· · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·
Translated by BiasNil
· · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·
300 people.
Three hundred people, with a fair number of high school students mixed in.
When that many people are gathered, it means a few things.
Either the place is big enough to hold them, or they're crammed together.
Here, it's probably both.
Hundreds sit side by side in a large space.
No one opens their mouth.
Is it quiet then? No.
Because the woman in front of me is wailing.
"Waaaaaaaaah! Waaaaaaaah! Wa, waaaaaaaaaaaah."
Please stop crying.
*
[She's crying so sadly.]
[He killed seven of her side. Worth crying about. Hahaha]
[Is she going to die soon? She's pretty though. Shame.]
[You psychos. Do you not see the shivering hostages? This isn't a movie.]
[Yeah, as long as it's not me~~~~]
[I don't think he'll kill the hostages.]
[Seeing her cry like that, I'm worried ㅜㅜ]
[Seriously. She's a terrorist too, you crazies lol.]
[This is more interesting than TV. So fun haha.]
*
I glance at chat again to read the mood—
No need. My head's spinning.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaah."
First issue: this woman.
What should I do? She's so loud.
Should I just kill her?
No—at least warn her. I'm a gentleman.
I squat in front of her and pick up the handgun she dropped.
Staying low, I meet her eyes.
When our eyes meet, I smile gently and say,
"If you keep crying, I'll shoot you."
I mime a little trigger pull as a joke. She panics and clamps down hard to stifle the sobs.
…Can people really hold back tears by stuffing a fist in their mouth? Not sure.
Anyway, it's quieter.
With her hiccups behind me, I face the hostages.
What a sight—three hundred people crouched, looking up.
Their eyes are full of fear.
Right—maybe because I just shot seven people in front of them.
How often do you see someone get shot, bleed, and collapse in real life?
Or is that normal in this world?
This is Seoul.
Asia's third-largest economy—and the third-largest terror city.
Strangely, it's Korea's capital with the highest concentration of heroes and villains who have powers.
Either way, they're terrified.
I raise my voice so all can hear.
"Alright, alright. Hi, everyone. I am the A-rank villain, Egostic. Nice to meet you."
I use telekinesis to amplify my voice.
The air gets even colder. Everyone stiffens. Come on, I won't hurt you.
[I bet he's going to say 'Now, kill each other'!]
Looking at chat, I get it.
What do you think I am? I'm not that kind of psychopath.
…Though, yes, I did set up that two-boats game where pressing the button kills the others. Okay, my bad. My bad.
I speak to the trembling crowd.
"First of all, I'd like to apologize to everyone here. I'm very sorry."
I bow at a crisp 90 degrees.
…Really. I even use telekinesis to hold the angle. Details matter.
People hold their breath at the sudden apology.
I straighten and continue.
"Even though I didn't do this incident, I feel responsible for these copycat crimes committed under my name."
Jaws drop.
The room starts to buzz.
[?????????]
[What is he talking about?]
[Is this… a villain? Then what were those other villains I've seen?]
Chat is stunned.
It's the kind of reaction parents have when their troublemaking son suddenly shows up with a Seoul National acceptance letter after cramming for 50 days.
Regardless, I go on.
"Taking hostages is something I would never do, so you can all go home now. I'll wire $1,000 to each of you who suffered because of me—please check your accounts."
[??? What nonsense is this???]
[Compensation for damages? lmao]
[Mom, I'm gonna be a hostage when I grow up! (x6)]
[Is this really… terrorism? What have I been watching until now?]
"I'll also send $10,000 to each of the three who unfortunately died. I know the accounts, so don't worry."
Told you.
I'm rich now.
I wasn't before, but right now money is the easiest lever.
[Just… $10,000?]
[Tsk. People died, but $10,000 is too much…]
[??? He didn't even kill them. Isn't $10,000 too much?]
[Really? $10,000 for death compensation…]
[Seriously, he didn't kill them in the first place lol.]
Seeing the comments, I regret it. Maybe I should have said $100,000…
Too late—the transfers are already queued.
How do I know their accounts? Obviously, the genius hacker Seo-eun handles it. I trust Seo-eun.
[…Haa…] (Was that a sigh in my earpiece? Probably just me.)
Having said my piece, I glance back.
The unknown female "follower" is still trembling.
If I leave her here, she'll die or cause more trouble. Maybe tie her up…?
[Hyung. Just bring her here.]
Seo-eun's voice in my ear.
She wants me to bring this woman? Why?
I can't talk back aloud, though.
Hundreds of eyes on me—muttering to myself would look weird…
[I think I know her. If I'm right, she'll be useful. Bring her.]
Hmm. Alright.
Seo-eun sounds sure—there must be a reason.
"Miss, come with me."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaat?"
I scoop the crying woman up in my arms.
She startles and struggles. I hold her, then turn back to the crowd.
"Well then, goodbye."
I flick my cape forward—
And vanish.
[Did the stream end?]
[That ending was a little boring… 6/10.]
[Release Kim Sunwoo. Release Kim Sunwoo. (x8)]
[After seeing that, they decided to put Kim Sunwoo to death.]
===[The broadcast has ended]===
I kill the chaotic live feed too.
***
[A responsible villain who compensates victims? Real reviews from the hostages. Who is Egostic? A closer look.]
[[Editorial] A villain who executed his own terrorist "followers"—was it right?]
[Egostic dominates prime time two days in a row… NEWSTREE.]
***
[Writer]
Anonymous
[Title]
So it's true?
An A-rank villain kidnapped two ships and said, "Kill each other," yet in the end no one died. The next day, his "followers" staged a terror attack, so he showed up, killed them, compensated the hostages, and released everyone? All live-streamed?
[Anon 1] Come on. No way lol
ㄴ[Anon 2] Right? haha
ㄴ[Anon 3] No such person exists. (There is.)
ㄴ[Anon 4] He even hijacked radio and public TV? Definitely fake. (Not.)
[Anon 5] I've never seen a villain like that Mango Stick in my life. It's been two days and he's engraved in my head.
ㄴ[Anon 6] Who's Mango Stick? lol
ㄴ[Anon 7] Fuck, Mango Stick hahaha
ㄴ[Anon 8] What villain names himself Mango Stick? lol
[Anon 9] Honestly, he killed the villains, stopped the terror, and released hostages… isn't he a hero?
ㄴ[Anon 10] Hero (He kidnapped ships and tried to blow them up.)
ㄴ[Anon 9] But did anyone die? lol
ㄴ[Anon 11] I support the dark hero, Mango Stick.
***
The villain who etched his name nationwide two days in a row—Mango Stick.
…No—Egostic. She shakes her head and corrects herself. She's been scrolling too long; the public chatter is frying her brain.
"Haru, what are you doing?"
"Oh—unnie."
Inside a café.
College student Shin Haru is working on an assignment with her senior.
As a hero, she hides her identity and wears a recognition interference, so no one knows who she is.
She wants an ordinary college life.
By day, she's Shin Haru, an ordinary student. By night, she's Stardust, a hero.
"Haru, you don't seem focused. What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing. I just had something on my mind."
She waves it off, says she's fine, and reaches for her pen again.
But her thoughts are elsewhere.
Egostic… just what is that guy?