Part 1, Chapter 9, 1

June 13, 2020

10:07. Cheonghwa officially registers as an ability user with the Association.
10:30. The Association announces Cheonghwa’s departure for China. Does not disclose movement from New Seoul to Gimhae. Surprise departure.
11:49. Cheonghwa, signal lost. Plane explodes.
11:58. Mao Zeping names the villain group ‘Hwangonjeok’ as the mastermind behind the terror attack. Declares a temporary border blockade to prevent further terror attacks.
13:50. Monster reactions occur across China. Presumed to be spirit-type monsters, but no civilian casualties.
13:59. Terror occurs. Mao Zeping names Hwangonjeok as the mastermind. Ability users within China are enraged.
14:22. Monsters begin to rampage in various parts of China. Heroes repel them. No casualties.
14:44. Following Terror, confirmation of awakening status for unawakened ability users.
17:01. The Chairman registers as an ability user. Confirmed as Fire, Illusion Double A.
17:04. Black Flame Dragon emerges in Seoul. Flies from Seoul to China. Intent unknown.
17:07. Monster Management Bureau launches missiles at S-rank monster reaction. Proposes interception by fighter jets as a countermeasure against the Black Flame Dragon.
17:23. Black Flame Dragon makes a sharp turn in the Shandong area. Heads north towards Beijing.
17:33. Beijing responds to the Black Flame Dragon. All Heroes gather to confront the Black Flame Dragon.
17:54. The Chairman requests support from the Round Table.
17:56. The Round Table dispatches Seok Harang.
18:14. Seolhwa Princess arrives in Beijing. Intercepts and repels the Black Flame Dragon.
18:16. An SS-rank monster appears in the Yangtze River area. Named . Seolhwa Princess moves to repel it.
18:30. Seolhwa Princess repels . Moves to Beijing.
18:59. Seolhwa Princess declares rescue of . Rescued person, .

19:00. . Announces official press conference in 30 minutes.
* * *
13, 2020, 7:12 PM, Yuseong family mansion in New Seoul.
“You really went wild in a spectacular way.”
Eun Yuha organized the external flow of events based on information obtained through the X-roids. The incidents Phoenix caused in between were not publicly known, but everything that happened externally was created by Phoenix.
“Unjang Xiaolin….”
An S-rank ability user who crossed the sea riding Jeokto, and a woman presumed by Eun Yuha to have been another lover in a past life.
Cheon Gaeul, Seok Harang, and Xiaolin. These individuals, presumed to be Phoenix’s past life (?) or pre-regression (?) lovers, all boasted incredible talent. Moreover, Himeji Hikari, who was currently running wild in Yuseong’s own research lab, spending budget recklessly, also raised suspicions.
“……Surely, he didn’t just gather S-ranks to make them his wives, did he?”
It was a reasonable suspicion. Since he even possessed the ability to help ability users grow, he could turn them into SS-ranks, let alone S-ranks, with just a little boost to their abilities. Wasn’t Seolhwa Princess Seok Harang a prime example?
…Although that situation was special and the process was difficult, their relationship somehow worked out well. Now, Eun Yuha found herself in a position where she was rivals with Seok Harang, her beloved younger sister.
‘There are too many rivals.’
As they increased one by one, it felt like it would be overwhelming to deal with them. She could handle a 1:1 situation, but if the total number of dolls Eun Yuha controlled, which was seven, was exceeded, it would be quite a headache.
Phantom Cheon Gaeul.
Unjang Xiaolin.
Seolhwa Princess Seok Harang.
Himeji Hikari.
Doll Master Eun Yuha.
Who else could there be? There was a saying that a hero had three wives and four concubines, but would it really end with seven? Or were there more that he was still keeping secret?
‘Come to think of it, this also makes me suspicious.’
Eun Yuha had to stare at the ‘Ability User Training Academy Establishment Plan (Provisional Title)’ in front of her for a long time. It was a training facility with good intentions, aiming to increase Seoul’s stable population while nurturing ability users for the final battle, but for some reason, Eun Yuha felt as if she could see Phoenix’s sinister desire to create an academy.
Phoenix’s lovers had already begun to encompass not only the Korean Peninsula but also East Asia, and perhaps they could even spread across the entire globe.
‘Could he be trying to call them directly to Korea and raise them…?’
It was a reasonable suspicion. The obsession and madness he showed towards Cheon Gaeul during the Seoul Reclamation Operation had softened somewhat now, but it was still unpredictable where it might go.
So, perhaps he wanted to keep them by his side and raise them himself.
Eun Yuha’s suspicions were growing more and more intense, and flowing towards the truth.
“……Will he raise me too?”
Eun Yuha lowered her head. X-roids and dolls could have their bodies reshaped and manipulated as she pleased, but she had no intention of laying a knife on her own main body.
Phoenix said.
Things could change if she reached S-rank. Although it wouldn’t happen, she momentarily wished that the Spirit Phoenix would bring back from China this time would be of the Light attribute, not Illusion.
‘First, I need to thoroughly do my own work.’
Eun Yuha used her ability to give instructions to her dolls. The dolls, including Eun Jaemin, who had taken up important positions in various fields, had to move busily due to the chaos that occurred today, and Eun Yuha alone oversaw their movements.
“Who should I send….”
She had to remove one of them from their position. The S-rank Core she would receive for the plane ticket shimmered before Eun Yuha’s eyes.
* * *
, 7:15 PM. Beijing Hero Association Special Ward.
I lay on the soft mattress prepared for me, enjoying my rest. My movements, leaving Seoul, stopping by New Seoul, taking a plane from Gimhae, and traversing all over China, must have covered well over 3,000 km in distance alone.
“I’m so tired. Incredibly.”
“You’re lying alone on the bed, living the good life. Really.”
Deokbae leaned against the wall and taunted me. His crossed arms were annoying, but perhaps because he had evolved to B-rank, he seemed quite relaxed.
“You didn’t see how messed up he got when he fought Chaos, did you?”
Gaeul sat next to me and glared at Deokbae. Deokbae shrugged and looked for someone to side with him.
“That’s because he was running wild. Isn’t that right?”
“Don’t talk to me. I’m busy right now.”
The Black Scorpion Monstrous Human was busy scrolling through a screen, reading. His screen displayed hundreds of volumes of historical texts covering Chinese history since the Common Era. Gaeul whispered to me carefully.
“Is that really him?”
“Unless he’s lying.”
“Hey, those two are doubting if you were really the Emperor?”
Deokbae, hearing it uncannily from the side, patted my shoulder. Although he was a guy with no respect for elders, it felt a bit inappropriate for him to act like that towards someone who was supposedly humanity’s first Emperor, but the Emperor himself didn’t seem to care much.
“Your Majesty. If he acts up, you can kill him. We can just revive him.”
“If a dog you raise barks next to you, is it the dog’s fault, or the owner’s fault?”
“It’s the dog’s fault.”
I avoided responsibility. Deokbae snorted in disbelief, and the Emperor fixed his gaze back on the screen, engrossed in history.
Creak.
The door to the special ward opened. A white-haired woman in a suit entered with a tense expression, then relaxed as the door opened. I waved to Seok Harang, welcoming him.
“You worked hard.”
“Worked hard? Ugh. I was so nervous.”
Seok Harang, unsure where to sit among my monstrous humans, created an ice chair on the wall and gently sat down.
“Preparation is complete. Now we just need to watch the live broadcast.”
“You don’t need to be there in person?”
“She said she’d handle everything herself? Besides, if you think about it, I’m her junior in the Round Table.”
“That’s true.”
Seok Harang pointed to the large TV screen in a corner of the ward. The Association’s press conference hall, bustling with people, was noisy like a bustling market as the protagonist had not yet appeared. The broadcast reporter talking to the announcer was also loud.
[It won’t be long until Unjang-nim holds her official press conference. First, let’s watch the video again.]
Following the announcer’s words, the screen changed. Heroes gathered to stop the Black Flame Dragon parted left and right, and Unjang, walking steadily through them, was holding me, unconscious.
“So, did you like being held?”
Gaeul poked my side. I was speechless, but I had to make an excuse.
“I couldn’t help it. It would look strange if Seok Harang was the one who rescued me after I was kidnapped.”
“No, I asked if you liked being held.”
“Is that what you’re concerned about?”
Come to think of it, I had held Gaeul before, but Gaeul had never held me. It seemed Gaeul wanted to point that out now. I decided to be honest.
“I didn’t like it. I prefer holding rather than being held.”
“With that tiny body of yours?”
Deokbae cut in again, jeering. I changed my hand into a monstrous human form and threw a jab.
Thump!
Deokbae’s head slammed into the wall. Deokbae collapsed from the attack using mana waves.
“Hmph. I can just transform if I want to.”
“Th-that’s true.”
Seok Harang also blushed and nodded. I pondered my memories, wondering if I had ever held her, and recalled saving her by catching her when she tumbled during our first confrontation in Gwanak.
[What could be the reason for Unjang, whose whereabouts were unknown, suddenly appearing?]
[The Round Table hasn’t said anything specific about him either…. Isn’t it strange that he didn’t appear when the Black Flame Dragon showed up, but only now?]
While we were chattering, the experts on TV were also chattering. Thanks to the border blockade being lifted, the broadcasts were back to normal, and we were watching a live broadcast from a Korean station without needing to watch Chinese TV.
The Chinese broadcasting stations were almost paralyzed right now. Because of Unjang’s last words-or rather, her voice.
[19:30. I will see you at the Association’s press conference hall.]
From beneath the red mask flowed a beautiful, enchanting voice. Her usual voice was also quite beautiful, but that was the voice of a middle-aged man.
“Jeokto spoke for her. Until now.”
“It was more surprising than Unjang being a woman.”
It was an open secret to those who knew, but how many people in China actually knew? Even counting them, it wouldn’t have been fifty.
“Anyway, people won’t care about her gender, will they?”
Deokbae, having regained his composure, scratched the back of his head and stood up.
“She’s going to mention something even more shocking.”
“More shocking?”
“That Xiaolin is Mao Zeping’s daughter, and that Xiaolin has risen to SS-rank.”
“……It hasn’t been that long since I became SS-rank. Damn it.”
Seok Harang puffed out her cheeks, showing her dissatisfaction. She had been attracting a lot of attention as humanity’s first SS-rank, and now that a second SS-rank appeared, she seemed a bit disappointed.
“Damn, only women are reaching SS-rank. Hey, make me SS-rank too. Let me be the first male SS-rank.”
“You’re still a long way off. Even after I poured so much experience into you, you’re only B-rank.”
“Hey! B-rank is amazing! Where are B-ranks common….”
Deokbae surveyed the people in the room and shut his mouth. Everyone gathered in the ward was S-rank or higher, and only Deokbae was B-rank.
“Damn it. Some people get to S-rank right away because they have good attributes. Hey, next time let’s go for an Earth attribute Spirit, okay?”
“I don’t know where she is. She’ll come out on her own in two years, though.”
The time when all executives begin their activities is set.
February 22, 2022.
On that day, when Hwangsin’s will becomes full, all sleeping executives awaken and begin their activities. I awakened the Chaos Illusion Dragon, whose location I knew, into a Spirit-type Illusion Dragon, and now I only know the whereabouts of one of the remaining four.
Deokbae pounded his chest as if frustrated.
“I have to wait two years?”
“…It would be good if we find her before then. Don’t worry. We’ll find one soon.”
“Really? Is it Earth attribute?”
“No. Unfortunately.”
The remaining attributes were Wind, Earth, Light, Dark.
And if I were to count the remaining human heroines excluding the Spirits, there were six. Seok Harang was counted as a Spirit, so I had barely passed one-third of the way.
“Ah. It’s starting.”
Seok Harang pointed to the TV monitor. Camera flashes began to explode from all directions, and Unjang, wearing the 2P color blue overcoat I had dressed her in, appeared before the press conference podium.
“There was a reason she always rode Jeokto.”
“Because she’s not very tall.”
Unjang, wearing a jujube-colored mask, had to adjust the microphone on the podium. Eventually, an Association official stepped forward to adjust its position.
[C-cough. Then, from now on, the conference-]
[Where is the real Unjang! The Association must not disgrace Unjang by putting forward a fake!]
One of the reporters suddenly shouted and caused a commotion. Association staff stepped forward to restrain him, but the reporter struggled as if he would not back down.
[Unjang can’t be a woman-]
Click.
Unjang raised a hand to her mask. Silence fell over the press conference hall, and Unjang pulled back the overcoat she had worn like a hood.
Rustle.
With her silken black hair swaying, Unjang-Xiaolin-publicly revealed herself to the masses. Xiaolin, who had been hidden behind the mask, finally showed her face.
[Pleased to meet you, everyone around the world. I am , Xiaolin.]
“Wow, amazing.”
I let out a hollow laugh as I watched Xiaolin push her hair back from behind the overcoat I had woven for her with mana.
“She went out without underwear.”
[……Hmph.]
Xiaolin’s face, as she looked down at the reporters, was filled with a sense of liberation.
If Mao Zeping had revealed Xiaolin as she truly was, the world’s first SS-rank martial artist since the Martial God would have been Xiaolin.
The keyword that led her to awakening was ‘liberation’.
Guan Yu’s cosplay, her father’s restraints, the pressure of being China’s strongest Hero, and her yearning for freedom.
By shedding all of that, Xiaolin was able to reach the SS-rank.
……I told her to take off the mask, not her underwear.
Absolutely not.