Being a Villain is My True Calling

Alpha silently regarded his former close friend.

“[…You seem to be a rather dangerous villain.]”

Having lost his once brilliantly golden locks, his hair had turned completely white with age. Deep wrinkles etched across his face, bearing the marks of time passed. A white beard graced his chin, proclaiming his elderliness.

“……”

Directly confronting his aged friend stirred vivid recollections from bygone days, flashing rapidly through his mind.

‘Hello there! Are you that promising prodigy from Korea?’

The first day they met.
When he was still a spirited youth in his teens.

‘Hey! Are you alright?! Your big brother has come to help!!’

The moments they embarked on missions together.

‘I’m sorry…Alpha…’

And ultimately, the sight of him weeping as he ran his own hands through Alpha’s gut.

Ughh.
A sharp pang in his abdomen signaled those youthful years had long since faded – the boy and the young man now an elderly geezer.

“…You’ve aged quite a bit too.”

“[…Korean? Were there Korean inmates in my prison as well?]”

“……”

Alpha felt an indescribable emotion stir within at the man’s bewildered response.
Yet…

“Alpha.”

“…I’m aware.”

…Alpha promptly suppressed that emotion.

“While I understand your sentiments, I’ll trust you won’t jeopardize our mission here.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“[What are you two whispering about over there?]”

“Nothing much, just strategizing, I’d say?”

Akaoni flippantly responded to Victor’s inquisitive remark.
Glancing briefly at his wristwatch to check the time, he gave Alpha a subtle nod.

Kwooong–!

As Alpha struck the ground, Akaoni dashed away into the distance.

“[Hmm? A sacrifice? Rather considerate for villains.]”

“Heh..”

“[Though I suppose it’s a meaningless sacrifice if he’ll be apprehended shortly regardless.]”

“…You’ve become quite cynical in my absence as well, it seems.”

Observing Victor’s demeanor, Alpha muttered with a tinge of bitterness.
Immediately after, he swallowed the resurfacing emotion once more.

Wooooooong–!

Fueling his abilities with that emotion, Alpha activated his power.

Kung! Kung! Kung!
The thunderous echo of his heartbeat exploded from within.

Alpha bent his knees slightly, then twisted his torso powerfully while pulling his clenched right fist behind his back, akin to drawing a bowstring.
With his opposite hand, he firmly grasped his right wrist, steadying his tightened fist in that stance.

“[…That stance-]”

The instant Victor registered that familiar posture, an indescribable sense of recognition washed over him.

Kwoooooooong–!!

The energy gathered in Alpha’s legs burst forth propulsively, launching him towards Victor in a single forward leap.
Having closed the distance, Alpha promptly pivoted, anchoring his lower body by twisting his right leg back.

“Hueup-”

Then, with the energy amassed in his arm, he unleashed a devastating punch directed at Victor.

Kwaaaaaang–!!!

“[An impressive strike.]”

Effortlessly deflecting the assault with one hand, Victor appraised the blow.

“[But that is all.]”

Despite his hand flinching slightly from the impact’s force, he nonchalantly brushed it aside, fixing Alpha with an icy glare.

“[If that was your best, you cannot defeat me.]”

Clenching his fist tightly, Victor launched a blistering punch aimed squarely at Alpha’s head.

Kwaaaaang–!!!!

Just as Victor had deflected Alpha’s attack, Alpha likewise casually parried the incoming blow with one hand.

“[…Heh, you blocked my strike?]”

“……”

His eyes narrowing at the sight, Victor let out a low growl directed at Alpha, his demeanor turning grave.

“[No more games, villain.]”

“…Your prattling has only increased during my absence.”

“[Return to where you belong at once.]”

“…Where I belong?”

Hah.
Alpha let out a scoffing chuckle at those words.
An undisguised sneer etched across his features.

“[If you can, then try it!]”

Kwooooong–!

Subsequently, Victor unleashed an unrelenting barrage upon Alpha.
Yet Alpha deftly evaded each and every strike.

‘…Where I belong, he says.’

Dodging Victor’s flurry of blows, Alpha became momentarily pensive.
After a brief few seconds with his eyes closed, he reopened them, tightening his right fist as he channeled energy into it once more.

‘Yes, I do intend to return.’

To the place where he truly belonged –

“[Hueup–!]”

Ughh.
And this was merely a process towards that end.

Puhwaaaahhhk–!!

“[Kuhehk!!!]”

Seizing a fleeting opening, Alpha landed a perfect liver shot.
Amplified by his abilities, the devastating blow to Victor’s vital point forced him to his knees, emitting a guttural groan.

“[You still have that habit of twitching your shoulders before launching wide attacks, I see.]”

“[…What?]”

Observing Victor’s state, Alpha muttered softly in English – just audible enough for him to comprehend.
Victor’s eyes widened in shock as he stared up at Alpha in disbelief.

“[I did tell you to correct that habit, didn’t I?]”

“[…Just who are you…?]”

As Victor sought to voice his confusion, his trembling voice directed at Alpha, that very moment –

Taaaaang–!!

“Well now, that’ll be enough.”

“[Kuhwik..!!]”

Akaoni’s abrupt intervention prevented Victor from completing his query.

“Hmm? What’s this, bullets don’t work on you either? Ah, but I suppose that’s only natural for a renowned powerhouse.”

“…Why did you return?”

Momentarily scrutinizing the unscathed Victor after firing his gun, Akaoni turned his gaze towards Alpha upon hearing his inquiry.

“I located our escape route, but it seemed to be taking longer than anticipated, so I came to retrieve you.”

Akaoni shifted his focus, observing the distant Tartarus facility.

“Other heroes are likely to arrive shortly, and the inmates I deliberately released will be catching up soon as well, hence my return.”

The guards and prisoners engaged in a bizarre game of cat-and-mouse within the crater formed by the boulders Victor had hurled.

“[Hey! Quickly flee into the forest!]”

“[If you linger with those scum, you’ll get captured again!!]”

“[Hurry and apprehend them!!!]”

Evidently, given Victor’s esteemed reputation as the current era’s paramount hero and his position as the warden, the guards placed their utmost faith in him – singularly fixated on apprehending the escapees without heeding Akaoni and Alpha.

“[…Ughh.]”

Taaaaang!

“[Kkhuhehhk..!!]”

With Victor still reeling from Alpha’s earlier assault, Akaoni fired another shot at him.
Turning his head nonchalantly, Akaoni spoke.

“That should suffice to prevent him from pursuing us, at least. Let’s slip away before anyone notices.”

“…Very well.”

“[St…op…right there…! Kuhwik.]”

Perhaps roused by Akaoni’s words, Victor’s eyes flickered as he called out to them, gritting his teeth.

“[I…will surely…! Kuhwik…!!]”

While seemingly too pained to rise, merely gnashing his teeth conveyed an unmistakable aura of threat.

“Geez, an elderly fellow insisting on such obstinacy.”

With a resigned sigh, Akaoni nonchalantly approached Victor, retrieving the shotgun slung across his back – intent on rendering him unconscious.

“He’s being too noisy for now, so I’d better knock him out before he draws the guards’ attention with any outbursts.”

“[…Just what are you two…!]”

Click.
Rather than cowing in fear as Akaoni casually aimed the gun at his head, Victor’s features contorted further as he glared defiantly.

“You’ll come to find out eventually, whether you want to or not.”

Regarding Victor’s demeanor, Akaoni let out a slight grin as he reloaded his weapon.

“But if I were to offer a teaser-”

He then pinned Victor’s back to the ground with his foot, immobilizing him to prevent any chance of escape.

“Just consider it the return of a betrayed hero.”

“A…betrayal…?”

On some primal instinct, Victor whipped his head towards Alpha, his gaze locking onto him.
Despite the hood obscuring his features and the scraggly beard adorning his unkempt countenance, glimpses of a hauntingly familiar visage peeked through.

“You…you, you are…!”

As if unable to accept the sight before him, Victor’s eyes gradually widened.

“Al…ph-”

Taaaaang–!!!
Taaaaang–!!!

Before he could complete that utterance, Akaoni pulled the trigger, firing squarely at his head.

“……”

“Judging by the lack of blood, he likely didn’t die.”

While uncertain about internal injuries, Akaoni had expected Victor to endure at least a few shots, just like the Acting Leader from sublevel 6.

“Let’s depart now.”

“…Understood.”

After briefly regarding Victor with an indecipherable expression, Alpha turned to follow Akaoni’s lead into the forest.

“Once we’ve escaped, I’ve booked a hotel nearby for us to rest for the day before proceeding further.”

And so, this jailbreak incident drew to a close.

The following day.

Having fled from Tartarus, we enjoyed a restful night’s sleep at the hotel.

“My colleague should be arriving today, so we can relax and depart once he arrives.”

“Understood.”

Despite the meager broth-like sustenance, Alpha’s appearance seemed remarkably revitalized after partaking in a proper meal and bath.
Amused by his almost unrecognizably rejuvenated demeanor akin to a freshly escaped convict, I set a cup of coffee before him with a grin.

“I ought to explain our forthcoming plans, it seems.”

“…Proceed.”

At the mention of plans, Alpha adopted a solemn expression.

‘Such fervor is commendable.’

As if poised to unleash havoc at a moment’s notice, his tightly clenched fist prompted me to continue with a slight smile.

“For now, you’ll need to play dead for a while.”

“…?”

“The duration would be…around a month, perhaps?”

“…??”

Evidently perplexed by my unexpected response, Alpha blinked wordlessly, his expression blank.
Observing his reaction, I nonchalantly sipped my coffee.