I Became The Villain The Hero Is Obsessed With-Novel

It's been almost four months since I retired. So I'm realizing that, ah, this story is coming to an end.

The world is getting more and more chaotic, even though it's not visible.

Most notably, the number of talented people is increasing.

It's not a good sign since it means that the Sun God's power is growing.

This will beceven more pronounced in Part 4, the climactic and final chapter, which is still staway.

This is when…

‘When all the heroes and villains grow in power.’

Yeah.

It's a big deal.

The reason why Stardus was an unrivaled strong protagonist…was not only because she had the power of a star that could overpower the power of the sun, but even more so when you think about the fact that it was because of her ability to grow alone.

Most powerful people have the power of the Sun God, special abilities that made their dreams ctrue but there are others who have received powers from other gods.

Eun-woo was given extra powers by the Moon God.

Those who received powers from the Star God are Stardus, the main character of this manga, Ex Machina, who is now deceased and me.

As you can see, all three are powered by their own mechanisms, different from the Sun God's.

Stardus is the natural enemy of those with the power of the sun god, and has several times the power when dealing with them. And her abilities ‘grow'…and she has an extra sense that is almost like foresight of the future.

Ex Machina, the only man in the world who could turn back time. His presence averted the world's near-destruction on more than one occasion….And now that he's gone, I'm cleaning the mess in his place.

And I… Well, well… What's special about the ability is that it has a definite recoil every tI use it. It's a secret, but it seems to extend my lifespan… hmm. But why is my own life a risk? Well, let’s say my ability is to predict the future through the original work.

Anyway, the growth of the ability is a unique feature that only Stardus had.

However, as if to mock this, from Part 4 onward, the powers of all abilities gradually becstronger.

…Of course.

I am an exception, as I have abilities originating from the star god. From the beginning to the end of the day I cto this world, I was repeatedly teleporting and vomiting.

That's why I'm obsessed with expanding my circle of allies, which is why I recruited Seo-eun and Soobin because even if I'm weak, but I have strong people by my side, that will eventually becmy strength.

That's why I put a lot of effort into building my team, the Egostream.

I designed everything from the order in which we met to the timing.

I even thought about their personalities, how to get to know them, how to get them to trustand follow me… never. I thought a lot about how to make sure they wouldn't betray me.

I put a lot of thought into the selection of members, and as a result, I lost a few trusted male colleagues, but it was a sacrifice I had to make. Instead, I took them to the Yuseong Group PMC and Ego Squad.

In the end, after all the hard work, I got what I wanted: a group of trustworthy colleagues who would never betray me.

That's why I had everyone live together in the shouse from the beginning. To create a family-like atmosphere, because flesh and blood don't betray.

That's why I was happy to accept the affection of my coworkers.

…..

What was I thinking?

Yeah.

Slowly, I see the end of this story I've been telling.

I've broken up with Stardus and now I'll just have to do my best to woo Celeste. I'm going to have to take this relationship to the next level.

I've done all this to save Stardus and save the world.

Yeah…Save Stardus.

Even though I'll never meet Stardus…

"….."

~Night. The living room of my house~

There I was, sitting on the couch, thinking…

…Yeah.

My thoughts have been a bit of a stream of consciousness, but the bottom line is this.

I've been a bit depressed lately…not to the point of depression, but more of an empty feeling.

Maybe it's because I've been living in this world with only Stardus, but now that I've retired, I feel empty.

"……"

After falling into this world, guided by the God of Stars I wandered for three years.

I wondered why I had to save this world, why me. Why I had to lose all my family and friends and end up here.

I was so frustrated that I drowned myself in alcohol every day.

Until one day.

It was Stardus that gavethe chance to live again.

…Yeah. Letdie with Stardus on top of my head one last time. Saving the world, as the goddess said, is the second thing. I'll live as I please.

No matter what, in my previous life, my favorite girl was Stardus.

That's how it started, and that's how I got here.

In other words, my second life in this world was because of and for Stardus.

…So, to think that I'll never see her again is a bit of an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Anyway, I've been having this problem lately.

…But.

Actually, this wasn't the only problem.

There was a bigger problem, the members of our Egostream have changed.

Since my retirement, to be precise, they've all suddenly becmore aggressive….

This was disconcerting to me, as I had dreamed of an Egostream that was like a family.

For reference, the most aggressive was Atlas's daughter, Ariel…

"Da-in…I'll be back…'

Atlas said it was tto return because Atlas was expanding his maritforces, so she went back into the sea again…

Of course, even with that, I had my own problems.

I knew of course that the members of the Egostream had a crush on me. I'd tried to make it so in the first place.

…It's just that lately, I've been wondering if I'm getting a little too much favor.

And most importantly.

"….."

Recently, in the aftermath of my falling out with Stardus, I've found that I'm not very good at pushing them away either…

A dark night, on the couch in the living room, bathed in orange light, I was in a daze, thinking about something.

"…Da-in?"

Soobin walked over, smiling quietly at me.

She was wearing a black night dress that she wore to bed, with only a thin cardigan on.

"…Ah, Soobin."

"What are you doing alone so late at night?"

I looked at her and smiled weakly.

She casually sits down next to me.

I turned away from her and looked straight ahead, muttering to myself.

"…It's just, I was thinking about what to do next."

"Hmm…"

As I said that, she listened quietly from right next to me.

…Somehow, sitting so close, so poured next to me, I could almost smell her lavender scent.

Feeling a little awkward, I coughed and fell slightly off the couch.

For sreason, when I'm with Soobin, I feel like I can relax. Not a loving wife…but a loving mother…? That's weirder. Anyway, it's like being with someone like that. I feel like I don't want to hide my feelings.

When I was thinking about that Soobin said casually, with a benevolent smile.

"…Is there something on your mind? Let's get the final boss Da-in is talking about. We can continue to live happily ever after with our friends."

"…Haha."

I couldn't help but smile a little wryly at Soobin words.

Happily ever after…I wonder if I'll be able to live after the final chapter.

Honestly, considering the power of the final boss battle and the role I was given… I couldn't quite picture it.

When I was thinking about it.

"Not again, not again."

"Ugh!"

Soobin suddenly stretched out her arm and placed her hand on both of my cheeks.

I panicked at the coldness of her hands on my skin and turned my head towards her, Soobin smiled faintly and said to me.

"Da-in, you're thinking gloomy thoughts again, aren't you? Don't be, you're making too many negative assumptions."

"No…that's not it."

"How many years have I been with you, Da-in? I know what you’re thinking just by looking at your face."

Soobin smiled brightly as she said that, without removing her hand from my face.

I couldn't help but smile back, too.

"Yes. I see, I guess I should."

"Good thinking…And."

That's all she said.

With a smile that was uncharacteristic of her, Soobin told me.

"Why did you avoidwhen I sat down on the couch?"

"…What?"

"Doesn't Da-in like me?"

"…What?? No, of course not…"

I panicked while looking at Soobin who was crying while saying that.

"Oh…"

Soobin casually raised her head and put her arm around my shoulders.

Half layingdown on the couch, she flipped my brown hair back and chuckled in front of my face.

"I'm just kidding."

"…Haha."

"…Well, you know how I like you, Da-in."

"…Haha, of course, I like all the members of the Egostream…"

"You know that doesn't mean you like them, right?"

I looked at Soobin, who was leaning towardson the couch, smiling brightly as she said that.

I could only smile and sweat.

…Strangely enough, I could be strong with any other girl, but I couldn't be strong with Soobin, especially when she was smiling.

…By the way, she likes me.

When I was panicking for a moment, smiling again, Soobin opened her mouth and said to me,

"Da-in, do you wantto tell you another secret?"

"…What, what is it?"

She paused for a moment, then lookedstraight in the eye.

In the dark living room, she smiled and confessed to me.

"It's true. We all like Da-in."

"…What?"

I was still reeling from the shock of the conversation.

Folding her fingers together, Soobin smiled and muttered.

"So… Me, Ja-young, Se-hee, Eun-woo, Seo-eun, Ariel, and Ha-yul. We all like Da-in, as a man."

"Um… Uh…Yeah…"

"And we agreed that it's okay if we all end up together. And we don't mind if there are more."

"…What?"

Is this skind of April Fool's joke?

Now Seo-eun and Ja-young are going to set off firecrackers and say, "Voila. It was a hidden camera!"?

I had such vain hopes.

"What do you think, Da-in?"

"What? I'm so embarrassed right now, I don't know what to say…"

"Fufu, I knew you would, but it doesn't matter."

After saying that, Soobin, with a mesmerizing smile that she had never shownbefore, leaned in close to my ear and said.

"Anyway, Da-in is ours…"

With that, she spontaneously kissedon the cheek.

Then, with those words, good night-, she disappeared like the wind.

…With her slightly reddened ears hidden by her long hair.

Just like that, I was left alone.

"Mmm…"

I quietly sat up and decided to go to sleep.

I'll wake up and think about it.

Haha…

I silently rubbed my forehead as I thought that.

What scaredeven more than the shocking series of sounds I suddenly heard.

…is that I almost accepted that ridiculous confession. I'm in a state of mental and physical weakness…

‘…I don't know. I'll sleep and think about it when I wake up… Let's focus on preparing for the final chapter.’

With that thought, I hardened my heart.

…Anyway.

All of this was only meaningful when I was the last one alive.

Let's get ssleep.

With that thought, I lay down on my bed and closed my eyes.

Sleep cimmediately.

In the darkened room, Stardus sat alone on the bed, knees drawn together and arms wrapped around her with a melancholy look on her face.

"…Egotistic."

There it was, on the receiver he'd left behind.

Yes.

…Nothing will happen if she stays still like this.

With that thought, she sat quietly on the bed and without realizing it, the word broadcast cto mind.