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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Cleaning Up the Mess
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[Egoistic's followers are currently carrying out a bomb terror attack in the middle of Incheon. They have planted bombs in a building and are claiming they will cause more explosions... Currently, they are barricaded, stating they have no demands other than death itself. As of now, at least three fatalities are estimated.]
My face hardened as I watched the news Seo-eun showed me.
Who are these bastards, claiming to be my followers and selling me out?
What's more? Casualties? They killed people?
I felt something snap inside me.
Just yesterday, I went through all that trouble to raise my profile and build my image.
And they ruin it the very next day.
...They're really messing with me.
Who are you to use my name and commit acts of terror?
And in such a barbaric, violent, and vulgar way that doesn't suit me at all?
.....
And people died.
When I chose this path as a villain, I resolved never to cause civilian casualties.
But three people died.
Since these so-called followers of mine caused it, it's virtually my responsibility.
With a hardened face, I spoke to Seo-eun, who was sitting in her chair.
"Seo-eun, please help me just one more time. I need to deal with these guys before I can do anything else."
"Yes. I figured as much and prepared in advance."
Seo-eun rummaged through a drawer and handed me a phone.
Holding it, I walked towards the elevator.
"Ha. I'm truly speechless..."
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Seriously.
Work two days in a row, this is just too much.
***
The Korean Paranormal Ability Association.
But no one called it that; it was simply the Hero Association.
The atmosphere at the Hero Association was currently grim.
"What's the current situation?"
At the Association Chairman's low-voiced question, the agent sitting in front of him quickly replied.
"The culprits are still barricaded at the scene. Approximately 300 hostages appear to be trapped inside the building."
"Any additional casualties?"
"None so far, it seems."
"Alright, I understand. Are the heroes on their way?"
"A hero team consisting of C and B-rank heroes is currently on standby. However, they are threatening to detonate the bombs, making approach difficult."
"Damn it, those bastards. Did that bastard Egoistic bring them?"
"We are currently investigating any connection, but it's still unknown."
"Right, I see. Oh, and where is Stardust now?"
"She's reportedly observing the situation from nearby. She will likely launch an attack if the situation calls for it."
Just as he said.
Shin Haru, Stardust herself, was currently observing the situation carefully from the rooftop of a nearby building.
'Damn it, what should I do...?'
The reason the Hero Association existed was simple.
Because villains who used paranormal abilities were difficult for ordinary police officers to apprehend.
It was established under the premise that those with similar paranormal abilities—that is, superpowers—would apprehend them.
Most modern-day terror attacks were caused by villains possessing superpowers.
Most were terror attacks instigated by individuals who awakened as villains, either to flaunt their power or out of dissatisfaction with the world.
Therefore, a terror attack instigated by individuals *not* using superpowers was a rare occurrence.
The reason was...
'Egoistic, that bastard.'
Shin Haru gnashed her teeth internally.
It was clear that his method of rarely using superpowers and pressuring heroes solely with bombs had inspired others.
'No, that's not right. Seeing as this happened the very next day after his incident, he must have instigated it.'
Yes, that possibility was more likely.
Otherwise, organizing such a large-scale terror attack in a single day made no sense.
It was clearly a premeditated crime.
'I should have caught him yesterday... Wait, what's that?'
The moment she spotted something, a communication from HQ came through her earpiece.
[Stardust, Egoistic has appeared there. I repeat. Egoistic himself appears to have arrived at the scene. The culprit is currently broadcasting himself on YouTube. Confirm immediately.]
Even without hearing the urgent call from HQ, Shin Haru knew he had arrived.
She could see Egoistic appearing in front of the building where the culprits were holding hostages.
"YouTube...?"
The call from HQ mentioned he was broadcasting on YouTube.
She quickly turned on her phone and opened the app.
The top trending video immediately visible on the main screen.
[Egoistic LIVE]
She tapped on the video.
***
A building filled with chilling tension.
A street where no one was visible.
There, something in a black form appeared.
A black robe covering his entire body.
Black hair, just like his clothes.
And a half-mask concealing his face.
Yes, that was me. Egoistic.
*
[What is this?]
[Villain livestream OMG LOL]
[Egoistic seems to be livestreaming a terror attack right now???]
[Egoistic, the greatest villain of this era, has appeared LOLOLOL]
[Ugh, I had nothing to do today, but this just got interesting haha]
[So many crazy people in the chat. This is a crime scene, you psychos.]
[Yeah, as long as it's not me~~~~]
[Release Kim Seon-woo Release Kim Seon-woo Release Kim Seon-woo Release Kim Seon-woo Release Kim Seon-woo Release Kim Seon-woo Release Kim Seon-woo Release Kim Seon-woo]
[Why is the chat so messed up LOLOL]
[Is YouTube not taking this down?]
[Considering he hijacked the airwaves yesterday, YouTube might not be able to take it down.]
*
....And the scene of me walking was being livestreamed on YouTube.
The phone recording me was fixed in place by psychokinesis.
It was an unavoidable choice to revive my seemingly plummeting recognition, but...
A quick glance at the chat started to fill me with regret.
Anyway, I kept walking.
Before I knew it, I was in front of the building.
I walked in without any hindrance, and my eyes took in the dark interior.
And inside, countless, countless people sat.
The people standing were dressed in black, like me, and wore masks.
Not half-masks like mine, but full-face masks.
I entered the spacious building lobby through the entrance.
The ones standing, armed with guns, flinched in surprise when they first saw me.
But as they recognized me by my black robe and half-mask, a few of them cheered.
Then, a terrorist's voice echoed.
Looking at me, he said with a voice full of laughter:
"Our hero, Lord Egoistic, has descended himself!"
At that, starting with the one who first spoke, the surrounding followers began to chant in unison.
"Egoistic! Egoistic!"
"He's here! He's really here!"
"Kieeeeeeek!"
The rioters began to shriek upon seeing me.
Among them, the hostages merely cowered and trembled.
And seeing that sight, I...
.....
'Seriously. This is truly messed up.'
I thought, biting my lip.
Even though I had decided to become a villain, I had been an ordinary South Korean citizen until I was transmigrated.
And so, I felt something ignite within me.
Hey, you ignorant bastards.
This is just a riot.
There's none of the subtle intimidation, the novel methods, or the psychological pressure that a proper scene would have.
Just vulgar terror using only primitive fear and threats.
And they cause *this*, claiming to follow me, using my name?
After entering the building, I still hadn't uttered a single word.
However, I turned my head and carefully examined their faces.
All of them, wearing black robes and masks, were holding guns.
And somewhere, one of them would be holding the detonator.
[The guy standing at 3 o'clock has the detonator.]
A voice came through the earbud in my ear.
As expected, the genius hacker, Han Seo-eun.
She immediately told me what I needed.
...Though I have no idea how she found out.
People filled the spaces between where they stood.
About 300 people, she said?
.....
Now, what to do with these guys?
Hmm... right.
First, let's have a laugh.
"Haha, hahaha."
With that, I gave them a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha. Hahahahahaha! This is amusing, isn't it? Hahahahaha!"
As I did so, only my laughter echoed through the quiet building.
And from that laughter, a feeling...
....
As if sensing something odd in the atmosphere, even those self-proclaimed followers shut their mouths.
After laughing heartily, I abruptly stopped and said,
"I heard I had followers, and I came to see what all the fuss was about... and well, well..."
As I dragged out my words, the interior began to grow tense.
"You were doing quite, quite well! Excellent!"
Upon hearing my words, those follower bastards visibly relaxed.
Perhaps it was because they were so relieved. The one who appeared to be their leader then opened his mouth.
"Ha, haha! Thank you! We are ardent followers of Lord Egoistic—"
"You're doing a fantastic job."
And just as he was speaking.
I coldly cut him off and reached inside my coat.
"A very, very fantastic job of *messing things up*—"
As I spoke, I used psychokinesis to seize the one who seemed to be the boss and the one holding the detonator, pinning them down.
"—you're doing."
And the moment my words ended.
Bang. Bang.
I pulled out a gun from inside my coat and shot the two of them.
Thanks to their bodies being held in place by psychokinesis, the two of them fell helplessly, bleeding from their gunshot wounds.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaak!"
And as guns fired and people fell in front of them, the hostages screamed.
Among the self-proclaimed followers, who seemed to be clearly hiding their panic behind their masks, I readied my gun.
Right, then. Since this mess happened because of me, I'll have to deal with it myself.
Now. It's time for some re-education.
I thought quietly to myself, reloading my ammunition.