Chapter 72 - Talent Recruitment

Everything for the sake of Stardus.

Since falling into this world, after wandering for a long time, I finally found my purpose.

Ultimately, Stardus is the protagonist of this world.

Right. For her, my favorite character, I'm willing to give it my all.

To that end, I reached a conclusion: I'll clear away all the villains who cause Stardus grief.

But if I do that, who will she fight?

Stagnant water eventually rots. Can a hero who doesn't act even be called a hero?

Besides, Stardus grows stronger the more trials she faces.

...Right.

I'll become the villain myself and provide her with only the trials she can handle.

I've worked hard at causing terror with that goal in mind.

And now, it's time to take things a step further.

"Do I really... have to be the one to cause the terror?"

Exactly.

Does it really have to be me?

No, it doesn't. As long as there are no casualties and Stardus continues to grow, it doesn't matter if another villain does it instead of me.

In other words...

If I create something like a Villain Alliance and have other villains cause terror in my place...

Wouldn't I... be able to retire?

That's why I need to find new talent.

Seo-eun, Subin, and even Ha-yul are all supporter types. I don't have anyone with actual combat power!

So, I'm currently on my way to recruit another ability user.

This is a cafe.

I sat by the window, sipping my coffee while stealing glances at the counter.

"Unnie. Try this too."

"Mmm. The strawberry cake here is delicious too."

"Cha-yoon. You need to rinse your mouth with water after eating."

Beside me, Seo-eun, Subin, Ha-yul, and Cha-yoon are all gathered together, chatting away.

...Does the head of a household get no private time?

***

The person I'm recruiting this time is a woman named Choi Se-hee.

She's the one currently working behind the counter of this cafe.

"....Yes. That will be 7,000 won."

Choi Se-hee, with her orange hair and a look of utter world-weariness, is taking orders.

Since I only came to scout out her current life today, I'm just quietly lingering in the cafe.

...When I mentioned I was going to a cafe to recruit talent.

Everyone followed me, saying we should go together since it's the weekend.

They're all happily munching on slices of cake.

"Oppa. You should have a slice too."

"Huh? Ah, sure. Let me have a bite."

It's good.

I continued to watch the counter while chewing on the cake.

"......"

In the meantime, someone tried to get her number.

It was quite a sight to see her reject them with a deep scowl.

"Hmm...."

I kept watching her before reaching a conclusion.

Right. I can start making my move soon.

"Da-in. Stop staring at the counter and eat some more."

"Oppa, can I order another honey bread?"

"Yeah. Go ahead, order whatever you want."

I'll just rest and eat this for now...

I can make my move tonight.

I fell into thought while eating a slice of cake.

Choi Se-hee.

She's an esper who can discharge electricity.

In the Original Work, she's one of the Villains active under the alias 'Electra.'

Among the Villains, she's characterized by her prickly personality and a rather fiery temper.

She was one of the characters more popular among the original comic's readers, known by the nickname 'Delinquent Noona.'

Constantly working without a moment to catch her breath, she eventually reaches her limit and explodes from the accumulated stress.

Unable to suppress her inner destructive nature, she overflows with electricity in the middle of the City at night and is immediately suppressed by Shadow Walker.

Sent straight to the detention center after her first appearance, she disappears from the comic for a while, only to resurface during the Great Escape episode.

Regardless, her electrical attacks are quite formidable, as expected of someone designated as an A-Rank Villain. Elemental abilities are usually top-tier anyway. Just look at Icicle and her ice powers...

Either way, I need her.

So, let's give this a shot.

***

A dark night.

Choi Se-hee was dragging her heavy feet toward home.

"Sigh..."

A life consisting of nothing but work, day after day.

Working from dawn till dusk, then coming home only to collapse.

"....Sigh. Fuck."

She spat out a curse as she walked through the night streets.

It wasn't that she worked because she was broke. She wasn't wealthy, but she didn't have to work herself to the bone like this.

There was only one reason she worked as if to escape the world.

A quirk she could never reveal to anyone.

It was to suppress the destructive impulses lurking deep within her.

"....."

Walking down the dark street, she slowly lifted her head and scanned her surroundings.

A Back Alley without a single CCTV in sight.

After confirming she was alone, she pulled her hand from her pocket.

Then, she held her hand out.

Soon, electricity began to crackle from her fingertips, visible to the naked eye.

Like branches of a tree in the dark street, the electricity embroidered stars into the empty air.

Sparkling yellow stems originated from her fingertips and spread out before her.

As she stared blankly at the scene she had created.

"It's beautiful."

A voice suddenly called out from behind her.

"...!!"

Startled, she immediately cut off the electricity and spun around.

But behind her, there was nothing but the pitch-black alley.

"....Who's there?"

Becoming wary, she reached her hand into the darkness, ready to unleash electricity at any moment.

While she remained on high alert.

The sound of clapping echoed from the shadows.

Clap, clap, clap—.

"Crazy bastard."

Realizing the person wasn't normal, she fired a bolt of electricity forward.

But as if there was nothing there, the electricity simply cut through the empty air.

However, the clapping continued.

And then, someone emerged from the darkness.

"Hello, Ms. Choi Se-hee."

The person who emerged while greeting her was a man wearing a black hat, a black robe, a black cape, and a mask covering his eyes.

And that man was someone she knew as well.

"....Egostic?"

As she frowned and called his name, he flinched for a moment.

After hesitating for a bit, he finally opened his mouth and asked her.

"....Do you know me?"

"Of course I do. You're on every time I turn on the TV."

"....I didn't think you would know who I was."

After muttering to himself in a low voice, he cleared his throat and continued.

"Ahem. Then this will make the explanation much faster. Ms. Choi Se-hee, would you like to go into business with me?"

"....I can't follow this at all. Stalking someone in the middle of the night and then suddenly talking about a partnership? What are you talking about?"

"Oh dear. My explanation must have been a bit lacking. I'm talking about terrorism."

"...Are you asking me to partner up for terrorism right now?"

"Yes. Would you like to commit acts of terror with me?"

"You're a total lunatic. Get lost!"

Choi Se-hee angrily shot a bolt of electricity at him.

Life was already shitty enough, and now she was being scouted by a terrorist of all things.

However, the electricity she fired only cut through the empty air because he vanished from the spot.

Then, a voice came from behind her once more.

"Think about it carefully. Haven't you been in great pain because you couldn't show your abilities? With me... you won't have to live hiding your instincts..."

"I said get lost!"

She tried to attack fiercely again.

But he had already vanished into thin air.

"I will visit you again. I hope you think it over until then..."

"Will you just screw off?"

She huffed and turned around.

But again, the alley was empty.

In the alley where nothing could be heard but the sound of her own breathing, she sighed again.

"Sigh... fuck. I've seen everything now."

Spitting out curses, she kicked a pebble on the road for no reason. Even if she couldn't become a hero, she had no intention of becoming a villain. To think a terrorist would approach her in her lifetime. It was absurd.

After venting her irritation, she looked back briefly to see if anyone was following her and then walked home.

Coming back again? Don't make me laugh. If he comes again, she'll turn his face into an electric roast for sure.

With her orange hair fluttering, she moved her feet.

"...."

As she continued walking, she suddenly raised her hand and looked at it.

When she generated electricity from her hands and threw her power at that guy earlier, it felt really good. She felt a sense of liberation, as if something inside her had been cleared out.

It felt like the things that had been suffocating her had instantly flown away.

"......"

Does that mean she could taste this kind of liberation all the time if she were with him?

"Fuck. What am I saying."

She cursed to herself again and moved her feet.

She wasn't some destruction-maniac or a psychopath.

There is no way she would ever become a terrorist, under any circumstances. Absolutely never.

***

"Subin. How is the plan to make a new companion going?"

"Oh, that? It's proceeding smoothly. She seems to be in denial right now, but it won't take long until she falls."

I said that as I lifted a mouthful of cup ramen.

Frequent teleportation is exhausting, so you have to keep your stomach full.

Slurping the noodles, I turned on my smartphone.

I immediately logged into the Stardus Fan Cafe, where I served as a Manager.

Ah. Finishing the day's work and spending time organizing Stardus Posts—this is the life.

Beside me, Subin was watching me with a complicated expression. Why...?

Anyway, I thought back to Choi Se-hee, the electric ability user I'd decided to recruit.

Considering her aversion to me and her stubborn refusal to commit terrorism.

Hmm.

A week should be more than enough.