Being a Villain is My True Calling

“Is this the crime scene…?”

After Alpha’s departure, the heroes who had belatedly arrived surveyed the grisly scene before them, their expressions twisting in revulsion.

“Good heavens, what happened to these people…”
“Are there any survivors?”

Within the barred prison cells lay numerous corpses, while another body lay in the center before the cells. Save for an intact face, the body was utterly mangled, accompanied by a familiar card inscribed with characters.

“…Let’s take a look around first.”

At the words of the eldest among them, the heroes nodded and began investigating the area for clues.

However, their prolonged efforts yielded little progress…

“Haah, another dead end today.”

Despite the extensive investigation, they had once again failed to uncover any meaningful leads.
Furrowing her brow as she examined the body with only the face intact, the woman sighed deeply.

“Were you able to find anything, Ice Queen?”

“Oh, Phantom Luna.”

The woman was none other than Korea’s A-rank hero, Ice Queen.
Ice Queen shook her head in response to Phantom Luna’s inquiry.

“Currently, there are no notable characteristics we can discern. A forensic examination will be necessary to uncover further details.”

“I see…”

With a furrowed brow, Phantom Luna looked down upon the body.
Ice Queen then turned her gaze towards her.

“Were you able to uncover anything, Phantom Luna?”

“Well, a thorough examination will still be required on our end, but there were no apparent signs of physical assault. Any injuries seem to have occurred post-mortem. However, the bodies were devoid of internal organs, with a long incision running from the chest down to the abdomen.”

“…Human trafficking.”

The absence of internal organs alone provided a clear inference.
And if their assumption was correct, the perpetrator was the very body lying before them.

Momentarily overwhelmed by an urge to obliterate the soul who had met such a pitiful demise, evident from the tear-stained, defiant expression frozen on his face, Ice Queen exhaled deeply to regain her composure.

Of course, further details would need to be uncovered, but today’s serial killer had undoubtedly dispatched an evildoer.

“Haah…Another unrepentant criminal, it seems.”

Two weeks into the ongoing serial murder case.
With little progress and the explicit directive from the Association’s Chairman, a team had been formed to apprehend the elusive killer.

Not the usual ragtag group, but a elite team comprising heroes of at least B+ rank and above.

The temporary team name:

Among them were Ice Queen, an A-rank hero, and Phantom Luna, a B+ rank, both recruited by the Association’s request to join Hound.

“Just what kind of person is this serial killer to leave no traces whatsoever?”

“Either an exceptionally skilled individual or someone with an exceptionally capable assistant.”

Yet, despite the team’s formation, they had made no meaningful headway.
Exhaling wearily, Ice Queen turned towards Narin.

“We need to secure some lead on the killer, for the sake of our wager if nothing else.”

“Tell me about it!”

Prior to joining the team, the two had made a wager regarding which of them would be the one to apprehend Maker, with the loser becoming the winner’s designated hero.

Accordingly, they had diligently searched for clues at every crime scene…for over a week now.
But their fruitless efforts left them unable to fulfill even the assigned mission, let alone their personal wager.

“If only we had a lead, I could apprehend the culprit in an instant.”

“Haah? I’m the one who will catch them first!”

Of course, separate from the investigation, an unusual rivalry had developed between the two.

‘Maker will be captured by me.’
‘No, I will definitely be the one to apprehend them!’

From their respective perspectives, the other was a competitor vying for the same quarry.
Unable to find common ground regarding Maker’s capture, their competitive spirits had only intensified.

With their failure to locate the criminal they had wagered upon, that competitive drive remained unresolved, steadily escalating in magnitude.
However, their fellow hero teammates merely chuckled at their bickering.

“They’re quite lively today as well.”
“Heheh, the joys of youth.”
“One could view it as their regular WWE routine.”
“They’re just trying to liven up the atmosphere~”

Their rivalry did not impede heroic duties, manifesting only through casual banter during leisure moments.
Having become accustomed to this daily occurrence, their teammates even appreciated how the friendly squabbles contributed a vibrant dynamic to the team’s atmosphere, allowing them to simply laugh it off.

“In any case, let’s see if we can uncover any promising leads.”

With that, the heroes refocused their efforts on the investigation.

Hero Association Headquarters.
The team tasked with the serial killer case had ultimately returned empty-handed once again.

“Yayah, they’re back.”
“Another fruitless day?”
“What good are those high ranks if they’re so incompetent?”

As Hound entered, the surrounding heroes began murmuring, some even directing hostile glares and insults their way.

“Tch, bunch of dimwits. All they’re good for is running their mouths.”
“Just leave them be. They’ll eventually taste the bitter truth of their own hubris.”

Despite comprising top-ranked heroes, their reputation was far from favorable.
In stark contrast to the relatively amicable team dynamics, outsiders viewed them with considerable disdain.

A team composed of elite heroes.
Yet utterly lacking in achievements.

These two factors alone were sufficient grounds for others to deride Hound.

‘Envy towards their lofty ranks, coupled with mockery for their lack of accomplishments.’

An elite team assembled yet devoid of any tangible results.
This perception not only invited contempt but also allowed others to vent their underlying resentment towards high-ranking heroes in general.

“Just how did these incompetent fools attain such lofty ranks?”
“Perhaps they resorted to illegal means? Bribery or even prostitution?”

Snickering dismissively, the heroes made no effort to conceal their open hostility as they loudly mocked Hound within earshot.

“Those bastards…!”
“Restrain yourself.”

As one of the Hound members prepared to retaliate, his rage evident from the bulging veins in his neck, Ice Queen swiftly intervened.

“But Ice Queen! Those scum…”
“They’re merely projecting their own insecurities, unbecoming of the hero title.”

Ice Queen turned her gaze towards the heroes deriding Hound.

“And…I recognize a few of them.”

Upon making eye contact with Ice Queen, several heroes hurriedly averted their gazes.
They were the very individuals who had clashed with her within the Association following Maker’s previous terror attack, during which she had been publicly humiliated.

‘Those people were undoubtedly seniors, ones who had proclaimed themselves as that villain’s subordinates.’

Harboring envy and resentment towards Ice Queen, they had been at the forefront of the previous conflict, hurling insults her way.
If those very underlings were now directing their scorn at Hound…

“Oh my, what do we have here?”
“…It’s you again, Senior.”
“Well, well, if it isn’t the famous Hound? The executives’ precious little puppies.”

As expected, Ice Queen sighed upon the woman’s arrival.

“While I’m aware of the strained relations between you and the Association executives, we are currently in the midst of an official mission. Conduct yourself accordingly as a hero.”

“A mission~? Kkyahahahaha!! What mission when you haven’t uncovered a single meaningful lead?”
“Puha ha ha ha ha!!”
“Kik! Kikik!!”

The woman burst into laughter upon seeing Ice Queen.
Her mocking guffaws prompted the surrounding heroes to join in the jeering.

Faced with their overt hostility, the Hound members gradually hardened their expressions.
Regarding the hero clad in a green frilled dress, the woman flashed a sly smile.

“Hello there. Aren’t you the one from Japan?”

“Ah…Yes, I’m Phantom Luna…”

“Ah, right. Or was it a dog? Want to go ‘woof woof’ for me?”

“Th,That photo…!”

The woman waved her phone, displaying a particular image.
None other than a photo of Phantom Luna, previously collared and forcibly held by Maker.

Phantom Luna’s face flushed crimson.

“My, how cozy. Did you enjoy being with that villain so much? You certainly seemed quite comfortable.”

“I, I didn’t enjoy it at all! Suki ja nai desu!! (I didn’t like it!!) Jettai!!”

Sneering, the woman twisted her lips in contempt.
Unable to respond, Phantom Luna’s face burned with shame as she clamped her mouth shut.

As the woman prepared to further mock them, something caught her attention.

“Well, I suppose that body is tempting enough to indulge at least once-“

“Hey.”

Sshwashwashwak-

“That’s enough.”

Ice Queen fixed the woman with a chilling glare, her aura radiating an unsettling menace.

“It seems our previous lesson was insufficient.”

Flinch.
The woman instinctively clutched her neck at those words.
A prominent scar marred her throat – a remnant from the previous occasion when she had similarly provoked Ice Queen, resulting in frostbite severe enough to necrotize the affected area.

Though the pain had long subsided, an inexplicable, piercing chill seemed to grip her windpipe, constricting her breathing.

“We should leave…!”

Sensing the impending danger, the woman and heroes hastily attempted to flee, but their feet had already been encased in icy restraints.

“Ah, ahh…”

Above the woman’s pallid visage, Ice Queen’s frigid aura coalesced into a razor-sharp icicle.

“I’ll ensure you never rise again.”

“Ah, Ice Queen! Stop this at once!”
“Please, calm yourself!”

Undeterred by their pleas, Ice Queen’s chilling presence only intensified.

With no chance for further persuasion, the lethal icicle began its descent towards the woman.
At that very moment:

“-Enough.”

Thump.
A weighty voice accompanied by a firm grasp halted Ice Queen’s actions.

“…Principal?”

The one restraining her was none other than Principal Baek Kang-ho.
Upon recognizing him, the frigid aura surrounding Ice Queen dissipated, allowing her to regain her senses.

“I had heard you returned quite some time ago, but you never showed, so I came to investigate this commotion.”

Baek Kang-ho surveyed their surroundings.
The heroes encircling the Hound team.

“Now, would someone care to explain this situation to me?”

Baek Kang-ho’s piercing gaze flashed with a chilling intensity.