A Splendid First Terror!
I had been busy for the past month. Sinking hostile organizations and villains that might one day threaten me, stealing Elixirs, and taking care of various other tasks. All of it was done to secure a safe life for myself in the hero-dominated world that lay ahead.
“It’s almost time.”
“I will show you a terror befitting an executive of the organization.”
I spent the remaining time making final preparations for my successful villain debut.
“Please look forward to it. Haha.”
“......”
When I smiled brightly, Astra gave me a strangely sour look.
“Um… well, do your best.”
Did I do something wrong?
I left her office and walked away, already organizing the plans that lay ahead.
Hero Association Headquarters.
“How many times has this been…”
Ice Queen slammed her fist against the now-empty desk. Ever since the annihilation of Blue Scope’s gang, similar incidents had been occurring one after another.
A number of firearms that seem too many for a single individual to have used. Serial numbers that leave no trace.
She didn’t know about the rest, but the moment she saw those perfectly erased serial numbers, Ice Queen knew it was the work of the same culprit. Even though the serial numbers were gone, the guns themselves had been left behind at every scene. She had hoped that examining them might yield at least some clues, but…
“Why do they keep disappearing…?”
Starting from the very first incident, every firearm collected from each case had turned to dust and vanished without a trace.
Is it an ability user after all? Some kind of spatial transport type? No, it feels a little different from ordinary teleportation…
If it really was a spatial transport ability, the number of perpetrators—whether one person or several—would be extremely limited. But how were they supposed to catch them? They didn’t even know the enemy’s location or face.
“Ugh…”
With her head spinning, Ice Queen collapsed into her chair and stared blankly out the window. Pure white snow was falling, covering the entire world in a blanket of white.
“Was today Christmas…?”
She glanced at her smartphone. The date read December 25th. It was Christmas, a happy holiday meant for lovers to spend together.
Christmas? Yeah, right.
Maybe it was because she looked so pathetic, standing by waiting for an incident even on a day like this. A sullen expression naturally formed on Ice Queen’s face as she stretched and reached for a book on her shelf.
On a day like today, the best thing would be to sit somewhere quiet, watch the snow fall, and read a book while drinking warm tea.
Just as she pulled a book from the shelf and prepared to begin reading—
“I-Ice Queen! T-this is bad! There’s a terror attack at the department store in Sector B…!”
“…I’m on my way.”
Ice Queen had frowned at the sudden interruption, but her face hardened the moment she heard the word “terror.” She immediately broke into a run.
Today was the day of the important terror attack. Before broadcasting my image, I stood up and inspected my appearance.
Thanks to an organization member with an ability that interfered with recognition, I didn’t need to hide my face, but I still wore a sleek black half-mask that covered the upper half of my face just in case.
A stylish black uniform paired with a perfectly matching cap.
Not bad.
When I added a coat on top, a rather convincing villain stared back at me from the mirror. Satisfied, I turned around to see organization members busily moving about, setting up broadcasting equipment.
“Is everything ready yet?”
““It will be completed shortly!””
The members answered my question with energetic voices.
Hmm. The taste of power really is sweet.
“The terror is approaching soon, so please hurry just a little more.”
““Understood!!””
After leaving the broadcast setup to the members, I sat down in a chair and reviewed today’s terror plan one last time.
Department store entrance sealed. Mannequins prepared to build tension. Bombs installed yesterday…
Since this was my first villain debut after a full month of preparation, I wanted everything to be perfect. I continued checking every detail and rethinking how I would carry out the terror for a while.
“Nice to meet you, everyone.”
The terror broadcast that would announce the beginning of my life as a villain began.
I looked straight into the camera and gave a relaxed smile.
“Nice to meet you, everyone.”
Always keep a smiling face.
I crossed my legs and folded my hands over my knee.
Concept: a polite gentleman villain.
Never emotional. The mastermind behind the terror, yet always courteous even to the hostages. A smiling, inscrutable mastermind type. That was the image I would project.
In truth, it wasn’t that far from reality. My plan was to thoroughly torment the heroes and make them stronger. If they could defeat the final boss on their own without me having to suffer, that would be perfect.
“My name is Maker. I am an executive of ‘Eclipse.’”
Pushing idle thoughts aside, I continued speaking while looking at the camera.
“I have only recently joined, so there are many areas where I am still lacking. However, I will fulfill my responsibilities as an executive, so I ask for your understanding.”
Is the broadcast transmitting properly?
Since I couldn’t check in real time, I felt strangely like I was talking to myself. It was a little embarrassing. I glanced sideways at the panel one of the members was holding up.
On it, I could see live broadcasts from various networks showing large screens displaying my image.
Hmm. It seemed to be transmitting well. Feeling slightly relieved, I quickly scanned the content of each news report.
Wait, mental defects? What the hell are they talking about? I set my concept as a complete gentleman.
Maybe committing terror in a gentlemanly manner was a bit ironic. The question crossed my mind for a moment, but I simply let it go. I lifted my teacup, took a sip, and continued.
“Getting to the main point, I plan to carry out a terror attack here today.”
When I smiled brightly and pointed my finger at the floor below, a low murmur began to spread throughout the entire building.
“There is only one thing I desire.”
Regardless, I leaned my upper body over the table with a bright smile and stared into the camera.
“I want the heroes to come here.”
—There is only one thing I desire.
—I want the heroes to come here.
Inside the Hero Association Sector B Operations Analysis Room, heroes and association staff alike were watching the new villain Maker being broadcast on air.
“He wants heroes to come? What is he talking about?”
The common question that rose in everyone’s minds the moment they heard him. As if answering them, Maker continued.
Maker spoke casually, as if discussing everyday matters, while pouring warm tea into his now-empty cup.
“Ha.”
“That bastard.”
The moment the word “citizens” left his mouth, the association staff’s faces twisted in anger.
“Hey, did the police set up the blockade? Did you make sure that son of a bitch can’t escape?”
Some of them, deciding there was no point in listening further, asked the subordinates standing at attention beside them for the current situation.
As Maker spoke, the murmurs rising from the people inside the building beneath him grew louder. Maker made a strange expression, as if pondering how to interpret those sounds.
After thinking for a moment, Maker let out a small chuckle as if granting a generous favor. He leaned back in his chair and took a sip of the freshly poured tea.
Isn’t this too generous of me?Maker smiled softly.
“Ha, what a load of bullshit.”
The man in charge of the operations analysis team irritably stubbed out his cigarette.
It was common knowledge that all villains were mentally ill. Up until now, whenever villains had used the excuse of “playing a game,” they had either put citizens in danger or used them as shields to attack heroes. The endings of such terror incidents disguised as games had never been good.
Even if you went along with everything a villain said, none of them ever kept their word. There were occasionally those who became obsessed with one particular thing and acted strangely, but they always ended up the same. They were all the type who would change their story without hesitation if it suited their goals.
And now this guy—who was obviously the same type—had kidnapped citizens for no apparent reason and said he would release them once the heroes arrived?
What a fucking joke.
It was nonsense. He definitely had some other objective in mind. Whether it was taking the citizens hostage the moment the heroes showed up or some other hidden purpose.
“There’s nothing more to see! Shut it down!”
The man who had burst out in anger was about to shout for them to capture the villain currently carrying out the terror broadcast when—
—KWAANG!!!
A massive explosion shook the camera. Maker remained seated without the slightest sign of panic, calmly waiting for the shaking to stop.
If you’re late, it will be a big problem, won’t it?Maker laughed playfully.
On the screen, bombs installed in every corner of the building were shown alongside the blurry image of numerous people with their heads bowed, huddled together in one place.
With those final words, the screen displaying Maker flickered darkly and went black.