· · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·
Translated by BiasNil
· · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·
Watching the ice cream falling down on me, I was lost in many thoughts.
What the hell did I do wrong?
…Of course, I have made many mistakes. I did make mistakes.
Isn't this almost how the world is thinking of me?
What is the probability that you bump into someone who is bent on capturing you while you are heading to a festival?
And the odds that her friend gets involved with you?
This is ridiculous. There must be some kind of malicious force at work.
In a very short time.
In this short time, when this dangerous ice cream was about to fall on me, I had already painted my future perfectly.
Those ice creams will be all over my body.
Of course, that Chae-hyun girl, with her personality, will ask me for a phone number or bank account to compensate.
Both pieces of my main personal information would get leaked. As time goes by, the information will get to Stardust.
Without being able to move, I'd be checkmated.
And it will be more troublesome if I run away without giving her any information.
Isn't it suspicious to run away without picking a fight after you're covered in ice cream?
Finally, the question is—has Stardust sensed anything about me yet?
You may wonder how many people would have seen me in that short period of time, or who would suddenly doubt me.
The story is different from the original work that I read. I don't know how much Shin Haru's sixth sense and super senses have developed at the moment; it must have improved to some extent. I'm sure because I have read the original comic a thousand times. She would obviously look at me while tilting her head. I'm sure.
End of my thoughts.
The ice cream tower is about to touch my body.
The moment it falls on me, my life can be twisted in a terrible direction.
Did you know that when people are on the verge of death, they try their best to survive?
That's exactly what happened to me now.
I have to move.
If I don't move, I will die.
"Oh, my god!"
"Uh-oh!"
I rolled over.
Egostic's deadly secret front-roll.
Rolling.
Dust got on my coat and my face.
But sometimes men should not be afraid to be broken.
For my future, for the happiness of this world.
I'm rolling.
I'm not ashamed.
I'm really not embarrassed!
"Oppa!"
"Da-in!"
Seo-eun and Su-bin were surprised and ran to me as I suddenly rolled on the ground.
"Oh, it's alright. It's alright."
I stood up, dusting off my clothes.
…To be honest, there was no point in doing that since I was already covered in dust from head to toe.
Still, I dusted it off as a formality. I want to run away now.
"Oh, gosh… Are you okay? I'm sorry. I-I'm pretty clumsy, so…"
Kim Chae-hyun approached me with tears in her eyes.
The 10-layer ice cream was already on the ground thanks to my dodge. It looked like a big rainbow worm. The more I looked at it, the more I felt lucky that it didn't fall on me.
First of all, I didn't need anything, and I had to take the teary Kim Chae-hyun off me. Why did she suddenly cry and make a fuss? I'm the one who should be crying.
From behind, Shin Haru was also hurrying over, startled. No! Don't come near me! Don't remember my face!
Usually, I would tell crybabies that crying doesn't solve anything in the world, but it's not good timing. I shouldn't stay here too long. I'm not the crazy psycho Egostic now, but the sweet Da-in.
"It's fine. Everyone makes mistakes. I made too big a fuss. Haha, I could have just avoided it slightly."
"But, still."
"It's alright. It's alright."
The woman's tears rolled down her cheeks. Calm down, please. I'm the only one who is going to screw up if I keep wasting time here. Shin Haru is already looking at me!
"Now, Seo-eun. Shall we go now?"
I rushed out from my spot.
By the way, Seo-eun was glaring at the crying Kim Chae-hyun. She doesn't seem to like the girl. Su-bin didn't look very happy either.
What's wrong with these kids?
This is not the time. We are going to die!
When I was about to ask them to go again—
Thump—
There was a roar.
"KYAAAAAAAA!"
People were screaming.
Thump—. Thump—.
The sound of the ground shaking.
Suddenly, the peaceful festival became a battlefield with people screaming.
What is it? What is it?
"Hahahahahaha!"
A loud sound like the ones you hear at any idol concert.
A voice that shakes the brain inside your skull—the kind you get when your Bluetooth earphone volume is accidentally turned to maximum.
"Stardust!!!!! Stardust, come on out!!!!!!!!!!"
Boom—. Another cracking sound.
Everyone started to scream and run in all directions.
I took care of Seo-eun and Su-bin right away. Both of them were in shock. I have to take responsibility and protect them because they are weak.
"Come fight me!"
I grabbed their hands. I can teleport if I have to, so once I have physical contact with them, I feel somewhat relieved.
Both Seo-eun and Su-bin held my hand tightly. Seo-eun especially was trembling. She must have been shocked because she has never been in this situation before. Or it could be a trauma from her past. Either way is not good.
At least, Su-bin looked a little calmer. I'm sure she has had more experience since she even caused terrorism herself. She was looking everywhere with her stiff and calm expression. Seeing this side of her, I have reason to suspect she's been pretending to be timid.
I looked at Shin Haru; she was quickly dragging her senior friend Kim Chae-hyun and running to the opposite side of where the sound came from. She must be thinking of taking her friend to a safe place first. It's Stardust's mindset to put people first.
"O-Oppa. Let's run away, too. T-That warp. Hurry up."
"Okay. I will do it. But hold on, let me just see who it is first."
Seo-eun was holding my hand tightly.
I'm so sorry, just wait a little bit.
I have binge-watched the original comic several times.
I'm sure I even remember the detailed timeline.
And obviously, there were no villains committing massive terrorism during this period.
Usually, the villains during this period are Enzodiac and Rhino, but I already eliminated them.
I crept toward the epicenter of the noise.
I felt like a salmon swimming upstream while other people were trying to run away.
Seo-eun was shaking so hard that I had to hug her and tell her to relax. Honestly, it would be better if I teleported them home and came back, but then it would be difficult for me. I don't even know what to do now, but it's not the time for me to relax. I'm sorry, Seo-eun. Just hang in there.
After turning around the corner and sticking out only my head to see what was happening, I saw a green monster breaking the booths.
A monster as big as a house.
He looked like an enormous man, but his body was green and his face looked like a crocodile, and he was swinging his tail.
I know the guy fully well.
A-class villain, Crocodile Man.
But it's not his time to appear yet.
Why did he come out all of a sudden?
"Stardust!!!!!! Come out!!!!!!!!!!!"
The guy was still generating a noise shockwave that could burst your eardrums.
Seo-eun and Su-bin had already covered their ears with their hands. I think my ears are going to bleed, but my hands are on their waists now so I cannot cover my ears. Ugh.
"..."
Anyway, I think I will have to deal with him.
I started to spin my head aggressively.
My blood type is A.
And I saw somewhere that blood type A's brain is fast in a crisis. Is it? Or not.
What matters is the expected scenario.
He is calling out Stardust.
As much as he usually has a grudge against Stardust, it's not strange for him to call her out.
But the important thing is that I don't think Stardust is in a good state to come out.
It's not easy to work as a hero.
Once their faces are revealed, even their in-laws and cousins can be targeted by villains, so certainly, they have to wear the recognition interference device on their faces.
Especially in Stardust's case, if she just wears clothes and flies in the sky, her body will get hurt due to friction, so she has to wear a specially made latex suit.
But the important thing is that Stardust is here with nothing.
She will have to go back to the Association and pack her equipment, but it's very far from here.
And since that brat is making a mess out there, casualties will increase.
Alright.
If it's Shin Haru—the Stardust that I know—
In this situation, she will just jump in and reveal her face.
"No."
"Da-in?"
I murmured without even realizing it.
I should not leave things like that.
How unhappy she ended up when she revealed her face because of a similar situation in the latter part of the comic.
I have done many things so far to make Shin Haru happy, but now it will be screwed up like this?
I will not let it happen even if my eyes are covered!!!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"AAAAA, Da-in!"
Plop.
I warped everyone to the basement.
It's not that far, but it was hard to bring two more people with me.
"Huff, huff."
"Oh, we are here. Phew… Huh? What are you doing, Da-in?"
"What are you doing?"
As soon as we arrived, I took off my coat and put on my robe.
And I packed my mask that covers half of my face—the symbol of Egostic.
"Seo-eun, I'm going to work."
I even grabbed the black, special Ego-bag that's full of weapons, and prepared to warp for a mid-to-long distance again.
Now that I've rested well for a whole week, let's play another round.
***
[(Breaking News) A strange riot happened in the middle of an ice cream festival.]
[Stardust hasn't arrived yet. Where is she?]
[A large-scale terrorist attack after a while. I'm scared.]
[Wow. Fuck, how can a person be that huge?]
[(Breaking News) Egostic turned on the broadcast.]
[Hey, Egostic is streaming on YouTube.]
[Mangostic LIVE ON. Hahahahaha]
[Let's go~ Let's go~ Let's go~ Let's go~]
[Wait, why is he streaming all of a sudden? Hahahahahaha.]