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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A New Day
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Stardus. Shin Haru.
A name her parents gave her, meaning "new day."
Lately, however, it had become incredibly difficult for her to face a new day.
"Haa..."
She sighed, lowering her smartphone.
"[Stardus, honestly, what does she even do?]"
The words seemed to echo in her ears.
Public opinion, primarily online, questioned the qualifications of A-Class Hero Stardus.
Honestly, she felt incredibly wronged.
What had she done wrong?
Her only "crime" was saving people whenever she had a spare moment, even while juggling university life.
But public opinion had suddenly turned cold towards her.
All because of Egostic, that guy, ever since he appeared.
She had just been going about her usual day when she heard Egostic was in the city and rushed out, so why was *she* getting insulted?
She hadn't even been able to properly try and capture him, letting him go so as not to endanger the citizens.
She hadn't fully grasped it.
She hadn't realized how much the citizens admired Egostic for his decisive elimination of other villains.
Year after year, seeing heinous criminals caught by heroes only to receive lenient sentences, public dissatisfaction had festered.
That anger, initially directed at judges, had gradually spread to the heroes themselves.
"Why bother capturing them alive when you could just kill them on the spot?
They're living comfortably in prison because you just capture them," and so on...
These were absurd statements, but the public's discontent had already quietly spread among the citizens.
And then, like a comet, the person everyone had been waiting for appeared.
Someone who decisively hunted villains.
That was Egostic.
He was the figure deep within the hearts of the South Korean people, the one they had dreamed of.
....Of course, there was the cruise ship terror incident. No, to be precise, it should be called a terror 'attempt' incident.
In the end, he didn't carry out the terror attack. When no one pressed the button, he quickly understood and retreated decisively.
And then there was the Daehyun Tower hostage crisis, an incident so significant it overshadowed the previous one, which he single-handedly resolved.
While other heroes were paralyzed by the hostage situation, he boldly entered enemy territory alone and successfully rescued everyone without a single casualty. He even paid them.
And somehow, he even eliminated the A-Class teleporter who posed a flight risk, all by himself.
He had truly shown the public many reasons to cheer. It was no coincidence that almost every community liked him and fan cafes had even been established.
And naturally, anyone who stood against him would be criticized.
And it just so happened that person was her.
"Haa..."
Shin Haru took another sip of the mango frappe in her hand.
*Is this why I became a hero?* she wondered, feeling self-loathing and anguish.
She was even shocked when her close senior colleague mentioned how much they liked Egostic these days.
Sitting by the window in the cafe, she looked outside.
Spring had arrived, and the cherry blossoms were blooming beautifully along the streets.
But she had no time to see them, busy juggling university life and hero duties.
And yet, despite all that, she was still getting lambasted.
What's more, at the last regular meeting of the Hero Association, when the director himself chuckled and said, "It feels like things have gotten a bit easier lately, thanks to Egostic," she nearly fainted.
This wasn't normal. Everyone except her had gone mad.
"Haa... No, pull yourself together."
She shook her head, deciding to get back to her assignments.
Dwelling on this wasn't productive.
She needed to focus on her homework.
Just as she was steeling her resolve to continue her work, a call came in.
"[Stardus, turn on the TV right now! Egostic has appeared again! He's targeted you again!]"
Her face hardened.
It seemed it was time to work again.
Shin Haru immediately pushed back her chair and hurried out.
No matter what anyone said, she was a hero.
She went out to do what she had to do.
***
"Long time no see, my dear citizens! It's your favorite villain, Egostic!"
On a cliff overlooking a railway, I greeted the camera.
My image was once again being broadcast live on every TV channel.
Honestly, I figured if I just did a YouTube livestream these days, the terrestrial broadcasters would probably pick it up on their own.
But I decided to hijack the airwaves again this time.
Why? Because it showed off my power.
After the last airwave hijacking incident, it seemed the broadcasting stations had beefed up their security, but this was just a way to show them it meant nothing to me. Truth be told, I hadn't done it; Seo-eun had handled everything... but who'd know that?
I bowed my head slightly, looking at a hologram through the eye concealed in my right mask.
It was cutting-edge tech Seo-eun had made, allowing me to see a hologram right before my eyes, like a powered individual in a hero movie. The only problem was, there was no software to put into this function. So I just put up the YouTube live chat. And I did...
*
[BIG ONE IS HERE BIG ONE IS HERE BIG ONE IS HERE BIG ONE IS HERE BIG ONE IS HERE BIG ONE IS HERE BIG ONE IS HERE BIG ONE IS HERE BIG ONE IS HERE BIG ONE IS HERE]
[EGOTISTIC LIVE ON LOLOLOLOL]
[JUST AS I WAS BORED A SUPER FUN EVENT APPEARED LOLOLOL]
[HOW CRAZY IS HE GOING TO BE TODAY LOLOLOL]
[E-HI (MEANS EGOTISTIC HIGH)]
[LET'S GOOO~ LET'S GOOO~]
[MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK! MANGOSTICK!]
*
...I was already regretting it. No, do these guys think this is some kind of surprise event?
I checked my appearance on camera. As always, I was wearing a black robe from head to toe. On my face, I wore my iconic gray half-mask. Honestly, I wanted to wear a black wizard hat too, but I couldn't because Seo-eun begged me to restrain myself from that, at least. Next time, I'll definitely try to sneak it on...
Anyway, shall I continue?
"Lately, I've been hearing a lot of news. Yes! A lot, indeed. It seems many of you like me, don't you? I even saw my fan cafe! Oh, how fascinating. Haha."
I chuckled awkwardly.
After scratching my head and giving a flimsy laugh,
I suddenly turned serious.
"But you see, I think some of you are misunderstanding something."
I lowered my voice and walked towards the edge of the cliff. The camera followed me, slowly approaching. I was controlling it all with my telekinesis. Phew, good thing I have telekinesis. Otherwise, I would have had to hire a cameraman. How awkward would it be to babble on while looking at a cameraman on top of this cliff?
Still keeping my voice low, I continued, looking at the cliff's edge.
"I am a villain, everyone. Or as they say these days, a 'villain,' right? Anyway, that's me. But it seems many of you have forgotten that I'm a villain lately, haven't you? My elimination of other villains was purely for my own base satisfaction, not specifically for you!"
*
[This guy is a total tsundere LOLOLOLOLOL]
*
Seeing the chat, I almost fell off the cliff. Can I not turn this off mid-broadcast? After this is over, I definitely need to tell Seo-eun to create an OFF function.
I almost lost my composure for a moment, but I'm a professional. I spoke without a change in expression.
"In that spirit, I've prepared another magnificent project. It seems you haven't quite grasped my terror yet. Now! Everyone, do you see the railway in the distance?"
I used my telekinesis to fix the camera's view on the train tracks.
The tracks ran straight, but there was a branching path leading off to one side.
And at the end of the tracks, shown by the camera, people were tied up.
"Hahahahaha! Do you see them, everyone?"
The chat instantly erupted.
Yes, this is it. This is it. Be more afraid!
"I've tied them up. People on the tracks, that is. On this straight path where the train is currently headed! Five innocent people are tied up here. And over there, where the train can divert! Only one person is tied up on that branching track. If this train continues straight, it will run over five people. But do you see that lever over there? If you pull that lever, the tracks will switch. And then it will only run over the one person tied up on that side."
*
[I think I've seen this somewhere?]
[Isn't this the trolley dilemma?]
[Trolley dilemma live-action LOLOLOL]
*
It was only then, seeing the chat, that I realized my blunder.
Ah, unlike that movie, the trolley dilemma is known in this world too?
Still, it seemed no other villain had tried this trick yet. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Will you pull the lever? Or will you not? Just so you know, there's no option to stop the train."
I switched the camera's view.
It now showed the cab of the train, which was rapidly approaching. The original conductor was knocked out and lying on the floor, and a masked woman was driving the train. Yes, that's Ms. Soobin. Thank you, Ms. Soobin!
"Also, be warned that if you try anything foolish, I might just derail the train. You only have the option to pull the lever. Now, I'll say this: Stardus, please come. I will observe your moral judgment."
Well, the stage is set.
Now, Shin Haru. All that's left is for you to arrive.
*
[Stardus again LOLOL Is this true love?]
*
I completely ignored the chat.