Chapter 95 - Obsession

Lee Seol-ah.

For her, today was the best day she'd had in recent memory.

The day she showcased herself stopping a terrorist attack in front of the entire nation alongside Egostic, the man she had her eye on.

A perfect opportunity to instantly boost her previously stagnant recognition and fame, while also creating a connection between Icicle and Egostic.

It could be considered a perfect day—the terrorist operation concluded flawlessly according to their pre-planned scheme, and her company's stock was already showing signs of rising.

...It would have been absolutely perfect if not for one concern—Egostic seemed much more exhausted than she had anticipated after the terrorist attack.

Yes, everything was perfect until her friend Stardus suddenly appeared where she and Egostic were saying their goodbyes.

"....."

Gulp.

Lee Seol-ah unconsciously swallowed as she watched Stardus approaching her.

Egostic, who had been laughing and chatting with her just moments ago, was already hurriedly escaping with his airship.

And Lee Seol-ah?

She was left alone to deal with Stardus.

And moments later, Haru appeared right in front of her.

And Haru's expression was...

"......"

Simply expressionless.

...And terrifyingly so.

'...She... she couldn't have heard, could she?'

Seeing that expression, Lee Seol-ah began to feel tense.

She had been close friends with Haru for several years now.

In all that time by Haru's side, Seol-ah had almost never seen her wear such a cold, expressionless face.

But who was Lee Seol-ah?

She was a seasoned player in both business and political circles.

Only amateurs show signs of panic in situations like this.

So, Seol-ah forced a smile and spoke to Haru as if surprised.

"Oh, Haru! What brings you here? How did you know to come he—"

"What were you two talking about?"

And just like that, Seol-ah's efforts sank beneath Haru's expressionless interruption.

Though Shin Ha-ru's demeanor remained calm as she casually threw out the question, Seol-ah noticed something different from usual.

...Eyes more downcast than normal, and words delivered with an icy tone that seemed impossible for Haru.

Seol-ah was on the verge of losing her composure, but with superhuman effort, she managed to answer without stammering, still smiling.

"Huh? Oh, you saw us? It was nothing really. Egostic was just provoking me, so I played along. Haha... Anyway, Haru, weren't you in Seoul? How did you get to Busan—"

"You were smiling."

And once again, Seol-ah's words were cut off by Shin Ha-ru.

"...Both of you were smiling while talking."

As Haru continued to stare at her with that cold, subdued expression.

Though Seol-ah felt like her soul was being wrung out, she barely managed to open her mouth and answer as if nothing was wrong.

"Oh, that? We were just mocking each other with sarcastic smiles. It was nothing."

Seol-ah thought her answer sounded natural enough.

But Shin Ha-ru already sensed something from the way Seol-ah avoided eye contact and slightly twisted a strand of her hair while speaking.

"......"

After quietly looking down at Seol-ah, Haru turned her head to look to the side.

In the direction Shin Ha-ru was looking, Egostic's airship could be seen in the distance, working hard to get away.

As soon as she confirmed this, Shin Ha-ru turned her body, preparing to fly after it. To catch up to that ship.

And just as she was about to take flight.

Someone grabbed her arm in mid-air, stopping her with a firm grip.

".....?"

"Haru? Where are you going?"

Lee Seol-ah. She had hurriedly grabbed Stardus as she tried to go after Egostic.

And at that moment.

A chillingly cold word pierced Seol-ah's ears, so frigid she could hardly believe it came from Shin Ha-ru.

"Let go."

That instantaneous command, carrying almost murderous intent, made her momentarily flinch and nearly release her grip.

But she didn't let go, standing firm as she continued speaking.

...If she let Haru go now to meet Egostic, who knows what might happen. Really.

With firm resolve that she needed to stop her, Seol-ah calmly spoke to Shin Ha-ru.

"Haru. Egostic just said he would bomb Busan again if anyone followed him. I don't think you should go after him. Think about the people down there! Right?"

Though she started speaking forcefully, Seol-ah gradually trailed off as Haru's expression grew colder with each word.

And so, with Seol-ah still gripping Stardus's arm, an uncomfortable silence descended.

After a brief moment passed.

Shin Ha-ru finally relaxed her arm.

"...Is that so? Then I have no choice."

Then, as if she had never hardened her expression, Haru returned to her usual, nonchalant face.

Taking advantage of this shift, Seol-ah spoke again with a suggestion.

"...Well then, Haru, since the misunderstanding seems cleared up, shall we head back? People are waiting for us."

"Sure. And since there's nothing good about showing myself to people, I'll go back first. Okay?"

"Y-yeah."

With that, Shin Ha-ru flashed a slight smile at Seol-ah, then kicked off into the air in the opposite direction, toward the city, disappearing in an instant.

And watching her retreating figure.

Only then did Seol-ah let out a sigh as all strength suddenly left her body, causing her to nearly collapse onto the ice platform where she stood.

"Haah... seriously."

She felt like she'd aged ten years.

Seeing Haru's surprisingly cold and icy expression for the first time in her life, Seol-ah had momentarily tensed up, thinking her relationship with Egostic had been discovered.

If Haru found out that this entire terrorist attack was a staged performance between her and Egostic, the situation would be unimaginable.

But fortunately, judging by how things went, she didn't seem to have noticed that far. She probably only saw her and Egostic talking and smiling.

"...Huh?"

Having thought that far, Seol-ah realized something strange.

Would Haru really give off such a terrifying aura just because of that? With such an icy expression?

...That wasn't like Haru at all.

"Wait... Could this be...?"

As her thoughts connected one after another, Seol-ah realized something and unconsciously raised the corners of her mouth.

Could it be that Haru...

***

Over the sea, where cold winds were blowing.

Shin Ha-ru was flying across the ocean, avoiding the mainland where people had gathered.

"....."

From Seoul to Busan.

After persuading the Director, she had awakened Shadow Walker and teleported directly to Busan.

And what she saw as soon as she arrived was...

Right after the terrorist attack ended, Egostic and Icicle talking and laughing together.

Grind.

Recalling that scene again, Shin Ha-ru unconsciously gritted her teeth.

....Why did her insides boil just thinking about that sight?

"....Right."

After some time had passed, a slightly calmer Haru took a deep breath and settled her mind.

...I think I reacted too sensitively to Seol-ah earlier. I should apologize to her later.

However.

Separately from that.

She recalled once more Seol-ah's relaxed, smiling face.

...By any measure, it wasn't the kind of expression one would make in front of a villain.

But, well. It could happen.

If it was Egostic.

As Egostic's face, smiling back at Seol-ah, also came to mind again.

Feeling her own face hardening again without realizing it, Shin Ha-ru... experienced a flashback of all her encounters with Egostic until now.

Egostic's voice when he suddenly contacted her while she was giving up and despairing, telling her she could do it, speaking as if he believed in her without a doubt.

Egostic's expression as he sacrificed himself to save her when she was about to die, embracing his wounds and smiling painfully.

Egostic's embrace as he came and held her in mid-air when she lost strength and fell, abandoning his fight to protect her.

...Yes.

Yes. Perhaps, just perhaps.

If it were someone other than herself—someone weaker, more innocent, more ordinary...

They might have fallen for Egostic.

Like Icicle, who smiled at him despite having only met him recently, smiling in ways she rarely did even in front of herself.

Like that woman who smiled foolishly without knowing anything about what he was hiding, perhaps the secrets behind why he committed terrorist acts.

"....Ha."

Having thought that far, Shin Ha-ru...

Finally.

Realized her own feelings.

Yes.

She finally understood why she kept thinking about him.

She was the only one who wouldn't be swayed by his tactics.

She was the only one who could steadfastly capture him, no matter what he did.

She was the only one who could uncover his secrets without being shaken by his actions.

Therefore.

He was someone only she should face.

Only she could deal with him.

"....."

It had been quite some time since Egostic and Stardus became entangled.

And in that time, all the accumulated emotions, thoughts, and speculations she had felt while meeting him gathered in one place.

A single conclusion about Egostic formed within Stardus.

"Egostic..."

Egostic. He was.

Someone only she could face.

Her own.

Her very own villain.

***

"What the... what's going on?"

"What's wrong, boss?"

As I fled with the airship to escape Stardus, I unconsciously shuddered at a chilling sensation running down my spine.

"No, wait..."

I feel like something's gone terribly wrong.

What is this?

I trembled with inexplicable anxiety.

I'd been having these sudden uneasy feelings lately...

But today it feels especially intense?

"What is it...."

I could only mutter to myself.

And so, without my knowledge.

The genre of this world, which had been based on the hero comic {Stardust!}, began to change little by little.