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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: No-Show Ego
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People walking the streets of Seoul sometimes complain about the bad weather.
When it rains or snows, citizens find even a simple walk burdensome, especially in crowded downtown areas.
And when rare events like hail or typhoons occur, people can only shed tears, for walking the streets becomes a chore.
But as a Seoul citizen, if one were to pick the most absurd thing that could happen while walking the streets,
it would undoubtedly be a sudden terror attack by superpowered individuals, like a bolt from the clear blue sky.
"Aargh!"
And on a street in Itaewon.
People who happened to be walking down this street at this very moment began to flee in utter panic.
Crash. Bang. Street trees, lampposts, fire hydrants, transformers, signs, traffic lights began to shatter everywhere.
Everything standing on the street was being cut down and smashed, turning the peaceful heart of the street into utter chaos.
"Aargh! Get out!"
People screamed. Windows of surrounding buildings shattered, and cars, their owners having already fled, were sent hurtling through the air.
Amidst this total pandemonium, there was something causing all this havoc.
[Hahahaha! How delightful, how truly delightful!]
Something clad in full armor and a helmet, radiating a black aura as it swung a massive black greatsword.
Pedestrians caught in the mayhem had already fled in shock, but he remained alone on the street, continuing his rampage with the greatsword.
[My name is... Death Knight!! A Knight of Death, affiliated with Egostream. Who dares stand against me!]
Shouting loudly in a voice like scraping metal, he repeatedly thumped his armored chest with a fist.
One might wonder who would hear him shouting like that on an empty street, but in fact, quite a lot of people were watching this scene.
Broadcast live on the Egostream website, filmed by a drone camera.
*
[Death Knight has appeared lololololol]
[Seriously lol is this Korea or a medieval fantasy?]
[Yep, an Egostream member. The second villain from Egostick's Villain Alliance, wow.]
[Egostick seriously, where does he find villains like this? Never seen him before lololol]
[He looks damn strong lol but why does he sound like an old man?]
[Why is there only black smoke inside his armor and no body? I'm scared.]
[Everything's great, but where's the most important Mango Stick<<< this guy?]
[Seriously, where's Ego?? 'Hello, this is Egostick!' <---- Where did that go??]
[Looks like he'll show up in a bit lol I believe.]
*
As viewers continued their lively discussion and the villain, who introduced himself as Death Knight, kept tearing up the street,
Finally, she flew in.
Her golden hair streaming, she hovered silently in the dusty air, looking down at Death Knight—Stardust.
Upon seeing her, Death Knight ceased his indiscriminate destruction and immediately shouted at her.
[Hoo. So you are the hero 'he' spoke of, Stardust!]
Having shouted, he then gathered his hand, and a black spear materialized from the air, settling into his grip.
An ominous black aura swirled around the spearhead.
He quietly shouted at her, still hovering in the air, once more.
['He' clearly told me you would stop me. But I! Saint Fe... Death Knight will easily deal with the likes of you!]
And with those words, Death Knight charged at her, brandishing his black spear.
A truly menacing sight: a knight, seemingly the embodiment of death, radiating a black aura as he charged with a massive spear.
And with such a formidable enemy right before her,
Stardust merely harbored a question.
'.....So, where's Egostick?'
***
Crash. Bang.
Explosive roars echoed through the street, as if the heavens and earth were trembling.
[Hahahaha! Indeed, you are quite strong. Definitely strong. Though, of course, not strong enough to match me, Death Knight!]
Amidst debris from surrounding buildings and roads flying everywhere.
The battle continued, quite evenly matched.
The new villain, Death Knight, was holding his own well against the current Stardust, whose powers had grown considerably through various incidents.
Even when she dodged his spear swings and landed her own attacks, his armor proved resilient, and he countered quite effectively.
A powerful foe, faced after a long time.
Their battle involved her constantly flying, throwing herself into attacks.
She batted away all incoming spears, blocked the continuous chain of attacks, and launched her own in return, keeping the fight going.
And the viewers watching their battle were also following it with great excitement.
*
[Wow, that Death Knight guy is evenly matched with Stardust?]
[A battle of the world's strongest, seriously what is this...]
[Where on earth does Egostick find such outstanding individuals? Wow... Mango Stick, King of Villains...]
[But damn, it feels like it's missing 2% without Egostick's commentary.]
[Where's Egostick? Seriously, he's not going to not show up today, right?]
[No way, he'll definitely show up. He's never *not* appeared in a terror broadcast like this before.]
[It's under the Egostream name, so he'll show up. He'll come in mid-fight.]
[Stardust is here, so there's no way Mango won't come. MangoStar forever!]
[If Egostick doesn't show up, I'll shit my pants.]
[Just screenshotted the guy above. RIP.]
*
The battle continued.
To outsiders, it looked like a nail-biting, evenly matched struggle where not an inch of tension could be let go.
Yet, Stardust, the one actually fighting, kept having but one thought.
'....What? When is Egostick going to show up?'
Clearly, this scene was being broadcast on Egostick's channel. And 'he' that the villain mentioned was, by all indications, Egostick himself.
So she, naturally, completely naturally, thought Egostick would be here.
But Egostick was nowhere to be seen, and she was left engaging in a draining, pointless fight with this strange armored villain.
*Clang.*
As the battle raged on, she threw herself to deflect a true, full-power blow from the one called Death Knight.
*Thud.* As their attacks clashed, both were thrown back in opposite directions by the recoil.
[Hahahaha! Egostick was right. You are quite strong. To contend with me so evenly! It's been centuries since I've faced such an opponent.]
Watching the villain laugh and speak from the opposite side, she felt annoyance surge within her.
...Right, so where's Egostick? Why are *you* here?
With the battle dragging on for so long and Egostick still nowhere in sight, she finally couldn't help but shout her question at him.
"So, where is this Egostick you spoke of, and why are you here alone?"
And her question scratched an itch for the viewers, who had been watching the broadcast, wondering when Egostick would appear.
*
[Seriously lol, we're watching for Mango Stick, when's Mango coming~~~]
[My mind is blown!!!]
[After seeing this, I've decided to support Stardust.]
[Seriously, where's Mango? Get rid of this weird old man knight!!]
*
As viewers also awaited Death Knight's answer.
Death Knight.
[Hmm? Egostick?]
At her words, seeking Egostick, he scratched his helmet with a finger as if confused, then burst into laughter again and declared.
[Egostick will not be coming today! He said that I alone would be enough to deal with you! Hahahahahahaha!]
He shouted and roared.
With the sudden revelation of Egostick's no-show, the chat naturally exploded into chaos.
*
[?????????]
[What the hell, this isn't right.]
[But Egostick's broadcast is on, what do you mean he's not coming?]
[That's messed up.]
[Mango Stick, come out!!!!!]
[Lol, damn, I had a bad feeling about this.]
[No Mango today? No Mango today? No Mango today?]
[Huh? I'm getting angry.]
[🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥]
[Are you trying to pick a fight now?]
[Icicle = brought a ship himself for terror / Stardust = just assigned someone else lolololol]
[Rage MAX🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥]
[Crossing the line....]
*
As the chat truly erupted in flames.
Stardust merely stood still, her head bowed.
...So, Egostick isn't coming today?
Ah. Well. That can happen. It's not important.
It's just that since Egostick's broadcast was on, she naturally, *very* naturally, assumed Egostick would appear. Well, it's not important if it's another villain. She's a hero, after all, and a hero just needs to defeat villains and save citizens; nothing else matters.
....But.
Why did Egostick go all the way to Busan, personally bringing a warship to confront Icicle and cause terror,
only to just send a subordinate against her?
[Egostick will not be coming today! He said that I alone would be enough to deal with you! Hahahahahahaha!]
The villain's words from moments ago echoed in her ears.
What? Enough to deal with her?
Ha. Hahaha.
As her thoughts reached that point, her eyes deepened, sinking.
Yes. The reason her insides were boiling like this was because Egostick had disrespected her. Confronting Icicle by personally leading a warship, yet sending only a subordinate against her—such a dismissal. As if she no longer needed to be dealt with directly. As if he was done with her, that kind of attitude.
"....."
*Grind.* She bit down on her lip.
'....Right, no need to deal with me directly? Sending another villain is enough?'
'Then, I'll just have to show him that's not true.'
And the moment she made up her mind.
The aura around her began to change.
***
"Wait, what?"
I, who had been lying on the sofa eating popcorn, sat bolt upright at the sudden sight.
"Oppa, what is it?"
"No, just a moment."
I gaped, watching the strange aura emanating around Stardust, caught on camera, and the small pebbles beginning to float around her.
That, it seems, is a phenomenon that occurs when one's power awakens yet again.
'....Why is *she* suddenly awakening by herself?'