Chapter 395

〈Chapter 395〉 Part 1, Chapter 17, Section 3

It had been a week since I was locked away in Hikari’s lab. There were plenty of elites from the justice system and foreign dignitaries trying to find the captured Phoenix, but none could break through Seok Harang’s barrier enveloping White Phoenix Isle.

And during that time, I was subjected to all sorts of experiments by Hikari.

“Hohoho! We’re analyzing the abnormal magic pattern of the Commander here and extracting data on the corrupted magic inside! Then we cross-reference it with the data from Lord Hydra’s monster form, Confusion captured earlier by Karna and Stone Harang… If they are all agents of the same organization brainwashed by Seongju, there must be some common energy signature causing their transformations!”

[In short, you’re finding the common pattern among the executives.]

Me, Karna, and Confusion captured by Seok Harang…

The Rusalka data is already gone. It vanished completely when I obliterated her with Light Blade, which also triggered Seok Harang’s awakening.

Thus, by identifying the unique power resonance from these three patterns, we’ll scan the world for similar signatures to pinpoint the locations of the other executives.

That was the method Hikari and I devised.

After enduring countless tortures—being sawed by buzzsaws, drenched in acid, crushed by Core Weapons, frozen at -273 degrees Celsius, and squished in Core Press capsules—Hikari finally succeeded in fully understanding my magical pattern.

“…99%!”

[Is 100% impossible then?]

Hikari holographically scanned every detail of my body. And with about 99% accuracy, she successfully identified the precise resonance pattern.

Just 99%.

“It can’t go beyond this. But there is one thing we can confirm.”

Hikari plunged her hand into the hologram of my body. My skin and muscles turned translucent, revealing my internal organs, as her hand hovered near my heart.

“This is your Core.”

Hikari extracted my heart from the hologram. A pang of phantom pain shot through my chest. Treating it like a surgical procedure, she sliced open the “heart” with a used-and-washed tonkatsu knife, carefully retrieving the Core.

[This feels weird on so many levels.]

“You’re right—it is weird, isn’t it? Your Core looks different from others just in color alone.”

[No, it’s strange that something so integral to me is being handled by you. Even if it’s fake.]

Even though it’s just a hologram, it felt wrong to see my heart treated like a toy. Hikari giggled mischievously, then placed the Core between her hands and spread them apart.

Woooom.

The Core, originally smaller than a fist, grew to the size of a soccer ball, then a basketball, until it seemed ready to fill the entire lab. I could clearly see its intricate inner structure.

[Seven layers?]

“E-Rank to SS-Rank are all present. Thanks to you, humanity has finally understood how magic accumulates and is utilized. Like the Earth’s layers, magic forms layers too…”

[I know that. What surprised me wasn’t that.]

“Didn’t you hear it from Future Me?! You damn woman, Himeji Hikari!!”

Hikari reacted angrily toward herself. Though technically correct, I reached out toward the innermost layer of the Core—a piece of information that contradicted what I knew.

The final layer.

It was entirely covered in blackness. As I touched it, the hologram itself disappeared, leaving the internal structure hidden.

“The deeper layers of the Core cannot be analyzed. The Tera-corrupted magic shields the inner core.”

[Is Blazing Flame trapped in here?]

“Huh? Blazing Flame?”

[My true self (眞身). The essence of me as a spirit.]

I managed to obfuscate things somewhat. Though Hikari looked skeptical, what I said wasn’t false. Blazing Flame represented both the entity I loved and the origin of Fire-attribute magic.

The 1% Hikari couldn’t analyze…

Blazing Flame was imprisoned within the inner core of this Core, surrounded by a bizarrely cube-like black membrane.

Now I understood why the Cube was necessary for Blazing Flame to emerge.

[I should’ve let you dissect me earlier. Then I would’ve known this for sure.]

“But Commander… You know…”

Hikari shoved the magical data she gathered from dissecting me right in front of me. Unlike the outdated, cheap detectors used by the association, the pattern derived directly from dissecting me was now laid bare for the world to see.

“If I spill or get hacked, your every move will be scanned from now on. They’ll even figure out where you’re deploying barriers!”

[If you expose this to the public…]

Pure Fire attribute 100%, with approximately 1% contamination—a bizarre pattern. Unless an SSS-Rank Fire-attribute monster appears, this unique signature belongs solely to me.

[So, Hikari, do you intend to reveal my true identity as a villain and executive of the Dark Legion?]

“……”

Hikari stared at me for a long while before adjusting her glasses.

“Future Me said I’m on the side of justice, right?”

[Yeah. A hero who broke free from the clutches of evil and stood for justice.]

“Then until 2024, I’m still a pawn of evil! The intelligence officer of the Dark Legion Phoenix Corps! I am Professor Hikari, the genius!”

Hikari’s words were enough. I instinctively reached out but stopped myself just in time. Hikari puffed her cheeks and pushed her head towards my hand, rubbing her scalp against my palm.

“Can’t you even do this much for your direct subordinate?”

[These days, that could count as sexual harassment.]

“If both parties agree, it’s fine. Hehe~”

Despite my protests, I ended up petting Hikari’s head as always. She particularly enjoyed this kind of physical contact. After basking in the warmth of my hand for a while, Hikari changed her expression and asked seriously.

“…Commander, shall we begin the wide-area scan now? Will you go immediately once we find them?”

[No. Preparations are needed first.]

Whether it’s Azidahaka or Hydra, advance preparation is essential. And there are two people involved.

[I’ll meet the Executioner first.]

First, I need to talk to Baek Hee-a.

***

After Sun Icheol stepped down.

Prime Minister Baek Se-joon quickly advanced the presidential election and ascended to the presidency while still serving as prime minister. The constitutional amendment initiated by Sun Icheol, allowing the prime minister and president roles to alternate for lifelong rule, ironically worked in Baek Se-jeon’s favor.

In fact, Mr. Baek, who should now be called President Baek, was originally the subject of a scandal that forced him to retire from politics entirely.

Manipulated by Cheongsong to lust after his granddaughter.

Though not inherently such a person, Cheongsong and the Tattoo Master manipulated him into becoming one. Completely unaware of Cubes or special abilities, he lusted after Baek Hee-a and retired in disgrace as a pervert.

Cheongsong is now in prison. Sun Icheol, who also guarded against Baek Se-joon, is similarly incarcerated.

As a result, Baek Se-joon became president—pushed into the role.

I secretly infiltrated Baek Hee-a’s personal office at New Seoul Association and lay down on the bed to wait for him. As soon as Baek Hee-a saw me, she closed and locked the door.

“Congratulations on becoming president thanks to taking good care of your granddaughter. Now you’re truly the real power in the country.”

“…She’s not my biological granddaughter, you know.”

Baek Hee-a frowned irritably, clearly having a lot she wanted to say to me.

“I’ve checked everything. And why I, a girl, ended up taking the place of that man.”

“Sun Icheol.”

His influence extended even here.

“The heir of the Baek family will become the savior of the nation. That was the prophecy of the previous Oracle, and something President Baek himself often mentioned.”

Sitting across the table, Baek Hee-a cautiously began speaking about the secrets of her birth, known only to her relatives within the Baek family, and about Sun Icheol’s schemes.

“…Apparently, he had everyone in the obstetrics department under his control, including those at the postpartum care center. …The person who swapped the babies was none other than my biological mother… Those involved in the switch all died shortly afterward—some from carbon monoxide poisoning, others in traffic accidents. I wonder why he had to go to such extremes just to turn a boy into a girl.”

Everyone except members of the Baek family met their end.

“What else could it be? Lost in dictatorial ambitions, Sun Icheol valued masculinity above all else. That’s why he tried to make Lee Seung-hyeong a hero, aiming to become the puppet master behind the ‘national savior.'”

Fortunately, Sun Icheol never had children. His body made it difficult to sire any.

Seonggo-sam.

Even though he played the show window couple act, he never had a wife for that reason.

“So, Lady Phoenix. I investigated thoroughly…”

Baek Hee-a finally got to the main point. Having come here for other business as well, I fell victim to her barrage of questions.

“Baek Cheong-hwa.”

“Ugh.”

“Could it be that you are someone continuing his legacy?”

“……?”

Could it be? I felt uneasy but kept silent. Baek Hee-a nervously twirled a strand of hair protruding from beneath her beret.

“That…the person who should have originally taken my place in the past, was the one who sent you here, right? That shrine maiden?”

“……”

People’s misunderstandings ran deep. While sharing certain information about my identity, everyone formed different conjectures, leaving me in an awkward position.

The only one aware of all the (distorted) truths is Lord Hydra.

Most believe the Great Phoenix returned, unaware that a shrine maiden-like entity possessing the Phoenix returned instead—though even that is a lie.

“Consider it that way. One thing to note: he doesn’t seek revenge for being swapped in life or reclaim his original position. He sees you as a victim too, and finds joy in the altered life.”

“…So, he’s gullible?”

“Yes. Gullible. An extreme idiot.”

Depending on how you play it, but Baek Cheong-hwa is the typical angelic protagonist straight out of a classic hero’s tale—handsome, kind-hearted, and talented, naturally attracting numerous admirers, especially women.

“That person is currently in America.”

“……”

Faced with Baek Hee-a’s relentless questioning, I couldn’t properly respond. Only I knew how Baek Cheong-hwa was living in America now—or rather, I knew that past.

Precisely because of that past. To the Blazing Flame’s Phoenix, Baek Cheong-hwa was a walking death flag worse than Seongju. Not to mention, unlike Yuna, he was someone I didn’t want to involve.

‘Finding Yuna led to immediate trouble; imagine what would happen if I start searching for the protagonist.’

To me, Baek Cheong-hwa was an inconvenient presence. Likewise, Baek Hee-a found him inconvenient, but her feelings towards him were different.

I harbored anxieties about losing control and jeopardizing everything I’d built. Baek Hee-a, on the other hand, carried a sense of ethical responsibility due to the swapped lives.

“There’s no need to search for someone who went to America. He knows your character and said as much. Anyway, he thinks living freely in America is better than staying confined in Korea.”

A sexually liberated society suited Baek Cheong-hwa more than Korea. However, Baek Hee-a misconstrued this.

“…So, he has no intention of returning to Korea, huh? That can’t be allowed. How great is this country? A mere America is nothing!”

That wasn’t my opinion but Baek Hee-a’s.

“I’ll ensure that person returns to this country! To protect the world and restore their rightful place!”

Publicly declaring Korea as the greatest, she inevitably became a public enemy to American players. Some perverts even played the real blonde Western male role while pursuing the Baek Hee-a route.

“Hem hem.”

It was the perfect timing to change the topic. I cleared my throat, diverting Baek Hee-a’s attention.

“So, Miss Baek Hee-a. You’re growing well as a politician and commander, but how about as a special ability user?”

“Ugh.”

Baek Hee-a’s inflated dreams of making Korea great deflated. I gave her a thorough once-over from top to bottom.

“A.”

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Baek Hee-a crossed her arms in front of her and glared at me. Though I already knew her measurements, she was still self-conscious about various aspects.

“You need to synchronize with Azidahaka, so achieving S-Rank quickly would be beneficial. That way, you might reach the level of Azidahaka’s body.”

“How can I, with my small chest, possibly become one with such a world-class criminal?”

“We’ll awaken Azidahaka into Maamryong and synchronize you. Then, if you bear a child, your daughter or son will be born an S-Rank Dark Attribute special ability user.”

“……”

Concern began to deepen in Baek Hei-a’s eyes. So, I drove the nail further into her doubts.

“Anyway… Once awakened, you’ll become an entirely different person, so don’t worry.”

“What do you mean by ‘different person’?”

“The kindest tsundere in the world.”

Tsundere whether as an executive or spirit, but differs in sexual promiscuity. Executive Azidahaka is notoriously promiscuous among monsters, almost considered public property, whereas Spirit Maamryong is noble and pure, a virgin.

Her main partner is undoubtedly Kim Nuri, but since I came back in time, sub-partner Baek Hee-a must take over that role.

‘It’s impossible to turn a minor into a night emperor.’

Though sorry to Baek Hee-a, she needs to fulfill that role.

“So, you’ll become the Night Emperor, no, the President of the Night.”

“…Putting aside other matters, I must achieve S-Rank, right? How do I get there? Even Yunsa and others couldn’t ascend.”

“In your case, it’s the easiest. Just synchronize with the highly advanced flying machines of modern civilization, and that’s it. They’re currently under production by Yu-Sung, so look forward to it.”

“…And later, it will serve as a spaceship too?”

“Correct.”

I made a proposal that would surely intrigue Baek Hee-a.

“How about a spaceship that saves the world—the Turtle Ship?”

“I’ll contact Yu-Sung.”

I convinced Baek Hee-a with grand aspirations.