Chapter 329 - Her Concern

After Egostic took away the descended angel, the Republic of Korea fell into even greater chaos than expected.

If this wasn't a show, it meant Egostic had transformed from a mere villain to someone chosen by God, someone connected to the divine.

And even if it was a show, the ability to tear open the sky and make people feel such awe and divinity was remarkable in itself.

Add to that the testimonies of various experts claiming it wasn't fabricated, the spatial-temporal distortions discovered by investigators at the site of the angel's descent... wild claims were spreading like wildfire: that God truly exists, that He sent an angel to the world, that Korea was the chosen land of salvation, and that Egostic was the Messiah.

Of course, none of this mattered to Stardust.

"Sigh..."

At the Hero Association office, Stardust was slumped in her chair. Perhaps the attention-seeking villains thought their terrorism wouldn't get much attention while the whole country was buzzing about Egostic. In this unexpected peace with hardly any terrorist activity, Stardust was feeling dejected.

All this talk about Egostic obtaining an angel... for Stardust—Shin Ha-ru—it wasn't particularly surprising. Egostic had always been eccentric, and considering all the things he'd done before, taking an angel away wasn't anything special. He must have had his reasons. And the existence of gods...

'....'

She already roughly knew about that. That there was a deity who had given her powers.

So Shin Ha-ru's problem was something else entirely. It was that Egostic had ignored her again today, just like before.

And that hit her harder than she realized.

'...Why would Egostic...?'

In truth, Stardust had every reason to think this way. Look at everything Egostic had done until now. He called for her during every terrorist attack, stepped in whenever she was in danger, and had even risked his life for her.

Especially in prison... she thought they had somewhat recognized each other's feelings. He had even grabbed her hand first. They had even slept in the same bed. Honestly... huh?

But why would he suddenly change like that, as if flipping his palm?

'Changing his attitude...'

All sorts of thoughts swirled in Stardust's head. Is he tired of me now? Did I do something wrong? Was I too forward in prison, making him uncomfortable?

A hero agonizing over being ignored by a villain was truly an unprecedented problem, but for the person involved, it was quite serious. Even Stardust herself was realizing how important Egostic had become to her as she continued to worry about it.

"...What do you think?"

The next day, Stardust confided these worries to her friend.

Her blue-haired friend, Lee Seol-ah, listened with a stiff expression.

"..."

The reason for Seol-ah's rigid face was simple.

'...Ha-ru, this isn't the time to just worry by yourself.'

She had heard that Egostic was about to retire.

'He's retiring?'

'Yeah. I've pretty much done everything I wanted to do, so I should wrap up my villain business too.'

'No... um... I see.'

One might wonder what's wrong with a villain retiring, but for Stardust, it meant losing her connection with him.

Yet Seol-ah couldn't tell Ha-ru that Egostic was going to retire. If she did, Ha-ru would naturally ask how she knew, and then she'd have to explain her secret relationship with Egostic. And what would happen then?

...Seol-ah didn't want to create a messy love triangle with her close friend.

So the only thing she could do was one thing.

Ha-ru didn't have much time. So...

'She should just be direct.'

Seol-ah thought with a stiff face.

To be honest, Seol-ah was 100% certain that Da-in knew she liked him. Unless he was a fool, he would know.

Yet strangely, when it came to Stardust, he couldn't imagine that she liked him. As if he became a fool when it came to Stardust.

'So she just needs to tell him directly for him to understand.'

With that thought, Seol-ah sighed and asked Stardust, who was drinking tea, point-blank.

"Be honest, Ha-ru. You like Egostic, don't you?"

"-Cough. Uh, what? N-no, I don't..."

When she asked that, Shin Ha-ru showed a dramatic reaction.

Looking at Ha-ru, who was coughing with a flushed face and trembling, teary eyes, Seol-ah felt complicated. No... Ha-ru. This isn't the time. You need to be proactive.

With that thought, Seol-ah gave sincere advice.

"Ha-ru. Next time you meet Egostic, just honestly tell him how you feel. Even indirectly is fine."

"What are you saying... it's not like that."

Though she denied it, her already flushed face and wandering eyes didn't make her very convincing.

"You're not talking to each other, so misunderstandings might be piling up. Right? Ha-ru, you do think of Egostic differently than other people, don't you?"

"...Yeah."

"Then, at least be honest about those feelings. You don't know what each other is thinking, that's why this is happening. If he hears you say that, don't you think Egostic might respond?"

"..."

Though Stardust was quietly listening to Seol-ah's advice, she seemed somewhat intrigued.

After they parted ways, Seol-ah lay down and sighed, thinking:

'...Still. After saying all this, Ha-ru should understand.'

She sincerely hoped those two clueless people would get together soon.

That way, she might have her chance too.

*

At that same time.

"...Like, huh."

Stardust lay on her bed with her blonde hair spread out, quietly murmuring those words.

"..."

Even if it's not exactly saying "I like you."

Maybe I should tell Egostic what I think about him.

...But isn't that the same as saying I like him? Even if not in a romantic sense.

Stardust was contemplating this as her chest rose and fell with her breathing.

'Yeah...'

Next time we meet, maybe I'll confess my feelings.

...such was her dilemma.

***

["Jesus, why aren't we starting the meeting?"]

(Picture of gods like Jesus and Buddha looking forward while speaking on clouds)

"Egostic hasn't arrived yet."

*

Like if you think this joke is real lol

I'll start first lolololol

=[Comments]=

[For real lol]

[Is Egostic a god? Is Egostic a god? Is Egostic a god? Is Egostic a god? Is Egostic a god? Is Egostic a god? Is Egostic a god?]

[Just God-stick, his exploits are just beginning lololol]

[Like if you think Republic of Korea's greatest output is really Mangostick lol I'll start first lolol]

ㄴ[For real lol]

[For real, the angel descent video has some kind of hypnotic effect, my heart swells every time I watch it]

[Republic of Korea < Angel-possessing nation lolol]

[Oh my god, where else would you find a villain whom an angel calls "master" lolol He's definitely a hero]

ㄴ[No no, it could be the extreme of villainy... he even NTR'd an angel]

ㄴ[Gasp]

ㄴ[From now on, the world's #1 villain is Mangostick...]

[Team Mangostar annihilated lol Angelstick rising lolol]

[Damn, how is the entire community talking about this lol]

ㄴ[Just watch that video once, you'll have no choice but to believe in God]

ㄴ[Exactly, you just feel something when you watch it]

*

"Oppa, oppa. Look at this."

"Alright, Seo-eun..."

Two days after the incident.

Seo-eun was happily enjoying all the talk about me from around town.

"Don't call me master, just call me Da-in."

"How could I address my master differently?"

"No..."

For reference, this angel was currently causing me trouble in real-time.

Tsk. Was my command wrong? She's not listening to me.

Meanwhile, Seo Ja-young, who was watching me trying to educate the angel, mumbled with a blank face while lying down:

"With all this 'master, master' talk, I want to put her in a maid outfit. A maid angel... would I get arrested for blasphemy? Hmm..."

...Judging by the strange gleam in her eyes, I might need to stop her later.

Anyway, we've been spending the past few days getting to know this new member, the angel.

She was one of the tallest members excluding me, with long blonde hair and, unlike Stardust, golden eyes as well. And two large white wings on her back.

Her most distinctive trait was that she obeyed my words almost unconditionally.

It seemed the ownership of this angel had completely transferred to me.

It was fortunate in the sense that I didn't have to worry about any unnecessary rebellion. She would probably follow only my orders even if Celeste intervened.

Having a reliable new comrade made me feel at ease.

By the way, since it felt awkward to keep calling her "angel," I gave her a name.

"Since you're an angel without a halo, how about naming you Halo?"

"...That's good."

And so she became Halo.

Anyway, this angel's most distinctive feature was:

"Halo."

"Yes, master."

Whenever I called her from anywhere, she would immediately teleport to me.

It was a very useful trait. Especially since I now had someone who could rescue me if I got kidnapped.

In some ways, she felt like an upgraded version of our Death Knight uncle who was forced to wear a ring.

[Ahem... you're not thinking anything strange, are you?]

"Ugh. Step back, blasphemer. You'll pass your curse to the master."

[Why is this young lady acting like this toward me?!]

For reference, our angel didn't seem to like Uncle Death Knight very much...

Anyway, I was spending peaceful yet different days like that.

"Oppa, a letter came."

Until an invitation letter arrived from Kathedal.

Hmm. It's been two days since I obtained the Attendant of the Sun God.

Even though it's been quite a while since Kathedal was last held and it's about time to gather again... the timing is quite coincidental.

As expected.

'By now, Celeste must be...'

Absolutely freaking out.

Since I snatched away the creation of the Sun God whom he worships more than his own life, he must be bewildered and angry. It's more surprising that he hasn't stormed our house yet.

Well, if he doesn't come to this Kathedal, he'll probably storm in.

I don't plan to back down.

"Seo-eun, oppa will be back soon. And..."

I looked at the angel who was watching me with innocent golden eyes, grinned, and said:

"You should get ready too, Halo."

"Yes."

I need to go tell Celeste how awesome his angel is.

After all, being mean-spirited is a villain's virtue, isn't it?