Chapter 425

〈Chapter 425〉 Part 1, Chapter 18, Section 7

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I sought out the two leading actors to console them at White Phoenix Isle. Garura was transported secretly via Yu-Sung’s private jet and arrived at White Phoenix Isle, as did Lee Seung-Hyung. Given that Lee Seung-Hyung had left a clue of a few days, he needed to hide from the public for about five days.

“How does it feel to be the man who got NTR’d?”

“What should I say… It feels pretty off.”

Even Lee Seung-Hyung seemed quite disconcerted. Garura clung to him remorsefully, her face twisted in apology. Though it was all acting, dubbing an ‘AV where Garura gets NTR’d by a blonde tanned delinquent’ proved exhausting for various reasons.

Of course, since the video and audio were synthesized, the real culprit behind Garura’s moans during the dubbing was none other than Lee Seung-Hyung. Their actions in the studio, recorded only through sound, turned out to be genuine rather than acted. As a result, everyone fell for it.

“Lee Seung-Hyung is so pitiful, how can we help him? Send him some sympathy from White Flame Knight! If only I knew his address, I’d send him some vodka. Everyone’s sympathizing with you online. Here’s something funny: most of those sympathizers have already looped your video three times. On the surface, they’re pretending to care, but deep down, they’re like ‘Dude, I should’ve tried that’.”

“….Because I’m human.”

Lee Seung-Hyung gave a bitter laugh. Despite the hypocritical comments among those consoling him, he held Garura tightly and steadied his resolve.

“I’m more worried about Garura. Suddenly, Garura has become… well…”

“A rag that suffered netorare?”

“Master, even if that’s true, calling Garura such things isn’t appropriate. If we trace the cause, it was actually…”

“I initiated it.”

Accepting the humiliation and disgrace that would rain upon both Lee Seung-Hyung and Garura, this act was undertaken knowing full well what awaited them. Once Azidahaka was captured, the viral marketing campaign for Bio-Android <Garuda> would soon be revealed, but until then, they had to endure.

“Master, does this mean you approve of what we’ve done for real?”

“Of course. Unless either of you changes your mind.”

Since their relationship had already deepened beyond repair, there was no intention to stop now. Originally, Garura required Karuna’s approval more than mine, given that she bore the Fire Attribute due to circumstances during the war—her original attribute being Light.

“The union of humans and messengers symbolizes a great opportunity. So no matter what happens later, don’t forget this moment. Oh, and speaking of which…”

I gave them both a thumbs up.

“If you ever get married, I might or might not be able to attend, so let me congratulate you early!”

“Master, why do you keep talking like you’re going away forever? It makes me anxious.”

“That’s right, Master. In dramas, characters always say stuff like that before dying.”

Coming from a former top actor, those words carried weight. But every possible outcome had to be considered.

“Garura, you are already Karuna’s messenger. Being both my messenger and Karuna’s means that even if I die, you will survive.”

“Master, are you teasing me?”

“Hmm…”

If only it were just teasing. Sensing their discomfort with the somber topic, I returned to the original subject—the Garura NTR scandal.

“Everyone knows nothing about the fact that the blonde tanned delinquent is Karuna. They also don’t know that Karuna used Rasputin.”

“…Rasputin.”

Lee Seung-Hyung shuddered. He was well aware of its size, having seen it firsthand while doing the dubbing work. The sight of Karuna wielding Rasputin and rampaging wildly still haunted him.

“B-but, Master…”

Lee Seung-Hyung blushed as he hesitated.

“In this case, virtually, purely as a deception tactic to fool the enemy, am I really going to be the one getting NTR’d again? When Azidahaka comes, the situation reverses, right? Meaning…”

Lee Seung-Hyung glanced nervously at Garura. Although the video is fake, the core strategy involves reversing roles under Azidahaka’s influence—a reality they must accept.

“Master, are you sure this is okay?”

“Yes, assuming everything goes according to plan.”

There was a risk that Lee Seung-Hyung could fall under Azidahaka’s spell. Accepting my reckless strategy, he nodded. Meanwhile, Garura anxiously wondered if Azidahaka would truly take Lee Seung-Hyung away or ensnare him.

“Why do I feel even more uneasy hearing you say everything will go according to plan?”

“Well, my plans haven’t ever gone perfectly… except once.”

And that one success story wasn’t something easily shared. Thus, I decided to embrace my role as the perpetually failing strategist.

“If you’re uneasy about my plan, let’s arrange a backup measure. Even if Azidahaka manages to enchant Lee Seung-Hyung, you should be able to protect him directly. How does that sound?”

“Is…is that even possible?”

“Of course. Blazing Phoenix, Lee Seung-Hyung with the Fire Attribute, and Garura with the Fire Attribute—all of you share the same element. What could possibly go wrong? Plus, everything’s ready.”

I opened the door to the Jian Ning Hall prepared for Phoenix on White Phoenix Isle. Inside lay neatly arranged bedding prepared by Xroids.

“Alright, time to make an heir… or at least an alibi.”

“How did we end up here?”

Sighing, Lee Seung-Hyung took Garura’s hand and entered the room. Garura alternated glances between me and Lee Seung-Hyung, timidly trailing behind him.

“Love between a spirit and a human.”

As their supporter, how could I not root for this pairing? I raised my fist toward Garura.

“Kuk kuk!”

May the blessings of Blazing Phoenix be with you.

***

Two days passed.

After confining Lee Seung-Hyung and Garura on White Phoenix Isle, I left to begin the baiting operation.

Responding to my call, Karuna and Hydra joined me. We stopped by Café Padre Juan, naturally served by Kim Penril.

“Eww.”

Seeing Hydra, Kim Penril frowned deeply. Despite working in service, she couldn’t disguise her disdain. Due to her past sins, she avoided direct eye contact with Hydra.

“Hmm…”

Hydra glared coldly at Kim Penril, though both Hydra and Karuna were aware of her current state. Demonstrating the integrity of former officers over mere spirits, they seemed to understand Kim Penril’s desire to live.

“…So, why did you gather us together like this? I’m feeling super awkward right now.”

Hydra, disguised with long hair and sunglasses, appeared uncomfortable, while Karuna showed up casually dressed in an aloha shirt, shorts, and sandals—in male form.

“Can he really walk around like this?”

“What’s the problem? I haven’t done anything majorly wrong.”

Karuna was correct; he hadn’t done anything wrong. If anyone was at fault, it was the writer of the ridiculous script and whoever approved it. Karuna was merely a dedicated actor. If anything, the only fault lay in his impeccable performance.

“Hehe, Phoenix. Imagine stealing your love away. Ah, people will say…”

“How come every womanizer ends up like this?”

“Exactly. People probably figured it out themselves, avoiding unnecessary attention. Not like anyone will check underpants anyway.”

Currently, South Korea was swept up in a “golden-tanned delinquent” (shortened as GoldTanDel) craze. Rumors spread that Garura’s preferences mirrored those of the golden-haired, bronzed individuals, leading many to emulate the holographic image of Karuna.

GoldTanDels charm women!

Even messengers aren’t immune to their allure. Tales of Karuna’s scandalous lifestyle as a GoldTanDel circulated, making GoldTanDel the latest trend in the Apocalypse Era.

“Would anyone really expect the actual person from the video to be walking around Seoul in broad daylight? Penril, have you seen the video?”

“Meow?!”

Kim Penril, delivering drinks and cake to our table, blushed furiously and jumped.

“You brat, offering grooming services? Try that line on someone else. One more word and I’ll shove mint chocolate cake down your throat. Want more orders? This is it.”

Tapping her magical gear on her wrist, Kim Penril hurried off. Karuna, visibly stunned, lifted his drink.

“This line works on everyone.”

“It’s all about the face.”

“Indeed. So, the face is key, huh?”

“…That’s true.”

The face mattered. A critical key to luring Azidahaka—essentially, appealing to face-obsessed tendencies.

“In light of that, Lee Seung-Hyung’s NTR operation—or rather, ‘Nigajeul’—requires your assistance. Now, here’s a question: why did I specifically bring you two here instead of someone like Whanyong or Seoyea?”

“To introduce the café’s menu?”

“On a date?”

“…”

Classic answers from Karuna and Hydra.

“Hint: The reason I chose this place is multifaceted, but mainly because Penril works here.”

Phoenix, Karuna, Hydra, and Kim Penril share something unique compared to Whanyong and Seoyea. And the first to realize this was Kim Penril, observing silently from the cash register.

“All ex-officers who betrayed their posts, meow.”

“Yes. Officers. More precisely, beings who still carry the ‘remnants of monstrosity.'”

Though Karuna synchronized with Eun Yuhwa, his consciousness remains dominant. Thus, while unaffected by officer influence, he retains memories of the power and skills granted by Commander Seongju during his tenure.

“So, let’s discuss our secret plan to defeat Azidahaka. Penril, I’ll place an order.”

“Use magical gear to order, meow.”

“No. I’d like to place an assassination request.”

“……What?”

Penril widened her eyes dramatically, her tongue hanging out. The other two former officers were equally shocked by my mention of assassination.

“Who are you trying to kill now? Or are you asking Penril to assassinate Azidahaka’s monster?”

“…What are you thinking, Phoenix? If it’s just killing, I could handle it without needing this grumpy cat.”

“To summarize: Penril assassinating Azidahaka’s monster is accurate. However…”

I speared a strawberry with my fork and lifted it.

“We won’t know if the target is truly Azidahka’s monster until after the neck disappears. Puhuhu.”

How infuriated would Azidahaka be, mistaking someone else’s actions for their own? Just imagining it brought joy.

“What are you scheming, meow?”

The assassin stared at me seriously as I ate the strawberry and handed her a mint chocolate macaron.

“Evil thoughts.”

A devious plan designed to provoke Azidahaka into appearing.

***

“Huff… Huff… Huff…”

An overweight man sat on a park bench, smoking incessantly. Passersby shot him dirty looks, yet no one dared confront him.

“Cough, cough…”

The man spat blood-tinged phlegm onto the ground. Beside him lay a Hero, battered and unconscious.

“Tch. Can’t a guy smoke in peace at the park? What’s with all the nagging?”

He nudged the fallen Hero’s stomach with his foot. His behavior toward an unconscious person was disgraceful, but considering this was a B-Rank Hero, the situation was perilous.

An uncontrollable special ability user.

A madman who declared he’d live however he pleased now that the world was ending.

“Shit, if Earth doesn’t explode soon, I’d at least like to taste Azidahaka… Huh?”

The man picked up a box that rolled toward him. Wrapped in jade ribbon, it looked like a gift. Without hesitation, he untied the bow.

“Yes! Score!”

Regardless of its contents, the box was now his. Chuckling to himself, he opened it. Inside—

“[All hail Azidahaka!!]”

Suddenly, a loud chant praising Azidahaka echoed. The man jumped to his feet.

“What…what is this?!”

“Kyaaaackkkk!!”

People screamed and fled. Alone in the park, the man scratched his head irritably.

“Shit, what the hell is this-”

Inside the box lay a slice of mint chocolate cake. Cursing, the man threw it to the ground.

“You piece of s—”

“Bad monster, meow.”

Crunch.

That was the last sound the man heard.

Moments later.

In the park, the corpse of an ugly monster rested on the bench.

According to witnesses, just before dying, he praised Azidahaka before losing his head.