Chapter 517

〈 Chapter 517 〉IF Route, Normal Ending # 009 – B

“Lee Seung-hyung is advancing towards Guro?”

– Yes. He’s moving faster than expected. What should we do?

Lee Seung-hyung. The flame wizard I awakened to S-Rank by embedding Chang-yeom into his heart. And the guy who was casually flirting with Cheon Gaeul. My thoughts twisted involuntarily.

“Lighthouse, if you see any ‘ice’ appearing on the battlefield, please let me know immediately.”

– Understood. Will the director be going out?

“Yes.”

I spread fiery wings behind my back and flew toward Guro.

[Because I need to personally beat him up.]

In monster form.

* * *

After Lee Seung-hyung joined, the Guro region quickly stabilized.

“Haaaaa!”

White flames engulfed the entire building. The Hellhound zombies hiding in the ruins of the collapsed building were burned to ashes by White Flame and fell.

“What the…?!”

“Amazing! As expected of an S-Rank!”

The heroes marveled at his power that came to rescue them. There were also members of the Pine Tree Unit who had some “secret mission” to carry out.

“Damn it…!”

Choi Pyo Bak Seong-tae sweated at Lee Seung-hyung’s overwhelming might. Lee Seung-hyung had ‘traversed straight from Anyang to Guro’ to save the heroes, preventing the Pine Tree Unit from secretly escaping to Yeouido National Assembly.

“Heroes, regroup! Open a path following Hwakwon!”

“Hey! Snap out of it! The counterattack begins!”

Unsah and Tempest Lady simultaneously raised the wind. The embers of white flames remaining on the ground were scattered by the wind.

Kiieeek!

The monsters screamed and vanished upon touching the White Flame. Lee Seung-hyung’s White Flame had the peculiar property of burning only monsters.

“Haaa–!”

Facing the avenue blocked by a building several meters high, Lee Seung-hyung extended his fist charged with mana. The flame embedded in his heart emitted infinite mana to assist him, and blue hues mixed into the white flames, increasing its destructive power.

Kwa—ang!!

“…What the hell.”

Bak Seong-tae nearly lost his composure at Lee Seung-hyung’s strength that created a new path with just a punch. No matter how highly regarded someone was, this level of difference made even ability users feel awe.

“The way to Yeouido is clear! Let’s advan-”

[That won’t do.]

With a creaking sound, a villain clad in black armor approached from the direction of Yeouido to greet the heroes. The frontline heroes trembled at the boiling mana emanating from the villain’s armor, but only Lee Seung-hyung stepped forward and shouted.

“Who are you!”

[Villain.]

The moment those words ended, the villain disappeared. A sound of kicking off the ground was heard, and Lee Seung-hyung raised his arm into a defensive stance.

Kaaang-!

The villain’s kick struck Lee Seung-hyung’s arm. Though pushed back, Lee Seung-hyung maintained his posture while looking for a chance to counterattack.

“Haaa!”

Lee Seung-hyung grabbed the villain’s leg and swung it violently through the air.

“Haaa!”

He hurled the villain towards the ground. Just before hitting the ground, the villain unfolded fiery wings on their back and soared into the sky.

“So you think flying will help…!”

“How can Seoul have such a villain?!”

The villain arrogantly looked down at the heroes from above. The blue flames emerging between the armor seemed to indicate they were the mastermind behind the Seoul incident.

“I shall join the battle!”

Unsah stepped forward gripping her staff. Despite being A-Rank compared to S-Rank, Unsah didn’t retreat.

“A Team! Eliminate the unknown enemy! Target estimated as S-Rank! Fire Wizard!”

“Hey, let’s take this bastard down first!”

Even the Pine Tree Unit aimed their weapons at the villain and the monster. Despite facing dozens of heroes, the villain showed no sign of hesitation.

[Why aren’t you running away?]

“I have one question.”

Blue flames rose in Lee Seung-hyung’s eyes.

“Are you the one who kidnapped Hero Lee Giseong?”

[So what if I am?]

The villain folded their wings and landed. Lee Seung-hyung gathered mana throughout his body and rushed at the villain.

“If so, I’ll defeat the villain and rescue my comrade!”

“Form a raid formation! The opponent seems specialized in close combat!”

A-Rank heroes followed Lee Seung-hyung. B-Rank heroes established defensive lines, and long-range heroes aimed their guns and drew their bowstrings.

[Hmph.]

It was clearly excessive force to deploy against a single villain, yet the heroes felt genuine fear towards the villain in front of them that could only be described as a ‘raid’.

[I’ll give you what you want.]

With a snap of their fingers, the villain extinguished their wings and raised both fists.

[If you defeat me, I’ll hand over Seoul.]

Though arrogant, the heroes instinctively understood.

We must defeat this person to reclaim Seoul.

However.

It didn’t take long to realize that this was rash judgment.

Realizing from the start that defeating the enemy was impossible.

* * *

Guro had become a wasteland. The ruins were filled with unconscious heroes bleeding, and blue flame rings hung around their necks.

“Keuhk!”

A hero spat blood after receiving a knee strike from the villain. The villain grabbed the hero’s neck with their hand and enveloped them in flames.

“Aaaaah!”

The hero screamed. Though not a single part of their body suffered burns from the flames, something was clearly being rapidly ‘consumed’.

[End.]

Phoenix, the villain, completely burned away the hero’s mana and threw them towards the collapsed building. The hero smashed through the glass and rolled on the ground spitting blood.

“Keuh… heuuek.”

[This leaves only you.]

Phoenix spoke quietly to the male hero, Lee Seung-hyung, lying beneath their foot. The metallic boot pressing on his neck was scorching hot, turning Lee Seung-hyung’s skin red.

“No…! There’s still someone left!”

[Seok Harang?]

Phoenix raised their hand. A small hole opened in the gauntlet’s palm, beginning to concentrate mana.

Guu—ung!

“…?!”

Too familiar to the fire wizard. The energy gathering in Phoenix’s palm was intense enough to melt steel.

□□□□□□!!!

Phoenix’s hand shot out flames. The concentrated mana erupted like a laser from the palm, shooting towards the southeast sky and shattering the butterfly wings of ice just crossing over the Guanak mountains.

[Now there’s none left.]

Overheated mana was released into the air from Phoenix’s gauntlet. The heated air made it hard for Seung-hyung to breathe.

“…Kruk.”

[Is this all you’ve got?]

“…!!”

Seung-hyung’s expression contorted. Phoenix pressed down harder on Seung-hyung’s chest while continuing to speak.

[What do you plan to protect with such weak power?]

“Uaaaaah!!”

White flames erupted from Seung-hyung’s entire body, slowly lifting the black armor pressing down on him.

[S-Rank power may be strong…]

Phoenix applied more force to extinguish the White Flame.

[But you seem to have forgotten that I’m the one who gave you this power.]

“What…?!”

Before Seung-hyung could react, Phoenix’s body was enveloped in blue flames.

“…”

“Girl… brat?”

Phoenix silently looked down at Seung-hyung. Her delicate bare feet were stepping on the chest of Seung-hyung, whose clothes were mostly burned away.

“Good job dealing with the fire dragon, Irregular. I hope you’re reborn as the protagonist next life.”

“What does that-”

Phoenix raised her right arm high into the sky. A sharp claw-shaped mass of mana coiled around her fist, glowing fiercely.

“…”

Seung-hyung closed his eyes. Though he didn’t understand why the villain in front of him lent him power, she was clearly full of intent to kill.

‘Sorry.’

Seung-hyung calmly accepted his death.

…

…

…

“…?”

Seung-hyung opened his eyes again. The face of Phoenix, who had bowed her head, was distorted as if about to cry.

“…How did you get here?”

“I came to stop you.”

A familiar voice came from behind Phoenix. The reason Seung-hyung came to Seoul and the woman he had been searching for so desperately had gray hair and was hugging Phoenix from behind.

“…Let go. I’m going to kill this man.”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean. You actually don’t want to kill anyone, do you?”

“No… It’s not true…”

“Why don’t you kill the heroes then?”

Phoenix wanted to protest it was a misunderstanding. The reason she didn’t kill the heroes was merely because she was worried they might cause trouble if they died unnecessarily.

“Don’t… Please? Can we just let them go quietly? You actually…”

Gaeul whispered something in Phoenix’s ear. Phoenix’s pupils wavered greatly. Seung-hyung couldn’t hear it.

“…You’re so unfair, so unfair…”

“It’s your fault. So.”

Gaeul hugged Phoenix tighter and cried.

“If you don’t want to be hated by me, please stop killing people…”

This was Gaeul’s best possible threat. Phoenix dropped her arms as her tears soaked Gaeul’s back. The sharp claw-like flames faded.

“…Go.”

Phoenix nudged Seung-hyung’s chin with her foot.

“I’ll give you one last chance. Get out of Seoul immediately.”

“That’s impossible.”

“…”

Seung-hyung stubbornly stood up. Phoenix’s eyes glimmered with murderous intent but seemed unable to act due to Gaeul clinging to her from behind.

“Mr. Seung-hyung. Sorry, but please go back. If this child gives you another chance-”

“I promised Mr. and Mrs. Gaeul.”

Phoenix and Gaeul stopped moving. Seung-hyung calmly took a deep breath and continued.

“To definitely… definitely bring Ms. Gaeul to New Seoul.”

“It’s impossible. Ms. Gaeul can’t leave Seoul.”

Phoenix tightly held Gaeul’s hand. Like a child refusing to give up their toy, Gaeul found herself in an awkward situation. She understood the attachment but felt it was too extreme.

“If not, I’ll come up there.”

At Seung-hyung’s words, Phoenix choked.

“I’ll come to Seoul with Ms. Gaeul’s parents.”

“…Huh.”

Phoenix was confused.

***

The Seoul Recovery Operation was over.

The heroes put up a brave fight in Gangnam but were defeated by the Seoul refugee organization ‘Blue Wind Sect’ which had established a base underground in Guro.

After it became known that there were refugees living in Seoul, the citizens of New Seoul began to worry whether they had surviving relatives left in Seoul.

The determination of those seeking information about their family’s safety burned fiercely, even beyond what Sun Icheol could suppress.

The daughter they thought was dead was rescued with the help of Seoul refugees.

All villains captured in Gangnam.

Refugees revealed as Blue Wind Sect.

Thus, the turmoil in Seoul subsided.

And one year passed.

***

Kung!

Seung-hyung stepped forward, rolling on the ground. Phoenix rolled to dodge the leg sweep, then stood up and roundhouse kicked.

Kwaang!

The kick was blocked by the White Flame wrapped around his forearm. Phoenix clicked her tongue and stepped back significantly, adjusting her stance.

“How dare you keep blocking me?”

“Shouldn’t I block you?”

Seung-hyung grinned widely like an excited child.

“Finally, Master called me by name!”

“Shut up, trash!”

Phoenix’s face turned red as she ran forward. Using mana propulsion from her feet, she darted sideways and delivered a dropkick to Seung-hyung.

Kwa–ang!!

Seung-hyung raised his guard to block the attack. Then he smirked while trying to grab Phoenix’s bare leg.

“Kyik?!”

Phoenix screamed and twisted her body. Losing balance without time to control mana, she rolled on the ground.

“Where do you think your hands are going, you pervert!”

“…Then just transform already.”

“I, this is what Ms. Gaeul dressed me in! Do you think someone like you could undress me?”

“No. You should wear it forever.”

Phoenix stretched her upper body, showing off her tank top and hot pants. She hadn’t noticed that revealing her sweat-soaked body was what Gaeul had chosen for her.

“…Is that so.”

Seung-hyung bitterly smiled and averted his gaze. Sensing his wavering mana, Phoenix lazily approached with half-closed eyes.

“Puhh, what’s wrong? Didn’t you used to pine for Cheon Gaeul? Have you fallen for this body already? Are you in heat?”

“Wha, when did I ever get in heat for Master…?”

“Liar. Look how you’re reacting?”

“?!”

Seung-hyung pulled his lower body back, startled. He panicked wondering if he had unknowingly reacted, but his member remained flaccid.

“Kyahaha! Look at you panicking thinking you really reacted, puhh. Ah!”

Phoenix skipped close to Seung-hyung and looked down at him smugly.

“If you fall for me, Ms. Gaeul would be mine, wouldn’t she…?”

“What kind of ridiculous chicken brain talk is that?”

Kon. Gaeul appeared from behind and bonked Phoenix’s head. Phoenix sulked with a wounded heart.

“Chicken brain? That’s harsh.”

“You’re thinking dirty thoughts.”

“Tch.”

Phoenix stuck out her lips in dissatisfaction. Gaeul grabbed her lips and shook them.

“Alright. Hurry up and follow. Mr. Seung-hyung too.”

“Yes, yes. But where…?”

Gaeul’s face turned red.

“H, we need to go to our usual spot. We need to enhance Mr. Seung-hyung, right?”

“…Yes.”

Seung-hyung’s face turned red as well while following behind. Only Phoenix acted like an irritable cat, fidgeting nervously.

“I want to be alone with Ms. Gaeul-”

Tsk.

Gaeul silenced Phoenix by covering her mouth with her own lips.

Their destination was one corner of Seoul, Gaeul’s apartment which served as their home and the Blue Wind Sect’s hideout.