Villains Should Act Like Villains (2)
"Work?"
I reflexively furrowed my brow. There was a strange undertone to my big sis's use of the word "work." It usually meant something illegal, insanely dangerous, or both.
"Don't tell me I have to forge something again? Like that certification last time?"
Yeah, no thanks to that...
"Nah, this one's on a whole different scale!"
Han Seo-yul tossed her crumpled beer can into the trash with a clunk.
"You're a counselor now, right?"
"Amateur hour, amateur hour."
"Amateur or not, you've got the cert, and actual treatment results under your belt. So what do you do next?"
"Make money."
"Bingo. But scraping by on pocket change—how long's it gonna take to buy a house and a car? Squeezing every last dime out of magical girls has its limits. To handle real money, you need a solid supply line."
Supply line?
I tilted my head.
"What does a counselor supply? Selling drugs or something?"
"No. Product."
"Product?"
"Yeah. The expensive, rare kind that drives the higher-ups in Nebula wild."
Seo-yul leaned forward. A whiff of her shampoo hit me.
"Witches."
"Pardon?"
The end-stage of magical girl syndrome. Magical girls fallen to that terminal state... Yeah, I knew that. But why bring it up now?
Han Seo-yul's pale leg swung up onto the table with a thud.
"Normal folks think witches are like zombies or monsters—crazy bitches who lose their minds and rampage, right?"
"Pretty much. It's the worst fate a magical girl can face."
"Half right, half wrong. Sure, their brains melt down until they're basically beasts... but Nebula keeps those beast bitches properly managed."
"...I see."
I nodded silently for now.
Info on witches like this was top-secret even within the organization. A low-level grunt like me wasn't supposed to know. But I had a rough idea. Nebula had ways to control witches, and they were steadily increasing their numbers.
Dad's diary. Read it there.
To me, he was just a thug, a punk. Nothing more, nothing less. But his beat-up old notebook had revealed Nebula's true nature.
Witches. Slaves. Witch executives. Corruption.
Think about it. Nebula's a villain corp, sure, but they wouldn't let secrets like that leak publicly. So how did a mere peon like me know their identity? Side note: my connection to Seo-yul sis stemmed from her past ties to my old man too.
"It's villainization, basically. Superhumans with antisocial personality disorder."
"Ooh, neat summary. Spot on. Imagine: all a magical girl's power, but their ethics shattered. They kill, steal, smash on command. No guilt? Hell no—they enjoy it. The smart ones even pull off elaborate crimes."
"...And you want me to supply those."
"Yup."
She jabbed a finger at me.
"Therapy? Great. But there are hopeless wrecks beyond saving, or girls teetering on the edge. Just a little push, and boom—witches awakened. Toss those irredeemables to Nebula."
Her pitch was crystal clear: Use counseling as cover to induce corruption in magical girls, then hand over the finished "product" to the org. In return? Performance bonuses and a skyrocketing position.
"Nail it, and you're promoted to exec level on the spot. All that money and power you've craved? Yours."
Sweet deal. But I couldn't answer right away, just fiddled with my beer can.
"......"
"What's with the sourpuss face?"
"Nah, it's just... kinda off-putting."
"What is?"
"Treating them for my gain is one thing, but deliberately ruining lives to sell 'em off... different vibe, y'know?"
I knew I was trash. Park Min-jeong, Kim Na-young—I'd used them for my desires. But that was a means for survival and powering up, not the goal of turning them into monsters.
Hell, I'd even fixed them up my way, made 'em functional in society.
But this? Straight-up destruction.
"Hmm."
Han Seo-yul stared me down, eyes like I was some rare exhibit.
"Hey, you. Don't tell me..."
"Huh?"
"You're not seriously thinking of going legit, are you?"
"......"
"Got your cert, treated some girls, got a pat on the back—so now you think you're a real doctor? Wanna play the good guy now?"
Sneer laced her voice.
"No, not exactly..."
"Bull. Your eyes say it all."
"You praised my treatments too, sis."
Thwack!
She smacked the table lightly.
"Wake up, Ji-un. Big sis advice time. Forgot where you belong? You're a natural predator to magical girls, a target for the Association. Legit world? Don't make me laugh. You're born from the shadows."
"I know. I get it, but..."
"Then why hesitate? You think skipping this saves them? Doomed girls are doomed. Might as well profit off it."
Her logic was ice-cold reality. Still, something nagged. As I wavered, she sighed deeply and shifted.
"Sigh... You still haven't clocked the situation."
"What situation?"
"No word from your higher-ups lately, right?"
"Yeah, gigs dried up a bit. Payments delayed too. Figured they were busy."
"Busy? Yeah, busy begging for their lives."
"What?"
I nearly dropped my beer.
"What the hell?"
"Purged."
"...!"
"Told you the audit team showed. Results are in: embezzlement, info leaks. By now? Probably nails yanked in some basement, or concrete shoes in the bay. Pick one."
Chills ran down my spine. Manager K. The Nebula mid-level who fed me jobs and pay.
Purged.
"Then... what about me? My chain of command?"
"You? You were fucked too. Basically a dead man walking."
Han Seo-yul flashed a chilly smile.
"Remember that data chip you handed off?"
Yeah. Hired her to hack it. First time I'd gone independent. Supposed to have slush fund ledgers and laundering routes...
She grinned.
"If you'd peeked out of curiosity—or worse—plugged it in? Audit team would've nabbed you. Dead with your boss."
"Uh...?"
"Look at your face. Sinking in now?"
She tsked.
"That whole line's wiped. Other freelancers you worked with? Radio silence for days. All cleaned."
"Then why am I still breathing?"
"Pfft, 'cause you're the only idiot who didn't check the shady USB like an idiot."
True, I barely cared. Too busy testing the app and my powers...
Spine turned to ice.
Just that one reason.
"Lucky me."
"Luck's skill too. Anyway, your chain's gutted, you're a ghost now. No reason for the org to keep you."
"......"
"Nah, you're a liability. Tied to the predecessor. Could get axed anytime."
Her words stabbed like a dagger. I got the point.
To stay safe. To survive.
One path left.
"Gotta prove myself."
Han Seo-yul sank into the sofa, eyeing me.
"That you're irreplaceable talent. Not some errand boy, but core staff who brings in real cash."
"Via witch supply."
"Well, flashing your mana circuit might buy survival. But if you're doing it—"
Aim high.
Kim Na-young's final look flashed: writhing, begging for mercy. Then forced smile, bowing head.
Legit?
Maybe I'd been naive.
Villain. Deny that essence, and I die. Purged by the org, hunted by angels.
"Got it."
"Decided?"
"Yeah. Fuck it, let's roll. All or nothing anyway."
"That's my boy! Gotta have that guts."
She clapped, satisfied.
Deal sealed. No more Nebula contractor—I was now her partner, witch supplier.
As I stood, a thought hit.
"Oh, sis."
"What now."
"One favor to celebrate the contract."
"Favor? Gear loan? Info?"
She propped her chin. I pulled my phone, opened my shiny new account, and shoved it at her.
"Write a review."
"...?"
Her face blanked, blinking like I'd spoken alien.
"What?"
"Review. Comment."
"......"
"Made an Instalk for 'Mind & Heart Psychological Counseling' before coming. Zero followers, just Kim Na-young's post. Looks too empty."
I brazenly thrust the phone in her face.
"From your account: 'Counseling spot's great,' 'Doc's legit.' Heart it too."
"Hey."
Don't judge. Seemed trivial, but essential!
A few days later, a construction site in Sector 5.
BOOM!
A heavy roar kicked up dust clouds. On a normal site, it'd be a crane. Not here.
"Hiyah!"
From the dust: a clear, girlish shout totally out of place.
"Foreman! This go here?"
Dust cleared, revealing a petite silhouette—barely 150cm.
Safety helmet too big, slipping over her eyes. She tilted her head to flip it up. Platinum blonde strands poked out, matted with sweat and grime.
Baggy work pants held by suspenders, cool towel around her neck.
Looked like a cute high schooler on a field trip.
Except for the thing on her shoulder.
"Y-yeah! There! Right there! Careful, kid!"
The foreman waved frantically. Makes sense. That was an H-beam four grown men might barely lift.
Like foam prop, she strolled to the spot.
Thud!
Ground quivered faintly.
"Whew! Heavy stuff."
Chae Yu-bin wiped sweat from her brow with a gloved hand. Pride lit her face more than fatigue.
"Man, still can't get used to it. Where's she hide that strength in that tiny body?"
"She's a magical girl, duh. Think they hunt beasts for fun?"
"Why's she slaving here instead of a guild? Don't they rake it in?"
"Got her reasons. And we shelled out big for her. Know how much it costs to hire one?"
"Nah."
Workers gossiped over smokes, but Yu-bin ignored, humming.
"Hmm~ hum hum~♪"
BOOM! Another beam down. Shockwave hit her ears, but she rolled her shoulders, beaming.
"Foreman! All done here—what next? Cement bags over there?"
Foreman Kim waved her off, tongue lolling.
"Whoa, ease up. You just got here—already cleared the zone?"
"Psh, just warm-up! Still full of energy!"
"We can't keep up! Other uncles ain't even finished sorting. Sit, catch your breath."
"Hehe, okay, quick break then!"
Yu-bin pocketed her gloves. Palms callused thick. Awakened a year ago—normal girls her age: school or guild trainee. No luxury for her.
Gotta save money.
Guild fees, gear buys, upkeep. Family debts. Magical girl startup costs ain't cheap.
So, hopping sites like this.
"Hoo..."
She plopped on a brick pile, dusted her pants, pulled her phone.
Cracked screen, old model. Her treasure No. 1.
Tap.
Straight to the app.
Instalk.
Where magical girls flaunt glamorous lives live. Yu-bin's sole joy, escape.
"Let's see what happened today..."
Thumb scrolled fast.
Glamorous. Blindingly so.
Seniors in pics: all pretty, pristine, radiant. Worlds away from her, dust-caked and sweaty.
"Whoa, Sylvia unnie's dress this time... stunning."
Yu-bin zoomed, scrutinizing. Sparkly gems, elegant lace, confident pose.
"Like."
Tap.
Heart filled red. Habitually, she hearted every senior post.
Like timidly yelling, I'm here too! I'm a magical girl!
"Jealous..."
Honest envy slipped out. She eyed her grimy work boots, then the glass heels on screen.
"Someday, I'll get there too, right?"
Talent? Check. C-grade rating. Effort could hit B, luck A.
But just potential. Right now? Cement-hauling day laborer in Sector 5.
"Ugh, no gloomy thoughts! Chae Yu-bin, you got this! Aja aja!"
She shook her head wildly, banishing doubts. Positive mindset—her only weapon.
Screen down. Scrolling finger paused.
"Oh? Lucy unnie."
Lucy Twinkle. Kim Na-young. D-grade freelancer, but familiar to Yu-bin. Fellow freelancers crossed paths on 3D gigs: sewers, pest control.
Lucy might not remember her, but Yu-bin admired her quietly.
Top-tier girls felt unreal. Active earner? Huge to a no-name newbie like Yu-bin.
"Posted? Let's see..."