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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: An Ominous Feeling
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"....To think I'm still writing this."
Inside my room.
I was writing in my diary there, as always.
As always, I was jotting down events, a simple list of occurrences, and the emotions I felt.
I know this will be absolutely necessary later, so I write diligently, but I do wonder how much longer I'll have to keep it up. Still, I have to write it, what else can I do?
After going to the Vine Witch and having her seal the special diary so no one else could see it, I put it back in the drawer. Then, I naturally turned on my computer.
"Hmm..."
Various files were visible on my desktop.
Numerous terror plans, and information on other villains that I was acquiring one by one with Lee Seola's help.
Step by step, everything was being prepared meticulously.
...So, it's okay to take a short break, right?
Having made that decision, I quickly entered the Stardust fan cafe.
Our Star Dust fan cafe, which I personally manage.
It's a place where people gather mainly to geek out and praise Stardust.
"...."
The fan cafe was peaceful today as well.
Popular posts usually featured Stardust defeating villains, or videos, but typically, everyday posts were common.
Especially prevalent recently were discussions about who would win: Egostream vs. Stardust.
Once a debate ignited, they'd fiercely oppose each other, showing a heated display with over 100 comments. The main topic was whether Stardust could win if all Egostream members attacked at once.
...By the way, the sad part about this topic is that I'm not included in 'all Egostream members'. No, I'm pretty strong too, if I use Behemoth and bring a gun, you know? So when I subtly brought it up, I got the incomprehensible reply, 'Egostic is a product.'
'...If Egostream and Stardust fought all together, what would happen?'
Actually, people might not know this, but that's impossible. I would never order everyone to fight at once in the first place. Why would I be crazy enough to do that? If I did, that entire area would be utterly devastated.
However, if we assume that happened...
'...In our team, Eunwol and Mr. Shinryong are strong.'
Since our numbers are overwhelmingly superior from the start, generally speaking, Egostream would likely win. In the original story, when the corrupted Seo Eun hacked the villain detention center and caused a mass breakout, that was one of the four main events for a reason. There's no business like sheer numbers. The Moonlight Cult Gate was the same.
Of course, that's generally speaking.
'If they fought to the death, Stardust would ultimately win, though.'
I nodded, lost in thought.
Stardust. The protagonist of this world.
Body enhancement, flying, super senses—none of it amounted to anything compared to her greatest characteristic.
The sole reason she survived until the chaotic latter half of the original story was this: 'The more trials she endures, the stronger her abilities become.'
Her abilities grow stronger.
A truly simple, yet powerful trait.
Generally, heroes have fixed abilities. Just looking at our PMC members, their abilities are the same as they were initially.
However, they only appear stronger because they've unlocked the hidden potential of their abilities through training and learned to utilize them more effectively.
In contrast, Stardust doesn't do that; her ability itself simply grows stronger in the face of a crisis. Purely, just like that.
'Given that, if Egostream and Stardust fought...'
Wouldn't Stardust, constantly experiencing crises, keep growing stronger and eventually overcome them...?
Of course, if our side fought to the death, it would be a different story again, but anyway.
I, who had been idly lost in such thoughts, suddenly snapped out of it.
...No, why am I worrying about such useless things?
There was something more urgent than that.
Namely, meeting the Vine Witch and asking her a few things.
"Right. It should be around here..."
Muttering that, I opened the drawer, and soon pulled out 'that thing' which had been sealed deep inside.
"...."
This, glowing faintly white with a slightly dull gray light.
The Moonlight Stone I picked up from among the scattered ashes of the Demon King's remains after the last Demon King's Castle incident.
"Right. Since I have time today, maybe I should go soon..."
With the stone lump in my pocket, I prepared to go see the Vine Witch after a long time.
Phew, I'll have to change my top again.
***
A building nestled in a secret alley.
I was trudging down the stairs leading to the dim basement of that place.
And sure enough, the endlessly connected stairs, which seemed to go on forever no matter how suddenly I descended.
Trapped on the repeating staircase like a scene from a horror movie, I...
Naturally tapped a specific part of the wall.
Creeaaak—
And sure enough, the brick wall slid open.
I familiarly walked through the antique corridor that appeared behind the wall, knocked on the black door at its end, and opened it.
And as I stepped inside, I felt warm air.
The room, subtly lit by candles, felt too elegant to be a self-proclaimed witch's chamber, and behind a curtain, her silhouette was visible.
"....You've come."
"Yes, hello. It's been a while."
As I drew back the curtain and stepped inside, I saw her sitting at a small round table. The Vine Witch, clad in a deep green robe.
"I knew you would come today."
She said this while caressing a round crystal placed on the table.
...Does magic have something like that?
Anyway, after exchanging a few more perfunctory greetings, I immediately got to the point.
"Witch, do you know what this is?"
With those words, I pulled out of my pocket and showed her the Moonlight Stone.
She quietly reached out her hand towards the softly glowing stone, and then murmured.
"...I sense the aura of the Moon God. Is it theirs?"
"Yes. That's right."
"...They are hastening the disaster themselves. A world that will collapse anyway."
She sighed lightly, then spoke.
"I will try to manage it. Though I don't know if it will ever emit its original light again..."
"Yes. Thank you."
After disposing of the Moonlight Stone, I asked the question I originally came to ask.
"So... Witch. How much time do we have left now? Until the wall between our dimensions thins and connects with yours?"
"Wait a moment. Roughly..."
The Vine Witch pondered for a moment, then quietly declared.
"This year or next year seems to be the limit. If those fanatics get involved, it might even be hastened further. It seems it's time to start preparing."
"...Yes. I understand."
I nodded, having reconfirmed the information I wanted.
It had been a rather cryptic conversation, but in summary, it meant that there wasn't much time left until the Moonlight monsters crossed over from that dimension. I had wondered if the timing might differ from the original story, but it seemed not.
Having achieved my initial purpose for visiting the Witch today, I chatted comfortably for a bit longer, then prepared to return home.
Until she stopped me.
"...A fortune?"
"Yes. I can now tell fortunes, so why not have your future read before you go?"
She said this, her hand resting on the crystal ball.
...Can magic see the future? I never heard anything like that in the original story. Besides, time isn't the Moon God's domain.
I didn't know what the reason was, but I was curious what she would say, so I sat down again and decided to follow her lead.
Then, she placed her hand on the crystal ball, closed her eyes, and murmured. Light emanated from the sphere, and the Witch also opened her mouth.
"...I see it, yes. I see it, your future."
"....What do you see?"
"You are walking a difficult path. A hard road."
I listened intently to her words, spoken with her eyes closed, as if in deep thought.
"...To have so many women accompanying you in the future, it will certainly be no easy path, indeed..."
"What did you say?"
I asked, startled without realizing it, and at my words, she slightly opened her closed eyes and chuckled.
"Just a joke."
".....Haha. What a joke, indeed."
...It seems her sense of humor has become a bit strange from staying here all the time.
Anyway, stopping her jest, the Vine Witch, who had in the meantime returned to a serious expression, spoke in a grave voice.
"My seeing the future was indeed a joke. However, that you will walk a difficult path is no joke. Can you bear that?"
"Ha. Isn't that obvious?"
I chuckled without realizing it, and in a voice full of conviction, repeated similar words I seemed to have said before.
"If I were going to give up here, I wouldn't have started in the first place."
Right. If I were going to give up because it was hard, I wouldn't have even decided to start back then. On that day, after falling into this world and wandering for years, when I finally made up my mind.
And...
I crossed my arms and fell into thought.
...Actually, everything before the Moonlight Gate is prepared. According to the schedule, it should proceed smoothly until then, without any major hitches. No significant incidents will occur.
However...
"....."
Then why, on earth...
...do I keep having this ominous feeling?
***
South Korea, somewhere underground.
In that dark, dimly lit space, several figures were laughing.
"...Heh. Yes, we've finally uncovered it."
"Now that guy is finished."
They spoke in sinister, laughter-laced voices.
"Yes. Who would have known. That we..."
Among them, the leader-like villain, seated in the center.
He opened his mouth, unable to conceal his laughter.
"We have finally uncovered the true identity of that conceited Egostic."
"Leader. This is information containing his face, name, and address. They say it's definitely accurate information!"
"Kukuku... Yes. On the day of the decisive battle, let's spread his identity nationwide through the broadcasting station. Khahaha! Now, Egostic's reign over South Korea will end!"
Thus, they erupted in maniacal laughter.
Finally, the man spoke with a chilling smile.
"Once his identity is revealed, he'll practically be finished by the heroes' hands."
"Khahaha! That's right. Who would have thought that the villain who controls South Korea would be working a part-time job at a bakery with his parents!"
"Kukuku. Yes. Let's see if you can still laugh like that when everyone nationwide knows your face and name, Egostic. No, if I were to call you by your name—"
Having said that much, he uttered the real name they believed to be Egostic's, with a cold laugh.
"- Kim Cheol-woo. That's you."
Khahahahahaha!!!
And so.
Their maniacal laughter filled the dark basement for a long time.
Meanwhile.
"Cheol-woo, can you arrange these loaves of bread?"
"Yes, Mom."
Kim Cheol-woo (25, university student, ordinary citizen), working at his parents' bakery, was diligently carrying bread.
Unaware of the tragedy that would soon befall him...
***
"Phew..."
"Hmm? Egostic, why the sudden sigh?"
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing. I was feeling a bit uneasy just a moment ago, but it suddenly disappeared, so I felt relieved. I guess it was just my imagination..."
"...How anticlimactic."