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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Plans in Busan
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Seol-ah had been acting strange lately.
"Don't you think that Egoistic guy is truly awful? For such an evil person to even have a fan cafe, it really feels like the world is going to ruin, doesn't it?"
"....Yeah."
It had already been several weeks since Haru started staying at her friend Seol-ah's house.
In Busan, where she had come to visit at Seol-ah's invitation, seeking a temporary respite from the exhaustion of her recent continuous hero work, she mostly spent her time with Seol-ah.
And then, one day.
Seol-ah strangely started badmouthing Egoistic a lot.
"How many terror attacks has he even caused? He's a total villain, isn't he? They say he's a heartless bastard."
"..."
Haru felt an inexplicable discomfort watching her friend, who had suddenly started talking about Egoistic so frequently, as if a strange wind had blown.
...He was definitely a villain, but still, still...
However, as a hero, she couldn't possibly defend a villain, even slightly, so she always just quietly nodded.
"That evil bastard, they should just tear him limb from limb."
...That's a bit much.
"From what I've seen, he's probably a psychopath who only thinks about himself."
No, he's not. He saved me, even risking his own life.
"How can he cause terror attacks against hundreds of people like that? He's pure evil itself."
...But no fatalities have occurred yet.
"And if you think about it, he always only calls *you* out, Haru. Isn't that creepy?"
Not really...
Shin Haru always swallowed those answers internally, only nodding her head.
As she was blankly watching the TV mounted on Seol-ah's wall.
[Special Feature! In-Depth Analysis of Egoistic!]
Haru's eyes twitched. Her gaze wavered at the sudden news program.
And sure enough.
"Oh! That guy!"
At Seol-ah's voice coming from behind the sofa, she let out an involuntary sigh. Ah, it's starting again.
*
The video itself contained ordinary content.
As could be roughly inferred from Egoistic's publicly announced Ego Stream, there was a high probability that he would emerge in alliance with other villains in the future. And the prediction was that the terror attacks would mostly occur in Seoul, and the hero designated to confront him would almost certainly be Stardust.
Well, the content itself wasn't the problem. The only problem was Seol-ah, who was holding the remote next to her, continuously spewing insults at Egoistic.
"....."
By this point, Haru also realized something was off. Why was she suddenly so obsessed with Egoistic? What was the trigger?
Before, when Haru had consulted her about Egoistic, Seol-ah had shown an indifferent attitude, telling her not to worry too much about him.
It was very strange for her to suddenly start badmouthing him overnight.
And what was even stranger was this:
"Another reason why Egoistic is such an evil villain, just by looking at that, is..."
Her intuition told her that Seol-ah's words didn't really sound sincere.
That was the strangest thing of all.
"..."
So Haru simply listened to Seol-ah's words, her eyes quietly subdued.
***
A large house nestled in a mountain valley.
Also known as the Ego Stream headquarters, The Big House (王大家).
There, I was making an announcement to everyone.
"We're going down to Busan."
"Huh?"
"You went to Busan by yourself last time. Again?"
Choi Se-hee tilted her head, as if she didn't understand.
"Oppa. Why are we going to Busan?"
"To cause terror."
At my simple answer, Seo-eun asked back, as if she didn't understand.
"Terror in Busan? Oppa, you always specifically targeted Stardust in Seoul."
"That's right. Someone like Dain Oppa, a Stardust fanatic, is going to do it somewhere else?"
Everyone looked at me in disbelief.
What the heck, me? When did I get this image? When you say it like that, it sounds like I'm obsessed with Stardust. Of course, it's true that I live for Stardust, but it's not like I think about Stardust all day long. It's not!
Anyway, I cleared my throat to change the atmosphere.
"Look. Everyone's misunderstanding, but I'm not *that* obsessed with just Stardust."
"Um... Dain, aren't you running a Stardust fan cafe, considering what you just said?"
Subin delivered a sharp retort, looking bewildered by my words. Sharp, indeed. In times like these, the correct answer is to naturally change the subject.
"Ahem. Anyway, in that sense, I've decided to try a terror attack in an area with a different hero this time, not just Stardust."
While it's partly because Lee Seol-ah pestered me so much, there's also an intention to show that I don't always target just Stardust. There are too many toxic shippers out there.
And the timing is perfect right now. Those guys will probably be in Busan soon.
"So, Choi Se-hee, you're coming with me."
"Huh? Me?"
Choi Se-hee pointed at herself with a finger, blinking. Oh, for crying out loud.
"Of course, you. You're the only one among us with combat power, isn't that obvious?"
"Ah. Right, I guess so."
Choi Se-hee nodded, as if convinced. Through her fluttering orange hair, I could see Seo-eun's pouting expression behind her.
"...I need to hurry and do it too..."
What she was muttering sounded ominous.
While I was glancing at Seo-eun, Choi Se-hee, who had been humming and nodding, suddenly asked a question as if something had just occurred to her.
"But wait. Didn't I already cause a terror attack last time? Am I doing it again this time?"
At her questioning gaze, I shook my finger. That's not it.
"No, this time, we're not directly causing the terror."
"Then?"
"Obviously, we'll make someone else do it."
I said that with a grin.
What did I say? Ego Stream. Didn't I say I was forming a villain alliance? Then, naturally, it's time to ally with other villains.
More accurately, it wouldn't be an alliance, but rather me essentially exploiting them. Heh heh heh.
With such wicked thoughts in my mind, I also spoke to Subin.
"And Subin. You know how to operate a boat, right?"
"Huh? Oh, I don't know much about large ships, but for small boats, yes, to some extent."
"Just as I thought. Then Subin, you'll also come with me this time."
I snapped my fingers and said that. Good, all preparations are complete. Now I just need to contact Lee Seol-ah.
"Next week, we're heading to Busan."
And so, our next terror attack was decided.
Of course, we can't just cause terror immediately upon arriving in Busan; it will take some time to lure another villain.
Well, now I need to show the world that I'm not just a Stardust fanatic. I am everyone's terrorist! While I do think of Stardust as a bit more special, it's not like I *only* think of Stardust. And especially...
'You paid me back, right?'
...That day, Shin Haru's face, smiling slightly as she said that to me, kept coming to mind, and that's a problem.
It seems I'll need to keep some distance from Stardust for a while.
Let's just prepare for the terror attack.
***
"Next week? Sounds good. A yacht? Hmph, what do you take me for? I'm Lee Seol-ah of the Yoo-sung Group. I'll have the highest quality prepared, so don't worry and just bring yourself."
"Oh, and also, I've been continuously badmouthing you to Haru lately, but no matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem to be very effective? You still want me to keep doing it? Hmm..."
"Alright then, I understand. See you then."
After talking for a long time, Lee Seol-ah hung up the phone and smiled to herself in her solitary office.
Various calculations were already running through her mind. The recognition, popularity, and subsequent increase in influence and image she would gain by personally suppressing the terror attack Egoistic would cause in Busan this time.
"Perfect."
After her call with Egoistic, her plans were already falling perfectly into place. Haru said she would return home in a few days, so it wouldn't matter after that... And using the various materials he sent her, it seemed everything would work out.
She felt good for the first time in a long while. Things were falling into place according to plan. At this rate, she might be able to achieve her goals to some extent within a few years...
With a much lighter heart, Lee Seol-ah headed home.
Upon arriving home, she was greeted by Haru, who was eating a mango-flavored ice pop she had stocked in the refrigerator.
"Haru~ah!"
"Huh? Oh."
As soon as Lee Seol-ah arrived home, she hugged Haru, who was waving at her with the ice pop still in her mouth.
Haa. Just embracing Haru felt like healing.
"Huh? Why are you suddenly like this?"
Haru, flustered by the sudden hug, as if asking what was wrong, didn't push her away and simply stood still.
In fact, Seol-ah liked this about Haru. While she acted as a hero, confronting villains with more righteousness and strength than anyone, in private, as one could tell, Haru was actually quite quiet. Like a gentle, good cat? The fact that she would quietly let Seol-ah hug her without much resistance showed this.
She was also an I, an introvert, in MBTI, wasn't she? Thinking that, Seol-ah finally let Haru go. Haru still looked up at Seol-ah with a questioning gaze.
Towards her, Seol-ah simply smiled and said,
"Oh, nothing. Just had some good news lately, so I got a bit carried away."
"...Really?"
Haru said that, tilting her head.
All day long, Seol-ah seemed to be in a very good mood. Her lips were slightly upturned, her energy was high, and she even seemed to have forgotten to badmouth Egoistic for once, not mentioning him at all.
And watching her friend like that, Haru felt her chest becoming increasingly tight.
...Without knowing why at all.
And so, the day Egoistic would cause his first terror attack in Busan was slowly drawing closer.