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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Meeting of Villains
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"Cathedral," the meeting where all the leaders of the world's S-rank villain alliance gathered.
"Everyone has arrived."
At the center of these individuals, dressed in a variety of clothes and hailing from diverse races.
Villain Celest, ranked number one, with her eyes closed and dressed in a white saintess's robe, began to speak.
Her voice, soft and almost sacred, like a heavenly hymn in my ears, continued to flow.
Meanwhile, I looked around me.
Our villains were still seated in their novel and diverse outfits. Almost everyone who had attended the last meeting was here. It was surprising that no one had died. The only notable point was that everyone was dressed more warmly than before. It had been quite cold lately.
"...."
Of course, my gaze went to the man on the other side, who had a hairstyle somewhat resembling a queue, rather than to anyone else.
He was Li Xiaofeng, China's S-rank villain.
"....?"
Katana, who was sitting right next to me, glanced around and met my eyes, giving me a questioning yet benevolent look. Meanwhile, I was thinking something else to myself.
*...I heard that in China, Li Xiaofeng and the government are also in conflict. Hmm... If things go well here, this side might also....*
Of course, it was still just a fantasy for now. But then again, who would have thought I'd become this close with Katana? You never know how things will turn out.
Just as I was contemplating the East Asian Villain Alliance, Celest's voice echoed through the hall.
"Then, let's begin the meeting now."
*It's finally starting.*
I pulled my gaze from the other side and looked back at Celest.
There was Celest in her saintess's robe, and beside her, Arthur, Celest's aide, seated in gray knight's armor.
As expected, Celest was the first to speak, as always.
Among them, she likely had the highest information gathering capabilities, aside from myself, and she began to speak.
"The International Association's influence is steadily weakening."
With those words, she continued from last time, discussing the empowered individuals.
More and more powerful individuals, far stronger than before, were emerging. The Association was unable to control them, and the atmosphere was becoming increasingly strange.
Well, I already knew all of this, so I wasn't particularly interested. Hadn't I known from the start that power inflation would occur? That's why I'd researched various means to control the overflowing number of empowered individuals, including through PMC.
Anyway, Celest then shared a few secrets about the Association's internal affairs and mentioned key regions they were currently unable to manage. When she spoke of the chaos within the Association due to Ex Machina's death, naturally, all eyes turned to me.
With Celest's words concluded.
The floor was now open for information sharing, moving counter-clockwise.
As expected, the discussions were interesting to listen to, but not particularly helpful.
In truth, Celest, as the host of this meeting and the pinnacle of villainy, possessed an incredible amount of information, but others not so much.
Still, many novel topics came up. From talk of a volcano about to erupt somewhere, to a hero's hidden second ability, even a man with an afro and green goggles, who looked like a doctor, distributed weapon blueprints. *I should show these to Seoeun.*
And so, everyone shared a piece of information.
Finally, after Katana, who seemed surprisingly knowledgeable about the Association's information, perhaps thanks to having devoured the Japanese Association, shared her piece.
It was finally my turn, almost at the very end.
"...."
Countless gazes focused on me, far more intensely than when others had spoken.
Perhaps it was natural, considering how many people had been subtly glancing at me, pretending not to, since the very start of the meeting.
I met all those gazes with a slight smile.
It was I who had leaked the most shocking, near-zero-level secret at the last meeting: the hero who could turn back time. Considering that I had accurately revealed his name and ability, and then, coincidentally, he died shortly after my revelation, exposing his identity to the world, it was only natural.
In other words, they had no choice but to focus on what I was about to say. All their attention would be on figuring out who I was, whether I would release shocking information like last time, and whether the previous incident was merely a coincidence.
And I had no intention of betraying their expectations.
*Yes. I'll release this one this time.*
With that thought, I opened my mouth and spoke.
"Everyone, do you all know that this universe is not the only one?"
My words were cast into the quiet round table.
"....?"
At my words, everyone seemed to be at a loss. They were probably bewildered by such an abrupt statement.
I continued speaking.
"More precisely, there isn't just one dimension. This universe is composed of multiple dimensions. You could call it the multiverse theory. Generally, it means there are other worlds that are absolutely unreachable."
Well, I had no intention of going into a deep discussion about dimensions here. I had something else I wanted to say.
"Anyway, what I want to say is... I've heard that the walls separating each dimension have been weakening lately."
"In other words, something from another dimension. There are rumors that beings from other dimensions might cross over into our world."
"Just keep it in mind."
"....."
I finished sharing my information there. This much should be enough. Speaking at greater length and in more detail would only be detrimental.
And after my words concluded.
The round table grew somewhat quiet.
More precisely, it had become a bit chaotic.
*...Well, that's to be expected.*
While it sounded like a child's fantasy, utterly ridiculous, they couldn't dismiss it as nonsense given my track record. Wasn't I the one who had accurately predicted Ex Machina, whom no one else knew about, last time?
Yet, they couldn't simply believe it outright either. They had probably heard about other dimensions or otherworldly monsters for the first time today, so how could they believe it? It sounded so unrealistic. *What, monsters suddenly invading from another dimension that we didn't even know existed?* It just sounded like utter nonsense.
But then again, my track record made it hard to ignore. However, believing it based solely on that was a completely different matter from Ex Machina. The result of this confusion was the now quiet, then noisy, round table.
"....."
Of course, I simply sat there quietly, offering no further explanation.
The main event of the original story, the Moonlight Gate, where hordes of interdimensional monsters would pour in. There was still some time before it would happen, but regardless of them, a portal would open soon anyway.
In the original, it was just an event that passed by, dismissed as someone's ability, but now these people here would know. They would know that it was the interdimensional gateway I spoke of.
"…It seems I only speak when the atmosphere gets strange, always being next to Egoistic. Ahem! Everyone, pay attention. I've brought quite a fascinating story."
The continued murmuring subsided with a stern word from our old man Atlas.
Anyway, Atlas's speech ended shortly, and with Mohican and a few others finishing up, the meeting concluded.
"…Those who have more to discuss are welcome to stay and talk."
Thus, the meeting dispersed.
Some left, but a few remained, engaging in various conversations among themselves. It seemed natural that since they lived in different countries and were far apart, they would talk a bit more when they had the chance to meet like this.
And it was no different for us.
"Haha! Egoistic, the information you release is always unique, no matter when I hear it. There's a reason I acknowledge you, hahaha! So, was what you said earlier truly factual?"
"…Haha, yes. It's something I've heard, but I believe it's highly probable."
"Hmm. Well, no matter who comes, we'll just defeat them all. Hahaha!"
It was an answer typical of the thoughtless Atlas, as expected.
Indeed, as a leader commanding tens of thousands of fish-people himself, why would he fear otherworldly beings? In the original story, Atlas's army had actually defeated the most monsters that emerged from the gate.
"....If that's true, then we should also keep it in mind to some extent."
Katana, who was beside me, also nodded.
Still, it felt like everyone was still largely unconcerned. The very concept of interdimensional invaders sounded vague, and there was no guarantee yet that they would be hostile. Well, everyone would learn more details later, so I could discuss it then.
After a few more words, we began to prepare to part ways. After all, there were many ears listening here.
"Brother, take care!"
"…Oh, yes, yes."
After receiving Mohican's farewell and exchanging goodbyes with Atlas, I began preparing to head back. Time to go home.
And then.
"Just a moment, Mr. Egoistic."
"Yes?"
Katana stopped me.
I tilted my head with a smile, and she spoke to me with a serious expression.
"I was cut off earlier and couldn't finish what I was saying, but I truly owe you a great debt. As such, I wish to do anything I can. Is there anything I can do for you?"
She spoke to me with such seriousness, meeting my gaze.
I gazed at her for a moment... then opened my mouth.
"Anything?"
"....Yes. Anything I can do."
To her, speaking with such grim determination, I then said what I had been thinking since earlier.
"Then, there is one thing I'd like to ask of you."
"Yes. Please tell me anything."
"Ms. Katana... would you join me in—"
I paused, choosing my words, then said with a smile.
"—committing terrorism?"
"....Huh?"
Katana, who had been showing such grim determination, instantly wore a blank expression at my words.
*Seriously, what kind of request did she think I was going to make?*