Chapter 561

〈 Episode 561 〉 [Lily Side Story] Chang-yeom and Phoenix 015

[Looks like you’ve realized. Shall we begin?]

‘Of course.’

I extended my hand forward. Already, the streaming via Magical Gear had spread not just across Korea, but the entire world.

‘Today, the Hero Wiki page on Phoenix will be completely rewritten.’

Phoenix.

Composite combat power S+.

Incredibly fast, a fire mage who flies through the sky, excels in hit-and-run tactics using magical bullets, focuses on exploiting enemies’ weaknesses, and specializes in precise strikes thanks to her speed.

So everyone must be surprised. Watching me unfurl wings and soar above Jeju Island, they’re probably doubting if Phoenix can really pull this off.

[Is she trying to scratch the ocean with a gun?]

[Will that firepower work?]

[Isn’t this the one getting clams shot by Moby Dick and crying “gyuuk”?]

‘Is that you?’

[Yeeeaaah, caught me.]

I placed the blue bird perched atop my head onto my palm.

WHOOSH.

Blue flames began spreading from my hand, forming into a distinct shape.

It resembled both a staff and a royal scepter, looking like the kind of staff ancient Egyptian pharaohs would wield. At the tip of the long staff floated an ornament shaped like the sun, suspended by magic power.

[Debuting here today, huh?]

‘Yeah.’

After spending a year in America gleefully shooting guns as “Villain Phoenix,” it’s time to show the true power of the Spirit.

PUUUUUU—–

Right on cue, a horn blared overhead. The opponent – Moby Dick – was charging towards me, creating massive waves and noise.

“AAAAAAAAAAH!!”

The heroes and citizens guarding the coastline screamed in panic and started fleeing from the shoreline.

No matter how brave they were, standing against a giant whale riding waves over 20 meters high was no easy feat.

“Oh, looks like it’s going for a direct collision.”

PUUUUUU—–!!

The beast, Moby Dick, seemed to be reading my power and preparing to go all out. It had detected the spiritual power I was releasing alongside Chang-yeom and was now fighting for its life to kill me.

KYAAAAAAA!!

Its mouth wide open, it charged at me. Not spewing seawater, but unleashing its true power to kill me.

[There’s a limit to tentacle tolerance. While I can handle heroines with tentacles, parasitic worms are a no-go.]

‘Naturally.’

I thrust the staff forward, then lightly tapped the ground as if striking it, before raising and lowering it again.

“Chang-yeom, True Form.”

WHOOSHHHHH—–!!

Along the coastline, a wall of flames over 30 meters high erupted. The blue flames covered the entire shoreline, acting as a breakwater against the waves.

Stretching an incredible 20 kilometers in length.

The overwhelming display of mana that no human should be able to produce made the world feel as if it had stopped.

Awe, fear, trembling.

‘Impressive enough debut for you?’

[This is the power of a demigod.]

Overwhelming the S+ grade monster in one fell swoop, showing power that truly “dominates” Moby Dick, everyone watching me will realize my true identity.

The one closest to being a god.

“Liketsusho!”

Opening the streaming window, I winked at the world alongside Chang-yeom.

“This was holding back until now. Puhhehe.”

I handed control of my body over to Chang-yeom. Becoming one with her, I extended the staff forward.

“La, Phoenix.”

KYAAAAAAAAAA——-!!

Bluer than the sea, flames engulfed the waves and soared skyward in a pillar of fire.

With composed faces, Chang-yeom and I proceeded to do some fanservice.

Click.

Casually pressing my index and middle fingers to my lips, I sent a kiss toward the screen.

Who it was directed at was obvious to me, but I intentionally didn’t say anything.

That day,

Not a single resident of Jeju Island lost their life.

* * *

WHOOSH.

The video was filled with nothing but blue. The heat could almost be felt through the screen as the area was covered in rising steam, and the man’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the blue barrier covering the coastline.

WHOOSH.

The flames exploded. The kaiju that had been charging on the waves leapt into the air like a mackerel with its last ounce of strength, only to be slammed back down by the massive explosion that erupted straight ahead, its momentum completely negated.

“La, Phoenix…”

The meaning was unclear. Was it saying her alias? Or perhaps some kind of activation phrase? Or maybe she had recited some kind of incantation beforehand like “Charge forth”?

“Truly formidable.”

By now, intelligence agencies around the world had gathered sufficient data on the amount of mana Phoenix had used, and only analysis of its level remained.

Most shared the same premise:

– Isn’t Phoenix actually SS rank?

And the point of contention among researchers was just one:

– Just how high up in SS rank is she?

“Such a desirable existence…”

The man licked his lips while looking at Phoenix sending a finger kiss.

“If I get her pregnant and have her bear a child…it would surely result in an excellent offspring.”

Behind the man,

A dignified black-haired woman silently stood guard behind him with her eyes closed.

“Prepare yourself, Colonel.”

“…Yes sir.”

In the dark room,

It was plastered with countless posters and photos of Phoenix.

* * *

After repelling Moby Dick.

Ignoring numerous calls coming from America, I was enjoying a leisurely life doing absolutely nothing at a hotel in Seogwipo, located south of Jeju Island.

“Strawberry.”

“Would you like mandarin oranges?”

“Strawberry.”

“I’ll bring you Heavenly Fragrance ones.”

“Red Fragrance ones?”

“…….”

[STRAWBERRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!]

To me, more specifically to Chang-yeom, Jeju Island was a place akin to hell.

[What, how can a household with 400,000 people only have mandarin oranges?! Do these people eat nothing but mandarin oranges every day?!]

‘Regional discrimination.’

[Places without strawberries are still okay!]

Not my opinion. Just the radical strawberry enthusiast’s opinion.

“Sorry, our connection to the mainland has been mostly cut off for quite some time…”

“Almost no exchanges?”

“Planes hardly take off, and cargo ships come in only very rarely. Tourism…has completely died out.”

The Great Kaiju Era.

Jeju Island was no longer a place that could survive on tourism. This was land that could no longer support human life in the age of kaiju.

Still, people couldn’t leave because they could see their future if they left Jeju Island and settled in New Seoul or Busan.

“Thinking of moving to the mainland?”

“…If I leave here, I’ll become a refugee there. Rather, I have a home here, so I’ll have to survive by continuing to farm mandarin oranges.”

Like most islands in this era, especially Jeju Island, the situation was severe.

“Still, thanks to you, our lives were saved. Thank you very much, Lady Phoenix.”

“Give your thanks to Princess Seolhwa. She sent me here.”

“Yeah, yeah. But Lady Phoenix… um, by any chance…”

“No.”

I firmly raised my hand toward those who hesitated to speak while staring at me.

“I’ll be staying in Busan. Because Princess Seolhwa is there.”

“Of course…”

“Instead, Jeju Island will be safe from now on.”

“…Excuse me?”

“It only takes me 5 minutes to fly from Busan to here.”

Does traveling 300 km in just 5 minutes sound unbelievable?

But when there are people in the world who can fold space and teleport to the other side of the Earth, what can’t be done in a world overflowing with mana and special abilities?

“Just the fact that I can reach here immediately from Busan means Jeju Island is safe, and the death of Moby Dick here is another proof of safety.”

I pointed at the still burning remains of the whale being streamed through the Magical Gear.

Nearby, warships flying the太极flag were keeping watch from a distance, ready to fire artillery at any moment, and heroes dispatched by the association were waiting nearby.

Prepared to respond to any possible emergencies:

One. In case the kaiju somehow resurrects.

Two. To prevent the core from the kaiju from being lost.

Three. In case a certain foreign special ability user on Jeju Island causes an incident beyond what the nation can handle.

‘Nothing is more sensitive than a foreigner causing trouble.’

Especially in a place like Jeju Island, where the reach of the nation has diminished.

And right now, I was having to try my best to calm someone on Jeju Island who was about to lose control.

[She’s threatening to take over my body and masturbate if I don’t give her strawberries.]

“Is there any strawberry ice cream? Or even strawberry candy would be fine.”

“…We’re searching everywhere right now.”

Currently, residents of Jeju Island were desperately searching convenience stores and large supermarkets for foods containing strawberries.

But with hardly anything coming from the mainland and practically nothing to eat except mandarin oranges, where could strawberries possibly be found?

“Um…how important are strawberries to Lady Phoenix?”

“She smokes strawberries instead of cigarettes. It’s been three days since she quit strawberries.”

“Ah…!”

The heroes assisting me gasped in shock.

“Lady Phoenix is on her third day without strawberries!”

“…….”

While I didn’t think I made a mistake in speaking, the antics of Chang-yeom flapping her wings and rolling around above my head were comparable to someone on their third day of quitting smoking.

[How about we just go somewhere nearby and grab a churro?]

‘Just hold on a bit longer. It’s about time the nibble comes.’

I quietly peeled and ate mandarins while waiting.

‘If I go to Busan or return upstairs, everything will fall apart.’

My current stakeout on Jeju Island is a form of protest.

Against whom? Against the original work.

I will make Jeju Island my base of operations.

Away from him in New Seoul.

Using an ‘island not connected by land routes’ as my base, I will act as I please.

[Excuse me! Phoenix!]

“Ahh, Harang.”

I immediately answered the call from the flustered Harang.

“So, have you made your decision?”

[I, is there absolutely no room for negotiation?]

“Yes, none.”

I delivered the final ultimatum to Seok Harang.

“If you don’t register marriage with me, I’ll sink all the cores from Moby Dick into the sea.”

I’m blackmailing with S-rank cores.

Using Seok Harang as leverage.