Chapter 432 - Side Story. Lily Of The Valley (6)

Ring ring. Ring ring.

[Shin Ha-ru]

A familiar name displayed on the phone screen that was ringing to notify me of an incoming call.

I looked at that name, smirked, and answered the phone.

"Hello. This is Egostic."

As soon as I spoke.

After a brief sound of breathing, I finally heard a voice.

["...Oh. Da-in. It's me, Shin Ha-ru. Do you have time right now?"]

"Yes. I'm available. What's the matter?"

At my response, Stardus let out a somewhat tired sigh before speaking.

["It's nothing much... That crocodile villain you mentioned. Capture complete. This is the last one, right?"]

"Yes, that's correct. There are a few more left, but the rest are minor so it's fine."

["Phew, that's good. That's a relief."]

Stardus responded as if relieved by my words.

I smiled at her reaction.

Now, you might be wondering.

How is it that I, who was a villain, am having such a natural phone conversation with Stardus? Or rather, how did I even get her number in the first place?

This story goes back three years again.

But since there's a lot to tell, let's skip this story for now.

'Stardus? I'll reveal everything. My real name is Da-in. My main abilities are teleportation and psychokinesis, and there are side effects.'

'I also know about the Association. Stardus. Real name Shin Ha-ru. Currently attending Yeonhee University. You awakened your abilities after receiving power from the Star God Siders (sīdus).'

'...You, what kind of person are you exactly?'

...Well, let's just say a lot of conversation happened.

Anyway, now that the Sun God's powers have all disappeared and the world is safe, what's the point of hiding anything?

I told Stardus almost everything I knew, and after proving my trustworthiness through actions over a long time... finally, I earned her recognition.

And now we're colleagues.

Perhaps thanks to my consistent efforts, Stardus seems to trust me quite a bit now. And well, since Stardus was once my favorite character, I'd say our relationship isn't bad.

However.

"...What is it? Is that Ha-ru unnie?"

Just then.

Han Seo-eun approached me, folded her arms, and whispered while looking at me with narrowed eyes.

...Right.

If there's a problem, it might be that Seo-eun is somewhat wary of Stardus...

Whenever topics related to Stardus came up, or when I talked with her, Seo-eun would always start getting irritated.

Maybe I should hang up.

"Yes. Good work. Then, soon..."

["Wait."]

Just as I was about to end the call.

Stardus interrupted me and spoke.

["Da-in. Is Seo-eun next to you?"]

"....."

"Hup..."

Indeed, the sharp intuition of an ability user couldn't be avoided by mere whispering.

As Seo-eun covered her mouth at Stardus's sharp insight,

Stardus sighed once more and continued in a slightly softened voice.

["Well, that's good. This is something Han Seo-eun should hear too."]

And the words that came from Stardus's mouth were.

The very words that I, that we, had been waiting for all this time.

["Da-in. I've found new evidence about the Han-Eun Group."]

"...!"

Upon hearing those words, Seo-eun and I looked at each other simultaneously.

Finally, the words we had been waiting for all this time had arrived.

***

Han-Eun Group.

To understand Seo-eun's bad blood with this group, we first need to know what these guys were doing in the original work.

Han-Eun Group is a major corporation in the Republic of Korea, which at first glance appears to be an utterly ordinary company...

But in reality, they were secretly plotting to conquer Korea from behind the scenes—a typical "corrupt corporation" in hero stories. In other words, they were essentially a villain group.

They researched various technologies to conquer Korea.

From the monster "Behemoth" to the "Post-Human Project" for artificially developing superpowers, and the aerial weapon "Octopus."

Thus, they appeared as the final boss of Phase 1 in the comic [Stardust!], and successfully destroyed Seoul by attacking Korea with Octopus, turning it into a sea of flames.

So what's the connection between this villain group and Seo-eun?

'Seo-eun was... a victim of their "Post-Human Project."'

The Post-Human Project of the Han-Eun Group aimed to artificially create superpowers in humans.

Seo-eun has a past where she grew up as a test subject, enduring brutal biological experiments and what amounted to torture from childhood.

Somehow she finally escaped, but her mind was already wounded and she developed a distrust of humans.

Living quietly alone while festering inside, she eventually became enraged at the world that had abandoned her.

Finally, utilizing her genius intelligence that resulted from the experiments, she appeared as the S-class villain "White Witch" and caused a mass breakout from the villain prison...

'Of course, such a future won't happen now.'

Living with me, attending school, making friends, and living happily—Seo-eun wouldn't cause such incidents.

However... the Han-Eun Group was the problem.

[[Breaking News] Executives of international corporate giant Han-Eun Group "flee in the night." Evidence of national subversion found in headquarters basement... Shocking]

'What? These bastards escaped?'

Right after the power loss occurred.

Before I could do anything, the Han-Eun Group immediately fled. That is... they literally disappeared from Korea.

According to my original plan, Behemoth would have escaped from the Han-Eun Group's basement soon after, and I planned to use that opportunity to capture the Han-Eun Group... but that plan completely fell apart.

So the Association, after hearing all the circumstances from me, began tracking them, but they still haven't been caught.

Especially problematic was the escape of "Kim Sun-woo," the technology director of the Han-Eun Group and essentially the architect of the national subversion plan.

Therefore, to both clean up this threat to Korea and help Seo-eun get her revenge... I've been continuously tracking the Han-Eun Group.

And finally.

Today, it seemed those efforts were bearing fruit.

Step. Step.

The headquarters of the Korea Hero Association.

A massive operation briefing room.

Entering late, I naturally greeted the others.

"Hello, Lee Seol-ah. It's been a while."

"Hmph. Mr. Da-in, you're here. Yes, it has been a while."

The first to welcome me was a woman with sky-blue hair sitting in a chair drinking wine. Lee Seol-ah.

Once active as the A-class hero Icicle, now with her powers gone, she was simply the chairperson of Yu-seong Corporation.

...Why is she drinking wine right now? Well, running a company must come with various stresses. I decided to be understanding.

"...Egostic. So you've arrived."

The next to welcome me was Shadow Walker.

Looking at his computer while drinking coffee with tired eyes, he briefly nodded at me before returning his gaze to the screen.

For reference, in Shadow Walker's case, although most of his abilities had disappeared... peculiarly, some characteristics remained, like getting slightly stronger at night and having improved night vision.

Of course, I don't know the reason either, and since these aren't particularly important abilities anymore, he's now just an office worker with field experience...

I once joked that his nighttime strength might just be because he's nocturnal, but that made his eyes tear up, so let's end this story here.

I continued walking.

And finally, at the end.

"...Da-in. You're here."

Long golden hair.

Blue eyes, and a form-fitting superhero suit.

And a face that always looked righteous.

Korea's only hero. Stardus.

Once my favorite character, and now a woman who would never experience the unfortunate path of the original work.

...I should refrain from praising her beauty too much, or I might feel embarrassed facing Seo-eun later.

Anyway.

Stardus was standing in front of a large screen displaying a map, and upon sensing my presence, she turned to greet me.

"Yes. It's me. Hello, Stardus."

"Right... but wait, Han Seo-eun didn't come?"

Stardus, who had been responding to my greeting with a smile, frowned as she looked around for someone else.

I simply shrugged at her question.

"No. She said she doesn't like crowded places..."

'Ugh. Oppa. I can hear about the Association news from home anyway. Just go by yourself.'

'Really? Will you be okay?'

'Yes. And I don't think I'd be much help even if I went...'

We had this kind of conversation, but it amounts to the same thing. Seo-eun is just shy around strangers.

...Even though she's met Stardus once before.

"Well, that's like her... Alright. Now that Da-in is here, let's start the meeting. Shadow Walker, please wake up the Director who's dozing over there."

"Why me... Sigh. Fine."

"Mmm... bibim... noodles... Hup! Ahem, ahem. What's going on?"

And so the Director woke up too.

"Now. We'll discuss the newly discovered evidence regarding the Han-Eun Group."

Finally, the Hero Association meeting officially began.

***

Meanwhile, at that moment.

A pristine white laboratory.

"......"

A long-haired man in a white coat stood there with his hands behind his back.

And beside him, a voice was heard.

"Doctor. Preparations are complete."

At the researcher's words, the doctor, Kim Sun-woo, adjusted his glasses before speaking.

"Good. Launch it."

"Yes, understood!"

After those words.

Kim Sun-woo smirked.

"...Those Association bastards. I wonder how they'll react."

They were going to attack the Association today.

Right now.