Part 1, Chapter 10, 19

Having sent Xiaolin up to Seoul, I finished my preparations to properly explore Sinseoul.

I compared the map I had with the current Sinseoul map, recalling old memories, and thought of places where the main heroines might currently be.

One was Kim Nuri, a middle school student.

Despite being a Hero, she possessed a dark attribute and was a girl like a stray cat with a very prickly personality, a complete scoundrel who was cursed at for being so unruly.

And another was Lee Yuna, who would be a high school student.

She was both the titular heroine and someone I owed a great deal to, the strongest human in terms of abilities, close to ‘perfection’.

Unfortunately, at the time of the original story, no one knew about the talent that would eventually be called divine, due to ‘some reason’, and she was the heroine who would follow the protagonist once he discovered that talent.

The school lunch heroine and the healing heroine.

I owed a great deal to both of them, and given the nature of the original story, this was a time when they were likely experiencing quite an unfortunate past.

‘While saving the world, I’m just helping them out as well.’

There was absolutely no other intention. No matter who I am, I don’t harbor lustful thoughts towards minors. In the original story, both were in their early twenties, and now it was merely five years before the original story.

Talented colleagues are always welcome. The top priority targets for recruitment into the Academy training facility were precisely those two.

“I don’t know why I’m making such excuses.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just nonsense. Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. What… did you say your name was?”

Even though I knew, I deliberately asked her name one more time. The woman, dressed refreshingly and much taller than me, introduced herself again.

“Park Raon. I am an A-rank ability user, designated as Cheonghwa-yang’s escort. Although I may be greatly lacking compared to the War God-nim’s power, I will do my utmost with sincerity in my assigned duty.”

“Yes. Thank you, Unsa-nim.”

And another heroine, Unsa Park Raon. I had unintentionally already extended a helping hand to them.

“Now that I think about it, Unsa-nim participated in the Seoul Reclamation Operation…”

“That is correct. At the time, I advanced towards Guro under the command of the Minister of the Monster Countermeasures Department.”

Park Raon simply answered my questions calmly. Unable to hold back, I finally asked them a question first.

“Aren’t you curious?”

“What are you referring to?”

“The Hellhounds that blocked you. Who controlled them?”

“Wasn’t it Cheonghwa-nim?”

“That’s what I mean.”

I stopped speaking and pointed out to Park Raon.

“I’m a Villain who interfered with your mission, yet you can be by my side as an escort without any hesitation?”

“Ugh.”

I indirectly pointed out Hwawon Lee Seunghyung, who was thoughtlessly following behind us.

I had planned to tour Sinseoul with Park Raon’s help, just the two of us, but he insisted that one escort wasn’t enough and even persuaded Baek Heea to follow us.

When I showed my annoyance towards the driver’s seat, making sure Park Raon wouldn’t notice, Lee Seunghyung seized the opportunity while driving to retort to me.

“It’s so I can respond immediately if anything happens.”

“What could possibly happen in Sinseoul?”

“Something could certainly happen.”

“Nothing like that will happen.”

I rested my arm on the window frame and scoffed, but Lee Seunghyung showed no reaction at all.

“Hwawon.”

Instead, Baek Heea, who had been sitting quietly in the passenger seat, reprimanded Hwawon. Lee Seunghyung nodded but kept glancing at me.

“…….”

“Just look straight ahead and drive properly.”

I rebuked Lee Seunghyung, who kept glaring at me through the rearview mirror. Lee Seunghyung finally gave up first and turned his head forward.

Park Raon, who had been quiet, turned her head towards me.

“Cheonghwa-nim seems to be quite a bold person, unlike what I heard.”

“Huh?”

“You seemed quite nervous in front of strangers, but I’m saying this because you seem to be very assertive in front of Hwawon.”

“…….”

Unsa Park Raon.

As was the case in the original story five years later, she was the type of person who expressed her thoughts without refined language, often leading to misunderstandings.

She had a peculiar speaking habit that, at first glance, sounded like a compliment, and at another glance, sounded like sarcasm, but surprisingly, all of Unsa’s words were compliments towards the other person.

In other words.

-Are you timid in front of others, but then speak so actively in front of Lee Seunghyung?

It wasn’t that, but rather,

-You weren’t good at speaking in front of people, but it’s good to see you express yourself so strongly like this.

She was a troublesome heroine who required a proper mental translation.

“Unsa. That…”

Naturally, the ever-worried Baek Heea, thinking it was the former rather than the latter, gave a warning glance, but I paid no mind and responded to Park Raon’s words.

“Being constantly linked with someone I dislike, saying we’re dating or whatever, even I find that a bit much.”

“Hup.”

Baek Heea gasped. Most of the schemes to create public opinion and set up situations to link Lee Seunghyung and me were Baek Heea’s doing.

“I also have no desire to be romantically involved with you.”

“Oh, what a relief. Puhuhu.”

Baek Heea’s expression, sitting in the passenger seat, turned pale. With Lee Seunghyung and I, who were supposed to get along in her plan, now at odds, Baek Heea was suddenly in an awkward position, having to mediate between us.

Of course, that was because Lee Seunghyung listened to me too well.

‘If Baek Heea knew I was Phoenix, she would never do this.’

Rather, she would try to persuade me again and again, whether by having a private conversation with me or by any other means. Because she couldn’t subdue me with force.

“Oh, by the way, Praetor-nim.”

“Yes…”

“That ring on your left ring finger… are you perhaps married?”

“What?!”

Baek Heea was startled. I stretched my body forward, pulled her arm, and checked the ring. There were signs that she had tried to remove it, but she wouldn’t be able to unless she cut off her finger.

“It’s a pretty ring.”

“Ah, well, that, I mean…”

Baek Heea was flustered. To talk about the ring’s origin, she would naturally have to talk about what happened with me, but that would be tantamount to admitting that an SS-rank Villain had visited the heart of Sinseoul.

“…….”

Lee Seunghyung frowned at me, but I deliberately ignored him and fiddled with Baek Heea’s hand.

“I’m envious. To think someone, whoever it may be, will marry Praetor-nim.”

“Th-this is, well, I just wear it…”

“I think Praetor-nim will make a good mother.”

I can guarantee that. I gently tapped the back of Baek Heea’s hand, calming her down.

“Cheonghwa-yang.”

Park Raon suddenly spoke.

“Are you a lesbian?”

“…….”

An awkward silence hung in the car. Only Park Raon continued to question me, as if curious.

“Ah, I apologize if that made you uncomfortable. I will rephrase my words.”

Park Raon cleared her throat and continued.

“Are you perhaps a homosexual?”

“…….”

She was someone whose misunderstood way of speaking often led others to misunderstand her, but as someone well-versed in her language, I could quickly grasp her true intentions.

Thud.

I placed my hand on Park Raon’s thigh and smiled languidly.

“Well, I wonder…?”

“…….”

Park Raon turned her head to the side. But her ears were slightly red.

Afterward, we drove around all of Sinseoul, but the people I was looking for still didn’t appear.

I thought I’d at least see one middle schooler heading home.

Leaving my disappointment behind, I returned to the Association.

* * *

After touring all of Sinseoul in Lee Seunghyung’s car, before leaving Sinseoul, I had to discuss official matters with the Heroes, alone in front of them.

“Then, Cheonghwa-yang.”

Baek Heea hid her previous embarrassment and, as a Praetor, seriously asked me.

“How do you plan to utilize the Cores of Jiparyong and Muljigi, two S-rank beings?”

To gain the upper hand in the negotiation, I first questioned them. Many people were quite curious about the whereabouts and disposal of the S-rank Cores held by the individual named Cheonghwa.

“First, I will tell you about the first proposed use by the Association.”

The Praetor unfolded a map for me, pointing to Sinseoul and Busan.

“One proposal is to have Heukyeomnyong reside in Seoul, and to revive Jiparyong and Muljigi to be used as guardian deities protecting Sinseoul and Busan, respectively.”

“…….”

I was a little surprised internally by Baek Heea’s rather radical proposal.

“What if I harbor other intentions?”

“Do you intend to harbor other intentions?”

Baek Heea, in turn, threatened me. When I frowned, the government official who had accompanied Baek Heea beside her flustered, but Baek Heea, with a firmer expression than ever, demanded sincerity from me.

“……Hehehe.”

It struck me anew that Baek Heea and I were not currently colleagues. That what Baek Heea valued most, for now, was her family and Sinseoul.

She probably wanted to keep both in Sinseoul if she could, but doing so would make it too obvious that she was trying to protect Sinseoul, so she put up a smokescreen.

“I’ll ask a question.”

“Yes.”

“Do you really think monsters will become guardian deities that protect people?”

At my provocation, Baek Heea gently closed her eyes. It wasn’t something I should have said, but at the same time, I had to point out the danger of Baek Heea’s proposal.

“Monsters are just monsters. The only one who controls them is me. What if I die and lose control of the monsters, or if I harbor other intentions? For example.”

I leaned my upper body slightly forward and lowered my voice.

“What if I were recruited by a spy from another country and caused a terrorist attack? What would you do then?”

“What in the…!”

The government official’s face reddened as he tried to get angry, but Baek Heea, with a cold, firm expression, reached out and stopped him. Baek Heea was not only the representative of the Association but also a major figure with considerable political backing.

“That will absolutely not happen. Allowing a talent like Cheonghwa-yang to leak out of the country is tantamount to losing this nation’s treasure.”

“Then what will you do?”

I leaned back in my chair, acting relaxed.

“How do you plan to persuade me? Are you going to force patriotism on me? When you tried to massacre the residents living in Seoul?”

“Th-that’s rude!”

“Get out.”

Baek Heea coldly drove out the person sitting next to her.

“But Praetor!”

“You’re interfering with the negotiation, so go out and cool your head. Calm down. Or else…”

Baek Heea grabbed her collar with her hand and slightly lifted it.

“Shall I take off your clothes for you?”

“……Kuh!”

The man bit his lip and exited the room. Suddenly, I found myself in a private meeting with Baek Heea in this large room.

“Then, from now on, I will speak comfortably.”

“Didn’t you kick him out a bit too harshly?”

“If it means Cheonghwa-nim can be comfortable, then I must do whatever it takes.”

“Hmm. Then.”

I pointed to the entire conference room, which was filled with cameras.

“Talking here isn’t ideal… I’d prefer if we went to my room to talk.”

It wasn’t a conversation to be had where cameras and recording devices were running. I stood up and pointed towards the door.

“……Hoo.”

Baek Heea took a deep breath and stood up, following me. It was pitiful to see what she was thinking, clearly visible in her eyes.

“Understood. I am prepared.”

“…….”

Baek Heea led the way and opened the conference room door. Outside, numerous officials, Heroes, and the government official who had just been expelled were already waiting.

“Wh-what-“

“Cheonghwa-nim is quite uncomfortable, so we will be moving locations.”

There was no need to say who the officials’ sharp glares were directed at. Following Baek Heea’s guidance, I entered my private room-a VIP-exclusive room provided by the Association.

Click.

I locked the door.

“You already know how to use the room so well.”

“A day is enough. And there’s no place as soundproof as this, is there?”

This room had now become a sealed room that could never be opened from the outside, and only I, registered as the room’s owner, could open it.

I sat on the bed and patted the empty spot next to me.

“Alright. Come over here then. Let’s have an honest talk, just the two of us.”

“……I am prepared.”

Baek Heea sat down next to me, her face more tense than ever. Her face was flushed, and she was fidgeting with her fingers, clearly showing her nervousness.

“If I can persuade you, even by sacrificing myself, then anything…!”

[Then I shall do so.]

Next to Baek Heea, I transformed into my monstrous human form. Baek Heea froze at the bizarre situation unfolding before her eyes.

“Phoeni-“

[You said you would sacrifice yourself. Clearly.]

I lunged onto Baek Heea’s body as she tried to stand, forcing her onto the bed.