Chapter 108 - Miss Me?

# The Moon Priestess's Third Terror

Two terrorist attacks by the Moon Priestess.

The city crumbling easily despite heroes' best efforts.

Citizens were shocked by this overwhelming power, unlike anything the Republic of Korea had ever experienced before.

Even more terrifying was the fact that no one knew when these attacks would end.

The Association was desperately trying to recruit S-class heroes from abroad, but even that wasn't working out.

The Moon Priestess's unpredictable magic and rumors that abilities weakened upon entering her storm had everyone terrified.

As a result, the Republic of Korea was left helplessly sitting by, falling victim to this villain. Without knowing the villain's name or reasons for doing this. Just that easily.

Now politicians were even suggesting abandoning Seoul and relocating the capital to Busan.

While everyone was suffering from anxiety, worry, frustration, powerlessness, and despair...

The person feeling the most despair was none other than the hero obligated to stop this villain.

Stardust.

"......"

Seoul Hero Association.

In the office where the overall atmosphere was very gloomy, a woman sat quietly.

[...So, according to an anonymous tip, there will likely be an attack in that area today. So stay on standby.]

A week after the last attack occurred.

After receiving a tip that the Moon Priestess's third attack would happen, she was waiting at her post.

To prevent the attack that would likely occur today.

...

Right. Prevent.

"...Haha."

Shin Ha-ru, who had been thinking this far, unconsciously let out an empty laugh.

Could she stop it this time?

".....Haah."

The fear of not being able to protect citizens from a terrorist.

The despair of having to watch helplessly as the city was ravaged by just one person.

All of these emotions combined to cast a shadow over her face.

Was there truly no hope?

Continuously facing the Moon Priestess's attacks, she realized.

This was something she absolutely couldn't handle alone.

Unless someone helped her, Seoul would continue to be destroyed.

But.

Who, who would help her?

At that moment, her eyes unconsciously drifted to a bookmarked café page, but she shook off that fantasy.

No. That's impossible.

Facing this alone was the only way.

But can I really do it?

Please.

Someone, help me.

While sitting there lost in thought...

Suddenly sirens began blaring throughout the Association, and an emergency was declared.

[Pink storm detected in eastern Seoul! It's the Moon Priestess's third attack! Stardust, please deploy immediately!]

The urgent voice coming through the speaker.

Hearing it, she quietly stood up, opened the window, and threw herself outside.

The dark night sky, and in the distance, a deep pink storm rising to the heavens.

Flying through the cold night air.

Shin Ha-ru thought quietly with a dark expression.

Would anything be different today?

Would she still lose, would the villain escape again, would Seoul be destroyed again, would citizens be hurt again? Would it just repeat?

In the end, would today be exactly the same as before?

Could anything change?

***

Just like before, the Moon's storm was raging.

But today was different.

"Alright. Is everyone ready?"

Somewhere on the outskirts of Seoul.

In a place where the wind was particularly cold today, I called out to those below me.

"Yes! All ready!"

"Departure preparations complete!"

Our rabbit-helmeted kids saluting in military fashion, reporting that they were ready for takeoff.

"Good. Everyone board the airship! And Ha-yul, let's go."

"Okay...."

Nodding with satisfaction, I turned to look at Ha-yul.

Unlike usual, Ha-yul was dressed in a snow-white robe.

Wearing clothes that looked like something a mage or priest from a fantasy game would wear, she was tugging at her outfit as if uncomfortable with what she was wearing.

"...But brother, do I really have to wear this?"

"Of course. This is your debut, so the concept is essential."

"....Okay."

Taking the hand of the girl who was still looking at her outfit awkwardly, I floated up to the airship.

Our Ha-yul. She's been a member since the beginning along with Seo-eun and Su-bin, but I've never introduced her to the public.

Of course, since Lee Ha-yul's ability is healing rather than combat, there hasn't really been a need for her in terrorist situations.

But now that there's finally something for her to do, she's making her debut like this. And officially announcing her as an Ego-stream member.

...Somehow it seems like everyone except Seo-eun is registered as a member on the Ego-stream site, but that must be my imagination.

While thinking about this, I realized I had already boarded the airship.

Ha-yul's white robe, well, I don't actually plan to reveal her abilities in detail this time, so I just had her wear something that looked impressive. Something mysterious-looking. That way people will think "Oh, she must have some kind of ability!" just by looking at her.

Anyway, that's not what's important.

The key in this situation is to go rescue our Stardust.

And so, the airship began to rise into the sky.

And started flying in earnest toward the distant place where a pink whirlwind could be seen.

The airship, flying in stealth mode, traveled instantly.

"Egostic! We're almost there!"

[Hmm. I sense an ominous energy.]

The place where the airship arrived was where a massive pink storm had swallowed the city.

Reaching the vicinity, I quietly observed the desolate scene.

One of dozens of terrorist attacks caused by the Moon Priestess of the Moon Cult.

The attack that eventually destroyed Seoul, turning the original work into a perfect dystopia on the brink of ruin.

The main event I had decided to prevent in this world.

And in this now-reality...

I decided not to intervene for the first two attacks, leaving it entirely to Stardust.

Because I had already shattered all the dystopian events that should have happened in the original work, and even made Stardust much stronger than before.

The villains appearing at this point should have been easy for Stardust to handle.

Therefore, since the protagonist of this comic, Stardust, grows through hardship...

Instead of stepping in to prevent the dozens of attacks that would have occurred originally,

I let Stardust face just two attacks alone.

....Honestly, although I was prepared, it wasn't easy watching Shin Ha-ru struggle alone. I could see her mental state crumbling in real time.

But I believed this was a necessary process, so I held back my tears and didn't intervene.

Until now.

And now it was the third attack.

Finally, finally it was time to step in.

So as soon as the third attack occurred, I headed to the scene with the airship. Alright, let's quickly capture the Moon Priestess and escape.

With that thought, arriving at the scene where the pink storm was raging in real time, what I saw was...

Shin Ha-ru being thrown out of the typhoon.

"....Ah."

After being thrown out and hitting the ground several times.

Kneeling on one knee, trying to stand up while staggering.

And her exhausted expression.

Even watching Shin Ha-ru struggle through a screen had brought tears to my eyes.

But seeing her suffering like this directly, with my own eyes...

It was more.

Much more.

Much, much more heartbreaking than I expected.

"Da-in brother?"

"Ha-yul. Wait here."

And I...

Before I knew it, I felt my body launching from that spot.

She looked so small compared to that huge storm.

With an exhausted expression, looking as if she had lost everything, half-collapsed and staring blankly at the storm...

I quietly flew right behind her without her noticing.

In that moment, with a surge of emotion...

Without even realizing it, quietly...

I placed my hand on her head and stroked it.

"...You've worked hard."

***

"Urgh..."

It had already been hours since this began.

Inside the pink storm, facing dozens of magic circles alone in the strong wind, she swallowed her groans.

Still, an enemy too powerful for her to face alone.

She had already realized it from the previous two attacks, but still.

She absolutely could not win alone.

Absolutely not.

"Haa... Haa..."

But because she had to do something.

She was struggling to get inside, fighting to break through this storm.

But she already thought to herself.

Ah. As expected.

It's not going to work.

Today too.

And next time as well.

"....Hik!"

Purple beams pouring out from a magic circle that suddenly appeared at her side.

She barely managed to block it by turning her arm, but she couldn't block the exploding sphere from the side.

Finally thrown back, she flew through the air.

....Ah.

It's not working after all.

No matter how I think about it, I can't win.

Not this time.

Not next time either.

"...Urgh."

Hit by the attack and finally thrown out of the storm.

After hitting the ground several times and finally stopping.

She barely managed to raise her body, kneeling on one knee.

With tired eyes, she looked at the storm that was still raging fiercely.

She couldn't win.

She felt like she was going to die.

"....Haa, haa."

Ordinary people are saved by heroes in moments of crisis.

Then what about heroes?

In heroes' moments of crisis, is there someone to save them?

She had thought about it before.

Of course not.

"......"

So. With a deep sense of despair.

She stared blankly at the storm.

In the end, there was no one to help.

That thing would just continue to destroy the city.

Like this, slowly, everything would end.

Finally, a light of resignation crossed her eyes.

This must be as far as it goes.

No miracle could happen now.

As she was thinking that, staring blankly at the storm.

At that moment.

Suddenly something warm came upon her head.

"....You've worked hard."

"....?"

With unfocused eyes, still not understanding the situation. When she looked up blankly, what she saw was...

"....Egostic?"

"Yes. It's me."

With half his face hidden behind a mask.

With a warm touch, showing unmistakable concern for her.

....It was him.

***

"....Why, are you, here?"

Being in such an exhausted state.

Squeezing out words that barely came out, Shin Ha-ru addressed me.

Facing her like that.

Swallowing something welling up inside me, I spoke in a quiet voice.

"...When my hero is like this. As your arch-villain, I naturally had to come."

"....Haha."

"You still have the strength to laugh? Hmm...."

Toward her, who was smiling slightly with a still tired expression.

Like that, I. Still swallowing something surging inside me.

Smiled slightly at her and quietly said.

"Until now, truly. You fought well."

"You did your best. More than anyone else."

"So."

"Let me handle the rest."

".....For my arch-enemy, I should do at least this much, shouldn't I?"

Saying that, forcing my lips to curl up into a smile.

I removed my hand that had been stroking her, and before she could open her mouth to say anything, I stood up from my spot.

And jumped straight into the storm.

Yes.

Now.

It's time to end this crazy situation.

***

She thought it was all over.

So.

She had resigned herself, given up.

"...."

She unconsciously raised her hand to her head, touching where his hand had been.

She could still feel the warmth there, where his hand had been until just a moment ago.

In the end.

When everything seemed to be over.

When there was no more dream or hope.

The one who stepped up for me was...

"....."

She quietly watched his back as he ran toward the storm.

His cape fluttering in the wind.

....Yes.

So that's how it was.

...In the end, it was him.

As she sat there.

From that spot, she quietly watched his back.

Until he disappeared into the storm

Continuously

Continuously, just watching

Her heart.

Thump-

Without even realizing it, it was beating slightly faster.