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Chapter 82 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: The Man Who Appeared From the Catastrophe

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The Korean Supernatural Abilities Association, or the Hero Association for short.

Its operations control room in Seoul currently felt like a funeral hall.

"Right. So where is that thing those crazy Han-eun Group bastards made now?"

"It's currently attacking structures in the abandoned factory district on the outskirts of the metropolitan area. The personnel there have been evacuated, so there haven't been any casualties yet, but..."

"...How far along is the civilian evacuation in the city center?"

"Most of the outer areas have cleared out, but the weapon's current speed means it will catch up soon. Because B-rank and lower heroes helped the remaining people, there haven't been any casualties yet... but we don't know how long that will last..."

"...Haa. Right. Stardus. Where is she said to be?"

"She's reportedly flying at full speed, but given the distance from here, it seems it will take some time."

"...Understood."

The Association President stared at the monitor with a grim expression.

A colossal robot, resembling an octopus, was seen advancing, smashing through the city's outskirts.

Nothing seemed capable of stopping it.

...No. There was just one thing.

"Is 'it' not ready yet?"

"...They say it's still being set up, Mr. President. If we fire that, all the nearby cities and civilians could be caught in the crossfire."

"It's the President, not me, who makes that decision anyway, so telling me is useless. Don't forget that missiles are under government authority."

"...Understood."

"...Still, perhaps. To prevent even greater damage, we might have to accept a certain degree of sacrifice."

"....."

"...If Stardus can just defeat that thing, yes. That would be wonderful... What do you think her chances of winning are?"

"If she fought it at her full power, she might be able to hold out for a while, but fighting in the middle of the city like this, her power would be limited to avoid involving others... it seems difficult."

"Damn it. I figured as much. Can we reach Icicle?"

"Contact has been lost. It seems she's either unable to receive calls or intentionally ignoring them."

"Damn it. It's obvious that chairman bastard hid her away because it was dangerous. What a useless lot."

The Association President said, his expression heavy.

The colossal weapon had now almost reached the heart of the city, where people were gathered.

Even as they watched it on the verge of attacking the people, those at the association could do nothing.

They simply sat there, feeling deep despair, helpless.

Thus, all hope vanished.

And just before the massacre was about to unfold.

Suddenly, it stopped moving.

Emitting only a single shriek.

"....?"

As all the staff within the association were still reeling from the sudden turn of events.

A short while later, a voice suddenly emanated from the colossal weapon.

Unlike before, it was too bright, too cheerful a single phrase.

[Greetings, everyone! I present myself. This is Egoistic!]

"Egoistic...?"

The minds of the association staff buffered.

Why in the world was *he* coming out of *that*?

As they questioned the sudden situation, his voice continued.

As if it were the most natural, obvious thing to do.

His voice flowed from the colossal weapon.

[The Han-eun Group kids made something pretty cool, didn't they? Anyway... So. I took it.]

[This is mine now.]

"Wow."

And so, a small gasp, from an unknown source, was the only sound that filled the silent association.

***

The shadow cast over the thousands of people out on the city streets was truly a spectacle.

A shadow created by a weapon of overwhelming size, one that simply by looking at it, filled you with dread.

And that symbol of terror, which just moments ago was lifting and shaking buildings at people, proclaiming doom and gloom.

was now stretching, rotating its arms and moving its legs.

[This is quite fun! Hahahahahahahahaha!]

Egoistic's cheerful voice, emanating from the mechanical weapon at immense volume.

It seemed he had grown accustomed to the controls, as the weapon was now being manipulated with complete freedom.

And the people stared blankly up at the colossal weapon stretching above their heads.

As if only now noticing their gazes, Egoistic, tilting the machine's head slightly downwards, opened his mouth again to address the people.

[Hey, folks. What are you doing there?]

[We don't need any spectators, so would you mind clearing out? Shoo, shoo.]

He waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away flies, telling the citizens to leave—or rather, to obediently run away—as if he couldn't care less.

Only then did the people begin to snap out of it, one by one rising to their feet and hurriedly fleeing from the weapon.

And from the weapon, watching them, his words began to flow again.

[Anyway.]

[It's not often I get such a cool robot, and just standing around like this is boring.]

Then he spoke with a slight, exaggerated jest in his tone.

[I'm so bored, I just want to destroy the city! Agh! This colossal weapon is giving me destructive urges!]

[So.]

He stopped there.

As if this were the main point.

His voice tinged with a slight laugh.

He opened his mouth and spoke.

[Stardus. Would you mind coming over here?]

It was, truly, the first time in a long while that he had uttered Stardus's name.

And.

"Ha."

And upon hearing his words.

Stardus, who had just arrived at a building and heard his words, found herself smiling unconsciously.

***

Shin Haru.

She had never imagined such a sudden situation would occur.

Suddenly, a colossal weapon had appeared unexpectedly on one side of Seoul.

Watching it collapse buildings with a mere gesture or step, she gritted her teeth and flew.

Why, oh why, do such disasters always strike so suddenly?

To defeat the unexpectedly appeared weapon, Stardus flew. At full speed, pushing her limits, she flew.

What if she was too late?

That single thought continuously plagued her mind.

How long had she flown?

And just as she was almost, truly almost, within reach.

A voice streamed through the earpiece she had in her ear to receive updates.

[Breaking news! The colossal weapon has now reached the very edge of the city center! It's pulling up buildings and attempting to throw them at people! Oh, how could this happen... We'll connect to the scene...]

As the anchor's trembling words ended, a low, mechanical voice came through her earpiece. No. A chilling mechanical sound reached her ears directly from afar as she flew.

[Farewell.]

[Blaming your incompetent association.]

[Go to hell, humans.]

Hearing that, she gritted her teeth.

Was this how it was going to end?

Was she too late?

As she headed there with a heavy heart.

Suddenly.

A strange turn of events occurred.

[Aargh!]

Suddenly, a scream emanated from the robot.

[Oh? Everyone, the colossal weapon has suddenly stopped and started screaming! What's happening?!]

The anchor, startled by the sudden situation, reported the news.

A moment later, a voice suddenly came through, much brighter than before.

And it was.

[Greetings, everyone! I present myself. This is Egoistic!]

Her nemesis, her arch-enemy.

[What is this?! Egoistic has suddenly emerged from it!]

"...Egoistic?"

It was Egoistic.

***

Having nearly arrived at the scene, she now turned off her earpiece.

Because earlier, during the moment the colossal weapon had temporarily ceased movement due to some incident, she hadn't missed the opportunity and had flown, pushing past her limits.

Finally, what she saw as she landed on a rooftop with a clear view of the colossal weapon was.

Egoistic, dismissing the people who were on the verge of death as if they were a bother, in other words, simply letting them go.

[Stardus, would you mind coming over here?]

And the voice from the colossal weapon, calling her with a laugh.

And seeing that, she.

"Haha...."

Found her lips curving upwards in an unconscious smile.

On the rooftop of the building.

Where the wind blew, her blonde hair fluttering.

Standing on the rooftop, looking at the weapon that Egoistic was presumably piloting—the very weapon that had been about to massacre everyone just moments ago.

She remembered.

Yes, she had experienced a situation like this before.

A memory of someone appearing and handling everything in a difficult situation, just like now.

From a rooftop, just like last time, a voice that had sounded just like this.

'Greetings, everyone! This is Egoistic!'

Yes.

When the crocodile villain had emerged at the festival, causing terror.

Just as people were on the brink of death, and she was about to step forward, even risking exposure of her identity.

A certain person had appeared instead, giving strange reasons, and resolved the problem.

...And now here.

In this desperate situation where thousands—no, perhaps tens or hundreds of thousands—of people were on the verge of death.

He had appeared from somewhere, resolved the entire situation.

And seeing him casually save people as if it weren't intentional, as if it were simply a bother, and then call out to her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Stardus, Shin Haru.

She had, at some point, realized.

"Ha....."

That her heart had unconsciously pounded from the moment she heard the name Egoistic.

And then, after suppressing the entire situation, seeing him casually save people as if it weren't intentional, and then call out to her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

She had, without realizing it, burst into laughter.

"Right..."

Feeling a sense of relief wash over her entire body.

She then muttered towards Egoistic, a smile on her face.

"Well, since you called me."

"I suppose I should go."

Without a moment's hesitation, she pushed off the ground and flew towards where he was.

And even as she flew.

The corners of her lips were slightly upturned.

***

"Brother. Stardus is finally coming our way!"

"Oh? Alright, let's move back a bit more. If we fight near here, everyone's gonna die, you know."

"Hey. Are you finally going to duke it out? Sounds fun."

"Dain. Be careful with the controls. If you fall, it'll be a disaster."

"That's right, Brother Dain."

"Okay, okay."

Inside the colossal weapon's head, the cockpit.

My companions, who insisted on coming along when I said I'd just tussle with Stardus for a bit and then go back. In front of them, I was operating this colossal weapon.

Look at this robust steel frame moving at my command. This is a man's romance. It feels incredible. Truly, as if I could do anything.

And I found myself grinning unconsciously as I watched Stardus, who was now close to me.

"Haru. Let's really power up today."

It's not often you get a chance to go head-to-head, one-on-one, with a colossal weapon like this, without any other distractions.

Let's really push our abilities today, maybe double them.

Smiling, I loosened my grip and began to manipulate the control panel in earnest.

My plan was to mess around with Stardus for a bit, and once I felt I had grown sufficiently, to make a quick getaway.

Good. For the first time in a long while, the plan is unfolding perfectly, without a single hitch.

Today's the day I finally get to go home in one piece!

***

And at that moment.

The President's office.

In the dimly lit room, an agent continued speaking.

"Mr. President. The stealth missile is ready for launch."

As her words ended, another agent beside her added, opening their mouth.

"This is a report just in from the association. They've reported that the situation has somewhat stabilized, and it seems the missile doesn't need to be launched. The possibility of additional casualties is low."

"..."

Listening silently to their words, the President, whose body was shrouded in shadow.

said nothing, merely quietly fiddling with the missile launch button.

"....Hmm."

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