Chapter 363 - Hero And Misunderstandings

A sudden message from Stardust.

...After what was essentially our last meeting, it was the first contact from her. I swallowed hard before sending a text.

[What's going on?]

Then shortly after, with a ding, came her reply.

"Huh..."

I caught my breath at Stardust's sudden forwardness.

Since our last meeting.

Since she confessed her feelings to me, she'd become uninhibited. Perhaps it was a reaction to holding back all this time.

To her question, I simply replied:

[....I just couldn't sleep, so I've been thinking about various things]

...Her reply came quickly, even before I could ask Stardust why she was still awake.

Something wrong...

[Nothing serious. Just wondering what I should do going forward. I have a lot on my mind]

As I sent that, I thought to myself.

...Come to think of it, I should tell Stardust too. That ability users' powers will soon go haywire. That way she won't be caught off guard when that day comes.

Just as I was thinking that:

"Pfft."

I choked on the water I was drinking due to the heat I suddenly felt in my throat after reading her response.

Girlfriend... girlfriend...

"Girlfriend... that's right."

I felt my face warming up and fanned myself unnecessarily.

...Stardust. That Stardust is my girlfriend.

Girlfriend. How many years has it been since I last heard such a cute word?

[Yes, I understand haha]

"Kup..."

I held back a laugh seeing the white bear emoticon she used.

Stardust... was this her online tone? It was incredibly cute. Quite different from her cool beauty image in real life.

'No wait... come to think of it, wasn't she cute in real life too?'

As I was seriously pondering this, I realized that now was the opportunity she mentioned.

An opportunity to tell Stardust about what's going to happen. The Phase 4 power-up. In the original work's official terminology, the "Inflation" event.

[Oh, and Stardust. I actually wanted to tell you something.]

[Yes, Haru haha. Anyway, this is something I heard...]

I proceeded to tell her about what would happen soon.

Roughly, according to underground experts, all villains' abilities would suddenly strengthen in the near future.

As a result, the world could fall into chaos.

She easily believed what I told her.

Of course, I assured her there was no need to worry. Seol-ah and I would do our best to contain the chaos. Naturally, I was tactful enough not to mention Seol-ah...

Anyway, after reassuring her, we continued chatting into the early morning, forgetting about sleep.

And finally, when it really got late and we needed to sleep:

That question came from her.

"When can we meet..."

I closed my eyes upon hearing her words.

...If things went according to my plan, we'd have a chance to meet sooner than expected.

Originally, I hadn't planned to be on the front lines, but now the situation had changed.

So, I answered her:

[We'll be able to meet soon.]

Yes. Soon, we'll see each other again in person.

After reading her final message, I turned off my phone, flopped onto the bed, and closed my eyes.

I was tired but...

For some reason, I couldn't stop smiling.

***

Anyway, playtime was truly over now.

It was time to properly prepare for the Inflation event.

And so, things progressed smoothly.

"First, we need to completely transform the Republic of Korea into a hero-centered system."

In Yu-seong Group's large conference room.

There, Lee Seol-ah, with her light blue hair tied back, boldly declared.

"...But wouldn't that be bad for you? You're essentially ruling Korea right now."

"No, Da-in. What are you saying? I'm a hero too, you know?!"

She grinned and created an ice crystal in her hand as she spoke.

"Hehehe... When the Inflation comes, even my half-baked ice ability will have S-class performance..."

Deliberately ignoring Seol-ah who was muttering something with an evil smile, I opened my mouth and asked.

"So, what exactly are you planning?"

"Hehe. Listen carefully."

Seol-ah said, pointing to a large screen.

"First, when the ability Inflation happens, the increase in terrorism will be a problem. The solution is simple. As Da-in said, we just need to increase the number of heroes in advance."

"And those heroes? We just register all the numerous ability users in our Yu-seong PMC with the association. We already have an abundance of B-class ability users."

I nodded at Seol-ah's words.

Yes. This was what we had been thinking from the beginning.

Considering that after the Inflation, all B-class ability users would become A-class, we'd turn all those we'd acquired at low prices into heroes.

While their actual work wouldn't change much from the Yu-seong PMC days, public perception was important. In a chaotic society, having this many "heroes"—that is, having many champions—could provide great reassurance to the public.

Our Yu-seong PMC ability users were now in their 5th term. That meant not only were there many of them, but the bonds between them were no joke. In other words, the chances of them suddenly going astray and becoming villains were low. From the start, if you bind them as heroes, they'll continue to receive admiring gazes from those around them, making it difficult to go astray.

Furthermore.

"That way, we can also make other ability users want to become heroes."

I nodded and said.

"Exactly. This time, we'll significantly increase heroes' salaries and improve their treatment. And we need to continuously promote this. To make the public think, 'Hey, being a hero isn't so bad.'"

She said with an evil smile.

...It might have seemed evil, but it was all for the country. Probably... I think so.

"Then for this part, we'll provide financial support to the association... Anything else?"

"No. This should be enough."

I nodded and said.

...In truth, this was something we had prepared in advance through various events like the Moonlight Church. It was actually a difficult task.

In the original work, the Korean Association completely collapsed.

It was already remarkable that this small country had so many B and C-class heroes.

"Then I'll start this work this week. I just need to persuade the Director. He'll probably agree right away since it benefits the association too."

"Yes."

And so.

Things progressed very quickly.

[(Breaking News) Yu-seong PMC ability users collectively register as heroes. 'From now on, we want to work for the country.' Republic of Korea, hundreds of B-class and below heroes... Setting a record for the highest per capita?]

[[Comprehensive] Hero Association promises across-the-board salary increases and improved treatment for heroes. 'We will build an association that will remain strong even 100 years from now.' Director's speech.]

*

[Rekka)) Yu-seong Group and Hero Association form partnership. Lee Seol-ah, Group Chairperson, 'I promise full support.']

(Photo of the Director smiling brightly while shaking hands with Seol-ah)

For real, what's suddenly happening?

Hero numbers increasing dramatically... Yu-seong Group supporting the association...

Something... something is happening...

=[Comments]=

[???? What's with the sudden increase of hundreds of heroes in Korea? Wasn't it not even half of half of half that before?]

ㄴ[Yeah, there's still no A-class... but it's still a record high lol what's going on suddenly]

[Hero numbers increased a lot... is that good? Isn't it just the Stardust one-woman show anyway?]

ㄴ[No no, other heroes already handle local and C-class villains... just think of it as having more powerful police]

[Honest opinion) Even with hundreds more heroes, one Egostic is better at protecting Korea]

ㄴ[For real]

ㄴ[So true lol]

ㄴ[This is correct]

ㄴ[100 heroes VS 1 villain wow]

ㄴ[Mango where are you please come back~]

ㄴ[The scary thing is that this is actually true]

[Still, increasing heroes is good... the more the better]

*

And so.

The Republic of Korea was strengthening the association's internal structure to face the catastrophic power Inflation.

And naturally.

This increase in heroes was also conveyed to Stardust.

"More heroes, huh."

At the Hero Association office.

After hearing from the Director and reading the news articles.

Stardust smiled brightly as she thought about the news that heroes would increase.

That's good. Egostic, Da-in also said chaos would come soon due to the ability Inflation. It's good to prepare in advance.

Seol-ah must have helped.

How strange. The timing is just right. Such a coincidence... is...

"...."

...A coincidence.

Is it really a coincidence?

As she was thinking that far.

Her eyes suddenly turned cold, and following a strange intuition, she quietly thought to herself.

Did Seol-ah really time this by coincidence?

"........"

It was strange.

The timing was too perfect.

As if Seol-ah also knew that chaos would come soon.

Of course, Seol-ah might have learned the information through a different route, or it could be a coincidence, but...

This unsettling feeling that came intuitively.

As she pondered deeply, she realized something and muttered quietly in a cold voice.

"...Wait."

Back when I didn't know Da-in was Egostic.

When I first met Da-in at the beach.

Who introduced Da-in to me?

"...It was Seol-ah."

Stardust.

She muttered in a chilling voice.

It was the moment a misunderstanding...(?) was born.