Chapter 549

〈 Episode 549 〉[Lesbian Side Story] Chang-yeom and Phoenix 003

<Phoenix>.

A hero who appeared like a comet from America. Her transparent blue hair, not the clear and blue sky but a crystalline shade, became her trademark.

The world’s sole S+ Rank Fire Attribute Special Ability user!

There are many S-Rank individuals. Of course, “many” means not even 500 worldwide, barely reaching 100. But if a country has three S-Ranks, it can be considered “many.”

Especially in small countries like Korea, surrounded by sea on three sides and monsters on one, the value of an S-Rank increases. In reality, Korea protects 90% of the Korean Peninsula with just two S-Ranks.

But America… is different.

Even with its vast continent and scattered population, inland areas aren’t completely uninhabited. When monsters appear, they must be dealt with.

In the Great Monster Era, America’s chronic problem was that each hero had to cover an enormous area.

Even with jets and rapid response times, it was difficult for merely 4-5 S-Rank heroes to cover the entire American continent. Including Hunters, there were about 10 S-Ranks, but can that really be called “many”?

Amidst this situation, <Phoenix> emerged as a new hero of the American continent.

– Hero? Isn’t she a Hunter?

– I don’t think so. She arrives faster than any hero and eliminates monsters before vanishing. She’s a goddess.

– Miss Capitalism. The logic of capital drives her actions.

Wherever monsters appear…

Wherever villains emerge…

Whenever dimensional gates open…

Phoenix is always there.

– I’ve eliminated an S-Rank monster. Pay up.

– Uh, Miss Phoenix, this is the first time we’ve settled accounts so cleanly after a monster’s defeat. How much would you like?

– 20 trillion?

– …Miss Phoenix, do you plan to sue the government? We cannot pay that amount!

– Oh, sorry! Just kidding. How about 200 million dollars after taxes? I just need enough to rent a penthouse.

– My goddess!

Possessing trillions of dollars worth of monster corpses and cores, yet calling for frugal and reasonable payment – the Goddess of Capital!

More diligent than anyone in amassing wealth, yet selling cores and corpses in the black market like no other!

– She doesn’t know how to spend money. I can teach her proper financial management.

Wherever the scent of money lingers, flies gather. This seemingly naive woman attracted many people pursuing their own interests.

But Phoenix, though naive, was no pushover.

She formed a guild to satisfy her greed, naming it <Strawberry> for unknown reasons.

Within six months of its founding, the Strawberry Guild became one of America’s top five Hunter Clubs. Many “ladies” still dream of joining the Strawberry Dream.

Women favored by Phoenix often turned out to be high-level ability users.

The magic scanners at Strawberry were said to be more accurate than the association’s.

Perhaps due to her own S+ Fire Attribute, she discovered many with deep potential in fire attributes!

Many dreamed of rising high and knocked on the guild office doors.

But not all came with pure intentions.

Some coveted her abilities and wealth, others sought to uncover her true nature. There were even cases where another American S-Rank Hunter sent industrial spies, drawing ridicule.

Most of their strategies involved honey traps.

Indeed.

The S+ Fire Attribute Hunter, Phoenix.

Rumors spread that she liked women… only women.

America became flooded with honey traps designed to lure the mythical bird.

Then.

When word spread that this national representative special ability user, Phoenix, was suddenly going on a “business trip” to Japan, the whole country buzzed.

* * *

[Excessive lobbying by Eastern political powers… P: “I have no connection to them.”]

[Intense hatred within the U.S…. “Remember Pearl Harbor”]

[Is the Phoenix building a new nest in the East?]

“It’s not a trip to Japan.”

I was tired of the media chatter. My magical gear was currently buried under countless messages asking ‘Are you going to Japan?’, while I killed time with black coffee and strawberry cake.

“I’m going to Korea, not Japan.”

There’s no real reason to go to Japan. Even before diving into the game-like world, my K-Imchi genes were deeply embedded in my soul.

Though I joked about attacking Japan, I wouldn’t actually drop a magic nuclear bomb or use ultimate skills.

[Have you seen the AV actress cosplaying as Phoenix?]

“……”

Occasionally, I do feel tempted, but I’ve managed to restrain myself. I didn’t recklessly wield my power, instead carefully controlling it to maintain my S+ reputation.

‘Is that a yuri thing?’

[How did you know?]

‘If it looks like a duck…’

This world is filled with malice toward me (yuri). It’s like Chang-yeom is trying to dye me pink.

‘I feel wronged.’

I just valued women more than men. Naturally, men were easier to get along with, and I initially treated them as friends.

– Bro, there’s no such thing as platonic friendships between men and women!

– Let’s do drugs and sex instead! My uterus is throbbing uncontrollably!

After two black male ability users tried to drug me, I decided to surround myself only with women.

– Sister, do you think there can only be friendships between women?

– If it’s Miss Phoenix, I might bottom for her.

Of course, women were the same. As the “everyone’s heroine,” this applied to both genders. Nowadays, even discerning women subtly flirt with me.

Goddess-like face and figure, but acts like a macho man.

If it weren’t for the default speech pattern set by Chang-yeom, I’d act more naturally. Preferring jeans over dresses, and definitely no bras.

– Did you see the hip line on those jeans? That’s what they call ‘perfect body’.

– No bra, huh….

After that, I had no choice but to wear priest robes to hide my figure. I couldn’t handle the constant stares, so now I wear them year-round despite the discomfort.

[Did you know your casual clothes from early days are now being sold as photo collections?]

‘This humanity is doomed.’

Click.

I pulled back the Desert Eagle’s slide. My magic-powered pistol glowed brilliantly, fueling my anger.

‘Should I kill them all?’

[Please endure, Phoenix. They’ll all be guests at our wedding.]

‘Who’s the groom?’

[Obviously I’ll wear the tuxedo and you’ll wear the wedding dress! Hehe.]

Bang.

I shot myself in the head. But the magic bullet was absorbed by my skin.

Whoosh.

Instead, a blue sparrow sprang up from my head, flapping its wings playfully. Once I externalized Chang-yeom, I regained my freedom of speech.

“There will probably be plenty of women in Korea too?”

“Here’s already full of women. Korea won’t be different. Japan’s gone even further.”

Chang-yeom handed me her magical gear, flipping through holographic images while showing me the custom-made anti-Phoenix bullets prepared in Japan.

“Shit.”

“Did you know? During the Joseon Dynasty, the Japanese court encouraged homosexual activities for envoys visiting Japan.”

“So now they’re mobilizing cross-dressers and drag queens?”

“In case you like anything, they’ve prepared everything? Hehe.”

Male impersonators make me feel awkward as a lesbian, and female impersonators are just ridiculous. I love Chang-yeom, period. I absolutely do NOT “like women as a woman.”

“I’m a man.”

“Yeah, look at your face.”

“…Are you reading my mind too much?”

“My face is your face. You’re beautiful. Are you mad? Are you mad?”

The blue sparrow on my head waggled its tail and settled back down.

“So what’s the plan? Officially, the plane is landing in ‘Japan,’ right?”

“That’s the flight schedule. But…”

I lifted the red, glowing bead in front of me.

“If an S-Rank monster goes rampaging over Japan, we’ll have to make an emergency landing.”

Operation Name: <Mount Fuji Eruption>.