Chapter 90

〈Chapter 90〉 Part 1, Chapter 5 (23)

– Yo. Is Chang-yeom also a quick-love type? Since everyone else awakened, I guess she’s a late bloomer? (Likes 19, Dislikes 993)

ㄴ Lord Seongju’s great foresight in sending the officers is acknowledged.

ㄴ Acknowledged. Thanks to Seongju-sama’s grand plan, we won’t be conquered by insignificant Earthlings.

ㄴ Honestly, they were brainwashed and sent. If not, they’d probably fall for stray dogs.

ㄴ Rusalka honestly fell in love at first sight with ‘Run Away!’ during the father-in-law’s first meeting. Right?

ㄴ So what are the conditions to enter Phoenix’s route… ───

nyder: Shall we share some strawberries?

– Excerpt from Community, Casual Chat Board.

* * *

As we confessed our hidden feelings, we entered a brief ceasefire and marveled at each other.

Ah, this guy isn’t ordinary.

Eventually, after telling everything that needed to be said, and learning who Seok Harang had feelings for, I decided it was time to leave.

[Gaeul: Be back before 10 PM.]

Why does even Commander me have a curfew? But if I break it, Cheon Gaeul turns into Cheon Gyul (Winter), becoming extremely irritable, and the staff file complaints against me until I’m exhausted.

So just as I was about to leave, having already settled the bill and having nothing left to say…

Seok Harang grabbed my sleeve and said,

“Hey, come over to my place for a sec.”

That’s how I ended up dragged to Seok Harang’s house.

Why?

* * *

“Come on in!”

How did I end up here? Seok Harang, blushing, pulled me by the wrist.

“Hurry!”

“…Alright.”

Since the moment Seok Harang stopped acting and putting up a front, they’ve treated me more casually. Why? Considering we’re supposed to be enemies…

The door closed and locked behind us. Seok Harang carelessly kicked off their shoes, glanced around briefly, then turned around.

“Hey! Just five minutes!”

“I know you live alone.”

I pushed Seok Harang’s hand away and entered the room. They tried to block me using their special ability, but I countered with flames, keeping them at bay while opening the door again.

It was serious. The place looked like a pigsty, completely filled with ice sculptures of Yun Yuhwa.

“Of course, severe case.”

Seok Harang covered their face with both hands. Simultaneously, countless Yun Yuhwa ice statues melted into water and dispersed. Seok Harang hesitated for a moment before snapping.

“What’s the problem?”

“Too many. Let’s sit.”

I roughly threw a cushion from the corner and sat down. Seok Harang went to the next room, brought a table, placed it between us, and sat across from me.

“So what do you want to talk about so badly that you brought me here? To a villain like me. What’s so important that you dragged me all the way to your house?”

“Wow, you’re adapting surprisingly well. Are you really the same person?”

“…Hmm, let me explain properly.”

“Thanks, Chiara. I’ll speak in my own way.”

Then I’m grateful too. My hand brushed the air above the table, and Seok Harang immediately dashed to the fridge, returning with drinks. Various brands, but all blueberry flavored.

“…Really! I like blueberries! Got a problem with that?!”

“It’s fine. Let’s get to the point. I need to head back soon.”

“Oh? Do you have a wife waiting at home…?”

As I frowned, Seok Harang bowed their head and rocked back and forth.

“…Yeah. How strange am I, falling in love with someone like you?”

“Yun Yuhwa doesn’t discriminate based on gender.”

“Seriously?!”

Seok Harang lit up with joy, their voice cracking, then bashfully lowered their head.

“Why is Yun Yuhwa so great?”

“…Just, when my teacher and father passed away, they supported me through hard times. Honestly, I knew you didn’t like coming out much, but they kept following me around and taking care of me. Over time…”

Seok Harang blushed faintly and smiled sweetly. I struggled to suppress the truth.

Since they’ve awakened as a spirit on their own, Seok Harang doesn’t need the protagonist. Even if others awaken through the protagonist, Seok Harang is already a spirit.

It might be better to marry them off to Yun Yuhwa rather than some random middle-aged man. It wouldn’t be bad for Yun Yuhwa to act as a dam until the original protagonist arrives.

I was originally the main character, but now I’m playing matchmaker.

“…Should I consider this an NTR?”

“What’s that? What are you talking about?”

“Nothing. You don’t need to know.”

I stood up from my seat, cleared my throat, and focused my mind.

“…Then I shall take my leave. You handle the rest yourself.”

“Wait! We haven’t even started yet! Aren’t you curious why I called you here?”

“Even if I don’t know, I’ll be fine. I’m leaving. If I’m late, I’ll get scolded. If I don’t leave now…”

Seok Harang grabbed the edge of my sleeve.

“…Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Just… for telling me the truth. I almost spent my whole life resenting parents I never met. Now I finally understand why I was abandoned, and I’m grateful to you for that. Enough to want to kill you.”

“Can you either thank me or hate me, please?”

Seok Harang shook their head while smiling.

“That’s impossible. As long as you continue being a villain, I’ll lock you up as a hero. Don’t forget that.”

“And when Seongju comes, he’ll release you from prison, right?”

“Of course. Who lets someone who killed their father live comfortably? But… there’s something…”

Seok Harang extended their hand toward me.

“Help me. I feel like I can’t protect this country without you. You too, wanted to protect Seoul, right? I don’t ask for much. Just stay in Korea and help protect people… until I can shoulder my father’s role and protect people on my own.”

“Is that something a hero should say to a villain?”

“Wow? Isn’t that too harsh for fellow spirits? Heartless.”

“…Sure.”

I almost punched them but restrained myself. I grabbed Seok Harang’s hand and pulled them toward me.

“?!”

Seok Harang fell into my arms. Being taller, they ended up holding me instead, but anyway, I embraced them and patted their back.

“If anything gets tough, contact me. I’ll help within my limits.”

“Wow, is my heart racing? Am I actually attracted to you?”

“Therefore, keep your mental state stable.”

Falling for me would be inconvenient. I slightly distanced myself from Seok Harang and held both their hands.

“Kissing is okay, but sex is prohibited. The moment you do that, your soul becomes bound to the other person. Understand?”

“…Does that apply to women too?”

I almost burst out laughing. At twenty-one, Seok Harang was surprisingly innocent. With a suggestive smile, I pushed them away.

“!??”

Seok Harang screamed and fell onto a bean bag chair. I climbed on top of them and glared down intently. Our bodies overlapped, and Seok Harang’s face turned bright red like a persimmon.

“Aah, no good. I have Yuha-sunbae…”

“Look at that. Falling for me again, aren’t you?”

“Then stop seducing me! What the heck are you doing?!”

I raised my index finger and pressed it against Seok Harang’s lips.

“Shall I teach you how women kiss?”

Seok Harang swallowed hard. Seeing their slight nod, I smiled and raised my hand,

“Get a grip, you half-naked idiot!”

SLAP! I slapped their forehead with my palm. Seok Harang blinked in disbelief, utterly shocked.

“…Damn it. Did I get tricked again? When exactly…? I almost slipped and—”

SLAP! Another slap landed on their forehead. Seok Harang huffed in frustration.

“Why do you keep hitting me?!”

“Because you can’t regain focus. This won’t work.”

I raised my finger, igniting flames. More carefully than usual, I infused it with magic power, recalling memories from the Seok Harang route and the affection Guangjian held for Seok Harang.

‘Lord Seongju, please help this one time so they don’t fall for just anyone.’

Hwarak! A mini Phoenix spread its wings and perched atop Seok Harang’s head.

“If Seok Harang gets swept away again, peck their forehead.”

– I’ll keep an eye on things.

“…What’s this?”

Seok Harang showed interest in the mini Phoenix perched on their head.

“This is a divided spirit created using the power of spirits. You’ll be able to use it once you get used to it later…”

“Like this?”

An ice butterfly formed on Seok Harang’s fingertip and flew to land on my collar, folding its wings.

– What are you staring at? Hurry up and look away!

“…Should I call this Mini-Rusalka or Mini-Harang?”

“The language is a bit rough.”

Suppressing rising irritation, I crushed the white butterfly badge on my collar, which dissolved into a butterfly-shaped pin inside my shirt. Seok Harang asked curiously,

“How did you do that?”

“Hold on. It’s called materialization of magic power…”

I tiptoed and swept my hand through Seok Harang’s hair. The mini Phoenix’s magic solidified into a bird-wing hairpin.

“Here. Always wear it, even when washing.”

“Will it die if it gets wet? Is it waterproof?”

“With your full strength, it won’t break. While wearing it, even if you develop lust for a passing cockroach, it will peck your forehead to bring you back to your senses.”

“…You’re kind of rude, aren’t you? Cockroaches are a bit extreme, don’t you think?”

I silently glared at Seok Harang. They raised their hands in surrender and nodded.

“Got it. I’ll be careful. But about Yuha-sunbae…”

“That’s something you need to figure out yourself. If you truly feel love, go after her and win her. Otherwise, find another true love.”

“That’s picky.”

I placed my hand on the white butterfly badge and infused it with magic power.

[Are you dissatisfied?]

“Kyaa?! A ghost?!”

Seok Harang screamed in terror, causing me to sigh.

“…It’s remote communication possible among spirits. Through our divided spirits, we can converse no matter where in the world we are.”

Seok Harang touched the bluebird hairpin.

[This way, right?]

“Hm? No dialect?”

“…How would I know?”

Seok Harang excitedly kept touching the hairpin.

[So can I continue asking for help? I’ll have a lot of questions about controlling powers, matters of love, defeating villains, and more.]

“Are you asking me this now? I’m a villain, remember?”

Seok Harang caressed my cheek with their other hand.

[Aww, come on. You don’t like being uncomfortable around me, do you?]

“You secretly want to extract secrets from me and then kill me, don’t you?”

[Caught me. Hehe.]

Seok Harang removed their hand from the hairpin and laughed.

“Though thinking about father makes me super annoyed, I still need to learn from you since you know more and are stronger. Why? Are you scared I might surpass you?”

“Never. Ask anything you want. Just don’t interrupt halfway.”

“…That’s a bit difficult.”

I approached the window and opened it. The night breeze was starting to turn chilly.

“Well, goodnight. Cousin. I’m busy with Seoul.”

“When you feel like dying, come down to Busan. I’ll make sure you eat blowfish alive.”

Swallowing my curses, I realized Seok Harang hadn’t noticed but I’d been reading their true feelings and emotions through their magic for a long time now.

Ambivalence. Feeling familial bonds and empathy as a fellow spirit while simultaneously harboring hatred for the one who killed their mentor and father.

Suddenly Guangjian’s words came to mind. Standing on the windowsill, I spoke to Seok Harang.

“It’ll be alright eventually.”

“What’s with the lofty attitude? Stop it already… Be careful on your way back.”

“Tsundere suits Azidahaka types.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I soared into the sky. The cool sea breeze brushed against my skin.

“…Tsk.”

Seok Harang approached the window, waving their hand in farewell. They made a fist, extending only their middle finger.

“Shouldn’t you blame parents for their children’s mistakes?”

I quickly flapped my wings and headed back to Seoul.

For some reason, it felt like I’d gained an annoying younger sister.

* * *

“…Phew.”

Seok Harang calmed their racing heart and buried themselves in the bean bag chair.

“Damn girl, she’s got no weaknesses.”

Seok Harang clenched and unclenched their fists. Sharp icicles formed at their fingertips before crumbling into powder.

“I do appreciate it though…”

Intellectually, Seok Harang understood. If they had to weigh the peace of the world against someone else’s family, they’d naturally choose world peace.

Yet emotionally, it hurt unbearably. From the moment they learned that family member was their teacher and father, Seok Harang wanted to erase Phoenix from existence.

Grateful, hateful, apologetic, irritated, loving, resentful – conflicting emotions surged endlessly, making their heart churn.

“…I’ll ask Net about this.”

Seok Harang immediately tapped their smartwatch to bring up the screen. They posted a question reflecting their inner turmoil on the secret board of the Hero Community they often frequented.