Chapter 58: Three Phoenixes (3)

"To be honest, I think it would be difficult for us alone to defeat Shub-Niggurath."

After returning to the Ice Dragon Flower Banquet, Azazel was the first to bring up the topic. She, who had made a contract with the Outer God Mordegian, knew well what an Outer God was.

"Why do you think so? If we combine our powers..."

"The opponent is different from the being residing in my body. Mordegian is uniquely benevolent towards humans, but originally, Outer Gods are incomprehensible."

Azazel explained to Bi Wol, who expressed doubt. For Bi Wol, who didn't accurately know about Outer Gods from other worlds, she might have easily thought they could just overpower them with strength.

Due to winning the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, she might mistakenly think she stood at the same level as me, called the Ice Dragon.

"I think so too. In the end, we'll need outside help."

Moreover, the soul that Shub-Niggurath was currently holding hostage was Yu Seolhwa, my lover in reality.

Was there no way to separate only the Outer God without harming her body?

"In the current situation, the most likely people we can get help from, as you know, are Kim Hyul and Sieghart."

I spoke after thinking as hard as I could. There was also the option of calling strong individuals from the martial world or the Western Regions, but my disciples here now were also final bosses.

Originally, they were beings who would provide opportunities for growth by fighting the protagonists, running towards completely opposite goals. They were often positioned at the extremes of good and evil, unable to understand each other.

"...While Kang Si-woo is impossible, they would probably cooperate willingly."

Now that such relationships of grudges had disappeared, this move might work if we aimed for variables. To face an Outer God called a god of outer space, it's best for me to bring out my maximum strength as well.

"I talked with them, and they didn't seem like bad people!"

Verdandi said brightly, raising her hand. Her words carried weight, as she could judge whether someone was good or evil and detect lies.

"Is that so?"

"Yes! They said they had to kill us because their families were held hostage, but in reality, they controlled their strength so we wouldn't die!"

Verdandi spoke these shocking words very cheerfully. Indeed, all her injuries had missed vital points. There was nothing wrong with what she said.

"That Kim Hyul guy said something similar. He told me not to become someone like him."

Bi Wol nodded as if she finally understood. Originally, for martial artists, crossing swords once is easier to understand true intentions than talking a hundred times.

I had been worrying about how to persuade these children to move together with the protagonists, but it seemed they had talked to each other without my knowledge.

"Don't even mention that trash Kang Si-woo. That bastard is obsessed with putting me under his feet, a horny dog."

Azazel vented her grievances as if joining the conversation. Perhaps she was the only one who hadn't heard warnings about Shub-Niggurath or Bing Seolhwa, as she used profanity unlike a saint.

"...So, is it correct that the person we need to deal with is this woman called Bing Seolhwa? The person Shub-Niggurath is using as its nest?"

All eyes turned to me. I don't know when they noticed, but everyone seemed to know at least that Seolhwa and Shub-Niggurath were connected.

"That's right. I'd like to separate the Outer God from her and defeat it."

I spoke calmly to my disciples. Even if it was an unlikely possibility, this was the only way to save her.

"Why should we do that? Isn't she the one who ordered our deaths at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering?"

"That's right! Moreover, she's the villain who hurt my precious master!"

Verdandi and Azazel voiced their opposition, while Bi Wol remained silent as if waiting for my words.

In reality, it was my disciples who fought the protagonists at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, not me. It would be incomprehensible for them, who had nearly died because of Shub-Niggurath dwelling in Seolhwa.

"...Bing Seolhwa is my half-sister, and a precious existence to me that I could exchange for my life."

I didn't lie. I didn't attach grand reasons like her being my lover from a previous life or the catalyst for creating this world.

Words lose their original meaning when they're drawn out or embellished.

It's like the technique in writing, and it creates a vicious cycle where emotions aren't properly conveyed to the reader.

"So, please join me in this endeavor."

I just hoped my sincere desire to save Seolhwa would be conveyed to my disciples.

I spoke while suppressing a slightly choked voice.

It's all my fault. If I had properly concluded even one novel, this wouldn't have happened.

Bi Wol wouldn't have suffered in the Heavenly Demon Cult, Verdandi wouldn't have nearly died by Sieghart's hand, and Azazel might have been living a happy daily life with Kang Si-woo.

"If you won't help me, I'll try to save her alone. Even if it costs me my life."

I recited my words filled with regret and determination, and Bi Wol slowly came to my side and rested her head on my shoulder.

"...I'm always on Master's side. No matter what anyone says. Even if the fools of this world point fingers at Master, how could they bring down the sun in the sky?"

Bi Wol started speaking to me slowly. She even patted my head as if to reassure me.

Feeling the sensation of receiving back the action I had always done for her, I tried to move away, feeling bewildered, but...

"Please stay still. Aren't your hands trembling?"

Bi Wol held one of my hands firmly, preventing me from escaping. Perhaps noticing that I was led more by emotion than reason when it came to Seolhwa, she had a somewhat sad look in her eyes.

"...So this is what you were aiming for."

"That's unfair! I want to pat Master's head too!"

Seeing Bi Wol's actions, Azazel and Verdandi showed their jealousy by biting their nails. Even to me, known for my lack of perception, it looked like they were clearly in love with me.

"If it's a request from Master, who is more precious to me than anything, I could even pluck the moon from the sky for you."

Bi Wol, as if disregarding the jealousy of the other disciples, let out a soft laugh and took a posture of tightly embracing me with one arm.

"B-Bi Wol. Aren't you too close?"

I ended up in a position where I was embraced against my disciple's chest, having my head patted, so I indirectly told her to let go quickly.

"Hehe, looking like this, you're just like a baby in its mother's arms. Ah, if I were to have a child..."

Bi Wol, who had already forgotten about the talk of Seolhwa, was recklessly patting my head. It was behavior that anyone would see as satisfying her own selfish desires.

"We'll save her! We'll save that Bing Seolhwa person! So please get away from Master quickly!"

"That's right! How can you be so sneaky, sister, doing this alone! Didn't we agree before to move forward together?"

Verdandi and Azazel angrily separated Bi Wol from me, then tried to embrace me themselves and pat my head.

We were in the middle of a serious conversation, but how did it end up like this? I closed my eyes tightly and sighed inwardly.

Feeling that I wouldn't be able to save Seolhwa if I didn't humor them now, I had no choice but to quietly endure their embraces without any resistance.

"Master's hair feels rough and hard. It's different from my hair."

"Ah, Brother. Isn't my embrace more comfortable and soft than that of such a tough martial artist?"

They pressed their bodies against me without hesitation, and two hands stroked my hair. I was barely breathing, trying to prevent a situation where I might suffocate.

They were expressing their own impressions while keeping each other in check.

"Don't worry about your sister. I was planning to save her anyway. I don't want to see Brother's sad face."

"I was just testing you! I thought I could receive this kind of reward if I did!"

Showing an attitude opposite to before, they even displayed a duplicitous behavior of agreeing to rescue Seolhwa, which only Bi Wol had agreed to earlier.

"Hehe, no matter how much you try to cover it up, I was the first to pat Master, and I have the most alluring figure among us..."

Bi Wol was no longer showing jealousy as she watched the two. Rather, she displayed a confident attitude, snorting as if finding it amusing.

"...Master won't be able to erase me from his memory."

After all, the main reason for the disciples' ample bosoms was mostly due to Seolhwa's efforts. She had a presence that no one here could match.

'If I say this, I'll probably be found dead tomorrow.'

I swallowed hard and held my tongue.

While Bing Yeon and his disciples were entangled in this tug-of-war, in the underground of the Seongyeong Gate, a certain figure was slowly opening her eyes, regaining consciousness and looking around.

"...Where is this?"

The woman whose whereabouts had become unknown after encountering Bing Seolhwa in the Secret Shadow Divine Thief, Tiger Illusion's Secret Cave.

Her identity was the Golden Pagoda Lord, Wolfram Alchemista.