Villains Have No Rights (3)

At that moment, in the top-floor chairman's office ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of a certain building in Busan, home to Haegneul Corporation.

"Dokkaebi's patent application got rejected? What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

The short, balding old man bellowed. In response to his outburst, the suited men—the executives—all bowed their heads, eyes fixed on one person.

"Executive Director Kim! You explain it! You're the one in charge here!"

"...We've checked every domestic patent. We reviewed records from 2000 to 2025 around the clock, every single day, and even dug through everything prior to that."

"Then why the hell did the patent office reject it as plagiarism?!"

"...There were Dokkaebi-related materials overseas, in the US."

Executive Director Kim broke into a cold sweat as he fiddled with his Taeguk Watch. Moments later, an English-language report appeared on the screen mounted on the office wall.

"As you can see, a US company submitted this hero costume design. It was right before Christmas, about four months ago."

"So the US beat us to it with that design?"

"Yes. Our Haegneul branch in the US confirmed it, and we're checking if the company has any close ties to Dokkaebi. But that's unlikely... because they've registered around 30 patents for designs resembling Dokkaebi's second form, 'Doji Rider.'"

"And one of them matched Dokkaebi's exactly?"

"Not exactly the same, but very similar. My personal take is they ripped off Dokkaebi's design and toned it down a bit..."

"Damn it!"

Haegneul's chairman spat curses and slumped into his chair.

"Cancel everything Dokkaebi-related! Figures, stickers, action figures—all of it!"

"B-but the plamo models are already molded..."

"Trash them! What's the point of selling without a patent? Even we can't peddle unlicensed crap!!"

You couldn't manufacture and sell ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anything based on villain intel. Do that, and you'd get slammed for ties to villain groups. Or if the villain committed some heinous crime like mass murder, any merch themed around them turned to garbage overnight. That's why they'd tried the backdoor route, patenting stuff like "Haegneul Rider" first—only for the whole plan to unravel from the start.

"Damn it, what about Hwanseong, Cellji, and Daeyu?!"

"They're slower than us but gathering materials for their own patents. Hwanseong filed for review the day before yesterday."

"Those bastards need to get screwed too. If we don't pass, neither do they. Damn it, who the hell in this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠country has Dokkaebi stans in high places? How'd they even check foreign patents? Shit."

The chairman gnawed at the side of his head in fury.

"Get me the names of everyone on that patent review board, somehow. We need to know why they axed it. They greenlight foreign heroes and villains no problem, so why get all sensitive about Dokkaebi? Figure it out! Executive Director Kim, you're on it!!"

"Y-yes, sir! I'll secure the reviewer list and dig into why they rejected it—whether it's just similarity to the overseas patent or some Dokkaebi connection!"

"Yeah! Nail it down!"

"Chairman, what about that kid?"

"The kid? Oh, that fool banking on his powers and strutting around?"

The chairman tapped his Taeguk Watch, playing a video. At the center of the live feed was a hesitant boy—Yuk Gibong.

"Time he learned how cold the real world is. Cut him loose."

The chairman's eyes held no mercy.

"Gibong Rider, my ass. Tsk."

"Chairman, what if he goes berserk...?"

"He's on Sejong Island, not here in Busan. Or hey, if he snaps and turns into a 'real' villain? Great for us. The heroes'll handle it."

A beat later.

"Or Dokkaebi could show up and deal with him."

In the video, Yuk Gibong began to "rampage."

* * *

I'd seen fake Dokkaebi merch coming a mile away. Why? Because the moment I first appeared and blew up in popularity, my default look got ripped off.

Black suit. Dokkaebi mask. Top hat like a British gentleman. Glowing golden eyes inside.

It was just a monster in a regular suit, but they stole it wholesale for crap like "Hero Dokkaebi" or "Mountain Dokkaebi." Hell, some famous overseas men's suit brand even parodied me in ads. Not a dime in ad fees, licensing, or modeling gigs came my way, of course.

After transforming into Doji Rider. I'd consulted Chongsu on it once. She checked my various forms and filed international patents.

—One day? Nah, that's too long. An hour tops.

—You sure?

—It's me.

People might say a villain org like Imae Mangnyang can't touch legal stuff? So we roped in big shots no one would question, like Haegneul, for the filings.

—Thank you, Chairman. The Fahrenheit family won't forget your support.

Just like Haegneul snuck Dokkaebi designs into their pile, we partnered with a powerful US family to register my villain forms.

Locals probably had no clue. The "Doji Rider" design people called it by? Already patented stateside.

Haegneul must be reeling. Learning a Dokkaebi design was already registered in the US? Every villain outfit in Korea would think the same.

—Is Dokkaebi American or something?

In truth, I was a pure Korean who couldn't speak English—but the thieves chasing my designs fell right into Chongsu's trap, denied what they craved.

In other words: 'Too bad—no room for a Gibong Rider in this world.'

Patents failed. Yuk Gibong's pipe dream of sucking cash from Dokkaebi designs? Done. Haegneul's scheme to lure an immature high schooler with fame and fortune for the same? Over.

The problem was.

"Th-this can't be...! They ditched me? Ugh, you worthless scum...!! No, I'm the Rider! I have to be the first Rider...!!"

They were the ones in the wrong, but instead of owning it, they snapped and rampaged on their own terms.

"Raaagh!!"

Massive mana erupted from Yuk Gibong's body. It whipped up winds, shoving bystanders away.

Crash!

"Kyaaah!!"

The mana-born gust shattered windows and toppled people.

"Casualties reported! Designating Yuk Gibong as the villain 'Doppleganger' effective immediately!"

The cop's radio shout triggered villain alerts on everyone's Taeguk Watches. Laughable they only tagged him villain after casualties, but he wasn't wrong.

Click.

I covered my Taeguk Watch to silence the alert. Meanwhile, Yuk Gibong—no, Doppleganger—began to change.

He was rampaging. Corrupted by madness. Not forced by alien mana under Sejong Island, but spewing rage at his failure into destructive urges.

"Everyone, get back!!"

I issued orders per protocol. Yoon Isun whipped her head toward me; I nodded firmly and retreated with the crowd.

Clear superpower rampage. Staff and non-ability users could assist before, but now? Even faculty were just civilians.

"Snap out of it, Junior Yuk Gibong!!"

"Chairman! Too late! He's a villain now! Always had the makings of one!"

"We have to talk him down! It's not too late! Before he turns villain... devil... we can still—!"

Too late. Before heroes could persuade, Yuk Gibong wasn't Gibong Rider anymore—he was Gibong Monster.

Or devil Yuk Gibong. 'Words won't reach him anymore. Or has he retreated so deep into his own world that common sense bounces off?'

Tragically, madness claimed him fully.

'Situation's ripe.'

I was an outsider. Not of this world. No one knew me.

That thought hit, and the world seemed to freeze. Amid the silence, fleeing or confused folks didn't notice me—like I wasn't there.

I slipped into an empty alley, no CCTV. Stripped quick—grab clothes post-transform—

Doppleganger's howl blasted shockwaves everywhere. One snapped a utility pole at the waist, sending it toppling.

"Danger!!"

I saw it—Yoon Isun blasting mana-tail from her back, charging toward a kid under the pole.

Swoosh. She scooped the kid to escape—but a mana blast from behind sprayed red blood across her ankle.

"!!"

Yoon Isun froze. She shoved the kid forward and tumbled.

The pole plummeted toward her head—

Boom—!!

Suddenly, I was there over her. Kicked the falling pole aside, stepping into the plaza in my usual black suit and mask.

"Who... are you...?"