Chapter 3

EP.3 The Show Must Go On

Inside the chaotic cabin, people were entangled in a struggle.

"What are you doing! Press the button right now!"

"Get out of the way! If you can't press it, I will!"

"Are you all crazy? They haven't pressed it yet, so why are you doing this?"

"If we wait any longer, we'll die! We should press it first, right?"

Two ships.

Two bombs.

Two buttons.

The ship that presses the button will 'definitely' survive.

But if you don't press the button, you 'might' die.

In fact, if you think rationally and logically, there's no reason to press it.

Unless there's a mentally unstable person who presses any button they see, no one would press it.

It's not like the other ship is full of prisoners who might press it.

It's not like if neither ship presses the button, both will explode.

So, if you think rationally, everyone would just stay still and win, so no one would press it...

But then! If there's no rational reason to press it, wouldn't it be better to prevent rational thinking?

My agitators, start your agitation and fabrication quickly!

"Those guys are going to press it! I know everything!!!"

"Right! We need to press it first to survive! How can we be sure they won't press it? This world is about killing or being killed!!"

So, I released agitators on both ships.

Before people can think rationally, spread the rumor that if we don't press the button first, everyone will die.

As a result, the confused people suddenly feel anxiety and fear.

Their rational judgment becomes blurred, and they eventually fall into a collective frenzy.

Press the button before they do!

Of course, as time goes on, this will likely turn into a battle between emotion and reason.

The 'emotion' driven by agitation and fear will urge them to press the button immediately.

Press it, or you won't survive.

But as time passes, 'reason' will rise in their hearts.

Why?

As time goes on, they will gradually realize.

"Still, the other ship hasn't pressed the button!"

A woman's sharp scream shakes the scene.

Yes.

As time passes, people will realize.

The other ship hasn't pressed the button to make the ship explode.

Thinking about it, there's no reason for either to press the button.

The stage I set up is perfect.

First, I cut off all phone and internet connections on the ships.

Wi-Fi? LTE? None of that exists.

People looking at their phones will think they're broken.

At the same time, a broadcast comes on the TV.

A pre-recorded broadcast I made.

There's a bomb on your ship.

If it explodes, everyone dies.

But there's a detonator on your ship.

However, this detonator will trigger the bomb on the other ship.

If you press it, the people on the other ship will die.

But oh? The other ship has a detonator too.

Even if you don't press the button, what if the other ship does?

Press the button or not, it's up to you.

The time limit is 30 minutes. Good luck.

And the chaos begins.

A mess like a war.

The captain in the captain's cabin is holding the detonator, pondering, while the passengers are still in an uproar.

Yes, this is the scene.

The scene I wanted to direct so much.

A scene from a movie I saw before I was possessed by this world.

The most famous scene from the movie where the Bat-Human and the Clown fight.

A night-time ship dilemma.

Although there, it was a prisoner ship and a cruise ship, and the background was night.

Due to adult circumstances, I couldn't replicate it exactly.

I mean, where are there prisoner ships in Seoul?

Even though this is a superhero comic with lots of superpowers, the setting is Seoul, South Korea, so there are no prisoner ships.

I was a bit worried that the dramatic tension might drop.

But, there are other ways to handle that.

But this was really hard to prepare.

Unlike that time, this world has smartphones, so I had to block all signals.

And there are so many minor heroes in this small country, I had to prevent them from interfering.

A villain's life isn't easy.

Anyway... Let's see, are they still fighting?

Yes, Ship 1 is still fighting.

I knew it. It's going according to plan.

Then, what about Ship 2?

"Those who think we should press the button, please raise your hands."

People are closing their eyes and raising their hands.

The captain is counting the numbers.

What is this? It's not like a class president election.

Hmm, it's a bit ridiculous.

Even though I intended it, it's a bit absurd.

I turned my eyes from the projector to Stardust, who was standing a bit away from me.

She was still focused on the screen with a stern face.

Wow.

She's really beautiful.

Stardust, the protagonist of the comic [Stardust!].

One of the few superhero comics drawn by a South Korean artist.

And the first commercially successful Korean superhero comic.

Stardust. Real name, Shin Haru.

Golden hair that shines like starlight.

A red latex suit that clings to her body.

And an incredibly beautiful face.

Wow, really...

Maybe it's because I'm meeting my favorite character in real life, so it's a bit enhanced...

I'm so happy just to have seen her in person...

Of course, it's not time to die yet.

Eek, did I look at her for too long?

She started glaring at me.

"....Do you think you'll get away with this?"

Her voice is beautiful too.

Hmm, I'll bury those thoughts deep and focus on the task at hand.

I spoke cheerfully.

"What a hurtful thing to say. Honestly, did I tell the people on the ship to press the button and die? I just threw the detonator, and they're making a fuss on their own..."

I smiled as I said this.

Actually, I did release people to manipulate the situation, so I do feel a bit guilty.

But if no one finds out, it doesn't matter! Right.

Stardust, still stiff.

I spoke to her again.

"Actually, I have a great interest in you, Stardust. From what I've seen, you're a very, very exemplary hero."

She turned to me, surprised by my sudden words.

Maybe I should say more.

"In an interview, you said that everyone has the courage to sacrifice themselves. Wow... It's really a great quote. I even stood up and clapped when I heard it."

Let's laugh again.

One second, two seconds, after laughing, I spoke again.

Snap, I snapped my fingers.

As I snapped my fingers, the lights I had set up behind her turned on, illuminating her.

As she squinted at the sudden light, I continued.

"So, I'll give you a chance this time."

"Can you change those selfish people, Stardust?"

As I said this, the camera turned on again.

On the broadcast, the scene would now show this place, not the cruise ship.

This scene would be broadcast to the entire country, including the passengers on the ships.

"Yes, it's been about... 20 minutes. 10 minutes before the deadline! At this moment, our hero Stardust has something to say! Everyone, let's listen! Passengers, please pay attention!"

As I finished speaking, the camera started to turn towards her.

Stardust, slightly flustered by the sudden situation.

But, as a professional hero, she quickly understood the situation and looked straight at the camera.

She opened her mouth.

"Hello everyone. I'm A-Class Hero Stardust."

Then she started a speech.

"Everyone, what do you think of the person next to you?"

Despite the sudden situation, she spoke naturally and steadily.

It was a short speech, about three minutes.

She talked about how the person next to you is someone's kind family. Trust people. Blessed are those who trust. Don't worry, and so on.

After her deeply moving speech, I turned off the camera.

Looking at the cabin, I saw...

A few people stood up, wiping tears and clapping.

The captains shouted "Hooray!" and threw the detonators into the sea without hesitation. Huh?

They suddenly started singing a hymn to humanity, and the 30-minute deadline was almost up.

The surviving passengers cried and cheered, congratulating each other. Wow, it's dramatic, just like an 80s Korean patriotic movie.

Anyway, Stardust seems relieved that everyone survived.

This will be on YouTube tomorrow. [Japan is amazed, Europe is shocked, and America is envious of K-Hero! Passengers wept and united after hearing her words!]

Okay, it's time to start acting again.

I naturally changed the camera to show both of us...

Okay, go.

I pretended to be shocked, slightly turning my body to look at the wall where the video was projected.

"What, what? This can't be. These people, these selfish people..."

I muttered, pretending to be very surprised. A bit louder, so the camera could catch it.

"This can't be..."

But.

This kind of thing was bound to happen.

Some of the passengers and all the captains were people I hired. Haha.

If I just left them alone,

What if they pressed the detonator?

A show must be thoroughly planned.

Things rarely go exactly as the producer intends.

You always have to be prepared for variables.

To do that, you have to control the situation.

The captain, the passengers.

All scripted.

Now, I need to act well.

I pretended to look at Stardust with a shocked expression and thought to myself.

Stardust, Stardust. Shin Haru.

In the original, she was always oppressed and slandered.

Don't worry.

I'll make sure you have a smooth path.

Manipulation and direction.

Deception and lies.

I'll use anything.

Let's start acting.

"No matter what, this can't be... What's going on?!"