Chapter 285 - Her Statement
# Seoul city.
In the center of the empty streets caused by the terrorist attack, a rather massive white pillar stood.
In front of it, a black-haired woman wearing sunglasses had her eyes closed while placing her hand on the pillar.
The area around her was already surrounded by Association staff who had rushed to the scene.
Everyone was pointing their guns, waiting for orders from above and monitoring the situation, not knowing what condition Stardust might be in inside or what would happen if they disturbed that villain.
...Though there were many moments when everyone flinched as the female villain called Dungeon Maker made strange movements.
Anyway, how much time had passed like that?
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud
Finally, the white pillar began to shake.
And the moment Dungeon Maker hastily removed her hand and stepped back.
BOOM-
At last, the pillar exploded, covering the surroundings with something like white powder.
"Cough, cough."
Soon after, two figures appeared from inside.
And one of them was naturally me.
"Oh my..."
It's hard, so hard.
Inside the labyrinth created by Dungeon Maker.
After escaping to the final room, we were able to return to reality by following the path of cognition.
After walking endlessly through a strange black space, we finally pulled back a white curtain, opened our eyes, and saw the blue sky unfold again.
We had returned to the heart of downtown Seoul.
"Are you alright, Ms. Stardus?"
"...Yeah."
What we saw right in front of us after returning was:
"Haah..."
Dungeon Maker, with her arms crossed, wearing sunglasses and sighing.
The first thing she did when she saw us was:
"I surrender."
With a slight smile, she raised both hands and surrendered.
...Wow, that was extremely quick.
Well, it was the right decision. She must have used up all her power, and unless she had teleportation abilities like me, it was too late to run away now. Better to be captured cleanly than to be caught in an ugly manner.
But something felt strange. She could have successfully escaped if she had run away quickly when we destroyed the final room, so why was she giving up?
...The truth is, I'm a bit anxious about not handling this myself and handing her over to prison like this. It's awkward for me to do anything to a villain who has already surrendered. And Stardus is already heading that way too. Tsk. Her ability itself is too dangerous. Well, I guess there's nothing I can do.
"...Then, I'll arrest you here."
While Stardus stepped forward.
I first retrieved my camera. Where is it? Ah, it's stuck here.
And the moment I opened the chat window that was reconnected.
...Literally hundreds of chat messages began flooding in.
*
[Finally here finally here finally here]
[MANGOOOOOO!!!]
[Why only now... why only now... why only now... why only now... why only now... why only now... why only now... why only now... why only now... why only now...]
[Mangostick, spill everything that happened inside right now!!!]
[Do you know how many hours we waited? I was cold...]
[What the hell did you two do in there? Tell us quickly aaaaahhhh]
[You filmed inside too, right??? Right??? You're going to release the broadcast later, right????]
[Release Egostic_Stardus_alone_in_labyrinth.avi quickly!!!]
[Stardus's cheeks look slightly red, what is this??? Ex plain. Ex plain. Ex plain. Ex plain.]
*
The chat window had completely exploded.
I finally understood the situation. Ah, the broadcast was still on while I was in that labyrinth? These remaining viewers... well, why are they still here? What were they watching?
I don't know what they were watching, but judging by how the chat window was blazing as if they'd been waiting, they probably weren't watching anything fun. The scrolling is endless.
Anyway, while I was thinking about that, Stardus had already removed Dungeon Maker's mechanical arms and had been holding her for a while.
I guess since she knew I would try to escape anyway, she had disarmed Dungeon Maker first.
...Dungeon Maker was handled more easily than in the original work. No casualties.
I probably won't see her again, right? I hope so.
As I was thinking that while watching the scene.
I unconsciously asked Dungeon Maker in front of me.
Well, that's that. I need to ask this before leaving.
"Hey. Excuse me, Ms. Dungeon Maker?"
"...Hmm, what?"
At my words, she turned her head to look at me.
To her, who seemed strangely cooperative, I asked what I was most curious about.
The one difference from the original work.
"Um, why did you set the escape condition for the final room like that?"
Yes. This was what I was most curious about.
I mean, anyone would have set the condition that we had to kill each other to get out, like in the original. Why on earth would a k...iss come up? What meaning does that have? I mean, we could have just closed our eyes and done a kiss, so what's the big deal?
By the way, when I brought this up, Stardus was also unintentionally affected, as her cheeks turned red while she momentarily paused.
And hearing my words, Dungeon Maker smiled strangely and said:
"Hmm... I wonder why?"
That's all she said.
Sigh, right. It's my fault for trying to find out something. Villains are all crazy anyway, so I guess that could happen.
"...But well, it's almost all here now. Just a little longer..."
She was mumbling something more, but that wasn't important.
What was important was that with our brief exchange, the chat window started burning even more.
*
[What was the escape condition for the final room, damn it!!!!!]
[Why is Stardus's face red? What the hell was in the final room, damn it!]
[Why are you two having conversations only you understand? Don't be like this, let's laugh together, why are you doing this to me~]
[If you have no idea what conversation is going on right now, like me, thumbs up lol I'll start first, damn]
[Our 1 million Stardust fan cafe sincerely requests a detailed explanation of what you two did in there, please... please......]
[If Egostic doesn't spill the tea today, I'm going to poop my pants. Consider yourself warned.]
[What's with the guy above lol]
[So what was in the final room!]
*
Looking at the chat, I sensed it immediately.
The moment I say "It was a room where Stardus and I couldn't leave unless we kissed," that chat window would burn even more. I foresaw a future where all sorts of dating shows would try to pair me and Stardus tomorrow. Even if we said we just broke through the wall and left, no one would believe us.
...Therefore, I couldn't tell them the truth. I'm sorry, viewers. This is all for your own good.
Anyway, while I was making that judgment, Dungeon Maker was being dragged away somewhere by Association staff.
Somehow managing to extend her arm upward with a thumbs up, saying "I'll be back!" as she left.
...Don't come back. Please just live in the detention center.
Anyway, with Dungeon Maker quickly detained and taken away.
And all the Association staff retreating somewhere.
Stardus and I were left alone again in the empty street.
"....."
"....."
...Right, I should slowly escape while saying my final words. Yes, that's it.
With that thought, I looked toward where Stardus was.
...I barely managed to turn away my gaze that unconsciously went to her lips. Are you crazy, Da-in? Get a grip. You're not a middle schooler, you're an adult.
After calming myself down, I opened my mouth and spoke to her.
"...Haha! Ms. Stardus. Ahem, um. Although the process was a bit complicated, we succeeded in escaping. I came to check when I heard there was a villain in my front yard, and what a situation this turned out to be. Ha, haha. I should have fought with Ms. Stardus while I was in that labyrinth, it's a shame we couldn't settle things."
...It wasn't something I should say after holding her hand tightly and walking around inside, but I said it anyway. Stardus probably wouldn't want to reveal that either.
Hearing my words, Stardus opened her mouth and said:
"...Right. I should have dealt with you there, it's a shame."
It was a truly Stardus-like, hero-like thing to say.
...It would have been better if she hadn't said it with a red face while avoiding eye contact with me.
*
[???]
[What's with the atmosphere between these two?]
[Oh my my?]
*
...Seeing the chat also starting to notice this strange atmosphere, I made up my mind to quickly end the broadcast and run. This is not good, not good at all.
"...Ahem. Yes! Well then, I'm tired too, so I'll withdraw quietly for now. Next time we meet, it won't be like today, so look forward to it!"
As I was slowly delivering my closing remarks.
Stardus, who was looking at me, still with a reddened face, hesitated and then:
"...Right. And, Egostic?"
"Yes?"
After briefly looking at my hand, Stardus glanced at the camera, and then, as if she had made some decision, spoke to me in a slightly quieter voice than before:
"...You have big hands."
".....What?"
*
[?]
[???]
[??]
[Huh?]
[What? Does? That? Mean?]
[?????]
*
Hmm.
Alright. I don't know what that was, but if it was a tactic to confuse me, it was successful.
Let's run.
"...Um, thank you for the compliment! Then I'll end today's broadcast here. Everyone, take care!"
*
[?????]
[???????????You're ending it here?]
[Damn it you crazy bastard, explain Stardus's last words before you go]
[The Sun Mango has bewitched our Stardust!!!]
[Sun Mango wtf lol]
[How does Stardus know your hands are big what did you two do explain explain explain explain explain explain explain explain explain explain]
[You're ending the broadcast here? Are you really a villain?]
[Damn it release the video of what you two did inside quickly!!!]
[It's not Mango but Egostic shortened to Egostic do you want us to go crazy? Tell us what you two did quickly damn it]
==[The broadcast has ended]==
*
I turned off the broadcast like that and quickly escaped using teleportation.
...With the certainty that I shouldn't look at the internet or TV today. Right. Let's go home and rest well. My only sanctuary, my mansion...
And so, I returned home.
***
Meanwhile, at that time.
[...You have big hands.]
"What?"
Han Seo-eun, who had been watching the live broadcast with concern for Egostic, muttered coldly after hearing what Stardus said.
...That woman?