Chapter 428

〈Chapter 428〉 Part 1, Chapter 18, 10

<October 14th, 9:30 AM, Baegnaroh Rest Room>

All the monsters that had infiltrated Korea have been dealt with. As soon as word spread that the heroes were leaving Korea, the monsters began their activities, and Xiao Lin and I assassinated them.

Most of them were fakes, but there were actually some real Azidahaka monsters.

Before they could explode in typical Azidahaka fashion, I swung Deokbate, and thus peace came to Korea.

Thus, we thoroughly rooted out all remnants of the monster factions on the Korean Peninsula.

There’s no way any hidden monsters would dare show themselves pretending to be crazy, but even if they do, Seok Harang will turn them into monster ice cream and store them in an underground freezer in Dongjak.

“Well, once again, take good care of the home base.”

[It feels like every time you just leave me to guard the main base…]

“You don’t get anyone as reliable as you? We’ve completely sealed off the Gangwon-do gate. And didn’t it come out that everyone complaining about Seok Harang not being able to seal off the entire peninsula was just jealous of you? So understand, okay?”

[If that’s the case, then I guess it’s fine…]

Harang worried about me like a parent letting their child go into water for the first time. Even though there was absolutely no need to worry. And this operation isn’t even one where I’ll be at the forefront like with Hydra, is it?

“If you’re going to worry, worry about Hwakwon. After all, we were like a tandem carriage together during the Seoul Recovery Operation.”

[Are you talking about what now? Hwakwon will be fine on his own. That uncle, no matter how much he strays, is probably just going around meeting women at clubs.]

“Hmm… But he shares blood with Sun Icheol, so won’t those genes work hard?”

If not now, when will the lewd, chaotic, and decadent nature inside those genes burst forth?

[So what is that old man doing right now? I heard Garura went to America with Ceres.]

“He’s inside watching every gangster movie possible, along with dramas about reckless youths. He seems to be studying to define his character.”

[That old man would’ve definitely been an actor if he weren’t a hero. Honestly, his acting skills are easily ten times better than Gaeul.]

“…For Gaeul’s honor, I’ll say nothing.”

A masterful mask versus an equally skilled mask. Unfortunately, the whole world knows what kind of person Cheon Gaeul and Lee Seung-hyeong are.

“If anything happens, let me know through the network. I’m not really looking at it because it’s too noisy right now.”

[Shouldn’t you be the one focusing on it the most?]

“How can I possibly keep up with 50 messages per minute?”

Officially, from Team A to Team N, these were the expedition teams dispatched by the Blue Wind Sect. But behind that, naturally, were the core members for the upcoming Azidahaka offensive.

Team N: Me, Lee Seung-hyeong, Baek Hee-a.


Team O: Ceres, Yun Yuhwa.


Team P: Hydra, Yuinah.


Team Q: Hwanryong, Xiao Lin, Bonghyo.


Team R: Rusalka, Light Blade.

Thus, Teams N through R, abbreviated as “NtR,” consisted of five teams made up of spirits—a super-luxury lineup. And with Seok Harang guarding the base as Team S, all preparations were complete.

The problem was that, aside from Lee Seung-hyeong and Light Blade, the overwhelming gender ratio had turned the network into more than just chaos—it had become an outright pandemonium. Currently, even Captain Baek sitting in the command chair had switched the Baegnaroh to autopilot mode and was frantically typing away on a typewriter.

[This is your karma. Don’t you realize you’re the only one who can’t participate here?]

“Um, why are everyone bringing up everything that’s happened until now?”

With the possibility that Earth might end tomorrow, people related to me started revealing every episode they could think of. It started with Xiao Lin narrating our battle, but before long, it spiraled out of control as everyone began exposing my personal stories.

“Do you not feel guilty?”

[About what?]

“When I talked to you about Light Blade, didn’t you act all sad? What? Crying with your head down? When in reality, you were happily eating pasta drenched in cream?”

[Shut up.]

“And now you’re shutting up, aren’t you? In the chat.”

Currently, the topic in the group chat revolves around how I awakened Hwanryong, with Bonghyo delivering an epic speech.

[…And thus Phoenix Sir said! Even if the world collapses and everything ends, I will stay by your side until the very last moment. Despite her gauntlet being torn apart by the blade of chaos, she extended her hand towards her lord. Enduring the excruciating pain of her flesh being ripped apart—]

[Is that true?]

“It’s completely fabricated. The truth is, Gaehul went to rescue me in the spiritual realm, and she even directly told me the correct answer, so there wasn’t much trouble. I just opened the door and said so.”

Everyone’s lying. Worse yet, the biggest liar of all is Bonghyo Baeg Cheong-young. He talks about my encounter with Hwanryong as if he’s filming some grand tragedy like *Farewell My Concubine*. His lies are so convincing that even I almost believed them.

“What kind of Phoenix legend are you making now?”

[Other than the fact that your actions were utterly villainous, it’s practically a hero’s tale, isn’t it?]

“…No, it’s not. I was just acting like a proper officer. It only looks heroic because the ones I defeated were worse scum.”

[Heroic by comparison, huh? Alright, since you seem embarrassed, I won’t say anything else.]

Harang zipped her lips with her hand. While Bonghyo does exaggerate things, Harang also exaggerated our past battles. For fights where witnesses existed, sure, but Harang claimed that our sparring match was almost a win for her, which she lost only because I cheated.

“It wasn’t a lie!”

[Lie! What else could it be? Where does someone suddenly become that strong?]

“That’s….”

I trailed off meaningfully. With such a significant pause, Harang gulped and waited anxiously for me to continue.

“It’s because when facing a thug trying to violate someone, superhuman strength emerges.”

[Ah, stop lying!]

“I’m joking. It’s just a kind of self-buff, so don’t worry too much about it.”

[Buff? No, that’s a cheat. Stop fighting so dishonorably.]

“Dishonorably? You’re the one who got hypnotized.”

Harang blushed furiously at my words.

[I’ll expose EVERYTHING! Do you think your body will remain intact if I reveal what you did to me and tell my parents?! First, Phoenix will be dealt with before Azidahaka! Do you want to mess with my entire family?!]

“Then I won’t spar with you anymore. Oh, wait—are you saying I’m not part of your family? Fufu.”

[AHHHHHH!!]

Harang cut off the call in a fit of hysteria. I wondered if I’d gone too far with the joke, but I dialed her back immediately.

“Sorry. Your reaction was just too entertaining.”

[You, after awakening Azidahka, fight me again.]

“Whenever you want. Though, this time, there’s a guest here, so it might be difficult.”

[Who?]

“A certain cat who temporarily joined as a barista on the Baegnaroh.”

[……????]

Harang was confused. I picked up the fork next to the shortcake placed in front of me.

“There is. She claims she’s stronger than me, a total wildcat.”

[…Really?]

“Yes. Her confidence is overflowing…”

I speared a strawberry with the fork.

“She was supposed to deliver supplies, but instead, she packed her bags and decided to go on tour.”

Team N.

Phoenix, Hwakwon, Executioner.

And a green cat maid/assassin.

“The manager of Café Baegnaroh, known as Kim Penril, meow!”

“…She actually came when you said she would. Phew.”

…In preparation for any unforeseen circumstances, I decided to keep the highest source of instability in Korea right by my side.

* * *

At exactly 10 o’clock.

Thirteen airplanes took off from Yeongjong Island. Each aircraft, marked with Korean syllables from ‘Ga’ to ‘Ha’ on their tail wings, ascended toward various designated countries, and the Baegnaroh, assigned ‘Ha,’ also soared into the skies.

Its speed was significantly faster than before—not only due to repeated maintenance by Hikari that brought it up to fighter jet levels, but also because of a certain wind-attribute officer aboard who reduced air resistance to nearly zero.

“So, how many did you kill?”

“183! It was surprisingly saddening how many mint chocolate-hating monsters there are worldwide, meow.”

Kim Penril casually rested her belly on my thigh and purred. I groomed the fur of the temperamental cat while paying her commission. Kim Penril transformed into a two-tailed cat form to receive my grooming.

“Is this truly the famed Penril of Gale?”

“Yes.”

“Indeed, meow.”

Knowing the awe-inspiring presence of Ceres as Hydra and having fought against Azidahaka firsthand, both Lee Seung-hyeong and Baek Hee-a couldn’t accept that Kim Penril was Penril. To anyone, she looked like a yokai cat, and when in human form, unmistakably like a cosplay enthusiast.

Still, believing that Kim Penril was stronger than Azidahaka and Hydra was something they couldn’t grasp. If I didn’t know much about Kim Penril myself, I’d think the same.

“The world’s greatest assassin. Originally, in large-scale battles, she could be considered on par with Ceres and another top-tier figure among the officers, ranking within the top three.”

“Sorry, but this body is the strongest, meow. So, if you want a proper fight, defeat Azidahaka first and come back, meow.”

“I’m observing how far she’ll push her limits while claiming to be stage-one boss.”

“We’ll see when you fight me later, meow.”

I tapped her tail lightly with my hand. Even tapping above her rear like disciplining a child, Kim Penril sat quietly, yawning.

“…Can’t we just capture her with magic now?”

“No. We’ve tried many times, but she’s unpredictable.”

To be honest, every time I meet Kim Penril, we engage in daily mental battles using magic. Whenever I try to set up barriers with magic, she immediately tries to escape, and I instinctively foresee her vanishing like the wind before my barriers fully form.

“So, if setting barriers fails, this guy will either disappear forever or blow up Seoul. She might be harder to find than Azidahaka or Hydra.”

I brushed her tail gently and smoothed her fur. Although I wanted to punch her and make her yowl right now, doing so would result in her scratching my face with her ‘nya-punch’ before disappearing from Earth entirely.

“So remember, you guys. Treat Penril well when she’s Kim Penril.”

“…But Phoenix Sir, shouldn’t we be discussing our strategy to capture Azidahaka rather than hanging out with her like this?”

Their fundamental question was this: Is it wise to expose plans to capture Azidahaka in front of Kim Penril, a potential adversary? So I declared:

“Kim Penril, will you inform Azidahaka?”

“Why should I, meow?”

“See?”

“…Good grief.”

Lee Seung-hyeong covered his face with both hands, seemingly giving up on thinking altogether. Then Baek Hee-a questioned Kim Penril.

“So, if Azidahaka asks for your help, what will you do?”

“Too troublesome, so I won’t, meow. Even though Azidahaka claims to be the leader of Dark Legion, basically, each officer is independent and only needs to destroy the world in their own way, meow. By the way…”

Kim Penril flicked her tail, creating blades of wind. Lee Seung-hyeong stepped in front of Baek Hee-a, but Kim Penril had no intention of attacking. Instead, she scratched words into the air with her magic.

“Seongju will start moving seriously the moment he arrives on Mars, meow.”

“In other words, the world will likely end in about a week after Seongju reaches Mars.”

How many people are as unpredictable as Kim Penril? I sighed involuntarily.

“Can we really trust her?”

“To invite acquaintances, but imagine inviting such an entity… sigh.”

“Fufu, don’t worry too much. In terms of danger, Jeeun Icheol in prison is more dangerous than her.”

Meaning she’s relatively safe. After finishing grooming Kim Penril, I stood up. As I did, Magical Gear projected a holographic whiteboard ahead.

“So, Hwakwon, are you ready to fall from grace?”

“……Yes, shall I proceed?”

Lee Seung-hyeong began reciting the image of his planned ‘reckless Lee Seung-hyeong’ persona to us. Baek Hee-a’s expression contorted horribly, and even Kim Penril dropped the piece of mint chocolate cake she had speared with her fork onto the floor.

“Hmm.”

After hearing Lee Seung-hyeong’s plan,

“Approved.”

I signed off on it instantly.

“Just a moment, Phoenix Sir! This is unacceptable!!! It will severely damage Hwakwon’s image! We’re barely getting sympathy now!!”

“……How low do you plan to bring a person, meow.”

As Baek Hee-a and Penril panicked, I gave a thumbs-up to Lee Seung-hyeong, whose eyes sparkled.

“That’s my student.”

Though I apologize to Turkish club bouncers, they’re about to get a taste of authentic kimchi flavor.

“Just a moment. Let me make the outfit too. Hmm….”

I gathered my magic, unable to suppress my laughter.

“Naturally, corruption means black suits.”

Beyond Turkey, the shock and horror will ripple across the entire world.