Being a Villain is My True Calling

“Just as I expected.”

After breaking through the floor and falling, I found myself in an extremely large underground research facility.

‘I had a hunch something was off.’

While being chased and running around evading Ice Queen, several things seemed questionable.

Pristine experimental apparatuses that appeared to have never been used.

The ridiculously low number of staff for such a massive research facility.

And finally…

‘There were no people.’

Astra had clearly mentioned during the mission briefing that they had colluded with a villain organization to kidnap people as test subjects.

So where were those ‘test subjects’?
Even in a world where people die casually, unless they simply vanished like in a game, there should have been corpses left behind.

Had they disposed of them somewhere? Then there would be traces left.
And there were no devices in the upper facility capable of completely erasing any human traces.

‘So there’s only one possibility remaining.’

They had concealed the test subjects, or whatever was done to process them.
Where? Either above in the sky or below the ground.

And my suspicion proved correct.

‘There’s likely even more data to retrieve here for the organization.’

I rose from the cushioning mat I had created with my ability and surveyed my surroundings.

‘The only variable is that I brought Ice Queen along…’

Originally, I had planned to simply knock her unconscious, but her sheer tenacity in pursuing me was truly admirable.
Is this how one becomes a heroine?

At any rate, Ice Queen was nowhere to be seen in the vicinity.

‘Though I’m certain she fell with me.’

I had witnessed her falling through the collapsing floor in real-time.
Unless she used her abilities to escape…

‘Ahh.’

Looking up towards the area I had fallen from, I saw an icy path leading downwards.

It seemed creating an icy path was a more efficient method for Ice Queen than the cushioning approach I had used.

‘Well, I’m bound to run into her if I explore this underground facility.’

With that thought, I slowly made my way deeper into the research facility.

Tap tap

Since I’ve brought Ice Queen along, maybe I should add another concept to my villainous persona?
Something with a tragic backstory, perhaps?

“Damn it! You incompetent fools! The heroes and villains were bested by just three of those bastards?”

In the dim underground research facility,
a man slammed his fist on a desk cluttered with various documents and blueprints, furiously berating his subordinates.

“Bu, but Director…”

The man’s identity was Chu Seo-ho, the head researcher who had given the heroes a tour of the facility earlier.

“Director, my ass!”

With a contorted expression, he scoffed, “I’ll be ridiculed for the rest of my life if I return like this…”

“Hurry and pack up! Judging from those explosions, we’ve been discovered!”

At the raging man’s command, the researchers hastily gathered as many documents as possible.

“Did you make a copy of the ‘Regeneration’ research data?”

“Yes, yes…”

Chu Seo-ho picked up a USB drive handed to him by one of the researchers.

‘So this is the result of our arduous research…’

Vastly different from their initial goal, the director let out a weary sigh at the unexpected outcome.

Their objective had been to create a substance capable of restoring the body in any situation, but the results had diverged, merely finding practical use in the side effects.

From Chu Seo-ho’s perspective, the situation was utterly frustrating.

‘Still, I need to secure this much, or the project and I are done for…’

After pocketing the USB drive, he turned his attention to the researchers.

“…Wait, one person is missing? Park Gyu-hwan, where is that bastard?”

“Gyu-hwan? He said he was going to scout the area where the noise came from…”

“…Sa, save me, please…”

As Chu Seo-ho and a researcher discussed the missing person, a man’s voice echoed through.

“Good day, researchers.”

“What the hell did that bastard bring with him…”

A trembling Park Gyu-hwan, with a man pointing a gun at his head.
Seeing this, Chu Seo-ho clutched his forehead in exasperation.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”

As I greeted them with a bright smile, the researchers’ faces paled.

“……”

Click

“Ahahahaha! The pleasure is ours!!”

“Th, the pleasure is ours!!”

“Huahahahaha!!”

Their cheerful laughter ensued as I aimed my weapon (a gun) at them.
Satisfied, I poured some tea into a paper cup and took a sip.

‘Hmm. Not bad.’

Both the aroma and clean aftertaste suggested a rather expensive tea blend.

Tuk

I set down the cup and observed the researchers before me.

‘So… shall I extract some knowledge?’

“From now on, I would appreciate it if you gentlemen demonstrate the fruits of your research efforts.”

“…Even so, that’s a bit…”

One researcher immediately protested, prompting me to unhesitatingly pull the trigger towards him.

Banggg-!

“……”

“I trust there are no more objections?”

“……”

“Excellent. Whoever provides satisfactory research data will be spared, so have no fear.”

Fortunately, after that, none of the researchers offered any further resistance.

“If you look at the results of my research here…”

“This phenomenon is…”

“Please observe test tube B-425. See how the cellular reaction is like this…”

After the brief commotion, I had the researchers present their individual research findings one by one.

‘There’s quite a diverse range of developments stemming from the regeneration field.’

The approaches varied, occasionally intermingling with other disciplines.
While sharing the same theme, the pathways diverged completely.

I observed the research results with admiration.

“…So what I’ve researched is octopus tentacles! More precisely, tentacles!”

“…?”

“Tentacles that rapidly regenerate when severed! Isn’t it beautiful? By manipulating the neural signals, we can control delicate tentacle movements!”

The researcher then strode towards me, firmly grasped my hand, and thrust a bundle of research materials into it.

‘What’s this about…?’

“Villain! No, Maker!! I don’t mind dying! Please use this to commit terrorism!! Use it to utterly ravage the female heroes with these tentacles!! Pleeeeease!!!!!!!”

“…I understand. I shall gladly accept your research data.”

While occasionally encountering genuine madness was unnerving, instances like this, where the quality of the results was high, were quite welcome.

“Please also take my 3000x sensitivity drug!!!!!!!”

“My research data too, please!!!!!!”

“Pleeeeeeeease!!!!!”

“……”

…Occasionally, indeed?
As I tilted my head in puzzlement, the man who had earlier introduced himself as the head researcher let out a deep sigh.

“…Damn, so that’s why the results turned out so messed up.”

Chu Seo-ho, the director who seemed to have gained a profound realization.
Once the researchers’ presentations concluded, I turned my gaze towards him.

“Chu Seo-ho, it seems you’re the only one left to show me.”

“…Very well. Follow me.”

At my words, Chu Seo-ho took the lead, guiding me to another location.

An ominous green glow emanated from this area, even in the dim underground.

Thump

In the midst of our solemn procession, the man stopped and turned to face me.

“Is something the matter?”

“…Maker, will you truly spare anyone I deem worthy?”

With a slightly serious expression, Chu Seo-ho fixed his trembling gaze upon me.

‘…I was planning to kill them all.’

But voicing that intention would be unwise.

“Ordinarily, I make a point of keeping my promises, but…”

“……”

“With so many impressive research data before me, I’m quite torn. I can’t very well spare everyone…”

After pretending to ponder for a moment, resting my chin in my hand, I let out an ‘Ah!’ and smiled wryly.

“Sparing one person, just one, should be acceptable, wouldn’t you agree?”

“…I suppose so.”

Chu Seo-ho fell silent for a moment.

‘…?’

The instant I sensed something amiss, Chu Seo-ho drew a gun from his coat and rapidly pulled the trigger.

Banggg-!

“Wha, wha…? Wha, Director…?”

Not aiming at me, but at the researchers instead.

“Wh, why…”

“My apologies.”

“Aaaaahhhh!!!!”

“Uwaaaaahhh!!!!”

Banggg! Bang! Bangbangbang!!

“I need to survive.”

Bang!

After mercilessly gunning down even the researchers who had belatedly tried to flee, Chu Seo-ho tossed aside the gun and looked at me.

“You abandoned the researchers following you to ensure your own survival?”

“…What choice did I have? Isn’t it a researcher’s virtue to eliminate unnecessary variables when the opportunity arises?”

“And what if my earlier promise to you had been a lie?”

“…I simply trust you, Maker.”

‘What a blatant lie.’

In that brief moment when he had shot the researchers, the barrel had wavered slightly in my direction before realigning towards them.
Did he think I wouldn’t notice that hesitation?

‘He must have realized he couldn’t bring himself to kill me, so he acted as if he hadn’t considered it.’

“…Very well, let’s proceed.”

While a bit incredulous, it would be better to extract as much information as possible before eliminating him.

And I should also start preparing to face Ice Queen soon.

‘Where the hell is Maker?’

After being sent plummeting to this incomprehensible location by his bombs, Ice Queen immediately set out to find him.

‘Just what is this place?’

She was utterly perplexed.
Surely no ordinary research facility would conceal such an underground complex.

“Haah…”

Letting out a sigh at the baffling situation…

Banggg! Bang! Bangbangbang!!

The sound of distant gunfire reached her ears.

‘Maker?’

Rushing towards the source of the noise, Ice Queen soon arrived to find several corpses in white lab coats.

Picking up what was likely the murder weapon, a gun, she continued running.
Although regrettable, saving the deceased was now impossible.

‘The gunshots were recent, so he couldn’t have gone far.’

Without a moment’s respite, Ice Queen resumed her pursuit.
And what she soon witnessed was…

“Maker?”

“Ah, Ice Queen. You’ve finally arrived.”

Maker, aiming his gun at Chu Seo-ho, the head researcher who had given the heroes a tour.