Chapter 385 - Hill-top Date

# Kathedal's Expansion

It had already been quite some time since Kathedal began its full-scale expansion.

Celeste sat in her chair, quietly contemplating this fact.

...Under God's blessing. Carrying His mission to save the entire world. A union of outcasts formed by gathering those dissatisfied with the current system. Kathedal.

In the current reality where the utterly incompetent "Hero Association" held all the power over ability users.

Ever since being branded a villain for opposing them, she had been thinking constantly.

That the board needed to be flipped over.

That when God gave her powers and said, "Conquer and save this world, my child," this must have been the reason. That's what she thought.

That's why Celeste created Kathedal.

Under the pretext of an "information sharing meeting for villains." Gathering all the famous and rebellious villains in one place. So they could meet regularly and build relationships.

Powers were fundamentally bestowed by the Sun God.

Therefore, she believed that those chosen by God to receive powers, even if labeled villains like herself, could surely become symbols of rebellion.

...While gathering and working with Kathedal this way.

Finally, the moment she had been waiting for arrived.

She felt that God had drawn closer to this world.

Though she couldn't explain it precisely, as someone who had directly received power from the Sun God, she could clearly sense it.

And simultaneously, a phenomenon occurred where all ability users in the world grew stronger.

-Surely, this must be God's influence.

And thus, feeling her own power grow to unimaginable levels, Celeste finally had the intuition.

That now was the time to fulfill God's long-cherished wish.

The time had finally come to overturn the system and bring salvation to the world.

So she summoned the members of Kathedal and declared: Let's unite and try to hold the world in our hands. Let's conquer the world under the name of Kathedal.

...Since Kathedal officially began its campaign against the world, Celeste had expected many difficulties in the process. That she would have an enormous amount of work to do, and many concerns to address.

However, well.

Now. She was leading Kathedal much more smoothly than she had anticipated.

And there was only one reason for that.

...This man sighing and sprawled out before her, Egostic.

"Haah..."

He was far more competent than she had imagined.

He handled everything entrusted to him and almost everything he did was perfect.

Especially when it came to making and executing plans, there were no obstacles. He always made meticulous plans to ensure nothing went wrong.

He was strong in unexpected situations, and always saw the big picture, making everything work organically.

As a result of advancing according to his strategies, Kathedal's influence had now taken root in numerous countries.

The heroes of associations worldwide who had resisted were few in number, and one by one, their hopes were crushed or they were imprisoned.

Since heroes were also chosen by the Sun God to receive powers, they weren't mistreated... but most were currently imprisoned.

In this smoothly progressing situation.

Celeste eventually had to acknowledge, looking at Egostic.

...That he had become an irreplaceable existence.

'...How long has it been since I've relied so heavily on one person?'

Perhaps because she had always been alone at the top, in a lonely position.

Perhaps because it was the first time someone completely understood her and stayed by her side.

Celeste could see herself growing increasingly dependent on Egostic.

...And so, without realizing it, she often found herself thinking about Egostic even during her free time.

Even.

'No, please calm down. I like him too, but, wait... mmph.'

'Mmph... haa, just a moment...! Mmph...'

'Mmm....'

"...."

'...If according to the prophecy, such a kiss is destined to happen someday.'

Rather than being pounced on for the first kiss.

Wouldn't it be better if I approached Egostic first and kissed him?

'... Wait. And come to think of it, I seemed rather experienced when kissing him back then...'

She would be startled by her own thoughts, wondering what on earth she was thinking.

Anyway, it was while she was having such fantasies.

"Celeste. We have some free time for a while... want to go on a date?"

He suddenly said while lying back in his chair.

"Yes, what... wait, what?"

Celeste.

Drinking coffee with Egostic in her office within the cathedral, she was so surprised by his words that she momentarily spilled her coffee.

W-what on earth was he saying?

As she was flustered.

Egostic looked at her with a casual smile and answered.

"Why? In America, don't they call just going out for fun a 'date'? That's what I know."

He responded to her question with such innocence.

...His words made her blood run cold.

Yes. It is used that way. It is used that way, but...

"Ugh... just be quiet."

With a slightly reddened face, Celeste glared at him as he grinned and said that.

That man must have known exactly what he was saying. He's always been someone who enjoys teasing.

"Hahaha. Understood. Then shall we go?"

"...Hmph. Who said I'm going?"

Celeste folded her arms and responded curtly to Egostic, who was laughing as he spoke.

...Of course, even as she said that, her body was fidgeting.

Since she had never actually said she wouldn't go.

***

"So. Where are we going?"

Under the bright sunshine, on an open hill covered with lush greenery.

With sunlight-drenched green leaves fluttering against the blue sky, Celeste looked at me with a puzzled expression and asked.

"Just. I thought the scenery here was nice and wanted to come with you, Celeste. Isn't it pretty?"

"Hmph... it's not bad."

Though she turned her head away sharply at my words, judging by her expression, she seemed quite pleased.

I'd been here before, and the scenery was indeed nice.

'Or...'

She might simply be happy to be here with me.

No, that had to be the case. The more she liked me, the lower the probability of the world's destruction. That is. That's exactly.

'...All of this is for Stardust.'

Remember. The reason for all my actions is for our Stardust.

After reaffirming my resolve, I(?) grinned at Celeste.

Anyway, the reason for coming here was to get closer to her.

Of course.

"...And, there's also a hidden secret."

"Hmm?"

At my words, she raised her eyebrows and stared at me intensely with her golden eyes, as if analyzing my thoughts.

Of course, she doesn't have such abilities, but...

...But lately, in front of me, she's been keeping her eyes open more often than closing them, unlike usual. Could this also be a positive effect?

"Well, never mind. You'll see as we go."

After staring at me for a while, Celeste sighed and quietly followed me.

Anyway, the fact that she followed me when I suggested going out despite being incredibly busy with Kathedal matters means she must have some feelings for me. She has to...

As we walked, I made Celeste talk about various things.

"What's your favorite food, by the way?"

"Favorite food... well. I don't really have one. Maybe pasta occasionally."

"Oh. I'm good at making pasta. I should make some for you sometime."

That's a lie. I've never made pasta before.

"Pfft, you? Well... I'll look forward to it."

Anyway, seeing her smile was enough, wasn't it?

We continued our conversation in this manner.

Sometimes she would ask me questions too.

"By the way, Egostic, about that Sun God's relic..."

For a moment I flinched at the mention of the relic, but fortunately, it was about something else.

"You said you destroyed the Knight of the Sun God. Because it was corrupted."

"...Yes, that's right."

I answered while secretly sweating, but fortunately, she didn't seem suspicious or resentful. Rather, it was pure curiosity.

Looking at this, I wondered if she was really the same person who had tried to kill me after hearing I destroyed the relic.

"How exactly did you destroy it? The relic must have been difficult to break."

"Ah... about that."

To that question, I grinned and said.

"I used the power of stars."

This much was true.

"The power of stars?"

"Yes. The star power I possess is different from the sun's power, so it could destroy it due to the conflict. That's why I think the Sun God chose me as his messenger."

This was a setting I just made up on the spot.

...For something improvised, it sounded quite plausible.

"I see..."

Nodding as if she understood, Celeste smiled slightly and replied.

"...It's unfortunate that the relic was corrupted, but I suppose it couldn't be helped. I'm quite curious about what exactly you did there."

She was curious about what happened inside the ruins where the relic was.

Hmm. I could embellish the story a bit, right?

So I began to speak.

"Well. First, since it was difficult to break through there, I used Stardust, the hero from my country."

"...Stardust."

"Yes. When the Knight of the Sun God started attacking, I used messages from God to tell Stardust all the knight's attack patterns. She blocked everything with fantastic movements..."

My lips curled up involuntarily as I talked about Stardust. Ah, it was truly a spectacular sight.

And as I excitedly explained.

Celeste's reaction was very simple.

".......Ha."

A voice so cold it could freeze, coming from beside me as I was enthusiastically explaining.

Startled by the sound, I turned to look.

"...You must have been very excited? Being with that woman Stardust. Why don't you just stay with her all the time, instead of being with me?"

Celeste was there, exuding coldness, speaking in a subdued voice.

"...Haha. Are you j-jealous?"

"No. Just don't follow me."

"Ahaha... why are you acting like this?"

They say I spent quite some time sweating as I tried to appease her as she strode ahead up the hill...