Chapter 6 - Followers

[Followers of Egostic are currently staging a terrorist attack with hostages in the middle of Incheon. Having planted bombs in the building, they claim they plan to cause more explosions... The perpetrators currently holed up inside have stated they have no particular demands—they simply desire death. The death toll is estimated to be at least three or more at this time.]

My face hardened as I watched the news Seo-eun showed me.

Who the hell are these bastards selling me out, calling themselves my followers?

And what? Casualties? They killed people?

Something inside me snapped with an audible crack.

Just yesterday, I busted my ass building recognition and crafting my image.

And they destroy it the very next day.

...This is absolutely insane.

Who the hell do they think they are, invoking my name to commit terrorism?

And in such a barbaric, violent, vulgar way that doesn't suit me at all?

"....."

And people died.

When I chose to walk this villain's path, I resolved never to cause civilian casualties.

Yet three people are dead.

Since it was caused by those claiming to be my followers, it's essentially my responsibility.

With a rigid expression, I spoke to Seo-eun sitting in her chair.

"Seo-eun, help me one more time. I need to clean up those bastards before I do anything else."

"Yes. I figured as much, so I prepared in advance."

Seo-eun rummaged through a drawer and handed me a phone.

Holding it, I walked toward the elevator.

"Ha. I'm so dumbfounded right now..."

A hollow laugh escaped me.

Really.

Two days in a row—this is too much.

***

The Korean Paranormal Ability User Association.

Or rather, the place no one calls that—the Hero Association.

Right now, the atmosphere at the Hero Association was frozen stiff.

"What's the current situation?"

At the Association President's low-voiced question, the agent seated before him responded promptly.

"The perpetrators are still holed up at the scene. Approximately three hundred hostages appear to be trapped inside the building."

"Additional casualties?"

"None so far, it seems."

"I see. Are Heroes on their way?"

"A Hero team composed of C and B-Ranks is currently on standby. However, they're threatening to detonate the bombs, making it difficult to approach."

"Damn those bastards. Did that son of a bitch Egostic bring them in?"

"We're currently investigating any connections... but it's still unclear."

"I see. Ah, right. Where is Stardus right now?"

"She's reportedly observing the situation from nearby. In an emergency, she'll likely launch an assault."

Just as he said.

Shin Haru—Stardus herself—was currently keeping close watch on the situation from a nearby building's rooftop.

'Damn it, what should I do...'

The reason the Hero Association exists is simple.

Since other villains who use paranormal abilities are difficult for regular police composed of ordinary citizens to apprehend.

It was established under the premise that those with the same paranormal abilities—superpowers—would capture them.

Most terrorism in the current era is committed by villains with superpowers.

Terrorism caused by those who awakened as villains to show off their power or out of dissatisfaction with the world—that's the majority.

So terrorism like this, committed by those who don't use superpowers, hasn't happened in a very long time.

The reason is precisely...

'Egostic, that bastard.'

Shin Haru ground her teeth internally.

That bastard barely uses his superpowers and pressures Heroes with just bombs—he clearly inspired others.

'No, wait. Considering this happened the day right after his incident, that son of a bitch must have orchestrated it.'

Right, that possibility is actually higher.

Otherwise, organizing large-scale terrorism like this in just one day—that doesn't make sense.

It's clearly a premeditated crime.

'I should have caught that bastard yesterday... Wait, what's that?'

The moment she noticed something, a transmission came through her earpiece from headquarters.

[Stardus, Egostic has appeared at your location. I repeat. Egostic himself appears to have arrived at the scene. The perpetrator is currently broadcasting himself on YouTube. Check immediately.]

Even without hearing the urgent contact from headquarters, Shin Haru could tell he had arrived.

She could see Egostic appearing in front of the building where the perpetrators were holding hostages.

"YouTube...?"

The transmission from headquarters mentioned he was broadcasting on YouTube.

She hurriedly turned on her phone and opened the app.

The number one trending video on the main screen.

[Egostic LIVE]

She clicked on the video.

***

A building shrouded in cold tension.

A street where no people could be seen.

There, something in black appeared.

A black robe covering the entire body.

Black hair matching the clothes exactly.

And even a half mask concealing the face.

That's right—me. Egostic.

*

[What's this?]

[Villain live broadcast holy shit lololol]

[Egostic is streaming the terror live right now???]

[This era's greatest villain Egostic appears lololol]

[Ah, I had nothing to do today but suddenly it got interesting lololol]

[There are so many crazy bastards in the chat. This is an active crime scene, you fucking lunatics]

[Yup, as long as it's not me~~~~]

[Release Kim Seonwoo Release Kim Seonwoo Release Kim Seonwoo Release Kim Seonwoo Release Kim Seonwoo Release Kim Seonwoo Release Kim Seonwoo Release Kim Seonwoo]

[Why is the chat getting all tangled up lololol]

[Why isn't YouTube taking this down?]

[Considering he hijacked broadcasts yesterday, YouTube might not be able to take it down]

*

...And the scene of me walking was being streamed live on YouTube.

The phone filming me was fixed in place with telekinesis.

It was an unavoidable choice to revive my recognition that seemed to be plummeting to hell, but...

When I glanced at the chat window, I started to regret it.

Anyway, I kept walking.

And before I knew it, I arrived in front of the building.

Entering without any particular resistance, I saw the dark interior.

And inside, countless, countless people sitting.

The ones standing wore black clothes and masks, just like me.

Not half-masks that covered half the face like mine, but masks that covered the entire face.

I entered through the entrance into the lobby of the spacious building.

Those standing with guns were initially startled when they saw me.

But soon, recognizing me through my black robe and half-mask, several of them let out cheers.

Then a terrorist's voice rang out.

Looking at me with a voice full of laughter, he said:

"Our hero, Lord Egostic, has descended upon us in person!"

Starting with the first bastard who spoke, the followers around him began to chant in unison.

"Egostic! Egostic!"

"He's here! He's really here!"

"Kyaaaaaaah!"

The rioters began shrieking at the sight of me.

Among those bastards, the hostages could only huddle and tremble.

And watching that scene, I...

"....."

'Seriously. This is fucked up.'

I thought, biting my lip.

Even though I had decided to become a villain, I too had been an ordinary South Korean citizen until I possessed this body.

That's why I felt something burning inside my heart.

Hey, you ignorant bastards.

This is just a riot.

There was no subtle pressure from the atmosphere, no novel methods, no psychological pressure.

A vulgar terror using only primitive fear and threats.

They caused this incident while claiming to follow me, selling my name for this?

After entering the building, I still hadn't said a word.

However, I turned my head and carefully examined each of those bastards.

Every one of these things in black robes and masks was holding a gun.

And somewhere, one of them would be holding a detonator.

[The guy standing at 3 o'clock is holding the detonator.]

A voice came through the earphone in my ear.

As expected of a genius hacker, Han Seo-eun.

She immediately told me what I needed.

...Though I don't know how she found out.

People filled every space between where those bastards stood.

About 300 people, was it?

"....."

Now, what should I do with these things?

Hmm... Right.

First, let's smile.

"Haha, hahahaha."

I laughed heartily once while looking at those bastards.

"Hahaha. Hahahahahaha! This is interesting. Hahahaha!"

As I did so, only my laughter echoed through the quiet building.

And from that laughter, they sensed...

"...."

Something strange in the atmosphere. Even those self-proclaimed follower bastards shut their mouths.

After laughing to my heart's content, I abruptly stopped laughing and said:

"I heard there were followers of mine, so I came wondering what this was all about. My, my..."

As I drew out my words, the interior grew tense.

"My, my, you've been doing such excellent work! Splendid!"

The follower bastards visibly relaxed upon hearing my words.

Perhaps it was because they felt relieved. Soon the one who appeared to be the leader opened his mouth.

"Ha, haha! Thank you! We are Lord Egostic's fervent—"

"Quite splendidly."

And just as he was speaking.

I coldly cut off his words and put my hand inside my coat.

"Quite, quite splendidly, you've been acting like fucking lunatics—"

As I spoke, I used telekinesis to immobilize the guy who seemed to be the boss and the one holding the detonator.

"—haven't you."

And the moment those words ended.

Bang. Bang.

I pulled out my gun from inside my coat and shot those two bastards.

Thanks to having fixed their bodies with telekinesis, they collapsed quite helplessly, bleeding after being shot.

"Kyaaaaaaaaah!"

And as the gun fired in front of them and people collapsed, the hostages screamed.

Among the self-proclaimed followers, who clearly seemed to hide their flustered expressions behind their masks, I holstered my gun again.

Ha, right. Since this mess happened because of me, I should handle this matter with my own hands.

Now then. Time for some reeducation.

With that quiet thought, I reloaded my bullets.