Chapter 364 - Kathedal Invitation

"Damn it. What's going on?"

Highkin, Germany's S-class villain.

He stroked his red mohawk as he stared at the letter that had arrived for him.

[Kathedal Invitation]

A snow-white letter that seemed to emit a sacred light.

Inside, it read:

"As we will be making a very important announcement at this Kathedal meeting, please attend without fail..."

He muttered this while reading the letter with his feet up on the desk.

...Had there ever been content like this in a Kathedal invitation before? No. There had never been such terrifying phrases like "this is the time to change destiny" or "the world order will be reorganized"...

It had already been a week since this letter arrived.

He had been pondering what might happen while reading this letter...

Perhaps because he wasn't particularly bright, he ended up slamming his fist on the desk, unable to figure it out.

"Damn! This is so frustrating!"

Just as he was losing his temper, the door burst open and a fat man entered.

"Boss!!! What's wrong!"

"Nothing, get out!"

"Okay!"

Slam.

After his subordinate left again.

Sighing, he sat up straight and placed the letter on the desk, lost in thought.

Highkin. Germany's S-class villain and the leader of Red Motors, Germany's only villain alliance.

As such, he was acquainted with the leaders of other European villain alliances through Kathedal, but they too seemed to have no idea what Celeste intended to say at this Kathedal meeting.

"I should ask Brother Egostic... No, I'll find out today anyway."

With that thought, he rose from his seat.

Egostic. An S-class villain from the Republic of Korea whom Highkin personally regarded as his brother.

Despite always walking around smiling and somehow appearing weak, he was an extraordinary person who seemed to know all the world's secrets.

He even knew the identity of America's hidden hero, and single-handedly prevented some religion called Moonlight or whatever from destroying the world.

...Highkin. He was someone who had even saved his life, a villain whom he personally respected.

"Haah... Right. Let's go for now."

Whatever the talk might be, he'd have to hear it first to know.

After checking the time, he got up from his seat, put on his coat hanging on the wall while dragging his pants that jingled with chains.

And there he stood complete, in a leather coat with horns on the shoulders and a red cape on the back.

Highkin. This was the outfit he had started wearing since he stood tall in Germany after annihilating all other villain groups in the country.

"Alright... let's go."

Muttering that, he tore the letter in half.

Shwack-

With a sensation of his body twisting.

When he opened his eyes, he was suddenly standing in a dim white corridor.

Step, step.

When he arrived at the round table room after walking down the corridor.

In the somehow solemn atmosphere of the round table.

He noticed one thing different from usual.

'...Huh?'

It was Egostic.

He wasn't sitting with his usual companions, but right next to Celeste.

'What's going on..?'

Feeling such puzzlement, he sat down in his seat.

And that question grew even stronger as he watched Egostic and Celeste quietly whispering to each other.

'...Weren't Brother Egostic and Celeste on bad terms?'

For some reason, after being targeted by Celeste, Egostic and Celeste had many conflicts in recent meetings. Whether Celeste was trying to drive Egostic out, or openly glaring at him...

Of course, it would be scary if the world's #1 ranked villain did that to you, but seeing him respond with a smile and composure made Highkin think Egostic was truly remarkable.

...Anyway, those two who had been like that.

For some reason, they were now sitting closely together.

"....."

"...Hmm."

While other villains were also whispering about this sight.

Finally, when all the villains had taken their seats without a single absence.

In the silence that fell over the round table in the white cathedral.

There, Celeste finally spoke.

"...Thank you all for coming."

"Today, I have a very important matter to discuss."

"First, please look here."

With a voice as beautiful as an angel's.

She waved her hand over the round table.

Then, a sphere of white light appeared floating in the center of the round table.

While everyone was looking at the dazzling ball, Celeste quietly began.

"...Soon, by the revelation of the Sun God, something big will happen."

"A blessing will once again be bestowed upon all the powers that He has given to this world."

"An opportunity for all of your powers to be elevated to another dimension."

Her subsequent words were shocking.

That soon, all ability users' powers would simply become about twice as strong.

Roughly because the Sun God's power was getting stronger, but regardless of the cause, it was an incredibly shocking story just from that statement alone.

If it were just about an ability user who could summon one lightning bolt now being able to summon two, it wouldn't be much to worry about.

But if it's 'all' ability users, it means those who are already monstrously strong would become who knows how much stronger.

For example, if ability users who can already destroy a mountain with a gesture become even stronger... what on earth would happen?

Anyone could tell that greater chaos would ensue in the world than what exists now.

But of course.

"...Hooh."

Those words meant that not only others but also himself and his subordinates would all become stronger.

While Highkin was realizing this fact.

...After waiting for people to remain silent for a moment, Celeste.

Finally, in a cold voice.

Opened her mouth.

"Everyone."

At that moment, the air around the round table seemed to freeze.

While everyone's attention was focused on Celeste, who somehow exuded an overwhelming, unspoken charisma.

Celeste, who always kept her eyes closed.

'...!'

Quietly, for the first time in Kathedal history.

She opened both eyes, looking at everyone with the golden pupils within.

"I know. That you will be confused."

"Of course, if that happens, the world will be in chaos too."

"However, you. We. We are the ones who find opportunity in that chaos."

"The world will become more chaotic from now on. Perhaps more than ever before."

"So what should we do at this time?"

With those words, she rose from her seat.

Looking down at everyone with eyes full of ambition, she whispered, yet spoke clearly enough for everyone to hear, coldly yet firmly.

"At this moment, I speak as the leader of Kathedal."

"From now on, everyone in Kathedal must unite as one and march toward a single goal. I will lead you all to remove those weak ones who try to rule over us relying only on their authority, so that everyone can align before the new order of power."

"So that the Sun God's blessing may be bestowed upon everyone. So that we can hold the world in our grasp."

"From now on, I wish to unite with everyone here in Kathedal before the holy war."

"I hereby declare Kathedal as a transnational villain alliance."

"Our goal is to place the world under our control."

After Celeste finished speaking.

In the moment of silence that followed.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Suddenly, the sound of applause was heard.

At the end where everyone's attention was focused was a man wearing a white half-mask.

Egostic. He was quietly applauding.

And starting with him.

The round table began to fill with all kinds of noise.

Thump thump thump.

"That's right! Yes, born as villains, we should rule the world once."

"Hmm... An interesting story. This should have happened sooner."

"Kuhahaha! Good, I'll participate too. Celeste, why didn't you do this earlier?"

In that place filled with sounds of everyone's agreement.

Highkin, who found himself applauding along with others without realizing it, soon realized.

'...From the beginning, the speech had no meaning.'

Even if Celeste had roughly said "Hey, gather around," the other villains would have followed.

Why? Because everyone would have had the same thought.

If the day comes when ability users' powers explosively strengthen...

'...Celeste, just how much stronger will she become?'

Right now, villains who could go against her were... few except for a handful. Maybe only someone like Atlas.

But even he.

'...Brother Egostic would have recruited them all in advance.'

In other words, all of this was pointing in one direction.

That all the villains in this place would unite under Celeste, gathering in one place.

A villain alliance of unprecedented scale.

Could the international association stop this?

'...Whatever it is, I'll follow along.'

Well, the details didn't matter.

Whatever happened, Celeste's speech had something that ignited a fire in his chest too.

And so.

This day.

Was the day when the transnational villain alliance, Kathedal, was formally resolved to be launched.

***

After the announcement of Kathedal's official launch.

"Haah... This is tough. Anyway, from now on is important. Do you understand, Egostic?"

"Yes, yes, Ms. Celeste."

I sat alone with Celeste, who somehow seemed drained of energy despite her charismatic appearance earlier, drinking coffee in her room and lost in thought.

...Well, somehow, the feeling of becoming Kathedal's second-in-command wasn't bad.

Anyway, although I practically wrote it for her... one thing was confirmed again by Celeste's speech.

That her goal, Kathedal's goal, was world domination.

So.

"Haah... I'm doing what the God wants, right?"

Not world destruction, but world domination.

She still didn't know.

That the Sun God's goal was not domination, but destruction.

"...Of course."

I said that as I took a sip of coffee.

Well.

Kathedal, with the goal of world domination, has officially launched.

Now, how do I turn this into a world defense headquarters?

Thinking that.