〈Chapter 378〉 Part 1, Chapter 16, Section 13
August 22nd.
After resolving the issue on the Chinese side, I visited Moscow this time to deal with Russia’s problem. Despite being mid-August, Moscow was unusually chilly due to the season.
“………”
Nope. Suborof’s gaze towards me was icy cold. I nonchalantly ate my strawberry shaved ice while Suborof angrily slammed down his vodka in frustration. Truly Russia—where they drink alcohol instead of water.
“Phoenix.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“I thank you for eliminating the threat from Pyongyang.”
“No big deal. SS Rank showed up, so there were four of them.”
“Four?! So terrifying, huh?”
“Not so much terrifying as concerning about the aftermath.”
I briefly mentioned the characteristics and fearsomeness of Nuclearians. Externally, I described them as beasts stronger than chaos and horrifying to behold, concealing detailed information.
“Hmph. Lucky we’re safe then. Is Harang alright?”
“Yes, very safe.”
I emphasized that I had personally cared for Seok Harang’s mental state right after the Nuclearian raid. Hearing this, Suborof sighed in relief.
“Harang… such a strong child.”
“Yes, the strongest hero in the world.”
“And I hear all this from you.”
Suborof clicked his tongue.
“Just wait a little longer. It’ll be soon.”
“Ah, good to hear you’ve made a decision. Anyways, once again, thank you. We’ll also issue a statement supporting the old North Korean land as part of Korea’s territory.”
“It won’t come without something in return, will it?”
Suborof smirked.
“Speaking of which, any plans to lay railway tracks? If we create a safe line against monsters, we could extend the railways all the way to Busan. Heheh.”
“You’re so blatant.”
With our collaboration, Suborof would adjust various Russian issues appropriately, which would benefit us in the future.
“By the way, why didn’t you involve your daughter more in the Tsushima matter?”
“If she hadn’t fainted from magic exhaustion while pushing Fukuoka back, maybe.”
Tsushima incident aside, Rusalka recovered her magic power via Light Blade, which Suborof clearly disliked.
“Why? Doing it too often?”
“……”
Suborof covered his face with both hands in exasperation. Every date seemed like a prelude to their intimacy, and Suborof clearly disapproved of their behavior.
“Isn’t there some other way?”
“What? When two people are happy together, who can stop them?”
“You’re her teacher, aren’t you?”
“Ah, that’s what bothers you most, huh?”
Though I appeared feminine, I clarified that I was merely the matchmaker between the couple. My specialty was training Light Blade users, not matchmaking.
“I’m specialized in Light Blade coaching. For Rusalka, I just help with positioning.”
“Ugh. This conversation is making me uncomfortable.”
Suborof gulped down his vodka while I continued eating my shaved ice.
“So, back to the Tsushima issue. Do you know what rumors Japan is spreading?”
“What kind?”
“They say that Light Blade Veloborg’s wife, Rusalka Anastasha, meddled with something on Tsushima Island.”
“Light Blade Veloborg?”
“Everyone knows Veloborg is Heo Yoon-hwan, originally from Busan. At this point, denying it would be ridiculous.”
“That’s true.”
Netizens are impressive. Somehow, they got hold of Heo Yoon-hwan’s graduation photos and compared his youthful appearance to Veloborg’s, concluding he dyed his hair blonde and became incredibly handsome.
“They’re saying if dead people can be resurrected like monsters turned into humans, wouldn’t it make sense that Phoenix killed someone but Cheongnyeon revived them?”
“Great fabrication. Approved.”
“Damn it.”
Suborof sighed deeply, sensing his words might become reality. I planned to adjust his ideas and spread them accordingly.
“Back to the Tsushima issue. After bringing this up three times, let’s move forward. What should we do about your daughter?”
“Don’t worry about Japan. I’ll ensure suspicions fall on someone else.”
“Any plan?”
“Yes. Currently, we have two Water Attribute S Ranks and one SS Rank waiting. They haven’t broken through S Rank yet, but their potential is promising.”
“Are you talking about enhancement?”
Suborof nervously scratched his head after a dry cough. Sensing the magical aura around him, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Rusalka helped, didn’t she?”
“…I won’t deny it.”
Grand Marshal Suborof, who was severely injured in battles against monsters, successfully returned as an S Rank Hero thanks to his daughter’s assistance. I extended my hand to him.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
We shook hands, and I quickly scanned his magical pattern.
“……?”
“What did you just do?”
“To thank Rusalka and Light Blade for their cooperation, I gave a little bribe.”
“Bribe?”
Snap.
I flicked my finger, summoning a blue flame above my palm. Chang-yeom looked puzzled at its presence.
“Hmm…?”
“Seemed suspicious, so I confirmed. Since you’re my ally, I added a little extra service. Now you’re dual S-Rank in fire and water.”
“Wow.”
Suborof whistled in amazement, and I gave him a thumbs-up.
“The power of Spirits. Be grateful you’ve taken a Spirit as your daughter, human.”
“Well… First, I thank you. By the way, did you enhance Light Blade this way too? That’s why he’s so strong?”
“Nope. Light Blade was always strong. He reached full SS Rank after the Pyongyang incident but concealed his strength due to internal political reasons.”
The term “power suppression” wasn’t wrong.
“Back to the Tsushima issue. The real culprit behind pushing back the sea isn’t Rusalka but someone else who’ll take the blame. Seok Harang was at the Round Table, and Rusalka was in Moscow the entire time.”
“Who is this person?”
“That’s a secret. I’m not just going to reveal ultimate secrets, now am I? Puhuhu.”
“Kim Nori or Kang Ha-baek, perhaps?”
“……”
Caught. Suborof wasn’t an easy man despite being lenient with his daughter. As the commander overseeing all of Russia, he was sharp indeed.
‘Nuri became Hara’s disciple, and Usa, one of the three national pride members with water attributes, makes logical sense.’
The most suitable candidate to wield the power of the Eastern Sea Dragon King. But Suborof’s reasoning stopped here.
“There are other candidates. Who they are remains a secret. Now, it’s my turn to ask questions.”
“…What is it?”
“Did you call me specifically because you’re currently doing… *that*?”
“……..”
Suborof remained silent. I stood up and opened the door leading to the balcony. Across the bridge, I spotted Rusalka pressed naked against the palace wall.
Oh, our eyes met just now. She hastily erected a barrier upon realizing it but it was too late—I’d already seen everything.
“I’m leaving.”
I leaped onto the balcony railing and soared into the sky, wings spread wide. Gathering mana at my feet, I performed a powerful kick.
“Phoenix Kick!”
Shattering the window glass, I rolled into the room. Landing gracefully, I saw Light Blade and Rusalka sitting demurely on the bed, fully clothed.
“Rusalka.”
“What is it?”
“Your room smells scandalous.”
“……”
It counts as sexual harassment, but it’s factually accurate. The room was filled with Rusalka’s musk and Light Blade’s night flower scent.
“I came early to see if you’d meet Seok Harang sooner.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“…Would you like me to elaborate?”
I mentioned the upcoming three-day vacation starting on August 26th at Baek Hee-a’s private island. Naturally, Seok Harang was invited, and anyone except Seongju could attend.
“The kids will handle all preparations. You just need to show up. You might get busy during the Round Table meeting, so it’s better to discuss things beforehand. Why act awkwardly when you meet during the meeting?”
“……”
Considering they’re practically mother and daughter of similar ages working at the same place, I wanted to avoid any trouble.
“Better than delaying indefinitely, right? Moreover, Harang can enjoy the vacation peacefully. How does that sound? A good offer, isn’t it?”
“…Perhaps I can drop by briefly.”
“Master.”
Light Blade nodded in agreement first.
“I can’t stay long. It feels inappropriate to spend even one night with Harang. …I want to sincerely apologize to her.”
“What if Harang wants to stay together?”
“In that case, I must seek permission from my father-in-law and spend time with her properly.”
Indeed, with an adult nearby, they’ve matured significantly mentally. I thanked Suborof again for elevating Light Blade to a proper father figure.
“I thought about suggesting you go now.”
“Hmm…”
Now wasn’t the time to leave. Their mana was quite scattered, and meeting Harang in this state would definitely reveal their marital activities through residual mana.
“Do you want your daughter to find out what positions you two used?”
“Of course not.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then, Rusalka, stop teasing. Light Blade’s SS Rank hides traces, but your weaker mana can be detected by Harang.”
“Are you trying to kill us?”
Rusalka glared at me, genuinely terrified. I checked the calendar to confirm I hadn’t mistaken the date—it was still August 22nd. Less than a week left.
“Can’t you endure even this short period? You two aren’t high school boys who can’t survive without daily sessions.”
“One day without it feels like thorns sprouting in my mouth!”
“Don’t worry. If monster news comes, you’ll stop immediately and hunt them.”
“You’re boasting! And then you’ll come back and go harder.”
“…Did you install those tiny birds here too?”
“You’re completely under my control. Your every move is predictable within my grasp.”
The couple fell silent. At least they’ve developed some self-restraint, which is progress.
‘This is ridiculous.’
The epitome of charisma, Light Blade Heo Yoon-hwan, how did he end up like this? All thanks to Yun Yuhwa reviving him as a monstrous being.
‘Why are all light attribute users like this?’
The combination of the lustful Light Attribute and the lascivious Spirit race caused explosive synergy in a bad way. Even in this love-filled Mi-yeonshi world, their affection was excessive.
“Maybe you two will sync first.”
“We sync every day.”
“Now we know each other’s desires with just a glance.”
“Wanna tease Phoenix? Obvious.”
Again, silence. They glared at me accusingly while making excuses.
“We promised ourselves to wait for Harang! Didn’t you just say that? We’ll endure!”
“Do you think we’re back in that wild Busan era?”
“If only Harang weren’t an issue, we’d have shed our clothes instantly.”
“……”
Silence again. Feeling pity for the couple, I decided to help for a day.
“Since I’ve come all the way to Russia, go ahead and indulge today. I’ll erase the traces for you.”
“Then why don’t you erase them later?”
“Burning mana to eliminate residual traces so they can’t be read.”
“…That won’t work. Dad will flip out. Alright, I’ll endure… Today, let’s go all out! Master, let’s treat today like the end of the world!”
“Absolutely. Even if the world ends tomorrow, I want to be with you one more time.”
“If the world ends tomorrow, we should think of ways to kill Seongju instead.”
Was it a mistake to release their mana earlier? The couple quickly stripped off their clothes to continue where they left off.
“……”
I set up a barrier first.
…
…
…
After a brief coaching session, I burned away all the heavily infused mana from Rusalka, tainted by Light Blade. Exhausted, Rusalka bowed her head to me.
“I’ll really try my best to endure for Harang.”
Rusalka’s determination was resolute. To keep her resolve intact, I offered a good incentive.
“If you can hold out until Harang sees you, I’ll give you this as a gift.”
“……!!”
Rusalka’s eyes lit up with renewed determination.
“Can you give it to me now so I can use it? Then Master’s traces won’t remain on my body.”
“This person is really something.”
Her scheming mind has truly made her human.
