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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Ego Squad
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"..."
Hours later. Unlike the four PMC members slumped on the floor, panting heavily, Stardust stood perfectly fine.
'...Hmm, still not enough, though.'
–At this level, I suppose they're quite strong.
As she stretched her hands, she thought this. She had fought in just a T-shirt, yet not a single scratch marred her body.
...If they developed a bit more, it wouldn't be bad. She thought. Since they'd only ever sparred among themselves, if a weaker villain appeared, perhaps she could arrange some training under her name.
However...
"Hmm..."
Shin Haru, feeling something strange, fell deep in thought as she looked down at the four trainees recovering on the floor.
'...Somehow, these kids' fighting styles feel familiar.'
Actions like retreating immediately when at a disadvantage in a fight, or luring an opponent into complacency to strike at their weak point. Somehow, it felt familiar...?
"..."
The whole place felt familiar too. Thinking this, Stardust casually surveyed the training facility. A familiar feeling emanated from here as well. ...How should she put it? A familiar gaze, perhaps? It probably wasn't anything.
Besides.
...Could someone have taught them separately?
Stardust felt this question arise. For them to have learned their techniques just by sparring among themselves, there were several rather professional aspects to their fighting. A somewhat specialized feeling. And familiar, too.
Well, having fought countless villains herself, she had naturally encountered most combat styles, so it could just be her mistaking things, but still.
'...Should I observe them a bit more?'
She thought. Yes, they seemed to have rested enough; perhaps she should call them again.
Especially...
Thinking this, Stardust looked at the small, blue-haired girl resting with her eyes closed, leaning against the wall. Number 4, she'd called her?
The weakest girl, who created large water bubbles in the air.
However...
'She said her ability gets stronger when she's near the water bubbles, right?'
Yes. She possessed a very unique ability. The effect of strengthening the abilities of espers around the water bubbles. For some reason, it didn't seem to work on Stardust herself, indicating some limitations, but it was certainly a fascinating power.
'...But when fighting villains, wouldn't it be pointless if the villain's abilities also got strengthened?'
That thought just occurred to her. ...Unless they were fighting civilians or animals, it felt like it wouldn't be very useful in typical terror attacks.
Still, if she could control the water bubbles' distance well, it would be useful for strengthening allies' abilities when fighting alongside others.
Yes. Should I test it right now?
To the four, who seemed to have rested enough, Stardust calmly spoke.
"Alright, this time, all four of you, come at me at once."
She said this, still wearing only a T-shirt. At her words, which implied she could easily win even if all four attacked.
"...Yes, ma'am."
They simply and calmly prepared themselves again. ...It was, in fact, natural that there would be a skill gap between the four, who had never experienced real combat, and Stardust, who had faced hundreds of villains on the brink of life and death.
And so.
Once again, another battle unfolded.
Unaware that another gaze was watching them.
***
"...They certainly fight well."
In the basement of EgoStream, below a colossal screen. There, I watched Stardust and the PMC kids fight, munching on popcorn, and muttered to myself.
I never thought I'd use the CCTV cameras installed in the underground training area in case something happened like this... Anyway, being able to observe the scene directly was a significant benefit. It felt like I could personally check how strong our Ego Squad members were, and watch Stardust while I was at it.
'...But this is the first time I've seen Stardust fighting in casual clothes...'
Hmm, whether she's in a suit or a T-shirt, Stardust is beautiful. ...No, that's not the point.
"...Oppa, are you sure you're focusing on the fight?"
"Huh? Oh, of course."
At Seo-eun's words, who glanced at me with slightly exasperated eyes from beside me, I felt a pang of guilt and nodded, answering. Well, I *was* focused. Uh-huh.
"It still seems like she's holding back..."
Still, our PMC Ego Squad kids were doing quite well. Perhaps because I trained them myself, I felt a sense of pride.
And so, the sparring with Stardust concluded. Naturally, Stardust won in the end, but one could say it ended quite warmly.
"Hmm... Not bad."
Thinking that, I rose from my seat.
Alright, that should be enough for the PMC today. Stardust will take care of the rest and raise them well. And after that, Stardust herself will grow.
Thinking this, I looked at the screen one last time. Soon, they dispersed, apparently having finished their day's schedule.
Watching them, I left the room with Seo-eun. Now, all that was left was to preemptively eliminate a few villains and go see our Vine Witch once more.
"Oppa! Oh, right, I've got a new device I just made. Wanna see it?"
"Oh, what is it?"
"Heh. It's a Fixed Variable Converter, and what it does is..."
Chatting with Seo-eun like that, I closed the door. ...Trying hard to ignore the unsettling feeling I'd sensed in the room.
...I've been so thorough with everything, there's no way anything could go wrong. I've even coordinated Stardust meeting our PMC kids.
Hmm, yeah. What could possibly happen?
***
"No matter how you look at it, Master Dayin really seems to be Egoistic."
That night. The four of them, huddled together, spoke with serious expressions. Lee Se-geom, Number 1, had already laid out all the evidence he'd considered, so they all sat with grave looks on their faces.
"...Yes. It seems so."
"...Seo Chae-yeong?"
At that moment, Seo Chae-yeong, Number 2, a girl with light yellow-orange hair, muttered blankly, her mouth slightly agape.
She had initially denied Dayin being Egoistic to the very end, but seeing her so readily agree now, the others watched her with curiosity.
She muttered in a slightly dazed voice.
"Stardust unnie... I saw her this time, and she's incredibly pretty. There's no way he wouldn't like a woman like that..."
"Didn't you have a perception filter on anyway, so you couldn't see her properly?"
At Number 3's sharp retort, delivered with genuine curiosity from beside her, Number 2 muttered in a weak voice.
"No... Even through that, you can *feel* it, can't you? What did *you* see? Aaah, why am I subjected to such trials..."
While Seo Chae-yeong was clutching her head and agonizing alone like this.
The remaining three gathered together, putting their heads together and whispering.
Number 3, Heo Da-hee, spoke with a curious expression.
"...So, if Master Dayin is Egoistic, then why on earth did he teach us? Isn't Egoistic a villain?"
"...Well, perhaps he wants to turn us into villains too?"
"Gasp. So we're villains now? ...Is that a good thing, even?"
While Number 3 and Number 4 were bantering like this.
Number 1, who was listening, shook his head and said.
"...No. That can't be it. Don't you remember the mindset of a hero he always spoke of?"
"Oh, you're right."
As Number 3 accepted his words, Number 4 continued in a quiet voice.
"...No, that's not it. If Egoistic is a villain, he might actually be raising us as heroes only to corrupt us and turn us into villains later. Like, a fallen hero vibe."
"...Hmm."
Lee Se-geom, hearing that, closed his eyes and thought. A fallen hero... A hero who pursued justice but fell, betraying humanity and turning their blades against them.
"...It sounds plausible, too."
"...That could be the case."
As Lee Se-geom said this with a slightly confused gaze.
Suddenly, Seo Chae-yeong, who had been blankly staring, slammed the floor and spoke.
"...Uh, anyway! Whether Master Dayin is a villain or not, that's not what's important. What's important is that we know Master Dayin is a villain now, so what are we going to do?"
"...Why is that important?"
Lee Se-geom replied indifferently to Seo Chae-yeong's words.
"Whether Master Dayin is a villain or a hero, we've already decided to trust and follow him. So that's not what's important."
"...That's right. I already owe him a debt of gratitude."
"Yeah! Hmm... So we weren't the Comet Squad after all, but the Ego Squad? Ego Squad... That rolls off the tongue better, doesn't it?"
"...Ego Squad. That's a pretty name."
As they spoke, Seo Chae-yeong frowned and said, as if dumbfounded.
"...No, what are you talking about? That's obvious, the point is what we're going to do now. Should we just go to Master Dayin and ask if he's Egoistic?"
"Hmm..."
At her words, Lee Se-geom fell silent. In the meantime, Heo Da-hee offered an opinion.
"Let's just tell him! That we know he's Egoistic, but we don't care. That he doesn't need to hide it and that we'll trust and follow him no matter what he says."
"...That's right. I think that would be best too."
As San Su-ah, Number 4, nodded and replied.
Lee Se-geom shook his head and said.
"...No. Not yet. We're not 100% certain he's Egoistic, and we don't know much about him either. Isn't it strange that he, clearly a villain, is working with Lee Seol-ah, a hero, right now?"
"...Ah! Now that I think about it, you're right!"
As Heo Da-hee clapped her hands and said that, Lee Se-geom nodded, his face serious.
"Yes. So let's find out a bit more... And later, we can tell him honestly. Until then, absolutely don't tell anyone."
"Okay!"
"Yes."
"Hmph... Fine."
And so. These individuals, who had begun to call themselves the Ego Squad, quietly began to investigate Egoistic.
"No way, Master Dayin really likes Stardust, doesn't he? At this point, it's like a 'We Got Married' episode!"
"What's 'We Got Married'...?"
...Very diligently.
***
"So, if you put mint chocolate cake in here? Ta-da! Tiramisu cake comes out. Huh? Oppa, what's wrong?"
"Ah. Nothing. Keep explaining, that's fascinating."
In the basement. I was looking at the Fixed... something converter Seo-eun had made when a sudden eerie feeling came over me, making me look around, but I soon refocused on Seo-eun's words.
...It seems I'm really feeling a bit drained lately. Maybe I should start taking those tonics Ms. Soobin gave me again.
My ears felt itchy.