Heroine Hunts Heroines

Chapter 46

Upon opening my eyes, I found myself in a stark white space, greeting me with a familiar emptiness.

This place... It’s been a while since I last visited here. To be precise, this is the space where the author, Yoo Eun-ha, resides—a room identical to my own in every way. Yes, this is the mental realm.

Across from me, Yoo Eun-ha sat calmly, twirling a pen between her fingers, her expression serene. She sighed as soon as she noticed me.

"You’ve really done it now. Corrupting Shin-geom? Don’t you know it’s ranked first among the constellations?"

She seemed displeased, scolding me for subjugating Shin-geom.

"So, what exactly do you want from me?"

"Oh, come on. You were this reckless even back in your corporate days. Now, even as a woman, you still want to continue like this?"

“Aren’t I doing better than before, though?”

At my response, Yoo Eun-ha softened her expression, seemingly at a loss for words. Yeah, compared to the days when I brought disaster upon the world, killed and consumed people for fun, and incited chaos... fooling around with women feels like a minor transgression.

"I can’t disagree with you there. But Shin-geom, of all things?"

"So, you’re saying it’s a waste to turn it into my servant?"

"Well, it’d be risky if it became an enemy, but... as long as it’s your servant, it should be fine. Considering Shin-geom’s personality, leaving it like this might actually be better."

Yoo Eun-ha shrugged.

"Right? But what does it feel like when it's being corrupted? You’re the author, after all; you must know."

I recalled the way it had transformed—almost as if it had become a different being entirely. She sighed at my question, then replied cautiously.

"Well, it’s definitely like an addictive setup. But Shin-geom harbors a mix of fear—of what it might become—and a twisted sense of guilt, a thrill, all of it. It’s similar to Allen’s corrupted constellation from the previous timeline. Despite being Shin-geom, it failed to save the world... so a part of it resigned itself, thinking, 'Maybe it’s better if I just give in.' Above all..."

"And I denied its very existence in the process."

"Yes."

It must have been a shock. The pleasure was one thing, but its mental state would have been shattered. After all, Ajidhaka—the world’s mightiest—is fighting for humanity, an absolute ally. The words I uttered were like a rejection of Shin-geom’s entire existence, leaving it only one option.

To cling to me—the one who had stripped it of its role as humanity’s ultimate protector—even if it had to become my servant, as long as it could validate its existence. It prioritized its own worth over Choi Sia, over the world itself.

"So, in the end, the regression corrupted even Shin-geom’s sense of self."

"Exactly."

In other words, Shin-geom submitting to me wasn’t entirely my fault.

"But... what’s the reason you called me here?"

"Due to adjustments in causality, new Sins have emerged. You’re aware of this, right?"

"Yeah."

That’s what I’ve been dealing with, after all.

"You must also be aware that they come with their own generals."

"Yeah."

The generals are underlings of the Sins, akin to villains leading their own factions.

"If I interfere with the causality adjustment, the story becomes unpredictable."

"Understood."

"Even if you delay your trip to the southern islands, you should prioritize visiting the Elven Ruins—and soon, if possible."

The southern islands... a place accessible only through gates, a warm tropical destination similar to the Maldives. It was initially meant to set up a beach event for Siwoo and the heroines, but I don’t feel the need to go there now. Given the current situation, it’d only attract undue attention if the Academy’s members saw us vacationing. Imagine the rumors on the Academy's anonymous forum... endless lesbian jokes.

"That’s where Reyna is supposed to grow further, right?"

"Indeed. Thanks to our dear dragon's actions, Reyna now has a new potential."

"What potential?"

"I set it up as a ‘Dark Elf’ possibility—a pathway of corrupted awakening."

"And what’s the setup for that?"

With the author here, I didn’t need to rely on my memory of the original work.

"Well, it’s a bit gloomy. Are you sure you won’t laugh?"

"Go ahead."

area, you know.”

Han Su-ji gave me a pointed look, as if to say I was putting too much on Yoo-jung’s shoulders. But this couldn’t be helped; Yoo-jung was our team’s top strategist. Glancing at her corruption guidebook, I noticed that, in her monster form, Yoo-jung could turn an entire city into her neural network, controlling everything. Even as she is now, I was more than satisfied.

“The Dark God Cult members are already trained for combat. I’m not planning to turn the cult into a golem army; just some reinforcements will suffice.”

“It’s no problem. I just need to make one golem, then pass the knowledge of its construction to it, so it can make another, and so on.”

Yoo-jung shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“Ah, that’s convenient.”

“Also, we’re launching a streaming channel soon called BaekhwaTV.”

Baekhwa, taken from the “White Flame” I use. Couldn’t think of anything else. Using my title, “The White Flame Sword Dancer,” as the channel name felt a bit redundant.

“Are you planning to broadcast villain hunts?”

“Good question, Su-ji. I’ll be broadcasting more than just villain hunts. We’ll also cover gate conquests. And Sia...”

“Yes?”

I instructed Sia to use formal language with me. After all, she had submitted to me, so there was no need for informal speech in front of everyone. I made an exception for her calling me “Master” in public spaces, though.

“How strong would you say you are as a Hunter or monster?”

“I’d say about S-rank.”

She’s at the level of the top guild masters in South Korea. With such strength, she could handle the villains in the containment zone and even mid-level gates.

“But how do you plan to broadcast it?”

A fair question.

“Recently, Cheonsan Group developed a specialized drone for outdoor broadcasting tailored for Hunter streamers.”

“But there wouldn’t be much demand for it, right?”

“Exactly. For Hunters to make money on streams, they’d need to tackle high-level dungeons that captivate viewers. Only A-rank or higher could manage that, and they’d be too busy with highlights for viewers, which would be a hassle.”

Each Hunter has their unique approach to hunting, and gate or dungeon raids require protecting the cameramen. The risk makes it difficult to profit from donations unless they’re risking their lives in a high-stakes dungeon. Most Hunters prefer gathering monster materials and cores over streaming for cash.

But the new drone is a game-changer, capturing highlights effortlessly. While her face will be obscured, Sia’s appeal in a form-fitting suit will undoubtedly attract male viewers. High-level dungeon raids, villain hunts, and new gate explorations would make for thrilling content.

“So, this drone was custom-made, just for us. Its outer layer is crafted from dragon scales, making it nearly indestructible, and its AI handles all the camera angles automatically.”

“I think non-Hunter streamers would love that too.”

Reyna nodded in agreement. Still, it’s a custom creation, only for me. I had to trade quite a few mana stones with Yoo-jin to get it, clearing much of the dark energy around Songdo in the process.

“Right. So, one unit will be for my use, and the other for Sia. Sia, you’ll hunt villains, clear dungeons, and gates in the designated area, then return here with a return scroll.”

“Yes.”

“So, what about us?”

“Reyna, focus on mastering the World Tree Bow. Su-ji, I’ll assign a martial god to train you. Train hard. We need to strengthen you all before the break ends.”

Once Reyna gets comfortable, I’ll take her to the Elven Ruins. All of this must be in place before the end of the school hiatus.

After assigning everyone their roles, I stood up. Reyna and Su-ji were introduced to the cult members before being sent to the underground simulation room, where Su-ji received her martial god training. Sia, however, had a different task.

“Sia, go rest in my room. You seemed worn out earlier.”

After all, I’d kept her up quite a bit. I imagine the lingering sensations would still be present. This was my way of cutting her some slack.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, but when I call for you, make sure you’re ready and prepared. And don’t forget to rinse out your mouth.”

Now that I think about it, I hadn’t yet fully relieved myself. Time to work off some frustration by dealing with a few villains before circling back here.

“Yes, Master.”

With Sia nodding obediently, I teleported to Bupyeong Station via a gate and took out the drone Yoo-jin gave me. It even had its own built-in PC functions. Without advancements in magical engineering, such inventions wouldn’t be possible. It’s custom-ordered and costs about ten billion won, so Cheonsan Group is unlikely to mass-produce it.

I took out a smiling mask that fit perfectly and covered my face. Then, I infused my attire with dark energy, transforming it into a nun’s outfit.

“The stream name is ‘Tweety,’ right?”

Even in this world, streaming is popular, with channels ranging from mukbang to variety gaming. But I’d be the first to bring something truly groundbreaking.

This title should work:

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