Being a Villain is My True Calling

“It seems Tsukino has been performing well.”

“Um…I’m not so sure?”

Chise tilted her head quizzically.
From her account, she didn’t seem to have done anything particularly noteworthy to warrant such praise.

“So does Tsukino wish to decline the offer, then?”

“Well, I am considering it a bit.”

Heaving a sigh, Chise took another sip of her smoothie.

“Relocating to a different country is the main concern.”

Fair enough, even setting aside her hero duties, moving away from one’s home country would naturally give anyone pause for contemplation.

“But they are offering a higher salary…”

“It’s quite the dilemma.”

Truthfully, part of me did hope she would remain.

‘The heroines will inevitably need to be further empowered moving forward, so having to track them down across various countries would be rather inconvenient.’

In the original storyline, she did ultimately join the Korean Heroes Association as well.
So if she stayed, it would certainly be more convenient for me.

‘Speaking of which, who was this ‘someone’ anyway…’

It was rather peculiar.
While it wasn’t uncommon for exceptional heroes to be recruited by different associations, she was only a B+ rank hero.

A high-ranking hero, yes, but hardly possessing enough merit to provoke a potential rift with the Japanese association by actively attempting to poach her.

So what exactly did this person see in Chise to make such an audacious proposal?

‘Someone brazen enough to pull such a stunt, yet capable of doing so without causing any noticeable ripples…’

A member of the Heroes Association came to mind as potentially fitting that description.

“Why would this person suggest such an offer to you?”

“That’s what I’m wondering too!”

As if agreeing with my question’s pertinence, she snapped irritably in response.

“It’s not like we’re even that close! No, in fact, it’s clear they outright dislike me! They were flirting with me right from the very start!”

“I see.”

She may not have said it outright, but she clearly found it distasteful.
Chise vented her exasperation by taking an agitated sip from her cup.

“And then there was that cryptic remark at the end too!”

“Cryptic remark?”

“Something about how ‘it would be better’ for me to come over to this side, then just brushing it off as ‘certain circumstances’ when I asked what they meant…they were just a sketchy person overall!”

Pursing her lips petulantly, Chise mumbled what seemed like Japanese curses under her breath.

As she recounted further details about this individual, I gained increasing certainty in my suspicions.

‘It was that guy, huh.’

The arrogant know-it-all attitude, the skeevy flirtatiousness, constantly spacing out with erratic behavior as if fixated on something else.

Optimus.
That rotten element colluding with the higher-ups within the association.

‘He must have glimpsed some self-serving opportunity yet again.’

That was his ability.
The irksome and utterly self-serving ability to perceive advantageous choices for himself.

“You’ve certainly had your share of troubles.”

“…Well, no, to be honest I haven’t really faced any major difficulties since our recent acquaintance.”

His ability allowed him to recognize choices beneficial to himself.
While I can’t pinpoint the exact nature of that benefit, the likelihood was high that he had engineered Chise’s assignment to the Korean exchange program.

‘It would be best to eliminate him sooner rather than later.’

This time, not only had I fostered a rapport with Chise, but the variable hadn’t meaningfully impacted me, so I was fortunate.
But if such deviations from the original kept accumulating and distorting the storyline further?

‘I could lose my greatest weapon: my foreknowledge of the future.’

While that foreknowledge couldn’t remain useful indefinitely, I needed to at least slow its degradation as much as possible.

‘I should find an opportunity to deal with him permanently.’

Having unexpectedly gained such valuable information, I began contemplating how best to capitalize on it.

“That was delicious.”

“No, thank you for enjoying it.”

After around two hours, Chise prepared to take her leave from the cafe.

While our conversation had transitioned from idle chatter to her solitary laments, we had both found it satisfactory nonetheless.

“So, what will you do?”

“Changing my workplace to this country…hmm, I’ll need to think about it some more.”

Still mired in indecision, she fidgeted with her hands as she responded to me.
Regarding her transparent struggle, I offered an obliging smile.

“If you have any other concerns, feel free to share them.”
While I may not have the solutions, simply discussing it can help relieve some stress, you know?

Chise nodded gratefully with a smile.

“Alright.”

“Will you visit again? You’re welcome to drop by anytime.”

Jingle-

Before exiting the cafe, Chise bowed deeply in parting.
After I waved farewell, she finally departed.

‘Now then, what should I do?’

While I had played it off casually before her, truthfully, I did wish for Chise to remain.

Her continued presence in my vicinity would provide the perfect opportunity to groom her further.

‘If she gradually comes to rely on me, I could assist her entirely on my own.’

The ordinary cafe owner Gahn Yi-an could provide her care and support in various ways,
While the eclipse executive Maker could foster her growth by periodically pushing her into precarious situations.

“Hmm.”

‘Perhaps I should begin making some preparations?’

Downing the freshly brewed coffee in one gulp, I began considering methods within my means to dissuade her from leaving.

“Haah…”

Several weeks later.
In the midst of her hero duties, Phantom Luna suddenly let out a heavy sigh.

“What’s wrong, Luna? Why the long face?”
“No, it’s nothing…”

“Is something the matter?”

Noticing her demeanor, Elexstorm and Purple Shiny voiced their concerns.
Shaking her head at them, Phantom Luna replied:

“I’ve just had something on my mind. I’m going to patrol a different area for a bit to clear my head.”

“Oh…okay…”

With that, Phantom Luna left Elexstorm and Purple Shiny behind as she walked away.

“…Shiny, don’t you also think she’s been acting rather strange lately?”
“Not just recently, but for the past few weeks now.”

If only she would confide in them.

Phantom Luna’s dilemma had only been intensifying with each passing day.
Part of her innate nature did involve ruminating seriously over any concerns that arose.

And the respective pros and cons of transferring her hero duties to this country or not were indeed weighing heavily on her mind.

‘What should I do…’

Just as Phantom Luna sighed deeply once more, bracing herself to resume her duties, suddenly:

Beeeeeep!

“Ah!”

An alert sounded from her wristwatch.

“Luna!”

“Looks like an incident has occurred nearby!”

Not long after the alert, Elexstorm and Purple Shiny came rushing over.

“Let’s go quickly! Gryphon!”

Woooong-

-Beeeeeep!!

Any doubts about her association affiliation instantly banished from her mind, Phantom Luna set off toward the incident with a stern expression.

Shortly after.
Their destination was a bustling downtown area teeming with people.

“Kyaaaah!”

And what they witnessed was…

“Take him down!!!”
“Kill him right now!!!”
“Go for it!!!”

“Mmm…?”
“What’s going on here…”

Surrounding some central figure, the frenzied masses seemed consumed by excitement.
Through their ranks, Chise spotted a lone man clad in a black uniform.

“What in the world is this situation?”

With citizens chanting “Kill him!” in a feverish frenzy, surrounding and jeering at someone within.
The scene bore an uncanny resemblance to a witch hunt.

“Could they be under some mass mind control? Or perhaps an illusion ability?”

Even the heroes hesitated to rashly approach amidst such intensity.

“But their focus seems too coherent for mere mind control or illusions…”

After briefly assessing the crowd’s condition, Phantom Luna’s group concluded they weren’t victims of any ability.
And the man glimpsed amidst their ranks…

‘Unless I’m mistaken…’

He was undoubtedly someone Phantom Luna recognized.
More precisely, a villain she was acquainted with, to be accurate.

“You two try to disperse the crowd as best you can for now.”

“Huh? But what about you, Phantom Luna?”

“I’m going to try entering that inner circle.”

More heroes seemed to be gradually arriving too, so assist them!

“W,wait a moment! Luna!”

Before Purple Shiny could protest further, Phantom Luna had already slipped through the crowd, vanishing from sight.

“Excuse me, pardon me, just passing through!”

Squeezing her way deeper into the throng, the face Phantom Luna encountered was indeed a familiar one.

Click.

Biting her lip slightly, Phantom Luna charged forward without hesitation.

“Just what kind of stunt is this again, Maker?!”

“Oh.”

In his crisp black uniform and half-mask, Maker flashed a wry smile as he greeted Phantom Luna.

“No need for pleasantries, just put that gun down right now.”

Phantom Luna glared at Maker with narrowed, icy eyes.

“I simply can’t fathom why you always show up to interfere whenever I’m conducting operations.”

Maker feigned an expression of bewilderment for a moment.
Then, glancing at the man he had his gun trained on, he grinned slyly.

“Isn’t that right, B-rank villain Pumpkin?”

At those words, the man began trembling uncontrollably.

“Wh,what the fuck is your problem with me, you bastard?!!”

His eyes bulging, the man erupted into an enraged outburst.

“There’s clear evidence right here, so you still intend to lie?”

“Okay, some of it’s true! True, I admit it!! But I’ve been wronged damn it!! Fuck!!!”

Appearing genuinely aggrieved, he ranted furiously with reddening eyes.
However, to the surrounding citizens, his voice only sounded increasingly insincere.

“What a load of bullshit!”
“That two-faced son of a bitch!!”
“I swear I’m telling the truuuuth!!!”

The frenzied citizens and the protesting villain’s cries of injustice.
Coupled with Phantom Luna’s own astonished bemusement over the surreal situation.

Observing it all, I covered my mouth to stifle an amused grin.

‘Of course it was my doing, after all.’

In any case, it was time for the show to begin anew.