I Became The Villain The Hero Is Obsessed With

400 – Alliance with the Enemy

After the Sun God’s declaration of annihilation.

I soon succeeded in persuading the shocked Celeste and Catedral to fight and oppose the god.

For Celeste, I said wasn’t the reason she believed the Sun God because she thought he would save the world? Since it was now the opposite, she had no reason to follow him… Then after the girl who lost her pillar of faith, I told her to rely on me, succeeding in persuading her.

For Catedral’s other villains…

‘As expected, this works best.’

I got them to join my cause through a different method.

Specifically, exploiting the villains’ characteristic greed for victory.

If I said ‘Let’s all join forces and fight the god to protect this world!’, would they have readily followed?

No. For villains, that kind of defensive talk of world peace doesn’t work as well as aggressive speech.

We finally conquered the world with great difficulty, but now some crazy god is trying to destroy all our hard work!

Will we just take this lying down? Let’s band together and kill that deranged god!! …That kind of talk appeals well to villains.

And so my declaration to ‘kill that arrogant god no matter what!’ got quite an enthusiastic reaction from the villains.

Afterwards, I even got them to leave fighting the god entirely up to me.

Having swiftly handled the villain side like this.

One thing remained next.

‘First… I need to calm the people down.’

Preventing the chaos soon to come upon the world’s people.

In the original work, the rapid descent into ruin wasn’t just due to Catedral’s destructive acts led by Celeste, but also greatly due to the extreme unease and turmoil from people’s own panic at their impending doom, leading to anarchy.

To prevent this, the important thing is reassuring people.

Giving them the hope we can all survive and maintaining society.

This is the only chance. People are still in shock so they’ll just be stunned for now… But soon their grasp on reality will return and panic will break out.

So I need to calm the entire world down first.

And for that, I had already thought of one method beforehand.

Announcing an alliance between the global Hero Association and the Villain Coalition Catedral.

Showing heroes and villains banding together against a common threat, something seemingly impossible, would shock and give hope to people.

Citizens, please be at ease. We have plans. The Earth is safe! Something like that.

Anyway if the people on top look composed and respond calmly instead of panicking, the masses will also tentatively remain put even while torn.

And so after the Catedral meeting ended.

I was on my way to Celeste’s room for this.

Knock knock.

“…Come in.”

Hearing her voice after I knocked on the door to Celeste’s office.

At her words, I quietly open the door and enter.

Inside, Celeste with a tired complexion sits facing me in a chair.

…Looks like she’s calmed down a little.

“Celeste, were you resting?”

“Yes… So Egoistic, did you persuade the Catedral members well?”

She asks me that.

Hearing that, I unconsciously winced a little.

I thought she was just in her room, how did she know? Did she hear everything?

No, more than that. I was just loudly shouting about killing god in there.

But Celeste didn’t seem to particularly mind.

And so I could answer her fairly comfortably.

“Yes. I persuaded them all. They said they’ll follow all our commands.”

“…Thank you, Egoistic. It really has to be you after all.”

At my words.

Managing a faint smile, Celeste told me.

Then naturally asking me.

“So, what’s the plan after this?”

“Yes. Oh, about that…”

Just as Celeste asked me for the next plan.

I told her the next operation smoothly, seizing the opportunity.

Forming a temporary alliance between the Hero Association and Catedral to stop the Sun God’s destruction of the world.

“…An alliance.”

“Yes. Nothing much, just shake the hand of the Association President in front of the cameras. If you just do that, I’ll take care of the rest…”

I glanced at Celeste’s reaction as I said that.

Although the other villains readily agreed to my suggestion of joining forces with heroes, I didn’t know how Celeste would respond.

And contrary to my expectations.

“Okay. Let’s do that then.”

Celeste replied without much hesitation.

I was so surprised I was the one who brought it up first.

“…Is that alright?”

So I reflexively asked again in surprise.

Then calmly, forcing a slight smile, she answered me.

“Yes, well… Egoistic. I thought about what you said.”

“What did I say…?”

“That the Sun God used me as a pawn.”

With those words, the air suddenly seemed to drop several degrees.

Forming a cold smile, Celeste muttered quietly.

“If the god thought so little of me and betrayed me so easily…”

“I have to show him.”

“That I won’t just take it lying down either.”

Seeing her turn against the Sun God, seeming the complete opposite of the original work because of my words.

I was a little scared but somehow also relieved.

…Yes. Still, it’s better than her staying in shock and devastated like earlier.

Thinking that.

I smiled gently at her and said.

“That’s a good mindset. We can’t just keep being played.”

“Yes. Of course, cooperating with the hero trash isn’t to my liking.”

And then.

When she said that to me.

I froze the instant Celeste added.

“…Egoistic, because it’s your suggestion, I’ll follow it.”

Standing from her seat, Celeste smiled at me and appended those words.

“Ha ha… Thank you.”

That was close.

Anyway, like this.

I got Celeste’s consent regarding cooperating with the Hero Association too.

***

‘I’ll visit again after contacting you. Please get ready.’

Leaving Celeste’s office after those words.

I turned on my phone while walking down the hallway.

‘…Now that I’ve persuaded Celeste, next is…’

All that’s left is the Association President’s approval.

Actually, I met and talked to her before the Sun God’s annihilation declaration. I told her something like this would soon happen, so when the time came, it’d be best if she readily accepted our offer of cooperation.

She didn’t seem to believe me much when I said it, wonder what she thinks now.

Come to think of it, this is the first time I’m turning on my phone now.

And there.

*

[Missed Calls]

[Hero Association President (17)]

*

“…”

All I saw were signs she had tried contacting me many times in that short period.

Hmm, well, now that the moment is here she seems rather rushed.

Thinking that, I called her.

[Damn! Why are you only answering now?!]

Before the dial tone even finished, she immediately picked up and all I heard was the President’s voice scolding me.

…Hmm. But I called you, not the other way around.

Meanwhile.

Seeming to have calmed down at some point, the President sighed shortly and apologized before speaking to me.

[Phew… sorry. I was too anxious just now. How about it, is your previous offer still valid?]

“Ha ha, I understand. And yes, it’s still valid. If you mean the alliance between the Association and Catedral…”

…Speaking of which, were you very rushed?

At my implicitly teasing words, the Association President deeply sighed and spoke to me in a gruff tone.

[Of course I was. I’m being hounded from all sides about what to do… What can I do? Did I ever think a situation like the god becoming hostile to us would really happen?]

Saying that, she glanced at me then carefully continued.

[That aside… let’s leave the details for later and form the alliance first. Can we?]

“Yes, we can. And well… I understand. You want to announce it quickly to calm people down first, right?”

[…Yeah, you’re right. Good you understand. Or rather, that was your reason for the initial proposal in the first place, wasn’t it…]

Murmuring that, I said.

“Yes. I’ll head over right away so wait for me.”

I ended the call with a amused tone.

Alright. The plan is perfect.

Shall we begin then.

Dropping the massive bait to divert people’s attention.

***

After the god’s declaration of destroying the world was heard by all nationwide.

The world had become chaos and unease itself.

With the government unable to provide solutions.

And the media simply adding to the panic with sensationalism.

People’s anxiety intensified. Just as society’s foundations were being shaken.

…Yes, right then.

[Shocking! International Hero Association X Villain Coalition Catedral announce alliance against self-proclaimed god!!!]

News as preposterous as that.

Was conveyed to everyone.