Chapter 304: In Bed

Stardus.

For those who don’t know her, she was one of the most overwhelmingly popular heroes in South Korea.

Of course, some people who hear that might say something like, “No. Isn’t Egostic, the villain, actually more popular than Stardus?”

…That’s true.

In the first place, the Egostic fan cafe has more members than the Stardus fan cafe, making it one of the most popular sites in Korea.

But

Stardus’ real value lies in the fact that she is a ‘hero’, unlike the case of the latter.

Of course, he is also jokingly called Mangostick, an S-class hero, but he is officially a villain.

As such, the political sphere couldn’t mention him much. He’s a villain.

Stardus, however, is different.

She was officially a Hero of the Association and a hero in her own right, having saved thousands and tens of thousands of people.

And that’s not all. She had the honor of being the first S-class hero in her country, and she had saved far more lives than the other top-tier heroes, Icicle and Shadow Walker, so her list of accomplishments was long.

How many national catastrophe-level events have she and Egostic stopped? From the beasts of the Moonlight Gate to the Demon King of the Trade Center, no one could deny that she had made a tremendous contribution to the defense of Korea just by watching the videos recorded and broadcast by Egostic himself.

Add to that the media’s love affair with Stardus, which has been going on for a while now, and her popularity has increased rather than decreased.

Beyond that public support…She’s best friends with Lee Seola, the chairwoman of the award-winning and influential Yuseong Group in South Korea, and they’re so close that she even threw her popcorn at her.

That’s because she’s so busy working every day, stopping terrorism, she’s not on the air.

In fact, Stardus was so influential that she could wield power at will. She was single-handedly responsible for more than half of the country’s terrorism, so what would happen if she decided to punch a hero in the face?

And she did.

“…Egostic is a dangerous villain.”

“And since he was caught so suspiciously in the first place, he needs to be kept under constant surveillance.”

“So, I will live with him in Carqueas. If not me, then who will, as he needs close surveillance.”

Stardus said, looking determined as he spoke to the Association leaders.

“…Understood, Stardus.”

There was no one in the Association who could stop her.

“Ugh. Stardus, yes. You can do whatever you want,” and she got the approval of the President of the Association.

Everything went smoothly.

She was given a nice room, the biggest and most spacious in Carqueas, with a bed and toiletries and everything.

…When the officers heard that Stardus, the hero of Korea, was staying here, they rushed to renovate the cell, making it almost like a hotel room.

Soon, when everything was ready.

…Only then was Egostic allowed to board the ship, though he didn’t know why he’d waited.

Just like that.

“Hmm…Mmm…”

Humming to herself, Stardus packed her things into her suitcase.

Soon enough, she was out of the house.

To go to Carqueas.

To be with the Egostic, to be together.

“…Wait for me, Egostic.”

This time, she wouldn’t miss him.

And with those words, she flew off into the sky.

Some time later.

“Hello, Egostic.”

She smiled brightly at the frozen Egostic, hiding her pounding heart.

Stardus thought long and hard. She waited, and waited, and waited.

Long enough.

She had no intention of running away this time.

Apparently, my plan was perfect.

Infiltrate Carqueas in the form of being captured by Stardus. Afterward, I would be locked in solitary confinement, overhaul the plan to perfection, and then, at the right time, escape to the deepest depths of Carqueas and kill the wish-granting demon…

Why is Stardus…here?

“Hmph…”

I opened my mouth in bewilderment as I watched Stardus enter my cell, dragging a suitcase with her.

“…Stardus, why are you here?”

“Huh? I’m not supposed to be here?”

She replied, as if it were obvious.

Just as I was about to be dumbfounded by her brazen attitude, Stardus opened her mouth again, as if she didn’t care.

“…You were caught when you shouldn’t have been, so you must have some sort of shady plan, don’t you think I don’t know?”

She stops in mid-sentence, looks in my direction, and says.

‘…How did you know?’

Just as I was thinking that, Stardus chuckled again, and then spoke.

“That’s why I’m going to keep an eye on you, so you don’t do anything weird.”

…For some reason, she’s very easy to talk to, unlike her usual self.

It was odd to see her like that, but I had to deal with this embarrassing situation first.

“…So, you’re going to live with me?”

“Uh.”

“No…Really?”

“Yeah. I’ll sleep here too.”

As she casually walked over to the bed and said that, I realized that I was in big trouble.

I couldn’t believe this was real, especially when I saw Stardus sitting on the bed next to me. Yeah. So this is why I thought the room was too nice… this is why.

I feel like I’m going to lose my mind, sitting alone in a prison cell, with Stardus sitting on a bed, looking radiant with her blonde hair flowing.

…This is wrong. Something is very wrong with this situation.

I need to do something about it.

Just as I’m thinking that Stardus looked up at me, her blue eyes met mine, and she smiled brightly.

“So, what do you say?”

And just like that, I was out of my mind.

…And so began an unlikely cohabitation between me and Stardus.

***

I don’t know how many hours have passed since then.

She’s long since shed her hero suit and is leaning against the back of the bed in comfortable civilian clothes.

I, too, had removed my cape and sat in my coat….drinking juice.

No. Why would there be juice in the fridge in a prison for S-class villains? What kind of motel is this place to have bottled Del Monte?

“What are you thinking?”

Just as I was continuing my inane musings…She was lying on the bed in front of me, reading a book, and she was looking at me, her eyes locked with mine, asking me that question.

There was a small round table next to the bed and for some reason, I was sitting there, facing Stardus, and sighed.

“…I’m wondering how I can get Stardus out of here.”

When I said that, she smirked and closed her book.

“I’m going to stay here until you do something, so don’t get your hopes up.”

As she says that I coughed and turned my head away.

It wasn’t anything else, I was just tired of looking at her for so long…

It was very refreshing to see her in a plain short-sleeved t-shirt instead of her usual red hero suit. It’s as if I’ve come face to face with the Shin Haru inside, rather than the Hero Stardus.

…I realize this now, but Stardus in plain clothes without the suit really looks like a normal girl her age. Only ridiculously pretty.

I stared at her for a moment, dumbfounded, as she sat with her blonde hair slicked back.

‘…This is not the time.’

I coughed, and regained my composure.

This is not the time for idle thoughts. This is a crisis. This was the moment when all my plans would go awry. No, how am I supposed to escape with Stardus at my side? Why is she with me in the first place?

And, no, that’s not the problem…In the first place.

“Stardus, what do you think you’re doing lying in front of me in the first place?”

“Huh…? What do you mean?”

“No. First of all, you’re a woman, aren’t you…? You’re sleeping next to me, too, which means…”

Just when I was about to throw her out by explaining the Eastern Confucianism of the seven male and seven female divisions Stardus suddenly flashed me a wicked grin, and said.

“I’m much stronger than you in the first place. Besides that, I don’t think anything of you. Do you think I have a black heart?”

What?

And the moment I heard her say that I felt my heart sink.

…A black heart. Ever since I fell into this world, I’ve tried so hard to keep my relationship with Stardus’ villain and arch nemesis to a minimum. I’ve tried so hard to keep myself from being anything more than a fan, to never feel anything more than that.

That I have a black heart? Absolute nonsense. I am innocent and clean. Just a fan… Fanship…!

I said that as if I had been stabbed, excusing myself.

…Forgetting what I was supposed to do, I blurted out an excuse to Stardus, as if it were ridiculous.

“…Black heart? Black heart? To me, Stardus is a hero. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“…Really?”

Stardus face darkened slightly by then, but I didn’t notice.

And I should have stopped there.

“Yes. Of course. Am I such an asshole villain that I’d turn against a hero?”

“…But you come running to me whenever something happens to me, and you just hugged me.”

“…Hmmm. That’s just being archaic.”

Looking at Stardus, who was squinting in my direction and looking at me suspiciously, I blurted out the words.

“So.”

“In the first place, I never saw Stardus as a woman, not even for a moment-”

Just as I was saying that Stardus, who had been leaning against the bed, leapt up and grabbed me.

Before I could do anything, she pushed me down onto the bed behind her and soon enough, our bodies were pressed against each other, my back against the bed.

She was right in front of me, our faces so close that our breaths touched.

Almost in my arms, kneeling between my legs, her arms stretched out over the back of the bed next to my head.

Right under my nose.

She looked me in the eye, smiled slightly, even through her slightly flushed face, and whispered.

“…So even now, you don’t see me as a woman?”

And looking at her like that I thought quietly.

‘…I do see her.’