Chapter 548

〈 Episode 548 〉 [Lesbian Side Story] Chang-yeom and Phoenix 002

The year 2022.

A somewhat vague period, slightly detached from the original timeline.

Right now, I’m running one of America’s fairly famous Hunter Guilds, <Strawberry>. How did it all start, you ask?

– Hey there, sexy lady, why don’t you join us for a little fun?

Hwa-rak!

I scorched them with flames. Anybody who dared to make lewd comments about my body as Phoenix was swiftly disciplined with fire. Of course, I didn’t kill them—I just made sure they suffered enough to wish they were dead or brought them right to the brink.

– Surrender! Please, save us! Damn, are you a villain?!

– No, I’m a hunter.

My name is Bounty Hunter.

Even if someone without visas, borders, or capital lands in the vast expanse of America, I possess infinite Magic Power as Phoenix.

Would an SSS-Rank Fire Attribute Special Ability user wander around Harlem, drowning in drugs, or would they rather beat up someone and loot a villain organization for capital?

[Smashing local gangs is like a golden rule from past lives, huh? Puheuheu.]

Just as Chang-yeom said, I secretly looted the villains in the area where I landed.

At first, I blackmailed them to create a fake identity. Then I set up a frontman in some pants and established a Hunter Guild. Finally, to avoid national threats, I intimidated relevant parties into submission.

– Hey, you, make me a hunter.

– What the fu… Wait, turn on the translator!!

– If you don’t comply, I’ll split America into half-chicken pieces.

Just like the original Phoenix, I threatened “America.” Of course, not North and South America but specifically the USA. Fortunately, many kind Americans caved to my threats before my head caught on fire, allowing me to become their friendly neighborhood presence.

– Hey, Phoenix, isn’t this going too far?

– Considering how much Core money I bring in for you guys, how can you say that?

– But Phoenix, using Core money to buy strawberry seedlings and creating strawberry fields…

– Pfft, do you want to taste Chang-yeom’s wrath?

By threatening with Magic Power, everyone learned to behave properly. Now I understand why people love munchkins and why soda is so popular. At this rate, I might even end up blackmailing the American president—it feels pretty great!

‘Not planning to go that far though.’

My activities in America are merely for laying groundwork. More precisely, I’ve been engaging in large-scale operations here to secure legal funding cheats.

“If I earn for three years and return to Korea by January 25th, that should work.”

[You say you’ll buy something big, but aren’t you overspending?]

‘Don’t waste a life where you can flaunt wealth if you have the means to.’

Currently.

Keeoooot!

I’m speeding down the road in a sports car worth hundreds of millions. The paved roads are my personal Autobahn.

[If you’re buying stuff anyway, why not get something worth hundreds of billions instead of a few hundred million used car?]

‘It’s normal to practice with a used car first.’

Even if I became the head of the continent’s representative Hunter Guild, I still lived as a commoner gamer. Externally flaunting too much wealth wouldn’t fit the K-Confucian image.

‘I’m just saving up here to return home in glory.’

[Isn’t it already too late for that?]

“…Damn.”

Peeeeek!

A harsh horn blares from behind. I slam the gas pedal as hard as I can, but the magical masterpiece of engineering, the Magical Gear vehicle, quickly catches up.

“Stop right there, [Phoenix]! Today, I will turn you into a hero!”

“But I want to be a hunter!”

“No way! Letting you stay as a hunter is a nationwide loss!”

“What about compensating my financial losses?!”

“For the nation, the people, and the world, your service will fill you with pride and satisfaction!”

Beeep beep.

The Magical Gear vehicles leisurely surround my sports car.

“How dare you try to escape with such outdated relics!”

“Romance has no meaning to you?!”

Even in this era dominated by magic, it’s unforgivable to call classic gasoline-powered sports cars relics when they’re filled with rich sentimentality.

“Ah damn, if you were men, I’d set your cars on fire and blow them up.”

Everyone inside the vehicles surrounding me are women. Each one a beauty, regardless of race, with figures that naturally elicit cries of admiration.

“Hmph! We already know you only like women!”

“I’ve prepared female heroes willing to play along for your sake!”

“Excuse me?! Who says I’m a lesbian?!”

With my shout, all the surrounding heroes widen their eyes.

“Isn’t she a lesbian?”

“Or bisexual?”

“I hate men, so yes, I’m a lesbian.”

“Argh!!”

Bwooooom!

“Isn’t this the land of freedom, America? Why can’t you let me be free?!”

“Great power comes with great responsibility!”

“That wasn’t why I became strong!”

It’s unfair.

December 2022.

After landing in January, within just a year, I had become America’s representative Special Ability user.

A lesbian.

* * *

“Shock. Phoenix, ‘I am not a homosexual.'”

That was the headline splashed across page one of the Special Ability Gossip magazine.

“How ridiculous. Why am I labeled a homosexual?”

“Well, it’s because Guild Master only surrounds yourself with women.”

My secretary, Miss <Longgomery>, placed a strawberry shake in front of me with a smirk.

“There are quite a number of hunters in this guild chasing after the Guild Master.”

“Damn, if I’d known this would happen, I’d have stayed solo.”

“And one of those is me.”

“……”

I scanned the blonde, blue-eyed secretary standing before me. Her figure was undeniably stunning, and she could definitely strip off hotly in bed—

[Hey, she apparently has a history of purchasing strap-on dildos.]

“!!”

It hit me. I instinctively raised my arms to protect myself. Miss Montgomery, my personal secretary and A Rank Hunter, looked disappointed and licked her lips.

“Why do you keep staring at me like you’re about to assault the Guild Master?”

“You look like someone who’d seduce me with drugs.”

“I’m offended. I don’t use drugs.”

“So you prefer tools instead?”

“……”

Longmont remained silent.

“Ah, truly, it’s so sad that I barely have anyone on my side.”

“Who exactly does Guild Master consider an ally?”

[It’s me.]

Flap, flap.

A small bluebird fluttered its wings and perched atop my head.

“Phoenix, right?”

“[It’s Chang-yeom.]”

“Chang-yeom.”

“Cute, so I guess we can call you Mini Phoenix? Or maybe Piyak? Or since your cry is unique, Kyukkyuk?”

“……”

Suddenly, my stomach churned.

“Ah. Alright. Just report already. Why are the heroes causing such a fuss again today?”

“There are two reasons. One is that in the National Representative Selection Tournament, the Guild Master defeated <Lightning> with overwhelming power.”

“I barely managed to defeat an S Rank Hero. Officially, I’m an S+ Rank Hero.”

“The other reason is that rumors spread recently about our <Strawberry> Guild expanding overseas, leading to speculation that the Guild Master might leave for abroad.”

“Ah.”

Caught.

“How did you find out? I was trying to keep it under wraps…”

“Is it possible for me not to notice when all the funds Guild Master sends eventually flow back to that place?”

“Ugh, I never thought you’d catch on.”

It feels like my slush fund got exposed. I fiddled with the Magical Gear while pointing outside the window.

“It’s not really an issue, is it? Up north, it’s just a Core field.”

“While it may be fine for our guild, there could be double taxation issues. I checked secretly a while ago, and foreign Hunter Guilds are taxed 60% of their Core sales revenue.”

“……”

I feel like being a villain. It’s tempting to aggressively act as a villain and sell Cores on the black market. Rather than handing over 60% of my hard-earned money to the state, I’d rather melt the Cores and blast everything with Magic Power.

“For foreign Hunter Guilds, that’s how it works?”

“Yes. Branch offices follow the same rules. Should we establish a shell corporation?”

“What about if the other side officially requests dispatch?”

“Huh? Unless a Dimensional Gate opens, is there any other way?”

“Yes. There’s a brilliant solution.”

One thing missing from Korean chaos stories would be disappointing.

[Attacking Japan.]

Release monsters near the East Sea.