Part 1, Chapter 6 (4)

10 PM, Seoul.

Phoenix returned to Seoul.

If she had returned alone as usual, she would have been back in Seoul in about 10 minutes, but now Phoenix had to escort the party that came from New Seoul.

“Haha, thank you, Commander-nim.”

Ryu Cheon-seong put on his fedora and gave a short bow. Phoenix waved her hand in response.

“It’s nothing. I left the Mayor-nim alone in enemy territory, so this is the least I could do.”

“Hahaha, it wasn’t even enemy territory, was it? There’s no danger now.”

Ryu Cheon-seong pointed behind him. There, Kang Soyeon, a team leader dispatched from the Association, stood grinding her teeth.

“…….”

Phoenix glanced around and pulled out a Cube from her pocket. Kang Soyeon’s eyes were bloodshot.

“What? Are you upset? If you’re upset, try taking it.”

“…….”

Kang Soyeon gritted her teeth and turned her head. As if she had no intention of dealing with Phoenix at all, she hadn’t said a single word since following Ryu Cheon-seong. Phoenix teased her.

“Oh dear, what a pity. If you worked hard for another 5 years, you could become S-rank and use it to your heart’s content.”

“……What?”

Kang Soyeon reacted for the first time. Phoenix put the Cube back into her pocket and feigned indifference.

“Well, that’s all irrelevant now since it’s impossible anyway~! Well then, Mayor-nim. Have a good night.”

“Commander-nim, just a moment.”

Ryu Cheon-seong whispered into Phoenix’s ear.

“How much longer do I have?”

If politician Ryu Cheon-seong’s life goal was to be the Mayor of Seoul, then ability user Haneulseong’s life goal was to reach S-rank.

Phoenix smiled with a subtle expression.

“…Neither I nor a cabbage white butterfly can awaken the Mayor-nim.”

“I know that. If it were possible, it would have happened sooner. Listen, Commander-nim.”

Haneulseong leaned forward and met Phoenix’s eyes. His hands in his pants pockets made him look exactly like a mafia boss threatening someone.

“I went all the way to New Seoul. I suffered all that harsh humiliation and indignity and didn’t even get a proper meal. Do you know what the people of New Seoul called me? They called me a ragged beggar from Seoul.”

“There’s nothing we can do about it since the manufacturing process of the clothes is different, right?”

Phoenix pointed alternately at Kang Soyeon’s and Ryu Cheon-seong’s clothes.

If Ryu Cheon-seong’s clothes were old-fashioned luxury, Kang Soyeon’s clothes were new-era garments with Core processing. Naturally, from the perspective of New Seoul residents, Ryu Cheon-seong was a ragged beggar who appeared wrapped in rags. Phoenix patted Ryu Cheon-seong’s arm.

“Don’t worry. Yuseong will be coming to set up a factory soon anyway. Mayor-nim, you should think about where to put that site in advance.”

“I’ve already planned that. If I give Architect some Cores, they’ll build a factory in no time. More importantly, don’t change the subject, Commander-nim.”

Ryu Cheon-seong’s muscles twitched. Phoenix looked troubled, then snapped her fingers.

“Ah, I’ve got a good idea.”

Phoenix whispered into Ryu Cheon-seong’s ear.

“If you become a monstrous human….”

“No.”

Ryu Cheon-seong refused sharply. Phoenix nodded as if she had expected it.

“I can’t help you right now. The boundary between A-rank and S-rank is delicate, so-“

“Ha, what kind of bullshit is that when you’re holding a Cube?”

Kang Soyeon snapped. Ryu Cheon-seong’s head also turned momentarily.

“You said you can use the Cube. Then you can do anything with it, can’t you? Hey, Haneulseong! If you take that Cube, you can become S-rank too!”

“Oh my. Is she trying to sow discord right now? Right?”

“It’s meaningless. Everyone knows what kind of item the Cube is. Only you don’t.”

At Phoenix’s words, Ryu Cheon-seong chuckled and straightened his back. Then he immediately hoisted Kang Soyeon onto his shoulder. Coincidentally, his bear-like hand brushed Kang Soyeon’s lower abdomen.

“Kyaak?!”

Kang Soyeon shrieked in a shrill voice, her face flushed, and struggled. Ryu Cheon-seong pointed to the inside of the hotel to Phoenix.

“I’ll hand her over to Beacon.”

“Thank you. Good work, Haneulseong. I look forward to you getting a new epithet soon.”

“Even the words are appreciated.”

Ryu Cheon-seong entered the hotel. This C Hotel in Yeouido was both the Azure Syndicate’s hideout and a prison to monitor Kang Soyeon even more strictly.

“Of all people, the Association had to dispatch her. How grateful.”

Phoenix spread her wings and flew up from Yeouido. She brushed through the night wind, passed Mapo Bridge, and headed towards Yongsan.

“…Ugh.”

The man guarding Mapo Bridge raised both arms in a Y-shape as soon as he saw Phoenix. Phoenix subtly waved her hand and immediately increased the speed of her wing beats.

“He’s still doing that over there.”

Phoenix landed on the rooftop of a restored apartment complex in Yongsan. It was a luxury apartment on the administrative border between Mapo and Yongsan.

It was the apartment where Cheon Gaeul used to live in Seoul.

‘There was a reason she insisted on Yongsan.’

Phoenix was still staying in the penthouse of the hideout, but Cheon Gaeul had asked Architect to restore her home.

Architect, hearing that it was where she had lived with her parents, saving money diligently since her child actor days, woke up with a start from his nap and built the building.

Although Cheon Gaeul was currently the only resident of the apartment, people would gradually fill up the Gangbuk area once Seoul stabilized further.

“But Cheon Gaeul isn’t responding…?”

Phoenix rang the doorbell in front of Cheon Gaeul’s house. There was no sign of anyone inside.

‘Is she at the hideout?’

Phoenix immediately ran back to the apartment rooftop and flew into the sky. Somehow, the man from Mapo Bridge recognized Phoenix again, and now he was striking a ‘hooray’ pose from a lamppost in the middle of the bridge.

“Ah, ahahaha.”

Phoenix landed on the hideout’s rooftop with an awkward smile. At Phoenix’s mana signature, the rooftop floor opened, and Phoenix landed directly at the entrance.

‘It feels like I’m returning from a sortie.’

Architect, furious at Phoenix’s constant breaking of windows, had created a device on the rooftop. Phoenix folded her wings and landed on the rooftop, and then the floor gave way, allowing her to slide into the penthouse.

‘It was a good idea to make this place the hideout. Indeed.’

Phoenix, feeling pleased, tiptoed down the stairs. Most of the executives had taken up positions on the floor with the suite rooms.

Knock knock knock. Phoenix knocked on Cheon Gaeul’s door. There was no response from inside.

‘It’s not bedtime yet.’

Phoenix put her ear to the door. She heard a very faint breathing sound.

“……Hmm.”

“Why are you standing in front of someone’s room like that?”

Deokbae, reeking of sweat, walked by and asked Phoenix. His Core was rapidly pulsating, as if he had just finished exercising.

“Exercise?”

“I had a fight with those feathered guys.”

“Ah, I see. Training.”

Phoenix snapped her fingers, incinerating all of Deokbae’s sweat. As all the waste products disappeared, Deokbae reluctantly bowed his head, feeling refreshed.

“Thanks.”

“It’s nothing. Unlike some people, I’m grateful that you’re diligently studying on your own.”

“…Are you talking about Seok Harang?”

Phoenix nodded at Deokbae’s question.

“Statistically, he’s reached SS-rank, but his thought process and combat style still haven’t moved past S-rank. It’s frustrating to watch. It’s not the time for him to be playing love games.”

“Aren’t you here to play love games too?”

Deokbae pointed to Cheon Gaeul’s room. Phoenix let out a hollow laugh and shrugged.

“I came to report that I’m back. Otherwise, she’ll climb the walls with her tentacles looking for me again.”

“…Ugh.”

Deokbae scratched his neck. Feeling that he was trying to feign ignorance, Phoenix half-closed her eyes and asked Deokbae.

“You know where she is, right?”

“I do, but….”

As Phoenix was about to snap her fingers, Deokbae sighed and answered.

“A Hero appeared in Gwanak, so she went to intercept them.”

“…Oh, really? I thought it was something else. She’ll be back soon then. I’ll just wait in her room.”

Phoenix waved her hand and tried to enter Cheon Gaeul’s room. Deokbae pulled the towel from his neck and shouted.

“Let me ask you something!”

“Yes! Did you call me?!”

Phoenix immediately turned around and ran in front of Deokbae. Her blue eyes sparkled brightly. Deokbae, who had been hesitating, cautiously opened his mouth.

“If you become SS-rank, can you even kill a god?”

“A god? Hmm….”

Phoenix pondered for a moment, then raised her fist.

She extended one index finger.

“S-rank can destroy a city.”

She extended her middle finger.

“SS-rank can destroy a country.”

She extended her thumb.

“SSS-rank can destroy the Earth.”

“…The Earth?”

Phoenix nodded. She tapped the SSS-rank thumb with her other fingers and continued speaking.

“SS, meaning 99% Affinity Rate, is still faaaar from enough. You need to be SSS, 100% Affinity Rate, to be able to kill an Otherworld God. Ah, damn, it’s hard to pronounce. SSS-rank….”

“What’s the way to reach that 100% Affinity Rate?”

Phoenix clapped her hands, her face brightening.

“Our student Deokbae, you’ve finally missed your teacher’s brilliant lecture!”

“…Enough, just answer me.”

Phoenix grinned and raised both hands, conjuring flames on each index finger.

“Now, here’s an ability user. And here’s an awakened Spirit.”

“Uh-huh.”

Phoenix merged the two flames into one. The Spirit’s flame was absorbed into the ability user’s flame.

“Humans and Spirits merge. Well, there are several ways. The first is like Gwanggeom, inheriting the Spirit’s power. The Spirit gives its power and disappears, but the ability user becomes stronger. Like how monstrous humans absorb Cores.”

“What’s the second?”

“You’re unusually enthusiastic today!”

Phoenix conjured flames again. This time, the Spirit’s flame entered the human’s flame very subtly.

“The second is possession. The Spirit becomes a spirit body and possesses a human. In this case, the body belongs to the human, but the Spirit suppresses the human’s soul and controls the body. Like Eun Yuha controlling Eun Jaemin’s Machine Doll.”

“Is there another?”

“Yes. There’s a last one, but….”

Slam! Cheon Gaeul’s door burst open. There, a naked Yooishin, covered in grayish-white viscous fluid, appeared.

“Whoa.”

Deokbae quickly averted his eyes, and Phoenix, marveling at the pungent smell, snapped her fingers. Flames erupted, incinerating all the slime.

“Do you want to put something on first?”

Yooishin nodded with trembling eyes and put on the gown from inside the room.

“Th-thank you, My Goddess.”

“What on earth happened?”

“…….”

Yooishin’s face turned as red as a volcano. Phoenix chuckled at the transparent liquid flowing down Yooishin’s thigh and patted Yooishin’s shoulder.

“Hiyah?!”

“You’ve had it rough. Cheon Gaeul’s tentacle desires really make things hard for you. Please understand that you’re the only one she can release her carnal desires on. You’re partly responsible too, you know.”

“Th-that’s fine, but the fact that Gaeul-nim satisfies her desires with me is actually-“

Yooishin’s eyes darted around, pondering whether to explain or not. Suddenly, her eyes met Deokbae’s, who was behind Phoenix.

Deokbae raised his index finger and pointed at Phoenix.

Deokbae tapped that index finger against his ear.

Deokbae spread both hands, folding only his thumbs, and wiggled his nine fingers.

Deokbae pointed at Yooishin with his other index finger.

Deokbae finally drew his thumb across his own neck.

Despite the poorly conveyed hand signals, Yooishin nodded and spoke in a ventriloquist’s voice.

‘If the Goddess finds out, Gaeul-nim will cut me off.’

It was perfect. Deokbae gave a thumbs up.

“What are you two whispering about?”

Phoenix looked up and surveyed her surroundings. Even standing on her tiptoes, her head barely reached their eye level, so their silent conversation took place above Phoenix’s head without anyone knowing.

Deokbae pointed at Yooishin and shrugged to deflect.

“Cheon Gaeul left Yooishin behind, saying she wanted to try it herself.”

“Oh, really? I thought I told them to even go to the bathroom together?”

Phoenix’s expression hardened. Yooishin, surprised with a look of deep betrayal towards Deokbae, immediately knelt before Phoenix and clung to her.

“Please understand, My Goddess! I tried! But I couldn’t overcome Gaeul-nim’s tentacles! The tentacles digging into me… *sob*!”

“……Ah, is that so?”

Phoenix’s voice wavered. Yooishin nodded vigorously, then placed her hand on her chest and declared.

“Yes! Now, I’ve become a body that cannot live without Gaeul-nim’s tentacles, I’ve been trained, *sob*!”

As Yooishin collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, Phoenix subtly stepped back and pointed at Yooishin with her finger.

“Deokbae-ssi! Please move Yooishin to her room!”

“She doesn’t have a room?”

“There are tons of rooms downstairs, just let her use any of them!”

Phoenix shouted loudly and entered Cheon Gaeul’s room. Bang! The door closed firmly. Silence fell in the hallway, and Yooishin stood up with an expression as if nothing had happened.

“Thank you, Jo Deokbae-nim.”

“……First, why don’t you straighten out your gown before you speak?”

Deokbae’s gaze was directed at the ceiling. Yooishin’s face flushed red as she closed the front of her gown.

* * *

Inside the room.

Phoenix covered her nose at the abundant traces of viscous fluid extending from the entrance.

“…How much did they screw around?”

Phoenix conjured flames to burn away the slime that trailed all the way to the bed. The smell of burning protein filled the room, so Phoenix threw open the window.

“That’s refreshing.”

The cold night air entered through the window, circulating the air. Phoenix sighed as she looked around the messy room.

“Honestly, every single one of them is terrible at managing their lives.”

Phoenix rolled up her sleeves.

* * *

The battle concluded. Lee Seung-hyung punched the ground next to Phantom, who was lying sprawled on the ground.

“It’s my victory.”

“…Indeed. I lost.”

Gaeul readily admitted defeat. She had used copied abilities, controlled nine tentacles, and even copied Lee Seung-hyung’s ability to fight, but she lost.

“Your mana might be on a similar level to mine, but you still lack experience. That is the reason for your defeat.”

“…Right. It’s really hard to properly act like an S-rank.”

Lee Seung-hyung took his hand off the ground and stood up. He lightly dusted his thigh and extended a hand to Phantom.

“Aren’t you going to arrest me?”

“Why would I arrest you? I have ears to hear. That you are not evil to the core.”

“…….”

Phantom took his hand and stood up. Coincidentally, the spot they stood on was the same spot from early April.

“Now, tell me. Where is Cheon Gaeul-ssi?”

“You’re an idiot, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

Phantom, Cheon Gaeul, took off her mask and hung it on her head. Gaeul’s mana signature subsided.

“????”

Phantom no longer used mana. But the transformation didn’t undo itself. Lee Seung-hyung clapped his hands in surprise.

“Wow, the transformation is maintained even without using mana!”

“Hey. It’s me. I’m Cheon Gaeul.”

Gaeul said, pointing to herself. Lee Seung-hyung’s expression vanished. Gaeul scoffed and relaxed her hand.

“The person who said they’d come right after closing the dimensional gate is only showing up now. So, what did you want to say?”

“G-Gaeul-ssi?!”

“It’s not Gaa-gaa-ga-eul, it’s Cheon Gaeul.”

Gaeul unbuttoned the top three buttons of her white shirt. Her pale sternum was clearly visible, and where her heart should have been, a black gem was embedded, pulsating.

Gaeul self-deprecatingly buttoned her shirt back up.

“Well, thanks to a certain someone arriving late, I ended up like this. Why?”

“Ah, ah, ah….”

His legs gave out. Lee Seung-hyung immediately knelt on both knees.

The Dullahan that appeared in Gwanak. Every single one of them had their hearts replaced by Cores.

Cheon Gaeul continued with indifferent eyes.

“You said you’d listen, didn’t you? Alright. I’ll listen. Go on, speak.”

Gaeul squatted down and met his gaze. Behind Gaeul, nine tentacles were wriggling.

“What did you want to say? Huh?”

Lee Seung-hyung could only say this.

“I’m glad you’re alive….”

Lee Seung-hyung collapsed forward. Gaeul looked up at the night sky for a moment, then sighed.

“……I’ve become a complete bitch, haven’t I?”

Gaeul wrapped Lee Seung-hyung with a tentacle and walked towards the lecture hall.

To the very lecture hall where Gaeul had first spoken with Phoenix after waking up.