Chapter 212 - That Day

# After securing a promise of cooperation for the terror attack from Katana.

I was working with Seo-eun in the basement after a long time.

"So, oppa. This woman called Katana is coming to our country soon?"

"Yeah. She's coming by private jet."

I nodded as I said that.

Of course, our Lee Seol-ah agreed to provide the private jet. Just trust the reliable Yu-seong Corporation and all problems are solved. Thank you, Seol-ah-mon...!

Anyway, hearing my words, Seo-eun sighed deeply and then smiled incredulously while shaking her head.

"Right... you've always been like this, oppa. Well, anyway. So I need to determine the location for the terror attack, right?"

"Yeah. Somewhere spacious, where people can evacuate quickly..."

"And it needs to be near downtown Seoul. Got it."

After saying that, Seo-eun started typing something.

Originally, I would have just picked a place casually, but this time Katana's ability is quite powerful, so we needed to be more careful.

So here in the underground base, in Seo-eun's workspace at the center.

While dozens of monitors attached to the walls were displaying incomprehensible code, several screens switched to show a map of Seoul.

Soon, something started operating automatically, and suddenly calculations for travel distances, population density, and other factors began appearing on one side.

"There, the candidates will appear soon."

Seo-eun said after taking a sip of milk tea, still holding the straw in her mouth while typing something.

The Ego-stream Terror Plan Maker 2.0, which Seo-eun had promised to automate, was working hard. The creators were, of course, Seo-eun and Ms. Su-bin.

...Come to think of it, it's kind of funny that a villain's terror plan generator is calculating how to minimize casualties.

Anyway, I also drank the milk tea Seo-eun handed me while watching the device work.

Since pretty much everything for our Ego-stream happens here, Seo-eun was working hard as usual today.

Soon, several candidate locations for the terror attack appeared.

Ms. Su-bin also came down to help us.

"Oh, Ms. Su-bin. You're here?"

"Yes. I see Da-in is already here too."

She answered with a slight smile toward me.

After naturally taking her seat, Ms. Su-bin also started typing something. Various pop-up windows appeared on the monitor.

...Right, Ms. Su-bin also majored in computer science. I sometimes forget that. Usually, she feels like the general manager supporting our Ego-stream members from behind. In reality, her hacking skills are good enough to assist Seo-eun.

We continued our meeting after that.

Finally, we selected a location on one side of Seoul. This should work fine.

"Soon we'll need to prepare for the broadcast too... it's going to be busy."

I said while leaning back in my chair.

Katana will be here soon, we'll do the terror attack together, and I'll see Stardust after a long time...

Feels like I have a lot to do again.

While I was thinking about what's ahead, Seo-eun suddenly spoke to me as if she just remembered something.

"By the way, oppa."

"Yeah?"

"Being here in the basement with you and unni reminds me of the old days. When we lived in the underground base."

She said with a smile.

...The old days, huh. It's already become "the old days."

"You mean when you used to call me 'hyung'?"

"...Ugh. When did I ever? I never did that. That's a false memory, so forget it quickly."

Seo-eun was drinking milk tea when she puffed her cheeks at my teasing and quickly averted her gaze. I could see her ear tips turning slightly red.

"Hehe...."

Ms. Su-bin smiled kindly watching us.

...Come to think of it, at first it was just me, Seo-eun, and Ms. Su-bin doing almost everything. Later, starting with Ha-yul, members were added one by one, and we moved to the mansion on the hill. We established Ego-stream too. Just seeing how much Seo-eun has grown taller makes me realize how much time has passed.

Of course, what we do hasn't really changed. Terror attacks against Stardust.

Except this time, it's a global collaboration. Our Ego-stream is... evolving!

Anyway, after hanging out in the basement for a while.

"Wow. Look how pretty this Katana unni is."

Suddenly Seo-eun searched for Katana online and started getting fired up, so I calmed her down and prepared everything else.

I went to the PMC for additional training, did other things, and then...

"Thank you for coming, Katana."

"It's been a while, Egostic."

Finally, Katana arrived.

***

Katana flew in just an hour after saying she would come.

Since terror is best done after a meal, I treated her to food in Korea first, then gave her the final explanation of our terror plan.

"I understand. If the fight gets too intense or if it looks like there will be a clear winner, I'll withdraw."

"Yes, that's right. Since terror attacks aren't easy to begin with, please don't push yourself too hard."

I explained to Katana.

Especially if she feels like she's being pushed back, just give me a signal and I'll end it. We can't suddenly have a life-or-death battle here.

As if reading my concern, Katana gave me a rare faint smile and said:

"...You don't need to worry about me. I welcome duels anytime as a way to improve my skills. It's been a while since I've wielded my sword against a worthy opponent."

She said while polishing the Japanese sword at her waist with a cloth.

Well, as someone who established Japan's largest villain organization, the Sankyopa, with just her swordsmanship and even defeated the association, her skills are guaranteed.

"Shall we head out now?"

She nodded at my words.

Before leaving, I checked my mask and outfit one last time and made sure I had the camera.

Katana was also neatly dressed in her uniform, with her black hair tied back cleanly as always.

Alright, let's go.

I took her hand and headed to the terror location.

The terror collaboration between Korea's #1 villain and Japan's #1 villain finally begins. I wonder how people will react.

...Though I'm a bit scared of Stardust's reaction, but anyway.

I prepared to start the broadcast.

Time to do a terror attack after a long time.

***

A-class hero Stardust, Shin Ha-ru.

She had been feeling somewhat anxious lately.

"....."

The increasing number of villains.

Especially how their direction seemed to be pointing somewhere specific. She had been able to handle everything so far, but what about later? She had a feeling something big was coming.

But more than that.

There was something else making her anxious.

"...Egostic, when are you coming..."

The fact that even though the year had changed, Egostic still hadn't shown up.

"...You said you'd come soon."

"...Well, we'll be able to see each other again soon."

Yes.

He definitely said that.

Smiling at her, as if it were obvious. As if it were certain they would meet again soon.

Then he left.

Months passed and the year changed, but he was nowhere to be seen.

...Of course.

"......"

The vague emotions and headaches she'd been experiencing lately whenever she thought about Egostic.

She didn't know why she felt this way, but whenever she thought about him, a corner of her heart felt heavy.

Especially after a few months ago when she suddenly cried for no reason. Continuously.

A feeling of having missed something, forgotten something.

A faint feeling of her heart racing.

A strange emotion that made her feel like she would understand if she saw him right now.

In the end, all those feelings led to one simple thought: she wanted to see Egostic.

Though she didn't know it, only her emotions remained.

"Hmm...."

...It was strange that while she was stressed about the increasing number of villains, she paradoxically wanted to see a villain, but she justified herself by saying Egostic was special.

Anyway, the conclusion was that she had been thinking about Egostic more often lately.

She had even reached the point where she would unconsciously stand touching Egostic's cape that she had hung on her wall as evidence, sighing and wondering when he would come. Of course, she would hastily pull herself away when she realized what she was doing.

...Whenever she caught herself thinking like this, she would hesitate at the thought that Egostic was a villain, but she tried to ignore it. She was just interested in the villain she was in charge of, nothing more, nothing less... probably.

'Really?'

"......"

...Sometimes her inner voice would question this, but anyway, that was that. On the other hand, she was still perfectly handling all her assigned tasks. She neutralized every villain and sent them to detention centers, and did her work thoroughly. The Director even praised her, saying the association ran smoothly thanks to her.

...Of course, she spent more time than before checking Egostic's fan cafe to keep up with his activities, but she justified this as part of her job too.

So she read prediction posts written by his fans on the fan cafe, and firmly pressed the dislike button on unfunny posts about Electric Mango, Purple Mango, Dragon Mango, and whatnot.

As she lived day by day just looking at the calendar.

[Hello everyone. This is Egostic!]

Finally, at last, that day came.

"Ms. Stardust!"

"Yes. I know."

She barely managed to control her expression in front of the urgent association employee and prepared to deploy.

Finally. Finally, she could see him.

The last time she saw him was...

"....."

For a moment, images of sunset, a rooftop, and an open sky flashed before her eyes. But they disappeared instantly. Before she could even register them.

The last time she saw him was... the park. Yes, the last time was at the park. The park where he descended riding a dragon. That's where she last saw him...

Somehow her heart ached without her knowing why, but she tried to shake it off. Yes. Anyway, she was finally going to see Egostic.

'....'

When she briefly watched the broadcast, she noticed no one seemed to be near him, and her heart unconsciously beat a little faster. This time, finally, he seemed to have come alone. Without other female... villains.

So Shin Ha-ru flew off with a bit of hope and expectation.

...Until then, she had been in a good mood.

Until then.