Chapter 325 - Tale Of The Past

# Ego-Stream.

Under Egostic's leadership, this villain alliance, which began with Han Seo-eun and Lee Su-bin, welcomed various villains over the years.

Han Seo-eun, Lee Su-bin, Lee Ha-yul, Choi Se-hee, Baek Eunwol, Death Knight, Seo Ja-young...

What they had in common was that they all lived together in one house centered around Egostic, like a close-knit family.

Of course, having powerful allies in the group was a good thing, but.

"...Ughhhh."

Han Seo-eun didn't like that.

Han Seo-eun. During her second year of high school.

Wearing a loose-fitting hoodie, covering her white hair that sparkled in the sunlight with her hood, Han Seo-eun was lost in such worries.

'...There are too many competitors.'

Specifically, there were too many women in the house.

For some reason, most of the villains Egostic brought home were women.

That fact was enough to make Han Seo-eun anxious.

Based on her sharp intuition, she was certain they all liked oppa. ...Perhaps it was natural considering oppa's recruitment method involved solving their biggest problems and saving them.

With Lee Seol-ah, Da-in's colleague, and their biggest enemy Stardus, the problems were mounting.

Worse yet, Da-in wouldn't even look at her because she was a minor.

"...No, what's wrong with me anyway."

Han Seo-eun muttered as she went to her room and stood in front of the mirror.

Her silver bob cut that reached her ears, and the cute charm she exuded wearing a hoodie. As one of the main villains in the original work, her beauty was radiant enough that some people on the street would turn to look at how cute she was. Now that she was in high school and had grown taller, strangers might even mistake her for an adult.

Of course, unaware of this, Han Seo-eun stood in front of the mirror, turning around once, seriously wondering, 'Do I look like a child?' In truth, Egostic still did see her as a child.

"Mmmmm... so annoying."

Pulling her hood down tightly, Han Seo-eun threw a tantrum without realizing it.

High school. The time when hormones run wild.

...And so, her stress from dealing with such a difficult man in this situation only grew.

As a result, her stomach ached so badly it felt like it was throbbing.

"...Seo-eun, what's wrong? Stomachache?"

"Hnnng. I don't know."

During mealtime.

While Da-in worriedly looked at her as she couldn't eat well with her gloomy expression, Han Seo-eun took the opportunity to whine to Egostic.

"...."

Later that night, she was called by Lee Su-bin, who had been watching her with contemplative eyes.

"Seo-eun, is something bothering you lately?"

"No, not really..."

"Tell unnie. Okay?"

With her long brown hair flowing down, standing in the room and holding both of her hands, Lee Su-bin asked.

Perhaps because she had been with her the longest after Da-in, she was the closest unnie. ...Sometimes she even felt like a mother, and when she asked like that, Han Seo-eun's resolve finally wavered.

Eventually, she poured out all the thoughts that had been in her heart.

After a long conversation, Han Seo-eun.

Finally confessed her feelings to her without even realizing it.

"Unnie. I like Da-in oppa."

With her mouth firmly closed, in an unwavering voice, Han Seo-eun said.

Before Lee Su-bin could open her mouth, Han Seo-eun continued.

"You know, unnie. That I like Da-in oppa. From before. All along."

"Hmm... I know, Seo-eun. But still, the age difference between you and Da-in..."

"What's wrong with a 6-year age gap? I heard these days even 12-year gaps are common in marriages...!"

After passionately arguing, Han Seo-eun sighed, looked at the floor, and muttered.

"...So, since I know you unnies also have feelings for Da-in oppa... I don't know. I want to hate you all..."

But she couldn't.

Having spent so much time together, growing attached.

Living together in the same house for years, they felt like family, so even if she wanted to dislike them, she couldn't.

Su-bin unnie who sometimes felt like a mother, Se-hee unnie who nagged on the surface but took good care of her, Eun-wol who was her best friend, and Ha-yul unnie who seemed genuinely kind.

Because she liked them all, because they were like family.

And because she liked Da-in oppa too. A confusing feeling of not knowing what to do.

As Han Seo-eun stood there confused, Lee Su-bin, who had been quietly looking down at her.

Eventually, quietly opened her mouth.

"I see, Seo-eun. You like the unnies, and you like Da-in, so you don't know what to do, right?"

"Yes..."

"...Hmm. Then, let's do this."

After thinking for a moment, Lee Su-bin spoke calmly.

"Actually, Seo-eun. What you should worry about isn't the Ego-Stream members. It's Stardust."

"Ah..."

"You know how much Da-in likes Stardust. And honestly... I think Stardust also has feelings for Da-in, even if she doesn't realize it. If they get together, could we stop them?"

"That's true..."

Faced with this reality, Han Seo-eun became even more dejected, and Lee Su-bin spoke soothingly.

"So. We shouldn't fight among ourselves. We should stick together instead."

"What do you mean?"

"...Well. First, Seo-eun. You know Da-in is doing something very important, right?"

"...Yes. Something about saving the world or whatever..."

"Right. So until then, we shouldn't confuse Da-in too much. He called us because he wanted us to help, not to be a hindrance."

"Hmm, that's true..?"

"So, don't worry too much for now. Anyway, Stardust... the two of them getting together is practically impossible for years, considering Da-in's personality."

"...U-unnie. What are you trying to say..?"

"I'm saying we should establish rules among ourselves."

"Rules?"

What Lee Su-bin said can be summarized as follows:

First. Until Egostic retires, no one approaches Egostic first.

He is currently handling very important matters, and we shouldn't interfere with that.

In other words, excessive skinship, seduction, or confessions are forbidden.

Second. After Egostic retires, do as you please.

"..."

"What do you think?"

"Hmm..."

After blinking her eyes for a moment, Han Seo-eun thought about it.

...It wasn't bad. Especially since she was a minor, she needed time to open oppa's heart, and this would give her that time.

And logically, it made sense. Since oppa is in an important phase, if we fight among ourselves over liking him and ruin the atmosphere, oppa would be more stressed. It's better to wait until he retires.

So, Han Seo-eun agreed for now.

"I think it sounds good..?"

"Right?"

However...

Han Seo-eun glanced at Lee Su-bin, who was smiling at her.

...She didn't expect such words from Su-bin unnie.

She knew unnie liked Da-in oppa too, but she didn't expect such a radical proposal. Isn't the premise of this treaty that we openly acknowledge we all like Da-in oppa?

Words that were hard to believe came from Su-bin unnie, who always seemed compassionate and too kind to understand such things.

Still, knowing that Su-bin unnie had said this after much thought... Han Seo-eun agreed for now.

"...Yes. I understand. Then I'll gather the other unnies and see what they think."

"Would you? Thank you, Seo-eun."

"Yes... unnie. I'll go now."

After Han Seo-eun left the room.

Lee Su-bin, who had been quietly smiling as she watched Seo-eun leave.

"....."

After she left, her smile faded, and her expression turned slightly cold.

"Haah....."

Lee Su-bin.

Unlike the others, she had no special abilities.

She wasn't a genius hacker like Seo-eun.

She didn't have healing powers like Ha-yul.

She couldn't shoot lightning like Se-hee, summon flames like Ja-young, use magic like Eun-wol, or create ice like Seol-ah.

She was just an ordinary person who graduated from Seoul National University's Computer Science department.

However, because of this, she could assess the situation more objectively.

'...If things continue like this.'

None of us will end up with Egostic. He will definitely go down the Stardust route.

She, too, liked Da-in.

How could she not like the man who miraculously appeared when she had given up everything, gifting her a new life? How could she not like the man who gave her a new family when she had none?

But it was impossible for her to be with him.

Defeating Stardust was impossible, and Da-in having relationships with both her and Stardust? With Da-in's personality, that would never happen.

So, for there to be even a minimal chance.

His standards had to be changed from the beginning.

The board had to be completely flipped for a possibility to emerge.

Not Stardust + someone else.

But rather, him embracing everyone, with her being one of them.

"....."

Of course, first, internal division within Ego-Stream had to be eliminated. She had always quietly supported Da-in from behind, and had no intention of blocking his path.

So until he retired.

It was right to stop the fighting for now and see what happens after.

After all, the chances of Da-in, who didn't think for a moment that Stardust liked him, and Stardust, who was frustratingly oblivious to any third party observer, getting together during that time were slim.

Therefore, she decided to create a new promise within Ego-Stream with Seo-eun, whose interests aligned with hers.

In the end.

Going together with everyone was the right choice.

"...Haah."

And so.

In the dark room, Lee Su-bin sighed alone and reviewed her thoughts.

...It was two years ago.

*

And so.

Much time passed, and many things happened.

Gathering everyone with Seo-eun to make that treaty.

There was opposition and dissatisfaction, but...

In the end, they succeeded in getting everyone to agree.

Lee Ha-yul and Baek Eunwol, who clearly seemed to like Da-in, quietly agreed.

Choi Se-hee initially denied it out of embarrassment, but eventually admitted it, and though she questioned why she had to agree, she finally did.

"...What? You like Da-in oppa too, unnie?"

"Yes. I've liked him from the beginning."

Seo Ja-young's shocking confession that she also liked Da-in.

"...Well. Do as you please. Heroes have traditionally had multiple wives anyway."

Except for the Spirit Lady who coolly accepted it.

Anyway, after gathering everyone, Han Seo-eun opened her mouth.

The words about restraining themselves until Egostic retired.

After relaying what Lee Su-bin had told her.

Lee Su-bin also opened her mouth and said.

"...And. Now we all need to stick together. After all, the biggest wildcard is Stardust."

So she too helped Seo-eun continue the conversation.

After that.

Nearly three years later.

"I now call the 3rd Ego-Stream meeting to order."

Finally, with Egostic's retirement just around the corner.

The final meeting began.