Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

400 million won.

Bloodhounds didn’t typically fetch such exorbitant prices. In suboptimal condition, their value could plummet below 100 million won. But the specimen before us was in impeccable shape – perhaps too pristine.

Moreover, its stature seemed slightly larger than average. Could this have been the alpha reigning over the pack?

Perceiving my scrutiny, the vendor continued his sales pitch:

“That premium price is justified. Look at the pelt – not a single blemish, smooth as silk. The internal organs are also perfectly intact since this was hunted just two days ago, no deterioration whatsoever.”

Caressing the Bloodhound’s back, the man remarked:

“It would make for a magnificent taxidermy mount.”

“People actually stuff monsters for taxidermy?”

In response to Han Seo-hyeon’s query, the vendor elaborated:

“You were unaware? It’s quite the trend among the upper class lately.”

Han Seo-hyeon’s expression conveyed utter bafflement.

Of course, there existed individuals who indulged in collecting monster taxidermy as a pastime.

The affluent certainly harbored eccentricities that defied comprehension at times. Inwardly clicking my tongue, I declined the vendor’s offer to introduce a taxidermist, shaking my head.

“No need for taxidermy. I’ll take it as is, properly packaged for transport.”

Steeling my resolve, I purchased the cadaver.

Addressing Han Seo-hyeon’s evident discomfort, I inquired:

“Why such a conflicted expression?”

“Are we really allowed to acquire something like this?”

“We’ve reached the point where a proper corpse became necessary. You can’t keep relying solely on small familiars and skeletons forever.”

Only after those words did Han Seo-hyeon nod in acquiescence.

Until now, the undead under Han Seo-hyeon’s command had been limited to rudimentary familiars crafted from deceased small animals and a basic skeleton – virtually devoid of any real combat capabilities.

To facilitate more advanced training, this investment had become essential. Not to mention, it wasn’t an inefficient allocation of resources either. Weltschmerz currently consisted of a mere three individuals, so enhancing each member’s combat prowess was paramount.

The stronger Han Seo-hyeon became, the safer we would all be collectively.

Upon returning to our base, Han Seo-hyeon promptly embraced the monster cadaver, immediately sequestering himself within the laboratory, clearly delighted by the prime material.

I summoned Kim Jae-ho next.

“A gift.”

Kim Jae-ho’s reaction upon receiving my present was rather inscrutable. Why, did the blade displease him somehow?

“I want a doll too, like that one.”

Ah, now I understood his disgruntled demeanor.

“That’s not a doll.”

“Oh.”

Only then did Kim Jae-ho’s disappointment dissipate. Accepting the blade, he silently inspected it.

“From now on, I’ll be teaching you swordsmanship as well.”

“Ugh.”

Realizing his training regimen had expanded further, Kim Jae-ho’s expression soured.

“You can’t rely solely on unarmed combat forever.”

In addition to swordsmanship, I intended to instruct Kim Jae-ho in the art of throwing projectiles. Lacking any ranged techniques currently, mastering the basics of knife-throwing would prove invaluable.

Securing the dagger in its sheath, I fastened it around Kim Jae-ho’s waist. Though his grimace indicated discomfort with the additional accessory, he refrained from removing it.

“Grow accustomed to carrying these. And take this as well.”

I slung the longer blade across his back. While traditionally worn at the waist, that positioning risked producing audible clattering that could alert adversaries to his presence. Carrying it on his back would be more prudent.

Never properly attired, Kim Jae-ho plodded away, his gait laden with the unfamiliar weight and awkwardness.

Next, I set about refining my mask further.

While its current state wasn’t inadequate per se, numerous shortcomings hindered practical field usage and maneuverability.

—You would be immediately exposed during any security screening, undoubtedly.

‘Indeed.’

To operate as Weltschmerz, I needed to conceal my identity completely. If my status as Kang Yi-sin became known, not only would it jeopardize the safety of Jeong Ho-san due to our association, but more crucially, it could imperil Weltschmerz’s very existence.

Much of Weltschmerz’s current reputation stemmed from exaggerated rumors devoid of substantive evidence. And my objective was to further inflate and propagate those very myths.

If the leader of the dreaded Weltschmerz was revealed as a mere B-rank psychic who had been discarded from Babel Academy, our fearsome reputation would instantly deflate.

Like: Oh, so they were just a bunch of nobodies after all? No wonder Kang Yi-sin was involved.

Such disparaging dismissals would undoubtedly ensue.

—You do possess a remarkably low sense of self-worth.

‘It isn’t low self-worth. I’m merely stating the objective truth – no one would perceive me as a legitimate threat. Aside from Jeong Ho-san, that is. He would likely find it terrifying to learn his former acquaintance had genuinely embraced the path of villainy.’

Regardless, concealing my identity remained a ‘permanent’ necessity. To achieve that, further modifications to this mask were required to render it more inconspicuous.

Ideally, entrusting the original manufacturer, Professor Geum, would have been preferable. But considering his apparent busyness, that was no longer an option.

With Ray’s assistance, extracting the artifact circuits responsible for the mask’s core facial camouflage functions from the existing prototype hadn’t been overly challenging. Of course, extracting any personal data from the other embedded sources remained impossible, but the foundational ability to obscure my features and project alternate appearances could still be replicated.

The mask’s original design had incorporated a form of illusion magic. Initially, I had fashioned a mold using silicone, as the malleable shapeshifter hide lacked structural integrity for direct molding. Over that silicone base, I had affixed the shapeshifter material, extending coverage beyond just the face to encompass my entire neck region as well.

“Hmm, it does resemble flayed human skin, doesn’t it?”

The silicone mask’s texture felt rather unpleasant against my skin. Clearly, an alternative hide would provide superior comfort and breathability for prolonged wear.

On the rear surface, I had etched circuitry to conceal any mana emanations, preventing even mana-sensitive individuals from detecting this as an artifact.

After several trial-and-error attempts over the following days, I discovered that tanning cowhide to create the base mold yielded the optimal results. Leaving slight spacing to allow for respiration, I had fashioned a mask extending from the forehead down to the nape of the neck.

Shapeshifters possessed the ability to imprint and mimic various physical forms. Discarding my original mask, I had the new one replicate the facial parameters stored within – those of an unremarkable man in his mid-twenties, bearing a rather fatigued, average countenance neither strikingly attractive nor unsightly.

Having replicated the holographic projection from a secondary source, the image quality had diminished slightly. But from a reasonable 30cm distance, it appeared passable enough.

Most appealing was how it seamlessly concealed my entire neck region as well.

As shapeshifters naturally excelled at mimicry, repeatedly donning and moving about in this mask allowed its movements to gradually synchronize with my own motions in an eerily lifelike manner.

However, it did lack certain capabilities compared to my original mask.

Primarily, I could no longer rapidly cycle through alternate appearances on demand – this mask could only project the singularly imprinted visage. A notable downgrade from the earlier version’s ability to render any desired face at will.

Secondly, its overall durability left something to be desired. While the pliable hide allowed for compact storage by folding the mask, this same flexibility also compromised its resilience – excessive creasing would cause permanent wrinkles and deformations.

In conclusion:

I would likely need to carry my original mask as well, utilizing this new one for general activities while reserving the sturdier prototype for actual operations requiring discretion.

With the revised mask completed, I knocked on Han Seo-hyeon’s door.

For the past few days, he had remained practically sequestered within the laboratory I had prepared, piquing my curiosity about his progress.

Unlike how I had assumed he could simply reanimate the Bloodhound as a standard undead, Han Seo-hyeon had diverged from that approach.

During our previous discussion, he had mentioned undertaking a process to recompose the monster through intermingling with his own dark mana – reinforcing its musculature and integrating that strengthened physiology.

Rather than a mere reanimated undead, he was crafting a more formidable, enhanced variant.

Han Seo-hyeon’s face appeared haggard as he opened the door.

“I told you to eat properly while working.”

“I have been eating, just… channeling so much mana is draining.”

“How close are you to completion?”

In response to my query, Han Seo-hyeon stepped aside, allowing me to peer within. The Bloodhound’s cadaver hovered partially suspended, its entire form except the lower hindquarters enshrouded in swirling blackened mana – a stark contrast to its original crimson hue.

“Almost there, then?”

“I should be able to complete it by tonight.”

“Good, keep at it.”

Next, I sought out Kim Jae-ho, whose body was riddled with numerous minor lacerations.

“Having difficulty with knife techniques?”

Rather than answering verbally, Kim Jae-ho responded by flinging the dagger, the blade precisely impaling the intended target.

“Oh.”

His intrinsic talents as a former delinquent seemed to have facilitated rapid mastery.

“Very well, persevere diligently.”

Closing the door behind me, I contemplated my next course of action.

For now, perhaps…

A nap would be prudent.

I too had spent numerous consecutive nights crafting that artifact, exhaustion weighing heavily upon my eyelids.

* * *

The following day, Han Seo-hyeon had completed the enhanced monster.

The Bloodhound’s revised form, shaped by Han Seo-hyeon’s hand, was utterly mystifying – virtually indistinguishable from a living creature, more akin to an entirely new species of monster rather than a mere undead.

The wisps of dark mana trailing from its maw and paws lent an air of ethereal majesty.

“How is it?”

“Incredible. Shall we test its mobility?”

“Yes.”

I observed closely as the Bloodhound began moving.

Even among the living, Bloodhounds had never been particularly docile monstrosities. But this reconstructed version exhibited speed easily several times more formidable than its original counterpart, at the very least.

“If it sustains damage, will it regenerate as well?”

“From my experiments, expending additional mana allows for recovery up to a certain extent. But losing entire body parts seems irreversible.”

“And what shall we call this one? Surely not some pedestrian name like ‘Dog?'”

Han Seo-hyeon shot me an exasperated glare at my attempted jest.

My feeble humor had clearly fallen flat, leaving me slightly abashed.

“I’ll just call it ‘Hound’. It means ‘hunting dog,’ after all.”

“Ah, so you’ve succumbed to English linguistic chauvinism as well.”

“Yah!”

In any case, with the acquisition of Hound, it was time to incorporate new training regimens.

“Join me at the training grounds.”

“What?”

“You need to learn how to fight in tandem with Hound, coordinating its attacks alongside your skeleton as well.”

Whenever a new combative element was introduced, refining one’s overall tactics to integrate it became an inevitable necessity.

“Summon Jae-ho as well. It would be beneficial for you two to undergo joint training sessions together.”

My suggestion caused Han Seo-hyeon’s face to pale considerably.

Dislike it or not, there was no avoiding this necessity.

“Well then, let’s get those heavy rumps moving!”

—You seem to have taken a liking to that particular line.

Heheh, the suffering cannot be mine alone.

* * *

On the day Kim Jae-ho mastered silent footwork, and Han Seo-hyeon became proficient in coordinated tag-team battles with Hound.

I gathered them both, announcing:

“Are you two done training yet? It’s time for some live combat exercises.”

“Live combat?”

“We should attempt a Gate raid.”

At my words, Han Seo-hyeon leapt from his seated position, exclaiming incredulously:

“A Gate raid?!”