Chapter 645

〈 Chapter 645 〉 Part 2, Chapter 3, Section 10

Although Seok Harang’s full recruitment failed, the magic power supply was a success.

Seok Harang had her own schedule and I needed to finish my final preparations, so we parted ways with the bittersweetness of departure.

“Hey, when this job’s done, come down to Busan. I’ll treat you to a full course.”

“I’ll come if you wear a magical girl costume.”

“What the f-”

“Wow, Harang’s mad!”

Injecting Seoyea’s Rusalka into Seok Harang until the end, I slipped out of the hotel. Jumping into the self-driving car waiting for me, I quickly returned to the office.

“You all were supposed to be resting, yet here you are?”

“Ah, Mr. President.”

In the office, all team members including Yuna had gathered. They were perplexed by an unfamiliar mannequin placed in the corner of the office.

“What’s this? A uniform?”

“It’s the uniform issued for those participating in the Seoul Recovery Operation. It’s meant to standardize our outfits.”

Raon explained calmly but clearly hesitated about the attire. Indeed, it was understandable why she would.

“Why do we look like we’re going to a cosplay convention? What is this?”

The outfits were uniformly revealing. The latex body suits clung tightly to the body, exposing the female heroes’ figures as if designed by someone with lewd intentions.

“Who sent these?”

“The government.”

“They say it’s a special directive from the president. President Sun Icheol announced that anyone who doesn’t wear this can’t participate.”

“……”

Typical Sun Icheol. True to form, his reasons for obtaining cubes stem from sexual desires. He made all heroes participating in the Seoul Recovery Operation wear skin-tight outfits.

‘This is why incidents keep happening.’

What would the villains and monsters entrenched in Seoul think upon seeing this?

For a long time, people who usually did certain things—even men with other men—would react how upon discovering female heroes flaunting their bodies?

“Will Seok Harang wear this too?”

“No…A-rank and above get to use their personal costumes.”

“…So A-rank and above get personal costumes while B-rank and below have to standardize? That’s messed up.”

The question naturally arose. There was no way it wouldn’t. We once again understood why the Seoul Recovery Operation kept failing.

“Hmm…Mr. President, does that mean I can wear my own costume?”

“Gaon, aren’t you officially registered as C-rank?”

“…”

Kim Gaon, struck down. Kim Gaon, who tried to avoid tights and maintain a plain military suit, ended up having to wear one after all.

“Well then, everyone try these on once. There’s no avoiding it.”

“What about me?”

“As for Miss Sun Gyeoul…”

Though a set of clothes arrived for Sun Gyeoul as well, unlike others’, it wasn’t overly provocative. Rather, it was a nun-style outfit with minimal exposure.

“…I think you should just wear what’s comfortable.”

“But is that okay?”

“Definitely someone will report before we depart, and I don’t want unnecessary trouble. So everyone change into them. I’ll be back shortly.”

I don’t want to give any unnecessary chances for game over. Picking up my tumbler, I left the office.

“Now, we just wait.”

All preparations are complete. All we need to do now is pass the time. While the team changes, I went downstairs and ordered a strawberry Mont Blanc.

“Hmm? Didn’t you order an absurd amount earlier? Already finished?”

“This one was a gift from an acquaintance.”

“Acquaintance? A woman?”

“……How did you know?”

“Because it doesn’t seem like you’d give gifts to anyone else besides women.”

Struck a nerve. But not just any woman. I scooped cream off the pre-made Mont Blanc Huan had prepared.

“It’s not like we’re on good terms now.”

“Is this a peace offering?”

“More like…a bribe for favorable treatment?”

To her, the commander is merely a toy placed on the palm of her hand to play with. This is undisclosed information in other routes, but it’s confirmed in Phoenix’s route.

“Heart of Chang-yeom.”

Embedded in the commander’s heart is the blue flame planted by P. And P enjoys leisure in America while monitoring the commander’s every move.

“At any moment, please let me live a little longer, you who can assassinate me whenever you wish.”

That is why the commander moves in a state where they could be killed by Phoenix at any time before the game starts.

– Puhehe. You’ve worked hard flailing around until now. Fa-ang!

That was the ultimate reason Phoenix let the commander go to Korea from America despite knowing. Because they can burn the heart whenever they want.

“……Won’t there be a murder case upstairs later? Cause of death: suffocation.”

“Pfft, surely not. I’m not that weak. I know my weaknesses well.”

If it happens, I’ll stake my life to counterattack. But P will leave me alone until D-day comes.

“Weakness of liking women?”

“Women falling in love with me at first sight and putting my chastity at risk is my weakness. Just like your younger days, sir?”

“…You crazy bastard.”

Huan frowned and bent over. He handed me a wine glass tucked away in the corner and pulled out a bottle hidden in the cabinet, popping the cork.

“You should thank heaven you weren’t born a woman. If you were, I’d have beaten you regardless of age.”

“Such a shame. If you were a woman, I would have immediately…puhehe.”

Thinking it’s fortunate we’re both men, Huan and I clinked glasses.

“So, who were you out dating last night until late?”

“Seok Harang.”

Puuuup.

The cake got dirtied by wine.

Most unfortunate.

* * *

<At that moment, beneath Seoul.>

Plod, plod.

The woman walked through the dark tunnel relying on her flashlight. The tunnel, lined with old concrete walls and train tracks beneath, was once a subway line used by tens of thousands daily.

Grrr.

But now it’s become a place where monsters frequently appear. Sighing at the cluster of monsters illuminated by her flashlight, the woman clapped her hands.

“What have you been doing while monsters appear at the entrance?”

“Khkhh, sorry!”

A man hanging upside-down from the ceiling extended his hand. Concrete spikes shot up from the ground, instantly killing the monsters.

“Hey, princess. Long time no see.”

“I’m not a princess.”

“You’re the princess of New Seoul, right? Or should I call you the queen of Seoul’s underground?”

“Queen? In the 21st century democratic era? Just open the way, Land Dog.”

“…<Ground Dog>!”

Muttering, Land Dog pressed his hand against the wall. As the concrete wall crumbled left and right, a passage leading downward appeared.

Gu-gu-gu.

As soon as the woman entered, the door closed. Every time she descended the stairs using her flashlight, the ceiling lights began to turn on.

“……Ha.”

The unique smell of the underground greeted the woman. Descending into the cavernous space beneath, the woman felt a strange melancholy.

“Have you arrived?”

An imposing figure wearing a battered fedora approached the woman and bowed. Though he lacked a shirt or shoes, his neatly maintained suit pants gave him the air of a ‘monster’ without fault.

“Yes. Have you given notice to everyone?”

“Of course. Everyone heard via the radio. …This time, the princess of Busan is participating in the operation.”

“That’s right. No bluffing this time.”

“Really? Why has she suddenly decided to join?”

The woman expressed frustration at the unexpected variable. Originally, it wouldn’t have caused major issues to leave it alone, but if even one person gets caught, there’s concern the entire underground might be exposed.

“Are all the exits sealed?”

“Yes…but do you really think kids like that will listen? Someone’s bound to bolt out.”

“That’s true.”

After all, it’s not a place where people listen to anyone. The location the woman arrived at – Yeouido – connects to various places, but fundamentally, Seoul’s underground is akin to a massive tribal federation.

“Still, please make sure everyone stays in contact. Let’s avoid unnecessary trouble and getting caught by heroes. You know what happens if you’re captured, right?”

“Of course. Once branded, you become Sun Icheol’s slave with no way out.”

“Yes. Please ensure the situation here isn’t revealed unnecessarily.”

“We’ll do our best. At least Yeouido won’t be compromised.”

A congregation of villain and monster groups centered around administrative districts. The woman, Sun Gyeoul, is a ‘villain’ based in Yeouido.

“…By the way, Uncle. Why did you decorate this place like this?”

“Haha, didn’t Miss tell me to decorate according to my taste?”

The monster pointed at the ceiling and grinned. Suspiciously, villains who dared to mess with Yeouido were embedded into the ceiling by ‘something’.

Thud.

A sticky substance fell onto Sun Gyeoul’s head. The monster subtly turned his head.

“…I-I’m sorry?”

“It’s fine. Compared to what Dad did to you, this is nothing.”

Sun Gyeoul sighed deeply.

“Let’s carefully handle the Seoul Recovery Operation, but how’s the situation crossing the Han River? Especially…Jongno.”

“That’s impossible. With our current strength, we can’t defeat him. It’s physically challenging for me too.”

“Yes. Please ensure the guy in Gangnam doesn’t recklessly interfere and get eaten by snakes. Phew…Why did Dad plan something like the Seoul Recovery Operation on Sam-il Day?”

“Isn’t it about lineage? Miss also planned the city hall recapture operation on Sam-il Day, right? Hahaha.”

“…Shut up. Initially, I-”

Gu-gu-gu.

A massive tremor echoed throughout the underground. Sun Gyeoul turned her gaze to the cave opening to the north with a rigid expression.

“It seems the snake has birthed more young.”

“The young ones can be dealt with easily. Miss, rather than that, can you buy me something after selling spirit stones on the black market?”

“Light Blade merchandise? Uncle, were you a Light Blade fan in your past life?”

“Hahaha. Well…”

The monster chuckled with a face resembling a toad.

“Just helping me build retirement funds, huh. Hehehe.”

Kyaahaaak!!

Beyond the cave, hundreds of snakes burst out from the walls. Each was over three meters long, qualifying as at least C-rank monsters.

“Again, some fools must’ve gone to Jongno and gotten eaten…”

“Don’t know. Maybe real defectors from the North living as slaves to snakes in northern Seoul. Puhaha!”

“Uncle really sticks to his colors.”

“Yes, quite distinct, isn’t it?”

With a vivid red tongue flickering, the monster leaped toward the snakes.

“……Uncle, please subdue them instead of killing. Might need them for experiments.”

“Uh? Oh ho. Could it be…?”

“Yes.”

Winter reached into her cleavage and pulled something out. In her hand lay a cube with geometric patterns.

“Let’s increase our forces with this.”

* * *

“There’s no need to increase our forces.”

I returned to Gaon Nori and completed the final inspection.

“With Kim Gaon around, we can handle emergencies.”

Having an A-rank hero means minor problems won’t escalate. In emergencies, I’ll just unleash a magic bullet.

“Adequate average combat power for proper strategy: 30. D+.”

It’s so easy we could fry pancakes and still have leftovers. Having supplied magic power daily without fail ensures none of us will perish.

– But what if the Chimera appears?

– Chi!

– Me!

– Ra!

“DLC? Bring it on if they dare.”

– Trusting Seok Harang is risky, isn’t it? 😂

– Can’t intervene in Guro situations~

– Kim Penril’s in America!

SS-rank assistants are merely assistants. We’re inevitably ‘isolated in Guro.’

“But even without them, we can win sufficiently. Unification will only feel sorrowful to Nuri.”

– Uh

– Uh

– Gaon too 😂

Final boss of Chapter 1, <Masquerade>.

There’s no way we can lose. I’ve already installed a certain ‘device’ on our team members.

“Anyone who’s replaced will be detected immediately, so don’t worry.”

– How?

“Not telling. Work done beforehand with broadcast off.”

– Definitely some ridiculous method

– Commander…total perv

– Cheon Gaeul crying expected

“Anyway, everyone can overcome Masquerade blindfolded, right?”

Only newbies fall for Masquerade’s tactics in the first run. From the second round onward, victory is guaranteed even with eyes closed.

“So now-”

Ding dong.

The doorbell rang. Lowering the system window, I checked who it was.

“Huh?”

Why at this hour?