Chapter 171 - Judgment
# [Breaking News] S-Class Hunter Methel, Who Came to Capture Egostic, Returns to the United States This Morning
The Association announced that S-Class hero Methel returned to the United States this morning. The Director stated that Methel was recalled to her home country due to security instability and hero shortages in the United States. However, netizens are skeptical, suggesting she's fleeing after being defeated by Egostic.
***
S-Class hero Methel has returned to America.
Officially, she was recalled because she had been in a foreign country too long, but anyone can see it looks like she's returning after being defeated by Egostic.
[Yes! This is Methel's finishing move, Meteor! And... wow, he's blocking it!]
Videos of Egostic magically blocking meteors falling on his abandoned factory have been widely shared for some time.
Although no one could get close enough to film more of the battle, the sounds of combat continued for a long time, suggesting an intense fight.
And the result of that battle was Methel's defeat.
When Association agents arrived, Methel was reportedly unconscious. The Ego-squad members had long since disappeared.
After that incident, Methel left Korea today, almost like she was running away.
Among netizens, there's open talk that even S-Class heroes are no match for Ego-squad now.
Additionally, Stardust, who has been fighting Ego-squad alone until now, is being reevaluated.
And in this situation.
Stardust, Shin Ha-ru, was lost in thought while looking out the window.
"......."
In the end, Methel returned to America.
The image of her waking up in the Association hospital, suddenly screaming "Hiiieek!" in shock, is still vivid.
And after that day, Methel's demeanor changed quite a bit. She became more... docile, perhaps? She no longer picked fights with Association staff, abandoned her arrogant attitude... and especially seemed to be wary around Ha-ru herself. Though Ha-ru couldn't understand why.
Anyway, that wasn't the only strange thing.
Clearly something had happened given that she was found unconscious, but Methel absolutely refused to reveal what occurred inside the factory.
She just said she fought with Egostic, but...
'Nothing happened. I just had a fight with Egostic-nim—I mean, E-Egostic.'
...Her attitude was definitely strange.
The way she trembled and became nervous at the mere mention of Egostic was certainly suspicious.
Where had the woman gone who dismissed Egostic and kept calling him an A-Class? She suddenly became well-behaved and then abruptly returned to America, saying she had a lot to do there.
...But until then, she had insisted she would only return after capturing "the likes of" Egostic...
"Hmm...."
Shin Ha-ru sat with her chin resting on her hand, looking out the window in silence.
...She's not stupid.
There must be a reason why the arrogant and rude Methel suddenly changed like that. And it must be because of Egostic.
She probably took a severe beating from Egostic during their fight, and that shock changed her.
Especially considering that when they later checked inside the factory, they found dozens of pointed stone fragments, which made it more likely. It seems Methel had intended to eliminate Egostic rather than capture him.
When she first saw that, she was angry, but since there was no blood or anything visible, she decided to let it go.
...Of course, she was angry because executing villains without trial by a hero's discretion isn't right, not for any other reason. It wasn't because she was worried Egostic might be hurt.
-That's how Shin Ha-ru rationalized it to herself again.
Of course, earlier when she saw the meteor falling toward Egostic's location on the Association's live feed, she was so startled she almost jumped up to fly and save him... but well. She sat back down with a sigh of relief when she saw him block it himself. She thought this was also not out of concern for Egostic but because of the risk of private intervention.
...The story got sidetracked for a moment, but the conclusion is this.
The unconscious Methel and traces of intense battle. And judging by how she trembles at the mere mention of Egostic's name...
Methel probably suffered a humiliating defeat during her fight with Egostic and was psychologically traumatized. That must be it. Everyone in the Association probably thinks the same, though they're keeping quiet about it.
However, the strange thing was.
'...She didn't have many injuries.'
She seems to have been beaten badly enough to tremble at the mention of Egostic, but why weren't there many injuries?
That was strange, but since there was no way to find out right now, she decided to let it go for the moment.
Rather, what she focused on was.
"......Hmm."
Egostic completely destroyed Methel this time. Enough to make her lose consciousness.
And judging by Methel's trembling reaction, he must have crushed her quite shockingly. She even seemed afraid of Egostic.
He must have done something terrifying enough to scare her...
But why.
Why has he never done that to her..?
"...."
Shin Ha-ru fell silent as she pondered this.
No, how frighteningly must he have fought against Methel to make her react like that?
But he's never really done anything like that to her, has he?
Thinking about this, Shin Ha-ru recalled her past encounters with Egostic.
Egostic encouraging her when she was collapsed on the train.
Egostic catching her when she collapsed after barely stopping a missile launched by the crazed president while fighting him with a giant robot he had stolen from Han-eun Group.
Egostic always smiling and saying, "I won't lose next time!" before running away.
"....."
Comparing how Egostic had treated her with Methel, who was now trembling so much...
Shin Ha-ru realized something.
'...Could it be that he only treated me that way...?'
Well, thinking about it.
Egostic was always saying things like she completed him and even risking his life for her, so she hadn't really noticed.
But actually, when you think about it.
Egostic wasn't that kind to others. She just realized it again through this Methel incident.
Only to Stardust. Only to her.
"Hmmmm...."
When she reached that thought, she unconsciously made a humming sound, then quickly shook her head.
No, that's not what's important. What's important is that Egostic and his villain alliance are growing stronger. She should focus on this important issue, not waste time on other things.
However, even as she thought this, she couldn't help but notice her mood improving, so she cleared her throat and thought.
...Well, yes. She is Egostic's only worthy opponent. That must be it. She just confirmed it again through this Methel incident, nothing has changed.
Indeed.
Egostic belongs to her.
...But still. What really happened to Methel..?
Shin Ha-ru was just slightly curious about that.
***
Inside a private plane heading to America.
Methel sat alone behind drawn curtains, sniffling.
"Sob...Egostic."
Sniff. Sniff.
Wiping away her tears with her sleeve, she clenched her fist and made a resolution.
Sob... Although she had let her guard down this time and suffered humiliation...
Although she had completely surrendered to him and her spirit was broken, sniff.
"Next time... next time I'll definitely... defeat him."
Sniff.
Although she still trembled at the mere thought of Egostic and felt like she might start reciting the Hero Justice Principles up to Chapter 5 without even realizing it, she still wasn't completely broken.
...Of course, if she saw Egostic now, she'd probably fall to her knees immediately, but anyway, she wasn't broken.
"I... I will be back!"
Methel made her resolution while sniffling and clenching her fist.
She would work hard in America as he told her, build up her abilities, and return to Korea to defeat him.
The timeframe would be about...
"Maybe ten, ten years...?"
No. Fifteen years..? Would it take that long...?
She seriously pondered this as she returned to America. Anyway, the important thing was that she had resolved to get revenge. They say beginning is half the battle...!
It was a day when she missed her homeland's peanut butter sandwiches.
***
"Someone must be talking about me."
I felt my ear itching and muttered.
The news was reporting on Methel's return to America.
"Oppa, but what exactly did you do to make that woman so scared she ran away? I came down late so I didn't see."
"Oh, what did I do?"
At Seo-eun's sudden question, I scratched my ear, and Eun-wol beside me awkwardly smiled while twirling her hair.
...Well, I didn't do much. I just kneaded her mind a bit with magic that Eun-wol taught me. It was done very non-violently and moderately.
Of course, I don't think the effect will last long, but at least we succeeded in sending her back to America.
After I explained roughly like that, Seo-eun seemed to understand.
Well, anyway. Things worked out pretty well.
And.
I looked up at the sky outside the window and quietly thought.
...If my guess is correct.
America will no longer interfere with us.
***
International Hero Association Director's Office.
After Methel, who was sent to confront Egostic, was overwhelmingly defeated and returned to America, the Director spoke with her and sent her back. Then he leaned back in his chair and thought.
"...Egostic"
Kathedal, where only the leaders of villain alliances gather. He was the only A-Class villain there.
After hearing this news, the Director sent a hero to the Republic of Korea. To confront Egostic.
So the newly promoted S-Class hero Methel was sent to Korea. To confirm if Egostic was really "just" an A-Class villain.
And after observing the subsequent series of events, the Director made his judgment.
...Indeed. Someone who entered Kathedal couldn't possibly be an ordinary person.
And after meeting and talking with Methel, who returned physically unharmed despite losing, the Director became even more convinced.
Better not to do anything unnecessary and focus on the urgent matters here.
The Republic of Korea. Egostic's side...
They would no longer interfere.