Chapter 407

〈 Chapter 407 〉 Part 1, Chapter 17, Section 15

While Xian and Hydra were being all lovey-dovey…

The royal family of England, having been introduced to Cardinal Wilhelm’s favorite restaurant for a rare meal, found themselves in an intriguingly awkward situation.

“Your Majesty, <Cerebrum> wishes to meet you. Shall we proceed?”

“Mother, could that woman possibly be the Cardinal’s special someone?”

“That’s right, Princess. In times like these, humanity must unite as one. Even though he is currently under suspicion of being a monster.”

“Ugh, it’s like watching some loser get jealous because his ex got poached by a host. Still, gotta admit, the guy’s pretty handsome. Hmph, if only he weren’t royalty…”

The mother and daughter were exchanging private messages via their smartwatches while holding public conversations. Beneath the table, they tapped out invisible keyboards with lightning speed.

“Grr…”

The cardinal picked at his food but couldn’t take his eyes off the neighboring table. Hydra even fed Xian pasta rolled on a fork.

“…”

Gawein was feeling uneasy too. Though he admitted the man looked decent, it unsettled him to see both the queen and princess staring at the same guy. Especially annoying was the color of his hair.

‘Looks just like a Phoenix…’

If this guy were the female Phoenix reincarnated as a man, but no, the original was still in Mexico. So there was nothing to worry about.

Which meant the cardinal had intentionally joined the couple at the restaurant. Gawein wasn’t directly involved in the mother-daughter conversation, but he understood the gist through context clues.

Clearly, the two had some connection to the cardinal. As the awkward dinner dragged on, only Xian seemed to enjoy herself, cheerfully finishing her meal before standing up.

* * *

After refueling, we continued strolling around Vatican City, chatting casually. Since Hydra hadn’t brought up any topics yet, I took the chance to check on the situation in Mexico.

Nuri, originally supposed to become Yellow Emperor, used her water-element superpower to arrest the drug lord. While Hydra was lost in thought, I sneakily glanced at the news updates.

“What are you looking at?”

Every time my attention wandered, Hydra somehow noticed immediately. Her sixth sense was uncanny.

“I was watching how <Siren> managed to capture the drug kingpin.”

Nuri earned the alias “Siren” after successfully apprehending the drug lord. Though the nickname fit perfectly from the original story, her rank now far exceeded expectations. She’d already grown into a B-Rank hero!

“Isn’t that what you were watching earlier?”

“I wanted to know more details. Siren, an S-Rank hero, caught the head of a major drug cartel—what if he turns out to be a monster?”

“So what if he is? …Or maybe a villain? Either way, we’re all doomed eventually.”

“…Exactly. Monsters are people too, y’know. And eventually, so will I… Never mind.”

As I trailed off, Hydra smirked knowingly. I subtly dropped hints, baiting her curiosity.

“What did you mean by ‘I’?”

“It’s nothing.”

“If it’s nothing, then fine.”

Hydra wasn’t easily swayed. She wasn’t simple prey. Changing the subject, I opted for something direct.

“What do you think about monsters, Miss Ceres?”

“Not much really. They’re human anyway, not much different from villains.”

“That perspective is fascinating. Actually, I feel the same way.”

“Really? Not just trying to win me over?”

“Hmph hmph…”

I pulled Hydra closer by her waist and led her into a dark alleyway where prying eyes wouldn’t notice us. This was the kind of spot where crimes went unnoticed.

Hydra looked up at me with confident eyes that also hinted at anticipation.

“Miss Ceres, you mentioned you’re a superpowered individual, which might explain your confidence…”

I grinned menacingly.

“Always be cautious around strange men. That seemingly harmless passerby might actually be a monster who preys on women.”

“Should I report you now?”

“…Miss Ceres, why do you think I’ve kept bringing you along?”

I adjusted her straw hat and hair gently, whispering near her ear.

“It’s common practice during missions like this to travel together romantically rather than alone—it draws less attention.”

“Ahaha, so you’ve been using me?”

“You’ve been using me too, haven’t you? It’s mutually beneficial. But from here on, things get dangerous.”

I raised my index finger like a gun and waved it around.

“From now on, I’ll start my real job, so I won’t need your help anymore, Miss Ceres.”

“Wait, what? Did you forget who I am?”

Hydra faintly summoned magic power. Through her gaze, I read her thoughts about me. What exactly does she think I am?

Just some lunatic with mental issues?

A high-ranking officer sent by Azidahaka to incite monsters?

Or perhaps an assassin dispatched by Seoyea’s Rusalka?

‘<Blazing Phoenix>‘s monster.’

Hydra is deeply calculating. She relies on solid evidence and information when making judgments. She must have scanned my magic power while I slept, piecing together various facts to deduce my identity. My subtle hint about being a monster likely confirmed her suspicions.

In an instant, Hydra grabbed my tie and leaned in close.

“I said I’m a superpowered individual, not a hero, right? Hmph, what would you do if I were a villain?”

“Well then, Miss Ceres, let me make you a unique offer.”

I grabbed her face and locked eyes with her. Hydra waited anxiously for my words.

“Would you consider becoming my Bond girl?”

“……?”

“Nothing else—I’m asking if you’d team up with me to save world peace.”

I pulled a Walther PPK from inside my jacket pocket and placed it in Hydra’s hand.

“This is why I came here. Assassination.”

“Who are you planning to kill?”

“Adolf Wilhelm, the cardinal.”

“Why?”

It’s only natural to answer when asked. Thus, I cleverly mixed truth into my explanation to further confuse Hydra.

“Our boss says that the cardinal must die.”

“And why exactly should he die? Are you seriously suggesting killing a religious leader without giving a reason? Just because you want cooperation?”

“He will become a monster in the future.”

“…What?”

Hydra gasped audibly, clearly surprised. I pointed at the black color of the gun she held, extending my hand over her shoulder while pressing my index finger to my nose—a typical Neo-Nazi salute.

“In the future, he’ll supposedly create a cult worshipping Azidahaka and spark World War III. Yeah, apparently he’s Hitler reborn.”

“…Worship Azidahaka?”

“Yes. Hold on.”

I recalled the original storyline in Aruel’s route. During the Third World War, Cardinal Wilhelm shouted something memorable…

“Azidahaka Hu Akbar.”

“……”

“That’s what he’ll say in the future. Who knows? He might already be possessed by Azidahaka. That’s why I’m here—to kill him, Miss Ceres.”

I grabbed the pistol in her hand and aimed it at my heart.

“Do you want to play with fire with me, or would you rather kill this ‘monster’ right here?”

“Are you the monster?”

“Yes. A monster hunting other monsters. A villain, a bad guy.”

I caressed Hydra’s cheek as I made a life-or-death proposal. If she pulled the trigger, she could shoot my heart—and my core. Would Hydra assist in killing the future Azidahaka monster, or would she shoot me right here?

Either way, it didn’t matter.

“…Mr. Xian.”

“Yes.”

“How do you plan to assassinate anyone with a plastic model gun?”

“Caught me.”

There were no bullets in the Walther PPK tucked in my jacket. Hydra handed the gun back to me with a mix of disbelief and amusement. I accepted it and asked,

“Aren’t you going to report me?”

“No point. Why should I report you? You’re not even a hero.”

“Turning me in to the association for attempted assassination of a cardinal would fetch a hefty bounty.”

“Would that bounty be enough to buy dozens of hero suits for cosplay?”

“…Maybe just lottery money?”

“Then fine. Sure. Let’s do it. This Bond girl thing.”

Hydra pointed toward the other side of the alley.

“So what’s the plan?”

“Will you follow me? Remember, if things go wrong, you’ll be a criminal for life.”

“I don’t care. The world ends in three months anyway. Mr. Xian, I’ll do my best to help. You’ve chosen the best partner.”

Hydra pulled my tie while whispering in my ear.

“I’m a monster too.”

“…What?”

“Ji Ryun’s Hydra, the monster of the most beautiful goddess in the world.”

Hydra kissed my cheek mockingly.

“Nice to meet you, Monster of the Phoenix. Didn’t expect to encounter someone like me in such a place, huh?”

Hydra grabbed my wrist. A thick iron band materialized over my smartwatch. In seconds, she restrained me against the wall, whispering in my ear.

“I’ll accept payment in kisses.”

Her words caused a commotion in the Spirit Network. Rusalka excitedly cheered for Hydra to destroy me, while the Wyvern screamed and shattered nearby objects.

Kisses.

Hydra tapped her lips lightly. A simple peck wouldn’t suffice to hire her.

“……”

For a moment, my consciousness went dark. Then I quickly opened my eyes.

“Miss Ceres.”

I grabbed Hydra’s waist and neck firmly. Her expression stiffened.

“Don’t dare pull away or I’ll kill you.”

…The Blaze within me roared.

– Teach her a lesson with a deep kiss.

‘…Better do as instructed.’

I shoved my tongue into the startled Hydra’s mouth.

* * *

“Sir Gawein, you really don’t need to follow me.”

“Princess, it’s my duty.”

“Isn’t protecting Her Majesty more important?”

“The queen is guarded by royal knights. Protecting you is my responsibility.”

Aruel desperately wanted to shake off Gawein, yearning to wander alone. However, Gawein refused to back down. Eventually, Aruel quietly tried her signature puppy dog eyes on him.

Ah bba?

“Princess.”

Gawein’s expression remained stern. Aruel felt disheartened when her ultimate charm failed. Usually, this trick secured Gawein’s implicit permission for her outings, but apparently her previous runaway trip to Korea had set off alarms.

“Give up.”

“Hmmph.”

“At some point, Princess, you’ve reached the level of a true hero. Disappearing again would cause chaos not just in our country but worldwide.”

“I get it, alright. Tch.”

“…Please understand.”

Aruel grumbled as she briskly walked along the Vatican streets. Gawein closely followed behind, and despite her attempts to use magic, she couldn’t escape. She regretted not staying in Korea.

Slurp, lick, suck.

Somewhere nearby, those sounds caught Aruel’s ears. Her ears perked up.

“…”

Aruel slowed her pace. The noises grew louder, and she carefully scanned the air currents with trembling eyes. Thankfully, a quiet café nearby offered a perfect angle into a dark alley.

“Hem. Sir Gawein, want some dessert? Let’s go in. Or I’ll run away.”

“…Princess. That.”

Gawein blushed slightly as he pointed at the menu.

“Can I order that?”

“Sure.”

Regardless of whether Gawein ordered mint chocolate or not, Aruel chose a seat offering a clear view into the alley and kept watch.

‘Oh my.’

There, two snakes were eating each other. More intense than hardcore pornographic films, the couple was passionately exchanging deep kisses. Aruel covered her mouth in shock.

‘That guy sure knows how to kiss.’

Aruel swallowed hard.