ra-on, what will you do if given the real opportunity to grow?”

To truly grow along the wind attribute tech tree granted to Park Ra-on, rather than the water attribute tech tree I had planned, removing Turbulence was essential.

“……”

Clutching her fists tightly, Park Ra-on answered me.