Chapter 331 - Sea Monster

After enjoying a pleasant conversation with Celeste, I returned home and collapsed on the sofa, letting out a sigh of relief.

"I seriously aged ten years..."

Though I had been bold in our conversation because I knew everything about Celeste's personality, values, and behavior patterns from the comics, it was still nerve-wracking.

Standing before someone who could reduce me to ashes with a flick of a finger while they were angry at me, putting on a brazen face and smirking sarcastically had consumed a lot of mental energy. But hey, it worked out in the end.

"God... I'm dying here."

"Master, shall I bring you some water?"

"...No."

I pushed away the angel who had spoken to me so politely. Having a grown woman call me "master" made me feel like trash.

For reference, the angel had taken off her usual angelic attire—that Greek-style white clothing—and was wearing a light blue T-shirt. The shirt had been specially modified by Su-bin to allow her large wings to pass through the back.

Anyway, I was groaning from the after-effects of my face-to-face with Celeste. According to my plan, she would eventually face my retribution. Yes... that would definitely happen. Though I had no idea when...

Despite all my complaining, I couldn't deny that I'd caught a break. I'd acquired an angel and safely made it through my encounter with Celeste. Phase 3 was essentially complete.

There was still quite a bit of time before Phase 4 would begin, but this would be the perfect timing to retire from terrorism and take a proper rest.

'After retiring... maybe I could train other heroes in my spare time if I get bored.'

...Come to think of it, would that really be retirement?

Anyway, that's what I was thinking.

And naturally, my Ego-stream colleagues were thinking the same thing.

"Oppa. You really need to retire now, right?"

Seo-eun looked at me with sparkling eyes.

When I awkwardly smiled and averted my gaze, she spread her hand and began folding her fingers one by one as she spoke.

"You clearly said you'd retire after finishing with the Moonlight Cult, then after killing the Wish Granter, and now after capturing the angel. You've done everything you said you would. Right?"

"Well... I guess?"

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

While Seo-eun was holding my hand and saying this, Su-bin, who had approached without me noticing, sat beside me and covered the back of my hand with hers, looking into my eyes with a worried expression.

"Da-in... I'm worried too. Honestly, you've been through so much. How many times have you risked your life now? I think it's about time you wrapped things up."

With both Seo-eun and Su-bin—who had been with me from the beginning—saying such things, I had no choice but to surrender.

"Alright, alright. I'll really quit now."

"Wow. Really?"

"Yes. Just after a few more terrorist acts."

"...Sigh. Fine. If that's all."

After making that promise once more, I returned to my room.

Yes, I should carry out a few more terrorist acts before I go... also to confirm if Stardust's power has been completed as I thought.

'...Of course, these will be acts focused on testing abilities, so they'll be pretty intense.'

It's absolutely not because I'm reluctant to part ways just yet... nope.

Anyway, for my final terrorist act... hmm. What if all our Ego-stream members participated together? Like an all-star finale. That wouldn't be bad.

With such thoughts, I planned my next terrorist act.

"Seo-eun. If you help me, I can finish these terrorist acts quickly and retire sooner."

"Sigh... fine. What do you need me to do?"

While I was planning several final terrorist acts with Seo-eun's help, something happened.

"Huh?"

After a long period of silence, I received a message from Atlas.

[Egostic, where are you?]

"Huh? I'm at home, why?"

[Well, remember those sea monsters I told you about before? The one I said was heading toward your country.]

"Yes, I remember."

[I've finally located that escaped one and...]

[It's right in front of your country.]

"...What?"

While I was still processing his words in shock, my phone suddenly buzzed.

I checked it quickly.

*

[Emergency Disaster Alert]

[Association] A giant monster has appeared on the east coast. All nearby citizens please evacuate to bunkers immediately.

*

'What the hell is going on?'

Alarmed by my phone's alert, I rushed to the living room and grabbed my throbbing head as I watched the news on TV.

[Breaking news! An unidentified giant black monster has emerged from the East Sea and is causing havoc! This creature is currently destroying the city with its enormous size, and it's emitting bizarre sounds that disorient people's minds...]

What appeared on screen was a monster with a face like an octopus, giant wings, and a squid-like body made of black tentacles.

A bizarre creature with half its body in the sea—a strange monster I'd never seen in the original work.

This must be one of those monsters Atlas had told me about—the ones from the Moonlight Cult that fell into the sea and transformed.

This was definitely one of the creatures Atlas had been fighting all this time.

He had said the one heading my way wasn't particularly strong...

'...That's considered weak?'

You're telling me the deep sea is crawling with things like this?

'Atlas... what kind of battles have you been fighting alone?'

I felt somewhat guilty. After all, even with permission, I was the one who manipulated the gate and caused these monsters to fall into the sea...

Anyway, this monster looked serious. Especially if it was an evolved form of a Moon monster. Those don't have good compatibility with Stardust. I could probably defeat it eventually, even if it took days, but the damage in the process would be significant.

Still, there was no real problem.

Because I could handle it.

[What do you think, Egostic? Can you handle it? If you think it's too dangerous, I can come help right away.]

To Atlas who spoke to me like that, I grinned and replied.

"Don't worry. You even told me how to deal with it. I'll handle this."

[Be careful, even for someone like you, Egostic. These creatures are not to be taken lightly.]

After assuring Atlas I understood his warning, I hung up and grabbed my cape and headset.

"Seo-eun, I'll be back soon."

"...I thought you said you wouldn't do dangerous things anymore. Are you really a hero? You rush out whenever something happens?"

"Don't worry. This level isn't dangerous for me anymore. And..."

I looked at the angel Halo standing in the living room with a blank expression, deep in thought.

"Hmm..."

...Perhaps.

This might be an opportunity to test the output of our Phase 4 secret weapon, the angel.

***

'...It's been quiet for a while.'

S-class hero of the Republic of Korea, Stardust.

Having flown instantly to the scene after hearing about the monster's appearance, she frowned at the enormous creature before her eyes.

[K̴̤͛r̴̪̽̓̋r̶̤̠̓̌̒ŕ̵͉̊̚r̴̲̖̒͝ř̸̨͉̫̀ķ̴̠̻̎̎ã̷͙̺͛͘r̷͖̅̓̆r̷̺̆͐̅r̵̛͕e̵̱̓̈̀ȑ̷͖́̓r̸̲͚͆̀͆͜ȓ̷̰̤̄̌͜j̸̡̢̛͙͊̇ą̵̢̖̆ȑ̵̭͉̟͝r̷̼͔̜̒̕r̴r̴̲̖̒͝ř̸̨͉̫̀ķ̴̠̻̎̎ã̷͙̺͛͘r̷͖̅̓̆r̷̺̆͐̅r̵̛͕e̵̱̓̈̀ȑ̷͖́̓r̸̲͚͆̀͆͜ȓ̷̰̤̄̌͜j̸̡̢̛͙͊̇ą̵̢̖̆ȑ̵̭͉̟͝r̷̼͔̜̒̕r̴̳̒̅͘!̸̨̨̝̐̿!̴͕͝!̶̜͇̩̇̂!̵̡͓͑̽!̸̣͓̑͒!!!!]

The skyscraper-sized monster attacked the city with its massive tentacles while emitting a horrifying sound that was unpleasant just to hear.

Stardust's frown deepened upon hearing it.

It wasn't that she hadn't fought such monsters before. In fact, she'd fought many. Especially during the Moonlight Cult incident, she had already faced monsters of this size.

However... back then, they didn't make such bizarre sounds that gave her a headache just from listening.

"..."

Besides, wasn't the Moonlight Cult incident practically a world-ending event? Why was a monster that should have appeared then showing up now?

With such questions in mind, she clenched her fist, filling it with light.

...Whatever. For now, she needed to defeat it as quickly as possible.

With that thought, she charged toward the giant monster. Her entire body emitted a yellow light, like a meteor.

KWAAAANG

And so, the battle began.

...Until then, she had no idea.

That this battle would become so fierce.

***

"...Hmm. When should I step in?"

East coast city.

Having just arrived, I sat on top of a building, assessing the situation.

What I saw was Stardust and the sea monster engaged in an intense battle.

It was so fierce that I couldn't find an opening to jump in. No, if I teleported into that chaos, I'd be crushed instantly like a shrimp caught between fighting whales.

'...And.'

I also didn't want to get too deeply involved with Stardust anymore. I was about to retire, so I should start distancing myself. Hmm...

With such thoughts, I calculated my angle. I'd have to attack from a distance.

As I prepared, I observed the situation.

...Especially as a Stardust expert, I could tell she was pushing herself too hard. Was it because of the monster's continuous brain wave attacks?

And just as I was thinking that:

"....!"

While Stardust was attacking the monster.

I saw a massive tentacle flying toward her from behind, taking advantage of her momentary distraction.

And the moment I saw that,

I found myself teleporting without even thinking.

KWAAAANG.

"Ugh... cough, cough. Egostic...?"

"...Haha. Hello there, Ms. Stardust."

Stardust ending up in my arms happened in an instant.

...My body had moved on its own.