Chapter 15 : In Kyoto, a Shadow Awakens

“How is it? Any effect…?”

“I-it’s good.”

“……”

I feel like I’m going crazy.

The atmosphere was suffocating.

Seeing this, Bbyak and Somi couldn’t hold back any longer and stepped forward.

Bbyak —

Launched a full-on assault on Seolha.

They knew exactly who was the weakest here.

“Uh-huh.”

No matter how hard I tried to keep my eyes tightly shut, it was useless.

The soft, fluffy feeling of Somi’s little bottom under my fingertips.

How could I resist Bbyak’s rough cheek rubbing?

In the end.

“You… I like cute things.”

I bowed my head deeply and confessed.

Honestly, I already knew without being told.

Even the most clueless person couldn’t miss it.

The way they looked at Bbyak and Somi wasn’t ordinary.

Seolha and I had known each other for a long time—like close younger siblings.

She was the only person who knew my weak spot.

How much time had we spent together as sisters?

With a finely tuned social instinct honed through life, Seolha knew from the start.

But Woo min?

He was seeing this for the first time today.

Even if it meant dying, I wanted to maintain my image, but I just couldn’t hold out.

Because of my cold demeanor, animals often stayed on alert.

People praised me as having a mysterious beauty like a snowflake, but getting close to the small animals I liked wasn’t easy.

Sometimes, if there was an animal that trusted me well?

There were often misunderstandings.

Originally, my personality was straightforward and practical.

It was clear and rational.

Maybe that’s why.

People’s eyes never saw me as anything but a cold, calculating witch who processed everything logically.

With many fans came many anti-fans.

Photos secretly stroking the long-haired cat once even sparked rumors that I was absorbing vitality from the animals.

“It’s okay. Feel free to relax. Seeing how much Bbyak and Somi like you, Seolha, you must be a good person.”

Woo min smiled warmly in response to Seolha’s reaction.

Could this icy image really break?

What nonsense was that.

Such a beauty having a warm heart that loves small animals? That’s a good thing.

Look at Bbyak and Somi.

They were already clinging and acting cute.

If you look closely, they might even like you more than me.

Could it be you like pretty older sisters too?

“R-really, is that okay?”

Seolha looked surprised as if hearing something totally unexpected.

Why was she that shocked?

“I like cute things too.”

“I-is that so?”

Bowing deeply.

Seolha quickly hid her flushed face and turned away.

“W-well, then let’s finish the discussion for now….”

Meanwhile, only Seo Rin seemed distracted.

Returning to the main topic.

“It seems the item’s effect is definite.”

Seolha nodded and checked the tablet screen.

Having failed the 48th floor, which usually took more than ten hours, in less than one hour, the item’s effectiveness was clearly proven.

I wanted to ask Seolha directly how much it boosted vitality, but now wasn’t the time.

“First, the amount we’re thinking is this.”

After calculating diligently, she showed a sheet with the prices written.

Association rental intermediary fee: 2 billion.

A total of 4 billion.

“That much?”

I knew that sometimes items of legend-level or higher were rented out.

I also knew the association acted as a middleman to ensure safety.

But 4 billion for one bracelet rental?

Is it really okay to make money that easily?

“It’s a lot. An item like this should be rented to national organizations.

This is the first rental, so since it’s between individuals, the price is relatively low.

If you work with the association and rent to players from other countries, you could earn at least double.”

In the world, 4 billion now, double would be 8 billion.

“But wouldn’t that mean Bbyak’s true nature spreads worldwide?”

The name of the item bothered me a bit.

Clearly, it was a bracelet imbued with the power of the Phoenix.

“That’s nothing to worry about.

Most high-level items carry names of strong magical beasts or gods.”

Not only was it the item Somi made.

Items used by holy beings also bore names like Jesus’s relics or Thor’s steel hammer used by American rankers.

Most items were like that.

Even if the bracelet had the title ‘Phoenix’ attached, no one would suspect Bbyak’s existence.

“Then that’s a relief.”

“First, we will deposit the amount on our side.

And if you want, the association can handle overseas rentals.

The minimum amounts are as I just said: 2 billion through the association, 2 billion directly from the player.

If demand increases, the price will rise accordingly.”

Bbyak’s feathers and Somi’s nimble hands were rolling this snowball.

Honestly, from just the explanation, I couldn’t fully grasp how good this item was.

It had no effect on Bbyak or Somi, and I had no reason to use it myself.

At first, I considered just auctioning it off.

But I’m really glad I asked Seolha just in case.

Money just flows in even while sitting still.

Landlord?

I’m above that—I’m the item owner.

A player’s activity fee of 200 million?

That’s now the price of shopping at a neighborhood mart.

At this rate, am I really going to become the world’s richest person?

Before I knew it, time had flown past lunchtime and was heading toward 3 o’clock.

After the contract was completed, Seolha stood up and bowed her head.

“Everyone, thank you for your hard work.”

“Seolha, you too.”

That was the end of the bracelet rental.

Along with 4 billion transferred into the account.

It was really time to say goodbye now.

Standing by the door, we exchanged farewells.

But Seolha’s gaze showed no sign of leaving Bbyak and Somi.

Look at them.

It was pure sweetness dripping.

“Seolha?”

“Yes?”

The image of a cold, calculating witch had truly vanished.

She seemed like a friend of a similar age.

“If you want to come visit, you’re welcome anytime.

I’m mostly at home anyway.”

“R-really?”

Well, even if she said come anytime, Seolha was Korea’s number one ranked player.

It wouldn’t be easy to come casually.

She had to clear the top floor and high-difficulty gates.

Still, if she wanted to, there was someone who would always welcome her.

“Then at least your phone number.”

Seolha took out her phone and asked for my number.

This can’t be a dream, right?

The world’s most popular player asking for my number?

Later, I’ll have to brag to my parents.

No, since it’s come this far, I should keep proof.

“Shall I take a picture for you? Although you can’t show it to others.”

Leaving subtle evidence.

I pulled out the Polaroid my friend gave me.

“Is this okay?”

“Considering how much Bbyak and Somi like you, it’s definitely okay.”

With that, one photo.

Click.

And one more, as proof for myself.

Click.

A total of two photos taken.

Then.

“My parents are fans of Seolha; could I get your autograph?”

“Of course. I should sign at least a hundred sheets.”

Autograph done.

A one-of-a-kind proof was made.

“Well then, I’ll come visit often.”

After the last greeting with Bbyak and Somi, they really left.

“Phew, finally I can relax.”

Both were good people, but nothing beats having people at home you can count on.

I still hadn’t cleared the top floor yet.

I needed to quickly finish my backlog!

***

Kyoto, Japan — Seiryu Corporation.

They started as a Yakuza group but had now become a massive corporation encompassing all of Japan.

Their strength came from players.

Before the Player Japan Branch Association mobilized, they gathered capable talents.

The chairman of Seiryu Corporation, Yamamoto Takehiko, was also among the first players.

The Yamamoto family, symbolized by the Blue Dragon, had the Azure Dragon crest tattooed over their entire bodies.

Yamamoto, who considered himself the master of the world, naturally believed he was its savior.

Others might call this nonsense.

But he had the power to back it up.

He was blessed by the Azure Dragon’s protection.

His occupation was the Azure Dragon Samurai.

The world’s first 5th-grade occupation.

The sight of him wielding the giant Azure Dragon sword was like a legendary shogun himself.

Currently, he had cleared the 46th floor of the tower.

But not because he couldn’t go higher.

He purposely stayed one floor below the number one ranked association player to hide his true strength.

Instead, he focused all his spare time on the gate phenomena occurring across Japan.

Then one day, he discovered an egg of unknown origin.

[Ancient Magical Beast’s Egg] A magical beast’s egg marked with blue stripes on a white background.

It exuded ancient energy.

The description alone was ominous.

This had to be an Azure Dragon egg.

His fellow Japanese Azure Dragon kin also reacted strongly.

But for ten years, it hadn’t hatched.

Even experts brought in couldn’t explain why.

Well, a legendary magical beast’s egg was not something to hatch easily.

He had spent over a decade researching how to hatch it.

And recently, he finally found a clue.

The Death God Beast.

Only a Death God Beast, possessing powers similar to the Azure Dragon, could hatch the egg.

“Is the jewel from Korea still at large?”

“Sorry, we managed to capture the corrupted jewel but lost that bastard.”

“I see.”

Takehiko grabbed the sword beside him.

Then—

A cold gaze.

He swung the sword.

With a heavy sound cutting through the air.

Thud.

A subordinate’s neck fell.

“A useless fellow.”

Takehiko clicked his tongue and looked at the corpse.

He had contacted the Korean Azure Dragon organization for this task.

He had expected some skill, given their reputation in Seoul, but the association had easily handled it.

They had killed the boss to cut off the tail, but honestly, it didn’t sit well with him.

How hard could it be to capture a single Phoenix?

“Mitsuru, are you there?”

“Y-yes.”

A woman answered immediately.

Her face hidden, wearing skin-tight clothing.

“You’re the only one I can trust.”

“This time, I won’t fail.”

She replied and disappeared from her seat.

Takehiko’s most trusted subordinate.

A player with the S-rank occupation of Shadow Ninja.

In pure skill, she might rival Korea’s number one, Seolha.

Takehiko looked at the giant magical beast mounted on the wall.

A red bird with charred black wings.

It was the corpse of the replicated corrupted Phoenix.

“It’s almost done.

The dawn of a new era is right before our eyes!”

Madness glinted in Takehiko’s eyes as lightning flashed within the shadows.

His ambition was not limited to Japan.

A new era.

He was destined to be its master.