Being a Villain is My True Calling

At the Hero Association’s headquarters.

“Haah…”

-What’s wrong, Chise? Is there something troubling you?

“Ah, no! It’s nothing like that!”

Inside the heroes’ exclusive lounge, Chise was having a long-awaited conversation with her friend Suzuki, with whom she had previously worked as a hero in Japan.

-Even your sighs make you seem burdened.

-Are those Korean hero bastards discriminating against you?! Want me to go give them a piece of my mind?

The booming voice of the man named Kato could also be heard.

“No, really, I’m fine…!”

Chise’s protests were met with a contemplative “Hmm…” from Kato.
He then continued in a serious tone:

-No matter how well-developed Korea’s infrastructure is, there’s bound to be an undercurrent of prejudice against foreigners.

“Is, Is that so?”

To illustrate his point for the worldly-naive Chise, Kato decided to provide some examples.

-Yeah! Like taxi drivers ripping you off…

“I usually walk everywhere! The only time I took a taxi was when Cafe Manager paid for it in advance!”

As the Association-provided accommodations were a mere 40-minute walk away (by Chise’s standards), she had grown accustomed to traveling on foot.
For longer missions, she would simply ride her summoned griffin.

-Hmm, or maybe the Korean heroes subtly disrespect you during conversations…

“I don’t really converse with the local heroes!”

Excluding the Hound team members, she (involuntarily) lacked interactions with other heroes.

-…Isn’t that just them ostracizing you?

“Hmm…I don’t think so?”

For the record, she perceived the local heroes as being rather taciturn in nature.

-…Have you at least been eating well in Korea?

“Yes! They even have onigiri that costs 100 yen there!”

-……

‘Just how has she been surviving over there?’
Kato found Chise’s cheerful obliviousness slightly unsettling.

‘What sort of hardships must this little girl have endured to remain so unfazed?’

-…Chise.

“Yes?”

Yamada Kato, 19 years old.
A young man born a few months earlier than Chise and Suzuki, he was the eldest son in a family with two adorable younger sisters, like rabbits.

-Why don’t you just come back to Japan?

“Pardon?”

-I could stir up a storm over there, and you could sneak in during the chaos…

“…???”

He was a man hopelessly weak when it came to his younger sisters.

Baak!!

-Kkeurheuk!

A loud thudding sound could be heard from Kato’s side of the call.
Accompanied by his yelp of pain.

Not to be outdone, Suzuki’s voice soon followed:

-You were saying such outrageous things to her! You siscon!

-I was just offering to help her return to Japan by any means! And I’m not a siscon, you brat!

-How many times must I remind you that I’m not a brat!

“Hmm…”

As the two bickered, Chise responded with an awkward smile.

“…Even so, I think I should remain in Korea for now.”

-Huh? Why?

-Obviously because it would be illegal! You dummy!

Shaking her head at Suzuki’s rebuke, Chise clarified:

“That’s part of it, but there’s another reason too.”

-Ah, is it because of that guy? The cafe owner near the slums? I told you during the amusement park incident that my advice was a mistake, and you absolutely shouldn’t associate with that scumbag-

“…Wh,Why are you bringing up Cafe Manager?! That’s not it! It’s because of Maker! I vowed to apprehend that man myself!”

Her face flushed crimson as she let out an indignant shriek.
Responding to her outburst, Suzuki glanced at Kato before jabbing him sharply in the ribs.

-See! Chise has her own goals too, and we should respect her determination. Right, Kato?

-Guhurk…! Agh! Y,Yes, my bad! Gomen!

Momentarily pouting, Chise made efforts to cool her reddened cheeks.

“And…that’s not the only reason I need to stay.”

-What is it, Chise?

After a brief pause, her cheeks now their normal hue, she hesitated slightly.
Should she share this with them?

However, she soon dismissed such concerns as nonsensical.

‘If not Kato and Suzuki, then who else could I tell?’

Moistening her parched lips, she shared the most joyful news she had received recently.

“A new treatment method with high prospects of a cure has emerged! I just need to raise the funds now, and it will be enough!”

Uhdangtang!

-Is that true, Chise?!

-So you can finally treat Yui and Ren?!

As expected, their reactions were visibly startled yet elated.
A natural smile graced Chise’s lips.

“Yes! The doctor said they can see a way forward this time!”

-That’s wonderful, Chise! You’ve endured so much hardship!

-Yui and Ren can regain their health now!!

Tsukino Yui and Tsukino Ren.
Chise’s sole remaining family members, and the reason she had forgone even her own meals to save money for their treatment.

For the past five years, Chise had been steadily earning and paying for her younger siblings’ medical expenses as they battled an incurable disease.

Although shouldering such a burden at her young age, for the sake of her even younger brother and sister, must have been overwhelming, she had persevered through the hardships.
And at the end of her struggles, a grand reward awaited her.

‘I just need to raise the surgery fees now!’

While the surgery costs were still substantial, it was a vast improvement over the past five years of draining funds with no prospect of recovery in sight.

-…Shouldn’t we chip in as well then? It would ease your burden if we shared the load.

“It’s far too much money to borrow from friends! I’d feel terrible being indebted to you!”

-But wouldn’t it be too difficult for Chise to manage alone? The surgery fees are quite significant, as you mentioned…

“I’ll be fine!”

While her stubbornness might seem unreasonable, Chise’s refusal was not without careful consideration.

“I’m expecting a sizable bonus this time around!”

Her mission with the Hound team.
While her inclusion in the team was indeed a coveted opportunity to handle Maker’s case, another key factor in her decision was the significantly higher compensation compared to other assignments.

Now that the serial killer had been revealed as Alpha, and the murders had temporarily ceased, the exact terms were uncertain.
However, her salary for this month, at the very least, would be substantial.

‘The scheduled surgery date is three months away.’

If she accumulated this month’s bonus along with several other high-paying missions, she was confident in being able to cover the surgery costs.

“So, I can manage to raise the funds for the hospital expenses.”

-Even so…

“If you insist, then please treat the children to plenty of delicious meals once they’ve recovered and regained their health after the surgery.”

Chise’s firm resolution left Suzuki momentarily gaping, as if to argue further.
However, Kato interjected before she could respond.

-…Alright.

-But, Kato!

-We both know there’s no dissuading Chise once she’s made up her mind, don’t we? When Ren and Yui are discharged, we’ll have to stuff them until their bellies burst.

Even without any illness, that brat Ren would constantly complain about why he could only eat soft foods.
Suzuki frowned at Kato, yet could not refute his words.

After all, they were both equally susceptible to Chise’s resolute nature.

-…I suppose we have no choice.

Accepting their concession, Chise smiled warmly.

-We’ve been on the line for quite a while now. We should get back to work.

-You said Chise only had the morning shift today, right?

“Yes! Since it’s past lunchtime now, I was about to head home.”

-Work hard! Let’s talk again soon!

-See you later!

“Fighting, you two!”

Tuk.
After their prolonged conversation, Kato and Suzuki, with duties awaiting them, hastened their departure.
The long-awaited call had finally ended.

‘Hmm…what should I do now?’

As she had mentioned during the call, today was a morning-only shift, leaving her with no further hero duties.

‘Should I visit Cafe Manager’s place?’

Recently, due to the Hound team’s mission and the serial killer case, she had barely found any free time. On the rare occasions she did visit, all she encountered were notes indicating his temporary absence.

Having accumulated considerable stress, she naturally longed for the healing ambiance of the cafe.

Hoping he might be present today, she felt an involuntary pull in that direction.

Kkiiieek.
The door slowly opened.

“Oh.”

“Eh.”

The one who entered was none other than Ice Queen.
For a fleeting moment, their faces contorted before relaxing.

“…You changed your hair color? It’s jet black now.”

“Ah, yes…it automatically reverts when I use my ability.”

Chise had never before witnessed Ice Queen’s raven locks and dark eyes.
Today, with only the morning shift scheduled, she was not the hero Ice Queen but rather the civilian Seo Yun-hee.

“I see, you’re heading out to rest as well.”

“Like Phantom Luna, I only had the morning shift today.”

Out of her hero attire, she was dressed casually.
With her black hair, dark eyes, and round spectacles, coupled with her casual, somewhat youthful outfit – a stark contrast to her usual cynical demeanor – she seemed an entirely different person from the hero Ice Queen.

‘If not for her hairstyle, I might not have recognized her…’

Sseureurik.

“Ah.”

The one identifying feature Chise had relied upon had now vanished.

“Isn’t Phantom Luna going out as well?”

“I was planning to head out shortly, yes.”

“I see.”

“Where were you intending to go, Ice Queen?”

Momentarily contemplative, pursing her lips, Seo Yun-hee caressed the book tucked under her arm before responding slowly:

“I was considering visiting a cafe.”

“…A cafe?”

Flinch.
Chise’s body trembled slightly.

“…?”

Her reaction created a peculiar atmosphere.
Chise’s eyes narrowed fleetingly.

However, she soon regained her composure, regarding Seo Yun-hee with a warm smile as if nothing had transpired.

“…A cafe. Cafes are nice. It’s quite soothing to unwind in a cozy atmosphere with delicious beverages.”

“I suppose so…?”

Yes, she had merely mentioned a cafe.

It could be one located near the Association, or an entirely different establishment altogether.
Surely, there was no need for such an extreme reaction.

“Huhuhuh…”

And yet…for some reason…hmm.
The mere mention of a cafe had inexplicably soured Chise’s mood.