Chapter 93 - Airship Raid

An endless sea stretching beyond the horizon.

On its surface, where the scorching sun's heat reflected and sparkled off the water.

A massive ship floated gently, sailing forward.

And at the very front of the deck.

Where the sea spread out directly before one's eyes.

I spread my arms wide toward the camera and shouted.

"Hello everyone! This is Egostic!"

[Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic!]

[Why has it been so long lolololol]

[Mango! Mango! Mango! Mango!]

[Oppa take me! Oppa take me! Oppa take me! Oppa take me!]

[This is hilarious right from the start of the broadcast lololol]

[Wait where is this?? What's with the ocean???]

[Looks like he's on a ship but why can we see the sky]

[What kind of event is it today lololololol]

Looking at the chat that still showed zero caution, I smiled. I'm not sure when things got this way... but, well, what can't be helped can't be helped.

Anyway, with my back to the sea and arms spread wide, I continued speaking to the camera.

"Everyone. As I mentioned in the last broadcast, do you remember when I said I would create a villain alliance by villains, for villains? I named it Ego-stream."

After saying that, I grinned and pulled over the three rabbit-helmeted figures who had been fidgeting beside me.

"With that in mind, let me introduce you! These are the new villains who have agreed to collaborate with our Ego-stream. In that spirit, please say a few words to the viewers!"

The three were startled when the camera suddenly turned toward them.

Then, the red one in the middle began speaking with a trembling voice.

"H-hello... We are the T-T-Team Lapis... Yes, um, er, ah, hello?"

Trembling like a nervous new employee in front of an interviewer.

Come on, what kind of villains get this scared!

[Lolololololololol]

[Why so nervous lololololol]

[Why say hello twice lolol]

[Is this a villain or an elementary school class president election lolololololol]

[This villain is so cuuuute wwwwww]

[I want to lick that rabbit helmet]

[Wow this character is so fresh lololol what is this?]

Of course, the viewers' reactions were explosive.

This isn't a school performance, why are they so nervous?

No. 1 had already said that much and seemed to have lost his mind, just standing there blankly. No. 2 and No. 3 beside him were the same.

This won't do, I need to help them out.

I approached No. 1, who was standing there soullessly, put my arm around his shoulder, and smiled at the camera.

"Hahaha. This friend is a bit nervous since it's his first broadcast. Come on, No. 1, you should smile! Hahaha."

"Haha..."

"These friends are Team Lapis, and since they had this magnificent airship, I persuaded them to sign an exclusive contract with our Ego-stream. I saw them bringing this airship while I was enjoying myself at sea. So at my suggestion, they joined forces with Ego-stream!"

"...Hahaha, yes. That's right."

[Lolololol why does Mango look like such a thug]

[How can a villain be named No. 1 lololololol]

[Are they really friends?? They look more like villains who've been forcibly reformed]

[Why does that No. 1 guy look like his soul has left his body when he talks]

[You should smile lolololololol]

[Is this advice from a broadcasting veteran?]

[It looks like they were trying to terrorize with that airship when Egostic caught them, beat them up, and declared 'This is mine now' - or is that just my imagination?]

....How did they know?

Anyway, let's move past these trivial matters and get to today's main point.

"Anyway, I see Busan is just ahead! Yes, as some of you might have guessed, my terrorist act this time is the conquest of Busan. A delightful journey to turn Haeundae into the Ego Republic!"

As I spoke, the airship had already floated to the front of Busan's harbor.

There, I spread my arms wide once more and opened my mouth.

"Now! Busan is mine. Load the cannons!"

"Yes boss!"

With the chorus from No. 1, 2, and 3 behind me, the gun ports attached to the ship's walls began to open one by one.

And simultaneously, I shouted.

"Fire!!!"

"Fire!"

With their cheers from behind, cannonballs began firing from the gun ports toward the city.

The beginning of terrorism.

And...

After briefly moving the camera away.

I quietly opened my mouth and muttered.

"Right. The terrorist attack is starting now. Have all the people been evacuated?"

As I muttered that, Lee Seol-ah's amused voice came through my earpiece.

[Yes, of course. We've already evacuated everyone under Yu-seong Group's name. Soon there will probably be news articles about how Yu-seong is more competent than the government, hehe.]

"Right, right. And I'll just be attacking this southern area for now, okay? What are you going to do?"

[Hmm... It might be awkward if I appear right away, so I'll come a bit later. Roughly speaking, there's no one in the south, but there are still a few people who couldn't evacuate in the southeast, so I think I should step in when you attack there?]

"Sure. Do as you see fit. See you in a bit then."

[Yes. See you then.]

After ending the call, I looked down at the ship again.

The scene captured by the camera was a city being attacked by a massive ship floating in the air.

People will never know. That this is all a staged performance.

From the beginning, a kind of massive national scam where the timing and outline of the terrorist attack were all discussed in advance with the heroes.

While all the terrorist attacks I've carried out against Stardust so far have focused on helping her grow, this one is different.

It's partly to show that I don't only carry out terrorist attacks in Seoul where Stardust is, partly to expand Ego-stream through collaboration with Team Lapis, and partly to help boost Icicle's popularity as well.

In other words, it's already a meticulously planned play.

I've already worked out all the execution plans. Roughly speaking, I'll go bang-bang at the city, and just before people get attacked, Icicle will step in to save them and defeat us to save the city.

Well, a flawless and clean job.

As I looked down from the ship floating in the air, I thought.

It's fresh and nice to carry out terrorism in a new place while feeling the sea breeze.

But still, doing it with Stardust is the best.

Well, I should focus on Icicle for now.

After thoroughly attacking the beach area, I moved further inland.

Now it's time for the real show.

***

Bang. Bang.

A city under attack.

And people fleeing.

"Wow... what is that thing."

People gaped at the massive airship casting shadows over the city.

And now, the airship was beginning to approach the area where people had evacuated.

"Ahhh!"

And just before they were attacked.

Whoooosh.

With a sudden sharp sound from somewhere.

A massive ice barrier appeared in front of the people.

And from behind, a woman's shout.

"Don't worry everyone! I'm here!"

And the woman who appeared before them with light blue hair fluttering was.

A-rank hero, Icicle.

She appeared at the critical moment just before people were about to be attacked.

After shooting ice to stop the incoming cannonballs in mid-air, she began shouting toward the airship.

"Did you say you're Egostic? Stop the bombardment right now! Otherwise, you won't get away unharmed!"

And after her shout, a loud male voice came from above.

[Hahaha! I can't do that. So you're Icicle, the pride of Busan! Nice to meet you. Well then, try to block this too!]

With his shout, bombs began raining down toward Icicle.

"Not a chance!"

And she began blocking all those bombs by firing ice in all directions.

While doing so, Icicle created ice platforms in the air and began jumping from one to another, approaching the airship above.

[Hahaha! Yes, come and try to catch me!]

"Egostic! I will defeat you right here!"

With the exaggerated dialogue between the hero and villain that somehow resembled a play.

Ice from one side and bombs from the other began flying everywhere.

And so, in the skies above Busan, the full-scale battle began.

***

Seoul, Hero Association Headquarters.

The Director's office on the top floor.

There, the Director looked with a troubled face at the blonde woman standing before him.

"So, Stardust. You want to go to Busan right now?"

"Yes."

"....Well, from what I can see, Icicle seems to be handling it quite well, do you really need to go?"

"To prevent any possible additional casualties, I think it's appropriate for me, as an Egostic specialist, to go. I also think it might be too much for Seol-ah to handle alone."

Looking at Stardust speaking calmly with slightly downcast eyes, the Director unconsciously scratched his empty head.

...It really doesn't seem necessary for her to go, why is she acting like this?