Hey, Isn't the Phoenix of the Azure Flame Quick to Fall in Love Too? All the Other Kids Awaken and She Becomes the Main Heroine? (Likes 19, Dislikes 993)
— Community, Chit-chat Board.
As we came out to each other about the people we harbored in our hearts, we entered a brief truce. And we marveled at each other. Damn, this girl's no ordinary one.
In the end, we'd shared everything there was to share, and now I knew who Seok Ha-rang held dear. Time to call it a night.
I couldn't wrap my head around why I, the leader, had a curfew, but the day after I broke it, Cheon Ga-eul turned into full-on winter bitch mode. Her subordinates' complaints alone wore me out. So I was just about to leave. Bill settled, nothing left to say.
That's when Seok Ha-rang grabbed my sleeve.
"Hey, come to my place for a sec."
And just like that, I got dragged to Seok Ha-rang's house.
Why? * * *
"C-come on in."
How the hell did I end up here? Seok Ha-rang's face was flushed as she yanked my wrist.
"Hurry!"
"...Yeah, yeah."
Ever since I'd dropped the acting and pretenses around Seok Ha-rang, she'd been treating me more casually. Why? If anything, I was like her arch-nemesis.
Beep. The door locked behind us. Seok Ha-rang kicked off her shoes haphazardly, glanced around, then turned her back.
"Hey! Just gimme five minutes!"
"I know you're hiding something."
I pushed her hand away and stepped inside. She even tried blocking me with her ability, so I threw up a quick flame barrier behind me and shoved the door open.
It was serious. A total pigsty—and crammed full of Eun Yu-ha memorabilia.
"Yup, terminal case."
Seok Ha-rang covered her face with both hands. At the same time, countless ice dolls of Eun Yu-ha melted into moisture and scattered.
Seok Ha-rang fidgeted, then snapped.
"Wh-what's the problem?!"
"Plenty. Sit first."
I tossed a cushion from the corner and plopped down. Seok Ha-rang hauled a table from the next room, set it between us, and sat across.
"So what do you wanna hear from a villain like me? You even brought me home."
"Whoa, still not used to it. You sure you're the same person?"
"...Should I switch to formal?"
"Thanks, but I'll talk my way too."
Suits me fine. I waved my hand over the table, and Seok Ha-rang bolted to the fridge, grabbing drinks. All blueberry flavors, different brands.
"...Yeah! I like blueberries! Got a problem?!"
"Skip it, get to the point. I gotta head out soon."
"What? Got a wife waiting at ho—"
I scowled, and Seok Ha-rang ducked her head, rocking back and forth.
"...Right. A girl like me falling for another girl is crazy."
"Eun Yu-ha doesn't care about gender."
"For real?!"
Her voice cracked with excitement, then she blushed and looked down.
"What's so great about Eun Yu-ha?"
"...Teacher was there for me nonstop when Dad died and shit got rough. I know she hates going out, but she stuck by me, took care of me. And then..."
Seok Ha-rang blushed rosy and grinned bashfully. I swallowed the truth.
She'd awakened as a spirit on her own, so she didn't need a protagonist. The others might need one to awaken, but not her. Better her with Eun Yu-ha than some random creepy uncle. Eun Yu-ha could play cockblock until the canon protag showed up.
Not that I'm the canon protag anymore. Now I'm playing matchmaker.
"...Is this NTR?"
"What's that?"
"Nothing. You don't need to know."
I stood up. Cleared my throat, focused my mind.
"...I'll be going then. Brood alone."
"Hey, we haven't even started! Aren't you curious why I dragged you here?!"
"Feels like I don't wanna know, so I'm out. Break curfew and I get smacked. Gotta go now or—"
Seok Ha-rang grabbed my sleeve end.
"...Thanks."
"For what?"
"Just... for telling me the truth. I was gonna spend my life hating parents I never met. Now I know why they ditched me. Thanks. Makes me wanna kill you."
"Can't you pick one—thanks or kill?"
Seok Ha-rang laughed and shook her head.
"No way. Long as you stay a villain, I'll hero-jail you as a hero. Don't forget."
"Hoping the castle lord bails you out?"
"Duh. Can't let you kill my dad and sleep easy. But hey..."
Seok Ha-rang extended her hand.
"Help me out. Without you, I can't hold this country. You trashed shit to protect Seoul, right? Don't ask much. Just stay in Korea, guard people... till I can take Dad's spot and protect 'em myself."
"That's hero talk to a villain?"
"What? Too much between fellow spirits? Cold-blooded, gaslight queen."
"...Tch."
I almost smacked her but held back. Grabbed her hand, yanked her into a hug.
"?!"
She was tall enough I had to look up, so it looked like I got hugged, but whatever—I patted her back.
"Hit me up if shit gets tough. I'll help within reason."
"Oh no, big trouble. My heart's pounding for you right now, huh?"
"Told you, get your head straight."
Can't have her crushing on me. I pulled back, held both her hands.
"Kiss is fine. Sex? Hard no. Do it and your soul binds to the partner. Got it?"
"...Even girl-on-girl?"
I nearly burst out laughing. At 21, Seok Ha-rang was more innocent than expected. I flashed a sly smile, shoved her down.
"Eek?!"
She yelped, tumbling onto the beanbag. I straddled her, stared intently. Our bodies pressed together; her face turned persimmon-red.
"N-no, I got Yu-ha unnie..."
"See? Fell again. Won't learn?"
"Then don't tempt me! What the hell is this?!"
I pressed a finger to her lips.
"Wanna learn girl-on-girl?"
Seok Ha-rang gulped. Her head nodded ever so slightly. I grinned, raised my hand—
"Snap out of it, you hopeless halfwit!"
Smack! Palm to forehead.
Seok Ha-rang blinked in stunned disbelief.
"...Damn, lost it again? One slip and I'll fu—"
Smack!
She huffed, pissed.
"Quit smacking me!"
"You won't snap out of it. Fine."
I raised a finger, ignited a flame—more delicate than usual, channeling memories from her route and Gwanggeom's love for her.
Lord Castle, help her not fall for just anyone this once.
Whoosh. A mini-phoenix spread wings, perched on her head.
"Peck her forehead if she gets swept up again."
— Got it, I'll watch.
"What's this?"
Seok Ha-rang eyed the mini-phoenix on her head.
"Spirit-split from my power. You'll learn it later once you're used to yours..."
"Like this?"
An ice butterfly formed on her finger, fluttered to my collar, folded wings.
— What're you looking at? Lower those eyes or else.
"Mini-Rusalka? Or mini-Harang?"
"Talks rough."
I tamped down irritation, squished the mini-Harang on my collar. It seeped into my clothes, becoming a butterfly badge.
Seok Ha-rang gawked.
"How'd you do that?"
"Hold on. It's materializing mana..."
I tiptoed, stroked above her hair. Mini-phoenix's mana crystallized into phoenix-wing hairpin.
"Here. Wear it always. Even showering."
"Won't it die in water? Waterproof?"
"Dunk it full power, still fine. Keeps you from lusting after passing cockroaches—pecks your forehead to snap you out."
"...You got a foul mouth. Cockroach is too much."
I glared silently. Seok Ha-rang raised hands, nodded.
"Got it. I'll be careful. But Yu-ha unnie..."
"Your call. If it's real love, fight for it. If not, find the real deal."
"Bossy."
I touched the white butterfly badge, infused mana.
"Eek?! G-ghost?!"
I sighed at her freakout.
"...Spirit remote comms. Talk anywhere via splits."
Seok Ha-rang touched her bluebird pin.
"Huh? No dialect?"
"...Beats me."
Seok Ha-rang excitedly kept touching.
"Me? I'm a villain, remember?"
She pinched my cheek with her other hand.
"Deep down, you wanna suck me dry then kill me, right?"
She pulled away laughing.
"Hate thinking Dad, but you know more and you're stronger—gotta learn. Scared I'll surpass you for real?"
"As if. Ask away. But no interrupting?"
"...That's tricky."
I headed to the wall, opened the window. Night breeze turning chilly.
"Night, niece. Seoul's busy."
"Visit Busan if you wanna die sometime. I'll feed you live pufferfish."
I swallowed curses inwardly. She didn't notice, but I'd long read her true feelings toward me in her mana. Love-hate. Kinship as spirits, familial warmth—mixed with hatred for killing her mentor-father.
Gwanggeom's words flashed.
Perched on the sill, I told her:
"Time heals it."
"What's with the pose? Go already. ...Watch the road."
"Tsundere's Azidahaka trait."
"Huh?"
I soared into the sky. Cool sea wind brushed my skin.
"...Tch."
Seok Ha-rang approached the window, waving—middle finger up, fist clenched.
"Should kids pay for parents' sins?"
I flapped hard, flew to Seoul. Felt like I gained an annoying little sis.
"...Hoo."
Seok Ha-rang calmed her pounding heart, sank into the beanbag.
"Damn girl, no openings."
She clenched, unclenched her fist. Ice spikes formed at fingertips, crumbled to powder.
"Thanks, but..."
Head got it. If weighing world peace vs. someone else's family, she'd pick peace. But heart ached like torn.
Since learning that family was her mentor, father—she wanted Phoenix erased from existence.
Grateful, hateful, sorry, annoying, lovable, detestable. Conflicting emotions boiled endlessly.
"...Gotta ask the net."
She tapped her smartwatch, pulled up screen. Posted her feelings on the heroes' community secret board.
Beep. Replies flooded.
"...That's a bro?"
Seok Ha-rang dove into sibling research. Beings programmed to kill each other. More she dug, more ambiguous, headache-inducing.
"This ain't it..."
Whatever. One thing clear.
"Time'll tell."
Kill or forgive despite hate. Decide after toppling castle lord. For now, needed Phoenix bad.
She burrowed into beanbag, dozed off.
"...But how's she know Yu-ha unnie?"
Seok Ha-rang stayed up till sunrise.
<Beijing, Central Party Headquarters.>
"Your Excellency. Preparations complete."
The man bowed. The frail youth at the table trembled, barely spoke.
"D-do as you wish."
Man frowned. Youth shrank more.
"Chairman Excellency. Now or never. Chance to take half the peninsula beyond Liaodong."
"I-I know nothing, so handle it. You're in charge of monsters, right?"
"Though I hold the humble post of Director of Monster Countermeasures..."
Man cupped fists, grinned ferociously.
"Only Your Excellency will become emperor of all under heaven."
"Director Mo Taek-pyeong. I merely inherited Father's seat..."
"Proof of true lineage. Chairman Excellency. I'll support you. This nation unites the world, I'll stand by. So..."
Mo Taek-pyeong growled louder.
"Permit the march on Pyongyang."
<Osaka, Net Cafe Oosakaichiba.>
"Right? Bros are zero help."
The black-haired girl wiggled small fingers peeking from white gown sleeves, hammered the keyboard. Mechanical blue switches clacked loudly.
Ding-dong. Desk alarm rang. She donned headset.
"No way, kidding? Net cafe where typing's too loud—why come here?"
"Ugh, whatever! Been here under 3 hours? Keep this up, refund and out!"
Desk clerk flustered at her tantrum. She yanked off headset, resumed typing.
"Head killing me already."
Nearly eight screens lit before her. Each played Seoul Reclamation Op footage.
She chugged energy drink from table. Five more cans already there.
"Just finishing analysis..."
Knock knock.
She irritably opened door.
"What?!"
Man with snake tattoo peeking from collar stood fierce. Forearms scarred under short sleeves.
She bowed sharply.
"...Sorry."
Yakuza. He flashed inside vest—knife.
"Kid, keep noisy and... Eek?!"
Yakuza gawked at her face, freaked.
She scowled.
He pointed, yelled.
"M-murder ghost?!"
"...My little sis."
She stood, bowed deep. Yakuza blinked confused.
"Sorry for noise. Quiet from now. Apologies for trouble..."
"N-no! Haha! Happens in net cafes! Haha! I'm heading home—go wild!"
Yakuza fled. She clutched throbbing head, shut door.
"No, my bad for bothering. I'll restrain."
Headset off, she stared ceiling, slammed keyboard. Key popped; silence fell.
"Bro looks like me, huh..."
She search-barred irritably.
Jilpung-gak.
Results: man spitting image of her.
"...Huh? What's this."
Real-time trends surged. She adjusted glasses, face hardened.
"Okinawa S-rank monster confirmed second form of Su-maryong...? Heading north...?"
Spirit energy stirs.
Shadow, dormant decades, opens eyes.
Location unknown. But north—certain.
■■■■■■
The monster leads legions across sea.