Being a Villain is My True Calling

The beginning was marked by a woman’s scream.

“Kkya, Kkkyaaaaaahk!!”

Kkuwoong-!!

Kkwaaaaaaaaang-!

Not long after the emergency alert sounded, a high-rise building crumbled.
The devastating sight was enough to sow chaos, prompting a disorderly evacuation.

“R,Run away!!”
“Heroes! Somebody call the heroes!!”

People began fleeing in an instant.
Alpha, seemingly indifferent to their panic, gazed up at his surroundings with a vacant stare.

Towering skyscrapers filled his vision.

“…They’ve certainly made remarkable progress.”

While he had languished in that frigid prison, descending into madness, the nation – the very people who had forgotten their hero Alpha – had continued to thrive and advance.
Forty years may be a considerable span in a single person’s life, but from a civilizational perspective, it was but a fleeting moment.

Yet within that brief period, humanity had progressed and built a society anew.

“But their civic consciousness remains unchanged from those days, it seems.”

Turning his head, Alpha silently observed the fleeing civilians.

“Kkheuk!!”

Someone stumbled and fell, only to be trampled underfoot by those mindlessly rushing past.

“Hueeeng-! Mommy…!”

Not a single adult attempted to console the wailing child.

“Kkyaak!”

Others forcibly shoved people aside to clear their own path of escape.
For some reason, these scenes seemed all too familiar – a stark contrast to the societal advancements.

‘Despite the changes in society, you people have remained utterly unchanged.’

A peculiar sense of disillusionment, coupled with resignation and understanding.
Although capable of subduing them all in an instant if he so desired, Alpha made no such move, merely watching them flee.

Then, gathering his power once more, he proceeded to demolish another building.
Turning to face the still-rolling cameras, he spoke:

“…If anyone can stop me, then come and try. I’ll be waiting right here.”

Kkwaaaaaang-!!

Kkuuwoong-!!

Having spoken, Alpha did not relent, continuing to pulverize the buildings.
A short while later:

Kkuwoong-!

Kkwagak!!

A hero suddenly burst onto the scene, launching an attack against Alpha.

“That’s far enough, villain! Won’t you cease these wicked acts?”

The veteran hero, appearing to be in his late 30s, had seemingly been dispatched from a nearby location as the sole respondent.

“Villain?”

Shaking his head at the unnamed hero’s words, Alpha responded.

“Haaaahp!!”

Kkuwoong-

“What?!”

The hero’s subsequent high kick was effortlessly deflected by Alpha, who then seized his ankle and slammed him forcefully into a nearby wall.

Kkwaaaaaang-!!

“Kkeuheokhk…!!”

Embedded within the cracked wall, the hero coughed up blood before glaring defiantly at Alpha.

“Y,You villain bastard…!!”

“I am no villain.”

Once more shaking his head, Alpha turned his gaze towards the camera that had toppled from the impact.

‘Broken, is it? Can’t be helped.’

Even without that particular camera, there were plenty more installed in the surrounding area.

“Former S-rank hero Alpha. That is my name.”

“Ah, Alpha?”

The hero’s eyes widened at Alpha’s declaration.
Alpha – wasn’t that the name of the hero who had achieved fame forty years ago?
No, mere fame did not do him justice.

He had been Korea’s champion, an icon, a pillar of heroism.
A hero deserving of adulation to this day, had he remained as righteous and dedicated to protecting citizens as his legendary strength would imply.

“Indeed, the very hero you exploited and denounced until he was ultimately ruined. That’s me.”

“What nonsense is this…”

While dismissing the apparent absurdity, the hero’s doubt persisted.
Surely Alpha had perished long ago?

That was an undeniable fact beyond any other possibility.

Forty years prior, although he himself had only known through records, the Association’s deep archives contained a live broadcast depicting Alpha’s demise at the hands of the S-rank hero Victor.

His subsequent official death sentence had confirmed his passing beyond any doubt.
The likelihood of his survival now was simply non-existent.

“…Moreover, you appear to be in your 20s, or at most early 30s even accounting for a youthful appearance?”

“Ah…This form does seem to cause considerable confusion.”

Sighing lightly at the hero’s incredulous tone, Alpha conceded the point.

“I’m uncertain as to how I’ve maintained my prime physique. However, if my appearance leads you to conclude I’m an impostor, allow me to provide definitive proof.”

Then, Alpha released a portion of the power he had been suppressing, channeling the energy into his hand.

Kkung-! Kkung-! Kkung-!

Kiiiiiiing-!!
With a sizzling sound akin to intense heat, his right hand became enveloped in a swirling concentration of power.
The potent aura even emanated beyond his physical form, undulating fervently.
Energy circulating throughout his body, originating from his very heart.

“Th,That’s…!”

“So some still recognize it, despite the records being nearly erased.”

Among the array of abilities wielded by ability users, certain signature traits existed unique to each individual.

For instance, when utilizing his creation ability, Maker’s irises would undergo a transformation, and any created objects would disintegrate into dust upon disappearing.

Phantom Luna, with her summoning abilities, could manifest phantasmal beast-like summons as her distinguishing characteristic.

And Alpha, too, possessed such a signature trait.

Kkung-! Kkung-! Kkung-!!

A crimson energy emanating and pulsating from his heart, accompanied by the resounding thuds audible from a distance.
Although he had never witnessed it firsthand, the descriptions perfectly matched this manifestation.

‘The ability to harness nuclear reactor-level energy within his body, boasting explosive power…’

Could it be, the real thing?

“You’re…the genuine article?”

As the hero regarded Alpha with disbelief, another attack was launched against him.

Kkuwoong-!

Dalggeurak! Ddakddak!!

Contorting its jaw unnaturally, a monstrous figure unleashed inhuman movements to assail Alpha.

“This is…”

Ddakddakddak!!

With a visor helmet and mask concealing its face, the creature possessed a rectangular, card-like torso and disproportionately thin limbs.
Although its outward appearance differed significantly, Alpha immediately recognized it as one of ‘her’ puppets.

Ttoggak.
Ttoggak.

The distant clacking of heels approached.
A woman adorned in a veil drew nearer.

“You’re…”

“It seems his words were worth heeding after all.”

Whirik-!

With a slight gesture from the woman, the puppet immediately halted its aggressive display and obediently rejoined her side.

“It’s been a while.”

The woman slipped off her veil, revealing distinctive heart-shaped earrings.

“Uncle.”

Her face now visible, the queen scowled at Alpha.

“It really has been far too long.”

“……”

Biting her lip, her eyes burned with a mixture of delight, fury, and hatred as she glared at him with murderous intent.

“You bi-”

“-Drop that name; I discarded it long ago. Address me as the Heart Queen now.”

With a casual flick of her finger, the Heart Queen summoned four bizarre card soldiers that materialized nearby.

Commanding a total of five card soldiers, the queen unhesitatingly directed them to attack Alpha without further delay.

Kkuwoong- Kkwagagak!

“You can’t begin to fathom how I’ve longed for this moment, Uncle.”

“……”

Kkagak. Gagagagak!

“And how desperately I’ve yearned to kill you.”

Kkiriririk! Kkirik!

‘Kreugwik…! Just who is this woman?!’

As their battle gradually reduced the city to ruins, the hero who had initially confronted Alpha watched their clash from a concealed position before contacting the Association.

“Isn’t back-up arriving soon?! A suspected villain has appeared and is utterly devastating the city along with Alpha!”

I can’t handle this alone!
Despite the hero’s frantic pleas, the intense battle between Alpha and the Heart Queen raged on.

An fierce exchange of blows.
Neither side held a distinct upper hand, their clash appearing evenly matched or perhaps even favoring Alpha at times.

Then, the Heart Queen momentarily halted her attacks, recalling her puppets.

“Well, there’s one certainty, at least.”

Flashing a sardonic smile, she glared at Alpha.

“You’ve grown weaker.”

“……”

To one unfamiliar with Alpha’s prime, her statement might seem incomprehensible.
However, the Heart Queen, intimately acquainted with him, could naturally discern his diminished prowess compared to his peak.

As evidence, she could cite his gradual perspiration and increasingly labored breathing.

The disparity in ability among S-ranks was immense.
Yet even within that elite echelon, Alpha had once reigned supreme, unmatched.

“But now? I, too, am an S-rank, one who can pride myself as being among the highest tiers. Yet in your prime, a mere skirmish of this intensity would never have fatigued you so.”

Alpha had indeed grown weaker.
While still a monstrous S-rank, his prowess had undeniably waned considerably from his former standing.

‘I can defeat him.’

The realization that she could finally achieve victory, that revenge was within her grasp, consumed the Heart Queen’s thoughts with overwhelming fervor.

“…It seems you’re laboring under a misconception.”

Observing the Heart Queen’s smug demeanor, Alpha regained his composure, exuding an even more potent aura than before.

Kkwagagagagagagagak-!!!!

“Kkreut?!!”

“To assume my diminished state renders me weaker than you would be a grave miscalculation.”

Alpha then proceeded to disperse and condense the energy throughout his body, unleashing an even more explosive onslaught.

“You’ve grown considerably.”

Surveying the city’s ruined state, Alpha brushed the dust from his attire before regarding the Heart Queen.

“Kkreugwik…!”

Having devoted all her efforts to defense, the Heart Queen knelt powerlessly, unable to even rise.

Alpha fixated his gaze upon her crumpled form.
In turn, the queen lifted her head, glaring at him with intense hatred.

Rage and loathing.
Resignation and sorrow.

Their shared yet disparate emotions clashed as they regarded each other, until:

Huuuwoong-

Kkwajajajajak!!!
A frozen lance hurtled directly towards Alpha.
Catching it with his bare hand, Alpha turned his gaze towards its source.

“That’s far enough, villain.”

“……”

“Surrender peacefully.”

The temporary hero team had arrived, summoned by an urgent call to apprehend Alpha.

‘Assa~’

Meanwhile, not far from the scene, on a rooftop garden:

Oddok. Oddok.

-What’s that crunching noise near the camera?

Akaoni, Narin, Gah-yeon, and a Vigilante member in charge of the cameras were munching on popcorn.
Watching the live broadcast of Alpha and Ice Queen’s standoff, they cheered enthusiastically.