〈 Chapter 250 〉 Part 1, Chapter 11, 20
<Undine> Anastasha.
While on official business in Korea, she visited Busan and became utterly enchanted with pork rice soup. Already having a strong affinity for Korea, Anastasha began visiting every pork rice soup restaurant across Busan.
“Who’s the blonde foreigner tagging along?”
“No idea. Probably some Russian bodyguard.”
“I know Russia well, but there’s no handsome guy like that.”
“Then is that face Korean? Still, they sure do devour the rice soup! You gotta add kimchi juice!”
By her side, the golden youth constantly protected Anastasha from pesky flies. Fluent in Korean, he guided her all over Busan, extending her visit considerably.
“A motel owner here. Some foreign couple stayed overnight and trashed the place…”
“I heard they’re turning motels into pigsties. Be careful. The man changes disguises freely, while the woman looks exactly like Undine.”
“Turns out it *is* her.”
“Thought you were getting tea deliveries from Russia lol. They’ve been touring motels all day. Is Undine possessed or what?”
“Seriously, has the Round Table Hero been dating in Busan for almost a month now? Aren’t monsters stacking up in Russia?”
Initially thought to be a brief visit, Undine’s trip extended as people searched for her and the mysterious blonde youth.
This news eventually reached the Vladimir family. Suborof, Undine’s father, issued an ultimatum:
“Return within three days, or I’ll arrange an engagement.”
Undine didn’t return. On the third day, rumors spread of two blonde foreigners engaging in leash play at a park near Haeundae.
Suborof, asserting his daughter wasn’t so promiscuous, pushed forward with the engagement to Russia’s justice-filled S-Rank Special Ability user <Rasputin>, known as a monk who practices asceticism.
This engagement unsettled the Russian people. Meanwhile, Undine returned to Russia, fasting and staging a silent protest.
House arrest.
Anastasha had become a butterfly trapped in a gilded cage, while a great serpent loomed outside, licking its lips.
That was the trolling by Light Blade and Rusalka.
I sprinkled MSG onto this story for Baek Hee-a’s taste, reworking it into something akin to Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet.’
It was a scam, though.
***
“Undine meets a young man in Busan. They instantly recognize each other as soulmates and fall in love. But the young man is just an ordinary post-military 20-something, and their social statuses are vastly different. The young man devises a plan: dyeing his hair blonde so no one will recognize him.”
“Dyeing his hair blonde for love… how romantic!”
Being the scion of a powerful family, Baek Hee-a deeply empathized with Rusalka.
“The young man tells Undine on their first night together: ‘Let’s go to Russia. I’ll take full responsibility.’ But the young man firmly refuses: ‘I love you, but I can’t leave my homeland.'”
“What a noble young man!”
Actually, it was about not leaving Korea, but Light Blade staying in Korea was indeed true.
“…Ultimately, it was Undine who gave in. The young man showed her around all of Busan, introducing her to places where he lived, deeply impressing Undine with his simplicity. Remember that video? Mixing shrimp paste into the rice soup and adding kimchi broth.”
“Such love for Korean food! Coming from Russia, surely it wouldn’t suit her palate!”
Initially from another world, though Russian-born Anastasha is pure Russian, the Rusalka within her had spent a year living in Busan as a pregnant woman.
“And so they fell in love, but the world wouldn’t leave them alone. While Undine was in Korea, an arranged marriage was set up back home. By then, Undine couldn’t live without the young man.”
“Using strategic marriage to prevent international leakage… we tried that too, but failed repeatedly. I was also targeted.”
“…”
“Why the grimace?”
“It’s nothing.”
One useless piece of information added. Though slightly choked up, I kept my composure and continued the scam.
“So the young man, in desperation, walked all the way to Seoul. He asked Blue Wind Sect’s Black Flame Dragon to carry him to Russia.”
“Not seeking help from the nation, huh? Impressive.”
“…Think about that yourself. So, Executioner, what’s your opinion?”
Baek Hee-a bowed her head in deep thought. I anxiously awaited her verdict during her deliberation.
“If the young man is serious, there’s no choice but to go public. Announce: ‘Undine and I are in love. She’s now held captive by her family. I want to see her again.'”
“Riding the wave of public opinion?”
“Unfortunately, there’s no other way to help. You seek national assistance, right? In that case, there’s nothing much I can do. If the young man decides to go to Russia, I can expedite the procedures for him.”
“Tsk.”
Though a crucial chance to marry Rasputin into Korea, Baek Hee-a feared taking on the associated risks.
“As expected, it’s impossible.”
“Yes. With the rise of military power since the advent of special ability users, the Vladimir family leads the Russian military. …And international public opinion won’t be favorable.”
“He seems like a naive lover infatuated by love.”
“They’ll likely view it as a fleeting fling…”
“If the young man goes to Russia, I’d be willing to fund a bodyguard for him.”
“…Your intentions are clear.”
Baek Hee-a’s proposal.
Harness public support to gain legitimacy. Unlike the reckless methods of the Blue Wind Sect, it’s a fairly orthodox approach, but one I find distasteful.
“I’ll relay this to the young man. Is he prepared to wage war against all of Russia to rescue his beloved wife?”
“That sounds awfully dramatic. Wasn’t that the young man who was a Blue Wind Sect officer? How strong is he? A-Rank? Or is there an S-Rank Korean I don’t know about?”
“…Not S-Rank.”
SS-Rank. I swallowed my words, and Baek Hee-a sighed wistfully.
“Disappointing. If only he were stronger, we could try other methods.”
“Other methods?”
“For instance, the general, Undine’s father, reputedly said this many times?”
Baek Hee-a pulled up some data and showed me.
“To marry my daughter, defeat me first. Or achieve something everyone acknowledges.”
“Hmm.”
In that case, things change. I kept what I learned from Baek Hee-a close to heart and subtly hinted at it.
“If I manage to bring Undine over for marriage or naturalization, what would you offer?”
“Shall we hold the wedding at Gwanghwamun Square? With the Prime Minister officiating? Perhaps invite Seoul residents as guests? Hmm… for symbolic reasons, Busan might be better?”
Baek Hee-a trembled with excitement at the mere thought. I too shivered at her vision.
‘Realizing we haven’t even had a wedding yet?’
It felt strangely real, and somewhat terrifying.
***
Currently, I face three issues.
1. Traveling to India to capture Gaechonkwang Karna.
The most urgent among the three, but after the Kim Penril incident, I decided against relying solely on my own strength.
“There’s no reason to engage Karna in a 1-on-1 fight.”
Whatever Karna’s intention was in casually tossing the Cube to Seok Harang remains unknown. However, if Karna’s character hasn’t changed, he won’t flee India.
“One more day before heading to India.”
Baek Hee-a promised to activate Baegnaroh as soon as possible, and Yun Yuhwa fully supported the effort. There’s still some time before departing for India.
Next issue. If the first is the immediate main quest, the second is a subquest to strengthen allies.
2. Protecting Anastasha from Rasputin’s muscular advances.
There’s no way Rusalka would abandon Kwanggeom for Rasputin, but for the peace of Seok Harang’s family, I need to secure Anastasha.
“Surely other plans besides the ‘boiling’ scheme will emerge.”
Regarding the method, the senior members of the Blue Wind Sect will brainstorm solutions, and I’m unlikely to contribute much. Especially since my feelings towards Rasputin aren’t positive,
“Should just kill Rasputin and kidnap Rusalka.”
Doing so would immediately spark a Korea-Russia war. Apparently, Anastasha’s father loves his child dearly.
Thus, before Baegnaroh launches and the Blue Wind Sect finds a peaceful resolution, I must address the third issue efficiently.
The Cube.
To recover the Cube guarded by the Horogwan Locust in China, I traveled there as Phoenix.
* * *
<2 PM, Beijing Secret Illusory Dragon Group Base>
“What brings you here this time? We still haven’t located the other officers.”
Bonghyo, Baeg Cheongyoung emerged from the base to greet us. Regularly supplying S-Rank Cores to assist Phoenix while supporting Illusory Dragon, he was already informed of the world’s situation.
“Illusory Dragon?”
“Illusory Dragon is currently accompanying His Majesty on a national tour. Since the monsters haven’t been completely eradicated, His Majesty is personally dealing with any remaining threats while strengthening His powers.”
“Tsk. Pointless training.”
Illusory Dragon happened to be absent. Though inconvenient timing, it’s unwise to complain when arriving unannounced.
“In that case, since I’m here, I should ask you something.”
“Yes, please command.”
Fortunately, Baeg Cheongyoung is reasonable. Being off-topic might yield opinions I hadn’t considered.
“With the Russian princess in such a situation…”
Unlike Baek Hee-a, I briefly explained only the situation between Light Blade and Rusalka to Baeg Cheongyoung. It would have been easier to discuss and order if there weren’t other Illusory Dragon Group members present.
“Hmm, indeed. Such a situation.”
“Do you know anything about Russia?”
“Not everything, but what I know is useful. My suggestion is…”
Baeg Cheongyoung pointed downward with his finger and sliced through the air.
“Even if it’s a strategic marriage, it’s still a marriage. If the husband fails to perform, the engagement will naturally dissolve.”
“But the opponent possesses the strongest thing on Earth, doesn’t he?”
“Hehe, Phoenix Sir.”
Baeg Cheongyoung smirked as he lowered his divine ox carriage.
“If the problem is down below, turn him into a eunuch! And hand over the member to me. I’ll ask Illusory Dragon to transform it into a monster. Then pair it with a black sand gall Core-producing partner monster! Eliminate troublesome monsters and produce Cores—two birds with one stone!”
“Wow, that’s insane.”
I couldn’t help but laugh and applaud.
“Perfect.”
It’s an absolutely perfect off-topic solution. Except for Rasputin losing his manhood, it’s a flawless strategy to cancel the engagement.
“Adopted.”
“Hehe.”
Baeg Cheongyoung, good job saving him.
