I Became The Villain The Hero Is Obsessed With

367 – A Grand Return

The bright sunlight shines on the blue sky.

There, a man stands in the sky, looking down at the city, his black cloak flapping in the wind.

In the midst of the situation where the camera capturing him is broadcasting the footage nationwide,

With the people of the nation watching him,

The villain, who was the most popular in South Korea for the past six months,

Egoistic.

Finally, after a long wait, he’s back.

“Hello everyone. It’s Egoistic!”

And.

The people’s reaction.

It was ecstatic.

*

[THE KING IS BACK. THE KING IS BACK. THE KING IS BACK. THE KING IS BACK. THE KING IS BACK. THE KING IS BACK. THE KING IS BACK.]

[Let’s go~ Let’s go~ Let’s go~ Let’s go~ Let’s go~ Let’s go~ Let’s go~ Let’s go~ Let’s go~ Let’s go~]

[Is Mangostic a god? The gods answered that question. “What should I say, Dad?” Is Mangostic a god? The gods answered that question. “What should I say, Dad?”]

[200 days of miracles 200 days of miracles 200 days of miracles 200 days of miracles 200 days of miracles 200 days of miracles 200 days of miracles 200 days of miracles 200 days of miracles]

[The hero community welcomes the return of S-class hero Mangostic The hero community welcomes the return of S-class hero Mangostic The hero community welcomes the return of S-class hero Mangostic]

[Why… why am I crying? Why… why am I crying? Why… why am I crying? Why… why am I crying? Why… why am I crying?]

[Welcome back, we’ve been waiting for you, GOAT Welcome back, we’ve been waiting for you, GOAT Welcome back, we’ve been waiting for you, GOAT]

[If he’s the self-proclaimed Mangostic, I endorse it ㅋㅋㅋㅋ If he’s the self-proclaimed Mangostic, I endorse it ㅋㅋㅋㅋ If he’s the self-proclaimed Mangostic, I endorse it ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Egoistic is the king of the Cathedral~ Egoistic is the king of the Cathedral~ Egoistic is the king of the Cathedral~ Egoistic is the king of the Cathedral~ Egoistic is the king of the Cathedral~ Egoistic is the king of the Cathedral~]

*

And watching such rampant spamming in the chat,

Egoistic. In other words, I sighed inwardly with a bitter smile.

…It’s really the same here too.

Of course. This is fitting for my broadcast chat. What was I expecting.

Well, all of this was also a memory.

More than half a year has passed, and I’m feeling a bit sentimental upon returning to the stage after a long time. It’s been quite a while since I’ve stood at the top of the blue sky, surrounded by cameras, speaking.

Immersed in such sentiments, I soon smiled again, looked at the camera, and started to host with my arms wide open.

Still, I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.

“Hello, everyone. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it! Yes, I’m back! Have you all been waiting? Ha ha, those of you who haven’t been waiting must be disappointed! I’m back for good!”

As soon as my words ended, there was a loud bang behind me as something like a white flashbang launched into the sky.

This is one of the items I received from the Cathedral. Some kind of sacred light that can be seen even during the day. I’m currently using it as a substitute for fireworks. It’s great to have support. Cathedral budget is the best…!

With the flashbang, which gives off a strangely sacred aura, the sky around me turned white, as if a white ink had been spilled.

Smiling, I began to declare that I have joined the Cathedral.

“Yes! The only reason I’ve returned is because I’ve partnered with the Cathedral, which was created by the global villain Celeste!”

Along with my words, the Cathedral’s logo appears simultaneously on the broadcast.

After emphasizing my affiliation with the Cathedral, I continued to speak.

“I had intended not to step forward after last time… but I got a great opportunity from Celeste to conquer South Korea together, so I joined them! Now, as a Cathedral executive, I will face all of you.”

“And… it seems my old friend is coming from over there.”

From noble mtl dot com

With a smile, I looked up to the opposite sky.

A woman with blonde hair fluttering, flying towards us.

Stardust.

She was coming this way.

*

[Wow, finally, the root of Star-Mango is opening its mouth LOL]

[I’ve been waiting for this time for so longㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[Now, even if I die, I have no regrets~ (Falling down)]

[Isn’t this their first reunion in almost 200 days? I’m really looking forward to their reactions LOL]

*

I glanced at the chat window quickly rising, trying to keep my composure.

…Well, it’s not our first meeting… we already met last time and did a lot of things.

Of course, I couldn’t let them know this, so I tried my best to act as if I was completely unperturbed.

And during that time.

“Egoistic…”

“Hello, Stardust. It’s been a while!”

Stardust.

Finally, she was in front of me.

“…”

“…..”

The moment our eyes met, she sent me a tender look only I could see.

As if nothing had happened, she immediately hardened her expression again.

With a voice cold as ice, she spoke to me, just like the old times.

“…Didn’t you promise me that you wouldn’t appear before me again? Why are you here in front of me?”

A voice cold enough to freeze just by hearing it.

…It was a perfect act, enough to make anyone who didn’t know us believe she hated me.

Actually, I was also hurt…

Of course, all I did was laugh off her words and reply.

“Ha ha ha! This is embarrassing. I was going to do that, but the Cathedral gave me such a great opportunity. They said they would give me full support to conquer South Korea, so why would I refuse?”

“You scumbag…”

At my words, she grumbled quietly with a stern face.

…But the problem was that she started giving me apologetic looks, as if acting was starting to get difficult from here.

I guess I should wrap up the conversation here. Yes. This should be enough of an alibi.

As if she had read my thoughts,

Stardust began to speak in a cold voice.

“Whatever it is, it’s done now. I’ll definitely put an end to your wickedness here.”

With that said.

Behind her, the silhouettes of various people started to appear one by one.

They were the dozens of other heroes who had followed Stardust to catch me.

More precisely…

They were the members mainly composed of our Ego Squad, as I had preemptively announced.

-Bow.

Our first swordsman, who gave a small greeting towards me unseen after arriving.

Good. All the pieces are in place.

Now, it’s time to start the play.

With that, I looked at the numerous heroes standing in front of me.

With a smirk, I raised my hand and opened my mouth.

“Ha ha! Seems like quite a lot of you have come to catch me… Actually, the Cathedral has given me quite a lot of support.”

“So, why don’t you try stopping this army of heaven.”

With those words, I snapped my fingers.

And at the same time.

Whooosh

Behind me, the soldiers of heaven, who looked like white egg-shaped ghosts, were quickly summoned and began to appear.

“——-.”

“——-.”

“——-.”

After a short time had passed.

The sight of hundreds of white clones, who filled the sky behind me in an instant, standing behind me with small wings attached.

In front of them.

I was standing, flaunting my arms and fluttering my cloak confidently.

The situation of dozens of heroes and hundreds of soldiers standing off.

The explosive situation that seemed like a fight could break out at any moment.

And this situation.

‘…Everything went according to plan.’

It was all intended.

Originally, there was no longer any need for me to actively terrorize. Now that Stardust’s power is on track, it was a situation where I should have retired. I would have just given orders from behind, not appearing on the front as I am now.

But.

…Since Stardust and I somehow ended up in this relationship, the situation changed.

After all, all of this is a show.

As an executive of the Cathedral, I just need to let the world know that I’m doing a good job in my mission to invade Korea, and that the Association is doing a good job of blocking me.

This charade started that way.

The conclusion I ultimately came to was this.

The Ego Squad, in other words, I make the heroes and my heavenly army fight.

…Specifically, I order them to fight spectacularly, as if in a mock training. It doesn’t have to be sincere. They just had to deceive the world’s eyes.

And.

If Stardust and I disappear under the pretext of fighting separately in this situation..?

Voila.

It was the birth of a legitimate hero-villain meeting.

So, I told Stardust this story, and she readily agreed. After all, it was a good story that no casualties would occur.

…And it was also an opportunity for the two of us to meet.

Thus, I started the grand show as planned.

“Good. You want to fight. Go, my soldiers of heaven. Show those arrogant heroes their place and return!”

And so, I ordered my soldiers of heaven.

“It’s war!”

…I’m not sure who it was, but with such a shout from one of the heroes, they too filled the place with their cheers, going “woah” and “ah”.

Finally, the two charged forward.

The battle between the heroes and the Cathedral soldiers began.

… Specifically, it was a battle between the Ego Squad members and my summoned creatures, fiercely appearing to fight without killing each other.

And within that chaotic situation.

Stardust, swinging her blonde hair, shouted loudly.

“I will focus on capturing Ego-istic! All other heroes should focus on handling those monsters!”

“Yes, Stardust!”

“Hah, you want to catch me? Well… if you can, then try!”

As I said that laughing and teleporting, I disappeared out of the camera’s sight.

“You bastard!”

Stardust also, flying at the speed of light to chase me, disappeared off the screen.

And both our figures were not seen until the end of the battle.

***

Thus, in the sky far from the city where there was no camera…

… there, after shaking everyone off, I finally got to meet Stardust alone for the first time since our last encounter.

“Ego-istic!”

Just as I teleported into the sky, Stardust, piercing through the clouds with a smile, rushed towards me.

“Ha ha, Miss Stardust.”

As I said that.

– Whoosh,

She flew straight into my arms and hugged me.

With her head resting on my chest and her arms tightly hugging my waist, she whispered,

“I missed you…”

Seeing her murmur that in my arms, I also smiled and hugged her.

In fact, her friendliness towards me was still a bit surprising. Just a few weeks ago, we were clearly enemies.

…But, since she had plucked up the courage for me.

I also decided to pluck up a bit more courage.

“I missed you too… Haru.”

At my words while holding her.

She blushed a bit and gave me a beautiful smile.

And so,

our first date began.

…And,

I didn’t know until now,

“Ego-istic. What’s your relationship with Lee Seol-ah?”

That things would turn out this way.