Penthouse in New Gangnam

In a penthouse in the newly rebuilt Gangnam after the Great Cataclysm, guild masters from Korea’s top guilds gathered to watch footage of Yoon Eunha. They weren’t here as her fans but to witness her skills firsthand—how, as a mere cadet, she had attracted the association’s attention and taken down Kim Jaesoo single-handedly.

“She managed to subdue Kim Jaesoo, who had evolved into an S-rank villain, so effortlessly.”

“Well, no offense, but Kim Jaesoo’s strength mostly came from wielding the Flame Spear, didn’t it? If you judge him by his own ability alone, he was more of an A-rank.”

A woman with sky-blue hair spoke, crossing her legs. Her name was Cha Jieun, the “Ice Empress” and guild master of the Emperor Guild, which was run by her family. After the Great Cataclysm, her clan, the Cha family, rose as one of the new hunter dynasties. Her power over ice was formidable, once astonishing the world by creating an ice wall dividing Incheon and Seoul.

“Even so, do you think it’s a small feat for a cadet to take down an A-rank hunter?”

Baek Chungang, who had long been interested in recruiting Yoon Eunha into his guild, thought Cha Jieun’s attitude was haughty. Given Kim Jaesoo’s betrayal, Korea’s hunter structure was deeply shaken, and Yoon Eunha, who took him down, was not to be underestimated.

Moreover, Yoon Eunha had defeated Kim Jaesoo with hand-to-hand combat skills alone. For Baekho Guild, that meant she was a prime candidate.

“Who’s saying she’s weak? I was just stating the obvious. Anyway, Baek Chungang, you’re as uncouth as ever, even at your age.”

“Want to go a round?”

“Your weak fists couldn’t even shatter my ice shards.”

The two stood up, but Kim Jihae, the “Flaming Club,” banged her bat on the table.

“Why are you acting so childish? If you don’t knock it off, I’m going to lose my temper too.”

“Coming from an A-rank…”

“What did you say?!”

Ironically, Kim Jihae, Yoon Eunha’s instructor, was the one who’d gathered the guild masters, even though they had rocky relationships. A blond man who’d been quietly re-watching Yoon Eunha’s video in the corner finally spoke.

“So why did you call us all here? Surely it’s not just to watch a few seconds of Yoo Jinseok’s sister taking down Kim Jaesoo.”

“Ugh. You all know why we’re here. Don’t think I can’t tell you’re all wriggling in your seats to get in contact first. And you, Ice Empress, you’re deliberately trying to downplay things to turn everyone away and approach her secretly, aren’t you?”

“Hrm.”

He wasn’t wrong. Every one of them wanted to recruit Yoon Eunha to their guilds, even if they didn’t say it openly. Cha Jieun, the Ice Empress, was no exception. Plus, among the guild masters here, some of the women were once close to Yoo Jinseok. They still harbored feelings for him, and Eunha, being both talented and his sister, made her an ideal recruit.

“Wow, I knew you were cunning, but secretly aiming for her?”

“Rumor has it the association gave her the title ‘White Flame Sword Princess.’ If the association’s showing interest, we should move quickly.”

“But she hasn’t even taken her exams or graduated yet. Scouting her now would technically be illegal.”

The rules were clear: the association could grant cadets hunter status, but guilds couldn’t recruit them until they graduated or completed their final evaluations.

“Then at least we can try to gain her favor, right?”

“Ugh, have you still not given up on Yoo Jinseok? Keep it up, and you’ll end up old maids.”

“That’s none of your business. And honestly, whether she’s Yoo Jinseok’s sister or not, she’d fit perfectly in our Lily Guild,” said Noah, the seductive guild master of Lily Guild, licking her lips suggestively.

Rumor had it that Yoon Eunha preferred women, which would make her an ideal fit for the Lily Guild.

“Honestly, her abilities are impressive. To manipulate elemental power so well.”

“Hmm, I’ll need to think about it a bit more.”

“Anyway, as Yoon Eunha’s instructor at Hanseong Academy, I’ll say this: don’t get any ideas. If any of you try to get me to connect you with her… seriously.”

“Coming from an A-rank…”

Noah pouted as Kim Jihae raised her bat threateningly, while a girl fiddling with her magical device looked on, visibly unimpressed.

“Seriously, all you’ve got is that bat. Stop acting all high and mighty.”

“Coming from you? With that childish way of speaking?”

“Uh-huh, I’m forever 17, so I won’t grow old. And I’m better than a certain someone who’s useless without a bat. Besides, weren’t you loafing around while Hanseong was under attack? Great job.”

“!!”

Kim Jihae had originally called the meeting to warn everyone not to get any ideas about recruiting Yoon Eunha. But at this point, she’d had enough. That night, a column of flames shot up from the Gangnam penthouse.

---

I spent quite a while fending off the association hunters. After asking me what happened, they went off talking among themselves, saying they’d send me a message later. I wasn’t interested in that.

Lee Yoojung was nowhere to be seen, leaving only the golems and Choi Siwoo. Choi Siwoo, now in a female form. A rare sight. She was even binding her chest with bandages, trying to prevent her body from fully changing.

“Wow. Impressive.”

Honestly, I never thought I’d find myself attracted to Choi Siwoo. Now that I looked at her, her face had changed a lot too. She’d always been pretty, but now, with that ashen hair, she was turning into an alluring woman.

As I reached out to touch her, the Divine Sword next to her suddenly began to shake violently.

[Azhdahak!]

“Huh? The Divine Sword? I can actually hear that useless voice now?”

[I’ve seen it all! You’re Yoon Eunha!]

“Haha. So what? You’re a constellation who can only beg Choi Siwoo for permission to use her body, aren’t you?”

All she could do was hang back, yet she had the nerve to confront me.

[You snake! What are you planning? To start a second Great Cataclysm?]

“Why would I?”

[Think of what you did in the past!]

“That was then, this is now. I have no reason to go that far.”

[What are you talking about?]

It was annoying to explain every little thing, but the Divine Sword was still important. Without her cooperation, it could cause problems later on. Besides, she was pretty. Very much so. Perhaps inheriting Azhdahak’s memories had intensified my feelings about her.

Enough said. Having already “conquered” Lee Yoojung and Rosaria, I wanted this Divine Sword too.

“The truth is, living as a human is more entertaining. Right now, I actually feel like I’m on the human side, cleaning up the world’s sins.”

[How would you even manage that?]

“Isn’t my existence itself irregular to you? Things are different from before the regression. I can prevent the world from ending.”

Finally, the Divine Sword fell silent for a moment. Everything was different from before the regression. Choi Siwoo was supposed to be the protagonist, and Yoon Eunha was supposed to die. Yet, here I was, stopping Yoon Eunha’s death, an event that was supposed to greatly impact the story. And now Yoon Eunha was Azhdahak.

[How can I trust you?]

“I have plenty of women following me. Why would I destroy the world? Believe what you want, but you can’t leave there anyway.”

I stuck out my tongue and gave her the finger.

[I can leave if I get Siwoo’s permission!]

Permission, huh?

Then again, while the Divine Sword’s existence was important, so was Choi Siwoo. Why was she… well, less of a “stick” and more of an “axe mark”?

“What’s with her body, anyway? I won’t actually go that far, but I can’t deny I’m intrigued. She’d be weaker as a girl, though.”

[It’s my influence.]

“What? Hey, this is a matter of life and death here. Explain.”

Thus, I learned the truth from the Divine Sword.

I’d known the setting, but it turned out that this accursed constellation was… a lesbian. She’d also watched me toy with Lee Yoojung. Having enjoyed being with women in her past lives, Choi Siwoo was curious about how a woman’s body felt. Though she’d hesitated, worrying about the decrease in physical abilities, she eventually decided to transform fully after the final battle.

But then the Divine Sword’s own desires went out of control, heavily influencing Choi Siwoo’s body. Her male body couldn’t completely resist a constellation’s influence. So, her body began to transform, synchronizing to resemble the appearance of the constellation itself.

To put it simply,

 Choi Siwoo’s body would take on the looks of the Divine Sword’s constellation. She was attractive enough already, and the constellation was a silver-haired goddess.

“Hehehe…”

[Stop laughing, you lizard. Because of your revival, the sins might end up as even stronger enemies. Or maybe you’ll be the one to stab us in the back later.]

Not that it mattered. I was here now, wasn’t I? And I could be trusted… mostly.

“But seriously, Siwoo was curious about this, and now you’re pushing Siwoo to transform because you want to be close to me? So now Siwoo’s turning into you?”

[Don’t rub it in! If I’d known you were Azhdahak, I wouldn’t have done it.]

Lies. I knew her well.

In the original story, Choi Siwoo would connect with the constellation through a mental space. Although the constellation was a lesbian, she had masochistic tendencies, so he’d easily won her over.

Oddly enough, this synchronization only made him stronger.

“So doesn’t it excite you? A Divine Sword that wants to save the world, manipulated by the dragon who caused the Great Cataclysm, bending to me like a pet. Calling me ‘master’ and behaving like a submissive slave.”

[No… I…]

I know you better than that, you twisted girl. She was likely thrilled. 

My very presence was anathema to humanity, the dragon they should have defeated. Yet, here she was, finding joy in submission.

“Don’t deny it. I know you’re an M. If you want, I can make Siwoo’s body exactly to my liking.”

[…]

“Then I’ll play with you as much as you want.”

[Gulp…]

I had no idea back then.

That in just one week, Choi Siwoo’s body would become a perfectly feminine form.