Chapter 735

〈Chapter 735〉 Part 2, Chapter 5, Episode 28

The strongest shield versus the strongest spear.

Which one will triumph? I have the answer right here before my eyes.

“The one who tires out first loses.”

Crack!

Whipping winds of cutting blades, summoned by Jeolpung, were mercilessly chipping away at walls of ice.

“Come on already!”

“That’s what I should be saying!”

Seok Harang and Penril faced each other with mutual acknowledgment, unleashing their magic power as if trying to annihilate one another.

“How long do you think you can keep dodging?!”

Seok Harang spread her frozen hands wide, spewing forth freezing cold air. In anticipation of Penril’s charge, vibrant ice flowers blossomed along the expected path.

“Keeeeeeshaaa!”

Penril let out a battle cry, spinning his body around. The gathered gale from his legs deflected all the incoming ice flowers aimed at him.

“Tch, if only one hits!”

“Who do you think I’ll hit?!”

Penril propelled himself through the air toward Seok Harang, brushing past ice walls, kicking up ice flower dust with his winds, and narrowly dodging flying ice spears as he gradually closed the distance.

“Spear!”

Penril, now within striking distance of Seok Harang, thrust forward an emerald-green spear in his hand. Seok Harang quickly extended her arm backward to meet the spear flying toward her from behind.

Ripple!

A circular ice shield reminiscent of a Taijitu symbol emerged. Penril continued to forcefully jab his spear forward, causing Seok Harang to slowly retreat while still holding her ground with the shield.

“Not on my watch!”

Seok Harang expelled magic power in the opposite direction to counter Penril’s assault. A green gale jetted out from behind Penril, and Seok Harang scattered ice spears behind herself.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Like grinding away at an ice rink, Penril’s spear began shaving off Seok Harang’s shield layer by layer.

If this kept up, it seemed Penril’s spear would pierce through Seok Harang’s shield—but—

“Hmph.”

Penril twisted his lips into a smirk, leaping backward using his own spear as a springboard. It was both an abandonment of the attack and an attempt to evade a counterattack.

“Tch!”

Seok Harang gritted her teeth. Why would someone feel regretful for blocking an attack?

The reason lay in the nearby shattered ice fragments from the blocked ice spear.

‘He would’ve been slowed down immediately if they had touched him.’

Crackle! Crackle!

The surrounding ice shards turned into new ice blades under Seok Harang’s control, freezing everything in their vicinity.

“Man, you’re such an annoying guy!”

“And what about you, pretending to defend but secretly planning a counterattack?”

“It’s called strategy!”

“Same goes for me!”

Seok Harang and Penril bickered back and forth as they exchanged blows again.

“Gah, just take a hit already!!”

Seok Harang sprayed frost everywhere, attempting to slow down Penril’s rapid movements with her magic power.

“There’s no way I’m getting hit!”

Penril effortlessly evaded every single one of Seok Harang’s ice attacks, maintaining his perfect defense.

Their battle styles and magical affinities could be considered perfectly balanced, making Penril’s acrobatic feats almost like tightrope walking.

And I have one strategy that could help either side.

There’s a method I could share with Penril that would allow him to instantly skewer Seok Harang,

and there’s also a technique I could pass on to Seok Harang that would freeze Penril solid.

‘Of course, I’m well aware how these battles between officers play out.’

I’ve mapped out all possible combinations of our six officers engaging in 3-on-3 skirmishes. Surely, I wouldn’t be clueless about how the fight between Seok Harang and Kim Penril would unfold.

-Mint wins!

-Blueberry wins!

-Isn’t everyone losing to the Commander’s prowess anyway?

Mini Phoenixes chirped endlessly, debating over who would emerge victorious.

-Has Seok Harang ever successfully landed a hit? Penril’s dodged them all!

-Penril hasn’t succeeded either! Has Kim Penril even grazed Seok Harang’s clothes? If we count sheer number of attacks, Kim Penril has thrown more punches!

-Even so, effective hits are clearly more on Kim Penril’s side. Can’t you see Seok Harang is just barely holding on with her magic power?

-And isn’t it precisely because her magic power is waning that she has to manage efficiency while fighting?

An intense debate unfolded. Their battle was fierce, and it was impossible to predict who would win.

[What do you personally think?]

He asked me.

‘Me?’

[Who do you think will win in this situation?]

“Hmm…”

It’s a difficult question to answer. There are many variables to consider, but the conclusion is already set.

“The Protagonist.”

[Correct.]

All the Mini Phoenixes tilted their heads in confusion, forming question marks.

But this world is a game. In a game-based world, the side the protagonist is on never loses, does it?

“The side currently teamed up with the protagonist.”

Sorry, Penril, but this battle is one where Kim Penril takes on the role of ‘Boss.’

Naturally, Seok Harang, being part of the protagonist’s squad, must win—it’s common sense.

“Seok Harang.”

“What?!”

“Just do it.”

Through Magical Gear, I issued an order to Seok Harang. While struggling to block Kim Penril’s attacks, Seok Harang smirked slightly and altered her pattern of magic usage.

“You really are the Commander, aren’t you?”

“Obviously.”

“Aaaah, that’s too much!”

Penril flew through the sky, dodging Seok Harang’s attacks while glaring at me.

“Teach me the strategy too!”

“Sure, good work, officer.”

“Nyaaaaaah!”

She was clearly expressing her dissatisfaction with me despite teaming up with Park Ra-on, yet she refrained from attacking me—definitely staying true to Chapter 2.

“I’ll definitely get revenge someday!”

“Hmph, do you really think that’ll happen?!”

“Just wait until next time! When the situation reverses, I’ll punch a hole right through your fancy ice wall!”

Penril substituted his frustration with renewed attacks on Seok Harang, while I hid behind her Absolute Barrier to avoid the aftermath of Penril’s Whirlwind.

“Harang, start.”

“You stepped on it!!”

Seok Harang immediately changed her attack pattern according to my instructions. Ice flowers extending from her hands bloomed not as flowers, but as broad petals spreading out in all directions.

“Hmph, attacks like that won’t work!”

Penril gracefully dodged the petals. Unlike flower pollen, these large petals were far easier to evade due to their size.

“Hmph.”

At first glance, it seemed Seok Harang’s attacks were ineffective. But trusting me, she continued to bloom petal after petal.

5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes.

As Seok Harang intermittently blocked Penril’s attacks with ice shields and continued to expand the petals, Penril clenched his teeth and trembled in frustration.

“This….”

The petals were gradually swallowing up the entire battlefield. Penril shot me an aggrieved glare, to which I simply shrugged.

“I’m on the Hero’s side right now.”

“Aaaah, this is too unfair!!”

Penril scratched his head furiously and started snapping at me.

“I want to be the hero too!!”

“Sorry, but I’m the hero right now.”

BOOM!

As the ice petals expanded, Penril found himself with nowhere left to run.

From the moment the ‘battlefield’ became confined, Penril’s defeat was inevitable.

“Alright, I surrender. I can’t run anymore.”

Penril raised his hands in surrender. Just in time, Seok Harang’s cube-shaped ice petal prison completely immobilized Penril.

“Did I lose?”

Clang!

Seok Harang threw the ice prison containing Penril in front of me.

“Well, let’s wrap this up quickly.”

The ice wings on her back shattered instantly, and Seok Harang confidently approached me, grabbing my collar.

“Hey, did I win?”

“…Since the Hero’s victory condition is capturing the Villain…”

Hero: Seok Harang.

Villain: Penril.

Though nothing about them was inherently advantageous against the other, their victory conditions made all the difference.

“Ahhh…this is cheating.”

Trapped in a room-sized cell, Penril scratched his head. He knew raising any magic power inside would only cause the icy bars to touch him and freeze him further.

“I lost nyaa.”

“Good? Then as a commemoration of victory…”

Seok Harang grabbed my collar and tossed me into the ice prison.

“Ah. It’s the Hero’s mercy. Let’s go home together. We’ll make rice cakes with three of us.”

“……I might fall for you. But sorry…there are four of us nyaa.”

“……”

Her initially proud declaration quickly turned sour.

Beeep!

“Boss! We caught Tarantula!”

Just then, Yuna contacted me. I raised both arms and shook my head.

“……This dinner party will be held in Busan.”

“Nice!”

Seok Harang cheered, clenching her fists.

“As for the others, they can stay at hotels, but you need to stay at my place…got it? Hehe.”

Yeongjong Island.

The epic battle at Incheon Airport, involving SS-Rank Heroes, ended in victory for the Hero side.

Afterward…

I became sushi for numerous women, enjoyed and savored from morning till morning.

Though squeezed dry throughout this full-course marathon, all hardships melted away in the embrace of the ladies.

The Great Battle Against Penril.

It concluded smoothly, safely, and successfully.