Chapter 308

〈 Chapter 308 〉 Part 1, Chapter 13, Section 25

After the Yasha conquest.

The expedition team returned to the Baegnaroh and didn’t move an inch. According to previous agreements, all of Yasha’s cores and byproducts became property of the Indian side; however, Mahatma faced much criticism for mishandling the situation during Yasha’s counterattack, which turned the battle against them.

The public wanted to see the heroes up close and proposed a celebratory banquet, but even this was rejected by the Executioner.

“Though the raid was technically a success, we must first give feedback on this raid. We need to check if there were any mistakes made in combat and if any heroes sustained injuries.”

The first reason was that they needed time to review the battle process.

“Moreover, not all monsters have been captured yet. Taking Yasha’s death as a trigger, other SS-Rank Monsters that were dormant might awaken. China alone had three SS-Rank Monsters, one of which produced other monsters. But we can’t be sure India doesn’t have something similar.”

The second reason was that it was too early to celebrate with another potential threat lurking.

“And how can we raise our glasses when the Taj Mahal, a national treasure—no, a global cultural heritage site—has burned down?”

Using the destruction of the cultural relic as an excuse, the third reason was to avoid celebrating prematurely.

“The gesture is greatly appreciated, but the heroes are exhausted right now. Though the battle itself wasn’t long, fighting an SS-Rank Monster takes its toll. At least until tomorrow morning, they need rest. The flight has tired them out. Instead of flying back to New Delhi, we’ll rest here and move out in the morning.”

The fourth reason was the accumulated fatigue from the raid necessitating mandatory rest.

The Executioner sent an official notice through the association, and following the field commander’s judgment, the Baegnaroh stayed put. In the end, Mahatma mobilized heroes to control the area for the smooth rest of the expedition team.

The crowd wanted to see the heroes, but no one could step outside.

Heroes were lost in their own thoughts, reflecting deeply on what had happened today.

***

〈Rest Room〉

“Chunja, so what do you think now?”

“…”

Tempest Lady, Yang Seonyu, silently sipped her canned beer. She felt she should say something, but pride and a sense of justice tangled in her heart prevented her from speaking easily.

“You don’t have to say it, I get it. We won because of that guy.”

Usha, Kang Ha-baek, chewed on a squid leg self-deprecatingly. They conquered the monster with the villain’s help—or rather, ate off the table he set, allowing them to take down the SS-Rank Monster.

“It seems my theory was correct. That guy definitely got hit hard by the former leader. Otherwise, why would the Executioner pamper him while letting the former leader fall so drastically?”

Pungbaek, Cheon Hyun-taek, lowered his voice and unfolded his thoughts. Kang Ha-baek sighed, tearing the squid leg apart with his teeth.

“Why does the former leader keep coming up? Hmm, looks like someone wants to be a hero but chose the path of a villain, huh? Is that why you’re saying this, old man?”

“That’s about it. Think about it the other way around. What if I had the power and information to make this country prosperous, but some hypocrite sat on the throne? Wouldn’t you do the same thing? Tch.”

Cheon Hyun-taek flicked the neck of his makgeolli bottle with ease. The plastic cap cleanly snapped off, and he blew into the bottle before gulping down the drink.

“So, seniors, are you saying he’s cleaning up anything that gets in the way of world peace?”

“If that’s the case, isn’t Mr. Kwanggeom also an obstacle to world peace?”

“…That water elemental spirit thing of his could’ve exploded at any moment, right? And Mr. Kwanggeom wasn’t the type to go down easily for anyone. Phoenix did use extreme measures, but I think in the end, Mr. Kwanggeom left peacefully. He probably rejoiced knowing he protected everything he could with his life.”

“…At the very least, he left smiling.”

Unluckily, the three were unaware that Kwanggeom had resurrected as a monster. Only Usha suspected that Belvoborg might actually be Kwanggeom reincarnated as a monster.

“Anyway, I’ve decided. I’m going to apply to that university.”

“Are you serious?”

“Why not? There must be a professor position available. Even though I’m past retirement age, I was a professor once. It feels weird entering as a student.”

Cheon Hyun-taek laughed loudly while drinking his makgeolli. Yang Seonyu’s gaze shifted to Kang Ha-baek.

“What about you, senior?”

“…I’ll stay in New Seoul. Even if there’s a path to grow stronger, if this old man moves to Seoul, New Seoul will be empty, won’t it? Honestly, there are plenty of people who want to move to Seoul besides this old man. What about you, Chunja?”

“Will you stop calling me Chunja already? Hmph.”

Yang Seonyu fidgeted awkwardly with her canned beer.

“Clearly, something’s wrong, but I still feel uneasy. Mr. Kwanggeom built up so many achievements… I’ll stay in New Seoul as well.”

“Good, then do that.”

Pungbaek, Usha, and Tempest Lady shared sincere thoughts about their next steps after the Indian expedition and mutually respected each other’s decisions.

“So, that Phoenix spirit, who exactly does she like? I noticed she subtly took care of everyone while acting all high-and-mighty.”

“Tsk, clueless guy. I think it’s just because they share the same attribute. Isn’t the scariest thing in this world blood ties, school ties, or hometown ties? If magic power has connections, it might be scarier than bloodlines.”

“Then who do you like, old man?”

“I’m the Executioner. An alien, right? Gender doesn’t matter to me. Didn’t she credit all the work to the Executioner during the fight with Yasha? Did you not notice during the briefing room strategy planning? Honey practically dripped from her eyes, hahaha!”

“If you look at it that way, someone else is the most likely candidate.”

Yang Seonyu subtly interjected while observing.

“Phantom, that woman stuck to her like glue, didn’t she? Phantom was practically flaunting her chest and flirting openly, and that person… didn’t resist much, enjoying it secretly. Phantom wasn’t dripping honey; she was practically devouring her.”

“That’s Phantom’s business. We don’t know what she thinks. …Fine.”

Cheon Hyun-taek pressed his smartwatch and smirked.

“Let’s make a bet. How about it?”

People’s love lives are always the most entertaining.

* * *

〈Training Grounds〉

“Are you not tired after the battle?”

“Not at all. I’m more afraid this feeling will disappear.”

Yu I-shin tensed her bow, and Park Ra-on moved her body, gripping her spear.

“If only Director hadn’t ordered us to stay together…”

“It’s rare to have a sparring session, isn’t it? We still have time before lights out.”

“This time is supposed to be free time.”

“Yes. Free time to train. This is purely my personal request, but you don’t have to comply if you don’t want to…”

Park Ra-on pointed her spear at Yu I-shin.

“We do have a connection from Guro, don’t we? Let’s strengthen our bond through sparring.”

“…I wanted to rest.”

Yu I-shin drew her bowstring taut. Park Ra-on, standing expressionlessly, slightly curled her lips upward. Seeing this, Yu I-shin’s face contorted.

“…Seriously. Someone worked their butt off to reach A-Rank, while someone else got promoted straight to SS-Rank just by being favored…”

“I apologize. I don’t know why Master Qinghua bestowed such grace upon me, but I haven’t reached S-Rank yet.”

“That calm attitude is driving me insane. Are you using me as a stepping stone to reach S-Rank?”

Enraged, Yu I-shin fired an arrow. The arrow imbued with Tubulus’ properties grazed Park Ra-on’s hair and curved back to return to Yu I-shin.

“You don’t even dodge. Damn it.”

“There’s no reason to. I realized it was a warning shot.”

“…Is that the special perception of those above S-Rank? Really pisses me off. Ahh, after working like a dog and discovering there’s a monster inside someone’s belly!”

Yu I-shin hysterically drew her bowstring again.

“Hey, you said my magic power is inside your stomach, right? I can’t just hand it over willingly, so you better take it yourself.”

“…You mean this?”

Park Ra-on aimed her spear, and Yu I-shin responded by releasing the string.

Ka-ang!!

The arrow collided with the spear blade and bounced off. Park Ra-on successfully intercepted the arrow by surrounding the spear with magical wind power.

“Good. If my talent resides within you, I’ll retrieve it directly with this spear.”

“…Damn it.”

Yu I-shin frowned. Park Ra-on’s overwhelming magic power far exceeded A-Rank, and through sparring with Yu I-shin, she seemed poised to reach the next level.

As a former villain, Yu I-shin was certain that after this sparring session, Park Ra-on would become a completely different entity.

“Talent-sucking is disgusting!”

Yu I-shin fired arrows wildly, and Park Ra-on swiftly dodged and deflected them all.

While others rested, Gongsung and Unsah honed their full strength through sparring.

As the battle continued, Gongsung’s magic power dwindled while Unsah’s grew stronger, but Gongsung couldn’t complain.

All she could think about was petitioning for an S-Rank core once Park Ra-on ascended to S-Rank.

A little later,

The two collapsed, exhausted like after rolling around in Phoenix’s bed.

“Haa, haa. You weren’t just about sucking magic power after all…”

“As expected, you’re strong. You too…”

Until the training ground lights went out, the two lay sprawled on the floor, chatting idly.

* * *

〈Captain’s Cabin〉

To properly run the ship’s functions and prepare for any unforeseen events, Baek Hee-a couldn’t leave the captain’s cabin.

“No illegal intruders… Still, these Indian heroes have some shame, blocking people trying to photograph the Baegnaroh.”

Through the camera lenses linked to her vision, Baek Hee-a saw people attempting to capture images of the Baegnaroh, while Indian heroes controlled the situation.

“They’re scared we’ll leave if we disturb our rest.”

Yasha was defeated, but there could be another S-Rank Monster.

Baek Hee-a knew about Kinna-ra and Garura, but Mahatma had no clue. He merely worried, thinking ‘Maybe there’s something else?’ after hearing Baek Hee-a mention she only wanted the core during Yasha’s capture.

“In this world, information is power…”

In her relationship with Phoenix, Baek Hee-a was thoroughly the underdog. She fretted endlessly about Phoenix potentially leaving the country and worse, Phoenix hadn’t even revealed where Kinna-ra originated.

“At least it’s garbage from our country, thank goodness.”

Baek Hee-a was endlessly grateful that Phoenix settled in Korea despite causing various troubles. At least damages could be mitigated appropriately within the legal framework.

“Should arson at the Taj Mahal count as a prior offense?”

Phoenix claimed she didn’t directly start the fire. However, everyone knew the Taj Mahal fire was arson, and Phoenix was the culprit.

“…If nobody knows, it’s practically not a crime.”

Was it because she was a spirit? Or due to lingering effects of brainwashing by the evil organization? Regardless, Baek Hee-a, focused on domestic politics and command, remained ignorant about spirits or the Dark Legion.

“Still, she’s Korean, so that’s good.”

The fake identity created by Qinghua became a real one thanks to Baek Hee-a. From there, she concocted a grand conspiracy.

“If we want to bring Qinghua into the Baek family…”

Even though she was Korean, Baek Hee-a pondered ways to incorporate her into her own family.

“How to accept her as part of the family? Adopted daughter? Then she’d be my sister… Or brother? Anyway.”

Baek Hee-a’s worries deepened. How exactly would she bring Phoenix into the Baek family?

Wealth? She could gather several S-Rank cores in a day if she wished. Practically, all monsters generated around Pyongyang belonged exclusively to Phoenix.

Abilities? She was the certified strongest in the world. No simulation battles could defeat her human form, so overpowering her physically was nonsensical.

So, how could Phoenix be lured into the Baek family?

“…Marriage?”

Eureka! Baek Hee-a clapped her hands, praising her brilliant idea.

“But with whom?”

Even if marriage was the solution, who would marry her? Baek Hee-a thought of every member of her family but couldn’t find anyone suitable to pair with Phoenix.

“…”

Baek Hee-a’s face flushed red. She hugged the blue beret on her head to her chest.

“…Apparently, there’s no choice. It has to be me.”

Baek Hee-a fiddled with the black ring on her left hand, making a resolution.

“Her name was Qinghua, so let’s make her Baek Cheonghwa.”

The momentous plan of Baek Hee-a began.