After a pleasant conversation with Celeste.

Back at home, I flopped down on the couch, rubbing my chest.

That was risky, man.

It was a bold statement, made possible by the fact that I knew everything about Celestes personality, values, and behavior through the comics, but I was still nervous.

It took a lot of mental energy to smile with a sneer on my face in front of someone who could turn me to ash with a snap of her fingers, and who was furious with me. But hey, it worked.

Oh my God Im dying.

Master, can I get you some water?

No.

I told the angel who said that so politely to me, and with that, I turned to the other side.I feel like Im trash because a grown woman is calling me master.

For the record, the angel was wearing a light blue t-shirt instead of her usual Greek-style white robes, with a hole in the back for her large wings to pass through.

Anyway, here I was, suffering from Celeste-facing withdrawal. According to my plan, she would get her comeuppance one day. Yeah She will. I dont know when that will be, but

Anyway, I cant deny that its a breath of fresh air, even if its a headache.

Ive gotten my angel, and Ive gotten away from Celeste. Phase 3 is actually over now.

There was still some time to go before the start of Phase 4, but it was the perfect time to retire from terrorism and take a break.

RetireIf Im bored, Ill raise another hero in my spare time.

Thinking about it, isnt that retirement?

Anyway, thats what I was thinking.

Naturally, my Egostream colleagues were thinking the same thing.

Da-in, you should really retire now, right?

Seo-eun said, her eyes shining at me.

When I smiled sheepishly and averted my gaze, she stretched out her hand and folded her fingers one by one.

You said last time that if you finish the Moonlight Gate, youll retire, if you kill the Wish Granter, youll retire, and if you catch the angel this time, youll retire. Youve really done it all now, havent you?

Um right?

Then youre really retiring now, right?

When Seo-eun was saying that while holding my hand.

Even Soobin, who had come over, sat next to me and covered the back of my hand with her own hand with a worried expression, looking into my eyes.

Da-in Im worried now, too. Honestly, youve been through a lot. This is the second time youve risked your life. I think its time to let things go.

From Seo-eun to Soobin, when two people who had been with me since the beginning said that, I had no choice but to raise the white flag.

Okay, okay, Ill quit for real now.

Wow. Youre serious?

Yeah. Just a few last attacks.

Ha. Okay, if thats what you want.

With that promise renewed, I returned to my room.

Yeah, but I still need to do a few more attacks before I go Just to make sure Stardus power is as complete as I thought it was.

Of course, theyll be more of a test of her abilities, so Im sure theyll be a bit strenuous.

Its not because I dont want to part ways with her.

Anyway, my last terror wasMm. I was thinking maybe I should have all the members of Egostream do it, kind of like an all-star finale. Wouldnt be bad.

Anyway, with that thought in mind, I planned my next attack.

Seo-Eun, you should help me, so we can get this done and retire early.

Ha Okay, what do I need to do?

And so I did, with Seo-euns help.

I was in the middle of planning my last few attacks.

Huh?

Atlas, who I hadnt heard from in a while, called me back.

[Egostic, where are you?]

What? Im home, whats wrong?

[No, I mean, remember those sea monsters I told you about? I said one was heading towards your country?]

Yes. I remember.

[I finally found the location of the one that escaped]

[Well, its right in front of your country.]

What?

While Im puzzled by his words, suddenly, my phone chirped and rang so I checked it for a moment.

*

[Emergency disaster text]

[Association] A giant monster is currently on the east coast. All nearby citizens, please evacuate to bunkers.

*

No Whats going on?

My cell phone suddenly rang, and I hurried out into the living room, my hair standing on end as I watched the news on the TV.

[Breaking news, an unidentified giant black beast is currently on the loose on the east coast, this creature is currently destroying cities due to its enormous size, and is making bizarre sounds that are disturbing the mind]

What I see in the video is a black tentacled monster with an octopus-like face and a squid-like body with giant wings.

Its a grotesque creature halfway across the ocean, and its a creature Ive never seen in the original story.

Atlas told me that some of the monsters of the Moonlight Church were transformed by falling into the sea.

Its one of the creatures hes been fighting.

At least he said that the one heading towards me wasnt very strong

Thats weak?

Im not saying there arent plenty of them in the depths right now.

Atlas What have you been fighting all alone?

I felt a little sorry for him. Even if Id gotten permission, I still tampered with the gate and let the monsters fall into the sea

Regardless, that thing didnt look good, especially if it was an evolution of the Moon Beast. They dont play well with the Stardus. It would take days to catch it, but I knew it would take a lot of damage in the process.

Still.

It didnt matter.

Ill get them.

[Egostic, if you think youre in danger, I can come to your aid now.]

To Atlas, who said that to me, I chuckled and said.

Dont worry about it. Ill handle it.

[Be careful, even you, Egostic, theyre not easy to deal with.]

After I replied that I understood Atlas warning, I hung up the phone and grabbed my cloak and headset.

Seo-eun, Ill be right back.

I thought you said you werent doing anything dangerous anymore. No, youre a real hero, arent you? Youll leave if something happens?

Dont worry. Im not doing anything dangerous anymore, and

I trailed off, looking at the angelic Halo standing in the living room, eyes wide with thought.

Hmm

Maybe.

Maybe this is my chance to test the power of our Phase 4 secret weapon, the angel.

***

Hes been quiet for a long time.

Koreas S-class hero, Stardus.

She flew over at the sound of the monsters appearance, and frowned at the giant beast in front of her.

[Krrrrrrerjrrrrrrerjrr! !!!!!!!!]

A really huge monster, the size of a skyscraper, was attacking the city with its giant tentacles, making a creepy screeching noise that was unpleasant to hear.

Stardus eyes narrowed even more when she heard that.

It wasnt that she hadnt fought these creatures before. In fact, she fought many of them, especially during the Moonlight Gate Incident.

But back then, they didnt emit such bizarre sounds that made her head hurt just listening to them.

Wasnt the Moonlight Gate a near world-ending event in the first place? Why would a monster that would only appear then appear now?

As she questioned that, she clenched her fist with the light in her hand.

I dont know. Ill just have to kill it as quickly as possible and see.

With that thought, she charged at the giant beast. Her whole body glowed yellow, like a meteor.

Kaaaaaaaaaah!

And just like that, the battle began.

Until then, she hadnt realized that this battle would be so fierce.

When should we start?

~A city on the east coast~

Having finally arrived, I sat on a building for a while, watching the situation.

Upon arrival, I saw Stardus and that sea monster fighting fiercely.

It was so fierce, there was no way I could intervene. No, if I teleported there, Id be squished like a shrimp in a whale fight in no time.

And

Now, I didnt really want to get involved with Stardus any deeper, and Im retiring soon, so I should probably move on. Mmm

I measured the angle with that thought. Ill have to attack from a distance.

With that in mind, I prepared.

Especially as a Stardus specialist, I knew she was overextended. That thing kept firing brainwave attacks.

.!

I saw the giant tentacle behind Stardus, flying at her, catching her off guard.

And the moment I saw it, I was teleporting before I knew it.

-Kwahhhhhhhhhh.

KwahUghEgostic?

Haha. Hello, Stardus.

It was only a matter of moments before Stardus was in my hands.

My body moved first.