Chapter 248

〈Chapter 248〉 Part 1, Chapter 11, Section 18

<9:30 AM, Blue Wind Sect Hideout Conference Room>

After recovering from breakfast and regaining our composure, we reconvened for an emergency meeting.

Following the collapse of the Princess Bo-ssam Plan before it even began, I was brainstorming ideas with the officers to rescue Light Blade.

“Let’s pool our wisdom so that our poor SS-Rank Monster comrade doesn’t have his wife NTR’d by some Western princeling.”

I gave a brief explanation about Rasputin, and both male and female officers felt fear toward him.

“What… is that thing human?”

“That’s…”

“Ahhh, this is too disgusting to even talk about.”

Deokbae had completely avoided his seat. The hologram-like projection of Rasputin’s penis, which I had manifested with flames, was spinning on the table.

“Excuse me…”

Gongsung swallowed hard as he picked up the holographic penis. The uncomfortable gazes of the officers intensified when he compared its size to his own stomach.

“Kyeeek.”

Even Gongsung, who had considerable experience, screamed. Rasputin’s glans easily surpassed his stomach, reaching all the way to his chest.

“As you can see, this monstrosity is extremely dangerous. Not even a Rusalka could withstand it.”

“No way. No matter what, there’s no way a Rusalka would submit.”

“And when it curls around the cervix, the target is instantly mesmerized.”

“Alright then. Guess we’ll just have to kill it. Let’s start by cutting it in half.”

“Shouldn’t we go to Russia first? Are you suggesting we go to Russia right now?”

Lighthouse restrained Light Blade, who was about to lose control. Light Blade, unlike Na or Seok Harang, couldn’t fly, nor did he possess the ability to run across the skies like Gale Guest.

Though he had reached SS-Rank in swordsmanship, he needed transportation.

“If we borrow Crimson Earth from Xiao Lin…”

“Crimson Earth used for assassination? No way. It only allows virgins to ride since it’s based on a unicorn.”

“Wait… she’s a virgin? Whoa, that’s wild. She’s practically advertising her virginity worldwide.”

“…Everyone probably didn’t know Crimson Earth was based on a unicorn.”

While Shaolin was semi-virginal, Crimson Earth would likely continue carrying her master even if she lost her virginity, though she now runs faster than before.

“We can send you to Russia, Light Blade. But have you considered what will happen if you kill Rasputin?”

“Anastasha would be pleased.”

“Of course she’d be happy to see her beloved husband, but have you thought about how we’ll deal with any revelations afterward? I’m still getting cursed out everywhere for being called a ‘Hero Killer.'”

One reason Villain <Phoenix> isn’t revered as a Dark Hero is due to having a criminal record of ‘Hero Murder.’

“So, let’s put killing on hold. Calm down and see if we can find another way. Fortunately, we still have time before heading to India.”

The issue with Karna was important, but it was unreasonable to board a private jet and leave Korea for India immediately.

I contacted Baek Hee-a about our intention to visit India, and she was quite pleased about Blue Youth officially visiting abroad after about a month.

– It’s a great opportunity to elevate national prestige. Understood. So when should we depart?

– Is an hour from now possible?

– …Launching the Baegnaroh isn’t something that can be done as quickly as roasting beans over lightning. There are procedural issues, and it will take at least two days. No matter how urgent, you can’t make such reckless requests.

– My heart is restless. Urgent. Please do your best to expedite.

After ending the call with Baek Hee-a, I informed everyone that we had at least a day.

And I intended to use that time for this unfortunate couple.

“First, ways to enter Russia. We could sneak in through official channels or use Yuha’s private jet.”

“Why complicate things? Just spill everything. Shouldn’t I just kneel in front of Seok Harang and say ‘I’m sorry’?”

“Seok Harang all of a sudden?”

As expected, Jo Deok-bae’s advice to Light Blade was just as absurd. His suggestion drew everyone’s attention.

“Listen, if we just open up, won’t Russia understand? What if Anastasha says she brought her husband from Korea? And that her husband is the supposedly deceased SS-Rank special abilities user, Light Blade? And that Light Blade’s daughter is also an SS-Rank special abilities user named Seol Hwa Ryeong? How would the Russian people react?”

Deok-bae slammed the table and shouted.

“Wow! Anastasha brought two SS-Rank individuals from Korea! If she keeps doing this, all the SS-Rank individuals might come from Korea! That’s what they’ll think!”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Sit down. If meeting Light Blade and Seok Harang were easy, we would’ve done it already.”

“Of course, that doesn’t mean what you did was right, Light Blade.”

“…I understand.”

But words cut deeper than swords, and Jo Deok-bae’s words pierced Light Blade’s heart like daggers. Yet Deok-bae pounded his chest as if choking.

“This time, let me say what I want. Why don’t you tell Seok Harang? Why can’t you say it? You’re my daughter! Hyeon Yun-hwan is your father! Why can’t you say it?”

“How am I supposed to say it when I left you in foster care for 12 years and only brought you back to find you’ve been raised as his disciple?”

Ga-eul joined in with sharp criticism, adding fuel to Deok-bae’s accusations. Contrary to Light Blade’s heroic actions, he had lived estranged not just from family but almost abandoned them.

Jo Deok-bae, who lived without family,

and Cheon Ga-eul, who shared love with her family,

left Light Blade caught between their differing perspectives.

“…Even if scolded a hundred times, I have nothing to say in my defense.”

He loved his late wife, and his anger and resentment towards the world were mistakenly directed at his child—Seok Harang—but Light Blade’s wrongdoings toward Seok Harang were clear.

“Let’s see. Starting from leaving Seok Harang at the orphanage, never seeing her face until she was 12, possibly tampering with genetic test results, and oh, more…”

“Yeah. I’m a bastard.”

“So I killed him accordingly.”

…Since Seok Harang’s route often begins with hearing rumors about Light Blade from others, some even requested to travel back in time to half-kill their father.

“…Hmm, family matters are complex, so it’s not something to criticize lightly.”

“We’re frustrated, but how much worse must it be for him?”

Seeing Light Blade become too despondent, the officers expressed their sympathy. Architect patted Light Blade’s slumped shoulders in comfort.

“Isn’t he a man who hasn’t seen another woman in 20 years and has only gazed at his deceased wife?”

“Do you two know each other well?”

“Drinking buddies. Similar ages, so we got along quickly.”

We didn’t realize they had a connection. Architect revealed that during the time Rusalka disappeared, he grew closer to Light Blade while drinking to drown his loneliness.

“…No. For 25 years, no sex, and he attempts suicide.”

“…”

Public opinion shifted from criticism to sympathy for Hyeon Yun-hwan. Especially Architect’s gaze changed to one of pity for a pitiful child. Light Blade hung his head deeply in lamentation.

“…I’m just sorry. I’m trying, but it’s not easy. Bringing Harang back at 12 was the best I could do.”

“You took her in as a disciple.”

“Apologizing to us is fine, but shouldn’t you say sorry to Seol Hwa Ryeong?”

“Then Seok Harang could get along with Anastasha, and the Russians would feel reassured.”

“If that happened, Seok Harang would probably have become a deity by now. They really resemble each other in this aspect. Oh dear.”

Light Blade glared fiercely at me when I criticized him.

“…If only the circumstances were right, both me and Rusalka could sit down and talk with Harang.”

Why does he react so sharply to my words when he listens carefully to others’? I seized on Light Blade’s words.

“Are you serious?”

“What?”

He seemed genuinely surprised that I would respond this way, his eyes flickering uneasily.

“I’m not joking. If you say you want to meet Seok Harang, I’ll kidnap Rusalka for you. Phoenix borrowed for this purpose kills SS-Rank heroes, so kidnapping a bride at a wedding should be easy, right? Then we’ll make an announcement.”

I stood up from the sofa, stretching my arms toward the sky.

“The national treasure of Russia, Princess Anastasha, shall be wed to this Phoenix! Externally speaking.”

“Externally… Right. Since Phoenix is separate from Blue Wind Sect, direct protests won’t be possible.”

The separation between Blue Wind Sect and Dark Legion.

This point offers many advantages for behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

“Of course, the Vladimir family isn’t entirely foolish, so our relationship will inevitably deteriorate significantly.”

Ji Hwa clicked his tongue regretfully. Jihwa added his own opinion to my statement, and gradually other officers began sharing theirs.

“Just making the whole country furious is an option. What about this? You, Light Blade, kidnap your wife and run away from the whole world.”

One suggestion: Have Light Blade kidnap the bride and flee.

“Why not break off the engagement by any means necessary? After all, it’s a political marriage. Sorry for not visiting often. But from now on, I’ll visit Russia frequently. Let’s cancel the marriage. Isn’t that enough? Just canceling the marriage is the goal.”

A suggestion to break off the engagement by any means necessary.

“Consider this: just as our people tried to protect Blue Youth from foreign hands by linking <Blue Youth> and <Hwakwon>, the Russians combined <Undine> and <Rasputin> to prevent them from going elsewhere. So, creating a better fiancé than Rasputin—making Mr. Light Blade a Russian citizen, perhaps Victor Huh.”

A suggestion to compete for the engagement in the 21st century.

“Hasn’t he spent quite a bit of time in Korean soil? Never returned to Russia, right? Think about it like this—if Seol Hwa Ryeong were to spend about a month in America, I’d be sleepless worrying about sudden asylum news. Just buy a house in Korea. I’ll build you a nice building.”

A suggestion to set up a vacation home in Korea.

“…If I refute each one, it’ll take all night.”

Light Blade found all the suggestions offered by the officers troubling. Watching silently, Deok-bae suddenly slammed the table and stood up.

“If we keep discussing aimlessly like this, I’m leaving. Hey, can I talk to you privately for a moment?”

Deok-bae signaled me to step aside with a stern look, surprising the officers. But I raised my hand to stop them and stood up.

“Alright. I was wanting to get some fresh air anyway. Ten-minute break.”

Ultimately, the unproductive meeting was paused, and I followed Deok-bae’s invitation to the rooftop.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Yeah. Even though I’ve given you plenty of hints, you’ve resisted.”

Standing on the wide-open rooftop, Deok-bae exhaled deeply to steady his breathing.

“You keep pushing Light Blade to face Seok Harang directly, but is there any particular reason you’re avoiding forcing them to meet?”

“Yes. As always, Second-in-Command knows well.”

This wasn’t something to discuss in front of Light Blade. I cast a barrier so that no one—especially Light Blade—could hear.

“Didn’t I mention that spirits awaken through love?”

“Yeah. But I don’t even sense what kind of love that is.”

“It’s not necessarily romantic love between genders. Though that’s ideal, each officer values different kinds of love.”

I depicted the Seok Harang family with flames. Clearly, the separated three-family member household wasn’t exactly harmonious or warm.

“What does Seok Harang, who grew up without parents, lack most?”

“Mother and father.”

“Such coarse language.”

“Where parents act like parents, polite words naturally follow. They parade around claiming meetings are good but tremble in fear and avoid seeing their child. If I could just curse, I would’ve said ‘S’ seven times just now. What’s wrong with parents?”

“Righteous words, indeed. But let’s try expressing them more beautifully.”

I moved the flame figures into a family photo formation, arranging them to softly smile as if taking a picture.

“Family love.”

The flame-formed face of Seok Harang was smiling radiantly.

“Seok Harang needs a family.”