Chapter 446

〈 Chapter 446 〉 Part 1, Episode 19, 2

“You said your sync condition wasn’t anything big, right? It’s super easy. Not two weeks, it can be done in a day.”

“N-n-no, for me….”

Ang groaned and sipped her soda while cowering her shoulders. She kept glancing out the window as if she were a thief caught red-handed.

“There’s no one here you know. The Dark Legion’s boss Azidahaka is dead. All that’s left is the dark-element spirit Ang. Your face has changed, hasn’t it?”

“W-well, yeah…”

Since coming to Korea, Ang had received help from many people and could now walk around with an entirely different face. This face was somewhat similar to Black Phoenix but with a different body shape too.

“Using Black Phoenix’s core, we created a bio-android. Since it was a vessel for a dark-element spirit, there was no need for any other core, and since it only housed a shadow instead of the main body, it didn’t take long to make. The only time needed was for you to adapt…”

I pointed at Ang’s massive chest, which resembled Black Phoenix’s. In human terms, it would be size 120, and finding a fitting bra was impossible. Eventually, after procuring some spare clothes made by Baeg Cheongyoung specially designed for Black Phoenix—choosing ones with less exposure—we managed to get something Ang could wear without feeling embarrassed.

“Still, you’ve adapted, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“Doesn’t it hinder daily life? Anyway, watching YouTube, lying around, and wandering the network using magical gear—your chest size doesn’t interfere with any of that.”

The main body lies in my bedroom inside a special black tube designed to block interference with Phoenix. This ice barrier originally created to prevent outsiders from disturbing Phoenix became Ang’s hiding place. Ang keeps her main body hidden inside while her shadow resides in the bio-android, allowing her to move freely around Seoul.

“So, this is simple. Now, choose: stay in Seoul and hang out with Kim Nori or go down to New Seoul and hang out with Baek Hee-a?”

Ang, the sync conditions for Maamryong:

Stage 1: Become friends.


Stage 2: Become close enough that both truly consider each other friends.


Stage 3: Reach a level where you’re comfortable secretly transferring money into someone’s private account.

‘I don’t even aim for that much.’

At Stage 1, a spirit awakening with a human personality becomes possible.

At Stage 2, humans and spirits achieve equality as seen in myth. To become best friends—it’s surprisingly simple.

Stage 3 leads to a harem route with additional members like Kim Nori, Baek Hee-a, Hikari, etc.

“Just explain everything to them. Go out, make friends, and that’s it! Then you’ll reach S-Rank in no time and ascend as the Goddess of Darkness!”

“B-but…”

Ang fiddled with her soda straw, unable to lift her shoulders.

“…I’ve never met either of them, and I feel unworthy…”

“Forget what Azidahaka did! If you use your shadow, you won’t form genuine relationships, and if you use your main body, everyone will be scared because of what Azidahaka did. What are you trying to do right now!”

“I-I need more time…!”

“Seongju is coming to Mars RIGHT NOW!!”

My voice couldn’t help but rise. Two weeks have passed since defeating Azidahaka, yet Ang’s hesitance drives me insane.

“I gave you a body capable of social activities!”

“But…this body is too big, and people keep staring…”

“Ahhh… Really…”

I wanted to blast a Blazing Phoenix Revival into the sky out of frustration. Calming my boiling anger, I asked for a cold drink.

“Boss, can I have another strawberry ade?”

“Phoenix.”

The café owner Juan looked troubled, pointing at the fridge.

“We’ve used up all the strawberries for today…”

“What?! Who drank them all?”

“You did. You’re on your fourth strawberry-related drink: one at midnight, one at dawn, one when meeting important guests from America, and one here.”

“…”

I ordered a fifth strawberry ade, feeling like I’m pre-paying my salary.

“…Sorry. Lately, I’ve been on edge. So, where were we?”

“Kim Nori or Baek Hee-a… who should you sync with?”

“Ah, right. Here’s the plan: spend a day with each. Today’s the 7th, so tomorrow is Nori, and the 9th is Hee-a. Spend a day with each and decide by the 10th who to sync with. The 10th is the deadline.”

“Alright… But, um…”

Ang hesitated, looking at me cautiously before asking.

“Who do you think I should sync with…?”

“Why ask that?”

“B-b-because…”

Ang roughly tapped her magical gear, sending me a lengthy text message within five seconds.

[Combat-wise, Kim Nori is stronger, I get that. I’ve seen her videos. With her, I can probably unleash power equivalent to Gaechonkwang. But she’s underage, right? And Baek Hee-a feels off too. She’s not a fighter, meaning I’d be sidelined during the final battle against Seongju.]

“Ang.”

I approached her from behind and massaged her shoulders.

“Relax. Leave the cleanup to me. Just sync with whoever makes you feel comfortable. I’ve got plans for issues like Nori being underage or Hee-a not being a fighter.”

“Really?”

“Of course. So stop worrying.”

After replenishing the bio-android’s energy by channeling magic through my hands, Ang finally relaxed.

“You sure do suffer a lot.”

“Do you support increasing the number of goddesses? Whose side are you on?”

“I support whoever brings the most revenue to my shop.”

“Yun Yuhwa?”

“Hmph, listen Phoenix, above creators are landlords.”

“Indeed, you’re wise. I’ll definitely awaken the goddesses to save the world.”

I gulped down the strawberry ade handed to me by Juan. Today, his absence felt more noticeable.

“Boss, can you show me Yun Yuhwa’s employment contract again?”

“Sure. Here it is.”

Juan handed me a crumpled standard employment contract. It looked like it had been soaked in tears.

Kim Penril.

Employment period.

Until November 10, 2020.

I showed Ang Kim Penril’s standard employment contract.

“Do you understand the significance of the deadline?”

“…I’ll try to befriend someone.”

Though lacking social skills, Ang quickly understood the meaning of the date.

November 11, 2020.

The day Kim Penril turns adult and challenges me.

“I won’t leave Penril alone. See this?”

I pointed at a strawberry shortcake on display.

“If you cut it like this, you can’t eat it with a fork.”

The cream cake’s strawberries were sliced into four straight pieces.

* * *

While Karna’s image took a nosedive, others saw their reputations recover.

Hwakwon Lee Seung-hyung and Garura.

To raid Azidahaka’s stronghold, they willingly embraced disgrace. That couple, or rather, married pair, received applause. Many reflected on their past criticisms of Hwakwon and Garura.

– Turn your body towards the sun, raise your arms like this, and shout ‘Blazing Phoenix Revival.’ We will forgive your sins.

Thanks to Hwakwon and Garura’s broad forgiveness, ‘Blazing Phoenix Revival’ spread worldwide. Most worshipped Chang-yeom and repented, though some still doubted Garura’s sincerity.

And just as Hwakwon attempted a direct breakthrough, so did Garura.

“Master, I want to marry this man.”

…me.

* * *

It started with three figures of the Blue Flame gathering in one place.

Golden-haired Gyaru Garura.

Red-haired Older Sister Salamander.

Black-haired Graceful Black Flame Dragon.

Though Black Flame Dragon seemed slightly out of place, he became an excellent teacher for the two apostles, teaching them about human common sense.

‘Not much else for Black Flame Dragon to do besides training programs.’

After the Nuclearian raid, there was no longer a reason for me to ride Black Flame Dragon around North Korea, leaving him temporarily unemployed. Although he handled S-Rank Fire Attribute combat training exclusively, that workload decreased by a third with Garura and Salamander joining.

Ultimately, Black Flame Dragon became the moral tutor for the apostles. During this process, he explained platonic love and marriage to the eager Garura and curious Salamander.

Marriage.

“After all battles end, we will get married!”

“No.”

Hwakwon and Garura knelt before me and declared, but I firmly rejected them. Despite holding hands, they showed no intention of backing down, gazing at me with desperate eyes.

“Why? Master, didn’t you promise marriage in exchange for our sacrifices during the Azidahaka campaign?”

“First reason: throwing the bouquet to me is unacceptable. Second reason: asking me to officiate is unacceptable. Third reason: even if approved, doing it now would be bad timing.”

Listing three quick rejections, their heads dropped. Though dissatisfied, they seemed to somewhat agree after hearing the third reason. I cleared my throat and continued explaining.

“Throw the bouquet to someone else. How about Black Flame Dragon, since he taught you the meaning of marriage? For officiating, there are better options than me. Sky Castle or even Yun Yuhwa via Eun Ha-su’s hologram could work. But the third reason is the most important.”

I pulled up a live broadcast being recorded in NASA.

“In these times, with a potential battle against Seongju looming tomorrow, bringing up marriage would be bad luck. Don’t you know about flags? Soldiers who say ‘I’ll definitely come back alive’ before heading to war always get shot dead.”

“But Master…”

Lee Seung-hyung shook his head confidently.

“I believe you will surely win!”

“Damn, weren’t you suspicious and cautious about me being a villain earlier? Now…”

“It’s because we didn’t know your true nature! Through repeated conversations, we’ve transformed from an ill-fated relationship into a forward-looking one!”

“You’re unusually energetic today. Is something wrong?”

Considering the odd timing of their sudden visit and unexpected proposal of marriage, it crossed my mind they might want approval before I die.

“Ah, you might not know. Hmm. Please wait a moment.”

Hwakwon manipulated his magical gear to project a holographic video.

There…

“…Prenatal education?”

An educational video inappropriate for young viewers displayed sexual education content.