Chapter 339

〈Chapter 339〉 Part 1, Chapter 14, Section 30

The heroes have returned!

SS-Rank Monster, Yasha defeated.

SS-Rank Monster, Kinna-ra defeated.

Furthermore, the apostle-ascension of SS-Rank Monster Garura.

On their way back, they even survived a dimensional gate terror attack by the villain <Mahatma>, and astonishingly managed to grow the dimensional gate and absorb it!

Thanks to the donation of Kinna-ra’s core for the reconstruction of Taj Mahal, the expedition team reaped an enormous amount of cores on their way back.

Though there were no S-rank cores, it was still far better than coming back empty-handed.

Honestly, even returning empty-handed would’ve been fine.

Just the fact that the elite A-rank Heroes had safely returned from a foreign land was already something to be thankful for, let alone the fact that they brought back an S-rank apostle and an S-rank special ability user.

Garura and Karna.

People from Seoul and New Seoul went all the way to Incheon to welcome them. However, Korea was in chaos, and it wasn’t in a situation where they could purely celebrate the return of the expedition team.

Daimado Island had collided with Busan.

Seol Hwa-ryeong successfully stopped Daimado Island’s advance at Busan, but only managed to halt its progress.

‘At any moment, Daimado can move again.’

People trembled in fear, the government staked everything on territorial disputes, and the residents of Daimado were also thrown into confusion.

‘I thought I’d cross over by boat, not on an island!’

Physically closer, yet they couldn’t leave Daimado Island. The primary reason was they couldn’t cross Seok Harang’s ice city wall, and secondarily, none dared to swim across the sea to set foot on Busan soil.

“MA! If you dare step here, I’ll crush your bones into powder!”

The anger of Busan people who suddenly lost part of their sea pierced through the heavens, and among them was an SS-rank special ability user native to Busan.

– Any unauthorized person entering Korean territory will be personally thrown back to Japan by me.

A man ignored Seok Harang’s warning, turning into an ice box and drifting all the way to Fukuoka. The man defrosted as soon as he touched land in Fukuoka, but the experience of floating 200km across the sea while frozen was indescribably terrifying.

Amidst the commotion in Busan and Incheon, Phoenix infiltrated New Seoul with an important person.

“Welcome, esteemed customer. Shall we begin with me?”

New Seoul, Yu Sung Family Mansion.

Yun Yuhwa greeted Phoenix and Karna with bloodshot eyes from staying up all night.

* * *

<New Seoul, Yu Sung Family Mansion>

“Finally, this day has come. I’ve waited endlessly.”

Yun Yuhwa came dressed in formal attire to greet Karna, looking more serious than when meeting foreign company executives as Chairman Eun Jae-min or Eun Ha-su.

“Glad to meet you, Master Gaechonkwang.”

“You may call me Karna. That is one of my names as well.”

“Yes, Lady Karna.”

Yun Yuhwa grinned broadly. There was no way he wouldn’t smile. After all, Karna was the one who would fulfill Yun Yuhwa’s two dreams.

“You are the commander of my PMC and the light-speed spirit who will make me reach S-rank.”

“……Mmm, hahaha.”

Yun Yuhwa didn’t hide his curled-up lips. Karna immediately understood my words and extended her hand to Yun Yuhwa, who promptly clasped both hands around it.

Woooom.

Golden magic power rippled between the two. Though Karna’s color was much deeper, Yun Yuhwa’s was far from faint.

‘The main body.’

Not divided into dolls, but combined perfectly into the perfect Yun Yuhwa. It was undoubtedly the ambition of being a special ability user and the sentiment of a maiden that restrained his reckless tendencies.

Shudder.

After scanning Yun Yuhwa’s insides for quite some time, Karna nodded and tapped his hand.

“…You’re a rather unique special ability user.”

“It’s because I have durability and illusion magic as sub-abilities.”

“Really? Are you talented in those areas too?”

In response to my words, Karna confirmed, and Yun Yuhwa was surprised. Since Karna must have felt it directly, I understood immediately, and Yun Yuhwa seemed to be gradually adapting to my speech patterns.

“Yes. Both abilities barely reached average values.”

Durability 56, Illusion Magic 49.

Including Light-Speed Spirit Power 84 A, all of Yun Yuhwa’s magic power values were peculiar beings divisible by seven.

“Now that Karna is here, your light-speed spirit power can certainly reach the maximum.”

“Hmph, then, esteemed customer.”

Yun Yuhwa appeared to have something to say, glancing at Karna. I tinkered with the magical gear, and Yun Yuhwa cleared his throat while blushing.

“I’m sorry. My caffeine isn’t kicking in right now.”

Yun Yuhwa rushed to the coffee maker and gulped down a hot espresso in one go.

Even if you’re a special ability user, your esophagus should feel the heat, but Yun Yuhwa looked ready to inject caffeine straight into his arm if given the chance.

“Hoo, hoo.”

The spicy coffee aroma filled the room, and Karna whispered to me.

“What a personality-packed woman.”

“Just say she’s crazy. It fits.”

“…….”

Karna turned red, feeling struck at the heart.

While Yun Yuhwa hides his wild nature and pretends to be an intellectual lady, Karna also disguises her battle-crazed tendencies and plays the role of a sage.

Thus, Yun Yuhwa and Karna are officially recognized by the production staff as the best duo.

“Karna, would you like to sit and rest for a bit? I need to talk with Yun Yuhwa briefly.”

“Understood. I’ll wait.”

Karna drifted off to meditate on the sofa, and I checked the messages Yun Yuhwa sent via magical gear.

[If Master Gaechonkwang is a light-speed spirit, can I sync with Master Gaechonkwang?]

[Yes.]

Snap! Yun Yuhwa clapped his hands and clenched both fists. I pretended not to notice and bowed my head, but Yun Yuhwa didn’t care.

“Huff, huff, Master Gaechonkwang!!”

“Why so excited?”

“I got your permission! Come on, make me S-rank!”

“Already done, right?”

Karna, who was about to drink the coffee Yun Yuhwa offered, tilted her head.

“Just now?”

“Huh?”

“This, this.”

I pointed, and Yun Yuhwa looked down at his own hands clasped with Karna’s.

“Right after shaking hands, I added it. Since Phoenix cherishes this special ability user, I gave a little extra service.”

“Are you capable of saying such things?”

“I’ve lived as a human for 20 years. Don’t underestimate me.”

Karna shot me a stern look. The mix of Gaechonkwang and Karna’s personalities was unfamiliar to me, and overall, it was hard to grasp.

“Got it, I’ll be careful. So how far did you add?”

“……Just a step lower than us?”

Karna held her hand horizontally and moved it up and down. Yun Yuhwa licked his lips but still bowed gratefully.

“Thank you very much. Thanks to Lady Karna, I can now ascend to S-rank.”

“……? S-rank? Hmm?”

At Yun Yuhwa’s bow, Karna showed even more curiosity. Sensing something amiss, I placed my hand on Yun Yuhwa’s body.

“Hey, customer, this kind of thing shouldn’t happen here….”

“Not what I meant.”

I let out a sigh involuntarily.

“They said to lower the rank by one level, not the magical power by one level, right?”

“……Since you called me the most cherished light-speed special ability user, I did it accordingly.”

“Cherished light-speed…”

Yun Yuhwa glanced at me with a subtle look, and I pulled my hand away to create distance.

‘Damn, if I had two cubes, I’d be set.’

Being squeezed simultaneously by Yun Yuhwa and Karna is a no-go. Both clearly had means to implant techniques or powers into me.

“Cough. Anyway, Miss Yun Yuhwa, congratulations. On various fronts.”

“Customer. Based on the current flow of conversation, if I deduce correctly…?”

Yun Yuhwa raised one finger.

“Customer and Lady Karna’s level, one step below 99, correct?”

“……Yun Yuhwa, smart enough to be appreciated. Haha.”

<Puppeteer> Yun Yuhwa.

Currently, the opportunity to grow up to SS-rank 98 has been prepared.

“…Haha.”

Yun Yuhwa chuckled like a loose screw and then…

“KYAAAAAA! I love you, everyone!”

She planted a kiss on Karna’s cheek and rubbed her face against mine.

“……I didn’t expect such an ambush.”

“That’s not a challenge, calm down, just don’t do that to me!”

I subtly pulled away from Yun Yuhwa trying to peck my lips. Yun Yuhwa was panting, visibly excited, showing no signs of calming down anytime soon.

“Am I SS-rank now?!”

“No. I’ve just paved the way. You need to undergo two awakenings like other special ability users to reach SS-rank—”

“I’ll register for the academy!”

“Hey.”

I flicked Yun Yuhwa’s forehead with my finger.

“Aren’t you the president?”

“……I can appoint a figurehead president! At least, it looks better having an old chairman appear instead of a 22-year-old girl president, right?! I really appreciate it, Customer! Is there anything you want?!”

The wild child wanted to enjoy campus life. I patted Yun Yuhwa’s shoulder and pointed to his chest.

“Wouldn’t it be better to take off that ill-fitting bra first before talking?”

“…….”

Yun Yuhwa was already wearing a C-cup bra. Upon my comment, he scanned me and Gaechonkwang with a subdued gaze, then recomposed himself and sat down.

“……I bought it early because I’ll grow eventually!”

“Isn’t that what women who diet say when they buy bras one size smaller?”

“Worry not! Look, here’s Lady Karna’s! I can grow as big as her!”

Karna, drinking coffee, shielded her chest with her arm at the blatant stare directed towards it and frowned.

“This is merely a hindrance in battle. Though I keep it because it’s comfortable, I can reduce the size.”

“There’s no real need to do that.”

All skins I provide to Karna are configured based on her regular (large-breasted) version. Adjusting each size individually would be incredibly tedious.

“…Customer? Are you into that sort of thing?”

“……No? Not particularly.”

Unless it’s the protagonist, I don’t really care about sizes.

“…Hmph, I can grow too…”

Yun Yuhwa pouted, throwing a tantrum. I knew Yun Yuhwa would grow to C-cup when reaching SS-rank, but decided to conceal the truth for his sake.

“Can’t figure out why anyone would want to grow something so inconvenient. Grumble.”

…Reaching SS-rank and growing only to C-cup implies that even with Karna’s buffs, Yun Yuhwa’s inherent limit wouldn’t exceed C-cup due to factors magic can’t compensate for.

Anyway, Yun Yuhwa now possesses the potential to reach SS-rank. From here on, it depends on his effort.

“Then, Miss Yun Yuhwa? Let’s get to the main topic.”

“Yes, I’ve been waiting for this.”

Yun Yuhwa manipulated the magical gear, projecting a wide hologram on the table.

“The problem with the girls’ dormitory. Single rooms are absolutely unacceptable. It must be double occupancy. Who knows what Customer might do sneaking into a single room?”

“…Tch.”

Too obvious, huh?

Regardless of the chaos in Busan, I decided to focus on Seoul.

Late August. For the opening of Eunha University in Seoul.

* * *

<Meanwhile, Padre Juan>

“…So that’s how it is.”

“U, do you understand? …Nya.”

The green-haired woman introduced as “Kim Penril” fidgeted with her fingers after changing into a uniform. Juan felt pity seeing a being obviously S-rank, possibly even higher, trying so hard to maintain a strange concept.

“Just speak freely. Anything goes with me.”

“…Thank you.”

“But tell me, Gong, cough. What do you plan to do now? Surely you don’t intend to settle here permanently?”

At Juan’s sharp gaze, Kim Penril lowered her head, lips trembling.

“You understand my situation. But running away without thinking will lead to what consequences…. Haa.”

“Gua, it’s fine. I said I’d travel the world for exactly a year and then return, so Mother will understand. She also met Father during her world travels.”

“…? Wasn’t that gentleman the eldest son of a noble family?”

“Aaah!! That’s right! Hahaha, ahahaha…. Ruined nya.”

Kim Penril split into two again. British Princess Aruel covering her face with both hands and cat maid Penril.

“Manager, this is still a good opportunity nya. Right now, there’s a perfect chance nya. Somewhere….”

Penril’s green eyes sparkled as she smirked.

“World’s strongest quasi-SSS-rank maid, interested in hiring me part-time nya?”

“……Let’s negotiate weekly pay first.”

After a long negotiation lasting an entire day, Aruel and Penril signed the standard employment contract.

Kim Penril.

Completely swayed by the conditions of provided accommodation and the ability to consume three mint chocolates daily while working part-time, Kim Penril thus became a maid at the café.