Chapter 202: – The World Before Doomsday

Chapter 202 – The World Before Doomsday

It’s been weeks since the last terrorist attack I met with Stardus.

“Now, it’s slowly getting closer to winter...”

I murmured as I felt the noticeably chillier wind outside on the veranda. The end of the year was approaching, and in terms of the original story, it felt like we were crossing the middle point. It had been a few years since I arrived in this world, and I couldn’t help but feel sentimental on days like this. It had been quite a while since I started my actual villain activities.

“Aaaaaaah!”

While lost in my thoughts, I heard a voice from below. It was Seo-eun, riding on some sort of mechanical contraption. It seemed she got bounced here while training in the forest.

“Oh, Da-in!”

As Seo-eun spotted me and waved her hand excitedly, I smiled and waved back. After exchanging greetings, she rushed back to her training. Probably, our new spirit had been watching her training.

Watching Seo-eun running again, I was caught in memories.

...I first met Seo-eun when she was in middle school. In just one or two months, she would be a senior in high school. Time flew so fast. Seo-eun used to seem like a kid, but now she looked quite grown-up compared to before. And if I only considered the time we started the terror together... It had been nearly three years.

“Phew.”

After deciding to become Egostic and start terror activities, we had come a long way. We recruited Egostream members, developed Stardus, and even met with villains from other countries. There were so many things that had happened.

In other words, it meant that the world was about to become hardcore. In fact, even now, it was an abnormal world, with more villains than heroes, and each villain possessing powerful abilities. It was just that most of them were concentrated in the United States, so other countries were relatively peaceful.

...And speaking of our country, it was practically taken over by the mega-corporations. They had control over finance, politics, and everything else. I heard that a single word from Lee Seola could change even the Prime Minister. Of course, the chairman of the corporation had teamed up with villains. That villain was me.

In conclusion, this world was never normal, and anything could happen at any time.

And soon, something was about to happen.

Quite a big one.

“Da-in?”

“...Yes?”

Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard a voice from behind. When I turned my head, I saw Soobin holding a cup of tea with a warm smile.

“It’s cold outside, you might catch a cold. Have some warm tea.”

“Oh, thank you.”

I expressed my gratitude to Soobin and took the cup of tea in my hands. It was warm and comforting.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

After handing me the tea, Soobin leaned against the railing and asked me with concern.

“Well, I was just thinking about this and that, what to do next... something like that.”

“Mm.”

As I spoke, Soobin remained silent for a moment, then she lightly smiled and turned her head to me.

“Da-in... Even though you know a lot and work hard for this world, try not to overdo it too much.”

Of course, I also made some minimal preparations. Even though no one will remember the world’s destruction this time, it’s still something that will happen, technically speaking. In the original, Stardus tried desperately to stop the collapsing world all by herself, not knowing that time would be reversed eventually, shedding tears as she struggled.

...I had no intention of reproducing that crazy scene.

So what? It will be deleted from the timeline, and no one will remember it. It doesn’t matter. It’s just for my own satisfaction, even if I’m the only one who knows.

I can’t bear to see Stardus suffer again. Even if I can’t prevent the destruction with my own power, I can at least do that much.

So, I slowly prepared small things.

The reason I told Stardus that we would meet again soon after the last terrorism was because of this day.

Anyway, time passed quickly, and before I knew it...

Finally, the day has come.

“Da-in, what are you doing?”

In the living room during the morning.

At that moment, everyone gathered there, and I was focused on watching the TV.

[At this hour, the United States is celebrating the anniversary of the establishment of the US branch association, with festivals still taking place in front of the Statue of Liberty.]

With the anchor’s words, the Statue of Liberty appeared on the screen.

I was watching it intently.

Yes, there are only five minutes left now.

The beginning of all this destruction.

[The head of the Statue of Liberty suddenly explodes, and the tragedy begins.]

Yes.

If the head explodes here, it means the start of all destruction.

However, if it doesn’t explode, it means the apocalypse has already happened, and time has been reversed due to X Machina’s sacrifice. I have experienced all the destruction, but now, I sit here without any memory of it happening.

Now, will it explode or not?

I watched the TV intently, and when the minute hand hit twelve, that moment...

KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOM-

[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!]

On the screen, the head of the Statue of Liberty exploded, breaking into pieces.

“Oh, what happened? What just happened?”

Our Ego Stream members were also startled at that moment.

“Hmm.”

I stood up from my seat and casually took out something I had prepared in advance from my pocket.

It seems like I got caught up in a timeline where I need to deal with this.