Chapter 988

EP.988 Part 2 Chapter 10 Scene 01

While he was off in Busan…

After giving him the ultimate coaching session, I logged back into the game.

“Are you mad because of Harang-ssi by any chance?”

“Not at all.”

As I shoveled strawberry cake baked by Yuna herself into my mouth, I recalled a line I’d seen on the internet.

“This is my chosen path. Gotta tough it out with grit and determination.”

“Usually when someone says that, it means things aren’t going too well.”

“I’ve steeled myself, but there’s no denying I’m a little upset.”

I stuffed another bite of strawberries and cream into my mouth in one go.

The strawberry cake always tastes delicious, but today for some reason, the bitterness outweighed the sweetness.

“There’s nothing sadder than fully understanding humanity. Back in the old days, whether Seok Harang loved Phoenix or not, whether you abandoned everything to come over from another world or not, none of it would have mattered.”

It happened because I, who once held divine rank, who was once a spirit, came to understand humans.

He transformed me into this, and ultimately, under the pretense of wanting a harem, I prepared the ground for Harang and Yuna to join our nest.

“Actually, this isn’t because we want to do anything with you guys, right?”

“Why bother? We can handle our harem drama even within the game.”

“That’s really reassuring. Hmph. Is it true that Blazing Phoenix is actually tsundere?”

“It’s not me who’s tsundere. I’m an extreme narcissist—someone who loves only themselves, but whose love shifts toward other targets.”

This was how the Blazing Phoenix appeared in the original game, how the spirit Chang-yeom changed after two decades of living inside his persistent world through relentless wooing, and how Shin-ra adapted to human life after escaping into reality.

Once an omnipotent deity, yet ignorant of love.

From the moment such an entity came to understand love, they lost the ability to comprehend and control their emotions, becoming incapable of making logical, self-centered judgments.

Sympathy for Harang and Yuna.

There’s that, but it’s also disheartening and apologetic to see ‘him’ unable to reciprocate their advances.

“You’re about to get spoiled, but you might receive a confession soon.”

“…Should I apologize first?”

“My heart already understands sufficiently. Still, just in case, let me clarify: I am the principal wife. Got it?”

Principal wife.

A term I never thought would escape my lips, but now it seems I must express it this way.

Ultimately, this harem is the path I chose.

I don’t feel pain because my man can’t accept the affections of other women due to me, but I dislike seeing him feeling sorry for them. Hence, this is the path I’ve chosen.

Literally, gritting through with determination.

“Tch. Let’s just munch away in the game like Yuna and Harang suggested. Hmph.”

“Our in-game selves aren’t the same as our real-life counterparts.”

“I know that, but it’s still a way to feel like we’re getting eaten.”

“Doesn’t affect me at all. Tch.”

Yuna hugged me from behind.

Her soft embrace cradled me warmly, and Yuna began whispering into my ear.

“Later…”

“Later what?”

“I’ll do this for you.”

Murmuring softly.

The position Yuna proposed made my lower abdomen start to tingle.

“Really?”

“Yes, of course. That way, both Oppa and Miss Shinra will be satisfied, creating such a scenario.”

“…”

A perfect position.

He eats Yuna, and I eat Yuna in my own way.

It’s neither separate nor simultaneous; it happens in the same bed, which gave me genuine chills.

Yuinah, you’re terrifying.

“Let’s test it first.”

To confirm if this works in the game, I logged back in.

“Gulp, let’s start.”

* * *

July 13th, Seoul Yeouido.

Wooohhoo!!

The roar of the crowd erupted.

The massive chunks of asphalt rising skyward quickly reverted to their previous form.

“No!! Stop!!”

“Stop turning back!”

“Even ten years back would be fine, just please, not the hanoks!!”

Shrieks filled with despair rang out.

Whether they were refugees from New Seoul, survivors in Seoul, or even monsters wearing Seoul citizen IDs, everyone despaired, clutching their heads in frustration.

“Hahaha!!”

Maniacal laughter echoed around.

On top of a fifteen-story apartment building, the foreigner with blonde hair, dressed in a long robe and wielding a pipe, laughed wildly as he threw punches into the air.

“This is the meeting of modernity and the past! The harmony of tradition and innovation! If it doesn’t work, make it work! This is the true essence of Korean aesthetics and style!”

“Who showed this guy the nine-story wooden pagoda of the Huanglong Temple?”

Indeed.

Just as Paris has the Eiffel Tower and hospitals have towering white structures, the game world also features numerous historical landmarks.

What methods could preserve traditional hanok architecture?

Simultaneously, how could the demand of Seoul citizens for high-rise buildings in this limited space be met?

“Haha! Your jungle of concrete is over! This place will be ruled by traditional hanoks!!”

Architect swung his fists wildly while leaning backward.

His posture resembled a mad scientist cackling maniacally, further terrifying the citizens of Seoul.

“At least it’s fortunate that the floors don’t get narrower as you go up.”

“The roofs are there, along with balconies, so it’s nice. There’s a slight inconvenience with the elevators and stairs on one side, but the living space itself is wider, which is good.”

At first glance, it looks like a single house built with its upper part cut and stacked tower-like.

Though sunlight might not penetrate well if water is sprinkled from the upper floors flowing down the roof, the Han River view is perfectly visible, so there shouldn’t be significant issues.

Still,

“People these days prefer new-generation architecture.”

“Modern, classic, and elegant designs, you know?”

“Yeah.”

Whatever that means, people generally desire to live in truly modern-designed buildings with a view of the Han River.

“What are the magical girls doing?! That hanok villain is wrecking Seoul’s housing market!!”

“Who would buy something made of hanok?! Restore it immediately!!”

“Aaaah! This hanok villain is turning residential areas into Joseon-era hanoks!! Oh no, motels might become inns next!!”

“Oh, that’s a good idea!”

“Whaaaat!!”

For those accustomed to Architect’s hanok designs, it might not seem strange, but to others, the reconstructed Seoul feels unfamiliar and awkward.

“The design aside, it’s quite a good place.”

“Why?”

“There’s no noise between floors.”

“Oh….”

Although not yet publicly announced, these hanok apartments are cutting-edge structures created through collaboration between Architect and expert architects gathered from Yu-Sung.

Ignoring the hanok design, they incorporate all modern construction techniques optimized and minimize the drawbacks of conventional apartments.

Costing merely three billion won.

While “merely” might sound absurd, with a thirty-year interest-free loan, the situation changes.

Regardless of preferences, protests intensify….

Boom, Boom, Boom.

“They’re here.”

In the distance, heavy footsteps approached.

Their figures rival supermodels, likely capable of amassing tens of thousands of followers on social media, but their expressions were solemn.

Boom, Boom, Boom.

Why does the sound of boots resonate like thunder?

Even those who had just criticized Architect’s hanok apartments swallowed hard upon seeing the group of women striding across the road.

“Incredible…”

Ages ranging from early twenties to thirties.

Some tried to conceal wrinkles with makeup, others attempted youthful designs, but…

“Hey, what’s this? Not a cosplay event, right…?”

“Oh, you know about cosplay, sir!”

Cosplay.

Walking down the main street, every woman was dressed as a ‘magical girl.’

“Ah…cough.”

Along the roadside, journalists with sunglasses cleared their throats and clutched their microphones.

Pointing towards the advancing group of magical girls, he cautiously spoke into the camera glowing red.

“…Right now, this is where magical girls preparing to audition have already donned their magical girl outfits…”

That’s right.

These individuals came from afar, dressed as magical girls, aspiring to become true magical girls.

* * *

Late night, July 13th, Magical Girl Magical Kyulkyul’s Headquarters in Seoul Yeouido.

“What’s the competition rate now?”

“Three hundred thousand.”

“We planned to select two people, didn’t we?”

“So six hundred thousand applied.”

“Just for on-site registration?”

“Yes. All flights to Korea are fully booked now.”

“…”

This is the status of the Commander.

“How about the magical girls outside?”

“They say they’ll endure being homeless at Seoul Station if necessary. Currently, Architect is hastily constructing hanok-style motels, and Yu-Sung is urgently shipping emergency beds to set up temporary accommodations.”

“Sigh. Poor them…”

Even knowing that gaining powers through the Commander involves ‘sex,’ tens of thousands confidently show their faces, some even dressing as magical girls before the application process begins.

“We don’t plan to choose anyone immediately, anyway.”

It’s a truly apologetic situation, but players following the main storyline must protect Earth.

“Will the auditions be ready when you return?”

“Of course. Just give us a hint, and we’ll manipulate things so the selected person remains until the end.”

“No, no. That’s unnecessary. One winner in the final should genuinely win through competition, and I’ll pick someone randomly in the middle.”

“Do you have someone in mind?”

“Yeah.”

Before leaving overseas to advance the main storyline, the moment ‘they’ caught my eye, I’ll hire them immediately.

“If we encounter a woman like that, set her aside.”

“Hmm…is she foreign?”

“Yeah. By now, she’s probably…”

As expected.

“Swimming ashore from the Incheon seafront.”