Chapter 312 - Promise

# Collapsing Dungeon

As I escaped from the collapsing dungeon in Stardust's arms, I surveyed my surroundings with a cold expression.

'...What the hell is going on here?'

My mind, initially disoriented upon waking, had now regained its composure after some time.

Having recovered my senses, I was lost in thought as we cut through the wind, flying through the sky.

First of all, I seemed to have lost my memories.

The voice coming through my earphones might be fabricated lies, but when I heard that tone, it was unmistakably mine. That's not something anyone could simply imitate.

And based on all the information I've gathered so far...

"...Ms. Stardust. What was I doing here?"

"Ugh, huh? You came to catch that guy who grants wishes. Don't you remember?"

She answered my question with a trembling voice.

I brushed it off as nothing to her, then made my assessment while being carried through the sky in her arms.

It seems this world is from the comic [Stardust!] that I used to read.

...I have no idea why a depressing comic I read in the past has become reality, but hearing the name Stardust and the familiar villain's name makes it almost certain. Obviously, people are flying through the sky right now. So is this prison that Carceris?

Realizing this, I let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

...Damn. I wake up and find myself inside a comic. Just when I thought things were going well in life.

And judging by the atmosphere, it seems I've been in this world for quite some time. Based on the recordings from my future self and the mention of killing someone who grants wishes, it seems I traded my memories for something. Probably.

I calmly assessed the situation.

My ability to stay cool in crisis situations was proving useful. Before panicking, I needed to survive first.

After glancing back at Stardust who was carrying me through the sky, my conclusion was...

'...It seems.'

'I must be a hero in this world.'

That was it.

Otherwise, why would Stardust be so desperately trying to save me? Her expression was filled with concern for me. At the very least, I must be a sidekick. A hero named Egostic—not a very heroic name.

While I was pretending to be calm despite the sudden situation (though I was actually half out of my mind), Stardust and I finally escaped from the collapsing prison.

Finally emerging under the blue sky, we hovered next to the clouds, looking down at the massive prison below.

...More specifically, at the prison fortress that was about to collapse, entangled by strange thick black tentacles.

Wait, is that okay?

Just as I was thinking that,

Right on cue, my voice came through the earphones.

[So, you've escaped? It would be nice if nothing happened, but something probably did. Like some guy with white tentacles causing trouble.]

[When that happens, the answer is Stardust. She probably rushed over for an incident of this scale, so tell her. Tell her she can take that guy down. That she can capture him by attacking with the power of stars that makes her body glow.]

That voice calmly suggesting a solution.

Without any hesitation, I followed those instructions.

"Ms. Stardust. Please listen to me. You see that monster down there? You need to capture it. Before things get worse."

"...Alright. But where will you be?"

As she asked me with a shaky voice, I calmly replied.

[Tell her to drop you off at the top of the castle with the red flag.]

"Please drop me off at the castle top with the red flag over there."

"...Okay."

At my words, Stardust nodded with trembling eyes and carried me in that direction.

After arriving there, I finally got down from Stardust's arms and set foot on solid ground again.

There on top of the old skyscraper-like castle, with the cold sea breeze blowing and my cape fluttering.

Stardust was still looking down at me with eyes full of worry.

As she stood there with her blonde hair fluttering and observing me with blue eyes, just as she was about to say something—

BOOM!

With a thunderous sound, another part of the building collapsed.

At that sound, she turned her head as if she couldn't delay any longer.

But she still hesitated, seemingly concerned about leaving me.

I smiled as naturally as possible and said to her:

"I'll be fine, Ms. Stardust. Please go quickly."

"...But still."

To her, still looking at me with anxious eyes,

I took a deep breath,

And with a reassuring smile, said:

"...And."

"...Ms. Stardust. I'll soon remember who you were, and what you meant to me..."

"Don't worry too much, and go."

"When we meet next time, everything will be like before."

"...Ah."

At my words, she momentarily looked dazed.

Then, as if she had made up her mind, she nodded and said to me:

"...Okay. Is that a promise...?"

And as she asked me that, almost on the verge of tears,

I, not knowing if there was any way to fulfill it:

"Yes. Of course. I promise."

I made a promise that I might not be able to keep.

***

After sending Stardust away.

"Phew..."

After confirming she had disappeared from sight, I leaned back and let out a deep sigh.

"...Haah."

I had told Stardust we would meet again.

[Stay there, and soon your companions will come to get you. Wait there until then.]

...The reason being, the voice in my earphones had told me so.

Companions coming to get me... Who could that be? Wasn't Stardust my companion in the first place? Does it mean association staff?

Thinking about it, it occurred to me that I might not be a hero. I could be a mercenary, someone with abilities working for a PMC. ...Though I'm not sure if I even have abilities.

Anyway, that wasn't what was important.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

"...Seriously, what is this?"

Left alone, I muttered with a flushed face, placing my hand on my chest to feel my heartbeat.

My heart had been racing madly from the moment I first saw Stardust until now.

Honestly, when I first saw Stardust, I was surprised at how much prettier she was in person than in the comic. Especially since she was my favorite character.

...However, that was just that.

From my perspective, having woken up to find myself without memories in a hero comic overnight, such things weren't important. Is my favorite character the issue? My life seems to be ruined right now.

But my body felt differently.

...From the moment I first saw Stardust, my body had been pounding madly.

More precisely, it was as if my memories had been erased but my emotions remained. It felt like my body remembered her. Like a conditioned response.

...How much did I like Stardust in this world? Did I manage to hide it?

Stardust's reaction was also strange.

...It seems she noticed I had lost my memories from the beginning, but the worry and concern in her eyes were... overwhelming.

"..."

Even in the original work, I had never seen Stardust care so much about anyone. She was essentially a loner.

No matter how I think about it, it seems like she and I had some kind of special relationship...

With such thoughts, I looked down from the top of the tower.

BOOM!

Amidst the cold wind swirling, I could see massive black tentacles rising from underground, completely wrecking the prison on the surface.

And in the middle of it all, I could see flashes of yellow light.

That must be Stardust.

...But aren't I some kind of quasi-hero too? Is it okay for me to just watch without helping?

As I was sighing deeply while looking down at the scene that seemed straight out of a sci-fi movie,

Just then, a voice came through my earphones.

[Oh, and I didn't mention this.]

[You are a villain.]

"...?"

The moment I heard those words,

My mind went blank for a moment.

...What, a villain? Me?

Is this some kind of April Fool's joke?

Dozens of rebuttals flashed through my mind before subsiding.

...No, don't be ridiculous. If that were true, Stardust wouldn't have reacted like that. That was the kind of reaction reserved for a comrade who had faced death together.

With such thoughts, I finally looked down at my body.

"....."

Only then did I notice myself wearing a black hat, dressed all in black with a cape, and a white mask covering my eyes.

An all-black fashion that anyone would recognize as villainous.

Come to think of it, the name Egostic might be derived from "egotistic," with one letter removed like Stardust...

What the hell?

As I was feeling confused,

[So, all my companions are also villains. Don't be surprised when you see them.]

With those words.

"Oppa!!!"

"Hey, Egostic!"

From the sky, I heard a girl's voice.

...I looked up.

"....?"

I was speechless as I saw familiar faces resembling those from the original work descending from a massive flying ship.

...Seriously, a villain?

'...Wait. Then what about Stardust's reaction?'

I fell into great confusion.

...Our Stardust isn't the type to act that way toward a villain.