Chapter 190 - Sprouting Doubt

"There's a hidden S-class hero in America.

His ability is to turn back time."

Right after I said those words, the atmosphere around the round table froze slightly.

"....."

Everyone was looking at me with expressions that seemed to say, 'Who is this guy saying such nonsense?'

Fair enough, most of the villains here probably didn't know about the existence of such a hero, nor that such an ability could actually exist.

It's natural they'd be bewildered when an A-class villain like me suddenly drops such bombshell information.

So, the round table froze momentarily after I finished speaking. No one directly said "What nonsense are you talking about?" to me, but the atmosphere was pretty much equivalent.

And some of them glanced at Celeste occasionally. As if asking why she wasn't stopping someone spreading such strange false information.

And Celeste.

"...."

Without saying anything, she remained silent with her eyes closed, just like usual.

Of course, because this was information she already knew.

S-class hero Ex Machina.

The only man in this world with the ability to turn back time.

America already has an abundance of powerful ability users, but his ability stands out as extraordinary even among them. Naturally, the Association tightly guards his existence to prevent it from becoming public knowledge.

Usually staying in an underground bunker within the American Association, he has a hotline that can instantly connect him with the American Association Director, the American government, and the International Association Director.

And in truth... although I just confidently declared that he can turn back time, his ability obviously comes with enormous penalties.

He can only turn back time for a few minutes, not hours, and even that comes with such severe penalties that it's not easy to use the ability again.

But despite all these limitations, his ability was truly unparalleled in this world. If nothing else, when it comes to preventing the end of the world.

The title they use for him within the Association is "Humanity's Last Bastion." He's the only one who can prevent the world's destruction.

According to the original story, he's prevented several nuclear wars and dozens of terrorist attacks that could have collapsed entire nations.

In short, his significance in the original story isn't so much about making the world better, but preventing the worst-case scenarios from happening. No matter how much chaos incredibly powerful ability users might cause, at least the world won't face destruction.

And this man.

He dies in a few months.

...Of course, if I mentioned that too, I'd really be mistaken for a fortune teller, so I should just explain his ability appropriately.

As the round table remained in confusion, I continued my explanation calmly while maintaining a slight smile.

"Yes. He can turn back time. However, the time he can rewind is extremely limited, so the Association manages him solely for the purpose of preventing human extinction."

"....."

The round table remained coldly frozen.

Of course, they still seemed skeptical, but some appeared to be half-believing, half-doubting. They probably thought, surely no one would lie in a setting like this.

...But why isn't anyone objecting? By now, someone should have shouted "Nonsense!" Like that red mohawk guy from before.

Speaking of which, he's now sitting next to me, looking at me with shining eyes that seemed to say, "As expected of big bro...! To think you even know such confidential information...!" Wait, how did you end up like this?

...Well, it doesn't matter if they don't believe me.

Even if they don't believe it now, in just a few months, Ex Machina's death will reveal his existence to the world before Kathedal's third meeting.

As I was thinking this and finishing my statement.

"...I think I've heard similar rumors too."

"?!"

At the sound of a soft voice from one side of the round table, everyone's attention turned in that direction.

It was because Celeste, who had been quietly listening all along, finally spoke up.

"....Huh."

That Celeste had agreed with my statement.

Which meant that what I just said was likely true.

As murmurs began around the table, I quietly nodded without showing my true feelings.

But honestly, I was a bit surprised too.

...Wait, why are you speaking up here?

Hiding such thoughts, I slightly turned my head to look at Celeste.

Still wearing her white saintess robe with a veil slightly covering her face, she sat quietly with her eyes closed as if she had never spoken.

"...."

...I really don't understand what she's thinking.

Of course, it's good for me. My words instantly gained credibility.

My original goal was to keep dropping bombshell information to make others think I had something special, that I was dangerous, so this isn't bad... though it didn't really matter since everyone would learn about Ex Machina's existence in just a few months anyway.

'...I thought I'd get Celeste's attention, but.'

I didn't expect her to step in like this. Well, she's always been an inscrutable woman.

As Celeste and I fell silent again, and the round table remained in disarray.

It was now Atlas's turn, the old man next in line to share information.

"Ho ho, why is the atmosphere like this? Well, now it's my turn to share information. Listen carefully."

And so Atlas naturally drew everyone's attention to himself, and the information sharing session continued.

However.

"....."

I could feel questioning gazes directed at me as I sat quietly.

I sensed suspicious, wary glances from several people wondering how an A-class villain could know such information.

Occasionally they would glance between me and Atlas, curious not only about the information but also how I could appear so close to Atlas, a heavyweight figure who wasn't known to be friendly with anyone.

Yes. Keep being suspicious and wary.

So you can think of me as more significant and dangerous than I actually am. Until you decide that you shouldn't mess with me.

With such thoughts, I calmly ignored the gazes I felt.

And so time passed.

The long meeting finally came to an end.

With Celeste's final words about meeting again in a few months, people began to rise from their seats one by one.

"Haha! Egostic, how did you know about such information? A person who can turn back time, now that's surprising. Of course, even he couldn't stop this Atlas, hahaha!"

He suddenly laughed heartily while saying this for some reason.

Meanwhile, our red-haired guy said "Big bro! I'll be going now!" and left his direct contact information, saying to call him whenever needed. ...Will there ever be a day I use this?

As I got up to leave with Atlas and headed toward the corridor.

"Excuse me, Mr. Atlas. I need to meet someone briefly, so I'll catch up with you later."

"Hmm? Alright then."

After getting Atlas's permission, I walked toward the woman I had been quietly observing for a while.

With black hair tied back for ease of movement, wearing a gray samurai outfit, and with tired-looking eyes, she was preparing to leave.

The leader of Japan's largest villain organization, Katana.

As I approached her, she noticed me coming and paused, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

And in that state.

I smiled and addressed Katana.

"Hello, Ms. Katana."

"....What is it?"

She asked me with a face full of fatigue.

"I'm Egostic, active in Korea. Since we operate in neighboring countries, I thought I'd come and introduce myself."

"...I see. Nice to meet you. But I'm busy right now."

She was trying to leave after giving a perfunctory response. Yes, she must be busy. Her alliance must be continuously losing to the government and the Association right now.

To her, with all her worries.

I smiled slightly and spoke.

"Also, as a gesture of friendship, I have some information specifically for you."

"....Information?"

She showed slight interest at the mention of information.

To her, who despite her tired appearance, showed some interest and looked at me.

"Yes. Let me tell you something special."

Saying that, I slightly bowed my head and quietly whispered in her ear.

"Hishimoto Natsuha."

"She is the traitor."

"....!"

At my words, she pulled back her head in surprise and took a step back.

Feeling her bewilderment and glimpsing anger in her eyes, I shrugged and said.

"Well, I told you as a gesture of friendship. I hope my information proves helpful."

"With that, I'll take my leave."

With those final words, I turned around and went back to Atlas.

...Well, I've told her.

Now whether to believe it or not, how to act, it's all her choice.

"Done with your business?"

"Yes. Let's go."

Having accomplished what I needed to do, I left with Atlas again.

Feeling Katana's gaze on my back as we departed.

***

'What... was that about?'

Japan's S-class villain, Katana.

She was staring at the back of the man who had just said something unbelievable to her and walked away.

Hishimoto Natsuha. She is the traitor.

'What nonsense... wait, how does he even know about Natsuha?'

Katana.

She had stepped up to fix the corrupt Japan of today. She endured being called a villain, being seen as a public enemy, because she believed that if she could change this country, she didn't mind walking the path of evil.

Fortunately, like-minded friends had joined her.

Together with them, she had formed the Three Harmony Faction, now Japan's largest villain organization, several years ago.

But now, for some reason, they had been continuously losing to government forces and the Association. As if they knew exactly how her group would move, they operated with uncanny precision.

As she was troubled by these consecutive defeats, that man suddenly approached and told her. Hishimoto Natsuha. She is the traitor.

'...Natsuha's identity should be unknown to everyone...'

Natsuha.

A friend who had been with Katana from the beginning, and her reliable advisor.

She didn't know how that man knew about her, but Natsuha would never betray them. Surely.

'...Surely, that can't be possible...'

But the moment she heard those words.

She could never return to the time before hearing them.

Suspicion—that terrible thing had sprouted in a corner of her heart.

"....."

And then there was his shocking statement during the meeting.

Although it wasn't directly related to her, his claim that America was hiding an ability user who could manipulate time—something no one seemed to know—and even Celeste's agreement.

'...What if that man called Egostic really knows something?'

With such thoughts, Katana found herself involuntarily mulling over Egostic's words again and again.

And this entire exchange between Egostic and Katana.

"...."

Celeste, who had remained at one side of the round table, was quietly observing it all.