The Heiress's Strawberry Gambit
The harrowing dawn of May 2nd, when one research building at the Daejeon Research Complex was utterly annihilated. By Saturday morning, Shin Seoul was in an uproar. Emergency disaster alerts blared incessantly, and the aftermath of the battle even caused all magigear devices to go offline temporarily. The chaos deepened when Gwanggeom, who held all the keys, went completely silent and holed up without a word.
It got so bad that rumors swirled of President Seon Ui-cheol personally visiting the Hero Association to request a private meeting with Gwanggeom. Was Gwanggeom the type to get drunk and blow up buildings? No. But neither the Association nor the government had any way to pry open his mouth.
The Association was in its own frenzy. Ten heroes who had miraculously survived and returned from Seoul immediately announced their resignation. On top of that, Kang So-yeon, a non-powered support staffer, went missing. Total pandemonium. If they could at least say they'd fought off some mysterious enemy, people might feel a bit safer—but Gwanggeom remained mum.
"Isn't Shin Seoul starting to feel unsafe now too?"
It had been five days since Gwanggeom went into seclusion. On May 6th, Seon Ui-cheol launched a massive publicity campaign for a grand meeting with Seoul's survivors to quell the anxiety of Shin Seoul's residents. The government and Association dispatched personnel to assess the survival of 60,000 Seoul citizens. And on the morning of May 7th at 09:00, the representatives from Seoul and Shin Seoul finally made contact at S University.
Haneulseong—no, Ryu Cheon-seong, who was thought dead but had actually stayed in Seoul, gathering people underground. And Jang Hu-jeong, the perennial vice minister of Monster Countermeasures who had finally been promoted to minister. The day began with the two shaking hands at Gwanak Mountain.
May 7th, 10:00 AM. Cheonghwa-dan Hideout.
"Yes. With the help of James Lee, an American-Korean, we built an underground city so that all of you Seoul residents could survive down there. Though the quality of life wasn't what it used to be, we always believed the government would come to save us someday, and..."
"That old guy's such a politician. How does he spew lies so smoothly on camera?"
Ga-eul shook her head in disbelief. Deok-bae, who had been quiet, pointed it out.
"You act just fine in front of cameras too."
"Hey, Jo Deok-bae. I get paid to act—that's my job. That guy's supposed to tell the truth to the people."
"If it makes people feel good, that's enough."
"Then everything Seon Ui-cheol says is golden too?"
Ga-eul threw a fit. Yoo I-sin had taken her life, but Seon Ui-cheol was the one who gave the order. Deok-bae tapped the armrest with his fingers.
"That's not what we're talking about right now."
"What do you mean? I died because of Seon Ui-cheol. Ugh, seriously. Why'd people vote for a guy like that?"
"He did do some good stuff overall, though?"
Ji-hwa chimed in. She already knew all about Seon Ui-cheol's actions since becoming president. Catching their ambiguous glances, she waved her hands.
"No, I'm not defending him! Just... after the Pyongyang incident, when the president blew up the Han River bridges, he actually handled the cleanup well. Otherwise, the country really would've fallen."
"...No. Someone would've cleaned it up even if it wasn't him."
"Either way, Seon Ui-cheol's our enemy now. Right?"
Ji-hwa wilted again under Ga-eul and Deok-bae's counterquestion. Seeing her shoulders slump, Deok-bae scratched his cheek.
"But do you like Seon Ui-cheol or something?"
"No. I don't care anymore. I just... used to believe in him a bit."
"Non-citizens without voting rights yapping about politics? Kaijin can't even register as residents."
Phoenix shuffled in, dragging her slippers. Ga-eul narrowed her eyes.
"Where's the Architect?"
"Sent him off for interviews. Don't worry—he's not going anywhere today."
Ever since Phoenix's secret trip to Daejeon, the three took turns keeping her close. Mornings were spent with Haneulseong handling Seoul's various complaints. Afternoons with the Architect rebuilding structures. Evenings sweeping up the remaining monster stragglers in southern Seoul. And nights... well, they ended up in bed like kimbap rolls wrapped in Ga-eul's tentacles.
They'd also assigned watchers to prevent her from sneaking off alone. Deok-bae and Ji-hwa, restricted by orders, were exempt; humans Haneulseong and the Architect handled days, and Ga-eul took nights. Despite being a kaijin, Phoenix exploited Ga-eul's guilt, threatening to ugly-cry if left alone, so they shared a bed.
Today was busy with visitors from outside, so everyone was on edge. Ga-eul eyed her suspiciously.
"For real?"
"Yeah. Got someone to meet."
"Who?"
Her tentacle tip sharpened like a blade, poised to strike. Phoenix lazily pointed at the screen.
"Right there."
The screen showed the government and Association visitors filing in—30 people as agreed in prior negotiations. Around 10 from the government side with Jang Hu-jeong were admin staff. Ga-eul's eyes went to the heroes behind them.
"Ah."
An elite squad: 13 A-rank and 2 S-rank heroes. Ga-eul spotted Lee Seung-hyung, looking pale. Deok-bae whistled.
"They brought a nuke. Didn't get the roster ahead? Can Haneulseong handle that alone?"
"He's meeting them as a former assemblyman, not a villain. They don't want a fight anyway."
"What if they do?"
"Then we've got more hostages."
Deok-bae nodded approvingly at Phoenix's calm reply. Ji-hwa fidgeted, calculating enemy strength; Ga-eul stayed silent. Phoenix eyed Ga-eul.
"You can go say hi."
"...For real?"
"Yeah. You need closure with him. Want me to come?"
"...Nah, I'll pass."
Ga-eul gave up on seeing Lee Seung-hyung. Many reasons, but Phoenix weighed heaviest. She was playing it cool, but surely hoping Ga-eul wouldn't go. Ga-eul steeled herself.
Beep.
Phoenix's smartwatch chimed.
"Ah, they're here."
She snapped her fingers, changing into her usual priestess outfit. Pointing at the hideout, she warned the trio.
"Anyway, kaijin—listen up. Don't step out and get caught by those S-ranks. Stay in this barrier, got it?"
"Gotcha."
"Understood."
Deok-bae and Ji-hwa's eyes turned to Ga-eul. Phoenix fixed her gaze too. Ga-eul nodded bitterly.
"Fine."
Phoenix grinned and headed out. The three turned silently to the lounge screen's live feed.
"...She wouldn't start a fight, right?"
"Obviously. Everyone's watching—no way she'd pull something crazy. ...Probably."
Deok-bae jiggled his leg anxiously. She could crush one with a finger, and the other had already lost—but what if Phoenix just did it anyway? Ga-eul dismissed his doubt.
"...No. She'd have fought already if she wanted."
"True. Can't have two S-ranks dogpiling in the middle of Dongjak. Look at Guro—total wreckage."
"Then won't the Architect really off himself?"
"No chance. She'd revive him as a kaijin. For sure."
Ji-hwa and Deok-bae bantered. Ga-eul paled, lost in thought.
"So who's she meeting?"
The kaijin fell silent.
"...Lee Seung-hyung?"
Deok-bae guessed first. Ji-hwa tilted her head.
"Why? After tangling with the Snow Flower Princess, wouldn't she care more about her?"
"...Maybe?"
Deok-bae hid his aged worry. The bomb in Lee Seung-hyung's heart was a secret he couldn't share.
"...Seeing both?"
Ga-eul ventured carefully.
"She clashed with Gwanggeom too—probably sizing up the other two S-ranks."
"Could be. ...Huh?"
Ji-hwa gasped at the screen's group.
"Yuseong's wastrel?"
"Who's that?"
Deok-bae asked; Ji-hwa pulled up another feed from an economic channel. Panels were chatting.
"...In that sense, what do you make of Yuseong's Executive Director Eun Yu-ha joining the delegation?"
"Social experience. Her brothers work so hard, and she's tired of getting nagged to stop lounging at home, right?"
"Can you say that on air?"
"Why not? Everyone knows Eun Yu-ha's a wastrel. Look at this."
The panel pointed at Eun Yu-ha's drink carrier on TV—four takeout beverages from a Yuseong cafe.
"Straw hat, sundress—full tourist mode..."
Ji-hwa shook her head. They knew Eun Yu-ha's antics as Yuseong's wastrel, but this was next-level clueless. Deok-bae pointed.
"How old's she? Young?"
"Born '99. Cursed generation."
December 25th, 1999—the first seven dimension gates worldwide. Monsters poured out, claiming countless lives. Birth rates in 2000 plummeted to 30% of prior years; some newborns didn't survive. They were dubbed the cursed generation—kids hit by apocalypse before they could even age.
'99 infant mortality soared; '00 births tanked. Deok-bae tsked at the passing footage.
"One year older than Snow Flower Princess and acts like that? Jeez. One's a national pillar already, the other's a delinquent. ...What're you staring at?"
"Huh? Nothing. Just..."
Ga-eul crossed her arms, drumming her biceps anxiously. Deok-bae shrugged it off.
"Nah, probably not."
Eun Yu-ha's carrier had four drinks—but the pink, sparkling strawberry shake stood out.
Dongjak-gu City Hall. As the Architect's rebuilt structure welcomed government reps and heroes, Seok Ha-rang was at a loss.
"Sis, you really can't just wander off alone like this!"
"It's fine. Who's gonna care about me?"
Eun Yu-ha spread her arms laughing. True enough—no one in Seoul paid her mind. Whispers reached Seok Ha-rang instead.
"That wastrel should've just died..."
"Why'd God make her Yuseong's youngest..."
"Those jerks...!"
Seok Ha-rang rolled up her sleeves, but Eun Yu-ha shook her head.
"Let it go. They'll just be shocked if they knew the truth. My brothers are all dead—I'm the last Yuseong bloodline."
"...How long you gonna hide it?"
Eun Yu-ha just smiled at Seok Ha-rang's question.
"Dunno. Fine for now, but who knows. Jae-min oppa's over 35, so matchmakers keep swarming. Government's leaning on him too."
"What?"
Eun Yu-ha pointed at her.
"To marry you."
"What nonsense. ...Ahem! No way! That'd mean marrying you!"
Eun Yu-ha shrugged at the flustered Seok Ha-rang.
"Oppa had a nice personality. Loaded too. Even if he's dead now."
"...It's not that I hate Eun Jae-min. But same-sex marriage? If you love women, you'd marry one?"
"......"
Eun Yu-ha clammed up, frowning unusually. Seok Ha-rang flinched.
"W-Wait, for real?"
"Harang-ah."
"Yeah."
Seok Ha-rang swallowed. Eun Yu-ha's stride into the alley felt oddly resolute.
"Don't tell a soul. Got it?"
Eun Yu-ha winked, finger to lips. Seok Ha-rang froze in shock.
"......Holy chills."
Seok Ha-rang hugged herself. Deeper in the alley, Eun Yu-ha flung open the sturdy door.
"Hello—"
The blue-haired girl greeting her—Phoenix—froze. Eun Yu-ha cheerfully lifted her drinks.
"Didn't know your taste, so I got the top four bestsellers. What do you like?"
Eun Yu-ha. Yuseong's shut-in wastrel had set foot in Seoul—not as a puppet, but in the flesh.