Being a Villain is My True Calling

CRAAAASH!! CRRUUUNCH!!

“Aaaaahhh!!!”

With every animalistic swing of the girl’s fur-covered arms, thunderous impacts resounded wherever they struck.
The researchers fled desperately, evading her relentless onslaught.

“Save us!!”
CRAAASH!!
“No mercy.”

After kicking aside a desk the researcher had used as cover, the girl flashed a wicked grin directly at him.

“Gyaaaahh!!!”

Relishing the researcher’s anguished screams, we three – myself, Uchi, and the traitorous researcher (let’s call him Traitor #1 for clarity) – calmly observed the unfolding spectacle.

As he scurried about drenched in sweat, one researcher’s gaze happened to intersect with our nonchalant vigil.

“S,save me!!”

He pleaded imploringly toward us for aid.

“And why would you seek our assistance?”
“Indeed, why would you ask that of us?”

Was he unaware that Traitor #1 had arrived alongside us?
Uchi and I regarded the researcher with perplexed looks.

“I,I don’t care what happens to me, just please…!! Save the research data, I beg of you!!”

The researcher then dropped to his knees, clasping his hands in a beseeching gesture aimed at us.

‘Hmm…’

His sincerity and desperation were certainly palpable.
However…

“That said…”
“As much as we’d like to help…it’s already…”

“What.”

CRAAASH!!

…far too late for that.

Drawn by the thunderous cacophony, the researcher whipped his head around to behold the shredded remnants of computers and scattered documents littering the area.

“Gyaaaahhhh!!! M,my papers!!!”
CRUNNCH!!
“My research data!!!”
CRAAAUUNCH!!!
“My painstakingly remodeled personal lab!!!”
“Gyaaaahhhh!!!”
“The reeeseeaarchhh!!!”

Truly the depths of utter despair.

“Hmm. A rather pleasant aroma.”
“And just where did you procure that tea and cup from?”

Sipping my freshly brewed tea, I savored the mournful wails echoing all around us.

“Is it not uncomfortable drinking like that??”

Uchi seemed perplexed by my casual sipping through the slit in my mask, questioning my unorthodox methods.

“It’s quite alright.”
“You could simply remove the mask, you know…”

Despite Uchi’s persistent mutterings, I had no intention of fully unveiling my face.

‘This encounter will likely be our first and last interaction. Or even if we cross paths again, from the perspective of a villain, how could I reveal my true visage?’

Moreover, in my current state, I remained unaffected by Eclipse’s perception-altering ability users.
Maintaining as much concealment as feasible was the prudent approach.

“Why don’t you remove your own mask first?”

“You refer to my bamboo hat?”
Uchi fidgeted with his signature headpiece, its lack of any chin strap leaving it vulnerable.
After a momentary contemplation, he responded:

“Ahem, a monk’s secrets must be preserved. How could you demand I expose my true countenance!”

“……”

Tsk.
Attempting to deflect with that hypocritical remark and a forced chuckle.

“Hahah, just a monkish jest!”

Sensing my unimpressed demeanor, he claimed it was merely a joke, but the damage was done.
Once again, I reaffirmed my conviction to sever ties after this affair’s conclusion.

CRAAASH! CRRUUNNCCH!!

“Aaaahhhh!! N,not that at least!! I’m begging you!!”

While Uchi and I briefly bantered, the researchers frantically sought to shield the remaining equipment and data from the girl’s relentless rampage with their bodies.

WHACK!
“Gyaaahh!!”

Well, their valiant efforts seemed rather futile regardless.

“Someone stop this monster already!!”
“‘Monster’ seems an excessively harsh term.”

She may be a monster, but she’s my precious little monster.
Granted, we shared no blood relation and had only met today, but since she approached me seeking to be ‘fed’, from this day forth she would be under my care.

‘Based solely on villain rankings, never mind hero rankings, she would easily qualify as S-rank.’

Moreover, if the project she had been subjected to was indeed what I suspected, I couldn’t possibly let her slip away.
I fully intended to exploit her ruthlessly, so even if she protested, I would insist on ‘raising’ her regardless.

‘Fufufu…fuhuhuh…’

Stifling the urge to cackle maniacally, I shuddered with anticipatory glee.

“Good sir…”

Seemingly disconcerted by my demeanor, Uchi regarded me with an apprehensive gaze.

“Good sir! I cannot help but feel immense pride in you!”

…Yes, thank you.
Feeling disinclined to rebut his obsequious flattery any further, I let the matter pass.

“Someone, please help us!!”

Taking another sip of tea, I resumed appreciating the girl’s ongoing demolition performance.

“Oh, ohh!! Over here, over here!! Please, help us!!!”

It seemed one group of researchers had finally noticed us, desperately beckoning us over.
More precisely, they cried out toward:

“”Senior Researcher!!””

Addressing Traitor #1.

“Hmm~?”

The bound and leashed Traitor #1 let out a derisive snort as he turned toward them.

“Who might they be? Not our subordinate researchers, surely?”

“Huwaahh!! Senior Researcher, please save us!!”

Groveling abjectly on the ground, the researchers sobbed pleadingly.
After briefly glancing their way, I shifted my attention back to Traitor #1.

“So you were the senior researcher, were you?”

“Huh? Well, yeah, I used to be anyway.”

A ‘senior researcher’ at a company would typically hold a position equivalent to an assistant manager or section chief.

Moreover, at Z-Biotech, promotions were granted solely through demonstrated merit and accomplishments, regardless of seniority or tenure.

In other words, to have attained the ‘senior researcher’ rank implied highly commendable achievements under one’s belt.
More impressive than I had assumed, it seemed.

“S,Senior Researcher, sir…”

“So then, how do you intend to respond to their pleas?”

Would he choose to save them?
The researchers recoiled, utterly blindsided, as if their perceived notion of this ‘senior researcher’ had been irrevocably shattered.
I observed Traitor #1 with cold, impassive eyes.

“Not a chance.”
“Eh?”

His unexpected reply left them gaping incredulously at the man they had once placed their faith in.

“Ohh~ You see, I already went and sold out all the intel from this facility~”

“Wh,what did you say?!”

As he let out a revolting chuckle, the researchers could only stare open-mouthed, appalled by his depraved betrayal.
Their successive reactions were simply delectable.

“To be frank, in this current situation, even if I did attempt to save you, you’d already be marked for termination by ‘the higher-ups’ for my treachery.”

“W,we won’t breathe a word!! We swear, not a single word!!”

“At this point, your best chance of survival might just be throwing in with our side instead?”

Traitor #1 snickered deviously.

“”Aaaaahhh!! You traitor!!””

The researchers clutched their heads in anguished dismay, venting their rage and indignation.

“My bad~”

Not an ounce of remorse tinged Traitor #1’s mocking grin directed toward them.
Well then, with no further business remaining?

“Attack.”
“Gyaaaahh!!”

At my command, the girl charged straight toward the helpless researchers.

Crackle…sizzle…

“Kughh…”
“Uugghh…”

What remained was a veritable ruin, the facility reduced to a smoldering husk littered with the battered forms of the researchers.

“Phew…”
“Was that satisfactory?”
“Ung, refreshing.”

Taking a deep breath, the girl exhaled with evident satisfaction, a broad smile adorning her face.
I gently stroked her head in an affectionate gesture.

“Heheh…”

‘Then I suppose I should securely relocate any remaining viable data.’

More precisely, I intended to safely transfer it all back to our organization’s custody.
Not solely this project’s data, but any promising personal research that caught my interest would be fair game for acquisition as well.

“Researcher, are there any separate data storage areas within this facility?”

“Well, if I recall correctly, there should be one over there…”

Following Traitor #1’s directions to a secluded corner, a solidly sealed chamber came into view.

Beepbeep-!
Thunk…whirrrr…

After entering the access code, the door shuddered briefly before swinging open.

“So everything inside remains intact?”

Within lay an immense supercomputer mainframe.
Traitor #1 approached the connected monitor and tapped away at the keyboard investigatively.

“The external systems haven’t received any new data uploads since their automatic backups a few hours ago.”

In other words, this internal system likely contained the entirety of data pertaining to the current ability enhancer experimentation.

“However, there are lockout protocols in place for purging the data, so it may take some time…”

“Leave the deletion process to me.”

I produced a USB drive and inserted it into the computer terminal.

“What’s that supposed to be?”
“I happen to have a remarkably capable assistant, you see.”

An assistant?
Though Uchi seemed perplexed, I simply brushed off his confusion and dialed a number on my phone instead.

Drrring-

H,hello…Oppa?
“I’ll need you to follow through as discussed.”

J,just a moment.

Sounding rather flustered, a far cry from her usual demeanor, Narin nonetheless answered my call.

As per my prior request before infiltrating the facility, Narin immediately commenced hacking the system without any further inquiries upon receiving my call.

A short while later:

It’s done…
“My gratitude, Narin. I shudder to think how I would have proceeded without your assistance…”

…It was nothing! I simply transferred the data and wiped the system remotely, that’s all.
Well then, bye!

Having completed her hacking operations, Narin swiftly ended the call with those curt parting words.

‘She must still be feeling awkward after yesterday’s incident, since I haven’t addressed it directly.’

Letting out an amused snort, I pocketed my phone once more.

“Shall we depart, then?”
“Y,you’re done already?”
“Oho…”
“It seems you have quite the capable assistant at your disposal.”

Narin was indeed remarkably proficient.
Not only had she extracted all the data, but also wiped the entire system in this brief timeframe.

“For now, let’s discuss matters outside.”
“Very well!”
“Okay!”

My temporary squad mates nodded in agreement.
As we made our exit, Uchi suddenly turned back toward me with a contemplative look.

“But what about destroying the evidence?”

“Have no concerns, I’ve made the necessary preparations.”

‘I intend to demolish this place in rather spectacular fashion, you see.’

Just before departing, I had strategically planted remote explosives throughout the interior.

Beepbeep. Beepbeep.

“Is everyone clear of the facility?”

Once we had all evacuated to a safe distance, I raised the detonator.

Click.

KRAAABBOOOOOOMM!! CRAAAUUNNCCHH!!!

“Oh no, the facility!!”
“Buuuurn baaaby, buuurn~!!”

Watching the lower levels rapidly crumbling inward, I grinned with immense satisfaction.

Explosions are truly an art form!!