Chapter 209 – Katana
A few days after the New Year arrived, I was preparing to go to Cathedral.
“Wow, it’s already open?”
Does everyone have nothing to do?
As I was getting ready, I thought about that. I mean, I have a lot of information to share, and it’s nice to see Uncle Atlas again after a long time, but I’m not sure about the others.
Or is Celeste’s intention to get closer by meeting frequently? When I saw them last time, the people sitting next to each other exchanged greetings and chatted quietly, so maybe they are becoming close like that. It was mentioned in the original story that the Cathedral frequently opens.
Of course, I was sitting next to Uncle Atlas from the beginning, and the next time I was sitting beside our red mohawk-haired friend, so I didn’t have much time to meet others. Oh, but there was one person. Katana, the S-class villain from Japan, that woman.
“…..”
…Well, can you call that a conversation? I just unilaterally provided information to her while she was subtly cautious of me. Anyway, thanks to my advice, she completely turned the tide and is now thriving. I think the news recently mentioned that only the Japanese association’s formal surrender remains. They even said that public sentiment is already in Katana’s favor, so I guess I’ve done enough.
…But Katana. When she sees me, is she pretending not to know me? Should I call it playing possum? Now that you’ve gotten the information, it’s time to wash your hands of it, right? Or maybe in the end, she will definitely get back at me like in the original story? I don’t have much to say about Katana since I don’t know her well.
Well, whatever. I’ll know when I get there in a little while.
So, after getting dressed, I planned to tear up the letter sent by Celeste and head to the conference room.
“I’ll be on my way, Soobin.”
“Yes, take care… Oh, wait a moment.”
In the warm sunlight shining into the living room, Soobin smiled at my farewell and walked towards me.
Then, she stood in front of me and briefly lowered her gaze before adjusting the collar of my clothes under my neck.
“This side is slightly crooked…”
Rustle, rustle.
Feeling the touch of her fingers on my body, I stood quietly for a moment until she finished fixing it.
That way, in the living room, only our breathing could be heard for a while.
“There, all done.”
With a gentle smile, Soobin finished adjusting my clothes and softly spoke to me. It was close to home.
“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”
“Yes.”
Soobin answered with a bright smile. Let’s go with strength.
After giving a wry smile, I tore the letter in my hand.
And like that, my vision wavered once again.
***
“Um…”
“Hello, Egostic.”
The cool air touched my skin. In the slightly chilly atmosphere contrasting with the warm living room until a moment ago, I opened my eyes.
Dressed in white priestess attire, Celeste, the priestess, bowed her head slightly to me, and I nodded in response before walking down the long corridor.
My footsteps echoed on the white and sky-tinted marble floor. The candles hanging one by one on the walls further recreated the feeling that this place was some kind of cathedral.
And…
“…Hmm.”
As I walked along the corridor toward the conference room, I felt a warm aura, and I squinted my eyes in response.
And soon, I arrived right in front of the conference room and stepped inside the door.
“…Oh.”
Under the grand chandelier, the conference room was set with a warm atmosphere, distinctly different from the corridor below. The chandelier was even brighter, and there seemed to be more candlesticks around. It seemed like Celeste took care of the heating since the weather was cold.
I found an empty seat at the large round table and sat down. Before taking my seat, I greeted some of the other villains with a slight smile. They seemed surprised when they saw me but then realized that I was just greeting them, and they nodded back in response.
…Why do the S-classes get flustered when they see the A-classes? Am I really the weakest here? Give me a break.
As I settled into my seat, I felt glances being cast here and there. It seemed that my identity leak about X Makina, and his public reveal a few months later, had caused this reaction. Perhaps these glances were wondering how I knew such a Class 1 secret. If they had a vivid imagination, they could even speculate some connections regarding his death after I disclosed his information externally.
Well, everything was intentional. The purpose was to increase my presence here.
While I was engrossed in my thoughts, the room was still relatively empty, as some members hadn’t arrived yet, including Atlas and the red mohawk guy. As a result, I wandered around the conference room, taking in the surroundings. After this meeting, I should start planning a terror against Stadius, but what should I do…?
Under the grand chandelier, around the spacious round table, the white walls and stained glass subtly illuminated. On one side, there was a depiction of a gigantic sun, which I was briefly observing.
“…Hmm?”
From that direction, Katana opened the door and entered. With her black hair tied up and wearing a Japanese-style warrior outfit made of white and black cloth, she looked like a Japanese samurai.
And as she entered, she looked around as if searching for someone.
When her eyes met mine, she widened them in surprise.
Then, she began approaching me.
As she got closer to me, she greeted me right away.
“Hello, Egostic.”
“Oh, yes. Hello.”
In response to my greeting, she smiled brightly. It was quite different from her usual expressionless face.
After exchanging greetings, she naturally sat down in the chair next to mine.
Huh…?
Sitting beside me, she met my gaze, and then she bowed her head to thank me.
“Thanks to you, Egostic, I was able to overcome the crisis. I am truly grateful.”
With a serious expression, Katana looked me in the eye and spoke sincerely. Her gaze felt genuine.
I responded to her with a smile.
“Oh, no need to thank me. We are colleagues operating in neighboring countries, so it’s only natural for us to help each other and survive together.”
“No, if you hadn’t helped us… we might have been wiped out. I received an immeasurable favor from you.”
She said it earnestly. Hmm, I never expected her to think this far. It’s a bit burdensome.
So, I cleared my throat and deliberately lightened the mood with a smile.
“Thanks for thinking that way. I just wanted to become friends with Katana, that’s all.”
“Friends…”
As if she was muttering a strange word she hadn’t heard in a while, she responded to me with a slight smile.
“That’s nice. Then, are we friends from now on?”
“Yes.”
And so, I made a new friend at Cathedral. A Korean-Japanese villain collaboration, and no one can stop it now… Of course, the process of this collaboration was quite awkward, like making new friends in the beginning of a new semester. A conversation between two villains that could shape a nation…?
Anyway, since there was still some time before the meeting began, we chatted about various things. Among the topics that drew attention was:
“Have you already won?”
“Yes. Although I haven’t announced it to the press, it’s already over.”
It turned out that Katana had already conquered the Japanese association. They were controlling the information to avoid international intervention, but the conquest was nearly complete. They had dealt with all the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats that were there before, and it seemed they were planning a complete overhaul.
Based on a rough plan I heard, they intended to maintain the association’s appearance externally while the Sanhyeong faction, led by Katana, would operate in a non-elected position. It felt somewhat similar to the situation in our country.
Now, I understood why she was so grateful to me. She saved her country, so to speak, and it was thanks to me that she could devour the association. That was her lifelong goal, and she could achieve it because of me.
As I was thinking about this, Katana, who was sitting next to me, spoke in a serious tone.
“In other words, I don’t think the favor I owe you, Egostic, can be easily repaid. So, if you want anything, please let me know.”
“Hmm…”
She said that, but I didn’t really have anything to ask for.
“If there’s something I can do for you, I’ll do anything.”
Anything?
When I heard those words, an idea came to my mind. Yes, she said anything, right…?
Just as I was about to speak, I heard a loud voice calling me from the other side.
“Hey, Egostic!”
In that moment, I saw Uncle Atlas approaching with his large build.
He greeted me with a hearty laugh and sat down next to me, squeezing himself in between me and Katana, who was sitting beside me. He asked who she was.
“Oh, she’s Katana from Japan, with whom I’ve become friends this time.”
“Hello, I’m Katana.”
“Haha! So, you’re Egostic’s colleague? Then you’re my colleague too!”
He laughed heartily and complimented me on having good taste in making friends. What kind of compliment is that?
Anyway, with Katana on my left and Atlas on my right, the conversation continued. We had to finish our previous discussion.
And after a while, Celeste arrived. The meeting finally began.
“…Uh… That’s my seat…”
“….”
“O-Oh, nothing…”
Of course, after a while, our Red Mohawk-haired friend arrived and meekly tried to tell Katana that she was in his seat, but a stern look from Katana made him scared and end up sitting next to Atlas. It was a minor incident, but it happened because of Katana’s piercing gaze.
Anyway, the meeting finally started.
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