Chapter 369 - Misunderstanding And Clarification
"Misunderstanding?"
"Yes. It's a misunderstanding. Ms. Stardust... no, Ha-ru. Please listen."
I began speaking in a confident voice while slightly avoiding the eyes of Ha-ru, who was nestled in my arms and staring at me intently.
"First of all, you know that Lee Seol-ah has enormous influence in the Republic of Korea, right? She's not just a hero but also the CEO of a major corporation. She even has connections in politics."
"Yeah."
"...So to prevent a situation where I might get caught and my identity revealed, I contacted Lee Seol-ah first and blackmailed her. That's how we formed a business relationship. That's all there is to it."
"I see..."
Then why did you hide it until now?
Sensing something that felt like an unspoken question, I hastily replied.
"I wasn't trying to hide it, but I didn't really think about it, so I never had the chance to mention it, haha."
"...Okay. I understand."
Though she responded as if she accepted my explanation, she still seemed somewhat unconvinced.
...It can't be helped. After all, I revealed my identity to Lee Seol-ah quite a long time ago. Of course, we were closer than mere business partners... but I wasn't tactless enough to say that here.
Anyway, she still looked somewhat dejected despite my explanation.
...Somehow sensing that letting this slide might lead to bigger problems later, I felt the need to do something.
...Yes. This is what I should do.
"...."
Having made my decision.
I immediately continued speaking to her.
"...And Ha-ru. You know."
"Yes...?"
"That anyway, you're the only one who matters to me."
After saying that, I gently took her hand, interlaced our fingers, and said with a smile.
"Haven't I always told you? That you're the only hero for me. From the beginning, which hero have I always sought out? Only Stardust. Do you think I would ever look at another hero?"
"From the beginning until now, you've always been the only meaning in my life."
I said this with complete sincerity.
Maintaining eye contact with her, holding her hand tightly.
And in response to my words, Stardust.
"...uh, umm?"
Her face turned completely red up to her ears, and her blue eyes couldn't focus as she trembled slightly with embarrassment.
...Finally, her face had softened to her usual expression, not the scary one from earlier.
Phew. I barely made it through that crisis.
While Ha-ru was flustered by my embarrassing confession, I took her hand and helped her up from the sky.
"Now, let's go see other places. We don't have much time left. We have a lot to see, right?"
To my smiling words.
She nodded with her reddened face and said.
"Okay..."
***
And so.
We spent the remaining time productively, exploring various places.
And now it was truly time to part ways.
"Phew... this should be enough, right?"
"Yes. It's good."
After disguising ourselves as if we had been through an intense battle, we stood holding hands in a place where people wouldn't likely see us.
It was really time to say goodbye now.
...And that seemed to make Ha-ru somewhat regretful.
"We'll... be able to meet again soon, right?"
Standing face to face with me, she fidgeted with my collar as if adjusting my clothes, and asked.
Feeling the soft touch just below my neck, I reassured her.
"Yes, of course. I'm sure we'll have another opportunity to meet soon. Don't worry too much."
...Actually, I was reluctant to part ways too.
"..."
After fiddling with my clothes one last time.
She sighed, placed her hand on my chest, and spoke.
"Yeah... we'll see each other again. We're a hero and villain after all. Right..."
She paused there, as if searching for what to say next.
...Then in a quiet voice, she said to me.
"...You know, Egostic. I never asked you in detail, right? Why you keep doing villain work."
Her words.
...And they were true. Although she had asked me indirectly before, I had been evasive.
When she asked why I continued being a villain, I answered like this: It's all for you. By becoming Kathedal's representative, I'm becoming a protective barrier for the Republic of Korea. That was somewhat true.
And to my answer.
She asked sharply, as if she intuitively realized something.
'Is that all?'
'...'
And I.
...I couldn't tell her more.
Because my true ultimate goal for joining Kathedal. A secret different from simply protecting the world.
It was too early to tell her about that.
...It wasn't a truth she could handle yet.
Perhaps she read my expression.
Ha-ru quietly changed the subject. Because she sensed I didn't want to talk about it anymore.
And now, she was bringing it up again.
"...I'm worried, but I trust you. Yes. I'll continue to trust you... so don't get hurt. If anything happens, make sure to call me, okay?"
"I will... Yes. I got it, Ha-ru."
To her words.
I nodded and brushed her hair aside.
It was really time to go back now.
The sun was already setting.
"..."
Looking at Ha-ru who was gazing up at me with somewhat expectant eyes.
I leaned down and kissed her once more.
And so.
"Alright, let's go back."
"Yes...!"
We returned to the battlefield.
After that, everything proceeded smoothly.
BOOM!
"Ugh! Stardust, you've returned!"
"...Yes! You must have had a hard time chasing him, what's the situation?"
"It's difficult, but we're winning! I think we've just barely managed to repel them!"
"I understand. I'll take it from here!"
With numerous heroes and white soldiers flying around, and smoke billowing over the city sky.
In what looked like an intense battlefield, I returned and said.
"Hmm...! Good. You've all done well while I was distracting Stardust! To trouble so many heroes with this level of forces, that's an impressive achievement. I look forward to next time."
"You, what are you muttering about! There won't be a next time!"
"Haha, that can't be. I'll retreat this time, but next time I won't be so lenient... look forward to it. Well then, farewell!"
With those final words, I dismissed all the summoned soldiers and teleported away.
And so.
Today's terror attack as a member of Kathedal came to an end.
...And afterward.
Naturally, the internet and news outlets were filled with discussions about this battle.
*
[Breaking news! The invasion where our heroes faced Kathedal's villains has finally ended! This terror attack initiated by S-class villain Egostic, who returned for the first time in half a year, was essentially a war of unprecedented scale compared to previous attacks...]
[Although the Republic of Korea emerged victorious, experts call it a 'pyrrhic victory' and suggest that what we saw today was likely not Kathedal's full strength. They emphasize the need for stronger defenses...]
[...Particularly concerning is that after the previous Inflation incident, heroes' abilities have been standardized at a higher level, yet Egostic's summoned soldiers were powerful enough to face these heroes one-on-one, indicating Kathedal's strength...]
*
The news reports were generally summarizing the visible facts well.
S-class villain Egostic has returned.
The Kathedal soldiers he brought were stopped, but they were powerful.
We need to prepare carefully as we don't know the full extent of Kathedal's strength yet.
...And this was, of course, the official news story.
On internet communities where people actually discussed things, quite different opinions were emerging.
*
[FACT) Didn't Egostic just go easy on us again?]
It was an invasion of enormous scale! (Only one villain: Egostic)
It was like a war, it was dangerous! (Hero side casualties: 0)
Seems like Mango is just doing his usual safe terror attacks with zero casualties
If you think the government/association/media <<< are overreacting just because Kathedal is involved, upvote lolololol
Just trust in the Great Mangostick and everything will be fine lololololol
=[Comments]=
[For real lol]
[This is accurate because Kathedal is invading other places too but none of them ended with minimal damage like us, let alone ZERO damage lololol]
ㄴ[Yeah and we even fought in the sky instead of in the city so there was no urban damage lolol Great Mango how far ahead are you thinking...]
[Hot take~) No need to analyze the terror attack, just want an explanation for where Egostic and Stardust disappeared for 5 hours lolol]
ㄴ[For real lololol]
ㄴ[Seriously what were they doing? Hmm am I the only one wondering lol]
ㄴ[They said they were in a chase but there's no footage of it lol. Suspicious, suspicious...]
ㄴ[I think they should just officially announce they're dating, upvote if you agree lolol. I'll start.]
ㄴ[Sigh look at these Ego-Star fanatics' delusions. Do you think our oppa is that kind of person?]
ㄴ[Ice Mango Team arrested at Yu-seong Group headquarters]
ㄴ[No, looking at this person's posts they seem to be a hardcore Hacker Mango supporter]
*
*
[Forget everything else, upvote if you're happy Egostic is back lololol]
Welcome back, GOAT.
May you protect the Republic of Korea forever.
=[♡] 10,703
=[Comments]=
[Damn the fan cafe like count is at an all-time high lol]
[For real especially since he only showed his face for the first 10 minutes and then disappeared which makes it even more tantalizing lolol]
*
...Not just somewhat different.
Quite different opinions filled the online communities.