Chapter 361 - The Heretic Who Became The Saint's Obsession

What I told Celeste.

It was none other than the story about the power increase in Phase 4.

The shocking revelation that all ability users in this world would become much stronger than they are now.

And then.

"So, this is happening because the Sun God's advent is approaching?"

"Yes. That's what I believe."

I said with a shameless face.

...Actually, in the original story, this was something Celeste figured out on her own. One day, everyone's abilities suddenly became stronger, and amid the confusion, Celeste pondered why this happened and eventually deduced the truth.

And now... that process had changed, with me being the one to reveal this truth to Celeste.

In other words, I was 'specially' providing her with this information.

On top of that...

"The Sun God told you this directly?"

"Yes, that's right. I was sitting absentmindedly during the day when suddenly, with a sacred sensation of the world rippling, this information appeared in my mind as if I was remembering something I'd forgotten. I think it must have been divine revelation."

"Oh... hmm..."

Hearing this, Celeste's expression changed subtly.

...Naturally, that emotion was disappointment.

Of course—why would the Sun God reveal information to me but not to her, the Sun Priestess? Honestly, even the most devout person would feel let down in this situation. Even clergy are human, after all.

Of course, her faith wasn't weak enough to be easily shaken by something like this, so she would likely conclude with thoughts like 'I must be lacking something' or 'The deity must have some purpose.'

...But if she won't be easily shaken, couldn't I just work harder to shake her?

Taking advantage of that brief moment when she was unconsciously feeling disappointed, I immediately spoke with a warm demeanor.

"...Don't feel too upset. Perhaps the deity shared this with me because telling you directly might have confused you."

"What? Ha... who, who said I was upset? It's not like that."

She responded with slightly cold eyes, as if my words had struck a nerve.

Even if she wasn't upset, when a third party defines you as looking upset, it makes you wonder, 'Am I upset?'

...Yes.

This is how I'll slowly, very slowly, create a rift between her and the Sun God.

So I can slip in between and steal her away.

"...Anyway, if what you're saying is true, this is serious."

After closing her eyes briefly to think, she opened them again and stared at me with golden eyes as she spoke.

"That's right. It will cause great social chaos. There will be reckless fools who don't know their place and get drunk on their own power."

I said with a villainous smile.

It's necessary to throw in villainous lines like this occasionally.

...Actually, those "reckless fools" referred to villains rather than heroes. But well, same difference.

"...."

"Hmm..."

Watching Celeste pondering my words, I secretly organized my plan.

The core of Phase 4 was the power inflation. This power inflation was only good for ability users and a disaster for the general public. Weak ability users would become stronger, and strong ability users would become unstoppably powerful. In other words, even Celeste standing before me would become stronger.

And in this chaos, the solution Celeste chose was this:

With power inflation creating countless villains—people who were previously too weak to commit terrorism now becoming stronger and awakening as villains, turning the world into chaos.

In that world, Celeste, with power that no one could match anymore, declared:

All villains must follow her.

Just as all heroes belong to the Association, all villains should follow her.

That was the true meaning behind the emergence of "Kathedal."

This organization, launched with existing Kathedal members as executives...

...Since Kathedal was originally composed of the strongest individuals in the country, a Kathedal with members who became even stronger through power inflation was a disaster itself.

By crushing rebellious villains, it became a villain alliance even larger in scale than the Association.

This was portrayed as an organization that Stardust absolutely had to destroy, an event that expanded the scale of her enemy to a global level.

...But near the end of Chapter 4, readers made this assessment:

[Wait. Wasn't Kathedal actually not that bad?]

The logic was this:

The world was already heading toward chaos and ruin because of villains, but Kathedal actually brought them together and established order.

Such comments appeared in the original story, but the situation now was even better. Because my comrades and I were part of Kathedal.

In other words, I could manipulate things from the inside.

While I was thinking about this, Celeste's voice caught my attention.

"...I need to think about this."

She murmured quietly with her eyes closed.

Then, opening her eyes again, she spoke to me with a slightly haughty expression.

"Well... I would have found out eventually, but thanks for telling me in advance. Ahem, thank you, Egostic."

Looking at Celeste who was avoiding my eyes as she spoke, I thought it was unexpected.

Celeste saying thank you? Has the sun started rising in the west?

...Still, perhaps she was gradually opening up to me. That was good. It was a bit funny how I was getting so worked up over a simple thank you... but what else could I do when seducing her was necessary to prevent the world's destruction?

Anyway, this was enough for today.

I should leave now and approach her again once her mind has settled.

With that thought, I was about to say goodbye.

"Haha, we're in the same boat, so of course I should inform you of these things right away. Well then, I'll be going now..."

"Where do you think you're going?"

As I was getting up to leave, a cold voice reached my ears.

Surprised, I turned my head to see Celeste, who seemed surprised at herself, clearing her throat with a slightly reddened face before gesturing for me to sit back down.

"...Ahem. Where are you going? As you said, we're in the same boat, serving the same deity. You need to help me figure out what to do. Sit back down."

"...Um, yes."

I sat back down.

'What's going on?'

I didn't know what was happening, but it seemed unwise to go against her wishes right now...

'...Well, this is actually better.'

I should use this opportunity to suggest expanding Kathedal and secure a position for myself.

With that thought, I opened my mouth.

And after some time had passed.

"Let's do it that way, then."

"Sounds good."

I was appointed to oversee Kathedal's Asian operations.

...I'm not sure exactly what happened, but this worked out well!

***

'...The Sun God's advent is near, and everyone's abilities will strengthen because of it...'

Listening to what Egostic had just told her, Celeste quietly sank into thought.

This was extremely important information that could change the world's political landscape.

The more she thought about it, the more butterfly effects this event could trigger appeared in her mind.

Celeste.

As the leader of Etheria, the villain alliance considered the strongest in the world, she was naturally skilled at analyzing political situations, capable of running countless calculations simultaneously in her mind.

"...I need to think about this."

That's why she murmured those words and fell into deep thought. What would be the right course of action for the deity in this situation? What should she do?

...In any case, this information was extremely valuable. If it was true.

She wasn't sure why the deity had spoken to him instead of her...

'You've never visited me except when first sharing your power with me...'

Feeling a slight disappointment before suppressing it as impious, she had no idea that anyone who knew the truth about the Sun God would have died of frustration hearing this... After all, the Sun God had never visited Egostic, nor was such a thing even possible.

Anyway, since she learned this thanks to Egostic's information.

Celeste wanted to express her gratitude.

"Well... I would have found out eventually, but thanks for telling me in advance. Ahem, thank you, Egostic."

...Though expressing herself this way felt awkward and her wording came out strange, as long as her sincerity was conveyed, that was what mattered.

In fact, even this much was unlike her. For someone who had always stood at the pinnacle, this kind of equal relationship was a first, hence her words. Someone else chosen by the Sun God.

Anyway, if what he said was true, what should she do...

She was thinking about this when:

"Haha, we're in the same boat, so of course I should inform you of these things right away. Well then, I'll be going now..."

Egostic's words reached her ears.

And the moment she heard them.

...She found herself reflexively raising her head and speaking.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Words that lacked formality came out of her mouth without her realizing.

Even she was surprised by her own cold tone.

"...Ahem. Where are you going? As you said, we're in the same boat, serving the same deity. You need to help me figure out what to do. Sit back down."

Even as she thought this, she felt something stirring inside her.

...If he was chosen by the same Sun God, he should help out. Where does he think he's going?

For someone who had always stood alone at the top, he was the first person the Sun God had sent to her.

Having already forgotten how she had been too embarrassed to look at Egostic until just moments ago, she held him back.

"What if we expand Kathedal from its current information-sharing council into an international villain alliance?"

When he stayed and suggested this idea, she found herself nodding without realizing it.

...It was a good idea. She thought she would have reached the same conclusion if she had pondered it long enough.

'...Indeed, he is useful...'

Celeste quietly thought to herself.

Yes, indeed, Egostic might be a gift sent by the Sun God for her. That's how much she was beginning to think...

And without her knowing.

Celeste was slowly beginning to trust him.

Just a little, but definitely.