Part 1 Chapter 10-6

Three days ago, Azure Syndicate Hideout.

What would happen if an individual possessed two S-rank Cores?

Unless it was someone capable of protecting themselves, there were many who targeted Cheonghwa, who outwardly appeared to be nothing more than a frail girl.

– Who cares about Black Flame Dragons or whatever, can’t we just target people and steal it from them?

Villains from the provinces, unaware of the true situation in Seoul, wished to move to the capital, mingling among the crowds, and some impatient ones traversed broken roads and mountain paths to reach Seoul.

The Association also had its own headaches.

Even if the Cores earned by the Heroes were all disposed of by the Association and a portion of the proceeds settled with the Heroes, the two Cores Cheonghwa possessed were taken by Cheonghwa directly, without going through the Association.

Thus, the Association desired to negotiate with Cheonghwa.

They promised to prevent any official rumors from spreading, asking her to grant them one favor.

“So, what arrived as an official document was a CF shoot, you’re saying.”

Kim Ji-hwa, the nominal leader of the Azure Syndicate, Beacon, pushed up her glasses and surveyed the faces of the executives gathered in the lounge.

Rock Monstrous Human, Phantom, Haneulseong, Architect, Bow Master, and Phoenix.

“First, what is the leader-nim’s opinion?”

“I refuse.”

Phoenix flatly stated her refusal.

“It’s a public service announcement, and they’re paying for it, aren’t they? They said they’d give us 100 million won just for going and shooting the video.”

“Why shoot a commercial when we could be hunting monsters in that time?”

“I think you should shoot it.”

Bow Master Yooishin was the first to express his opinion. Despite Phoenix’s refusal, the executives’ attention was drawn to Yooishin, who voiced a contrary view.

“As the saying goes, commercials have added value that cannot be converted into money, don’t they? I believe it would be quite beneficial for the image the leader-nim desires as well.”

“Yes. It’ll be very impressive to people, won’t it? It’ll tell them that someone is always protecting Cheonghwa, so they can rest assured.”

“People are anxious, as if she’s a child left out in the open. A plane actually exploded, too.”

The public’s perception of Cheonghwa was largely divided into three categories.

The first: An idol succeeding Seok Harang.

“The world needs to know. What? Doll-like appearance? One in six billion? They need to know what kind of murderer is inside.”

“Only the people here know that, so it doesn’t matter, does it? I heard her fan club has already surpassed a million members.”

“Crazy. No, is it obvious? Hmm. A million people already falling for this body’s beauty. Truly amazing.”

Phoenix patted her own shoulder, praising herself. The executives’ lips twitched slightly, but Phoenix didn’t notice.

The second: A child overflowing with a sense of justice but unstable.

“She dealt with two S-rank monsters in just two nights and three days, didn’t she? She even said it when she stormed out of the conference hall: ‘I cannot stand by and watch monsters run rampant!’ or something like that. Ugh, my apologies, leader-nim. I don’t remember the exact words.”

“Of course you don’t remember. Do you know what the nickname for that video is? Changyeom Gaejin-“

Deokbae died.

“That’s why people are being extremely careful, afraid the boss will go wild again if they hear there’s another monster somewhere. Do you know that all these foreigners roaming around Seoul right now are guys who came to beg Miss Cheonghwa to please come to their country?”

“Furthermore, isn’t it possible to raise the monsters you’ve captured? What was that technical term… ‘Familiar’? Anyway, since she can operate them like the Black Flame Dragon, the Association will be swamped with love calls for the leader-nim.”

“Hmm. Indeed. It was a good decision not to register my ability as Pyromancy but as Monster Control. Everyone’s going crazy, absolutely crazy, wanting to adopt a monster each.”

Phoenix praised her own abilities as an executive. The monstrous humans felt grateful because they were revived thanks to her power, but three out of the four were individuals who had died by Phoenix’s hand and then became monstrous humans.

The last, third category.

Architect said, “I’m on Lee Seung-hyung’s side. Isn’t the boss saying she doesn’t want to shoot the commercial because she’s afraid of falling for Lee Seung-hyung?”

Bow Master said, “I support Cheonja. The interest he showed at the conference hall, it was definitely love at first sight. Yes, I’m sure of it. If Cheonja were a dog, his tail would have been wagging non-stop.”

Haneulseong said, “I’m also on Cheonja’s side. With Hwanryong assisting him, won’t he rule for life from now on? He has a good background and a handsome face, so it’s a good picture. Haha.”

Beacon said, “It might be Fire Fist’s side after all. Considering the leader-nim’s overreaction to Lee Seung-hyung ever since Guro, this is clearly what they call a tsundere….”

“Shut your mouth.”

Phoenix, unable to bear it any longer, snapped in annoyance. Jo Deokbae, who had been revived, leaned back in his chair, propping his legs on the desk with a swagger.

“Wow, you must be happy. You’re super popular with handsome guys! Hey, you only live once, so why choose between two? Just take both. No, is it three?”

“Three? Is there another one?”

“Yeah. There’s a good-looking guy under the Hwanryong Corps who talks to her more than Hwanryong does. Was it ‘Uhyo’?”

“Bonghyo. He’s the former Dongchang Admiral and current Vice-Leader of the Hwanryong Corps. Hey, Jo Deokbae, don’t make others misunderstand.”

“These guys are having a blast teasing people.”

…That third category.

The protagonist of a love scandal.

The unique beauty of the Azure Flame Phoenix ignited the hearts of many, and there were countless people who tried to link her with men enchanted by that beauty.

“Do they think that if I have someone I love, I’ll care more about that country? It’s ridiculous. How tiresome.”

“But even if you say that, if you truly fall in love, wouldn’t you?”

“…I won’t deny it. But it’s neither of them, no, none of the three. I have no romantic interest in dirty men.”

Phoenix finally declared her coming out. But the executives didn’t particularly care.

“Who wouldn’t know, seeing how she acts towards Cheon Gaeul or Chairman Eun-nim?”

“But you never know, do you? She might just happen to fall for a guy who’s her type and get completely enchanted.”

“Enough. Anyway, I’m not shooting that commercial.”

Phoenix stubbornly refused the commercial. Kim Ji-hwa pushed up her glasses and questioned Phoenix.

“Is it because of the co-star in the commercial?”

“Of course.”

“It’s because Lee Seung-hyung is the co-star, isn’t it?”

“Of course. I’ll never do it, not even if I die. Why should I shoot a commercial with Lee Seung-hyung? And that too.”

Phoenix tapped the storyboard, which had been sent as a draft, with the back of her hand.

“A hero protecting Cheonghwa from the threat of monsters, the appearance of Fire Fist? How cliché is this? Are they kidding me?”

“Even if it’s cliché, I think it’ll be enough since visuals alone will carry more than half of it.”

“Isn’t the monster also a Black Flame Dragon? There won’t be any problems with the commercial shoot, right?”

“Leader-nim. This is a great opportunity.”

Kim Ji-hwa stood up and looked down at Phoenix. Kim Ji-hwa, who had a legend of passing a major corporation’s interview with just her eloquence, began her art of persuasion.

“If the leader-nim endures for just about an hour, everything will truly become comfortable. The Association will no longer pick fights over the S-rank Core issue, and people who see the commercial will have Cheonghwa’s delicate image imprinted in their minds. And why just Korea? If it’s uploaded to YouTube, people all over the world will see it. Then, not only will Korea’s national prestige rise, but people worldwide will also see the leader-nim’s esteemed face. Just once? How could that be? They’ll watch it ten times a day, replaying it, just to see the leader-nim. You think the pay will be low because it’s a public service announcement? Absolutely not! Who would be the biggest sponsor of the commercial? Chairman Eun-nim, right? Then Chairman Eun-nim will also earn advertising revenue and be grateful to the leader-nim. Leader-nim, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

The executives applauded Kim Ji-hwa’s passionate speech. Even Phoenix nodded her head.

“But since the co-star is Lee Seung-hyung, I don’t want to do it.”

“Leader-niiiiiim?!”

Beacon collapsed. Yooishin patted the frustrated Kim Ji-hwa’s back to comfort her.

“Leader-nim. You know better than anyone the benefits to be gained from just one commercial.”

“That’s right, boss. The Association guys won’t annoy you anymore, I’m telling you! Oh, those crazy bastards keep raising hell, saying the two Cores the leader-nim worked so hard to get should belong to the country, *cough*. They’re throwing a tantrum. Do you want to keep hearing that?”

“Chairman Yuseong-nim will take care of those who badmouth us behind our backs. Leader-nim, please approve it. After all, Beacon-nim will handle the specific work, won’t she?”

“If you put it that way.”

Phoenix nodded and said.

“Then I want to do it even less. I’d rather just be a little annoyed. That’s better than facing Lee Seung-hyung.”

Phoenix sulked and showed her refusal to the very end.

“Hmm…. Ah, then let’s do this.”

Cheon Gaeul, who had been deep in thought alone, clapped her hands and smiled brightly.

“Anyway, ‘Cheonghwa’ just needs to appear in the commercial, right?”

“……Gaeul?”

“Then I can just transform.”

Cheon Gaeul transformed into Cheonghwa. Since Phoenix’s human form-Cheonghwa-was within the S-rank category, Gaeul, who was at the same level, succeeded in transforming into Phoenix’s appearance with great ease.

“How is it? Is it identical?”

“It’s almost identical, aside from the sense of incongruity felt from the mana. Amazing, Cheon Gaeul.”

“Boss, shouldn’t you frown a little more? That face that says everything in the world is trivial. Oh, yes, that’s exactly the expression. As expected of a professional actor specializing in ‘makjang’ dramas, you act well. Hmm.”

The executives smiled broadly and applauded, and now Phoenix had a fire on her heels.

“Gaeul? You’re not seriously thinking of shooting the commercial instead of me, are you?”

“I am thinking that? You said you didn’t want to do it. So I’ll shoot it.”

Cheon Gaeul raised her head, wearing Cheonghwa’s face. The two blue women in the lounge, facing each other like doppelgängers, differed only in their eye color.

“I’m an actress. Are you confident you can shoot a commercial better than me?”

“…….”

Phoenix wanted to stop her but couldn’t. She had thrown a tantrum saying she didn’t want to do it, but if she were to stop Gaeul, who had stepped up in her place, now, it would be just like-

“Look at her, look at her! She said she didn’t want to shoot with Lee Seung-hyung, but now that Cheon Gaeul is shooting it, she’s getting nervous, wondering if something might happen between Lee Seung-hyung and her. Ugh, seriously, who’d have thought she wasn’t trash-“

Deokbae couldn’t hold back a single word.

Phoenix vented her anger by throwing Deokbae out the window, and Deokbae, even as he flew through the air, sneered back at Phoenix.

That was why, three days later, the human-form Cheonghwa and the monstrous human-form Phoenix appeared simultaneously in Seoul.

Gaeul, transformed into Cheonghwa, headed to the Association with Praetor Baek Hee-ah, while Phoenix, accompanied only by Jo Deokbae, who was made from a Core, followed the bus Gaeul was riding in.

* * *

The limousine bus heading to the Association.

Baek Hee-ah, sitting opposite her, cautiously began to speak, watching Cheonghwa, who sat motionless like a doll.

“How could you think of coming all this way without an escort…?”

“Do I need an escort to come to New Seoul?”

Cheonghwa tilted her head and blinked. Her innocent demeanor was like that of a child unaware of the world, and Baek Hee-ah’s mouth itched at the attitude displayed by someone who was several years older than herself, like an elder sister.

“Where is that War God-nim?”

“They’ll appear if it gets dangerous, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Ah. I understand.”

After personally witnessing Seolhwaryeong’s activities, Baek Hee-ah stopped judging SS-rank ability users within the bounds of common sense. They were monsters who could traverse from Seoul to Beijing in a mere 10 minutes, so Baek Hee-ah, a person of common sense, could not comprehend them with her way of thinking.

And also the ruffian who broke into the women’s restroom.

Kkadeuk.

Baek Hee-ah gritted her teeth, and Cheonghwa picked up a caramel macchiato from the drinks in the coffee box and took a sip.

“Oh. That’s the one I was drinking….”

“……? Wasn’t it a new one?”

“I only lightly touched it with my lips… *cough*.”

Baek Hee-ah, who had inadvertently shared an indirect kiss, blushed. She hadn’t thought of it that way at all, but the thought of defiling an innocent girl made her heart pound repeatedly.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s my fault for not marking it.”

Baek Hee-ah picked up a strawberry smoothie. Cheonghwa put down the drink she was having and stared at the cup containing the strawberry smoothie for a long time.

“Oh, right. I heard you like strawberries. I apologize.”

“No, it’s fine. Sometimes it’s good to drink something different. …I didn’t have many opportunities to drink things like this in Seoul.”

“Oh dear.”

Baek Hee-ah’s eyes saddened. In her mind, Cheonghwa’s hardships of laboriously drinking groundwater and monster blood in a cave were vividly depicted.

“Wasn’t life in Seoul difficult?”

“It was difficult, but it’s fine once you adapt.”

“……I will do my best to ensure that much support can be provided to Seoul as quickly as possible.”

“Support, you say. ……Hoo.”

As Cheonghwa sighed, Baek Hee-ah’s shoulders hunched, feeling unnecessarily concerned. Did her previous words offend the pride of Seoul’s residents? Did Cheonghwa get hurt by what she said? Before Baek Hee-ah could dig herself into a deeper hole with her worries, Cheonghwa changed the subject.

“About the commercial.”

“Yes.”

“Are we really shooting according to this storyboard?”

Cheonghwa picked up the printed material placed between the seats. The document, stamped with the Association’s seal, contained a detailed script for the commercial that Cheonghwa and Fire Fist were to shoot as a pair.

“Yes. It’s content that the original author of Last Love personally reviewed at Fire Fist-nim’s request.”

“…….”

Cheonghwa glared at the printed material with a complicated expression. Baek Hee-ah hurriedly bowed her head and apologized.

“I apologize. You were in Seoul, so you probably wouldn’t have known….”

“No, it’s fine.”

Cheonghwa turned the cover of the printed material and slowly began to focus on the script. Seeing her concentrating, Baek Hee-ah couldn’t easily ask Cheonghwa the questions she had wanted to ask.

The Azure Syndicate, named after Cheonghwa, and its SS-rank Villain, Phoenix. The trashy villain who had entered the women’s restroom, harassed Baek Hee-ah, and urged her to collude with them.

“What is your relationship with her…?”

“Who is she?”

“…Hup.”

Baek Hee-ah realized she had inadvertently blurted out her thoughts. Cheonghwa briefly put down the script.

“Lee Seung-hyung?”

“…No, Miss Cheonghwa, you might not know, but there’s an SS-rank Villain called Phoenix-“

“She’s someone I like.”

“…….”

Baek Hee-ah was speechless. Cheonghwa, who had been turning the pages of the script, looked up at the ceiling and muttered.

“No. Is she someone I love?”

Why was the bus suddenly getting so hot? Baek Hee-ah fanned her face with her hand to cool down the heat.

“Did they really turn on the heater…?”

The bus was unusually hot. Cheonghwa, who had resumed focusing on the script, didn’t even turn her gaze, and Baek Hee-ah, unable to dissipate the awkward and stuffy atmosphere, had to sweat profusely until the bus arrived at the Association.

After Gaeul, transformed into Cheonghwa, arrived at the Association building.

No one saw the monstrous human in black armor, who had secretly climbed onto the bus roof, flying towards Seoul.