Chapter 121 - Unexpected Encounter

Creating a plan to establish an anti-Egostic broadcast for constructive criticism of Egostic could be considered a success. Of course, the atmosphere seems negative now with all the dislike attacks, but pioneers always face criticism. If I keep going, someday I'll gain recognition.

So with that in mind, I invested in creating a studio called "Daily Villain." While it's called Daily Villain, it's essentially an Egostic-focused broadcast. Since I provided all the investment funds, my influence will naturally be significant, but Chae Na-young seems capable of handling things well on her own, which is reassuring.

But separately, this woman Chae Na-young is being a bit too overwhelming toward me. She keeps saying things like "Sponsor, you're my benefactor," but she needs to calm down.

...Come to think of it, it's kind of funny. She practically worships me as her sponsor, yet what she's doing is criticizing that same sponsor? Of course, this happened because she doesn't know I'm Egostic, but from my perspective knowing everything, it's quite peculiar.

Anyway, though it's still modest, I personally predict it will be quite effective as time passes. Someday, the public will think of me as a cruel, wicked villain. Yes, absolutely.

Anyway, that issue is settled for now.

Where's the important stuff...

"...Let's see..."

I took out my sealed notebook.

This diary contains organized information about future events that I know from the original work.

Looking at it, I sighed.

"...Sigh. One mountain after another."

Seeing the villains who will appear in the future gives me a headache.

Honestly, Stardust has become quite strong now and can physically defeat most ordinary enemies.

The problem is gimmick-type villains. Those who spread poison gas or commit mass murders. Even if Stardust catches them, they'll already have caused numerous casualties.

...Of course, I've changed this world quite differently from the original work, but that just means saving people who would have died, not killing people who would have lived, so it doesn't mean much. In the end, these villains who appeared in the original work will probably appear with high probability.

And the Moonlight Cult. They're also a problem.

This cult leader, the final boss of Phase 2. It's already giving me a headache, and thinking about the connection with the final chapter is complicated. But that's not the only problem. I need to start preparing for Phase 3 soon. When that time comes, the world will truly go crazy, and I probably won't be able to handle everything alone like I do now. I'll need to cooperate with the Association to some extent.

Cooperation with the Association, well, it's already half-accomplished since I persuaded Lee Seol-ah to my side. If I can just bring in Shadow Walker and the Director, will the Association be in my hands?

Ah, thinking about the future gives me a headache again.

Okay. I'll think about that later.

Let's just look at what's happening right now.

"Alright. The next main event is..."

As I turned the pages of my notebook, I paused.

Right, it's this one's turn now.

I looked at what I had written in my notes before.

[Shadow Walker's Girlfriend Murder Case]

"....."

Just when I thought I could rest a bit.

Looks like I'll be busy again.

***

In this world's Republic of Korea, there are three A-class heroes.

Stardust of Seoul.

Icicle of Busan.

And Shadow Walker of the evening.

With absolute power limited to nighttime, he barely appears in the early parts of the original comic. Since he's active almost exclusively in the evening, he doesn't even meet Stardust.

But what did I say this world was?

This Earth is a desolate world on the brink of destruction.

That means even the hero Shadow Walker couldn't escape the clutches of desolation.

The signal that started his life's descent into misery was his girlfriend's murder case.

His girlfriend, who was a major emotional support for him, was kidnapped by a gang, held hostage, and ultimately killed.

Shadow Walker, who already had mild depression, immediately boarded the train to rock bottom.

After facing various trials of desolation, he eventually turns to the dark side.

...Ah, thinking about that is frustrating.

Anyway, the conclusion is that his girlfriend's death ultimately leads to bad things.

So I need to save her.

I should start preparing now.

Having made that decision, I went to the living room.

As soon as I entered, I saw Seo-eun and Eun-wol.

Seo-eun, slumped at the dining table, was mumbling to Baek Eunwol.

"Travel... I want to go on a trip."

"...Come to think of it, I've never been on a trip in my life."

"Really?"

"Yes... I've been trapped in the Moonlight Cult since I can remember."

"Have you ever seen the ocean?"

"...Of course I've seen it. But that was just glimpsing it from afar when I followed the cult leader for evangelism. I've never actually gone in and played."

"Wow, really?"

...Seo-eun, you hadn't been to the ocean either until we went with Ms. Su-bin last time, right? Why are you so surprised?

With that thought, I approached the living room, and Seo-eun brightened up when she saw me.

"Oppa! Let's go on a trip, to the ocean!"

"The ocean?"

"Yes. Me, you, Su-bin unnie, Se-hee unnie, Ha-yul unnie, Eun-wol, Mr. Desik, and Cha-yoon all together. What do you think?"

Seo-eun's eyes sparkled as she said this to me.

Next to her, Eun-wol was also looking at me with shining eyes, seeming interested in the trip.

...A trip, huh.

Come to think of it, apart from going to Busan with Seo-eun and Ms. Su-bin last time, we've never gone on a trip all together.

We have been living too busily lately.

....Right, a trip.

"Okay. Let's go sometime. All together."

"Really? Yay!"

"What? We're going on a trip?"

As Seo-eun and Eun-wol were getting excited, Choi Se-hee walked in, rubbing her eyes as if she had just woken up.

"Yes. Unnie, let's look into it now. Eun-wol has never been to the ocean, so how about the beach?"

"The beach? Sounds good. With this many people, should we rent a pension? Let me check."

"Great!"

The trip discussion was flowing naturally and suddenly.

If I had known they would be this happy, I would have suggested a trip earlier.

While thinking that, I was seized by an uneasy feeling that I had forgotten something.

...Wait. Why did I come to the living room? I had something else to talk about besides the trip.

Ah, right.

"Seo-eun, Seo-eun. Come here."

"What is it, oppa?"

Seo-eun came running as soon as I called her.

I patted her head and said:

"Seo-eun."

"Hehe... yes?"

"Can I ask you for a favor?"

"Yes! I'll do anything!"

"Can you hack into CCTV and monitor one woman for me?"

"...What?"

Seo-eun's eyes and the corners of her mouth, which had been smiling until just now, dropped.

No, it's nothing weird.

I'm doing this for the sake of the world.

After explaining the situation properly to Seo-eun, I was finally able to get her cooperation.

Good... this preparation is complete.

Now I just need to meet Icicle, Lee Seol-ah.

***

Anyway, the plan was steadily progressing.

Prevent Shadow Walker's rampage. Step 1: Save his girlfriend.

"Da-in. Are you listening to me?"

"Huh? Oh, of course I'm listening."

In the president's office of Yu-seong Corporation.

During a regular meeting with Lee Seol-ah, she sighed deeply and said:

"....Sigh. Where was I? Anyway, things are getting complicated. While we're acquiring other companies one by one, the political sphere is the problem."

"Not going well?"

"Don't even get me started... They barely listen to what I say. I just want to freeze all those guys. With the presidential election not far off, what are they even trying to do... sigh."

Lee Seol-ah continued to complain about how her project to dominate Republic of Korea's political sphere was drifting.

And while listening to her:

"...Haha, that must be tough."

I broke out in a cold sweat.

...Is it because of me?

In the original work, after the Moon Priestess's Seoul terror attack, all government offices moved to Busan, which dramatically increased the status of Lee Seol-ah, a Busan native.

So she took over the government quite easily from what I remember...

"That Kim Man-bok!! Argh... my head."

"...Haha."

That seems right. In the original work, she definitely took over the government easily, but looking at her holding her head now, things aren't going smoothly.

Watching Lee Seol-ah complain, I felt somewhat guilty. But still, I couldn't let Seoul be destroyed....

The meeting with Lee Seol-ah, which started with complaints, eventually concluded with her saying she wanted to visit my house sometime because she's been having a hard time lately.

...That's an odd conclusion, but anyway.

***

After that, daily life continued relatively normally.

I planned the next terror attack, the Ego-stream members were busy figuring out where to go for the trip, Seo-eun was monitoring Shadow Walker's girlfriend in her spare time,

Then one day, during this normal routine:

"Oppa! That woman was suddenly dragged away by strange men!"

Seo-eun rushed to me and urgently shouted while I was playing a rhythm game in a 2-player battle with Choi Se-hee in the living room.

"What!"

I immediately threw down the controller and shouted.

Wait, this is happening earlier than I expected?

I hurriedly started preparing.

Alright, it's villain time.

***

Shadow Walker, Kim Ja-hyun.

He was holed up in his room.

After the previous Moon Priestess incident, he had fallen into a slight depression.

He, who always had confidence in being invincible when night fell.

After being utterly defeated by the Moon Priestess, his mental state was completely shattered.

Night.

Night... wasn't I supposed to be the strongest then?

Having suffered a major blow to his pride for the first time.

He spent his days locked in his room, sinking into self-loathing.

And what gave him strength was his girlfriend.

Thanks to her constant support, Shadow Walker was gradually able to regain his strength.

"...But why isn't she answering?"

But something was off that day.

His girlfriend, who was always in good contact, suddenly went silent.

So while Kim Ja-hyun was worried.

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound.

"....Who is it?"

As he got up and approached the front door, he realized something was strange.

...The knocking sound wasn't coming from the door.

It was coming from the window next to the entrance, not the front door.

"What the hell is this?"

Feeling bewildered, he flung open the window.

And there, 10 floors up in the air.

"Hello, Mr. Shadow Walker. I'm Egostic!"

An A-class villain wearing a mask had come of his own accord to greet him.

"...."

Kim Ja-hyun seriously began to wonder if he was dreaming.