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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Third Terror
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Two consecutive terror attacks by the Priestess of Moonlight.
Cities crumbled with such ease that the heroes' efforts seemed utterly futile.
The citizens were aghast at the sheer, overwhelming power, something South Korea had never experienced before.
What was even more terrifying was the uncertainty of when these attacks would end.
The Association was frantically trying every possible avenue to bring in other S-rank heroes from overseas, but even that proved difficult.
The erratic magic displayed by the Priestess of Moonlight, and the rumor that one's abilities weakened the moment they entered her storm, terrified everyone.
As a result, South Korea was left to helplessly endure the villain's onslaught, knowing nothing of their name or their motives. So easily.
Now, there was even talk in political circles of abandoning Seoul and relocating the capital to Busan.
While everyone was suffering from anxiety, worry, frustration, helplessness, and despair.
The person feeling the deepest despair, however.
Was none other than the hero obligated to stop that villain.
Stardus.
"..."
Seoul Hero Association.
In the office, where the atmosphere was generally very grim, a woman sat quietly.
"...So, according to an anonymous tip, a terror attack is expected in that area sometime today. Please remain on standby."
A week after the last attack.
Having received a tip that the Priestess of Moonlight's third terror attack would occur today, she was on standby in her seat.
Likely to prevent the attack that would unfold within the day.
...
Right. Prevent it.
"...Haha."
Thinking that far, Shin Haru let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.
Could she stop it? This time?
".....Haa."
The fear of being unable to protect citizens from a terrorist.
The despair of having to helplessly watch a city ravaged by a single individual.
All of it combined to cast a shadow over her face.
Was there truly no hope?
As she continuously faced the Priestess of Moonlight's attacks, she realized.
That she absolutely couldn't do this alone.
That unless someone helped, Seoul would continue to be destroyed like this.
However.
Who, who would help her?
At that moment, her gaze instinctively drifted to a cafe she had bookmarked long ago, but.
She shook off that delusion.
No. That couldn't be.
Dealing with it herself was the only way.
But could I do it?
Please.
Someone, please help.
While she sat there, lost in thought.
Suddenly, sirens blared throughout the entire Association, and a state of emergency was instantly declared.
"Pink storm detected in eastern Seoul! It's the Priestess of Moonlight's third terror attack! Stardus, please deploy immediately!"
The urgent voice blared from the speaker.
Hearing it, she quietly stood up, opened the window, and threw herself outside.
The dark night sky, and in the distance, a deep pink storm rising high into the heavens.
As she flew through the sky, buffeted by the cold night wind.
Shin Haru, with a grim expression, quietly thought.
Would anything be different today? Would she still lose, would that villain still escape, would Seoul still be destroyed, and would citizens still be injured? Wouldn't it just be a repeat?
In the end, wouldn't today just be the same as before?
Would anything change?
***
Just like before, a raging moonlight storm.
However, today was different.
"Alright. Is everyone ready?"
Somewhere on the outskirts of Seoul.
In that place, where the wind was particularly cold today, I shouted to those below me.
"Yes, sir! Ready!"
"Departure preparations complete!"
Our rabbit-helmeted kids saluted in a very military fashion, announcing that they were ready for takeoff.
"Good. Then everyone, get on the airship! And Hayul, alright. Let's go."
"Okay..."
Nodding in satisfaction, I turned my head to look at Hayul.
Unlike usual, Hayul was dressed in a pure white robe.
Looking like something a mage or priest from a fantasy game might wear, she kept tugging at it, as if uncomfortable in her own skin.
"...But Oppa, do I really have to wear this?"
"Of course. This is your debut, a concept is an absolute must."
"....Yes."
Taking her hand, as she still looked at her clothes with an awkward expression, I floated up onto the airship.
Our Hayul. She's been a member since the first year, alongside Seoeun and Ms. Soobin, but had never been introduced to the public.
Of course, since Hayul's ability was healing, not combat, there hadn't really been a need to use her in terror attacks.
But now, finally, she had a role to play, and so she was making her debut. And officially being announced as a member of Ego Stream.
...Somehow, it seems like everyone except Seoeun is registered as a member on the Ego Stream website, but that must just be my imagination.
Thinking that, I realized I was already on the airship.
As for Hayul's white robe, well, I didn't plan on revealing her abilities in detail this time, so I had her wear something that looked as impressive as possible, something that made her seem mysterious. That way, people would take one look and think, 'Ah, she must have some kind of ability!'
Anyway, that's not what's important.
The key in this situation is that we're going to save our Stardus.
With that, the airship began to ascend into the sky.
It started flying purposefully towards the distant, small pink whirlwind.
The airship, cloaked in stealth mode, soared through the sky and arrived in an instant.
"Egoistic-nim! We're almost there!"
"Hmm. I sense an unusual aura."
The airship arrived at a place where a gigantic pink storm had swallowed the city.
Reaching its vicinity, I quietly gazed at the bleak spectacle.
One of dozens of terror attacks caused by the Priestess of the Moon of the Moonlight Cult.
The very terror that had ultimately destroyed Seoul, turning the original story into an absolute tragedy, almost plunging it into ruin.
The main event that I had decided I absolutely had to stop in this world.
And in this reality.
I chose not to intervene in the first two instances, leaving it entirely to Stardus.
Thanks to me shattering all the tragic events that were supposed to happen in the original story, and even helping Stardus grow far stronger than she was meant to be.
The villains appearing at this point were now no match for a single punch from Stardus.
Therefore, as Stardus was the protagonist of this story, growing through hardship.
Instead of me intervening to stop the terror that would have originally occurred dozens of times.
Only twice. Only twice, I let Stardus handle it alone.
...Honestly, I was prepared for it, but watching Shin Haru suffer alone wasn't easy. I could see her mental state crumbling in real-time.
However, I thought it was a necessary process, so I bit back my tears and didn't intervene.
Until now.
And now, the third terror.
Finally, finally, it was time to step in.
So, as soon as the third terror occurred, I took the airship and headed for the scene. Come on, let's just quickly abduct the Priestess of Moonlight and make our escape.
Thinking that, what I saw upon arriving at the scene, where the pink storm was raging in real-time, was.
It was Shin Haru, flung out of the storm.
"....Ah."
Bouncing off the ground a few times.
She was on one knee, trying to get up unsteadily.
And her exhausted expression.
Even just watching Shin Haru suffer through a screen had made me wipe away tears.
But seeing her struggling like this, with my own eyes.
More than I expected.
It was so.
So, my heart ached.
"Dain Oppa?"
"Hayul. Wait here."
And I.
Without realizing it, I felt my body instinctively spring forward from that spot.
Towards her, who looked so small compared to that huge storm.
Towards her, with her exhausted, defeated expression as she sat half-collapsed, staring blankly at the storm.
Quietly, without her knowing, I flew right behind her.
In that moment, a surge of emotion overwhelmed me.
Without thinking, I quietly.
Reached out and gently stroked her head.
"...You've worked hard."
***
"Ugh..."
It had been several hours since this ordeal began.
Amidst the fierce winds within the pink storm, she swallowed a groan as she single-handedly faced dozens of magic circles.
Still, an enemy too powerful for her to face alone.
She had already realized it during the previous two attacks, but still.
She absolutely, could not win alone.
Absolutely.
"Haa... Haa..."
However, she had to do something.
She somehow managed to get inside, struggling to break through this storm.
But she already thought to herself.
Ah. As expected.
It won't work.
Today, too.
And next time, too.
"....Hmph!"
From a magic circle that suddenly appeared beside her, purple beams of light poured out.
She barely managed to block it by twisting her arm, but she couldn't stop the orb that exploded beside her.
In the end, she was thrown, soaring through the sky.
....Ah.
It really won't work.
No matter how much I think about it, I don't think I can win.
This time, too.
Next time, too.
"...Ugh."
After being hit by the attack, she was finally flung out of the storm.
Bouncing off the ground a few times, she finally stopped.
She barely managed to get up, kneeling on one knee.
With exhausted eyes, she stared at the still furiously raging storm.
She couldn't win.
She felt like she was going to die.
"....Haa, haa."
Ordinary people, in moments of crisis, are saved by heroes.
But what about heroes?
In their moments of crisis, is there anyone to save them?
She had thought about it before.
Of course there isn't.
"..."
And so. Filled with deep despair.
She stared blankly at the storm.
In the end, no one would help her.
That thing would just keep destroying the city.
And like this, slowly, everything would end.
Finally, a glimmer of resignation flickered in her eyes.
This must be it.
No miracle could happen now.
As she thought that, staring blankly at the storm.
That was when.
Suddenly, something warm settled on her head.
"...You've worked hard."
"....?"
With unfocused eyes, still not understanding what was happening. She slowly raised her head and saw.
"....Egoistic?"
"Yes. It's me."
With half his face hidden by a mask.
With a warm touch, revealing unconcealed concern for her.
....It was him.
***
"....Why, are you, here?"
So exhausted.
Shin Haru squeezed out words with a voice that barely worked.
Towards her.
I swallowed down something that welled up inside me, and spoke in a quiet voice.
"...My hero is in this state. As her arch-nemesis, of course I had to come see."
"....Haha."
"You still have the strength to laugh, it seems? Huh..."
Towards her, who laughed faintly with an exhausted expression.
And so, I. Still swallowing down something surging inside me.
Smiled slightly at her, and quietly told her.
"You've truly fought well, until now."
"You did your best. More than anyone else."
"So."
"I'll take care of the rest."
".....Wouldn't I have to do this much for my arch-nemesis?"
Saying that, forcing my lips into a smile that didn't quite want to form.
I took my hand off her head, and before she could utter a word, I stood up from my spot.
And leaped straight into the storm.
Right.
Now.
It was time to end this damn mess.
***
She had thought it was all over.
So.
She had resigned herself, given up.
"...."
She instinctively raised her hand to her head, touching the spot.
She could still feel a warm lingering sensation from where his hand had been moments ago.
In the end.
At a moment when everything seemed finished.
When there was no more dream, no more hope.
The one who stepped forward for her.
"....."
She quietly watched his retreating figure as he ran towards the storm.
His cape fluttered in the wind.
....Right.
That's how it was.
...In the end, it was him after all.
As she sat there.
She quietly watched his back.
Until he disappeared into the storm.
She kept watching.
Her heart.
Thump-
Without her realizing it, it gave a small throb.