Chapter 187 - Ignorance

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Countless lights adorned the dark night sky.

Like flares bursting, the place where the Demon King had been erupted in flashes of white light.

[AAAAARRRRGGGHHH----!]

Along with this, a beautiful harmony could be heard.

Yes, the sound of the Demon King melting. After taking dozens of Holy-Cannon beams, how could he not melt?

While the King of the Demon Realm—who had a visual presence capable of destroying an entire country—was bubbling and melting, I turned my back on this light show and faced the camera to thank the audience who had watched my performance.

"Thank you. Thank you."

[GRRRRRRRR---- ARGH---!]

*

[LOLOLOLOL]

[This is truly madness LOLOL]

[Shouldn't we be the ones thanking you? LOL]

[How did you even prepare all this? LOL]

[The Demon King is slowly melting~ (literally melting)]

[(Insert Jerry bowing gif)]

[What? Is it really over? That easily???]

*

Just then, I noticed one comment. Hmph. "That easily," they say? Do they have any idea how much effort this took?

With such thoughts, I watched the Demon King screaming and melting in the light like I was observing a campfire. It's really nice when the weakness is so clear. In the original story, they always figured out the weakness after everything was over, leaving nothing but emptiness... But fortunately, in this world, I'm here with all that knowledge.

So under the moonlit night sky, I enjoyed the atmospheric scene of the Demon King melting away.

...If I remember correctly, he should be the last mid-boss villain of this phase and almost the last large-scale event. After this, the next main event should be the long-awaited Moonlight Cult.

We've really come a long way.

I found myself muttering under my breath.

When I first fell into this world, I wondered what on earth I was supposed to do, but we've already made it this far. Once we stop the next Moonlight Cult portal incident—or Gate incident as it's variously called—I might finally be able to rest. Of course, that's after properly raising Stardust...

[.....I'll.... gurgle, return...]

"Oh, looks like it's finally over."

Lost in thought, I only got up when I heard the Demon King's voice from somewhere.

After instructing Seo-eun to stop the offensive, I approached and saw only the Demon King's remains—now just a black puddle—after he left his final words. Clean finish.

"'I'll return'... he says."

Snicker.

I couldn't help but laugh.

No, you won't. Live well in the afterlife.

I offered a brief moment of silence for the Demon King who had made quite an impact. It might seem absurd that he died right after being unsealed, but he would have died in the original story anyway, right? He would have died even without me. Just causing more damage to Korea.

...Come to think of it, it's funny. Is it tradition for those under the Moon God to get sealed and then die right after being unsealed? This Demon King, and Eun-wol in the original story too.

Well, anyway, the conclusion is that we've finally overcome a major hurdle today.

With that thought, I poked through the Demon King's remains with my Holy-Spear. Sure enough, there was a moonstone. I knew it. These Moonlight Cult guys are involved in everything.

After secretly smashing it with my spear out of camera view, I turned away only after watching it scatter into dust.

"Yes, everyone! Now that we've caught this strange man who was disrupting someone else's business space, today's broadcast ends here. I'll be back with a high-quality terror that can't be compared to this low-grade terrorism, so stay tuned! Thank you for watching today's broadcast. Thank you!"

*

[What??????]

[No, why end it here!!!!!!!]

[A villain who coolly exits right after stopping another villain from destroying a city... is this... a villain?]

[What do you mean by "high-quality terror"? LOL]

[Today too, this villain saved the country]

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

[We are living in the era of Egostic]

[Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you]

*

Leaving behind the still chaotic chat, I turned off the camera and prepared to go home. They'll be fired up for a few days and then forget about it anyway... Whew, I did a big job today. I'm exhausted after exerting myself for the first time in a while.

...But that's not the issue right now.

I headed toward Stardust who had collapsed. When I saw her earlier, she seemed fine except for being tired, but I should check just in case.

What I saw was her still lying in the same position, leaning against a wall in the ruins. Her eyes were closed, suggesting she had lost consciousness. Wait, surely not?

Just to be sure, I quickly ran over, knelt on one knee, and checked if she was breathing. Phew, she's breathing fine. Of course, that's to be expected, but you never know. If something had gone wrong, I would have had to go down to the underworld to save her.

With that thought, I looked down at her as she lay there breathing softly. ...It's truly amazing how someone can still look so beautiful even when covered in dirt from fighting in ruins. Is this what they call the protagonist's buff or whatever?

Anyway, she must have been exhausted to the point of fainting. In the latter part of the original story, even when she used her powers extensively, she would only be unable to move her body but never lost consciousness. Today must have been really tough.

...Well, she really did work hard today. From the morning, she fought demons underground with just an energy bar, and then in the evening, she fought the Demon King. Thinking about it again, it's hard to believe she accomplished all this in just one day. Things have really changed from the original story.

"...Good job, Ms. Stardust. As expected... it's you. Haha."

Rising from my spot, I whispered words she couldn't hear. Alright, time to go. The association staff will be here soon. I can also hear helicopter sounds—the broadcasting stations seem to be approaching now that the situation is over.

As I was about to leave in the cool night breeze, I suddenly felt concerned about Stardust lying alone in the ruins. ...It's chilly, and she might catch a cold like this? The association will arrive soon, but until then... I can't help but worry.

After a moment's hesitation, I took off the cape from my back and covered her with it. Well, I have plenty of capes at home.

Of course, I wonder what she'll think when she wakes up and sees this... But with her villain-hating mindset, she'll probably think I'm teabagging her, so it shouldn't be a problem. She'll likely get angry thinking, "Are you mocking me for lying here helplessly!"

With that thought, I couldn't help but smile before turning away from her and taking steps to teleport. Ah, I'll need another IV drip when I get home.

With that final thought, I teleported away.

And because I left immediately, I didn't know.

"...."

After I left, Stardust moved slightly.

-Rustle.

That she firmly grasped the cape placed over her with one hand.

***

[Shocking! K-villain Egostic protects Korea again? Netizens 'astounded' by his unexpected abilities! We are living in the era of Egostic... All real-time popular videos dominated by Egostic.]

[Astounding! Did Egostic just deliver the final blow?! From the collapse of the Demon Castle to the elimination of the Demon King, Stardust accomplished everything alone! "Korea functions because of Stardust." The reason an anonymous association official praised Stardust with tears? Her good character being rediscovered!]

After barely preventing the collapse of a city and the destruction of the country once again, Korea was ablaze with these issues the very next day.

The country had narrowly escaped destruction many times before, but the media always churned out articles as if each time was new and thrilling. Of course, considering the enormous scale of this self-proclaimed Demon King, it was understandable. Many people still got goosebumps remembering the scene where the Demon King descended in the heart of Seoul, with dark red clouds gathering and his red eyes flashing.

Anyway, the Demon King died, and the trade center that had transformed into a demon castle returned to normal as soon as he died, with all the black sticky liquid disappearing. Of course, the parts destroyed in the battle would need to be rebuilt... but all things considered, it was a good outcome.

As the country regained its peace, people's attention naturally turned to Egostic and Stardust who had prevented this terror.

[[Exclusive] Could the terrorist group 'Moonlight Cult' that produced the Moonlight Priestess be related to this terror? Exclusive report by reporter Chae Na-young!]

Of course, there were genuine people trying to uncover the truth behind this terror, but the public had little interest in past incidents.

Meanwhile, broadcast stations were endlessly playing videos of the unfortunate Egostic—a villain with no portrait rights—and the association president, keenly aware of the rising popularity of heroes and the association, had ordered the release of countless videos showcasing Stardust's achievements.

Both fan cafes—Team Mango and Team Stardust—saw their membership numbers skyrocket, and members of the National Assembly were even petitioning the association headquarters to promote Stardust to S-rank...

During these chaotic days, I was resting peacefully in a large house far from the commotion.

"Ah... the second Kathedal meeting is starting soon?"

Until I checked the calendar.

Ah, I guess I'll be seeing our global S-rank villains again soon.

"I'll be seeing Uncle Atlas again."

I put a piece of apple into Seo Ja-young's mouth as she lay on the floor, took a bite myself, and muttered.

...This should be interesting.