Being a Villain is My True Calling

“I’ll go on ahead from here.”

“Oh, you will?”

“Yes, thank you for guiding me.”

“It was simply a hero’s duty! Best of luck in the auction!”

After Phantom Luna led me to the hall, I bid her farewell.

As she walked away, I immediately contacted Narin via a small communication device.

“…What’s going on here, Glitch?”

‘Didn’t you say the auction was supposed to start an hour later?’

-Oh…sorry, big bro…but I’m not sure either. It just suddenly started early without any prior notice.

It started early suddenly, she says…

“You don’t suppose the villains targeting the auction items had something to do with this?”

-Probably not that.

Glitch’s response was adamant.
Well, if a villainous organization knew the items were being targeted, they wouldn’t expedite the auction timing, but rather postpone or outright cancel it instead.

‘Then why did they start the auction early?’

After pondering it briefly, I shook my head and operated the communicator to contact everyone.

“For now, I’ll head into the auction hall. Are you all prepared?”

-Of course! I have full control over the entire system.

-I’m ready to go anytime.

-I’m…re…ready…

Honestly, the reason for the early start wasn’t that important.
We had been prepared for a while now, after all.

“Then I’ll head in.”

I calmly made my way toward the auction hall.

Inside the VIP area of the auction hall, a toad-like man and a beautiful woman were seated.

“Heheh, Madam President. Is the food to your liking?”

“Yes, it’s quite fine.”

The woman sniffed the aroma of her wine before taking a sip.

Gulp gulp…

“It almost feels like I’m stealing it, receiving such hospitality.”

“Huh? What was that?”

The man, who had been entranced watching her slender neck, snapped out of his daze and laughed it off nonchalantly.

“Ah, haha! What’s there to feel bad about! It’s an honor for you to attend my party, Madam President!”

“Oh my~ You flatter me…for a renowned congressman like yourself to personally invite me to dinner and even expedite this auction, I’m truly honored.”

“Heheh! Since the President was so eager to see it! I had to accommodate you right away!!”

“Wowww~ How admirable.”

‘What a toadying sycophant.’

Inwardly mocking the chuckling congressman, the President endured his wandering gaze as she continued flattering him.

‘Ugh, I’m so sick of looking at that grotesque face…’

Such feelings from a man around her daughter’s age…

She wanted nothing more than to get away from him immediately, but there was one thing she needed to obtain from him, so she had no choice but to endure it.

‘I’ve brought plenty of money, but just in case…’

In the event she needed to turn the tables, she decided to play along with his lead for now.

‘This item set to be auctioned is something I absolutely need.’

“Heheh! Heheheheh!”
“Huhuhuh…”

The President took another sip of her wine.

“Hmm…”

‘Ah, it seems they’re about to start.’

After taking her seat in the auction hall, some time had passed.
Signaling the imminent auction start, the toad-like middle-aged man took to the stage.

“Welcome, everyone. I am Lee Doo-geub, the host of this party.”

‘Hmm. So he’s Lee Doo-geub?’

Lee Doo-geub.
A congressman who married into a wealthy family and steadily climbed the ranks.

Outwardly, he portrayed himself as a devoted public servant and family man, but the reality differed considerably.

“Today, I will be auctioning off some of my personal treasured collectibles. The proceeds will be immediately and fully donated to society…”

What utter nonsense.
From my perspective, having witnessed the original, his words were laughably ridiculous.

‘Various corruption scandals, sex trafficking, verbal and physical abuse toward subordinates, and so on.’

He was the quintessential example of a debased elite.
The real Lee Doo-geub as I knew him.

For someone like that to blather about donations was simply preposterous.

‘And there’s one more thing too…hmm, I’ll just mention it later.’

For now, the auction took priority.

Clap clap clap clap clap!!!

“Now, with those opening remarks from the host, Congressman Lee Doo-geub, let’s not dally any further! We’ll proceed directly to the auction!!”

Following the congressman’s speech, the emcee began conducting the auction.

‘Just ordinary luxury items so far.’

Initially, only run-of-the-mill luxury goods were auctioned off.
Diamond rings crafted by renowned jewelers, golden bracelets by famed artisans, pearl necklaces, and the like.

None of the items I desired.

‘I suppose it was too much to expect artifacts or traces of those mystical entities.’

Vestiges left behind by the mystical phenomena said to have existed in the past, or artifacts fashioned from those relics.

They were exceptionally rare, and almost never worthless, so most would naturally wish to keep holding onto them.

‘Well then, I’ll just have to procure my original objective.’

After that thought, a few more rounds of auctions proceeded.
And then.

Clunk clunk.

A glass case escorted by stern security personnel.
While the contents weren’t visible, a pristine aura seemed to emanate from within.

“Ooh!”
“Could it be…?”

An aura pure enough to be perceptible even to non-ability users.

‘Looks like it’s finally my turn.’

“Everyone, be ready. It’s time to take action.”

Signaling over the communicator, I rose from my seat and changed positions.

“Now then, esteemed guests! You’ve waited long enough!! The hidden item of this auction!!”

The emcee grinned slyly.
After a momentary pause to catch his breath, he announced in a resounding voice:

“A vestige of the mystical realm!!”

“Ooooohh!!”

A murmur rippled through the guests.

“To actually auction off such a relic at an event like this…”
“Even just sensing its aura, I can feel its sublime beauty…!”
“It’s clearing my mind already.”
“Dear, we simply must obtain that, don’t you agree?”

Though the actual item remained unseen within, the emanating aura alone was undeniably extraordinary.

‘Unmistakably a genuine mystical relic. No matter what it is, people will go crazy trying to acquire it.’

They might demand refunds upon seeing the contents later, but so be it.

“The starting bid is 30 million won!!”
“40 million!!!”
“50 million!!!”

Let’s just wait a bit longer.

-Oppa, I’m standing by.

As I awaited the auction’s conclusion, Polia’s voice came through.
Taking this opportunity to reconfirm our roles, I addressed everyone over the general channel.

“Very well, Polia. First, enter the premises and make contact with the Instructor. Once you signal me, teleport directly to my location immediately.”

-Got it.

“Glitch, when the signal comes, cut off all power.”

-Okey!

-M,Maker…what about me…?

“Instructor, in preparation, acclimatize yourself to the darkness by closing your eyes. Then join Polia when she arrives.”

-Y,yes…!

After assigning the roles, I silently observed the auction’s progress.

“230 million!! Any more bids? Going once?”

The mystical relic had already soared past 2 billion won.

“3 billion.”

“Ah! 3 billion!! We have a bid of 3 billion!!”

Surpassing 2 billion, the bidding didn’t stop until reaching 3 billion won.

“3 billion…?”
“Even so, spending 3 billion on just that seems a bit…”
“…Sure, we don’t know what’s inside, but anything beyond this is just wasteful.”

Around that point, the guests began hesitating.
Observing them, the woman who had bid 3 billion let out a small smile.

“3…340 million!!”

Even in that situation, a certain man desperately raised the price, evidently coveting the item immensely.

“4 billion.”

With the amount immediately jumping to 4 billion, those who had persisted until the end ultimately withdrew.

‘Impressive.’

Was that a money printer?
Witnessing in person what I had only seen in comics was quite fascinating.

‘But it doesn’t matter. We’re going to steal it soon anyway.’

While I felt a bit sorry for the woman alone at that expensive table, it was time to make our move.

“Glitch.”

-Let’s~ go~

Wooong-

“What, what’s going on?”
“Why did the lights suddenly go out?”

The instant blackout prompted confusion and rising murmurs from the guests.

“Polia.”

Swish-

“Catch, oppa.”

In the blink of an eye, Polia appeared with the Instructor, extending her hand toward me.

Woooong- flit.

And in an instant, Polia, the Instructor and I arrived on the stage where the item was kept.

“Wh,who’s there?!!”

‘Damn, seems there are some with night vision present.’

“Instructor, take them out.”

At my words, the Instructor opened his eyes and immediately engaged the security personnel.

CRACK! CRUNCH! THUD!
“Ughh!!”
“Aaack!!”

After a brief scuffle and the guards’ cries subsided, the Instructor turned toward me.

“Glitch, if you would open this for me.”

-Got it, big bro! But this one’s a bit tricky, you know? Can you give me 5 minutes?

“That should be simple enough.”

‘Going smoothly so far.’

This entire operation had unfolded in an instant.
All that was left was to escape with the item.

The only issue was the 5 minute timeframe to separate the glass case from the floor and its fixtures…

“Please turn the stage lights back on for now.”

Might as well draw some aggro in the meantime.
Listening to the rising murmurs, I cleared my throat.

Tap-

“Good evening, everyone.”

“You, you’re…!!”

As the lights came on and I smiled at them, the guests reacted with shock.

“I am Maker, an A-rank villain of Eclipse.”

Now, let the ultimate chaos commence.