Chapter 113 - The Villain's Amnesia

I did the right thing.

This Moon Light Church terror attack had to be stopped, so I stopped it. Considering that in the original story, Seoul would have been completely destroyed and the story would have turned into a full-blown dystopian tale, it was the obvious choice.

The reason I even started the broadcast was to both keep the Moon Light Church in check and to draw attention. I wanted to prevent the atmosphere from becoming gloomy with fear of the Moon Light Church spreading throughout Korea after the Seoul terror attack, as it did in the original story. I wanted to give the impression that the Moon Light Church was nothing special. The message was: "Even an A-class villain like me can stop the Moon Light Church" - that was the image I was going for.

And then there's Baek Eunwol, the Moon Priestess. Since I cried streams of tears when she died in the original story, I was determined to save her. And while I was at it, I brought her into the villain alliance I created. Even though what she showed this time was enhanced by magic circles, recruiting someone with her diverse abilities like attack magic and illusion magic was quite necessary. Especially since in our Ego-stream, besides me, only Electra and Death Knight have any combat power.

And of course, stroking Stardust's head... well, yes. That might not have been absolutely necessary. But I couldn't help it. Seeing my favorite person collapsed and struggling with my own eyes - who wouldn't jump in at that moment? It was beyond my control. Besides, I've done similar things to her several times already, like on the train and on the plane. She was probably just annoyed anyway. And I hacked and deleted all the few photos that were taken, so no evidence remains. Problem solved!

In conclusion, I've done nothing wrong. Who could throw stones at me? Although there is the slight issue that my public image has improved a bit, but that can be fixed with a few more terror attacks in the future. No problem at all.

-I tried explaining something like that, but I still got scolded.

"Oppa, I'm worried. What if Stardust figures out your identity? You said it yourself. Stardust needs to keep seeing you as an enemy, or everything falls apart. Looking at what you've been doing lately, it wouldn't be strange if Stardust started suspecting you anytime."

Seo-eun spoke to me in a serious voice.

I smiled slightly at her and said:

"Seo-eun... I understand what you're saying, but you don't need to worry about that."

"Why not?"

"Stardust has such strong convictions."

With her personality that never forgives injustice, there's no way she could look favorably on me, who commits every possible injustice in the world.

...Although, come to think of it, she did show something strange last time.

"...With this, my debt is paid, right?"

Her voice as she said that while in my arms overlapped in my mind.

...But that was just because she has a personality that can't stand being in debt, it couldn't have any other meaning. No way.

"Anyway, enough about this! Let me rest a bit. I went through so much trouble breaking through that storm..."

Flinch-

When I mentioned the storm, I felt Baek Eunwol, who was sitting next to me, flinch.

"I-I'm sorry...."

"No! You don't need to apologize, don't worry about it."

I said that while looking at Baek Eunwol beside me.

She had put away her priestess clothes and changed into a fluffy t-shirt.

With Seo-eun present, the two of them looked almost like twins since they were similar in height and had opposite hair colors - white and black. Come to think of it, they're similar in age too, so they really do look like twins.

By the way, since Baek Eunwol came to our home, she and Seo-eun quickly became friends.

There hadn't been anyone close to Seo-eun's age in our house before, so they seemed to get along quickly since Baek Eunwol was the only one similar in age.

Of course, Baek Eunwol still speaks formally to everyone, including Seo-eun.

"...But why are you sticking so close to oppa?"

"...Is it not allowed to sit close?"

"No. It's not that it's not allowed, but oppa seems uncomfortable."

"Really? Is that true, Da-in?"

"No. It's fine."

"He says it's fine."

"....Hmph."

...Are they really getting along?

Anyway, Baek Eunwol quickly adapted and blended into our home.

After being in the cold Moon Light Church, she even shed tears when everyone welcomed her warmly. Anyway.

Having lived only in some dark corner of the Moon Light Church, she gets easily moved by small things.

For example, just look at what happened during mealtime.

"What... is this?"

"It's just an omurice. How does it taste? I made it. Delicious, right?"

"....sob"

"Hey, why are you crying? Don't cry!"

"Se-hee unnie. Did you really make the kid cry?"

"Se-hee. I'm disappointed."

"No! Why is everyone blaming me? Is it that bad? I thought it tasted fine!"

"...sniff That's not it. It's just that I've never eaten anything this delicious before."

...What on earth did they feed her at the Moon Light Church to make her cry over an omurice?

Anyway, after that, a strange campaign started where everyone kept feeding Eunwol. Just regular food like rice, soda, chocolate... The way her eyes sparkled whenever she was given something made everyone want to feed her more. Is this what grandmothers feel?

Of course, Eunwol wasn't just cute.

"Eunwol, you said you can use attack magic and illusion magic like what you showed us before, right?"

"Yes. For example... like this."

After saying that, she waved her hand to create a magic circle in the air and summoned a deer.

It looked and moved just like a real deer, incredibly realistic. Of course, it immediately scattered into purple powder when touched.

"That's amazing."

When I complimented her, Eunwol smiled broadly, clearly pleased.

Attack magic and illusion magic... anyway, magic obviously seems useful. Basically, I'm just happy that someone with combat power has finally been added to our party.

And so I returned to my daily life.

Yes, after breaking through a main event, it's time for some peaceful moments.

"...What will happen now?"

"Da-in oppa? What are you doing?"

"Ah, Eunwol."

That night.

Eunwol approached me as I was leaning on the railing of the balcony, looking at the moonlight illuminating the rainy night sky.

"Just enjoying the scenery for a moment. Want to join me?"

"Yes."

At my question, she immediately stuck close to me, and as we looked outside together, I gently stroked her head and fell back into thought.

...What will happen from now on?

I prevented the Moon Light Church's destruction of Seoul, which was a main event in the original story.

Because of this, unlike the original, Seoul wasn't destroyed in this world. And it won't be in the future.

And because of this, the future I know is likely to change.

"......"

The original story.

In the original, Baek Eunwol died only after Seoul was destroyed.

Due to that, the capital was temporarily moved to Busan to escape the ruins of Seoul.

And this became a golden opportunity for Lee Seol-ah, the real power behind Yu-seong Group based in Busan, who harbored ambitions to swallow up the Republic of Korea.

With the capital temporarily moved to Busan and the president along with major government offices and companies relocating there, she took the chance to co-opt them all. She persuaded politicians and acquired companies.

By the time Seoul was rebuilt and everything moved back to New Seoul, more than half of Korea had fallen into Lee Seol-ah's hands.

And this future has now disappeared because I protected Seoul. In other words, Lee Seol-ah's plan to become Korea's shadow ruler will be slower than in the original.

Actually, that's not the real problem.

The biggest difference from the original story would be that people who were supposed to die didn't.

The Moon Priestess, Baek Eunwol's dozens of terror attacks originally killed many people in Seoul. Especially from the fourth attack when she gave up control.

But this time, no one died.

These people are the biggest butterfly effect.

Who knows if future terrorists might be among them?

"Sigh..."

I let out a sigh.

Yes. From now on, I need to be prepared for things to diverge from the original story. While most events from the original will probably still happen, I also need to be prepared for things that didn't happen in the original.

And then there's the Moon Light Church.

I need to pay attention to the leader's movements too, especially since I drew so much attention.

...Although my prediction is that they probably won't care much. After all, the leader's greatest desire is to create a portal connected to another world and summon a god, treating everything else as secondary.

Still, I should be prepared for any actions they might take, just in case.

"Lee Seol-ah, the future, and the Moon Light Church. These three are what I need to watch out for."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing."

I stroked Baek Eunwol's head once more as she looked at me curiously, and thought again.

Lee Seol-ah, the future, and the Moon Light Church.

...Wait.

Lee Seol-ah.

Did I ever contact Lee Seol-ah?

Suddenly feeling uneasy, I turned on my phone and checked the call history.

***

[Missed Calls]

Lee Seol-ah (67)

***

"....Ah. I'm screwed."

"What's wrong, oppa?"

"...Eunwol, how would you feel if someone ignored your messages 67 times?"

"Hmm... I'd be angry."

"Right?"

I'm definitely screwed.

I hurriedly made a call.

It's late, but still.

She probably isn't waiting anymore.

***

In nighttime Busan, where rain was pouring down as if a hole had opened in the sky.

At the top floor of Yu-seong Group, the president's office.

Rumble. Crash.

With only thunder sounds echoing through the darkened room, a phone was ringing loudly, cutting through the sound of rain.

Ring. Ring.

Flash.

At that moment, lightning struck, briefly illuminating the dark office.

Revealing a woman sitting alone quietly.

With her hands clasped and resting on the desk.

Lee Seol-ah, quietly sitting and staring at the phone.

"....You're late, Da-in."