Chapter 318 - His Judgment

# Enhanced Translation

After regaining my memories like that.

I was sipping mango juice while looking into what had happened while I was in Carceris.

"What, protests?"

The most absurd thing was that massive protests broke out among citizens after I was captured.

...From what I could find, apparently protests with tens of thousands of participants erupted due to the instigation(?) of my fan cafe members. Why would protests happen when a villain like me was captured? It's dizzying.

Actually, I had an even bigger question.

"...More importantly, I was in prison for a whole week?"

"Yes! Do you know how worried we were?"

The fact that I had stayed in Carceris for about a week.

...And that was something that shouldn't have been possible. I mean, normally it should have happened within 3 days at the latest.

I'm assuming something unexpected must have happened in there...

"I don't know."

After pondering, I gave up thinking about it.

Well, something must have happened. Anyway, I returned safely in one piece, so that's what matters.

Of course, there were some unsettling things.

'Isn't it a bit cold...?'

'...Don't run away just because I'm gone, okay?'

'Egostic, since you asked, I'll do it.'

These strange memories kept lingering in my mind like faint afterimages.

...Especially when I thought about them, my face would flush and my heart would race to the point where I suspected arrhythmia. Usually in movies, they just call it arrhythmia when someone actually likes someone, but in my case that's definitely not possible, so I really might need to go to the hospital. I should get a health check from Ha-yul.

Additionally, the message left by my memory-less self was extremely unsettling.

[I think Stardust likes me.]

"....."

First of all, I think that's nonsense.

I still remember how Stardust looked at me like I was a bug and called me "this garbage person" during my early terrorist activities, so how could that change after a few years? That's ridiculous.

...Of course, she has been acting a bit strange toward me lately. Things like holding my hand, her reaction when we were trapped in Dungeon Maker's labyrinth... situations where any man might think, "Does she like me?"

And from my perspective, it was clearly her honey trap. To make me fall in love with her and induce me to surrender.

...I guess my repeated villain activities drove her to such measures. It hurt my heart.

...Still, there was this thought that kept coming to mind.

Like any man would, I couldn't help but wonder, "What if?"

What if Stardust really does like me...? What if my memory-less self used amazing insight and extreme self-objectivity to deduce the truth? What if it wasn't a honey trap but she actually liked me...?

Even though I think "of course not," it's the kind of thought that sometimes makes me bolt upright in bed.

I was hesitant to discuss this with Seo-eun or Ms. Su-bin, so while I was contemplating this.

When I went to see Ha-yul for a health check, I suddenly thought maybe I should talk to her about it. I could trust Ha-yul.

"Oppa, there doesn't seem to be anything seriously wrong with your body. Arrhythmia..? Definitely not. But! You've been pushing yourself too hard lately, and that's not good in the long run, so please stop overexerting yourself. Understood?"

"Yes. Thanks, Ha-yul."

I said that as I put back on the top I had taken off. For some reason, Ha-yul's health examinations required me to remove my shirt..?

Anyway, while Ha-yul was glancing at my face with slightly reddened eyes from the heat, I casually seized the opportunity to ask.

"By the way, Ha-yul, I heard something interesting on the internet recently..."

"What is it?"

"...I heard that apparently Stardust actually likes me. Haha, obviously that's nonsense. But some people were strongly insisting on it. What do you think, Ha-yul...?"

And to my casual question as I scratched the back of my head.

Still smiling that same smile, she remained quiet for a moment.

Then, without changing her tone at all, she smiled and spoke.

"Oppa, absolutely not."

"...Really?"

"Yes, of course. I've seen other students dating and flirting at university, and that's definitely, absolutely not it."

"Hmm... Is that so?"

"Yes."

I nodded at Ha-yul's words.

Well, if that's what Ha-yul sees too, then I must be right. See, it's not just me saying it!

...Though it was a bit scary that Ha-yul's expression hadn't changed at all from that smiling face, but anyway. Why is she like that..?

Anyway, I continued piecing together what had happened during the two weeks I lost my memory.

Overall, it could be considered a success since I excellently defeated the final boss of Phase 3, the Wish Granter. Of course, there was the issue of several villains escaping, including Dungeon Maker and Crocodileman... but well, we can just catch them again when they cause more terror.

Of course, things got a bit chaotic outside while I was gone. And as a side effect...

[Da-in? I'm really busy right now... Later, let's talk later...]

"Oh, okay... Hang in there, Seol-ah. I'm sorry."

[No, it's all for the country... haha... hahahahaha...]

...I couldn't do much except offer words of encouragement to Seol-ah, who seemed to be losing her mind from excessive overwork. From the international association pressuring about Carceris to the economic wobbles, Seol-ah had to take responsibility for everything... Sigh. Maybe I should brew her some herbal medicine when I visit next time.

Anyway, after all that.

Now, to be honest, Stardust wasn't the issue.

"Oppa, so when are you going to retire?"

It was time to seriously and concretely think about my retirement.

Stardust was fully trained now. Plus, I finally succeeded in taking down the final boss of Phase 3. It was the perfect time to retire without any issues.

...Actually, retirement wasn't a big deal. It just meant not committing terrorism anymore. So, it just meant not meeting Stardust once every three months.

Anyway, now that Seo-eun, the mastermind behind the Phase 3 prison break, had become good, and the final boss, the Wish Granter, had been sent on a tour across the River Jordan, I could take a break. It was time to start preparing for the final scenario of the original work, Phase 4, as planned. Though there was still plenty of time left.

"Yeah, I should do it soon."

"When?"

"...Soon?"

I retreated to my room, avoiding our Ego-stream members who were starting to pressure me about when I was going to retire. Why are they so eager for me to retire? Is it because I came back too injured?

Well, yes. I should retire. Stardust is fully trained now... I could do it, but...

'.....'

Why do I feel somewhat regretful?

I tried to shake off that feeling and focused on what I needed to do right now.

Namely...

[Villain terror rate increases 5-fold recently... Why? Experts cite 'Egostic anomaly theory'.]

Yes. This was why.

I stared intently at the news on my smartphone.

[Regarding the excessive number of villain attacks this month, hero experts have stated it seems to be because of Egostic. Egostic, who was captured in Carceris 3 days ago and then escaped, has currently disappeared, and the problem is rumors are circulating that something serious might have happened to him.]

[Experts suggest that villains who had been hiding in fear of Egostic are now emerging due to rumors that he has weakened, and they propose that 'Egostic should promptly commit terrorism' as a solution.]

"...."

The media telling a villain to commit terrorism... is this right?

Well, even though it seems strange... I thought they were correct. After all, my villain elimination activities had that kind of strategy behind them.

"Right. I need to commit terrorism right away."

And that was the conclusion I reached.

It's not good to stay out of sight for too long. My Ha-ru suffering because of me? That absolutely cannot happen.

...Wait, not "my Ha-ru" but Stardust. Why did I suddenly refer to her so intimately..?

Anyway.

The problem with committing terrorism is that I would meet Stardust...

"..."

It felt a bit uncomfortable.

The last time I remember meeting Stardust was before Carceris when she captured me, and I don't know what happened after that.

Though she must have met me when I lost my memory in prison... I'm not sure what she'll say or how she'll react.

But since we're meeting again as hero and villain, it should be fine. We'll just have a chase and that's it, right?

'...Come to think of it, I don't have many more chances to meet Stardust like this.'

With that thought, I got up to inform my Ego-stream colleagues about the terrorism plan.

It was a time when retirement was just months away.

***

Stardust, Shin Ha-ru.

She had been living with a dazed expression every day recently.

Mechanically defeating villains, mechanically falling asleep.

'...Egostic.'

The only thought in her mind was worry about Egostic.

As more than a week had passed since Egostic disappeared, her concern continued to grow.

What was Egostic doing? Had he regained his memories?

...What if he hadn't... what then...

Yes.

She was consumed by such thoughts.

Shouldn't it be good if a villain loses his memory? Wouldn't it be better since he couldn't skillfully commit terrorism like before? That's what the true hero Stardust should think, but...

The Shin Ha-ru inside her.

For some reason, was thinking the complete opposite.

When she thought about the memory-less Egostic, to the point where a corner of her heart ached.

...Just when she thought they had somewhat understood each other's feelings, losing everything like this was... too, too unbearable.

"Egostic..."

As she absentmindedly stared at Egostic's cloak that she had obtained before, unconsciously fidgeting with it.

Finally.

[Breaking news! S-class villain Egostic has finally broken his long hiatus and committed terrorism!]

News of his terrorist attack came.

Immediately, she had already changed into her suit and was flying out.

For some reason, with her lips curled upward more than ever before.

Unlike Egostic.

For Stardust, all the memories shared with Egostic in prison were still vividly alive and breathing.