Chapter 198 - Dragon Like
# [Egostic is Really Problematic at Scheduling Terror...]
People, seriously?
How does it make sense that it takes 3-4 months to commit one terror act?
I've already watched all of Mangostick's highlight videos dozens of times and there's nothing left to see...
This is ridiculous, when are you coming!!!!!!
=[Comments]=
[For real lol, claims to be a villain but doesn't commit terror acts smh lol]
[S-class hero Mangostick who even defeats demon lords declares terror strike]
[My joy in life is disappearing...]
[It's been almost 4 months now, so it should be coming soon?]
ㄴ[Yeah, about time lol]
[???: Hey, remember Egostic during the Demon Castle incident? He was so awesome then, but who knew that would be his last broadcast lol]
ㄴ[Seriously, stop saying that]
ㄴ[No, it's not true~ Mango said he's coming this month~ I believe]
***
[But why do people call Egostic a hero when he's obviously a villain? Are they insane?]
Has he ever tried to prevent casualties during his terror acts?
Has he defeated other dangerous villains?
Did he help retrieve the giant robot during the Han-eun Group raid?
Did he persuade the Moon Priestess to stop the Moonlight Church attack?
Did he negotiate a treaty to exclude our country during Atlas's marine creature attack?
Did he protect Stardust and defeat the demon lord during the Demon Castle battle?
He literally did nothing but commit terror acts, so why call him a hero? (genuinely curious)
=[Comments]=
[10 points... 10 points!]
[For real lol]
[After seeing this, I decided to call Egostic a villain]
[Wow, this is completely evil? Just a villain, plain and simple~^^]
[Looking at it this way, he really is crazy lol]
ㄴ[We are living in the era of Mangostick]
[Damn it, if you're a villain and not a hero, commit some terror acts!!!!!]
ㄴ[Day 115 of praying for Egostic's terror]
[Why isn't he a villain? Because he's not committing terror acts and went MIA lol]
ㄴ[For real lol, if you want to prove you're a villain, hurry up and commit terror]
ㄴ[Everyone except Team Stardust is probably wishing for Egostic's terror]
ㄴ[? Team Stardust also wants Egostic's terror... We can't resist Stardust×Egostic lol]
[But Mango was so impressive at the Demon Castle last time, I'm worried this time might be boring in comparison]
ㄴ[For real, how can you top the impact of Apple Mango, the hero of light? lol]
*
"Sigh..."
Stardust turned her gaze away from Egostic's fan cafe with a sigh.
She had checked it out of habit, hoping for some information, but most posts were just lamenting his absence from terror activities.
"..."
Unconsciously stroking her cup, she took a sip of cold water and gathered her thoughts.
Egostic not showing up... well, that was nothing new. She wasn't particularly anxious about it. Though her eyes kept drifting to the calendar, that probably had nothing to do with it. Probably.
"...Haah."
Sighing without realizing it, Stardust fell into thought again.
Egostic is a villain. He must be a villain since he's registered as one by the Association.
But.
"..."
Why does she think about Egostic more than other heroes do?
Why does her heart ache when he gets hurt, and why does she feel strange when he looks only at her?
Why can't she bring herself to hate him?
...I don't know.
Let's think about that later.
...I don't even know what face to make when I see Egostic during his next terror act. I guess I should just confront him as usual. That seems to be what he wants.
"...I should get back to work."
With another sigh, she turned back to her monitor and resumed working.
She was reviewing footage of a previous battle with a villain.
It was someone called Crankwroci who wore a green bodysuit and shot red beams from his eyes, and he had been quite difficult to deal with.
...Even though Stardust herself had become much stronger than before... somehow the villains were also getting stronger, so the effort required remained about the same.
'...What if I hadn't gotten stronger at all and remained as weak as before?'
Stardust shuddered at the thought. ...It was something she didn't even want to imagine. If that had been the case, how terrible it would have been. With so many villains appearing each week, the Republic of Korea would have been destroyed long ago.
As she was lost in these terrible thoughts, Stardust played the video of her battle with the green villain again to review the fight.
...It wasn't interesting. Watching her fights with Egostic never felt this way, even after multiple viewings. Strange feeling. Perhaps real combat is best after all.
As she was continuing her thoughts while watching the boring footage...
Suddenly, her office door burst open, and an Association employee rushed in, panting.
"S-Stardust!"
"Yes?"
As she responded, Stardust felt her heart racing without realizing it.
When an employee rushed in like that, it meant something big had happened.
And her prediction was correct.
"Egostic, Egostic has launched a terror attack! I'll give you the coordinates now!"
"Final... I see. Understood, I'll head out immediately."
Biting her tongue without realizing it, she hardened her expression and stood up. Egostic had returned. After 4 months.
After consciously managing her expression, Stardust was about to open the window and fly out when...
The employee behind her hurriedly tried to provide additional information.
"Oh, and there's something you should know...! Ah..."
However, long before the employee could finish speaking, Stardust had already flown away at lightning speed.
Having ignored the employee's words and suppressing her racing heart, Stardust flew straight to where Egostic had reportedly appeared.
"......?"
She was left speechless at the sight of a massive dragon flying overhead, blocking the sky.
...What is that?
***
In the deep blue sky above the city center.
With clouds as companions and wind as brothers, I was flying at high speed across the high sky.
Riding on a white dragon.
Ah, how refreshing.
"...I still don't think this is right, no matter how I look at it."
While I was enjoying the refreshing breeze, I heard muttering from below.
Glancing down, I could see the dragon's grumbling expression.
"Oh my, why do you say that again? I told you before. This is all about saving the world, that's what I'm saying."
"...Sigh, fine. I'll believe you just this once. Since you say giving that woman a trial is so important."
"Thank you. Just do as we practiced, as we practiced."
After persuading the white dragon-shaped spirit once more, we arrived at the scene.
Yes, now let's get started.
"Spirit, please."
"Understood."
As soon as she finished speaking, she flew up into the sky and flapped her massive wings with a roar.
Simultaneously, dark clouds began to gather in the sky, and ice-like graupel started falling.
The graupel gradually grew larger, and soon ice and snow were falling endlessly throughout the city center.
Now, all preparations are complete.
Should I turn on the broadcast and call Stardust? It feels like it's been a while since I last did this.
I reviewed the situation once more.
Me sitting on a giant white dragon flying at high speed, wearing a black top hat, a half white mask, a black robe and a black cape, smiling.
Good, perfect.
With my black cape fluttering, I held onto my hat to keep it from flying away while sitting on the dragon soaring at high speed, and turned on the broadcast right there in the sky.
"Hello everyone. This is Egostic!"
As my image appeared on screen—riding a giant dragon flying like an arrow above the city center with an open backdrop—
The reaction was exactly as I expected.
Explosive.
*
[Mango-yathoo~! Mango-yathoo~! Mango-yathoo~! Mango-yathoo~! Mango-yathoo~! Mango-yathoo~! Mango-yathoo~! Mango-yathoo~! Mango-yathoo~! Mango-yathoo~! Mango-yathoo~!]
[Wow damn Egostic comeback after a hundred thousand years lol]
[Here comes my porn lol]
[Starting with a dragon right off the bat lol I was wondering what was happening on the news, and sure enough, it was Egostic]
[Seriously damn lol always exceeding expectations lol]
[Straight up dragon rider entrance lol]
[This is terror and this is entertainment lol]
[Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick!]
[Is this the proud K-villain? My heart swells with pride...]
[Like if you're watching this real-life Dragon Flight adaptation instead of working or attending meetings lol]
[Damn, never thought I'd see a dragon in Korea lol]
[Unlike generic terror acts, this is Egostic's premium terror... this is what being a villain is about]
["We are living in the era of Egostic" <- No one can refute this lol]
*
Viewers getting excited about the dragon like teenage boys. Yes... you all understand the romance too.
Smiling gently from atop the flapping wings, I continued speaking.
"Yes everyone, it's good to see you all. It's me! It's been quite a while since my last terror act, but here I am again."
*
[You took a really long break lol]
[Please reduce that 3-month gap between terror acts!!!!]
[I've been waiting so long my neck stretched into a giraffe, what should I do?]
[But he really did come back with an amazing scale after such a long break lol]
[Dragon and mango... dragon and fruit lol Double the fruit lol]
[Okay we get it, now hurry up and tell us about the dragon you're riding!!!]
*
Still smiling at the impatient viewers, I continued what I had to say.
"Yes... Anyway, I became quite famous after last time? I even heard some slander about being a hero, so I'm here to clear up those misunderstandings once and for all."
As I spoke, I signaled to the spirit below.
I'm not sure if she was grumbling inside, but she still let out a dragon howl for me.
-KRAAAAA
From up in the sky, under that roar, I looked down at the city with an evil smile and declared:
"Today, I will conquer Seoul!"
*
[???????]
[Mangostick's declaration to conquer Seoul, wow]
[Please conquer us lol]
[We, the 10 million members of Team Mango, sincerely wish for Mangostick's conquest of Seoul]
[For real, please conquer us quickly~~]
*
...This isn't quite the reaction I expected?
Anyway, that's not important. What's important is someone flying toward me from ahead.
I greeted her with a smile as she approached, her golden hair fluttering in the wind.
"Of course, if I try to do that, someone will naturally stand in my way."
"Nice to see you, Stardust."
"...Haa, haa."
I smiled at her, Stardust, who was facing me and breathing heavily.
Yes.
The real terror was just beginning.