Chapter 132 - Misaligned Encounter

I had just taken a vacation after a long time, and I truly enjoyed myself to the fullest.

I took naps on the sunbed, played in the ocean, and even played volleyball on the beach.

After all that active fun,

we had a barbecue at the pension for dinner.

It was delicious.

And then the sun set again.

Since there was a night market nearby, we all went to check it out together.

People with colorful hair walking around in groups might attract quite a bit of attention, but the recognition reduction magic must be working well because no one even glanced our way.

Of course, the mascot costume still seemed a bit over-the-top, so Death Knight went inside the ring.

"Hey! Look at this!"

While we were all walking around and sightseeing, Choi Se-hee called out to us from over there.

"What is it?"

Choi Se-hee was waving her hands as if she'd found something interesting. We walked over to where she was.

And what I saw was...

"Look at this. It's an Egostic doll!"

Hanging as a prize at a dart-balloon booth was

a chibi-style Egostic doll.

"...Wow. I didn't expect that."

"Pfft. Hey, you've got dolls now, you're practically a celebrity! No, wait, even celebrities don't have their own dolls, do they? You're a superstar! A superstar!"

As Choi Se-hee poked my side teasingly, I shook my head and examined the other dolls.

Most were generic-looking green dinosaur dolls, but there were some unique ones like the Egostic doll.

Oh, looking closer, there were also Stardust, Icicle, and Shadow Walker dolls. They even had hero dolls. The Stardust one is quite tempting.

...Wait, what's that?

"Hey! Isn't this you?"

"Hahaha... huh?"

She had been laughing at the "authentic product" label on the Egostic doll, but when I pulled out a doll with orange hair, she started to look flustered.

"...This is awkward."

"The label here says 'Electra.' Hey, this one's wearing priestess clothes—is it Eun-wol?"

"Oh my, this looks like Mr. Death Knight."

"Oppa, is there one of me?"

"Seo-eun? Let me see... doesn't look like it."

"...I'm so upset, I'll be the one causing the next terror attack!"

"Sure, sure."

While I was trying to console Seo-eun, who was pouting with puffed cheeks, Choi Se-hee rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward.

"Let me try. I'll win you all some dolls."

"Unnie, are you good at throwing darts?"

"Of course! Just trust me. Mister! We'd like to play a round!"

"Welcome! One round? Here you go. You get these dolls if you hit 8 out of 10 balloons, these smaller prizes for less than that, and this huge doll if you hit all 10!"

"Ah... this is a problem. I might have to deliberately miss two..."

After boasting like that, Choi Se-hee...

"Four hits! Here's your prize for four hits."

"......"

"Unnie..."

She received a squid keychain.

Standing there with a dazed expression, holding the keychain in her hand.

Well, now it's my time to shine.

"Hmph. My turn now. Let me show you the power of 10 out of 10 hits."

"...Come on. Hmph, the balloons keep moving so it's harder than it looks! You won't do better than me!"

Ignoring Choi Se-hee's curse-like words, I threw the darts.

10 throws, 10 hits.

"....."

"Whoa... y-you hit them all... Your prize is th-this big doll..."

"Ah, I don't need something that big. Can I take a few of those smaller dolls instead?"

"What? Yes! Of course! Take three!"

"Alright kids, pick your dolls."

"...This is cheating. You used your ability, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't. Got any proof?"

"Ugh, so annoying..."

Of course I manipulated the darts with psychokinesis, did you think I wouldn't?

"We'll take this one, obviously!"

Eun-wol and Seo-eun immediately grabbed the Egostic dolls.

....Do you really have to take those?

Since Choi Se-hee and Eun-wol strongly objected to taking dolls of themselves, I just grabbed a Death Knight doll and a Stardust doll.

"...Oppa, why did you take the Stardust doll?"

"Huh? Well, you know what they say—know your enemy, win every battle. If I put the Stardust doll on my display shelf, won't it fire up my fighting spirit?"

"...I think you just wanted it."

Even Su-bin, who had been quiet until now, chimed in.

Their cold stares fixed on me.

Really, this is so unfair. It's disheartening to see team members who don't trust their leader.

Anyway, we continued eating, playing, and doing various things at the night market after that.

Then we returned to the pension.

Unpacked, showered, and got ready for bed...

"Oppa, why did you bring these masks and gun-like things?"

"Seo-eun, you never know what might happen in life. Don't you remember what happened in Busan last time? What if someone breaks into the pension overnight?"

"...I want to say you're overreacting, but thinking about it, that really did happen last time."

"Exactly."

"...What are you talking about?"

"Oh, I'll tell you. Listen, when we went on a trip with oppa last time..."

While Seo-eun was enthusiastically answering Eun-wol's curious question, I heard Choi Se-hee's voice again.

"Hey! Look at this!"

"Huh?"

Suddenly hearing her calling for me.

When I went out to the small garden outside the pension, Choi Se-hee was doing something with Death Knight.

"What is it?"

"Look at this!"

["Hahaha, Da-in. Look, you'll be surprised."]

"...What are you trying to do here? I'm a bit worried."

"Don't worry and just watch! Electric Knight!"

With those words, Choi Se-hee shot electricity straight at Death Knight. Wait, what are you doing?

["Hahaha! It's electrifying!"]

But Death Knight laughed heartily as if nothing was wrong. However, electricity was flowing through his black armor and even the soul inside.

...What is this?

"See! If I supply electricity like this, Death Knight becomes an electric type!"

["That's right. Hyah!"]

With those words, Death Knight swung his sword.

Electricity burst from his blade.

"What do you think?"

"...Not bad, actually."

"Huh? Really?"

Choi Se-hee was surprised by my response.

Ignoring her, I started to seriously consider it. If she periodically shoots electricity at him, it's an upgrade, right?

Hmm... not bad at all.

We discussed a few more things.

But the situation ended when Eun-wol, feeling her recognition reduction magic wavering, came outside.

...She told us not to shoot electricity in the garden, no matter what.

***

And so the next day arrived.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, we returned to the beach.

Hmm, everyone's still having fun without getting tired.

"Yawn..."

I'm lying on the sunbed again.

In my right hand is a Blue Hawaii. This is delicious too.

Still the same warm beach as yesterday, people playing around...

"...I'm sleepy."

Lying under the warm sunlight makes me drowsy.

Just as I was thinking about taking a nap, I got a phone call.

The caller was Lee Seol-ah. I wonder what's up?

"Hello?"

["Ah, Da-in. hiccup Are you enjoying the beach right now?"]

"Huh? Oh, yeah, having a great time. I'm lying on a sunbed getting some sun right now."

["Really? Actually, I happen to have some business in that area, so I was wondering if I could stop by? Since you're on a sunbed, maybe we could just have a quick drink together there."]

"...On the sunbed?"

["Yeah, or wherever. Is that okay?"]

"Um... sure, if it's just for a bit. I'm in front of the brown pension."

["Really? I'll be there soon, so please wait for me."]

"Sure, sure."

And so the call ended.

...Well, if she wants to come, she can.

She said she wanted to have a drink, but her voice already sounded drunk.

I lifted my head to look around.

Hmm, everyone's having a good time.

...I'm exhausted, maybe I'll take a quick nap until Seol-ah arrives.

Yeah, that sounds good.

So I closed my eyes,

and soon drifted off to sleep.

***

"-in-ssi."

"Da-in-ssi!"

"Huh, yes?"

I woke up and opened my eyes.

Rubbing my eyes and sitting up, I saw Lee Seol-ah walking toward me from a distance.

She's wearing light clothes suitable for the beach, which catches my eye. She's waving her hand at me.

I waved back at her.

Yawn, she's here already? She came early.

As I sat up to welcome Seol-ah, my body suddenly froze.

...Wait, what?

Behind Seol-ah was another woman following her.

The face of the woman behind her, with an incredibly awkward expression.

It looked very familiar.

No way, right?

Seol-ah. Shit, no way, right?

"Hello, Da-in-ssi! This is my friend, Shin Ha-ru. Ha-ru, this is Da-in-ssi, my business partner."

"...Hello."

"Ha, haha. Haha. Hello."

I answered with a slightly trembling voice.

The person standing in front of me was...

....Someone with looks that would catch anyone's eye, with long blonde hair, wearing casual clothes with a white cardigan.

My arch-enemy.

Stardust.

And right now, she's looking at A-class villain Egostic in civilian form, sitting on a sunbed with just sunglasses on.

'I'm... screwed...'

Glancing slightly at Lee Seol-ah beside me, she had an unreadable faint smile.

...We'll talk later. Seems like we need a deep conversation. Sigh...

But that's not the issue right now.

I should be thinking about why I suddenly got hit with this disaster while sleeping.

But more importantly.

Looking at Shin Ha-ru, who had an extremely awkward expression until just now, but whose face froze when she saw my face clearly.

I began to feel extreme anxiety.

No, damn it, Seol-ah. Seol-ah.

That Shin Ha-ru has superhuman senses!

What were you thinking bringing her here...

I still couldn't gather my thoughts.

So, this is reality?

On a warm beach with a gentle breeze, sitting on a sunbed on the sand, with only a cardigan and sunglasses to protect me, Shin Ha-ru is standing right in front of me?

Is this... real?

Feeling my feet on the sand trembling slightly, I tried to wake up fully and assess the situation.

Stardust in casual clothes is pretty too. No, that's not the point.

As I was blankly trying to hold onto my sanity...

"Oh my! Suddenly an urgent call. I need to take this. Da-in-ssi, Ha-ru, why don't you two chat for a bit?"

Seol-ah suddenly disappeared from sight with an incredibly awkward act about receiving an urgent call.

No, Seol-ah. Please. Where are you going? We're definitely going to talk later.

So I sat there blankly.

And Shin Ha-ru stood on the beach, looking down at me.

And I...

"...Did you say your name was Da-in-ssi?"

Hearing Shin Ha-ru's voice from above me, I could only pray.

Please.

Please let Eun-wol's recognition reduction magic work properly.

"...Hahaha, yes. That's right. My name is Da-in."

I smiled and answered her.

My smile isn't really a smile right now.

....She didn't notice, right? She couldn't have, right?

Yeah. I believe in our Eun-wol.

***

Shin Ha-ru unconsciously stared at the man in front of her.

...Seol-ah had suddenly and randomly introduced her to a business partner, and although she was reluctant, she just went along with it.

But the moment she saw the man sitting on a sunbed in the middle of the beach, she felt a strange sensation.

'This man, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before...'

Where?

Where have I seen him?

As she searched her memory due to this sudden feeling, a strange thought occurred to her.

"...."

The man in front of her, whom she was meeting for the first time.

Looking at him as he laughed casually despite seeing her for the first time, something suddenly came to her mind.

...There was no evidence, and it made no sense.

But her intuition whispered.

The feeling of the man in front of her was somehow familiar.

It was a feeling she had often experienced in front of someone else.

Specifically, yes.

This man, for some reason.

'...He feels like Egostic.'

No.

It's more than that.

...With no evidence, making no sense.

An impossible story.

Shin Ha-ru was unconsciously gripped by a certain thought.

'...Wait.'

'This man. Is he just Egostic?'

And so, right now, in the middle of this beach.

Stardust's intuition finally began to serve its purpose.