Being a Villain is My True Calling

The next morning.
We were slowly rousing and preparing to depart for Eclipse’s headquarters.

“…Nnngghh.”
“Are you still sleepy?”

I cradled the drowsy girl leaning against me in my arms.
Without opening her eyes, she swished her tail languidly in sync with my steps.

“It’s about time you woke up.”
“Nnngghh…”
Shake shake.

At my prompting, the girl shook her head defiantly before burrowing deeper into my embrace.

…This little one.

“She’s quite the delightful sight, isn’t she, Maker?”
“Ah, senior researcher.”

As I attempted to rouse her gently, Traitor #1 watched us with an amused smile, seeming to relish the heartwarming scene.

“You may as well indulge in such endearing moments while you can. Such opportunities were virtually unheard of back at the facility.”

Unlike his previously leering demeanor that triggered instinctive revulsion, his smile now felt genuinely warm and paternal, focused squarely on the girl rather than me.

‘Well, I ought to wake her properly regardless.’

Today, we were scheduled to meet with Astra.
While Astra wasn’t nearly as straitlaced as some, it would still be preferable to present a poised and composed appearance.

‘Appearing bright-eyed and bushy-tailed would reflect better, would it not?’

There would be ample opportunities to indulge in childish antics another time.
I continued gently shaking the girl, patiently awaiting her natural awakening.

“You really must wake up now.”
“Nnngghh…!!”

Shaking her head insistently as if refusing to rise, the girl pouted obstinately.
I let out an amused snort at her adorable defiance, persisting in rousing her by nudging her shoulder.

“You won’t get up, will you?”
“Nngghh…”
“Little baby? Little miss?”
“……”

No helping it, then.

“Irene.”
Prick.

At the sound of her name, the girl’s ears immediately perked up in alertness.
Gently smoothing her tousled hair, I addressed her in a tender tone.

“It’s time to wake up now, Irene.”

“…Th,that’s my name…?”

Lifting her head to meet my gaze, Irene’s sparkling eyes betrayed her immense anticipation and hopefulness.

“I wouldn’t address a child whose name I’m unaware of, now would I?”

“…!!”

Her eyes gradually widened as the realization sank in, her lips quivering with unbridled delight.

Wag wag wag-!!

Irene’s tail began wagging furiously, as if propelled by a motor’s vibrations.

‘She’s that elated over receiving a name?’

Irene.
The name I had contemplated bestowing upon her last night after her peaceful slumber.

Based on the project details I had gleaned from Traitor #1, while not a completely random designation, it hadn’t been an extensively deliberated choice either…

Prick prick.

“Ire…ne, Irene!! Heheh!!”
Wag wag wag wag-!!!

“……”

Seeing her so overjoyed, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of guilt for my haphazard selection.

“Have you fully awoken now?”
“Yesh!!”
“Irene…quite a lovely name, isn’t it?”
“Ung!!”

Even Traitor #1, who had been silently observing from a distance, responded with an approving nod and an amused snort upon witnessing Irene’s elation.

“Ire…no, Irene!! That’s my name!!”
“To already pronounce your own name so adeptly, how impressive.”
“Heheh!”

Irene giggled merrily, occasionally correcting her mispronunciations as I continued showering her with praise until she seemed fully satisfied.

‘…But just how long must we carry on like this?’

Our tender back-and-forth exchanges continued for an extended period until:

Creeak…

“Oppa?”

Likely roused by our commotion, Ga-yeon approached while rubbing her eyes groggily.

Glancing over, she immediately assessed the situation unfolding before her.

“Ire…ne, Irene…heheh!”
Irene continued rapturously repeating her new name, ears twitching and tail swishing energetically.

“How admirable. Splendid.”
I had inexplicably devolved into a praise-dispensing automaton, my expression tinged with evident fatigue.

“Fufufu…fuhuhuh!”
And Traitor #1 stood off to the side, shoulders shaking as he struggled to stifle his laughter for reasons unknown.

“…?”

Awakening to this peculiar scenario, Ga-yeon activated her ability as she regarded me quizzically.

‘Oppa.’

Her recently developed telepathic power.
However, its potency remained limited – the range was narrow, and she could not directly transmit precise wording.

If one were to categorize it, I suppose it could be considered an advanced version of communicating through mere eye contact?

‘What’s happening right now?’

Yet that alone sufficed for me to comprehend her querious meaning.

‘It’s nothing serious. This child has simply acquired a name and is overjoyed, so I’m indulging her excitement accordingly.’

‘A name? She didn’t have one before?’
‘That’s correct.’

Understanding dawned upon Ga-yeon as she surveyed the ongoing scene with a nod of realization.
Struck by a sudden idea, I addressed Irene directly.

“Now then, Irene. Ga-yeon unnie has arrived, you see.”
“Ung? Yesh.”
“Why don’t you properly greet her? You didn’t have a chance to do so yesterday, did you?”
“Ah…!!”

Finally grasping my intent, Irene’s tail began wagging enthusiastically while Ga-yeon shot me an exasperated look.

‘If you help me out this time, I’ll take you to an amusement park later.’
‘Deal.’

Ga-yeon responded with an ‘OK’ sign after my telepathic negotiation.

‘The mission is complete anyway. A little break should be permissible.’

It was time for us to meet with Astra next.

“…Do come in.”
“You’ve finally stopped being startled by our arrivals, I see.”

Some time later, within Astra’s office quarters.
Without even turning around, Astra seemed to sense our presence from behind and greeted us nonchalantly.

“How did you realize we were here?”
“I simply had a hunch you would show up around this time, so I enveloped the entire room with my aura.”

That way, I could detect any intrusions.
Astra sipped her tea casually, as if it were no great feat.

‘…Is it truly that simple?’

I couldn’t help but feel astounded by her remarks.
To maintain an aura permeating this entire spacious chamber was essentially dominating the entire area through sheer force of will.

Yet she spoke of accomplishing such a feat outside of active combat scenarios, purely as a precautionary measure against potential arrivals, with such nonchalant indifference.

‘Ah right, she is an executive too after all.’

I had momentarily forgotten Astra’s elite standing among our ranks.

“But…what’s with the entourage you’ve brought along?”

As I marveled at Astra’s prowess, she swiveled her chair to face us with an bemused expression.

“I didn’t come here solely to flaunt them, of course.”

I glanced down at the two girls cradled in my arms.

Originally, I had intended to simply carry the significantly younger Irene while having Ga-yeon walk alongside.
However…

‘I want to be carried too.’

Ga-yeon’s insistent request had complicated matters.
If I set Irene down to hold Ga-yeon instead, Irene would whine and refuse to leave my arms.
Yet ignoring Ga-yeon’s plea would result in her puffing out her cheeks petulantly.

‘My, quite the luscious little harem you’ve acquired there, Maker!’

‘Unless you wish for a hole in your head, I suggest remaining silent.’
‘Yes ma’am.’

Ultimately, I had no choice but to awkwardly cradle them both in my arms.
While Ga-yeon was taller than Irene, they were both still light enough for me to manage comfortably.

‘And their combined weight is well-balanced too.’

Hence the current scenario – me carrying the two girls while Traitor #1 trailed behind, clinging to the hem of Ga-yeon’s clothing.

“Quite the lolicon, aren’t you?”
“Must you make such insinuations as well, Astra?”

I regarded Astra with a look of consternation.

‘This is rather unfair, isn’t it?’

In selecting ideal candidates for the latter stages of the original storyline who were both capable yet still mentally sound, the age range naturally skewed younger, that’s all.
It had nothing to do with any prurient predilections on my part – merely circumstantial happenstance.

And this time, I had even recruited a proper adult male as well.
An admittedly degenerate one, but still.

“For now, let’s be seated. I need to debrief you on the mission and evaluate the prospective recruits you’ve brought.”

Uung-
Rumble.

Seemingly interpreting my expression, Astra let out an amused snort before conjuring chairs for us with her aura.

“…In that case, I recommend reassigning the senior researcher to the research division under the Professor’s direct supervision.”

“I am immensely grateful for this tremendous opportunity. I shall dedicate myself wholeheartedly in service to the organization.”

“Think nothing of it. A senior researcher from Z-Biotech is precisely the caliber of talent we ought to be actively recruiting.”

Of course, a probationary monitoring period of several months to a year would still be enforced, but Astra left that unsaid, simply offering an amused smile instead.

“The researcher’s placement is settled then…and what did you say our little one’s name was?”

“Irene! Irene!!” Beaming radiantly, Irene proudly declared her new moniker in response to Astra’s query.

‘How adorable…’

Stifling an internal squeal of delight, Astra maintained an outwardly composed demeanor toward Irene.

“For our Irene here, she will simply remain under Maker’s purview for the time being.”

“Under…?”

“In simpler terms, it means she’ll continue staying by my side going forward.”

As I stroked Irene’s bicolored black and white tresses, she seemed to preen with pleasure, her ears twitching animatedly.

“Oppa good! Thank you, Astra unnie!”

Watching Irene respectfully thank Astra after comprehending the explanation filled the latter with profound gratification.

‘Finally, a properly behaved child…’

No immediate insults like ‘old crone’ upon first meeting.
No hysterical tantrums despite the mildest of prompting.

An absolute angel!!
Utterly incomparable to the little demoness seated beside her, regarding Astra with that infuriatingly blank stare.

“Well then, if all matters have been addressed, I’ll take my leave.”
“…Farewell.”
“Yes. I’ll also assist the researcher in getting situated on my way out.”

Though parting with Irene stirred a tinge of reluctance, Astra accepted it as inevitable.
With a brief mention of taking a respite for the next few days, Maker took his exit.

“……”

Lowering her waving hand, Astra’s expression shifted from her previously warm demeanor to one of grave solemnity.

“The ‘Creature Series’…was it?”

Astra recalled the bandages wrapped around Irene’s form, her twitching ears and swishing tail.

While physical transformations among ability users weren’t unheard of – some innate abilities did manifest congenital physiological alterations, however rare – Astra’s thoughts inevitably turned toward a specific direction.

‘But if it involves Zeta’s Beastkyn abilities coupled with Z-Biotech…’

Z-Biotech oversaw a diverse array of research projects spanning numerous fields.
However, the only endeavor Astra was aware of that would potentially utilize bestial hybridization fell under a singular, paramount classification – their main project.

“Damn Z-Biotech, still persisting with that depraved research, are they?”

Her expression hardening into an icy glare, Astra began placing a call, her tone laced with grim severity.