Chapter 319: Bad Guy

Ever since his escape, the Egostic Fancafe has been in a festive mood.

It’s what they wanted, after all, so when they got their wish, it was quite the feast.

But it was only for a moment.

Every happy occasion has its detractors.

*

[But don’t you think it’s a little strange that he hasn’t shown his face since he escaped?]

[In the first place, the prison escape process was not broadcast, and it turns out that it was orchestrated by the Association, right?]

[What is this mango health theory…?]

[[Shock] Interview with Mr. S, a member of the Association… Controversy as it is revealed that ‘Egostic’s time may be limited’]

[…The mess has started again, right?]

[I’m trying to tell you it’ll be okay, but  if you’re a little anxious, it’s okay haha.]

*

Especially in the fan cafe, the atmosphere is getting more and more precarious. There are even ridiculous stories like an alternate theory of an Egostic robot.

So, just when she was starting to worry about Egostic.

At the right time, he appeared.

***

That day the number of viewers of Egostic broadcast reached a record high for the year.

And then, as  if to put everyone’s anxiety to rest.

[Hello, everyone, it’s Egostic!]

All they could see of him was a healthy-looking man, smiling broadly from behind a mask.

In the midst of all this national attention after his escape, the first live broadcast took place.

***

Above the city of Seoul, under a blue sky, on a crisp breeze, I fluttered my cloak and smiled for the  camera.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Egostic!”

As I said that, the chat window started to pop up.

As usual, they were coming in at a crazy pace, but today they were even faster.

Even with all the restrictions I’ve put in place, including the Korean chat restriction, the bombardment of the chat was too much for my eyes to keep up with.

*

[Mango stick hahaha]

[Thank you for just coming, Mango…]

[Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick! Mango stick!]

[Egostic’s broadcast is on. Yes, time has started to flow again…]

[Relativity is E=MC 2. And what does its predecessor, E=MC, mean? It means that Egostic = Mango stick. That’s right. Even relativity was Mango stick]

[The comments section just went crazy, haha]

[The number of viewers has really turned around. Korea’s population has already been surpassed long ago…]

*

And in the midst of it all, I smiled lazily, hands in my pockets, cape flapping, and waved at them.

Good, good.

It feels good to be out in the open after so long.

I walked through the floating skies with that thought in mind. This broadcast is an act of terrorism, but it is also a broadcast that will clear up all the rumors that have been circulating about me since my escape. As such, I’ll have to answer some questions.

With that thought, I quickly scanned the chat window and opened my mouth again.

“Yes, yes. Good evening, it’s a pleasure to see you all again. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a terrorist broadcast, and it feels even better to be out in the fresh air after being locked up.”

I casually mention prison, and the chat room goes wild.

What I did in prison, how I escaped, should I have been caught in the first place, and all kinds of questions…I told the story one step at a time.

“Haha, yeah. A lot of people are asking me  if it was a mistake that I got caught in the last attack, or  if it was my intention… I won’t go into a long story, but… Well, let’s just say that Stardus got me in there.”

And with that answer, the chat exploded even faster.

I was being vague in the first place. Did I mean I went in because of Stardus, because she caught me, or because I went in to do something with Stardus?

It’s a topic that the public who are obsessed with dating rumors will be excited about. …And even though I didn’t like the dating rumors, I had no choice but to do this.

I can’t say that I was caught on purpose, since that would lead to a lot of issues because of the Wish Granter and the International Association. People might not believe me  if I told them I was caught by mistake, so it’s best to be vague and distract the public from that.

Of course, there’s no way Stardus and I would have met in prison in the first place… but the truth never mattered in the first place, so let’s just pretend.

Ignoring the chat window exploding with questions about what I’d been doing with Stardus, I turned the conversation around neatly.

“Anyway, everyone, thank you for your concern, I’m very much alive and well. I hear the prison meals are pretty good these days, so let’s take that as a boost, and make this attack even more successful!”

With those words, I spread my arms wide.

Behind me, two firecrackers shoot into the sky, popping and exploding in broad daylight.

Good, because I’m a sucker for a classic like this.

[Da-in, we’re all set.]

“Okay.”

I turned my back to the  camera, listening to Seo-eun’s communication.

Today’s target was the amusement park in the distance.

We’re going to make it even more thrilling for people who ride gyro drops for thrills, aka air gyro drops. As a bonus, there’s also a flying Viking and a flying Comet Express. With the magic of the moon, anything is possible.

So, all that’s left is for Stardus to arrive.

I waited for Stardus in a relaxed manner. Why is she a little late today…?

So I waited for Stardus.

“Voila. Here’s a missile, everyone! Where do you want me to shoot it?”

As a bonus, I also brought a missile that I had already packed. This was to be attached to the Comet Express for reference.

I can’t wait. Not Mango’s Amusement Park… but Ego’s Amusement Park. Hey, it’s been fun already.

‘…By the way, isn’t Stardus a little late today?

Just when I was thinking that.

“…Egostic!”

Just then, I heard her voice from across the sky.

I turned my head at the sound of that familiar, but nonetheless pleasant voice.

“….?”

I froze in my tracks as I saw Stardus, who was looking even more beautiful than usual, flying towards me, smiling brightly, as  if she were pleased to see me.

…What the hell. Why is she smiling like she’s meeting her best friend when she’s here to take down a villain?

No wonder they hurriedly sent the  camera away so the viewers wouldn’t notice.

“…Uh, Stardus. How are you?”

“…Ha, ha. Egostic…”

She arrives in front of me, and gasps for air.

She inhaled for a moment, then looked at me, her eyes filled with concern.

“Did you get all of your memories back, Egostic?”

“Uh…? Um, yeah. I got them all, I’m fine.”

I smiled, avoiding her eyes, and replied that I was.

…Of course, I don’t remember what happened in prison, but I guess I don’t need to get into all that because nothing happened there anyway, and it would be insensitive to bore her with that much detail.

The plan from the beginning was to call Stardus for help in the event Wish Granter goes on a rampage, so I wasn’t surprised when she asked me about it.

The odd thing is.

“…Whew, thank goodness. Are you feeling better…?”

With that, she took a step closer, reaching for me in midair.

I did the same, taking another step back from her.

No, why are you reaching for me? You’re trying to catch me, naturally.

“…Ah.”

Of course, when I did, she lowered her hand and looked hurt for a moment.

I wasn’t in a position to pay attention to her right now.

Of course, I wondered why she had that look on her face.

And why did she look so worried and happy for me, as  if she had no intention of hiding it? That was a question, but… there was a bigger one.

Excitement. Thrill. Thrill. Thrill.

Why, as soon as I saw her, my heart was beating like crazy and I blush.

…Because  if it’s you, I don’t mind.

Delicious. Stardus, are you a good cook?

…I’m not going to let you off the hook.

Aren’t you a little cold?

Yes, it is. My hands are getting cold.

…Are you warm now?

….Yes.

Egostic, you asked for it, so I’ll do it.

Obviously, I don’t remember.

Why, suddenly. I feel the urge to reach out to her, to embrace her, to blow away the villain, the plan, the whole thing, to be by her side.

I’m caught in a sudden, chaotic, uncontrolled wave of emotions.

I try to control them, to not let my agitated mind show.

I stiffened my face to keep from blushing, and before I knew it, I spoke to Stardus in a cold voice.

“Stardus, I’m about to start a terrorist attack, so you might as well stop it.”

…Not this.

***

Up in the sky, Stardus had flown to meet with Egostic, and now she was in a panic.

Egostic changed.

“Stardus, I’m about to cause terror, so why don’t you stop it?”

‘…Not so long ago, we were walking hand in hand…’

Watching him say that, his expression suddenly cold and not meeting her eyes, she felt her heart ache slightly. Just a little, just a little. Mmm.

‘…No way, Egostic…’

“…”

…Of course not.