Chapter 16 - Something Big Is Coming

Stardus. Shin Haru.

A name her parents had given her, meaning "a new day."

But lately, she found it incredibly difficult to face each new day.

"Haah..."

She let out a sigh as she lowered her smartphone.

[Honestly, what does Stardus even do?]

Those words seemed to echo in her ears.

Public opinion spreading across the internet.

Doubts about A-Rank Hero Stardus's qualifications.

Honestly, she felt deeply wronged.

What had she done wrong?

Her only crime was saving people whenever she could, even while juggling university life.

Yet public opinion had suddenly turned cold toward her.

All because of that bastard Egostic's appearance.

She'd just been going about her day as usual when she heard Egostic had appeared downtown and rushed out—so why should she be criticized for that?

She'd even held back from properly attempting to capture him, worried the citizens might be in danger, and just let him go.

She hadn't realized.

She hadn't known how much goodwill the citizens felt toward Egostic as he cleanly eliminated other villains.

Time and again, heroes would capture heinous criminals only for them to receive slap-on-the-wrist punishments—the citizens' frustration had been building.

That anger, once directed at judges, had somehow spread to heroes as well.

Just execute them on the spot. Why bother trying to capture them alive?

It's because you insist on capturing them that those bastards get to live comfortably in prison...

It was absurd, but discontent had already quietly spread among the citizens.

And then, like a comet, the person everyone had been waiting for appeared.

Someone who hunted villains with satisfying ruthlessness.

That was Egostic.

The figure the citizens of South Korea had been dreaming of deep in their hearts.

...Of course, there was the cruise ship terror incident. No, more accurately, the terror attempt incident.

He ultimately didn't carry out the terror attack. When none of the citizens pressed the button, he quickly accepted it and withdrew cleanly.

And then came the incident that buried that event—the Daehyun Tower terror hostage crisis, which he single-handedly resolved.

While other heroes could do nothing because of the hostages, he boldly entered enemy territory alone and successfully rescued everyone without a single casualty. He even gave them money.

And somehow, he'd even eliminated the Teleporter who'd received an A-Rank due to escape risk, all by himself.

He'd shown the public everything they wanted to see in multiple ways. It was no coincidence that nearly every community loved him and fan cafes had been created.

And naturally, anyone who opposed him would be criticized.

And that person just happened to be her.

"Haah..."

Shin Haru sucked on her mango frappe once more.

Is this what I became a hero for? She felt self-loathing and misery.

Even her close senior had been going on about how great Egostic was lately, leaving her shocked.

Sitting by the window in the café, she looked outside.

With spring's arrival, the cherry blossoms had bloomed so beautifully along the streets.

But she had no time to go see them, busy with university life and hero work.

Yet despite all that, she was still getting criticized.

And at the recent regular Hero Association meeting—

When even the Director laughed and said, "I feel like things have gotten a bit easier lately thanks to Egostic," she'd nearly fainted.

This isn't normal. Everyone's gone crazy except me.

"Haah... No, pull yourself together."

She shook her head and decided to finish her assignment instead.

Continuing to wallow like this wasn't productive.

She should just do her work.

With renewed determination, she tried to resume her assignment.

Right up until the moment she received a call.

[Stardus, turn on the TV right now! Egostic's appeared again! He's called you out again!]

Her face hardened.

It seemed it was time to work again.

Shin Haru immediately shot up from her seat and hurried outside.

No matter what anyone said, she was a hero.

She went to do what needed to be done.

***

"It's been a while, citizens! Your Likable Villain, Egostic, is here!"

On a cliff overlooking the railway tracks.

From there, I greeted the camera.

My image, once again being broadcast live on every TV.

Actually, at this point, I could probably just do a YouTube live stream and the terrestrial broadcasters would relay it themselves.

But I hijacked the broadcast anyway.

Why? Because it shows my capabilities.

The broadcasters had apparently paid much more attention to security after the last broadcast hijacking incident, but this was a device to show that meant nothing to me. Though actually, it wasn't me who did it—Seo-eun did everything... but who would know that?

Bowing my head slightly, I looked at the hologram with my eye hidden behind the right side of my mask.

It was cutting-edge technology Seo-eun had created, a function that let me see holograms before my eyes like a powered individual in a hero movie wearing a suit. But the important thing was that there was no software to put in this function. So I just pulled up the YouTube live stream chat window. And when I did...

*

[Big one's here big one's here big one's here big one's here big one's here big one's here big one's here big one's here big one's here big one's here]

[Egostic live ON LOL]

[Was bored and now super fun event's here haha]

[What crazy shit is he gonna do today haha]

[E-Hi (short for Egostic Hi)]

[Let's goooo~ Let's goooo~]

[Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick!]

*

...I'm already regretting this. Wait, do these people think this is some kind of surprise event?

I checked my appearance on camera. As always, my figure dressed in a robe unified in black from head to toe. On my face, I wore my signature gray half-mask. Actually, I'd wanted to wear a black wizard hat too, but I couldn't after Seo-eun begged me to please refrain from just that. Next time I'll definitely sneak it on...

Anyway, shall I continue?

"Lately, I've been hearing all sorts of news about myself. Yes! Quite a lot, actually. Seems there are many people who like me, doesn't it? I even checked out my fan cafe! My, how fascinating. Haha."

I laughed awkwardly as I spoke.

Scratching my head with a sheepish grin, I suddenly turned serious.

"But here's the thing. I think you're all misunderstanding something."

My voice dropped low as I walked toward the edge of the cliff. The camera followed, slowly approaching me. All controlled by my telekinesis, of course. Phew, thank goodness I have telekinesis. Otherwise, I would've had to hire a cameraman. How awkward would it be to stand here rambling while staring at some cameraman on this cliff?

Still maintaining that low, serious tone, I continued while looking out over the cliff's edge.

"I am a villain, everyone. These days they call us villains, don't they? Anyway, that's what I am. But lately, it seems many of you have forgotten that I'm a villain. I eliminated those other villains for my own base satisfaction, not particularly for your sake!"

*

[This girl is a total tsundere lolololol]

*

I nearly stumbled off the cliff when I saw the chat. Can't I turn this thing off midway? Once this is over, I absolutely need to ask Seo-eun to add an OFF function.

I almost lost my composure for a moment, but I'm a professional. Without any change in expression, I opened my mouth.

"With that in mind, I've prepared another spectacular event. It seems you haven't yet grasped just how terrifying I am. Now then, everyone, do you see that railway in the distance?"

I used my telekinesis to fix the camera's view on the train tracks.

The tracks ran in a straight line, but midway there was a junction branching off to the side.

And at the end of those tracks shown by the camera, people were tied up.

"Hahahaha! Everyone, do you see them?"

The chat window instantly erupted.

Yes, this is it. This is what I need. Fear me more!

"I tied them up. People on the railway tracks. Right here where the train runs straight ahead! Five innocent people are bound here. And over there where the train would switch to! On that branching track, I've tied up just one person. If this train continues as is, it will run over those five people. But do you see that lever? If you pull that lever, the tracks will switch. Then only the one person tied on that side will be hit."

*

[I feel like I've seen this somewhere before?]

[Isn't this the Trolley Dilemma?]

[Trolley Dilemma live-action version, shiver]

*

Only after seeing the chat did I realize my mistake.

Ah, unlike that movie, the Trolley Dilemma exists in this world too?

Still, it seems no villain has actually done this before. I swallowed a sigh of relief.

"Will you pull the lever? Or won't you? By the way, stopping the train is not an option."

I switched the camera's view.

There, the engine room of the currently rushing train came into view. The original engineer lay unconscious on the floor, and a masked woman was driving the train. Yes, that's Subin. Thank you, Subin!

"Just so you know, any funny business and I might just flip the entire train over. Your only option is whether to pull the lever or not. Now then, let me say this. Stardus, please come. I shall observe your moral judgment."

There, the stage is set.

Now, Shin Haru. All you need to do is come.

*

[Stardus again, shiver. At this point it's gotta be true love?]

*

I cleanly ignored the chat window.