Being a Villain is My True Calling

It had undoubtedly been an ordinary day, initially.

“Boss, you’re back.”
“Yeah, yeah. How’re the collections going?”
“Thanks to you watching our backs, Boss, no problems.”

Just like usual, shaking down some punks for cash.

“Kehekk. Ooh, that hit the spot.”
“S,sir…! Wait a minute! You need to pay this time…”
“Ah, I’ll settle the tab later, auntie~”
“How can I trust you’ll pay, sir…!”
“What? How can you not trust me? That really hurts, you know?”
CRASH!!

Dropping by the usual eatery for a meal.

“J,just a little bit at least…”
“Tch! Where does this bum get off…!”

And dealing out some fists in the slums to those who pissed me off.
Everyone might have grievances, but I couldn’t care less.
At least in my territory, I was practically royalty.

“Puhah! So who would dare lay a hand on the great B-rank villain, huh?”

A B-rank villain.
After my flamboyant debut on Halloween night, I had been bestowed that very rank.

Not some measly C-rank to be stepped on, or a slightly stronger C+, but the mighty B-rank!

Without even joining an organization, attaining B-rank through sheer individual prowess meant being acknowledged as a truly formidable villain.

‘This level of authority should be just fine to rule over this place!’

“You done messed up, ain’t you?”
“I, I didn’t do anything wrong…”
“Oh, you wanna taste of Pumpkin’s fists, huh?”
“Hiiick!”

It had definitely been just another ordinary day.
Weaker underlings knew to grovel obediently, while the insolent were sternly disciplined through force.

I had merely engaged in my usual antics, never committing any deeds that would attract the ire of higher-ranked heroes or villains.
Just a simple daily routine, yet…

“Ah, found some worthwhile trash.”
“Huh?”
Ssskkkkrrrttt-!
“Wh,what are these disgusting tentacles?!!”

I was inexplicably abducted by some weirdo in a uniform.
When I came to, I found myself being dragged through the downtown area.

“Dammit! Hey! Untie me already? Don’t you know who I am?”
“I’m well aware. You’re B-rank villain Pumpkin, are you not?”

The stranger regarded me with an eerie gaze.
While his attire and demeanor seemed vaguely familiar, it must have been my imagination.

“…Right, right. Since you know, hurry up and let me go then.”

As unsettling as it felt, I needed to escape regardless.
So I struggled in vain, but:

“Unfortunately, I cannot release you, Pumpkin.”
For you are to be executed.
Those words instantly froze me in place.

“Huh?”

And just like he said, I found myself forcibly paraded atop some deranged witch hunt’s makeshift gallows.

I stared down at the struggling B-rank villain Pumpkin below me.

“Robbery, murder, arson, solicitation to commit murder, aggravated assault…you’ve racked up quite the list of crimes.”

“I didn’t do any of that!!”

‘I know, because I fabricated it all.’

Suppressing an amused snort, I regarded him with contemptuous disdain for a moment before addressing Phantom Luna.

“Phantom Luna. Is it wrong to eliminate such a wretched pile of scum who has committed so many vile misdeeds?”

“Bullshit! I was framed, damn it!!”

“It would be far more wrong not to! Maker! No matter how worthless the target you wish to eliminate may be, you have no right to take a life as you please!!”

“You assholes! Can’t you hear me? Hey!!”

Phantom Luna glared at me furiously in outrage.

“Hmm…how about we leave that decision to the citizens here?”

“Pardon? What do you…”

I turned to regard the masses surrounding Phantom Luna and myself.
After taking a deep breath, I raised my voice slightly.

“Everyone! We have a villain here!”

“”……””

“This man is the B-rank villain Pumpkin, who first appeared on Halloween night. A vile individual who commits murder, robbery, and various other heinous crimes without a shred of remorse. What would you have us do with him?”

“”Kill him!!””

Without the slightest hesitation, the citizens roared for his execution.
Some even sported grins, appearing to find amusement in the situation.

“It seems the citizens have rendered their judgment.”

“What is this…”

Phantom Luna stared at the crowd in stunned disbelief, her trembling gaze reflecting her shock.

Murmur murmur-

‘You shouldn’t be here!’
‘Fall back! Follow villain encounter protocol!’

Amidst the murmuring citizens, a few heroes could be glimpsed.
It seemed I couldn’t drag this out much longer.

“But this is still wrong!”

While my attention was momentarily diverted elsewhere, Phantom Luna began pleading with the crowd.

“Everyone! This is outright murder! Since when are there good murders and bad murders? How is this justice? Why are you finding this entertaining?!”

Please regain your senses and evacuate to safety!
Phantom Luna’s sincere appeal rang with heartfelt emotion.

“”……””

A brief silence fell between Phantom Luna and the citizens.
Her earnest voice seemed to strike a chord of conscience in some, prompting them to lower their heads remorsefully.

However.

“What nonsense…”
“Pardon me?”
“Don’t you know that if we don’t kill scum like him, he’ll just commit the same crimes again? If they don’t change even after going in and out of prison, isn’t execution the more appropriate punishment?”

Emboldened by one clear voice, the citizens began voicing their agreement.

“That’s right, villains can kill but we’re criminals if we do it?!”
“So we just lock him up again?! He’ll just break out or bribe his way free anyway!”
“Just kill him, Maker!! Execute that bastard so he can never commit crimes again!!”

The frenzied, unhinged citizens.
Phantom Luna could only gape at them in astonished dismay.

“B,but…”
“If you can’t do anything as a hero, then stop getting in the way, you half-wit bitch!!”

Fwish-!

A crumpled paper wad suddenly struck her head.
While crudely fashioned, hence not particularly painful, the psychological impact would undoubtedly sting far more severely.

“…Everyone.”

Sure enough, Phantom Luna’s pupils trembled wildly, her expression one of sheer panic.
Regarding her calmly, I addressed her in an even tone.

“Do you understand now?”
Just how corrupt this nation has become?

Click.
I aimed my gun squarely at the man’s forehead once more.

“Fuck! Untie me! Untie this, I beg you!!”

Seeming to sense the shift in my demeanor, Pumpkin thrashed more violently than ever.
His frantic struggles only caused the bindings to tighten further.

‘Fashioned from my whip’s properties, you won’t be escaping them easily.’

“Sp,spare me…!”

Only then did Phantom Luna finally grasp my intentions, prompting her to charge toward me hastily.
But it was already too late.

‘Too late.’

Bang-!

Accompanied by a piercing gunshot, a crimson fountain erupted from the man’s forehead.

“Wooooaaahhhh!!!!”

As if gripped by madness, people roared in exhilaration while gazing at me.

Not a single person fled or even flinched, only cheering rapturously in my direction.

“…Ah.”

Witnessing someone die because she couldn’t protect them.
Phantom Luna’s legs gave out from the weight of that realization.

Amid the unending cheers resounding all around.
Yet feeling utterly dissonant from that revelry, all alone.

With casual strides, I approached and knelt down beside her.
Then, regarding her with a saccharine gaze as if toward a beloved lover, I gently caressed a lock of her hair.

“I trust you understand now who was right, and who was wrong.”

Phantom Luna trembled at my touch.

“From what I’ve heard, you’re an exchange hero from Japan, correct? Then you must have come through the association’s exchange program.”

“……”

“It would be advisable not to make my acquaintance again for the remainder of your stay. Simply continue your hero activities quietly before returning to your homeland.”

Would that not be better for your mental wellbeing?
Feigning concern, I gently urged her to surrender.

“……”

Head bowed, her entire body shuddering, Phantom Luna remained unresponsive.

‘Now for the highlight.’

In truth, I wasn’t certain if she, still an untempered hero, could endure this situation.
She might completely break down from this, or perhaps heed my advice and slink back to Japan like a whipped dog.

However.

If she truly was the heroic protagonist I knew from the original, that upright heroine.
If she embodied that unwavering sense of justice.

“You’re telling me to run away? Don’t spout such nonsense!!”

‘As I expected.’

I had firmly believed she would provide the response I sought.

“Who’s right or wrong, you ask? I know all too well!”

She was trembling. But not from fear or cowardice.
It was an uncontainable outrage, an indignant fury that shook her to the core.

“From start to finish, you were utterly wrong!!”

Glaring at me with blazing eyes, Phantom Luna seemed unable to restrain her rage any longer as she shot up to confront me directly.

“You want me to slink back to Japan like a coward?”

“……”

“If that’s what you desire, I absolutely refuse to oblige you!”

Her emotions boiling over, eyes gradually reddening and breath growing ragged, yet her trembling finger never ceased pointing accusingly at me.

“I will never give up.”

“Is that your answer, then?”

With an unwavering gaze directed at me, she made her righteous choice clear.

‘Success.’

I let out an amused snort as I regarded Phantom Luna.
With a hint of manic glee, and a newfound glimmer of curiosity.

“How interesting.”

Snap!

Beaming brightly, I snapped my fingers.

Poof!
“Oppa.”

Instantly, Polia materialized and clung to me from behind.

“Well then. I had thought this would be a brief encounter before parting ways, but it seems we’ll be seeing more of each other than expected.”

After all, this is already the third such coincidence, isn’t it enough to call it fate?

At my words, Chise scoffed derisively as she glared at me.

“I’ll apprehend you right here and now if I can!”

“Hmm. Even in these circumstances?”

I surveyed our surroundings once before refocusing on Phantom Luna.
In this situation, you can hardly use your abilities properly, can you?

While formidable, her powers often manifested as wide-area attacks.
Meaning if she unleashed them now, the surrounding civilians would inevitably be caught in the crossfire.

Conscious of that limitation, Phantom Luna had understandably refrained from using her abilities thus far.

“You cannot apprehend me.”
“Eeek…!”
“I wish you the best of efforts, then.”
“Just you wait! I will capture you, you foolish imbecile villain!!”

As she hurled Japanese insults my way, I simply smiled and waved in parting.

Ahhh~
Another satisfying act of terrorism today!