Chapter 413 - The Final Preparation

"Egostic, have you been well?"

"...Yes. Haha. Stardus, what brings you here?"

"Hmm. Do I need a reason to come see you?"

Hospital room.

...After causing an incident during my secret meeting with Celeste, I hurriedly returned to the hospital.

Just as I sat back down on the bed, I came face to face with Stardus who entered the room.

'...If I had been a little later, I would have been in serious trouble.'

While I was silently swallowing a sigh.

...Somehow, though she was clearly smiling, Stardus seemed to be looking at me sharply.

"Hmm..."

Then, after letting out an enigmatic sigh.

She naturally sat down next to my bed and smiled at me.

"Egostic... You. Aren't you hiding something from me?"

"Haha, what? Suddenly? What could I possibly be hiding from you, Ms. Stardus."

No way, did she notice?

I answered as naturally as possible while inwardly breaking into a cold sweat beside Stardus.

...Yes. There definitely was an incident just now. It's true that I kissed Celeste.

However, it was truly an unavoidable accident. Who could have known the relic would have such an effect? I certainly didn't.

Anyway, if I were to tell the truth about this accident that happened without any ulterior motives... everyone would end up unhappy. Especially considering the relationship between Stardus and Celeste... hmm. Yes, hmm.

'Right.'

Anyway, Stardus is probably just going on that terrifying intuition of hers without any direct evidence.

So, I just need to brazenly push through...!

Just as I was thinking that.

Stardus, who was still smiling.

Slightly lowered her blonde hair, moved her body closer to mine.

Looking up at me, still with a smiling expression, she said.

"...Yes. As I thought... something's strange. I think I smell another woman?"

Hmm. I take back what I said about smiling.

Only her lips were smiling, but her eyes were coldly staring at me.

And only then.

I could realize the seriousness of the situation.

'.....'

In just about a second.

During that brief time, my brain started spinning at an insane speed.

This is really screwed up. Really screwed. If this continues, I don't have confidence in persuading Stardus with words.

Then should I confess that I kissed Celeste? It's obvious that no excuse would work. It was a very bad thing. It's practically the same as doing it behind her back.

So what should I do? What should I do...

'What do you mean what should I do.'

...If verbal persuasion seems impossible, I need to go for a frontal breakthrough.

"Haah. Stardus... no, Ha-ru."

"Yes...?"

After sighing at Stardus's words.

"Mmph? Mmph... mmph!"

I grabbed Stardus and kissed her.

A mindless kiss that cut off the flow of conversation entirely.

"Mmm..."

...Stardus, who was momentarily taken aback by my actions.

Still, perhaps because she's become used to it by now... she naturally closed her eyes and returned the kiss.

After that quite long kiss ended.

"Haah, haah."

With her blonde hair disheveled, she looked up at me with slightly reddened cheeks and a dazed expression as she exhaled.

As expected, she wasn't used to me approaching her first.

...Looking at Stardus like that, I naturally caressed her cheek. Then, looking into her eyes, I spoke as if stating an obvious fact.

"Ha-ru. I told you, didn't I? I always think only of you, and live for you."

"Ah..."

"So, don't worry too much."

With those words, I naturally embraced Stardus.

"For me, you're always the first. Before, and from now on. Always."

"....."

She remained silent in my embrace.

...But, even without words. The warm feeling of her not pushing away from my embrace and.

"...Yes."

Finally, at her small answer that seemed embarrassed, I could finally feel relieved.

Phew. I guess I've overcome the crisis for now.

While embracing Stardus, I glanced up at the CCTV in the hospital room.

...Who would have thought the CCTV that Celeste manipulated with her ability before leaving would be used like this? Thanks to that, I could kiss Stardus without worry.

Thinking about that, I inwardly sighed.

...Am I garbage? I was increasingly having such thoughts lately. No, objectively speaking, I was the bad guy here.

'...Still, I didn't lie.'

I said you were my first in this world, I didn't say you were my first woman... Hmm. Let's stop here. The more I make excuses, the worse it seems.

Anyway, swallowing those thoughts, I quietly thought while holding Stardus.

'Yes. Because I'm garbage. Because I'm garbage...'

I need to treat Stardus even better.

I quietly thought so.

From the beginning, I had never really lied.

I've really been living for Stardus until now, and I could die for her.

When I was about to give up everything, I could live just by looking at her. Because the reason I lived in this world was for her...

I just wanted to make her happy.

For her, who was the light of my life and the goal of my existence.

...And that hasn't changed, even now that Stardus has somehow come to like me.

In the end, my biggest goal now is to save this world where Stardus lives, for her sake.

For that.

It's about time to make the final preparations.

"Stardus..."

While embracing her, I smiled and said inwardly.

Now, Ha-ru, it's time for you to become the true hope of humanity.

***

"Good. Everything's ready, right?"

"...Yes! Mr. Egostic!"

Several weeks had passed since then.

...Finally, having been granted permission to come out for important matters, I was now making the final preparations to face the Sun God.

Specifically, preparing a special gift to present when he arrives in this world.

What was created by calling upon scholars from around the world was.

"...This is it."

The Great Sun God's exclusive weapon.

The God-Slaying Moonlight Cannon.

Under the blue sky, on open ground.

I admired the massive laser cannons placed there.

Weapons that would surround the Sun God in a circle and bombard him simultaneously the moment he descends.

And the energy source embedded largely behind these weapons was.

Moonstone, created by the Moon God's blessing.

"...I should thank Eun-wol."

Looking at the large, shining silver stone, I muttered.

Moonstone. This substance, essentially identical to the philosopher's stone known in legends, has the power to contain any energy, befitting a sacred object of the Moon God, the god of knowledge.

'Stardus. Can you put some power in here?'

'...In this stone?'

And I consistently put Stardus's star energy into this philosopher's stone.

In other words, her accumulated power would bombard the Sun God the moment he descends, weakening him from the start. Preventing him from causing trouble.

This was the big gift I had prepared for the Sun God.

Something only I could do, knowing exactly where he would descend.

With this level of preparation, it would be stranger if we couldn't win.

'Especially... since the original Stardus also succeeded in defeating the Sun God.'

More precisely, she pushed the god's power to its limit, driving him to the brink of extinction and making him retreat on his own.

Well, after retreating like that, it would take an incredibly long time to recover his divine status and return, so it doesn't matter.

Anyway, I spent the remaining time creating this God-Slaying Moonlight Cannon.

And so, with one month left until the day of destruction.

At that time when people's anxiety had reached its peak.

I immediately spread that information worldwide.

[[Breaking News] International Association reveals Stardus as the chosen savior by the Star God... Announces 'She received power to oppose the Sun God to capture him'. Will she become humanity's new hope?]

I revealed Stardus's identity.

"Yes, that's right. I met the Star God and received her command to save this world."

Watching Stardus speak confidently in front of hundreds of people at an official event, I smiled.

The fact that Stardus was the Sun God's adversary and this world's only hope was actually known to those who needed to know... but this was the first time it was reported with such extensive publicity.

The reason I had kept this information hidden until now was simple.

'With one month left. Revealing the solution at this point would be most effective.'

Although society was somehow functioning, it was actually in a very unstable state. With the day of destruction approaching, the association hadn't clearly stated how they would defeat the god.

So after holding out until this point, with one month left, I announced it just before people's anxiety exploded. Believe in Stardus. She will save this world.

'.....'

Of course, this method has the problem of making people too dependent on Stardus, almost like a religion.

...But I thought that even this wouldn't be so bad. Since fanatical fervor burns very intensely, I believed this energy would help people hold onto their sanity for the next month. Without being somewhat crazy, no one could endure the countdown to a D-Day where they might die.

[Breaking News) Stardus fan cafe membership reaches hundreds of millions... Cafe begins supporting 12 languages]

Anyway, as a result of this announcement, Stardus naturally became almost a complete hero.

The only savior who will save this world.

...Almost every newspaper, news outlet, cafe, community was talking only about Stardus.

But well, anyway, all this attention would fade after a month.

[[Official] Kathedal's Egostic also received power from the Star God...]

Of course. I subtly inserted my story in between, but fortunately this didn't become a big issue. I added a disclaimer saying I just possessed the power but wasn't strong.

All publicity was focused on Stardus, and I even said that Stardus would face the Sun God alone.

[Is Mangostick a god? (He's the real savior) Is Mangostick a god? (He's the real savior) Is Mangostick a god? (He's the real savior) Is Egostic a god? (He's the real savior) Is Mangostick a god? (He's the real savior) Is Mangostick a god? (He's the real savior) Is Mangastick a god? (He's the real savior) Is Mangostick a god? (He's the real savior)....]

...Of course, separately from that, my fan cafe seemed to have a lot of interest... but after seeing popular posts coming up 10 at a time with each refresh, I was too scared to look.

Anyway, time passed while keeping society united until the end.

Finally.

The day of destiny approached right before us.