Being a Villain is My True Calling

“Waaahng! It’s over!”

As I stepped outside with Narin after exploring our newly created community, I was greeted by the assembled Vigilante members.
While everyone appeared energized, Haru, the problem-solver I had brought along, seemed the most elated of all.

‘Is this really cause for such excitement?’

I momentarily questioned her reaction, but her subsequent words prompted me to nod in understanding.

“Finally, I can sleep!! No more running around everywhere!! I can rest!!! Neuaaaaahng!!!”

When someone is on the verge of going insane, there’s little choice but to accommodate them.
Although I rarely interacted with her directly, I was well aware that Haru had been diligently assisting Narin and me, working herself to the bone.

‘I had assumed she was useless, but she proved surprisingly capable.’

Clearly, she wasn’t just some random problem-solver I had hired on Z-Bio’s recommendation.

“Kkuhahaha!! Well done, everyone!!”

“”Waaaaaah!””

Next to Haru, the most excited individual was undoubtedly Black Wood.
While his designated role involved administering Vigilante and protecting its weaker members…

“You’ve worked hard as well, Boss.”

“Of course! Kkuhaha!! No matter how audacious, if anyone dared to encroach upon Vigilante’s base, I was ready to defend it with my life!”

In reality, Black Wood had been effectively exempt from any duties.

‘Our boss, you say? Well… if that guy had joined us on site, cleaning up afterward would’ve been a real hassle.’

‘That man is utterly incapable of subtlety.’

‘With his loud antics, he’d give away our positions instantly.’

‘…If he were part of my team, I’d refuse outright.’

Indeed, the Vigilante members had vehemently objected to Black Wood’s involvement.

‘…Akaoni, are you there?’

‘What is it?’

‘I wouldn’t recommend including Black Wood in our operational team.’

“…?”

‘…For various reasons, particularly when it comes to covert actions.’

Coupled with Alpha’s own objections, Black Wood had ultimately been assigned as the base’s guardian.

“If I had been part of the team, we could’ve finished up and returned much sooner! Everyone insisted I guard the base alone! Kkuhaht!!”

“Then we would have been discovered even faster.”

“Huh? What was that?”

“Nothing at all, Boss.”

Well, regardless of the circumstances, an optimal outcome was all that mattered, was it not?
In the end, we had achieved success, so there was no need for concern.

Kkakkkak!

“You’ve all worked hard, fulfilling your respective roles admirably.”

Nodding in affirmation, I clapped briefly to garner their attention.

“As you all know, Alpha has now made his entrance, and there is still much work ahead of us…”

Then, with a warm smile, I continued:

“But for today, let’s each take some well-deserved rest. Well done, everyone.”

“Waaaaaaaaahh!!!”

Kkakkkakkkak!!

Amid their applause, even Alpha nodded towards me in acknowledgment.

‘I shouldn’t need to oversee matters from here on out.’

While the situation would still require monitoring, it seemed Narin could soon join me as well.
In other words, it was time to entrust them with autonomous operations for a while as I contemplated our next terror attack.

An involuntary smile crept across my face.

Several days later, within Eclipse’s research facility compound.

[Maker, are you prepared for the experiment?]

“Allow me a moment to warm up, and then we’ll begin.”

[Understood. Please let me know when you’re ready.]

“I shall.”

Responding to the scientist’s voice over the speakers, I waved my hand and commenced my warm-up routine.

Uuuwoong-

Simultaneously activating my ability, a pistol instantly materialized in my grasp.

Chchalchik! Cheokchukkhk!

With practiced motions, I swiftly disassembled the newly created firearm.
Although it should have been stiff since it was freshly made, the sequence of movements allowed for a smooth disassembly without any hitches.

‘And once it’s fully dismantled, I’ll reassemble it.’

Deureurukkhk! Cheolchukkhk!

After rapidly disassembling the weapon, I deftly reassembled it with familiar motions.
Once completed, I fired towards the target on the wall.

Taaaahng-!

I repeated this process with various other weapons.
This exercise was devised to enhance my ability to handle intricate details with greater precision.

‘By practicing this way, I can better understand the internal structure of firearms.’

While theoretical knowledge had its limits, I preferred to commit frequently used objects to muscle memory through physical repetition.

“I’ve finished warming up. Shall we begin?”

[Understood, Maker.]

Very well, then…

[‘World Tree Branch’ replication experiment, 46th attempt, commencing.]

Uuuwoong-!

Activating my ability in conjunction with the scientist’s cue.

“Gradual progress, it seems.”

“With each experiment draining so much mana, even incremental results are a positive sign.”

“No matter how much we invest, sometimes we may not receive any returns – the nature of this industry.”

After sorting through the data, the scientist handed me a cup of coffee.

‘Is this really the 46th attempt already?’

Starting from when I had initially attempted to recreate the World Tree Branch and lost consciousness, I had been conducting sporadic experiments whenever I found spare time, accumulating a total of 46 attempts so far.

The analysis of the World Tree Branch was nearing completion, and based on the data I had gathered, I had been attempting to recreate it through creation…but had yet to achieve any significant breakthroughs.

“It’s a vast improvement compared to your initial attempt.”

The scientist retrieved a test tube of appropriate size, containing a withered twig-like object.

This was the result of my latest creation attempt.

“The similarity rate to the original, as well as the duration for which it retains the original’s properties, have both increased slightly.”

“How much did the duration increase this time?”

“The last record was 15 seconds, and today’s record is…15.5 seconds. Precisely 0.5 seconds longer. Congratulations.”

…As if I could replicate the original so easily.
Nevertheless, the scientist’s congratulatory tone seemed sincere, leaving me unable to retort.

‘…I really need Alpha’s coat.’

The so-called ‘Ever-Changing Transformation (Cheonbyeonmanhwa)’.
An artifact possessed by Alpha, its rank could easily be classified as S-rank.

True to its name, the Ever-Changing Transformation allows its wearer to freely alter the coat’s material, appearance, and more.

‘But those are merely supplementary effects of the Ever-Changing Transformation.’

Its true ability is to grow without limit, becoming increasingly powerful while enhancing its master’s strength in tandem.

For a non-ability user, it would function as a power suit, enhancing overall physical capabilities.
For an ability user, it could amplify their abilities while increasing the quantity and quality of their mana reserves.

‘Even accounting for its reset upon a change in ownership, and its initially limited fluctuations, it remains incredibly desirable.’

However, there were a couple of issues – the Ever-Changing Transformation was a bound artifact.
And its current master was none other than Alpha himself.

Unless the owner was on the verge of death, the binding could never be undone.
In other words, for me to acquire the artifact, I would have to kill Alpha.

“Very well, Doctor. It seems our schedule for today has concluded, so I shall take my leave.”

“Understood, Maker. Be safe on your way.”

Kill Alpha, huh…
At least, I cannot bring myself to do so.

Not out of any newfound affection, but rather an objective assessment.

‘Firearms are ineffective. Whether a supplementary ability of the coat or its inherent defensive capabilities, it possesses remarkable defenses. Aiming for the head would be the most viable option, but if he completely covers that area with the coat, it’s futile.’

Assassination is also infeasible, and a one-on-one confrontation holds no prospect of success.
Thus, if I were to eliminate him, employing ‘others’ would be the most practical approach.

‘Ultimately, Alpha will have to die at some point.’

And when he does meet his demise, it will likely be at the hands of his adversaries rather than mine.

“Haah…”

Still, there is no need to rush.
Everything is steadily falling into place.

“…Perhaps I should seek out other traces of mystery next.”

With the analysis of the World Tree Branch nearing completion, it seemed time to acquire other mystical artifacts to revive the Supreme Leader.

‘Truth be told, I’ve known their locations all along, but the timing was never quite right.’

One is a national treasure under strict surveillance in our country.
The other resides in Japan, beyond Eclipse’s reach.

Both mystical traces are not objects that can be easily obtained without proper preparation.

“Still, I should be able to secure one of them this time around.”

I already had the means to procure a mystical trace at my disposal.

Ttururururu-

I took out my phone and contacted a certain individual.

“Mr. Roy. How is the research progressing?”

I immediately began preparing for the next phase of chaos.

“Party!! Let’s have a party!!”

“Here she goes again.”

“Ugh! Didn’t I tell you not to call me auntie?!”

Upon returning to Vigilante’s base via instant teleportation with Gah-yeon, the first sight that greeted me was Haru taunting Narin.

“They’re fighting again.”

Gah-yeon seemed accustomed to their quarreling, having witnessed it numerous times.

“Why not! Let’s party~ Right? We’ve all been working so hard! I didn’t run away or slack off, I gave it my all!”

“I’ll consider it if you properly complete the handover.”

Narin was currently training Haru to take over her role as Vigilante’s control tower, a position she had maintained for nearly a month.

Not only could she not remain tied to Vigilante indefinitely, but the vacation she had requested from Eclipse was gradually nearing its end as well.

Thus, the contingency plan involved the retired… no, the problem-solver Haru, who was currently bickering before us.

‘Since the serial killer revealing Alpha’s identity has resolved that issue, there shouldn’t be too much left to handle.’

A few days after Alpha’s public appearance, Vigilante had eliminated the final evildoer targeted by the serial killer, adding the letters [I’m] to the existing [α] on their message card, forming [I’m α].

‘That caused quite a stir in the community again.’

Along the lines of ‘Reverse Jack the Ripper was actually Alpha!’
As a result, Alpha’s name began circulating among the public repeatedly.

Of course, Alpha himself didn’t seem too pleased with such reactions.

Regardless, with Narin’s workload significantly reduced, I had decided to entrust her duties to Haru, who had been assisting her, prompting the ongoing handover process.

“But what if she betrays us?”

“Then we eliminate her, it’s that simple.”

“Fair enough.”

Gah-yeon calmly agreed with my matter-of-fact response.

“I have nothing to do~ Party with me~ Play with me~ Quit working and play with meee!!”

While we conversed, Haru had already flung herself onto the floor, thrashing about in a tantrum.

‘Even our kids don’t throw such pathetic tantrums…’

Frankly, her behavior was genuinely unsightly.

‘…I suppose I should intervene sooner or later.’

Not only was her display becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate, but more importantly, the reason for my visit to Vigilante today concerned Haru.
Deliberately making noise to draw their attention, I approached the two women.

“You don’t seem particularly occupied.”

“Ah, Big Bro!”

“Hick!”

As I neared, their reactions oscillated between delight and surprise.
After briefly observing them, I promptly approached Haru, seizing the collar of her shirt and lifting her off the ground.

“Whuh?”

Offering no resistance, Haru dangled limply as I held her aloft.

“Haru.”

“Y,Yes…?”

“I heard you have nothing to do.”

I flashed her a faint smile.
Fidgeting nervously while avoiding eye contact, she responded:

“Eh, eheh…Th,That’s…”

“It seems I’ve arrived at an opportune moment with a task for you.”

As my smile widened, Haru’s complexion gradually paled.

“Ueh…? N,No thanks…”

“You have separate duties to attend to with me.”

Maintaining my grip, I turned to depart.

“H,Help me…”

“Mm~ Have a good time~”

Despite Haru’s frantic glances pleading for aid, no one came to her rescue.
They merely mocked her with derisive stares.

“…Neuaaaaaaaaahng!!!”

On that day, Haru’s world crumbled.