Chapter 263: Last Beliefs

Chapter 263: Last Beliefs

“Hmmm...”

A giant dragon, engulfed in scorching fire, roared through the air over South Korea, while above him, Stardus gracefully dodged its flames and continued her offensive.

The people watching in real time were understandably excited to see their hero in action.

*

[Stardus is so cool.]

[Stardus punch! Stardus punch! Stardus punch! Stardus punch]

[Stardus form is crazy]

[Korea’s other GOAT...]

[Wow, did she just dodge by diving down from the top of the flames?]

[Korea’s alpha is Egostic and omega is Stardus, a national treasure couple]

[Broadcasting talent Stardus, who saves even her male colleagues, she’s a morality book]

[But Stardus, what is she thinking while fighting?]

[She’s probably fighting with such intense focus that she’s not thinking about anything but how to deal with the enemy]

*

Stardus, who was fighting the enemy with such a fiery gaze.

“Hmph....”

‘...What in the world is he thinking?’

She was thinking about something that didn’t seem to have much to do with the battle against the red dragon summoned by that Chinese villain Li Xiaofeng.

She had heard of Li Xiaofeng. Roughly speaking, he was a Chinese Egostic.

And when he vanished in a burst of flames, that giant flaming weapon began to move.

That dragon, she was told, is the product of a great power that has allowed him to rise to such prominence in China.

‘...I get the feeling he’s being a bit lenient.’

Yes.

She kept getting that feeling.

No, she didn’t know what to call it. It’s like he’s purposely making his attacks very regular...? Like he’s testing something out.

And if what she was feeling was true, maybe that means....

‘...Egostic made him do it.’

Yeah.

She was forced to make that judgment.

And then there was that gaze from earlier

“...Huuu.”

...watching.

With that thought, she dodged another flame.

She didn’t know what the hell he was thinking but she was certain that he was watching her...

There was even a vague notion that perhaps facing that villainous dragon would mean a great deal to him and to her, some kind of test.

And as she continued to think about it.

[Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

” Ugh...”

She ducked as another blast of flame from the red dragon flew in front of her.

Okay.

First of all, she didn’t know what it is, but if she catches that dragon, what will be Egostic reaction?

That’s what she decided.

One corner of her mouth lifted, and she clenched her fist.

‘Okay. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’ll play along.’

With that, she took a deep breath.

‘Stardus, you need to dodge to the right here!’

Somehow, she thought she could hear the echo of Egostic in her ear.

She flung herself to the right, dodging another blast of flame.

...And just when she thought she had it figured out, she had a bit of trouble with that dragon, which had somehow gotten stronger.

***

While a red dragon is rampaging and terrorizing, inside one of the containers around the area that despite its ramshackle appearance, it was covered with various high-tech devices and monitors I set my headphones down with a satisfied smile.

“Egostic...”

“Yes, it’s me. Well done, Stardus.”

With a grin, he flapped his cloak, and landed on the ground as gracefully as he had come.

And he was...He was definitely smiling.

“Well, well, well, now you’ve taken down one of China’s leading villains. Isn’t that great?”

“...It is.”

Breathing heavily, she replied as she tried to think of something to say to him.

Egostic suddenly looked serious and said

“You’re right, there are very few heroes who can defeat that dragon, not even on a world scale. You should be confident, Stardus. You already shine.”

He chuckles, looking her straight in the eye as he says it, as if it’s a given.

And at the sight of him speaking with such sparkling eyes, Stardus swallowed hard for a moment.

...What, is this a new method of mental attack? Haru, get a grip. You can’t play at his pace...

Still, it’s the first time I’ve ever heard him say that to my face, so I’m a little....in a frenzy. And his words, spoken with such purity and sincerity, hit home even harder.

Wait. Why am I getting so worked up about a villain praising me for stopping terrorism...? I shouldn’t be...

As Stardus paused in her thoughts, Egostic continued, still smiling.

“Anyway... I didn’t come here to talk about this. Stardus, I want you to remember this.”

At the suddenness of his words, Stardus said with as much sarcasm as she could muster.

“...What is it?”

“I’m a villain.”

She didn’t know if he was an asshole because he was a villain, or if he was an asshole because he was terrorizing and didn’t show his face until the end, or if he was an asshole because he came back at the last minute and changed his mind. She wasn’t sure of her own mind, so she didn’t sound so much pouty as angry.

Of course, Egostic simply smirked and let the petty name-calling slide.

“Not at all, Stardus.”

“...Perhaps, by the end of the year. I think something will happen.”

Then at the last moment, he says it with a serious face and with him setting the tone, Stardus became serious as well.

“...What’s going on? Do you know something?”

“I don’t know anything... let’s just say it’s a villain’s instinct for smelling danger, whatever.”

Having said that, he smirked again, as if he hadn’t been serious before, and turned around to speak.

“I hope you’re taking care of yourself, Stardus, as the weather is getting colder. I don’t want my hero catching a cold.”

“...Wait. It’s the end of the year, or something?”

She asks, looking at his back as if to tell him not to change the subject, and he considers for a moment before turning his head to look at her and smiling.

“Uh, yeah. I think there might be something, something big, maybe, something so huge that might change the world.”

“What? Wait, so I’m not-”

“Knowing now won’t change anything, but...”

He left it at that still smiling, but more serious than ever.

Looking straight at her, he opened his mouth.

“Stardus, you can do this.”

“No matter what catastrophe befalls you, Stardus, my Arch Enemy, the one I trust. It’s enough. You will overcome whatever comes your way.”

The look in his eyes as he said it overflowed with trust in her, and her body stiffened at the sight of it.

“...And when that moment comes, I’ll be there to help. Haha, when my partner, the hero, is in danger, it’s only right that I, the villain, help right?”

He chuckled, and said that.

Seeing that, Stardus couldn’t help but look at him with a smirk of her own.

“...What’s natural about that, fool...?”

...Yeah. I don’t know what it is, but it’s something.

Stardus smiled to herself, forcing herself to let that thought go.

***.

That evening.

“...What is it, me, asshole?

“Uh-huh...”

“Ouch. The dyne is broken.”

I lay there, shocked by Stardus’ words.

Stardus...I guess she hates me. Thank God. I’m glad.

In my dreams, I heard Stardus’ voice criticizing me...