Being a Villain is My True Calling

One month.
Over the past month, I’ve been doing various things.

Disposing of hostile organizations or villains that could potentially harm me, stealing elixirs, and so on.
Along with the actions I’ve taken to ensure a safe life in the world of heroes in the future.

“It’s almost time.”
“I will show you a terror befitting an executive of the organization.”

I prepared the groundwork for my successful villain debut during the remaining time.

“I hope you look forward to it, haha.”

“……”

As I smiled broadly, Astra showed a peculiar gloomy expression.

“Well… good luck.”

‘Did I do something wrong?’

After leaving her office, I moved on to make plans for the future.

The Hero Association Headquarters.

“How many times has this happened now…”

The hero Ice Queen banged on her empty desk.
Similar incidents had occurred one after another since the Blue Scope gang annihilation case.

‘The sheer number of firearms used seems too much for an individual, and the lack of any serial numbers…’

If nothing else, the absence of serial numbers convinced Ice Queen that it was the work of the same culprit.
Although the firearms lacked serial numbers, they were again left behind at the scene, so she hoped that investigating them might yield some information, but…

“Why do they keep disappearing…”

The guns collected from the first incident all the way to the most recent one had turned to dust and vanished.

‘Are they an ability user after all? Some kind of space manipulation ability? No, it seems a bit different from regular teleportation…’

If it were a space manipulation ability user, the chances of them being an individual or a small group would be much higher.
But how could they catch these culprits? In the end, their location and identities were completely unknown.

“Ugh…”

With a headache, Ice Queen plopped down on her chair and absentmindedly gazed outside the association.
The fresh white snow covered the world, painting everything in a pure white hue.

“Was today Christmas…?”

She briefly checked her smartphone, displaying the date December 25th.
It was Christmas, a happy holiday for couples to spend together.

‘What Christmas?’

Perhaps it was because the sight of herself waiting for incidents on a day like this seemed so pitiful.
A dejected expression naturally formed on Ice Queen’s face as she stretched and placed her hand on a bookshelf.

‘On a day like this, it would be better to relax in a quiet place, watch the snowfall, and read a book with a warm cup of tea.’

As she had that thought and reached for a book from the shelf, just as she was about to start reading…

“Ice Queen! A, a major incident has occurred! There’s a terrorist attack at the B District mall!!”

“…I’ll be right there.”

Although she had frowned at the sudden interruption, upon hearing about the terrorist attack, Ice Queen’s expression hardened as she rushed out.

Today was the important day of the terrorist attack.
Before projecting my appearance, I stood up from my seat and checked my appearance.

Thanks to the organization’s ability users with perception-blocking abilities, I didn’t need to conceal my face, but just in case, I wore a black half-mask covering the upper part of my face.

Along with an elegant black uniform and a matching hat.

‘Not bad.’

With a coat draped over it, the figure in the mirror looked quite villainous.
As I turned around, satisfied, I saw organization members busily setting up broadcasting equipment.

“Are the preparations still ongoing?”

“”The setup will be completed shortly!””

My subordinates responded resoundingly to my question.

‘Hmm. The taste of power is indeed sweet.’

“Since the time for the terrorist attack is approaching, I hope you’ll hurry a bit more.”

“”Understood!””

After leaving the broadcast setup to the organization members, I sat down and reviewed the plan for today’s terrorist attack once more.

‘The mall entrance is sealed, mannequins for tension are prepared, bombs were set up the day before…’

Since it was my villain debut after a month of preparation, I wanted it to be as perfect as possible.
As I continued to review the preparations and contemplated how to carry out the attack for a while…

“Good evening, everyone.”

The terrorist broadcast announcing my debut as a villain began.

I looked at the camera and gave a relaxed smile.

“Good evening, everyone.”

‘A constantly smiling face.’

I crossed my legs and placed my folded hands on my knees.

‘The concept is a polite gentleman villain.’

Never emotional, yet courteous even to the hostages despite being the perpetrator of the terrorist attack.
Always smiling while exuding an opaque, enigmatic vibe.

It’s not too far from the truth, either.
I plan to thoroughly test the heroes and make them stronger.
It would be ideal if they could defeat the final boss on their own without me having to struggle.

“My name is Maker. I am an executive of ‘Eclipse’.”

Pushing aside stray thoughts, I looked into the camera and continued speaking.

“Since I’ve only recently joined, I may be lacking in some areas, but I will fulfill my responsibilities as an executive, so please bear with me.”

‘Is the broadcast being transmitted properly?’

Since I couldn’t confirm it in real-time, it felt awkwardly like I was talking to myself, which was embarrassing.
I briefly glanced at the panel one of the organization members was displaying.

On various public channels, billboards showed a live broadcast of me speaking.

-Currently, there is an ongoing terrorist attack at the B District mall…

-This villain has introduced himself as an executive of the villain organization ‘Eclipse’…

-Professors of villain psychology are analyzing his mental deficiencies…

Hmm. Fortunately, it seems to be broadcasting properly.
Somewhat relieved, I quickly grasped the contents of the various news reports.

‘But what’s this about mental deficiencies? I’m aiming for a completely gentlemanly concept.’

Is it a bit ironic to conduct a terrorist attack in a gentlemanly manner?
For a moment, I had doubts, but I brushed them aside, picked up a teacup, took a sip, and continued speaking.

“To get to the main point, I plan to carry out a terrorist attack here today.”

Smiling broadly, I pointed to the floor below with my finger, and a murmuring sound began to emerge from the entire building.

“There is only one thing I desire.”

Regardless of the murmuring, I smiled and leaned my upper body over the table, facing the camera.

“For the heroes to come here.”

-There is only one thing I desire.

-For the heroes to come here.

Inside the B District Operation Analysis Room of the Hero Association.
From heroes to association staff, numerous people were watching the new villain ‘Maker’ on public broadcasts.

“What does he mean by wanting the heroes to come?”

A common question arose among those in the analysis room upon hearing his words.
As if answering, Maker continued speaking.

-Haha, for a terrorist to suddenly call for heroes instead of money or other demands, does it seem too strange?

Maker spoke nonchalantly, as if in casual conversation, and poured himself a fresh cup of warm tea after emptying his previous one.

-I am an artist who enjoys games. And games, of course, require players.

-As for the reward… hmm, how about the civilians here?

“Ha.”
“This guy…”

As the word ‘civilians’ was mentioned, the faces of the association staff became contorted.

“Hey, did the police seal off the area? Have they blocked off the surroundings so the bastard can’t escape?”

Some deemed it not even worth listening further and immediately asked their subordinates standing nearby about the current situation.

-I swear on the honor of the organization. If you accept my wager and emerge victorious, I will release all the civilians here.

-Of course, you wouldn’t want any defects in the reward, which is you all.
You need only wait comfortably for the heroes to rescue you.

As Maker spoke, the murmuring from within the building below him grew louder.
And Maker made a peculiar expression, as if reacting to that murmuring.

-Hmm, it seems you’re still suspicious of me.

After a brief contemplation, Maker let out a smirk, as if being indulgent, and leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of the tea he had just refilled.

-If you find me untrustworthy, very well. Trust is necessary for anything to proceed.

-If the heroes come, that’s all I’ll ask of you today, and I’ll release everyone here.

Isn’t that quite generous of me?
Maker smiled faintly.

-All you have to do is relax and wait for the heroes to arrive, and then you can go home.

“Ha, what a ridiculous claim.”

The man in charge of the Operations Analysis Team snuffed out his cigarette irritably.

All villains are mentally ill.
That’s the accepted truth.

Until now, under the guise of ‘games,’ villains have endangered civilians, used them as shields to attack heroes, and so on.
The end result of these ‘games’ conducted by villains has never been good.

Even if you follow all of a villain’s demands, none of them ever kept their word.
Sometimes, one would become fixated on something and exhibit strange behavior, but ultimately, it was all the same.
They would naturally change their demands to suit their own purposes.

And a villain similar to those types, who kidnapped civilians for no apparent reason, would release them just because the heroes showed up?

‘What nonsense.’

It makes no sense.
There must be some other ulterior motive.

Whether it’s taking the civilians hostage once the heroes arrive or some other hidden agenda, there’s bound to be something.

“No need to watch any further! Take him down!”

Just as the man was about to shout orders to apprehend the villain conducting the terrorist broadcast, something happened.

Kwaaang!!!

A loud noise accompanied a shaking of the camera.
Maker remained seated calmly, waiting for the shaking to stop.

-I almost forgot to mention, but if anyone attempts to take the reward prematurely, or engages in such lowly acts while I’m not looking, I will detonate all the bombs planted throughout the mall.

-Furthermore, if the heroes do not come, I will randomly detonate a bomb every 20 minutes.

If you’re late, there will be grave consequences.
Maker laughed playfully.

The screen showed bombs planted in every corner of the building, along with a huddled mass of people bowing their heads in one area, their forms appearing on the low-quality display.

-I sincerely hope you will become part of my masterpiece.

With those words, the billboards displaying Maker flickered to darkness.