Chapter 247 - PT
# Stardust's Flight Training
At the exact moment when Stardust would be flying while dripping with sweat...
I was sitting in a pre-prepared set, quietly reviewing my plan.
The purpose of my current terrorist act was simple.
To increase Stardust's flying speed. That's it.
'There's not much time left until the gate opens.'
As much as Stardust had grown stronger, I needed to develop elements beyond combat as well.
That's why I deliberately analyzed her average flying speed, then set a time limit that was a bit tighter than that. Our protagonist grows in times of crisis, after all.
'And...'
A first-class villain must prepare many things for a single terrorist act. Of course, there was something else to train as well.
Namely, evacuation training for the public.
With the gate incident approaching, it's also important for citizens to quickly escape to bunkers when that day comes. If they're not accustomed to this, evacuation will be slow, and they might get torn apart by monsters emerging from the gate while trying to flee.
That's why my condition was that the faster people evacuated from the area where I claimed a missile would fall, the more time I would give.
It was a two-birds-with-one-stone approach: making citizens practice quick evacuation while also giving myself the flexibility to extend the time for Stardust if needed. I couldn't actually drop a real missile on the city.
Anyway, that's why I deliberately chose a city where all the underground bunkers were completed... but let's set that aside for now.
'About 10 minutes left now...?'
I checked the remaining time and muttered to myself.
Currently, the screen only showed the missile floating in the air and the countdown timer, without showing my appearance.
Yes, it's about time to start.
"Ahem, ahem. Seo-eun, let's begin. Put that up."
[Yes, brother.]
Good. Camera on.
Let's do a broadcast.
After confirming the camera light was back on, I sat facing forward and smiled.
"Hello everyone. It's Ego News time. Nice to meet you! Is everyone evacuating well?"
Now I was back on broadcast.
And behind me, along with the countdown, was a map of Seoul showing a yellow dot moving across it.
Right. Since there's nothing else to do, let's broadcast Stardust's progress.
With that thought, I resumed the broadcast.
"Currently 8 minutes remaining! Stardust's position is now... around here! Oh, can she make it in time?"
*
[Go Stardust!!!]
[No, don't cheer for her, I hope the company goes bankrupt lolㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[As long as it's not me~~~]
[Like if you're a corporate slave excited about skipping work because you need to evacuateㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Real-time bunker situation... so many people hereㅋㅋ Everyone's following instructions well]
[Run run Stardust~ Fly fly Stardust~]
[Didn't he say he'd extend the time if many people came to the bunkers?? Please extend it, please]
*
I glanced at the chat, then checked the remaining time and Stardust's position again.
So far, there was no way she could make it in time.
But! I couldn't extend the time yet or I'd be a Stardust amateur. Stardust is the type who awakens her power when crisis comes. When there are only a few minutes left, her speed should increase dramatically.
I continued broadcasting while checking Stardust's real-time position through the Stardust-distance measuring device I had prepared in advance with drones.
And with little time remaining...
...I think 20 minutes was too tight for crossing Seoul.
Okay. Let's extend it a bit.
"Well! Stardust is currently passing through Seongdong District! Making it in time is... impossible! Better prepare to get hit by a missile."
I said with a grin.
With 2 minutes left until the promised time.
"Well, even if I give a few more minutes from here, nothing will change. So based on the current bunker statistics, I'll give 3 additional minutes! 3 minutes! Try your best, though it's impossible anyway. Hahaha!"
*
[3 minutes is too tightㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Still giving extra time as promised while being tsundere, Mangostick]
[Is a missile really going to fall???]
[Aaaah I'm still wandering around trying to find the bunker location, give us more time]
[Hey you above, stop chatting and run insteadㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Just drop the missile and redevelop the city]
[Fact: If Stardust doesn't make it in time, he'll definitely extend the time moreㅋㅋㅋ]
[Stardust, cheer up with star power~]
*
While I was laughing on the outside...
Inside, I was sweating nervously.
No... our Stardust. She's a bit slower than I expected?
Well, it's good that I noticed this in advance so I could train her like this. But she was too slow. I should have given 30 minutes from the start. But it felt awkward to dramatically extend it more now, so I only gave 3 more minutes...
'No. She can do it. Stardust, fighting...!'
I sent that message of encouragement in my heart.
...Surely, we won't reach the point where I actually have to drop the missile, right?
As I was racking my brain trying to think of an excuse to extend the time more...
*
[Oh..?]
[Breaking news: Stardust's speed suddenly boosted ONㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[As expected, a hero who's strong in crisisㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[We believe in you, Republic of Korea hero GOAT King Dust]
*
Stardust's position marked on the map started moving insanely fast.
Yes! That's it. I knew I could trust you, Stardust...
"As expected...! I mean, unbelievable! Stardust's speed is increasing. Could she possibly make it in time?"
I spoke as if something terrible had happened.
And even as I was secretly rejoicing inside.
[1:00]
[0:59]
[0:58]
Time was steadily ticking away.
***
Somewhere in eastern Seoul.
"Ugh..."
A woman with blonde hair fluttering, gritting her teeth and flying through the sky like a comet.
She was Stardust, flying at the fastest speed of her life.
'No... in 20 minutes! How am I supposed to get from here to there!'
Perhaps because the wind was hitting her face so hard, she was almost in tears as she gritted her teeth and thought.
Her head was already aching from a hangover, and this situation was making it twice as difficult.
Eventually, as time passed and she began to think she couldn't make it in time.
[Well, even if I give a few more minutes from here, nothing will change. I'll give 3 additional minutes! 3 minutes! Try your best, though it's impossible anyway. Hahaha!]
She heard Egostic say through her pre-connected earpiece.
The time had been extended—at least that was good news.
But she couldn't feel relieved hearing it.
"....."
The first thing that came to mind when she heard him extend the time.
Ah, as expected, Egostic never intended to drop it from the beginning.
And.
"....."
...He seemed to believe she could actually make it within 20 minutes.
Somehow, in her mind, she could picture Egostic sitting quietly, looking at the time with a disappointed expression.
'Hahaha! Haha... hah. ....Ms. Stardust. I thought you could at least do this much. Tsk, maybe my expectations were too high. I'll extend the time more, I have no choice.'
...Even though she knew Egostic wouldn't actually be like that.
Somehow, the image of his disappointed face kept appearing in her mind.
Just imagining it made her heart skip a beat.
"Ugh..."
Soon that anxiety amplified her desperation.
"....If I try! I can do it!"
So she gritted her teeth and used all her strength to propel herself forward.
And then.
5 minutes later.
"Huff, huff. Huff. Haa, haa. Haa."
She succeeded in arriving within the time limit.
"Damn...!"
And just then, the familiar sight of a missile falling vertically.
"Hah!"
Although her body was already drained from overexertion, once she arrived, the anger that burst forth allowed her to catch the falling missile from below and throw it up into the sky.
Twinkle
The missile became a star in the distant sky.
And.
"Egostic...."
You really... really... need to be taught a lesson...
She looked around with fierce eyes, breathing heavily.
...But where is he?
As she was wondering.
An unbelievable message came through her earpiece.
[Oh! Stardust has deflected the missile! Unbelievable!]
[Then right away! The next missile is coming! The location is Gangseo District... here! The time limit is...]
...What?
She couldn't believe her ears.
[Ms. Stardust! Egostic has launched another missile and is threatening! If you go all the way to the end from there...]
Indeed, Egostic was telling her to fly straight to the opposite end of Seoul again.
Hearing that, she...
"....You villain. Really, you villain..."
Now almost swallowing her tears, she had to launch herself immediately.
...Of course, her flying ability was definitely getting stronger, they say.
***
*
[????: Member! Just one more set and you're done! Let's do one more set before resting!]
[I thought it was missile terrorism but he's just giving Stardust personal trainingㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Breaking news: Stardust's average speed increased by 20% compared to when she startedㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
*
After telling Stardust to come to the opposite side again.
I was suffering from the guilt weighing on my heart.
"...Sob, I'm sorry, Ms. Stardust."
But now...! Her speed is really increasing insanely fast...!
Letting her go now would be worse than not doing this at all. I need to make sure she grows properly during this opportunity and internalizes it.
So, swallowing my tears, I was preparing one more missile.
...I was starting to worry about the moment when I would have to face Stardust directly at the end of today.
Will I be able to return alive..?