Chapter 24

EP.24 Alligator Hunt

"Stardust!!!!! If you don't come out!!!!! I'll destroy everything!!!!!"

In the heart of the city where a festival was being held.

There, instead of a festival, a funeral was taking place.

"AAAAAAH!"

Screams of people could be heard from all around.

Citizens who had been caught in the sudden attack were lying on the ground everywhere.

Bang-. Bang-.

Buildings, booths, streetlights.

A monster was approaching, smashing everything in its path.

This creature, covered in green scales, was called Crocodileman.

He first appeared in the middle of the series.

I remember he was a scientist who, while experimenting with alligators, had an accident and became this hybrid.

The important thing is not that, but that he shouldn't be appearing here.

It's not the right time for him to show up, and he wasn't even on the priority list. Where did he suddenly come from?

"Stardust!!!!! Why aren't you coming out!!!!! Are you too busy with Ego Stick and the fish to show up!!!!!"

...Is that why he suddenly appeared?

Suddenly, he started smashing everything around him in a fit of rage.

"Huh, huuu."

There were quite a few people groaning on the ground.

Most people had already fled, but there were still many who had been caught in the chaos and were lying on the ground, groaning.

This guy usually lives as a normal man but can transform into an alligator monster at will, making him a particularly ruthless villain.

Ah, if he didn't transform, he'd just be a real teleportation-ambush-one-shot cut. He should just be taken out without any fuss.

Anyway, the situation has already escalated.

He suddenly appeared and is causing a ruckus, demanding that Stardust show up. ...

Crocodileman. He's probably a new villain to the people here. He must have been hiding until now.

Later, the Association would classify him as an A-rank villain. Personally, I think he deserves an S-rank. The Association usually gives villains higher ranks than heroes, so I don't understand why he's only A-rank.

Anyway, this guy was a real problem in the original series.

His skin is covered in thick scales, making him almost immune to most physical attacks.

A monster that can withstand bullets, bombs, and other physical assaults.

He's a tough opponent for Stardust, who relies on brute strength. No matter how hard Stardust hits, he can take it.

The biggest issue is that he's obsessed with Stardust. He's the first villain who doesn't just cause chaos but specifically calls out for Stardust. In fact, when I called out for Stardust, I often referenced this guy from the original series. When called, our justice-driven Stardust usually rushes to the scene.

Anyway, the situation is critical now.

Some green-haired, tanned thug is trying to steal Stardust's attention from me.

No way! I won't let that green thug take my Stardust!

And timing-wise, this is a very difficult situation for Stardust to handle. If he comes here now, he'll have to go to the Association to receive recognition reduction, which will delay him. People will die before he gets here. What about those people lying on the ground, groaning and bleeding?

Yeah, it's a hundred percent. The probability that Stardust will show up without receiving recognition reduction is a hundred percent.

It absolutely can't happen.

As you can see from the final episode 'Revealed' of the original series, the world after his identity is exposed is a hell for Shinharu. All kinds of hate comments, terrorism, and sniping pour down on him like a waterfall. Criticism multiplies.

Yeah, I wanted to make Stardust happy, but I can't just stand by and watch him suddenly fall apart like this.

So, I have no choice but to step in.

But if I do, I might be called an anti-hero again.

So, I need to explain, not just make excuses. To do that?

I need to turn on the broadcast.

Sigh, at this point, I don't know if I'm a villain or a YouTuber.

***

"Stardust!!!! Still not coming out!!!!"

Crocodileman's shout as he knocked everything around him down.

He clenched his fists, looking angry.

His fists were almost as big as a human head.

"Well, then I have no choice. I'll kill everyone here!!!!!"

He walked towards the debris where people were lying, his fists still clenched.

The people who were lying on the ground tried to escape as Crocodileman approached, but they were already in such bad shape that they couldn't move.

As his shadow loomed over them, the people were filled with fear.

"Pl-please, spare us..."

"Blame Stardust, not me!!!!"

He raised his hand to strike, and the people, sensing their impending death, closed their eyes tightly.

Then, in the quiet, a sound of music was heard.

"Huh?"

Crocodileman tilted his head.

Suddenly, cheerful rock music filled the air, completely out of place with the current situation.

The sound of a noisy electric guitar solo came from somewhere, and Crocodileman turned his head.

He saw me standing on the rooftop of a nearby building.

I was standing on the railing, looking down at Crocodileman.

On my right, a Bluetooth speaker was blasting the loud music at maximum volume.

I was standing on the rooftop, dancing to the beat of the music. Not intensely, just swaying to the rhythm. Occasionally, I clapped to the beat. First appearances should be loud, right?

On my left, a camera was broadcasting my image to YouTube using telekinesis.

Should I greet them?

Let's set the tone again.

"Hello everyone! It's me again, the real villain of this era, the public enemy of the Republic of Korea, Ego Stick. Nice to see you!"

[Mango Stick! Mango Stick! Mango Stick! Mango Stick! Mango Stick! Mango Stick! Mango Stick! Mango Stick! Mango Stick!]

[Here comes my porn]

[Is he a god? Is he Mango Stick? Is he a god? Is he Mango Stick? Is he a god? Is he Mango Stick?]

[Calling himself a real villain and public enemy lol]

[Enemy of Yako lol]

[Did he misname the real hero of this era?]

[Wasn't he supposed to be a public hero? What the hell?]

[LOL the opening is so funny, why is he dancing?]

[What, where are we now?]

[Isn't this where the green monster is terrorizing?]

[Seems like it?]

[Why is he here again lol]

I still had the bag I brought from the underground base on my back.

I rummaged through it and pulled out a wireless microphone. Let's see... if I pair it with the speaker? It worked.

The music from the speaker stopped, and the microphone was connected.

I tapped the microphone once.

Tap-.

Boom-.

A heavy sound came from the speaker when I hit the microphone.

Yeah, it's connected properly.

"Ah, microphone test. Microphone test."

When I spoke into the microphone, the sound came out of the speaker at an incredible volume. Damn, my ears are ringing.

It's a custom-made speaker by Se-eun, so it has a concert-level output despite its small size. Yeah, this should be heard clearly from the building below.

I spoke to the alligator kid below with the microphone. Should I use formal language as usual? No, he's annoying, so I'll use informal.

"Alligator, listen up. You're surrounded. Surrender now."

Crocodileman, who was about to start massacring civilians, turned and walked towards me.

He shouted at me. Why is his voice so loud without a speaker?

"Who are you!!!!"

"I'm the Ego Stick you slandered a few minutes ago, you brat."

"What did you say!!!!"

The alligator snout squinted its eyes and looked up at me. After a while, he finally recognized my face and started shouting in anger.

"You!!!! Ego Stick, isn't it!!!!"

"Yeah, I'm Ego Stick."

"You, I'll kill you!!!!"

Then he suddenly started running towards me. I was taken aback by his sudden charge. What did I do to deserve this?

But, how is he going to get up here? Is he going to take the elevator?

Before I could think about it, he punched his hands into the building's exterior and started climbing. Is this guy completely insane?

"AAAAAAH!"

"What are you doing?"

The monster screamed as he climbed the building.

I just stood there and watched. He's climbing faster than the elevator. The building isn't very tall, so he'll be up here soon.

"AAAAH!"

He finally climbed up to the rooftop.

When he landed, the building shook with a thud.

"You, I'll kill you!!!!"

"Hey, let's talk about this."

I easily dodged his charge with a teleportation. I just moved behind him. No need to go far. I left the speaker on the ground and only took the microphone and the bag.

He was confused when he didn't hit me and I disappeared. Come on, he should know from the news that I have teleportation abilities.

He kept turning his head to look for me, so I kept teleporting behind him, staying out of his sight. He was very confused. Is he usually this stupid?

Finally, I couldn't stand it and slapped the back of his head.

"What are you doing, you idiot?"

This guy seems a bit dim...