Part 1 Chapter 7 (8)

June 4, 2020, 6:00 AM, Azure Syndicate Hideout.

“What in the world, really. Is this for real?”

Cheon Gaeul shook the screen with a look of disbelief. Breaking news poured in, and related content was organized one after another, but all of it ultimately converged into one conclusion. Kim Ji-hwa clicked her tongue and replied.

“It’s the official briefing from the spokesperson. He really did step down.”

“…He didn’t even say it himself.”

Yooishin couldn’t hide his disappointment at Seonui Cheol’s irresponsible attitude. Where did the monster who issued absolute commands through Cheongsong go? Only a disgraceful scoundrel who ran away with his tail between his legs remained.

“No, does this even make sense? He’s just stepping down obediently because of one video?”

James was so flabbergasted that he’d even forgotten the beer can he always carried around. Ji-hwa scratched his cheek, looking troubled.

“This way, there’s no point in having filmed parts 2 and 3.”

“I don’t know whether to be happy it ended in one go, or to cry that the videos we went to all that trouble to film became useless.”

Gaeul whistled and shrugged. They had prepared follow-up attacks to hit Seonui Cheol if he denied the truth, but since he had stepped down, it was difficult for them to have a significant effect.

“Let’s just release it anyway. Might as well bury him completely while we’re at it.”

“I agree. Releasing it immediately might be a bit much, so let’s release it with some time. Is that alright, Chairman-nim?”

[No problem. There’s a certain minimum procedure that’s required, after all.]

Eun Yuha, who was participating via screen, nodded. Heo Yun-hwan was next to her, but he couldn’t speak because he was suppressing his anger after learning the truth Seonui Cheol had been hiding. Gaeul hid her tentacles.

“…….”

Ryu Cheon-seong said nothing. Jo Deokbae subtly nudged Ryu Cheon-seong.

“Shouldn’t you be happy? Your political rival just disappeared on their own.”

“The Seonui Cheol I know wasn’t someone who would collapse so easily. That bothers me a bit.”

Everyone’s attention focused on Ryu Cheon-seong’s words.

“Honestly, the fact that it was announced through a spokesperson makes it hard to believe. Who knows?”

“Let New Seoul handle the difficult political issues.”

Phoenix appeared, cutting them off. Gaeul found the priestly attire Phoenix usually wore somehow unfamiliar.

“We just need to do our job. That’s it.”

“That’s true, but… what happens now? You know the future. Tell me, who’s going to be the next president, quickly.”

At Deokbae’s urging, Phoenix clearly showed annoyance.

“I don’t know.”

“……?”

Deokbae was flustered instead. Not only Deokbae but also the other executives didn’t know what to do with Phoenix’s sharp reply. Only Gaeul, though a little flustered, calmly led the situation.

“Jo Deokbae. Did you just wake me up again by banging on the door without ringing the bell?”

“No, what was I supposed to do when it was urgent? There was no answer even when I rang the bell, and given the situation… It was usually the time they were awake!”

“Quiet, let’s just sort out our own work first.”

At Phoenix’s even cold words, the executives’ attention instantly turned to them. Eun Yuha and Heo Yun-hwan, in particular, widened their eyes without even trying to hide their surprise. Yuha was the first to compose her expression.

[Indeed, is that your true nature? Was your previous demeanor nothing but a facade?]

“Either way, it’s me. …Just think of it as me having shown minimal courtesy until now. Or do you want me to act like before?”

At the overbearing words, the executives shook their heads. Phoenix, speaking with a poker face and no smile, as if wishing them to forget their previous way of speaking, was forcing their new manner of speech. Ji-hwa put her hands on her knees and nodded.

“I like it. I can feel Leader-nim’s power and dignity just from your way of speaking.”

“Sounds like you didn’t feel it before.”

“…….”

Ji-hwa froze. Gaeul hastily waved her hands, mediating.

“Ah, ahaha! Someone’s way of speaking suddenly changed in an instant, so we have to understand, right? What on earth got into you?”

“That’s right. It’s as if a god is speaking in an inverted form…”

Yooishin trailed off, catching the attention of those present. The meaning was conveyed, but due to the ambiguity of his expression, the executives responded with warm gazes. Deokbae scratched his head.

“Your way of speaking when you’re in your monstrous form is just coming out, isn’t it? Aren’t you going to use that teasing ‘~~yo’ honorific anymore?”

“Because there’s no longer any need to. Why? Do you want to hear it?”

“No, no, no. Just do as you please.”

Deokbae waved his hands, strongly refusing. That monster, much stronger than him, would never understand how burdensome it was to be addressed with half-honorifics. Deokbae swallowed his true feelings, and Ji-hwa, whose eyes met his, also subtly closed and opened her eyes.

Ryu Cheon-seong stroked his beard and asked. Everyone’s attention focused on Ryu Cheon-seong.

“Leader, are you perhaps planning to step forward publicly from now on?”

“What makes you think that?”

“New Seoul is in great chaos. If you think about it, the Azure Syndicate is a band of righteous outlaws saving the nation. We stopped the massacre midway and exposed all of Seonui Cheol’s corruption.”

“Most of the Heroes Leader-nim personally killed were Pine Tree Unit Heroes. And even then, you revived them as monstrous humans. In this situation, having made a secret agreement with the Round Table, I think the Azure Syndicate can officially begin external activities. Chairman-nim Eun Yuha is also here.”

At Ji-hwa’s further explanation, Yuha nodded.

[Just like the passports you requested last time, I can create fake identities for all of you in the Azure Syndicate. If the Association targets you intensively and tries to root you out, you might get caught, but at least within Korea, the Association’s influence won’t reach you.]

[The Association will try to sweet-talk Harang, not knowing who’s behind her.]

Heo Yun-hwan pointed at Phoenix with his chin, mentioning his daughter. Having heard from Eun Yuha about Phoenix meeting Seok Harang and helping her with training, he highly acknowledged Phoenix as a mentor who helped his daughter grow.

[But what will you do if Harang really tries to kill you? The Association will try to make the world’s first SS-rank their pawn, showering her with all sorts of gifts.]

[The Round Table has already stepped forward too. Even if the Round Table and the Association have slightly different approaches, half of them are involved with the Association, so she might be swayed by that atmosphere.]

“That won’t happen.”

Phoenix asserted.

“Seok Harang will never go astray. Someone will be by her side to mentor her.”

“Who?”

“Undine. Vladimir R. Anastasia. A Hero belonging to the Round Table has agreed to cooperate.”

[What? Why them? They have no connection to you other than liking Korean food a bit, do they?]

“She’s Rusalka’s possessed body. She was the Spirit who was Heo Yun-hwan’s wife and Seok Harang’s birth mother.”

Pwoooop! Everyone choked at Phoenix’s calm bombshell statement. Deokbae, who was drinking water, coughed, gasping for breath as water went into his windpipe. The most shocking reaction, of course, came from Gwanggeom, Heo Yun-hwan.

[Wha… what did you say….]

“She’s your wife. Eun Yuha, I apologize to you. I couldn’t help it when a wife said she was going to find her husband.”

Phoenix explained briefly. Rusalka died by Heo Yun-hwan’s hand-though the executives who didn’t know this choked a second time-and her soul wandered the netherworld before possessing a young lady who died prematurely in Russia, becoming an active ability user under the name Vladimir R. Anastasia, and eventually joining the Round Table.

During this explanation, questions followed: why Rusalka had hidden her identity and lived until now, why she hadn’t come to meet her husband and daughter even after nearly 20 years, and why she was trying to visit Korea only now. However, Phoenix answered concisely and concluded.

“Because the situation changed.”

The executives wished Phoenix would go back to how they were a day ago. How frustrating it must be when someone who used to elaborate at length even on trivial stories until yesterday now just recited the conclusion without explaining the background for such a fascinating, regrettable, yet poignant secret story.

Except for one person.

[Rusalka is alive. She’s alive.]

Heo Yun-hwan covered his face on the screen. The executives knew well that Heo Yun-hwan had lived as a bachelor for over forty years. Phoenix pointed at the bowed Heo Yun-hwan and spoke to Yuha.

“Did you say they’re both still in Busan? I’ll go down there soon. We decided to do a direct trade since it’s a second-hand transaction.”

[Give me back my emotions! What do you mean by saying something like that in this situation?! Are you going to keep saying strange things during this century’s love story that can’t be heard without tears?!]

Yuha wiped her tears and screamed. The executives strongly empathized. Phoenix calmly fiddled with her veil and shrugged.

“It should only happen once or twice.”

[…….]

For a moment, Yuha and Gaeul’s gazes met. Yuha hastily composed her emotions and replied.

[Alright. Then when will you come down?]

“As soon as Undine arrives at Gimhae Airport. Since she went straight to Gimhae Airport without a layover, she must have already unpacked at the hotel.]

[Wha, what?! Rusalka is in Korea?! Whe, where?!]

Heo Yun-hwan couldn’t sit still. Yuha’s expression next to him turned pale.

[Oh my god, for heaven’s sake.]

“……Just as I expected.”

Phoenix gave Heo Yun-hwan a sympathetic gaze. Ji-hwa, who was just searching for Undine on the screen, almost stopped breathing.

“Undine, Oracle, staying in a suite room at Yuseong Hotel in Busan….”

“……They must be on the same floor, then?”

At Gaeul’s displeased mutter, Yuha gasped, and Heo Yun-hwan only then lowered his voice to a whisper like a mouse.

[Hey, you! If Rusalka was staying here, you should have told me earlier!]

[How was I supposed to know that?!]

Yuha glared at Phoenix with resentful eyes. Phoenix smirked, raising the corner of her mouth, and wagged her index finger from side to side.

“So, when you heard the Round Table was coming, you jumped at the chance and brought them to the hotel. I really like that about you, Miss Eun Yuha. Your faithfulness to greed.”

[……Ah, seriously! Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?! Instead of saying ‘seller’ or whatever, if you had told me earlier, I could have prepared myself!]

“Because she didn’t want me to. Oh, by the way, are they together right now?”

[Of course. If I left Father outside, something… would… happen….]

Yuha’s face drained of color. Phoenix stood up, kicked through the window, and spread her wings. The bright sunlight that illuminated the dawn was lighting up the sky.

“I’m going to save him before Rusalka grabs him by the hair. The Azure Syndicate will act as always. Over and out.”

Phoenix leaped out of the building as they were. They even changed into their monstrous form, stretching their wings at full speed towards Busan.

“……We gathered because of Seonui Cheol, though.”

Along with Ji-hwa’s resigned voice, the Azure Syndicate reminded themselves of their respective roles and focused on their mission.

June 4, 2020. President Seonui Cheol steps down.

His supporters were disappointed by his action of announcing his resignation through a spokesperson without a public statement from himself, and soon, people began to reasonably suspect that the reason for his resignation was related to the Pine Tree Unit massacre.

Was the Pine Tree Unit massacre truly carried out under Seonui Cheol’s orders? Did an omnipotent power holder really need to kill the refugees of Seoul?

In a situation of heated debate, Seonui Cheol maintained silence and remained secluded in his home, and as expected, the nation fell into chaos.

The catalyst that quickly dispelled the chaos was the content officially announced by the Association regarding Seolhwa Princess.

Her ascension to the 13th seat of the Round Table. And consequently, the visit to Korea by Oracle, Undine, and one other as-yet-unidentified Round Table Hero.

Even if a bomb had fallen on their house, people hastily finished preparing to welcome the guests. The Prime Minister, who had been constantly looking for an opportunity, immediately used his abilities to welcome them as soon as the acting authority system came into effect.

Even amidst internal and external turmoil, Seoul was as peaceful as ever.

* * *

“Oh, what do I do?! At this rate, I’m going to be treated like a complete homewrecker?!”

“Rusalka, she’s here right now? Right next door?”

Heo Yun-hwan malfunctioned. Yuha paced around the room, biting her nails, then checked the time. Three minutes had already passed since Phoenix cut off contact.

Ding-dong. The bell rang. Yuha’s heart sank.

Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Only the sound of the bell was heard, no voice. Yuha instinctively almost yelled “Who is it?” but then subtly brought up the hotel’s CCTV screen.

“……Oh my god.”

A white-haired witch stood at the door. Yuha’s mind went blank. The doorbell sound grew faster and faster like Yuha’s heartbeat, until the interval disappeared.

Ding-dong-ding-dong-ding-dong-ding-dong

“Ah, it’s noisy! Damn freeze tag!”

Outside, a woman-no, a man-kicked open the door and rushed out. Yuha caught her breath at Jilpungek’s appearance.

Crash!

The window shattered. Yuha hastily turned her head, then almost screamed in surprise when something suddenly embraced her waist.

[Shhh.]

Phoenix placed an index finger made of flame on Yuha’s lips. Yuha’s heart sank at the sight of Phoenix’s monstrous form, which she was seeing for the first time but had heard so much about. Outside, a significant sound was heard.

“…Didn’t you hear something just now? Like the sound of glass breaking.”

Yuha wanted to shut Jilpungek’s mouth. Phoenix grabbed Yuha’s waist and was about to leap out, but her steps faltered when she saw a black Hero suit sitting on the table.

[…I wish you a good reunion.]

Phoenix left Heo Yun-hwan, who was wearing a mask, behind and immediately flew into the sky with Yuha. At the same time, the door was cut diagonally.

“Hey, hey?!”

“Go back to sleep. It’s adult time now.”

Heo Yun-hwan gasped at the voice that tickled his eardrums. The voice he couldn’t even record, only kept in his memory, echoed in his ears again.

Crack. The woman who had cut through the door immediately surrounded it with ice, blocking it. The woman approached Yun-hwan step by step with her heeled shoes.

Step. The woman, Anastasia, stopped behind Yun-hwan. Yun-hwan gasped at the chill he felt from behind him. Indeed, the voice he had heard then was not an auditory hallucination.

Swoosh. Anastasia extended a white finger over Yun-hwan’s shoulder. Reaching her arm around Yun-hwan’s neck from behind him as he sat, Anastasia whispered into the gap in his mask.

“I wondered why you didn’t just meet me all this time, when you could have if you’d just mustered a little courage like this.”

Yun-hwan took off his mask himself. His bleached hair flowed down.

“……Same for me. You’ve changed a lot.”

“You too.”

Heo Yun-hwan and Rusalka. The young man who was a D-rank ability user crossed the threshold of SS-rank and became a monstrous human, and the executive who tried to destroy the world died for love and became human.

Anastasia released the hug and went in front of Yun-hwan, sitting on his lap. In that shabby house in Busan, they had always spent time like this. Yun-hwan habitually stroked Anastasia’s hair.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

“And you’ve become stronger. Even more than me.”

Anastasia leaned her body against Yun-hwan. Yun-hwan, as if in response, wrapped his arms around Anastasia’s waist. They stayed close like that for a long time. Until the sun, beyond the window Phoenix had broken, fully revealed itself, they silently felt each other’s warmth.

“What….”

Yun-hwan was the first to speak.

“I don’t know what to say. I thought I’d never see you again in my life. I never even imagined you’d be alive like this.”

“…Same for me. There are so many things I want to say, but I don’t know where to start.”

Anastasia turned her body the other way. Sitting on Heo Yun-hwan’s thigh, facing each other, she wrapped her two hands around Yun-hwan’s neck.

“But I do know what we should do first.”

“……Huh?”

Anastasia subtly smiled. However, Yun-hwan recalled that her smile was an attempt to hide a lot of dissatisfaction. Anastasia placed her hand on Yun-hwan’s chest.

“I smell another bitch.”

“…………….It’s a misunderstanding.”

Yun-hwan glanced sideways at the room. The room was full of the owner Eun Yuha’s belongings. Yun-hwan closed his eyes tightly, and Anastasia let out a hollow laugh, pointing at the Core located in Yun-hwan’s heart.

“I smell that damn tattletale in your body. This won’t do. Before we say what we want to say….”

Anastasia unbuttoned his shirt one by one from the top. Yun-hwan instinctively swallowed, sensing his fate.

“Let’s do what we wanted to do first, darling?”

Anastasia stole a kiss as if to devour him.

And so, the two reunited after 20 years, intertwining their bodies and making up for lost time.