Chapter 406

〈Chapter 406〉 Part 1, Chapter 17, Section 14

As in all games, the third boss is usually the one that makes players cry like babies. Cheon Gaeul, as both tutorial and first boss, provided a suitable level of difficulty. However, Hydra, whether in the executive battle or spirit battle, boasted a significantly higher challenge.

The executive battle was just plain old combat. True to its Hydra nature, it summoned hordes of monsters for chaotic mass battles while Hydra itself wrecked formations and sent the protagonist’s team flying.

And then there was the spirit battle.

To awaken Hydra into Ji Ryun, it wasn’t particularly difficult—relatively speaking, compared to others, it had pretty lenient conditions.

A date.

Only by winning Hydra’s heart directly through dating could you awaken it into Ji Ryun. And this was a mission that was absurdly easy for some and comically hard for others.

– “Damn it, I bought this game to play a romance sim, not actually fall in love!”

– “Damn it, feels like cheating on my girlfriend with another girl… lol look why my connection record is so weird.”

– “Damn it, my wife used to be like this… sigh… kids, don’t get married.”

Gamers were diverse, and their life experiences affected how hard they found Hydra’s spirit battle. Of course, ultimately, subduing an out-of-control Hydra with special abilities was necessary to fully awaken it, but Hydra was surprisingly charming in a romantic way compared to other executives.

Of course, when people realized who Ji Ryun truly was, everyone freaked out.

– “Ji Ryun’s love goes deep enough to pierce your very core.”

Hard yandere. Genuine yandere.

The relationship between Ji Ryun and Hydra was about someone who once depended on others for love now wanting to toy with the hearts of others. It was Seongju’s creation of Hydra that transformed the obedient lover Ji Ryun into a woman of many colors. Though technically a snake.

And awakened Ji Ryun’s love is heavy.

– “I love you as much as the Earth.”

It’s really heavy. The moment you choose the Hydra route with Ji Ryun, if you even think about fooling around with another heroine, you’re almost guaranteed a bad ending. She’s also one of the hardest heroines to sync with.

But people couldn’t give up on Hydra, or Ji Ryun, because of the classic story where she falls in love with the protagonist and leaves her post to become just a regular woman. Even if it meant being part of a harem or buried alive, countless players challenged themselves to build a harem including Ji Ryun.

Once such a flirtatious woman decides to settle down, she becomes an utterly devoted sunflower, looking only at the protagonist, ready to betray Seongju at the cost of her own life.

“But if the man she fell in love with turns out to be Phoenix in disguise! Unthinkable truth!”

“You’re going too far.”

Chang-yeom’s usual devilish grin was wider than ever. While desecrating Hydra, she was also desecrating me.

“Hmph, are you coming back to the main room? Or maybe you’d prefer Rasputin?”

“Would you dare with the owner watching right there?”

“You’d do it if I allowed it.”

“No way am I doing anything in the main room.”

“What about foreplay?”

“Even that’s off-limits. Besides, I’d only do it with you, not anyone else.”

Chang-yeom kept pushing me and Hydra toward physical intimacy, encouraging full use of the protagonist’s buffs. Her approval was also what made it possible to conquer Hydra using Baek Cheonghwa.

“Pfft, ah, I’m excited to see what expression Ji Ryun will have.”

“Do you dislike Hydra?”

“Not particularly. Just messing with her. Specifically…”

Chang-yeom reached out and pressed her finger against my lips.

“To let you feel firsthand how irresistible you are.”

“And you’re showing off that I’m yours?”

“Correct!”

Chang-yeom spread her arms wide and grinned brightly, though there was no intention of hugging.

“Tsk, stop being so moody. If you awaken Ji Ryun, I’ll give you something good, something nice.”

“What? Memories? Are you going to give me memories of us? Is this even real between us?”

“That depends on how you interpret it. What about the others? Can they help?”

“Not at all.”

Currently, I was receiving help from two teams to conquer Hydra. On one side, the Spirit Network combo of Rusalka and Penril. On the other, Chang-yeom conversing with me inside my mental world.

Unlike the former, who allows real-time conversations without Hydra knowing, Chang-yeom can only chat during these brief moments when I step away, making her more helpful.

“Well, since I’ve learned all your dating techniques…”

“You’re reading my mind again. So, do you know what I’m thinking now?”

“Aaaaah, I want to cuddle with Chang-yeom instead of Hydra! But not now.”

“Tch.”

With thoughts laid bare like this, it’s frustrating. Chang-yeom glanced at the time, then wiped my lips with a wet tissue.

“Pfft, fight hard! I hope you succeed. Ah, this is encouragement!”

Then Chang-yeom crawled onto the table, grabbed my face—

It tasted like strawberries.

* * *

“You’re late.”

“I had an important call.”

Xian rubbed his forehead as he sat down. Despite being gone for less than five minutes to the restroom, he looked exhausted in various ways. Under the table, Hydra fidgeted with her fingers.

“Who called?”

“Headquarters. They’re pressuring me to finish today’s work. Rare to come all the way to Rome for some fun, isn’t it?”

“Isn’t human observation your job? Aren’t you basically slacking off?”

“I’m working, alright. Hmm.”

Ding-ding.

Someone entered, and Hydra sensed the movements of a professionally trained agent in the suit-clad man. The chef personally greeted the sunglasses-wearing man.

“Excuse me, but…”

Hydra and Xian perked their ears to listen. In short, an important person was coming, and the question was whether they could vacate their seats. However, the chef insisted that no customer would be served unless they came directly to the restaurant.

“…Who is it?”

“VVIP.”

“Really?”

“99%.”

Xian calmly sipped his water glass. After some discussion, the chef and the agent reached an agreement, and the chef bowed deeply.

“Excuse me. There might be some commotion at another table; would that be alright? If you prefer, I’ll treat you both to a full course next time you visit together.”

“No, thank you kindly. I’d rather stay here with Miss Ceres. Please don’t worry about it.”

Though Xian smiled, his eyes didn’t. His cold gaze was directed not at the chef but at the agent behind him. The chef briefly checked Hydra before nodding resolutely.

“My apologies for interrupting your date. Forgive me.”

“It’s not your fault.”

While visibly uneasy, the chef steadied himself and resumed talking with the agent. The agent, scratching his head awkwardly, seemed about to lose his temper.

“Excuse me.”

“Hmph.”

Hydra nearly spat out her drink. The door opened to reveal Cardinal Wilhelm, half bald, followed by the Queen, Gawein—and Princess Aruel. Xian simply shrugged.

“What a coincidence.”

“…Is it?”

“It is.”

For some reason, Xian put his jacket back on, slipped his hand into his inner pocket, and repeatedly flashed a smirk before stiffening.

“…Hmph.”

What was supposed to be a pleasant date started feeling strange again. At first glance, it seemed like a surprise arranged by a secret admirer, but there was a foreboding sense that something big was about to happen.

“It’s an honor to serve you, Your Majesty.”

“I’m just another guest, Chef.”

“Then please follow me.”

“…”

The chef was no ordinary guy. Even with the presence of a cardinal from the Vatican, the British Queen, the leader of the Round Table, and a princess, he welcomed them as ordinary customers. Their aides trailed behind, but with only four tables available, some couldn’t even sit.

“Shouldn’t we leave, Xian?”

“Miss Ceres. In a restaurant, the chef is the host, and every customer is equal. Isn’t this an interesting experience?”

“Guess so.”

Unfortunately, our table ended up directly across from theirs. Xian naturally greeted them, and the Queen and Princess returned the favor. This caused complex expressions on the faces of Cardinal Wilhelm and Gawein.

“Hmm.”

Cardinal Wilhelm due to Hydra sitting across from Xian, and Gawein because the Queen and Princess were openly showing interest in Xian.

“…This is uncomfortable.”

“Because she’s beautiful. That’s why.”

“…Then, Xian.”

Hydra subtly gestured towards the Queen and Princess.

“Who’s prettier?”

At Hydra’s question, Xian gave an awkward smile. Though the neighboring table chatted animatedly, they couldn’t help but eavesdrop. Objectively speaking, Hydra knew the mother-daughter duo rivaled her beauty.

“…Well, everyone has different attractions.”

Xian lifted his water glass and leaned back. As Hydra mentally rolled her eyes at the cliché answer, suddenly—

Tap tap.

Something tickled her toes. Xian tapped Hydra’s foot with his shoe heel.

“…Hmph.”

“…”

Xian drank his water while avoiding Hydra’s gaze. Though unspoken, Xian had clearly answered Hydra’s question. Hydra couldn’t help but grin widely. Now, if only she could snatch this monster away from Phoenix…

“…”

“Why?”

“Not sure, just feeling down. Not because of you. Or maybe it is because of you.”

Hydra tilted her chin and asked Xian, whose expression twitched.

“Xian, are you considering quitting your job to work for me?”

“Didn’t I hear Miss Ceres is a college student?”

“Does that mean students can’t start businesses?”

“Not a problem. But sorry, I enjoy my current company. It lets me spend free and enjoyable times like this.”

Xian’s eyes flickered momentarily towards the adjacent table. Hydra felt a pang of jealousy. He kept hinting at something ominous, like an assassination plot, which irritated her.

‘If you’re going to date, focus on the date.’

Naturally, her frustration turned towards Adolph, the meddler. When Hydra blatantly glared at him, he jumped and coughed nervously. Given the inappropriate situation, Hydra turned her attention back to Xian. Xian, however, was furrowing his brow while checking his smartwatch.

“What’s wrong?”

Her voice sharpened involuntarily. But Xian remained focused on his watch. Hydra slid off her seat and stretched her torso over the table. Her face nearly touched Xian’s.

“What is it?”

“…Why don’t you come around and see?”

“Okay.”

Without hesitation, Hydra scooted next to Xian. As he tried to stand and move to the aisle side, Hydra quickly moved to the aisle and pushed him back inside.

“What are you looking at…”

“The drug kingpin has been arrested. …Caught by a 15-year-old middle school hunter. Blue Wind Sect.”

“Drug kingpin? Sounds trivial…. Huh.”

Hydra saw the captured drug kingpin. His appearance, drenched in drugs, was the typical ‘monster.’ Whose monster was he? Hydra swallowed hard. Was it Penril? Herself? Or did Phoenix create this monster?

“…Apparently, they’re interrogating him now. We’ll have to wait for results to know more… Hmm.”

Xian seemed wary of the existence of this drug kingpin. Hydra provisionally ruled out Phoenix as the creator of this monster. But if it were Azidahaka’s monster, wouldn’t a dimensional gate have already opened? Could it have been eliminated beforehand?

“Hmph…”

Xian leaned his head back and closed his eyes for a moment. It seemed like a mix of relief and slight irritation.

“Why?”

“…There are too many monsters in this world.”

“Just like well-built, kind guys like you tend to become monsters, right?”

Hydra nudged Xian with her hip.

“…True, but Miss Ceres, doesn’t that mean you’re spending time with a monster right now?”

“So what? Young and handsome is all that matters.”

Hydra raised her voice for everyone to hear. Xian chuckled bitterly and placed his hand on Hydra’s thigh. Surely not?

“Go back to your seat if you’ve seen enough.”

“Seriously… Ugh.”

Grumbling, Hydra returned to her seat. She considered stretching her legs to poke Xian’s crotch but thought better of it given the nearby table. They needed to move somewhere else soon.

“Xian, what do you plan to do after dinner?”

“Hmm… Let’s take a walk?”

Xian glanced at his watch and subtly eyed Cardinal Adolph. Then he slipped his hand into his pocket and smiled faintly.

“Until sunset.”

“…Does that mean we’re heading back to the hotel?”

“Hmm…”

Xian was grinning like a beast.