Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: A Villain Organization That Vanishes Overnight?
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In a world where people with supernatural abilities akin to magic began appearing from time to time...
Some used their powers to live more convenient lives or contribute to the advancement of humanity.
But on the flip side, others wielded that strength to plunge people into chaos and throw the world into disorder.
Those wicked ability users came to be called 'Villains,'
and the heroes who protected cities and citizens from these 'Villains' were dubbed 'Heroes.'
The Heroes, represented by the Hero Union.
And a tense world locked in confrontation between them and countless Villains and villain organizations.
Among those many villain groups, the Dark Knights were particularly notorious.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Combatant No. 505 of the Dark Knights' combat brigade.
A name so crude it barely qualified as villainous—devoid of even a shred of flair.
Years had passed since I'd boldly joined this villain organization with grand dreams of becoming a ruthless, world-shaking archvillain and slapped that name on myself.
In a world where people with supernatural abilities like magic roamed about,
here I was, a nobody with not even the tiniest, most pathetic power to my name, dreaming of becoming a grand villain.
All I had going for me was slightly better stamina and strength than the average guy,
and even that barely let me hold my own against a single C-Rank Hero.
It had been a long time since I'd resigned myself to the fact that just surviving battles was a win.
'Ugh... I just wanna get home on my day off and crack open a cold beer.'
But it wasn't like I could just up and leave this villain organization whenever I felt like it.
Most low-rank combatants kicked the bucket within a year or quit in droves,
yet here I was, years later, still kicking thanks to my sturdy build and tough hide that refused to go down easy.
The organization wouldn't just let a durable meat shield like me walk away scot-free.
Sure, I got paid better than other grunts and received slightly preferential treatment...
But I hadn't signed up to be the kingpin of the bottom-rung lackeys!
'Sigh... What's the point of grumbling alone like this every day?'
If only this organization would suddenly collapse and set me free,
or if I suddenly awakened to a supernatural ability and became the villain I'd always dreamed of.
Hoping for one of those two miracles sooner rather than later,
I let out a deep sigh and quietly awaited my next orders.
- WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Suddenly, the siren in the lounge blared deafeningly without warning.
"What the—? Ugh..."
The crew who'd been waiting through the night without sleep jumped in alarm, looking around wildly.
Sirens usually meant a dispatch call or some emergency.
"We're in deep shit!!! The Heroes are raiding us!!"
"What? Heroes?"
One combatant, clutching his arm like he'd already been wounded, came sprinting desperately toward the commander's office.
The other combatants, sensing something was gravely wrong, switched to combat readiness,
and I straightened my combat gear while waiting for the commander's orders.
"All units, prepare for battle!"
The commander, having just received the raid report from the incoming combatant, burst into the lounge
and barked the order at the tense group of fighters.
"Suspected to be an A-Rank or B-Rank Hero. Stay sharp."
Heroes had raided our hideout plenty of times before,
but they'd always been B-Rank or C-Rank.
A C-Rank Hero was something three guys like me could handle,
and a B-Rank required a double-digit crew to take down.
But an A-Rank? Even the commander would struggle against one.
The appearance of an A-Rank Hero was emergency-level for the organization.
The Dark Knights weren't without experience fighting A-Ranks,
and if a commander or supreme commander stepped up, our odds of victory were decent.
But that assumed we knew they were coming and could prepare.
In a surprise attack like this, the outcome was anyone's guess.
"An A-Rank Hero?! We're all gonna die at this rate!"
"W-We need to seal off the hideout interior now!"
The combatants pleaded with the commander in fearful voices at the mention of A-Rank.
'Ah. Are we seriously about to die here?'
Even I, who'd spent no small amount of time in this place, felt the dread.
"Are you saying you'd abandon the organization and run?! Is that all the might of the Dark Knights amounts to?!"
The commander bellowed at his demoralized, terrified troops.
Sweat beading on his own excited face told me he was just as rattled and tense, despite the tough talk.
Unable to stand it any longer, he grabbed a few combatants by the arm and dragged them out,
and in the end, the rest of us, myself included, reluctantly followed.
"Kraaaagh!!!"
"Hyaaah!!"
By the time we hit the corridor, it was already a bloodbath strewn with downed combatants.
"All units! Charge!!!"
"Hyaaaaaaaah!!!!!!"
The commander ordered a charge at the A-Rank Hero with orange hair,
and dozens of us reluctant fighters stumbled forward in awkward formation.
- KABOOOM!!
"Kraaaagh!!!"
"Haha! If you wanna take down this Hero, Ignition, bring some real muscle!"
She spewed massive flames from her hands, charbroiling dozens of combatants in an instant,
then flashed a cocky grin while introducing herself as the Hero Ignition.
Of course. What did I expect from an A-Rank? Useless grunts like us never stood a chance.
"This won't do. Combatant No. 505!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Even the commander, who'd been burning with resolve, showed signs of panic as he called my name.
"Can't reach the command center amid this surprise attack for some reason...
Go check it out yourself and request reinforcements."
How the hell should a lowly peon like me know where the big shots are holed up?!
...Yeah, can't say that.
"Could you tell me where the command center is?"
"Eighth floor, dead center. Take this and call for help."
The commander shoved his nameplate into my hand and charged at the Hero massacring our ranks.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Huff... huff... Why do they have to station themselves so damn high up?"
Following orders, I'd climbed the stairs to the eighth-floor command center, up and up.
Despite years in this hideout, I'd rarely been this high.
The few times were just hauling heavy cargo or furniture to the command center.
"What the...?"
Normally, guards would be posted heavily around the command center.
But now, it was deserted like they'd all moved out, the door hanging wide open.
"Anyone here?! Supreme Commander! Leader Kaiser!"
I pushed open the unguarded glass door, but inside was a command center in total disarray, like a midnight flight.
"No way they already bailed? The top brass? Fuck?"
Fancy ornaments and Dark Knights banners lay shattered on the floor,
the Leader's massive portrait half-packed, no time to finish.
They must've caught wind of the Hero raid first and ditched their men to escape.
Come to think of it, Leader Kaiser of the Dark Knights had never properly shown his face to us underlings,
always hiding somewhere, communicating by voice through the supreme commander.
In a way, it was only natural for them to cut and run without us.
Not that it made the betrayal sting any less for the likes of me.
But more pressingly, now how was I supposed to escape alive?
"Damn, all this stuff looks expensive. Should I grab a few and bolt?"
Mulling escape routes while eyeing the pricey junk scattered about,
my gaze landed on a gem on what looked like the Leader's desk.
A purple jewel gleaming brilliantly inside a clear glass case.
Exquisitely cut and impressively large, it had to be worth a fortune.
"So this is what they blew our labor on? Unbelievable..."
This one gem alone looked like it could fetch hundreds of millions.
The rest was too bulky to carry while fleeing anyway.
'Yeah. I'll snag this as payback for years of grunt work.'
I carefully pocketed the jewel, intent on fencing it for a big payday,
and racked my brain for a quiet way out before the Hero showed.
No idea how the supreme commander and Leader escaped,
but no secret stairs or passages to the surface in sight.
"Oh? That thing?"
Just as I thought to head down normally, I spotted a small hole.
A slide-like chute sloping downward, its wall-matching cover flung open.
They must've used this to flee.
Excited, I dove for the hole—
"Can't let you escape that easily, now can I?"
"Ah."
That confident, lively woman's voice from the corridor earlier.
No way...
"Stay right there. Or I'll roast you."