Chapter 227 - Another Self

[Stardust! Are the Dusties saying Egostic is really Kim Cheol-woo???]

Is that true???

I can't believe it

=[Comments]=

[If you look at other communities besides our Stardust fan cafe, there's evidence going around that Kim Cheol-woo is Egosticㅋㅋㅋㅋ Like how he's never seen when Egostic is committing terror, they're similar height, stuff like that]

ㄴ[For realㅋㅋ It's pretty obvious, isn't it?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

ㄴ[Huh? Honestly it might not be true so staying neutral is probably best...?]

[Dunno? But I checked out Egostic's fan cafe and it's going crazy so I really don't knowㅋㅋ]

[But if Egostic's identity is revealed like this, wouldn't that be bad for Stardust too..? I'm worried, she's the only one who takes care of our Stardust as much as Mangostickㅜㅜ]

ㄴ[For real, Egostic is basically an honorary hero...]

[Hey, it's not trueㅋㅋㅋㅋ The real Egostic just appeared on TVㅋㅋㅋ]

ㄴ[Oh really?]

ㄴ[Wait, so it was fake news?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

ㄴ[I knew this would happen (actually I didn't)ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

ㄴ[Where? Link please]

ㄴ[Just check any major news channel, it's right thereㅋㅋㅋ]

***

In the sky above where people had gathered to see Egostic in person.

At the moment when everyone rushed to Kim Cheol-woo's house after hearing some villain organization's claim that "Egostic's real name is Kim Cheol-woo."

"Haha, everyone. I heard there's a new Egostic, so I came to check, but is this the person?"

Something unexpected happened that no one had imagined.

The real Egostic appeared right in front of the man named Kim Cheol-woo who was suspected of being Egostic.

That's right.

I just came here directly.

And turned on the broadcast.

*

[Egostic is live streamingㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Cheol-woo-stic just got debunkedㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Whoa how are Egostic and Kim Cheol-woo in the same place? Did Mango finally learn how to clone himself?ㅋㅋ]

[Kim Cheol-woo is! NOT! Egostic!!!!!]

[Ego immediately shows up when some random guy gets accused, truly an S-class hero Mangostick who cares about the wrongfully accusedㅠㅠㅠ]

[So that villain organization completely missed the mark? What evidence did they even have? They look like idiotsㅋㅋㅋ]

[For real, just Egostic turning on his broadcast is enough to disprove itㅋㅋㅋ]

[Whoever's happy that Egostic turned on his broadcast because of this opportunity, like this commentㅋㅋㅋ Me firstㅋㅋㅋ]

'I've really experienced all sorts of things in my life...'

In the sky, where numerous cameras were filming me.

Wearing a mask and hat, with my cape fluttering, I secretly sighed.

No, I've seen heroes getting their identities exposed before, but never a villain. And they got the wrong person too...

As a result, I found myself standing above people once again.

"It's the real Egostic!"

Various noises coming from below.

Far from running away from me, a villain, people were taking pictures with sparkling eyes. I sighed inwardly again. Their lack of safety awareness, what should I do about it?

In situations like this, I could bring a few guns and fire away, but since I only planned to say what I needed to say and leave immediately, I didn't do that.

Yes. The reason I came all the way here today was to do just two things.

To say that this man named Kim Cheol-woo has nothing to do with me, and to warn that I'll destroy the organization called Shinetia or whatever that spread fake news. I came here just to say these two things.

But before that.

...Let's prepare for Stardust first.

I shook the man named Kim Cheol-woo who was held in my hand by psychokinesis and said:

"Now! I'd like to have an interview today, but if anyone approaches, I might get startled and drop this person, so please stay away."

"Oh my god! Please save me!"

So I shook the poor Kim Cheol-woo who was going through all sorts of hardships today once more. Sorry, Cheol-woo. I'll make it up to you properly.

Anyway, after preemptively blocking Stardust's approach with my traditional hostage situation without making eye contact, I quickly spoke to Kim Cheol-woo whom I had kidnapped via teleportation.

"Anyway, Mr. Cheol-woo. Nice to meet you. I heard on TV today that you're Egostic, is that true?"

"Eek... What?"

Floating in the air and looking down in terror, he turned his head in bewilderment after hearing my words.

Soon, as if he had regained his senses somewhat, he looked at me as if he was the most wronged person in the world and said:

"No...! How can you even ask that when the real Egostic is right in front of me...!"

"What? I'm just someone cosplaying as Egostic. Aren't you the real Egostic?"

"Aaaah...!"

"Of course, I'm joking."

"...Hah, thank you."

He grabbed his head as if exhausted.

*

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Stop bullying our Cheol-wooㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Cheol-woo-stic! Stop pretending you're not Egostic!]

[Sorry Cheol-woo but just seeing your face makes me laugh nowㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

*

Good, this much conversation should be enough for people to understand that Kim Cheol-woo and Egostic are completely separate individuals.

After clearing the name of the poor civilian who was accused of being an A-class villain overnight, I continued with my prepared speech while numerous cameras were filming me from below.

"Well, I was quite surprised too. My identity shouldn't be exposed in the first place, but suddenly it was supposedly leaked and Mr. Cheol-woo's face appeared? How could I not be surprised? At first, I thought Mr. Cheol-woo planned this."

"What? That's impossible!"

Kim Cheol-woo was startled.

I waved my hand to reassure him.

"Yes, yes. Now that I see you in person, it doesn't seem like it."

"...Thank you."

Kim Cheol-woo answered weakly while floating in the air.

*

[Cheol-woo looks like his soul has left his bodyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Being known as Mangostick to the whole nation overnight and now being interviewed by Mango himself while floating in the air, how could his mental state not collapse?ㅋㅋㅋ This isn't some light novelㅋㅋ]

[???: About waking up one morning to find I've become an A-class villain (*It wasn't impossible?!)]

[It IS impossible, you idiotㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[At least Cheol-woo has a drinking story for life nowㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Actually good?]

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ This whole situation is just too funnyㅋㅋㅋ]

*

Good. That should be enough.

I then put my hand on the shoulder of Kim Cheol-woo, who seemed to have lost his soul, and exclaimed:

"Don't worry, Mr. Cheol-woo. I'll get revenge for you."

"....What?"

"I'll find and destroy that strange villain organization that defamed you. How does that sound?"

At my words, Kim Cheol-woo's eyes suddenly came back to life, and he swung his fist in the air and shouted:

"Yeah, those bastards...! Oh, we're on air. Uh, yes. Please do that..."

"Understood. Don't worry about that. Oh, and I heard there are hundreds of thousands of viewers watching right now. Do you have any last words?"

"Haha..."

After laughing weakly, he looked at the camera with somewhat soulless eyes and said with a weak smile:

"'Cheol-woo's Bakery' that I run near here in Gyeonggi-do, please show your interest... Please buy some bread. Thank you..."

"Yes! I heard you loud and clear."

*

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Cheol-woo with the sneaky advertisementㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[I live near there and from now on I'm only buying bread from Cheol-woo's bakeryㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Cheol-woo actually has an incredibly strong mental stateㅋㅋㅋ Answering questions while trembling several meters in the air with Egostic and now even advertisingㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Kim Cheol-woo's success strategy of turning crisis into opportunityㅋㅋㅋ]

[Today's broadcast is just so funnyㅋㅋㅋㅋ Thanks for the good show, intelligent villain~]

[Cheol-woo's Bakery will probably have lines soon, ahㅋㅋ]

*

Having said almost everything I needed to say, I prepared to leave.

While the two of us were up in the sky, people were still taking pictures and shouting unidentifiable slogans.

Yes. It's time to go now. ...If I stay any longer, Stardust might show up.

Yes. I should say this last thing before I go.

I turned my head to look at the camera, smiled brightly, and said:

"I came here after hearing there was another Egostic, but it seems it was a misunderstanding. So, the Shinetia organization that spread fake news and made me move unnecessarily, look forward to my visit. Now, Mr. Cheol-woo, we must part ways."

"...Yes. Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

After smiling at him, I quickly used teleportation control to instantly put Kim Cheol-woo down on the ground, then I looked at the camera and said:

"That's all for today's broadcast. Thank you!"

With those words, I ended the broadcast and immediately teleported away.

Broadcast time: 10 minutes. Whew, that was really quick.

Good, I think I did a decent job. And...

'Somehow, I managed to avoid making eye contact with Stardust!'

Yes. I quietly praised myself.

...It wasn't even a terror attack but more like a simple clarification broadcast, so getting involved with Stardust would make things complicated. It's better to keep it short.

And... because of what happened last time, I'm still afraid to face Stardust. What if she calls me a bad guy again? Stardust must be happy that I came, didn't cause any trouble, didn't make eye contact, and left.

"Ms. Da-in, over here!"

"Yes."

Thinking that, I got into the vehicle that Ms. Su-bin had prepared in advance.

...Looks like I handled today's business perfectly.

***

After Egostic kidnapped Kim Cheol-woo for a forced interview and left.

In that place still bustling with excited people due to what had just happened, with a hot atmosphere.

"....."

Stardust stood alone on the upper floor corridor of the apartment with a cold expression.

'...In the end, he didn't make eye contact with me at all.'

"...Haha."

....What is this?

Does he not care about me anymore?

I thought he would at least make eye contact once.

Just once.

But he didn't look at her even once.

As if he had no interest at all.

"....Haha. Hahaha."

And so Stardust.

For a while, she laughed emptily alone in the corridor.

For a while, continuously.