Part 1, Chapter 6 (1)

June 1st.

Before they knew it, spring flowers had fallen, and early summer had arrived. The Republic of Korea had lost a great star, Gwanggeom, but thanks to the efforts of the remaining Heroes, the major monsters in the country were being eradicated one by one.

Hwawon Lee Seunghyung and Seolhwa Princess Seok Harang. The two S-rank Heroes scoured the entire eight provinces, wiping out the monsters to such an extent that Gwanggeom’s absence was barely felt.

Then, unbelievable news from Seoul greatly shook New Seoul.

– I heard the refugees really took back Seoul.

The existence of the ‘Azure Syndicate,’ an unidentified Villain organization that used blue flames as its symbol and eradicated monsters, slowly began to emerge into the light.

* * *

June 1, 2020, 10:00 AM, New Seoul Government Complex.

“I am deeply moved to be entrusted with this important role. I dedicate all the credit for retaking Seoul to our citizens.”

Ryu Cheon-seong, who had become the Mayor of Seoul (interim), greeted the camera with the happiest expression in the world. The reporter’s face looked as if they had bitten into dirt.

Of course, Baek Se-jun, who had handed Ryu Cheon-seong the letter of appointment for Mayor of Seoul, was completely expressionless. He read the appointment letter like a machine and tossed it to Ryu Cheon-seong. Ryu Cheon-seong still maintained his smile.

“Above all, I will endlessly persuade and persuade the chivalrous organization, the Azure Syndicate, which greatly assisted in the recapture of Seoul, to return to the embrace of the Republic of Korea. Residents of New Seoul, citizens of the Republic of Korea.”

Ryu Cheon-seong beat his chest and declared his aspirations.

“We will not stop at Seoul! We will reclaim our lost ancient lands! I will stand at the forefront!”

* * *

At the same time, Azure Syndicate Hideout in Yeouido, Seoul.

“That old man gets the most excited in front of the camera, doesn’t he?”

“He’s not even S-rank yet, but he’s overdoing it by going all the way to the heart of Seoul.”

“He achieved his life’s goal, so he must be happy.”

Deokbae let out a hollow laugh, Gaeul shook her head, and Jihwa replied. The three monstrous human executives had forged a considerable bond through their shared hardships. Deokbae asked Jihwa,

“Hey. Speaking of which, did your rank go up?”

“No. Cheon Gaeul, how about you?”

Deokbae still spoke informally to Jihwa, who was several years older than him, but Jihwa also bravely dropped formalities with the two of them. It was implied that since they were all living on borrowed time anyway, they might as well get along as fellow executives. Cheon Gaeul shook her head.

“…Not yet. Hey, I’m different from you guys. I’m an S-rank wall, and you guys are A and B. The rarity is different.”

Gaeul glared. Both Jihwa and Deokbae were still stuck at B-rank and C-rank. Jihwa adjusted her sunglasses.

“The leader makes C-rank and D-rank too easily, so now everyone’s an ability user….”

“Whether they’re fire nobles or water-element untouchables, they’re as common as ants passing by now.”

After Gwanggeom broke out of his coffin and resurrected as a monstrous human, Phoenix began to awaken the residents of Seoul into ability users in earnest.

The number of people who awakened after hitting the wall of 50 fire Affinity Rate was barely over 100, but even that was considered a miracle, and all who awakened applied to join the Azure Syndicate.

In addition to those 100-odd people, hundreds more had applied to join. Jihwa discarded the application forms on the screen one by one and asked,

“How did they manage to bring in Seolhwa Princess? She’s practically a sworn enemy.”

At Jihwa’s question, the two nodded.

Phoenix said that thanks to Rusalka, Korea had been filled with water energy for 20 years.

As a result, people’s water Affinity Rate had unknowingly increased, which led to a strange ratio where 30% of South Korean Heroes possessed water-element abilities.

That’s why water-element ability users were called ‘water-element untouchables’ in Korea. And now, water-element ability users were so numerous they were practically underfoot.

“No, what’s with 5,000? Is this Yi Yulgok? Are we advocating for a 100,000-man Hero army?”

“They say most of the Seoul survivors are only those with high Affinity Rates.”

“Other people might have low water and fire affinities, but they’ll awaken immediately if other Spirits come, they said.”

Out of Seoul’s 60,000 residents, a whopping 5,000 awakened as water-element ability users.

Of course, most of them were less capable than D-rank, but they at least possessed the ability to draw moisture from the air and shoot jets of water.

There wasn’t a single A-rank, and only 20 B-ranks, but the fact that they themselves gained the power to fight against monsters was a miracle to the residents.

“Thanks to that, you guys are having a blast, huh?”

“It’s divine grace. …Though the existence of another god is a bit concerning.”

Yooishin shrugged. Deokbae was extremely annoyed by his exaggerated manner of speaking, making all sorts of expressions.

“Look at him, bragging about becoming A-rank?”

“Hehe. I only managed to regain my head after awakening. Of course, I’m proud.”

It wasn’t his severed head but a new one that grew after awakening, so Gaeul had nothing to say.

Yooishin, the only Dullahan to find his head, had reached the position of a quasi-executive. Jihwa said with a sour face,

“Thanks to that, only the ‘feathers’ are having fun. It looks like a new religion will start in Seoul.”

Yooishin playfully hit Jihwa’s arm and laughed.

“Didn’t you know? It’s already started. It’s called Spirit Worship.”

“You don’t mean…?”

At Deokbae’s words, Yooishin raised both arms to the sky. It was a posture that made onlookers feel embarrassed.

“I am a follower of the Sun Cult, which believes in the Fire Spirit. Although our influence is currently weak in Seoul, overshadowed by the followers of the Lake Cult who believe in the Water Spirit….”

“Animism in the 21st century? Do people actually believe that?”

At Gaeul’s remark, Yooishin raised his index finger and wiggled it from side to side.

“People have already experienced the power of Spirits. The Spirit’s authority to grant abilities to the powerless and awaken ability users to the next level. What else could it be but a god?”

“A god is only a god if it acts like one.”

When Deokbae scoffed, Yooishin’s eyes turned cold. Deokbae, in turn, lost his temper at the intensity that seemed ready to draw a bowstring at any moment.

“It’s true! Everyone here except Cheon Gaeul died and resurrected by that so-called god! That’s not a god, it’s a demon!”

“They even possess the authority of resurrection. What else could they be but a god?”

“Aargh! That’s enough! You really can’t reason with them!”

Deokbae threw his chair aside and left the lounge. Gaeul tidied the chair with her tentacles and sipped her coffee.

“He’s been getting more hysterical lately. Is he on his period?”

“…Ahem, ahem!”

As Jihwa’s face flushed and he turned away, Gaeul mischievously whispered to him,

“Oh my. Such a naive one. But do you want to know something amazing? When a woman becomes a monstrous human, you see….”

Gaeul stroked her lower abdomen with the happiest expression in the world.

“They don’t get periods?”

“Ah! Is it already this time?!”

Jihwa hastily left. Despite having risen to a considerable position of power in the Azure Syndicate, he was still a virgin. Yooishin hesitantly sat next to Gaeul.

“Um, I wish you wouldn’t tease Beacon-nim so much….”

“Why? You don’t mean…?”

Yooishin lowered his head without another word. Gaeul scratched her head with a tentacle and then stood up.

“…Those were the good old days, really. Some of us are still in unrequited love.”

“Gaeul-nim is still young.”

“Shut up. I’m almost thirty, what are you talking about? Ah, now that I think about it, how outrageous!”

Gaeul bound Yooishin’s limbs with her tentacles.

“No other missions, right? Then let’s go to the room. I need more practice to use this skillfully, you know? I don’t want to look like a novice when it’s the real game with Phoenix later.”

“N-no! No more tentacles-mmph?!”

A tentacle was shoved into Yooishin’s mouth. Gaeul grinned, tied Yooishin up with her tentacles, and left the lounge.

* * *

11:00 AM. New Seoul, Yuseong Family Mansion.

“Here. 100 Cores.”

“Goods confirmed. Thank you every time, my beloved customer.”

Eun Yuha smiled happily, looking at the Cores in her bag. Phoenix took a large spoonful of the strawberry parfait in front of them and put it in their mouth.

“22 A-rank. The rest were collected as B or C as much as possible. This is practically everything we gathered in Seoul.”

“That’s enough. It’s good timing, too, since we just got a custom-made Hero suit order.”

“Custom-made?”

Phoenix asked, their spoon still in their mouth. Eun Yuha elegantly lifted her coffee cup and took a sip.

“Yes. We specially custom-make suits for A-rank Heroes. Unsa-nim requested it, practically emptying her entire fortune. Enough wealth to use about seven A-rank Cores.”

“……Give her a discount. She went through hell in Seoul.”

Phoenix feigned composure and poked their spoon back into the parfait. Eun Yuha didn’t miss the chance to tease them.

“Oh my. Did you extend your tentacles to Unsa Park Raon too? How many children did you have with Unsa-nim?”

“……Sigh. I really shouldn’t even bother talking.”

Phoenix raised their spoon and pointed its tip at Eun Yuha.

“Let me ask you in reverse. How many children do you think I’d have if I married you?”

Eun Yuha spread her hands as if she had been waiting for that. Three fingers were folded.

“Seven!”

“…Oh, for real.”

Phoenix leaned their head back against the chair. They made eye contact with Heo Yun-hwan, who was about to open a makgeolli bottle. Heo Yun-hwan closed the makgeolli bottle as if he had seen something disgusting.

“What are you looking at, trash? Turn your eyes away, you’re ruining my drink.”

“What, Lolicon? Aren’t you afraid of public authority? Rusalka is smaller than an elementary schooler these days, you know?”

“If I can live with Rusalka, who cares about public authority? More importantly, did you have seven children with the Chairman-nim? Leaving our most beautiful daughter behind?”

“What are the police doing? Not arresting that kind of sexual harassment criminal.”

Heo Yun-hwan and Phoenix growled at each other. Eun Yuha didn’t take anyone’s side and quietly drank her coffee before speaking.

“More importantly, how did you persuade Harang?”

“I’m curious about that too.”

Heo Yun-hwan sat down in a chair. Phoenix fiddled with their veil with a finger.

“What, what do you mean?”

“Given your personality, you wouldn’t have told a half-baked lie, you must have told her everything truthfully. So why isn’t Harang trying to kill you, and why are you awakening the people of Seoul?”

“……We agreed to temporarily cooperate until we kill Seongju. Seok Harang also wants to protect Seoul.”

“Hmm. That’s what a Hero should do.”

Phoenix glared at Heo Yun-hwan with cold, unamused eyes.

“What are you talking about? If they knew you were alive, you’d be the first of the three of us to go to the freezer. Don’t even dream of lurking behind the orphanage tree like before, hoping to see your daughter.”

“……Can’t I just not get caught?”

“You son of a-“

As Phoenix was about to open their mouth to retort, Eun Yuha quickly interjected.

“There’s no chance of that, so rest assured, Abeonim. I’ve prepared a special Hero suit for you that will never be discovered. Exactly as you designed it.”

“The design itself is a spoiler…. Wait, Abeonim?”

Phoenix asked back with a stiff face. Heo Yun-hwan pointed at Eun Yuha and let out a hearty laugh.

“She’s a bold young lady. She said she’d marry me until Harang’s partner appears. Publicly, it’s as if I’m marrying Eun Jaemin.”

“Harang is a younger sister I cherish too. I can’t entrust her to a scoundrel who goes around seducing other women while leaving his pregnant wife behind.”

“……Yes, I’m trash. Happy now?”

Phoenix raised both hands. Eun Yuha leaned her upper body closer with a meaningful expression.

“Phoenix-nim.”

“Yes?”

Eun Yuha called Phoenix by their name for the first time. Phoenix’s hands gripped the armrests of the chair tightly.

“Were you happy when you were in love with me? Do you still love the me in your memories?”

“…….”

Phoenix closed their eyes for a moment, then slowly lifted their eyelids.

“I did love you.”

“……Is that so?”

Eun Yuha sat back in her chair and drank her coffee. For quite a while, she covered her face with the coffee cup.

“Whoever it is, they’re truly blessed. To have taken your love.”

“They’re the most beautiful and lovely person in the world.”

Phoenix took a big spoonful of parfait and bit into it. Eun Yuha put down her coffee cup.

“Then I guess I’ll just do a hostile M”

“…What do you mean?”

Phoenix frowned, as if they didn’t understand the meaning. Eun Yuha shrugged and drank her coffee again. Heo Yun-hwan fiddled with the makgeolli bottle and clicked his tongue.

“The Chairman-nim is truly a remarkable woman.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“…Gwanggeom? Could you explain?”

“No.”

Phoenix pouted at the two’s blatant concealment.

And just as they were about to say something, they put a hand on the badge pinned to their collar and chuckled.

“…Pffft. Eun Yuha-ssi. It seems you don’t need to worry about me after all.”

“What do you mean, ah. Harang is calling.”

Eun Yuha left her seat. Phoenix asked Heo Yun-hwan, who was about to gulp down makgeolli, with a mischievous look,

“Hey, Gwanggeom. Harang is-“

“Don’t act familiar with my daughter.”

“…If Seok Harang were to marry-“

Clang! Gwanggeom drew his sword from its scabbard. The tip of the sword stopped at Phoenix’s glabella, so close that not even a piece of paper could fit between them. Gwanggeom’s face contorted.

“This is the problem with becoming a monstrous human. I want to get rid of trash, but I can’t.”

“…….”

Phoenix had reached a state of resignation. Fearing that Gwanggeom might kill the protagonist if they revealed the truth, Phoenix simply decided to be trash.

“Haa. Alright. But remember this, Gwanggeom, you….”

Phoenix snapped their fingers. Their lower body burst into flames, and Phoenix’s body began to transfer to another location.

Just before completing the spatial transfer, Phoenix spoke very quickly and disappeared.

“I don’t know if you’ll be the bride’s father or the groom’s father at Seok Harang’s wedding, do I?”

Phoenix vanished. Only the spoon, left in the empty parfait dish, remained. Heo Yun-hwan quietly chewed on Phoenix’s parting words.

“Yeah, Harang-ah. Unnie is resting now.”

With his keen hearing, he heard Eun Yuha’s voice from the next room.

“No, Unnie isn’t tired at all. Really? There’s a cafe like that in Seomyeon? Thank you so much for telling me! Unnie will go down to Busan herself soon. What? You love me? Oh my, you’re making me blush. Alright, don’t forget that Unnie loves you so~ much, okay?”

“……No way.”

Surely, the lip service thrown as a joke wouldn’t become reality.

Suddenly, the image of Seok Harang in a tuxedo came to mind. Heo Yun-hwan wanted to see Rusalka.