Being a Villain is My True Calling

After Ga-yeon and I fled via spatial translocation, we headed to Eclipse’s headquarters.

‘Since a villain had just caused a disturbance nearby, returning directly to the cafe would be inadvisable.’

Heroes and police were undoubtedly swarming the area, so they would definitely come looking for me, causing trouble.

Plus, some matters had arisen within Eclipse as well.

“Want to go to my office?”

After teleporting to the training grounds, Ga-yeon tilted her head inquisitively as she looked up at me.

“There’s no particular need for that.”

I shook my head in response to her question.
I hadn’t been on a mission or caused any incident during the terrorism, so there was no need to report in.

“I’m going to visit the ‘Professor.'”

“Professor?”

She gave me a puzzled look at my words.

“Ah, Ga-yeon hasn’t met the Professor yet, has she?”

Like the previous Doctor, the Professor is someone who tends to the combat personnel within the organization.

Among them, the Professor leads a squad of researchers to procure items that could aid the combatants and executives.

“He’s someone I have a certain connection with.”

I shifted my gaze to the wooden training dummies fixed around the grounds.
They seemed quite far away at a glance.

‘Hup-‘

Focusing on my target, I swung the object in my hand.

Swish-!
CRACK!

“Ah, I missed.”

As I swung it, the whip instantly extended and struck the area around the dummies.
A spoil from the villain I had faced today.

‘He would probably appreciate having this.’

CRACK CRACK-

A peculiar item that made no sound yet could extend greatly with each swing.
I planned to entrust this to the Professor.

‘An interesting material, so even just keeping a record of it could prove useful someday.’

Or I could simply carry the whip itself, that worked too.

“Please wait here for a moment. I’ll head over to Narin’s place, then come find you.”

“Will it take long?”

“It’ll be over quickly.”

“Hmm…” With that hum, Ga-yeon placed a hand on her chin, adopting a contemplative pose.

After a moment, she lowered her hand and looked up at me.

“If you’re quick, you get one date with me.”

“…Isn’t it usually the other way around, being rewarded for being late?”

“That’s just for penalties. Getting to spend time with me is a reward for you too.”

Ga-yeon regarded me with a confident air.

‘How is that a reward for me…?’

Just where did she pick up such shamelessness…?

“In that case, I should try to return swiftly.”

While slightly perplexed, I could only smile wryly and pat her head.

Inside Eclipse’s research lab.

“Hup! Lord Maker! Please wait a moment!!”

Startled by my arrival, the researchers urged me to wait before scurrying deeper inside.

After waiting briefly.

“Aaaaaiiiieeeeee~~~!!!!”

The figure of someone came scampering over from afar.
Sliding right before me, the man dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

“Lord Maker, you’ve graced us with your presence!!!”

“…Professor.”

Indeed, he was Eclipse’s chief research officer, the Professor.

“It has been a while.”

“Iiiindeeeeeed, it has beeeen sooo looong!! Ah, Professor! Beholding Lord Maker’s magnificence again, I am in awwwee! Truly in awe…!!”

“Enough with that, revert to your main persona.”

“Yes. Understood, Lord Maker.”

At my words, he instantly transitioned from that simpering act to a cold, composed demeanor.
That was his ability.

‘Honestly, it just looks like a mental disorder rather than an ability.’

In any case.

“What brings you here after so long, Lord Maker?”

“I have a personal request, if you would oblige.”

“Anything within my capabilities.”

Then, shifting to kneel on one knee while seated, he politely bowed his head.

…That seems like another strange persona, but whatever.
I’ll just ignore it.

“Thank you. I believe you’ll find this quite interesting as well.”

From my pocket, I retrieved the whip and showed it to him.

“This is…”

“I took it from a villain I faced today. It’s quite an interesting weapon, you see.”

“I see, so you’d like me to analyze the weapon’s principles, material properties, and so on?”

‘As perceptive as ever.’

I nodded in affirmation.

“In that case…”

Swish-

The Professor’s eyes rolled back as his body trembled briefly.

“Hick…hi-ick…please, le-leave it to me…b,brother…”

“Ah, Sad has come out.”

“Y,yes…”

Hunched over, the Professor looked at me with teary eyes.

“I, I’m not as skilled as…Joy or Greed, but…hi-ick…I can handle this…”

Sad. One of the Professor’s auxiliary personas.
A persona specialized in analysis with honed techniques and knowledge.

‘Truly a remarkable ability, the more I see it.’

Multiple personalities.
Not a mental disorder like in the original world, but a genuine ability.

The Professor existed as his main self along with these auxiliary personas enabled by his ability. Each persona possessed its own specialized fields, knowledge, and distinct personalities.

‘And he could switch between them as needed, utilizing each persona’s respective expertise.’

“I’ll leave it in your capable hands then, Sad.”

“Hi-ick…thank you for trusting me…waaahh…”

Leaving the tearful Sad behind, I exited the lab.

BANG! BANGBANGBANG! BANG!

“Puhahaha! Put some more effort into it, Ga-yeon~”

“Eeek…”

After the lab, I arrived at the room assigned to Narin.
Carefully opening the door revealed the two girls engrossed in a video game, mashing buttons furiously.

‘They seemed to be having fun.’

Watching their antics with an amused smile, I deliberately made some noise.
Hearing it, both girls immediately turned their gazes toward me.

“Oppa.”

“Oh, big bro’s here?”

Ga-yeon came scurrying over while Narin flashed a grin and waved.

“I’m back.”

“Have a seat anywhere, I’ll grab us some drinks.”

Narin stood and headed for the fridge as she spoke.

“What would you like?”

“Cola for me.”

“Cola…got it, and for you, big bro? Should I get some tea from the pantry?”

“That would be appreciated, thank you.”

“Okey dokey~”

Narin now spoke casually to me, a far cry from our initial meeting.
I had told her to converse comfortably with me.

‘The disparity between how she acted when we first met and after learning my identity was just too jarring.’

So after we grew somewhat closer, I told her to simply speak naturally.
Although Narin seemed a bit uncomfortable at first, she quickly adapted.

I even asked if she could drop the ‘big bro’ honorific, but that was flatly rejected.
Something about it being her fan sentiment…or whatever.

Lost in thought, I was brought back by Narin returning with snacks, cola, and tea.

“So, did you need me for something, big bro?”

As she handed me the tea, I nodded.

“Yes, could you hack into some CCTV footage for me?”

I briefly explained the day’s events.

“Hmm~ Okey!”

And just like that, I secured her assistance.

A few days later, after being informed that the footage had been obtained and edited, I visited Narin’s room.

“Narin, I heard you finished the editing, so I’ve come to check on it.”

“Yup, all done as you requested, big bro! Want to take a look?”

With a sly grin, she waved a USB drive.
Plugging it into her computer, she played the footage.

‘I had her cut out parts where I rescued Phantom Luna and some of our dialogue…’

“Hmm. This should suffice.”

Given the setting of a terrorist incident, the editing gave the impression of capturing only fragments amid the overall destruction.

“So, can I really upload this, big bro?”

She looked at me somewhat cautiously.

“Yes, no problem. Isn’t this the kind of thing you usually do?”

“Well, no, that was more of a hobby…truthfully, I didn’t expect to be able to keep doing this after joining you, big bro…”

“I do plan to manage the fanbase to some extent from now on.”

Maintaining fans is a bit tedious, but for someone seeking recognition like myself, it’s a necessary task to an extent.

An unprecedented fan club with site security even heroes would struggle to breach.

‘Just maintaining these guys would be seen as a threat by the association.’

Not to mention there’s little need to actually maintain them.

All the fans want is for me to continue the persona I’ve portrayed through my actions so far.
Simply keeping up that composed front is enough.

That alone should suffice.

“So I can upload it then? Really? Uploading it now?”

“Feel free to upload it.”

Well, this was just ordinary terrorist footage, so uploading it or not didn’t really matter.
But it would still help maintain my notoriety to some degree.

“Alriiight~!”

Clearly relishing this rare tidbit, she grinned as she rapidly typed away and uploaded the footage.

“Huh?”

But as I observed the reactions after disseminating the footage online, I was puzzled by the unexpected response.