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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Aftermath
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"How could the president of our own country! In a place where its own citizens are! Do something like this? Even a ruthless villain like me wouldn't do such a thing!"
After Ego-stick's exposé video, which garnered tens of millions of views, swept the nation, only that story continued to dominate the news.
"Following villain Ego-stick's exposé, the president's approval rating has been plummeting day by day. It has hit a record low of 9%, collapsing from double-digit support..."
"The Hero Association President held an emergency press conference in public. The main point was that the President did indeed launch a missile with nuclear or near-nuclear capabilities, stating that thousands of citizens would have been sacrificed without Hero Stardust's efforts."
"The President's secretariat attempted to de-escalate the situation. They clarified that it was merely a missile, not a nuclear one, but public reaction remains frosty. Netizens showed agitated responses, asking, 'Is it not a nuclear bomb, but a hydrogen bomb? Isn't that the same thing?'"
"Since its inauguration, the government has faced its greatest crisis to date. Calls for the President's impeachment are even being raised..."
"Separately, the Hero Association's approval rating continues to climb. Voices praising the President of the Association's principled remarks and Stardust's appropriate response are growing louder day by day."
"Breaking news. Foreign reports indicate that the International Hero Association Alliance is discussing Hero Stardust's promotion to S-rank. Experts believe her performance in this battle likely influenced this. Unlike A-rank, which can be designated by domestic associations, S-rank requires authorization from the International Hero Association Alliance."
"Furthermore, villain Ego-stick is also reportedly being considered for S-rank promotion. Unlike Stardust, whose discussion has just begun, Ego-stick has been under consideration for several months, and an official announcement is expected by the end of this month, according to an association official."
***
[Breaking News) Ego-stick S-rank promotion coming soon]
Article Link
=[Comments]=
[Finally]
[Why did it take so long?]
ㄴ[Probably because S-rank is decided by international organizations?]
[S-rank Hero King Mango is coming ㄷㄷㄷ]
[Looking at his performance this time, he's an S-rank hero, right? Right?]
*
[Ego-stick is a hero, and this is a fact recorded even in the Goguryeo Tomb murals.]
No deaths, dozens of terror plots thwarted, if you combine that bridge he broke last time and this time's robot kidnapping, I don't even know how many people he's saved.
Hey, you still don't support Ego? You're stubborn, really stubborn hahaha.
=[Comments]=
[Honestly, if you're Korean? Shouldn't you support Mango?]
[Recommended hahaha]
[Fact) It is.]
[I'm thirty-forty-five years old. I've never seen a villain like this.]
*
[How to understand Ego-stick. Honey Tip]
No, damn it, why is this villain saving people and causing trouble? (X)
Ah! Ego-stick was a hero! (O)
=[Comments]=
[This is exactly it hahaha]
[Seriously, you need to change your way of thinking.]
[Why is the villain like this? (X) Ah, he's not a villain! (O)]
[Just... ^Villain-wannabe^]
ㄴ[Is that a compliment or an insult hahaha]
*
[Seriously, the President's really despicable points]
After taking control of the giant mechanized soldier that even the government couldn't stop and saving Seoul,
Instead of an award, he launched a missile.
Seriously, are these guys even human?
=[Comments]=
[They can't even kill him since he teleports anyway, idiots hahaha]
[Hero-related matters should be handled by the Association, why is the government getting involved and causing trouble?]
[But he screwed up big time, didn't he? Hahaha. His term is almost over, looks like a serious lame duck period is coming.]
ㄴ[Honestly, he should just be impeached hahaha]
*
[But why did the Association President cut ties with the President so perfectly?]
He just immediately announced that it was indeed a nuclear warhead.
Shouldn't the Association cover for the government? Aren't they in a cooperative relationship?
=[Comments]=
ㄴ[Nah, the Association and the government aren't very close. A characteristic of this government is that it sees the Association as a threat, so it heavily checks their power. The Association does the same.]
[1. The President is like a sinking ship, so they're cutting the rotten rope or delivering the final blow. 2. To defend Stardust.]
ㄴ[Personally, I think it's more like number 2. If the President had questioned why Stardust stopped it, the Association would be in a difficult position. Theoretically, it was indeed fired to eliminate a villain. So, it seems right that they preemptively threw him under the bus before he could make a fuss.]
*
[A shipper just revealed a chilling truth....scary]
Anyone who has stood against Ego-stick so far
Has all miserably fallen ㄷㄷㄷ
Ego-stick... How far does his power go...?
=[Comments]=
[Stardust: ???]
ㄴ[Ah hahaha, girlfriends are an exception hahaha]
*
[Breaking News) Electra Faction annihilated.... Photo from last incident revealed]
(Photo)
A photo of Ego-stick catching a falling Stardust in a princess carry mid-air has been released hahaha.
Someone nearby apparently took it with a telescope hahaha.
Yep hahaha, it's Ego X Star hahaha.
Ego-stick's heart has already gone to Stardust, hasn't it? At this point, it's practically a given, right?
=[Comments]=
[That's fake.]
ㄴ[Fake joke incoming hahaha]
ㄴ[???: Anyway, it's fake.]
ㄴ[Are you coming to your senses?]
ㄴ[Can't accept reality wwwwww]
[Woah hahaha]
[Seriously, I told you there's something going on between Ego-stick and Stardust hahaha]
*
[Fact) Ego-stick liked Stardust from the beginning.]
Leaving a letter after killing a villain? That was for Stardust.
Calling her after the first terror attack? That was Stardust.
Anyway, getting involved? That was Stardust.
And now even saving Stardust this time ㄷㄷㄷ
True love, acknowledge?
=[Comments]=
[Seriously, at this point, it's not just shipping, it's a rational suspicion hahaha]
[The photo's authenticity is debatable, so it's a bit ambiguous, but]
[As an Ego-Star supporter, I was full of hype when Ego first called Stardust hahaha]
*
[Stardust's popularity is through the roof lately.]
The number of members in the Stardust Fan Cafe has reportedly surged by 2000% compared to usual ㄷㄷㄷ
She seems to be the biggest beneficiary of this whole situation, yep...
=[Comments]=
[Crazy hahaha, what the heck?]
ㄴ[She's slated to be South Korea's first S-rank... and she practically saved all of Seoul's citizens, so her popularity is through the roof.]
ㄴ[If Ego-Star get married, they'll be an S-rank couple? Hahaha]
[The Stardust Fan Cafe manager there was super excited hahaha. They were even giving out chicken to members and going wild.]
ㄴ[That person is truly dedicated hahaha. It's like they live for Stardust.]
[Honestly, going head-to-head with that giant weapon was pretty insane hahaha.]
*
[Yusung Group donates relief supplies to Seoul evacuees]
Separately, they also donated billions ㄷㄷ.
=[Comments]=
[Is Yusung Group that one? The one whose chairman's granddaughter is Icicle?]
ㄴ[Yep, that's the one with Lee Seol-ah.]
[Yusung Group is gaining favorability hahaha]
[Yusung Group became Korea's top conglomerate after Han-eun Group fell this time, so they must be managing their image.]
ㄴ[Other companies are also doing a lot of M&A these days, hahaha.]
ㄴ[Buy their stock, seriously, it'll rise endlessly hahaha.]
[Yusung Group manipulates South Korea from behind the scenes! And A-rank Hero Icicle is the mastermind!]
ㄴ[Hello, [Username]. This is the Yusung Group legal team. If you do not delete this comment by 10 PM tonight, we will take legal action against you for spreading false information and defamation on behalf of the company.]
ㄴ[Reality Check incoming hahaha]
***
Busan.
Yusung Group Headquarters.
Top floor.
A suited employee approached her, who was leaning back in a chair, stroking a cat, and gazing at the night view.
"Ms. Seol-ah. The manipulation of public opinion is largely complete. This government is now beyond recovery. We have also reached a good compromise with the Association President."
"And what about that matter?"
"Yes. We succeeded in contacting and recruiting the next presidential candidate. He will now follow our instructions."
"Good. Things are going according to plan. Anything else?"
"...The Chairman has stated that he will delegate all authority to Director Seol-ah."
"Finally. That's good."
At that news, she smiled faintly for the first time and turned the chair, which had been facing the window, back to the front.
With long, sky-blue hair.
Cradling and stroking a white cat.
The woman, smiling gently, was...
Lee Seol-ah, the successor to Yusung Group, commonly known to the public as A-rank Hero Icicle.
"Now that things are somewhat settled... Shall I go meet Haruna?"
***
A hidden mansion deep in the mountains, also known as the Egostream Headquarters.
There, I was a man with his hands clasped on the desk, deep in serious thought.
That man was me.
"....."
What was I thinking about?
The President? That's not my concern. He was bound to falter and fall in the original story anyway.
S-rank promotion? That was somewhat expected, and it happened in the original story, so it's not a big problem. No, actually, there is one, but I can probably solve it.
Yusung Group's conquest of South Korea, spearheaded by Lee Seol-ah? I'm planning to get a piece of that action anyway, so that's fine.
The real problem I was contemplating was...
'With this, the debt is repaid, right?'
It kept coming back to me since that day.
Stardust's face, her expression, as she smiled faintly and said that to me.
This.
No matter how much I thought about it...
"She didn't figure it out, did she?"
I'm scared.