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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A Global Collaboration
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After securing Katana's promise of cooperation for the terror attack.
For the first time in a while, I was working in the basement with Seoeun.
"So, Oppa. This woman named Katana is coming to our country soon?"
"Yeah. She's coming by private jet."
I nodded and said.
Of course, our Lee Seol-ah had agreed to provide the private jet. All problems are solved if you just trust reliable Yoosung Enterprise. Thank you, Seol-ah-mong...!
Anyway, at my words, Seoeun let out a deep sigh, then smiled incredulously and shook her head.
"Right... You've always been like this, Oppa. Anyway. So, we just need to determine the location for the terror attack, right?"
"Yeah. An open space, wide enough, where people can evacuate quickly..."
"And it has to be near downtown Seoul. Got it."
After saying that, Seoeun began typing something.
We usually just picked a random spot, but this time, Katana's abilities were quite powerful, so we needed to be more careful in choosing.
And so, in the underground base, in Seoeun's workspace located at its center.
Dozens of monitors lined the walls, displaying incomprehensible code, while a few of them switched to show a map of Seoul.
Soon, something operated on its own, and suddenly, travel distances, population density, and other factors began to be calculated on one side.
"Okay, the candidates will appear in a moment."
Seoeun took a sip of milk tea, then, with the straw still in her mouth, typed something and said.
The Ego Stream Terror Plan Maker 2.0, which Seoeun had created to automate things, was hard at work. The creators were, of course, Seoeun and Ms. Soobin.
...But now that I think about it, it's pretty funny that a villain's terror plan generator is calculating how to minimize damage from the attack.
Anyway, I also drank the milk tea Seoeun handed me and watched the device work.
Since pretty much everything for our Ego Stream happens here, Seoeun was working hard again today.
Soon, several candidate locations for the terror attack appeared.
Ms. Soobin also came down to help us.
"Ah, Ms. Soobin. You're here?"
"Yes. Dain, you were already here."
She replied with a faint smile directed at me.
Ms. Soobin then naturally sat down and, sure enough, began typing something. Immediately, various pop-up windows appeared on the monitor.
...Right, Ms. Soobin majored in computer science. I sometimes forgot that. Usually, she just has the vibe of a general manager supporting our Ego Stream members from behind. But in reality, her hacking skills are good enough to assist Seoeun.
And so, we continued the meeting.
Eventually, a specific area in Seoul was finally chosen. This should be a good spot to carry it out.
"Time to start preparing for the broadcast... Looks like it's going to be busy."
I leaned back in my chair and said.
Katana will be here soon, we'll carry out the terror attack together, and I'll see Stardus after a long time...
It felt like there was a lot to do again.
As I was thinking about the future, Seoeun suddenly spoke to me as if something had just occurred to her.
"By the way, Oppa."
"Hm?"
"Being here with you and Unnie in the basement, it reminds me of the old days. When we lived in the underground base."
She said, smiling.
...The old days, huh? It's already been that long.
"You mean when you used to call me 'Hyung'?"
"...Ugh. When did I ever? I've never done that. That's a false memory, forget it quickly."
Seoeun, who was drinking milk tea, puffed out her cheeks at my teasing, then quickly averted her gaze. Her earlobes were visibly flushed because of it.
"Heh heh...."
Ms. Soobin watched us, smiling kindly.
...Indeed, for a while at the beginning, Seoeun, Ms. Soobin, and I did pretty much everything ourselves. Afterward, starting with Hayul, members were added one by one, and we moved our home to a large mansion on a mountain. We even established Ego Stream. Just seeing how much Seoeun has grown makes me realize how much time has passed.
Of course, what we do hasn't really changed, though. Terrorizing Stardus.
Only this time, it's a global collaboration. Our Ego Stream... is evolving!
Anyway, after lounging around in the basement for a bit.
"Wow. Look how pretty this Katana unnie is too."
After calming Seoeun, who suddenly looked up Katana on the internet and was burning with fighting spirit, and getting things ready again.
And after going to the PMC to give them additional training, and doing a few other things.
"Thank you for coming, Katana."
"It's been a while, Egotistic."
Finally, Katana arrived.
***
Katana arrived swiftly, just an hour after saying she would.
Since a terror attack, like anything else, is better on a full stomach, I treated her to a meal in Korea, then finally explained the terror plan.
"Understood. If the fight gets too intense or a winner seems to be decided, I'll withdraw."
"Yes, that's right. The terror attack itself won't be easy, so you don't have to push yourself too hard."
I explained to Katana.
Especially if she felt like she was being pushed back, she just needed to give a signal, and I'd cut it off. We couldn't suddenly have a fight to the death here.
As if reading my concern, Katana gave me a rare, faint smile and said.
"...You don't need to worry about me. I welcome any sparring to improve my skills anyway. It'll be a long time since I've wielded my sword against a formidable opponent."
She said, smoothly wiping the katana at her waist with a cloth.
Indeed, considering she established Japan's largest villain organization, the Sanhyup-pa, and even defeated the Association with just her swordsmanship, her skill was certainly guaranteed.
"Shall we get going then?"
She nodded at my words.
Before leaving, I gave my mask and clothes a final check and made sure I had the camera again.
Katana was also neatly dressed in her do-bok, her black hair tied back cleanly as always.
Alright, let's go.
I took her hand and headed towards the terror site.
The terror collaboration between Korea's number one villain and Japan's number one villain was finally about to begin. I wondered what people's reactions would be.
...Stardus's reaction might be a bit scary, but anyway.
And so, I prepared to start the broadcast.
Time to go all out on a terror attack after a long while.
***
A-Class Hero Stardus, Shin Haru.
Lately, she had been feeling a slight unease.
"....."
The villains were increasing day by day.
Especially, it felt like their direction was pointing towards something specific. She had been able to handle them all so far, but what about in the future? It felt like something big was coming.
But more than that.
There was something else that made her uneasy.
'...Egotistic, when is he coming, anyway...?'
The year had already changed, but Egotistic still hadn't appeared.
"...He said he'd be back soon."
'...Well, we'll see each other again soon next time.'
Right.
He had definitely said that.
Smiling at her, as if it were obvious. As if it were certain they would meet again soon.
And so he had left.
Months passed and the year changed, but he was nowhere to be seen.
...Of course.
"..."
Lately, whenever she thought of Egotistic, she felt a vague emotion and a headache.
She didn't know why she felt this way, but whenever she thought of him, a corner of her chest felt tight.
Especially since a few months ago, when she suddenly shed tears alone. It had continued ever since.
A feeling of having missed or forgotten something.
A faint thumping sensation in her heart.
A strange feeling, as if she would understand everything the moment she saw him in front of her.
In the end, all these feelings culminated in a single thought: she wanted to see Egotistic.
She didn't know it, but only the emotions remained.
"Hmm...."
...In truth, it was strange that she felt stressed by the increasing number of villains, yet paradoxically wanted to see a villain. She justified herself by saying Egotistic was special.
Anyway, the conclusion was that lately, thoughts of Egotistic crossed her mind more often than before.
Now, she even found herself unconsciously standing by the wall at home, fiddling with Egotistic's cape—which she had hung there as evidence—and sighing, wondering when he would finally appear. Of course, she'd quickly pull herself away after realizing what she was doing.
...Whenever she caught herself thinking such thoughts, she'd hesitate, reminding herself, 'Egotistic is a villain...' But she tried to ignore it. She told herself she was just taking an interest in her assigned villain, nothing more, nothing less... probably.
'Really?'
"..."
...Though the voice in her head sometimes questioned her, that was that. On the other hand, she was perfectly handling all her assigned duties. She neutralized every villain and sent them to the detention center, and she worked thoroughly. The Association President even praised her, saying the Association ran thanks to her.
...Of course, the time she spent occasionally checking Egotistic's fan cafe for updates on his whereabouts had increased. But she earnestly justified this as a type of work, too.
And so, she would read prediction posts written by his fans in the fan cafe, and firmly press the 'dislike' button on ridiculous posts like 'Electric Mango,' 'Purple Mango,' or 'Dragon Mango.'
One day, as she lived each day just staring at the calendar.
[Hello everyone. This is Egotistic!]
Finally, at last, that day had come.
"Stardus!"
"Yes. I know."
She barely managed to keep her expression neutral in front of the Association staff member who was urgently relaying the news, and prepared to sortie.
Finally. Finally, she would be able to see him.
The last time she saw him was...
"....."
For a moment, the sunset, a rooftop, and a vast sky flashed before her eyes. But it vanished instantly, before she could even fully register it.
The last time she saw him was... the park. Right, the last time she saw him was at the park. The park where he landed on his dragon. This would be the first time seeing him since then...
Her chest ached for some unknown reason, but she tried to shake it off. Right. Anyway, she was finally going to see Egotistic.
'....'
Moreover, when she briefly glanced at the broadcast, there seemed to be no one near him, and Shin Haru's heart involuntarily fluttered a little. This time, he finally seemed to have come alone. Without other wo... villains.
And so, Shin Haru flew off, harboring a bit of hope and anticipation.
...Up until then, she had been in a good mood.
Up until then.