Living as a Villain (3)
Villains can't just buy a house outright. No matter how nicely you decorate it, if someone tails you, that house is as good as gone. So most villains either create some natural fortress no one can approach easily or set up mobile bases. Or they splash out on long-term hotel stays with a mountain of cash. It might feel like burning money, but from the perspective of temporary lodging, it's better than renting an apartment. Especially in this world's Busan.
Prices are five times reality, and it's not like I'm living here forever—who'd buy a place here?
Prices are insanely high. Multiple factors play into it, but the biggest is mana. For ability users, East Sea cities are the most efficient spots to absorb mana quickly. Koreans flock there, but so do foreigners—ability users renting places regardless of cost to stockpile mana. Busan's rents are sky-high everywhere.
Still, Busan's the best deal. Head north, and you're screwed for real.
The closer you get to Sejong Island, the worse it gets. Places like Pohang, with direct access to Sejong Island, have even higher prices than Busan. You could forgive Busan as the capital, but Pohang pricier? One reason: pure distance and environment.
Pohang's the closest city to Sejong Island, just 150km northeast. Head further to Uljin or Gangneung, and you're looking at 3 million won per night for a full villa. Busan's the most economical by far.
Mana warped the world like this. Insane prices, endless demand—sellers squeeze every penny. But sky-high costs don't faze me much. My pay scales with them.
Heroes are civil servants on fixed salaries. Me? Freelance villain for Imae Mangnyang—as long as the organization stands, I pull at least 50 million won a month. It can't fall. That's my lifeline.
To prevent that, eliminate the top threat: the protagonist.
"So I'm fated to kill the protagonist just to survive, huh."
In any light novel or fantasy—possessed as an extra, you either support the protagonist from the shadows or stab them in the back and vanish. For a villain like me, killing him is easiest.
"Sorry, protagonist."
I offered silent condolences to the guy flying into Busan from overseas for academy enrollment.
"You die so I live. And you're a perv anyway."
No hard feelings for a nationalism-fueled light novel lead, but he sexually harasses every heroine under "service scenes." Bursting into dorms while they're changing, crammed in cabinets rubbing bodies during searches, peeking at swimsuit malfunctions at summer camps, sharing body heat in caves during villain attacks. Endless fanservice events revolve around him.
I can't forgive this protagonist. Because he's a nationalism light novel lead? Because he builds a harem? Because he'll interfere with me wooing heroines and S-grade prospects at the academy I'll attend? His typical light novel secrets—mysterious birth tied to big shots, world-shaking powers, path to sole godhood?
None of that. He's already hurt me. Not pre-possession me—post-possession me. And sparing him dooms the world.
"Meteor ending, huh..."
This world ends the instant the protagonist gains god-tier power.
The protagonist seizes god-like power and everything—until the author, unable to drag out the serialization, drops a meteor from the sky. Earth perishes.
Tragically, he can smash that space rock into the planet. Harem secured, happy ever after in sight—yet he does it for one reason.
Rush-ended finale by that bastard author. I trashed the reviews with curses, and the shameless hack force-possessed me here as payback.
Someone said protagonists are the author's ego, a vessel for their mind. Here, protagonist equals author.
So killing him proxies vengeance on the writer who dumped me in this world. Only way to feel some relief.
To infiltrate the academy, I need a cover identity. Luckily, I have "Do Jihwan" for public use. Plain name, fake—crafted for this world. The author skipped naming Dokkaebi, so I was "Do Changnam." Even for a villain boss, rushed finale turning me into the root of all evil and final boss? Needed a name change fast. Post-possession, I renamed myself.
Do Jihwan evokes something odd, but Chongsu named me herself. Good enough.
Do Jihwan. 23 years old. No ties to real name or age—this is my public face.
Missions under it: two. Per organization orders, seduce heroines to our side. And my solo secret: kill the protagonist.
First step: enter Sejong Island on this identity.
No way as a normie.
Sejong Island's a top-security military zone. Even students need ID badges. Access via endless bridges from Pohang, Gangneung, Ulleungdo.
— How do we even build this bridge?!
— We've got ability users!
— Kindergarteners!
— Call the teachers and make it work!
Bridges built around 2005 with ability user help—before that, ferries only. ID mandatory. Purpose checked constantly. Stricter than US immigration, they say.
I needed ironclad cover. Do Jihwan must check out spotless under scrutiny.
So I chose.
"Librarian, please."
"...Librarian?"
"Yes. Librarian."
I pitched the concept to Face Maker, our organization's specialist in forging identities—a villain under Imae Mangnyang.
"Personally, I love books, and librarians don't draw attention."
"Staff position at the academy?"
"Yes. Parachute hire."
"...Risky."
Face Maker fiddled with my ID chip, head tilted.
"Even for Section Chief Do, if you're exposed, doesn't that reveal Chairman's direct line to the enemy?"
"Means she trusts me that much. Implies our island plants don't need overreach—I've got reason to enter Sejong Academy."
"If it's Chairman's call, I'll follow... but isn't it insanely dangerous? S-grade heroes everywhere."
"I know."
Too well.
"Even Snow White from that recent clash is rumored for academy instructor."
"I know, and I'm going anyway."
"Chairman’s orders."
"...Here."
The new electronic chip and librarian certification drew involuntary awe.
"System updates done by end of day. You're now a 23-year-old civilian fresh from librarian training. ...Not an ability user."
"Got it."
I must play civilian perfectly.
"No need for Dokkaebi there anyway. Zero reason to transform."
"...You'll cause trouble day one."
"If trouble happens, blame the villains who force me to transform—not me."
I'm innocent. Just punishing trash who mess with civilians.
"Why librarian out of all jobs? Chairman's idea? Plenty other roles for objectives."
"Librarian's my personal hobby."
Even dumped in this world.
...I love books. Heard the academy has novels unavailable outside—full series, completed.
Rumors say.
"Wouldn't go otherwise."
Academy library shelves "concluded" novels in book form.