Being a Villain is My True Calling

With a broad smile, I swirled the vial before him.

“Does this satisfy you?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Precisely what I said. I’m asking if you’re content settling for this meager level, or if you desire to ascend to a more prominent standing.”

I relaxed my grip, allowing the research director to move freely.
Regarding me warily, he took a half-step backward.

“Let’s say you present this to your superior. Then what?”

“Naturally, I would participate in the main project…”

“Are you truly satisfied with merely ‘participating’ in the main project?”

The director’s face contorted at my remark.
He must have wondered why I was making such a statement so abruptly.

Understanding his wariness, I adopted a nonchalant demeanor towards the director.

“This drug is indeed remarkable. Properly utilized, it would undoubtedly aid in achieving your goals.”

There was a reason I referred to it as a biochemical weapon despite its proper designation.
In the original story, its release upon a city was nearly calamitous.

Thanks to this drug, he would gradually gain a foothold within Z-Biotech and ascend to a decent position.
Specifically-

“However, directly presenting such an exceptional drug to your senior does not seem like an efficient course of action.”

“You, you mean…”

Before this inept fool could deliver it to his line’s Senior Researcher, that is.

“In a world where even second place is easily forgotten, the efforts of underlings are readily erased.”

“…Are you implying the Senior Researcher would disregard and overlook me?”

“It’s possible, or perhaps not. Moreover, the Senior Researcher’s involvement may not end with merely including you in the main project.”

Afterwards, the Senior Researcher would disperse the drug across the city, and upon the experiment’s failure, he would pin the blame on this drug’s original creator, resulting in their tongue and right thumb being severed before their dismissal from Z-Biotech.

In time, self-identifying as Suicide, this very man would become a villain who meets a grandiose demise through a massive explosive terror attack.

“Discarding a few underlings like trimming tails is commonplace, is it not?”

“……”

The individual currently serving as this facility’s director stood before me.

“If the original creator is an underling, it’s remarkably easy to conspire against them internally and have them disposed of through office politics.”

“…What do you want?”

Having simmered down, the director now regarded me with a serious expression.
Naturally, the corners of my mouth curled upward.

“Create an upgraded version of this drug as the base.”

“An upgraded version…?”

“Precisely. To be frank, the current drug likely strikes you as an incomplete product, does it not?”

“How would you know…?”

His original plan was to create an army of beasts.
Absolutely obedient to their master’s commands while possessing enhanced physical capabilities surpassing their pre-infection states.

‘The drug he managed to create is merely a halfway measure.’

Instead of unwavering obedience, this drug maximized bestial ferocity.

Proportionally, its transmission rate to other beasts also increased exponentially, but an uncontrollable weapon was essentially useless.

“How I know is irrelevant. The point is, this is your sole path forward. Luckily for you, a wealthy benefactor has taken an interest in your research.”

“…Including sponsorship?”

“I desire swift results, you see.”

Regarding his lingering skepticism, I chuckled.

“And if that condition is met…Well. Instead of merely participating in the main project, you could potentially oversee an entirely new main project.”

“……”

My nonchalant remark rippled through his mind like a pebble disrupting a still pond.

“Oversee the main project…?”

His lips curled upward in a sly grin as greed glinted in the director’s eyes.

“…Why are you going to such lengths? Not just the proposal, but offering sponsorship as well – what’s your reason?”

“I have no intention of divulging that to you.”

“What?”

“It doesn’t matter what I say, you’ll accept regardless, won’t you?”

His suppressed grin, expressions, and gestures made it evident this was a rather appealing proposal.
In such a state, any explanation would be met with acquiescence, so why bother elaborating?

“Hah, you bastard.”

Unsurprisingly, the director did not refuse my offer or utter a word of rejection.
He simply allowed his restrained smile to emerge.

“You seem quite confident?”

“…Indeed.”

As the situation appeared to have resolved, I untied the ropes binding him.

“I presume you’ve prepared a secret escape route or two? You will now be reported as deceased here by Eclipse. So make your escape discreetly.”

I exchanged contact information with the director and handed him the vial I had been holding.

“Should you betray me, rest assured I have ample means of exacting revenge, so you needn’t worry about that.”

“Quite ruthless of you.”

Though taken aback, the director eventually nodded.

“Very well. We’ll maintain contact moving forward.”

“…Understood.”

The director swiftly approached the machine-generated passage that had instantaneously appeared and fled through it.

‘I sincerely hope you apply yourself diligently.’

So that I can readily exploit you later.
Waving him off, I saw the director to the now resealed passage.

Uuuung-chukkeok.

Not long after, the passage closed once more.
After briefly regarding it, I turned and exited the facility.

“Huhahahahahahaha!!!”

“Hahaha!!”

“Kehkehkehkehkeh!!”

“Kkakkakkakka!!”

The members had evidently completed the cleanup, rowdily clustered together in raucous laughter.

“Heuuhhhng…!”

“?”

Suddenly, amidst their mirth, a solitary wail of anguish pierced through.
Upon closer inspection, the members appeared to have surrounded the source of those cries.

“What’s up with her?”

“Dunno? But her attire doesn’t seem to be that of a researcher.”

“Still, since she was inside the facility, she must be an enemy, right?”

“Should we just off her and pretend we never saw her?”

“Hiiik…!!”

As the members vigorously debated her fate while snickering, the woman shook her head frantically, eyes brimming with tears.

“P,Please spare me…! I, I’m not tasty…! Even if used for, for other purposes, I’m a virgin with no te,techniques…!! I, I’m not actually a researcher here? It was a misunderstanding! I’ll pretend I never saw anything here, so ple,please!!”

Utterly petrified, her jaw and entire body trembled uncontrollably.

“Ugh, that’s such a loser way of speaking. Just like our Instructor…”

Bbaak!!

At that moment, the Instructor entered my field of vision.
I approached her location.

“Instructor.”

“Ah,Ahh…M,Maker…”

Drenched in blood, the Instructor flashed me a sheepish smile.

“……”

“M,Maker…?”

Seemingly discerning something from my grim expression, the Instructor became flustered, waving her hands in a panic.

“Oh, d,don’t worry…! Th,This isn’t my, blood…!”

“…I see. That’s a relief.”

It was precisely because I knew it wasn’t her blood that I had grown sullen.
An instinctive rebuttal arose within me, but I swallowed it, forcing a smile instead.

“Hehehe…”

Ttuk…Ttuk…Ttuk…

Typically a reclusive loser, she transformed into a curiously terrifying woman during missions.

“Anyway, what were you all doing here? Have you finished cleaning up the facility?”

“Ah, w,we’ve more or, less completed, the cleanup…R,Right now, as you can, see, we’ve apprehended, someone of, unknown identity…!”

From the members’ encirclement, the sound of “I’m not a bad person, ohohong!!” could be heard.

“Wh,What would, be the best, course of, action…?”

“Hmm…Someone of unknown identity appearing so suddenly.”

It was unlikely for an unaffiliated person to be present at this hour, so they undoubtedly had some connection to Z-Biotech…or at the very least, the facility’s researchers…

As I contemplated this, the director’s earlier remark resurfaced in my mind.

‘My brilliant research caught the attention of Z-Biotech’s Senior Researcher! This whole debacle is because of that useless mercenary they hired and that imbecile researcher!’

‘That useless mercenary they hired’…
I immediately approached the encircled woman and addressed her.

“Are you the mercenary?”

“…Huh? Huh…?”

“Aren’t you the mercenary?”

“…Yes! Y,You’re right!! I’m the mercenary who’ll do anything for money! Me!!”

Perceiving me as a potential lifeline, the woman vigorously nodded while promoting herself.

“I, I have no relation, to these people! The request has ended, so I’m an outsider now! I don’t know who you are, but please, spare this feeble mercenary’s life!!”

“Hmm…”

The mercenary’s pleading gaze was filled with desperation.
I responded with a slight smile.

“How fortuitous.”

“Huh…?”

“You can work for me as well.”

“…Huh?”

The mercenary’s bemused smile faltered as she regarded me.
Her reluctance was evident, but…

“If you refuse, a precious life will simply vanish.”

Chelkuk.

“…Ahahahahaha!!! I, I love working!! I’m so happy! Shall I lick your shoes clean?!”

Courteously aiming my ‘courtesy’ at her, she readily acquiesced, prostrating herself.

“Lick! Lick! Lick!! Sh,Shit!! Lick!!”

For a moment, I observed her enthusiastically licking my shoes, having completely abandoned her dignity.

“It seems we’ve gained a new comrade.”

Flashing a refreshing smile, I addressed the members.

“”……””

For some inexplicable reason, the members regarded me with utter disdain.
…Why such reactions? Had I done something wrong?

Perplexed, I scratched my cheek.

“In any case, let’s prepare to return to the organization.”

Sensing an awkward atmosphere, I instructed the members to ready their departure.