Chapter 777

〈 Chapter 777: Part 2, Chapter 7 – Phoenix’s Dilemma 〉

When I was with Shin-ra, I had no special worries.

At most, my concerns were trivial things like what to do with Shin-ra in the morning, where to meet her for lunch, and what clothes to wear for our evening rendezvous.

Even when Shin-ra became engrossed in broadcasting, it was the same.

But ever since Seok Harang entered the picture, I started to worry.

And when Yuna came into the mix, my concerns deepened.

It was a case of “sleep first, relationship later.”

Yuna’s logic was simple:

“It’s like a tasting corner. How about a sex corner?”

Her logic left me feeling as if I’d been hit on the head, my mind completely befuddled.

Is this really Yuinah talking?

Even with Hydra involved, she’s far too proactive for my liking.

So I thought and thought…

With Seok Harang now part of the equation, how would accepting Yuna change things? Is it even right to accept her?

If I consult Shin-ra or Seok Harang, they’d likely just say, “The answer is already decided; you just need to make your move.”

In this situation, who should I turn to for advice?

“Haa… Haa… Hmm…”

“Harang, a bit harder…”

“……”

Late at night.

Shin-ra and Seok Harang are enjoying an intimate moment together.

I catch sight of them through Seok Harang’s door.

“Would you like to join us?”

As soon as Shin-ra sees me, she kisses the area near Seok Harang’s private parts.

Meanwhile, Shin-ra herself is straddling Seok Harang’s face, engaging in a 69-style play.

“Haa… Haa… Big brother… This feels like crashing a party…”

Seok Harang glances at me with a suggestive look while Shin-ra furrows her brows and moves her tongue side to side.

“I’ll come back later, around dawn.”

“Aaah! There’s plenty of time till dawn…”

“Enjoy yourselves more. I’ll come back when things get steamier.”

“Big brother! You’re betraying us… Haa!”

Slurp… Slurp…

Shin-ra winks at me before returning to pleasuring Seok Harang.

I close the door, giving them a playful wink, then check the time.

Late at night.

It’s well past midnight.

Since there’s nothing planned for tomorrow, I can catch up on sleep during the day.

Right now, I need to resolve the issue clouding my mind.

“…It’s been ages since I’ve played directly.”

Except for the test session before Shin-ra took over, this is practically the first time I’ve personally logged in.

Back when Shin-ra handed off control to me, that was an exception.

She called me; it wasn’t entirely my own choice.

But now, things are different.

After clearing the in-game challenges.

After completing Earth 2020.

For the first time, I’m logging in of my own free will.

“Let’s just go in and see.”

The in-game time should be evening.

Since Shin-ra stopped playing last night, it’s the perfect time to log in as a male character.

“Though it’s still a game, I’m tired of being a woman.”

Even briefly becoming female isn’t appealing anymore.

Thus, instead of using Shin-ra’s account, I pull out my original account.

While TS Beam hasn’t been applied, the DLC updates have been installed, but there’s been no actual gameplay—this untouched account.

If Shin-ra’s account is considered an alternate character under my name, then what I’m about to log into is my true main account.

Bip.

Connecting…

“Blue Bird.”

Of course, it’s my original account.

Not the one Shin-ra used to continue my save data for lesbian gameplay, but my pure, untouched account.

[Would you like to connect, Blue Bird?]

This is the account I once connected with before falling into magma.

“Yes.”

[Connecting…]

Bip.

“…What? It’s erroring out?”

[Your account has been inactive for a long time and cannot currently connect. Please visit our website and use the Customer Service_Long-term Dormant Account Release service…]

“…”

Could it be because I haven’t logged in for so long?

“Why don’t they automatically unlock dormant accounts when another account logs in? Ugh.”

My very first Phoenix root-clearing account, BB, has gone dormant.

“I’ll just use Shin-ra’s account.”

Although I don’t want to become female again, it’s not worth wasting time unlocking the dormant account.

Besides, there’s no risk of getting sucked into another world, so it’s fine.

Switching accounts…

“…”

“Mr. Owner, is something troubling you?”

“What time is it?”

Thankfully, the voice is male—mine.

Which means my body is also male.

“6:33 PM.”

Perfect timing—it’s evening.

I was wondering why it was still light outside, but the sun is setting.

“Hey… Yuna.”

“Yes?”

Currently,

I’m sitting on the office sofa.

Yuinah is sitting across from me, clutching a letter tightly.

Reason number one for my complicated thoughts.

Although her hair color and style differ slightly, she’s definitely the one making my life difficult.

I expected to run into her immediately after logging in, but seeing her again still throws me off.

“I’ll be back in a bit. I’m going downstairs.”

“What would you like to order?”

“Not that. I just want to have a quick guy talk with the boss.”

“Ah…”

I pat Yuna’s shoulder as she starts to rise and head downstairs.

The first floor café, Padre Juan, is surprisingly empty despite the late evening hour.

“Cough. Boss.”

This is a great opportunity.

“Perhaps Huan has experienced something similar.”

Even though he’s AI, I don’t think of these characters as artificial intelligence anymore. They’re capable of providing deep insights akin to real people, especially in matters of love.

“What’s wrong? …Hmm?”

Huan, who was about to reach for the fridge, gives me a curious glance after scanning me up and down.

“Hmm…”

“I’ve come for some counseling. A strawberry latte, please.”

“Tsk. You startled me.”

Huan wipes his chest and chuckles.

“The atmosphere was so different, I thought it wasn’t you. I assumed maybe a Doppleganger or some kind of copy machine.”

“Atmosphere?”

“Yeah. There’s no lust in your eyes. I thought you were in Wise Time. But you wouldn’t be here at such a time, right?”

“…”

How does Shin-ra usually appear to others?

She objectively looks adorable, but I’m slightly worried about how some people might perceive her.

“Just kidding. Now, about the latte-”

“Please make it warm. Around 40 degrees Celsius.”

“Why exactly 40 degrees?”

“It just feels right. Too hot and it might burn.”

Because that temperature is closest to human body heat.

I suppress my thoughts and wait for the drink that most resembles Mama Shin-ra’s taste while sitting across from Huan.

“Can you give me some advice on a personal matter?”

“You seeking advice? That’s unexpected.”

“I find difficult things challenging too.”

By nature, Huan is an NPC designed to guide players toward good decisions.

He offers appropriate and reliable advice, sometimes even the correct choice.

Especially regarding love, Huan is knowledgeable enough to provide excellent counsel for my predicament.

“There’s someone I know. He loves one woman, but another keeps pursuing him.”

“Sounds like a familiar story. If you love one woman, this place would’ve turned into a battlefield by now. Ha ha, but clearly, you’re not reckless. Still…”

Huan gestures around the room.

I feel a lump in my throat but decide to stay composed.

This “someone I know” refers not to the in-game Phoenix, but to my real-life situation.

“So…”

I adjust the story slightly and explain my current situation with Yuna.

“Got it. So, your wife says it’s okay to take a second wife. She’s serious, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you hesitating over such a simple matter?”

Huan sips his coffee and tilts his head.

“If you go to the Middle East, get married, and then return here, you can live here legally as a foreigner with black hair.”

“Boss?”

“That means marrying both women is perfectly fine. Technically speaking, P loves you, and S loves you, so why not embrace them both?”

“What if Y comes along too?”

“One more? Hmm…”

Huan strokes his chin seriously.

“More is always better.”

“Too many captains might steer the ship into the mountains, right?”

“But this isn’t one woman with multiple men. It’s one man with multiple women. Historically, a man’s success depends on his ability to handle such situations.”

Huan gazes into the distance and smirks.

“There’s a story I know. A handsome man went to South America and met two sisters.”

“Isn’t that the French story where they were both virgins-”

“Ah, those were twins! …Cough.”

“Okay, so the man in South America formed relationships with two women…”

Huan sips his coffee.

“They quickly became passionate lovers. Then the sisters began competing for his affection. Do you know how it ended?”

“Did they stab each other or severely injure one of them?”

“Nope. They decided to conceive on the same day and at the same time. Legal procedures followed the elder sister’s precedence.”

“…”

“That’s it. If the wife approves, rejecting additional women makes you foolish.”

Huan’s advice was straightforward.

-Why kick away a harem? Are you stupid?

His eyes judged me, or rather the person in the story—me.

“Don’t burden yourself. Tell him to embrace the responsibility of being a patriarch and maintain the stamina to keep multiple women satisfied. Social judgment doesn’t matter. Accept your fate.”

“…Understood. I’ll pass it along.”

Bip.

[Would you like to exit the game?]

Yes.

Bip.

I end the game.

“Harem, huh…”

Even though I’m not the protagonist of some dating sim, reality has pushed me onto this path due to Shin-ra.

“Fate…”

I remove the headset.

And then…

“Still working late?”

“…”

In front of me, after removing the headset, stood Yuna, her crimson eyes twinkling with a smile.

“Shin-ra and Harang-nee are waiting for you. Come on.”

“You…how long have you been…”

“How long have I been standing here?”

Yuna grabs my hand with a cheerful smile.

“Well, how long has it been?”

She rests a hand on her cheek and beams innocently.

“I’m sorry. I lost track of time watching you, big brother.”

“…”

“Why are you surprised? Were you scared I’d pounce on you secretly?”

Yuna shakes her head with an innocent expression.

“Not until after my first time.”

…Then what about afterward?