Chapter 169 - Education

At the Association-owned hospital, also known as the Treatment Center.

After spending a week there recovering, the American S-rank hero Methel.

She was filled with constant rage in the temporary office prepared for her within the Association.

"Fucking... Piece of bullshit!"

Though her body had completely healed after days of treatment, she couldn't heal the scratch left on her pride.

"I lost to an A-rank nobody... me...?"

Methel muttered while pulling at her glossy gray hair on the desk.

She couldn't accept that she had lost to an A-rank hero whom she had dismissed, not just internally but openly.

Of course, the villain who ambushed her was supposedly S-rank, but how strong could a villain below A-rank really be?

Looking at the photo of the villain called Moonlight Shaman who had shot that beam at her was embarrassing. She couldn't believe she'd lost to a girl who looked at least 20 centimeters shorter than herself.

"Right..."

After clutching her head from the great mental shock, she finally reached a conclusion.

She... had only lost because she was caught off guard.

If she hadn't been careless, there's no way she would have lost to such pathetic villains.

What? Those guys are strong? Nonsense. Compared to enemies she'd fought before, they were nothing. She just got careless.

"Shit..."

She cursed in English while nervously scrolling through social media.

Just as she was trying to find some peace of mind, she heard a voice.

'...Why are you showing off when you're just a supporter?'

"Fuck!"

Every time she remembered what he had said to her, she was filled with rage.

You, an A-rank nobody, dare to speak to me like that after winning through a cowardly sneak attack?

She vowed to tear him apart the next time they met.

Yes. If she hadn't been careless and had used that technique, she could have won. Regardless of Egostream or whatever, once they feel the impact of her meteor as an S-rank hero, they'll all understand the difference in power.

They're mere A-ranks, while she's S-rank.

She won't be caught off guard twice.

Still unable to come to her senses and thinking such thoughts, she angrily wrote a post on her social media.

The content of her English post on Instagram was basically insulting Egostic. That Korea's Egostic was a weak and despicable villain, and that next time she would definitely crush him.

After writing it, she felt another wave of anger.

What? An A-rank hero is better than her?

Every word he said became a trigger for her. She burned with anger and vengeance as she recalled his words, barely managing to calm herself down.

Right, Methel. Be patient, be patient.

You can get revenge next time.

...Let's go outside for now.

As she opened the door and walked down the Association corridor, turning the corner, she came face to face with:

"..."

"..."

The A-rank hero of Korea, Stardus.

***

Stardus, Shin Ha-ru.

She hadn't been in a bad mood lately.

"Hmm..."

[Well, despite all the big talk about being S-rank and whatnot, I thought you'd be incredibly strong.]

[But you're just, pfft, much weaker than my hero, Stardus?]

Of course, there was the unfortunate incident where the S-rank hero dispatched from America was utterly defeated by Egostic...

But since she had already anticipated this result, she wasn't particularly shocked. Yes. If even she, an Egostic specialist, couldn't catch him, what other hero could?

Indeed, the only hero who could fight and face him was herself, Stardus.

...And, well. It seemed Egostic thought so too.

'...Actually, come to think of it.'

Egostic had always referred to Stardus as his match from the beginning. Like when he said she would complete him during that airplane incident, and how he always mentioned Stardus...

And even this time, he explicitly mentioned Stardus...

"Hmm, hmph."

Unaware that the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, Ha-ru quietly thought.

..Yes. Egostic. A dangerous villain who terrorizes Korea at will. And at the same time, a man with many secrets who sometimes makes her confused.

The only person who can catch him, Egostic, is her alone.

Certainly not that strange S-rank hero.

"..."

Methel.

Recalling her, Ha-ru's expression naturally hardened.

She hadn't liked her from the start. They were already handling things well on their own, so why did they arbitrarily send an unrequested hero out of nowhere? Especially when they hadn't sent anyone when they had requested help before.

And when she actually met Methel, that feeling intensified.

Her arrogant attitude and apparent lack of seriousness about hero work. Plus her crude criticism and dismissal of Egostic without even knowing him.

For Ha-ru, who was already in a bad mood because Egostic hadn't appeared recently, Methel's first impression was extremely negative.

And after claiming she would easily defeat Egostic "or whatever," she returned utterly defeated.

Of course, a hero being defeated by a villain is a very unfortunate event, and it would have been good if she had won. But in the end, Methel was defeated by Egostic.

In fact, beyond all that, Methel's reckless actions without considering the hostages' safety was shocking to Ha-ru. It was fortunate, whether by chance or not, that there were no people inside the building where he had taken hostages, but if there had been...

"Sigh..."

Thinking about this, Ha-ru naturally entered Egostic's fan cafe.

Lately, there had been a lot of talk about Stardus herself, and she enjoyed pretending not to notice while secretly reading the posts.

A particular post caught her eye.

[Just translated Methel's Instagram post lolololol]

...What is this?

Curious, Ha-ru clicked on the post, and her expression naturally hardened.

The content was basically Methel still not coming to her senses, insulting and dismissing Egostic. Plus her groundless confidence claiming there would be no surprises next time.

....Haa.

Ha-ru felt her head throb as she stood up with a sigh.

Her opinion of Methel had dropped even lower.

Well, regardless, Methel was still at the Association, so she would probably insist on taking on the next terrorist attack.

...Though it didn't seem like she could win next time either.

With these thoughts, she stepped outside.

And in the corridor, she happened to run into Methel.

"..."

"..."

A woman with a similar height and sharp eyes.

Looking at her seemingly irritated appearance, Ha-ru just gave a small nod as a greeting. Well, she didn't particularly have anything to say, nor did she want to get involved.

It was just amusing that someone who had been so dismissive of Egostic and acted so arrogantly at the Association was still unable to accept her defeat even after being utterly beaten.

With a slight smirk that she wasn't aware of, Ha-ru passed by Methel.

Noticing this with her incredible perception, Methel gritted her teeth in anger behind her.

"...Fuck, Fuck."

Now an A-rank hero dares to look down on her?

Methel's high pride suffered another major blow.

...The only solution, the way to turn the situation around, was for her to completely defeat that Egostic guy next time.

Yes. If she eliminated him entirely, no one would be able to disrespect her anymore.

Then she would also get rid of that woman, Stardust or whatever, who had laughed at her.

So Methel, losing her reason and filled with anger, waited only for revenge.

A few days later.

Egostic's broadcast turned on.

[Yes! Hello everyone. This is Egostic!]

[I'm currently at an abandoned factory area, and well, to get straight to the point.]

[Ms. Methel, self-proclaimed S-rank hero from America, if you want to catch me, come here.]

[Well, I'll give you plenty of time. You seemed quite scared after being utterly defeated by me last time, so I should give you enough time to prepare! Hahaha! Take your time and come when you're ready, I'll be waiting.]

With his smiling face, Egostic's blatant provocation was broadcast nationwide.

And naturally, as soon as Methel saw this, she lost it.

"I'm leaving."

"No, um, Ms. Methel! Before you go, we should brief you one more time..."

"Fuck You!"

Having already fallen for the provocation, Methel flew away riding on a rock.

Ha-ru quietly watched her go.

***

On the outskirts of Seoul.

An abandoned factory area.

[Oppa, do you think she'll really come?]

Hearing Seo-eun's voice in my ear, I smiled and replied.

"Of course she will. Don't worry."

[But... it seems too obviously like a trap.]

True, I didn't take any hostages. I'm not even committing terrorism. It is strange to call a hero to some remote abandoned factory area.

But according to Lee Seol-ah... no, just from what I've seen of her. She'll probably come.

She seems... a bit stupid...

While waiting for Methel, I checked once more what I had prepared inside the factory.

Various devices set up in advance by Seo-eun, the magic circle laid under the floor by Eun-wol. The Death Knight in the ring.

And Electra and Mist waiting in the back, buffed by Ha-yul's ability.

I had prepared everything to deal with just one rogue hero.

This is a stage prepared specifically for the reckless Methel. I even turned off the cameras to focus on dealing with her.

After today, Methel will return to America.

Hmm... having become very 'nice'.

While I was thinking this.

With a loud crash, the factory door was smashed open.

Seeing the silhouette obscured by shadows, I couldn't help but grin.

Now.

It's time for some education.