-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Hero's Sacrifice and the Villain's Gambit
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Ugh..."
Flying across the sky, Shin Haru let out a groan. Could she stop the falling missile? Could she do it in her current weakened state? Honestly, she wasn't sure.
"..."
The moment she took flight, the missile immediately caught her eye. Seeing it now approach directly in front of where they were, she gritted her teeth.
Could she stop that?
No, that wasn't what was important. The moment she'd made her decision, there was no choice but to stop it.
For the citizens who might be caught in its blast.
For the city that could be utterly destroyed by it.
And... to protect a certain man who might die because of it.
So, instead of fleeing from the incoming missile, she moved towards it.
And in a fleeting moment.
She threw herself at it.
...
Honestly, she didn't even know how she did it. The moment of impact, she felt a twisting pain in her guts, a tearing sensation in her flesh, and a shock that reverberated through her head.
A shock similar to, no, even worse than when she'd previously lifted an airplane, slammed into her. Especially since she was already exhausted from the prolonged battle.
It was a situation where it wouldn't be strange to lose consciousness.
But she endured with superhuman mental fortitude.
After colliding with her, the missile had slowed, but it was still moving forward. To stop it, even on the verge of losing consciousness, she pushed her power to its limit.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been absolutely impossible.
However, she was the kind of person who grew stronger with each adversity she faced. The kind of person who became even stronger if there was someone to protect.
She.
With a strength she didn't know she possessed.
Finally.
Stopped the missile.
And then.
Now, almost beyond her own limits.
She hurled the missile back into the sky.
"..."
Just how much had her abilities amplified in that brief moment? The missile she launched flew higher and higher into the sky, becoming a star in the heavens.
And then, she collapsed.
"....Ah."
She let out a short gasp as she fell. The moment she had thrown the missile back, her body, having pushed its abilities beyond their limits, seemed to give out, and her strength drained away.
Collapsing in mid-air, falling was the natural consequence.
As she plummeted, she squeezed her eyes shut. If she fell like this, would she be alright? No matter how sturdy her body was compared to an ordinary person, she couldn't guarantee her safety falling from this height. She probably wouldn't die, but she'd have to prepare for several days in the hospital.
Just as she braced herself for the impending impact.
*Whoosh.*
Instead of an impact, she felt someone's hands gently embrace her.
".....?"
At the unexpected sensation, she slightly opened her eyes, wondering what was happening.
What she saw was.
Egostic, floating in mid-air, holding her.
***
"What the hell?!"
Seeing the missile flying in, my eyes widened. When the hell did they launch that? They didn't even fire it when things went haywire in the original story, did they?
Well, honestly, the missile isn't really a problem. I could just abandon the mech and escape. Stardus has almost finished powering up... it's just a shame she can't awaken before this ends, that's all.
So, that's not the problem.
Then why did Stardus suddenly fly upwards?
"To stop that...?"
I muttered, dumbfounded, without realizing it. No, why stop that? Did she get a message that a nuclear bomb was coming? There's no reason to stop a regular missile, is there?
No, before that.
Is she even in a condition to stop that right now?
"Oppa, what do we do?"
"First, hack into the news broadcast being filmed by that helicopter. Quickly."
"Okay... but, we don't have enough equipment here..."
Even as Seo-eun grumbled, she and Soo-bin started doing something with the laptop they'd prepared beforehand.
"Ha-yul, and Choi Se-hee, both of you stay here for now. I'll be back."
After telling the remaining two, I teleported. Where? To the very top of the giant mech's head.
"Achoo! Ugh, it's cold."
Stepping out onto the top of the head, a sudden cold wind blew. The temperature seemed to have dropped, probably because night was approaching. But that wasn't what was important.
Standing on top of the mech, my cape fluttering, I looked at Stardus. I didn't know why she'd intervened, but... Could she stop that? She and I had been fighting since morning until now, into the afternoon, without eating anything.
I found myself biting my nails in worry. No, this was different from before. In the original story, there were scenes of her easily stopping trains or planes, but I'd never seen her stop a missile in such an exhausted state!
I was practically doing a nervous tap dance. Ready to rescue her if needed, I watched Stardus with a trembling heart. Since the broadcast was being hijacked, there was nothing to worry about there.
And so, Stardus and the missile collided.
I watched, my palms sweating. What if that thing exploded?!
Fortunately, the missile didn't explode mid-air, engulfing Stardus in flames. I'd even brought Ha-yul to heal her if needed, so it was a relief.
Wait, it's good she caught the missile, but what's she going to do with it? If she throws it nearby, it'll just explode there, won't it?
But as if to dismiss my worries, she blasted the missile she was holding high into the sky. The missile flew higher and higher, as if it would break through the heavens and reach outer space. She threw it with that much power? No, it's still going endlessly upwards!
It really looks like Stardus awakened. Hmm, I originally planned to develop her abilities through mech battles, but it seems she grew in a different way. Well, as long as the destination is reached, any path is fine.
The moment I assessed this, Stardus lost her balance and collapsed, beginning to fall from the sky. Ah, she ran out of strength. That makes sense. But if she hits the ground like that, it'll be a big problem.
The moment I thought that, my body moved on its own.
First, I need to save Stardus.
...And then, I'll ask her why she stopped that. Was it really a nuclear bomb?
*
And, back to the present.
I was naturally holding Stardus in a princess carry.
"..."
This was the second time I'd done a princess carry in this world. It felt a bit strange to have Stardus nestled snugly in my arms. Even though I was holding her over her suit, I could feel how soft her skin was. How was she like this, despite doing so much hero work?
...Wait, why am I having such strange thoughts? I didn't think anything like this when I carried Choi Se-hee like this before. This is weird.
Anyway, my eyes met with Stardus, who was in my arms.
"..."
And for a moment, neither of us spoke. I expected her to immediately yell, 'You piece of trash! Let me go at once!', but surprisingly, she just stared at me silently.
She was breathing in shallow, ragged gasps, looking like she was about to faint. But why wasn't she saying anything, even seeing me? A hero being carried by a villain? Thanks to this, my original plan was ruined. I'd intended to playfully tease her back if she yelled at me, but what was this?
Floating in the air, slowly descending to the ground, I quickly racked my brain for something to say, then finally opened my mouth with a smile.
"Stardus! You've done something extraordinary again. I thought you were ascending to heaven, suddenly flying up in the middle of a fight!"
I just threw out some random words. Just show some reaction, please. But she said nothing, quietly resting in my arms with her eyes downcast. What's wrong with her? Is she mute?
Alright, then I'll ask her this.
"By the way, Stardus. I have a question. Why did you stop that missile?"
No, really, why did she stop it? If she'd just left it alone, it would have neatly destroyed the giant mech, and if I was lucky, it might have gotten rid of me too. Two birds with one stone.
In response to my question, this time she opened her mouth. Oh, I thought I'd be ignored again.
With a slightly trembling voice, she spoke to me.
"...Just..."
"Just?"
"With this, the debt is paid, right?"
She said that much, then gave a faint smile and immediately passed out. Looking at her, still unconscious with a slight smile on her lips.
I couldn't smile.
"..."
Paid the debt?
What does that mean? Does that mean she stopped it to save me? Not for some other reason?
...Why? How? I'm a villain, aren't I? What hero in the world would throw themselves in harm's way to protect a villain?
Thinking that far, I felt a little dizzy.
...Could it be that she figured it out? The reason I'm doing villainous things? My true intentions?
No, that can't be. How rigid she is. And with my criminal record. Why would she?
...But then, what was that reaction just now?
Now that I'd arrived on the ground, I laid Stardus down nearby. She lay there, still unconscious and quiet.
"..."
I pressed my hand firmly against my throbbing head. Right, no matter how she sees me, that's not what's important right now. What's important is how to handle this situation. Everyone probably saw Stardus fly up to stop the missile. But the problem is why she stopped it. If she said she stopped it to protect me, it would cause a huge uproar. ...I don't mean a dating scandal. Of course, it would cause a scandal, but her qualifications as a hero would be questioned, and hostile forces could attack her.
So what should I do?
I need to justify her actions.
I quickly brainstormed. The public's distrust of the government in this world, the president's low approval rating, the favorable public opinion towards Stardus and me, people who are easily incited. The missile that's gone into space and isn't visible.
Good, this is the answer.
After fully forming my plan, I contacted Seo-eun.
"Seo-eun, did you hijack the broadcast?"
"Yes. And that news camera? I had them turn that off too."
"I'm starting the broadcast now, so throw me the camera... No, I'll go myself."
With those words, I teleported back to the mech's cockpit. My sudden appearance made everyone look at me, wondering what was happening.
"Choi Se-hee. The camera, please."
"Huh? Here."
"Seo-eun, you prepare to broadcast now."
"Got it."
I took the camera from Se-hee, then carried it and teleported back to the top of the mech's head.
Now, twilight was setting in.
Gotta do this quickly and leave.
I took a deep breath, then turned on the camera. My appearance, visible on all terrestrial TV channels through broadcast hijacking for the first time in a while. And this time, with the added 'Egostream' feature, my image would reach across the entire internet.
And sure enough, the moment I turned it on, the chat window filled up.
[Broadcast ON as hell LOLOLOLOL]
[Damn it, why are you only turning it on now LOLOLOLOL]
[Where's the epic giant robot battle that made my chest swell with excitement?????? Where is it!!!!!]
[The news broadcast cut off after Stardus suddenly went up, what happened?]
[What's going on? Why are you outside?]
[Where's Stardus?]
[What was the reason Stardus suddenly shot up earlier? I'm dying of curiosity]
[Ugh, I came in expecting something, but where's the giant mech... it was the only fun thing on the evacuation route...]
I looked at the camera, smiled, and began by greeting everyone.
"Greetings, everyone! It's Egostic!"
And I immediately continued.
"And you might be wondering why the battle suddenly stopped, but unfortunately, this is the end. Stardus has collapsed."
[?????]
[What do you mean?]
[Why did Stardus collapse? Did she lose in the end?]
[No no, she suddenly went up earlier, and then it cut off, so it's probably related to that?]
[Where's my epic mech fight!!!!]
"Stardus collapsed after stopping something that suddenly flew towards us during the fight. Everyone, please listen without being too shocked."
I said that much and then took a brief breath.
Right, this is where it gets important.
From now on, I will deceive myself. Propaganda and fabrication, when taken to the extreme, can even deceive oneself.
All of this is for Stardus. Come on, I am truthful... I am truthful...
Filled with self-conviction, I then shouted in a voice more truthful than anyone else's, a voice full of credibility.
"Just to catch me, the President launched a nuclear bomb at Seoul!"
"And Stardus threw herself in the way to stop it!"
"This is the truth, everyone!!!"
[?]
[Huh?]
[??????????????]
[Ah, damn, why does it sound plausible when he says the President did it?]
[So that's what it was]
[Woah, for real?]
[It's a lie, that can't be!... Wait, actually?]
[Damn, so that's why Stardus flew? That's chilling]
[I knew those government guys would cause trouble someday, I knew it]
[Thiiiis~~~ President, I,,knew,,it,,,,@!! Arrest them,,,right now,,,you bastards@@@!!!]
Alright, let's begin the propaganda and fabrication.
Did you think I'd just stand by?
Let's all get screwed together, you bastards.
***
"What absolute nonsense!!! Prime Minister! Shut that down immediately!! Block the broadcast!!!"
"...I apologize, Mr. President, but he's hijacked the broadcast, so there's nothing we can do from our end."
"Ugh..."
"Mr. President, we have a huge problem!"
"What is it now?!"
"The Association President has issued a statement! 'It is true that the President launched a nuclear bomb'... He's probably trying to protect his heroes!"
"...What in the world is this..."
The President collapsed.