Chapter 308 - Operation Start

"Ugh..."

The next morning.

I barely managed to wake up, clutching my throbbing head.

"Ugh... how much did I drink yesterday?"

My vision was spinning, my shoulders ached, and my head was pounding like crazy.

As I finally managed to open my eyes, I could see the state I was in on the bed.

"..."

I hadn't even properly laid down on the bed, but was leaning against the headboard with my legs stretched out.

And next to me, Stardust was sleeping with her head resting on my shoulder.

Her soft breathing tickled my neck as she slept.

...And her body was wrapped around me, with one arm draped over me as she hugged me like a pillow.

After assessing my current situation, I clutched my throbbing head and tried to figure out what had happened yesterday.

...Yesterday Stardust brought wine, we drank together, had some conversation, and then... what did we do? We decided to watch a movie together, and after that...

"....."

As I thought about it, I realized something important.

...Damn, I blacked out. I can't remember anything after that.

Suddenly feeling a chill, I hurriedly lifted the blanket covering Stardust and me.

"...Phew."

I could finally breathe a sigh of relief seeing that I was still properly dressed in the same clothes as yesterday.

...Fortunately, it seems I didn't make any mistakes. Well, if I had, I'd probably be dead by now.

After that reassurance, I clutched my throbbing head and tried to remember what we did yesterday before giving up.

...I'm guessing we just lay on the bed, leaning against the headboard watching a movie until we both dozed off.

But why is Stardust like this?

"....."

I looked down at Stardust on my right, her blonde hair splayed across my shoulder as she slept pressed tightly against me.

...The feeling of her soft skin pressed against mine was quite troublesome first thing in the morning. She was hugging my waist so tightly I couldn't even move my arm.

So, I decided to wake Stardust up first.

"Ms. Stardust. Please wake up. Ms. Stardust."

"Mmmmm..."

As I shook her body, she made a strange sound and buried her face deeper into my neck.

...As she hugged me even tighter, making the situation even more awkward, I continued to shake her.

Finally.

"Mmm... Egostic?"

Rubbing her eyes, she finally woke up.

Looking at her still half-asleep face as she spoke to me, I freed myself from her arms and said:

"Wait here for a moment."

"Okay..."

Leaving her still in a daze, I got up and took a glass of water from the refrigerator.

When I returned to the bed...

"Ugh..."

Now seemingly having come to her senses, she was sitting on the edge of the bed, covering her flushed face with her hands.

She looked like she'd recalled something embarrassing, and when she saw me return to the room, she startled. I handed her the glass of water.

"Here. Drink this."

"Mm... thanks."

She glanced at me cautiously before carefully taking the glass. When our fingers brushed during the exchange, she flinched, which made me wonder why Stardust was acting this way.

...A hero being wary of a villain. Anyone would think I was keeping her captive here. When in reality, it's exactly the opposite.

Anyway, watching her sip the water, I scratched my head and asked:

"Stardust... I mean, Ms. Shin Ha-ru. Do you remember yesterday..."

"Cough! Ugh, w-what? N-no. I don't remember anything at all...?"

Suddenly choking on her water at my words, she avoided my eyes and replied with a still-flushed face.

I sighed and said to her:

"No, I meant if you remember what I told you yesterday. The reason I was captured and brought to Carceris."

"Ah..."

Finally taking the glass from her lips, she fell into thought.

"...That there's something threatening people inside this prison?"

"Yes. That's right."

Nodding at my confirmation, Stardust sighed and answered me:

"...Okay. I'll help you. I can't just leave something like that alone."

That's how she responded.

And I thanked her for it.

It was a natural response from someone who always prioritizes citizens above all else...

But essentially, going after that creature meant setting me free. After catching it, did she think I'd just stay put? Of course I'd run.

In other words, her quiet promise to help me while sitting on the bed.

...It was essentially the same as agreeing to release me on the condition that we catch the monster.

And all based solely on the word of a villain like me.

"Should we go today?"

"...Yes. The sooner the better."

Well, I could understand that much coming from Stardust. She's someone who doesn't tolerate even the slightest threat.

However.

"..."

Why does she keep looking at me with what seems like a regretful expression?

And why does she keep blushing?

I couldn't understand it at all.

...Actually, I might just be imagining things.

Yeah. I decided to just give up thinking about it and enjoy the moment. Whatever. That's not what's important right now.

But I am curious.

What exactly happened yesterday?

"Ms. Stardust?"

"Uh, yes? It's nothing."

No, seeing how she keeps staring blankly at my face and then blushing on her own, something must have happened... it's maddening that I'm the only one who can't remember.

Moreover, Stardust seemed to have noticed that I couldn't remember yesterday and wasn't bringing it up at all.

Well, I just hope I didn't make any mistakes...

"Then Egostic, shall we get ready?"

"Huh? Yes, let's do that."

"...But first, let's eat breakfast."

"Ah. Let's do that. Let's prepare it together."

"Sure."

As I naturally headed to the kitchen with Stardust.

Suddenly, I realized.

That today would be the end of my life in Carceris.

That from now on, Stardust and I would never be together like this again.

Thinking about that.

I found myself harboring a certain feeling without even realizing it.

"..."

-A feeling of regret.

'...Haa.'

The thought of wanting to stay longer in this prison.

It crossed my mind momentarily, but I suppressed it.

A villain wanting to stay longer in prison...

"Haha."

"...Hm? Why are you suddenly laughing?"

"It's nothing."

I must not be normal either.

And so we slowly walked to the kitchen.

...Wishing that this moment could continue a little longer.

Slowly, more slowly.

***

While Egostic and Stardust were slowly spending their last morning together.

"...I have a bad feeling."

At Ego-stream's headquarters, the big house.

Seo-eun was sitting there, twirling her short hair with a serious expression while muttering.

"Hm? Seo-eun, about what?"

In response to Lee Su-bin's quiet answer as she poured tea, Seo-eun tapped the desk and said:

"Oppa said he'd be back within a week. He never said he'd take the full week, right?"

"That's true."

"So! Something must have happened!"

As Seo-eun was making her case.

Choi Se-hee, who had just finished washing up, walked in with a banana milk and smirked at Seo-eun before saying:

"Hey, Seo-eun. Aren't you worrying too much? You've been anxious the entire week since Da-in left."

"..."

No, it's real... it's true...

As Seo-eun shuddered with an inexplicable anxiety, Choi Se-hee, with a banana milk straw in her mouth, looked out the window and muttered:

"...But, he does seem to be late..."

"Right? Especially suspicious is that Stardust hasn't been seen in public lately. I'm telling you, something's up."

"Oppa still hasn't come back?"

As Lee Su-bin was watching the two with an awkward smile, Ariel also came from the stairs and asked that question.

And as Eun-wol, one of those whose expression had deteriorated the most since Da-in's disappearance, also came to the living room and sat down, uncharacteristically sluggish.

...Seo Ja-young, who was lying on the sofa with her usual lack of presence, opened her mouth for the first time today.

"...If you're that worried, why don't you just go check it out yourselves?"

"...What?"

"I mean, think about it."

With those words, Seo Ja-young got up from her seat for the first time.

Stretching in her oversized hoodie, she scratched her purple bob haircut and then looked at everyone with her distinctive reincarnation eyes before speaking:

"The deadline was today anyway, right? So let's go near Carceris. We can check what Egostic is up to while we're at it."

"...But Da-in oppa said to come when he gives the signal-"

"That's exactly it. If we're already nearby, we can go right away when the signal comes. And if there's no signal by today, it might mean something has happened, so we can just storm in."

"...That makes sense!"

As people around the room began to nod in agreement at Seo Ja-young's uncharacteristically logical argument.

"...Hmm."

Seo Ja-young, with her fist clenched over her hood, smiled to herself and quietly muttered:

"...And. Let's see what kind of nonsense he's been up to that's keeping him from coming back."

Surely, he's not sticking close to someone, is he?

With that thought.

She continued to smile quietly.

And so.

The Ego-stream members' journey to Carceris was decided.

***

"...Tsk. I just got a chill."

"Hm? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Ah... it's nothing. I just get like this sometimes."

"...That's even more concerning."

Inside Carceris.

As Stardust and I stood close together, ready to leave, I shuddered at the uneasy feeling crawling up my spine.

...I thought it was because of Stardust all this time, but maybe it wasn't...?