Villain Ranking
The evil deeds of the Academic Cell were published in the news.
Stellar Academy received a lot of criticism. It took a week for the uproar to die.
Eight girls, excluding Doll, were rescued.
The Academy launched an official search for the girls who were still missing.
The Grade 3 metahuman Hanna escaped. Stellar Academy put a bounty on her head and declared her a villain.
Doll was announced as the MVP of the sting operation.
In the news, she was crowned as the hero who revealed the evil deeds of the Academic Cell.
Only a select few knew that she was one of the victims, not the hero.
However, the person who saved the girls never stepped up to receive the credit. The Academy officials used this opportunity to promote themselves using Doll's name.
The backstage deal between the adults made Doll a celebrity overnight.
The event was wrapped up nicely, excluding a few hiccups.
It bummed me that no one found out about the Mythos Cult's involvement. But it just showed that the Mythos Cult was a master at cutting off its tails.
"Why am I still alive?"
This was the only thing I didn't understand.
Professor James and I were also rescued when authorities arrived.
I had returned to my normal appearance by then and Professor James provided testimony for me.
So, I wasn't under suspicion of being the person who rescued Doll and others.
"As I thought, Master didn't die," Nutless spoke monotonously but still managed to radiate his belief of self superiority.
I was unconscious for the past week.
The pain had disappeared when I woke up today.
"You know the reason for this." I pointed out.
I was Nutless' master. Securing my life was his highest priority. But, looking back, he never cared when I was dying.
"Heh," Nutless made the sound of snorting. "Someone brought Master to this world. They wouldn't have summoned Master, if they wanted to kill him. I assume the Death threat and the pain were to force Master towards killing."
That… made sense.
"But why would someone do that?"
"Maybe they wanted to make sure Master doesn't hesitate to kill when the need arises, or maybe they had another goal."
In other words, the quest was to change my mentality.
"You could've told me this." I stared at Nutless resentfully. Unfortunately, I couldn't express my anger due to my Eternal Smile.
"If I did, Master wouldn't have grown emotionally."
True, I would not face the inner turmoil if I had to kill a person now. I hoped.
The Quest had changed me fundamentally.
I stood up and stared at the mirror.
"Hehehe"
A smile was stretched across my face.
One of my Dispositions was Compulsive Liar
"Hehe, I almost didn't notice that I was lying to myself."
Thirty two.
That was the 'number' I eliminated.
When I got the excuse of saving Professor James, I didn't hesitate twice to kill.
Guilt? Sorrow?
I didn't feel any of those after the first kill.
This was my real personality… or was this Zain's influence?
His memories, experiences, and personality. I gained everything. It was changing me.
Until now, the gains were useful, life-saving even.
But was I even 'me' anymore?
My mood was at its lowest, but I was smiling. The smile had become a part of me. A mask that I couldn't take off.
"I can't let him overpower my personality."
Zain was an orphan. He only cared for his missing sister.
In the game, Zain became a mercenary, then villain, joined [Carnival], committed atrocities. All so he could find her.
I wouldn't allow Zain's lingering will to change me.
Only by making a clear line between 'myself' and Zain could I maintain my ego.
"I'll go deal with the Mythos Cult." I decided in a heartbeat. Mythos Cult wouldn't let go of Doll. She had the parasite inside her.
It was a chance to help others, something Zain would never do.
The parasite inside Doll would've fused with her by now.
I couldn't take out the parasite without killing her anymore. [Carnival] was resourceful. But Doll would die if they tried to do anything to the parasite.
Only Ezio could save her.
My thoughts churned. Mythos Cult had an important artifact I needed for the future. Finishing them would get me two birds with one stone.
"Great, it was time I stocked up on experience points. I'll clear a portal while dealing with those Cultists."
I didn't want to deal with them if possible, but that wasn't a choice anymore.
"Contact Charlotte," I told Nutless.
Charlotte was like a lucky charm. I wanted to bring her with me, if possible.
"Status."
===
Name: Zain Pierrot
Race: Veinwielder (Variant Homo Sapien) (+1 Stamina Regeneration, +1 Dexterity, +1 Constitution per level)
Class: [Novice Mage] Lvl.5 (0/10,000) (+1 Mana per level)
Subclasses: [Apprentice Potioneer] Lvl.0 (0/10,000) (+1 Perception per level);
[Porter] Lvl.0 (0/10,000) (+1 Strength per level)
Power Level: 14 [Grade 2]
Experience Points: 8,152
Stats:
Strength - 14/20 [Grade 2]
Agility - 13/20 [Grade 2]
Dexterity - 17/20 [Grade 2]
Stamina - (13/14) /20 [Grade 2]
Constitution - 15/20 [Grade 2]
Stamina Regeneration - 16/20 [Grade 2]
Mana - (19/19) /20 [Grade 2]
Mana Regeneration - 11/20 [Grade 2]
Perception - 17/20 [Grade 2]]
Charm - 5/10 [Grade 1]
Unused Stat Points: 15
[Ptui! Any girl would rather marry a monkey than a monkey face like you.]
Disposition: Eternal Smile, Compulsive Liar, Unreliable, Hardworking, Mischievous, Stubborn, Cheapskate
Talent: [Clown] 3 stars
Skills:
[Harlequin's Dodge] Lvl.1 – Execute an agile dodge or leap, allowing the Clown to avoid attacks with acrobatic flair. (+10) Agility when dodging attacks.
[Ephemeral Euphoria Elixir] Lvl.1 – Create an elixir that induces a state of bliss, providing temporary resistance(small) to mental attacks.
[Puri Puri Mist] Lvl.1 – Create a blood mist by excreting blood in gaseous form through your skin pores.
[Magic Pocket] Lvl.1 – Create a 1.5 cubic metric sub-dimensional space inside your closed piece of clothing.
[Poison Resistance] Lvl.1 – You have small poison resistance.
[Mimicry] Lvl.2 – Copy the voice and appearance of the ones you have killed.
===
My lips twitched when I saw the evaluation. It was openly insulting me at this point.
[Skill [Poison Resistance] has reached Level 2. Consumed 3500 exp.]
[Skill [Harlequin's Dodge] has reached Level 2. Consumed 4000 exp.]
Skills could be leveled up after being used repeatedly. But expending experience points was faster.
Harlequin's Dodge Lvk.2 gave +12 Agility.
Lastly, the Villain Ranking.
The quest was marked as completed when the news appeared.
[Tutorial Quest completed]
[You have been promoted to the Iron Villain League.]
[Please choose one reward.]
[1. Stats]
[2. Items]
[3. Skills]
[Alert! You have crossed the Time Limit. Your Skill/Stat/Item reward will be canceled.]
I opened the Villain Ranking.
[Animosity Tab has been unlocked.]
[Villain Ranking activated]
[Current User: Zain Perriot]
[Villain Name: Merryman]
[Villain League: Iron Villain League]
[Villain Rank: 921,412,135,853,953,874]
[Animosity: 0]
"What is that number…?" I muttered in disbelief.
A guide appeared as if to answer me.
[Iron Villain League includes villains who have committed petty crimes, ranging from theft to murder. Iron Villain League villains are rarely known outside of their planetary system.]
[Your current rank is 921,412,135,853,953,874th among the Iron Villain League villains in your galaxy.]
"How do I rank up?"
[By increasing your Animosity.]
[Animosity is the number of people who wish for you to be dead. They scorn you and believe that the world would be a better place without you.]
[One Grade 1 metahuman's hatred = 1 Animosity]
[One Grade 2 metahuman's hatred = 10 Animosity]
[One Grade 3 metahuman's hatred = 100 Animosity]
[One Grade 4 metahuman's hatred = 1000 Animosity]
[One Grade 5 metahuman's hatred = 10,000 Animosity]
[One OuterGrade metahuman's hatred = ??? Animosity]
[Each metahuman will give you Animosity only once.]
[Animosity won't be reduced if the metahuman dies. However, it can be deducted if their impression about you improves.]
It was a better system than I expected.
I thought it would ask me to wipe out a species or commit similar terrible deeds.
"And what is the top league?" I questioned.
Reaching the top of the Villain League meant becoming the most evil villain, which was my goal. If Devil Lord could bring me to this world, he could also fulfill my wish.
My only wish.
[To enter a higher league you must reach Animosity milestones.]
[Bronze Villain League = 100,000,000 Animosity + Completion of Bronze League Promotion Quest]
[Silver Villain League = 10,000,000,000 Animosity + Completion of Silver League Promotion Quest]
[Gold Villain League = 1,000,000,000,000 Animosity + Completion of Gold League Promotion Quest]
[To receive information about Villain Leagues higher than Gold Villain League you need to be in Silver Villain League or higher.]
[You will receive special perks for reaching Rank 1 in each Villain League. Please, do your best.]
After creating small goals for the next few weeks, I prepared to leave the infirmary room.
Just then, Nutless spoke up.
"Master, prepare for combat."
"Huh?"
"Villain Valkyrie has entered the building's premises. From her movements, her destination seems to be your room."
"Why are you acting like this? I know her."
"Because she is fully armed."