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Chapter 147 - Chapter 148: Chapter 148

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: A New Villain

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The global villain organization Latice's coastal terror attacks had affected every country bordering the sea.

While numerous countries were still struggling with the aftermath, South Korea was the only one that remained completely unharmed.

And it had been provisionally concluded that the reason for South Korea's safety was entirely due to the villain Egoistic.

With this fact broadcast widely across all major networks and the internet, Egoistic's recognition and popularity once again skyrocketed crazily. Even people who usually had no interest in villains knew of Egoistic.

And now, at the peak of interest in Egoistic,

His broadcast finally went live.

***

A dark night.

On the dark city streets, where only the faint glow of streetlights and a few lights from buildings shone.

A man dressed in equally dark clothes floated in the sky, his black cloak fluttering.

He stood with his back to the screen for a moment, looking down at the night streets, then grinned, finally turned to face the camera, and with a wide smile, opened his mouth.

"Long time no see, everyone. Hello, everyone. It's Egoistic!"

Seeing him greet them with his arms wide open.

The chat window, quite literally, exploded.

[EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC! EGOISTIC!]

[South Korea's one and only S-class hero, Mangostick, finally enters the chat LMAO]

[MANG-KYAHOOU~! MANG-KYAHOOU~! MANG-KYAHOOU~! MANG-KYAHOOU~! MANG-KYAHOOU~! MANG-KYAHOOU~! MANG-KYAHOOU~!]

[Why now? Why now? Why now? Why now?]

[OMG LMAO tonight's a write-offㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Best Monday night choice, watching Mangostick's live broadcastㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Only Mangobuds who rushed in after seeing the broadcast notification upvote thisㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[DAMN, I KNEW I COULD TRUST EGOISTIC!!!!!]

Chat messages poured in like a flood.

Amidst the overwhelming reactions, too numerous to see with the naked eye, Egoistic merely nodded, his arms still spread, as if he knew this would happen.

"Yes, yes. Good to see you all. Good to see you. I hope everyone has been doing well?"

As he greeted them with a smile, the chat window blazed even brighter with countless messages. Most of them, in particular, were praises for Egoistic, who had single-handedly stopped Latice's terror attack.

On screen, Egoistic, after saying that much, grinned again, then slapped a fist into his palm as if a thought had just struck him, and continued.

"Alright, everyone, it's good to see you, but *ahem*. Lately, I've been hearing some incitement and fabrications about me, you know? Like I supposedly 'protected South Korea' or something."

As he spoke, laughing as if it were an absurd notion, the chat window continued to burn.

[Incitement? Where? Fabrication? Where?]

[It's all nothing but facts, though? LMAO]

[I protected South Korea (true)]

[What exactly is incitement and fabrication, lolol]

[When the whole world was attacked, why was only South Korea safe? Thanks to the glorious K-Villain Egoistic's underwater diplomacy! What kind of country is South Korea, where even villains protect the nation, America gasps and Japan weeps, blah blah blah...]

[Bruh, this chat is making my head spin, LMAO]

[Why can't you just say you protected it! Tell us your true feelings!!!]

As if he couldn't see the chat window filled with protests, he shrugged and continued.

"Well... it's absurd, so I'm sure no one took it seriously from the start. It's completely baseless. Baseless."

[Baseless my ass, lol]

[Dude, how can you just say it's baseless without giving a reason lolol]

[Breaking News) Egoistic states recent news is baseless. Evidence? None.]

[He made a pact but didn't stop the terror, sure.]

[At this point, the Association should just hold a forgiveness event and whitewash Mangostick into a hero, lolol]

[Who would even believe that, lolol]

[Nah, no matter what you say, Egoistic's fan cafe growth is at an all-time high~]

[Mangospeak ON]

"*Ahem*... Anyway, I've rambled enough."

He cleared his throat and finished speaking, then shrugged again and turned his back to the screen.

The camera slowly pulled back, capturing him standing alone in the dark sky.

Egoistic, as if telling a story, slowly opened his mouth and began to speak.

"What a truly beautiful night. The moon shines so prettily."

He said that much, then briefly turned his head to grin, and continued.

"Since ancient times, it's been rumored that at night... South Korea is safe. There were many sayings, such as, 'No villain can defeat Shadow Walker.'"

"In that sense, we at Ego Stream would like to challenge his authority once more."

"Allow me to introduce! Ego Stream's newest villain, Mist!"

He said that much, then extended his hand and pointed to one side.

The camera then turned, shifting the view to Ego Stream's side.

What appeared on screen was the figure of a woman.

"..."

Long purple hair reaching her waist, half-closed eyes. Beautiful yet mysterious, with an appearance that would make one hesitate to approach her in real life. And contrasting with such an appearance, she wore a simple, slightly oversized, ordinary black hoodie.

A head shorter than Egoistic, she stared blankly at the purple flame flickering in her small hand.

Then, as if realizing the camera was on her, she turned her head towards the screen.

"....?"

Still with a languid expression, she tilted her head as she looked at the screen. Then, she formed a V-sign with her fingers and brought it up to her face.

"Hmm... is this not right? Well, hello. I'm Mist."

She then smiled slightly, lowering her hand to her chest and giving a small wave.

The chat window, momentarily silenced by the ethereal image of the beautiful girl with her purple hair cascading against the night sky.

Then, as if in reaction, chat messages began to flood in explosively again.

[Ohhhhhㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ What's this vibe?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Thought this was a celebrity introduction, not a villain introㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Does Ego Stream recruit villains based on looks? Why are they all cool or pretty or cute or somethingㅋㅋㅋ]

[From today, I'm stanning Purple Mango]

[Wait, another woman, huh? LMAO]

[Mangobro, did you charm another woman again?]

[Egoistic/Controversy/Womanizer]

[Casanova Mango LMAOㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Ugh, after Star Mango, Electric Mango, Ice Mango, Moonlight Mango, Hacker Mango, now Purple Mango appearsㅋㅋㅋㅋ How many are there, seriouslyㅋㅋㅋ]

[Why is no one interested in that purple flame abilityㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Is this the first time a night terror broadcast? The atmosphere is seriously amazing]

While the chat messages were still pouring in, the camera turned back to Egoistic.

He clapped his hands, still smiling, and opened his mouth.

"Alright! Just as I was introducing her! He's coming right over there!!"

The camera turned again.

And in the distance, a figure shrouded in shadow was approaching: the hero, Shadow Walker.

"Will he be able to defeat our Mist? I'll be watching from a distance with all of you. Well then, that's all for me!"

With those words, Egoistic stepped back.

Before the viewers could even feel disappointment, Shadow Walker's figure was captured on screen.

"...Villain, what are you doing here?"

"Hmm..."

Shadow Walker muttered in a low voice.

At his words, Mist, the purple-haired woman, briefly put a finger to her lips, then, as if stating the obvious, she said in a sing-song voice.

"Terror?"

And as soon as her words ended.

*Whoosh—*.

In the dark night sky, a massive ring of purple fire appeared behind her, and she, still with half-closed eyes, grinned and snapped her fingers.

Then, several purple fireballs materialized around her, all targeting Shadow Walker.

"...Ha. To fight Shadow Walker at night. You're brave."

"...Well. As for who's stronger, hmm... don't we have to see for ourselves?"

Then, singing her reply, she snapped her fingers once more, and the flames began to burst towards Shadow Walker.

Shadow Walker, too, began to hide his body in shadows to block them.

The battle had officially begun.

***

'...K-ugh. My attacks aren't quite effective against this one either.'

A dark night.

Fighting Mist, the villain Egoistic had brought, Shadow Walker lamented internally.

Ah! How had he, who used to defeat everyone in one blow in the past, ended up like this?

Now, more and more opponents were trying to get the better of him.

The nightmare of the Han Eun Group and the Moonlight Cult resurfaced, bringing with it a wave of frustration, but he gritted his teeth and pulled himself together.

'...Right. Is this Egoistic's will?'

Egoistic must have known that Shadow Walker would be powerless like this in front of a villain who pretty much ignored his abilities.

Yes. So, was all this terror his stern advice, meant to help him grow mentally? To stop whining and get a grip?

"...Right. A man must never waver and fight back in any situation."

He quietly muttered to himself, unheard by anyone, clenching his fist.

Yes. Who was he? The Shadow Walker of South Korea, that's who.

He could do it.

With that thought, he looked towards where Egoistic was likely watching from a distance and vowed internally.

Egoistic, I will never disappoint you!

"Alright, now let's get serious."

"Hmph...?"

Having renewed his resolve, he looked at the woman who was shooting purple fireballs at him.

Yes. He would defeat this woman and earn Egoistic's recognition.

With that determination, Shadow Walker charged forward once more.

His figure, leaping forward after overcoming his frustration.

Even he himself thought it was truly manly.

***

[Oh! Shadow Walker is actually putting up quite a good fight against our Mist. Amazing, truly amazing.]

"Chairman. Shadow Walker is currently fighting on equal terms with the opponent. He might even win!"

"No. I think he's losing."

"...Pardon?"

"It seems I'll have to step in."

"What? Hold on, Stardust! Please, sit down for a moment..."

At that moment, Association staff was sweating profusely, trying to stop a hero from acting impulsively.

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