Chapter 14

A charming villain always has a backstory.

Even if they’re just a crazy murderer, what if there’s a backstory that makes them a villain?

At that moment, the murderer becomes a three-dimensional character.

Of course, some might call it “washing,” but I need that washing.

“Because I need to be a charming villain.”

The uniqueness of “Why is this guy different from the others?”

That’s what makes my value as a villain rise, and the top-tier heroes who were main or supporting characters in the original work will start paying attention to me.

“Right now, the audience is just Ice Queen… but what can I do?”

After all, she’s the heroine of the original work.

If she succeeds in the future and thinks of me, always showing up at my terror attacks, that’s actually a good thing.

*Clank.*

“Please don’t come any closer, Ice Queen.”

As I smirk at her, Ice Queen glares at me with cold eyes.

Glancing at Choo Seo-ho, who’s gagged and whimpering, her expression turns even more murderous.

“Put that down.”

“And what will you do if I refuse?”

“What you’re about to commit is murder. You’ll naturally face legal punishment.”

“Legal punishment, huh…”

I pause, pretending to ponder, then turn around to look at the glass tubes filled with green liquid.

“This person here might have slaughtered dozens, maybe hundreds of people.”

“What… Huh!”

Only now does she notice the glass tubes, her trembling gaze fixed on them.

*Bubble bubble.*

Inside, a person is quietly melting, eyes closed.

Ice Queen looks at me with a horrified expression.

“And you’re still not going to kill this person?”

“…Killing someone is still a crime. If this person is a criminal who’s done wrong, I’ll send them to prison. So…”

“Prison, not execution. What a joke.”

“……”

As I sneer at her, Ice Queen falls silent.

“…This is why I hate heroes.”

‘I should also give off the impression that I only hate heroes.’

The direction of my anger is solely toward the heroes.

Conceptually, I’m a villain who wants to see them ruined, holding a misguided belief.

Why?

Hmm…

‘That’s something the heroes should figure out on their own.’

Honestly, I don’t hold any ill will toward them.

There are many corrupt heroes, but I’ve never been wronged by them, and the only mental scar I have is suddenly becoming a baby while living well?

Other than that, I lived a worry-free life as a child, which is rare in a hero-centric world.

‘The reason I’m doing this is purely to survive.’

In a world where death could come at any moment, it’s easier to survive by belonging to some group rather than living as a weak civilian.

And someday, I’ll have to kill the final boss to prevent humanity’s extinction and ensure my own survival.

So, I just need to look convincing, like the villains in dramas or movies.

To appear as a villain with a backstory.

*Bang!*

Without hesitation, I pull the trigger toward Choo Seo-ho.

Choo Seo-ho collapses weakly.

“You!”

“Even a villain who kills someone right in front of you will only end up in prison, right?”

Ice Queen charges at me in rage as she sees the person die in front of her.

She slides in, spins around once in place.

*Thud!*

She kicks my right wrist.

The moment the gun falls from my hand, she quickly picks it up and looks at me.

Throughout the whole process, I don’t move a muscle.

Instead, I smirk at her, as if daring her to kill me.

“Shoot me if you want, anytime.”

“……”

Despite my words, Ice Queen only glares at me, never pulling the trigger.

“…Surrender quietly, Maker.”

“You’re not going to shoot me after all.”

I grab her hand holding the gun and point the barrel at my chest.

“!!What are you…!”

To her, it might seem like a dangerous move, but in reality, it’s different.

‘Because there’s no bullet in the gun now.’

I’ve always prepared for the risk of it being taken, creating bullets only when needed to fire.

That’s why I can act so fearlessly and keep up appearances.

“You’re too soft.”

*Thud!*

She finally pulls her hand away and steps back a bit.

And then,

*KABOOM!!!*

A massive explosion shakes the building, and it begins to collapse.

“! Maker!!”

Ice Queen looks at me with eyes that seem to ask, “Did you do this again?”

“……”

‘…What the hell?’

This wasn’t me.

But I can’t show panic in this situation, so I just shrug and smile.

“Me, Maker…!!”

A familiar voice soon follows.

Looking up, Hibung pokes his head out of a hole in the ceiling, grinning brightly.

*Whirr—*

And the faint sound of a helicopter approaching.

– This is 42. Maker, mission accomplished.

‘Perfect timing.’

Now that I’ve somewhat grasped the situation, I look at Ice Queen.

“Hero, Ice Queen. You’re too soft.”

*Thud.*

The sound of a ladder descending behind me.

“That’s why you lose right in front of your eyes.”

As I grab the rope and shake it hard, the helicopter’s ladder starts to rise.

“Stop!”

Ice Queen immediately fires ice to cut the rope, but.

*Whack!*

Hibung, leaping lightly, smashes all the incoming ice with a hammer as big as he is.

“Hoo-ha…!”

Then he clings to the ladder with me.

*Slip.*

“Ah, ahhh…!!”

*Thud.*

“Be careful, Hibung.”

As he stumbles in front of me, about to fall, I wrap my right arm around his waist.

“…Hic.”

Somehow, we end up in a hugging position on the ladder, but what can I do?

‘My wrist hurts a bit from being kicked earlier.’

If I’m not careful, I might drop him, so I hold him even closer.

“Stop squirming and hold on. I’m worried you’ll fall.”

“Y-yes…”

Hibung’s face turns bright red as he holds his breath.

I look at him, then glance down below.

*Crunch. Crunch crunch!*

Ice Queen is desperately building an ice path to catch up.

“Then I’ll see you later, Ice Queen. Next time, I’ll visit with a terror attack.”

As Ice Queen grows smaller in the distance, this mission comes to an end.

***

*Whirr—*

A few hours after the mission, in the morning.

*Knock knock knock.*

“Maker? Are you awake?”

Astra comes out to greet me and Ahn Yeri, who were sleeping in the helicopter.

“Astra? What brings you here…”

“Shh…”

Astra puts a finger to her lips, signaling us to be quiet.

“Zzz… Hmm hmm…”

Looking down, I see Ahn Yeri using my lap as a pillow, fast asleep.

She’s smiling in her sleep, probably having a good dream.

‘Use your psychokinesis to move her.’

‘Yeah, I was planning to.’

‘Astra, use this.’

‘Oh, thank you, 42.’

42, who had brought a blanket, hands it to Astra.

Astra wraps Ahn Yeri in the blanket and floats her gently into the air.

“Shall we discuss the details in the office?”

“Let’s do that.”

She leads me, 42, and the still-sleeping Hibung to the office.

***

“First, I heard the mission was a success.”

“Yes. There were quite a few twists and turns, but ultimately, it was a success.”

I hand her a USB.

“This is a USB I got from the head of the research lab. He said it’s a copy of the ‘Regeneration Serum.'”

Then, as I gesture to 42, he approaches her desk and places another USB.

“…This data was found by Hibung in the database.”

“We brought both just in case there are differences or missing information.”

Astra fiddles with the two USBs for a moment, then sets them down and smiles at us.

“Well done, everyone.”

After discussing some of the situations and variables during the mission, the mission debriefing is fully concluded.

“So, have you thought about how you’d like to receive your reward?”

“I’ll take it as I always do, whenever I think of something.”

Astra nods, as if she expected that, then turns to 42.

“42, will money suffice as usual?”

“Yes. That’s enough.”

“Alright. The payment for the mission should be deposited into your account by today.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, 42 agrees to receive money as his reward.

He bows his head at her promise to send the money soon.

“As for Hibung… since he’s an executive, he can just tell me what he wants later. Good job.”

As she signals us to leave, 42 and I quietly stand up.

“Oh, Maker, I have something else to discuss with you, so stay behind for a moment.”

***

After 42 leaves and Ahn Yeri is floated away to her room by Astra’s psychokinesis.

“So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

I look at her curiously.

“Hmm… How should I explain this? Can you take a look at this?”

She sighs and shows me her smartphone.

‘…What’s this?’

(Top Comment) [Hibung shares his story about meeting a villain today.]

On her smartphone, a strange post is pinned as the top comment.

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