Chapter 331: Sea Monster

After a pleasant conversation with Celeste.

Back at home, I flopped down on the couch, rubbing my chest.

“That was risky, man.”

It was a bold statement, made possible by the fact that I knew everything about Celeste’s personality, values, and behavior through the comics, but I was still nervous.

It took a lot of mental energy to smile with a sneer on my face in front of someone who could turn me to ash with a snap of her fingers, and who was furious with me. But hey, it worked.

“Oh my God… I’m dying.”

“Master, can I get you some water?”

“…No.”

I told the angel who said that so politely to me, and with that, I turned to the other side….I feel like I’m trash because a grown woman is calling me master.

For the record, the angel was wearing a light blue t-shirt instead of her usual Greek-style white robes, with a hole in the back for her large wings to pass through.

Anyway, here I was, suffering from Celeste-facing withdrawal. According to my plan, she would get her comeuppance one day. Yeah… She will. I don’t know when that will be, but…

Anyway, I can’t deny that it’s a breath of fresh air, even  if it’s a headache.

I’ve gotten my angel, and I’ve gotten away from Celeste. Phase 3 is actually over now.

There was still some time to go before the start of Phase 4, but it was the perfect time to retire from terrorism and take a break.

‘Retire… If I’m bored, I’ll raise another hero in my spare time.’

…Thinking about it, isn’t that retirement?

Anyway, that’s what I was thinking.

Naturally, my Egostream colleagues were thinking the same thing.

“Da-in, you should really retire now, right?”

Seo-eun said, her eyes shining at me.

When I smiled sheepishly and averted my gaze, she stretched out her hand and folded her fingers one by one.

“You said last time that  if you finish the Moonlight Gate, you’ll retire,  if you kill the Wish Granter, you’ll retire, and if you catch the angel this time, you’ll retire. You’ve really done it all now, haven’t you?”

“Um… right?”

“Then you’re really retiring now, right?”

When Seo-eun was saying that while holding my hand.

Even Soobin, who had come over, sat next to me and covered the back of my hand with her own hand with a worried expression, looking into my eyes.

“Da-in… I’m worried now, too. Honestly, you’ve been through a lot. This is the second time you’ve risked your life. I think it’s time to let things go.”

From Seo-eun to Soobin, when two people who had been with me since the beginning said that, I had no choice but to raise the white flag.

“Okay, okay, I’ll quit for real now.”

“Wow. You’re serious?”

“Yeah. Just a few last attacks.”

“…Ha. Okay,  if that’s what you want.”

With that promise renewed, I returned to my room.

Yeah, but I still need to do a few more attacks before I go… Just to make sure Stardus’ power is as complete as I thought it was.

‘…Of course, they’ll be more of a test of her abilities, so I’m sure they’ll be a bit strenuous.’

It’s not because I don’t want to part ways with her….

Anyway, my last terror was…Mm. I was thinking maybe I should have all the members of Egostream do it, kind of like an all-star finale. Wouldn’t be bad.

Anyway, with that thought in mind, I planned my next attack.

“Seo-Eun, you should help me, so we can get this done and retire early.”

“Ha… Okay, what do I need to do?”

And so I did, with Seo-eun’s help.

I was in the middle of planning my last few attacks.

“Huh?”

Atlas, who I hadn’t heard from in a while, called me back.

[Egostic, where are you?]

“What? I’m home, what’s wrong?

[No, I mean, remember those sea monsters I told you about? I said one was heading towards your country?]

“Yes. I remember.”

[I finally found the location of the one that escaped…]

[Well, it’s right in front of your country.]

“…What?”

While I’m puzzled by his words, suddenly, my phone chirped and rang so I checked it for a moment.

*

[Emergency disaster text]

[Association] A giant monster is currently on the east coast. All nearby citizens, please evacuate to bunkers.

*

‘No… What’s going on?’

My cell phone suddenly rang, and I hurried out into the living room, my hair standing on end as I watched the news on the  TV.

[Breaking news, an unidentified giant black beast is currently on the loose on the east coast, this creature is currently destroying cities due to its enormous size, and is making bizarre sounds that are disturbing the mind…]

What I see in the video is a black tentacled monster with an octopus-like face and a squid-like body with giant wings.

It’s a grotesque creature halfway across the ocean, and it’s a creature I’ve never seen in the original story.

Atlas told me that some of the monsters of the Moonlight Church were transformed by falling into the sea.

It’s one of the creatures he’s been fighting.

At least he said that the one heading towards me wasn’t very strong…

‘…That’s weak?’

I’m not saying there aren’t plenty of them in the depths right now.

‘Atlas… What have you been fighting all alone…?’

I felt a little sorry for him. Even  if I’d gotten permission, I still tampered with the gate and let the monsters fall into the sea…

Regardless, that thing didn’t look good, especially  if it was an evolution of the Moon Beast. They don’t play well with the Stardus. It would take days to catch it, but I knew it would take a lot of damage in the process.

Still.

It didn’t matter.

I’ll get them.

[Egostic, if you think you’re in danger, I can come to your aid now.]

To Atlas, who said that to me, I chuckled and said.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it.”

[Be careful, even you, Egostic, they’re not easy to deal with.]

After I replied that I understood Atlas’ warning, I hung up the phone and grabbed my cloak and headset.

“Seo-eun, I’ll be right back.”

“…I thought you said you weren’t doing anything dangerous anymore. No, you’re a real hero, aren’t you? You’ll leave  if something happens?”

“Don’t worry. I’m not doing anything dangerous anymore, and…”

I trailed off, looking at the angelic Halo standing in the living room, eyes wide with thought.

“Hmm…”

…Maybe.

Maybe this is my chance to test the power of our Phase 4 secret weapon, the angel.

***

‘…He’s been quiet for a long time.’

Korea’s S-class hero, Stardus.

She flew over at the sound of the monster’s appearance, and frowned at the giant beast in front of her.

[K̴̤͛r̴̪̽̓̋r̶̤̠̓̌̒ŕ̵͉̊̚r̴̲̖̒͝ř̸̨͉̫̀ķ̴̠̻̎̎ã̷͙̺͛͘r̷͖̅̓̆r̷̺̆͐̅r̵̛͕e̵̱̓̈̀ȑ̷͖́̓r̸̲͚͆̀͆͜ȓ̷̰̤̄̌͜j̸̡̢̛͙͊̇ą̵̢̖̆ȑ̵̭͉̟͝r̷̼͔̜̒̕r̴r̴̲̖̒͝ř̸̨͉̫̀ķ̴̠̻̎̎ã̷͙̺͛͘r̷͖̅̓̆r̷̺̆͐̅r̵̛͕e̵̱̓̈̀ȑ̷͖́̓r̸̲͚͆̀͆͜ȓ̷̰̤̄̌͜j̸̡̢̛͙͊̇ą̵̢̖̆ȑ̵̭͉̟͝r̷̼͔̜̒̕r̴̳̒̅͘! ̸̨̨̝̐̿!̴͕͝!̶̜͇̩̇̂!̵̡͓͑̽!̸̣͓̑͒!!!!]

A really huge monster, the size of a skyscraper, was attacking the city with its giant tentacles, making a creepy screeching noise that was unpleasant to hear.

Stardus’ eyes narrowed even more when she heard that.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t fought these creatures before. In fact, she fought many of them, especially during the Moonlight Gate Incident.

But… back then, they didn’t emit such bizarre sounds that made her head hurt just listening to them.

“…”

Wasn’t the Moonlight Gate a near world-ending event in the first place? Why would a monster that would only appear then appear now?

As she questioned that, she clenched her fist with the light in her hand.

‘…I don’t know. I’ll just have to kill it as quickly as possible and see.’

With that thought, she charged at the giant beast. Her whole body glowed yellow, like a meteor.

Kaaaaaaaaaah!

And just like that, the battle began.

…Until then, she hadn’t realized that this battle would be so fierce.

“…When should we start?”

~A city on the east coast~

Having finally arrived, I sat on a building for a while, watching the situation.

Upon arrival, I saw Stardus and that sea monster fighting fiercely.

It was so fierce, there was no way I could intervene. No,  if I teleported there, I’d be squished like a shrimp in a whale fight in no time.

‘…And…’

Now, I didn’t really want to get involved with Stardus any deeper, and I’m retiring soon, so I should probably move on. Mmm…

I measured the angle with that thought. I’ll have to attack from a distance.

With that in mind, I prepared.

…Especially as a Stardus specialist, I knew she was overextended. That thing kept firing brainwave attacks.

“….!”

I saw the giant tentacle behind Stardus, flying at her, catching her off guard.

And the moment I saw it, I was teleporting before I knew it.

-Kwahhhhhhhhhh.

“Kwah…Ugh…Egostic…?”

“…Haha. Hello, Stardus.”

It was only a matter of moments before Stardus was in my hands.

…My body moved first.