Chapter 63 - Just A Feeling

I sighed while looking at my phone.

How... is there not a single person who thinks that my breaking the bridge to prevent the accident was just a coincidence...?

Everyone is convinced I smashed the bridge knowing everything beforehand. It's truly a difficult situation.

I mean, just a while ago they were bashing me for no reason, so why are they blindly worshipping me now?

...Actually, their guess is right; I did know everything when I destroyed it. But how they can be so certain about it is a mystery.

No matter how I look at it, it's because of the Apple Mango incident. If only I had hidden my identity properly back then.

I don't think a post like this would have popped up on my Fan Cafe...

*

[As of today, I withdraw my support for Mangostick.]

As of today, I withdraw my support for Mangostick.

Starting today, I am moving beyond a relationship of support

and becoming one with Mangostick.

An attack on Mangostick is considered an attack on me.

If there are 7 billion members of the Mango Squad in the world, I am one of them.

If there are 100 million members of the Mango Squad, I am also one of them.

If there are 10 million members of the Mango Squad, I am still one of them.

If there are 100 members of the Mango Squad, I am still one of them.

If there is one member of the Mango Squad, that person is probably me.

If there is not a single member of the Mango Squad, only then do I no longer exist in this world.

Mangostick, my love.

Mangostick, my light.

Mangostick, my darkness.

Mangostick, my life.

Mangostick, my joy.

Mangostick, my sorrow.

Mangostick, my pain.

Mangostick, my rest.

Mangostick, my soul.

Mangostick, me.

=[Comments]=

[My head is spinning.]

[Saw this post and went to the local fruit shop to go all-in on mangoes.]

[Let's get this to the trending page.]

[Mango for Congress.]

[You have my support.]

[South Korea is being protected by Mango.]

[Just looking at this, I can't tell if this is the Egostic Fan Cafe or a gathering for mango mukbangers LOL]

[This is just viral marketing for mangoes Shiver. Curse you, Del Monte!!]

[Mang-hahahahaha]

*

The Fan Cafe post Seo-eun showed me made my head spin.

Even for a Fan Cafe where only my fans gather, isn't this a bit... too much?

I felt like the god of some cult.

Fine, whatever. My supporters went through a tough time, so I can let it slide.

The real villain was Seo-eun.

"Mangostick, my light. Mangostick, my soul..."

"Ack! Stop it!"

"Why? It's funny. Mangostick, 'Me'!"

"Please... don't say that out loud..."

A lazy afternoon.

I was rolling around peacefully in the living room when I suddenly started suffering a mental attack.

Why are you even looking at my Fan Cafe?

"Subin, save me! This little bean keeps tormenting me."

"What? Bean?"

"What, you are a bean! Ack!"

"Don't use Telekinesis. Just try it."

"I can't even call a bean a bean... Okay, okay!"

"Get back here!"

Dodging the cushion Seo-eun swung at me, I ran to the kitchen where Subin was smiling while cutting a melon.

The kid has turned violent. I must have raised her wrong...

Phew, I'm the adult, I should be the bigger person.

"Haha, stop playing around and come have some fruit. Seo-eun, do you want some?"

"Yes, Unnie."

She glared daggers at me but was so sweet to Subin. Why only to me...!!

"It's about time the kids got home..."

Just as Subin murmured that, the kids came up the stairs right on cue.

"We're home~."

The siblings, back from school in their uniforms.

Seo-eun waved her hand at them.

"Unnie, Cha-yoon. You're home?"

"Kids, go wash your hands and come eat some fruit."

"Okay~."

The children trotted off to wash their hands.

Watching the scene quietly, I cautiously asked Seo-eun, who was munching on melon beside me.

"Seo-eun, do you really not want to go to school?"

"Huh?"

Seo-eun stopped eating her melon and glared sideways at me, as if asking what nonsense I was spouting.

She quickly chewed and swallowed the melon in her mouth, then looked up at me and asked.

"That again? I told you I don't really plan on going. I already know everything they teach there, so why would I go? It's a waste of time."

"No, but still. You don't go to school just to study. You can make friends there and..."

At my continued words, Seo-eun shook her head left and right and retorted.

"Forget it. If I go, who will help you, Oppa? Hacking, fund management, and even detailed terror execution plans—I plan them all."

Hmm, true.

Still, I feel sorry that she can't go to school because of me and is stuck in the house with me.

Did she read my mood?

Seo-eun mumbled something, then spoke to me in a slightly quiet voice.

"....Besides, I don't need other people anyway. You and Subin unnie are enough for me..."

Saying only that much, Seo-eun blushed and abruptly turned her head away.

Whoa.

That's too... too cute!

Wearing a pleased smile, I patted Seo-eun's head.

"Aww, our little child Seo-eun. Are Oppa and Unnie enough for you?"

"Ugh. Be quiet! And don't pat me."

While saying that with a red face, she subtly turned her head in a direction that made it easier for me to pat her.

What are you, a cat?

I can't believe a kid like this is now a high schooler.

Seo-eun. You really suit being a middle schooler more than a high schooler.

Patting her head for a moment, I fell into thought.

Well. Since my plan is to fill this big house with people anyway, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet various people in the future.

...But all the people coming in the future are practically borderline villains; I wonder if that's okay?

Come to think of it, Seo-eun was a villain in the original work too, right? So it should be fine.

Still, it's a relief that Seo-eun seems in high spirits seeing Haneun Group go completely belly-up this time. Subin's expression was a bit subtle, but... well, all's well that ends well. Now I just need to deal with the executives who went into hiding, led by Kim Seonwoo. But I'll think about that later.

First things first: I need to loot Haneun Group's treasure.

The Haneun Group's Behemoth Project.

It was an ambitious project to create a lifeform capable of transcending humanity—in short, a biological weapon.

After they spectacularly failed their previous project—where they ground up humans in biological experiments trying to artificially turn them into Paranormal Ability Users—this was their new plan.

Instead of giving superpowers to humans, they decided to create an army of lifeforms that already possessed superpowers.

Basically, they wanted to build a monster army. I guess they wanted to conquer Korea or something.

Anyway, they made all sorts of monsters that way.

Monsters with bodies like blades, monsters that could teleport, monsters that shot fire, monsters with ten eyeballs...

The problem with these guys was, uh... since they were artificially created, they all looked hideous. Like something out of a gore film? They didn't have a lively vibe, but rather looked like half-finished test subjects that had crawled up from hell. The kind that looked like they were begging, "Kill me..."

Anyway, in the midst of that, the one thing they created perfectly was Behemoth.

A lifeform composed of a miraculous material capable of blocking the darkness of Shadow Walker—the biggest obstacle to conquering Korea—and withstanding nuclear bombs, unlike the other test subjects which had serious durability issues.

The guys who shouted "Eureka!" immediately started copying and mass-producing it. Unlike the original, which was quite small, they named the giant black worms grown through proliferation "Behemoth." Behimoth, Behemoth... what's the difference between an 'i' and an 'e' anyway?

In any case, the problem with the thing they worked so hard to create with ambitions of conquering Korea was that, while everything else was great, it was weak to water. And this was a really serious problem. Water is a weakness in a country surrounded by the sea on three sides and has a long rainy season?

So, to overcome that weakness, they tried many different things. More, bigger! They ignorantly increased its size so that a little bit of water wouldn't even scratch it, and while they were doing this and that...

Uh-oh. The thing developed a firm sense of self-awareness.

And just like that, it escaped. Smashing everything in its path.

Fortunately, it ended up crashing into the river because of me, but still.

Anyway, the conclusion is this.

The underground of Haneun Group has now become a demon's den. Since Behemoth, that crazy giant worm, smashed everything on its way up, the devices containing the other monsters were mostly destroyed.

So now, all kinds of monsters are roaming around down there. Fortunately, the final security system somehow wasn't breached, so they are barely being kept underground by a containment shield.

And I intend to enter that labyrinth.

"Did you wash your hands? Do you want to come and eat?"

"Yes, Unnie."

"Yes, Noona!"

"Ugh."

While I was lost in thought stroking Seo-eun's head, Ha-yul and Cha-eun had already washed their hands and approached us. Seo-eun startling and pushing my hand away was a bonus. She's surprisingly shy.

"Thanks for the food~"

Watching Ha-yul smile brightly as she picked up a piece of melon with a fork and handed it to her brother first, I fell back into my thoughts.

Haneun Group's underground, teeming with monsters.

Deepest within that labyrinth, a treasure is hidden.

The prototype of the giant worm, Behimoth.

That small creature, made of tiny black tentacles, is still trapped there.

Hmm? You might think, Isn't that just a mini version of the Black Calamity? But it is completely different!

This one has no self-awareness and was made simply to obey human commands. So, even though they are tentacles, it feels more like a black nano-suit.

You can wear it like clothing, concentrate it on your right side during a fight to strengthen your right hand, or use it to form black wings and fly.

It's literally a particle-suit made of tentacles that can move freely at will.

In the original work, Dr. Kim Seonwoo, who sneaks in a few months later, retrieves it and later fights Stardus.

During the fight, when he stretched out his hand, the black substance on his body extended in the shape of a fist—it looked just like a man's romance, the Rocket Punch.

...Of course, it looked more like the right hand of someone saying, "There is a Black Flame Dragon in my right hand..." but anyway.

Yeah. I wanted that.

I'm already struggling to protect my own body with just telekinesis and teleportation; wouldn't it be much better if I had that? At least the chances of getting shot and dying instantly would decrease.

Of course, this was just a wish. It was too dangerous, so I hadn't planned on attempting it. Entering that labyrinth is a bit...

However, recently, after recruiting Ha-yul, my thoughts have changed.

Even if I get hurt... as long as I don't die, she can heal me, right? Right?

So, um, isn't it okay if I treat my body a little roughly?

That is what I decided.

Right, let's go. I'll enter the underground labyrinth swarming with monsters and snatch that black suit.

Let's get myself a power-up too!

According to the original story, even the heroes don't go down there because the Association opposes it, citing unverified safety.

You could call it fortunate. Imagine I'm diligently exploring down there alone, and suddenly I run into Stardus or something. That would be a total buzzkill.

My plan is perfect!

The sooner the better, so I'm going tomorrow immediately.

Things won't get twisted or anything, right?

For example, unlike the original, Stardus goes down to that underground area, and we run into each other right there.

Haha, look at me talking nonsense. There's no way something like that would happen, right?

The world wouldn't screw me over like that.

***

"Understood. Stardus, I approve your operation to explore the Haneun Group underground. When do you plan to depart?"

"I will go and return tomorrow immediately."

"....Right. Understood."

***

"Oppa, why are you shivering?"

"Huh? Ah. It's nothing."

Eating melon with the kids at the dining table, I shivered at a sudden ominous feeling.

What is this? Something feels off...

It's just my imagination, right?