Chapter 93

Airship Bombing

An endless sea stretching to the horizon.

Above it, where the scorching sunlight reflected off the water, making it shimmer.

A massive ship was floating and heading there.

And at the very front of its deck.

From there, where the sea spread out right before one's eyes.

I spread my arms wide and shouted into the camera.

"Hello everyone! It's Egostic!"

[Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic! Egostic!]

[Why has it been so long, lol]

[Mango! Mango! Mango! Mango!]

[Bro, take me, bro, take me, bro, take me, bro, take me]

[Laugh bell as soon as the broadcast started, lol]

[What, where is this?? What sea???]

[Looks like you're on a boat, but why can you see the sky?]

[What event is this today, lol]

Looking at the chat window, still devoid of any sense of urgency, I smiled. I don't know when it became like this... but, well, what can't be helped, can't be helped.

Anyway, with my back to the sea and my arms spread wide, I continued speaking to the camera.

"Everyone. As I mentioned in the last broadcast, I said I would create a union for villains, by villains, and of villains. I named it Egostream."

After saying that, I grinned and brought over the three people in rabbit helmets who were cowering beside me.

"Let me introduce them! These are the new villains who have agreed to collaborate with our Egostream. Please say a few words to the viewers!"

Suddenly, the camera turned to them, and the three of them were startled.

Then, the one in the middle, the red one, started to speak with a trembling voice.

"Ah, hello... We are the, the, the Lepis Gang... Yes, um, ah, hello?"

Like a nervous new employee in front of an interviewer, the first one was trembling.

No, how can these villains be so scared!

[LOL]

[Why so nervous, lol]

[Why say hello twice, lol]

[No, are these villains or elementary school class presidents, lol]

[The villains are so cute wwww]

[I want to wear a rabbit helmet]

[No, the characters are so fresh, lol, what is this?]

Naturally, the viewers' reactions were explosive.

Why are they so scared, it's not like they're at a school festival?

The first one, after saying that much, seemed to have lost his mind and just stood there blankly. The second and third ones were the same.

I can't let this go on, I have to help them.

I approached the first one, who was standing there blankly, put my arm around his shoulder, and smiled at the camera.

"Ha ha ha. This is his first time on the broadcast, so he's a bit nervous. Our first one, you need to smile, okay? Ha ha ha."

"Ha ha..."

"These are the Lepis Gang. They have this amazing airship, so I convinced them to sign an exclusive contract with our Egostream. I saw them playing in the sea and brought them over. So, they are now on our side thanks to my persuasion!"

"...Ha ha ha, yes. That's right."

[No, why does Mango look like a gangster, lol]

[No, how can a villain's name be First One, lol]

[No, are they really friends? They look like reformed villains, lol]

[Why did the first one look like he lost his mind when he spoke, lol]

[You need to smile, lol]

[Is this the advice of a veteran broadcaster?]

[It looks like they were planning to use the airship for terrorism, and Egostic noticed and beat them up, saying 'This is mine,' is that just a feeling?]

...How did you know?

Anyway, let's move on from this trivial matter. I brought up today's main topic.

"Anyway, I just noticed that Busan is almost in sight! Yes, as some of you might have guessed, my next terror attack is the conquest of Busan. A fun journey to turn Haeundae into the Egostic Republic!"

As I said this, the airship had already floated to the front of Busan's port.

There, I spread my arms wide again and spoke.

"Alright! Busan is now mine. Load the cannons!"

"Yessir, Boss!"

Behind me, the first, second, and third ones shouted, and the cannon ports on the side of the ship began to open one by one.

And at the same time, I shouted.

"Fire!!!"

"Fire!"

With their cheers from behind, the cannonballs started to fly towards the city.

The terror attack had begun.

And...

I moved the camera away for a moment.

Then, I quietly muttered.

"Right. The terror attack is starting now. Have you evacuated everyone?"

As I muttered this, I heard Isol's voice, tinged with laughter, from the earpiece.

[Yes, of course. We've already evacuated everyone under the name of Yuseong Group. I think a news article will soon come out saying Yuseong is more competent than the government, hehe.]

"Right, right. And I'll probably only attack this southern area for now. What will you do?"

[Hmm... I don't want to appear suddenly, so I'll come a bit later. The south is mostly empty, and there are still a few people who haven't evacuated in the southeast. I'll come out when you attack there.]

"Right. Do as you see fit. See you later."

[Yes, see you then.]

After ending the call, I looked down at the city again.

The scene captured by the camera was of the city being attacked by the giant ship floating in the air.

People will never know. That this is a pre-arranged game.

A massive national fraud, planned and discussed with the hero beforehand.

While the terror attacks I've caused in Seoul so far have been focused on making Stardust grow, this one is different.

It also serves to show that I don't always cause terror in Seoul where Stardust is, and to expand Egostream by collaborating with the Lepis Gang, and to help Icicle's rising popularity.

In short, it's a thoroughly planned performance.

I've already laid out all the execution plans. Roughly, I'll attack the city, and just before the people are attacked, Icicle will come out and save them, and we'll be driven away, saving the city.

A clean, flawless job.

I stood on the deck of the floating ship, looking down, and thought.

While it's fresh and good to do a terror attack in a new place, feeling the sea breeze.

Still, doing it with Stardust is the best.

But for now, I need to focus on Icicle.

After thoroughly attacking the seaside, I moved further inland.

Now, the real show begins.

***

Boom. Boom.

The city under attack.

And the people who have fled.

"Wow... What is that?"

People gaped at the giant airship casting a shadow over the city.

And now, the airship is approaching the place where people have evacuated.

"Ah!"

Just before they are attacked.

Whoosh.

Suddenly, a sharp sound came from somewhere.

In front of the people, a massive wall of ice appeared.

And a woman's voice from behind.

"Don't worry, everyone! I'm here!"

And the woman with blue hair, who appeared in front of them, was.

A-grade hero, Icicle.

She appeared just as the people were in a life-or-death situation.

She stopped the incoming cannonballs with ice in mid-air and then shouted at the airship.

"Is it Egostic? Stop the bombing right now! Or you won't be safe!"

And after her shout, a man's loud voice came from above.

[Ha ha ha! That's impossible. You must be Icicle, the pride of Busan! Nice to meet you. Then, let's see if you can stop this!]

With that, bombs started to rain down on Icicle.

"No way!"

She fired ice in all directions to block the bombs.

While doing so, Icicle created ice platforms in the air and hopped from one to another, moving towards the airship above.

[Ha ha ha! Come on, try to catch me!]

"Egostic! I will bring you down right here!"

With that exaggerated dialogue between the two heroes and the villain.

On one side, ice, and on the other, bombs, began to fly.

Thus, the real battle began in the skies over Busan.

***

Seoul, Hero Association Headquarters.

In the president's office on the top floor.

The president looked at the blonde woman standing before him with a troubled expression.

"So, Stardust. You want to go to Busan right now?"

"Yes."

"...Well, from what I see, Icicle is handling it well. Do you really need to go?"

"To prevent any additional casualties, I think it's best for me, the expert on Egostic, to go. I think it will be too much for Seol alone."

Looking at Stardust's calm expression with slightly lowered eyes, the president unconsciously scratched his empty head.

...I don't think it's necessary for her to go, but why is she doing this?