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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A Villainous Alliance
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"Ms. Katana. Would you like to commit an act of terror with me?"
Those were the words I spoke after she, who had virtually taken over half of Japan thanks to my advice, promised to grant me one wish, whatever it might be.
At the edge of the Cathedral, after I had said that.
"Good evening, Egostic-san."
"Oh... good evening, everyone. Konbanwa."
I was now in Japan.
...Hmm, how did I end up here?
***
After receiving greetings from the Sanhyup-pa members.
"Please, have a seat wherever you feel comfortable."
I was in the office of Katana, the leader of the Sanhyup-pa—Japan's largest villain organization and, with the Association effectively defunct, the true power behind the entire country.
It was a tidy, clean room with a distinct wooden feel. On one wall, a bookshelf held what looked like ancient military treatises, while another wall was adorned with an old map of Japan. The whole space had an antique charm.
"Please, drink."
"Ah, thank you."
Katana poured me a cup of tea from a tea set, then sat down opposite me, with a low table between us.
Receiving the warm tea, I took a sip.
It had a deep flavor, yet a refreshingly clean finish.
Setting down the teacup, I smiled and spoke to Katana.
"This tea is excellent. It has a profound flavor... Did you brew it yourself?"
"Yes. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
She replied to my words with an impassive expression.
Yet, she seemed subtly pleased. Her facial expression hadn't changed much, but there was a certain shift in her aura.
In any case, we exchanged a brief conversation over tea.
Once the atmosphere had somewhat relaxed, Katana brought up the main topic again.
"...You wish for me to join you in an act of terror? In Korea?"
At the sound of her voice, I stopped appreciating the tea and looked up.
Katana was referring to the terror proposal I had made earlier.
...Right. This was how I ended up in Japan. I had planned to just make the terror offer after the Cathedral incident and then go home, but I was suddenly dragged here.
She had said things like, "This doesn't seem like a conversation that will end quickly, so let's discuss it in a more private setting," and "Who knows when we'll meet again," and "I wish to repay your kindness," and so on... and I found myself nodding without realizing it.
After holding Katana's hand and tearing the letter, I simply blinked and woke up in Japan.
In any case, I nodded at her words.
"Yes, that's right. I'd like you to commit an act of terror with me in Korea. That is my request."
"Hmm..."
She contemplated my words for a moment, her face impassive.
At a glance, she might seem cold, but that was just her expression; she didn't actually seem that way. It was more that her facial expressions were almost nonexistent.
Indeed, when she held my hand at the Cathedral and explained why I needed to come to Japan with her, even though her face was impassive, a sense of urgency was evident beneath it. The original story also stated that she was someone who didn't express emotions well.
Anyway, it was time to focus on Katana before me.
With her black hair tied back and dressed in a do-bok, she was contemplating my terror proposal—my request for her to join me in an act of terror in Korea.
Having finished her brief contemplation, she looked up, met my eyes, and said,
"I don't think that's quite right."
...Huh?
Well, I hadn't expected that.
And as I stood there, smiling but slightly taken aback, my mind racing, she quickly added, as if sensing some misunderstanding in my expression,
"No, I'm not saying I won't commit terror with you."
"...Pardon?"
"What I mean is..."
She cleared her throat slightly, then spoke with a faint smile.
"Didn't you say we're friends now?"
"Right?"
"This is merely a trivial matter that friends can help each other with; it doesn't seem like the kind of singular request that should be granted as your one wish."
Katana said this with a slight smile and a serious expression.
...Do friends normally go to other countries to commit terror together? On second thought, maybe among villains, that's possible?
While I was pondering this, she spoke decisively, as if to conclude the matter.
"Then, let's consider committing terror together as a simple favor between friends. As for your request... or perhaps, a 'wish token,' as you might call it. Please tell me when you truly need it later. I will grant it then."
Katana spoke without giving me a chance to object.
So, to summarize her words: she had promised to grant me one wish, but when I proposed a terror collaboration, she argued that it was merely something friends would naturally do for each other, and thus not a 'true' request. She meant that if I had a *real* request, I should save it for later.
...But looking at the current atmosphere, if I ask for something later, she'll probably say, "This is just something friends do for each other," and grant it again, won't she? This is a bit like "The Giving Tree"...
In any case, I had nothing to say but to thank her for her words. She responded to my thanks with an impassive yet slightly smiling expression.
...We had only met twice, but she seemed incredibly benevolent towards me. If I hadn't known Katana's personality from the original story, I would have suspected she had some ulterior motive.
Of course, my single piece of advice had allowed the Sanhyup-pa, which was on the verge of collapse, to instantly reverse its fortunes and practically take over Japan... but even considering that, it felt a bit much. Or was it? Was it warranted? Given Katana's personality, I didn't think she'd be this friendly with me just for that one thing.
As I was thinking this, Katana, who had been gazing out the window beside her, finally opened her mouth and spoke to me.
"...Actually, Egostic-san. I looked into you quite a bit."
"Me?"
"Yes. Your past actions, and such."
Having said that much, she toyed with her teacup, then spoke to me again with a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"That's when I realized. You are also of the same kind as me."
...The same kind?
"The same kind?"
"Yes."
After saying that, she turned her head to look out the window.
Then, with her gaze fixed on the sky, she spoke to me.
"Egostic-san. You also... aren't you committing terror to protect your country, Korea? As a villain?"
"Huh...?"
"...You don't need to deny it. As someone similar to Egostic-san, I understand to a certain extent. You also... decided you had to rise up for your country, even if it meant becoming a villain, didn't you?"
She now looked into my eyes, speaking with earnestness.
Then, she rattled off various pieces of evidence as if in passing: no casualties, the public likes him, he's saved the country many times, etc.
...Hmm. It seems she's seriously mistaken. I just wanted to prevent Stardus from having a tragic downfall; I didn't become a villain to overthrow a corrupt nation.
...No, wait. But I *have* essentially saved the country a few times, so is it technically true? I don't think so.
Though it felt a bit odd, my response was already decided, no matter what.
"...Yes, that's right. My villainous acts and terror acts were, in fact, undertaken to protect my country, my homeland. *Sniff*, I never thought I'd meet someone who understood."
"...I thought as much."
She replied to me with an expression that was even more relaxed than her usual stoic face.
...Hmm, I wondered if this was okay, but since there was nothing to lose by gaining favor here, I decided to just go with it.
Truth be told, if you really think about it, it *was* partly to save the country.
Of course, there was a big difference between Katana, who rose up from the start simply to protect her country, and me, but I didn't bother to clear up that misunderstanding. It's good if she thinks highly of me, right? From today on, I'm Egostic the Patriot.
After that, we continued our conversation.
She still seemed impassive as usual, but it felt like her eyes shone slightly, perhaps because she believed she had met someone who shared her ideals for the first time. Her words also seemed a little more excited, and her tone felt somewhat less formal.
I, too, listened intently to Katana's stories, responded, and occasionally shared some of my own.
After that, the topic of terror finally returned.
"When exactly should the terror take place, and what should we do?"
"Hmm... I'd like to ask you to fight a certain hero. Would that be alright?"
"You mean Stardus, right? Understood. I enjoy sparring with various opponents anyway."
She nodded in reply.
...But I never mentioned Stardus, so how did she know?
In any case, after Katana promised to come to South Korea and we discussed the general details of the terror, we parted ways.
...Of course, during that process, I also received a call from Seo Eun asking why I wasn't coming home, and I had dinner with Katana at her invitation. Through various conversations, I learned that Katana was incredibly kind, despite her difficulty in expressing herself.
Then, that evening.
I was preparing to go home near a shrine on a hill, close to the Sanhyup-pa's base in Japan. I figured if I just tore this Cathedral return letter, I'd be back at my house. Was this also Celestia's ability?
"Well... that worked out."
Standing in the wind, I thought with a slight smile.
...The next act of terror would probably be a collaboration with Katana.
Actually, there was a reason I recruited Katana instead of our Egostream members.
'...Excluding the last Dragon-terror and the time I saw Stardus during the apocalypse but forgot about it, this would be the first time I'd see Stardus after the new year.'
That much was fine, but I was seized by an ominous feeling.
Somehow... I had a feeling that if I went with another female Egostream member to face Stardus this time, something terrible would happen.
"..."
Yes. My instinctive survival alarm told me not to go with another female Egostream member in front of Stardus. It was a strong hunch that something truly bad might occur.
So, I made my decision.
Right, let's go with Katana this time!
Katana isn't a female member of our Egostream; she's a female member of Japan's Sanhyup-pa. Problem solved! One could say I listened well to my intuition's warning.
'And of course, she's strong too... so it'll be a great help for Stardus's growth.'
I praised myself for coming up with such a brilliant idea.
Perfect.