Chapter BONUS - Side Story: Return Of The Stars (3)

# Egostic's Underground Base.

A secret place created by Seo-eun to counter the hero Stardust and secretly nurture her growth, where operations are planned.

There...

"...What is this really? What could this be? What on earth..."

"Bro... please be quiet..."

"How did this happen? What changed?"

"Bro... ugh. Oppa! Oppa, happy now? You're driving me crazy. Please be quiet."

I, Da-in, was frantically pacing around the operations room while stroking my chin.

If things had gone normally, I might have passed out from the aftereffects of using my ability, but the reason I was wandering around with such a clear mind was...

Obviously, because of Stardust's behavior during the cruise ship terror incident.

"No, I'm telling you Stardust isn't that kind of character! Why is she so different...?"

"Look at you responding when I call you oppa... Besides, how do you know Stardust so well? You just saw her for the first time."

Well... because I've read the original work more than 10 times...

"Sigh..."

Unable to answer that way, I could only let out a deep sigh.

Yes. The reason I'm acting like this is simple.

It's because the real Stardust is quite different from the original work.

There were many changes, but first of all...

"...Even her way of speaking was different from before, wasn't it?"

"Was it? Well, she wasn't that popular a hero, so I wouldn't know..."

Looking at Seo-eun sitting in her chair muttering that, I unconsciously shook my head slightly.

No. It was definitely different.

As a true fan of the original work, I could answer that one thing with certainty.

In the original work, Stardust used a very strict, solemn, and serious tone when dealing with villains. Like a warrior's speech, you could say.

If it had been the original Stardust, in a confrontation with me, she probably would have said...

'You villain, did you think you would get away with this?'

Something with that kind of tone, wouldn't she?

But the Stardust I actually met was different.

Rather than speaking like she was confronting a villain, her tone was gentle, almost like...

"Come to think of it, like oppa said, it did sound like she was talking to an old friend."

Yes. That's exactly it.

More precisely, there was no hostility in it, and it had a strange sense of composure and warmth...

Her entire attitude didn't feel like she was dealing with a vicious villain terrorizing citizens.

And if both Seo-eun and I could feel this, then the public watching the broadcast must have noticed it too.

I was worried that people's opinion of Stardust would turn negative because of her lukewarm attitude toward a villain, but...

"Wait, why are they liking it?"

[Honestly, I see Stardust in a new light now]

[The way she stays composed even against a villain really gives off top-tier vibes lol]

[Stardust unnie... is this what girl crush is? I think I'm becoming a fan]

I was puzzled by the public opinion online, but also felt relieved.

...Well, I guess it worked out since it ended up boosting Stardust's popularity.

By the way, strangely enough, even my popularity as a villain was rising, and I just ignored that. I even got the nickname Mangostick—that'll probably die down soon enough.

Anyway, setting aside Stardust's oddly different speech and atmosphere, there was an even more important issue.

"...I just don't get it."

That power...!!

When I told her to make a speech, she suddenly flew off, went into the river, and lifted the ship... I thought I was dreaming.

The public's reaction was pure shock. There was a lot of talk about how they didn't know such an unpopular hero was so strong... No, having that kind of power doesn't make sense in the first place!

Of course, Stardust's ability does have that potential. Actually, another terror attack I was planning involved making her stop a moving train with her body. A shock therapy method to unleash her potential.

...But, to be able to use that level of power so effortlessly at this very early stage of the original story?

That didn't make sense. The original work was such a dark story. That level of power shouldn't appear until the middle of the story. The original wasn't like this. This is... this is...

"This isn't the original work...!!!"

"Goodness! Oppa, why are you suddenly shouting... What original work are you talking about?"

I clutched my head, not even responding to Seo-eun's reaction.

I'm not really a purist about the original work, but this is just wrong... Why is everything else in this world exactly the same as the original manhwa down to the smallest details, but only the most important thing—Stardust—is different?

"Hmm... no, thinking about it."

Actually, from what I heard from the Star God who reincarnated me here, the original manhwa itself was created by the god's power? Something like that.

So in other words.

'The Star God really messed up the original work, huh?'

That was my tentative conclusion.

No. It's bad enough being reincarnated into this world as a normal person, but giving me incorrect information through the only source I have is really not okay...

I spent several more minutes mentally cursing the Star God.

...I think I hear sobbing and indignant noises coming from somewhere, but that must be my imagination.

Anyway, while I was lost in thought, Seo-eun, who had been minding her own business on the computer, casually asked me:

"So, oppa. What are you going to do about the next terror attack? Now that you know Stardust is stronger than you thought?"

"Hmm..."

At her question, I sighed again.

Yeah. I had originally planned a train terror attack, but...

'Won't she just easily stop it?'

That thought suddenly occurred to me.

If she can lift a ship with ease, wouldn't she just stop a train with one hand just as easily? Or not? Because of acceleration...? Would it be harder? The real Stardust is so different from the original that it's hard to predict.

But what can I do? I've already planned the train terror attack... I'll have to proceed with it. Just to confirm things properly.

"Sigh..."

I seem to be sighing a lot today.

With one final exhale, I finished my thoughts.

Originally, I was going to deal with other villains like Teleporter first before carrying out the terror attack... but with Stardust's actions being different from expected, it might be better to go straight to the train terror attack. I should start planning right away.

I have to do what needs to be done...

Just as I was finishing my mental organization:

"Oppa, forget about that and look at this. Something seems to have happened related to you?"

"What is it now?"

At Seo-eun's sudden call, I moved over to look at the computer monitor she was pointing at.

-Egostic's followers are currently staging a hostage situation in the middle of Incheon! They've planted bombs in the building...

"...What is this now..."

Sigh. I'll have to head out right away. Why do things keep happening non-stop?

Is this the life of a villain...?

After that, I received information about the incident from Seo-eun and arrived at the terror scene.

"Lee Su-bin? You come with me."

"Yes, yeeees...?"

Time passed quickly as I organized the situation and gained a new colleague named Lee Su-bin.

...And simultaneously, in the strange situation where my popularity as a villain was rising.

Finally, that day came.

-Oppa. I'm ready.

"Alright."

On a cliff overlooking the train tracks.

I took out the prepared camera and sighed.

Will things go according to my plan this time? I don't know. But I should at least try what I've prepared.

With that thought, I turned on the camera and started broadcasting.

"Hello everyone, this is Egostic!"

With a restrained message and a wide smile, I announced the beginning of the terror attack.

A professional must remain unshaken in any situation to be a professional.

And so my second terror attack began.

* * *

After Egostic's terror attack began.

Stardust was smiling on the opposite side of the cliff where Egostic was standing, listening to the broadcast coming through her earphones.

-Hahaha! Everyone, can you see? I've tied them up. People on the tracks! Here where the train runs straight ahead! Ten innocent people are tied up here. And over there where the train can be diverted! I've tied up just one person on that branch. If this train continues on its current path, it will run over ten people. But do you see that lever? If you pull that lever, the tracks will change. Then only the one person tied up on that side will be hit...

Egostic's terror explanation, exactly the same as what she had heard before, even bringing a sense of nostalgia.

...Or maybe not. It seems a bit different. Originally, he had tied up 5 people on one railway line, but now it's 10 people.

Does that mean his assessment of me has been revised? That even with 10 people it's okay? I'm not sure.

Thinking this, Shin Ha-ru waited until Egostic's terror explanation seemed to be over, then flew toward the cliff where Egostic was.

For her part, this time she intended to follow exactly what Egostic wanted. More precisely, without any unexpected actions unlike the previous cruise ship terror, just as she had done before.

Because...

'I still remember.'

After stopping the oncoming train.

Egostic approached her as she collapsed from exhaustion.

'Well done, Stardust. You did well.'

That moment when he knelt down and encouraged her.

That was probably the first time. When the seed of different feelings toward Egostic was planted in her.

At that time, she still harbored hostility toward Egostic as a villain, so it just created complicated feelings and ended there... but now she could properly enjoy it.

His pure heart that was the first to encourage and support her, that was there for her from the beginning.

"Hehe... ahem, ahem!"

Lost in such thoughts and unconsciously grinning in a most unheroic way, Ha-ru quickly composed her expression as she approached the cliff, returning to being the 'hero' Stardust.

Things would get busy after today. She would start moving as a returnee soon. Laying the groundwork to change the future.

So, for today at least...

'Let's enjoy the present...!'

With that thought, Stardust flew toward Egostic.

It was unclear whether she was going to stop a terror attack or meet a boyfriend...