Ch.58Chapter 58 – Three Phoenixes (3)

“To be honest, I don’t think we can defeat Shub-Niggurath on our own.”

After returning to the Ice Dragon Fate Sect, Azazel Blackheart was the first to bring up the topic. Having made a contract with the Outer God Morgidian, she knew well what these entities were.

“Why do you think that? If we combine our strength…”

“This opponent is different from the being residing in my body. Morgidian is unusually friendly toward humans, but Outer Gods are inherently incomprehensible.”

Azazel explained to Bi-wol, who had expressed doubt. Not knowing exactly what these otherworldly gods were, she probably thought they could simply overpower it with brute force.

After winning the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament, she might mistakenly believe she stands on equal footing with me, the Ice Dragon.

“I think so too. We’ll need outside help in the end.”

Besides, the soul that Shub-Niggurath was holding hostage was Yoo Seol-hwa, my lover in the real world.

Was there no way to separate the Outer God from her body without harming her?

“In our current situation, the most likely people who could help us are, as you might guess, Kim Hyul and Sieg-hardt.”

I spoke after thinking as hard as I could. There was also the option of calling powerful figures from the martial arts world or the West, but my disciples here are also final bosses.

Originally, they would provide growth opportunities for the protagonist through battle, pursuing completely opposite goals. They often stand at moral extremes, unable to understand each other.

“…While Kang Si-woo would be impossible, those two would likely cooperate willingly.”

Since those grudges no longer exist, this approach might work as a variable. To face an Outer God from the outer universe, bringing out my maximum power is the best option.

“I talked with them, and they didn’t seem like bad people!”

Verdandi Astraia raised her hand enthusiastically. Her words carried weight since she could judge whether someone was good or evil and detect lies.

“Is that so?”

“Yes! He said he had to kill us because his family was being held hostage! But in reality, he controlled his strength so we wouldn’t die!”

Verdandi cheerfully shared this shocking information. Indeed, all her injuries had missed vital points. There was nothing wrong with what she said.

“Kim Hyul said something similar. He told me not to become someone like him.”

Bi-wol nodded as if she finally understood. For martial artists, crossing swords once reveals more truth than a hundred conversations.

I had been worried about how to convince these children to work with the protagonists, but it seemed they had already spoken with each other without my knowledge.

“Don’t even mention that trash Kang Si-woo. That bastard is obsessed with putting me beneath him, like a dog in heat.”

Azazel joined the conversation with her complaints. Perhaps she hadn’t heard the warnings about Shub-Niggurath or Bing-seol-hwa, as she used vulgar language unbecoming of a saintess.

“…So, the person we need to deal with is this woman called Bing-seol-hwa? The one Shub-Niggurath is using as its nest?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to me. I don’t know when they figured it out, but they all seemed to know that Seol-hwa and Shub-Niggurath were connected.

“That’s right. I’d like to separate the Outer God from her and defeat it.”

I spoke calmly to my disciples. Even if the possibility was slim, this was the only way to save her.

“Why should we? She’s the one who ordered our deaths at the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament.”

“That’s right! And she hurt my precious master!”

Verdandi and Azazel voiced their opposition, while Bi-wol remained silent, seemingly waiting for my explanation.

In reality, it was my disciples who fought the protagonists at the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament, not me. Having nearly died because of Shub-Niggurath residing in Seol-hwa, I could understand their reluctance.

“…Bing-seol-hwa is my half-sister and someone so precious to me that I would exchange my life for hers.”

I didn’t lie. I didn’t give grand reasons like her being my lover from a past life or the catalyst for creating this world.

When words are drawn out or embellished, their original meaning fades away.

It’s like a technique in writing where emotional delivery to the reader fails in a vicious cycle.

“So please, stand with me on this.”

My only sincere desire was to save Seol-hwa, and I hoped my disciples would understand that.

I spoke while suppressing my slightly tearful voice.

It’s all my fault. If I had properly completed even one novel, none of this would have happened.

Bi-wol wouldn’t have suffered in the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, Verdandi wouldn’t have nearly died at Sieg-hardt’s hands, and Azazel might have been living happily with Kang Si-woo.

“If you won’t help me, I’ll save her alone. Even if it costs me my life.”

I spoke with regret and determination, and Bi-wol slowly came to my side and rested her head on my shoulder.

“…I am always on your side, Master. No matter what anyone says. Even if the ignorant masses of this world point fingers at you, how could they bring down the sun in the sky?”

Bi-wol spoke calmly to me. She even stroked my head as if to reassure me.

I felt awkward receiving the same gesture I had always given her and tried to move away, but…

“Please stay still. Your hands are trembling, aren’t they?”

Bi-wol held my hand firmly to prevent me from escaping. Perhaps noticing that my emotions took precedence over reason when it came to Seol-hwa, she looked at me with somewhat sad eyes.

“…So this is what you were aiming for.”

“That’s unfair! I want to stroke Master’s head too!”

Seeing Bi-wol’s actions, Azazel and Verdandi bit their nails in jealousy. Even to someone as notoriously oblivious as me, they clearly appeared to be infatuated with me.

“For my precious Master’s request, I could pluck the moon from the sky.”

Bi-wol, ignoring the jealousy of the other disciples, chuckled and embraced me with one arm.

“B-Bi-wol. Aren’t you too close?”

Finding myself cradled against my disciple’s chest while she stroked my head, I indirectly asked her to let go.

“Hehe, looking like this, you’re just like a baby in its mother’s arms. Oh, if I were to have a child…”

Bi-wol had seemingly forgotten about Seol-hwa and was enthusiastically stroking my head. To anyone watching, she was clearly indulging her own selfish desires.

“We’ll save her! We’ll save this Bing-seol-hwa person! Now please get away from Master!”

“That’s right! How dare you selfishly do this alone, sister! Didn’t we agree to progress together at the same pace?”

Verdandi and Azazel angrily pulled Bi-wol away from me, then tried to embrace me and stroke my head themselves.

We had been in the middle of a serious conversation, but somehow it had turned into this. I closed my eyes tightly and sighed inwardly.

Feeling that I wouldn’t be able to save Seol-hwa if I didn’t humor them now, I had no choice but to quietly endure their embraces without resistance.

“Master’s hair feels rough and firm. It’s different from my hair.”

“Ah, brother. Isn’t my embrace more comfortable and soft than that of a rigid warrior?”

They pressed their bodies against me without hesitation and stroked my hair. I was barely managing to breathe, preventing myself from suffocating.

They were expressing their own impressions while keeping each other in check.

“Don’t worry about your sister. I was planning to save her anyway. I don’t want to see brother looking sad.”

“I was just testing you! I thought this was the only way to receive such a reward!”

They showed completely opposite attitudes from before, now agreeing to rescue Seol-hwa when previously only Bi-wol had consented.

“Hehe, no matter how you try to cover it up, I was the first to stroke Master’s head, and I have the most enchanting figure among us…”

Bi-wol watched the two without showing jealousy anymore. Instead, she snorted as if amused, displaying a confident attitude.

“…Master won’t be able to erase me from his memory.”

Originally, Seol-hwa deserved most of the credit for my disciples’ ample bosoms. She possessed a presence that none of them could match.

‘If I say that, I’ll probably be found dead tomorrow.’

I swallowed hard and kept my mouth shut.

* * *

While Bing-yeon and his disciples were entangled in this competition, in the underground of the Seongyeong School, someone was slowly opening their eyes, regaining consciousness and looking around.

“…Where am I?”

It was the woman whose whereabouts had become unknown after encountering Bing-seol-hwa in the Divine Thief’s Hidden Cave—the Golden Pagoda Master, Wolfram Alchemista.