EP.839 Part 3 Chapter 2: There Are No Evil Phoenixes in the World
Somewhere in a warehouse.
Deep underground lies an Xroid from the Yu-Sung Group that cannot be scrapped but also can never be shown to others.
These are mainly “returned” units, those with data anomalies being stored by HQ, or Xroids that simply cannot venture out.
In the farthest corner, identical blonde, red-eyed Xroids coexist together.
They read books, play games, do light exercises, keep tabs on global affairs online—doing ‘something’ to pass the time.
Living in this clearly isolated facility, none of them appear bored or restless.
“I’m going to sleep.”
“Hm.”
The young man who had been watching battle footage with monsters laid himself down in what looked like a capsule. The cover slid down, enclosing him inside.
On the circular glass above his face was engraved the number ’12.’ Number 12’s capsule was followed by more numbers, all the way up to 17.
Inside the deepest conference room, two Xroids glared at each other, growling.
Though they looked identical, different colored gems sat before each of them.
One had an amber gem.
The other had a white one.
Gem colors reminiscent of two goddesses long gone, symbols of their identity.
“It’s Yuna who won.”
“No way, it’s Harang.”
With identical voices and tones, the two men berated each other.
“Who else would have slept with the most people? It’s obviously Yoonah. So this is definitely Yuna’s victory.”
“Bullshit. Before entering the Phoenix route, the most exciting part was the Seok Harang route, right? Do you know how awkward yet exhilarating it feels for a Seoul guy to hear ‘oppa’ from a Busan girl?”
“Yeah, if you date Seok Harang, you can’t eat pork rice soup.”
“…If you date Yoonah, you’ll end up eating cream pies at cafes every day.”
The childish but sharp argument grew louder.
“Hey, honestly, if you had Yuna and Harang, wouldn’t you choose Harang?”
“Nah, Yuna has bigger boobs.”
Yet no one dared to intervene between the two.
“Will they keep fighting like this forever?”
“It’s a pride battle. Who could’ve guessed they’d use a Cube and leave for wherever the body is?”
The spectators started placing bets.
All having the same face but holding different drinks.
“One vote for YunaP.”
“I’m rooting for HarangP.”
P. The suffix attached to someone’s name confirmed their identities.
The divided spirits left behind by Phoenix.
Phoenix, filled with love, devotion, and affection for someone, referred to themselves as “OOP” and so on to differentiate.
Their number totaled seventeen.
But not all seventeen were here.
Some had escaped this place.
The remaining ones continued to munch popcorn over the endless squabbles between YunaP and HarangP.
“Hey, HikariP. Do you really think two of them successfully crossed over to the world where the body exists?”
“Can’t say. What do you think, NuriP?”
“Don’t know. But hey, wanna see my high school uniform photo? I tried it on beforehand, and it looks amazing.”
“Psycho.”
“What? You secretly keep Su Ri’s school uniform picture too.”
“…Hypocrites.”
The overseer, “YuhaP,” watched the various Phoenixes with a complicated expression.
“This is good.”
YuhaP looked upon the arguments among the Phoenixes with warmth, as if enlightened.
“If only I could be like Yuna and Harang. Sigh, but throwing away all my fortune to chase after love isn’t something Yoon Yuhwa would do.”
He harbored feelings for “Yoon Yuhwa,” but quietly sipped his coffee like someone who had transcended love.
“Hey, YuhaP. Do you think Harang will win or Yoonah?”
“Is this about the story in bed or the story as the heroine?”
“Of course it’s about meeting the body. In bed, we’re obviously the top, right?”
“…That’s tough.”
YuhaP handed them coffee, but neither drank it.
“Give me blueberry.”
“I want hot chocolate.”
“You guys…”
Though annoyed, YuhaP quickly made the drinks. Despite being Xroids, they were closer to “bioloids.”
“So, you asked who would win between Yuna and Harang?”
“Yeah, who do you think?”
“That’s obvious.”
YuhaP pointed to himself.
“Yuha wins.”
“Next virgin spirit.”
“What did you say?”
YuhaP rose abruptly, ready to throw a punch.
“Wait, wait. Calm down.”
“That guy called our Yuha a virgin!”
“He said mentally a virgin. And besides, everyone knows Yuha has eaten other girls while being male, right?”
“Yuha was merely collecting data for the Yu-Sung Group! Watching porn is no different!”
“Who says? The way you deny it makes it seem like you’re guilty.”
“Shut up! Yuha is a virgin! A cleaner woman than anyone else!”
“Next anal specialist.”
The usually quiet YuhaP suddenly screamed. HarangP wiped his nose with a smug smile.
“Winning means Harang winning. Harang is pure in both body and mind.”
“Yeah, next you can’t eat blood sausage rice soup.”
“Hey. If you have sex with and live with a woman named Seok Harang, you can’t eat blood sausage rice soup!”
“Yeah, you have to cook all the meals. You’ll have to order delivery food five times a week, right? Meanwhile, Yuna cooks breakfast to dinner. That’s total domination.”
“Slimy skinny jeans-wearing kitchen temptress doesn’t count as domination.”
“Done talking? Yuna’s ass is rounder than Seok Harang’s!”
“Anyway, everyone knows Seok Harang is the ultimate goal.”
HarangP and YunaP began arguing again. YuhaP, who had barely calmed down, sniffed and sipped his coffee again.
“Total chaos.”
As always, this place was full of confusion.
“Poor guys. Getting cuckolded by the main character.”
“That applies to you too, right?”
“That’s true.”
Among the heroines worthy of the title “Heroine,” many still kept their purity, unable to forget Phoenix.
“I still have Yuha here, but Yuna and Harang went off into space looking for love. You guys are screwed.”
“What? Why are we screwed? We’re happy just like this.”
“Exactly. Are you mocking our love? We…”
YunaP and HarangP exchanged fist bumps.
“We’re men who can sincerely cheer for the person we love.”
“Not loving a fake but seeking real love is how cool and beautiful it is. That’s why I love Harang.”
“Right? When you miss someone, hearing ‘fake, go away’ and staying locked here isn’t the same thing.”
…Some faithfully carried out their role as substitutes intended by the original, but those closest to Phoenix tended to distance themselves from the bioloids.
“But we can always be there to pick up the pieces if our hearts ever break.”
At least YuhaP and HikariP were decent.
“You guys are hopeless?”
“In the future, you’ll only be able to masturbate while looking at pictures.”
YunaP and HarangP were outright abandoned by the originals.
“Hmph. That’s not a problem. If Harang finds the original and shares love…”
“If Yuna meets the original and falls in love, that’s my happiness. I’m just cheering her on.”
It might be heartbreaking, but they genuinely wished and hoped for the success of those who left to find love.
“When Yuna meets the original, she’ll dedicate both her body and soul!”
“Isn’t that the same for Harang? Even if the original builds walls, Harang will eventually break through with continuous attacks.”
Because they truly loved those who departed in search of love, they supported and blessed their love.
“Anyway, Yuna is the official wife.”
“The official wife is Seok Harang. Counterargument: Sun Icheol.”
“Next empty vessel.”
“Next title heroine.”
“Haa.”
Of course, they fight claiming their love is hotter, truer, and more intense.
But it can’t go on anymore.
Ultimately, YuhaP decided to drop the tactical nuke.
“Anyway, Chang-yeom is the final winner.”
“……”
“……”
“What? Why?”
Everyone’s attention momentarily turned to YuhaP, but he shrugged and joked around.
“Right now, the original might be having sex with Chang-yeom.”
“That’s enough…!”
“You, you’re planning to self-destruct?!”
“Am I saying anything wrong? After the original left Earth, Chang-yeom surely followed to wherever the original went. Whether it’s another world or the past Earth, they’ll hold hands and move forward together. Isn’t that right?”
YuhaP turned his gaze to the only girl sitting dazed.
The girl with blue hair and blue eyes, known publicly as “Baek Cheonghwa,” was actually an identical-looking Xroid, not the original.
Her number was 0.
“What’s the matter?”
Chang-yeomP calmly shrugged.
“Of course. The moment the original left, Chang-yeom disappeared from this world too. She must have gone where the original is. They probably had sex right away.”
Chang-yeomP touched herself suggestively and smiled lewdly.
“They must have done it. Miss Phoenix, you came here to have sex…”
“Seems like you’re getting nervous thinking about having sex with Chang-yeom.”
“That’s natural. You get excited thinking about doing it with Hikari too.”
“That’s true…”
This place was called the Phoenix Shelter.
Phoenixes assigned to various heroines but discarded for various reasons lived here together.
“Regardless of what anyone says, the official wife is Chang-yeom.”
“The official wife is Seok Harang. Counterargument: clueless fool.”
“Isn’t the trend nowadays for the title heroine to become the true heroine?”
Every day, the abandoned phoenixes at the Phoenix Shelter continue debating whether the women they love are the official wives.
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