Chapter 338 - Shock And Aftermath
# [Egostic Announces Sudden Retirement!]
After Egostic officially declared his retirement during a broadcast.
That day, the Republic of Korea was thrown into absolute chaos.
...
No.
Can I really describe it as just "chaos"?
Let me put it differently.
*
[Like if you feel everything's just completely fucked now lolololol]
Starting with me lolololol
[Likes] 18713 [Dislikes] 2
=[Comments]=
[A world without Mango? Just gonna kill myself bye]
*
The Republic of Korea was completely turned upside down.
Perfectly so.
*
[Real Facts) 104 Reasons Why Our Country Is Doomed]
[Like if you just don't want to live anymore lolololol]
[Stop this bullshit stop this bullshit stop this bullshit stop this bullshit]
[How can he just retire overnight without any warning? Super fucking hell]
[Daddy where are you? I'm cold... Daddy where are you? I'm cold... Daddy where are you? I'm cold...]
[The country's defense power just dropped by like 50% lololololol]
[Like if you're pretending to be calm but your hands and feet are trembling at the thought of never seeing Egostic again lolol]
[Is it true that an S-class hero, #1 streamer, and living legend of Korea is retiring all at once overnight?]
[Now I just burst into tears whenever I see mangoes at the supermarket...]
[Even the reactions from overseas fans are just hilariously sad lololol...]
[Breaking News) Egostic actually emigrating to Japan?!]
[Today my world collapsed.]
[What if Mango just thought it was April Fool's Day? What if he misspoke?]
[Breaking News) Korea's Doom) Even the Ego-stream website has posted the announcement lolol]
*
It wasn't just Egostic's fan cafes.
Other general communities, social media, news outlets, and casual conversations.
Every topic of conversation was dominated by Egostic.
Actually, thinking about it, it was strange.
If an S-class villain announced they would stop terrorizing and retire, shouldn't everyone be happy?
But far from it, everyone was in a state of great shock. As if they couldn't believe it.
To understand why this happened, we need to know exactly who Egostic is.
Egostic. Also known as Mangostick.
Although officially an S-class villain.
In reality, the number of times he saved the Republic of Korea from crisis was comparable to Stardust, the S-class hero.
When the only mega-corporation in Korea was conducting illegal biological experiments in the underground center of Seoul, and the monster escaped.
It was Egostic who prevented disaster by preemptively cutting off the bridges.
When that corporation went crazy and invaded Seoul with machines they created, it was Egostic who stopped them.
When a cult's biological weapon was destroying Seoul with storms that even neutralized heroes, it was Egostic who intervened, took her away, and prevented the situation.
When one of the world's three strongest villains attempted to invade Earth through the sea, it was Egostic who formed an alliance to protect Korea. When the Evil King, known as the Demon Lord, tried to resurrect at the Trade Center, it was Egostic who stepped in to stop it. When a cult tried to summon monstrous beasts to destroy Earth, once again, it was Egostic who prevented it.
Although he still regularly committed acts of terrorism befitting his villain title, he never killed people. The only time his hands were stained with blood was when dealing with other villains. In fact, the number of villains he's eliminated so far has probably saved thousands of lives.
On top of that, he created the villain alliance called Ego-stream, formed a Korea-China-Japan coalition, and went abroad as a K-Villain giving Korean pride TV shows plenty of material...
Just considering what experts say about how many people were saved thanks to Egostic, how much he contributed to national security, and the economic trickle-down effect he created for Korea, it's no wonder he was popular.
But even without all that, he already had a solid fan base for another reason.
[Hello everyone. This is Egostic!]
His signature greeting represented the broadcasts he streamed during each terrorist act.
When you think about it, terrorism isn't that different from a blockbuster movie. Aren't there flashy abilities flying around? The only problem is that it's a real situation where people actually die.
However, Egostic solved this problem by never killing people. Combined with his natural talent for talking and regularly uploaded broadcasts, this was enough to create a fan base just from his streams alone.
That's how the Republic of Korea came to have such powerful influence that whenever Egostic committed an act of terrorism, real-time trends would be completely dominated by Egostic for days.
...And then.
Suddenly, he announced his retirement.
Without a single warning.
'Anyway, today's event... seems like it will be my last entertainment.'
With those final words.
He shut down his website and everything else he operated, and disappeared.
The first sector to be affected was.
None other than the financial world, which is influenced by all variables.
"Team leader, foreign capital is flowing out like crazy! All stock prices are in the red!"
"Damn it! Sell everything right now!"
The Republic of Korea is actually a very unique country.
Despite its high economic level, it has a relatively small population with only two A-class heroes and one S-class hero... Conversely, villains swarm here in numbers that would make even populous developed countries envious.
But what offsets these factors is the fact that this country has never once collapsed due to large-scale terrorism. Even when the Moonlight Church incident, which nearly drove the whole world to destruction, happened in Korea, they managed to stop it with their own power.
A country where terrorism occurs frequently, but strangely has few casualties and good public safety. That was the Republic of Korea.
And who was at the center of this, well-informed people all knew.
So when news of Egostic's retirement spread.
Korea's financial market, which was prepared for terrorism but not for this kind of economic shock, was rapidly collapsing.
The butterfly effect caused by Egostic was turning the world blue, creating a situation that could lead to a great depression in any other country.
...However.
The Republic of Korea was different from other ordinary countries.
"...Buy everything."
"Yes! Chairwoman!"
In the center of Seoul. In a massive building towering above all others.
In the president's office at the very top.
A woman with sky-blue hair was saying this with a cold expression.
After the dissolution of the Han-Eun Group. The newly risen top mega-corporation of Korea.
Essentially holding shares in all other companies, the actual ruler of Korea hiding in the shadows.
Lee Seol-ah.
Only she, who had predicted all this chaos, was single-handedly supporting Korea's economy after Egostic's retirement.
When foreigners sold stocks, Lee Seol-ah bought them.
When foreigners sold a lot, Lee Seol-ah bought everything.
As stock prices were in free fall, mysterious ghost companies started buying everything, and the market somewhat stabilized.
This was only possible because Lee Seol-ah had already taken control of Korea's entire financial world and held astronomical amounts of cash.
"Haah..."
"Chairwoman. The defense was successful. You can rest assured now."
"I understand... you may leave."
"Yes, Chairwoman."
After her assistant bowed and left.
Lee Seol-ah, who was lying back in her chair with her face covered by her hands, groaned and muttered.
"...Right, it was mine anyway."
The Republic of Korea belongs to Lee Seol-ah.
Actually, even the stocks thrown away by foreigners were originally Lee Seol-ah's.
So reclaiming what was hers shouldn't be a problem, right?
That's how A-class hero Icicle quietly saved the Republic of Korea(?) from behind the scenes.
"Ughhhh..."
...While she prevented the economy from collapsing since the destruction of Korea would essentially mean the destruction of her company.
Still, losing such a vast amount of cash was truly heartbreaking.
"...Da-in, really, haah... "
...I'll definitely make you pay this debt.
If not with money, then with your body.
After muttering tiredly to herself.
Once everything was settled.
Suddenly.
Looking at the darkened sky outside, that thought occurred to her.
"...Come to think of it, our Ha-ru."
I wonder if she's okay right now?
***
At that moment.
"....."
Inside a dark apartment.
There, a woman with blonde hair was staring out the window with empty blue eyes.
"...."
Stardust.
She was still in a state of not accepting reality.
Since this afternoon, continuously, in this state, just blankly existing.
Egostic has retired.
I see.
So what happens now?
From now on, we won't meet anymore.
Since he's retired. He said he won't commit terrorism anymore.
...I see.
So I won't see him anymore.
"....."
Not see Egostic anymore?
He won't come looking for me anymore?
What nonsense. I can still vividly hear his voice.
It feels like he could appear at any moment with that grin behind his mask, saying in that cheerful voice, "Hello, Ms. Stardust!"
...Now.
I won't see him like that anymore.
"Ah."
When she finally realized this fact.
She noticed a tear falling from her eye.
Quietly.