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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A Conversation at the End
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A world on the brink of destruction.
And a world that would soon rewind, ceasing to exist.
On the rooftop of a building overlooking it all, Stardust and I sat side by side, chatting about this and that.
"…Do you know how surprised I was back then?"
"Haha, I was surprised too, back then."
"Especially when we were trapped in there…"
Since time would rewind anyway, and all of this would become undone, I just spoke freely, without a care. No need to worry about making a mistake, just light conversation about this and that.
"…Hmm. I see."
Stardust, too, joined in the conversation with a light smile. Honestly, what else was there for us to talk about? Just all the things we'd shared together until now. Times that now felt like distant memories. Like the time we met in the Han-eun Group's basement, or what happened at the Busan hotel… things like that.
…Truthfully, it was rather laughable, when you thought about it. A hero and a villain, sitting side-by-side, laughing and recounting everything that had happened between them.
As someone who'd always liked Stardust, I simply enjoyed the moment, but honestly, her reaction was unexpected. …Still, I had revealed my identity, the world was ending anyway, and nothing we did now would change anything. So, I figured Stardust must have decided to relax and take it easy too… or so I thought.
And so, on the rooftop, we chatted for hours, bathed in the cool breeze.
Normally, we were too busy fighting each other.
Too bound by our respective roles, too aware of others' gazes.
Suppressing our true feelings, unable to share. Those stories.
Only at this moment, as the world perished and faded away, could we finally laugh and speak freely with each other.
For hours, we spoke of many things, as the world around us crumbled.
"Ta-da. Hello there. We've met before, haven't we?"
"Wow… Haha, yeah. I actually figured you would."
Amidst our conversation, since this timeline would be forgotten anyway, I even took off my mask and revealed my identity.
"I'll call you Dain, so you can call me Haru."
"…Understood, Haru."
We even formally introduced ourselves to each other.
"…Wait, Dain, back then. Didn't Lee Seol-ah introduce you to me at the beach?"
"Ah."
"Hmm…?"
…When Shin Haru asked about my relationship with Lee Seol-ah with a terrifying smile, I instinctively felt danger and frantically made excuses.
"No?"
"Of course not! We're like family. There's absolutely nothing like what you're thinking!"
"…That's a relief."
"Huh?"
"…No, it's nothing."
…From there, we even spent some time clarifying Stardust's suspicions about whether there was 'something' going on between me and the female members of Egostream.
Surprisingly, there was no end to our conversation topics.
"Haha, really? You said you missed me back then?"
"Ahem. …Yes."
"Ahahaha. Hahahahaha."
"Ah… Stop laughing. It's embarrassing…"
And so,
quite a lot of time had passed as we laughed and chatted together.
Enough time for the blue sky to gradually turn orange.
…
Actually, at one point, the Moonlight Cult seemed to have thrown a tantrum trying to survive, and it suddenly turned night, but it failed, and day returned.
Anyway, now, dusk was slowly setting in.
…Instinctively realizing that time was running out, we found ourselves simply gazing at the orange-tinged sky, a faint smile playing on our lips.
Sitting on the rooftop railing, hands resting on the bar.
There, perched at the very top of a dying world. Waiting for time to rewind.
'…Hmm.'
During that time, with the conversation paused, I quietly reviewed the exchange I'd had with Haru today, my mind growing serious.
…I knew, of course. That the current situation was unique.
As I'd said before, I had revealed my identity, and the world was in its final moments. Perhaps, having extended a helping hand to her in her psychologically vulnerable state, there might have been a suspension bridge effect.
But.
…Even taking that into account, Haru was far too gentle with me.
As if we hadn't been hero and villain from the start, but old friends.
As if she hadn't hated or despised me.
'…..'
…I liked Stardust. From the very beginning, of course. So, I could laugh and chat with her. I could enjoy being by her side.
…But Haru?
Truth be told, it had been a bit strange from the start.
Hadn't she accepted my words about time rewinding without a single doubt? As if she had trusted me from the very beginning.
…Even though I was a villain. Why?
And then,
"You know…"
"Yes?"
Just as I was pondering these questions.
Suddenly, Shin Haru, who had been gazing at the setting sun with a small smile on her lips, opened her mouth.
Under the twilight sky, bathed in orange light.
In an atmosphere that made my heart pound, she spoke to me.
"…Thinking about it now, you know."
"Yes."
"The truth is, Dain, you… I mean, you, Egotistic."
"From the very beginning. I don't think I… ever disliked you."
"…What?"
I heard those words and doubted my ears.
I whipped my head around to look at her, but Haru was still gazing at the orange twilight sky, a faint smile on her face.
And she continued to speak, her gaze still fixed on the sky.
"…Actually, you know. I think I might have just consciously tried to dislike you."
"Because you were a villain, a terrorist. And I was a hero, a champion. So, naturally, I had to dislike you… That's what I told myself."
…What was she saying?
Whether I was confused or not, Haru continued to speak.
"But you know what? Thinking about it now."
"When was it, I wonder? Was it that day the plane fell, the day you called me?"
She stopped there and took a breath.
Then, filled with a newfound certainty, she spoke again.
"From that moment. You."
"I don't think I disliked you that much."
"On the contrary. In fact, you know."
…No way.
Come on, surely not.
"As time went on. Those moments, you know, when you looked out for me. Those moments accumulated."
"I, you were….."
....
And then Haru, as if whispering quietly, trailed off her words, audible only to me.
"...."
She was smiling at the sky, but there was a slight glistening in the corners of her eyes.
And Haru, still not meeting my gaze, continued in a slightly trembling voice.
"…Haha, isn't it funny? At the very end of everything, when it's all going to disappear, to vanish… only at this moment do I realize my feelings. And… only now do I tell you."
"....."
Watching Shin Haru murmur those words, her eyes still a little red, gazing at the sky.
And so.
I, who had learned Shin Haru's true feelings for the very first time.
"....."
could not utter a single word.
'…Where did it all go wrong?'
Instead, I thought quietly to myself.
I had clearly intended to remain her eternal nemesis, her arch-enemy. That's why I acted the way I did.
But, since I was new to being a villain.
There must have been some amateurish parts.
…Right.
When the plane fell, should I not have called her to offer encouragement?
That day in the basement, should I not have saved her?
When the Han-eun Group invaded with their giant weapon, should I not have hijacked it?
When the Moonlight Cult caused the storm, should I not have stepped in?
That day in front of the Demon King's Castle, should I not have faced the enemy in her stead?
…I don't know.
But.
Even if time rewound, I probably would have done the same.
However.
'…I need to tell someone this.'
I felt I had to inform my future self of this, even if I had to rewind time to do it.
—That something had gone wrong.
That my project to become Stardust's arch-enemy, her eternal rival, a truly wicked villain, had been fundamentally flawed from the very beginning.
That if I wanted to remain a villain, I needed to change my plans, even now. For the sake of the world.
But I couldn't convey it. The flow of time was something even I, with the power of the stars, couldn't defy.
Just as I was contemplating with a serious expression.
…A soft touch.
I felt something touch my hand, which was resting on the railing.
Something warm and soft.
Tap. Tap.
Her fingers drew closer and closer to my left hand.
And the moment I turned my head.
I met Shin Haru's blue eyes, which were glistening slightly with tears.
"…No?"
She asked me that in a small voice.
…It's the end anyway, isn't it?
Everything will be undone, won't it?
Watching her speak to me like that, bathed in the orange sunlight, her tears shimmering with a breathtaking beauty.
I couldn't say or do anything.
Soon, her fingers carefully brushed against my hand.
Once Haru's hand completely covered the back of mine.
I, too, gently moved my hand and held hers.
"..."
She looked slightly surprised.
Watching her, I thought quietly to myself.
…Right.
I liked Stardust. From the very beginning, of course.
So. Maybe it doesn't matter.
…I don't know. Future Egotistic can worry about future problems. Whether it's about being a villain or whatever, that's a problem for my future self to handle. If he has any sense, he'll figure it out and devise a new strategy later. It's not something for me, in this disappearing timeline, to worry about. Probably.
And.
…It's the end anyway.
Everything will be undone.
So, maybe I can just focus on this moment.
And so, holding her hand, I simply smiled.
Seeing me, Haru's eyes widened for a moment.
Then, she broke into a wide smile.
A smile so bright it was dazzling.
*
Boommmmm.
Boommmmm.
"…It looks like it's slowly coming to an end now."
"Yeah…"
How much time had passed, I wondered?
Under the sunset on the rooftop, we quietly watched the explosions erupting around us. Still, holding hands.
…Today, too, would end like this.
The world would completely perish.
Time would rewind again.
And everything that happened today would be completely forgotten from both our memories.
And we would return to days of fighting each other.
As usual, I would commit acts of terror, and she would stop them. I would smile and turn on the broadcast, and she would save people. Those kinds of days.
"…Haha."
"Why are you laughing?"
"…No reason."
To her, who cast a questioning gaze my way, I said that and squeezed her hand once more. At that, she murmured, 'What was that…?' but her ears were still flushed. …But then again, I probably wasn't any different, so I stayed quiet.
Boommmmm.
"…It won't be the end."
"…Hm?"
As the sounds of bombardment, and mushroom-like clouds, drew closer and closer to us.
I quietly opened my mouth to her.
"Even if time rewinds. In the end, it's just the two of us."
"People don't change."
"Someday, a day will come when we can talk like this again."
"So."
With my other hand, I gently wiped away the tears flowing down her cheek. And continued.
"Don't cry."
"…..Okay."
And at my words.
Haru, even with her red eyes, gave a small smile.
Boommmmm.
And her appearance, in that moment. It was so incredibly beautiful.
I couldn't tear my eyes from her face.
And then.
Boommmmm.
Just like that.
.....
Time, rewound again.