Side Story 3. Hot Spring Trip (4)

3 PM, Busan Gukbap Alley

“I didn’t know you ate things like this.”

“I’m not picky. I just prioritize eating what I like.”

Ryu Cheon-seong watched Phoenix pick up a piece of *seokbakji* with her chopsticks and swirl it around in the soup, marveling. Not only Ryu Cheon-seong, but even the owner, who was just setting down some boiled pork slices, looked astounded that a girl with a typically Western appearance was mixing and eating *gukbap* with far more gusto than him.

Phoenix didn’t mind it at all and picked up her spoon.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve had to buy a packed lunch and eat alone.”

“Anyone would have gladly stepped up if you’d asked them to eat with you.”

“I already ate, so why bother? It’s fortunate that you haven’t eaten yet.”

“Well, I’m always meeting people, so when would I ever get to eat on time…?”

Ryu Cheon-seong subtly glanced at the owner and lowered his voice. Phoenix and Ryu Cheon-seong scooped up their *gukbap* and exchanged words.

“By the way, Commander, why are you speaking like that again? Last time, you spoke informally.”

“I’m doing it for my public image. Cheonghwa, the Beast Tamer, is much younger than you. If I just blurt out informal speech to an elder, what would that do to your image and mine?”

“Deokbae has no respect for elders, though.”

“That’s because he’s less than human. Anyway, if there weren’t ears listening nearby, I’d speak comfortably too, but it seems I’ll have to keep it up for a while. It’s not particularly inconvenient either.”

Phoenix wiped her mouth with a tissue. Before she knew it, half of her *gukbap* was already gone. Ryu Cheon-seong looked down at his own *gukbap*. He was eating at roughly the same pace. Since he wasn’t consciously trying to match her speed, it was clear that Phoenix was adjusting her meal to his pace. Ryu Cheon-seong swallowed his *ssam* and rinsed his mouth with water.

“……Seeing you show courtesy in small things, your roots aren’t rotten, so why do you try to be a villain?”

“What are you talking about out of nowhere?”

“Even if I became a Villain because I had things to protect in Seoul and settled down, it seems you didn’t necessarily need to become a villain.”

“……Because my soul told me to? Just kidding. So don’t make that face.”

Phoenix raised her hand and called the owner. The owner, checking the table to see if she wanted a refill of side dishes, looked puzzled at the still plentiful side dishes. Phoenix tapped the soju glass already placed on the table with her finger.

“One bottle, please.”

“…….”

The owner looked back and forth between Ryu Cheon-seong and Phoenix, and Ryu Cheon-seong swallowed a groan and nodded. The owner, with a face full of doubt, took out a soju bottle and placed it on the table.

“Thank you.”

Phoenix gripped the neck of the soju bottle and swirled it around. Ryu Cheon-seong was itching to argue, but he didn’t stop her. Ryu Cheon-seong was thirsty for a drink too.

“Is it okay to drink alcohol starting from midday?”

“About one bottle is fine. If push comes to shove, I can just detoxify it with mana.”

“Then what’s the point of drinking?”

“I drink for the fun of talking with people. So, are you not going to drink?”

“Of course not.”

Phoenix hit the bottom of the bottle with her palm and opened the cap. Phoenix, who had filled both their glasses, raised her glass towards Ryu Cheon-seong.

“Congratulations on your inauguration as Mayor.”

“Congratulations on taking one step closer to your goal.”

Clink. The glasses clinked, and they both washed down their throats with alcohol. Phoenix winced for a moment, then refilled her glass.

“Things will get much harder for you from now on. I don’t know who will come after Seonui Cheol, but they won’t be so favorable towards Seoul, at least.”

“My support base all vanished with one capital relocation. Do you happen to know who the next president will be? I should grease their palms beforehand.”

“If I knew that, I’d have opened a fortune-telling shop, not be doing this here, would I?”

“Even if future foresight is no longer possible, aren’t you close with someone who can make a president? Yes, I’m talking about the owner of the great star in this country.”

Phoenix chewed on an onion and wrinkled her nose.

“Why are you beating around the bush? It’s Eun Yuha. That means something a little different to me, so speak clearly. It’s not like anyone else is listening besides the owner here anyway.”

“…You shouldn’t get into politics. It’s really no fun.”

“I have no intention of doing so, so do as you please. That’s why I readily accepted when you said you’d take charge of Seoul.”

Phoenix briefly put down her spoon and chopsticks and refilled her glass.

“I’m fine with just maintaining the status quo. Once I start traveling abroad seriously, I won’t have time to worry about domestic affairs. I’ll leave internal affairs to those who are good at it. I think it would be good for you to talk directly with Eun Yuha.”

“Then please find me some good talent. You must know some blue-chip stocks, don’t you?”

“I’m sorry, but all the ‘stocks’ I know are just superpowered individuals. Unless you’re going to turn A-rank Heroes into Grade 9 civil servants, you’ll have to pick them yourself.”

Ryu Cheon-seong’s hand trembled as he poured the soju into his mouth.

“If you were born in the Joseon Dynasty, you would have become a rare tyrannical ruler. Are you really saying it’s okay for me to pick people as I please?”

“Do as you please. If things go wrong, I can just overturn everything. Of course, I trust you’ll do well.”

Phoenix raised her last glass. Ryu Cheon-seong shrugged at her playful threat and clinked his glass against hers.

“Of course, it’s my specialty, so how could I not? You just make sure Seoul doesn’t fall.”

“Of course. I’ll pay the bill on my way out. …Have a good talk.”

“You knew?”

“Of course. Good luck.”

Phoenix and Ryu Cheon-seong finished their late lunch. Seeing two men and women loitering at the alley entrance, Phoenix slipped away as if she were fleeing a ghost, while Ryu Cheon-seong remained alone, drinking water.

“So, what do you think of her?”

“She’s different from what’s known. Is that kid the old man’s boss? For someone who controls monsters, the old man seems way too submissive.”

The owner, with a sour face, cleared the empty dishes. Ryu Cheon-seong pointed his chin towards the door where Phoenix had disappeared and raised his empty glass.

“You heard everything, so why are you pretending not to know?”

“……I wish I could understand something. I know the two of you conspired about something, but I didn’t hear the details.”

The owner grumbled but sat down opposite Ryu Cheon-seong. His hands, which had just cleared the table, now held some simple snacks and a new bottle of soju. Ryu Cheon-seong used mana to suppress the effects of the alcohol and took a breath.

“There’s a saying about turning over a new leaf, isn’t there? You’re still living with your ears open, so you must clearly know how the current situation is unfolding.”

“So, what do you, the person who stubbornly insisted on staying in Seoul alone, want to say to me? To me, who lived hanging onto your every word and then lost my livelihood?”

“Assistant Do, no, Seungji.”

Ryu Cheon-seong cleared his throat and barely managed to speak.

“Help me-“

Ding-a-ling-

“Yes~ Welcome~!”

The owner, Do Seungji, sprang up and bowed to the couple who had entered. They were superpowered individuals with unusually colored hair, but Do Seungji paid them no mind and pulled out a water bottle from the refrigerator.

“Oh my, this is my first time here. Go ahead and order.”

“…Stasha, let’s sit down first.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Ryu Cheon-seong was about to pretend to be glad, but feeling the woman’s gaze next to him, he lowered his hand.

“I’ll wait here.”

“Customer. I’m sorry, but…”

Do Seungji pointed to other customers entering from outside the door and shrugged.

“If you’re done paying, could you please leave?”

“…Give me one more bottle of soju.”

“Just soju?”

“……Then give me another bowl of *gukbap*.”

The taste of soju, poured alone while watching the two lovebirds affectionately chatting far away, was strangely bitter.

* * *

Nearby Road.

‘Should I have brought Black Flame Dragon too?’

Even if he’s a bit overwhelming, there’s no other executive with such excellent reactions. There’s still about two hours left.

‘Should I go ahead and wait?’

The check-in time is much later, but it wouldn’t be bad to go ahead and look around the scenery beforehand. I checked the location of the hot spring that Gaeul and Yuha had reserved and headed to the bus stop.

‘It’s quiet.’

Perhaps thanks to Seok Harang, Busan was much more peaceful than Seoul or New Seoul. The Moby Dick attack was only a few days ago, and less than a month had passed since Gwanggeom and I had clashed, yet Busan was carrying on with its daily life without any particular unrest.

‘Since Seok Harang has awakened, there’s no chance of Busan being devastated.’

Gwanggeom and Seolhwa Princess. People gathered near the two S-ranks for safety, but they were no different from bombs. S-ranks would only start appearing one by one five years later, but even then, it would be meaningless unless they were unearthed.

‘If I made the entire nation superpowered individuals…. No, that’s an uncontrollable mess. It would definitely be a huge pain in the ass.’

The awakened ones in Seoul are in the same boat as the Azure Syndicate, so there’s not much to worry about. But others are different. What if, after being awakened as superpowered individuals, they betray us?

‘Besides, even a small mistake can turn them into monstrous humans.’

Executives can create monstrous humans, but ordinary superpowered individuals can also naturally become monstrous humans. Humans influenced by the *janggi* and swept up in negative emotions become monstrous humans, and those most susceptible to becoming monstrous humans were Villains.

‘It’s a relief there aren’t any yet.’

Unlike monstrous humans controlled by awakened Spirits, monstrous humans who follow the commands of brainwashed executives can especially be influenced by Terran *janggi*, rampage, and even become monsters like Black Flame Dragons. Even now, with Dullahans being misunderstood, if rampaging monstrous humans appear, there will be a lot more to worry about.

‘So I have to find them as much as possible before the fifth year.’

If I leave them be for five years like this, who would be the most troublesome enemy? Among the remaining five Spirits.

‘Fenrir is excluded for now.’

Fenrir isn’t even worth considering as an opponent. Not only is the elemental compatibility an issue, but even if I had a disadvantage against a fool who only knows ‘charge,’ I could still win easily.

‘Then Chaos is still the hardest, I guess.’

“Because they’re basically a spirit body.”

…It popped out again. I subtly scanned my surroundings to confirm no one was there and checked the bus arrival time. 10 minutes. I could at least spare this short amount of time. Go ahead and babble as much as you like, I’ll lend you my mouth.

‘At the same time, they have neutral affinity.’

“A reverse compatibility to all elements. It’s not for nothing that the term ‘illusionist’ comes up.”

‘…They’re excited. Go on, babble away.’

“Starting with Cheon Gaeul, the first boss to appear, all illusion-element bosses have abnormal abilities. Cheongsong Kang Soyeon was also basically a superpowered individual based on an illusion element leaning towards darkness, and above all, the fifth boss, Chaos Dragon, is the scariest, isn’t it? From your memories, it seems that way. How many game overs did you have?”

‘Because they’re a squinty-eyed character.’

“It’s scariest when those who originally lacked motivation suddenly gain it. A being who finds even breathing bothersome and lives as a spirit body, if they decide to become an enemy, they’ll stop at nothing. Among the original executives, they’re the most troublesome enemy to deal with after me, you know? Fufufu.”

‘That’s why I’m going to awaken them first.’

“Because it would be troublesome if someone like Jeon Gwi were pointlessly resurrected and turned into a monstrous human.”

The strongest warrior among the first-generation Round Table before Xiaolin. As the reincarnation of the Overlord, he was the only human superpowered individual to reach the very edge of SS-rank alone, a monstrous talent.

Fortunately, at this point in time, he is deceased, and Mao Zeping joins hands with the Chaos Dragon to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of people to resurrect that monster. Even in settings discussing the strongest in the human realm, Jeon Gwi and Fire Fist were always popular topics for ‘vs’ debates.

‘If it weren’t for Jeon Gwi, this world would already be dominated by Seongju.’

To me, he’s the most grateful person. The reason Seongju was wounded while fighting the Round Table was precisely because, while other members of the Round Table were defeated and fell, only he bit and tore at Seongju like a dog, inflicting wounds, wasn’t it?

I had to go to China quickly before the Chaos Dragon and Mao Zeping joined hands to resurrect Jeon Gwi. For some reason, my intuition was urging me to go to China.

‘Since today is June 6th….’

“Let’s go in just one week. June 13th.”

Why? How? Wasn’t the original plan to leave Busan alone as soon as the workshop ended tomorrow? I fell into contemplation while waiting for the bus.

As soon as I cross into China, all contact with Seoul will practically be cut off. Communication via smartwatch will be intercepted by relays along the way, and Mao Zeping, who monitors everything in between, might notice my identity and that of the Azure Syndicate.

In that case, should I secretly cross the border? But then I’d run into Unjang again. Even if Unjang was defeated by me, it would be just as troublesome if he got angry and attacked, announcing that fact to all of China.

Is there no good way? Is secretly hiding my identity and landing in Xi’an by plane the best method? Various ideas came to mind, but for some reason, my heart kept growing anxious.

‘It was good that I came to the workshop.’

Regardless of what chaos New Seoul might be in, I also needed time to organize my thoughts.

“Since I’m already resting, why not one more month-“

Slap. I slapped both my cheeks. I stopped myself from blabbering any further.

‘Trying to do whatever you want again for no reason. I won’t be swayed anymore. Don’t let others decide my thoughts as they please.’

“Tsk, how boring.”

This is why I always wish someone was by my side. I was so annoyed by Changyeom, who constantly tried to mess with me from within, that I wanted to snap at them, but I barely held back my anger, knowing they would only chatter even more inside me.

‘The Chaos Dragon is sleeping, and Xiaolin can be persuaded easily enough. I just need to enter through a route that Mao Zeping won’t notice.’

“So, don’t think about speaking through someone else’s mouth anymore.”

Screech. The bus stopped in front of me before I knew it. I rose from the bus stop bench and stepped onto the threshold. Changyeom would instantly shut up like a ghost whenever they sensed someone else nearby.

‘Let’s think about it on the way.’

I got on the bus and placed my wrist on the reader. There were quite a few people inside the bus, and as I subtly scanned them with my eyes, I involuntarily gasped.

‘But why are you guys here?’

In the very back seat of the bus were the Himeji siblings.