Being a Villain is My True Calling

Feed.

Huh?

She wanted me to feed her, conveying the message with her entire being.
It was a rather perplexing situation.

‘Just how did things end up like this?’

Mere moments ago, I had simply been apprehending the researchers distributing drugs throughout the slums one by one.

Thud thud.
Plop.

Yet suddenly, an unfamiliar young girl had flopped down before me, waving a crudely scrawled sign demandingly.
Just how was I meant to interpret this scenario?

“…?”

As I remained silent, seemingly comprehending my bewilderment, the girl emphasized each word on her sign individually while still lying prone.

1 serving.
Possible.

Me.
Feed.

Tapping the sign insistently, she pointed her finger directly at me.

Feed.

Her luminescent, predatory eyes scrutinized me intently.

“Good sir! I’ve finished over here…eh, young miss! You mustn’t lie on such filthy ground!!”

For a span, the girl and I simply stared at each other in silence.
Until Uchi, who had been searching for me, arrived on the scene in a flustered state and approached the girl.

“I know not why you’ve suddenly taken to lying there! But arise at once!”

“……”

As Uchi fussed and attempted to forcibly lift her, the girl squirmed defiantly for a brief moment.

“…If you insist on sprawling there, it creates difficulties for me as well. Let us simply stand and converse properly.”

At my words, the girl reluctantly rose to her feet with an exasperated expression.
Yet her gaze remained firmly fixed upon me.

“Tch, not even heeding my words…so what seems to be the matter here, good sir?”

Regarding the girl with a perplexed look, Uchi shot me a hushed whisper after glancing her way.

‘If I knew, I wouldn’t be standing here like this.’

However, no matter how insistently he inquired, I too was utterly baffled by this abrupt turn of events.

“Do you know this child?”
“…I’m afraid this is our first encounter.”

With her hooded cloak pulled low, concealing her face from view, the girl had materialized unexpectedly only to demand that I ‘feed’ her.
While her features remained obscured, the glimpses of black and white hair peeking through clearly indicated an unfamiliar individual.

“Hmm…”

As the girl persistently pointed to the word ‘feed’, I addressed her in a gentle tone.
I ought to at least ascertain her reasons for this behavior first.

“…Can you understand Korean?”

“……”

She seemed to ponder my question momentarily before nodding in affirmation.

“…Little.”

Shortly after, the girl responded haltingly.

“…Me, feed please. One serving possible.”

While her pronunciation was rather garbled, likely due to her youth, the girl enunciated her request as clearly as possible – for me to feed her.

However, her abrupt demand placed me in quite the predicament…

“…Well then, let’s start by removing that cloak, shall we?”
“……”
“I understand you wish for me to ‘feed’ you, but we are still strangers who have never met before, are we not?”
“…Yes.”
“When I know nothing about your appearance, name, or identity, agreeing to such a request would be unwise.”

Did she comprehend my reasoning?
The girl nodded slowly in acknowledgment.

As she hesitantly gripped the edge of her cloak, I began speculating about her circumstances.

‘Perhaps she’s a child from the slums?’

Given her relatively well-kempt appearance compared to the local populace, her insistent demands for me to ‘feed’ her could stem from that disparity.

‘I should politely refuse and proceed to locate the main research facility.’

Fortunately, having apprehended all the drug-peddling researchers, I had ample time to spare.

“……”

After contemplating at length, the girl seemed to reach a resolution.
Grasping her hood firmly, she made to unveil her face to me, only for:

“Good sir Uchi~!!”

A distant, jovial voice accompanied by rapidly approaching footsteps drew our collective attention in that direction.

“I just had to tag along, you see~”
“Ack! For the last time, begone from my presence!!”
“Aww~ But you’ll miss me.”
“Out, I say! Out!!”

The bounded researcher, gripping the leash around his own neck, came scampering over to converse animatedly with Uchi.

“Eh?”
“……”

With her hood partially dislodged, the girl’s features were laid bare.
And upon glimpsing her visage, the researcher greeted her with a warm smile.

“Why, the test subject P-1120.”

In stark contrast to the researcher’s sunny demeanor, the girl’s expression soured into a scowl.

Beholding the unveiled girl after she had shed her cloak, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat taken aback.

The prominent animal-like ears protruding from her head, the swishing tail peeking out from beneath the cloak.
And those distinctly predatory, avian eyes.

Exhibiting various bestial traits, the girl bore an appearance one might classify as a ‘beastkin’ in typical fantasy settings.

“……”

Yet it wasn’t merely her hybrid physiology straddling human and animal realms that elicited my surprise.

Rarely, certain ability users were known to manifest permanent physical transformations or perpetually activated abilities from birth.

‘Countless bruises and welts.’

From her face down to her hands and neck, every visible portion not concealed by the cloak was mottled with discolored contusions.
The evident signs of sustained abuse, coupled with being referred to as a ‘test subject’ while exhibiting feral features.

‘…The overall situation is becoming clear.’

As the researcher had stated, she was indeed an experimental test subject.
Likely involved in some beast-related project.
And according to my knowledge, Z-Biotech had only one such endeavor involving animal subjects.

That pivotal ‘main project’.

“Aw~ Test subject P-1120!! What brings you here? Did you come to rescue little ol’ me?”

“No. Go away.”

“How cold~ Did you perhaps break free of the brainwashing too? I wonder how you managed that…”

“……”

While the researcher warmly engaged the girl in conversation, she responded with a scrunched scowl and a threatening baring of her fangs, letting out a feral growl.

Tap.

Grrruumble?

With the situation verging on potential conflict, I promptly flipped the girl’s hood back over her head before addressing the researcher.

“Researcher. It seems I’ll need you to provide a full account of these circumstances.”

“Ah.”

Sensing our focused attention, the researcher swiftly acquiesced with a nod of understanding.

“Well then…where would be best to begin explaining?”

His instinctive throat massage hinted at certain details he would be unable to disclose.
In that case, it might prove more efficient for me to pose specific inquiries directly.

“Just who is this child?”

“You’re referring to test subject P-1120, are you not? As I’ve stated, a test subject.”

“A test subject for what manner of experimentation?”

“For our experiments, of course…”

It seemed this particular detail was restricted from disclosure.
Well, no matter. I had already deduced as much.

“How did the brainwashing become undone?”

“Well…don’t be upset? We employ brainwashing techniques on viable test subjects. To prevent rebellion against us or harm from their abilities, you understand.”

From the girl’s current state, it did appear the brainwashing had been neutralized.

“So you’re telling me you’ve been subjecting a mere child to experimentation, and brainwashing on top of that…?”

Unlike his usual demeanor, Uchi regarded the researcher with uncharacteristic severity, his voice stern.

‘Calm down.’

Visibly trembling with apparent rage, I patted Uchi’s shoulder in a placating gesture before continuing my line of questioning.

“Why is this child present here?”

“Erm…bodyguard duty. And um…human abduction…?”

“Human abduction??”

Unable to contain himself further, Uchi lunged forward and seized the researcher by his collar at those words.

“Haahh…”

“You even had this young child abducting innocent people?!”

“Haack…n,not always innocent…we mainly targeted drug addicts, but sometimes…haack…regular people too…”

Reduced to a pathetic, gasping wretch offering no resistance…
The researcher haltingly answered Uchi’s interrogation between ragged breaths.

“And I presume those abductees were meant to serve as test subjects for further experiments, correct?”

“Y,yes…”

From their illicit standpoint, an eternal shortage of test subjects was only natural.
Even after drug trials, they would likely seek to repurpose surviving subjects for additional experimentation if feasible.

“Outrageous!! How could any human being perpetrate such vile acts!!”

“Huaahh…!! S,sorry…!!”

“Uchi, that’s enough.”
“But good sir…!!”

With crucial information still remaining, such disruptive behavior was unproductive.
Moreover, that bastard seemed to be practically relishing this entire sordid display – my very eyes felt tainted just witnessing it.

‘Please, make it stop.’

“…Tch.”

Heeding my earnest plea, albeit begrudgingly, Uchi released the researcher from his grasp while clicking his tongue in disgust.

“Researcher. It seems a visit to your facility will be unavoidable.”

I too adopted a sterner tone befitting the circumstances.

“You will be able to guide us there, I presume?”

“…Y,yes…”

Excellent.
I shifted my attention toward the girl, her entire demeanor radiating dissatisfaction directed squarely at me.
Her accusatory glare demanded an explanation for my decision.

‘Hmm. How should I proceed? Bring her along?’

Given her bestial appearance, the likelihood was high that this test subject was inextricably linked to that paramount main project.

No matter how diligently I attempted to conceal my own identity now, if I brought her along only for my involvement to be exposed later, confrontation with Z-Biotech would become inevitable…

“Me, come too.”
“It’s too perilous.”

The crux was whether I could feasibly handle the potential ramifications.

“I strong.”
“One serving. Possible?”

At my words, the girl glanced sidelong at a dilapidated building nearby.
After assuming a defensive stance and stretching her limbs slightly…

“Hruuph.”

CRAAASH!!!

Her hands morphed into beast-like claws as she unleashed a devastating strike, obliterating a portion of the wall and leaving a cavernous opening easily large enough for two adults to pass through.

“Me, one serving possible.”

‘…Well, I’d be a fool to refuse after that demonstration.’

As long as she maintained a low profile unaffiliated with Eclipse’s activities, her presence shouldn’t pose any significant risks, right?
We could engage in our own side operations separately without issue.

From behind my mask, I flashed the girl a warm, tender smile.

“Then shall we proceed to demolish that research facility?”

“Yes.”

And just like that, our temporary demolition squad was assembled.

CRAAASH!! CRAAAUNNCCH!!!

“Oh fuck, she’s insane!!”
“Someone stop that thing!!!”
“You want us to subdue a goddamn main project test subject?! Did you flunk basic literacy?”
“The fuck is wrong with you?!”

Amidst the thoroughly decimated research facility, pandemonium reigned as the scattered researchers fled in abject terror.
Observing the wanton devastation unfold, I couldn’t help but grin with utter satisfaction.

“How about that wall section next?”

“Okay.”

CRAAAUUUNNCCHH!!!
CRACKCRACKCRACK!

Well done, my dear!
As I applauded enthusiastically, the girl seemed emboldened, redoubling her efforts to reduce the entire structure to rubble.

“We appear to have no roles to play here.”

While initially apprehensive, Uchi too had grown nonchalant, munching on snacks brought from who knows where as he casually spectated.

“Aahh…to witness such frantic deathbed thrashing is simply enviable…”

Meanwhile, the bound researcher slobbered hungrily, gawking at his frantically fleeing colleagues desperately evading the relentless rampage.

“Aaaaahhh!!! Someone stop those maniacs for the love of god!!!”

Utterly blindsided by this abrupt calamity, the researchers could only wail despondently amidst the unfolding ruin.