Part 1, Chapter 10, 5

Baek Heea entered New Seoul’s bus terminal in disguise.

It was a mission she had to carry out as a member of the Association, but she felt that appearing at the terminal dressed as a Praetor in a white beret and uniform would cause great trouble.

She was the granddaughter of the highest political power and the de facto second-in-command of the Association’s Korean branch.

The prestige of the name held immense power, elevated by Baek Heea herself, and if she were spotted by protestors, the demonstration could escalate uncontrollably.
Thus, the Association’s Heroes, including Baek Heea, disguised themselves as ordinary citizens and infiltrated various parts of the terminal.
“Hey, give me five Hero lottery tickets, automatic selection.”
Wusa, dressed in a jumper, was buying lottery tickets, reeking of cigarette smoke.
“Oh dear…. What’s this country coming to? Tsk, tsk. Anyway, looking at that Seon-bastard. Tsk.”
Pungbaek, wearing a shabby vest, was sitting on a chair, clicking his tongue as he watched Seonui Cheol on the monitor.
“Please give me one bus ticket to Gangneung.”
Unsa, dressed in a military uniform, was acting like an officer returning to his remote base.
The Heroes were truly performing their roles well, but Baek Heea alone was awkwardly fidgeting in the middle of the terminal.

“……Hmph.”
She kept feeling people’s gazes. The makeup she usually wore to give a strong impression was changed to a more feminine style, and her usual pants-only attire was swapped for something more age-appropriate.
“How can people wear something like this without feeling embarrassed…?”
Baek Heea kept feeling self-conscious about the mini-skirt, whose hem rested on her thighs. She felt as if every passerby glanced at her once or twice, making her face flush repeatedly.
“……Unsa.”
Baek Heea raised her hand to the small walkie-talkie in her ear. Unsa, with a troubled expression, raised his index finger to his ear.
[Yes.]
“I’ll just go wash my hands for a moment.”
[Understood. I will contact you when the VIP arrives.]
“I’m just going to wash my hands.”
Baek Heea quickly left the waiting room and entered the women’s restroom. Among the half-occupied stalls, she opened the door to the innermost empty one, went inside, and locked the door.
“Whew.”
Baek Heea took a deep breath. Even if it was a disguise, wearing a mini-skirt required great courage for Baek Heea.
‘Why did that young lady insist on taking the bus instead of a limousine, causing such trouble?’
Baek Heea raised her watch to check the time. 11:30 AM. There were still 30 minutes until the scheduled arrival time, having departed from Seoul and passed Gwanak to reach this place.
‘My clothes are bothering me too….’
If there hadn’t been a protest, everyone would have been in full uniform, greeting Cheonghwa at the terminal. However, under the judgment that they couldn’t escalate the protest, the Heroes planned to disguise themselves, meet Cheonghwa at the terminal platform, and then immediately move to the prepared vehicle.
‘Just calm down a bit and go back outside-‘
[Baek Heea.]
It was an eerie voice. A soft voice, indistinguishable as male or female, shook Baek Heea’s body.
“A ghost?!”
[Hardly a ghost. This is the first time we’ve conversed like this.]
“……Surely, you.”
She had heard the stories well. And she had even encountered such a person in Beijing while going to China. Why was such a person here?
[Calm down. I haven’t come to harm you.]
“If you intended to cause harm, New Seoul would have become a sea of fire.”
Baek Heea was well aware of the horrors of Daejeon. The Villain-Phoenix, who had killed Gwanggeom, possessed the ability to turn New Seoul into ashes in an instant.
“……I’ll open the door for you, so show yourself.”
[…….]
Screech.
Baek Heea opened the locked door, and a black armored figure entered the stall where Baek Heea was standing.
Click.
The door locked again, and the black-armored Villain-Phoenix faced Baek Heea, with about one person’s worth of space between them.
“What was your intention in approaching like this?”
[What were you thinking, letting a Villain approach so easily?]
“Since you’re already here, there’s no point in talking through the door.”
[That’s true.]
Phoenix snapped a finger. Baek Heea felt Phoenix’s unsettling mana envelop the restroom stall. The flame Barrier she had read about in the top-secret report trapped Baek Heea.
[With this, we can converse more comfortably.]
“Comfortably? Do you think I can talk comfortably with a Villain in front of me?”
[Oh dear. Is this uncomfortable too? Well, then there’s no helping it. We’ll converse uncomfortably.]
Phoenix bent his upper body, meeting Baek Heea’s gaze. Blue flames, shining through the eagle-headed helmet, stared directly at Baek Heea’s face.
[Do you truly believe Heuksagal is a monster?]
“Of course. It’s just a monster that seduces people in human form.”
[Then why did Hwawon overreact to Heuksagal shaking her tits?]
“…Could you please not speak so explicitly?”
[……Then, breasts.]
“…….”
[…Chest.]
“…….”
[Thorax.]
“Ahem.”
Baek Heea covered her mouth with her hand and cleared her throat. It was a signal that she would continue speaking, and Phoenix nodded compliantly.
“There’s only one reason. I didn’t want to see an ability user, who is practically the nation’s ace, make a fool of themselves.”
[Do you like Hwawon too?]
“No? Why would I like that person? He’s the nephew of that Seon-bastard who tormented my family.”
[Then why did you take Hwawon with you when you went to China?]
“You’re really full of questions.”
Baek Heea’s gaze deepened. To Phoenix’s many questions, Baek Heea, without flinching, was able to show her demeanor as a Praetor.
“Because he is also a Hero.”
[Indeed. So, a commander who inherited the Praetor’s position. Then, next-]
“Now, may I ask a question?”
[……Go ahead.]
Phoenix gestured to Baek Heea, who had interrupted him, as if telling her to go on, and Baek Heea began to pour out what she was truly curious about.
“Why did you kill Gwanggeom? What did Seonui Cheol do wrong to you that you ousted him? Why did you appear in China? What’s your relationship with Seolhwaryeong? Are you perhaps in a secret relationship?”
[I killed him because there was a reason to kill him. I ousted him because he was in the way. I went to China because there was a reason to go, and Seolhwaryeong and I are sworn enemies. Let’s just say that even considering such animosity, we have a common enemy before us that forces us to cooperate.]
“……I can’t believe you answered everything.”
[There’s no reason not to answer. And no need for detailed explanations. Then, is it my turn?]
Phoenix leaned closer, placing a hand on the wall. Baek Heea felt Phoenix’s unsettling mana envelop the restroom stall. She wondered what he was about to ask, and she was certain that the question about to come from his mouth was the main point that required a secret conversation, even with a Barrier.
[What is your relationship with Eun Jaemin, the next chairman of Yuseong?]
“……?”
[I heard you have a close relationship with Eun Jaemin.]
“…Excuse me.”
Baek Heea glared at him with sharp eyes.
“Is that a question you came all the way into the women’s restroom to ask me, after trapping me?”
[It’s just that I can’t stand not knowing what I’m curious about.]
“…What if we like each other? What if we’re in love?”
[…….]
Phoenix fell silent. Baek Heea snorted at Phoenix’s embarrassment and subtly pushed him away. Her white fingers slowly detached from the black armor.
“If that’s all you came for, I’m disappointed. I already have someone I like.”
[Yes. I suppose so.]
Phoenix, who had shown immense interest in Baek Heea’s romantic relationships, instead acted with composure. Baek Heea’s stomach twisted at his rather condescending tone, but as she was dealing with a Villain, she tried her best to calm down.
“……So, what’s the real point?”
[The point? ……Ah, hmm. Yes. That’s right.]
Phoenix slightly bent his knees. Unlike just moments ago when he had leaned down threateningly, Phoenix now leaned against the wall as if sliding, meeting Baek Heea’s gaze.
“…….”
Baek Heea subtly lifted her heels. Phoenix’s relaxed posture, with his arms crossed, seemed to wound her pride.
[To be direct. Do you have no intention of joining hands?]
“No. I don’t.”
[You must know what I mean, don’t you?]
“Joining hands with a Villain is absurd. You’re the one who killed Gwanggeom. I don’t know how you managed to sweet-talk Seolhwaryeong, but I will never compromise with you. You are.”
Baek Heea clenched her fist tightly.
“You are nothing but a villain I must apprehend.”
[All the infrastructure in Seoul that you’re eyeing, I rebuilt all of it. For Seoul’s revival, my power will be quite necessary, won’t it?]
“I admit that Seoul has recovered a lot thanks to you. I’m not deaf, after all. But that doesn’t mean your evil deeds are condoned. You killed Gwanggeom and massacred the ability users of the old Pine Tree Unit.”
[What if they deserved to die?]
“Then why did you commit murder instead of letting them face legal judgment?”
Baek Heea, undeterred by Phoenix’s threat, retorted, clearly stating her opinion. Phoenix was silent for a moment, then shrugged.
[Just as I thought, you’re a stubborn young lady. Do people around you perhaps tease you by calling you ‘Baek Kkon-dae’?]
“It’s the correct argument, isn’t it? I’ve never been called a Kkon-dae before, but I suppose I’ll be one to you. Who else would tell you something like this? It seems you just rely on your own power and act recklessly, but you’ll suffer greatly for it later.”
[Even your nagging is perfect. You don’t seem to have changed much, from the past to now.]
“What do you mean? Do you know me, by any chance?”
Baek Heea misunderstood Phoenix’s words. She didn’t know the truth about the ‘past’ Phoenix referred to, and Phoenix had no intention of correcting her misunderstanding.
[I know you well. Even the number of moles under your breasts.]
“…….”
Baek Heea clenched her fist tightly. The Villain’s blatant sexual harassment was deeply humiliating, but it was difficult to put up a strong resistance in front of a Villain who could instantly sever her neck with a single gesture.
“Hoo, hooo….”
Baek Heea took deep breaths, suppressing her anger. Phoenix reached a hand inside his armor.
Whoosh. Baek Heea’s vision was enveloped in blue flames. She had awakened her mana, thinking he was going to harm her, but the flames merely wrapped around her warmly.
“……?”
Baek Heea froze, looking at the black ring on her left fourth finger.
“This is…?”
[It means I saw the Heuksagal incident and you seemed to be acting too recklessly. It’s a gift, as a warning to be careful. After all, I’d prefer to have an ally who I can communicate with.]
“I don’t accept bribes. Take it back.”
Baek Heea immediately tried to pull the ring off her finger. But the black ring didn’t move at all, as if it were fixed to her finger.
[Unless you become S-class, you’ll never be able to take it off. Don’t worry. There are absolutely no ill intentions. With that ring, you’ll be safe no matter who comes.]
“……Excuse me.”
Baek Heea raised her reddened hand.
“Why this finger?”
[……Habit?]
“Do you habitually propose to your enemies?”
[……Anyway, the negotiation is off. If you have no intention of cooperating with me, then I’ll just have to force you to cooperate.]
Phoenix changed the subject and released the Barrier. Baek Heea lost even the energy to report him, watching Phoenix naturally open the door and leave.
“What the hell was that…?”
The first meeting between Korea’s Hero representative and Villain representative took place in the women’s restroom of New Seoul’s bus terminal, but no one knew about it.
* * *
My impressions after talking with Baek Heea for the first time.
As expected, a heroine is a heroine, and a Praetor is a Praetor.
As soon as the Villain attacked in the restroom, she identified the attacker, immediately realized there was no chance of victory even if she gathered the Heroes in the terminal, and tried to read my intentions.
As soon as she realized I wanted to talk, she even showed the audacity to pull me inside the door, feigning composure. The mana flowing from her body was a mix of embarrassment, confusion, and fear, but at least on the surface, Baek Heea calmly exchanged words with me.
‘Is this as per the original work? She doesn’t truly like Eun Jaemin. She’s trying to solidify her family’s power by drawing in Yuseong.’
That was the main point. I wondered if she was truly in a ‘something’ relationship with Eun Jaemin-Eun Yuha. Unlike the original work’s captain with mature maternal instincts, the current Baek Heea, five years younger, was a 22-year-old lady keenly interested in romance.
‘She’s not as stubborn as in the original work, but her disposition is the same.’
Baek Kkon-dae. Baek Heea, with her strong conservative tendencies in many ways, was not much different from the original work or now.
‘Still, I gave her something with a protective function, so she won’t get hurt anywhere now.’
I hid behind the terminal’s rooftop railing and waved my hand towards the bus entering the platform.
“Huh.”
The blue-haired girl who saw me from the bus window let out a hollow laugh. Yet, she waved back at me as if in response.
A short while later.
Cheonghwa, who had arrived in New Seoul, transferred to a bus heading to the Association, guided by Praetor Baek Heea. I watched this from the terminal rooftop and then soared high into the sky.

June 26th, 12:00 PM.
Cheonghwa arrived in New Seoul.