Chapter 285: Her Words
In the center of one of the streets of Seoul, empty after the terrorist attack, stood a huge white pillar and in front of it, a dark-haired, sunglasses-wearing woman with her eyes closed and her hands on it.
She was surrounded by the Association’s staff, who had already rushed to the scene.
Still unsure of Stardus’ condition inside, or what would happen if they touched the villain, they kept their guns drawn and watched the proceedings, waiting for orders from above.
…Although there were times when the female villain, Dungeon Maker, acted strangely and made everyone cringe.
After some time passed.
-Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Finally, the white pillar shook and Dungeon Maker quickly pulled her hand away.
– BANG!
Finally, the pillar exploded, covering the area in white powder and from within two figures emerged.
We escaped to the last chamber, where we were able to follow the Path of Perception back to reality.
After walking through a strange black space, we finally walked through a white curtain and opened our eyes to see the blue sky again.
I’m back in the middle of the city of Seoul.
“Are you all right, Stardus?”
“…Uh-huh.”
And what we saw was right in front of our eyes.
“Ha…”
Was Dungeon Maker, arms crossed, sunglasses on, sighing.
The first thing she did when she saw us was.
“I surrender.”
Smiling, she raised her hands and surrendered.
…No, that was fast.
Well, it was a good call. It’s too late to escape now, unless you have teleportation powers like me, and it’s better to be caught neatly than ugly.
It was a little weird, though. If she’d gotten away quickly enough by the time we destroyed the last room, she might have made it, so why give up?
…Actually, it’s just that I’m a little nervous about handing her over to the jail without finishing her off today. It’s hard to see what else I can do with a villain who’s already surrendered, and Stardus is already here but her powers are just too dangerous. What can I do?
“…Well, I’ll take her in right here.”
With that, Stardus left.
I grabbed my camera first. Where is it? Oh, it’s stuck here.
At the same time, I opened the reconnected chat window.
…Hundreds of chats began to flood in.
*
[Finally, finally, finally, finally, finally, finally]
[mkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!]
[Why now… why now… why now… why now… why now… why now… why now… why now… why now… why now… why now… why now…]
[Mangostick slice what was in there right now!!!]
[Do you know how long we’ve been waiting? I was cold…]
[No fucking way what the hell were you two doing in there, tell me now ahhhhhh]
[You took a video inside too??? Isn’t that right??? You’ll release it after the broadcast????]
[Egostic_Stardus_In the Labyrinth_Alone.avi!!!]
[Stardus cheeks look a little red, what is it??? Explain. Explain. Explain. Explain. Explain.]
*
The chat window was a mess.
I finally realized what was going on. Ah, so the broadcast was on while I was in that labyrinth? These remaining viewers… Well, why the hell would they stay? What were they watching?
I don’t know what they were watching, but I’m guessing they weren’t watching anything very interesting, because the chat window lit up like it was waiting for us. The scrolling is endless.
Anyway, while I was thinking about that, Stardus had long since beaten Dungeon Maker’s mechanical arms and captured her.
…Dungeon Maker, unlike the original, was still easy to deal with. No casualties.
I’ll never have to see her again, will I?
And while I was thinking that, I was watching the scene.
I blurted out to the Dungeon Maker in front of me, “No, that’s not it.”
No, that’s not it, I have to ask.
“Hey, Dungeon Maker?”
“…Hmph, what?”
At my words, she turns her head and looks in my direction.
Looking strangely cooperative, I asked her the question I was most curious about.
There was only one difference from the original.
“Why did you make the last room so tricky to escape from?”
Yes. That’s what I wanted to know.
I mean, why not make it a condition that we have to kill each other to get out, like in the original? Why the hell is the key a kiss, what does that mean? No, it’s like a real kiss. What if we did it with our eyes closed?
As a side note, when I brought it up, I unintentionally hit Stardus as well, and her cheeks flushed red as she paused for a moment.
Dungeon Maker, upon hearing this, smirked.
“Hmph…Why?”
I just stood there.
Eh, okay. My fault for trying to figure things out. The villains were all crazy in the first place, so what the heck. Let’s just say it could have been.
“…Still, I think you were almost there, just a little bit longer…”
She mumbled something more, but it didn’t matter.
The important thing is that we’ve just had a row of conversations, and the chat window is starting to burn even more.
*
[What the fuck were the escape conditions in the last room!!!!!]
[Stardus, why are you blushing? What the hell was the last room?]
[Why are you talking about something that only you guys know about except for us, why are you doing this to me when I said let’s laugh together~]
[If you’re an idiot who doesn’t know a damn thing about what you’re talking about, you’re a fucking idiot…]
[We, the Million Star Dust Fancafe, implore you to explain in detail what you two were doing in there… please… please……]
[You’ve been warned! If Egostic doesn’t explain I’ll shit my pants!]
[What’s with the dude up top lol]
[So what was the last room!]
*
When I saw the chat, I had a hunch.
The moment I said, “Wasn’t that the room where me and Stardus couldn’t leave unless we kissed?” I knew that chat was going to be on fire. I knew that tomorrow every dating show was going to put me and Stardus together. No one will believe me when I tell them we just walked through a wall.
…so I couldn’t tell them the truth. I’m sorry, viewers. It’s all for your own good.
Anyway, while I was making that judgment, Dungeon Maker was being dragged away by the Association staff.
Somehow, with her arm bravely stretched upward, thumbs up, she managed to say, “I’ll be back!”
…Don’t come back. Stay in the prison, please.
Just like that, Dungeon Maker was quickly detained and taken away.
All of the Association’s employees retreated into the distance while Stardus and I were left alone again on an empty street.
“…..”
“…..”
…Yeah, I guess I’ll have to get the last word in as I slink away, hmm, yeah.
With that thought, I turned to Stardus.
…My gaze drifted to her lips, just barely, and I turned away. Are you out of your mind, Da-in? Get a grip. You’re an adult, not a middle schooler.
Having gotten myself under control, I opened my mouth to speak to her.
“…Haha, Stardus. Hmmm, well. It was a bit complicated, but we managed to escape. I heard there was a villain in my front yard, so I came to see what was going on. Ha, ha, it’s a shame I couldn’t fight Stardus while I was in that labyrinth.”
…It wasn’t something I would have said after walking hand-in-hand with her inside, but I said it anyway. I don’t think Stardus wanted to hear it.
At my words, Stardus opened her mouth to speak.
“…I see. Shame on me, I should have dealt with you there.”
It was a very Stardus-like, heroic thing to say.
…I wish she hadn’t said it while blushing and not making eye contact with me.
*
[???]
[What’s with the vibe you two are giving off?]
[What?]
*
…Slowly, seeing that the chat window was also feeling this weird vibe, I quickly decided that I should not indulge and bounce. Not good, not good.
“…Hmph. Well, in that case, I’ll just have to bow out now that I’ve exhausted myself, and the next time we meet, it won’t be like today!”
As I was saying my closing remarks Stardus looked in my direction, still flushed, and hesitated.
“…Okay. And, Egostic?”
“What?”
Stardus looked at my hand for a moment, then at the camera, and then, as if deciding something, she spoke to me in a slightly lower voice than before.
“…You have big hands.”
“…..?”
*
[?]
[???]
[??]
[Huh?]
[That? What?]
[?????]
*
Hmm.
Okay. I don’t know what it was, but if it was a ploy to embarrass me, I think it worked.
“…Well, thank you for the compliments, and I’ll call it a day for today’s broadcast, so goodbye, everyone!”
*
[?????]
[???????????No we’re ending this here?]
[No fucking way, explain Stardus last comment and go.]
[The waning sun has stolen our Stardus!!!]
[MANGOSTICK ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]
[Stardus how do you know he has big hands, what were you two doing, explain it, explain it, explain it, explain it, explain it, explain it]
[You’re indulging me here? You’re a real villain?]
[Quick, release the video of what the two of you were doing in there!!!]
[Egoistic, do you want to see us go crazy, tell me what you two were doing inside this shit]
==[Broadcast ended]==
*
With that, I turned off the broadcast and hurriedly teleported away….convinced that I shouldn’t look at the internet or television for the rest of the day.
Okay. Let’s go home and get some rest. My mansion, my only sanctuary…
And with that, I returned home.
***
And at that time.
[…You, you had big hands]
“Ha?”
Han Seo-Eun, who had been watching the live broadcast with a worried heart, wondering if Egostic was okay, heard what Stardus said and muttered that in a cold voice.
…That girl?
