Chapter 358 - Another Beginning

# After capturing the fantasy dragon that appeared in Seoul.

...After many things happened.

One week later.

After sorting out my confused feelings, I was preparing for the next plan in my room.

'Finally, Phase 4 is coming soon...'

The final chapter of the original work, and Stardust. The chapter where the true reason why Shin Ha-ru is the protagonist of the work is revealed.

This final chapter, being the last phase, unfolds with incomparable chaos and power inflation compared to everything before.

And the reason for that is obviously.

Because the Sun God, the final boss of the original work, was gradually approaching.

And the result was the literal hyper-inflation where all heroes and villains' abilities evolved to the next level.

Ability users who could previously only create small flames like a lighter could now produce massive fires that could burn down buildings.

Those who could already create large flames could now form meteors of fire capable of destroying cities.

It was a festival where all ability users' powers evolved from B-class to A-class, from A-class to S-class.

...And literally the harbinger of the world's end.

Think about it. Existing A-class villains became S-class villains. Especially villains who were already strong like Atlas? Their growth was simply absurd.

The world became seriously messed up because of this, to the point where rumors circulated in fan communities that the author was finally abandoning the work.

This is why I despaired when I received psychokinesis and teleportation abilities and fell into this world, thinking my powers were inadequate. I wasn't confident I could survive this power inflation.

Anyway, in the original work, the world lost control and became chaotic.

Although heroes also became stronger, the balance of power couldn't be maintained. A major factor was that most ordinary citizens with B-class and A-class abilities evolved to become villains rather than heroes...

'It's natural that when uncontrolled powerful ability users increase, the world falls into chaos.'

Anyway, because of this, the world fell into even greater chaos due to villains becoming more powerful and numerous.

At the center of it all was the villain alliance Kathedal.

Breaking free from being a secretive group, they finally revealed themselves in Phase 4 and incorporated all the explosively increased villains under their management... becoming like an association for villains. Ironic considering how the actual Association became nominal after Phase 4.

And the reason for this was, of course, Celeste, who was already strong and became even stronger.

...Anyway, the conclusion is that soon all ability users will power up, and that will mark the beginning of Phase 4.

When the world becomes chaotic, I had no intention of just letting it happen.

At the very least, I needed to protect Korea.

So I went to find Lee Seol-ah.

"Oh, Da-in. You're here?"

In the president's office of Yu-seong Group.

I greeted Lee Seol-ah who was half-lying on the sofa.

Looking at me, she smiled as if she had something up her sleeve.

"Things have been peaceful lately, so I'm enjoying life. Oh, and... Ha-ru's expression has been really bright these days, do you know why?"

"Uh... huh? I don't really know."

"Hmm..."

Half-lying on the sofa, Lee Seol-ah smiled knowingly while I avoided her eyes and leaned against the desk beside her.

...Last evening.

Ha-ru confessed her feelings to me, but nothing particularly changed between us.

She's busy as a hero, and I've become busy as the head of Ego-stream. We haven't met since that day.

However...

"...."

I unconsciously leaned against Lee Seol-ah's desk.

And recalled what happened that night.

*

On an evening when stars filled the night sky.

"Haa, haa..."

After our kiss, Stardust, who was holding me in a disheveled posture and leaning against me, caught her breath.

...After calming down somewhat.

She lifted her face from my chest, looked up at me, and quietly said:

"...Honestly, I've wanted to ask you many things. Why you keep acting like a villain contrary to your true heart... why you continue with terrorism and position yourself on the side of evil."

"But, you must have your circumstances. I'm a hero, and you're a villain... Yes. I won't ask too many details now. However..."

She looked up at me with slightly moist blue eyes and said:

"...At least, can you show me your true face now? I want to see the real you without the mask..."

After saying that, she turned her head and muttered:

"No. Maybe that's asking too much... No, it's fine. I'm sorry."

Looking at her sulking in my arms.

...In that situation, no man could refuse to remove his mask.

"...No, it's okay. Here."

With that, I quietly removed my mask with my other hand.

...Though she had turned her head away, her eyes were secretly looking at me. Seeing my bare face without the mask, she smiled brightly and said:

"Wow... so this is what you look like... huh?"

As she touched my face, she suddenly muttered as if something was strange.

"...Wait. You look familiar. Huh?"

Then Stardust spoke as if she remembered:

"Wait! Hey, aren't you Da-in? The one I met at the beach?"

"...Haha. That's right."

"No way... wow. Really..."

As if she had just realized, she laughed awkwardly and said:

"...I really thought you were Egostic... even though you absolutely denied it..."

"Haha..."

...Anyway, that's how we revealed our names to each other.

Well, I already knew hers from the beginning.

"...And from now on, don't call me Stardust. Call me Ha-ru by my name. Got it?"

"Yes, I understand... Ms. Ha-ru."

After talking a bit more, we kissed one last time and parted. She hesitated slightly as if she didn't want to leave me... but we both had things to do.

Still, seeing her smile slightly at the end, she seemed to be feeling much better. She'll probably be more energetic the next time we meet.

...As I finished reminiscing.

I hurriedly spoke when I saw Lee Seol-ah grinning at me.

"...Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk about."

"Hmm? You're not going to tell me about finally taking the first step?"

"Be quiet and listen..."

So I explained everything to Lee Seol-ah.

What would happen when Phase 4 begins, the growth of ability users, and the social chaos expected as a result.

And after hearing all that, Lee Seol-ah:

"No... wow. Wait."

Her smile from earlier was gone as she held her head as if in pain and squinted her eyes.

"...So. You're saying ability users' powers will suddenly get much stronger? Something that never happened no matter how much they trained all these years?"

"Yeah."

"Haah..."

After seemingly calculating something in her head, Lee Seol-ah spoke with a pale expression, probably thinking about the social impact:

"...Terrorism rates will obviously increase. The supply of new heroes... doesn't seem like it will match the demand. Wow, what should we do?"

To Lee Seol-ah who spoke like that.

I grinned and answered:

"It's simple. We need to strengthen our country's Association."

"How?"

"The Yu-seong PMC people we've been nurturing, there are many now, right? Let's incorporate them all into the Association as heroes in advance."

"...?"

After thinking about my words for a moment, Lee Seol-ah spoke as if she realized something:

"Ah, could it be..."

"Yeah. You have a lot of influence in the Association now, right?"

"...Not a bad idea."

She nodded.

In the Republic of Korea, heroes are poorly treated and even endangered, making it an avoided profession.

In a situation where ability users don't want to become heroes, we created Yu-seong PMC, also known as Ego-squad.

In other words, we gathered ability users who were orphans or had nowhere to rely on, paid them well as private soldiers, and created another hero association.

Soon they'll also become incredibly strong, so if we make them all Association members and explosively increase the number of heroes before the power inflation event happens?

...With the media play and instigation of Yu-seong Group, which has taken over Korea, we might be able to attract people who suddenly became superhumans to center around the Association. Of course, we'd pay them more. Don't humans naturally want to follow others and belong to groups? We'd be exploiting that psychology.

That's the kind of conversation I had with Lee Seol-ah.

The goal was to stabilize the government centered around Korea's Association. It was my desperate attempt to stabilize at least Korea, which Stardust needed to protect, regardless of other countries...

"...I understand. I should start preparing soon."

"Yeah. I'll drop by again."

With that, I prepared to leave.

With Phase 4 really close, I have a lot to do. I also need to meet Celeste once more.

"Okay, Da-in. And..."

As I was leaving.

Lee Seol-ah smiled and said one last thing:

"The photos of you and Ha-ru taken in the sky before it rained that were released on the internet, I controlled and deleted them all before they could spread."

"...."

Momentarily pausing at her words, I quietly replied:

"...Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

Life wasn't easy...

Anyway, I returned home.

Lying on my bed, I was thinking about Phase 4-related matters.

...Or at least I tried to.

'I love you, Egostic.'

"Kup..."

...Other thoughts kept coming to mind.

For the past week, I've been in a daze.

The reason was obviously because of Stardust, Ha-ru.

...I never expected her to depend on me and be so obsessed with me. No, perhaps I vaguely knew but deliberately denied it.

Anyway, it was a big deal. That Stardust and I would end up like this. I couldn't have imagined it since she never even glanced at men in the original work.

A hero falling for a villain, something that would infuriate fans of the original work... but.

'Tsk. Why do the corners of my mouth keep turning up?'

...It was truly strange.