Ch.654Chapter 25. Let it Unfold (4)

Japan’s S-rank hero, Nadeshiko, received a secret message and headed somewhere alone.

She removed her Japan Watch that revealed her location and even managed to slip away from her escorts who were assigned to monitor her every move, secretly heading to her “destination.”

The riddle given to her was just one:

-How do people from Pohang laugh?

-What do store owners in Jeju say when customers they don’t like arrive?

It sounded like jokes from some collection of classic humor, but Nadeshiko immediately recognized this as “their” method of making contact.

“Come alone to Pohang Harbor.”

Since Nadeshiko herself didn’t want to explain it, she refrained from saying the rest.

In any case, the mission was to “come alone to Pohang Harbor.”

She couldn’t understand why she was suddenly being called to Pohang Harbor just two days before the World Cup opening ceremony, but they probably weren’t planning to kidnap her for some grand scheme.

And then.

“…….”

“It’s been a while, you.”

She wasn’t the only one who had arrived at Pohang Harbor with mixed feelings of worry and anticipation.

“You are….”

“The awesome woman.”

“…What brings the great National Entertainment Queen here?”

“Shut up, idiot.”

The woman in a black hood, sunglasses, and mask—the National Entertainment Queen—put her index finger to her lips and gritted her teeth as she blatantly scolded Nadeshiko.

“What if someone hears you?”

“You might not know, but it seems all the women who heard our voices here are in the same situation.”

“What?”

“Look.”

Nadeshiko pointed around them.

Women dressed similarly to the National Entertainment Queen, hiding their identities, began approaching Nadeshiko and the National Entertainment Queen one by one.

“And you are?”

“The Saint of Arc, [Jeanne].”

“Guardian of Athens, [Minerva]. And this is…”

“[Atalante].”

These women, whose names alone represented their respective countries, revealed their “aliases” as their “true colors” one by one.

“I’m [Nadeshiko]. This is Ms. Nguyen.”

“[National Entertainment Queen]. Yamamoto, don’t casually mention others’ surnames. For heroes, hero names are sufficient.”

Since hero names represented them better than their real names, aliases were more important here.

“Um, did you all also solve the riddle about ‘Pohang Harbor’ and ‘Honjeo-opseoyae’ to come here?”

“And you are?”

“Oh, I’m [Quetzalcoatl]! Nice to meet you!”

And their common point was that they had all gathered after receiving instructions.

“You’re all… sponsored by the Company, right?”

“In a way. We’re all suitable for the name ‘Yimemangryang.'”

Nadeshiko looked over everyone gathered and smirked.

“All people who have taken on the identities of past beings. Or beings from myths and legends.”

Starting with Yamato Nadeshiko, everyone gathered here had hero names taken directly from mythological or legendary beings.

It must be a coincidence.

Because the reason they gathered wasn’t because of their unique aliases, but because each had a close relationship with a certain organization.

Silently.

A black-painted yacht docked at Pohang Harbor.

The solemn and quiet black yacht, which looked like it could carry about 100 people, seemed like the kind of yacht a famous Hollywood actor would use to enjoy a party with various women.

Tap.

“Hello, everyone.”

“You are…”

“No need for long explanations. Everyone, please board the yacht.”

When blue-green lightning flashed in the eyes of the woman wearing a black cap, everyone gathered at Pohang Harbor boarded the yacht without exception.

“Please go downstairs.”

Following the woman’s guidance, they went below deck, where the structure resembled the interior of a Korean palace from a movie.

Flash.

As the ceiling lights flickered, a man in a black dragon robe sat cross-legged with interlocked fingers, looking relaxed.

“Welcome to the Joseon palace, stranger. I am Joseon’s patriotic general, Do Ji-hwan.”

“…….”

Nadeshiko chuckled at the man wearing the black dragon robe.

At the same time, she looked around with a sudden realization.

“Patriotic general…?”

“Why is Do Ji-hwan here…? Oh, no. He did say he wanted to, but suddenly here…?”

“What is this? Are we supposed to compete against each other before the World Cup? Wait, who called us here…?”

The others didn’t know.

These simple “Syndicate collaborators” didn’t know what she knew.

“You.”

Though confused herself, Nadeshiko stepped forward as the representative of the group to prevent greater confusion.

“What are you trying to do? Did you call us as a patriotic general, or—”

“Obviously, for coming out.”

Whoosh.

[Nice to meet you. It’s me.]

“Gasp!!”

Do Ji-hwan created something from his empty hand and pressed it against his face.

It was a mask they all knew too well—the ‘Goblin’ mask.

[That’s right. The patriotic general Do Ji-hwan is another form of the Goblin, and I—]

“Please take off the mask when you talk!!”

[…….]

The Goblin obediently removed his mask.

“…If that’s what you want.”

With a somewhat bitter expression.

* * *

“…So actually, the ‘awakening’ is about installing a very thin external mana core called an awakening inscription on the ship, but publicly it’s portrayed as having that kind of relationship with the patriotic general?”

“Accurate analysis.”

I sat in a plush chair and tossed a yanggang candy to Nadeshiko, who had accurately summarized my explanation.

“By the way, Snow White, Thunder Empress, and Firefox are all Syndicate collaborators. Of course, like you all, they would expel the Syndicate if it engaged in villain activities like Haeguneul or demons, but at least for now, they’re actively cooperating with the Syndicate.”

“As an example of that cooperation, like bringing down Haeguneul?”

“That’s right.”

“Like how the Syndicate eliminated those vicious ‘Spartans’ in our Greece?”

“That’s right.”

Since they had all had similar experiences in their respective countries, everyone understood quickly.

“And now you only have a choice left. Will you get an awakening inscription and a sub-mana tank in exchange for being publicly labeled as ‘having done it with Do Ji-hwan’? Or will you just quietly return?”

“…….”

“The choice is yours.”

“I have a question.”

The blonde, blue-eyed woman with the alias [Jeanne], the holy virgin of France, raised her hand.

“I’m officially A-rank, but if I install this external core, will I become S-rank?”

“With the installation, you can output S-rank power. It’s like an ‘ultimate skill.’ It can’t quickly raise your technique to S-rank, but at least it can create the public perception that ‘you have one S-rank move.'”

“Then.”

Jeanne hesitantly looked around before speaking.

“With Do Ji-hwan… I mean, the Goblin, do we have to have s—”

“No.”

I stated firmly.

“Even if someone wants to, we won’t.”

“Eh?”

“What do you mean ‘eh’? It’s just for public appearance, not something that actually happens.”

I firmly pointed out the part that might be misunderstood.

“I’m saying there won’t be any of what you’re thinking. It’s just going that far to impose a kind of restriction. When you find a boyfriend or husband later and go on your honeymoon, you can surprise him by whispering it in his ear.”

“Actually… it’s my first time?”

“Yes. Of course, your husband will be the one to confirm that.”

At least not me.

“Then I have a question. Is it true that Baek Seol-hee is pregnant…?”

“That’s true.”

“What about Thunder Empress and Firefox?”

“Those are false pregnancies.”

“Ah, I see. So you really did—”

“We did, but there was no pregnancy.”

“…Are you a nationalist who only has relationships with Koreans?”

“Not at all.”

I never imagined a foreigner would use the word “nationalist,” but I’m definitely not one.

“Even I don’t plan to go around sleeping with various women, and I don’t want to increase the number. Ten fingers are enough.”

“Are you saying there are ten women?”

“It happened that way, but if I add more, I think I’ll spend more time living as Do Ji-hwan than as the Goblin.”

I haven’t abandoned my identity as a villain executioner.

“So make your choice. Will you become stronger by deceiving the world about a relationship with me that won’t actually happen, or will you just get off this boat and return to Pohang Harbor?”

“…….”

“The choice is yours. If you want awakening, go down one more floor where there’s a ‘locker room,’ change clothes there, and come out.”

After giving everyone a choice, I left the reception room and headed deeper into the yacht.

“…Excuse me.”

Kim Yoon-ji, who followed me, cautiously spoke.

“Do I have to wear it too?”

“Of course.”

“Won’t some people decide to leave the ship because of the clothes?”

“They’re prepared to be publicly associated with Do Ji-hwan, so it would be disappointing if they backed out over clothes. And…”

I entered the locker room and opened the cabinet door marked “Thunder Empress” among the cabinets with each person’s name.

“Here. Put it on.”

“…….”

“I’ll say it’s a tailcoat that only good people can see.”

There was only the upper part of a women’s hanbok and a very thin bikini bottom.

“It’s not just about getting an awakening skill. Learning one ability each is already a gain for everyone.”

I snapped my fingers, reconstructing my clothing.

“The technique of creating your own costume appearance with mana—this is the Syndicate’s original technology, right?”

More precisely, it’s cutting-edge technology introduced by the Goblin.

“If you don’t master this technique during the night, you’ll be taking photos in the morning wearing only an underbust slingshot bikini at the party. Got it?”

“…….”

“Ah. One more thing.”

I handed Thunder Empress a headband hanging on one side of the locker room.

“Do you want to be a black rabbit? Or a white rabbit?”