Chapter 208 - Moonlight

# New Year

Even as the world increasingly creaks under the emergence of various villains, the new year arrived without fail.

[It's time for Global News, where we bring you updates from around the world. Today, the United States officially acknowledged the identity of S-class Teleporter Ex Machina, who possessed time manipulation abilities. Additionally, they announced his death, causing widespread sorrow. Citizens are expressing waves of grief after hearing about his contributions that have now been revealed...]

And just like that, as soon as the new year arrived, news of Ex Machina's death reached us.

Only after seeing that did I finally become certain. Yes, time must have been rewound once, just like in the original story.

Furthermore, with his identity being revealed through news of his death, my own stock value seemed likely to rise. Hadn't I previously revealed his identity at Kathedal when no one else knew it? Everyone either didn't believe me or was uncertain, but with this news, they would surely realize.

Ah! That Egostic really does know something—that's what they'd think.

Anyway, those who became interested in me would look into me separately, and they'd learn about me roughly. At the very least, even if they don't know anything else, they probably won't choose to invade Korea when they're looking to plunder other countries.

In any case, my goal is to spread rumors abroad to prevent these guys from invading in the first place, thus preventing Stardust from suffering. While it's easy for me to eliminate the malicious villains among Korean villains in advance, foreign villains take longer to deal with, so it's best to prevent them from coming at all.

Anyway, with Kathedal, I just need to gradually expand influence like this. I'll continue by releasing a few more pieces of information.

...Right. Let's put these complicated thoughts aside for now.

First, let's eat.

"Thank you for the meal."

"Yes. Enjoy your meal."

And so, to celebrate the new year, we were eating tteokguk at the table.

Su-bin smiled as she watched us eat. Since I had helped make it, I was taking moderate portions, having already eaten a bowl with Su-bin while tasting it.

"Is it delicious?"

"Yes. It's delicious, Da-in oppa."

Eun-wol answered with a bright smile.

Yes, it's good to see her enjoying her food. Strangely, lately Eun-wol has been on my mind. A feeling of wanting to take care of her a little more? I feel a slight sense of guilt whenever I look at her, though I'm not sure why I feel this way.

...It feels like I should remember something. How strange.

"This is a nostalgic taste. In the past, the villagers used to serve this to me..."

Meanwhile, the spirit lady next to us was muttering something, suddenly lost in memories. I have no idea what time period she's talking about.

Anyway, today's mealtime had a warm, pleasant atmosphere.

While snow was falling outside, the sight of the whole family gathered in a warm house eating tteokguk was truly heartwarming.

"...It's nice to see, isn't it?"

"Yes. It's good to see everyone enjoying their meal."

Su-bin smiled and answered my comment.

We contentedly watched everyone eating.

"Wow, oppa. Look outside. It's snowing heavily!"

Just then, Seo-eun grabbed my sleeve and said that.

I turned my head toward the window at her words.

Indeed, the snow was falling more heavily than before.

This winter seems to be bringing a lot of snow. Not good for terrorism.

While I was thinking that, Seo-eun's eyes sparkled as she said:

"On days like this, we should have a snowball fight!"

"Huh?"

While I tilted my head at the sudden mention of a snowball fight, Choi Se-hee and Seo Ja-young, who were sitting nearby, had already heard her.

"Oh, a snowball fight. Good idea! I did it when I was young but never since growing up."

"...Good. It's been a while since I showed Se-hee who the big sister is."

"Ha, you? It would be the opposite."

"Heh. Are you angry?"

"No? I'm just thinking about how to turn you into a snowman."

And just like that, Choi Se-hee and Seo Ja-young suddenly got fired up.

...Actually, when I heard Seo-eun suggest a snowball fight, I was about to say our Seo-eun is still childlike despite claiming to be practically an adult as a high school senior... but now I'm not sure who the adults are here.

Well, anyway.

Just like that, after finishing our meal, our next activity was naturally decided.

***

Villains.

Those who cause terror, throw society into chaos, and reign as figures of fear over ordinary people.

What do these terrifying individuals, who threaten civilians with overwhelming abilities, do in their spare time?

The answer, apparently, was having snowball fights.

"Take this!"

"Ha, you dodged that? Try dodging this too!"

"Se-hee unni, Ja-young unni. Watch out to your side!"

...Well, I suppose there's a difference in scale.

I watched as they flew around with scarves on, shooting snowballs at each other like cannonballs. And of course, there was Seo-eun riding some strange robot and firing snow cannons.

...It definitely started as a snowball fight, but I'm not sure why there are now sparks flying and lightning flashing, but anyway, that's how they were playing. Seeing this, I'm glad we built our house in the mountains.

"Hmm..."

So what was I doing, you ask?

I was rolling snow with Eun-wol. Instead of joining that dangerous area, we were quietly making a snowman...

Eun-wol rolled snow with her gloved hands. I rolled some alongside her. Somehow, doing this made me feel at peace. I wonder how many years it's been since I last made a snowman? It brings back memories of rolling snow in a parking lot with childhood friends, competing to make the biggest snowman.

"Da-in oppa. I think this is enough."

"Yeah? Then let's put the head on now."

After rolling the head too, Eun-wol and I made a modest snowman. A snowman about as tall as my waist. It looked rather plain, so we gathered some branches and stuck them on both sides like arms, which made it look pretty decent.

Snowman, complete!

Feeling proud, we gave each other a high five. Eun-wol smiled broadly. Then she examined the snowman from various angles, clearly quite pleased with it.

"Ah, shall we rest a bit now?"

"Yes, Da-in oppa."

I dragged over a log lying among the trees, used telekinesis to brush off the accumulated snow, and as Eun-wol recited a spell, the log transformed into a fluffy, elongated bench.

Eun-wol sat on the bench with the tip of her nose slightly reddened, her breath visible as white mist. She looked a bit cold.

"Eun-wol, wait a moment?"

"Huh? Okay."

Seeing this, I brushed the snow off my clothes and teleported into the house.

A few minutes later, I flew back to the log bench in the falling snow, carrying two cups of hot cocoa.

"Here, Eun-wol. Drink this."

"Ah, oppa. Thank you."

Eun-wol received the cup with a bright smile.

With the snowy forest as a backdrop, her long black hair, red eyes, and warm clothes with a red scarf instead of her usual priestess outfit as she blew on her cocoa—she looked exactly like a girl her age. Not the Moon Priestess weapon of the Moonlight Cult who served as a mid-boss in the original story.

"Unni...! So you're going to play dirty like this?"

"Yes, what are you going to do about my flames and shield~"

"Really... I have ideas too!"

Meanwhile, while we were peacefully resting after our snowman-building, something close to a war was breaking out on the other side.

Seo Ja-young had surrounded herself with flames that melted snowballs before they could reach her, Seo-eun was modifying what looked like a cannon in response, and Choi Se-hee was now flying around throwing lightning and snow simultaneously at the airborne Ja-young...

"...Should we just stay here and drink our cocoa?"

"...Yes, oppa."

Already cold and not particularly wanting to join them, we decided to quietly sit on the log and watch. With our snowman placed right beside us, drinking warm cocoa.

"....."

Eun-wol sat beside me, holding her warm cup like a heater, quietly smiling as she watched the others play. I glanced at her and took a sip of my cocoa.

...Baek Eunwol.

The priestess of the Moonlight Cult who could use moon magic. And if you think about it, she's also the only person on Earth who can perfectly utilize all moon magic.

And my reason for recruiting Eun-wol into Ego-stream wasn't solely because of her abilities.

Please, just kill me.

...In the original story, she was controlled by the Moonlight Cult leader and forced to commit acts of terror against her will.

Tormented by guilt every night, she eventually begged Stardust to kill her, while suppressing her powers as much as possible.

Eventually killed by Stardust, she breathed her last with a final smile, as if everything was finally over.

...When this episode was serialized, the reader community was flooded with tears. Especially during a period when almost none of the characters in the original Stardust were normal, such a kind character meeting a tragic end at the protagonist's hands was truly heartbreaking. Many people felt sorry for her, particularly because she was cute and met such a futile end.

Of course, I was one of those people.

That's why I intended to save Eun-wol from the beginning.

As I was thinking about this.

"Da-in oppa..."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

I tilted my head at Eun-wol's sudden words beside me.

In the snowy forest.

Still not taking her eyes off the members playing, she continued with a slight smile.

"Just... I wonder if I could have ever seen a scene like this in my life without you. Seo-eun... Su-bin unni... Ha-yul unni too. Everyone welcomed me warmly when I first came..."

"Of course. We're family now."

"Family..."

Eun-wol rolled the word on her tongue, then looked into the distant forest for a moment before continuing in a slightly quieter voice.

"Da-in oppa. In the past, at the Moonlight Cult..."

And for the first time since coming here.

In front of the mansion in the snowy forest, Eun-wol began to talk about her past.

"When I opened my eyes, I had no memories."

According to what the cult leader told her, she had been trapped in a seal, wearing priestess clothes.

Meeting the Moonlight Cult was her first memory. No childhood memories, no recollections, nothing.

She became a living weapon for the Moonlight Cult.

Becoming the nominal priestess of the Moonlight Cult, she was made their symbol by the leader. From the beginning, without any freedom of her own, she was oppressed and controlled as she learned magic.

And no one approached her as she became the leader's puppet. Without friends or family. She only learned how to harm others.

"So, I'm really always, always grateful to Da-in oppa. Without you, I would have..."

As she spoke, Eun-wol's body trembled slightly.

I silently stroked her to reassure her, to tell her it was okay now.

Soon she stopped trembling, then hesitated before smiling broadly and looking me in the eyes.

"That's why I can do anything for Da-in oppa. Even if the whole world betrays you, I'll always stay by your side."

"...Yes. Thank you, Eun-wol."

"Hehe."

At Eun-wol's sudden confession, all I could do was thank her and stroke her head.

...It seems Eun-wol becomes emotional when it snows.

"Ah! Oppa, what are you two doing alone? I want to make a snowman too!"

Just then, Seo-eun spotted us and came running over.

We smiled at her.

...Family, huh? Family.

That has a nice ring to it.

And so we spent the whole day making snowmen, and eventually Eun-wol and I joined the snowball fight too.

And.

Before we knew it, the day of the first Kathedal meeting of the new year was approaching.

....Already?