Chapter 690

〈 Chapter 690 〉 Part 2, Chapter 4, Section 17

The battle between the Fire Mage and Ice Mage was a thorough Magic Power showdown.

While it’s important how one uses this special ability commonly called ‘magic,’ their duel often results in what’s known as a “monsoon front.”

Puuushiii!

The ice butterflies that touched the fire pillars turned into steam and melted away. The ice butterflies summoned by Seok Harang flew in from all directions across the battlefield, while Su Ri swung her staff wildly to create chaotic fire columns.

Kwaang, Kwaang!

The ice butterflies shattered effortlessly. Successfully blocking Princess Snowflower’s attack should have been something to celebrate, but Jeong Su Ri bit her lip as she gathered her magic power.

Loss.

She found herself at an overwhelmingly disadvantageous position in terms of magic power exchange. While she used spells that consumed a significant amount of magic power, Seok Harang had managed to put her on the defensive using only basic attacks with minimal magic expenditure.

“Are you aware of what happens when my attacks hit?”

“I’m well aware!”

Jeong Su Ri retracted her staff and erected a fiery barrier around herself. The blazing spherical shield completely protected her, causing the ice butterflies that slipped through the cracks of the fire pillar to settle harmlessly on its surface.

“Guh…!”

Despite merely sending out a few butterflies from afar, she was being utterly overpowered. Even without using any special techniques, Su Ri couldn’t have imagined the situation would be so one-sided, even against an S-Rank opponent.

‘Techniques were indeed used.’

Jeong Su Ri looked up at the ceiling. Despite her best efforts unleashing flames at full strength, the ice walls encircling the arena remained unbroken and unfazed.

In other words, Seok Harang had entered the battle without deploying her ultimate defense technique, Absolute Barrier, under the guise of protecting the arena. It was akin to fighting without using one’s strongest piece in chess, yet Su Ri’s pride continued to burn fiercely before slowly fizzling out.

‘Am I really going to lose like this?’

Jeong Su Ri gripped her staff tightly. Renowned for being number one in practical skills at the academy, she was famous for being far stronger than active heroes. Even though her opponent was clearly at a much higher level, such a gap shouldn’t exist.

It felt like an adult playing with toys compared to a child. Trapped within her protective sphere by Seok Harang’s ice butterfly spectacle, Su Ri could barely move.

“You’re weak in direct combat. No matter how strong your firepower is, it’s all relative.”

“Bones-and-flesh advice is appreciated, but right now, your comments are slightly irritating!”

Su Ri thrust her staff forward, channeling both respect for a superior fighter and irritation into the motion. Her Core Weapon staff flared with red flames.

“At full strength! Inferno!”

“There’s no need to announce your technique unless absolutely necessary.”

Seok Harang slowly raised her hand. The flames erupting from Su Ri’s staff were akin to the sulfurous fires of hell, surpassing thousands of degrees, enough to slightly melt the icy ceiling barriers.

“Exactly like this.”

Snap. With a flick of her hand, Seok Harang dispersed her ice butterflies into steam. Suddenly turning her ice-based attacks into water left Su Ri astonished.

“What?! Are you a Water Mage?!”

“A hero must always hone their abilities.”

With a smug smile, Seok Harang began waving her hands side to side. The wavy ice crystals danced gracefully, wrapping around the fireballs Su Ri attempted to launch.

“You can’t defeat me with just that, Fire Demon.”

Puuushii—

Seok Harang’s ice crystals formed a net enveloping Su Ri’s fireballs. Amidst massive clouds of white steam, the fireballs failed to launch and exploded prematurely.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Too strong. She anticipated a power gap, but never imagined it would be this wide. Thinking that increasing her power by a mere 40,000 points would grant her entry into S-Rank seemed naive now. The difference between A-Rank and S-Rank was astronomical.

“But…!”

She hadn’t yet used her ‘ultimate skill.’ With a little more magic power, she’d reach the strength needed to activate it.

“This battle is your defeat.”

At Seok Harang’s declaration of victory, Su Ri felt indignant. Despite having sufficient energy left to fight, Seok Harang was already certain of her win.

“Why?! Why am I losing?!”

“…That’s convenient for you. Fine then. Let me explain why you lost…”

Bam! The back of her head went numb. Turning around, Su Ri’s heart sank.

“Y-Yuina?”

“…Sorry, Su Ri.”

Yuina, who struck Su Ri on the back of the head with her staff, tearfully begged for forgiveness.

“T-That’s not what I meant to do—”

Thud. Clinging desperately to her last threads of consciousness, Jeong Su Ri finally collapsed.

***

<Meanwhile, Inside the Steam Room Cave.>

“What is this?!”

Gyeoul shouted angrily. The magnificent barrier surrounding the intense battle of fire and ice was gradually building toward its climax but abruptly ended due to the unexpected variable of Yuna.

“Su Ri has a problem. Once she trusts someone, she doesn’t doubt them easily.”

“That’s still no reason to hit her friend on the back of the head.”

“She also has a dependency on Yuna. Yuna needs to graduate, after all.”

Originally, recruiting Su Ri was incredibly easy due to her reliance and obsession with Yuna. To the point where Su Ri supported the guild Yuna worked for overseas (until February), showing deep dependence and fixation.

“It’s not obsession; it’s more like a compulsive desire for world peace.”

If a nuclear button were rolling around, anyone would worry and fret. Su Ri’s faint precognition hinted subtly that if something went wrong with Yuna, the world would soon end.

“Anyway, Yuna is mine now. Continuously fixating on her is wrong.”

“Is Su Ri burdensome in her relationship with Yuna?”

“What are you talking about? Su Ri is currently struggling desperately to interfere.”

And ideally, a few more people too. I adjusted my posture.

“Ouch, it’s cramped.”

“H-Huh?! What are you doing?!”

“The space is inconveniently small. Leave if you don’t like it.”

I climbed atop Gyeoul, burying my face in her ample bosom, extending my magical gear forward to replay Su Ri and Harang’s battle.

“If we get caught by the SPs, what will we do?!”

“Don’t worry, they won’t find out.”

“What gives you that confidence?!”

“They aren’t watching because they can’t see us.”

The moment we entered the cave, it was as if we disappeared from sight.

“So, Gyeoul, let’s enjoy ourselves?”

I lowered the steam room pants slightly, revealing my manhood.

“Surely you didn’t expect this upon entering?”

“No, seriously, if we get caught, you’ll be screwed—!”

“Don’t worry. An S-Rank has set up a barrier.”

“……!”

Mentioning the invisible S-Rank bodyguard, Gyeoul narrowed her eyes. Sliding her leg toward the cave entrance, we confirmed the unseen wind barrier and sighed.

“Bold much? If we get caught halfway, it won’t end well.”

“Don’t worry. We won’t get caught.”

As I embraced Gyeoul’s waist and adjusted our position, lying side-by-side wasn’t satisfying enough.

“Wait a moment.”

Gyeoul lay flat on the floor. Though regrettable that her large breasts touched the ground, she shook her hips coyly.

“Are you asking for anal sex?”

“H-Hip support! …A-And.”

Gyeoul mumbled with pouted lips.

“C-Can you penetrate me from the front without breaking my hymen…?”

Gyeoul’s contradictory suggestion made my member throb.

***

“Mr. Doo Shik, shouldn’t we report this?”

“What about it.”

“A man and woman are sneaking into a secluded cave and rubbing against each other. Doesn’t it bother you?”

“So what. Let the daughter of Lord Sun fool around with the foreigner.”

One of the Patriot Youth Corps members, Kim Doo Shik, nonchalantly replied to fellow corps member Park Ara. His lackadaisical attitude toward his assigned duties troubled Park Ara.

“If this goes wrong, we’ll be the ones to suffer the consequences, won’t we?”

“Idiot. Didn’t you yell at us yesterday for letting them go down to Busan together?”

“But still…”

“Our job isn’t just to spy. It’s to ensure the daughter doesn’t mess around.”

Kim Doo Shik pointed at the cave the two entered. Aside from maintaining distance, nothing seemed particularly problematic.

“What do you think they’re doing?”

“Guild-related stuff probably. That guy always hides important guild information this way. He definitely went inside to keep it from us.”

“This is serious. Reporting this is awkward.”

“There’s no need to report. Just tell Lady Sun later that everything was fine. Besides, nobody here knows she’s Sun Gyeoul. She’s just an idol in New Seoul.”

Kim Doo Shik peeled the shell of a hot stone egg while listening to the surroundings. On the news, Sun Icheol appeared discussing Seoul’s economic value.

“You bastard.”

“Saying bad things about the king will get you exiled immediately. Don’t you know?”

“Who cursed the king? Your mother!”

The vivid reactions unimaginable in New Seoul twisted Kim Doo Shik’s lips. Despite being from the same country, reactions to Sun Icheol in Busan, the second-largest city after New Seoul, were fading fast.

“Son of Sun family, that bastard. Definitely shorter than expected.”

“What? Did you measure him?”

“No, just looking at him gives a rough estimate.”

The men openly showed disdain for Sun Icheol. Kim Doo Shik silently ate his egg.

“The moment we report this, the King of New Seoul will come to Busan. Those old men will be extremely annoyed.”

“I envy them. We have to follow orders without resistance.”

Park Ara massaged her neck. The white towel tied around her neck revealed a black tattoo peeking out.

“Don’t overthink it. To Lord Sun, we’re just interchangeable parts that can be replaced anytime. There’s no need to work hard.”

“That makes sense… But, Doo Shik. What about them?”

“What about what?”

“They seem to be doing something inappropriate together.”

Doo Shik casually glanced toward the cave. In the dim space, the two bodies intertwined were engaging in bold acts.

“Wow. Reporting this would cost us our heads instantly.”

“What, what do we do?!”

“Do what?”

Doo Shik cleared his nose and straightened his posture.

“Either report honestly and lose our heads or pretend we saw nothing. Oh my, they’re going at it pretty openly in public.”

“……I don’t know anything.”

The Patriot Youth Corps members watched the situation in the cave carefully, swallowing their saliva.

“Damn it, Park Ara.”

“Yes? Did you call me?”

“No. Hit it. If you hit it, we won’t report. Cough…Oh, damn.”

Doo Shik nearly spat out the rice drink he was trying to swallow.

“Should I really hit it?”