Chapter 288

〈 Chapter 288 〉 Part 1, Chapter 13, Section 5

<July 23, 2020, 11:00 AM, Baegnaroh, Phoenix’s Private Room.>

“Absolutely never cook rice again.”

I gave Seok Harang a stern warning, and on the screen, Seok Harang hung her head, unable to say a word.

[No, but… I didn’t even get enough practice before trying this! What am I supposed to do?!]

At first, Seok Harang tried to make excuses but then got angry instead. She carefully rephrased her words since there were other people around. I was doing the same. Even though I blocked it with magic power, Baek Hee-a’s eyes and ears were everywhere on this ship.

[Then you should’ve taught me properly from the start!]

“Should I teach you that? It’s all about instinct, right? You know how much water to put in when boiling noodles for ramen, don’t you?”

[I don’t eat ramen, so how would I know?]

“……”

I forgot. Seok Harang is completely into Western cuisine, and her lifestyle is totally different from the average person. Before I took care of her—and in the original story—she only ate one meal a day, and that was all dried food delivered to her.

“Still, don’t you boil some kind of noodle regularly?”

[The only noodles I cook are pasta, and I throw away the water.]

“Haa…”

Thanks to her 12 years in an orphanage and immense wealth from a young age, Seok Harang’s palate is filled with Western dishes and takeout food. She can’t even estimate how much water to put in for ramen, so naturally, she also failed to control how much magical energy to channel into another person’s body.

“Just how much did you overload them with…. Haa.”

[But still, it’s fine, right? We’re SS Rank now, isn’t that great?!]

“If someone who made 3 million a year suddenly starts making 30 million a month, or even 30 million a day, how do you think their spending habits would change?”

[I’ve been earning more than that since I was 12. Isn’t the SS rank evaluation too low?]

Somehow, she contradicts everything I say. Seok Harang’s points aren’t wrong, but I feel exasperated by how she twists my perfect metaphors into nonsense.

“If Deokbae were here, he’d understand immediately.”

[…That rock-like uncle?]

“Uncle? That… no, forget it. Anyway, if your specs suddenly skyrocket from A Rank to SS Rank, can a person really adapt to that? It takes at least a few days just to adjust to S Rank.”

[It’s fine!]

Seok Harang confidently stuck out her thumb.

[Unsah is a heroine too! She’ll definitely overcome this.]

“This hero mentality is driving me insane. Ugh.”

While Seok Harang’s growth in a positive direction is true, and Unsah undoubtedly has incredible mental strength…

“Still, please be careful moving forward. How could you give Usa 10,000 units and fill Unsah completely?”

[Well, it won’t happen again! But why are you criticizing me so harshly? I made a mistake, sure, but people make mistakes sometimes, right?]

“……”

Seok Harang clenched her teeth and glared at me as if upset while speaking. But I didn’t try to soothe her.

“I precisely raised Lee Seung-hyeong to S Rank and planted a bomb that will gradually increase his power over time.”

[Bomb?!]

“It’s a metaphor.”

[Or is it? Whatever. If you did something like that to that guy, there must’ve been a reason. You wouldn’t have done it out of boredom, right?]

I had nothing to say. But I’m not retracting my statement either.

“That bomb will grow larger as Huakwon develops, and someday it’ll go ‘Boom!'”

[Are you talking about potential? Every time I think about it, I keep getting strange ideas…]

“Yes, potential. The explosion refers to reaching SS Rank.”

As for Cheon Gaeul, I decided to let it go. I removed the fuse from the bomb I planted in Lee Seung-hyeong’s heart. If I wanted, I could make the clock tick again, but I have no intention of blowing up Lee Seung-hyeong.

[It’s unsettling… Does that mean I haven’t accidentally blown up any seniors?]

“Blood reflux could easily destroy everyone… Sorry.”

Seok Harang turned pale at just the thought of what I said.

[Don’t say scary things. …Did I do something like that?]

Seok Harang asked me anxiously, and I hesitated for a moment. Since communication doesn’t reveal magical energy, lying might work.

[Well, if I went crazy and did something…]

However, Seok Harang immediately realized who committed the act I described just by my hesitation. Lowering her head briefly, she declared firmly.

[No way. I will absolutely never become like that. And I won’t become like you either.]

Unlike me, whose feet almost touch black but lean toward gray, Seok Harang vowed not to cross the white line. And I didn’t wish for her to make the same choices as me.

“…Please, at least try. I’ll handle everything you can’t.”

[What? Are you telling me to get blood on my hands?!]

“I’ll use subordinates if necessary, so don’t worry. If worse comes to worst, I’ll step in.”

I already saw the potential of Blue Wind Sect when I killed the snake at City Hall. S Rank is sufficient; three S Ranks should be manageable.

“Anyway, thanks to our Miss Seoul Recovery Operation dumping too much water, we’ve birthed an SS Rank. Real combat strength is probably A Rank level, but I’ll raise it well.”

[What do you mean by raising it? Are you thinking of training Unsa like you did me?]

“Nope? Unsa doesn’t need separate guidance. Just a word from me, and she’ll naturally grow to SS Rank.”

Combined with Park Ra-on’s natural talent and my coaching, even a focused three-day training session could surpass S Rank and truly reach SS Rank.

“Together with Xiao Lin, they’ll form a dual top in personal combat strength.”

[…Who exactly is this lady?]

“Hmm… Starting point?”

[???]

Yuinah, Park Ra-on, Kim Nori.

The first companions joining the protagonist’s team, the heroines, each possessing the world’s best qualities in their respective attributes.

“The only weakness this being currently has is magical power, which you’ve erased.”

[If I fight her under the assumption she’s SS Rank, who would win?]

Seok Harang subtly worried as she asked me about the match between herself and Park Ra-on.

“Assuming equal magical power levels.”

[Y-yeah.]

“If Park Ra-on fights 100 times, she wins 99.”

[…What about the one time?]

I recalled the single battle where Park Ra-on lost to Seok Harang.

“Mo-e-sa?”

[What’s that supposed to mean?!]

The moment when Seok Harang, who looks like an ice queen to anyone, acted cute in Busan dialect, causing Park Ra-on to nosebleed, remains vivid in my memory.

“You can only beat her through magical power, so keep improving. Or reach Myth level.”

[Is that even possible? …….]

Seok Harang fidgeted and bit her lips.

[Should I just go to Russia later?]

“……”

I fully understood how much pride Seok Harang had to swallow to ask me this question. In the original story, she never visited the grave of the deceased Light Blade until after having a child, finally gathering the courage to face the truth.

“If you’re thinking of going…”

I reached out and tapped the screen twice.

“I’ll accompany you then.”

[…That’s very kind of you. Got it. Hurry back. I’ll wait for you… Oh, by the way.]

Seok Harang fanned herself with her hand and smiled.

[Blue Wind Sect’s stats were revealed, right? There’s chaos happening now. Chaos!]

“Chaos…?”

[Yeah.]

Seok Harang pointed to her wrist and lifted her thumb.

[Gaeul-nim, they say she’s the world’s first S Rank Illusion Magic user, right?]

“Oh.”

I forgot.

* * *

Even if Qinghua goes abroad together, sending too many heroes inevitably leads to significant loss of strength.

Seok Harang became the final bastion after Light Blade, and the association deployed five additional latent power users optimized to support Qinghua.

A Rank: Unsah, Usa, Pungbaek, Tempest Lady.

And S Rank: Huakwon.

People might wonder what five members could possibly achieve, but these were the elite heroes who commanded both flanks during the Seoul Recovery Operation. With Huakwon added, the public was quite satisfied with the composition of the dispatched team.

– Why worry when we’ve got Huakwon, who defeated the Flame Dragon in one hit?

Huakwon Seok Harang’s past exploits against Black Sand Gall and Rasputin showcased his prowess against numerous S Ranks, slightly lacking in some areas but overall highly regarded. The public had no objections to the association’s limited forces.

The issue lay in the number of participants from Blue Wind Sect.

Apart from Qinghua herself and Black Flame Dragon, only two female heroes from Blue Wind Sect participated.

– Are the others just Qinghua’s maids?

– Is the Flame Giant not coming? Or maybe the Flame Giant is secretly a girl?

With only two powers, the public couldn’t help but question and doubt the strength of Blue Wind Sect. This sentiment spread among the heroes as well.

“Let’s skip <Robin> for now.”

“My name is <Gongsung> now.”

Usa passed over Gongsung Yu I-shin, a renowned ability user even during the Pine Tree Brigade era. Both Tempest Lady and Usa had fought alongside Gongsung and advanced as far as Guro.

“…”

Tempest Lady looked at Gongsung with a complicated expression. The sharpness was gone, replaced by a gentle breeze-like demeanor, yet there was an air of superiority flowing from her.

“…”

Unsa alternated her gaze between Gongsung and herself, clearly confused. After seeking permission from the Executioner, Gongsung introduced herself to the heroes.

“<Gongsung> Yu I-shin. Palace soldier, wind magician, and quasi-S Rank.”

“…”

Pungbaek simultaneously sighed and marveled. Yu I-shin, once B Rank average, had grown strong enough to call herself quasi-S Rank after joining Blue Wind Sect, and it wasn’t exaggerated.

“Does Blue Wind Sect have some secret method to becoming stronger?”

“Yes, there are various methods…”

Gongsung bitterly smiled and shook her head.

“You abandon your humanity.”

“Eh? Then that’s settled. I’ll just enjoy my full lifespan.”

Yu I-shin subtly revealed herself as a monster, further complicating the other heroes’ gazes. While exceeding limits brought strength, Gongsung transcended those limits through death.

“Is there any benefit to becoming a monster? Hmm, if it’s just about getting stronger…”

“At least you can resurrect after dying. You don’t age, thus don’t grow old. Most importantly, you don’t experience ‘that’ day.”

Gongsung adjusted her phrasing for the men present. Phantom, sitting beside her chair, mocked with a mask on.

“Periods stop.”

“Pfft.”

Huakwon, about to drink water, spewed it out. Everyone felt uncomfortable at Phantom’s explicit comment. Shrugging, Phantom stood up amidst the gathered gazes.

“<Phantom>.”

“…Is that all?”

“Do you want me to explain my name, age, and three sizes too?”

Phantom taunted somewhat arrogantly. It was clearly a psychological battle against the heroes, and Tempest Lady wasn’t about to lose.

“I’m not interested in those. I want to know your value as a power.”

“Hmph.”

Phantom sneered and mocked. As Tempest Lady balled her fists, the Executioner raised a hand to mediate.

“Enough. Don’t fight inside the ship. Tempest Lady, calm down, and Phantom, refrain from provocation.”

“Tch.”

“Got it.”

The two abilities stepped back. Phantom’s level remained unknown to everyone, and attention shifted to Huakwon, the only one with any prior interaction.

“Huakwon, didn’t you fight Phantom before?”

“…Yes.”

Huakwon kept glancing at Phantom. Phantom nudged Huakwon’s knee with a crossed leg.

“Why are you staring like that? Sit up straight.”

“…Alright, alright. Huff.”

Huakwon sighed, then corrected his posture.

“We fought once in Gwanak, and I won.”

“Yeah, but that was ages ago. Things are different now. I’ve gotten stronger too.”

Phantom swung a punch in the air, showing off her power. Despite her slender wrists extending, the heroes muttered but still couldn’t figure out Phantom’s identity.

“…Won’t you tell us soon? We already know you’re an illusionist.”

Finally unable to bear it, Baek Hee-a stepped forward to clarify the situation. Phantom had no intention of teasing the heroes further.

“Illusionist… yeah, that works. I’m <Phantom>. A Blue Wind Sect ability user, and S Rank. Happy?”

“…S Rank?”

Everyone froze at Phantom’s casual declaration. Even Huakwon, who knew Phantom’s true identity, widened his eyes. Phantom was rather surprised herself.

“What? What’s so surprising? S Rank isn’t that extraordinary.”

“…Phantom, Blue Wind Sect is extraordinary.”

To Phantom, S Ranks were common, but until half a year ago, Korea only had two.

“Heheh.”

Baek Hee-a looked lovingly at Phantom and Gongsung.

“There’s one, two, three S Ranks in Korea… Heheh.”

“…”

<Gongsung> Yu I-shin, A+, Wind Attribute 89.

<Phantom> Cheon Gaeul, S+, Illusion Magic 95.

<Black Flame Dragon> Guok Yong-woo, S+. Fire Attribute 95.

These three monsters were essentially core powers of Blue Wind Sect, cultivated by Phoenix to the brink of the next stage.

“Illusion magic may be rare, but am I really the first? Seriously, what have the heroes been doing until now?”

“…”

Phantom’s words left everyone speechless.

* * *

[Why is Gaeul-nim the first?]

“The Illusion Dragon was likely sleeping inside a sealed container, blocking all magical flow.”

Phoenix’s opinion.

Looking at all the heroes worldwide, Cheon Gaeul’s original Illusion Magic talent of 88 was undoubtedly among the top three.

“The fact that the Illusion Dragon blocks magic while sleeping means fewer people awakened to Illusion Magic.”

[So the reason there are fewer Fire Attributes than S Ranks is because of you?]

“…”