· · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·
Translated by BiasNil
· · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·
[Followers of Egostic are currently staging a terrorist attack with hostages in central Incheon. They've planted bombs in the building and claim they plan to trigger additional explosions… The perpetrators, holed up inside, say they have no particular demands—they simply desire death. The death toll is estimated at three or more at this time.]
My face hardened as I watched the news Seo-eun showed me.
Who the hell are these bastards selling me out and calling themselves my followers?
And what? Casualties? They killed people?
Something inside me snapped with an audible crack.
Just yesterday I busted my ass building recognition and crafting my image.
And they tried to ruin it the very next day.
…This is absolutely insane.
Who do they think they are, invoking my name to commit terrorism?
And in such a barbaric, violent, vulgar way that doesn't suit me at all?
"..."
People died.
When I chose this villain's path, I resolved never to cause civilian casualties.
Yet three people are dead.
Since it was done by those claiming to be my followers, it's essentially my responsibility.
With a rigid expression, I spoke to Seo-eun in her chair.
"Seo-eun, help me one more time. I need to clean up those bastards before I do anything else."
"Yes. I figured as much, so I prepared in advance."
Seo-eun rummaged through a drawer and handed me a phone.
Holding it, I walked toward the elevator.
"Ha. I'm so dumbfounded right now…"
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Really.
Two days in a row—this is too much.
***
The Korean Paranormal Ability User Association.
Or rather, the name no one uses—the Hero Association.
Right now, the atmosphere inside was frozen stiff.
"What's the current situation?"
At the Association President's low-voiced question, the agent before him responded promptly.
"The perpetrators are still barricaded at the scene. Approximately three hundred hostages appear to be trapped inside the building."
"Additional casualties?"
"None so far, it seems."
"I see. Are Heroes en route?"
"A team composed of C- and B-Ranks is currently on standby. However, the perpetrators are threatening to detonate the bombs, making approach difficult."
"Damn those bastards. Did that son of a—Egostic—bring them in?"
"We're investigating any connections… but it's still unclear."
"I see. Ah, right. Where is Stardust right now?"
"She's reportedly observing the situation from nearby. In an emergency, she'll likely launch an assault."
Just as he said—
Shin Haru—Stardust herself—was keeping close watch from a rooftop on a nearby building.
'Damn it, what should I do…'
The reason the Hero Association exists is simple:
Villains with paranormal abilities are difficult for regular police to apprehend. Those with the same kind of abilities—Heroes—capture them.
Most modern terrorism is committed by villains with superpowers. People awakened as villains show off their power or vent their hatred of the world—that's the majority. Something like this, committed without superpowers, hadn't happened in a long time.
The reason this was happening now was precisely…
'Egostic, that bastard.'
Shin Haru ground her teeth internally.
That bastard barely uses his superpowers and pressures Heroes with bombs—he clearly inspired others.
'No, wait. This happened the very next day after his incident. Did that bastard orchestrate it?'
Right, that possibility was actually higher.
Otherwise, large-scale terrorism like this in just one day—doesn't make sense. It looked premeditated.
'I should have caught him yesterday… Wait, what's that?'
The moment she noticed something, a transmission came through her earpiece.
[Stardust, Egostic has appeared at your location. I repeat: Egostic himself appears to have arrived at the scene. The perpetrator is currently broadcasting on YouTube. Check immediately.]
Even without hearing the whole message, Shin Haru could tell—he'd arrived.
She could see Egostic appearing in front of the building where the perpetrators were holding hostages.
"YouTube…?"
Headquarters had said he was broadcasting on YouTube.
The #1 trending video sat on the main page.
[Egostic LIVE]
She clicked it.
***
A building shrouded in cold tension.
A street with no civilians in sight.
There, something in black appeared.
A black robe covering the entire body.
Black hair to match.
And a half mask concealing the face.
That's right—me. Egostic.
*
[What's this?]
[Villain live broadcast, holy shit lololol]
[Egostic is streaming the terror live right now???]
[This era's greatest villain Egostic appears lolol]
[I had nothing to do today but suddenly it got interesting lol]
[So many crazy bastards in chat. It's an active crime scene, you lunatics.]
[Yup, as long as it's not me~~~]
[Why isn't YouTube taking this down?]
[Considering he hijacked the three networks yesterday, YouTube might not be able to take it down.]
*
…and the scene of me walking was streaming live.
The phone filming me hung in the air, fixed by telekinesis.
It was unavoidable—I had to revive my recognition that was plummeting to hell—but when I glanced at chat, I almost regretted it.
Anyway, I kept walking.
Before I knew it, I arrived in front of the building.
Entering without particular resistance, I saw the dark interior.
Inside—countless people sitting.
The ones standing wore black clothes and masks, just like me.
Not half masks like mine, but full-face masks.
I stepped into the spacious lobby.
Those with guns were startled when they saw me.
But soon, recognizing the black robe and half mask, several of them let out cheers.
A terrorist's voice rang out.
Looking at me with laughter in his voice, he shouted:
"Our hero, Lord Egostic, has descended upon us in person!"
Starting with that fool, the followers around him began to chant in unison.
"Egostic! Egostic!"
"He's here! He's really here!"
"Kyaaaaa!"
The rioters shrieked at the sight of me.
The hostages could only huddle and tremble.
Watching that scene, I…
"..."
'Seriously. This is fucked up.'
I bit my lip.
Even though I decided to become a villain, I'd been an ordinary South Korean until I possessed this body.
That's why something burned inside my chest.
Hey, you ignorant bastards.
This is just a riot.
No subtle pressure from atmosphere. No novelty. No psychology.
Just vulgar terror using primitive fear and threats.
They dared to claim they followed me—to sell my name for this?
I still hadn't said a word.
Instead, I slowly scanned every one of those bastards.
All of them held guns.
And somewhere, one of them would be holding a detonator.
[The guy standing at your three o'clock is holding the detonator.]
A voice came through the earpiece in my ear.
As expected of a genius hacker, Han Seo-eun.
She told me exactly what I needed.
…Though I didn't know how she'd found out.
People filled every gap between those bastards.
About 300, was it?
"..."
Now, what should I do with these things?
Hmm… Right.
First, smile.
"Haha, hahahaha."
I laughed once, looking straight at them.
"Hahaha. Hahahahahaha! This is interesting. Hahaha!"
Only my laughter echoed through the quiet building.
From that laughter, they sensed—
"…"
Something off in the air. Even those self-proclaimed "followers" shut up.
When I'd laughed to my heart's content, I abruptly stopped and said:
"I heard there were followers of mine, so I came to see what this was about. My, my…"
As I drawled the words, the interior grew tense.
"My, my—you've been doing such excellent work. Splendid!"
The idiots visibly relaxed at that.
Perhaps relieved, the one who seemed to be the leader opened his mouth.
"Ha, haha! Thank you! We are Lord Egostic's fervent—"
"Quite splendidly."
I cut him off coldly and slid my hand inside my coat.
"Quite, quite splendidly—you've been acting like fucking lunatics—"
As I spoke, I used telekinesis to immobilize both the "boss" and the man holding the detonator.
"—haven't you."
And the moment those words ended—
Bang. Bang.
I pulled my gun from inside my coat and shot those two.
Locked in place by telekinesis, they collapsed helplessly, bleeding.
"Kyaaaaaa!"
As the gunshots echoed and bodies dropped, the hostages screamed.
Among the masked "followers," who hid their flustered expressions behind their face coverings, I holstered my gun again.
Right. Since this mess happened because of me, I should handle it with my own hands.
Now then. Time for some reeducation.
With that quiet thought, I reloaded.