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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A Villain's Grand Entrance
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I had decided to become a villain in this world.
The sole reason was to protect Stardus.
In other words, my entire commitment to this villain persona was for Stardus.
But to fail to protect Stardus *because* of a villain persona I adopted *for* Stardus? That's ridiculous. It's completely putting the cart before the horse.
That's why, at this very moment, I appeared here.
No, persona or not, I had to stop Stardus from dying.
"Ta-da! Good evening, everyone. It's Egoistic!"
So, standing before the ruined Demon King's Castle, I spread my arms wide, smiled, and declared that.
Hmm. And there was no reaction. Only a chilling wind rustled my cape. *Tsk*, this is why performing without an audience is so disheartening.
Of course, that was only because my immediate surroundings consisted of a half-collapsed Stardus and the Demon King, who, from the looks of it, was utterly bewildered.
Meanwhile, in the chat window, which was mindlessly broadcasting live to the entire nation, pandemonium had erupted.
*
[?????????]
[Holy crap, LOL! I knew it!!!!!]
[Egoistic!!! Egoistic!!! Egoistic!!! Egoistiiiiiic!!! Holy crap, LOL!]
[Ah, LOL. Isn't it 'common sense' for a villain to step in when a hero is in danger?]
[If you're a Mango fan currently bowing in all four directions with tears in your eyes, smash that like button, LOL. I'll go first, LOL!]
[Now *this* is what I call awesome, LOL!]
[Mango-kiyah-hoo~! Mango-kiyah-hoo~! Mango-kiyah-hoo~! Mango-kiyah-hoo~! Mango-kiyah-hoo~! Mango-kiyah-hoo~! Mango-kiyah-hoo~! Mango-kiyah-hoo~! Mango-kiyah-hoo~! Mango-kiyah-hoo~! Mango-kiyah-hoo~!]
[This scene cured my cancer. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.]
[S-Class Hero Apple Mango has entered the chat like a boss, LOL!]
*
Just as expected, the chat window was absolutely on fire.
*Tsk*, well. Since I'd predicted it beforehand, I wasn't particularly surprised. My only concern was how to clean up this mess.
And, of course, I had a plan.
"Long time no see, viewers! It's certainly novel to meet again under these circumstances."
I began to run my mouth in earnest.
Talking about things no one asked about.
"No, it's just that I was resting at home when suddenly all hell broke loose. And in *my* workplace, no less? I was so flabbergasted I rushed right over. Seriously, what do you mean by messing up someone's business like this?"
I said this while panning the camera around the ruined surroundings. My utterly bewildered expression and tone were a bonus.
And the viewers, too, understood my feelings.
*
[What????]
[Workplace = Terrorist site... Business = Terrorism, so it *is* true... right?]
[What's true, you moron, LOL!]
[Mango, are you ashamed of being a hero??]
[Why can't you just say you came to save Stardus, to protect Korea!!!]
[Why won't anyone listen to Mango? Why can't you just give our hero that one thing!]
[Ah! You're right~ This is totally a villain move.]
[Everyone just type 'lol' and move on, LOL!]
*
...Or not?
Anyway, that's not what's important. My image will recover after a few more terror attacks anyway, so for now, the key is to keep running my mouth shamelessly.
With that, I quickly continued.
"In any case, what I want to say is that I don't care what kind of terror attack any villain carries out. But, excuse me? Causing such a ruckus without *my* permission, the one in charge of this area, is just unacceptable. So, the conclusion is..."
After saying that much, I grinned widely, pointed a finger at the Demon King standing ahead, and said,
"I'm going to finish off that guy, the one Stardus has already taken care of."
[.....Hah.]
The Demon King, who had been slowly dragging its spear toward me and where Stardus lay behind me.
Upon seeing my act, it let out a hollow laugh, as if utterly dumbfounded.
And then, at that moment.
[It seems... you've underestimated me.]
Thump—
"Ugh..."
The moment its low murmur ended, the air instantly grew heavy.
An intense pressure enveloped my entire body, making it hard to breathe.
Within it, I barely managed to keep my balance, almost losing my footing.
...Wow, holy crap. Stardus fought through all of *that* until now? And this is even after it got weaker?
Just as I was thinking that to myself.
From ahead, an ear-splitting roar echoed, like a hammer blow.
[Who dares, to interfere with *me*-----!]
And simultaneously.
A house-sized black figure charged towards me with incredible speed.
*
[Kyaaaaaaaah!]
[Whoa, holy crap, but now that I think about it, can Mango actually win against that?]
[We're screwed, we're screwed, we're screwed.]
[Run away~!]
*
And so, just as I was about to go from Egoistic to Ego / Stick.
I pulled out something I had prepared beforehand: a glowing white spear-like weapon.
The creature then swung its red spear at me.
I gripped my glowing spear vertically and brought it directly into the trajectory of its swinging spear.
And just like that, I blocked it.
Clang—
"Ugh..."
[You... you fiend-----!]
Right in front of the dark Demon Castle.
There, red and white lights clashed, sparks flying.
Then, before the Demon King, whose face I could sense was contorted in a frown even though I couldn't see it, as if it had never imagined its attack would be blocked.
I pushed my spear-wielding arm forward, a corner of my mouth curving into a smirk, and spoke to the creature.
"Why... didn't you see this coming?"
[Graaaahhh—!]
Shing—
Boom.
Their spears bounced off each other again, and the Demon King, startled by its attack being blocked, let out an enraged roar and recoiled backward.
...As expected, it seems its intelligence is waning, almost completely consumed by demonic energy. Thanks to Stardus fighting it for so long, it's definitely much easier for me to deal with.
While the creature observed me, I grinned and swung the glowing spear in my hand.
[.....]
Still, it wasn't completely berserk, as it kept its distance for a moment, examining me.
Yes, it must be flustered. It only exchanged a single blow with me, yet it must have felt itself being pushed back in terms of power. And against me, who appears weak, no less.
But honestly, I'm probably in a tougher spot than it is. No, I'm not the type to fight hand-to-hand like this...
Though I stood there smiling as if nothing was wrong, in reality, my legs were trembling from the sheer bloodlust and oppressive aura it emitted. It was virtually impossible for me to go toe-to-toe with a creature that heralded the peak of power inflation in the original story.
...Of course, I had found a way.
If my innate abilities weren't enough... then I just needed to rely on my gear, right?
I once again brandished the glowing white spear.
The ultimate weapon against demons. A sacred weapon, optimized for battling the self-proclaimed Demon King, designed using all my knowledge from the original story to exploit every single one of its weaknesses.
I pointed it at the creature, a smirk still on my face, and shouted,
"Come on, don't just test the waters like a coward, come at me!"
Damn it, bring it on. With an S-class item, I'm invincible.
Naturally, my provocation enraged the creature.
[Hah, now even a mere minnow dares to challenge me—!]
[I'll tear, your limbs apart-----!!!!]
The Demon King charged at me again, uttering truly terrifying words.
And towards it, I, too, grinned and lunged. Yeah, an opportunity like this won't come again, so I might as well enjoy the full power of my gear. Taste my Holy Spear.
And so, I began to clash with the creature, which was two or three times my size, producing deafening roars.
Splashes of vivid red and white flames. Wind whipping madly. And a chaotic chat.
*
[Whoa, holy crap, LOL. Mango Stick said he'd only get the last hit, but he's fighting insanely well, LOL!]
[What is S-Class Hero Apple Mango doing, going absolutely wild, LOL!]
[What's that glowing stick Egoistic is holding? It feels super sacred and holy.]
[Egoistic with a light stick LOL]
[He's just unilaterally winning, is this for real, LOL?]
*
And I was, quite simply, beating the crap out of the Demon King.
"Haha, thanks to Stardus handling everything, it's almost too easy!"
[Ugh, you fiend-----!]
The sacred white light pouring from my spear, continuously illuminating the space as if to overturn it. Our Demon King, taking it head-on, looked like it was about to die of pleasure.
...Of course, the atmosphere was gradually turning unfavorable for me too. Even in its weakened state, it was an S-class villain, one of the strongest in the original story, spreading insane bloodlust and an oppressive aura. It even seemed to be performing some kind of mind manipulation, as negative thoughts began to creep in, and strange whispers seemed to reach my ears.
So while on the surface I appeared to be almost overwhelming the already weakened creature, in reality, I was becoming increasingly precarious at that moment.
And then.
Of course, I had prepared for this entire situation.
[Oppa, are you ready!]
"Oh, really?"
With that, Seoeun's voice, which had reached my ears at last.
Realizing that the time was nigh, I swung my spear a few more times at the creature, then grinned and said,
"Hey."
[Graaaah, you fiend-----!]
"Goodbye."
[....What?]
After saying that, I simultaneously swung my glowing spear at the Demon King, kicked it away, and then distanced myself from it.
Slashing through the air, I pointed my spear at the creature and shouted,
"Fire!"
[Yes!]
Simultaneously.
Flash.
From the rooftops of the buildings surrounding us, a white light flashed. More precisely, it was the ultimate anti-Demon King weapon I had prepared beforehand: the Holy Cannon, which flashed from all directions.
[....What the—!]
And with that, our Demon King's last words ended.
Fizz.
KABOOOOOOM!
KABOOOOOOM!
KABOOOOOOM!
KABOOOOOOM!
From all directions in the sky, countless beams of light simultaneously slammed down on the creature with an immense roar.
[Graaaaaaahhh—!]
The Demon King's wailing scream.
And watching the dazzling explosion of light, I murmured to myself without realizing it.
"....It's art."
Now *that's* art.