Chapter 414

〈Chapter 414〉 Part 1, Chapter 17, Part 22

Hydra was in a state of total despair.

“Xian was Phoenix all along? What kind of world is this?”

From the moment Hydra met Xian to the very last second before entering the hideout, Hydra had been utterly toyed with by Phoenix. It felt like her heart was being torn apart like a rejected virgin, and it was unbearably sad. Phoenix had trampled on Hydra’s heart.

“But I can’t end it here.”

So there was no way she could back down now. The moment Phoenix set up the barrier, Hydra’s defeat was already sealed. No matter how much chaos Hydra caused, there was no way Azidahaka or Penril could reach this underground location, and Phoenix wouldn’t suddenly lose consciousness and get trapped in the barrier again like before.

“In reality, resistance here is impossible. She’s just too strong.”

Ever since Phoenix broke through three barriers alone, Hydra had been avoiding her completely. While Azidahaka insisted on going head-to-head with Phoenix, Hydra was terrified of fighting her again after that nightmare where snake heads were ripped off one by one.

“I should’ve stayed hidden underground. Why did I come out when I felt that strange magic power?”

Thus, Hydra chose to retreat underground. Even if Phoenix discovered this underground city, she wouldn’t be able to chase Hydra easily down here. Either she wouldn’t find Hydra, or even if she did, catching her wouldn’t be simple.

“…But what about that handsome face!”

She shouldn’t have done it, but Hydra ended up inviting Xian—Phoenix herself. And it was all because she fell for Phoenix’s charm, losing her rational judgment. This was the fatal mistake.

“So this was my fate after all.”

It was exactly as Phoenix said twenty years ago. The Dark Legion officer who enlightened them about their nature as spirits and then sealed himself away in Hawaii’s volcanic island was gone. He left behind words of encouragement, saying he hoped they would overcome the confusion, but now some weird lunatic-like entity had taken his place and humiliated Hydra.

Phoenix wants to kill Hydra.

Phoenix wants to awaken Hydra as the spirit Ji Ryun.

Upon reflection, Phoenix’s actions were meticulously calculated to tempt Hydra. Coming right into her hideout, revealing her true identity just before things got intimate, and setting up a barrier—it was so cruel that Hydra wanted to give up everything.

“But there’s no way.”

There was just one thing Hydra couldn’t let go of, and it was something she couldn’t do at any other time. After twenty years as an officer, she hadn’t tried something she really wanted to before dying. Fortunately, Phoenix had mastered every technique for seducing women from her chaotic past. Just her kissing skills hinted at how skilled she might be elsewhere.

“I can’t die a virgin.”

They say if the world ends tomorrow, you should still plant an apple tree, but Hydra wanted to try at least once. Anyway, when Hydra died, her personality would disappear, and the spirit Ji Ryun would take over.

“I can’t die like this!!”

So Hydra shamelessly asked Phoenix to do it—to take her virginity. If Phoenix had slept around with everyone else, what difference would adding one more officer make? Honestly, who knew if Karna or other officers hadn’t already been seduced and betrayed in similar ways?

And if she was going to do it, there was only one choice.

“To lose my virginity and die.”

Once she let go of everything, Hydra felt lighter. Surrendering her resistance and gazing up at Phoenix made her feel like a newlywed bride being stripped of her sexy wedding dress on her honeymoon night. Her heart raced with excitement.

“If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.”

Hydra waited for Phoenix to respond. Even she didn’t want to relive the nightmare of snake heads being plucked one by one or burning alive. At least, she hoped for some satisfaction.

“…Why are you just standing there?”

Hydra hesitantly asked.

“Is it pity?”

“…Not exactly.”

Phoenix evaded the question. Not out of pity, but perhaps reluctant to do it herself? Didn’t she kiss passionately earlier? Hydra even felt the stiffness of that giant python against her forehead when Xian was present.

“…Just tell me honestly.”

Hydra slowly raised her upper body. Phoenix held onto her wrist while avoiding eye contact. Unlike when she was Xian, Phoenix avoided kissing Hydra.

“There are nine hypotheses running through my mind right now. Some are too embarrassing to even say aloud.”

Phoenix sadism theory.

Phoenix high-maintenance theory.

Phoenix shape-shifting theory.

Xian separate existence theory.

Phoenix misogyny theory.

Phoenix pity theory.

Xian fake python theory.

Xian premature ejaculation theory.

And finally, the theory Ji Ryun discussed but firmly denied.

“…Could it be that you don’t actually want to… as a man?”

“…Yes.”

After keeping her eyes closed for a long time, Phoenix answered with a red face, almost sobbing.

“I… I like women.”

Phoenix, lesbian theory.

***

Chang-yeom was dancing tap down the stairs.

***

Hydra had hit the hardest spot. Even though Bai Cheonghwa had regained her body, the real owner of “it” was someone else.

“Even if you order me to do it, I can’t.”

Chang-yeom wouldn’t allow it, nor could Hydra herself. But the situation had spiraled into the worst-case scenario.

“Why are you acting like this? Just one time. One single time, and I’ll go quietly. It’s the biggest request of my life. Isn’t it okay to grant one last wish before death?”

The trigger for Hydra’s awakening as Ji Ryun.

It all comes down to granting one final request as Hydra gives up on life. Depending on the player’s choices and the relationship between the two, the request could be easy or difficult.

Naturally, in a romantic simulation game, the ultimate easy request involves physical intimacy. Who wouldn’t fulfill Hydra’s heartfelt plea to share love one last time before death?

But why did it have to be…

“Why does your last request before death involve underage sex? Do you really want to have sex with someone younger?”

“I’m not actually a minor! I know that much! Don’t think I’m as reckless as Azidahaka!”

That’s true. At least Hydra doesn’t put on water shows worldwide.

“Of course, that goes without saying. If your preference for young boys became public, society would bury you.”

“Shut up. You played with my feelings, didn’t you? Knowing full well, right? Huh?”

“Of course I knew and deliberately did it.”

“….I hate it. Pfft.”

Hydra spat toward my face. I turned my head to avoid it.

“What other requests do you have? I’ll consider anything else.”

“Will you kill me if I ask?”

“Absolutely not. Maybe you’d want to see the Pacific Ocean or take a space trip before dying, or maybe smoke one last cigarette.”

“All things I hate. You really have a nasty personality. So why won’t you grant my request?”

It’s obvious; your request falls outside normal boundaries. I took a deep breath and sighed. And then…

“Unbelievable.”

A trembling yet dark and deep voice escaped from Hydra. Similar but different from Hydra’s usual tone. My heart sank.

“Ji Ryun?”

“Can’t you at least grant someone’s last wish before they die?”

Instead of opposing, Ji Ryun started defending Hydra.

“Just a moment. Why are you awake?”

“Didn’t you expose us as spirits twenty years ago, making us all awaken? I consumed Ji Ryun and took control.”

“…”

I closed my eyes. Chang-yeom didn’t answer no matter how much I called. What exactly did I do twenty years ago to make things so hard for me now?

“…Alright. Fine. So why were you quiet until now?”

“I lost to Hydra. Sealed. For twenty years, I couldn’t emerge without Hydra’s permission. How could I?”

“And now?”

“I came out with permission to scold you. How can you treat a child like that? Someone preparing to die makes a last request, and you refuse?”

“Just kill her and Hydra dies, letting you take over. Why should I fulfill a request I don’t want to?”

“Look at you. Acting just like Chang-yeom.”

“…”

Could Ji Ryun know something? Ji Ryun sneered and mocked me.

“I clearly see you’re not the spirit Chang-yeom. Probably the self-awareness of brainwashed officer Phoenix lingering. But hey, if you like women, why not just sleep with one instead of dodging like this?”

Thud!

Taking advantage of my brief lapse, Hydra hooked her legs around me. Never imagining she’d straddle me like pincers, Hydra hooked her ankles behind my hips.

“Let go of this!”

“Nope. Not until you promise to do it for Hydra.”

Why do these spirits always side with the officers and troll me? I ended up caught between Hydra and Ji Ryun. If I released my wrists, Ji Ryun would surely grab me.

“Do you realize if you sleep with Hydra, you’ll lose your virginity too?”

“AAAAHHH! Call Sister Xian! I won’t play unless it’s Sister Xian! Call her!”

“This is insane.”

“What? Insane? Did you just insult me? Unforgivable. From now on…”

Ji Ryun tilted her lips with a haughty expression.

“I won’t utter a word unless it’s Sister Xian.”

“…Damn, why are all you spirits like this?”

This is why the theory that Seongju brainwashed the officers to manage unruly spirits gains credibility. I couldn’t help feeling sorry. Whether it’s Seoyea, Hwanryong, or Gaechonkwang, they all seem a bit unhinged.

Chang-yeom may be infuriating, but even her madness has its charm.

“…Fine.”

Swish.

I transformed into monster form to escape Ji Ryun’s grip, stood up, and used magic to bind Ji Ryun’s limbs to the bed with chains of blue flame.

“…Now we can talk properly.”

I transformed into ten-year-old Bai Cheonghwa for the conversation. Ji Ryun finally turned her head.

“What are you guys doing?”

Her sharp tone indicated it was Hydra speaking. Though her voice was brash, her gaze softening as she looked up at me revealed her vulnerability. I sat cross-legged beside her stomach, placing my hand on it.

“Hmph. Sister Hydra, I can use it, but it has an owner. Sorry, but I can’t.”

I pointed to my core. Hydra finally seemed to understand, sighing deeply as she leaned her head back.

“The chance of a lifetime slipping away so meaninglessly…”

“Instead, I’ll do anything else you ask. Any reasonable request. Or Ji Ryun can speak directly if you prefer.”

Hydra closed her eyes. Her irises glowed with Ji Ryun’s color. With a serious face, Ji Ryun whispered calmly to me.

“Yeah, underage sex.”

“Sex offender.”

“You’re technically an adult! Stop being so uptight. Isn’t heterosexual better than lesbian? Yin-Yang harmony!”

“Hey. Go back inside. Call Sister Hydra.”

“Why don’t you call me sister toooo—Ah, shut up.”

Hydra quickly shoved Ji Ryun back inside. Talking to Hydra, who at least communicated reasonably, was much better.

“Haa… Every time I come to awaken a spirit, they’re all awake but strangely messed up… If this keeps up…”

“Duan.”

Hydra spoke calmly. Her expression carried a fleeting sense of false enlightenment before death.

“…You don’t have to grant my request. What does a loser have to say anyway? Just a foolish woman who fell for a man and ended up like this. But…”

Hydra smiled faintly and closed her eyes.

“At the moment of my death, I want to remember that my first lover was Duan. In my final memory, I want you to be there. That’s my wish.”

But then Hydra grinned savagely.

“If my final memory only contains pain from Duan killing me without giving me happiness, then in my memory, Duan will forever remain a bad person.”

And at that moment,

My consciousness dimmed.

The Blue Temple.

Seated casually on the throne, Chang-yeom looked down at me and said just one thing.

“Do it if you want.”

Dead or Dead.

No matter which path I chose, death was certain.

And without hesitation, I made my choice.