Anxiety in the Cheonghwa-dan Hideout
May 9th, 8:30 AM, Cheonghwa-dan Hideout.
Cheon Ga-eul gnawed at her nails, constantly checking her smartwatch. Jo Deok-bae calmed her down, as her tentacles trembled with anxiety at the thought of a message coming in.
"Hey, cut it out. Gwanggeom is dead, right?"
But Deok-bae's words only deepened Ga-eul's worries.
"What if he went out in some mutual destruction play?"
"That won't happen. If the Captain dies, we're all done for."
As Kim Ji-hwa pointed out, the kaijin not dying meant Phoenix was alive. But with no contact even an hour after Gwanggeom's death announcement, it was eating at Ga-eul.
"What if she lost consciousness and collapsed? Sank into the deep East Sea, or floated all the way to Japan? Got sold to the yakuza, drugged up, and—"
"Ah, seriously. Enough."
Deok-bae cut her off irritably. Ga-eul snapped back even harder.
"Aren't you worried at all?!"
Deok-bae snorted as Ga-eul pressed him.
"Why worry? Worry about yourself."
"Me? Why?"
Deok-bae unfolded his arms and leaned toward Ga-eul.
"I was thinking last night. This organization is sorely lacking in combat personnel, right?"
"Yeah, true."
Excluding Phoenix, there were no S-rank or higher fighters. Ga-eul had been made with an S-rank core, but her actual combat output was still around the B-to-A border. Her battle experience was sorely lacking— she couldn't even muster a 50% win rate against Deok-bae at similar mana output.
"I figure she's making kaijin to fill that gap. By killing Gwanggeom and Seolhwa Gongju."
"Gwanggeom makes sense, but Seolhwa Gongju?"
Deok-bae nodded at Ji-hwa's question.
"That Yuseong brat said she'd back this organization, right? She chops off Seolhwa Gongju's head, hands the corpse to Phoenix, boom— instant S-rank kaijin. How's that? Convincing?"
Ji-hwa recalled the info circulating on the network at Deok-bae's words.
"Gwanggeom's body was transported intact to Shin Seoul, and Seolhwa Gongju reportedly passed out right after."
"Oh, really? ...Then probably not."
Deok-bae cleared his throat awkwardly and looked away at Ji-hwa's words. Cheon Ga-eul was still tearing at her hair.
"...That Yuseong spoiled princess. What's her deal with Phoenix?"
"No idea. What do you think?"
Deok-bae asked back, and Ga-eul took a breath before answering.
"Ally?"
"I'll bet a core she's a comrade from a past life."
"Then I'll bet she was a lover from before regression."
"What the hell kinda random crap is that?!"
Ga-eul's face turned icy in an instant. Ji-hwa shivered but pressed on without backing down.
"It makes sense! The Captain ignores our input, but she's compromising with her! Even agreed to 200% accept her consulting."
"Cheon Ga-eul's the same— she must know who she is to approach like that. What now, Cheon Ga-eul? Looks like she's precious to someone other than just you?"
"You little...!"
As Ga-eul raised her tentacles, Ji-hwa shrank back and shouted.
"Y-You weren't even in the Captain's original plan!"
Cheon Ga-eul laughed. But the mask on her head twisted her face demon-like.
"Oh my. Hitting where it hurts? Forgot? If Phoenix hadn't saved me, you'd be the rapist criminal? I'm still an S-rank core-revived kaijin thanks to Phoenix. Ji-hwa, what's your core grade?"
"What are you, kids? Fighting over something so lame."
Ga-eul and Ji-hwa's glares snapped to Deok-bae at his words.
"D-rank's a bit low, no?"
"Deok-bae's not in the original plan either? I'm the provisional commander of Cheonghwa-dan, to whom the Captain personally delegated command authority...."
"You bragging about that now? This is a criminal org, idiot."
Ji-hwa trembled with clenched fists in silence.
"And you—"
Ga-eul changed the subject before Deok-bae's barrage hit her.
"Where'd Haneulseong and the Architect go?!"
Ji-hwa jumped on Ga-eul's words to avoid more damage.
"Looks like the Gwanggeom death news reached the residents. ...Hundreds are rioting to escape Korea. They're handling that."
"Bound to happen."
Deok-bae sneered. If riots were breaking out in Seoul, Shin Seoul was obvious.
Gwanggeom, who fought an unknown enemy in Daejeon. For him to be murdered in Busan, not even Shin Seoul, was a national shock.
While eyes were on the dullahans lighting up Gwanak Mountain at night, the real battle was in Busan.
The Association staff dispatched urgently to Haeundae D Island on Busan detected mana residue on the completely dome-destroyed island and announced the analysis.
"Even the Round Table at 3:3 full power couldn't do this. Huge...."
Ji-hwa shuddered in admiration. She'd heard it verbally, but never dreamed it was this strong.
"The Captain really is incredible...."
"You didn't believe it till now, huh?"
"Yes."
Deok-bae chuckled at Ji-hwa's honesty. He'd seen her toy with Shadow, but even he was iffy on killing Gwanggeom.
Ji-hwa reread the Association's temporary briefing.
"Measuring battle aftermath and mana echoes, Gwanggeom and the unknown enemy are estimated above Round Table level. Ugh, the Captain is amazing."
"Means more annoying crap incoming."
Ga-eul twisted two tentacles forward.
"Two SS-ranks showed up like Phoenix said. One villain, one dead? Even Gwanggeom? Association gonna sit still?"
"...At least one Round Table member incoming."
Deok-bae stroked his lip.
Ji-hwa tapped the screen, adding.
"Worldwide magi-scholars too. Already many wanted to study Seoul over the fire dragon issue; now all heading Busan for battle analysis."
"Not the problem."
Ga-eul slammed the table with a tentacle, drawing eyes.
"China and Japan gonna stay quiet now? With Gwanggeom dead, war's coming."
"Worst-case assumption?"
"Even without war, ways to flex influence overflow, Ji-hwa."
Haneulseong had returned to the hideout unnoticed. Fatigue etched his face without the fedora.
"Might station their heroes here, push safe emigration. Unless that SS-rank ally the Captain mentioned shows soon."
"...Come to think, didn't hear who it is?"
Ji-hwa said sourly. Ryu Cheon-seong caught his breath, then smiled.
"She might know."
"She?"
"Eun Yu-ha. Yuseong's lady boss."
Ga-eul puffed her cheeks.
"Tells that spoiled brat but not us?"
"If she's manipulating Eun Jae-min, black market chair, elites like per Captain's word, I think Captain at least recruited her as ally."
"At least recruited, at most?"
"New Cheonghwa-dan executive."
Ryu Cheon-seong smiled calmly. Ji-hwa paled, shaking his head.
"Th-Then what about second-in-command?"
"What? No second here. All executives equal."
"Exclude me. Not executive."
Deok-bae waved hands, stepping back. No one could argue his guts. Low realm, poor core quality, but Phoenix favored him subtly.
"Guinea pig."
"Very special."
"You punks."
Haneulseong chuckled, stroking his mustache.
"If it bugs you that much, just ask her."
"...Haneulseong? We're stomping around here 'cause Phoenix ain't back?"
"Hm? What're you saying?"
Haneulseong looked baffled.
"Over an hour ago, Captain returned. Flew to penthouse roof? Didn't hear window shatter?"
Exhausted.
First time fighting a human this long since isekai drop.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Smartwatch alarms blared nonstop.
Don't wanna hear any news now. Just lie blankly.
Beep. Bleep.
"...Sigh."
Raised arm, screen popped up.
As expected, Eun Yu-ha on screen.
"Shut it. Where's Seok Ha-rang?"
Yu-ha flinched at my tired voice. I cleared my throat, asked again.
"Ahem, Seok Ha-rang? How's she?"
"Good then."
She took Gwanggeom's death calmly in canon. Younger than original, but she'd endure quietly.
"Funeral? Plans?"
"Lost a limb."
Secured Cheongsong, killed Gwanggeom. Stripped Seon Ui-cheol of power core 'strength'; he'd scramble instinctively now.
Laid screen flat. No energy to lift head.
"Handle cleanup. We'll move our side. As you proposed originally. No changes."
"What."
Coughed, continued.
"Huh?"
Yu-ha scratched cheek awkwardly. Buried head in blanket briefly, lifted again.
Others might say from worry, but Yu-ha's was pressure: finish talking, then rest.
Lifted upper body slightly. Her face brightened.
"Over Seok Ha-rang?"
"Then life-or-death. ...Kidding. Don't make that scary face. Planned, right? I take all blame, you care for Seok Ha-rang."
Yu-ha closed eyes wordlessly. Face when grudgingly accepting unpleasant necessity.
"Finally, cooperate against castle lord. Awakening spirit power reveals spirit mission."
"As if."
...Fatigue bringing out true nature. Squeezed eyes shut, opened.
Whoosh.
Flames briefly covered body, hiding screen. Mind cleared finally.
"Like Seok Ha-rang too. In many ways. But too late this life to befriend. Already killed Gwanggeom myself; no reason now. She's hero, I'm villain."
Nodded at Yu-ha's words. She started to continue, then frowned.
Stars flowed from Yu-ha's eyes. Moment needing focus on other puppet control; time to end.
Tapped screen, waved.
"You too, thanks. See you that day."
Bleep.
Hung up. Flopped forward.
Yu-ha called again, but ignored, burrowed into blankets.
'Time to rest.'
Passing big hurdle Gwanggeom sapped strength. Let alarms lull like lullaby, released all mind.
"Unbelievable."
Cheon Ga-eul chuckled at Phoenix face-planted on bed. Clothes dust-caked, torn revealing pale skin. Like an overworked salaryman crashing after overtime.
"...Worked harder than us."
Gwanak op ended in an hour. Dullahans halted at Anyang by tri-agency link, all torched by rushed Lee Seung-hyung Fire Fist.
Squelch, squelch.
Ga-eul placed kaijin cores from tentacles on table. During op, copied Architect's ability to burrow, secretly recovered cores as kaijin died.
Pulled all-nighter for op report, but Phoenix absent. Kaijin waited through night; morning news broke Gwanggeom's death first.
"Can't even send one call."
Ga-eul turned Phoenix's head with tentacle.
"......."
Dead asleep, fully out.
Poke. Poke.
Cheeks soft like rice cake. Phoenix, usually wary of tentacles even Ga-eul's, lay motionless on blankets.
'Just...?'
Ga-eul's tentacles squirmed. Always ready at her will.
Tentacles grabbed Phoenix's limbs.
"Sigh. At least change clothes and rest."
Ga-eul lifted Phoenix with tentacles, dusted blankets. Stripped torn suit herself, dressed in comfy clothes, laid comfortably.
"......."
"Sleep well. Wouldn't notice kidnapping."
Pulled blankets to shoulders with tentacles. In warm sunlight and cozy blankets, Phoenix slept like baby bird.
"So much to say... so much ahead...."
Ga-eul stroked Phoenix's hair.
"Good work today."
Faint smile on Phoenix's face.
Beep.
"......What the heck is with her?"