I Wish He'd Show Some Restraint
Watching from the balcony, Dan Miryu let out a sigh.
"I just hope he shows a little restraint."
This was not Korea. In the United States, the Dan clan's power did not reach. If the phantom thief ran wild and stirred up some calamity, the aftermath would be impossible to manage. Catching villains was the lesser evil, but a natural disaster was called a natural disaster for a reason. You could not see it coming. That was the whole of it.
Wiiiiing!
An alarm shrieked through the hotel.
Attention. This is not a drill. A large number of villains have attacked the hotel! All guests are asked to evacuate in accordance with hotel instructions! I repeat! This is not a drill……
"Please don't panic! Follow our directions! This hotel is safe!"
A guard was shouting beyond the door, but his voice shook.
"They'll have a hard time of it."
Hong Yumin stood with San-gun tucked against her chest, phone in hand.
"I'd imagine so. They're coming up from the beach as well. There won't be enough security."
"That is not all."
Hong Yumin spat her gum into a tissue and balled it up.
"There are some inside, too. Villains."
"...Truly?"
Dan Miryu's face hardened.
"Aye. Bastards dressed up as guests."
Hong Yumin's eyes dropped.
"Walk into that shelter and you'll regret it."
"Understood. We'll take that side."
"Then I shall take this one down to the beach."
"Pardon?"
Hong Yumin hoisted Dan Chuyeon up.
"...Yumin, Chuyeon's still young."
Mi Soryeong scolded her.
"Soryeong. This, too, is experience."
Hong Yumin smiled, fierce.
"Think I cannot keep one child safe from a handful of ants? And how long do you mean to swaddle him? Where else will you find a chance this fine?"
At that, Mi Soryeong gave a bitter smile.
"If he gets hurt, I won't let it go."
"I shall guard him with my life."
"Um, do I not get a say?"
The mere thought of facing villains had drained the color from Dan Chuyeon's face.
"And what say would that be? Take what you're given and eat it."
"Wai—!"
Hong Yumin vanished like the wind. Stifled, Mi Soryeong struck a fist against her own chest.
"He'll be fine. Don't worry."
"Haa. All right."
Mi Soryeong's eyes flew wide, killing intent flickering in them.
"Let's clean this up fast and go see Chuyeon."
"Let's."
The couple gathered their things and headed for the shelter.
"Aaaaah! Mom!"
From outside, for some reason, a scream tore through the air.
Phantom tilted his head at the sudden chill in the air.
"My, the mood has grown rather cold."
Every time his gaze landed, the villains flinched. They traded looks among themselves.
"What do we do?"
"How should I know?"
They had seen every breed of madman there was, but never one insane in quite this particular way.
"Phantom or whatever the hell you are, who cares! Die!"
Big Hand, the villain Phantom had flung aside, flushed red, then blue. Being seized and thrown without so much as a chance to resist was a humiliation that burned.
He unleashed his power. His hand swelled enormous and swung for Phantom.
"A handshake, is it? A pleasure."
Thud! Crash!
Phantom caught the oncoming hand, shook it up and down, and took the blow anyway, slamming into the wall.
"Now there's a proper fucking moron."
Big Hand spat on the floor and bellowed at the room.
"The hell are you staring at, you bastards! Show's over! Quit gawking and shoot!"
At that, the villains raised their guns.
But they could not fire. The weapons went soft and limp, drooping like snakes.
"What the hell is wrong with these!"
"They went all floppy, like snakes!"
"What! Is this a superpower?!"
Not one gun, or two. Every last one of them. The villain bosses' faces hardened, and they looked to the wall where Phantom had been thrown.
He was not there.
"Guns are dangerous, so I took the liberty of lending a hand."
Phantom had returned to the very spot where Big Hand had struck him. He caught that giant hand and shook it again.
"I took that hit just now and went flying without quite meaning to. A pleasure. I am the phantom thief Phantom."
"You fucker!"
Gooseflesh crawled up Big Hand's arms.
This bastard's a genuine lunatic!
The power was one thing. The personality was impossible to read.
"You lot just gonna stand there and watch?! Help me!"
A few of them hesitated. Phantom smiled, all teeth.
"And what is your name?"
"This crazy son of a—!"
Big Hand seized him in both hands. Caught in those gigantic palms, Phantom looked like a man in a giant's grip.
"I'll finish you just like this."
"Oh."
Pressure closed in, and Phantom's body crumpled.
"This is quite... a novel experience."
"Die!"
Under pressure driven to the limit, he ought to have been squeezed dry.
But—
Pop!
Phantom burst, and vanished without a trace.
Trailing black smoke, he was standing on Big Hand's head.
"Graaaaagh!"
The weight on his skull had Big Hand foaming at the mouth. Rage had taken him past seeing straight. Phantom kicked off and dropped to the floor, then looked out over the hotel lobby.
"Do not fret. Simply watch. This phantom thief shall provide you a splendid show."
The guards stared at him, faces blank with shock. Phantom paid them no mind and turned to Big Hand, who had gone beet red.
"Now. A game without music would be a shame, wouldn't it?"
From somewhere, a song began. A bright, rollicking tune seized the hall.
"Hoo! Things are heating up! Scream for meeeee!!! Shake It Off!!!"
"Graaaaaah!"
Phantom caught Big Hand's oncoming hand.
"Partner, shall we dance?"
"Let go! I said let go!"
The giant hand was yanked this way and that by a dainty one.
"I'm afraid this is my first dance. I may not be very good."
"Waaaaah!"
Light gathered on Phantom and Big Hand. Phantom led him to the fountain. The two spun round and round, shaking to the music.
"Here comes the flourish!"
"I was wrong! Let me go!"
Big Hand had never known a shame this deep. He would never be able to show his face anywhere again.
"Please! I'm begging you! Let go!"
He was outright pleading. He could not even release his power, so he kept those enormous hands and danced on, a ridiculous sight.
"Ha ha ha! The song is ending, so only a little longer!"
"Aaaaaah! Mom!"
Big Hand looked to the villain bosses.
"I'll pay you whatever you want! Help me!"
They looked away, as if begging him not to look their way.
"The song is ending! Now—the finale!"
"Save meeeee!!!"
Matching the last of the music, Phantom hurled him. Water leapt from the fountain and dressed him; like a celestial maiden of the lake in a gown of water, Big Hand fell.
Splash! Whoosh!
The song ended, and the light returned to what it had been.
Clap, clap, clap!
"Bravo! A successful finale. I had no idea a first attempt would go so well!"
Shoulders dancing, Phantom strolled over to Big Hand.
"I meant to ask your name, but you've fainted."
"Glug..."
Eyes rolled back, Big Hand lay sunk in the water. Phantom hauled him out and sat him on a nearby bench.
"It is still far too early for the show to end."
His gaze swept the villains. Every one of them had gone rigid with terror.
"I don't wanna! Stay away!"
"Run!"
They scattered in every direction.
"We can't have a show without an audience!"
Snap!
Phantom flicked his fingers. Ropes bloomed in the air above him and shot after the fleeing villains.
Whirrr!
"Aaaah!"
"Help! Save me!"
Bind one, and the rope stretched on to the next, and the next after that. Every villain was trussed and dragged before him.
"Wait, don't do this!"
The female villain boss, Alishuya, cried out. Sweat pouring, she begged.
"We were wrong! We'll go to prison quietly!!!"
This phantom thief was insane. Not ordinarily insane. Set the strength of his power aside, and the things he did—unknowable, unimaginable—were more frightening than any villain alive. At Alishuya's words, the others nodded along.
"We'll go to prison!"
"We'll repent!"
"We'll live good lives from now on!"
"I'll even pay back the money I borrowed from my friend!"
At words so heartfelt, Phantom drew out a handkerchief. His mask changed into a weeping mask.
"Sob, sob. To think you will all wash your hands of crime and live in repentance... Could there be any greater joy?"
"Y-yeah! We're all gonna live good lives!"
Just this one! If I can just get away from this one!
Prison? Was she out of her mind? She only had to get through this and get off Hawaii somehow.
That client, that fucking bitch! I'll kill her someday!
"Today is a joyful day."
Phantom stepped back. His gaze settled on Alishuya, and a prickle of dread ran through her.
"How could it not be joyful, when new people have been born into the world?"
His costume changed. The Smiling Mask. A white T-shirt. A glittering cardigan. A black fedora. And a glove worn on only one hand. Who in the world would not know that outfit?
"I must express this joy. And so—you, who have made me glad."
Phantom moonwalked toward Alishuya.
"No! No!"
Alishuya crawled in misery, but his hand caught her and stood her on the stage. Light fell over the two of them. The music came on. The legendary emperor of pop. It was his song.
"Let us enjoy ourselves! The show must not end!"
"Waaaaaaaah!"
And Phantom's show
went on until the night was over.