Chapter 1

Prologue

Cover View

On the rooftop of a building, where the cold wind howls, two figures stand facing each other.

Above the void, a woman with long, flowing blonde hair glares at me. She is the hero, Stardus.

And I, standing opposite her, am undoubtedly the villain.

"So, your little games are over. What do you plan to do now?"

She glares at me, her voice cold and sharp.

I am being condemned by the hero for allegedly taking hostages and causing a terrorist attack. Well, is this just what I deserve...?

The woman standing against me is named Stardus.

Her real name is Shin Haru.

She is just, righteous, and strong-willed.

The protagonist of the manga I have possessed.

Over the years, I have been her nemesis.

Why? Well, actually, it's all for her.

Though she would never know.

I hide my true feelings, laugh with a "hehe," and speak to her in a villainous voice.

"Yes, indeed. You did very well this time. Very well. As expected of my recognized nemesis."

As I clap exaggeratedly in the air, her expression twists.

"I don't need your approval, you piece of trash."

Yes, I get it, I get it.

But I don't have much time left to use my telekinesis.

If I make a mistake, I might fall to the ground below.

So, let's end this quickly.

My final farewell.

"Yes, Stardus. Yes! You've always been like this. You've always been the first to see through my 'games,' to stand against me, and to chase me."

She glares at me, as if trying to figure out what I'm saying. Oh, she just flinched, as if she was about to fly over here. Hey, the building's explosive device is still with me, so don't come over.

"Anyway, this will be my last game. You've grown up. You no longer need to play with me. I probably won't target you again. Take care, Stardus."

"Wait...!"

Having said everything I wanted to say, I turn my cloak towards me and quickly teleport away.

The last thing I see as I leave is...

Stardus, her eyes shaking violently.

What? Why is she like that?

EP.1 I Descend

Cover View

A peaceful afternoon.

While others are working or doing their own things,

I stand alone on the rooftop of a building, peering into someone's window.

"Damn..."

Standing on the roof, I feel like smoking.

But I quit after being possessed in this world, so I don't have any cigarettes now.

Sigh, maybe I should start again.

No, if I'm going to do this, I should endure.

Black hair, black robe, and a black cloak.

All black fashion, with a mask covering half my face, made of gray.

This is my current appearance.

Yes, it's a seriously middle-school-drama-like look.

If I wore this in the real world, I'd probably be a meme on the internet, labeled as "3rd Line News... ."

But in this world, this is normal.

This is the average villain's outfit.

This is the world of the superhero manga, [Stardust!].

I only watched the manga to its conclusion, yet I somehow woke up in this world.

The only abilities I have are a bit of telekinesis and the ability to teleport.

Yes, I'm grateful for having any abilities at all.

It's much better than being a powerless civilian.

...But, is this all? Telekinesis and teleportation?

After testing my abilities, I was quite disappointed, naturally.

Of course, some might ask me,

"Isn't having two superpowers enough?"

They might scold me for being ungrateful.

But, I can't help feeling disappointed.

In the original manga, most characters, including the protagonist, have powerful abilities in the later stages, while I have to survive with these mediocre powers.

Well, that's a story for the distant future.

For now, that's not the important thing.

I just need to focus on what I need to do.

What?

First, kill the villains.

Currently S-rank or future S-rank villains who threaten the protagonist.

Actually, it's an unrealistic task for a minor villain like me to kill them.

But I am an extraordinary being.

I know the future of this world, having read the manga.

So, I know the real names, addresses, and faces of the main villains.

"Phew..."

Yes, it's time to move.

I glance at the man in the window one more time and release my grip.

The time has come to assassinate the villain.

***

A quiet family home.

In this place, where the sunlight lazily spreads,

a man is tearing a piece of bread, looking extremely bored.

And behind him stands an unknown intruder.

"?!"

The man turns around, only to realize the situation too late.

"Goodbye, Rhino."

As the intruder mutters these words, the man's face suddenly turns pale.

"Ugh, ugh?"

Suddenly, the man, who was eating, starts choking and gasping for breath.

Boom.

Oh.

Grotesque.

I stick out my tongue at the gruesome scene I created.

It's not my first time, so the disgust is less, but... ugh.

The intruder who just killed the man.

Yes, that intruder is me.

The man I killed deserved it.

Rhino, an A-rank villain.

A madman who uses his horns to kill people indiscriminately.

Sure, he might be just another common villain in this city, but I decided to kill him first.

Why? Because he will eventually evolve into an S-rank and become a mad killer...

Of course, he is strong even now, and I can't defeat him with normal methods.

So, I teleported behind him and ambushed him. The weak must use the tactics of the weak.

My weak telekinesis can only deliver one attack.

Goodbye, Rhino. You were entertaining to watch in the manga.

But I couldn't let your killing spree become a reality...

Still, since this is my second murder, I feel less repulsion than before. Maybe I adapt quickly?

...But, from now on, I'll just use a gun to finish them off cleanly.

Blowing their heads off will be the last time!

After a brief moment of reflection, I pass through the blood-soaked living room.

And as I rummage through the man's closet,

Sure enough.

Rhino's mask appears.

A mask resembling a rhinoceros. Yes, I'll place this in front of his corpse.

This way, when someone discovers him, they'll know it's Rhino.

Alright, time to leave.

No, I should leave something as a memento.

What should I do?

After a brief thought, an idea comes to mind.

Yes, this will definitely draw attention.

With my black-gloved hand, I start to move.

Ugh, I won't do this again, really.

***

The Korean Association of Superpowered Individuals.

Also known as the Hero Association.

Shin Haru, an A-rank hero.

Her alias, Stardus.

She is currently speechless, staring at the horrific scene in a family home.

"So, this is the work of Rhino?"

"Yes, that's correct."

A police officer standing beside her, his face pale, continues.

"We arrived after receiving a report from a resident. The situation was already over. The murderer seems to have fled, and it is highly likely that it was the same person as the previous incident."

As the officer speaks, another officer searching the house adds,

"Yes. Considering the victim was a villain, it seems to fit. And this mark... "

The officer trails off, unable to continue at the sight of the gruesome scene.

The corpse with an exploded head.

In front of it, written in red blood:

To those worse than me, death.

To those weaker than me, death.

To you, Stardus.

The writing, as if scribbled by a middle schooler, is wobbly and crooked.

But perhaps because it is written in blood,

it gives off a chilling feeling.

"Madman..."

Shin Haru mutters, her expression hardening.

No matter how evil a person is, they should not die in such a manner.

They should be punished through a fair trial in court.

"...To Stardus. Huh."

She doesn't know why the killer targeted her.

But if this was a provocation, she would say it was well done.

A villain who kills in such a horrific and arbitrary manner.

This person.

Will pay the price for crossing me.

With a hardened expression, Shin Haru leaves the crime scene.

Whether the victim is evil or not is not the point.

The important thing is that there is a villain who harms people,

and she will stop them, no matter who they are.

***

[This afternoon at 7 PM, A-rank villain Rhino was found dead in his home. He appears to have died from an exploded head, and the identity of the killer is unknown. The Hero Association has designated the person who eliminated Rhino as a "truly villainous and cruel private enforcer" and classified them as an A-rank villain. The killer is believed to have the ability to use telekinesis...]

The news on the TV.

Hey, that's about me.

I turn my head slightly from the sofa where I was playing a game and look at the TV.

Shin Haru's face appears.

[...A-rank hero Stardus has stated that the villain who targeted her is an unforgivable and ruthless individual and is doing her best to apprehend them. The reason why the killer targeted Stardus is unknown...]

Ah, it's finally revealed.

The commotion I caused a few days ago.

I turn on my phone and check the internet news.

Body, body, body. And... comments.

[But honestly, if the villain only kills other villains, isn't that a hero? Why classify them as a villain?]

[This vigilante is cool, lol. Villains always escape from prison, so I support killing them.]

[I support this villain. Stardus, just don't catch them.]

"Hmm..."

I let out a sigh.

It seems the internet is friendly towards me.

After browsing various news and communities, it seems to be true.

"..."

Perhaps it's because I only eliminate villains.

Yes, if this continues, I can't deny being called an anti-hero.

An anti-hero, right? A bad hero? Whatever.

"..."

This is troublesome.

If the public opinion keeps favoring me, it might turn against Stardus, who is tracking me.

That can't happen.

Stardus. The true protagonist of this world and my favorite character.

I hunt villains to protect her.

She will never know.

My goal is to ensure she walks a smooth path.

I want her to live well without risking her life in battles or wearing down her personality.

But she is the protagonist.

She needs some trials to grow stronger.

"Hmm..."

What should I do?

A way to turn public opinion against me while helping her grow.

There is.

My official debut as a villain.

"..."

The superhero manga I've read isn't just [Stardust!].

I've also read many other superhero comics and movies.

A common trait of successful manga is

an "impressive villain."

Yes, and I will eliminate all the impressive villains in this manga.

Hmm.

If this were a real manga, I'd get a lot of hate.

For focusing on one main villain.

[Stardust!] is the manga I enjoyed the most.

Actually, I read it obsessively, savoring every detail.

So, since I'm living in this world,

shouldn't I elevate it to a higher level?

I am the one who loves this world the most.

As someone who deeply admires the protagonist,

I will become the villain of this world.

A real villain. A bad guy.

Honestly, what can I do as a regular citizen?

But I have the many superhero stories I read before being possessed.

The next event I cause will be my debut.

It needs to be impressive.

"...Rescuing bombs and people... "

It's going to be busy.

***

Korean Hero Association Office.

"Stardus! Turn on the TV now!"

Someone runs into the office where Shin Haru is investigating.

"What's going on?"

"That villain, that villain is hijacking the broadcast and airing a message!"

"Huh?"

She quickly turns on the TV on the office wall.

A man appears on a black background.

A gray mask covers half his face.

He opens his mouth.

["Hello, citizens of the city."]

The moment the identity of the mysterious villain is revealed.