Chapter 6 : A Date, a Phoenix, and a Rampage

“How do I look, Bbyak?”

I asked Bbyak, who was nestled in my pocket, as I looked at my reflection in the building’s glass.

A white shirt with black pants.

I’d dressed up in clothes I hardly ever wore.

Why?

Because today, I’m meeting Seo Rin.

Since we lived near each other, we decided to meet close by.

A successful career woman.

I still can’t forget those tights she always wore.

She really seemed like the heroine of a movie.

A female warrior out of an action film.

There’s nothing she lacks.

No, in fact, she overflows with it.

A face and figure that would make actresses line up just to get slapped left and right by her.

She’s quite literally perfect.

A smile crept across my face without me realizing.

I still imagine it.

One son, one daughter.

Of course, I know it’s just wishful thinking.

You don’t meet someone just because you like them as a person.

I’m just trying to return the favor for helping raise Haran.

Still, it’s free to imagine, isn’t it?

Bbyak Bbyak!

Bbyak cheered me on to keep my spirits up.

I couldn’t leave her home alone, so I brought her with me.

She always keeps her promises.

She’s definitely smart.

So I don’t suffocate, she lightly chirped through the breathing hole I left.

Phew, I’m nervous.

Strangely, I always get tongue-tied in front of girls.

That happened back in high school too, in front of my first love, Sumini.

Maybe no one else, but whenever I stood before her, I just froze up.

That’s exactly how I feel now.

Was it because our first meeting was so memorable?

Still, let’s not get too nervous.

Act as natural as possible.

“You’re here early.”

It was just then.

As I was steeling myself, staring at my reflection, Seo Rin approached, dressed elegantly.

She was wearing a black dress that suited her perfectly.

A face that would put actresses to shame.

She was dazzling, as always.

“Ahaha, I just got here too.”

I replied with an awkward smile.

Now that I’m meeting her again, my heart starts pounding.

Calm down, heart. Don’t get carried away.

“There’s still some time left. Should we catch a movie?”

I’d barely managed to calm my heart, but when I heard Seo Rin’s words, it started pounding again.

Of course, our feelings might be different.

One of her favorite hobbies is watching movies.

On her days off, she often goes alone.

But lately, she’s been so busy, and her work with the Tower has increased, so she hasn’t had the chance.

So she just suggested it without much thought.

A rare day off.

Might as well watch all the movies we’ve missed.

That noir movie that was released recently is supposed to be really good.

The male lead, with arms as thick as his face, beats up all the villains.

Isn’t it predictable?

But that’s the fun of it.

“A m-movie?”

“Yes. The restaurant I want to go to only opens in the evening, so the timing is awkward.”

Woo min asked nervously.

Watching a movie with a girl.

It’s the first time since my first love, Sumini.

“Th-then I’ll pay for the tickets.”

“No, I can’t let you do that. You helped raise Haran, after all.”

She smiled brightly and headed toward the theater.

Dazed, I followed her in.

Bought popcorn, bought cola.

This really feels like we’re a couple.

It brings back the fluttering days of youth.

We used to sit in row 10, just like now.

We sat side by side in the dark theater as the commercials started playing.

Then, as if it were routine, Seo Rin started a conversation.

“Did you watch the previous movies? I thought Season 1 was the best.”

“Oh, me too.”

“They say this time they focused more on the action scenes. The lead actor learned not just boxing, but even jiu-jitsu, so there are a lot of scenes you don’t usually see in action films.”

“Ahaha, sounds fun.”

As we chatted about trivial things, the movie began before we knew it.

The sponsor logo played, and then the theater etiquette reminders.

The smile that had been lingering on Seo Rin’s face quickly faded as she fixed her eyes on the screen.

It was at that moment.

Beep—

Bbyak, who’d been in my pocket, squirmed.

Right.

My Bbyak.

I’d forgotten.

Hurriedly, I left my seat and slipped outside.

At last, Bbyak poked her beak out of my pocket.

Bbyak Bbyak,

She grumbled as if to say she was stuffy.

“Sorry. I guess I got too nervous.”

Bbyak!

Bbyak thumped her chest with her wing.

“Hm? You want me to trust you?”

Bbyak!

Maybe it’s because I’m a Beast Tamer, but I can communicate with Bbyak now.

“What, are you my coach now?”

Beep—Bbyak.

“There’s no one who can read people better than you, huh?”

Bbyak Bbyak!

So confident.

Well, she is one of the Four Divine Beasts, after all.

The Phoenix of purification.

She claims to read human hearts as clearly as water.

“Alright. As expected, you’re the only one who really cares about me, Bbyak.”

I carefully placed her back in my pocket and slipped back inside, where the movie was already heading toward its climax.

It’s actually pretty entertaining.

A plot that refreshingly smashes through everything.

The protagonist, unleashing indiscriminate fists upon all the human trash.

One shot, one kill with his watermelon-sized arms.

Every time you hear a thud, another villain goes flying at least three meters.

If one’s groaning with a bloody nose, he doesn’t just pass by.

He always finishes the job.

Without realizing, I became completely absorbed in the movie, and before I knew it, the film was over and the ending credits rolled.

“How was it? Fun, right?”

“Yes, I think it’s the first time in a while I’ve been so absorbed.”

“Me too! Everyone said it was good, so I had high expectations, and it really was fun.”

Maybe it was the afterglow of the intense action.

Thanks to that, my nerves were pretty much gone.

Just then.

Bbyak Bbyak.

Bbyak started reacting again.

She wanted me to take her out.

“Ahaha, just a moment.”

I hurried out again and took Bbyak out.

“What’s up?”

Bbyak!

“Really? Will it be alright?”

Bbyak Bbyak!

She nodded her head.

She wanted to show herself to Seo Rin.

One important thing when talking with a woman.

Create a common topic.

Seo Rin tames and battles beasts.

Our greatest commonality is the beasts.

She has Haran, and I have Bbyak.

But… is it okay to reveal her identity?

Bbyak!

As I was worrying, Bbyak poked my side.

She wants me to reveal she’s a Phoenix this time?

She says it’ll help in the future.

I can’t keep hiding this information and moving quietly forever.

Someday, I’ll have to register with the Association.

And Bbyak wouldn’t say this for no reason.

She is a Phoenix, after all.

If she’s this certain, there must be something behind it.

Alright. Let’s reveal it.

It’s better to tell Seo Rin, who’s an Association official, than to get caught unexpectedly later.

“Alright.”

First, I took a deep breath, forced a smile, and returned.

Seo Rin was waiting for me, welcoming me with a bright smile.

“Did something happen?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Phew, I’m nervous.

It’s my first time showing Bbyak to someone else.

It feels like I’m revealing a precious secret only I know.

“Could we go somewhere quiet for a moment? There’s something I’d like to show you.”

“Huh? Well, sure.”

It might have been a sudden request, but she agreed without hesitation.

She’s so kind-hearted.

As expected, Bbyak’s judgment of people is never wrong.

We headed to a quiet café nearby and took seats in the farthest corner.

Each of us ordered an iced americano.

“So, what did you want to show me?”

She asked lightly, as if teasing.

With a nervous heart, I carefully took Bbyak out of my pocket and showed her.

“This is…”

Her pupils trembled in surprise.

A beast outside the Tower. She’d never seen anything like it.

“She’s called Bbyak. And she’s a Phoenix.”

“What? Ph-phoenix?”

Good heavens.

It really is a Phoenix.

A legendary beast.

“Last time, I called her Fire Chicken.”

“At that time, I had to hide her identity, so I had no choice. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no, I understand. I would’ve done the same.”

She was taken aback, but she understood my actions.

If she had been the Phoenix’s Tamer, she would have hidden her identity too.

But still, how did Bbyak get outside the Tower?

“Then that means you’re an SSS-Rank Player, right?”

“Yes, somehow that’s what happened.”

As expected.

If he’s the master of a Phoenix, he’s worthy of SSS-Rank.

Didn’t I see it at the Gate?

That power to incinerate a swarm of locusts with a single strike.

And that was when she was still a juvenile Phoenix.

“If it’s not too much to ask, could you tell me more about her abilities? Of course, if you’re not comfortable, that’s fine. But as the official in charge, I might be able to help you.”

“I have a few requests first.”

“Go ahead, say whatever you like.”

“I just… I really don’t want this to get complicated or to end up in the media.”

“Don’t worry about that. There are lots of Players like you who act anonymously, so your privacy is guaranteed.”

Seo Rin’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

First, I took a deep breath.

“I awakened as a Beast Tamer.”

“Kiumi?”

“I didn’t meet Bbyak inside the Tower, but outside.”

She finally began to understand a few things.

Kiumi is completely different from a Tamer.

They can live together not only inside the Tower, but outside as well.

“How did you tame her? If it’s a Phoenix, that’s at least a Grade 5 beast.”

Seo Rin’s eyes sparkled.

Maybe because we’re in the same line of work, she was genuinely curious.

“Well, should I write it down?”

But the answer that came back was vague at best.

Tamed her…

Honestly, it’s a bit ambiguous to say I tamed her.

More accurately, she chose me.

Like picking up a stray cat? No, a stray Phoenix?

“No matter how young the Phoenix was, it couldn’t have been easy to tame her. When I first tamed Harang, my first Gate almost collapsed.”

Seo Rin recalled the moment she first met Haran.

The White Tiger, wary and hostile toward her.

He bared his sharp fangs and threatened her.

After a fierce struggle, she barely managed to tame Haran.

But—

“Fight? What do you mean?”

Woo min was utterly baffled.

How could I fight this cute Bbyak? The thought had never even crossed my mind.

“T-then…”

“She just chose me.”

“Chose you?”

Seo Rin tilted her head in disbelief.

Bbyak chose her master on her own—how was I supposed to explain that?

It was just then.

Beep beep—beep beep—

The watch on Seo Rin’s wrist sounded loudly.

“A Gate rampage.”

A Gate had rampaged nearby.

Has it already been a month?

All nearby Players would have gotten the alert.

Except, of course, for Woo min, who isn’t registered with the Association yet.

“I’m sorry. Let’s talk again next time. And let’s have that dinner we missed today.”

Seo Rin hurriedly gathered her things.

It was a rare day off, but she couldn’t just sit around and eat dinner in an emergency like this.

Such is the reality of a public official.

You can’t rest as you please, even on your day off.

“Ah, okay…”

With that, Seo Rin quickly walked away.

Sigh, things were just getting good.

Peep peep.

Even Bbyak flapped her wings in disappointment.

Nothing to be done. It’s an emergency.

If it’s a Gate rampage, it could be dangerous. Will she be alright?

I feel uneasy about letting her go like this.

Just then.

Bbyak!

Bbyak flapped her wings.

“Should we follow her?”

Bbyak Bbyak!

Now that I think about it, it’s not a bad idea.

Gate rampages are scary, but we have Bbyak.

Alright, let’s go after her.

Who knows?

Maybe something will happen again this time?