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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Shadow Walker's Girlfriend
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The creation of an anti-Egoistic broadcast, planned to establish a forum for constructive criticism against Egoistic—this, essentially, the establishment of an anti-Egoistic media outlet—could arguably be called a success.
Of course, for now, the atmosphere seems negative, with an onslaught of dislikes and the like, but pioneers are always reviled at first. If we keep going, the day will come when we're recognized.
With that in mind, I invested and set up an entire studio. . While it's called 'Daily Villain,' it's essentially a broadcast specializing in Egoistic. Since I provided all the investment, my influence would naturally be significant, but Chae Nayoung seemed trustworthy, handling things well on her own.
But separate from that, this Chae Nayoung woman is, um, acting a bit too burdensome towards me, which is a problem. She keeps saying, "My benefactor, you're my savior," but seriously, calm down.
...Now that I think about it, it's pretty funny. She practically worships me as her benefactor, yet her actual job is to curse that very benefactor, isn't it? Of course, that's because she doesn't know I'm Egoistic, but from my perspective, knowing everything, it's quite peculiar.
Anyway, though it's still meager, I personally predict it will become quite effective as time gradually passes. Someday, the entire public will come to see me as a ruthless, evil villain. Oh, absolutely.
Anyway, this issue is settled for now.
That's not what's important, anyway.
"...Let's see..."
I pulled out my sealed notebook.
This diary, which contained a summary of future events I knew from the original story.
I groaned as I looked at it.
"...Haa. It's one mountain after another."
Just roughly looking at the villains who are yet to appear, I felt a throbbing headache coming on.
Honestly, Stardus has become quite strong now, so she can easily crush most enemies by force.
The problem is the gimmick-type villains. Guys who spray poison gas, or carry out massacres, and so on. Even if Stardus catches them, they'll already have caused countless casualties.
...Of course, I've changed this world quite a bit from the original, but that only means I've saved people who would have died, not killed people who would have lived, so it doesn't really mean much. Ultimately, it means these villains who appeared in the original story are highly likely to appear.
And the Moonlight Cult. They're also a problem.
This leader, the highly anticipated final boss of Phase 2. He's already a headache, and thinking about his connection to the final arc gives me all sorts of trouble. And that's not the only problem. I also need to start preparing for Phase 3. By then, the world will truly go berserk, and I probably won't be able to handle everything on my own like I do now. I'll have to cooperate with the Association to some extent.
As for cooperation with the Association, well, it's already halfway done since I've already lured Lee Seol-ah to my side. If I can just bring Shadow Walker and the Association Head over, the Association will be in my hands?
Ah, thinking about the future again gives me a headache.
Alright. I'll think about this later.
Let's just look at what's immediately at hand.
"Okay. The next main event that will happen is..."
As I flipped through the notebook, I paused.
Right, it's this one's turn now.
I looked at the words I had written down in the notebook some time ago.
[Shadow Walker's Girlfriend Murder Case]
.....
Just when I thought I might get a break.
Looks like I'll be busy again.
***
In this world's South Korea, there are three A-rank heroes.
Stardus of Seoul.
Icicle of Busan.
And Shadow Walker of the evening.
He, who wields absolute power limited to nighttime, barely appears in the early parts of the original comic. Since he only operates in the evenings, he rarely encounters Stardus anyway.
But what did I say this world was?
This Earth is a desolate world on the brink of destruction.
In other words, even Shadow Walker, a hero, couldn't escape the clutches of desolation.
Among those, the catalyst that signaled the start of his life's desolation was precisely the murder of his girlfriend.
His girlfriend, who was a great emotional pillar for him, was kidnapped by a gang, held hostage, and ultimately murdered.
Shadow Walker, who already had mild depression even before this, instantly boarded the train to ruin.
With various trials of desolation hitting him, it ultimately led to a 'darkening' ending.
...Ah, thinking about that gives me a headache.
Anyway, the conclusion is that his girlfriend's death is ultimately a bad thing.
So, I have to save her.
It's about time I started preparing.
Having made that decision, I went out into the living room.
As soon as I entered the living room, I saw Seo-eun and Eun-wol.
Seo-eun, sprawled languidly on the living room table, was muttering to Baek Eun-wol.
"A trip... I want to go on a trip."
"...Now that I think about it, I've never been on a trip in my entire life."
"Really?"
"Yes... I've been trapped in the Moonlight Cult ever since I can remember."
"Then have you ever seen the ocean?"
"....Of course, I've seen it. However, that was just a brief glimpse from afar when I followed the leader to proselytize to people, so I've never actually gone in and played."
"Wow, really?"
...Seo-eun, didn't *you* also never go to the beach until you and Subin-ssi went with me last time? Why are you so surprised?
As I approached the living room with those thoughts, Seo-eun's face lit up when she saw me, and she said,
"Oppa! Let's go on a trip, to the beach!"
"The beach?"
"Yes. Me, Oppa, Subin-unnie, Sehee-unnie, Hayul-unnie, Eun-wol, Ahjussi Desik, and Cha Yoon, all of us going to the beach together. How about it?"
Seo-eun said that, her eyes sparkling at me.
Next to her, Eun-wol also looked at me with sparkling eyes, appearing interested in the trip.
...A trip, huh.
Now that I think about it, we haven't all gone on a trip together, except for the last time Seo-eun and Subin-ssi went to Busan with me.
I've certainly been living too busy a life lately.
....Yes, a trip.
"Alright. Let's try to go sometime later. All of us together."
"Really? Yay!"
"What? Are we going on a trip?"
As Seo-eun and Eun-wol were getting excited, Choi Sehee, who seemed to have just woken up, walked in, rubbing her eyes.
"Yes. Unnie, let's start looking into it ourselves now. Eun-wol has never been to the beach before, so how about the beach?"
"The beach? That sounds good. If all these people go, we might have to rent an entire pension, huh? Should we look into it?"
"Sounds great!"
The talk of a trip progressed suddenly, like flowing water.
If I had known they'd be this happy, I would have taken them on a trip sooner.
As I was thinking that, I was seized by an uneasy feeling, as if I had forgotten something.
...Wait. Why did I come out to the living room again? I had something else to talk about besides the trip.
Ah, that's right.
"Seo-eun, Seo-eun. Come here."
"Why, Oppa?"
Seo-eun came scurrying over as soon as I called her.
I stroked Seo-eun's head and told her,
"Seo-eun."
"Hehe... Yes?"
"Can Oppa ask you for a favor?"
"Yes! Anything!"
"Can you hack into CCTV and monitor one woman for me?"
.....Huh?
Seo-eun's eyes and the corners of her mouth, which had been smiling brightly just moments ago, dropped.
No, it's not weird.
It's all for the sake of the world.
Only after explaining the situation thoroughly to Seo-eun was I able to secure her cooperation.
Good... this preparation is complete.
Now I just need to go meet Icicle, Lee Seol-ah.
***
Anyway, the work was steadily being planned.
Prevent Shadow Walker's rampage. Phase 1: Save his girlfriend.
"Dain-ssi. Are you listening to me?"
"Huh? Oh, of course I am."
Yoo-Sung Corporation CEO's office.
During his regular discussions with Lee Seol-ah, she sighed deeply and said,
"....Haa. Where was I? Yes, anyway, things are getting a bit tangled. We're acquiring other companies one by one, but the political sphere is the problem."
"It's not going well?"
"Don't even get me started... They're barely listening to what I say. I just want to freeze all those guys. The presidential election isn't far off either, I really don't know what they're doing... Haa."
Lee Seol-ah held onto me and whined for a while about her project to seize control of South Korea's political sphere drifting off course.
And as I listened to her words.
"...Haha, that must be tough."
I broke out in a slight cold sweat.
...Is it because of me?
In the original story, after the Moonlight Priestess's terror attack in Seoul, government buildings and such were all moved to Busan, which significantly strengthened the status of Lee Seol-ah, a native of Busan.
I remember her taking control of the government quite easily because of that...
"That Kim Man-bok guy, seriously!! Ugh... My head hurts."
"...Haha."
It seems I was right. In the original, it clearly stated she took over the government with ease, but seeing her clutching her head like that now, it doesn't seem to be going well.
Watching Lee Seol-ah complain so bitterly, I felt a little unnecessarily sorry. But still, I couldn't just let Seoul be destroyed, could I...?
The discussion with Lee Seol-ah, which began with her complaints, ultimately concluded with her wanting to visit my house sometime because she's having a tough time lately.
...The conclusion is a bit strange, but anyway.
***
After that, daily life proceeded quite ordinarily.
I planned the next terror attack, the Ego-Stream members were busy looking into travel destinations, and Seo-eun diligently monitored Shadow Walker's girlfriend whenever she had a moment.
Then one day, while living so ordinarily.
"Oppa! That woman was suddenly dragged away by some strange men!"
To me, who was playing a rhythm game two-player battle with Choi Sehee in the living room, Seo-eun came scurrying over and urgently shouted.
"What did you say?!"
I immediately threw down my game controller and exclaimed.
No, it happened faster than I expected?
I hastily began to prepare.
Good, it's villain time.
***
Shadow Walker, Kim Ja-hyun.
He was holed up in his room.
After the last Moonlight Priestess incident, he had fallen into a slight depression.
He, who always had the confidence of being invincible when night fell.
After suffering a crushing defeat to the Moonlight Priestess, his mental state was utterly shattered.
Night.
Night... I wasn't the strongest?
Having his pride severely wounded for the first time.
He fell into depression and holed himself up in his room, living each day consumed by self-reproach.
And what gave him strength was his girlfriend.
Thanks to her, who always supported him, Shadow Walker was gradually able to regain his strength.
"...But why isn't she answering?"
But something was strange that day.
She, who always kept in touch, had suddenly gone silent.
So, as Kim Ja-hyun was consumed by worry.
Suddenly, a knocking sound was heard.
"....Who is it?"
Getting up and approaching the front door, he realized something was off.
...The knocking sound wasn't coming from the door.
It was coming from the window next to it, not the front door.
"What the hell. What is this?"
Feeling flustered, he yanked open the window.
And there, ten stories up in the air.
"Hello there, Mr. Shadow Walker. I am Egoistic!"
An A-rank villain in a mask had come to him of his own accord and offered a greeting.
....
Kim Ja-hyun seriously began to wonder if he was dreaming.