Chapter 347 - Puzzlement

After convincing Celeste to tell her where the Sun God's relic was located and setting up a meeting for next time, I returned home and was managing the Stardust fan cafe in my room.

"Sigh..."

It felt like it had been quite a while since I last did this.

My fan cafe management consisted of blocking malicious users and pinning good posts as announcements.

Remembering how the original Stardust fan cafe eventually turned into an anti-Stardust cafe, I was managing this one much more strictly.

*

[What the hell? The cafe owner suspended me for 7 days just because I said Stardust's form looks bad lately? F**k this.]

*

"...You dare insult Stardust in my cafe?"

[Would you like to permanently ban this user?]

[User has been banned. Would you like to prevent this user from rejoining?]

[User has been blocked from rejoining.]

Troublemakers need to be dealt with.

"...Hmm, there seem to be more weirdos lately."

I continued to deal with troublemakers dozens of times after that.

Once again today, I drove out all the trolls who were trying to put down Stardust.

Phew, I've protected my little cafe for another day.

Personally, I could never understand people who badmouth heroes.

Heroes, especially Stardust—what are they? They're people who risk their lives every day to protect citizens. Every day is a real battle for them, and you're going to criticize people who fight like that?

Of course, I know it's a cliché in hero comics, but it's still infuriating.

Especially the author of [Stardust!]—did they truly lack a human heart? They portrayed the public as people who cursed Stardust from beginning to end. While this highlighted Stardust's nobility in trying to protect even such ungrateful people... it felt like eating hundreds of sweet potatoes (frustrating).

Well, thanks to my efforts, those trolls have mostly disappeared, and the cafe is now filled with fans.

You could say Stardust is finally receiving the proper treatment she deserves.

As for the remaining few troublemakers, well, I'm making sure they can't set foot in my cafe.

...Of course, Stardust would never know this was thanks to me, but I still felt proud. I don't mind being remembered as a villain forever as long as Stardust is doing well.

"...I wonder how Stardust is doing these days."

With that thought in mind,

I became curious and clicked through the popular posts one by one.

I had seen news about how Stardust was taking down enemies with a single punch these days...

As I was thinking about this,

Looking through all the photos of Stardust in the posts,

"Is something bothering Stardust these days...?"

...I couldn't help but mutter seriously.

To be honest, to others, she probably didn't look much different from usual. She always had that cold, stern face while beating up villains.

However, as a Stardust expert, I could see it.

The hidden fatigue in her eyes and somewhat deflated atmosphere.

...What's going on? Something I don't know about?

I pondered, trying to recall, but there wasn't anything during this period that would cause Stardust stress. Her old college senior being turned into a villain? That's still far off. Weapon Master's massacre of tens of thousands of Seoul citizens? I prevented that by killing him in advance.

'I even retired, so I thought she'd be living a happier, more peaceful life.'

What could be the problem?

For a moment, I considered asking Lee Seol-ah, Stardust's best friend, but then I stopped myself, feeling like an ex-boyfriend pathetically inquiring about an ex-girlfriend.

...Right. If it were something serious, Seol-ah would have told me first.

So, what could it be?

What's causing her so much stress?

With that thought, I went ahead and looked through Stardust's photos from the past few months.

What I realized was a couple of things.

First, her complexion started deteriorating around the time I retired.

Second, her expression has gotten even worse over the past three months. She looks like she hasn't been sleeping well.

So her complexion worsened around the time I retired.

Could it be... she misses me, the retired villain? Of course not. Is she frustrated that she couldn't catch me herself? Or is there another reason?

Whatever it is...

'I think I need to see her once.'

I quietly thought to myself.

...Of course, it was a bit embarrassing to show my face again after giving such a cool farewell as if we'd never see each other again.

But well. I said I wouldn't target her anymore, not that I'd never see her again.

It's not like I'm committing terrorism—we'll just happen to cross paths, so there shouldn't be any problem. It's not like I'm going on broadcast.

'Yeah...'

Before Phase 4 ends, when 'that incident' happens.

Even someone like me will have to step in and handle it.

Stardust will surely be there too, so I can check on her then. Even a brief look can tell me a lot.

Anyway, to ensure Stardust's remaining life is peaceful,

The key was how to persuade Celeste.

How reassuring would it be to have one of the final bosses on my side?

Especially considering she's the Sun God's most loyal servant, I knew how important it was to win Celeste over.

...Of course, it wouldn't be easy to do that with the world's #1 ranked individual who could kill me with a finger.

Still, I had a plan.

"When we go to the Sun God's ruins this time..."

I can definitely get closer to her there.

I'll make sure of it.

Good.

...I'll go this week. First, I need to contact her.

As I was thinking about this,

Knock knock.

"Da-in, are you there?"

I flinched.

Slightly startled by the knocking, I composed myself and answered.

"Yes, Su-bin."

"I brought some fruit. Would you like some?"

The door opened, and she entered with fruit.

I awkwardly smiled as I accepted the plate from Su-bin, who was grinning at me.

"...Yes. Thank you."

"Hehe. Da-in, what were you doing?"

"Oh. You know Celeste, right? The #1 ranked villain. I was thinking about what to do with her..."

"I see..."

She smiled at my words.

Still smiling, she said to me,

"Da-in, I'm fine with everything, but don't you think it might be too much for you if there are too many...?"

"Excuse me...?"

"It's nothing. Good luck then!"

With that, she cutely cheered me on and left.

...After Su-bin left, I sighed and sat back down.

"Haah..."

...After Su-bin's confession last time,

I've been in quite a predicament. In many ways.

They must have already talked among themselves, as they've been getting even closer to me...

'...I wonder how long I can hold out.'

I thought quietly to myself.

The offensive was no joke. Seriously.

Of course, I'm gritting my teeth since Phase 4 isn't over yet, but after that, who knows what will happen.

...To be honest, I still can't forget Stardust, so shouldn't I sort out these feelings first?

No. Considering the original setting, it's questionable whether I'll even be alive after the final chapter. Sigh.

As my thoughts continued to flow,

I shook my head, got up, and picked up my phone.

I don't know. Let's just do what needs to be done.

Let me persuade Celeste first and think about the rest later.

So I immediately contacted Celeste.

To set up our next meeting.

***

After Egostic left.

In the middle of the prayer room, the silver-haired saint Celeste was kneeling in her saintly attire, maintaining a prayerful posture while deep in thought.

'...Egostic.'

That S-class villain from the Republic of Korea.

...And for some reason, chosen by the Sun God's attendant... the so-called angel.

Yet he killed the Sun God's warriors.

Unknowingly gritting her teeth at his shameless and brazen demeanor, she quickly calmed herself and thought rationally.

'Haah...'

For some reason, being around him made her feel like she was becoming childish too.

...In fact, though she didn't properly recognize it,

This was only natural.

After awakening the Sun God's power in her childhood, she immediately stood at the pinnacle.

With the mighty power to manipulate heaven and earth, she led her own forces and always stood above others.

Those around her were mostly subordinates, or "inferiors" she could eliminate with a mere gesture.

For someone like her,

To encounter someone who was neither a subordinate nor an equal,

Someone she couldn't simply kill at will, someone who talked back to her—it was essentially a first in her life.

...After he had already been chosen by the Sun God,

Using force against him became unthinkable.

Of course, she believed he had somehow stolen the angel through some method... but you never know.

What if he truly was chosen by the Sun God?

He even knew information about the sun...

But beyond all this, there was a main reason why she was wary of him.

'That beast...'

It was the vision she had seen in her prophecy—herself kissing him.

The sight of future-her seemingly protesting but ultimately accepting Egostic's advances had shocked her deeply.

Having dedicated her body to the Sun, she had never once thought she would have such a relationship with a man, especially with that man.

'...It will absolutely never happen.'

She reaffirmed her resolve.

No matter what tricks he tried, it would never happen. Never.

Just as she was making this determination, she received a message from Egostic saying he had found the Sun God's ruins and wanted to meet.

And so, still full of resolve and with a cold expression, she got up, not knowing what would happen there.