Chapter 127

〈 Chapter 127 〉 Part 1, Chapter 7 (7)

There’s only me and Blazing Phoenix in this penthouse. From the start, only those I’ve permitted can set foot here, and with the barrier up now, even they can’t come in. Until this barrier dissipates, Blazing Phoenix and I are cut off from the world.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm♪”

Blazing Phoenix hums a tune while pulling out a drink from the fridge. Grabbing a milk carton stuffed with strawberries, she holds one out to me.

“Want some?”

[Can I even eat like this?]

I shrug my shoulders. Blazing Phoenix nods and sits on the bed. Quietly rising, I approach her and grab her neck with both hands. Unfazed despite my grip, Blazing Phoenix calmly pierces the milk carton with a straw.

“It won’t work, you know. You can’t harm me, a spirit, like this. Even though I’m out here thanks to the Cube, my main body is still sleeping within you.”

Blazing Phoenix places her hand over my heart. I release her neck and sit beside her on the bed.

[Is it because I haven’t reached Mythic status?]

“That’s right. Since I, as a Spirit, refuse to become one with you, the strongest monster you can summon is SS+. In your terms… Level 99.”

The state of unity between a Spirit and a human, transcending all limits—Mythic.

“To human standards, it’s SSS, a harmony rate of 100%, and the ultimate level where one surpasses human limitations to reach the domain of a god. You call the process of humans and Spirits reaching Mythic ‘Syncro,’ don’t you?”

[I don’t need the explanation.]

“But I want to explain! If you don’t like it, try shutting me up. Considering how much I already tolerate you, hohoho.”

I can’t use the overwhelming power of Blazing Phoenix even though I’ve possessed her, all because the Spirit before me refuses to sync with me.

[How long do you plan to keep refusing?]

“For life. Hehe. The moment I accept you, we could go straight after Seongju or even an interdimensional deity, but it’s frustrating, isn’t it? Not going according to plan.”

Blazing Phoenix giggles, swinging her legs back and forth.

“So that’s why you’re trying to capture other Spirits, right? Since you can’t achieve Mythic through me, you’re attempting to catch other Spirits and have them fight alongside your Heroine instead. You might be able to beat Seongju on your own, but if an interdimensional deity comes, you’ll definitely lose.”

[If you know all this, why not help a little?]

“Why should I?”

Blazing Phoenix shrugs.

“Why would I help someone who has taken possession of another’s body? Especially for someone like you, who plays around using us as pawns.”

I can’t say anything. Blazing Phoenix continues to look at me expressionlessly.

“The day you first possessed me, reading your memories made me realize just how unjust the world is. Brainwashing? That was nothing compared to the bigger truth—that this entire world was created by higher beings, and we were mere puppets performing tricks within it.”

[……]

“Knowing that my family, my world, everything was just a setup for your entertainment… Nothing has shocked me more throughout my existence. Right? Being brainwashed by some alien bug, becoming a villainous commander trying to destroy the world, only to die at the hands of the Protagonist and pass on my power. It was all predetermined destiny.”

[That’s the future Blazing Phoenix experiences in the original story.]

Blazing Phoenix crushes the empty milk carton after finishing it and grabs another one, inserting the straw.

“Yes. In the ‘original’ story you so desperately called out for, I was merely a tool for the Protagonist’s awakening. Game Over if I lost. If I won, I’d give my Core to the Protagonist and vanish. Isn’t that unfair?”

[What about it?]

I ask knowingly, partly out of habit during our conversations and partly to indulge her love for talking. Blazing Phoenix understands my thoughts and happily continues.

“Why should I die? Why should I give my Core to some random human and vanish? No way. I wanted to revive Tera, destroy those fungal creatures with my own hands, and most of all, live a hundred years of happiness with the ones I love. Now, I just want to break the original story completely.”

[That’s why you wanted Cheon Gaeul saved so badly.]

The reason I wanted to save Cheon Gaeul wasn’t special. Honestly, saving the six Spirits and six Heroines would suffice. With Seok Harang being a Spirit, I’d only need to gather five others.

[You deliberately tried to change my course toward the Dimensional Gate.]

“You didn’t realize it, but…”

That day, Blazing Phoenix wanted to save Cheon Gaeul. Perhaps identifying with her plight as a mere device for the Protagonist’s awakening and her descent into a third-rate villain evoked sympathy. Blazing Phoenix nods upon reading my thoughts.

“Yes. It’s pitiful, isn’t it? Having to endure such pain just for the sake of advancing the plot. If the world is designed this way, merely a stage for puppets dancing for the ‘Protagonist,’ then I’d rather cut my strings myself.”

[Is that why you want to destroy the world?]

“What’s wrong with that? If the world’s gonna end anyway thanks to the interdimensional deity, isn’t it better to destroy it myself?”

Blazing Phoenix throws the milk carton into the trash can with a chuckle. The crumpled carton arcs perfectly into the bin.

“So just hand everything over to me. Your body, your power, your mind. Despite brainwashing me and revealing the truth about the world, I’m grateful enough to let your soul remain. You can live forever inside me.”

[Then I’ll get to watch the world burn from within you.]

“Exactly. All your precious Heroines, trusted allies, and defeated Villains—I’ll burn them all.”

Blazing Phoenix grins like a child. Her smile overlays the memory of the day she declared her intention to destroy the world, whispering words of love as we stood together against Seongju.

[What will you do about Seongju? If he comes from Pluto, you’ll be brainwashed instantly on your own.]

“I’ll kill everyone first and then commit suicide. Does that answer your question?”

Blazing Phoenix’s resolve is firm. I have no words to respond. If she were merely a brainwashed Spirit, I could reveal the truth and ask for her help, but Blazing Phoenix read my player memories and became self-aware.

Beyond brainwashing, she realized she was a two-dimensional game character.

[That’s why you always wanted to mess up the original story.]

“Of course. That way, you’d give up sooner. The more unexpected elements appear and the further the flow deviates from the original, the more stressed you’ll get. The more your mind wavers, the more I’ll exploit the cracks. Don’t forget.”

Blazing Phoenix smirks slightly. It’s the first genuine smile since meeting her in this world.

“The moment you give up, it’s all over.”

I lunged at Blazing Phoenix, who willingly fell backward. As her body sank into the soft mattress, I pinned her down by her shoulders. She gazes at me calmly.

[I won’t give up. Never.]

I assert firmly. Blazing Phoenix nods as if expecting this.

“Right. Because if you give up, it means I’ve succeeded in destroying the world.”

[And you’ll kill yourself.]

I collapse beside her on the bed. We both stare at the ceiling for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Scared to death you’d strangle me just now, huh?”

[What crime have you committed?]

“That’s true. The world’s the bad guy. So how about breaking it all apart?”

[That’s unacceptable.]

I sit up at the edge of the bed. Blazing Phoenix follows suit. The sun begins to rise beyond the window.

[We’ll defeat Seongju, drive away the interdimensional deity, awaken all the Spirits, and survive. The Heroines, me, and…you too.]

“Even me? Hoho, quite ambitious. You admitted earlier that the True Ending was absurd, yet you think achieving my personal route is easier?”

[After retrying dozens, hundreds of times just to clear your route, this feels like nothing. Don’t worry.]

I pat Blazing Phoenix on the shoulder.

[Adding you to the sixteen doesn’t overwhelm me.]

Blazing Phoenix’s expression becomes enigmatic. For the first time, I can’t read her thoughts.

“Even if it’s Cheon Gaeul or Yun Yuhwa, knowing them would make you stab your belly first, right?”

[I’ve been stabbed plenty of times already.]

“…That’s in the game. This is reality.”

[Are you worried now?]

Blazing Phoenix props her elbows on her knees and rests her chin in her hands. Her protruding lips clearly show dissatisfaction.

“It’s fine if you get stabbed somewhere else, but don’t forget this body is mine. Got it? Don’t misuse someone else’s body recklessly. Stop letting other people stick to it.”

[I apologize. I try my best to take care of it.]

Blazing Phoenix sighs.

“No skinship. Got it? Use monsters if you need physical actions. Don’t flirt with others using my precious body.”

[You’re making things harder when they’re already difficult.]

“……Fine. Simple touches are okay, but nothing more. It makes me uncomfortable.”

Blazing Phoenix gets up from the bed and walks towards the window. As sunlight hits her feet, her form begins to fade from the bottom of her robe. She spreads her arms towards me.

“But I’ll return this. Once I re-enter you, you’ll soon realize what you’ve regained.”

[Your usual cryptic riddles again?]

“Exactly. Every time a Spirit awakens, I’ll tell you something interesting. After saving any Spirit, use the Cube. I’ll reappear then.”

[Spending an hour chatting each Cube usage sure is expensive.]

“More expensive than 2 trillion, right?”

I contort my face in irritation. Though lacking visible features, Blazing Phoenix somehow senses my mood. Having read my real-world memories, she knows exactly how I ended up possessing this world.

“Oh, by the way, thanks for always supplying strawberries. Even though you hate them so much.”

[If you know that, stop pestering me from inside. I have preferences too.]

“That’s unacceptable. If you’re renting out space in my body, you should pay rent. Hoho.”

The sunlight reaches Blazing Phoenix’s knees. She lifts the ashes of the Cube from her pocket into the sunlight, which vanishes along with her hand.

“Go ahead and thrash around as much as you want. I’ll watch how far you can last.”

[I can handle it.]

Blazing Phoenix tilts her head and smiles faintly. Her entire form quickly becomes translucent. Raising her remaining hand, she flicks her finger. As her lower body starts dispersing into light particles, I raise my index finger.

[Hey, one last thing before you go?]

“What is it?”

Blazing Phoenix tilts her head. Confirming she’s almost gone except for her neck, I mutter softly.

[You’re still damn talkative.]

“…Huh? …! Hey, hey you-”

Snap. I flick my finger, and Blazing Phoenix dissolves into light. The light particles drift towards me.

“……”

The flame flowing into my heart settles within, and the armor-wearing figure of the fiery maiden transforms back into her human form—a young girl, the female Phoenix.

“Let’s see who wins.”

I lie down on the bed, placing my hand over my heart. The unusually loud heartbeat feels like mocking my determination.

“You picked the wrong person to mess with.”

No matter how many Game Overs I experience, players eventually clear the game. I reaffirm this to myself and the Spirit inside me who hopes I’ll relinquish control of Phoenix.

“One-coin clear, I’ll definitely pull it off.”

For now, I won’t eat strawberries for a week. Ignoring the mini Phoenix pecking at my forehead, I quietly close my eyes under the sunlight streaming through the window.

BAM BAM BAM!

“Hey! Big trouble! Sun Icheol’s resigning?!”

I pull the blanket over my head. Why does this always happen whenever I try to sleep?

“Should I just kill Deokbae already? …Wait…”

Instinctively, I touch my mouth.

“Why am I speaking like this?”

The honorifics are gone.