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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Broadcast
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"Cough... *cough*."
Inside the utterly wrecked mech.
I leaned back against it, coughing up blood.
Ugh... I'm dying.
I finally caught my breath and, in the dark interior of the machine, quickly checked my body.
It was clearly not in a good state.
Blood was gushing out, and I was somehow using Behemoth to staunch the flow.
...No, if this is how bad it is *after* Behemoth absorbed some of the impact, I'd be totally screwed if I'd taken a direct hit, wouldn't I?
Still, I survived, so I guess that's what matters.
I decided to think positively, though my brain wasn't quite working right from all the blood loss.
...Honestly, this wasn't really intentional.
No, I was just planning to fight until my power grew enough, then reveal that I was Egoistic once I'd reached a certain point, and say, "That was a rather unique way to play, and quite fun. Although it was my defeat this time, next time will be different!" before making my escape. I even had my lines all prepared.
But the problem was... I got a little too immersed, trying to help Stardust grow just a bit more, and missed my escape window.
I also misjudged the timing of Stardust's ultimate move, the so-called Star-Punch. A fist suddenly came flying at me with an unexpected flash of light. How was I supposed to dodge that?
To think she could catch even me, who knows all her combat patterns, off guard... She really must have grown dynamically even in this short time.
Stardust... I'm proud of you...
"Cough."
Ugh.
I coughed up more blood and fell into thought.
...Anyway, since things have come to this, it's time to think of a countermeasure.
I forcibly held onto my fading consciousness and thought about what to do next.
In my current state, it was hard to even lift a finger.
I was barely managing to control Behemoth and stop the bleeding. If I used teleportation now...?
'I'd be screwed.'
I could literally die. Especially if I tried to teleport far, far away, straight home? I'd suffer a penalty and die instantly from excessive bleeding. All I could do was pray that Hayul's healing ability covered resurrection.
However. There was still a way out.
The 'hold out' strategy. I'd just hold out until my Ego Stream members came to save me. Guys. I'm screwed. Save me.
Of course, the problem was not knowing when they'd arrive. Until then, I had to buy time here.
Ugh... Stardust would probably tear open the wall immediately to confirm my identity.
With my dazed mind, I checked my body again.
At least my clothes and mask were all in place. I had already assumed I'd reveal my identity, so I was prepared for this much. I just never thought it would happen this way...
I glanced at my blood-soaked clothes, then quickly racked my brain. I had to talk my way into buying time, somehow. I didn't know how Stardust would react to seeing me, but I needed to use that moment to talk and prevent her from finishing me off.
...But what would Stardust's reaction be to seeing me in this state? As a Stardust expert, I felt like she'd probably just be happy, like someone who'd accidentally stumbled into a big win by catching Egoistic. I might even get to see Stardust smile for the first time in a while.
...And honestly, that would be a relief. If things went wrong, she might suddenly decide to just finish me off right here for being so impudent. Of course, our Haru usually tries to avoid summary executions for villains... but you never know in life. Indeed, running my mouth would be the most crucial thing.
Just as I was making thorough preparations with my sluggish brain.
Finally, I heard footsteps from beyond the wall in front of me, and then felt someone standing before me.
With a screech, the wall began to tear open. Three seconds until surprise.
And then, bright sunlight poured into the dark space.
Stardust appeared before me.
At the same moment, Stardust looked down and our eyes met.
"...Ah...?"
"Cough. Hello, Ms. Stardust. Haha... *cough*."
I forced a smile and greeted her.
Of course, I had the unfortunate mishap of looking rather pathetic as I coughed up blood right in front of her eyes... but she'd probably let it slide.
Blood was flowing from my head, making it hard to see, so I couldn't properly discern Stardust's expression, but I could hear her words.
"....No, this, this can't be..."
...What can't be?
Feeling puzzled, I forcibly focused my eyes to check her state. She was muttering something to herself in a small, trembling voice. Hmm, why is she acting like that? Is she just surprised that I suddenly popped out of the robot?
I wasn't sure why she was acting that way, but the fact that she wasn't immediately rushing forward to finish me off was a huge boon. It meant I could keep talking.
So, I forced my mouth open and continued, smiling faintly at her.
"Haha... I wasn't, *cough*, planning to reveal my identity like this, originally. But somehow, it just turned out this way. I just meant to play a little prank... *cough*."
Damn it. I kept coughing up blood, so I couldn't speak properly.
As I spoke, my eyes, now a little clearer after adjusting to the light, re-examined her.
"....."
Her eyes were unfocused, her mouth slightly agape as if her soul had left her body, staring only at me.
Looking closely, her hands also seemed to be trembling a bit.
...What's really going on...?
Just as I felt my confusion grow, she suddenly flinched, then refocused her eyes and began to approach me, her voice trembling.
"F-First, how... how do I. Right, tr-treatment..."
She muttered something small like that as she approached me. Ugh, wait. Why is she coming? Is she going to capture me right now? No, do I really have to risk my life and teleport?
Fortunately, my dilemma ended quickly.
Because a massive purple magic circle appeared between her and me, accompanied by a tremendous gust of wind.
"Cough?"
The moment Stardust shielded her face with her hands and was pushed back by the sudden strong gust of wind.
Several small magic circles appeared before my eyes, and a small figure, accompanied by pink smoke, materialized in front of me.
"Brother!"
Wearing a white miko outfit that contrasted with her black hair, she leaped in front of me. Eunwol.
Thankfully, she arrived in time.
"Cough. You're here. Thank goodness."
"B-Brother... your condition... what do we do? *Sniffle*."
Eunwol made a tearful face the moment she saw me.
Kneeling down, she gripped my body, her eyes welling up, and quickly checked me before embracing me from the side.
"Brother, we'll go, we'll go right away. Home."
"Yes, *cough*. Let's go."
"Don't talk! You're still bleeding, bleeding! Just quickly..."
Muttering frantically, Eunwol then began tapping the air several times.
At the same time, geometric magic circles began to form around us.
Phew, finally going home.
I really almost got into big trouble. ...I'm already dreading their reactions when I get home in this state. I just feel sorry for making them worry.
Just as I was thinking that.
The wind cleared, and Stardust's figure reappeared before my eyes.
And Eunwol, seeing Stardust, also gritted her teeth while holding me even tighter, then began to glare at Stardust.
And at that moment, thankfully, the magic circles began to glow, activating.
From the center of it, I lay collapsed on the ground, looking at Stardust and trying my best to manage a smile. I should really deliver my ending monologue, but it was hard enough just to stay conscious, so I couldn't manage that.
Thinking such idle thoughts, I looked at Stardust one last time. She'll probably be a bit upset about losing me right at her fingertips...
With that thought, I barely managed to look at Stardust.
The expression on Stardust's face, looking down at me, was...
"....Ah."
She extended her hand towards me, looking at me with a desperate expression.
It seems she's truly disappointed to miss me right when I was within her grasp.
Haha... Just like Hero Stardust, indeed.
As I had that thought, the magic circles on the ground flashed with light.
My vision went white, and at the same moment, I lost consciousness.
...I guess I lasted pretty long.
And though I didn't know it then.
This entire scene was being filmed by a reporter's camera, from a broadcasting company's helicopter.
***
[BREAKING NEWS][Front Page] A-Rank Villain Egoistic Critically Injured... Survival Status Currently Unconfirmed...
(Full text of the article includes a close-up photo of Egoistic collapsed and bleeding)
What the hell is this?!
They're saying that Chaos-whatever villain is Egoistic????
And now he's critically injured, what is this?!
=[Comments]=
[???????????]
[WTF, what's happening suddenly?]
[No way, this can't be happening. Our Mango can't die! What is this, suddenly, seriously?!]
[Why is there sudden news like this after I just finished eating? No way, it must be a joke, right?]
ㄴ[It's no joke. All the news sites are starting to put it on their main pages.]
ㄴ[It's real, WTF]
[Why did he suddenly show up in some weird robot without even streaming, and now he's critically injured?! Mango, why!!!!]
*
The sudden media report of Egoistic's critical injury.
With this completely unexpected news, South Korea began to stir, and Egoistic's fanbase erupted.
Since he hadn't even streamed, virtually no one had expected Chaos Destroyer to be Egoistic.
As Egoistic topped the real-time trends, South Korea was set ablaze with discussion.
The next day, Stardust did not report to the association.