I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

It’s the way of the world that fakes were created when something became famous.

When the King of Pop was shaking the world, people dressed up like him and took pictures with tourists for money.

There was even a famous trot singer whose name was slightly altered, singing the original singer’s songs at various events and getting paid for performances.

When a product became popular, the world often saw knock-offs that slightly modified the original and then sold them.

This world was no different.

As soon as the Rider craze began, everyone started copying the Riders. Just like when Haegneul began selling Rider suits, ending the trend, it’s inevitable for knock-offs to emerge when something became famous.

But.

This was the first time I had seen something this bold.

“A copycat of the Goblin, huh?”

Not just someone cosplaying as Goblin, but someone following the Goblin’s principles of action.

A person imitating the Goblin, the Villain Executioner.

“This is troublesome.”

“Why is it troublesome? Why not take this opportunity to retire Goblin and leave everything to the fake… the ‘doppelgänger’?”

Hyeon Se-rin, who had come up to Seoul with me, handed me a can of beer, grinning.

Clearly, this was the first time she had encountered something like this, so she must be naturally intrigued.

“It’s common to imitate a villain’s ability or costume around the world, but it’s the first time someone’s copied a villain’s ideology and behavior. And an S-class villain, at that.”

“That’s why it’s such a headache.”

I clinked my can against hers, then quenched my thirst with the cold beer she gave me.

“Even though Goblin’s actions seem easy to imitate, there aren’t many who can pull off something like this.”

I pulled up the CCTV footage that Brewer had hacked and obtained on my laptop.

“Sa-save me, ugh….”

Nuts Crusher, who had begged for his life until the end, died of shock as soon as his core was destroyed.

Though he had already been bleeding profusely and was suffering from severe blood loss, his strong will to survive, combined with the mana left in his body and sheer mental fortitude, had kept him going.

However, the moment his core was broken, he died from the shock.

The one who destroyed his core was the Goblin. Though it was hard to see clearly in the darkness, his black hanbok fluttered in the shadows.

“Not the formal-suited Goblin, but the hanbok-wearing Goblin. He’s really copying well, isn’t he? Haha, maybe he’s a fan?”

“Even if he’s a fan, this kind of imitation is a problem.”

I pointed to the CCTV footage.

After killing Nuts Crusher, the fake Goblin slowly retreated into the darkness as soon as the lights came on.

Then, he vanished into a blue mist.

Though it wasn’t clearly visible due to the CCTV’s blind spots, the faint glimpse of his disappearing form and the trace of magic were captured in the video footage.

“Isn’t it strange that he’s even imitating the ability to turn into a spirit?”

“Hmm… you’re right. Spiritualization is an ability that we only realized after possessing Section Chief Do.”

All of my abilities to escape the scene in ether form and as a spirit were abilities I had learned from the four executives.

“For him to use an ability that we only unlocked after thoroughly examining our bodies… huh, maybe he’s a Goblin from the future?”

“No way. Don’t say such unsettling things.”

“…You’re seriously worried?”

Of course, I was.

If that fake Goblin was a Goblin from the future, could I be certain it was really Do Ji-hwan?

Could it perhaps be Do Chang-nam, the original Goblin from the story?

Unlike the pathetic, degenerate C-class villain Do Chang-nam, Do Ji-hwan became an S-class villain while walking the path of a Villain Executioner.

His principles and ideology were those of Do Ji-hwan, not Do Chang-nam.

In other words, if that guy really came from the future, he was Do Ji-hwan.

‘Which makes it even stranger.’

Would a future version of me hide his identity?

Even if the world collapsed, even if something major happened, would I hide my identity?

“Sigh. Imagining all this is causing quite a problem.”

“Just take it easy. Whether that guy is you from the future or whatever, we’re on Section Chief Do’s side in the present. Got it?”

Hyeon Se-rin came up behind me while I was sitting in my chair and hugged my head, resting her chin on my crown.

“I’ve heard that overthinking can cause hair loss.”

“That can’t happen.”

There’s no known case of an ability user suffering from hair loss, but having enough stress to cause it? I’ll pass on that.

“Alright. No need to overthink this. I’ll just keep it simple.”

Whatever his identity was, I should just focus on what’s happening right in front of me.

“If there’s a copycat, the original has to step in.”

As much as I was a Villain Executioner, I really didn’t want to be blamed for a murder I didn’t commit.

“Se-rin. Sorry, but you’ll have to stick with me around Seoul for a while.”

“Why apologize? This is my specialty.”

Hyeon Se-rin pressed the beer can to my lips.

“Seoul is my home turf. All you have to do is follow me.”

While Hyeon Se-rin briefly stepped outside to prepare.

“Chairman?”

[Ah, I was just about to call you. Are you alright? You must’ve been shocked, right?]

“…Not so much.”

I had called out of frustration, and her comforting voice instantly calmed me.

“Chairman. Do you know anything?”

[Do you want a 100% certain answer, or a 99% guess?]

“If 100% is foresight, then give me a 99% guess.”

Chairmen, or chiefs, were all-knowing.

But just like alchemy, every special ability involved an equivalent exchange.

[It would be more comforting to know through foresight.]

“If you read the future once and things change, wouldn’t everything fall apart anyway?”

Foresight was a dangerous ability.

Not only did it come with a price, but once you acted upon the future you’ve seen, the course of that future changed completely.

“If it were a situation too serious for me to handle, the Chairman would have already contacted me, right? But since that’s not the case, it must just be a simple petty criminal.”

[Isn’t the scariest thing in the world a petty criminal?]

“That’s only ‘self-proclaimed.’ If not, the impersonator is just an S-class villain. Someone imitating Goblin.”

[Exactly. I think so too.]

We were in sync.

It wasn’t the worst-case scenario; we both agreed on a more plausible one.

[We’re doing everything we can to figure out who it is. If there’s an S-class ability user who’s recently gone into hiding, someone active in Korea with a significant interest in Goblin, or an S-class user with spatial abilities like Yumir.]

“The candidates are….”

[Unfortunately, they’re still shrouded in mystery.]

“That’s fine. If it’s just an S-class ability user, I can handle it.”

[There’s also a possibility it could be a demon from Pandemonium….]

“If it’s a copycat demon, I can deal with that easily, so don’t worry. There’s also Do-ul and Se-rin.”

I had already killed the demons Duoexini and Laplace.

Even if a doppelgänger-like demon appeared here, it wouldn’t be a problem.

“Oh, wait… my apologies, it’s become a habit.”

[Haha. It’s okay to be cautious about Cheonriyan. Better to make it a habit with me than to make a mistake with someone else while on the phone.]

As I was about to close my Taeguk Watch after nearly three minutes, I remembered that this was a special Taeguk Watch sent by the Chairman.

[Don’t feel too burdened. After all, when we reveal the copycat, it might turn out to be someone you know or someone we should recruit into the society. Maybe you’ll have another ‘affair’.]

“Chairman, are you assuming it’s a woman?”

[It’s not an assumption, just a feeling that the will of the world might point in that direction.]

“Then it’s a woman.”

There’s no reason for it.

It’s just the Chairman’s intuition.

“If it’s a man, I’ll beat him up first. If it’s a woman….”

[How do you plan to handle the impersonator’s execution?]

“Well, I’ll think about that when the time comes.”

[A gentle beating with a baseball bat might be enough. Haha. I don’t mind if you have more affairs with beautiful women.]

“Chairman, ‘affair’ might be a bit much….”

[Mistress?]

“…….”

[Just kidding. Haha. Everything’s done with my permission, so I don’t have any complaints. But.]

The Chairman paused briefly at the end.

[…If you ever meet a woman behind my back.]

“I would never do that, absolutely.”

[…If you did.]

The Chairman’s voice became increasingly sharp—

[I’d cry, you know?]

“…That would never happen. I’d rather die.”

I was serious.

“I will never make you cry.”

[You’ve made me cry several times already.]

“…I did?”

[In bed, in the car, at the hotel, outside, on the stairs, and also….]

“Ahem. That’s not the kind of crying we’re talking about, is it?”

What did I think it was?

[Haha. Alright. Anyway, don’t feel too pressured about the copycat. The important thing is for you to secure more S-class members for the society.]

“Of course. The operation is proceeding smoothly. Once we take care of the fake, I’ll immediately execute the plan I proposed last time.”

[Project ‘XXX’?]

“Yes.”

Everything is done with the Chairman’s approval.

“I’ll carry out the ‘pregnancy attack’.”

[Approved.]