Chapter 321 - Rational Reasoning And Incorrect Predictions

# After the Terror Attack

After returning to the mansion following the terror attack, I was lost in deep thought.

"Haah..."

In my room, sitting in that chair.

Leaning back, staring at the ceiling with a sigh, I tapped the armrest.

The terror attack ended successfully. But...

What's bothering me now is something else.

'...Back then, when I saw Stardust.'

Why did I react that way?

As I always say, I'm someone who strictly separates personal and professional matters.

Meaning, I never mix emotions with work. Especially in my relationship with Stardust. I've only ever lived as her fan, nothing more. Never once thought beyond that.

But yesterday, the emotion I felt when I saw Stardust was...

'...strange.'

My heart racing like a middle schooler realizing their first love.

Unable to take my eyes off hers, wanting to stay by her side just a little longer.

I was startled to see those feelings—ones I'd never felt before losing my memories, or more precisely, ones I'd buried deep in my heart—rising uncontrollably to the surface.

No matter how I look at it.

'...Something must have happened when I lost my memories.'

I thought coldly, my face hardening.

The message I left saying "Stardust seems to like me," everything seems connected.

Being someone who prides himself on quick situational judgment, I reached that conclusion.

'...Did the memory-less me fall for Stardust?'

That was the conclusion I reached.

I'd already suspected that Stardust was somehow involved during that week I was imprisoned. Given that while I was in prison for a week, Stardust also reportedly stayed out of public view for a week, she might have been visiting me continuously.

I'd prepared for that possibility even before being imprisoned, so it shouldn't have been a major issue. I can ask Lee Seol-ah, who's apparently working on just three hours of sleep these days, when she's less busy about what she knows.

So the natural conclusion was that my memory-less self fell for her... and those feelings still remain.

Actually, this was the most plausible explanation.

First, there's no doubt that my memory-less self and Stardust had some kind of interaction. In the recording I left for my memory-less self, I told him to ask Stardust for help if anything happened... and the first thing she said when she met me yesterday was "Have you regained your memories?"

And this speculation:

[Stardust seems to like me.]

With the message left by my memory-less self, the speculation became confirmation.

'You bastard... you just want to believe that because you like Stardust.'

Well, I shouldn't blame my memory-less self. Since Stardust was my favorite character, meeting her in person might have affected my rational judgment. ...Though I was too shocked at finding myself in a superhero comic to realize it. Hmm. Seeing how Stardust has been trying to seduce me lately... if she did the same to my memory-less self, it's understandable.

'...Honestly.'

Even now.

If I were constantly with Stardust, and she kept coming onto me like she did in the labyrinth before.

Even knowing it's seduction.

...I might fall for the sweet fantasy.

Fortunately, nothing like that has happened yet, but you never know.

Thinking about the message my memory-less self left, I smirked.

"...Stardust likes me, huh."

Well.

My memory-less self hadn't experienced that incident, so it's understandable he'd think that. He only knew Stardust from comics, not really knowing her.

But I'm different. I know. I know she couldn't possibly like me. I, the Stardust expert, know.

Because for her, villains and heroes are worlds apart.

'...But the issue isn't how Stardust thinks of me now.'

I shook my head after thinking that.

That wasn't really the problem. The problem was that I might start liking her.

I managed to escape quickly this time, but what about next time? I might not be able to control my feelings.

In other words, I'm likely to cause trouble. Of course, whatever I do, Stardust could end it with a snap of her fingers... but the real problem was our Ego-stream. Even now, if they found out I had romantic feelings for Stardust?

'.....'

...After such terrible thoughts, I quickly reached a conclusion.

Yes. Before it's too late, it's time to do what's right.

My retirement.

"...It's about time, there's no reason to continue the terror attacks anyway."

I muttered as I turned on my laptop.

Now that I've easily defeated the final boss of Phase 3 out of the original 4 phases, the ending is in sight.

Especially with Stardust already strong enough, I've been wondering if there's any meaning in continuing my terror attacks. Particularly now that all sorts of villains with various abilities will start appearing. If I deploy the Ego-stream members against them, power growth won't be an issue. It's the completion of the Ego-squad without Egostic.

I could have delayed it a bit more, but with the original story coming to an end and me wavering like this around Stardust... is there any benefit to getting more involved with her?

Though it's a bit hypocritical coming from me who's already destroyed the original plot, I wondered if I needed to stay in the spotlight when all the important things were already done. Like they say, leave when the applause is loudest—it's time to step back from terrorism. There's nothing good that can come from getting involved with Stardust.

"Yes, it's right to step aside for her sake too."

I muttered, fiddling with my mask on the desk.

...Come to think of it, I might have become too significant to her. Declaring myself her arch-enemy and constantly making her worry. Eventually making her resort to the extreme choice of seduction(...). Something that never happened in the original.

Considering the many stories that will unfold in Phase 4, the final chapter, I thought it wasn't right for me to keep making her worry about me. I should step back. ...Of course, I'll still be active externally, just not conducting terror attacks. My interactions with Stardust will decrease significantly. ...Or so I predicted.

Anyway, during that time I'll continue preparing for Phase 4. I'll probably become even more active externally. Since I won't have time for terror attacks anyway, it's right to announce it to her.

...The biggest reason is, honestly, I want to rest. I've done my job by blocking Phase 3.

"Let's retire, retire~"

I muttered while tapping on my laptop.

Han-eun Group, Moon Light Cult, the Great Prison Break—I've finished all the major events. It's time to go. What's terrorism at my age?

...Of course, I planned to conduct a few more attacks before leaving. For old times' sake.

And there were still those events left. It would be perfect to retire after handling those.

How should I plan the last terror attack?

It should be the largest scale yet, grand... and at the end, I'll announce my retirement to the whole nation and Stardust. Perfect.

And so, I started planning.

My retirement plan, now in earnest.

...I should prepare to distance myself from Stardust.

A few days later.

"Oppa, there's a message from Kathedal?"

"....."

The moment arrived when my retirement no longer mattered.

The villain council Kathedal was being convened again.

'...Tsk, I think Celeste has noticed something.'

I had a feeling something would happen if I went, but I had to go.

Because Celeste and Kathedal were central to Phase 4.

Until now, Kathedal had barely existed in the original story set in Korea. It only showed its presence in the final phase.

In other words, all the buildup at Kathedal so far was essentially for this moment.

"Alright, let's go."

I said, rising from my seat.

...It was about time to go all out.

***

A few days later.

"Hey, Mr. Egostic! Good to see you. It's been a while."

"Egostic. Over here..."

Attending the Kathedal round table meeting, I greeted Li Xiaopeng and Katana who were already seated and waving at me.

Li Xiaopeng in particular had a face full of smiles.

I heard that his organization, Fire Dragon, had finally completely conquered China. Just as in the original story.

He called me earlier to thank me for providing Chinese government classified information. ...Actually, he would have succeeded without me, but I just smiled and listened. If that's what he wants to believe, fine.

Anyway, as our Korean-Chinese-Japanese villain alliance was about to start its full-scale activities, I thought I should meet with them more frequently.

"What about Atlas?"

"Ah, he couldn't make it today."

Apparently, Atlas couldn't come because something happened in the ocean. He said he was going to defeat some strange creature called Crawling? Krullu? or something. Though I don't know much about it, it seems there's a lot to do in the ocean too.

"Everyone has arrived."

And so, with Celeste appearing in her white saintess outfit with her eyes closed, the meeting finally began.

"...Next, I'll speak."

Meanwhile, I could sense something.

'...No.'

Celeste was staring directly at me, too obviously...

Tsk. This is bad.