Chapter 344

〈 Chapter 344 〉 Part 1, Chapter 15, Section 2

Honestly, I was afraid to make contact.

Given how Yun Yuhwa and Karna had already let down their guards and released their repressed lusts by using each other, I became quite apprehensive about calling this couple.

As expected.

“……Are you answering naked now?”

[What’s wrong between us? You’re the one giving personal coaching.]

[…It’s been a while.]

<Rusalka> and <Belobog>. The S Rank hero couple who now protect Russia were engaging in explicit relations as they answered my call. I wanted to say something but decided against it.

Compared to Yun Yuhwa and Karna, these two were relatively tame and decent.

“First off, congratulations. You can finally use your ‘original body.’ Well, technically it’s a copy of the original body.”

[Oh really?]

Rusalka was having her way taken from behind by Light Blade yet still demurely fixed her hair. She seemed to have gotten used to Light Blade’s lead, allowing herself to be dominated without complaint.

“Yes. Hikari has perfected the body. All that’s left is to insert the core.”

[Then hurry up. Your husband has been waiting anxiously to the point where I’m getting jealous.]

[…Isn’t that right, Rusalka? You want it more than anyone.]

[That’s true. Which is why ‘I’ll come find you’.]

Rusalka reclined comfortably on the mattress and smiled slyly. Light Blade, leaning over her, nodded seriously at me.

[August 31st. …Let’s meet then.]

“Are you both coming? Is that okay? Suborof won’t just sit idly by if there’s a power vacuum.”

Even though someone with magic power can teleport anytime, if Belobog – an SS Rank special ability user – leaves Moscow, it would surely cause great turmoil.

“Did the person handling Eastern Europe alone really approve of coming to Seoul?”

[We’ve eliminated the immediate threats. That young lady was quite strong. It was our first draw.]

“Ah… So you already had a match after just one day?”

Karna sure is impressive. She only stayed in Moscow for one night to meet Rusalka, but apparently they fought during that time.

“So it was a draw?”

[We ran out of time. We only did some light warm-ups.]

[Karna, what did she say again? ‘This is how strong a man needs to be to take my younger brother!’ Ha, funny. Why is she my older sister?]

Rusalka grumbled but smiled faintly, seeming not to mind her meeting with Karna so much. Ah, Light Blade just climaxed.

“Must feel good to be recognized. This makes you the strongest human male.”

[That’s quite the compliment… Sorry. I won’t be able to attend the event the day after tomorrow as I should.]

“No, you shouldn’t come. You’d just trigger PTSD. Instead, your couple’s daughter will work hard.”

[Is it Pyongyang? Should I come nearby?]

Rusalka’s expression hardened at Seok Harang heading into a dangerous battlefield. Even spirits have parental hearts; both Rusalka and Light Blade were ready to make it to Pyongyang by the scheduled date if circumstances allowed.

“No, don’t worry. I’ll go all-out too.”

[Karna and Harang…]

[Illusory Dragon Xiao Lin… Wow, all the spirits are gathering.]

“Of course. The opponent is that one.”

The danger of Nuclearian can’t truly be understood unless experienced firsthand.

“Honestly, we wouldn’t have attempted it without Karna and Xiao Lin.”

[…Why are you so afraid? Is it that strong? Stronger than Seongju?]

“I’ll show you the combat footage later. Wouldn’t you want to see your daughter in action?”

[Alright. By the way, Phoenix, regarding Harang’s current situation…]

Light Blade changed the topic to another issue concerning Seok Harang. I had no response since this matter was giving me quite a headache.

“……You don’t seem very pleased about your daughter becoming a queen, huh? Fufu.”

[Stop teasing me. How could we like something Harang dislikes?]

[If it were up to us, we’d sink the whole island. But we’re enduring because the people there are trying to resolve things themselves.]

Both parents were frustrated by their daughter suddenly being crowned Queen of Tsushima. I found this situation far removed from the original storyline, making it difficult to address.

‘Originally, Busan and Tsushima were supposed to be completely wiped out and thus taboo.’

The damage caused by Seok Harang’s rampage was far worse than that caused by Moby Dick, the Sumaryong. Despite this, she remains a guardian deity in Busan and is now being hailed as queen by Tsushima refugees.

“Still, the parties involved seem genuinely intent on treating her as queen.”

[They’re just trying to move everything to Korea.]

[Exactly. Where’s Hydra that wretched woman anyway? Isn’t this mess all her doing?]

“…That’s true.”

Hydra’s manipulation and hostage tactics tormenting Seok Harang had long reached the ears of the couple. They were more eager to beat Hydra, who had almost split them apart through Rasputin, than Azidahaka.

“Karna plans to sweep across the world once she returns.”

[How?]

“There are ways, fufu. We haven’t reached the stage of pinpointing her location yet, so don’t worry too much. I’ll handle the officers.”

Though the couple harbors resentment towards Seok Harang, it’s nothing compared to my humiliation of being trapped in a 1:3 fight. If not for Chang Yeom’s unnecessary interference, I would have awakened all seven spirits by now and steadily built up my strength until Seongju’s arrival.

“See you in late August in Seoul then.”

[Right… Be careful.]

“Of course. There’s someone I need to preserve my body for.”

Otherwise, I’d really get scolded. I ended the conversation with the couple.

“……What happens if they have a child?”

There’s no way they’re using condoms. Does monster-disciple sperm even have viability?

“Don’t know. If it happens, it happens.”

If a new life does come, I must defeat Seongju and the otherworldly gods for its safety.

“Hmph, really.”

Though the growing sense of responsibility weighs heavily on me, it’s not unpleasant.

“Ah.”

I noticed something strange from my conversation with Rusalka.

“Late August?”

The Round Table conference was definitely supposed to be mid-August, wasn’t it?

I tried to call back to confirm the discrepancy but couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“…Can’t interrupt their loving moment.”

Guess I’ll have to find another Round Table member.

I started to dial someone who might know, then prepared to step out for some fresh air.

The destination: Beijing, Illusory Dragon Manor.

* * *

<10 AM, Illusory Dragon Manor>

“Damn, thinking about it, this place is going to be a real mess.”

“Why?”

Illusory Dragon lifted his teacup and tilted his head. Having fully transformed Mo Taegyeong’s body into his own, he asked with gray-streaked hair and eyes.

“Something happen?”

“Everywhere I’ve called this morning has been visual torture.”

I briefly recounted the series of calls I’d made since dawn, and Illusory Dragon chuckled knowingly at the antics of the two spirits.

“They’re just adapting to human society. What are humanity’s three basic desires? Eating, sleeping, and sex. They’re gradually getting used to those. Spirits didn’t have any of that before.”

“Looks like they’re obsessed with just the last one though.”

“What better way to experience bodily satisfaction than sex? Don’t you agree?”

“Hmm… Not sure. Since possessing this body, I’ve never done it.”

Knowing my background, Illusory Dragon can talk about this topic quite casually.

“…So shall I give you a hand?”

“Are you crazy?”

“Not this body.”

Illusory Dragon immediately phased out as spirit form. Her physical body slumped unconscious on the table while a ghostly silver-clad maiden sat astride me.

“Let’s do it.”

“No thanks.”

“Why? You must have urges building up too. One shot, or I’ll give you forever.”

“You knowing this and still tempting me like this is pretty bad.”

“You knowing this and not accepting is the real trash.”

“……”

Defeated, I raised my hands in surrender, and Illusory Dragon grinned mischievously before stepping back.

“…What are you really thinking?”

“Not much. Just keep thinking… Maybe Chang Yeom will allow a harem? Who knows?”

Seriously?

“Do you really think Chang Yeom would permit you?”

“If I work really hard and become the number one contributor to defeating Seongju, and save you, wouldn’t she grant me a concubine position?”

“…So you’re piling on my guilt to try something, huh?”

“Caught me. But either way, it’s fine. The latter would be better, and though I called it a concubine position, Chang Yeom, unless she’s extremely greedy, would at least show some… Nevermind.”

Illusory Dragon sighed and waved her hand.

“Anyway, don’t criticize your sisters too harshly. Big Sister Lu is happily married, and Big Sister Ka isn’t doing anything inappropriate, right? So from your perspective, there’s no problem, is there? And you’re still a maiden in this artificial body.”

“That’s because this is an artificial body created based on the original.”

“……That sounds appealing. Can I get one too?”

Damn. Come to think of it, she’s one of those targeting me sexually.

“Fine. Call Xiao Lin.”

“Tsk. Can’t we play a bit longer?”

“This is after defeating Seongju five years from now. Today, I came to see you, not to play. I have something to ask Xiao Lin.”

Just calling randomly, I wondered if there’s a mess happening behind Xiao Lin. Also visiting Illusory Dragon, and picking up some cores while I’m here.

“Where’s Xiao Lin?”

“…….”

Illusory Dragon hesitated to answer. My head throbbed, but I steadied myself, stood up, and rushed to the annex room set aside in the manor. Right before opening the door to the annex…

“Hooh.”

Xiao Lin was floating on her back above the lake in spirit form, leisurely enjoying the sunbath.

***

A little later.

“……Hmm, what is it?”

Though Xiao Lin greeted me nonchalantly, her materialized body was flushed red.

“Let’s get straight to the point. What’s this about the Round Table meeting being postponed to August?”

“Oh, that?”

Xiao Lin, <Military God>, still maintains membership in the Round Table. The Round Table had no reason to expel an SS Rank special ability user.

“Gawein disappeared.”

“…Disappeared?”

I wondered if the word had changed meaning in the meantime. However, both the magical power-based communication and the Magical Gear translation conveyed the correct meaning.

Disappeared.

Vanished somewhere without a trace.

“Why did that gentleman do that?”

“According to rumors, the princess ran away.”

“Ahh, that makes sense.”

Then it’s understandable. One of Gawein’s main duties was to chase after runaway Aruel. Even in the original story five years later, Aruel ran away even after becoming queen, secretly boarding the Death Dinas cruise bound for Korea.

“Then that’s settled. If Gawein says end of August, he’ll catch the runaway miss before then. Next question.”

I pointed at Xiao Lin up and down. Xiao Lin was wearing a bikini that was practically microscopic.

“Why are you trying to tan your skin?”

“…I’ve had a revelation.”

Xiao Lin clenched her fists and nodded resolutely.

“The decisive battle with Lady Karna! That’s where I realized it. Both Phoenix Lady and Lady Karna harness the power of the sun! So I thought receiving sunlight might give me strength!”

“You’re illusion magic type, so it’s useless. Stop it. Your skin doesn’t tan anyway, so it’s pointless.”

“Huuu…”

Xiao Lin made a sad face.

“But people are misunderstanding that I’m weak! I almost beat Lady Karna!”

“You’re quietly powerful, there’s nothing you can do about that. You don’t engage in activities much.”

“I think the activities I’ve done so far are enough!”

She lives in Beijing to guard Illusory Dragon but is known publicly as Qinghua’s bodyguard.

Since she lives as a spirit most of the time, no one knows where Xiao Lin is. The only recent public activity she has is the battle against Gaechonkwang at the old Horae Pavilion site.

Partly because it was such a high-speed battle that people hardly noticed, and partly because Karna’s techniques are much flashier than Xiao Lin’s.

“I will create a sword dozens of meters long like Lord Light Blade! I now have enough magical power!”

“Nngh, next transparent weapon.”

“Hu, Huuaang!”

Xiao Lin cried and clung to me. Her quiet yet voluminous figure in the micro-bikini was quite impactful.

“Phoenix Sir, isn’t there anything I can do?!”

“……Accepting a secondary attribute might change things, but…”

I scratched my head.

“The only available one now is water attribute. Want to double as Seok Harang’s disciple?”

“I’d rather die.”

Xiao Lin laughed and got angry.