Chapter 90 - Affair

# The Reason I Decided to Cooperate with Lee Seol-ah

There are quite a few reasons why I decided to cooperate with Lee Seol-ah.

At first, I did consider eliminating her since she is a mastermind behind the scenes after all.

But after thinking it through, I concluded that it would be more advantageous overall to let her manipulate the Republic of Korea. From what I saw in the original story, she rules while maintaining certain boundaries.

And especially, if I leave her as the mastermind, I have the advantage of being able to use her.

The truth is, my abilities are limited to hacking and terrorism, so I need to borrow greater power. And Lee Seol-ah is perfect for that.

So I proposed cooperation with her.

A week later, she accepted, and thus an alliance between hero and villain was established.

"Hmm. The coffee tastes good."

"Hehe. You really know how to enjoy coffee, don't you? This is Esmeralda Special. It's an extremely rare variety, you know?"

What the hell is that?

But here, I just quietly nodded. If you stay quiet, you can usually get by. Esme...ralda? Well, I guess that's a thing.

"By the way, you've been speaking informally to me quite naturally."

Lee Seol-ah said that while giving me a sideways glance.

Well, you know.

"We're allies now, so wouldn't it be weirder to speak formally? You should speak informally too."

When I said that with a shrug, she narrowed her eyes.

"No thanks."

Lee Seol-ah folded her arms as she said that. Well, from what I know from the original story, she only speaks informally to Shin Ha-ru and uses formal speech with everyone else. So this isn't particularly surprising.

Anyway, although she shows a slightly grumpy attitude, she's quite compliant. More precisely, she follows my words obediently. The USB I gave her last time probably had a significant effect.

Lee Seol-ah. As far as I know, she should be focusing on conquering the business world around this time. Being as ambitious as she is, she's probably concentrating on swallowing other companies. Especially since the Han-eun Group has collapsed.

Of course, that's not easy, and while she was probably racking her brain, ta-da! I appeared and just gave her the answers. She can probably solve everything with the information contained in my USB that would have taken her years to figure out otherwise. Of course, I gathered the information using Seo-eun. Thanks, Seo-eun.

Anyway, she seems to have considerably lowered her guard against me because of my little gift. In fact, the atmosphere is much more comfortable than before. She probably calculated that I really intend to cooperate with her, and that it would be beneficial to be on my side.

"Hey. I've written everything down, so read it."

While I was momentarily lost in thought, her voice came from the front.

At the top floor of Busan's Yu-seong Group.

We were in a reception room set up on one side, in the middle of determining the terms we would agree on.

"Oh? Is this the basic contract?"

"Yes. Since we'll decide the rest verbally anyway, I just wrote down the basics."

The content written in her neat handwriting with a pen.

After skimming through it, I could summarize it as "Let's help each other."

"Additional information provision. Right. I'll help as much as I can. We're on the same team now, so it's good for me if you do well."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Have you only been deceived your whole life?"

I smiled wryly at her as her eyes sparkled.

Indeed. Her ambition is truly remarkable even from this time. Her attitude of being willing to do anything for her dream is admirable. It's just a bit of a miss that the dream is conquering Korea...

"And well, if there's anything else you want to add, say it now. Let's decide everything here."

"Really? Then... meet with me once a week from now on."

"What?"

"Let's meet once a week to share information with each other. You said we're allies, right? Allies should see each other often."

"...You want me to come down to Busan once a week?"

No way.

Reading my negative expression, she hummed and said:

"If you don't like that, I can come up to Seoul."

The contract we made is actually simple.

I help her conquer the Republic of Korea, and she informs me of all forces trying to interfere with me—whether it's the government or the association. That's it.

But is this something we need to meet face-to-face weekly for? It seems like meeting occasionally would be enough.

"Once a week is too much, let's meet once a month. That would be perfect."

"What do you mean perfect? Don't be ridiculous."

She retorted as if it was absurd.

In the end, after discussion, we agreed to meet once every two weeks.

"...So, is the Republic of Korea conquest project going well?"

"Don't even ask. Sigh, they should just agree to merge quietly, but they're being so difficult..."

When I casually asked how things were progressing these days, she talked freely. I nodded as I listened to her story mixed with laments. Yes, yes. I see.

We talked for quite a long time. Perhaps because we share the common ground of hiding our true intentions and identities while outwardly acting differently, we communicated well. This is another unexpected development.

After talking for who knows how long.

As we continued to discuss various topics, we eventually reached the subject of Shin Ha-ru.

"Our Ha-ru... Ah. Wait. Didn't you not know about this? Did I accidentally leak it?"

"Do you think I wouldn't know? Stardust. Shin Ha-ru. I know everything."

"I guess I thought you would know. But you know..."

She said that much, then brought her head closer to me as if very curious and said:

"But... this is something I've been wondering about for a while, why are you so obsessed with Stardust?"

"Obsessed? Me?"

"Yes. You."

When did I become obsessed? That's slander.

As I acted shamelessly as if I didn't know what she was talking about, she smiled with her eyes and opened her mouth.

"You're specifically targeting our Ha-ru to help her grow, aren't you? It's like you're power-leveling her in a game. Your villain activities seem to be an extension of that concept. Right?"

Why is she so perceptive?

While I hesitated to answer, she had already stood up and quietly approached my side.

Then, she came to the chair next to where I was sitting and placed her arm on it. Then, as if whispering to me, she began to speak.

"To be honest, I'm a bit envious of Stardust. You know how much our Ha-ru's popularity increases every time she fights with you."

After saying that, she lowered her head for a moment and leaned her body toward me.

Her sky-blue hair fell in front of me, blocking my view, and from the side, she spoke to me in a voice smaller than before, as if whispering.

"...So, I'm asking you. Can't you terrorize me too? We're comrades. Come out with Icicle and say something to me too. Please?"

Now speaking to me in an almost pleading voice, I turned my face toward her.

Then, our eyes met with Lee Seol-ah, who was looking at me from a distance close enough for our breaths to touch.

Her face, smiling at me with her eyes, filled my vision, and as she got closer and closer, I unconsciously raised my hand toward her and—

Flicked her forehead with a thwack.

"Ouch!"

She retreated, clutching her forehead from the sudden attack.

Her face turned red, and tears even appeared in her eyes.

"What are you doing!"

She cried out as if the world had wronged her, and I answered with a smile.

"What do you mean? It's to bring you back to your senses."

"What are you saying! T-this is sexual harassment. I'm going to report you!"

"A-rank hero sexually harassed by villain in her own home, shocked. That would make headlines, sure."

I just quietly smiled at her as she glared at me with tears still slightly pooled in her eyes. I hit her very lightly, but she's overreacting.

....And, she's probably overreacting because she's embarrassed. No, what was that atmosphere just now? I don't understand why she acted like that. I get that she's comfortable with me, but suddenly? Was she trying to seduce me?

Well, judging by her red ears, that seems to be the case. She's still naive after all.

Anyway, let's reconsider her proposal.

Terrorism. If I were to do it, she's probably talking about Busan?

"...And, terrorism is not an option."

"What? Why not!"

She snapped at me.

Why, you ask? Well, that's because my terrorism is reserved only for Stardust.

As I was about to answer that, I thought that it wouldn't be bad to help develop Icicle as well. Since I took care of the Behemoth that she was supposed to defeat in the original story, causing her power-up event to disappear, I should take some responsibility.

....But, it doesn't have to be now, right?

I changed my words and said again.

"...Alright, I'll do it. But not now. Later."

"When later? Give me a specific plan!"

I don't have one.

I quickly changed the subject.

"...By the way, are you close with Stardust?"

"Ha-ru? Yes, we're close. But why does that suddenly come up?"

I continued speaking before she could hurriedly return to the original topic.

"It's nothing much. Just badmouth me in front of Ha-ru from now on."

"....What?"

She tilted her head as if she didn't understand my words for a moment. And not missing the moment she was confused, I said as if driving in a wedge:

"I want you to consistently talk behind my back."

"...Why? Are you a pervert?"

What are you saying?

*

"So, you want me to badmouth you to make sure Ha-ru sees you as a villain before she starts suspecting you?"

"Yes."

"....Well, I don't think this will work."

"No, it will."

Who am I? I'm a Stardust expert.

I can be 100% certain this will work.

Who is Shin Ha-ru? She's a girl filled with a sense of justice.

She's not very perceptive, and she's especially easily swayed by her friends' words, so if someone keeps reminding her that I'm a heinous villain, she won't suspect me and will continue to be hostile.

Although Lee Seol-ah in front of me had a doubtful expression. No, trust me!

"....Well, I understand for now. I'll try my best."

"Thank you."

I said that much and stood up.

I've done what I needed to do. Let's go back.

As I stood up, Lee Seol-ah, who had been sitting in front, also jumped up and said:

"Are you leaving?"

"Yeah. We've decided everything, right? Let's meet again in two weeks. We've exchanged numbers too."

"...No, wait! What about my terrorism?"

I'll do it for you someday. Someday.

As I was about to say that, a sudden thought flashed through my mind.

Come to think of it, isn't that event happening in Busan soon?

If it's that... maybe... I might not even need to appear...

I changed what I was going to say and said again:

"Alright. Fine. I'll contact you soon, so be ready. Got it?"

"Really? You'll do it for me soon too, right?"

"I said it's real. Have you only been deceived your whole life?"

I couldn't help but smile as I looked at the pleased Icicle.

No, a hero begging a villain to cause terrorism. What is this? It's not even match-fixing.

This is the adult world that kids don't know about. It's like how politicians fight in public but call each other brothers and share drinks behind closed doors.

After finishing the additional agreement, I was finally able to leave the place.

Well, it seems to have gone well.

....But it seems to have gone too well?

***

"Miss. Did something good happen?"

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing."

In the back seat of the car heading home again.

Leaning back in her seat and reflecting on the day's events, Lee Seol-ah felt herself smiling without realizing it.

Egostic. The meeting with him was very good.

When she saw him on TV, she had expected him to be just a madman, but meeting him in person, he was much better than she had anticipated. To her surprise.

Especially, he was someone she could talk to after a long time besides Ha-ru. Especially since he understood all the things she couldn't discuss with Ha-ru.

"....I like him."

She murmured without realizing it, her eyes sparkling.

Lee Seol-ah. She was very fond of this man called Egostic. He was capable, easy to talk to, and trustworthy. In a word, she was smitten.

With absolute confidence in her judgment, she was certain.

Yes. She had to make this man her ally. She decided that.

Since she was someone who had always managed to get what she set her mind on since childhood, by any means necessary, she was confident.

In the dark back seat of the car.

Only her eyes sparkled in the darkness.

Egostic.

She would make him hers.

***

"....Somehow, I feel uneasy."

Shin Ha-ru murmured without realizing it.

For some reason, her anxiety was growing rather than subsiding.

What could it be?