Chapter 35

EP.35 Behind the Stage

A few weeks before the day Stardust saved the plane that was falling from the sky.

In the underground base, I declared solemnly,

"Alright, let's give it a try. A plane hijacking."

At my words, the two of them nodded.

And so, we began to plan the plane hijacking.

"Bro, which flight should we attack?"

"Domestic flights only. Let's just pick one going to Jeju."

"Why not international flights?"

"If we attack a plane going abroad, there's a high chance foreign heroes will show up. Who knows what could happen if there are foreigners on board? So, we need to attack a Korean domestic flight with only Koreans on board, operated by a Korean airline."

"Ah... That's quite complicated. What about night flights?"

"Of course not. If we do that, that Shadow Walker guy might just teleport onto the plane and move everyone to safety."

"I see. Well, let's see... I think we should attack around this time."

"Let's check. Hmm... Yeah, this time would be perfect. We need to prepare in advance. What do we need to prepare?"

"Didn't you say you were going to do some kind of death nonsense quiz? Go and find some nonsense quizzes."

"Find nonsense quizzes? Seo-eun, I already know a lot. If you go down a road in six letters, what is it?"

"...I don't know. What is it?"

"Illegal Download (佛法 Down Road)! Hahaha!"

"....Bro, please find something else. I'm serious."

Seo-eun's cold response.

What the hell.

This is how the world works! It's all about deception and being deceived!

"Da-in, but if we're not using a bomb, what do you mean by crashing the plane?"

"Ah, that. If we use a bomb, it could damage the plane's structure, causing it to break apart in unpredictable ways. So, we'll just pretend to detonate the bomb, and the plane will actually just tilt and descend. If it falls without a landing point in mid-air, it will crash."

I shrugged and explained, and Seo-eun asked again,

"Ah... So, our goal is to make Stardust witness the plane crash?"

"Exactly! It will boost my intimidation and Stardust's popularity. It's a win-win, isn't it?"

"Um... But Da-in, can Stardust stop the plane?"

Soo-bin, who was searching and calculating something on the computer, asked me.

I turned to her, and she continued,

"Although the idea of crashing a plane was mine, Stardust's greatest achievement so far was stopping a moving train. Stopping a train is impressive, but there's a world of difference between a train and a plane. From what I've seen, Stardust pushed her limits to stop that train. A plane, however, is not only dozens of times faster but also requires considering gravity, weight, and energy, making it hundreds of times more difficult."

Soo-bin's reasonable doubt.

Anyone could have the same doubt.

It's like a child who learned addition and subtraction yesterday trying to solve a calculus problem for the college entrance exam today.

That's a fair point.

How can Stardust, who barely stopped a train, stop a plane?

But I simply replied,

"Stardust can do it."

That's what a protagonist is.

In the later parts of this world, enemies who can stop time, control space, and cause natural disasters appear.

The world eventually becomes one where god-like beings try to destroy the Earth.

And in that world, Stardust, the hero who protected South Korea and the Earth alone.

She is the protagonist.

In a sense, this world revolves around her.

And what makes this possible is one thing.

There is no limit to the growth of her abilities.

The protagonist doesn't die.

In reverse, this means that any pain that doesn't kill her makes her stronger.

So, as long as she has a desperate and determined 'will',

There is nothing she cannot stop.

"Stardust can do it. So, we should believe in her and crash the plane."

I said this with a serious face, and Seo-eun asked with a slightly pouting face,

"That's funny. What exactly are you basing your belief in her on?"

I just laughed it off.

***

The preparations went smoothly.

We made a fake bomb, attached smoke generators to the wings to pretend it exploded,

Before takeoff, we teleported into the plane, set up various devices, made the pilots fall asleep mid-flight, and tampered with the control panel...

My plans, derived from reading countless hero comics and movies, combined with the assistance of two geniuses, finally came to fruition.

Honestly, this level of terrorism... could almost be considered an art form, right?

The longer we planned, the more the actual terrorism was executed swiftly.

It felt a bit strange to carry out a remote attack for the first time, but I had to endure. I can't board a crashing plane, right? Safety first. Safety, safety!

"Hello everyone! Welcome to the largest quiz show in the sky, not on the ground, but in the air, The Ego Show Live, at an altitude of 25,000 feet!"

But when I said this in a wide-open space looking at the camera, it flowed smoothly.

Speaking into a microphone in a small room deep underground made me feel a bit embarrassed.

Seo-eun and Soo-bin kept looking at me from the side, please stop.

It's so distracting! I can't get into the mood!

"The rules are simple! There will be 10 nonsense quizzes, and you just need to answer them correctly!"

"If everyone gets it wrong? Boom. The bomb will explode!"

I spoke enthusiastically into the microphone.

On the screens in the base, the people inside the plane were being live-streamed.

Incidentally, this video is also being broadcast nationwide by hacking into the three major TV stations.

It seems that all kinds of technicians have attached every possible device to prevent the broadcast from being hijacked...

But, they were completely dismantled by Seo-eun and Soo-bin. Adios, amigo...

Actually, even if we didn't go this far and just live-streamed it on YouTube, they would probably air it as an emergency broadcast anyway...

But, it's a tradition now.

"Alright! Let's move on to the second question! What is the hottest fruit in the world?"

As I continued to broadcast nonsense quizzes, I realized...

Why are these people so good at answering?

Honestly, I thought they would all be out by the 7th or 8th question.

But they kept going, and we made it to the 10th question.

The only one left was a balding uncle. Let's see, his name is... Kim Deok-bae? How is he getting all these right...

"Alright! Here's the 10th and final question! What is the oil that children like the most?"

I threw out my final question.

I received the answer 'IU'.

Actually, whether it was 'IU' or 'May 5th', it doesn't matter.

The important thing is that whatever is sent, it's always wrong.

...But he managed to get it right even at the last moment. If it weren't for the multiple-choice answer, it would have been a disaster.

"Alright, let's see the answer. It says 'IU'. The correct answer was... May 5th! Too bad. Well, goodbye!"

After saying that, I pressed the button.

Boom! The pre-set noise generator started.

The plane began to smoke and fall. Actually, it's just descending.

"Phew, finally over."

I turned off the microphone and slumped into a chair.

Just sitting there and talking is so tiring...

As I lay there, Seo-eun, who had finished the operations, asked,

"Bro, what do we do now?"

"Just wait for Stardust to show up."

"Will she really come?"

"Of course, who is Stardust?"

So, I waited.

"She'll be here soon."

I waited.

"Should she be on her way?"

I kept waiting.

"She must be on her way."

After waiting for a long time,

"AAAAH!!! Why isn't she coming!!!"

I finally shouted!

Why isn't she coming! The plane will crash soon if she doesn't come!

"Ah! Bro, why are you suddenly shouting and scaring me?"

"Seo-eun! Check what she's doing! Hack into nearby CCTV if you have to!"

"Okay, okay... I got it."

"I found her. Bro, Stardust is just watching the plane from the beach."

"What?! Why is she just standing there?!"

This isn't the Stardust I know!

"It seems she knows that going there would mean certain death, so she's just standing there."

Seo-eun's words made me jump.

What?! No! Stardust can do anything if she sets her mind to it! If we just put her in front of the plane, she'll awaken and stop it, right?

"Damn... What do we do? If this continues, there's no way... Ah, the earphones. In-ear earphones!"

I had an idea!

Shin Hae-ru always wears a small in-ear earphone. If we can communicate through that!

"Seo-eun, can you force a connection to the earphone in Shin Hae-ru's ear? Hurry!"

"Just a moment... Ah, it's a secure communication network, so it's a bit difficult to hack... Sister! Help me out."

"Got it!"

While the two of them worked on the computer,

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I nervously tapped my leg. I'm so anxious.

After what felt like an eternity,

"Bro! We did it!"

"Finally!"

I rushed over.

The computer picked up a complex frequency graph.

"Bro, but if she doesn't answer, it's over."

"It's fine, I'll keep calling until she answers."

I replied and sat down.

I took a deep breath.

Hoo-.

Ring. Ring.

The call went through.

And.

Click.

The call was answered.

I spoke calmly and quietly.

"Hello, Stardust. This is Ego Stick."

[You damn bastard...]

Swear words came back as soon as the connection was made.

But, getting cursed out isn't the important part right now.

"Actually, I'm curious. Why aren't you going to save them?"

Why aren't you going to save them?

Why are you just standing there?

After throwing a few more curses, she finally spoke.

[How am I supposed to stop it?]

[It's falling at 1,000 km/h.]

[Are you telling me to die?]

When I heard that,

I was more shocked than I thought.

More shocked than I expected.

So, she was thinking this.

At this moment, she was thinking this.

I thought the Stardust I knew wouldn't think like this.

But, thinking about it, this could be the Stardust of this time.

The story of Stardust never giving up, even against impossible enemies, is from the later parts.

In the early parts of the original, she only fought enemies that she thought she could handle.

Because I twisted the story, she is currently feeling frustrated.

But the situation I presented is one that she can't handle with her current strength.

For the first time, she is facing a sudden disaster and is feeling frustrated.

This can't be.

The Stardust I know isn't like this.

Even in seemingly impossible situations, she grits her teeth, raises her head, and faces the situation head-on.

She believes in her abilities, trusts her will, and faces her enemies with unwavering determination. That's Stardust, Shin Hae-ru.

But why isn't she stepping up this time?

Ah.

Did I set the wall too high from the start?

I should have gradually raised the walls, giving her confidence that she could break through the next one.

Did the overwhelming wall break her will?

What do I do now?

What can I do?

...

What can I do? I need to give her back her will.

I need to make her realize she can do it.

I need to make her believe in herself.

What did she say?

'How am I supposed to stop it? Are you telling me to die?'

Yes, that's what she said.

After organizing my thoughts, I spoke calmly and firmly.

"No, you can do it."

You can do it.

Because you are the protagonist of this world.

Because you are the person who can achieve anything with will.

"You can do it. Stop the plane from crashing."

I spoke with genuine sincerity, and her quiet voice came through.

[...Does that make sense? Do you think I don't know you're trying to get rid of me?]

Get rid of me? Me? You?

I was taken aback.

Who is trying to get rid of whom?

Losing my composure, I spoke sincerely to her.

"Why would I want to kill you?"

Why would I want to kill you?

"What meaning would my life have without you?"

After realizing I had fallen into this world and wandered and agonized, I vowed to live the rest of my life for you.

"Without you, I'm just a common villain."

Not just a villain.

Without you, I'm just an outsider in this world. An unnecessary accessory.

I'm not myself, having lost all my family, friends, assets, social status, honor, friendship, love, and everything in this world.

What meaning would my life have in this world without living for you?

You.

Only you.

"You complete me."

So, step up.

Clench your fists, gather your strength, and fly into the sky to save the people.

You can do it.

Because you are you.

After saying that, I simply ended the call.

Looking to the side, I could feel Seo-eun and Soo-bin staring at me in shock.

Ah, I just revealed my feelings for Stardust in front of them.

Well, that's embarrassing.

I just smiled faintly at them and said,

"Let's see what happens now."

I did everything I could.

Now, it's up to Shin Hae-ru.

***

[Yes!!! Stardust!!! Successfully landed the plane!!! All passengers are safely!!! Getting off the plane!!! Fellow citizens!!! South Korea is safe!!!]

"Wow. Bro. You were right. She stopped it. How did you do it? Bro? Bro!"

When Seo-eun called me, I was sliding out of my chair.

"Seo-eun..."

"Why are you like this?"

"Let's go out and have fun..."

Really, after one terrorist attack, I'm so exhausted.

I need a break.

I need a break.

"One more terrorist attack and I'll be in the hospital, damn it..."

After three consecutive attacks.

I think I'll take a vacation.

This villain needs a rest.