Chapter 8: An Unprecedented Event

300 people.

The number equates to the student body of an average high school.

The fact that so many people are gathered in one place says a lot.

Either the space they’re in is expansive, or they’re packed in tightly.

In this case, it’s probably both.

A large number of people—300 to be exact—crammed into a large space.

But despite the vast crowd present, not a single person was speaking.

So, is it quiet? No, it isn’t.

All thanks to the woman in front of me who’s weeping as if the world is ending.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. Waaaaaaaah.”

Please, just stop crying.

*

[She’s really crying as if the world is ending, wow]

[Seven people on her side got slaughtered, she has a reason to cry Haha]

[Is she going to be the next one? She’s pretty, what a shame]

[Are you guys blind? Can’t you see the hostages trembling? This is not a movie]

[As long as it’s not me, it’s fine~~~~]

[From what I can tell, they’re probably not going to kill all the hostages]

[I’m worried because she’s crying so sorrowfullyㅜㅜ]

[That woman is also a terrorist, you idiots Haha]

[This is way more interesting than mainstream TV. A truly riveting spectacle LOL]

*

I glanced at the chat window to gauge the atmosphere again.

Now I realize there’s no need to look anymore. It’s nauseating...

“Waaaaaaaah. Waa, huh...”

First of all, she’s the one who’s truly struggling here.

Sigh... I need to persuade her to come with me. After all, I’m the one in charge here.

I quickly sat down and picked up the handgun the woman had dropped.

As I crouched there, our eyes met.

With a gentle smile towards the woman who just hiccupped, I said, “If you keep crying, should I shoot?”

I jokingly aimed the handgun and mimicked firing it with a ‘Bang!’ The woman flinched and made an effort to stop her tears.

...I was increasingly feeling like the bad guy here.

Regardless, it had become quieter than before.

Listening to her sniffles from behind me, I stood in front of the hostages.

The sight of 300 people huddled, looking up at me, was something to behold.

Their eyes were filled with fear, by and large.

Why are they like this? I wondered, but then it struck me—I had just killed seven people in front of them.

How often does one witness another person getting shot and bleeding out?

Ah, but maybe the people of this world have seen it more often?

This is Seoul.

The third-largest economic city in Asia and also third on the list for frequent terror attacks.

It’s a city fitting of South Korea’s capital, unusually abundant with superhumans—both heroes and villains.

Anyway, the people were very nervous.

So to them, I spoke loudly, “Hey, hey, everyone. I am Egoistic, a Class-A villain. Nice to meet you.”

Using telekinesis to amplify my voice so that everyone could hear, I spoke.

The atmosphere turned even more rigid as I finished. Everyone looked uneasy.

Why are they like this? I won’t harm them.

*

[Is this going to turn into a ‘kill each other now’ situation? Creepy]

*

Looking at the chat, I could understand why they were acting this way.

What do they think of me? I’m not some psychopath, okay?

...Thinking back, I did once say that in a shipwreck situation, only those who kill first will survive. Ah well, my bad, my bad.

And so, I spoke kindly to the trembling crowd.

“First of all, I’d like to apologize to everyone here. I’m sorry.”

With that, I bowed deeply.

As I suddenly apologized and bowed my head, I could feel the crowd collectively holding their breath.

Straightening up, I resumed naturally, “Although I’m not directly responsible for these copycat crimes, I feel a deep sense of accountability due to the precedents I’ve set.”

At those words, the hostages’ mouths gaped open. The atmosphere suddenly started to buzz.

*

[?????????]

[What the hell is he saying?]

[Is this... a villain? What kinds of villains have I been seeing up to now?]

*

The chat window also displayed sheer perplexity. The reaction was akin to parents who see their delinquent child, who’s always causing trouble, suddenly studying hard for 50 days and then showing up with an acceptance letter from Seoul National University.

Be that as it may, I continued, “None of you hostages are of interest to me, so you may go home as you are. I plan to send a small compensation via bank transfer to those who have been affected, so please check.”

*

[??? What the hell is he talking about???]

[Compensation? LMAO]

[Mom, I want to be a hostage when I grow up! Mom, I want to be a hostage when I grow up! Mom, I want to be a hostage when I grow up! Mom, I want to be a hostage when I grow up! Mom, I want to be a hostage when I grow up! Mom, I want to be a hostage when I grow up!]

[Is this...terrorism? What kind of terrorism have I been subjected to before?]

*

“Regrettably for the three who lost their lives... all I can say is I’m sorry. I’ll ensure that you receive the maximum compensation. Ah, don’t worry about the bank accounts; I know them all.”

I had mentioned before that I had a lot of money.

I wasn’t wealthy in the past, but now, what I do best is flaunting my wealth.

*

[Isn’t it kinda scummy to just give compensation and wash his hands of it... Is this it?]

[??? It’s weird for Egoistic to offer compensation in the first place, he didn’t kill them, did he?]

[Still? Trying to settle with death compensation feels a bit...]

[Exactly, he didn’t kill anyone, to begin with, Hahaha]

*

Looking at the chat window, I saw the atmosphere was agitated, but this was precisely what I was aiming for. This spectacle would make people talk about me again, increasing my notoriety. If I’m already caught up in this, might as well make the most of it.

How do I know the bank accounts? Wouldn’t Seo Eun, the genius hacker, take care of that? I trust in Seo Eun; she’ll handle it, I’m sure.

[....Haa...]

I thought I heard a sigh through my earpiece, but it must’ve been my imagination. Or so I thought.

Having said what I needed to, I turned around again. Behind me, the trembling female follower was still there.

...I’d decided to spare her life, considering she might be a useful ally, but what should I do now?

[ Hyung, just bring her along.]

Suddenly, Seo Eun’s voice came through the earpiece.

Kidnap her? Right here?

I couldn’t ask “why?” aloud. It’d look bad muttering to myself when hundreds of people were watching me.

[She seems to be mentally broken right now. This could be a good opportunity to bring her with us and try to persuade her to join our side. Probably.]

“Hmm...”

That’s not a bad idea, actually.

It’s a rather wicked plan, especially coming from Seo Eun, who’s only in her third year of middle school, but I decided to go along with it. There’s something called the ‘foot-in-the-door’ technique, after all.

“Hey, miss? Would you come with me?”

“Huhhhh?”

I lifted the whimpering woman into my arms. Holding her squirming form, I looked at the onlookers and nodded.

“Goodbye, then.”

With that, I unfurled my cloak in front of me and vanished.

*

[What’s this? A cliffhanger?]

[That was a somewhat weak ending... I’ll give it a 6/10.]

[Free Kim Seon-wo! Free Kim Seon-wo! Free Kim Seon-wo! Free Kim Seon-wo! Free Kim Seon-wo! Free Kim Seon-wo! Free Kim Seon-wo! Free Kim Seon-wo!]

[I’ve decided to sentence Kim Seon-wo to death after seeing that spam.]

===[The broadcast has ended.]===

*

And with that, I shut down this nauseating stream.

***

[A villain takes responsibility and compensates with money? Actual Hostages Confirm Their Bank Accounts. Egoistic: Who is this enigma? A special report.]

[Opinion] Can we really say that the villain who killed his own terrorist follower did the right thing?]

[Continuing from yesterday,, Egoistic features as the main topic in the 9 PM news again today....NEWSTREE]

*

[Author] Anonymous

[Title] So, this is true?

A guy who was an A-cllass villain suddenly hijacked three ships and said, ‘Kill each other now,’ and then he got upset because they didn’t kill each other. Then, the next day, when his followers started a terrorist attack, he went out and killed them all, paid compensation for the hostages, and released them, right? And all of this was broadcast live?

===[Comments]===

[Anonymous1] Come on, that can’t be true. Hahaha

└[Anonymous2] Seriously LOL

└[Anonymous3] Who even does that in the world? (It’s true, though)

└[Anonymous4] He also hijacked airwaves? Must be a lie (It’s not)

[Anonymous5] I’ve never seen a villain as absurd as Mangostick. He’s ingrained in my mind after just two days.

└[Anonymous6] Who the heck is Mangostick? Hahaha

└[Anonymous7] Mangostick, WTF LOL

└[Anonymous8] How is the villain named Mangostick? Hahaha

[Anonymous9] To be honest, this guy is a villain, but he’s also stopping terrorists and freeing hostages. Isn’t he more of a hero?

└[Anonymous10] A hero (who hijack and tries to initiate a bombing)

└[Anonymous9] So, did anyone die, huh? Hahaha

└[Anonymous11] Supporting the dark hero Mangostick!

*

For two consecutive days, the name of the villain, Mangostick, was imprinted into the minds of the entire nation.

...No, it’s Egoistic. She corrected herself internally. She had been browsing online forums too much to gauge public opinion and felt like her mind was getting a little mushy.

“Haru, what are you doing?”

“Ah, eonni*.”

Inside the café, Shin Haru, a college student, was working on an assignment with her senior.

When operating as a hero, she always concealed her identity and wore identity-suppression filters. No one knew she was a hero.

So, she could enjoy an average college life.

By day, she was Shin Haru, an ordinary college student; by night, she led a double life as the hero Stardust.

“Haru, you seem to be struggling with your focus. Is something wrong?”

“Ah, no. I just had something to think about.”

Waving her hands and reassuring her senior that she’d focus now, she picked up her pen to continue with the assignment.

However, her thoughts were elsewhere.

Just who is this Egoistic guy? What is he up to?

︵‿︵‿୨ * ୧‿︵‿︵

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