Chapter 14

〈 Chapter 14 〉 Part 1 (13)

There once was a heated debate that shook the community.

“Which type of heroine is Blazing Phoenix?”

Users who usually spent their time crafting guides and memes transformed into instant PhDs of phoenixology, sparking endless debates on Agora.

“Look at her humanoid form on the official site. She’s clearly pure romance material.”

“You’re an idiot. Obviously she’s the predator type. Go rewatch her intro scene!”

“I think she’s the nurturing big sister type. She seems like someone who’d warmly embrace you with blazing flames.”

For three whole days and nights, wild speculations burned bright. I analyzed the attributes of the other 16 heroines, using elimination to deduce the developers’ intended personality for Phoenix. Surprisingly, the creators had put great care into each heroine’s individuality, with little overlap in their core traits.

– What do you think, Bluebird?

A community acquaintance asked. This was back when I hadn’t even begun to uncover any leads on the Phoenix route.

– I’m going to say this, but don’t get mad.

– Haha, it’s fine! We won’t get mad. Is she like Yuinah, the healing type? Or Su Ri, the violence type?

– Cursing!

– That’s blasphemy!

I lost a friend that day.

* * *

“Mr. Deokbae, does this place still feel like hell to you?”

“…How…”

Deokbae blankly stared with his mouth agape, looking around. The location where he opened his eyes was undoubtedly Hocheol’s workshop where he had been just before dying.

Had he not actually died then? As Deokbae tried to awkwardly lift his body, his hand entered his field of vision.

“AAAAAAHHHH?!”

Deokbae screamed while shaking his arm. Wrapping his entire arm were grotesque gray materials. Between the cracked surfaces, resembling a barren desert, threads of teal light flowed.

“Should I insert the seal after all?”

Phoenix fiddled with the veil on her finger.

The three main ingredients needed to create a monster-human hybrid:

A fresh monster core that hasn’t yet transformed into a “core” through human hands.


A small amount of power from a commander/spirit.


And incantations that make your limbs curl up so badly it feels like you’re being sucked into a spatial storm.

Phoenix roughly mixed together the commanders’ incantations she remembered while creating the Western Sea Weapon monster-human hybrid. While anyone hearing or seeing this would result in the birth of a dark history nightmare that would make them tear their blankets even in their sleep, she successfully created an excellent monster-human hybrid nonetheless.

However, turning Deokbae into a monster-human hybrid wasn’t part of any plan.

“Because there was no precedent for using the body of a special ability user as material.”

Initially, only monsters could become monster-human hybrids in this world’s “setting.” So how did Deokbae come back to life as a monster-human hybrid despite dying?

“Mr. Deokbae, do you remember me?”

As Phoenix crossed her legs and asked, Deokbae bent over and took a step back.

“What have you done to me?”

“Oh, you remember now, huh? It’s nothing much, I just resurrected you. As a monster-human hybrid.”

“Huh?”

Phoenix conjured flames in midair. A blue flame appeared between them, beginning to take a shape. The flame formed the appearance of Deokbae before he was consumed by fire, when he was still human.

“First, villains. Those who awaken to special abilities and use their powers for personal gain rather than becoming heroes. Something you, Mr. Deokbae, are also familiar with, right?”

As Phoenix flicked her finger, the shape of the flame changed. A human figure covered in grayish-white rock armor emerged—undoubtedly Deokbae’s current appearance.

“And ‘monster-human hybrid.’ A being who absorbs a monster core without transforming into a monster and instead regenerates as a human. They obtain the fundamental power of the originating monster, though this can either corrupt or transform their original special ability. Would you like to try using your power?”

Deokbae moved his arms around until he managed to draw out his power. The teal lines flowing between the cracks of his rock skin thickened, further hardening the rock covering.

“That’s your power as a monster-human hybrid. Rockification of the skin. Though currently softer than marble…”

Phoenix pulled a monster core from her pocket and shoved it into Deokbae’s chest.

“GURK!”

The monster core broke through Deokbae’s chest like tofu, reaching and melting into his heart. The core already embedded in Deokbae’s heart, like flowing water, greedily devoured the new core.

Thump, thump, thump!

As the core’s heartbeat accelerated, Deokbae began gasping for air. The greenish-blue lines running through his skin shone brighter, and his rock skin started transforming into a texture akin to steel.

“Ta-da! Level up! The difference between a monster-human hybrid and a villain is exactly this. Monster-human hybrids can grow stronger by using monster cores as nourishment.”

Phoenix cleared her throat and continued explaining.

“The core you just absorbed came from a B-classified monster. It’ll take some time for your D-class vessel to fully absorb it, but with this much power, you shouldn’t be getting beaten up everywhere anymore.”

“So… Ha. I’m getting stronger?”

Deokbae straightened his posture. The rock monster raised both arms as if ready for boxing.

Just as Phoenix was about to say something, Deokbae launched a jab at lightning speed. It was fast enough that the veil didn’t even have time to react.

Snap.

“……!”

The rock-covered fist extending to the back of the hand met Phoenix’s index finger. The wind pressure from the punch merely swept back Phoenix’s hair without causing any visible wounds.

“I like your determination to immediately test your strength, Deokbae student. But since I’m kindly explaining things…”

Phoenix pushed away Deokbae’s fist with her finger.

“Chang-yeom commands: <Stop>.”

Boom!

Deokbae’s knees hit the ground. Though the massive impact rocked his knees, the greater shock was realizing his body followed the command against his will.

“Hmph. And as you’ve just experienced, monster-human hybrids must absolutely obey their ‘creator.’ The one who turned you into a monster-human hybrid is me, Blazing Phoenix.”

Phoenix tilted her head back to show off her power. Deokbae grimaced, unable to move his frozen knees.

“To call me trash while standing here… Now, Deokbae-kun, listen carefully.”

Phoenix approached Deokbae and tapped his shoulder. To Deokbae, those beautiful fingers felt like the noose strangling his neck.

“I can tolerate you cursing at me. But…”

Phoenix lifted Deokbae’s head to meet her gaze.

“Cursing Blazing Phoenix is something I won’t tolerate. Understand? Second command: <Do not curse>.”

“What the hell… gurk!”

Phoenix flicked Deokbae’s chin upward with her finger. Letting out a final scream, Deokbae’s upper body fell backward, crashing onto the floor.

“…Perhaps I should’ve made my second subordinate more intelligent?”

Phoenix scratched her head while looking at the charred corpse of Sang-a.

“No. I can’t afford mediocrity in my subordinates. Minimum requirement has to be A-rank…”

Phoenix licked her lips and glared at Deokbae lying on the floor. The Western Sea Weapon, having been born as a monster-human hybrid less than ten minutes ago, had already understood her orders and begun her mission, whereas Deokbae, who had been human in life, seemed utterly useless.

Was discarding him the correct answer? If not for curiosity, Deokbae would’ve remained dead like everyone else in this room.

– Charging complete. Please remove the charger.

The smartphone notification chimed. Phoenix froze as she pulled out her phone.

“Haa.”

Apparently, Subordinate #2 had tougher durability than expected. Phoenix blinked painfully and dragged up the suffering Deokbae.

“Alright. The first mission for monster-human hybrid Mr. Deokbae.”

Phoenix’s face was slightly flushed as she held out her smartphone.

“…Do you know how to unlock this?”

* * *

“Everyone aboard?! Departure!”

The bus driver quickly boarded and closed the doors. Fortunately, the evening departure proceeded peacefully without any morning-like mishaps.

The ticket booth employee watched the departing bus before picking up his smartphone again.

“Let’s see. Today’s news… Whoa, the stock market completely crashed.”

Though the stocks had already plummeted significantly, today’s drop was particularly severe. Having lost about ten million won while learning how to invest, he realized why the market was shaking.

“Well, who would invest in the Hellfire Peninsula where monsters keep appearing?”

The news was filled with discussions about missiles allegedly fired from China.

China remained silent on the matter. Meanwhile, Commander Unjang successfully defeated a young Heuk Jeon-jal that appeared in the desert hours earlier, leading to grand propaganda.

“This is why foreign investors are packing up and leaving.”

This country is beyond saving. Commoners unable to enter New Seoul should focus on gathering money to escape overseas.

“But wait, why haven’t these girls contacted me yet?”

The man trembled as he checked his messages. Still, no response from the people who were supposed to contact him.

“Could they have been caught?”

Though not part of the same gang, the man had dipped his toes into their world. The ticket booth was the perfect spot to scout “products” sellable to the terminal-based gangs.

“Just let me call them… Hmm?”

He noticed a familiar face beyond the counter.

“Hello. …?”

The high school girl with blue hair standing before him looked different today, full of spring-like vitality instead of yesterday’s sharpness.

“Eh, eh. Yeah. Hi.”

“I’d like to buy a ticket.”

“…Haa. Student, tickets to New Seoul require taking a number first, you know?”

Annoyed, the man pointed toward the number-taking machine. The girl chuckled, covering her mouth with her fist.

“So this is where I went wrong. Thought I messed up earlier. Got it. Thanks for letting me know.”

Without hesitation, the girl turned around. The man watched her leave through the corridor, tilting his head.

“What is she? Did Hocheol’s gang leave her alone?”

Remembering the girl’s retreating figure, he swallowed hard. Should he ask for one chance instead of money this time?

“Ahh! Bathroom break.”

He drank too much water. After nudging his sleeping junior staff awake, the man hurried toward the restroom.

Drip drip…

“Ah, refreshing.”

“Senior Jung-yoon.”

The voice from the left stall startled Jung-yoon.

“Yikes! Deokbae? Don’t scare me like that!”

“…”

Deokbae remained silent. After washing his hands casually, Jung-yoon scratched his head and waved his smartphone toward Deokbae.

“Perfect timing. Why haven’t you guys contacted me yet? I sent over a nice middle-aged woman too. You should’ve at least reached out before sunset, right?”

“Sorry about that.”

What was going on? Jung-yoon was more disturbed by Deokbae’s voice itself—a deep tone as if altered.

Crash!

Before he could ask what was sorry, Jung-yoon found himself grabbed by the collar through the broken wall.

“Kyaaaaa!”

Floating in midair, Jung-yoon struggled desperately to free himself from the grip. Looking down with his reddened face, he saw Deokbae wearing a gray hood.

“Are you gonna let go?!”

“One more thing, sorry about this. However…”

Deokbae removed his hood, revealing rock-hard gray rocks covering his skin.

“I cannot disobey orders.”

“What? Hey!”

Jung-yoon, whose collar was still gripped, was slammed against the bathroom wall as Deokbae raised his remaining arm into a fist.

“Crazy bastard! You’re committing murder-”

Punch.

In one blow, Jung-yoon’s head was crushed. Red blood splattered onto Deokbae’s face before dripping onto the floor.

Clomp, clomp.

Deokbae silently exited the restroom. In the hallway, the blue-haired girl stood holding a green veil while intently staring at her smartphone.

“Hmph.”

Deokbae’s cough drew Phoenix’s attention. She turned off her phone, stood up from her chair, and handed over the green veil.

“Good job. Wipe yourself off.”

“…”

Deokbae used the veil like a meat shop towel to clean his face and body, dyeing it crimson. Phoenix wrinkled her nose.

“How about it? Will you accept your fate now? That you must follow my orders for the rest of your life?”

“…Yeah. Realized resisting is pointless.”

Deokbae had hoped Jung-yoon wouldn’t enter the restroom. But Jung-yoon did, and despite his efforts, his body automatically moved following the girl’s order—”Eliminate all human traffickers and related parties.”

He didn’t want to kill. Yet his body acted like programmed machinery, smashing Jung-yoon’s head with a single strike following the command.

“As I said, we’re wiping out all garbage involved in human trafficking before heading to Seoul. Cleanly.”

“Can I ask one question?”

Phoenix nodded at Deokbae’s inquiry.

“Ngh.”

“…Why do we have to kill everyone? Compared to your power, we’re just commoners.”

Including Jung-yoon, the total count was thirteen. Following Phoenix’s orders, Deokbae crushed the heads of each member called to the hideout using his smartphone.

“I get it, you’re some kind of monster. But why?”

“Mr. Deokbae.”

Phoenix smirked mockingly.

“If we leave even one person alive, who knows what consequences might arise? If someone reports us to the police, it could get annoying. And if my face gets recognized and wanted posters go up, it would restrict future operations.”

“So that’s why you told me to beat them all to death?”

“There are various reasons, but ultimately…”

Phoenix shrugged.

“Justice realization?”

“What?”

“Hmm. Sorry, just testing out some nonsense. Anyway, that’s the end of your questions, right? We’re busy, so let’s hurry up and move.”

Snatching the veil from Deokbae, Phoenix sniffed it briefly before stuffing it into her crossbody bag.

“Hum hum hoooom♪♬”

Whistling cheerfully while tapping on her smartphone, Phoenix walked ahead. Following behind, Deokbae pulled his hood tightly over his head.

‘She’s insane.’

Truly, a mindless existence.