Being a Villain is My True Calling

“…How much longer do you intend to keep following me in secret?”

I turned to glare at Uchi, who had been doggedly tailing me.
Meeting my gaze defiantly, Uchi responded:

“I have done no such underhanded thing as following in secret!”

Then what would you call this?

“I am openly following you!”

“Haah…”

It seemed I had made the grave mistake of attracting the attention of a madman.

‘While I’d prefer to avoid causing a commotion…’

I did consider subduing him, but it didn’t seem the wisest choice.
Judging by his outfit, he was likely a villain or hero, and getting inadvertently embroiled with either could prove troublesome.

‘In that case.’

There was only one viable option.
From my pocket, I retrieved a smoke bomb.

Pulling the pin, I promptly dropped it to the ground.

Fwooooosh-!

“Now wait just a mome…”

No sooner had it hit the ground than the smoke bomb erupted in a thick, billowing cloud of smoke.

“Ack! Why is this smoke so obscuring?!”

‘It’s a specially-made smoke bomb from the Professor, so of course it’s more potent than ordinary ones.’

“Coughcoughcough~!!”

As Uchi flailed about in the rapidly thickening haze, I took my chance to slip away.

“Phew.”

Having put some distance between us, I straightened my attire and gazed up at the rising plume of smoke.

What an odd character.
His pointless antics were simply too much of an annoyance.

‘Hopefully I won’t encounter that fellow again.’

Watching the smoke gradually disperse in the distance, I offered up a silent prayer.

“My gooood sir~!”

“Haah…”

It seemed that prayer went unanswered.

The following night, as I patrolled the slums once more, I found myself exasperatedly reunited with that same vexing acquaintance.

God must be dead.
Or rather, if the one who deposited me in this world could be called a god, then they were most certainly alive.
Just an utter, festering waste of existence with zero redeeming qualities.

“What a joyous reunion! Had you perhaps reconsidered my proposal…?”

“I already declined, so please don’t persist.”

“Well said, good sir! Then let us embark and safeguard these slums together once more!”

“I said no such thing.”

Refusing to take no for an answer, his obstinate persistence truly grated on me.
Despite my curt, unambiguous responses, his tenacity was exasperating.

“Surely you must have some objective in mind? Allow me to assist. I am quite familiar with this area, having frequented it often!”

“Hmm.”

Then, as if anticipating my potential rejection of his company, he added a qualifier.
Based solely on his words, there didn’t seem to be any harm in it.

‘Plus, even if I refuse, this guy doesn’t seem like the type to simply give up.’

Since he claimed familiarity with the area, perhaps he could provide a fresh perspective to uncover clues about the drugs.

There was even a chance the dealer might inadvertently cross our path.

‘If leaving him be would only create more nuisances, I might as well utilize whatever benefits his presence could offer.’

“Very well. For now, I’ll accept your proposal.”

Nodding in acceptance, Uchi let out a gratified chuckle, seemingly pleased.

“In exchange for your assistance in my search, I’ll allow you to accompany my patrols.”

“That would suffice!”

“However, should any perceived dangers arise, I have no intention of intervening whatsoever.”

“You can’t mean…?”

Uchi raised his voice questioningly at my words.
Around these parts, the likelihood was high that any perceived ‘danger’ would simply amount to meaningless squabbles or trifles.

Shooting me a sidelong glance, Uchi asked:

“…Even if a truly imperiled individual requires aid?”

“Then I’ll consider it at that time, if so inclined.”

Uchi’s expression remained dubious.

“In any case, I’ll commence the search presently.”

Dismissing his qualms, I set off on my intended path.
And so Uchi and I began scouring the slums together.

He patrolled, while I searched for drug dealers.
No leads yet, but the situation was proceeding smoothly enough.

“Good sir! Behold over there! Those shadowy brutes harassing that emaciated wretch!!”

While his theatrics were rather pitiable, I responded with casual indifference toward Uchi’s outburst.

“He likely borrowed money from loan sharks and got caught fleeing.”

Uchi’s delusions exceeded all bounds of rationality.

“Good sir! Might we spare some coin for those starving children over there?”

“You mean to deliberately invite trouble by provoking their guardians into assaulting us and robbing us blind?”

And then:

“Good sir! Must we not intervene in that affair? A ruffian of ill repute accosts a lady as they pass…”

“That would be an ordinary solicitation for her services.”

And again:

“Good sir…!”
“Good sir! One moment!”
“Good sir…!!”

At every turn down each alleyway, Uchi seemed determined to summon me over under the pretext that our intervention was required.
As my patience gradually reached its limits, he persisted.

“Good sir! Behold over there!!”

Sure enough, Uchi called out to me once more.
I regarded him with a hint of exasperation this time.

“What now? Were you about to suggest we join those con artists’ poker game?”

“No, that’s not it at all!”

“Or perhaps advise handing money to those feigned beggars who are actually muggers?”

“No…well, my mistake on that one!”

“Then what is it?”

In response to my question, Uchi pointed toward a certain individual.

“That man over there! His condition seems rather abnormal, could he have ingested drugs?”

At those words, I instantly whipped my head around to scrutinize the direction Uchi indicated.
And there, the man’s state was evident.

“Heeehh…”

‘Staggering gait, dilated pupils, slurred speech.’
At first glance, it could pass for mere drunken intoxication, but…

“Hide!”
“Uwah!”

Pressing my back against the wall, I covertly observed the man.
That’s when a robe-clad figure suddenly materialized before him, extending a plastic packet filled with white powder.

‘Bingo.’

I had successfully discovered a drug deal in progress.

“You stay right here. That one is my target.”

“Mmm! I shall remain as still as a mouse for your sake, good sir!”

Nodding at Uchi’s assent, I felt reassured as I calmly approached the transaction.

“Drug! Drug…!!”
“This drug…”

Drawing nearer, their voices gradually became audible.
The addict seemed to be begging for the drug, while the dealer responded with a mocking tone.

“P,please more drugs!! I,I have money!!”
“Well now, this drug doesn’t require any money~”

With bloodshot eyes, the man knelt before the dealer, who nonchalantly looked down upon him.
The dealer then crouched to meet the addict’s gaze.

“Didn’t I tell you? From now on, if you want drugs, you’ll need to bring people.”

“H,how can I do that?!!”
“How hard can it be to nab a decent ability user? Or even a kid, if need be.”

It seemed their sales tactics had taken a rather unsavory turn as well.

‘Human trafficking?’

The keywords – ‘ability user’, ‘bring’, ‘kid’ – painted a rather clear picture of the situation.

While I couldn’t be certain what vile deeds awaited those they abducted, this dealer was highly likely to be involved with the ability enhancer drug trade.

‘If not for that, there would be no reason to specifically target ability users or even children for abduction.’

The overall situation had become apparent.
Then perhaps it was time for me to intervene?

Crack crack!

In an instant, I rushed forward to initiate their subjugation.

“Kughh…”
“Ow, ow…why me?”

After safely subduing them, I had bound them with ropes imbued with the properties of my whip.
Surveying my handiwork, I felt a sense of satisfaction.

‘It was wise to use the stun baton instead of my gun.’

No risk of accidental fatalities from bleeding, yet still providing an effective means of swift incapacitation, if not quite as instantly as gunshots.

Granted, it wouldn’t work on certain ability users.
So whether the stun baton would prove effective had been uncertain, but fortunately, they didn’t possess such abilities.

“Oh, well struck, good sir!”

Once the situation had concluded, Uchi reappeared, regarding me with an expression tinged with anticipation.

‘…What now?’

“Indeed, I had faith in you, good sir! Feigning disinterest as they spoke of abducting the innocent and even children, only to spring into action at once!!”

“……”

I had simply subdued them once the situation became clear.

“And yet, you did not lose your composure to rage, solely focused on incapacitation with steadfast calm!!”

My objective from the start was capturing them alive, so of course I couldn’t kill them.
As I shot Uchi an incredulous look, he met my gaze with a wizened smile.

“I sense a kindred spirit in you, good sir! Your heart harbors the essence of a true sage! Thus, become my comrade in ar…”

“Not interested.”

“So callous! Good sir!”

More nonsensical prattling.
Lightly dismissing him, I addressed the drug dealer instead.

“So you’re the merchant who has been selling this drug recently?”

“Puhah! And just who might you be? Some kind of snitch?”

“I see no reason to explain myself to you.”
Just answer the questions.

At my brusque response, the dealer let out a derisive snort.

“Sure, so what if I was selling it?”

“Then I’ll need to obtain information about the other dealers from you.”

“As if I’d divulge that? For a hero lackey to torture me for intel?”

The dealer began mocking me openly.
He likely assumed I was a hero or affiliated with them in some capacity.

‘Hmm.’

Admittedly, heroes were indeed restricted from employing such interrogation tactics to extract information.
More due to legal constraints than any moral principles.

But the crucial point was:

‘I’m not a hero.’

Maintaining my impassive expression, I retrieved a vial from my pocket.

Tap.

“?”

Then, grasping his jaw to hold him in place and prevent any resistance:

“Mmphh!!”

I promptly forced the vial’s contents down his throat.

“Mmmbphh!! Mmpphh!! Mmphh!!!”

“My apologies, but I’m actually a villain, not a hero.”

Having fully administered the vial’s contents, I casually tossed the empty container aside.

“…Kughh…kughh…heuck…wh,what did you make me drink?”

“It’s nothing serious.”

I lightly flicked his forehead in response.
And then:

“Aaaaaaarrghhh!!!!”

Letting out an agonized scream, the drug dealer began thrashing about on the ground.

‘You simply ingested a potion that amplifies sensitivity by 3000 times.’

Not just euphoric pleasure, but heightening all external stimuli as well.
While it did admittedly veer into rather unorthodox territory upon consumption…regardless, it was the optimal concoction for inducing torment.

Then I slipped my hand beneath the dealer’s clothing.

“Aagghh!!”

Seemingly fearing what vile act I intended next, he squirmed and convulsed frantically.

‘I’ll introduce you to a friend.’

Skritch skritch-

The subsequent sound caused his face to pale instantly.

“Th,there’s something crawling inside my clothes now…!!”
Skritch-! Skritch skritch-!
“Aagghh…!!”

“I’ve provided you with a companion.”
So enjoy their stimulating company until you feel like talking.

Skritch skritch skritch~ritch!
“Aagghh!! Uugghh!! Kuugghh!!”

With the dealer reaching out imploringly toward Uchi while writhing, and Uchi pointedly averting his gaze from the grisly scene to look my way instead.

“You’re a fearsome one, good sir…”
“Aaaaaahhhh-!!”

The drug dealer’s anguished cries reverberated throughout the slums.