Chapter 263 - The Last Faith

"Hmm..."

High above the Republic of Korea.

A massive dragon engulfed in flames was soaring through the sky with a thunderous roar.

Above it, Stardust was gracefully dodging its flames while maintaining her offensive.

People watching this scene in real-time were naturally ecstatic at the magnificent display from their hero.

*

[Stardust is so cool lolololol]

[Stardust Punch! Stardust Punch! Stardust Punch!]

[Stardust's form is insane for real]

[Another GOAT of the Republic of Korea...]

[Wow, did she just dive down through the flames to dodge? Her judgment is crazy good]

[If Egostic is Korea's alpha, then Stardust is the omega. National treasure couple]

[Broadcasting genius Stardust saves even her male colleagues, she's a moral exemplar]

[But what is Stardust thinking while fighting right now?]

[She's probably in deep concentration with no thoughts other than how to deal with the enemy]

*

And so, Stardust, who appeared to be fighting with such burning intensity in her eyes.

"Hmm..."

'...What exactly is Egostic thinking?'

She was having thoughts that seemed rather unrelated to the battle.

That red dragon summoned by the Chinese villain Li Xiaopeng.

She had heard of Li Xiaopeng before. He was supposedly as powerful in China as Egostic was here.

And after he disappeared in flames, this massive burning serpent began to move.

She'd heard that this dragon was the product of the overwhelming power that allowed him to wield such influence in China.

However.

'...Somehow, I get the feeling he's holding back.'

Yes.

She kept having that thought.

Or more precisely, how should she put it? It felt like the attacks were deliberately rhythmic... as if testing something.

And if what she was sensing was true.

Then probably.

'...Egostic must have ordered it.'

Yes.

She couldn't help but reach that conclusion.

And then there was that feeling she'd had for a while.

The feeling of being watched.

"...Hm."

...You're watching, aren't you?

With that thought, she dodged another flame.

Though she couldn't guess what Egostic was thinking.

She was certain that he was watching her right now.

And.

She had a vague feeling that facing this villain's dragon held great significance for both Egostic and herself. Like some kind of test.

As she continued with these thoughts.

[GYAOOOOOOOOOO-]

"Tsk..."

As another flame from the red dragon flew toward her, she hurriedly launched herself into the air.

Right.

Whatever this was about, once she defeated this dragon, Egostic would show some kind of reaction, wouldn't he?

With that determination.

She unconsciously raised one corner of her mouth and clenched her fist.

Alright. I don't know what you're thinking, but I'll play along.

Having made up her mind, she took a deep breath.

'Ms. Stardust, you need to dodge to the right here!'

With the illusion of Egostic's voice in her ear.

She launched herself to the right, avoiding another blast of flame.

...And so, despite her initial confidence, she apparently had quite a struggle with the dragon that seemed to suddenly grow much stronger at some point.

***

Inside a container near the site of the terror attack where the red dragon was rampaging.

Despite its shabby exterior, the inside was covered with various high-tech devices and monitors.

I was putting down my headphones with a satisfied smile.

"That should do it."

"Hm? Oppa, are you finished?"

"Yeah. I think I've collected all the useful data now."

As I said this, I flipped through the papers coming out of the printer operating beside me while drinking water.

They contained everything from predictions about Stardust's current heart rate and fatigue levels to scores rating her combat skills and evasion abilities.

The calculated results were steadily coming into my hands.

And seeing them, I wore a satisfied smile.

"Yes. This is it..."

I told you, didn't I? Stardust has gotten much stronger.

I held that fond sentiment as I watched Stardust battling the Chinese dragon.

Is this really the same Stardust who barely managed to stop a train at the beginning? It's heartwarming...

[KRURYAAAAAAAA!]

Actually, even without looking at the numbers, the screen itself was already moving.

Against the blue sky, a red dragon was setting the entire firmament ablaze, while Stardust, glowing with yellow light, was fighting against the massive dragon hundreds of times her size.

Of course, this was just a dragon created with 60 percent of Li Xiaopeng's power for testing purposes, but it was still impressive. Originally, the government's official response protocol for this dragon wasn't one-on-one combat but a multi-person operation. Either way, Stardust facing it alone was remarkable.

Anyway, this level of power from Stardust is sufficient for the Moonlight Battle. After all, the key is the special power Stardust possesses.

In other words, Stardust's physical condition is already prepared for the catastrophe.

So with the test complete, I asked Li Xiaopeng to fight more intensely, not just as a test but like a real battle, to maintain Stardust's combat sense.

The result was a burning sky and explosion sounds from all directions, like something out of a monster movie.

BOOM. BOOM.

Ah, that building melted. I'll have to compensate for that...

Well. Spending some money again today. Terrorism always costs money, I suppose.

Anyway, I was watching Stardust's battle footage with a satisfied smile. The viewers' reactions were good too. Yes, very good.

As I was nodding in approval.

"Wow... there it is again. Oppa's goofy expression."

"..."

I couldn't help but clear my throat at Seo-eun's incredulous gaze as she squinted at me.

Goofy... my Seo-eun wasn't like this before. She's become twisted since becoming an adult. Sob sob.

As I was pretending to cry and playing around with Seo-eun, the terror attack was coming to an end.

"Hmm..."

Normally, I should just end it here, quietly clean up, and leave.

'...But. If I don't see Stardust today, I won't see her again until the day of catastrophe.'

Yes.

Shouldn't I go and give her some final encouragement?

All the arch-enemies I know would have done the same in this situation. Yes.

So I picked up the mask from the desk and spoke to Seo-eun, who was doing the final cleanup.

"Seo-eun. Wait a moment. I'll be back after ending the broadcast."

"Okay. See you soon."

After getting Seo-eun's permission, I put on my mask and walked out of the container.

And immediately teleported to where Stardust would be.

To give her one last greeting before the end of the year.

***

"Haah..."

In a wide open space below the empty downtown.

Stardust landed on the ground, breathing heavily, and looked up while panting.

[KEEEEEEEEEK!]

She had finally defeated that strange dragon in aerial combat.

She had found gaps to attack and pressed her offensive, finally bringing down the red dragon.

It twisted its body in midair, then disappeared with a cry, engulfed in flames.

Of course, the dragon wasn't really dead; the villain Li Xiaopeng had probably just canceled the summon. But a win was a win.

...Is it over?

As she was catching her breath and thinking this.

"Good work!"

Someone came down from the sky, clapping and speaking with a smiling voice.

"Egostic..."

"Yes, it's me. Well done, Ms. Stardust."

With a smiling face and fluttering cape, he landed gently on the ground just like her.

And he was... clearly smiling for anyone to see.

"Wow, now you're even taking down China's representative villain. Impressive, isn't it?"

"...Not really."

As she caught her breath and tried to think of what to say to Egostic, giving that half-hearted reply.

Egostic suddenly put on a serious expression and disagreed.

"No. It is impressive. There are only a few heroes in the world who can defeat that dragon. Ms. Stardust, you can be confident. You're already a shining person."

He smiled broadly, looking straight into her eyes as if stating the obvious.

And seeing him speak with such bright eyes, Stardust momentarily held her breath.

...What is this, a new mental attack method? Ha-ru, get a grip. You can't play into Egostic's pace...

Still, hearing such words face-to-face for the first time made her heart race. And his words, delivered with 100 percent sincerity, touched her heart even more.

Wait. Why is my heart pounding just because a villain is praising me for stopping a terror attack he caused...? This isn't right...

While Stardust was inwardly conflicted and unconsciously hesitating, Egostic continued speaking with the same smile.

"Anyway... I didn't come here just to talk about this. Ms. Stardust, please remember just one thing."

At Egostic's sudden statement, Stardust unconsciously replied with as much coldness as she could muster.

"...What is it? You, bad guy."

Whether she meant he was bad for being a villain, or bad for not showing his face until the end after causing terror, or bad for only coming at the end to shake her heart. Not knowing her own feelings well, she spoke with an angry rather than pouty tone.

Of course, Egostic just smiled broadly, brushing off such a minor label.

"Well, Ms. Stardust."

"...I think something might happen around the end of this year."

And.

At the last moment, he said this with a serious face.

And influenced by his mood-setting, Stardust also became serious.

"...What's going to happen? Do you know something?"

"I don't know anything specific... Let's just call it the intuition of a villain who's good at smelling danger. Anyway."

After saying that, he turned around, smiling again as if he had never been serious.

"As the weather is getting colder, please take care of your health, Ms. Stardust. A hero shouldn't catch a cold."

"...Wait. Something's going to happen at the end of the year, right?"

As she questioned him, looking at his back and telling him not to change the subject, he thought for a moment, then turned his head to look at her with a smile.

"Yes. Something will probably happen. Something big. Perhaps something so enormous that things will be different before and after."

"What? Wait, then I..."

"However. Knowing now won't change anything. But..."

Up to that point.

Though he was still smiling, with eyes more serious than ever before.

Looking straight at her, he opened his mouth.

"Ms. Stardust, you can do it."

"No matter what catastrophe strikes, the current Ms. Stardust. You, my arch-enemy whom I trust completely. You will be able to overcome whatever comes."

In his eyes as he spoke.

There was such overflowing trust in her that she froze momentarily upon seeing it.

"...And when that moment comes, I'll help you too. Haha, isn't it natural for even a villain to help when their partner hero is in danger?"

He smiled broadly as he said this.

And watching him, Stardust couldn't help but smile back at him.

"...How is that natural, you fool..."

...Yes. Whatever it is, it'll work out somehow.

With Egostic, with him by her side.

Stardust ultimately.

Found herself smiling unconsciously, unable to help thinking that way.

***

That evening.

'...What is it? You, bad guy.'

"Urrrgh..."

"Ah. Da-in is broken."

I was shocked by Stardust's words and collapsed.

Stardust... it seems she really does hate me after all. That's good. It's good, but...

I knew it intellectually, but hearing "bad guy" directly was quite a shock...

So I lay sick that night.

Hearing Stardust's voice condemning me in my dreams...