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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Unveiling Secrets
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In America, there's a hidden S-rank hero.
His ability is to turn back time.
The atmosphere at the round table froze slightly the moment I uttered those words.
"....."
Everyone's gaze upon me seemed to ask, "Who is this guy, spouting such nonsense?"
Indeed, most of the villains here wouldn't have known about the existence of such a hero, nor that such an ability truly existed.
It was only natural for them to be utterly flabbergasted when I, a mere A-rank villain, suddenly dropped such a bombshell.
Thus, the round table remained frozen for a moment after I finished speaking. No one directly asked, "What the hell are you talking about?", but the atmosphere was practically screaming it.
And some glanced furtively at Celeste, as if asking why she wasn't reining in this person who was spreading such strange, false information.
As for Celeste.
"...."
Without a word, she remained silent, her eyes closed as usual.
Of course, she would have already known that information.
S-rank Hero Ex Machina.
The only man in this world with the ability to turn back time.
America already boasted an abundance of powerful individuals, but his ability was unique, a truly astonishing power just to hear about. Naturally, the Association kept his existence tightly under wraps to prevent it from leaking to the outside world.
Primarily stationed in a bunker beneath the American Association headquarters, he even possessed a direct hotline to the American Association President, the U.S. government, and the International Association Director.
And truth be told… though I'd just declared with great bravado that he could turn back time, his ability naturally came with an enormous penalty.
The time he could rewind was merely a few minutes, not hours, and even that was an ability so taxing that using it once made it difficult to use again.
Yet, despite all these drawbacks, his ability was truly unparalleled in this world. At least, when it came to preventing annihilation.
Within the Association, he was known as 'Humanity's Last Bastion.' He was the only one capable of preventing the world's destruction.
In the original story, it was revealed that he had prevented nuclear wars countless times, and thwarted nation-collapsing terrorist attacks dozens of times.
In short, his significance in the original story wasn't so much about making the world a better place, but rather about preventing the absolute worst-case scenarios. No matter how many insanely powerful individuals wreaked havoc, at least the world wouldn't be destroyed.
And that man.
He's going to die in a few months.
...Of course, if I mentioned that, I might genuinely be mistaken for a fortune-teller, so I should just stick to explaining his abilities.
Amidst the confused round table, I alone continued my explanation calmly, a faint smile still playing on my lips.
"Yes. He can rewind time, but the duration he can rewind is extremely limited, so the Association manages him solely for the purpose of preventing humanity's annihilation."
"....."
The round table remained stiff and cold.
While they clearly still didn't believe me, a few seemed to be wavering, wondering 'What if?' They probably thought, 'Surely, he wouldn't lie in a setting like this.'
...But why is no one objecting? By now, someone should have burst out with 'Nonsense!' Like that red mohawk guy from last time.
Incidentally, that guy was currently beside me, his eyes gleaming, looking at me with an expression that screamed, 'As expected of Brother...! To know even such top-secret information...!' Seriously, how did you end up like this?
...Well, it doesn't matter if they don't believe me.
After all, even if they don't believe it now, his existence will be revealed to the entire world through Ex Machina's death, just a few months from now, before the third Cathedral meeting.
Just as I was thinking that, and about to finish my statement.
"...I, too, seem to recall hearing similar rumors."
"?!"
Everyone's attention snapped to the side of the round table, drawn by a soft, melodic voice.
It was Celeste, who had been silently listening the entire time, speaking for the first time.
"....Huh."
Celeste, of all people, had corroborated my words.
In other words, it was highly likely that what I had just said was true.
Amidst the murmuring that arose at the round table, I quietly nodded, though I showed no outward change in expression.
In truth, I was a little flustered myself.
...No, why are *you* speaking up here?
Hiding that thought, I subtly turned my head to look at Celeste.
She was still seated quietly, eyes closed, her face partly obscured by her white saintess's robes and veil, as if she hadn't spoken at all.
"...."
...I have no idea what she's thinking.
Of course, it was good for me. My words had instantly gained credibility.
It wasn't bad, as my original goal was to keep dropping bombshell information, making others mistakenly believe I had something special, that I was a dangerous individual... but then again, Ex Machina's existence was going to be revealed to everyone in just a few months anyway, so it didn't really matter.
'...I had expected to attract Celeste's attention, but.'
I hadn't expected her to intervene like this. But then again, she was an inscrutable woman.
With Celeste and I both falling silent again, and the round table still in a state of disarray.
It was time for Atlas, the next in line, to reveal his information.
"Hahaha, what's with this atmosphere? Alright, now it's my turn to share some information. Listen closely."
Atlas naturally drew everyone's attention to himself, and the information-sharing session continued.
However.
"....."
Somehow, I felt questioning gazes directed at me, even as I sat still.
A few wary gazes, mixed with suspicion, seemed to ask, "How does a mere A-rank know such information?"
Then, I saw them occasionally whispering, looking at Atlas and me. Along with the information, they were probably wondering how I could appear so close to a big-shot like Atlas, whom I supposedly wasn't acquainted with.
Good. Keep being wary and suspicious.
Until you perceive me as more significant and dangerous than I actually am. Until the day you decide not to provoke me.
With those thoughts, I calmly ignored the gazes I felt.
And so, time passed.
The long meeting finally came to an end.
With Celeste's final words, "Let's meet again in a few months," people began to rise from their seats, one by one.
"Hahaha! Egoistic, how did you know such information? A time-rewinding ability user, that's truly astonishing. Of course, even that fellow couldn't stop *this* Atlas, hahaha!"
He said that, bursting into hearty laughter, as if something had suddenly struck him.
Meanwhile, our red-haired friend declared, "Brother! I'll be taking my leave now!" then left his direct contact information, asking me to call him whenever I needed anything. ...I wonder if I'll ever use this?
As I got up with Atlas and headed towards the hallway to leave.
"Please wait a moment, Mr. Atlas. I have someone I need to meet briefly before I go."
"Hmm? Alright."
After excusing myself from Atlas, I walked towards the woman I had been quietly observing for a while.
She had her black hair tied back, perhaps for ease of movement, wore a grey samurai outfit, and her tired eyes indicated she was preparing to leave.
The leader of Japan's largest villain organization, Katana.
As I approached her, she noticed my presence, paused her steps, and looked at me with a puzzled expression.
And in that state.
I smiled and spoke to Katana.
"Greetings, Ms. Katana."
"....What is it?"
She asked me, her face etched with fatigue.
"I'm Egoistic, active in Korea. Since we operate in neighboring territories, I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce myself."
"...I see. Pleased to meet you. But I'm rather busy right now."
She answered curtly, attempting to leave. Yes, she would be busy. Her allied forces were likely suffering continuous defeats against the government and the Association.
To her, burdened with such worries.
I smiled faintly and spoke to her.
"Oh, and as a gesture of goodwill for our future acquaintance, I have some information I'd like to share with you, Ms. Katana."
"....Information?"
At the word 'information,' she showed a slight flicker of interest.
Even with her tired demeanor, she looked at me with a touch of curiosity at my words.
"Yes. I'll tell you something special."
Saying that, I leaned in slightly, lowering my head, and whispered quietly into her ear.
"Hishimoto Natsuha."
"She is the traitor."
"....!"
At my words, she recoiled slightly, pulling her head back in surprise.
Feeling her bewilderment, and a fleeting glimpse of anger in her eyes, I shrugged and spoke.
"Well, I told you as a gesture of goodwill. I hope my information proves useful."
"Now, if you'll excuse me."
With those final words, I turned and walked back towards Atlas.
...There. I've told her.
Whether she believes it or not, how she chooses to act, that's all her decision now.
"Are you done?"
"Yes. Let's go."
Having done what I set out to do, I walked back with Atlas.
Feeling Katana's gaze lingering behind me.
***
'What... what was that all about?'
Japan's S-rank villain, Katana.
She stared at the retreating back of the man who had just spouted such nonsense to her.
Hishimoto Natsuha. She is the traitor.
'Nonsense... But how did he even know Natsuha in the first place?'
Katana.
She had set out to rectify the rotten state of Japan. Even if she was called a villain, even if she was deemed a public enemy, she endured it. She believed that if she could change this country, walking a path of evil was irrelevant.
Fortunately, like-minded friends had rallied around her.
Together with them, she had founded the Sanhyop-pa, now Japan's largest villain organization, many years ago.
However, for some reason, they had been consistently losing ground to government forces and the Association for some time now. It was as if their enemies knew their every move, appearing and disappearing unpredictably.
Just as she was growing deeply concerned, suffering defeat after defeat, that man had suddenly approached her and declared: Hishimoto Natsuha. She is the traitor.
'...Natsuha's identity should be concealed; no one should know about her...'
Natsuha.
Katana's friend from the very beginning, and her trusted strategist.
She didn't know how that man knew Natsuha, but Natsuha could never be a traitor. Never.
'...There's no way she could be...'
Yet, the moment she heard those words.
She could no longer go back to how things were before hearing them.
Doubt—that terrifying thing—had taken root in a corner of her heart.
"....."
On top of that, there was his outrageous statement from the meeting earlier.
Although it wasn't directly relevant to her, his claim that America was hiding an ability user who could manipulate time, something no one seemed to know, and even Celeste's corroboration...
'...What if this Egoistic truly knows something and isn't just spouting nonsense?'
As Katana thought this, she found herself unconsciously replaying Egoistic's words in her mind.
And that entire scene involving Egoistic and Katana.
"...."
Celeste, who had remained on one side of the round table, quietly observed it all.