That’s How They Became Villains

#47. Ruler of the Underworld -6-

The place resembled a massive operating room.

Medical equipment of various sizes was scattered about almost chaotically, and old-generation Vitaloids, similar in appearance to robots, were busily moving around.

This enormous operating room, prepared for just one person, was the living space of Karne, the CEO of Unhwa Group.

Karne was dying.

It was due to an illness that had persisted since before the underground city was built, since the time when humanity still wandered the surface.

The bitter cold that seemed to freeze one’s lungs with each breath and unknown viruses brought to Earth by monsters from external dimensions.

Even after the city was completed, there was no sign of improvement in his condition.

Due to the indiscriminate destructive actions of the monsters, human medical technology had regressed several steps.

And the unknown virus causing the disease had a special distribution never before seen on Earth.

The dying Karne had a dream.

In what direction would humanity, no longer the masters of Earth, move forward?

What exactly lay at the end of that path?

He wanted to witness it with his own eyes but it was all a vain dream.

Despite constantly receiving life energy from garbage collected from the outskirts, his lifespan was wearing away even faster.

Even now, he was practically a living corpse, so what more could be left for the future?

Karne had given up.

‘I stop here but humanity will continue to move forward.’

Then one day, the Noah Group sent Karne a package.

Looking back now, though unknown at the time, it was ‘Enhanced Human Serum’.

There were no special instructions.

Just a short handwritten note enclosed.

Actually, it was barely even a letter.

If you’re lucky, you too may see the future with us.

That’s all it said, just that brief message but staying still meant death either way.

Karne had no other choice.

I am the CEO of Unhwa and the head of the Unhwa Special Autonomous District.

Fighting even a little before dying would be less shameful for future humanity.

Karne took the serum. It came with terrible pain, like frozen blood shaped like thorns flowing through his veins.

His brain was kneaded by a great being and he saw fragments of the multiverse but Karne was able to fulfill his wish.

He came to know about the future of humanity he so desperately wanted to see.

There was a massive hole in the ceiling of the city.

Through it, a huge wave of monsters poured down into the city.

It seemed like a reenactment of past nightmares.

“…!!”

Karne woke up with a start. Cold sweat covered his entire body.

Huh…? His body no longer hurt.

No, that wasn’t what mattered.

What was that scene he just saw? Is that really humanity’s future?

He couldn’t accept it. We survived by creating breakthroughs even in extreme environments.

And we didn’t settle for that. We made thorough preparations to become the masters of Earth once again.

The end of such humanity couldn’t be this futile.

That’s not what we survived for.

Karne anxiously bit his lip.

He had to find a way to prevent extinction.

Sometimes, there was such a talk.

That the CEO of Unhwa Group had the ability to see the future.

It was truly an amazing ability.

If only it didn’t come with the penalty of insanely draining his lifespan each time he used it.

The drained lifespan couldn’t even be replenished with lifespan extracted from others.

In the original work, this was described as ‘soul erosion.’

An eroded soul doesn’t return even if the body heals.

This was why Karne became a paranoid psychopath every time he saw the future. Karne must have been controlling Athena from behind.

Recently, Nazha stepped in to remove an algorithm inputted into Agio’s head.

Probably, the surveillance camera installed in Agio’s body was shut down at the same time.

For Karne, who monitored every movement in the city with paranoid intensity, this would have been an extremely ominous event.

And then, coincidentally, our figures are visible through Kilos who’s with Athena?

!!Disappear, you disruptive elements of the city!!

Well, that’s roughly how it would have gone. Predictable.

“Phew…”

I finally chased Athena away from the abandoned factory and sighed in relief.

That was close.

Telekinesis is like an invisible hand with a range of 100 meters.

The longer you stretch it, the weaker it becomes; the shorter you stretch it, the stronger it becomes.

The lifting power is 100 kilograms, but the gripping or pulling power is much stronger.

I just tore off her arm in one go because she was right in front of me.

This was a fact I learned after breaking dozens of plates while moving them with telekinesis in daily life.

Why did this damned woman explain this as telekinesis?

[Your inner malice tilts its head]

No, you idiot. This is that thing.

You know, what’s it called. Something like Smith’s invisible hand.

Sometimes I think you’re even dumber than me, huh?

“First.”

Suddenly, my wandering mind returned to reality, because Last called my name.

“What is it?”

“Please release the hostage now. Haven’t you already achieved your objective?”

Ah, right.

I completely forgot because of Athena, but originally I was stalling for time with a hostage situation.

As evidence, Agio, who had transformed into me, was still in my arms.

‘You’ve been through a lot.’

I chuckled and stroked Agio’s cheek.

“I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“What do you mean why? Trying to get something for nothing? The situation now isn’t the same as before. Earlier, we didn’t want unnecessary conflict because we were trying to save Ms. Eltrinde…”

I made eye contact with Eltrinde. Then I put my arm around her shoulder.

She was known for being incredibly accommodating in the original work.

I thought she would go along with this much.

Sure enough, Eltrinde assessed the situation and made a V sign with her fingers.

…This might look a bit strange from a distance.

“She’s alive now, isn’t she? The hostage is still with us? Athena has run away? So why should I release the hostage?”

“…”

First clenched his fist as if he had nothing to say.

Ah, it’s comfortable to say whatever I want when the situation is favorable.

This is why it’s best to be in the dominant position.

However, you can’t just crack the whip forever.

They say the scariest person in the world is someone with nothing to lose.

If I didn’t offer a carrot, I didn’t know what Last might do, given that he prioritized the hostage’s life over his own body.

“But the truth is, we also want to slip away soon. We’ve caused enough commotion. And we have many things to do in the future.”

“…What do you want?”

Even though I’d only hinted at it, the perceptive Last interrupted me.

I couldn’t help but smirk.

“When I call your name as a villain next time, you, as a hero, must respond to that call.”

“…What’s the meaning of that?”

“It has a lot of meaning. Today’s meeting wasn’t the fateful reunion I wanted, and above all, it wasn’t fun, was it?”

“…”

“Soon, I’ll be able to set up a stage bigger and more spectacular than last time. And the only one who can be the protagonist of that stage is you, Last.”

I poked Agio’s cheek and Last flinched.

“What do you say? Will you do it? It’s not like you have any other choice anyway.”

Cheol-ho, who had regained his composure, and Yu-jin, who had been assisting him, stood beside Last.

Although they didn’t say anything, I could tell what kind of conversation they were having just by the way they looked at each other.

Last nodded.

“Fine, if that’s all.”

“Yes~ I knew you’d answer like that. Then, would you please go outside the factory now? I’ll return the hostage then.”

I said, preparing to switch with Agio.

At that moment, Laman, who had been observing this situation all along, asked.

“Do you believe those words?”

“Excuse me? What do you mean?”

“I’m asking if you can trust a verbal promise like that.”

Hmm, well…From Laman’s perspective, such a question was understandable.

Of course, he would have lived in the outskirts for a long time. And just recently, his boss had his throat cut by a hero.

But didn’t I show it earlier?

The ordinary heroes of the city and Last have different mindsets, that’s what I’m saying.

“I’m not believing in a mere verbal promise. I believe in that person’s nobility.”

“Nobility…I didn’t know such lukewarm things still existed in this city.”

“You saw it with your own eyes, didn’t you?”

“…”

At my words, Laman exhaled heavily as if he felt something.

If it hadn’t been for Last, many of the remaining gang members would have been sliced up by Athena’s hands.

Meanwhile, outside the factory.

“Can we really trust those words? They won’t kick us out like this and disappear in the blink of an eye, right?”

“There’s nothing else we could do. The power difference was already too great. We should consider it fortunate that they indulged in such a whim.”

Yu-jin and Cheol-ho were talking to each other, seemingly anxious.

However, Last didn’t seem to feel anxious at all and remained silent.

Yu-jin, who was unhappy about this, said something to Last.

“Senior, say something too. Why have you been so quiet?”

“…”

“Senior!”

“I think we can trust them. I don’t know why, but I do.”

“…What? You’re saying you trust that kind of verbal contract?”

Last shook his head.

“I’m not trusting the verbal promise. I’m trusting that person’s malice.”

“Malice…What good does it do to trust such a thing?”

“That villain emphasizes fun in every situation. For them, the least fun situation would be me not showing up on the stage they’ve set.”

“…Uh.”

“I don’t know why I’ve become the target, but if she wants me to appear on the stage she’s talking about…she won’t break her promise. That would definitely be ‘no fun’ for her.”

After saying that much, Yu-jin somehow felt convinced.

At that moment, someone was seen approaching through the factory door that had been cut in half.

With an uneasy gait and a bright smile that seemed to try to hide it, it was Chae Yu-ha.

“Sis!!”

Yu-jin ran over and hugged her.

Cheol-ho exhaled heavily, as if he couldn’t stop her.

Chae Yu-ha patted Yu-jin’s back while looking at Last.

‘You came to help again, didn’t you?’

That’s what she seemed to be saying.

Last pretended not to notice, but he felt bitter seeing Chae Yu-ha who looked very strained.

Behind her, the group of villains led by First (Agio) could be seen.

“Let’s go home.”

“…Hehe, yes.”

Chae Yu-ha quietly stood next to Last.

From the same mouth that had made a reunion promise with Eltrinde just 5 minutes ago.

“Thank you.”

The words came out shamelessly.