Chapter 415

〈 Chapter 415: Part 1, Episode 17, Section 23 〉

“……What could this possibly mean?”

“Do whatever you want.”

So I did exactly what Blazing Phoenix suggested. She was fidgeting with her lips, and I ran my tongue around mine. They tasted like strawberries.

“Tasty.”

“Strawberries?”

“Your lips.”

“…You’re such an idiot, seriously.”

Blazing Phoenix looked at me with disdain as if I were beyond saving. But she didn’t say anything about not doing this in front of Ji Ryun.

“You’ve seen the memories in my head too, right? You know letting your guard down gets you into trouble.”

And so, I kissed her. It was the first time in my memory that I initiated a kiss directly. The moment our lips touched, Blazing Phoenix opened her mouth immediately.

This wasn’t some simple peck but a deep kiss that went far beyond anything I’d shared with Hydra. Our tongues intertwined like vines, entwining and caressing each other until we were both breathless. I kept kissing her until she seemed satisfied.

“One more?”

“…We should talk now. Maybe next time.”

Is there even going to be a next time if not now? And then I realized this was Blazing Phoenix’s “reward” for today.

“To awaken Ji Ryun, all it took was a kiss like this. At this rate, she might just let me go all the way next time.”

“Hmph. Not only are you having a bowl of kimchi soup, but you’re also shoving it straight down my throat. Let’s table that discussion for later and focus on Ji Ryun first.”

“Ji Ryun…”

Of all people, Ji Ryun chose to latch onto Hydra instead of me. Before trying to persuade Ji Ryun, there was one thing I wanted to confirm with Blazing Phoenix.

“Let’s save the kissing for when we awaken Azidahaka. This time, I want a different reward.”

“…Seriously? You’re giving up a kiss with me to choose something else?”

“Of course. If I don’t understand this, it’ll create problems for me when making future decisions. That said, you can still kiss me if you want. After all, I belong to you, and you can do as you please with me. However, I’ll need your permission before kissing you.”

“What about earlier?”

“That was because you told me to do whatever I wanted.”

“True words indeed. I’ll let it slide this time, but if you ambush me without preparation next time, there will be no forgiveness.”

Anytime is welcome. I bowed my head in apology to Blazing Phoenix and sought out the ‘information’ I wanted.

“Twenty years ago.”

“Gulp.”

I had noticed this before in conversations with Hydra and Ji Ryun.

“…Was it you who spoiled the spirit plotline twenty years ago by leaking information to the officers?”

“…”

“One theory came to mind. If I possessed Blazing Phoenix, when would be the most appropriate timing? When the original story begins? Or during the universe defense against Seongju? Or…”

“The year 2000. The turn of the century.”

Blazing Phoenix revealed the correct answer. Her face carried a bittersweet smile. Then, she shook her head preemptively.

“It’s better if you don’t know.”

“Will you tell me what happened over the past twenty years?”

“I erased it because I judged that not knowing would be better for you.”

Blazing Phoenix’s resolute expression left no room for compromise. What on earth happened over those twenty years? Though curious, there’s nothing I can do.

“Well, if that’s how it is, then there’s nothing I can do.”

“…Won’t you ask anymore?”

“If you intended to tell me, you would have grabbed me and started enthusiastically explaining already, right? Someday, I’ll learn the whole truth.”

“…Will things change once you know the truth?”

Blazing Phoenix snorted and lowered her head. There’s definitely something I don’t know, something only Blazing Phoenix knows, and it’s causing our sync to falter. I held her face and met her gaze.

“They will change. Our relationship.”

“Really? Surely you’ll hate me, loathe me, want to kill me, and curse me with every swear word imaginable, won’t you?”

“Would I ever say such things directly to you?”

“While silently cursing dozens of times a day. Why didn’t you give me proper memories? Why keep erasing them?”

“…”

The problem lies in the mental world. In this world, my thoughts being completely readable by Blazing Phoenix is a big issue. Although feeling closer through the Cube than in the outside world has its advantages, having all my thoughts laid bare is disadvantageous in our relationship.

“You’re thinking that way right now, aren’t you? About how I keep interfering with your heroines, wondering if I’m hogging you selfishly after having my fill.”

“Absolutely.”

“…Now that you’re ready to go all out with Hydra, my tantrums have stopped you, haven’t they?”

“Of course, but that doesn’t mean I’ll do anything with Hydra or Ji Ryun.”

I embraced Blazing Phoenix, who seemed on the verge of collapse.

Blazing Phoenix was afraid that the truth she had hidden so well would be exposed to me. She feared I might confront another hidden truth she continued to conceal.

But because of that, I was certain.

“Don’t you dislike me?”

“…No? Yes? Hate me? Loathe me? Every time you snatch my body and indulge with the heroines I love, inside that confined space, it makes me furious.”

“If you read my memories, you’d know when you lie, wouldn’t you?”

I bent my head down, and Blazing Phoenix quickly covered her chest while stepping back.

“Pervert.”

“The highest form of compliment. But let me clarify. I’m a pervert for no one but you.”

“No, you’re the most hopeless pervert in existence.”

“…To call me a pervert regarding Baek Cheonghwa series? That makes me a little sad.”

How could I be called a pervert when it comes to someone like Bonghyo Baekcheongyoung? In reality, I’ve exercised tremendous restraint with Hydra and Ji Ryun.

“If I were truly a pervert, I’d have already jumped into bed with Hydra and Ji Ryun.”

“Correct me. You’re not just a pervert; you’re a monster driven mad by lust.”

“Not entirely painful. Have I forgotten how I ended up in this world?”

I approached Blazing Phoenix and took her hand. She willingly clasped hands with me.

“The person who downloaded the expansion pack, ready to have sex with you first after abandoning two trillion, that’s me.”

“Once?”

“Correction. Until death.”

“…Your sincerity makes me angrier. Hmph.”

Blazing Phoenix sighed and buried her head in my chest. As always, I stroked her hair like in the original story, running my fingers through her locks.

“…So, how do you plan to convince Hydra and Ji Ryun? Are you going to spill everything? Tell them you only want to be with the most beautiful Blazing Phoenix in your mind?”

“Hmm. I do have a plan forming in my mind.”

“You wouldn’t call that a plan. After flirting with me like this, do you really think it’ll work on Hydra?”

“But it’s the way to save both Hydra and Ji Ryun. I’m always like this, but if you don’t want me to, I won’t. But you want to save Hydra too, right? So, I’ll use just three methods.”

“…Tch.”

Blazing Phoenix pressed her head into my chest in frustration. The blow to my sternum from her magic felt like getting punched.

“Just this once. And you, after seducing Hydra this way, realize the situation will get worse, right? Can you handle it?”

“Aftermath is something you figure out by confronting it directly. Don’t worry. My heart remains unwavering.”

“Hmph. Just smear some saliva on your tongue and talk.”

“Yours will do just fine.”

I patted her back and stepped back. Blazing Phoenix seemed reluctant, but it was time to deliver the final warning to Ji Ryun and Hydra.

“I’m leaving.”

“…”

“So, send me off. Won’t you?”

Unfortunately, I can’t return on my own. If Blazing Phoenix doesn’t send me, I’ll be trapped in this mental world forever.

“…Let me make one thing clear.”

Blazing Phoenix lifted her head. For some reason, she smiled at me through teary eyes.

“I will absolutely never sync with you.”

“That answer is enough.”

Because the reason Blazing Phoenix refuses to sync with me can only be one thing. I sincerely told her.

“I’ll find every possible method within the remaining time.”

“…”

Blazing Phoenix avoided meeting my eyes. My consciousness was enveloped by blue flames once again.

‘This leaves no time to rest.’

I closed my eyes quietly.

And the moment I opened them…

I found myself tied to the bed, and this time, Hydra sat smugly beside me, staring down at me with a lecherous grin.

“Hmph, I don’t know how you collapsed this time, but the tables have turned now, haven’t they?”

The barrier outside is still intact. But Hydra had bound my limbs to the bed frame with restraints.

“Wanna get free? Then you have only one choice.”

Hydra traced the cuffs with her finger and licked her lips.

“Turn into Xian immediately! A Shota version! There’s no other way to release these restraints and escape!”

Just as I wouldn’t abandon Blazing Phoenix, Hydra wouldn’t give up on her love for young Xian. Now, I needed to take decisive action against this love-starved beast.

“…Hydra.”

“Yeah? Respond.”

“I won’t kill you. Stay with Ji Ryun. No, Ji Ryun won’t be much help anyway, so help me rebel against Seongju. Keep Ji Ryun stuck inside you forever.”

“Eh?”

Hydra was genuinely shocked. She hadn’t imagined I’d choose her over Ji Ryun. Ji Ryun must be panicking inside her, but my proposal was firm.

“…Are you sowing discord because you feel disadvantaged? Hmph, then let’s remove the barriers—”

“Chang, Yeom, Gae, Jin!”

Left arm with Chang, right arm with Yeom. Left foot with Gae, right foot with Jin. I shattered all the barriers with flames and freed myself. Hydra’s perfect bindings were undone, and her expression hardened.

“How…?”

“Already broke through triple barriers, so this is nothing.”

I released my hands. Though wary, Hydra knew I was about to begin my recruitment battle with her.

“Just a minute. I don’t intend to fight you. Let’s resolve this through dialogue, okay?”

“…”

“Physical dialogue, perhaps. But not in your current state, with Xian.”

“Yes. With Xian, but there are conditions.”

“Conditions?”

“This.”

I extended my tongue and moved my fingers wildly.

“Only after capturing Seongju. Deal?”

“…Wow, you’re serious.”

Hydra quickly caught on to my proposal.

“You’re asking me to betray Lord Seongju just for a single night with you? Instead of killing me and awakening Ji Ryun, you want me alive to fight Lord Seongju?”

“Exactly. Karna has already done the same. Gaechonkwang gave all his power to Karna. They’ve merged. Karna is dominant though.”

“Ahh.”

Hydra smirked briefly, then deflated.

“…That’s talking about when Gaechonkwang gave everything to Karna. Ji Ryun will never give me his power, and I won’t relinquish mine either.”

“So cooperate as an officer. We’ll address the sync issues gradually.”

I aimed to recruit Hydra as an officer of the Dark Legion.

“Want to try being the queen of Jije Kingdom?”

“…Even if you aim to humiliate a failure consumed by lust, even so—”

“Cornil. And… Handshake.”

I crossed my arms and cracked my knuckles.

“Unless you lie down within ten seconds, the bus leaves. Ten, five, two—”

Hydra immediately threw herself onto the bed. I prepared to seduce her.

‘It’s not necessary to approach her like a typical ability hunter.’

Isn’t this supposed to be a visual novel?

An adult-rated visual novel.

Naturally, there are cases where you approach her like this.

“Then let’s start.”

I ran my index finger along Hydra’s white swimsuit—

“No. Definitely not.”

Hydra raised her thigh and caught my hand. My finger stopped right above her groin. Trapped between her soft thighs, my hand couldn’t move.

“I won’t tolerate you trying to manipulate me with a sense of duty.”

“It’s not duty.”

“I can see it clearly. You’re trying to do something you don’t want to.”

Hydra twisted her thigh and kicked under my chin with her foot.

“Fine. I’ll cooperate, but not like this. It’s degrading.”

“…This flow feels familiar.”

“Hmph, not the first or second victim, huh? Fine. I’ll accept the deal. Let me see how many others like me are out there.”

Hydra stretched her leg and lifted my chin.

“Betraying the Dark Legion, betraying Lord Seongju, offering all subordinates. I don’t need sympathy like ‘I’ll do it because you asked.'”

Hydra wrapped her foot around my neck and hurled me upwards.

“Make yourself desperate enough to want me, and come to me directly. Anyway, since it’ll likely happen right before death, doing it before Lord Seongju arrives isn’t bad either. Dying while doing it with Xian in front of Lord Seongju could be fun too. Let me make this clear.”

I landed in Hydra’s embrace.

“Before you touch me below with your tongue or hand, use your third leg. Direct penetration. Got it? Under those conditions, I’ll cooperate.”

“…Sorry in various ways.”

“If you’re sorry, do this instead.”

Hydra pulled my face buried in her bosom tightly.

“Xian, touch me. I’ll forgive you this time for this.”

“…Alright.”

I grabbed Hydra’s chest and lifted my head. She quietly closed her eyes and slowly opened her mouth.

That day, I recruited Hydra of Ji Ryun using only my tongue and hands.

* * *

Blazing Phoenix sat slumped in a chair, gazing blankly at the ceiling.

“…So, going straight to fooling around with another woman, especially Hydra, what kind of treatment is that?”

Blazing Phoenix chuckled seeing Hydra succumbing to pleasure. Ultimately, Hydra truly surrendered to pleasure. She smoothed her hair and muttered.

“I guess I let it slide because it’s really Hydra. Sigh.”

Blazing Phoenix sank deeper into the chair. He had put in as much effort recruiting Hydra as he had with her. Hydra embraced him as if it were the last moment of her life, passionately feeling him.

“Until the end of memories…”

Blazing Phoenix pulled out a blue bead.

– Until the day the sun sets, let this time spent with you become the happiest and most joyful memory. I am yours.

“…”

Blazing Phoenix clutched the bead tightly. In the blue temple, the same voice continued to echo endlessly.