Chapter 142 - Memory

[Ego-Stream X Villain Union Alliance Announcement]

Hello, this is Egostic.

The Republic of Korea's villain union Ego-Stream meets and forms agreements with other villain organizations to create a better environment for terrorism.

I would like to introduce a villain union with which we have newly formed an agreement.

• Latis (North Atlantic terrorist organization)

We strongly empathized with Latis's intention to conquer the world by expanding the seas, and the verbally conducted talks ended in a very friendly atmosphere.

Therefore, we announce that Ego-Stream and Latis have agreed to respect each other and not engage in mutual hostilities or intrude on each other's activity areas.

Thank you.

===

This Ego-Stream notice was posted when people were wondering why Latis's global invasion didn't attack only the Republic of Korea...

You know what the point is?

"Not intruding on each other's activity areas" <- This is it

So they didn't attack our country during this invasion because it's Ego-Stream's territory lol. Basically, our country was safe only because Egostic went and dealt with it first lololol

(Image of Egostic with arms spread wide, backlit by a halo)

Egostic <--- Just upvote if you agree he's the Republic of Korea's greatest GOAT lolololol

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=[Comments]=

[Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick!]

[Thank you thank you thank you thank you]

[We are living in the era of Egostic]

[Just an S-class hero lolololololol]

[After seeing this, I joined Team Mango faster than anyone]

[Wait wtf so what's going on? Did Egostic just happen to make an agreement with Latis right before this incident?]

ㄴ[No, I think Egostic knew about the invasion and went to deal with it lolol]

ㄴ[Just looking at the timing of the notice, he definitely arranged for Korea to be excluded lolol]

ㄴ[???: I'm the only one allowed to terrorize Korea]

[Korea's greatest achievement: Being a country that possesses the S-class hero Apple Mango]

[The Association bastards need to quickly become a subsidiary of Ego-Stream, upvote if you agree lolololol]

ㄴ[For real lol]

ㄴ[Ego-Stream does a better job than the Association even on a global scale lolol]

[S-class heroes (couldn't predict any terrorism and got their asses kicked) VS Mangostick (single-handedly prevented terrorism worldwide) Who's the real hero? lolol]

***

A notice posted on the villain union Ego-Stream's website.

That notice, which was quietly uploaded without anyone knowing, spread like wildfire until the entire nation knew about it.

[While the whole world is suffering from Latis's terrorism, only the Republic of Korea was unharmed. Claims are being made that this is due to the villain union Ego-Stream.]

[That's a highly credible interpretation. It's practically accepted as fact that this was Egostic's doing...]

[This news has also been reported by foreign media. Overseas netizens are responding with comments like 'I wonder how a small villain union from Korea managed to make such an agreement with Latis' and 'What were our country's villain unions doing while Korea was doing this?']

[In contrast, our government and the Association have taken a step back, saying 'It's just speculation, nothing certain,' but experts believe they're being cautious because if this were officially confirmed, it could draw attention from international organizations. In fact, there's only Ego-Stream's claim, while Latis has said nothing.]

Even without an official announcement from the government or the Association, people had essentially already acknowledged that it was thanks to Egostic.

While the #ThankYouEgostic event was trending in Korea, fan cafe membership numbers were increasing, and communities were overflowing with posts praising Egostic.

Shin Ha-ru alone maintained her silence.

"....."

At the Association Control Center.

There, the Director was smiling and sharing stories with his employees.

"I got a call from the Japanese Association Director last night, and he was complaining about how difficult things were. He said he'd have to work overtime without sleep for the next week for post-disaster recovery. I almost felt like crying for him. How fortunate we are in comparison. Hahaha!"

The Director and employees had gathered for an emergency response meeting.

However, since the Republic of Korea wasn't actually in an emergency, they were just ordering jajangmyeon together. The reason they gathered was probably just for show, as the Korean branch of the Association felt awkward about relaxing while other countries' branches were struggling.

While the Director was cracking dad jokes and the employees were responding with "Oh, Director, hahaha," and having fun.

Shin Ha-ru was alone with her thoughts.

Egostic had joined hands with Latis, a villain organization of global scale.

...Without her knowing.

As an Egostic expert, she hadn't known this was happening at all.

Thinking about this, Shin Ha-ru felt her mood sinking again for some reason.

...While I'm seeing this notice on the website just like everyone else, the Ego-Stream members by his side probably knew about it all along.

That Electra, the Priestess, and that hacker girl, all of them.

"...."

She couldn't understand why such thoughts made her feel even worse.

Anyway, since continuing to think like this would only make her feel worse, she redirected her thoughts.

Ego-Stream has a contractual relationship with Latis, possibly even an alliance.

This fact has very significant implications.

First, the fact that a Korean villain union has joined forces with a powerful overseas villain union is very dangerous for national security.

It's essentially a very bad situation where we woke up to find that hostile forces had doubled.

Of course, the Association released information to the media saying that talk of an alliance was just Egostic's PR stunt, but it's well known that Egostic rarely lies.

It's probably true with high probability.

Therefore, she needs to be more vigilant.

Egostic has become much more dangerous than before. Countermeasures must be established.

"......"

Yes, she must be vigilant. The opponent is a villain.

She shouldn't let her guard down.

She shouldn't, but...

".....Sigh."

She looked out the window.

The rain from yesterday had stopped, and now the sun was shining brightly on the city under a clear sky.

Looking at the people far below, going about their ordinary daily lives as if nothing had happened.

Shin Ha-ru quietly thought.

...Still.

The fact that we could maintain this daily life today.

It's thanks to him.

...No matter how much I'm a hero and he's a villain.

I can at least acknowledge this much.

Just for today, I'm glad Egostic was there.

***

"Oppa. After you posted that notice yesterday, the news is all praising you now?"

While I was lying on the sofa sharing popcorn with Eun-wol and watching TV, Han Seo-eun, who was looking at her smartphone next to me, said that.

...No. There's no need to relay that kind of information.

"Honestly, it seems like you're not even trying to hide it anymore, so why don't we just change to a hero union? And change the name to Mango-Stream."

"....."

"But really, why did you post that notice? Honestly, wasn't that unnecessary?"

In response to Seo-eun's genuinely curious question, I tossed a handful of popcorn into my mouth and answered.

"Everything will be revealed eventually anyway. And since this won't be the last time something like this happens, it's better to be upfront about it."

"...Well, if you say so. But what about your growing number of fans?"

"About that... Here, wait."

I used the remote to change the channel.

When I did, Eun-wol, who was lying in front of me watching, said "Ah...!" with disappointment, so I reassured her that I had paused it before switching to another broadcast.

"What do you think!"

[Egostic forming an alliance with a foreign villain union is a very serious problem! A psychopath like Egostic could very well invade alongside them at any moment! Don't be fooled by this trick, everyone! This guy was throwing bombs in the streets and committing terrorism just recently! He's a very bad person!]

A very familiar-looking woman was shouting with an excited voice on the broadcast.

"...Huh, why is that?"

"See. Remember that anti-fan broadcast, or rather, criticism broadcast I used to nurture? Now it's on public TV too. It's growing well."

"...So?"

"As long as that woman is around, public opinion isn't a problem. Now there's a 24-hour Egostic criticism broadcast, who could withstand that?"

Soon, negative public opinion about me will spring up everywhere.

Since YouTube and newspapers seemed less effective, I helped them get on TV, and it's bound to work.

It won't be long before Egostic is perceived as an evil villain. There's no business like the hater business. Especially if I keep committing terrorism.

"...Um... well, if you say so, it must be right?"

"Yes. You'll realize I'm right eventually."

"...."

As Seo-eun made a doubtful expression.

Choi Se-hee, who had been dozing off sitting below the sofa and just woke up from our voices, suddenly asked.

"Hey, but. If you reveal that alliance or whatever, won't other countries come after you? They might come after you instead of Latis, like a substitute target."

"No. They won't even pay attention to me."

I said decisively.

Other countries are all busy with their own post-disaster recovery, and they never send heroes to other countries anyway. There's a risk of talent drain.

Normally, the International Hero Association might take interest, but they're too worn out to pay attention to me now. Especially that woman who's the UHN Director, she's busy just keeping her organization together. She's busy after the terrorism and facing an internal crisis.

So, I confidently said.

"Don't worry. They probably won't even remember my name."

***

At the International Hero Association UHN Headquarters.

The woman sitting in the Director's office looked at one of the many reports that had come in, then folded it again.

"The Republic of Korea's villain union, Ego-Stream. And its leader, Egostic..."

...For now, I'll at least remember the name.

That was all she muttered.