-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Villains' Summit
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Underneath the massive chandelier.
Around a large circular table, the most powerful villains from across the globe sat encircled.
And nestled among them, I, the seemingly fragile one, also sat.
Indeed.
'....'
Unlike me, whose ability was merely to gather the strong around me, with no real power of my own, each person gathered here was capable of crippling an entire nation single-handedly. If we were to judge purely by individual combat prowess, I was probably the weakest among them.
Of course, my main ability wasn't combat power.
Perhaps the biggest difference between me, the weakest among them, and the others, was that I knew the future.
And not just that. I knew everything that was impossible to know: the weaknesses, personalities, and secrets of every hero and villain. It was as if I were the creator of this world.
And this one difference allowed me, weak in every other aspect compared to them, to be their equal, or even their superior.
Lost in thought, I glanced at the villains around me.
Right beside me sat old man Atlas. And next to him, several other villains. From the elderly gentleman with a monocle to the green-haired mad scientist with swirling spectacles and an oxygen tank on his back.
...All of them were figures I knew well, famous even among villains.
To my left, and across from me.
Every single one was a character I'd seen in illustrations from the original comic at least once.
From the thuggish-looking guy with a red mohawk to the woman with a black ponytail, dressed in a Japanese yakuza outfit and carrying a sword. And over there, a man with braided hair, wearing a red Chinese martial arts uniform, was seated.
Beyond them, countless other powerful villains were scattered throughout the room.
Indeed, I felt nothing but relief that I had come here.
If such villains were to gather, and then, contrary to the original story, suddenly decide, 'We're bored, how about we all invade Korea together?' it would be utter disaster. Of course, I might be able to stop them somehow, but the collateral damage would undoubtedly be immense.
Therefore, to prevent such a catastrophe, I had to sit here, guarding them like a totem.
It was a task only I, a villain, could accomplish, something heroes like Stardust couldn't.
Of course, to do that, I would need to secure a certain level of influence.
....But for now, I'll put that thought aside and just observe them.
With that in mind, I subtly but carefully observed the yakuza and the Chinese man I had noted earlier.
"...."
The man with the exposed forehead and a ponytail.
That person in the red martial arts uniform was Li Xiaofeng, the continent's foremost villain, whom even the Chinese government had to tread carefully around.
As I looked at him, with his intense eyebrows exuding some kind of aura, I reviewed his profile once more.
He was the leader of Huolong (火龍), China's largest criminal organization, also known as the Fire Dragon. He possessed the incredible ability to summon a dragon. It was said that when his flame dragon, with its long beard, appeared, everyone trembled. Whether it was a real dragon or not, I didn't know... but in any case, he was a highly influential figure in China.
And the woman with the black ponytail sitting on the other side was Katana, the head of Japan's largest yakuza organization. Her defining characteristic was her swordsmanship, said to be divine. Despite her delicate face, rumors claimed she could not only take on hundreds of people alone but even cleave through buildings. And it was true.
Among the many villains, these two were the ones I paid the most attention to.
As the most prominent villains from the two countries right next to Korea, I needed to keep an eye on both of them to some extent. Not that I planned to provoke them now, of course, but later. There was plenty of time, after all.
As I was thinking that.
Thump—
The chandelier lights flickered on.
"...Is it starting?"
As Atlas, seated next to me, muttered softly, the woman in the white, saint-like attire, seated at the center, opened her mouth.
"Welcome, brothers and sisters."
Her clear voice echoed through the round table. No, more than clear—it sounded almost divine. With such a heavenly voice, she continued speaking.
"I am Celeste. I thank you once again for answering my invitation."
Saying so, she bowed her head slightly, her white hair cascading down.
Immediately, all eyes in the room turned to her.
And naturally, I was no exception.
Though her face was largely obscured by the veil of her white saintly robes, one could discern her seemingly closed eyes upon closer inspection. And from her body emanated a mysterious and sacred aura.
Indeed, she was exactly as described in the original story.
Under everyone's gaze, Celeste calmly began to speak.
"The reason I have invited you all here today is none other than to foster camaraderie and unity among us, my friends."
After saying that, she waved her hand, and something seemingly made of magic appeared in the center of the round table.
An illusion of a building materialized on the table.
It appeared to be the headquarters of the International Hero Association.
"Our enemies, the Association's attacks, are growing increasingly fierce. Furthermore, the international situation is precarious, like a lamp in the wind. Therefore, I have gathered you, the most exceptional individuals among all, here. Wouldn't it be beneficial for leaders, each capable of controlling not just a city, but a nation, or even a continent, to gather and discuss the flow of affairs and share information?"
As she continued speaking, the forms of heroes—praised as powerful until now, but to villains, the very embodiment of their main enemies—appeared one after another on the table. Fortunately, Stardust wasn't among them. Hmm, yes. It wouldn't be good for him to stand out in a place like this.
Anyway, after finishing her words, she waved her hand once more, and all the figures on the table vanished. Then Celeste calmly addressed us again.
"...So. What are your thoughts? Naturally, I guarantee your safety while gathered here. My intention is purely to see us unite and stand together. I, too, will interact with you as an equal member. Is there anyone who objects?"
"...Hmm."
"Mmm."
"Ahem."
Well, no one objected. No one would want to speak up against Celeste, who was rumored to be able to instantly kill with a mere gesture.
...Still, even knowing from the original story, this calm and static atmosphere was hard to get used to. Isn't it normal for villains, when gathered, to quickly pick a fight over trivial matters? Why are they all so quiet, like well-behaved elementary school students?
Of course, it wasn't my place to step forward, so I just stayed silent. Well, maybe it's just my poor translation, but Celeste must have spoken with an overwhelming presence.
"Very well."
"Then, let us begin..."
And with her words, the meeting finally began.
***
S-Rank Villains.
The Association's criteria for grading heroes and villains differed, so unlike the relatively few S-Rank Heroes, there were truly many S-Rank Villains. Just in my own Ego Stream, for instance, there were two S-Rank Villains.
As such, not all S-Rank Villains were created equal. From those barely scraping into the S-Rank category to those at the very top, whose abilities fundamentally differed from the rest. Within the same S-Rank, there was, in fact, a de facto hierarchy.
And these individuals were the most powerful among S-Rank Villains. Beyond their formidable abilities, they were also quite intelligent, as evidenced by their leadership of their respective organizations. In short, they were the Association's top priority targets, truly the archenemies of humanity itself.
...And these very people were currently gathered, introducing themselves to one another. How terrifying and dreadful was that?
"...My name is Katana."
"I operate the Sankyō-ha in Japan."
She said that much and then fell silent. Well, that was the extent of the introductions. They simply stated their name and the country where they led their organization. It felt strangely familiar rather than terrifying or dreadful, but since it was the same in the original story, I decided to let it pass.
Regardless of my thoughts, the introductions continued calmly.
"I am Heikin, leader of Germany's foremost gang, the Red Motors."
"You all seem weaker than me, but let's get along, shall we?"
...Of course, there were lunatics like that. When I wondered who it was, I saw a man with a very striking red mohawk.
By the way, the other villains' reaction to his provocation was simply to ignore it. Their expressions were so devoid of emotion, as if wondering where a dog was barking. Well, naturally, such types tend to be weak. And while others might not know, that guy, for your information, dies in three months. It happens in the original story.
Thus, with the exception of the occasional oddball, everyone took turns speaking.
"Haha! I'm Atlas, master of the Latis Gang and ruler of the North Atlantic."
"Well, pleased to meet you all!"
After Atlas's hearty greeting, it was my turn. As for me, I had no intention of standing out right from the first meeting, so I decided to greet them normally. I needed to gain control little by little; rushing in from the start often ruins things.
So, I quietly began to speak.
"Pleased to meet you all."
"I am Egoistic, and I operate a villainous alliance called Ego Stream in South Korea."
"Everyone..."
"Hold on."
Just as I was speaking with a faint smile, someone interrupted me. What was that?
I looked to see who it was, and there was that red mohawk guy from earlier, grinning savagely at me.
"I know you, don't I?"
"You're Egoistic, aren't you?"
"That famous... A-Rank Villain from South Korea."
Watching him speak, a corner of his mouth pulled up in a sneer directed at me, I smiled and quietly thought.
...Hmm. Is he looking for a fight?
...Looks like I'll have to take someone down on the very first day.