Chapter 2

One month.

For the past month, I’ve been doing all sorts of things.

Taking down hostile organizations or villains who could harm even me, stealing elixirs, and so on.

All for the sake of a safe life in the hero world in the future.

“It’s almost time.”

“I’ll show you a terror worthy of an executive of the organization.”

I spent the remaining time preparing the groundwork for my successful villain debut.

“Please look forward to it, haha.”

“……”

As I grinned, Astra looked at me with a strangely awkward expression.

“Um… well, good luck.”

‘Did I do something wrong?’

Leaving her office, I moved on.

To plan for the future.

***

Hero Association headquarters.

“How many times is this now…”

Hero Ice Queen banged her fist on her empty desk.

Since the incident where the Blue Scope gang was wiped out, similar incidents have been happening one after another.

‘The number of firearms used is too much for an individual, and the serial numbers are untraceable.’

Even without serial numbers, Ice Queen knew it was the work of the same culprit.

Since the firearms were left behind again this time, she thought investigating them might yield some information, but…

“Why do they keep disappearing…”

Starting from the first incident, all the firearms collected from each case turned to dust and vanished.

‘Is it really an ability user? A spatial teleportation type? No, it seems a bit different from regular teleportation…’

If it’s a spatial teleportation ability user, the number of individuals or groups involved is likely much smaller.

But how do we catch them? We don’t even know their location or faces.

“Ugh…”

Feeling dizzy, Ice Queen slumped into her chair and blankly stared outside the association.

The outside world was covered in pure white snow, painting everything in white.

“Is today Christmas…”

She briefly checked her smartphone and saw the date: December 25th.

It was Christmas, a happy holiday for couples.

‘What Christmas…’

Feeling somewhat pathetic for being on standby even on such a day, Ice Queen stretched and placed her hand on her bookshelf.

‘On a day like today, it would be best to just sit quietly, watch the snow fall, and read a book with a warm cup of tea.’

As she thought this, she pulled a book from the shelf and was just about to start reading when…

“Ah, Ice Queen-nim! Something terrible has happened! There’s a terror attack at the B district department store…!”

“…I’ll be right there.”

Frowning at the sudden interruption, Ice Queen’s expression hardened at the news of the terror attack and she rushed off.

***

Today is the day of the important terror attack.

Before broadcasting my appearance, I stood up and checked my look.

Thanks to the organization’s ability to obscure recognition, I didn’t need to cover my face, but just in case, I wore a black half-mask covering the upper part of my face.

A stylish black uniform and a matching hat.

‘Looks good.’

With a coat added, I looked like a proper villain standing in front of the mirror.

As I turned around, I saw organization members busily setting up broadcasting equipment.

“Is the preparation still ongoing?”

““We’ll be done soon!””

The members answered loudly to my question.

‘Hmm. The taste of power is indeed sweet.’

“Since the terror time is approaching, I’d appreciate it if you could hurry a bit more.”

““Understood!!””

After leaving the broadcast setup to the members, I sat down and reviewed the terror plan for today once more.

‘The department store entrance is blocked, mannequins for tension are ready, bombs were installed the day before…’

Since it’s my first villain debut after a month of preparation, I wanted to make it as perfect as possible.

As I continued to check the preparations and pondered how to carry out the terror attack…

“Nice to meet you, everyone.”

The terror broadcast announcing my start as a villain began.

***

I looked at the camera with a relaxed smile.

“Nice to meet you, everyone.”

‘Always keep a smiling face.’

Crossing my legs, I placed my hands on my knees.

‘The concept is a polite gentleman villain.’

Never emotional, the mastermind behind the terror attack, yet polite to the hostages.

Always smiling, with an inscrutable, shadowy vibe.

It’s not that different in reality.

I plan to push the heroes hard to make them stronger.

If they can defeat the final boss without me having to suffer, that would be perfect.

“My name is Maker. I’m an executive of ‘Eclipse.’”

Putting aside random thoughts, I continued speaking to the camera.

“I haven’t been here long, so there’s much I lack, but I’ll fulfill my responsibilities as an executive. Please bear with me.”

‘Is the broadcast going out properly?’

Since I can’t check in real-time, it feels oddly like I’m talking to myself, which is embarrassing.

I glanced at the panel the organization members were showing.

The billboards on various channels were broadcasting my live speech.

-There’s currently a terror attack ongoing at the B district department store…

-This villain has revealed that he’s an executive of the villain organization ‘Eclipse’…

-Professors of villain psychology are analyzing his mental flaws…

Hmm. Thankfully, it seems to be broadcasting well.

Feeling somewhat relieved, I quickly grasped the content of the news.

‘Wait, what’s this about mental flaws? I’ve set my concept as a completely gentlemanly villain.’

Is it a bit ironic to carry out terror in a gentlemanly manner?

For a moment, I wondered, but I let it go and took a sip of tea before continuing.

“Getting to the point, I plan to carry out a terror attack here today.”

As I grinned and pointed downward with my finger, a murmuring sound began to rise from the entire building.

“What I want is just one thing.”

Regardless, I leaned forward on the table and looked at the camera with a grin.

“For the heroes to come here.”

***

-What I want is just one thing.

-For the heroes to come here.

Inside the Hero Association’s B district operation analysis room.

From heroes to association staff, many people were watching the new villain ‘Maker’ on the broadcast.

“He wants the heroes to come? What’s he talking about?”

As the people in the analysis room heard his words, a common question arose.

As if answering, Maker continued.

-Haha, a guy who’s carrying out a terror attack isn’t asking for money but suddenly calling for heroes? Does that seem too strange?

Maker spoke casually, as if making small talk, and poured warm tea into his empty cup.

-I’m an artist who loves games. Of course, a game needs players.

-The reward? Hmm, how about the citizens here?

“Ha.”

“That guy.”

At the mention of citizens, the association staff’s faces twisted.

“Hey, did the police block the area? Did they seal off the surroundings so that guy can’t escape?”

Some, feeling it wasn’t worth listening further, asked their subordinates about the current situation.

-On the organization’s honor, I swear. If you win my challenge, I’ll release all the citizens here.

-Of course, there can’t be any flaws in the reward. You just need to wait without worry until the heroes come to save you.

At Maker’s words, the murmuring from the building below grew louder.

And Maker, with a strange expression, seemed to ponder how to respond to the murmuring.

-Hmm, it seems you still doubt me.

After a moment of thought, Maker chuckled lightly, leaned back in his chair, and sipped his freshly poured tea.

-If you still don’t trust me, fine. Trust is necessary to proceed with anything.

-If the heroes come, just that much, I’ll release everyone here today.

Isn’t that too generous of me?

Maker smiled faintly.

-You can just relax and wait for the heroes to come, then go home.

“Ha, what a load of nonsense.”

The man in charge of the operation analysis team irritably stubbed out his cigarette.

All villains are psychopaths.

That’s the established theory.

So far, villains who claimed it was a game endangered citizens or used them as shields to attack heroes.

The end of terror attacks carried out in the name of games by villains was always bad.

Even if you followed all their demands, none of them kept their word.

Occasionally, some would get obsessed with something and act strangely, but they were all the same.

They all changed their words as if it were natural for their goals.

A guy like that, with no clear goal, kidnaps citizens and says he’ll release them if heroes come?

‘What nonsense.’

It’s ridiculous.

He must have something else in mind.

If the heroes come, he’ll either take the citizens hostage immediately or has some hidden purpose.

“There’s nothing more to see! Shut it down!”

As the man was about to shout to immediately capture the villain broadcasting the terror attack…

-KWAAANG!!!

A loud noise shook the camera.

Maker, unfazed, sat quietly, waiting for the shaking to stop.

-I forgot to mention, but if anyone tries to claim the reward behind my back, I’ll detonate all the bombs placed throughout the department store.

-Also, if the heroes don’t come, I’ll detonate a bomb randomly every 20 minutes.

It’ll be a big problem if you’re late, right?

Maker laughed playfully.

The screen showed bombs placed throughout the building and the blurry image of many people huddled together, heads bowed.

-I hope you’ll become my masterpiece.

With those words, the screen displaying Maker flickered and went dark.

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