Chapter 330 - Absolutely

# S-Class Villain Meeting

The S-class villain meeting led by Celeste. Commonly known as Kathedal.

That meeting hall held at the cathedral's round table.

"Well, it seems everyone has arrived."

"..."

"..."

The atmosphere was more frozen than before.

This meeting was held relatively quickly compared to previous ones since the last one.

And obviously, no one here seemed unaware that the reason was because of me.

Because Celeste was glaring at me fiercely.

"....."

Although Celeste had her eyes closed as usual, I could feel her gaze piercing through her eyelids. Oh my, how frightening.

Of course, the other villains remained quiet in this atmosphere, but judging by how they kept glancing at me, they seemed interested in the angel incident. They already knew about the existence of gods because I had told them, and they knew about the three gods. They must have become convinced by Celeste's reaction toward me. Ah, that I really did take a god's angel.

Everyone seemed curious about me and the angel... but even during the casual conversation time before information sharing, no one dared to bring up the topic. It seemed no one had the courage to mention it while Celeste was radiating such deep anger.

"Oh right, Brother Egostic. I heard you obtained the descended angel, is that true? It's been causing quite a commotion lately, hasn't it?"

...No, there was one brave soul after all.

That red mohawk guy... what was his name again? Anyway, that Italian(?) villain who calls me brother.

He was asking me with such innocent eyes.

Even while Celeste was glaring at me and making it obvious she was in a bad mood.

"...Ahem. You, well."

Of course, the villains next to him were surprised by his tactless comment and pretended to stop him with fake coughs... but they weren't actively trying to stop him. Judging by how they kept glancing at me, they were all curious about what had happened.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to answer him.

-BANG.

A thudding sound came from where Celeste was sitting.

Everyone flinched and turned to the right to see Celeste organizing a white Bible-like book after slamming it on the round table.

"Now, enough. Let's begin the meeting."

She spoke in a calm tone, but it was obvious that it was an act.

In fact, since all the villains here lived as virtual tyrants in their own countries... it might seem strange that they were being cautious around Celeste.

But what can you do? The villain world is even more of a strong-eat-weak world. No one here wanted to cross Celeste, who was rumored to be able to move continents by herself.

And so, the meeting began.

The main segment of the Kathedal meeting: sharing high-level information each person knew.

Then it was my turn.

"This is information that Atlas, who is absent again today, shared with me... Recently, there have been evolved monstrous creatures living in the sea that evolved from the old moon monsters."

I shared some information that Atlas, who couldn't come because he was fighting some deep-sea monsters called Deep One or something, had told me.

Some curious villains seemed disappointed that I didn't share detailed stories about the angel... but I couldn't help it. Provoking Celeste further would be burdensome for me too.

After roughly explaining the patterns of those monsters and how to deal with them, I spent the rest of the time listening to what others had to say.

After that, the meeting finally ended.

"Egostic. And you, stay."

"Yes, yes. How could I refuse?"

I responded with a sly smile to Celeste, who addressed me in a cold voice.

Celeste turned her head and glared at the other villains who were looking at us with interest, even with her eyes closed.

After sending away Katana and Li Xiaopeng who were worried about me.

Once again, Celeste and I were left alone at the round table in the cathedral.

After we were left alone.

"...Egostic!"

Celeste abandoned the calm demeanor she had maintained until now and approached me with angry strides.

As soon as she stood in front of me, she opened her eyes that had been closed until now and looked straight at me.

Her golden eyes, as she stood before me in her saintess outfit with her silver hair flowing, were burning with anger directed at me.

"Whoa, whoa. Calm down."

"Calm down my ass... What have you done? Tell me honestly."

As soon as she finished speaking, four massive silver spears materialized in front of me.

Looking at those deadly spears floating in the air and targeting me, I raised my hands and laughed while opening my mouth.

"Haha. Why are you acting like this? What did I do?"

"You...! I can't even describe how shameless you are. How dare you steal the Attendant of the Sun God without permission, and then say such things?"

She looked at me with burning golden eyes as if she wanted to devour me.

It looked quite unbalanced to see her pouring out her anger with her eyes open, wearing a holy white saintess outfit, with mysterious silver hair and sculpture-like features. Her speech even became rough. This must be her true self hidden behind the title of saintess.

Anyway, I grinned as I watched Celeste moving exactly as I had predicted. Good, just as expected.

To her, who was fuming.

I opened my mouth as if stating the obvious, still smiling.

"Who says that? That I stole her without permission."

"What did you say?"

"Ms. Celeste. I formally received a revelation from the god and brought her along according to his will."

Her fine brows furrowed at my calm statement.

"Nonsense... There's no way He would give you the attendant instead of me."

"You're the one talking nonsense, Ms. Celeste. I heard His voice in my dream, and I only did what He commanded. If that weren't the case, would the angel follow my orders? Let's see. Halo!"

As I shouted, gravity distorted beside me and a blonde angel popped out of thin air.

"Did you call me, Master?"

"See?"

The angel bowed her head as soon as she saw me and spoke like that.

Looking at the angel who had the same golden eyes as herself, undoubtedly the Attendant of the Sun God...

Celeste's face showed disbelief.

"...Impossible. There's no way He would do that for a follower of the Star God."

She muttered as if confused.

Of course she would be. She had served the Sun God all her life, following his voice. She had even been recognized as his avatar. And now, to be cast aside for some guy who believes in another god? It would be absurd.

Even so, she couldn't blindly doubt me.

Because in her mind, the Sun God is an infallible, omnipotent deity. Would such a being be foolish enough to have his angel taken away by me, a former A-class villain? That would be even harder to believe.

Of course, if this continues, she's likely to conclude that I'm up to something with the Star God and then lash out at me.

So I need to speak quickly.

Before Celeste could say anything, I opened my mouth.

"Ms. Celeste, do you remember? The bet I proposed before we parted last time."

"....."

"I said I would prove that I'm closer to the god than you are before the next Kathedal. So, I've proven it."

"...You must have pulled some dirty trick..."

"Ms. Celeste. Did the Sun God give you any hint? That an angel would descend."

"..."

"He didn't tell you, but He already told me a long time ago. Why do you think the angel descended in the Republic of Korea in the first place?"

The real reason was probably that the comic artist wanted to pair Stardust with Celeste, but I acted as if the angel's descent in Korea was because of me.

And that act was quite effective.

Why? Because I could see her wavering despite trying to appear calm.

After glancing at the angel standing right next to me, I grinned and drove in the final nail.

"Although my power was granted by the Star God, I sincerely believe in and serve the Sun God. That's why He recognized my loyalty and appointed me as His apostle. The order to eliminate the wish-granter in prison was also His command."

"Stop lying..."

"I'm not lying. You just want to believe that. Because you're afraid your exclusive position of devotion is being threatened."

"You...!"

As she momentarily flared up and tried to summon spears at my provocation, I raised my hand as if telling her to calm down, then grinned and said.

"Anyway... what I want to say is. Let's get along well as partners now. As fellow apostles of the Sun God."

"....."

At my words, she glared at me as if she wanted to tear me apart, but she couldn't say anything else.

Why? Because regardless of what happened, the Sun God's angel was indeed following me.

If she were to harm or torture me? If I really am an apostle recognized by the Sun God, she couldn't handle the aftermath. What if the god gets furious? Especially for someone like her who sincerely respects and believes in the god.

No. It's a well-known fact to anyone with even a little knowledge about gods that the Sun God and the Star God don't get along. And she knows that I'm the avatar of the Star God, so would the Sun God give me an angel? It's unbelievable.

But what can she do with the evidence right in front of her? This angel is sincerely following me, even calling me master.

So right now. Even with 99% certainty, the 1% doubt is preventing her from doing anything to me.

She couldn't ignore the possibility, however small, that I might be telling the truth.

After a moment of silence.

She returned to a calm face and glared at me coldly, saying.

"You... One day when that ugly lie is exposed, you won't die peacefully. I will personally tear you apart."

"Yes, yes. I understand. Can I go now?"

"....."

"I'll contact you later. Haha, we're partners now, aren't we? Well then. Halo, let's go."

"Yes, Master."

I turned my back on her and walked leisurely towards the exit of the round table with the angel.

Feeling the sharp gaze from behind.

Phew, this is fun.

***

"Damn it... Haah."

After Egostic left.

Celeste remained alone, with her eyes closed, trying to organize her throbbing thoughts.

"...O Sun. What are you thinking..."

As a saintess who should be holy and pure, she even uttered curses she never used.

She tried to make sense of the situation.

Egostic.

That unfunny insect-like man was impersonating a god's apostle, selling the angel's name, and deceiving everyone.

The possibility that the Sun God would choose such a frivolous and displeasing man was zero.

...Of course, the will of the god is so vast that humans cannot comprehend it, so there was a tiny possibility... but still, what's wrong is wrong.

'...It's fine. Anyway, he's a weak human who would burst with just one of my fingers if I wanted.'

After pondering, she organized her thoughts.

Yes. Whatever he might be, the power difference was already clear. To the extent that she could handle him instantly if she wanted to.

Egostic. Once she discovers how his lies and deception brainwashed the angel... it wouldn't be too late to deal with him then.

As Celeste was thinking.

Her loyal servant, Arthur, knocked and opened the door.

"What is it?"

"Excuse me, Celeste. The woman you called last time has arrived."

"Ah... Tell her to come in."

At Arthur's words, Celeste felt a bit relieved.

The woman she had called when Egostic eliminated the wish-granter. The Oracle's prophetess.

...Actually, she's not exactly someone who can see the future precisely. Such an ability is impossible.

But if not prophecy, but 'prediction' of specific relationships or individuals... there was someone who could do it.

Celeste opened a tent placed on one side of the room and entered.

Inside the dark small room that appeared, an old woman with dull blonde hair and green eyes, wearing a worn robe pulled up to her head, was sitting.

"...It's been a while, Oracle."

"Kekeke... O woman of the Sun. Why have you called this humble fortune teller?"

At the old woman's words.

Celeste opened her mouth and spoke calmly and clearly.

"Egostic. Also known as Da-in, show me how he will be entangled with me."

"Very well. Place your hand on this crystal..."

At the old woman's words, Celeste took a deep breath and placed her slender hand on the crystal ball on the desk.

Oracle. Delphi.

An ability user with powers connected to the divine that even Celeste couldn't control. With the ability to spy on limited and fragmentary possibilities of the future, she was the ability user most related to 'prophecy' in this world.

With her ability, she should be able to see the future and fate of Egostic related to herself. How things would turn out.

With that thought, Celeste placed her hand on the crystal ball.

At that moment, her vision flipped, and a scene appeared before her.

*

A space made of bricks.

There, a silver-haired woman in a saintess outfit was pressed against the wall by a man wearing a black hat.

With her back against the wall, the silver-haired woman looked up at the man right in front of her with golden eyes and spoke in a trembling voice.

"Wait... Egostic, calm down. We shouldn't do this here, okay?"

"I don't want to. I can't hold back."

"No, please calm down. I like it too, okay? But just for a moment here... mmph."

However, the silver-haired woman's words didn't last long.

Before she could finish, the black-haired man kissed her.

"Mmph... Haah, wait a moment...! Mmph..."

After briefly separating his lips, he kissed her again before she could continue speaking.

She kissed the man with an expression that suggested she didn't dislike it as much as her words indicated.

"Mmm..."

"Mmm... Haah. Haah, mmph....."

Eventually, as if she had given up on pulling away.

She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around the man's waist, and focused on exchanging kisses with him.

And so.

With that scene.

...The vision before her eyes ended.

*

".....Haah, haah."

"Kekeke. What did you see, Celeste? ...Celeste?"

"Wait. Just a moment..."

In the dark room.

With her hand still on the crystal ball, Celeste caught her breath with a reddened face.

"...."

After she calmed down somewhat.

She quietly stood up and spoke.

"...Thank you, Delphi."

"Kekeke... Come anytime. The next oracle will be... possible only after three years."

Leaving the Oracle who spoke thus behind, Celeste looked ahead and walked away from there.

...No problem.

Anyway, it's just a possibility. A future that won't come if she acts differently. Such a future will definitely not come.

How could she be like that? How could she make such an expression... absolutely, absolutely not. Absolutely.

"Absolutely..."

Muttering like that.

Celeste walked out.

It was a summer night.