Chapter 345 - Dream
# Bright Daylight
On the rooftop of a large building, Stardust stood quietly in front of a camera.
"...I wonder if I'm doing this right."
*
[???]
[What is this broadcast?]
[Isn't that Stardust?]
[Gasp... she's making a major announcement]
[What is this?]
[The Association hijacking TV broadcasts, wow]
*
"Ah... it's working."
After finishing the setup, she took a deep breath and looked directly at the camera.
"Hello everyone. This is Stardust."
*
[?????]
[LOL what is this]
[Egostic is gone, now we have Stardustic]
[What's going on?]
[Stardust seems a bit off]
[For real, her eyes look dead inside]
[What's happening?]
*
It had been four months since Egostic disappeared.
Already missing him and worrying alone, Shadow Walker's revelation that he might be terminally ill came as a huge shock to Stardust.
That's why she made a decision.
She needed to meet Egostic one last time.
She had to confirm if he was okay.
"Sigh..."
In a black and white world.
Standing there, breathing in the cold air, Stardust thought about one way to draw Egostic out.
Considering his personality—a villain who protects the world more than anyone else and always shows up when trouble occurs.
If she caused an incident of this magnitude, he would definitely appear.
With that determination.
She looked at the camera with lifeless eyes and spoke.
"...The reason I'm here is simple. To call for Egostic."
"Egostic. Come here right now."
"If you don't, I'll collapse the building beneath me."
*
[????????]
[What are you saying?]
[LOLOLOLOL this is so Korea]
[Let's go~ (actually going)]
[S-class hero awakening as S-class villain]
[Stardust, did I hear you correctly..?]
[LMAO what is this?]
[Actually I like it, will we see Mangostick today?]
[Oh, now that you mention it]
[Thinking about it, I'm supporting Stardust lol]
[This is crazy]
[I can't believe this]
[Mangostick deserves this...]
[What a mess]
[Hmm... is this a dream? (it really is a dream)]
*
"I'll give you 10 minutes from now. And... Egostic, I'm serious."
Staring directly at the camera, saying words she didn't mean.
Stardust felt a kind of liberation as she made her declaration.
And shortly after.
"....."
Seeing a black silhouette appearing in the distant sky, Stardust swallowed hard.
Yes, he came. She knew he would.
But now, seeing him again in front of her like this.
She felt dizzy.
Was this really the right choice? Could there have been a better way?
If he was truly sick.
Wouldn't this be inconsiderate?
Despite these worries, she waited quietly.
...Finally, finally.
Finally.
And when he finally arrived.
Before she could see his face.
"....?"
The world suddenly flipped upside down.
Ring ring ring ring ring ring
"Huh...!"
Flash.
And simultaneously.
Stardust opened her eyes.
".....ugh, what."
-Ring ring ring ring. Ring ring ring ring.
The loud bell sound coming from beside her.
Fumbling with her right hand to finally turn off the alarm, she looked up at the ceiling and sighed.
"Sigh..."
She had clearly been on top of a building just moments ago.
Now finding herself lying in bed, Stardust finally realized.
Ah.
...It was a dream.
"Haah..."
Holding her dizzy head, she went to the refrigerator for a sip of cold water.
Then she slid down against the refrigerator and sat on the floor.
Her eyes were already wandering in empty space.
'Egostic. He's terminally ill.'
'Terminally ill.'
'Terminal.'
Terminal.
Egostic being terminally ill.
Since hearing Shadow Walker's words.
Stardust's days had become hell. A hell she created for herself.
What if he didn't have much time left?
What if she had treated him so harshly despite his condition?
Whenever these thoughts came to mind, tears would flow from her eyes.
Though not anymore.
She had no more tears left to shed.
"...."
Her feelings for Egostic were complicated.
He was a villain. One who had committed dozens of terrorist acts and often took hostages.
But he had helped her save the country and the world just as many times.
It was hard to tell if he was a villain with a hobby of being a hero, or a hero with a hobby of terrorism.
At first, Stardust disliked Egostic.
Having no mercy for villains was Stardust's trademark.
She had never cared about or forgiven villains' circumstances.
To her, villains who caused harm were simply criminals.
But as years passed.
As they spent more time together, her thoughts began to change.
Watching what Egostic did.
She began to question whether this villain was truly a bad person.
Even when committing terrorism, he never harmed civilians.
He always stepped forward during national crises, eliminating dangers first.
...Especially when she was in danger, he would appear with a grin and help her, gradually melting her hardened heart.
And then.
...Even risking his own life to protect her.
When no one else would take her side, he would call for her with unwavering loyalty and always try to be with her.
Stardust finally opened her heart.
...Without realizing it, she had grown to like him.
To the point where she no longer cared that he was a villain.
...Yes. Though she didn't understand why he committed terrorism, if that was his joy in life... could that be... acceptable?
Anyway, in that situation, she never imagined.
That he, who always jumped out with a smile to broadcast his terrorism.
Would suddenly announce his retirement and disappear overnight.
Moreover...
'From now on, I won't be calling for you anymore.'
While smiling.
He had clearly said.
That he wouldn't call for her anymore.
That they wouldn't see each other anymore.
After Egostic left.
In tremendous loss and despair, Stardust realized.
Ah. I liked Egostic...
But it was already too late.
Like a heartbroken lover, Stardust suffered alone.
Every night before sleep, she would wonder why Egostic had left her.
...In her spare time, she would search the internet for any sightings of him.
Sometimes when traveling for work, she would follow her intuition to look for his home. Though following her intuition only led her to strange mountain areas before turning back.
In that situation.
Stardust heard something even more shocking.
Her colleague's words that Egostic might be terminally ill.
Although her mind denied it.
...Kim Ja-hyun's face when saying those words was so serious and sincere.
She couldn't help but believe it.
And now.
Her mental state completely shattered, she was thinking all sorts of things with dead eyes.
'What if Egostic is really dying?'
'What if his health deteriorated because he took that monster's attack in my place...'
Whenever she thought about this, tears would well up in her eyes without her realizing.
Thinking about it made her feel as if his terminal illness was somehow her fault.
There were many suspicious points.
What if his body deteriorated because she beat him up that day when he was in a robot, not recognizing him?
Or maybe... his health worsened while helping her with various incidents?
Having seen Egostic coughing blood several times.
Stardust would silently cry whenever she thought about it.
...Even for someone as strong as her, Egostic was the first to occupy such a large place in her heart.
The thought that she might have hurt someone she cared about was unbearable even for someone with her mental strength.
"Sob..."
And she felt pathetic.
Knowing this but unable to think of finding Egostic.
Too afraid that he might really be dead, unable to call for him like in her dream.
She regretted again.
...If only she had expressed her feelings to him earlier.
If only she had treated him better instead of being prickly, when he was always helping her.
If only she had cherished the time they had together.
With these thoughts.
Stardust wiped away her tears and stood up.
"...I need to work."
Yes.
...For now, she needed to save as many people as possible.
That's what Egostic would want too.
With that thought, she got up, washed, and headed to the Association.
That day, all the villains she faced were defeated with a single punch.
Because frustration makes heroes stronger...
***
"Stardust seems to have pulled herself together and is doing well these days?"
On my smartphone in my room.
I nodded as I watched Stardust's one-punch streak on the news.
Yes. She's doing well without me. Good job, Stardust.
...Although I felt a bit disappointed, I shook my head and looked at the letter in my hand.
Good. Soon it will be Kathedal again.
With Part 4 right around the corner, Kathedal is more important than ever.
...Especially since persuading Celeste is the key, I decided to prepare myself.
Though I'm not sure if I can do it. Anyway.
"And..."
With that thought, I turned my head to look at the calendar and muttered.
"...Soon it will be time for that incident."
If things go well, I might see Stardust after a long time.
Of course, I'll try to run away immediately, so there won't be time to talk unless she catches me.
I closed my eyes with that thought.
...I'm definitely not looking forward to it. Definitely not.