Chapter 134 - Alibi

# The Bathroom by the Beach

After getting permission from Shin Ha-ru, I headed to the bathroom at one corner of the beach. Once there, I quickly turned on my phone and made contact.

[Oppa! What's happening, are you okay? Why is Stardust there? Did she find out about you?]

"I'm fine, Seo-eun. For now. But I don't have much time right now, okay? So listen to me carefully. Got it?"

[Yes! Go ahead.]

"First, I need Death Knight, Choi Se-hee, and what was it... Star Breaker? Plus Eun-wol too. I need everyone."

We're going to carry out a terrorist attack.

Right now.

My plan was simple.

Shin Ha-ru currently suspects that I'm Egostic.

So what's the solution?

Simple. I just need to prove that Egostic is carrying out a terrorist attack somewhere else while I'm here. That secures my alibi.

However, this attack needs to happen extremely quickly while also not leaving even a hint of suspicion with Stardust.

So the important thing is to buy time.

After quickly formulating the plan, I explained it to our Ego-stream members and had them execute it immediately.

Despite my sudden instructions, they didn't panic and moved quickly like my own limbs.

Thank you. I really did pick the right people.

Since staying too long might raise suspicion, I quickly conveyed what needed to be said and went back outside the bathroom.

Then I took a deep breath.

Right. Now I just need to wait.

After preparing myself mentally, I went outside.

There she was, lying on a sun bed, looking somewhat troubled and deep in thought.

...I hope she's not thinking about how to catch and lock me up.

I needed to divert my thoughts before they got stranger.

With that determination, I approached her and spoke first.

After some time had passed.

BOOM-

The terrorist attack had begun.

And after receiving a mysterious call, probably from the Association, Shin Ha-ru hurriedly left.

...Of course, there was a bit of an awkward situation when we parted, but what matters is that we did part ways.

With Shin Ha-ru gone as well,

I stood alone on the now-bustling beach and gathered my thoughts.

Alright. Let's stick to the plan.

***

...What on earth was happening?

Wearing her suit and flying through the sky, Shin Ha-ru, Stardust, felt utterly confused.

Egostic had appeared? Really?

Then who was that man she had been talking to at the beach?

In a situation where nothing made sense, Stardust had no choice but to take action.

She couldn't just stand by while a terrorist attack was happening in real-time. She needed to act immediately.

But...

"....Something's off, definitely off."

She muttered to herself as she cut through the sky.

There couldn't be two Egostics under the same sky.

....

Right. Of course not.

She must have been mistaken, and the Egostic who had just appeared was probably the real one.

However.

'Really?'

She rarely trusted her intuition.

But, but. This time she was almost certain. She felt it instinctively.

Yes.

This is strange. It doesn't make sense.

With that conviction, she quickly flew to where Egostic was reported to be.

Though there had been some delay, still.

Flying with urgency, she soon could see it.

Egostic, flying around in the middle of the city, throwing bombs.

"....."

Cameras floating around him. The BOOM- sounds of explosions.

And clearly audible, his voice.

"Hahaha! Everyone, do you like bomb rice balls? Then you must like bombs too! Here's a bomb gift set!"

"...."

Right.

It was hard to believe that this was the same person who had been laughing and chatting with her at the beach until just now. He was carrying out a terrorist attack so naturally. The black hat, the black cape, the mask on his face, even the voice speaking to the camera. It was just like the usual Egostic.

Since they said he had been carrying out this attack continuously before she arrived...

It was more likely that this Egostic was real, and the man she had been talking to at the beach wasn't Egostic. There couldn't be two people in the same place at the same time.

Yes. That must be the real Egostic.

....Really?

Without realizing it, she hovered in the sky, watching Egostic who was still ranting and carrying out his attack below, apparently not noticing her.

...That's supposed to be Egostic?

Intuition.

Intuitively, she felt something was off.

A strange feeling. Yes.

Surely the man down there must be Egostic.

But why.

Why doesn't he feel like Egostic?

It was just intuition again. If someone asked why she felt that way, she could only say, "It just feels that way." It was closer to a baseless assumption or delusion.

But up in the sky, feeling the cold wind.

She continued to be captivated by this strange feeling.

She couldn't believe it.

Egostic was definitely... with her at the beach.

So.

If she got closer, if she could face him directly at a close distance. If she could exchange a few words with him.

Wouldn't she know?

Wouldn't she be certain?

Whether the man in front of her was Egostic or not?

Yes.

If it was her, who had seen Egostic more than anyone else.

...Perhaps, if it was her, who had just been having a casual conversation with him.

Surely just by facing him, she would be able to tell immediately.

With that conviction.

She called out loudly to Egostic, who was still throwing what seemed to be bombs or smoke bombs while hovering at one side of the street.

"Egostic!"

Hearing her voice, he momentarily froze, stopped throwing bombs, and spun around.

As he turned to look at her, she was seized by an even stranger sensation.

....Is that really Egostic?

It's strange, but yes.

She could confirm it more accurately if she got closer to him.

With that thought, as she was flying toward him at lightning speed.

[Hyaah-!!!!]

"....!"

Sensing a shadow and an ominous presence suddenly appearing in front of her, Shin Ha-ru hastily pulled back mid-flight.

And then.

THUD-

With a tremendous sound, something with a huge body blocked her path.

[Hahaha! I'm your match, lady!]

A massive, heavy mechanical suit reminiscent of a monster.

Gleaming cleanly in silver, it had fallen from the sky.

In its center was an image of a star being shattered in half by a red line.

And in contrast to its massive and intimidating appearance, a young girl's voice came through the speaker inside.

[Stardust? It's been a while! I, South Silver, will stop you with this new, your nemesis—Star Breaker!]

The triumphant voice of what must be a young girl inside the mechanical device.

Hearing that voice, something welled up inside Stardust.

....My nemesis is not you, but Egostic.

So.

"Move."

But the mechanical suit, as if determined not to give way, stood in front of Egostic with arms spread.

Stardust clenched her fist, suppressing her anger.

...Fine. Let's deal with this quickly and get to Egostic.

With that, she charged at the so-called Star Breaker.

And it, in turn, pulled out missiles from its mechanical arms.

The battle had begun.

***

"Hello everyone. This is Egostic!"

[Mango! (Short for Mangostick Hi~)]

[Egostic! Egostic! Why has it been so long?ㅜㅜ]

[We've been waiting, Master 'Mango']

[The return of the king... all the small-time villains will tremble in fear]

[The OG is here lolololol Big one's here lolololol]

[Mango's broadcast just makes me smile as soon as I see the notification lolololol]

[Missed you... it's been a while since your last terrorist attack...]

[Living in the same era as Mangostick, the one and only G.O.A.T of terrorist broadcasts, makes me happy today too]

[Ah lololol So what are you doing today? lolol]

[Why did you start the broadcast so late this time? lolol Why didn't you start it as soon as the terrorist attack began?ㅜㅜㅜ]

When the broadcast started.

What people saw was Egostic floating in the sky, throwing bombs at the street below as if feeding chickens.

Egostic, who paused throwing bombs to greet the viewers.

He appeared to be floating in the sky as usual, speaking in a cheerful voice.

But what was the reality?

On an empty highway.

Crossing it in a black limousine, I was speaking with the microphone turned on.

"Yes! It's been a while, everyone! Just a moment, I'll throw some bombs while waiting for Stardust!"

[Ah lolol Stardust can't resist lololol]

[Is Ego-Star on the rise??????]

[Info) A villain who waits for a hero while committing terrorism?]

[At this point, isn't Stardust an official guest on Ego TV? lololol]

[The Mango x Star combination is guaranteed fun lololol]

[Why are you so sure Stardust will come? lololol]

[I heard Lee Seol-ah is near Seoul, couldn't Icicle come instead?]

Nope, she can't come.

I glanced at the chattering chat window and checked if anyone had noticed.

Good. No one's caught on, right?

I turned off the microphone and asked Su-bin, who was driving in front.

"Su-bin! How long until we arrive?"

"Just a little longer!"

Right.

Currently, I'm in a car rushing to the scene of the terrorist attack.

I could use teleportation for an instant solution, but with my body condition already terrible, there's a 99% chance I'd faint right after teleporting, so it's unavoidable.

Then who's that Egostic throwing bombs in the video?

That's an illusion of me created by Eun-wol, who flew ahead using moon magic. Since the voice couldn't be replicated, I'm broadcasting from here with the microphone on.

"Oppa! I think Stardust is arriving at the area before us!"

"Really? Then quickly deploy that Star-whatever!"

"It's Star Breaker...! And this is my first time remote controlling, so it's hard...!"

Seo-eun, frantically typing on her laptop next to me.

I prepared to hand her the microphone.

She needs to speak too.

"...Hey, are you sure this is okay?"

[Yes, Da-in. It's just... too chaotic.]

"Making the not-okay okay is our job. Se-hee, Death Knight. Both of you get ready to fight."

I also checked my appearance once more. Hat, mask, cape. All properly worn?

Phew. I took a deep breath.

Stardust will probably realize the illusion Egostic is fake as soon as she gets close. So, I need to prevent Stardust from getting too close and switch with Eun-wol before she notices. There's no way she wouldn't notice the illusion when she nearly recognized me as Egostic despite the perception-reducing magic.

So now it's a race against time.

Will Stardust notice the illusion Egostic before I arrive?

Or will I arrive first, successfully make the switch, and secure a solid alibi?

That's the only battle now.

"Su-bin! Just floor it! There won't be any cars around here anyway!"

"Even faster than this? Ugh, alright!"

"Eek!"

With that, the car carrying all of us began to test the limits of what a 4-wheel drive vehicle could achieve in terms of speed.

Once we get close enough, I'll risk teleporting from there.

Let's go.

We can do this.

And so.

A time attack that only Stardust was unaware of had begun.