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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Moon Priestess's Plight
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Cheonwolhwang, the Moonlight Cult Leader.
He is the founder of the Moonlight Cult, which worships the moon god. His goal is to connect a new dimension to Earth, summon gods and monsters from another world, purge the current Earth, and create a new world.
In the original story, he first used the Moon Priestess to lay waste to Seoul, boosting his notoriety. Then, after tireless research, he finally opened a dimensional gate, bringing forth monsters from another dimension.
The starting point for this was the Moon Priestess's first act of terror.
After that, she was used by the Moonlight Cult Leader multiple times for countless acts of terror, until she finally died at Stardust's hands.
It was during this scene that the Moon Priestess's secret was revealed.
She, too, was merely a victim, exploited by the Moonlight Cult Leader.
"Cough. Just... kill me, please...."
Stardust, who had never been able to even approach the magical storms she unleashed each time, finally destroyed all the debuff magic circles and reached the eye of the storm.
And the person at the center was the Moon Priestess, controlled by the Moonlight Cult Leader.
Despite not wanting to harm anyone, she had been carrying out acts of terror under the Moonlight Cult Leader's control. In the end, she begged Stardust to kill her, saying that only her death would end everything.
As a result, Stardust ultimately killed her, and the terror that had half-destroyed Seoul finally came to an end.
And the Moonlight Cult Leader's reaction upon hearing of the Moon Priestess's death was:
"Is that so? Then I won't be able to conquer areas outside of Seoul now."
That's what he said.
This was only possible because he had never once treated the Moon Priestess as a person, but merely as a biological weapon.
In any case, this episode was one of the most heavily criticized by fans.
The heroes were helplessly cut down, the Moon Priestess appeared not just once, but two, three, four, five, endlessly, and even the ending was unsatisfying. Seoul was already ruined, the Moon Priestess died tragically, and the Moonlight Cult was still thriving. Furthermore, the protagonist, Stardust, was powerless throughout the episode and simply fell into depression at the end, filling fans with so many frustrating moments that made them want to tear their hair out.
Still, it ended with a somewhat hopeful scene of Seoul being rebuilt, but that was all.
It was an episode that brought tears to my eyes the entire time I read it.
At least the previous Hanwool Group giant weapon episode ended in a few issues, but this episode dragged on for over ten volumes. I watched Stardust struggle for months on end. As a Stardust fan, those were days of endless tears.
However.
Things are a little different now.
"Oppa, what are you going to do about these magic circles?"
"For now, let's just leave them."
In the original story, the Association pleaded with America to bring in an American Exorcist to get rid of them.
But I have domestic collaborators.
Ms. Vine Witch. I'm counting on you...!!
Having uncovered the locations of the magic circles, the most crucial condition for dealing with the Moon Priestess, I breathed a sigh of relief.
If I take care of this too, I'll avoid the despair trigger for a while, right? Right?
And for that, there's one most important thing.
That is, for me to take the Moon Priestess, if at all possible.
"..."
As someone who shed buckets of tears when she asked Stardust to kill her in the original story, this is only natural. She needs to be happy...!!
First, I have Lee Hayeul, the Divine Healer, so the curse the Moonlight Cult Leader placed on her should be somewhat resolved.
***
As I made various preparations, time flew by instantly.
Preparations for the magic circles are almost complete. I've manipulated them magically to create an exception for me in all their functions. Is this what it means to be in cheat mode, just me?
For now, I've only made myself an exception. Just in case.
Of course, during this time, all sorts of villains poured into Seoul, but they were all dealt with in one blow.
No, Stardust has become much stronger than I expected, just taking down any villain equally with one hit.
No, I wasn't hoping to see Stardust struggle so much, but I didn't expect this level.
...If she's like that, she'll just become dull as a hero.
Heroes are supposed to have a certain edge, but lately, seeing Stardust turn into an overpowered protagonist, I've started to worry.
This won't do. There's no tension.
...Right. Perhaps next time...
As I thought about this and that, prepared, and managed Stardust's fan cafe, I enjoyed my daily life for the first time in a while.
Before I knew it, that day had arrived.
"Have a good one."
"Yes, Dain Oppa."
"Hayeul. Did you pack everything? Didn't forget anything, right? Check your exam ID again. And your personal ID. Did you bring your watch too?"
"Yes, Unnie. I packed everything."
Hayeul went to take her CSAT.
...Honestly, I wondered what meaning college had in this world, and you could just hack the CSAT scores anyway, so was there really a need to suffer like this? But Hayeul said she wanted to achieve something with her own hands, so I let her do as she wished.
The result was pretty much her usual performance. Slightly, slightly higher than her usual performance. On the day the CSAT ended, everyone gathered for a celebration party.
It was an ordinary time, yet precious, considering what the original world was like.
"Oppa. Are you comfortable?"
"Yeah. It's good."
"But your fans don't seem very comfortable, Oppa."
*
[EGOSTICK<<
I can't take this anger anymore.
From the looks of it, he won't be here in the fourth quarter either. Looks like next year.
Does an average terror cycle of 4.2 months even make sense?
I think Mangostick should be brought in right now for weekly terror.
=[Comments]=
[I agree]
[I support him... to the National Assembly~!]
ㄴ[Boomer points]
[LOL weekly terror when?]
[They say if you report this to the police, everyone in this cafe will be arrested for sedition lol]
ㄴ[Domestic traitors' club LOL]
[More than that, the problem is there's no terror, so all day it's just Icemango vs Stardust talk...]
ㄴ[Icemango is the true main girl]
ㄴ[No, it's Stardust?]
ㄴ[Concubine Stardust faction lolol]
ㄴ[Has the Egostra faction all died? F*** ㅜㅜ]
ㄴ[What's Electra, you nerd?]
[F*** don't fight in my comments, you crazy bastards]
*
"...Seoeun. Why are you even watching that? Please stop."
"No. I'll keep watching until there's talk about the genius hacker from Egostream."
"....But, that's not going to happen, is it?"
After all, Seoeun, you've never even shown your face on broadcast, have you?
When I said that, Seoeun's cheeks gradually puffed up.
"Exactly, that's the problem! I've been by your side the longest, so does it make sense that people don't know me?"
"Seoeun... it's not always good to be exposed to the public."
"It's fine. What I'm making right now... No, no. Anyway, just you wait."
Having said that, Seoeun went down to the basement.
What is it? What is she making? I'm so uneasy.
Then, a few weeks later, seeing Seoeun emerge from the basement with a refreshed face, and not go back in, my anxiety grew considerably. What on earth did she make?
When I asked, she only said she'd tell me after the Moonlight Cult incident was resolved. It's ominous, I tell you...
Anyway, time passed, and the year changed.
The cool autumn had already turned into a winter where you couldn't go out without thick clothes.
And soon.
The day for the Moonlight Cult's first act of terror approached.
"To the Association President. On the day of the first snow, there will be a terror incident in downtown Seoul. Please prepare in advance and evacuate the citizens... Okay. I'll write it like this."
"Hey. Who writes letters these days?"
"Oh, come on. This isn't a letter, it's a secret missive, a secret missive."
A secret missive, by definition, only has meaning when sent anonymously.
If I write something like this and send it to the Association, they'll be cautious enough. Unless they think it's a prank letter.
Honestly, if I used my name, it would be immediately accepted, but it would be a bit strange if I even knew the date of the Moonlight Cult's terror, wouldn't it? So I just sent it this way. Later, they'll probably just assume it was an internal whistle-blower.
Anyway, I waited.
For the day of the first snow, mentioned in the original story: "The first terror incident caused by the Moonlight Cult on the day of the first snow."
And finally.
Snow began to fall in Seoul.
Everyone celebrated the first snow.
And that evening.
KABOOOM.
Finally, the terror began.
***
[A strange phenomenon of unknown origin is currently occurring in the heart of Seoul! While a massive pink tornado occupies the city center, Stardust, Icicle, and even Shadow Walker have joined the fray, yet they are struggling to break through it!]
A rare night terror, with all of South Korea's heroes mobilized.
Normally, terror incidents are suppressed instantly by Shadow Walker, but this time, even with the addition of the other two, they can't stop it at all.
"Oppa. There's chaos over there, aren't you going?"
"Hey. Didn't you figure out those magic circles or something to stop this?"
Somewhere in the mountains, at Egostick's main house.
While the TV covered the terror unfolding in Seoul, Seoeun and Choi Sehee looked at me, lying on the sofa, with incomprehension.
"Oh, that. I'm not stepping in this time."
I said that, still lying on the sofa.
No, thinking about it, if I step in during the first terror, the Moon Priestess won't have time to feel guilty.
So, if I let them break some things and then step in on the second or third time? Wouldn't it be easier to win the Moon Priestess over?
And...
"Stardust also needs to meet an enemy that's hard to deal with, besides me, this time."
Anyway, Stardust can't beat her with her current skill. Not with all the magic circle effects still active.
So, I decided that this time, Stardust's mental strength, not just her abilities, needed to grow a little, just a little.
Lately, she's been dealing with villains with almost a single punch. I worry she might become complacent, saying, 'This is boring.'
Honestly, the only time she struggled, by her standards, was during the last airplane terror, wasn't it?
So. Since I've drastically reduced the elements of despair compared to the original story. Just this once.
"Haru... just once. No, twice, let's face an unbeatable enemy."
Frustration is what builds a hero!
Just once... Be strong.... Stardust!
"I'm sorry..."
No, but she can probably endure it once.
I believe in our Stardust!
***
"No! Why aren't my darkness abilities working?!"
"Haa, Shadow. Just... just be quiet. H-huh. Wow. This is serious. What do we do...? Huh? Haru, are you crying?"
"...."