Chapter 456

〈 Chapter 456: Episode 1 Part 19-12 〉

“Nice to meet you, Jeolpung. You can call me Phoenix for now.”

The exact same voice and face as Penril, but the tone was different, and even the gaze towards Aruel was unlike Penril’s.

“……”

“……”

It was clear they were wary of each other. Given that Jeolpung had already clashed with Penril, there was no way they’d get along with Aruel, who had synchronized with Penril. But thanks to this awkward relationship, I could easily defeat these three half-synchronized opponents. After all, 100 doesn’t divide evenly by 3.

‘Still, that’s one thing, and this is another.’

When Jeolpung’s power was used by Penril to synchronize with Aruel, Jeolpung’s essence had already settled within Aruel. Now, if Aruel and Jeolpung wanted, they could synchronize at will. However, it didn’t seem like either of them had any intention of cooperating.

“What happened between you two? Did you fight?”

“It’s not about fighting or not. The synchronization was done by Penril, not her personally.”

Jeolpung firmly drew a line. And I couldn’t help but agree with him. Just looking at their differing personalities and preferences, I knew they wouldn’t understand each other or become one.

“Alright. So Jeolpung, what do you plan to do?”

“…Can we guarantee victory against Seongju?”

“Of course. This battle was started with the intent to win. We can’t afford to lose, and we won’t. Your assistance would be helpful though.”

I pointed at Aruel lying defeated on the floor.

“Synchronization. You’ll have to do it.”

“I refuse.”

“Because it’s Aruel?”

“Exactly. I’d welcome synchronization with anyone else. There are plenty of skilled Special Ability users in Korea who match your attributes. Even someone like Gale Guest from the Round Table exists. There’s no reason to synchronize with that woman who tried to destroy the world.”

Clang.

Jeolpung stretched his hand downward, gathering blades of wind. Unlike Penril, Jeolpung wielded three swords.

“I’ll eliminate that presence and restore her fully. Once the host dies, the synchronization will naturally dissolve.”

Jeolpung lunged with his three swords toward Aruel, who was passively accepting her impending death.

Kaaang.

“What are you doing?”

“Interference and trolling are my specialties.”

I blocked Jeolpung’s attack with the remnants of TAT. Jeolpung was clearly annoyed, but if Aruel died here, it would create complications for us time-wise.

“Aruel cannot die.”

“What? Are you keeping Penril’s promise? Since Penril is dead, you’re letting his host live?”

“Not exactly. There’s no real need to kill her, and we need tomorrow’s full strength. Where would we find another synchronized Special Ability user so quickly? It’s better to persuade and use her.”

“Hmph.”

Jeolpung sneered at me.

“Fine. Even if you don’t kill her, will she help you? You killed someone akin to her adoptive mother. If you handed her that sword right now, who do you think she’d stab first?”

“Both of us.”

If Aruel were given the chance, she’d probably stab more than just two people—maybe even herself. After this battle, wherever she’s confined, her fragile mind without any support would undoubtedly lead her to make wrong decisions.

“I don’t intend to kill Aruel. And if you think her refusal to help stems from Penril’s death… well, sorry. But I’ve already thought of a solution. Heheh.”

This strategy was based on past experiences, and fortunately, it worked perfectly.

“How long do you plan to hide?”

“…”

“If you don’t come out now, things will get even more complicated. Don’t you know? Come out immediately. Do I need to issue an order, Kim Penril?”

“You’re really a bad person, nya.”

Jeolpung’s expression hardened. A glimmer of hope returned to Aruel’s face. The entity speaking with Jeolpung’s voice but a completely different tone was undoubtedly not Jeolpung himself.

Goooaahhh.

A slightly lighter green wind, paler than Jeolpung’s usual color, began forming into the shape of a wolf behind me. It grew to hundreds of meters, resembling the same form as Shin Sarang when he took my ultimate attack.

“Want to hop on?”

Just the size has drastically reduced. I cradled the now Pomeranian-sized creature, Kim Penril, in my arms.

“Tada!”

“…What, how?”

“Luck. There happened to be an SS Rank Core available, and guess what? It was Wind Attribute. Heheh.”

I pointed to Kim Penril’s heart area, where the second most intricate SS Rank Core throbbed as Penril’s new core. While even an S Rank Core would have sufficed, I decided to boldly assign the rare SS Rank Core in this unique situation.

“Our café needs a permanent employee since Kim Penril has proven to be such a great part-timer.”

“Not your café, nya.”

“Doesn’t matter much, does it?”

“…What exactly are you trying to do?”

Jeolpung interrupted our conversation with a voice dripping with anger.

“All monsters must die. All monster-humans too. We must completely eradicate the root cause of Tera’s destruction. And now you’re reviving Penril? Are you insane?”

“I went crazy a long time ago, and we’ve already devised ways to control Penril. Kim Penril, hand.”

As I extended my hand forward, Kim Penril placed hers gently on my palm. Jeolpung’s expression twisted painfully.

“Absolute command over a monster-human? Are you joking? Do you actually think that will control something like that?”

“Let me ask you something directly. Terra-site. The microorganisms Seongju spread across Tera that corrupt Magic Power. Do you believe every being carrying those should be killed?”

“Of course.”

“In that case, sorry, but I’ve already seen otherwise. Twice—no, thrice. Is it the greatness of love, perhaps? Heheh.”

A high-ranking officer sacrificing their life for their beloved daughter.

Another feeling compassion for a dying officer and assimilating with them.

Yet another betraying an evil organization for humanity’s peace and personal desires.

Considering all these cases, making Penril my direct monster subordinate and turning them into an ally posed no significant problems.

“To be honest, admit it, Jeolpung. You’re scared and intimidated by Penril’s existence, aren’t you? You’re jealous of Penril.”

“…”

Prideful beings like Jeolpung clearly had no intention of answering me in front of Penril.

“And I don’t have time to persuade or negotiate with anyone in this situation. Aruel, I’m sorry for killing Penril. But I’ve revived them, so please forgive me. As part of the revival service, all parasites inside were removed.”

I tossed Kim Penril to Aruel, who hastily caught and embraced her.

“Jeolpung, listen up. Spirit Power—they can coexist independently of the spirit’s consciousness, right? You, with Spirit Power, refuse to synchronize with Aruel, yet I need synchronized forces immediately.”

I stepped closer to Jeolpung and grabbed his shoulder.

“If you don’t want to synchronize with Aruel, hand over that power right now. You have three seconds.”

“Crazy talk. Stop fooling around. Even if it’s you—”

Plunk.

I plunged my hand into Jeolpung’s heart.

“Goodnight.”

Jeolpung stared at me in shock, and I gently closed his eyelids.

Pooooosh!!

Green Magic Power erupted like a fountain.

* * *

Jeolpung regained consciousness. But while his awareness returned, none of his senses did.

‘I can’t feel anything.’

Strange numbers began floating above his eyelids: 33, 57, 73. Two-digit numbers gradually rose from below, expanding proportionally to the percentage displayed.

‘Is this… a computer?’

Clearly, some kind of progress indicator appeared before his eyes, and as time passed, Jeolpung’s senses slowly returned.

‘What is this?’

Jeolpung had no words to describe the bizarre sensation enveloping him. With his mouth sealed shut and his body submerged underwater, the only means of communication left was Magic Power.

‘Something’s off.’

Jeolpung attempted to summon Magic Power, but nothing responded. Despite spirits typically using Magic Power as naturally as breathing, he felt incapable of drawing a breath now. Alive yet seemingly lifeless, it felt as if Penril had stolen his agency, leaving only his consciousness trapped within.

A spirit unable to use Magic Power—Jeolpung felt as if he’d lost himself entirely.

91, 94, 99. When the numbers finally reached 100…

…System startup complete.

A strange mechanical sound echoed somewhere.

“Cough! Cough!!”

Jeolpung coughed violently, finally opening his eyes in a world bathed in green. Struggling to lift his heavy eyelids, he found himself trapped in a tank filled with green liquid.

“Wha…?!”

Only then did Jeolpung realize he was genuinely ‘imprisoned.’ Attempting to move, he found his limbs bound, and no amount of struggling could break free. Pulling his hands revealed cyan-green veils wrapped around his wrists—an item imbued with Phoenix’s Magic Power, encased in Chang-yeom’s flames.

Why? How?

Jeolpung recalled the last moments.

‘Synchronization with Aruel.’

There had been minor disputes, and Jeolpung had tried negotiating with Phoenix.

‘This is absurd.’

Jeolpung didn’t care who synchronized with him as long as it wasn’t Aruel. No matter what, even if she resembled an adoptive mother, aligning with someone who sought to destroy the world was unthinkable.

Could a mere human endure such responsibility? Could they truly accept the weight of causing a world’s destruction? Jeolpung refused to believe it. Such arrogance was beyond comprehension. He couldn’t synchronize with someone like that.

Then why had Phoenix resurrected Penril as a monster-human and pierced his heart? Jeolpung felt a surge of anger at the thought.

Could it be because Penril had worked briefly under Phoenix? Was the talk of becoming a permanent employee not a joke after all?

“Trashy woman.”

Jeolpung let out a bitter laugh.

“The greeting was a bit extreme.”

That troublesome lunatic was glaring at him through the glass wall. For the first time, Jeolpung felt genuine fear.

“Hikari, open the capsule. It seems we need to have a little chat.”

Swishhh.

The green liquid surrounding his body rapidly drained away. Colors other than green began filling Jeolpung’s vision, and a peculiar holographic screen floated before him.

[Bioandroid system activated.]

“What… what is this?”

“Nothing fancy, just rebirth as a new being.”

Phoenix greeted Jeolpung with open arms. Remembering how she had smiled before plunging her hand into his heart, his lips trembled.

“Shall I explain briefly or in detail?”

“…”

Jeolpung couldn’t respond. He had no idea what to ask, and after waiting briefly, Phoenix began pacing the room with her hands behind her back. Several unfamiliar faces were present besides Phoenix, clad in a white lab coat.

A brown-haired woman with short hair.

A blonde woman dressed head-to-toe in luxury clothing.

An invisible yet undeniably present woman.

Despite being surrounded by women, gender held no significance to Jeolpung. What mattered was the familiar aura—the essence of spirits emanating from them.

“To cut to the chase, we extracted your soul and inserted it into a bioandroid. That’s the gist.”

Phoenix slumped into a black swivel chair. On the armrest sat a strikingly vivid green cat grooming itself with its tail while purring. Phoenix stroked the cat’s fur while gesturing.

“No evil organization is complete without a cat. Say hi, our resident kitty. Loves Mint Chocolate Ice Cream. Meows ‘Penril,’ ‘Penril.'”

“Don’t joke around, nya.”

The cat, Penril, swatted Phoenix’s hand with its tail. Phoenix scowled momentarily before muttering,

“Kim Penril. Can you feel the difference in power? The transfer of Spirit Power to this side?”

“Wha, what—”

“The separation of personality and Spirit Power is already proven science. All research is complete, and we don’t have time to find you a new partner. Therefore…”

Phoenix tapped Penril’s head with her finger and smirked.

“Rather than pleading with you, someone who refuses to cooperate, it’s far more efficient to recruit someone who can be swayed with just a Mint Chocolate Ice Cream recipe. Maximum efficiency, see? Sorry, but I’m not the kind of righteous being you are.”

Phoenix shrugged.

“I’m a trashy villain, after all. Heheh.”

Jeolpung despaired.