Ch.2Chapter 1. Villain Executioner (2)

This Korean nationalist light novel features a villain called “Goblin.”

As an executive of the evil organization “The Syndicate,” he’s a villain who attacks the protagonist’s academy from volume one, constantly harassing the main character.

“Grrr…! You! How dare you make my plan fail so insolently! You’ll pay for this!”

Of course, like all low-ranking executives in evil organizations, all his attacks targeting the protagonist end in failure.

“You always interfere with me! Put that woman down and leave now, and I might spare your life!”

“I don’t know how you brainwashed her, but you’ll pay for stealing our organization’s executive! I’ll kill you for sure!”

“You’re always getting in my way! If it weren’t for you, our organization would have owned this country! We would have owned the world! If only you didn’t exist!!!”

Specifically, he’s a villain who tried to kidnap the “heroines” at the academy but was thwarted by the protagonist who happened to be nearby, and after being repeatedly foiled, his ultimate goal became killing the protagonist.

The childhood friend heroine becomes part of the protagonist’s harem.

His direct superior becomes part of the protagonist’s harem.

Eventually, by the final volume, even the evil organization’s leader becomes part of the protagonist’s harem.

“Die, protagonist! Even if I die today, I’ll make sure to take you with me!!”

In the end, he becomes something like the true final boss after awakening through corruption and despair, stealing the abilities of all villains.

That’s me.

A villain whose portrayal in the original work was so pathetic and unpleasant that readers felt he deserved even the worst “BSS” and “NTR” treatment—a villain with a terrible reputation.

And I ended up possessing this villain.

I still don’t understand why I possessed this character rather than the protagonist, but now I’m operating as a villain in “The Syndicate,” a secret organization aiming for world domination.

To survive.

I was possessed after already becoming a villain, and now I can’t leave this organization.

If I wanted to leave, I’d need to find someone who could remove this ability and “purify” me.

And not just any purification—one that could break the “restriction” placed directly by the leader’s ability.

I’ve considered surrendering to the Hero Alliance.

I haven’t really committed any serious villain acts yet, and being a villain has far more restrictions than being a hero.

But.

After living as a villain for the past few months, I’ve grown to like it.

Ding dong.

My smartphone alarm rings.

I immediately check it and see a bank app notification.

Metaverse Co., Ltd. Deposit. 34,123,293 won.

“…Anyone would be tempted to be a villain for 30 million.”

An enormous sum has been deposited.

“Metaverse” is one of our Syndicate’s many shell companies, and I’m registered as an employee receiving a salary.

No matter how secret an organization is, activities require money, so we need legal ways to use these funds.

If this company were tracked by heroes, my accounts, bankbooks, and smartphones would be seized immediately, but our Syndicate isn’t so easily defeated.

Ding dong.

Another alarm sounds from my pocket, and I pull out a different smartphone.

Hero Archive Co., Ltd. Deposit. 21,413,989 won.

Another smartphone, another account.

“30 million plus 20 million more.”

Hero Archive is also one of our shell companies.

The Syndicate systematically manages its members, ensuring payments can come through different companies if one is compromised.

I worry about getting caught by the International Hero Alliance—commonly known as “HERO”—but until then, I can amass huge sums without much trouble.

There are three more places, but I haven’t achieved enough “results” for payments from them yet, but if I build up my performance…

“I’ll hit 100 million this month.”

That’s The Syndicate for you—a place where you can make 100 million monthly.

Justice?

Heroes?

Protagonists?

All useless before money. I’m a slave to vulgar capitalism, kneeling before The Syndicate’s warm salary.

“Congratulations, Goblin. I’ll give you what you want.”

“No more, no less, just one.”

“One? Will that be enough?”

“Of course, Leader.”

“Good. I’ve put 100 million in your account. Looking forward to your next job. Hmm hmm!”

“…!”

And that’s how I became a villain.

It’s not because the leader is a beautiful woman, or because the so-called “Four Heavenly Kings” executives are all women.

I’m not attracted to women—I’m attracted to money.

‘This is reality now.’

Whether this world is from a light novel or whatever, it’s now my reality.

If there’s no way to escape, isn’t living luxuriously with wealth the right answer?

BAAANG—

“What’s that?”

A harsh horn sound blares outside the balcony window.

I don’t know if it’s a vehicle ignoring traffic signals or another villain appearing.

EEEEEE.

The villain alert sound.

This is a common alarm in Seoul, so I check my smartphone just in case.

“…It’s not from our side?”

There’s no message from The Syndicate.

But if the villain alarm is sounding, it’s genuinely a villain situation.

Click.

I turned on the TV.

I checked the breaking news channel, specifically “HTN,” which specializes in ability user-related content.

[Alert. The villain ‘Red Scarf’ is currently speeding along the Gyeongbu Expressway. Damage report: 8 cars destroyed, multiple casualties…]

“Another villain.”

Villains appear every day.

Today’s villain is “driving” at 200km/h on the Gyeongbu Expressway.

He’s enjoying his speed as if the highway were the Autobahn.

[The suspect, villain ‘Red Scarf,’ real name Jung Gong-in, is 19 years old and is causing havoc right after being released from the juvenile detention center for ability users. The hero authorities…]

“Tsk. Such a young punk already causing trouble.”

One thing villains have in common is they’re all under 25.

That makes sense.

In 2000.

On the day the century changed, a meteor from space struck Earth.

The meteor contained extraterrestrial material, and after it spread across the globe, a new type of human was born.

Ability users.

Children who could use supernatural powers, freely utilizing a new energy called “mana.”

Only children.

“The new humanity.”

The oldest ability user is just 25 years old, born in 2000.

In stories where people awaken abilities in modern times, adults often awaken powers too, but not in this light novel.

Was it dissatisfaction with adults, or resistance psychology?

They could have set it up for adults to awaken abilities, or set the timeline when the first ability users had become respectable members of society.

In this light novel world, none of the suit-wearing, throat-clearing adults have abilities.

No one 26 or older, born in the 1900s, manifested abilities.

As a result, humanity began experiencing a true generational conflict.

The old humanity before awakening abilities.

The new humanity with awakened abilities.

Of course, the catch is that officially there aren’t even 100,000 of these new humans with abilities, but the influence of these 100,000 is enormous.

[This is the Dongtan Junction on the Gyeongbu Expressway! Villain Red Scarf is currently heading toward ‘Seoul,’ evading heroes’ attention, while heroes who departed from ‘Busan’ are still passing through the Daegu area!]

[Are there no heroes departing from Seoul at the scene?]

[None!]

The world has entered an era of great chaos.

[How can there be not a single hero in Seoul?]

[Because it’s Seoul!]

There are no heroes in Seoul.

There are no heroes in Gyeonggi Province.

Busan is teeming with heroes.

The author must be from Busan.

Seoul remains the capital, but Busan has become the economic center.

To put it extremely:

“An apartment next to the Hero Alliance building in Haeundae costs 5 billion won, while brand apartments in Seoul’s Gangnam have dropped to 300 million won.”

No matter how much of a light novel fantasy world this is, the people living here are definitely beings in “reality.”

I know this world is a light novel, but the people here live in fear, not knowing when some young punk villain might appear and cause trouble.

Now, this world is also my reality.

Whether I was a reader in my previous life or whatever, now I’m living as a villain and executive in an evil organization in this world.

[Red Scarf’s objective has been confirmed! He posted on social media that he would turn Seoul into a sea of flames, particularly planning large-scale arson in Gangnam!]

So.

[He warned he would set fire to Banpo Jain…]

“…No.”

I looked outside.

“In my neighborhood?”