Fated to Be Loved by Villains

Creating weapons required more effort than one might think.

Physics, thermodynamics, chemistry...

While yes, most of the theory behind it was borrowed from established research in other fields such as the ones mentioned above, actually synthesizing all that knowledge to produce a finished product ultimately fell on the researcher themselves. It wasn’t something that anyone could just do.

Considering that, it was no wonder that Professor Klein prided himself in his work so much.

[...What did you just say?]

The moment he heard Dowd Campbell’s declaration, Professor Klein’s voice turned ice-cold.

Though he usually put on a shameless front, Professor Klein was still a researcher who was proud of his creations. Hearing his works being belittled like that was bound to get under his skin.

“Nothing.”

Regardless...

Dowd—the one who had thrown the insult—didn’t even bat an eye before he continued.

Because in his eyes, Klein’s so-called ‘pride’ was something that was built on data harvested out of living people. He didn’t feel the need to show him any respect whatsoever.

“I just told you, for these pieces of junk you’ve created, this is more than enough.”

[...]

Professor Klein’s face twitched.

After his conversation with Professor Mobius, he hadn’t planned to hold back to begin with, but it seemed like the little shit down there had a knack for digging his own grave deeper.

[Have it your way.]

People often said that extreme anger could sometimes leave you feeling eerily calm.

Judging by the look on Professor Klein’s face, it seemed like that statement wasn’t far from the truth.

He was seething with a strange calmness as he let out that dry reply while slamming the red button on the control panel.

Immediately after, a gate within the dome slid open, and a cyborg armed to the teeth for close combat stepped out.

While it was smaller than the ‘Astral Realm’s Automatons, this had been developed for the sole purpose of killing humans.

Its entire body was powered by transistors and hydraulic pistons crafted from rare metals, all linked through a complex network of circuits for remote control.

As a result, it could potentially move at terrifying speeds—close to the speed of sound.

Considering that Dowd’s ‘Demonic Aura’ had been sealed, it was more than capable to slice him to pieces before he could even take a single breath.

In theory, at least.

“—Haaa.”

Dowd let out a deep sigh.

—Ah, here we go again.

Watching from the control room, Alpha couldn’t help but snort at Dowd’s blatant disregard.

He had always known that Dowd could be a bit of an asshole, but right now the man’s whole body was oozing with an atmosphere that seemed to aim to piss the other person off on purpose.

Alpha glanced at Professor Klein. It was clear the guy had moved past anger to bewilderment at Dowd’s behavior.

After all, the cyborg that was marching toward Dowd was clearly no random machine.

“...You sure put quite the effort into this.”

“All that budget-begging really paid off, huh—?”

Though their tones weren’t friendly by any means, even the professors in the control room agreed that the cyborg was no pushover.

And yet, that guy...

Why isn’t he reacting at all?!

Alpha inwardly chuckled again as he read Professor Klein’s expression. That was probably the question that he was asking in his mind.

...But still.

He didn’t underestimate Klein. All things considered, the guy was still a professor of the Magic Tower. People who had risen to such a position definitely had the skills and talents to back it up.

But, just as what Dowd had said...

‘Arrogance can bring down even the strongest fortress.’

These people had spent so much time looking up, that they’d likely skipped over analyzing Dowd Campbell’s abilities in detail.

They probably assumed that without his Demonic Aura, he’d have nothing left.

And of course, they were completely wrong. And the scene unfolding before their eyes was proof of that.

–!!

The sound of pistons pumping through the cyborg’s body echoed as it prepared to move.

It easily reached the speed of sound—no, perhaps, even beyond supersonic. Science had pushed its limit to the point that it became indistinguishable from magic, making such things possible. The cyborg moved, reaching Dowd Campbell in an instant.

Its speed completely defied reason, turning it into a blur of motion that left no trace of the process, only the result.

But...

Dowd Campbell managed to keep up with it.

He reacted and met it head-on.

“—What?!”

A voice full of surprise escaped Klein’s lips.

No human should be able to react at that speed. Even the strongest human shouldn’t be able to do such a thing.

—At least, that was what Klein probably believed when he built it.

In truth, even without his Demonic Aura...

Dowd Campbell was undoubtedly a monster. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

How he achieved such a feat was quite simple, actually.

With his innate nature that increased his physical abilities in the face of danger, buffing himself through Divine Power, his Martial Arts, and so on....

Klein was careless. He clearly didn’t bother to look into the ‘history of power’ accumulated in that man’s body.

And the result was obvious.

Before the cyborg’s weapon could even touch him, Dowd raised the cup in his hand.

And then...

“Hup.”

With all his might, he rammed it into the cyborg’s chest.

A strike that was the result of his physical abilities that were pushed to the extreme, his martial arts that were honed to the limit, and his countless life-or-death experiences.

What happened next was...

The cyborg’s outer shell shattered by the fist and the cup embedded itself into its core mechanisms.

With a clang, the cyborg collapsed ungracefully.

“...”

“...”

Silence enveloped the entire dome.

This time, it felt even more suffocating than back when Borris’ mechanical dinosaur had destroyed Mobius’ safety net.

And through that silence, the sound of Dowd rummaging through the box again echoed.

After a while, he pulled out a spoon from it.

“I’m going to use this one next.”

“...”

A dreadful silence fell over the control room again.

Amidst the silence, Astrid muttered in a dumbfounded voice.

“...Isn’t he just destroying it with his own strength, and pretending to use everyday items?”

“...It does seem to be that way.”

Alpha quietly agreed and turned his head.

Technically, she wasn’t wrong.

But judging by Klein’s trembling face, it was clear—

“He certainly has a talent for shattering his opponent’s pride.”

That his method was ‘effective’ in messing with his opponent’s temper.

“That’s my son alright.”

“...Is that really something to be proud of?”

●

“—That motherless son of a bitc—!”

“...Technically, I am that kid’s mother.”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!”

“...”

Astrid just plugged her ears and shut her mouth.

Although a torrent of blasphemous curses endlessly came out of Klein’s mouth, she found it more amusing to see his mental state crumble than getting angry at his insults.

“Next, let’s try these scissors.”

The high-tech humanoid cyborg was sliced up with a pair of scissors as if it was paper.

“Next, this iron.”

Watching him pound a nanomachine swarm to death with an iron was almost like watching metaphysical horror.

“Next, this spatula.”

While the sight of him taking down a massive bio-mutant with a spatula was...

...Uh, how did he even do that again?

“He’s my son alright, but seriously, how does he do it?”

“...Even if you’re asking me that, Professor, how am I supposed to know that?”

As that peaceful conversation went on, Klein’s breakdown worsened by the second.

Initially, the other professors, including Mobius, were looking at him with contempt and scorn, thinking that this all happened because he was just unprepared. But now, they were looking at him with pity.

After all, seeing your life’s work—masterpieces that you poured your blood, sweat, and soul into—destroyed by such trivial objects would be enough to make anyone lose their mind.

Case on point was Professor Klein. At first, he had been cursing like no tomorrow, but now he was reduced to let out voices that were similar to that of a beast’s cries.

So much so that...

[YOU INHUMAN MOTHERFUCKER! STOP! STOP IT-! FIGHT PROPERLY ALREADY, YOU FUUUUCCCCKK-!]

He had lost it completely. At this point, he was practically begging Dowd to fight him for real.

Unfortunately, the problem was that the opponent was this era’s pure human trash who would blatantly ignore such pleas.

“But I am?”

A wicked smile spread across Dowd’s face as he continued to bash the bio-synthetic creature with his greenish bloodstained spatula.

His expression seemed to say, ‘Even if I’m not, what can you do, hm?’.

“If I’m losing it would be one thing, but as you can see, I still win while doing this!”

[You...! You son of a bitch, I’m going to tear you apa—!]

“The only things being torn apart are these crude creations of yours.”

While cackling, Dowd continued to smack the mutant with his spatula.

It was almost pitiful watching Klein’s ambitious creation—which could cause calamity if they were to be sent to the outside world—crying miserably with each swing of the spatula...

“Although...”

Just as Professor Klein was about to lose his mind and bash his head against the window, Dowd spoke up.

“If you listen to my proposal, I might just do what you want.”

“...! Professor Klein!”

Mobius shouted, a frown appeared in his face.

That’s no good. Whatever it is, he shouldn’t listen to what the opponent has to say.

I have a bad feeling. This could only end in a disaster for him.

That shout was probably filled with such thoughts, but there was no way that his inward thoughts would reach Professor Klein’s ears, whose eyes had already rolled back in anger.

[Just spit it out! Stop that nonsense right now!]

Hearing Klein’s answer, a dark smile spread across Dowd’s face.

It was the darkest smile he had ever let out yet.

“Good.”

That muttering was probably only heard by Caliban, who was watching everything unfolding from inside the Soul Linker that was wrapped around his arm.