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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Villain's Logic
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"…What did you say?"
"I knew that disaster was going to happen, and yes, I deliberately broke the bridge beforehand."
Her expression went blank at my answer.
Right, she probably didn't expect me to admit it so readily.
It seemed like she was trying to pressure me, perhaps by expecting me to make some vague excuse, then finding a flaw in it to strike.
No chance of that.
"But what do you expect me to do about it? What are you going to do, now that you know?"
I, on the contrary, challenged her back.
My Ego-style secret technique: the 'So What?' strategy.
"…No, wait."
She pressed a hand to her forehead, as if my cool admission had given her a headache.
What, wasn't this the answer you expected? Didn't you think I'd react this way?
A professional villain always goes for broke.
"…Then, how did you know that incident was going to happen?"
"Ah. I suppose I should tell you that."
I crossed my arms and looked her in the eye, speaking seriously.
"Actually, I have the ability to foresee the future. I knew about it and broke the bridge in advance."
"…Really?"
No, don't believe it…
"If you believe that, it seems you're still far from being a truly competent hero."
She frowned as I let out a sneer.
"…It's not true?"
"Of course not. Where do I even begin with this… Just think of it as a triumph of modern science."
I took a brief breath.
"My 'colleagues' and I hacked into Han-eun Group several weeks ago and discovered they were cultivating an uncontrollable behemoth in the basement of their headquarters. So we analyzed the scenario of its escape through simulations. That's how we prepared everything in advance."
"Breaking the bridge was just one of many precautions I took. Besides that, I had various contingencies set up for different possibilities. The bridge was just a lucky break."
What other possibilities?
Of course, since the bridge was crossed in the original story, I didn't do anything other than break the bridge.
But that's what I say. Unless I want to be treated like a prophet.
…Though, it's true that it's almost like seeing the future.
In any case, my excuse seemed to work well.
She had a slightly confused expression. Good, accept it!
Think about all the hacks I've pulled off so far. Hijacking broadcast waves, transferring money to everyone's accounts via macro…
Honestly, if I can do all that, can't I hack into a major corporation's security and run simulations? Of course, I can.
She mulled over my answer for a moment, then asked, still looking confused.
"No, that's strange."
"What's so strange about it?"
"Why do you care about other people dying, and why would you stop it? You're the one who toys with civilians and commits acts of terror, aren't you?"
She glared at me, as if unable to comprehend.
This can simply be answered like this.
"Because it would steal my spotlight."
"Spotlight?"
"I mean attention. What's characteristic of villains? It's all about getting attention. Maximum misery for the maximum number, as they say? Villains want to inflict despair on as many people as possible through terror, but if something like that happened, would people even pay attention to me? Would people who've already lost family and friends even care about some random strangers dying on TV? That's why I stopped it."
At my calm words, she looked flabbergasted.
What? It's the truth.
Indeed, when one villain causes a major terror incident and becomes the talk of the town, no other villain causes a terror incident for several weeks afterward.
Because the amount of attention they would receive would decrease.
There are even statistics showing that the crime rate has actually decreased recently because of the large-scale terror incidents I've been causing.
"…So. You stopped it to avoid losing your spotlight?"
"Yes. Precisely."
"…"
"What kind of answer were you expecting? Did you think I suddenly realized the inner goodness within me and awakened as a hero who saves people? The truth, you see, is often far less dramatic than one expects."
I just chuckled and said that.
…But actually, the real truth is that I did it to save people and prevent this world from becoming a grimdark story.
However, if I told her that, what would she think of me? She might even figure out my true identity with her unique heightened senses.
The fact that all the terror I commit, and all the villains I indiscriminately kill, are all for the sake of protecting this world.
The fact that I don't actually enjoy tormenting people, and I'm only doing this for her.
The fact that all of this is solely for the peace of this world and to prevent her misfortune.
Of course, I don't think she'll figure all of this out.
After all, on the surface, I'm just an outlaw who operates above the law, a terrorist who preys on the weak.
Still, it doesn't hurt to be careful.
And just as I finished speaking, the barrier over the door began to rise back into the ceiling.
I looked up at the time and realized nearly three hours had passed.
The door finally opened.
Finally, an escape from this awkward room!
She still wore a puzzled expression.
Sigh. I guess I have to say this one more thing. I can't stand it.
"…And. Whether I save people or do whatever else, I am, by definition, an outlaw who operates above the law and a terrorist. In other words, a villain. I'm just adding this because you seem to be having strange thoughts."
So stop suspecting me.
I'm a definite villain! She keeps trying to paint me as some kind of black hero, which is incredibly unsettling. I don't recall hearing that Stardust believes in the inherent goodness of humanity. Why does she keep trying to whitewash me?
Her expression seemed to deepen with suspicion at my words, so I gave up trying to think.
Fine. She'll have to learn the hard way.
Still, she didn't argue with my words and quietly stood up.
Well. At least my words are logically sound. What's the point of suspecting further?
…But how did it suddenly turn into an interrogation where I was making excuses? I just came here for a power-up event. How did I get tangled up in this…
So we continued forward.
After that, we didn't say much to each other. We just advanced, taking down every monster that appeared.
…No, I still don't understand what kind of situation this is.
A hero and a villain exploring the underground together. Though I suggested it, it's quite a bizarre sight.
She knows I can escape instantly, so she doesn't attack me. She just watches, as if trying to figure out what I'm up to.
I have no intention of attacking her, so I don't. While it's common knowledge in this world for villains to mindlessly attack heroes… why should I?
So we continued this awkward companionship.
It felt even more awkward after our little chat in that room earlier.
Sometimes she stares at me, and it's unnerving. What on earth is she thinking?
I walked behind her like that.
I never walked in front. There's a high chance I'd get backstabbed and dragged to the bottom of the Association.
Neither willing to attack each other, nor willing to just let the other go their own way, we continued together under the strange title of a temporary alliance.
We dealt with almost all the monsters we encountered along the way, so it felt like everything was handled.
I didn't see that teleporting monster, though. Did it already escape from here? Well, other heroes will probably take care of it.
I just want to grab the Behemoth and get out of here.
…No, wait.
Before she realizes my true nature with her unique intuition.
Maybe I should teach her what a *real* villain is…?
After all, is it even right for a hero to be so unguarded, with a villain right next to her?
Is she out of her mind or what?
Anyway, we finally reached the end.
The large space in the deepest part of the underground, with a shattered tank in it.
"Behemoth…?"
She murmured, looking at the name written in front of the tank.
Yes, she finally knows the name of that monster.
The space, filled with green, viscous fluid that had leaked from the tank, was empty.
Only shattered computers and papers were scattered about.
It seemed the people researching here had all escaped beforehand. They're certainly good at running away.
Anyway, we also checked the room next to this one.
This room, though smaller than the one with the tank, was still spacious with a high ceiling.
In the middle of this room, there was some kind of incubator.
Inside it was a small black tentacle.
Ah. Finally found it.
Now I just need to grab this and run. Run…
I glanced at Stardust.
Not even paying attention to me, she was rummaging through documents on a desk in the corner.
…I don't like it.
Why isn't she paying attention to me?
No, I don't mean that in a strange way.
Is it right for a hero to be so defenseless with a villain right next to her?
A true hero must always be wary of villains.
I don't know what she trusts me with, letting me act so freely.
Why is she so fearless?
"…"
This won't do.
Originally, I planned to just grab the Behemoth and escape while she was distracted.
But I should teach her a little about the harsh realities of the world before I go.
I resolved that, and slowly approached the incubator.
It's showtime.
***
"…What is this now?"
She murmured, looking at the incubator in the middle of the spacious room.
This room, at the very end of the secret laboratory.
Inside it, there was an incubator that looked suspicious at first glance.
And inside it, a black tentacle.
This was probably something the Han-eun Group wanted to protect the most.
Glancing over, she saw Egoistic looking at the incubator with an extremely intrigued expression.
"Don't touch it. I'm sending that to the Association first."
"Yes, yes. Of course."
He smiled brightly, raising both hands as if to signal he wouldn't do anything.
"…"
Seeing him like that, the events in the previous room came back to her.
Even though she had lost all her strength and was helpless, he had simply handed her bandages and hadn't touched her at all.
His words that he knew everything and broke the bridge, but that it wasn't exactly to save people.
His words, added at the end, that he was a villain, so she shouldn't suspect him.
All of it combined.
She became even more confused about Egoistic.
He was clearly a villain. An outlaw who operates above the law, a villain who commits acts of terror against people.
But why?
Why did every word he spoke feel like it was hiding some deeper truth?
Why did her guard subtly falter whenever she was near him?
'…Why do I keep thinking like this?'
She shook her head, clearing her thoughts.
For now, she should focus on the task at hand.
She walked towards a desk in the corner of the room.
The information about this must be here.
And she found it.
A report detailing information about it.
*
"RKCB-001"
[Provisional Name] Behemoth
*
Just as she was reading the explanation.
More precisely, while she was letting her guard down.
A low voice came from where Egoistic was.
"Awaken. Behemoth."
Along with it, the sound of something shattering.
Stardust hastily spun around at the sudden turn of events, but…
The situation was already over.
The incubator was already shattering.
And something black and ominous was coiling around Egoistic's arm.
In the midst of all that chaos.
Egoistic looked at Stardust and quietly smiled.
Smiling, he spoke to her.
"Ms. Stardust. Do you know something?"
"Betrayal, you see, is all about timing."