Chapter 85 - Agitation And Fabrication

"Ugh..."

Flying across the sky, Shin Ha-ru let out a groan.

Whether she could stop the falling missile, whether she could do it in such a depleted state.

To be honest, she couldn't be certain.

"....."

The missile was immediately visible as soon as she took flight.

Seeing it approach right in front of where they were, she gritted her teeth.

Could she stop that?

No, that wasn't what mattered.

Once she'd made her decision, she had no choice but to stop it.

For the civilians who might get caught in it.

For the city that might be completely destroyed by it.

And... to protect a man who might die because of it.

So she headed toward the incoming missile rather than fleeing from it.

And in that split second.

She hurled herself toward it.

....

Honestly, she didn't even know how she did it.

The gut-wrenching pain she felt the moment she collided with it, the sensation of her flesh burning, the impact that reverberated through her head.

It was similar to when she had lifted an airplane before, no, even more severe.

Especially since she was already weakened from the prolonged battle.

A situation where losing consciousness wouldn't be surprising.

However, she endured with superhuman willpower.

After colliding with her, the missile had slowed down, but it was still moving forward.

To stop it.

Even in a state where she felt like she might lose consciousness, she exerted her power to its limit.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been absolutely impossible.

But because she was someone who grew stronger the more adversity she faced. Because she was someone who became stronger when she had someone to protect.

She.

With strength from an unknown source.

Finally.

Stopped the missile.

And then.

Now almost exceeding her own limits.

She sent the missile flying back into the sky.

"........"

It was unclear how much her ability had amplified in this brief moment.

The missile she launched flew high, high into the sky, becoming a star in the heavens.

And then, she collapsed.

"....Ah."

She let out a short groan as she fell.

The moment she launched the missile back, her body, having exerted its ability beyond its limits, seemed to lose all function, as if all her strength had drained away.

Having collapsed in mid-air, falling was the natural consequence.

So she closed her eyes tightly as she plummeted.

If she fell like this, would she be okay?

No matter how much stronger her body was compared to an ordinary person, she couldn't guarantee she'd be safe falling from this height. She probably wouldn't die, but... she should prepare to spend a few days in the hospital.

As she was bracing herself for the impact that would soon come.

Whoosh.

Instead of impact, she felt someone's hands gently embracing her.

".....?"

At this unexpected sensation, she slightly opened her eyes to see what was happening.

And what she saw was.

Egostic, holding her in his arms, floating in mid-air.

***

"What the hell?"

Seeing the missile flying toward us, I opened my eyes wide in shock.

When did they fire that? They didn't even shoot this during the chaos in the original story?

Well, actually, the missile itself isn't much of a problem. I could just abandon the weapon and run. Stardust has almost completed her power-up... it's just a shame I couldn't trigger her awakening before it ends.

But that's not the issue.

The reason Stardust suddenly flew up...

"Is she trying to stop that...?"

I muttered in disbelief.

Why is she trying to stop it? Did she receive information that it's a nuclear bomb or something? There's no reason to stop a regular missile?

And before that.

Is she even in a physical state to stop that right now?

"Oppa, what should we do?"

"First, hijack the broadcast from that news helicopter filming us. Quickly."

"Yes... but we don't have enough equipment here..."

Seo-eun grumbled but started doing something with the laptop she and Su-bin had brought.

"Ha-yul, and Choi Se-hee, you two stay here. I'll be right back."

After telling the remaining two, I teleported.

Where to? To the top of the giant mech's head.

"Achoo! Ah, it's cold."

Coming out to the top of the head outside, I felt the cold wind suddenly blowing. The temperature seems to have dropped as night approaches. But that's not important right now.

Standing on top of the mech with my cape fluttering, I looked at Stardust.

I don't know why she stepped in, but...

Can she stop that?

She's been fighting with me since morning until now without eating anything?

I found myself biting my nails with worry.

No, this is different from previous situations.

In the original story, there were scenes where she stopped trains or planes, but I never saw her stopping a missile in such an exhausted state!

I was so anxious I could break into a tap dance.

Ready to rescue her if necessary, I watched Stardust with a trembling heart. The broadcast hijacking should be complete, so there's no need to worry about that.

Then, Stardust collided with the missile.

I watched with sweaty palms. What if that thing explodes!

Fortunately, the missile didn't explode mid-air and set Stardust on fire. I had brought Ha-yul along to heal her if necessary, but thankfully that wasn't needed.

Wait, it's good that she caught the missile, but what is she going to do with it? If she throws it nearby, it will explode there?

But as if to prove my worries unfounded, she launched the caught missile high into the sky.

The missile flew so high it looked like it might go beyond the sky into space.

She threw it with that much force? No, it's still going up endlessly?

It seems like Stardust has awakened. Well, I was planning to enhance her abilities through robot battles, but it looks like she grew in a different way. Whatever works, as long as we get to Seoul.

Just as I was evaluating the situation, Stardust lost her balance and began falling from the sky. Ah, she's out of strength. That's understandable. But if she crashes into the ground like that, it would be disastrous.

The moment I thought that, my body moved first.

Let's save Stardust first.

...And then ask her why she stopped that missile. Was it really a nuclear bomb?

*

And now, back to the present.

I was naturally holding Stardust in a princess carry.

"......"

This is the second time I've done a princess carry in this world.

It feels strange to have Stardust fit so snugly in my arms. Even though I'm holding her outside the suit, I can feel how soft her skin is. How does she maintain this while doing so much hero work?

...Wait, why am I having these strange thoughts? I didn't think anything when I carried Choi Se-hee like this last time, this is weird.

Anyway, I made direct eye contact with Stardust in my arms.

"....."

And we were silent for a moment.

I thought she would say "You trash! Put me down right now!" as soon as she saw me, but surprisingly, she just quietly looked at me without saying anything.

Her breathing is ragged, she looks like she's about to faint. But why isn't she saying anything even though she sees me? A hero being held by a villain? Thanks to that, my original plan was scrapped. I was planning to tease her smoothly if she berated me, but what is this?

As I slowly descended to the ground while floating in the air, I quickly racked my brain for something to say, and then opened my mouth with a smile.

"Ms. Stardust! You did something amazing again. When you suddenly flew up in the middle of our fight, I thought you were ascending to heaven!"

I just threw out something random. Come on, show some reaction.

But she remained silent, looking down quietly while being held in my arms. What's going on? Are you mute?

Alright, let me try asking this.

"By the way, Ms. Stardust. I'm curious, why did you stop that missile?"

Seriously, why did she stop it?

If she had just left it alone, it would have cleanly destroyed the giant mech, and as a bonus, maybe even taken me out too. Two birds with one stone.

To my question, she finally opened her mouth.

Huh, I thought I'd be ignored again?

With a slightly trembling voice, she said to me.

"...Just...."

"Just?"

"With this, I've repaid my debt, right?"

After saying that with a faint smile, she fainted.

Looking at her, still with that slight smile on her face as she collapsed.

I couldn't smile.

"......."

Repaid her debt?

What does that mean? So she stopped it to save me? Not for some other reason?

....Why? How come? I'm a villain?

What hero in the world would risk their life to protect a villain?

As I thought about it, I felt a bit dizzy.

....Could she have figured it out? The reason why I act as a villain? My true intentions?

No, that's impossible. She's so rigid and principled. I have a criminal record. Why would she do that?

....But then, what was that reaction just now?

Having reached the ground, I laid Stardust down nearby. She was still quietly lying there, collapsed.

"....."

I pressed my throbbing head with my hand.

Yes, regardless of how she sees me, that's not what's important right now. What's important is how to handle this situation. Everyone probably saw Stardust flying up to stop the missile. But the problem is why she stopped it. If it comes out that she did it to protect me, all hell will break loose.

....I don't mean it will burn with dating rumors. Though it would burn with that too, her quality as a hero would be questioned and hostile forces might attack.

So what should I do?

I need to prove the legitimacy of her actions.

I quickly thought it through.

The people's distrust of the government in this world, the president's low approval rating, the favorable public opinion toward me and Stardust, people who are easily inflamed. The missile that's no longer visible, possibly in space by now.

Good, this is the answer.

After fully forming my plan, I contacted Seo-eun.

"Seo-eun, did you hijack the broadcast?"

[Yes. And that news camera? I had it turned off too.]

"I'm going to start broadcasting now, throw me the camera... no, I'll come get it."

With that, I teleported back to the mech's cockpit.

Everyone looked at me questioningly as I suddenly appeared.

"Choi Se-hee. Camera, please."

"Huh? Here."

"Seo-eun, prepare to broadcast now."

"Got it."

I took the camera from Se-hee and teleported back to the top of the mech's head.

It was getting dark now, twilight setting in.

I need to do this quickly and leave.

After taking a deep breath, I turned on the camera.

My face would be seen on all terrestrial TV channels through broadcast hijacking after a long time.

And this time, with the added Ego-stream, my face would also reach the entire internet.

And sure enough, as soon as I turned it on, the chat window filled up.

[Broadcast is ON like a dog lolololol]

[Why are you turning it on only now, damn it lololololol]

[Where did my heart-pounding giant robot battle go?????? Where is it!!!!!]

[I saw Stardust suddenly going up and then the news broadcast was cut off, what's going on?]

[What's happening? Why are you outside?]

[Where's Stardust?]

[What was the reason for Stardust's sudden acceleration earlier? I'm dying to know]

[I came in with expectations but where's the giant mech... it was the only entertainment on the evacuation road...]

Looking at the camera, I first greeted everyone with a smile and began.

"Hello everyone! This is Egostic!"

And I immediately continued.

"And, you might be wondering why the battle suddenly stopped, but unfortunately, this is the end. Ms. Stardust has collapsed."

[?????]

[What does this mean]

[Why did Stardust collapse? Did she lose in the end?]

[No, she suddenly went up and then the broadcast was cut off, it must be related to that?]

[Where did my giant mech go!!!!]

"Ms. Stardust collapsed after stopping something that suddenly flew toward us during the battle. Everyone, please don't be shocked when you hear this."

I paused there and took a breath.

Yes, from here on is important.

From now on, I'm deceiving myself. Extreme agitation and fabrication means even I am being agitated and fabricated.

All of this is for Stardust. Come on, I am truthful... I am truthful...

With self-conviction, I shouted with the most truthful voice, a voice full of trustworthiness.

"The president launched a nuclear bomb at Seoul just to catch me!"

"Stardust threw herself to stop it!"

"This is the truth, everyone!!!"

[?]

[What?]

[??????????????]

[Ah shit, why does it sound plausible when you say the president did it]

[So this was it]

[Wow, seriously?]

[That's a lie, it can't be!....but wait?]

[So that's why Stardust flew up? This is creepy]

[I knew the government would do something like this someday]

[This~~~ president, I,,knew,,it,,,,@!! Arrest,,him,,now,,,you bastards@@@!!!]

Now, let's start the agitation and fabrication.

Did you think I would just sit still?

Let's all go to hell together, you bastard.

***

"Such!!! Nonsense!!! Prime Minister! Turn that off right now!! Stop the broadcast!!!"

"...I'm sorry, Mr. President, but because that person has hijacked the broadcast, there's nothing we can do on our end."

"Ugh..."

"Mr. President, we have a big problem!"

"What now!"

"The Director of the Association has issued a statement! 'It's true that the president launched a nuclear bomb'...that's what it says. They're probably trying to protect their hero!"

"....What on earth is this..."

The president collapsed.