Chapter 232

〈 Chapter 232 〉 Part 1, Chapter 11, Section 2

<July 2nd, Caspian Sea riverside.>

After escaping from the triple barrier set by the three executives, I learned the entire story from Seok Harang.

After my hairpin – which was practically a split personality of mine – got broken in half (and later I heard the one given to the dragon broke as well), Seok Harang scoured the entire Caspian Sea looking for traces of me.

“But there was no trace of you, just some weird ominous presence that felt like a wild boar or something. So I fished it out on a hunch, and what do you know, someone had dumped you in cement inside a drum right in the middle of the Caspian Sea and fled.”

I personally confirmed the remaining footage on Seok Harang’s smartwatch. The three executives had encased me in cement inside a drum and chucked me into the middle of the Caspian Sea before fleeing.

“Thank goodness. At least I couldn’t hear whatever they were saying inside.”

“Is that all you have to say right now?! Do you have any idea how much chaos you caused? We almost had to call in reinforcements!”

“It’s fine since nothing happened, so don’t worry. But speaking of which…”

I pointed at the blonde man standing behind Seok Harang.

“Is it okay for you to reveal your true colors like this when your boss is right behind you?”

“What nonsense are you spouting-”

“Seoyea.”

Behind Seok Harang stood Gawein, a golden-haired middle-aged man who looked like a drowned rat, staring expressionlessly between me and Seok Harang.

“You two need to explain your relationship in detail unless you’re lovers…?”

Gawein immediately saw through my true identity. I didn’t hide my magic power while breaking out of the barrier, and Gawein realized Beast Tamer Cheongnyeon’s true form.

“T-this… Well, you see…”

Seok Harang knew enough to be polite in tone but lacked the wit to come up with an excuse. I shook my head after grabbing Seok Harang’s hand flailing about and bowed to Gawein.

“I know you have a lot to say. But I also have something to ask you.”

“…What is it?”

“Why did Dark Legion executive Penril of Gale suddenly appear from the British royal family?”

“…”

Gawein fell silent. Neither of us could avoid interrogating each other.

“Looks like we both-”

“Need to have a conversation.”

Fortunately, Gawein was reasonable. Though I wanted to hear the truth from Gawein’s mouth right there, the arrival of SS-Rank and S-Rank special ability users disrupted the timing.

“How did you end up like this?!”

“…I sense traces here. Not one, but three.”

“I smell earthworms, cats, and snakes…?”

“It’s land snakes, wolves, and dragons. Seriously, why did so many people swarm here like it’s the end of the world?”

Many people shouted in anger at my words. Anastasha grabbed my collar and shook me, forgetting Seok Harang was right next to her.

“Explain quickly! What happened?!”

“A-alright, let go of me first. …Let’s all return to Seoul first. I’ll explain there.”

I needed some time to cool off in Seoul. After receiving my promise to tell all the truths I could, others stopped questioning me.

Blue Wind Sect, Round Table Heroes, and various others.

I invited them to Yeouido.

And I had to explain in detail about the hidden side of the world.

Of course, naturally.

This world was actually inside a game, and I had entered the game world.

And I didn’t mention a single word about Blazing Phoenix’s existence.

* * *

<July 2nd, 5 PM, Blue Wind Sect Meeting Room at Yeouido>

Those gathered in the conference room were enveloped in silence. My presentation left them speechless.

“Isn’t this grand secret of the world too simplified?”

Lighthouse Ji Hwa clearly disliked my presentation, especially the way I explained things. I checked the screen displayed on the monitor and asked Girohwa.

“I tried to condense it as much as possible because explaining everything would take too long. Is there a problem?”

“Too condensed. Too much.”

Phantom Cheon Gaeul read aloud what I summarized from top to bottom.

“December 25th, 1999. The Overlord opened the Dimensional Gate and dispatched Dark Legion executives. ‘The Bloody Week’ occurred.

2020, present.

December 25th, 2025. The Overlord revisits Earth, brainwashes executives, and triggers their berserk mode, leading to Earth’s destruction. End.”

“Isn’t this a perfect summary connecting past, present, and future?”

“There’s a typo though.”

Sky Castle Ryu Cheonseong criticized while gesturing rudely. I gave him a slight sneer before ignoring him.

“I’m open to questions.”

“Maybe you should start from the beginning.”

Palace Yu I-shin raised their hand high, interrupting my progress. Others sitting around the table nodded vigorously in agreement with Yu I-shin.

“Boss, everyone here knows different things. We might have heard bits and pieces, but what about those people?”

Architect James Lee pointed at the round table where members of the Round Table sat. Those seated at the actual round table, even Anastasha who had a deep connection with me, didn’t look pleased.

“Uh… There’s something I really want to say.”

Seok Harang raised their hand enthusiastically beside Anastasha. I nodded, granting them permission to speak, and watched as Seok Harang’s finger swept across the room.

“People here either don’t know each other or don’t know who’s who. Fine, maybe it’s not the time for introductions. But everyone’s so distracted they can’t focus on the conversation at all.”

“…”

Seok Harang’s finger stopped at a black mask. A mysterious figure wearing a black mask among the Blue Wind Sect executives avoided Seok Harang’s gaze and remained silent. Seok Harang silently conveyed something to me through a spirit.

“This person…”

[Do I really have to have this tearful family reunion in such a situation?]

“…”

Seok Harang must’ve been imagining their own family reunion, but somehow I ended up gathering everyone here in one spot. Fortunately, others didn’t recognize that the masked figure was Light Blade.

“Well, he’s the most crucial party involved. Thanks to this man’s technique, humanity was saved. Stand up, savior of humanity.”

Ignoring protests from others, I clapped my hands and made the mysterious masked person stand up. Though he strongly resisted my hand, he reluctantly touched his mask after Anastasha nodded.

“…”

He removed his helmet-like mask, revealing a face that had returned to his youthful twenties, unlike the last time we met. His once-black hair had turned platinum white.

“Who are you?”

People asked. He seemed momentarily relieved that no one recognized him. I urged him to introduce himself.

“What’s your name?”

“…Dark Justice Officer. You may call me that now.”

The elderly tone from the young man’s mouth threw people off. Seok Harang collapsed helplessly onto the table, their face turning bright red with embarrassment.

“Excuse me, why did you summon us?”

Representatives from the hero side raised their hands. Executioner Baek Hee-a and a few others from the association would’ve fought us instantly without mediation from the Round Table.

Moreover, since revealing myself as Phoenix was a prerequisite for continuing this discussion…

“Normally, there’d be no reason to tell you all this.”

Since three executives woke up from their slumber and started moving, we needed to clear up misunderstandings and seek cooperation. Even if the heroes discover I’m Phoenix, as long as the public doesn’t find out, it’s fine.

“Now that you’re hearing the truth about the hidden side of the world, you’re all accomplices in saving the world from destruction. Before arguing over heroes and villains, let’s protect Earth first. After that, you can arrest the villains or humiliate the heroes. Okay? Alright?”

No one left their seat. I called my teaching assistant to help with the explanation.

“Then, Assistant No. 2, come out.”

“Geez, making me explain history in front of everyone. This is awkward.”

Deokbae appeared in a suit opposite the screen.

“Why are you here?”

Chun Gaeul questioned Deokbae’s position. Among the numerous S-Rank special ability users, Deokbae, merely a B-Rank monster, standing next to me seemed quite odd.

“I might forget some parts while explaining.”

“This guy keeps calling me over to rant endlessly, my ears bled blood.”

Deokbae is the person who knows second most about the hidden side of this world after me. But people didn’t seem to believe that.

“No matter how knowledgeable you are as a Blue Wind Sect executive, you’re not qualified to explain beside Customer…”

“Do you know how many people I’ve taught? Sixteen in total, names, ages, attributes, everything.”

“Alright, that’s sufficient. Continue please.”

Euyuha, Chun Gaeul, Seok Harang, Xiao Lin, Hikari, Baek Hee-a, Hydra, Park Ra-on.

An overwhelming aura flowed from the heroines gathered here, leaving me momentarily speechless.

“Don’t say strange things.”

“That’s what you told me.”

“…Let’s start with how this world became like this.”

I changed the topic. Everyone looked at me skeptically, but as I began my introduction, they lowered their voices and listened intently.

“December 25th, 2025. The world will end. Completely annihilated by seven monsters. And one of those monsters is me, Blazing Phoenix.”

* * *

First, we need to explain the origin of these special abilities, right?

No interruptions during the lecture. Even if you’re curious, hold your questions. You won’t understand half of it anyway.

Probably the person closest to the truth is sitting right there, Miss Himeji Hikari, younger sister of Gale Guest, or the hypothesis of Professor Do, Korea’s special ability researcher. It’s called the ‘Alternate World Theory,’ isn’t it? Yeah. The magic power we use comes from another world.

Starting with the name ‘Dimensional Gate,’ isn’t it obvious? Gates between dimensions. Our world, where spirits lived, was called ‘Terra.’ It faced an alien invasion and perished. Now, the monsters coming through the dimensional gates you know are aliens’ subjugated and maddened subjects.

So, aliens conquered Terra and are trying to conquer Earth using Terra’s inhabitants.

Then what exactly are spirits? The magic power you use is divided into seven attributes: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Light, Darkness, and Spirit. Each attribute has its own source of power, and the beings that gained self-awareness and physical forms from these sources are spirits. I am the spirit of fire, Blazing Phoenix.

So this guy’s the top dog from another world, huh?

Top dog, considering your age… Anyway, spirits tried to resist the alien attack until the end. But just like how dimensional gates open on Earth now, Terra also couldn’t withstand the full-scale alien invasion. They held out, held out, but eventually fell. And the spirits became vanguards for invading another dimension.

They brainwashed the strongest seven and turned them into slaves. Like ‘Ohhh! Master Alien, your penis is amazing!’ state, cough!

That’s accurate but maintain some decorum, Assistant No. 2. …Though it’s technically correct, so I can’t deny it. No, it’s not like they were actually raped by aliens. Don’t misunderstand that. Luckily, the ‘Overlord’ alien didn’t have that kind of preference. Instead, they had somewhat unique tastes.

Evil Organization Dark Legion!

…Don’t laugh. Especially the two former executives and one potential executive. This ridiculous organization has a future filled with Earth’s destruction. The Overlord turned the brainwashed spirits into executives of an evil organization.

Blazing Phoenix.

Seoyea’s Rusalka.

Penril of Gale.

Ji Ryun’s Hydra.

Gaechonkwang Karna.

Maamryong Azidahaka.

Chaos Dragon… Is that right?

Accurate. These seven spirits were brainwashed by the Overlord, and their corrupted magic powers turned them into monsters. The creatures you’re familiar with, like the water buffalo dragon or wind dragon, are copies created while transforming spirits into monsters. Copies are S-Rank, monsters are SS-Rank.

Like that Chaos thing from China, if Miss Cheongnyeon hadn’t caught it, probably 1.3 billion people would’ve been devoured?

They’re strong monsters. Really. It takes a truckload of S-Rank special ability users to barely suppress one terrifying monster. Luckily, I’ve already taken precautions with myself and two others, so only four executives remain. To undo their brainwashing, we need to completely overthrow the Overlord and whoever’s pulling the strings behind them.

So when I went to catch that Gale guy, whoops, three popped up simultaneously? I thought I’d lose alone, so I gathered all of you. Not to waste time.

Let’s call it strategic cooperation. Sorry, I almost got sealed, disgusting, cough. Don’t glare at me so fiercely. I escaped on my own, right? Anyway, aside from me and the two I’ve freed from brainwashing, the remaining four are truly determined to destroy the world. They’re probably plotting to conquer Earth even as we speak. Penril hiding in the British royal family was genuinely unexpected.

You never know. Other ones might be hiding behind governments, agencies, or organizations.

So I gathered all of you as a precaution against unforeseen circumstances. Ahem. Excuse me for a moment.

* * *

I moistened my throat with the strawberry latte placed in the tumbler and raised my hand.

“Anyone have questions up to this point?”

Everyone raised their hands.