episode_0000

Prologue

There are different levels of villains.

At the center of the story that shakes the world, the top-tier villains, who can be considered the focal point of the story, may possess a fandom equal to or even greater than that of the heroes.

When thinking of a hero who shakes a nation and threatens the heroes, a first-class villain comes to mind as their archenemy.

Not a major one, but at least a second-rate villain who appears as the final boss in a series or part.

And finally, a third-rate villain who appears in one episode and disappears in the same episode or a few episodes later without anyone noticing. I became such a third-rate villain.

(Tick, tock, tick, tock)

“Hey, what are you doing? Come out quickly!”

A desperate voice came through the earphones in my ears as I looked at the clock.

“Just wait a moment.”

(Bang!)

Before long, the door I was looking at broke, and a woman appeared.

(Click! Click! Click! Click!)

My “haters,” dressed in suits, small silk hats, and masks, aimed their guns at the woman around me.

(Swish)

“You’re later than I thought. The tea has gone cold.”

I raised my hand, signaling not to shoot, and smiled at the woman.

“Mad Hatter!!”

The villain Mad Hatter.

A white-haired man wearing a tuxedo, a silk hat, and a monocle with a pocket watch—villain Mad Hatter, that’s me.

“Luna, my dear.”

(Swoosh)

The woman standing in front of me. With her beautiful silver hair that seemed more like ash than white, beautiful skin, and an appearance that could only be described as beautiful, she greeted me by lifting her hat, looking at the hero Luna.

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

(Pouring sound)

I poured the tea I had actually prepared into a cup and asked.

(Zing! Clang!)

At that moment, a laser shot from Luna’s hand shattered the teapot.

“…It was good tea.”

“Where is the dismantling device?”

The woman said to me without any change in expression.

“Well, where could it be~~”

(Zap!)

As I spoke in a tone indicating that I didn’t know anything, Luna fired a laser next to me.

“Um… Luna, what is a villain?”

I cautiously asked Luna, who was staring at me.

……

In response to my question, Luna did not say anything. She just continued to look into my eyes.

“Criminal? Revolutionary? Artist? Lunatic? Hehehe, well! I don’t know about the last one, but no, that’s not it.”

I held out my hand, suppressing the emerging laughter.

“I think they are free beings. They are free even from laws, society, emotions, and even reason.”

“…”

“So then, what is the reason for the existence of villains?”

“Because they are evil.”

Luna answered.

“Hahaha! Of course, that could be the case, or not. The reason for the existence of villains is the hero.”

“?”

More precisely, it can be called goodness. Because there is light, there is darkness, and because there is darkness, there is light.”

“…”

“Good and evil coexist. Isn’t that right, Luna?”

“Nonsense.”

(Slap!)

Luna pointed at me with her hand.

“To me, it sounds like nothing more than excuses and self-justification.”

“It’s a matter of perspective.”

[Hey, we’re ready.]

I glanced at Luna with a small smile as I heard the radio in my ear.

“So, Luna, do you know what madness and laughter have in common?”

(Bang!)

Light began to emanate from Luna’s hand. Or more precisely, she began to gather light.

“I’m not interested.”

“Hahaha, the answer is—”

(Pop!)

I chuckled and flicked my finger.

(Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!)

At that moment, a loud explosion echoed around us. It wasn’t just one but several explosions, and from the sound of those explosions, I could tell it was a massive blast.

“If both come out once, they won’t stop easily.”

“!!”

“Now then, let’s start the party!”

“Mad Hatter!!”

(Tatadatada!!)

Mad Hatter’s henchmen fired guns at Luna.

(Swish)

Smoke engulfed the surroundings, and the man’s figure disappeared.

.

.

.

.

“Phew, that was close.”

I said as I walked towards the back door of the building.

“Stop right there!”

As I walked a little further, a police officer rushed out and blocked my way.

“Hands up!”

“…”

The henchmen holding the guns right now are all fighting… no, just getting hit by our beloved Luna. If I pull out the gun in my arms right now, I’ll get shot by the police before that.

So, the best choice I can make here is one.

(Bang!)

“I surrender.”

“……”

As I raised my hands, the startled police officer looked at me when he heard the word “surrender.”

“Shall I hand over the gun?”

“……Throw it.”

Facing reality, the police officer nodded and said.

With the permission of the police, I cautiously opened my coat and grabbed the pistol with two fingers, then threw it under the police officer.

(Thud)

“!!”

As the police officer picked up the gun, the villain who had been in front of his eyes disappeared. He literally vanished without a sound.

(Swish)

Then, while the police officer remained unaware, the Mad Hatter revealed himself from behind the police officer.

(Tick, tock)

“Was it a cat I saw?”

The Mad Hatter, who had placed a pocket watch against the left ear, whispered from the right side of the police officer.

“……”

(Swish)

The police officer, who had been listening to the sound of the watch, lowered the hand holding the gun.

“What is your name?”

Putting away the pocket watch, the Mad Hatter returned to his previous position.

“…My name is Lee Jin-soo.”

The police officer’s focus became different from before, and he obediently responded to my words.

“That sounds like a name that would be good at coding. Can you return my gun, please?”

“…”

(Swish)

The police officer handed me back my gun.

“Well, if you keep walking, there will be a hero waiting for you. Go ahead and shoot. Don’t worry, neither side can kill each other.”

“Understood.”

My name is Arthur Riddle, born as a third-rate villain with hypnotic abilities in a comic book whose content I do not understand.