Chapter 326 - The Moment Finally Arrived

# Enhanced Translation

Ego-Stream Underground Mansion Conference Room.

Inside, women's voices were echoing.

"So, once Da-in retires, we can do whatever we want, right?"

A blonde woman with her arms crossed, sitting in a chair with a smirk. Choi Se-hee.

Hearing those words, Lee Su-bin nodded and said.

"Yes. As long as you don't go too far, it's fine."

"Ah, I've waited so long for this. Hmm..."

Watching Choi Se-hee stretch and speak like that, Han Seo-eun felt complicated emotions.

...She knew her older sisters were all kind and good people, but still... she never expected to feel like they might become not just like family, but actual family.

But well.

Actually, this might be better.

She didn't want to break this current atmosphere.

...Even if it required some sacrifice.

Anyway, the rest of the meeting concluded with discussions about how to stop Stardust's dominance and general opinions about what to do after everyone was connected.

"..."

Han Seo-eun rose from her seat with an expression that looked complicated yet somehow refreshed.

Sigh. Well, this is all her brother's karma, what can she do.

Anyway.

At that moment when it was confirmed within Ego-Stream that they would officially sort out their relationship with Egostic after retirement.

"Ugh..."

Da-in was groaning on the bed, having a nightmare about being crushed by countless people.

'H... help me...'

***

"Brother, why do you have such dark circles under your eyes?"

"Huh? I guess I didn't sleep well."

And the next day.

Unlike me, yawning as usual while sitting on the sofa, Seo-eun, who looked unusually refreshed for the morning, approached me. With two cups in her hands.

"Here. Brother, drink this."

"Huh? Ah, thanks."

Seo-eun handed me a clear, light green tea.

As I sat on the sofa looking up at her and taking the cup, I suddenly felt like she looked taller. Well, her height has grown almost as tall as Ms. Su-bin now.

...Or maybe it's because she's wearing just one oversized shirt. Wait, isn't that mine? And below that, she must be wearing shorts, right? I was about to point it out but decided against it, not wanting to sound like a nag. Well, she can dress comfortably at home.

Anyway, while I was thinking that, Seo-eun plopped down next to me and asked with sparkling eyes.

"So brother, what are you going to do next?"

"Next? Hmm..."

I fell into thought for a moment.

If things follow the original story, the angel's descent should happen soon. I need to go there and kidnap the angel.

When I said that, Seo-eun's eyes sparkled as she spoke.

"So you're really going to retire after that, right?"

"Yeah..."

"You've been saying you'll retire for months but kept putting it off. Is it for real this time?"

"...It's real, I tell you. I'll definitely retire within three months."

"Really?"

"I promise. If I don't do it within three months, I'll do whatever you say."

When I casually blurted that out, Seo-eun momentarily froze.

"...Really?"

"...Yeah."

"Hmm... Then I guess I can take my time."

...Was it my imagination that her eyes looked dangerous for a moment?

Anyway, I sighed and opened my laptop.

As soon as I went online, I saw Stardust's face with her shining blonde hair prominently displayed on the main news page.

'...That's a shame.'

Looking at it, I couldn't help thinking that.

...Honestly, it would be a lie to say I wasn't disappointed. I won't have many chances left to see Stardust's face. Once I retire as a villain, I probably won't see her much.

Considering that everything I've done so far was for Stardust, the thought of our connection ending made one corner of my heart ache. I'll go back to just watching her on TV like before.

...Still.

'Right. I should leave when the applause is loudest.'

It was time to end our connection.

There's no productivity in continuing as a villain, it just wastes time and will only trouble Stardust. ...Recently, Stardust's mysterious charm offensive(?) has been messing with my mind.

I should try to distance myself from Stardust.

She'll be happy when I quit anyway...

...And.

'Maybe...'

Really, just maybe.

When everything is over, we might become good friends. I harbor that small hope. If I explain that my villain terrorism was necessary for a greater cause, would she understand... probably not?

Anyway, yes. I should make the last terror attack truly magnificent.

...And until then, I should quickly check the angel kidnapping plan.

With those thoughts, I spent my time until the angel descent event.

In the meantime, I received a call from Atlas.

[Hmm... Egostic, are you listening?]

"Yes, Mr. Atlas. Please go ahead."

[Ahem. Actually, do you remember those black sea monsters I mentioned I was tracking before?]

"Ah yes. Cthulhu or something?"

[Yes, that. And Thulu. Anyway... I think they're mutated versions of the moonlight monsters that fell into the sea before, but that's not important.]

After saying that, Atlas paused for a moment before speaking.

[One of them has disappeared toward your country.]

"...What? Really?"

[Yes. Those creatures defy scientific laws so they're hard to track... but don't worry! I'll tell you the strategy I've learned from dealing with them, so if it shows up, handle it like this.]

So I even learned how to deal with mysterious giant sea monsters.

I spent my time quite productively.

"Finally, today's the day."

At last, that day arrived.

[Breaking news! A white light is now emanating from the sky...]

"Seo-eun. Brother's going to catch an angel."

The day to capture the angel.

***

Meanwhile.

'...Then, farewell, Ms. Stardust.'

"Sigh..."

Stardust was having the worst days of her life.

After Egostic had practically ignored her and left the last time they met, her condition had been deteriorating daily.

When she went out for activities, she pretended nothing was wrong and lived as if everything was fine.

In reality, her inner self was already festering.

"Why is he acting like this..."

Muttering to herself without realizing it, tapping the table had become her daily routine.

...What's the problem? Did I come on too strong in prison and make him uncomfortable? Or could it be that he's grown to dislike me...?

Since Egostic had always approached her until now and had never shown such cold behavior before, Stardust was deeply shocked.

To the point where she'd been having nightmares every day about Egostic abandoning her and leaving.

"Ugh..."

...It might seem strange for a hero to depend on a villain, but she couldn't help it. She never thought Egostic would act like this.

Considering what Egostic had done for her until now...

Sacrificing his life for her.

Stepping in to save her whenever she was in danger.

Smiling at her even while being beaten due to misunderstandings.

...Abandoning everything else and always appearing when she needed him.

Since he had consistently shown such behavior, even one day of acting differently was enough to shatter her mental state.

...Right. It must be temporary. It must be temporary.

He must have just been in a bad mood that day, yes.

Though she was thinking that, trying to convince herself.

Still, she couldn't deny that she was more sensitive than usual.

...Recently, she'd been checking Egostic's fan cafe every day to see if there was any mention of her.

And when she happened to see 'these' kinds of posts.

She couldn't help but be filled with anger.

*

[Honestly, upvote if you think Stardust seems abandoned these days lol]

I rewatched the last terror attack and Egostic was obviously avoiding eye contact with Stardust and keeping his distance.

What does this mean? Egostic must have found a woman. A villain should hang out with villains, not with a rigid hero - Egostic must have realized that too.

Honestly, Egostic might have just been pretending to like Stardust as a concept. Now that he's gotten what he wanted, he's throwing her away.

The Electick boom is coming!!! Let's go for electrically grilled mango~

=[Comments]=

[Whoa... say this and the Stardust faction will get furious]

[You... what are you saying right now?]

[Hacker-mango has a higher possibility than electric-grilled mangostick lol]

ㄴ[What's wrong with hacker-mango, damn it]

[For real lol Stardust is a has-been now, honestly Egostic seems tired of her too lol]

[Don't say such nonsense. What do you know? This is ridiculous. Don't speak when you know nothing.]

*

"...Shut up. What do you all know...!"

Anyway, she'd been spending a lot of time lately angrily pounding her keyboard.

...Right. Egostic wouldn't do that. It must be temporary. Yes. We had so many conversations in prison. He wouldn't change overnight. He said he'd regained his memories too. The next time we meet, he'll surely greet me with a smile like before...

As Stardust was languishing like that one day.

A new piece of news came out.

[Look at the sky here right now! It's as if something divine is descending...]

An anomaly occurring in Korea.

Naturally, it was time for her to deploy.

The listless Stardust suddenly jumped up at a passing thought.

...An incomprehensibly strange event was happening in the Republic of Korea.

Then, surely...

'Wouldn't Egostic be there too?'

Her transcendent intuition activating for the first time in a while, she hurriedly prepared to fly.

More than investigating the anomaly.

She held onto the thread-like hope that she might be able to meet Egostic.