Chapter 58

〈 Chapter 58 〉 Part 1, Chapter 4 (15)

“We have to stop it!”

Gaeul stood up and shouted.

“Ji Hwa! Why can’t we reach you? Someone, anyone, tell them to stop that thing!”

“…We can’t contact the Sect Leader. The clash of magic power is too intense.”

Phoenix and Princess Seolhwa were exchanging attacks even more brilliantly. The pupae created from Phoenix’s right hand were diving into the petals of ice flowers and shattering them.

Due to the collision of magic powers from these two S-Rank individuals, communication was not functioning properly.

Princess Seolhwa was recklessly using her magic power, and Phoenix was matching her, making the flow of magic on top of Gwanaksan Mountain far more unstable than when the Dimensional Gate had occurred. Communication through smartwatches was completely impossible.

“Then what about Deokbae? Didn’t he escape from those heroes earlier?”

– …I’ve used all my magic power.

Deokbae, who appeared on the screen, looked utterly exhausted with his rock skin having disappeared. The Spirit Stone embedded in his chest was entirely drained of magic power.

– To begin with, I’m only C-Rank. There’s no way I can stop it.

“Gaeul! If we mobilize the Blue Wind Sect members…”

Kkuep!

Gaeul dropped her head. Among the members of the Blue Wind Sect, there were very few who could actually fight. Most regular members were either D-Rank or normal people without special abilities.

Even if they could hold off for a moment, they would be killed soon after.

“…Still, those aren’t the ones protected by the Architect. Judging from their condition, they’re just refugees who have been hiding in history. The contract with the Architect-”

“Are you seriously saying that while people are dying?!”

Gaeul grabbed Ji Hwa by the collar. Ji Hwa replied in a cold voice.

“You mustn’t misunderstand, Miss Gaeul. The current primary goal of the Blue Wind Sect is to repel the heroes invading Seoul…”

Puck!

Gaeul’s fist hit Ji Hwa’s jaw, causing his head to turn halfway around.

“Are you in your right mind?! How can you just sit here and do nothing while something like this happens?! Fine! I’ll go myself!”

“What kind of strength do you think you have to go?”

Gaeul grabbed Ji Hwa by the collar and shook him before pushing him away. Ji Hwa fell on his butt.

“If you have no strength, will you just stand there and watch?! Tell people to run, or try contacting Phoenix! You need to do something!”

Gaeul turned toward the door while puffing. Ji Hwa sprang up and blocked the entrance.

“Move aside!”

“…I am a monster. Miss Cheon Gaeul. The eye of the person whose orders I must prioritize above all else: Lady Phoenix. Have you forgotten?”

Ji Hwa’s Demon Eye pupils burned blue.

“Lady Phoenix ordered me to protect your life at all costs. You cannot leave the barrier.”

“Get out of the way!”

Gaeul tried to push Ji Hwa aside and grabbed the doorknob. She managed to open the door slightly, but Ji Hwa’s body blocking the way stood as immovable as a statue.

“I can’t let you go!”

“Move!”

Gaeul kicked Ji Hwa’s groin with her knee. Ji Hwa’s Demon Eye wavered momentarily but quickly regained composure.

“I… Lady Phoenix…!”

Biting his lips until they bled, he held his ground at the door. Gaeul stepped back, huffing, and scanned her surroundings. Fortunately, there was a window on the opposite side.

Ssssh!

Ji Hwa stood behind Gaeul just as she was about to jump out of the opened window.

“Let go!”

Ji Hwa’s hands grabbed both of Gaeul’s arms. Despite her struggles and attempts to move her legs, Ji Hwa, being an ability user-monster, was much stronger than her.

Even the weakest ability users were far stronger physically than ordinary humans.

“Haa, haa.”

Gaeul panted heavily and collapsed. Ji Hwa still didn’t release her arms.

“…”

Gaeul’s head drooped. People would continue to die while she was trapped here.

Phoenix had said that if she had power, she wouldn’t have to face attacks from monsters and villains.

The screen continued to show people suffering and dying painfully.

What exactly makes them different from me?

She survived coming to Seoul due to good luck, avoiding the monsters, and thanks to some uncertain future caught Phoenix’s attention, allowing her to live like this.

Phoenix had said that she would become the strength to protect Gaeul.

But observing Phoenix closely over the past few days, Gaeul realized that Phoenix wasn’t someone who would simply help innocent people being massacred. Phoenix would save someone only if there was a reason, like in the case of Cheon Gaeul.

There was no one to protect those people. Gaeul felt both grateful and frustrated for being protected by Phoenix’s barrier here.

Phoenix had said to wait just a little longer.

Phoenix had come here despite transforming into a monster. He cared deeply about Cheon Gaeul’s safety. If she left this barrier, it would be a great betrayal to Phoenix.

Still…

‘If only I had power…’

There are things she wants to protect. As an actress, as a daughter.

And as a human being. There was something she wanted to protect, something she felt she would lose forever if she gave up here.

Cheon Gaeul swallowed her tears and raised her head.

“So then this-”

– Do you really have to go?

A half-transparent film-coated glass reflected Gaeul’s face. In the glass, Gaeul was not bound by Ji Hwa but by chains around her forearms.

Naked without even a scrap of cloth, covered in wounds and bruises all over her body. Shackles and stakes restraining her entire body.

It resembled the possible future Phoenix had mentioned that Cheon Gaeul might experience.

– Follow Phoenix’s words and hide here. Close your eyes and ears until everything is over.

The voice whispering from beyond the glass sounded sweet. Phoenix’s invincible barrier promised that as long as Gaeul stayed inside, she wouldn’t feel the fear of death like she did at S University again.

At least ‘Cheon Gaeul’ would be safe.

The Cheon Gaeul beyond the glass sneered.

– What can a powerless woman possibly do? Are you going to act in front of the slaughterers? Or sell your body? What kind of guts do you have to step forward like that? Just because Phoenix trusts you, does that mean everyone in the world loves you that much?

That’s not true. If anything, there are probably more people who dislike or even hate Gaeul than those who love her.

The hateful comments she endured for bad acting, the humiliations she had to accept as an entertainer, the jealousy and envy she faced as Lee Seung-hyeong’s co-star.

Perhaps among those being killed out there, there are people who stabbed Gaeul behind the monitor.

Still, nonetheless.

“People trying to save other people don’t need a reason!!”

Gaeul screamed with all her might, a sound echoing from deep within her soul.

– …Is that so?

The Cheon Gaeul beyond the glass was smiling.

– …That’s fine.

The iron chains binding the Cheon Gaeul in the glass broke apart. The eyes reflected in the glass began to shimmer with a gray light.

– That’s enough, isn’t it? Don’t you agree?

The Cheon Gaeul beyond the window crossed her hands in an X shape in front of her face. Slowly, her hands swept down from her forehead, revealing a black-and-white mask beneath.

– A new stage. New audience. New genre.

Gray magic power surged from Gaeul’s body. Ji Hwa instinctively stepped back, overwhelmed by the immense flow of magic.

BOOM!

“Y-yikes?!”

Ji Hwa was thrown all the way to the door by the surge of magic power emanating from Gaeul.

Swish.

Gaeul raised her hand and wiped her face. An alien sensation enveloped her features.

The Gaeul reflected in the glass wore a black-and-white mask.

– So, are you ready for the cut, Actress Chun?

“Of course.”

Gaeul lowered her hand from the mask. Her eyes gleamed with a gray light.

“I’m always ready.”

Masquerade leaped out the window.

***

Sun Icheol was alone in his office listening to music.

An artifact from the old era, an LP record player sat in his office playing during his relaxation time.

The TVs, muted, showed channels discussing the Seoul restoration operation.

♬♪

Music filled the office. It was Schubert’s lied, “Erlkonig,” one of his favorite classics.

Ding.

An alarm went off on his smartwatch. Sun Icheol frowned deeply, disturbed from his concentration, and checked the message.

– This is Iron Flag. Someone has been spotted in the National Assembly building. Presumed to be Cheon Gaeul.

“Cheon Gaeul?”

He recalled the actress whom Lee Seung-hyeong mourned so desperately. Already declared dead, her funeral was held. Yet, such a woman appeared at the National Assembly.

After a brief thought,

“Alright.”

Sun Icheol’s next words came without hesitation.

“Eliminate her.”

Sun Icheol leisurely picked up his cup of herbal tea.

***

When an ability user awakens, they instinctively understand how to use their power.

The perception of ‘magic power,’ surpassing human senses. One feels exhilaration as the magic power accumulated within flows explosively through the bloodstream.

And the degree of awakening varies from person to person.

There are those like Light Blade, who started at D-Rank and rose to S-Rank, and others like Sky Castle, who awakened at A-Rank and remained at that level throughout their life.

Cheon Gaeul sent Kim Ji Hwa flying merely with the aftereffects of her awakening. It was hard to call it carelessness; it was a surge of magic power that Ji Hwa couldn’t handle.

Originally, her initial awakening should have been at C-Rank, but Gaeul’s limit had already surpassed A-Rank, reaching the pinnacle of her innate talent.

Phoenix.

Though differing in attributes, possessing some of the purest magic power in the world, a spirit.

Once an ordinary person, Gaeul spent a week with Phoenix, unconsciously absorbing her magic power. Simply breathing near Phoenix, who emitted pure magic power effortlessly, allowed Gaeul’s body to accumulate magic power from Phoenix.

The only remaining element was the awakening of the mind.

Awakening amidst her own crisis, Cheon Gaeul did not turn away from others’ crises and ultimately awakened.

A-Rank Ability User. An illusionist with an 88% compatibility rate with Illusion Magic.

Her magic pattern immediately shook the entire Seoul area.

***

“New magic power pattern detected! An ability user! …S-Rank? No, it’s A-Rank!”

The operator corrected their mistake. A new ability user emerged from Yeouido.

Detected by the magic scan solely from their initial awakening, the concentration of magic power was undeniably A-Rank.

“Who is it, exactly?”

“Cross-referencing with the database!”

Not registered as a hero, the remaining possibility was a villain. Could a hidden villain finally reveal themselves? Or perhaps a refugee in Seoul awakened due to a monster attack.

Shortly after.

The search results appeared on the screen. Shin Jin-gwang gripped his command baton tightly upon seeing them.

No matches found.

“A newly awakened ability user?!”

The headquarters was in an uproar. Reporters waiting in the briefing room murmured amongst themselves.

An A-Rank so powerful that even veteran operators mistook it for S-Rank. Since the initial awakening of Princess Seolhwa, who made it onto the S-Rank list, this was the highest level of awakening among South Korean ability users.

Top priority acquisition target.

A promising individual that the association must find before they fall into the wrong path as a villain.

Seoul still harbored talent. Then, should they prioritize rescuing them under the current operational circumstances?

Two S-Rank heroes, one had withdrawn from full strength, the other was tied up with an unknown villain. The heroes in Guro had retreated, and the heroes in Gangnam were still facing off against Hellhounds.

No achievements. Instead, only the humiliation of captured heroes remained.

‘This won’t do.’

Shin Jin-gwang’s movements quickened.

“Is there anyone nearby?”

“There are Pine Tree Unit members!”

Shin Jin-gwang hesitated. Unfortunately, the Pine Tree Unit, which had gone to perform their duties as a special task force, was nearby.

Carrying out a presidential order unknown even to himself.

Shin Jin-gwang didn’t know what that secret order was. But he neither had the authority nor the power to stop the Pine Tree Unit from executing it.

“……Continue monitoring the magic power signature! Once Team A enters Anyang, we’ll gather deployable heroes!”

While waiting anxiously for Team A to return to headquarters, Shin Jin-gwang paced restlessly.

Please, let the Pine Tree Unit not designate that A-Rank ability user as a ‘spy’ for the sake of my performance, he prayed fervently.