I Became The Villain The Hero Is Obsessed With

337 – Prologue

In the middle of Seoul, a towering skyscraper stood tall.

There, feeling the wind blowing.

I gazed at the blue sky.

Waiting for Stardust to arrive.

[Brother. The turn with the Spirit Sister and Ariel is over. Stardust will be here soon.]

“Got it.”

As the wind made my black cloak flutter behind me.

In the cold air, I held my breath and looked down at the city below the sky.

The roads and people visible below.

“…Is today the last day?”

As I looked at that scene.

Touching the white mask on my face, I quietly muttered that.

What I would do today was to declare my retirement.

In other words.

The day I commit terrorism and stand in front of the camera.

And the day when Stardust and I would confront each other like this.

It meant today was the end.

“…Haha.”

Thinking about it, it felt both refreshing and regretful.

Especially.

Now, parting ways with Stardust.

“…..”

Everything I’ve done so far was for her… It was only natural to feel regretful.

The first time I made my existence known to this world, it was by starting a terror campaign as the arch-nemesis of Stardust.

And now, it was time to let go.

Thinking like that, I felt a fresh wave of emotion… and a bittersweet feeling.

‘…Come to think of it, I’ve carried out quite a lot of terrorist acts as a villain.’

Lost in thought, I reminisced.

I debuted as a villain by sinking a ship for the first time and confronting Stardust.

Then, through a three-part series of transportation terror attacks involving trains and airplanes, I made my presence known for certain.

I also carried out a terror attack by blowing up a bridge.

I hijacked a massive weapon from the Han Group and faced off against Stardust.

After Ego Stream began in earnest.

I had Electra and Death Knight carry out terror attacks.

Later on, Eunwol and Seo Eun joined in as well.

Since then, with numerous colleagues, I steadily continued my terror campaign. More than the average villains in superhero comics.

My identity in this world was a villain.

A villain who only targeted Stardust.

I lived as a villain obsessed with a hero.

‘…That ends today.’

I quietly thought to myself.

…Actually, my initial reason for becoming a villain was simple.

The comic based on this world, [Stardust!], portrayed the protagonist Stardust as a constantly suffering wretch.

I didn’t want her, my favorite character, to live like that. That’s why I wanted to eliminate other villains in advance.

However, as the protagonist, Stardust needed to face crises in order for her powers to grow.

So, I decided to provide those crises. Clean, refined acts of terror where people didn’t die.

And now.

Stardust has fully grown.

To the point where she no longer needs my help.

So, now my role is over.

Now, disappearing cleanly from her life must be the right thing to do for her.

Now, even she seems to have a hard time dealing with me.

Therefore, today is my last act of terror and my last broadcast.

It was time to say farewell as a villain.

In fact, the reason I planned this terror as an all-star event, and wanted to make it as grand as possible for the last time, was not just to make it big… but also because I thought that the public would accept it this way. If I just retire, no one would believe it. Only by doing it so grandly would they think, ‘Ah, today is really the last day,’ and accept it.

As I was standing on the rooftop of the building with those thoughts in mind,

I heard Seo Eun’s voice in my ear.

*

[Oppa. Eun Wol has been breached too. She’ll be here soon.]

“…Okay.”

Well, that’s enough sentimentality for now.

Now it was time to prepare for my official retirement announcement.

*

[Wow]

[This is it]

[Is it finally Mango’s turn?!!]

[Now let’s go to Egoistic D~]

[I’m really looking forward to what Egoistic will say ㅋㅋㅋ]

[Is he on that building?]

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋFinally]

*

As I set off fireworks from the rooftop,

I could see the chats coming up quickly, which meant Stardust was finally coming this way.

…Now it’s finally time to say my last farewell to her.

With that thought in mind,

I smiled as I looked far away at Stardust, her blonde hair fluttering in the wind.

It is proper etiquette to leave with a smiling face at the end.

Hiding my regrets, I tried to smile towards Stardust.

Alright.

It’s time for my final broadcast.

The broadcast where I will announce my retirement.

***

And so, back to the present.

*Whooooosh*

A gust of cold wind sweeps across the rooftop of a building.

Two figures are facing off there.

“…..”

The woman glaring at me, her long blond hair fluttering in the void above us, is:

My hero, Stardust.

“Haha…”

And I, confronting her, am:

A definite villain in this world.

“Now, Egoistic. Your mischief ends here. What else do you plan to do?”

She shoots me a cold glare.

I am being hunted by a hero for the reason that I have taken a few hostages and caused terror.

Well, isn’t that natural…?

The name of the woman opposing me is Stardust.

Her real name is Shin Haru.

Righteous, never overstepping the bounds of injustice, kind, and strong-willed.

The one I’ve been possessed by…

The protagonist of this comic.

Throughout the years, I have become her archenemy.

If you ask me why.

‘Well…’

In fact, everything I did was for her sake, but…

She will never know.

Never.

Hiding that true intention, I gave her an evil grin and spoke to her.

“That’s right. You did very well this time too. You did a great job. Just as I acknowledged, you truly are my worthy archenemy.”

…And that was not an empty statement.

Yes.

Up until now, she has always done exceptionally well.

In the first act, she defeated the Han Group.

In the second act, she thwarted the attacks of the Moonlight Sect’s monsters.

And in the third act, she brought down everyone who sought to fulfill their wishes.

She had done much more than I ever thought.

She had done so well, too well.

To the point where I no longer need to worry.

As I exaggeratedly clapped my hands in mid-air and spoke like that,

Stardust furrowed her brow and yelled at me,

“I don’t need your approval, you piece of trash!”

…Sigh. That hurts.

Yes, yes, I got it. Sorry.

But…there’s a problem now.

I’m currently flying with my telekinetic powers, but due to excessive use lately, there’s not much time left for me to use them, you know?

If I’m not careful, I might end up plummeting down below.

So, let’s quickly wrap this up.

My final farewell.

“Yes, Stardust, that’s right! You’ve always been like that. You were the first to figure out and confront my games. It’s always been you… who has chased after me like this.”

“…”

At my words, she glares at me like she’s wondering what I’m talking about.

Oh, it seems like she’s trying to fly towards me right now. Hey, I still have the detonator for this building, you know? Don’t come.

Anyway, it’s my turn to say my last words now.

“Anyway, this… seems to be my final amusement.”

I quietly smiled and said that.

Today’s events mark the last terror I will cause in this world.

The reason was simple.

“You’ve already grown up. There’s no need to play with me anymore.”

Since she’s now fully grown, she no longer needs to deal with me.

I said that with a smile, and met her blue eyes.

Now she doesn’t need me anymore.

It was time for me to leave.

To no longer stand in her way.

A true first-class villain should know when to step back.

So, with a smile on my face,

I offered her my last farewell.

“From now on, I probably won’t target you.”

Take care, Stardust.

Goodbye.

“…What? Wait…!”

Having said everything I wanted to say, I quickly teleported away with my cloak in front of me.

And the last image of Stardust that I saw as I left…

Her eyes were shaking fiercely.

‘…What’s going on.’

Why is she like that?

***

“Anyway, this seems to be my last game with you. You’re all grown up now. You don’t need to play with me anymore.”

…What is she talking about?

Stardust.

At the moment, she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

She wanted to see Egoistic. She wanted to be with him.

That’s why she had overcome all the obstacles he had set and stood before him.

But now,

What are you saying?

Whether she thought that way or not,

Egoistic’s words continued.

Still with a smile on his face.

As if stating an obvious fact, he spoke sincerely to her.

The moment Stardust fell into panic.

And so, his words continued.

Like that.

“From now on, there probably won’t be any instances where I point you out.”

“Take care, Stardust.”

“…What? Wait…!”

Stardust hastily reached out to him, who was quietly smiling and bidding farewell.

“…..”

But by then, he had already disappeared.

And so, on the rooftop of the building, where Stardust was left alone.

“Ah…”

*

[?]

[What is this]

[???]

[Huh?]

[??]

[What’s going on]

[Hold on]

[Ah]

[Wait this can’t be]

[Retirement?]

[Did I hear it wrong because I’m feeling dizzy now?]

[What’s with the sudden wait no you]

[I’m going to jump off ㅅㄱ]

[Ha ha, screwed]

*

Left there, all alone.

With trembling eyes, he could only stare at the spot where Egoistic had been.

…And that day.

It was the day when Stardus’ life completely changed.