I Became The Villain The Hero Is Obsessed With

Chapter 409

409 – Long-standing Relationship

Several days had passed since I was imprisoned in the hospital.

“Hello! hahahahaha, Egoistic. How’s your body?”

“Dain, brother!!! I missed you so much. Hik.”

“hahahaha, it’s been a while. Hello Ariel.”

During my rest, many people visited me at the hospital.

Among them, long-lost, welcome faces visited me too.

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This time, Atlas and his daughter Ariel arrived at my bedside together.

“You must’ve been busy, a phone call would’ve been enough.”

“hahahaha! How could I just sit still, especially when I heard that Egoistic had fallen! I rushed over here in one step. Also, my daughter was nagging me about when we were going to visit you.”

“Ha…Dain, brother. I was so worried…”

Ariel, who had let loose her blue hair, buried her face in my chest and groaned as she laid her arm on my side. Lying in bed, I caressed her head with a bitter smile.

Ariel, who once lived with our EgoStream. She had been constantly contacting me because she missed us after she returned to her home town to receive successor training from Atlas.

…She must’ve been shocked when she heard about this accident.

As I comforted Ariel in my arms, I had such thoughts.

By the way, Ariel seemed to have grown more mature in many ways, undoubtedly from spending time by Atlas’s side.

She could even be rightfully referred to as the knight princess of the sea now. She seemed to have grown a bit taller as well.

…However, seeing my child snug in my arms in front of her father made me feel a bit awkward.

“hahahahaha! It seems like you’re much better now, which alleviates my worry. The folks at the cathedral have been quite concerned about you.”

Of course, Atlas didn’t seem phased at all. He actually laughed heartily.

…Seeing how he still occasionally jokes about me becoming his son-in-law, I must have grown on him quite a bit. Or perhaps Ariel has been gaslighting her father…

Either way, we had a rather delightful post-lunch period.

Of course, when it was time for Ariel to leave with Atlas, she didn’t want to go, causing a bit of a fuss… But in the end, the curtain fell with Ariel being dragged off, tears streaming down her face.

But in exchange, I received the promise that she could live with me again once the whole Sun God ordeal was over. Judging by how Ariel cried and secretly smiled after saying that, I guess it was okay…

Since then, many people with long-standing connections with me have come to visit.

“Mr. Egostic, how are you feeling?”

“Mr. Egostic, are you okay? You seem healthy though.”

Our friends from the East Asia Villain Union, Katana from Japan and Li Xiaofeng from China.

“…Master, how are you feeling?”

“Master Dain! I was so worried!!”

“…Master Dain, are you okay?”

“Master, please take care…”

My four Egotic Squad pupils, who are currently A-rank heroes working for the association, and my first batch of PMC recruits: Number 1 Yi Sekyeom, Number 2 Seo Chaeyoung, Number 3 Ha Dahee, Number 4 Sansu Ah.

They all seemed much more mature than they had been in their youth, probably because they had all been battling on the front lines. They’re now the leaders who guide their many successors from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations, after all.

Of course, for some reason, they still call me their old name, Master.

More visitors trickled in.

“Hmm… Boss, long time no see.”

“What? Red, what have you been doing?”

After the Moonlight Cult Leader incident, they set off in search of One Piece on a spaceship, and finally returned after many years. The Lephis group: Red, Blue, Yellow. They barged in wearing their rabbit helmets. They had been lazily wandering the world and bumped into angels, which scared them into hiding… They didn’t dare return to Korea until they heard I was down and worried for me.

“But… you had a big and cool spaceship; what did you do with it?”

Anyway, considering the angels are attacking from the sky, air combat is necessary. I insisted that they stay with the association. They were very moved when I said we’d provide housing.

The last to arrive was Cha Yoon, the sister of our healer Ha Yul.

“Big brother! How are you?”

“Yeah, yeah. How are you, Cha Yoon? With all the dangers out there, don’t stay in the dorm; return home.”

“hahahaha. I’m in my last year of high school, how can I do that?”

Cha Yoon replied with a smile.

I still remember the innocent little girl she was when I first saw her, and now she’s all grown up.

I remember her first seeing me in that slum saying, ‘It’s the Mango Stick!’ and glowing with excitement, as if it was just yesterday… It’s pretty amazing.

…Actually, what’s probably more surprising is that the Korean Ministry of Education is holding college entrance exams despite all this chaos.

Of course, the school Cha Yoon attends is a foundation respected for its top-notch facilities and security, so she should be safe… But I still felt uneasy. Cha Yoon may have grown up, but she’s still a kid.

Anyway, she had taken time out to come with her sister.

…And then she looked at me with conviction and confessed her hopes and dreams.

“…Do you know what my dream is, big brother?”

“What is it?”

“We’ve been rescued from life’s hardships because of you for a long time now. So, I’ve been thinking since then. I want to help you when I grow up.”

“Then?”

“So, I’ve decided. My dream is to join the association.”

Cha Yoon proudly announced, akin to a declaration.

…But, for some reason, I found it dubious.

“But Cha Yoon, doesn’t the association need high academic grades? Aren’t you nearly achieving full marks in all subjects? You don’t have to go that far, do you?”

Then, Cha Yoon straightened up and unwaveringly replied, “No, brother. I need to do that. Because my dream is to become the president of the association.”

“…”

At Cha Yoon’s words, I was left speechless.

…He who says he’ll become the Association’s president and be my pillar within the Association. But if this happens, all senior officials in South Korea, from Lee Seol Ah in the government and corporate sector, will become my acquaintances?

Well, I thanked him and told him to work hard.

…However, it doesn’t seem like the Association will survive after catching the Sun God. But then again, it will probably last a few decades more.

In this manner, numerous others came to visit me in the hospital.

Finally.

“Mr. Da In. Are you doing alright?”

The busiest person in South Korea at present.

…Lee Seol Ah. She too, had come to see me.

“Yeah, I’m doing fine, being trapped here and all, unable to leave.”

“Mmm. That’s good. You need to stay put for a while. You keep getting hurt.”

Looking at Lee Seol Ah nodding as if it were a matter of course, I felt unjustly treated.

Even you think so. How much has my credibility fallen…

Anyway.

“So, are you still insanely busy?”

“Of course. There’s so much follow-up work to do after this large-scale angel attack. Thankfully, our country suffered lesser damages… It’s a mess in other countries.”

With a tired expression, she shook her head, sat down on my hospital bed where I was propped up, and continued speaking.

“Especially… after you collapsed, things were really chaotic. People were protesting, government leaders were in disarray… They were all very worried because you didn’t wake up.”

“hahahaha… Nevertheless, you held the fort, didn’t you?”

At this, Lee Seol Ah glanced at me, seeming incredulous, and said confidently,

“Mr. Da In, what do you think of me? Do you think I wouldn’t worry about you? I still don’t know how I managed everything this past week.”

“Um… Sorry?”

“Haa… It’s a good thing I was there then, to hold the line with hope. Celeste kept reassuring me that you would wake up, that’s how I survived.”

“Really? Celeste did?”

What was that about?

“At least, the frequency of angel attacks has significantly reduced, which is a good thing. Although recovery will take time…”

“That’s true.”

I had several such conversations with Lee Seol Ah.

…Until Ha Yul informed us that visiting hours were over.

Anyway, after a long, long series of hospital visits, I enjoyed peace at last.

…Under surveillance by Ego Stream, while confined in the hospital.

This is absurd.

‘What do you mean? Without me, no one can handle the problems at the Cathedral and Headquarters?’

‘Brother, what are you saying…! Also, that’s an overrated consciousness. Besides, technology has advanced so much that everything can be done remotely.’

‘That’s right, Ego Stick. Han Seo Eun is correct.’

My plan to escape under the pretext of work was essentially blocked due to Han Seo Eun’s technology and Stardust’s consent.

Thus, I was currently confined in the hospital and leading a captive life.

In my perspective, it was not even a hospital. I woke up one day to find the location of my room changed. It was a large, white, solitary room.

…Well, it wasn’t bad. They had created a room with a large window when I insisted on needing sunlight, so the room was well-lit.

The only problem was that there was a single door and members of Ego Stream took turns to guard it.

“Cough.”

I coughed and grumbled within.

…I believe my frequent coughing after that day was also a fuss factor. I tried to hide it as much as possible, but somehow everyone knew. Did they install CCTV in this room?

“…”

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Well… of course, I admit what needs to be admitted. My body seems to have weakened a bit after that day.

But I’m not sure…

“Sigh…”

I sighed and switched on the TV.

Lost in thought, idly listening to the noise around me.

‘So… what exactly is my ability?’

Quietly, I looked at my own hands, pondering this question.

My power, akin to Stardust, radiated light from my hands.

Yet that light was… too shattered, and seemed tainted, murky, and sticky as if it wasn’t light at all.

But one thing was for certain.