Chapter 427 - Side Story: Lily Of The Valley (1)

# My name is Egostic.

My real name is Da-in, a man who one day fell into a depressing superhero comic.

The name of that comic was [Stardust!].

It was a terrible world where the protagonist faced endless cruelty, with completely broken power balance that introduced new powerful villains every chapter, and ended with a god called the Sun God destroying the world.

I fell into this terrible world with nothing but two trash abilities: a conditional psychokinesis that made me cough blood after minimal use, and teleportation.

'But...!'

I didn't give up.

Although I wasted two years drowning in despair, after a certain incident, I steeled my resolve again. Even if it seemed impossible, I decided to try. The reason I read this trash comic. I would throw myself into danger to prevent my favorite character, the hero Stardust, from suffering.

That's why I debuted as the villain 'Egostic.'

My goal was simple. I would deal with the trash villains first, then become a villain myself to face the protagonist. By providing her with appropriate trials to help her grow, I would defeat the Sun God and save the world...!

'Yes. I can do this.'

I successfully completed my first villain debut with the cruise ship terror attack.

Soon, the name Egostic would start circulating throughout the Republic of Korea.

Slowly, everything would start going according to my plan...!

That's what I was thinking with satisfaction when—

"Bro. What are you smirking about by yourself?"

A blunt voice came from the front of the gray room where I was staying, with a sofa placed in front of a large TV.

When I turned my head toward the voice, I saw a girl with a displeased expression standing before me.

She had short silver hair, wore a blue hoodie, and stood with her arms crossed. She looked quite young.

Despite clearly being a girl, she called me "bro." I smiled at her and said:

"Oh, Seo-eun. I was just planning our grand scheme for the future."

"What are you talking about? Seriously..."

The name of this cute girl who turned her head with a huff at my words was Han Seo-eun.

She was the first ally I made and became close with after falling into this world.

'Of course, it wasn't easy...'

Han Seo-eun.

A genius hacker who was a victim of Han-eun Group's human experiments that awakened supernatural abilities.

The aftermath of those experiments left her cold and prickly, with a distrust of humans... In the original story, she would become a villain known as the "White Witch" years later.

Of course, now that she's met me, that won't happen.

At first, approaching someone like Seo-eun wasn't easy. She nearly shot me dead, and she treated me with suspicion, shutting the door in my face...

But after a year of effort, I finally promised to help her get revenge on Han-eun Group, the company she had resented her entire life.

Only then did she finally open her heart to me. Now she's just like a cute little sister to me.

She's already this cute now, so if we spend a few more years together, she'll open up even more, right?

Maybe she'll even call me "oppa" instead of "bro."

"......"

"Ugh... why are you looking at me with those creepy eyes?"

When I gazed at her with fond eyes while reminiscing about our memories, Seo-eun grimaced...

"...Sigh. Anyway, bro. You came back earlier than expected? I thought you'd sleep and come tomorrow after the terror attack."

"Ah, right. That's true."

Snapping out of my reminiscence at Seo-eun's words, I remembered.

Today, I had carried out the cruise ship terror attack.

I met Stardust, did a broadcast, and slipped away smoothly. Of course, I was mentally exhausted, so I collapsed and fell asleep as soon as I got home...

"I just had an unsettling dream and woke up early."

"Seriously..."

For some reason, my eyes opened quickly, and I came to Seo-eun's underground headquarters with its cutting-edge equipment that very night.

Anyway, I gave that casual answer and fell into thought.

'...Da-in. I'm sorry, and... thank you. All... problems... are... solved... Now... your... life...'

In my dream, I seemed to see the Star God who apologized with a regretful expression, said something, and then disappeared.

It must have been my imagination.

Thinking that, I shook my head and grabbed the TV remote.

No need for complicated thoughts. I barely have enough time to focus on what's ahead.

"Well, anyway, let's watch the news. They should be buzzing about my terror attack by now, right?"

"I haven't seen it either since you suddenly came. Let's take a look."

With Seo-eun plopping down on the sofa beside me, I turned on the TV without thinking much.

Until then, I had no idea what was being discussed on TV.

In fact, I couldn't even predict that the whole world had been in chaos for the past few hours due to "something."

So I turned on the TV without thinking.

And at that moment.

The TV was broadcasting something I never expected.

[Breaking news! Currently, supernatural abilities are disappearing from all ability users worldwide!!!]

[It appears that the abilities of both heroes and villains are suddenly weakening, and the Association has stated they are currently assessing the situation...]

"Huh...?"

The red headline on the screen with a [LIVE] indicator.

Behind the anchor's urgent expression, numerous helicopters were flying toward the Association building.

I quickly changed channels, but all broadcasting stations were reporting the same breaking news.

Suddenly, all heroes and villains were losing their abilities. Everyone was becoming ordinary people. That was all they were talking about.

"Um... D-Da-in oppa...? What's going on...?"

"I don't know..."

To Seo-eun beside me, who had forgotten to call me "bro" in this bewildering situation, I couldn't say anything.

Because, well...

'W-what is this...'

Even I was dumbfounded by the current situation.

'No. There was never an incident like this in the original story. Why are abilities disappearing in the first place? Weren't abilities blessings bestowed by the Sun God to humans for chaos? Why would they suddenly disappear...'

And just as my thoughts reached that point.

Flash

I finally remembered everything I had dreamed about today.

'Da-in. The Sun God problem has been resolved. He has been eliminated from all worlds due to ripple effects from another dimension.'

'You are free now. This world will no longer face destruction. My daughter, Ha-ru, can now live her own life.'

'...So Da-in. I'm sorry, and thank you. All problems are solved, so now you too can freely live your life here...'

The blonde woman in my dream, the Star God, who had smiled at me somewhat awkwardly while saying those words.

Finally recalling her image, I unconsciously clenched my fist.

'...Wait. Let's calm down. Think carefully.'

Actually, thinking about it, this was a good thing. I had been prepared to navigate this insane depressing world at the risk of my life, but suddenly the difficulty level had been changed to "very easy." All the future villain attacks, the villain alliance's assault, and the god's descent had all been canceled, so this was good...

"It's good but... but! You crazy bastard! Then why did you transport me in the first place!!!"

"O-oppa?"

Seo-eun looked bewildered as I suddenly stood up, clenched my fist, and roared.

[No. What's wrong with these people? How should I know? What happened to Stardust, Shadow Walker, and Icicle? What do you think happened to them, folks? Use your imagination, and stop bothering me, just get out of here!!]

And watching the Korean Association Director on TV roaring similarly while pushing away the swarming reporters, I collapsed back onto the sofa with a hollow laugh.

"Haha... what is this."

What am I supposed to do now?

Looking at me sitting on the sofa with that dejected expression, Seo-eun blinked her eyes.

Then, looking at me, she quietly asked:

"Um... oppa, what do we do now?"

Seeing Seo-eun fidgeting nervously with her fingers,

I could only smile helplessly and answer honestly.

"I don't know..."

*

*

*

'The Supernatural Ability Loss Incident.'

The event, as people later called it, had many social repercussions.

First, most villains who depended on their abilities were captured or disappeared.

Of course, there were still villains causing terror with singularity technology, but their numbers were minimal.

As a result.

Surprisingly, people adapted relatively quickly to this "abnormal" life where the daily terror attacks they had come to expect barely happened anymore.

And.

Just like that, three years passed.

***

Clatter. Clatter.

Morning in a home where sunlight streamed through the windows.

At the dining table, a man and a high school girl sat facing each other, eating breakfast.

"Yawn... Thanks for the meal, oppa. I'll get going first."

With those words, the high school girl yawned and got up from her seat.

And at her words.

"Wait, Seo-eun. Come here for a second."

"Yes?"

The man also stood up and called her.

He reached out and fixed her school uniform collar.

"There, you should look neat... Done."

"Hehe. Thanks. Well then, oppa, I'm off to school~"

"Okay. Have a good day."

I smiled and saw her off as she greeted me, shouldered her bag, and went out the door.

"Phew..."

After sending Seo-eun off.

I stretched my arms, sighed, and muttered.

"What should I do now..."

Yes.

That man was me, Da-in.

A person who had quit villain activities three years ago and now lived peacefully with Seo-eun.