What I told Celeste was none other than the story of Phase 4 power increase.
A shocking tale of how all the able-bodied people in this world will become much stronger than they are now.
Thats because the Sun Gods descent is near?
Yes. I think so.
I said so with a shameless face.
Actually, all of this was the result of Celestes self-realization in the original story. All of a sudden, everyones abilities become stronger, and in the midst of the chaos, Celeste deduces the truth of what happened.
And that truththe process of discovering that truthis now in the form of me telling her.
In other words, Im specifically giving her this information.
And then
So, the Sun God himself told you this?
Yes, thats right, I was sitting idly by during the day, and all of a sudden, with a divine sense of the world coming alive, this information popped into my head, as if I was remembering something I had forgotten. I guess it was a divine revelation.
Well Well
Hearing that, Celestes expression changed strangely.
Naturally, the emotion was one of disappointment.
To tell me information that even she, a saint of the Sun God, wouldnt know about? Honestly, even the most pious person would feel frustrated here. Even clerics are human beings.
Of course, her faith wasnt weak enough to be easily shaken by something like this, so it was more likely to end up as Im not good enough, or god must mean something.
If she cant be shaken easily, I can just stand here and shake her hard, right?
I took advantage of the momentary pause in her self-consciousness and spoke up, warming to her.
Dont be so upset. Maybe God passed it on to me because it might confuse you.
What? HaWho said anything about being upset, its not like that.
She responds with a cold glare, as if slightly stung by my words.
Even if youre not upset, when a third party decides that you look upset, it makes you think, Am I upset?
Yes.
Like this, slowly, very slowly, Ill create a rift between her and the Sun God, so that I can get between them, and intercept her.
Anyway, if youre right, this is a big deal.
She closed her eyes again for a moment, thinking, then opened them again, her golden eyes locked on mine.
Yes. There would be a great disruption in society, a bunch of fearless brats who dont know any better, drunk on their own power.
I said with a villainous grin.
How I love a good villainous line like that.
Actually, by fearless, I meant villains, not heroes, but thats just the way it is.
.
Hmm
I looked at Celeste, who seemed to be pondering my words for a moment, and subconsciously organized my plan.
The core of Phase 4 was the Power Inflation. This power inflation was only good for the powerful, and was a disaster for the general public. Weaker powers would become stronger, and stronger powers would become unstoppable, meaning that Celeste, right in front of me, would become even stronger.
And in the midst of this chaos, this is what Celeste chose to do.
Power inflation made villains more numerous. A world where those who were too weak to terrorize became stronger, and all of them awakened as villains.
In that world, Celeste proclaims herself to be a force to be reckoned with.
All villains must follow her.
Just as the heroes all belong to an association, so do the villains.
That was the true emergence of Cathedral.
Since Cathedral was originally composed of the strongest men in a country, a Cathedral with all of them, made even stronger by the Power Inflation, was a disaster.
Rebellious villains are crushed, and the organization becomes a vast coalition of villains, larger than the Association itself.
Its an event that was portrayed as a group that must be destroyed, and scales Stardus enemies to global proportions.
By the end of Phase 4, the readers assessment was.
[No. But wasnt Cathedral actually not that bad after all?]
The logic goes something like this: the world was a chaotic mess of villains anyway, and Cathedral was the one who united them and brought order.
Thats what happened in the original, but its better now because me and my friends are part of Cathedral, which means I can manipulate things from within.
As I was thinking about it, the words of Celeste caught my attention.
Ill have to think about that.
She mumbles quietly as her eyes closed.
Then she opened her eyes again, and said to me, with a slightly puzzled expression.
WellI guess I was going to find out anyway, but its nice to knowthank you, Egostic.
I looked at Celeste, slightly averting my eyes and I was surprised.
Celeste is grateful. The sun is rising in the west.
Still, shes opening up to me a little bit, and thats a good thing. Though it was kind of funny to see myself getting all giddy over a thank youI need to win her over to prevent the end of the world.
Anyway, thats enough for today.
Ill go now, and Ill approach Celeste again when her mind is clearer.
I was about to say goodbye when I thought to myself.
Haha, since were in the same boat, of course I should let you know this right off the bat, so Ill be off
Going where?
Just as I was about to cry and get up, I heard a cold voice in my ear.
I turned my head, momentarily flustered, to see Celeste, who seemed to be flustered herself, coughing slightly and motioning for me to sit back down.
Hmph. Youre right, were in the same boat, believing in the same god, and youre going to have to help me figure out what to do. Sit back down.
Um, yes.
I sat back down just like that.
What is it?
I didnt know what it was, but I didnt want to offend her now
Yeah, whatever. Thats good.
Maybe I should take this opportunity to give her my own idea for Cathedral expansion.
With that thought, I opened my mouth.
I wonder how much time has passed since then.
Lets do that, then.
Okay.
It was decided that I would be in charge of the Asia branch of Cathedral.
The Sun Gods descent is near, and everyones abilities will be strengthened
Listening to the words of Egostic in front of her, Celeste was silent in thought.
This was very important information. It could change the course of the world.
The more she thought about it, the more butterfly effects it would have in her mind.
Celeste, as the head of Cathedral, the worlds most powerful villain organization, was naturally good at keeping track of the situationso much so that all sorts of calculations were going on in her head at the same time.
Ill have to think about it.
So she muttered those words, lost in thought. What is the right thing to do in this situation? What should she do?
Regardless, this information was invaluable, if it was true.
Though she wasnt sure why God had chosen to speak only to him and not to her
You never came to me except to share your power with me in the beginning
She felt a slight twinge of annoyance, which she suppressed at the thought of blasphemy, but she didnt know that if anyone who knew the truth about the Sun God had heard this, they would have burst into flamesThe Sun God had never visited Egostic in the first place, nor was he in a position to do so.
Anyway, it was thanks to him that she knew.
Celeste wanted to thank him.
WellI was going to find out anyway, but its nice to know. Hmmmm, thank you, Egostic.
It was a bit awkward to say this, and the wording was a bit odd, but it was all she could do to convey her sincerity.
In fact, it was so out of character for her. For someone who had always been on top of the world, this was the first time shed ever had an equal relationshipthey were both chosen by the same Sun God.
If what he said was true, anyway
That was when she thought to herself.
Haha, since were in the same boat, of course I should let you know this right away, so Ill take my leave
Thats what she heard.
And the moment she heard those wordsshe reflexively looked up and said, without realizing it.
Where?
The words came out of her mouth unbidden and were so cold that even she felt embarrassed.
Hmph. Where are you going? Were on the same boat, believing in the same god, as you say. Youll have to help me figure it out. Sit back down.
Even as she thought this, she felt her stomach churn.
She had always stood alone at the pinnacle of her power, and was the first person the Sun God had ever chosen.
Forgetting that she was too ashamed to face him, she grabbed hold of him.
What if we expanded Cathedral into an international alliance of villains, instead of just an information-sharing conference?
She found herself nodding in agreement at his lingering idea.
It was a good idea, one she would have come to the same conclusion had she thought long enough.
After all, its useful
Celeste thought to herself, quietly.
Yes, it is. Perhaps, after all, Egostic was sent by the Sun God as a gift for her.
Unbeknownst to her, Celeste was beginning to believe him, a littleslowly, but surely.