Chapter 393 - I'll Be On Your Side

...The sudden battle between Celeste and Stardust.

Although it could hardly be called a battle since it lasted only briefly due to my quick intervention, and neither of them had shown their true abilities.

Naturally.

This became a massive topic of discussion worldwide.

[Celeste, rarely seen outside the US... sudden attack on the Republic of Korea. Why?]

First, there was the question of why Celeste had come to Korea.

[Shocking! Korea's S-class hero Stardust goes toe-to-toe with world's #1 ranked Celeste! Foreign experts declare, 'Stardust appears to be the strongest hero currently.' Some call her the hope of a new era...]

In particular, the biggest issue was how Stardust had fought Celeste as an equal.

...Until now, Celeste's battles had always consisted of other heroes desperately trying to block her overwhelming attacks, so the fact that Stardust had fought her as an equal generated enormous buzz.

There had already been talk about Stardust being the world's #1 hero, but now her position was firmly established with universal acknowledgment.

Of course, Celeste seemed to have held back a bit... but nobody else knew that.

Anyway, this was the result.

*

[Stardust <<< Not just Korea's pride but humanity's GOAT, like if you agree lol]

Hahaha now she's playing on the world stage

Not just Stardust but a real "star" lolololol

[Likes] 4471 [Dislikes] 1

*

Simply put, the number of people praising Stardust had increased tremendously.

And on top of that.

*

[Egostic <<<< Is this guy actually insane?]

Rising supernova of the hero world: Stardust

World's strongest villain: Celeste

<< Both stop fighting with just one word from Mango lol

Just who are you, controlling the world's two strongest ability users with a few words...

Thank you GOAT

We worship you GOAT

We praise you GOAT

The Great Emperor Mango

=[Comments]=

[Even foreign media was suggesting Egostic might be behind Kathedal, and now everyone's sure after this lol. They say it's the first time Celeste has ever reacted like that]

[We live another day thanks to you, please stay with us until the end, S-class hero Apple Mango...]

[Looks like Saint Mango's fan club has grown quite a bit lol]

[For real lol and I saw Celeste for the first time, she's seriously gorgeous]

ㄴ[Hmm... is she really? I thought Icicle was prettier...]

ㄴ[Look at this surprise praise from the Ice Mango faction lolololol]

[King God General 100% Juice Mango, is it you again...?]

*

...My fans were also mindlessly praising me.

In conclusion, considering the unexpected major event of Kathedal's leader Celeste making a surprise visit to Korea... things seemed to have been handled relatively well.

Of course, she herself appeared unconcerned.

"Seriously, why did you do that?"

"Hmph. What? Can't I visit your country out of curiosity?"

"No... that's not what I meant."

In Kathedal Cathedral, Celeste's office.

There, I sighed helplessly while looking at Celeste, who had turned her head away.

Well... looking at the results, things turned out fine. Let's just leave it at that.

With that thought, I opened my mouth.

...Perhaps because I'd coughed up blood earlier, my throat felt strained, so I spoke in a slightly lower voice.

"Sigh... never mind."

Saying that, I sat down and picked up some documents.

With less than a week until the God's Annihilation Declaration, I needed to get work done.

It was while I was thinking this.

"..."

Glance.

Celeste, who had been sitting at the table with her arms crossed and head turned away, suddenly began anxiously glancing at me from the side.

What's going on?

*

"Seriously, why did you do that?"

In her office.

Sitting before her, he spoke as if bewildered, and Celeste turned her head away and snorted.

"Hmph. What? Can't I visit your country out of curiosity?"

That was all she said.

...Well, it would be too embarrassing to admit she went because she was concerned about Stardust...

After she responded that way.

"No... that's not what I meant."

Speaking in a slightly irritated voice, he then.

Somehow, as if disappointed in her, he spoke in a cold voice.

"Sigh... never mind."

Thud.

With those words, he sat down without even looking at her.

...As if he had lost all affection for her.

And faced with his unexpectedly cold response, something she'd never seen before.

-Thump.

Celeste suddenly felt afraid.

...Could it be that Egostic was disappointed in her? For acting on her own?

Her eyes trembled without her realizing it.

Then she turned her head toward him again and cautiously asked.

"...Ahem. Hmm. Egostic, are you angry...?"

In response to her question, he replied coldly without even looking at her.

"What? No. If my boss wants to act on her own, what can a subordinate like me say about it?"

...In truth, Egostic genuinely thought this way, and he didn't look up simply because he was busy dealing with work.

But to Celeste, already gripped by insecurity, it sounded different.

As if he was mocking her, saying their relationship was nothing more than that of a boss and subordinate...

Of course, all of this was a huge misunderstanding on her part, caused by Egostic happening to speak a bit late at first.

...But to her, who had already convinced herself she'd angered him, this was a serious matter.

She had never once imagined their relationship could deteriorate.

'D-did Egostic... become disappointed in me?'

As she thought with an anxious expression, she seemed to hear his voice.

Hmph. Celeste. I don't need someone like you who only does whatever they want. I should just be Stardust's colleague instead. I'm disappointed, don't pretend to know me anymore. Goodbye.

'N-no!'

...Perhaps because this was her first such experience since being abandoned as a very young child.

Unknowingly triggering her trauma, Celeste suddenly spiraled and began trembling in fear.

Was it because she had recently been constantly by Egostic's side?

Or was it because Egostic was the first person to come so close to her in her life?

...Or could it be that she had different feelings for him?

Already unconsciously dependent on him.

Experiencing his coldness for the first time made her imagine a life without him again.

And that's when she finally realized.

Though she had been at the top.

She had always been lonely, unable to trust anyone.

In her solitary life pursuing only an invisible god, Egostic's presence—someone who shared her thoughts—had become such a great support.

...And now, she didn't want to return to that lonely life without him.

So.

'I-I need to apologize first...'

Finally consumed by worry, she began apologizing to Egostic in a trembling voice.

"I-I'm sorry, Egostic..."

"What?"

"...Um, hahaha. You're angry, right? I won't do it again, okay...?"

...And so, her apology as she watched his reaction.

Was probably the first apology Celeste had ever made.

***

'...Why is she suddenly acting like this?'

In Kathedal's office.

...I felt perplexed watching Celeste apologize while slightly trembling.

What kind of development is this? Is this why they say a woman's heart is like a reed...? No, this seems different.

'...She thinks I'm angry.'

I'm not angry. It wasn't even a big deal.

Thinking this, I scratched my cheek, and she flinched.

I should clear up this misunderstanding first...

Wait.

That's when I realized something.

'Right now. Is she apologizing so desperately because she thinks I'm angry?'

The Celeste? Over a mere colleague being angry?

...No, this is.

'...She must be this dependent on me.'

That was my conclusion.

She probably saw me angry and feared I might leave her, that's why she's so scared.

This was good news. The more dependent she becomes on me, the higher the chance she'll choose me over him during the God's Annihilation Declaration.

All things considered, good news...

But.

'....'

Still, I didn't want to see her trembling like this.

...I should reassure her first.

With that thought, I smiled and took her trembling hand.

"...I'm not angry."

"You're lying..."

"Really, I'm not. Would I get angry over something like that? Haha, you must think I'm quite harsh."

After making that light joke.

I gave her a kind smile and took her right hand in both of mine as I continued.

"...And Celeste. Didn't I tell you before? I'll always be by your side."

"Let me say it again right here. I have no reason to be angry with you. Because I'll always be on your side. Even if the whole world throws stones at you, I alone will never be angry with you."

"Because, in any situation, I'll always be on your side. Haha, this might sound a bit blasphemous... but I follow you more than the Sun God. If God ordered me to eliminate you, I would stand against God. I simply want to see you happy, Celeste. By your side."

"...So."

"Don't make that expression in front of me. Understood?"

And so.

Gently wiping away the tears in her eyes, I smiled.

Then, looking at Celeste who gazed up at me with what seemed like a moved expression, I thought:

Ah.

This is going to work.

...That was.

Three days before the Sun God's Annihilation Declaration.