The Aftershock of Terror
I'm fucked.
That was the very first thought that crossed my mind when I dropped into this novel.
Because the villain Double Crown's fate was to be reduced to complete ash in Dwight's hands.
While we're here, let me tell you how I ended up possessing a character in this novel. All I did was finish reading the final side story of a completed novel and fall asleep.
In short, it was completely absurd.
My parents are both still alive, you know.
But overnight, I became an orphan with no one left in the world.
Mother… I'm still alive! Mother!
By now she might be regretting all those times she smacked me across the back for reading worthless novels day in and day out.
But Mother wasn't wrong.
If I just hadn't read this novel, I wouldn't be going through all this hell right now.
I tried desperately to overturn the villain's fate somehow. A future where I wouldn't die by Dwight's hands.
But in this novel racing toward its predetermined ending, the only things I could change were saving Jeffbery's life — she who would have died because of me — and fighting the witches in her place.
What did I give up to save Jeffbery?
As you well know: her mana circle.
I casually told Igrian we'd make do with the artifacts from Heila's legion, but not claiming that mana circle meant I'd end up with fewer circles than Dwight.
You never expected my pure love to go this far, did you?
I was actually Jeffbery's biggest fanboy.
Honestly, what kind of self-actualization could I even achieve in this novel? What else is there besides seeing the ending I want?
For that purpose, I've lived as the villain Double Crown for six years now. I'm thriving as this world's marquee villain.
But do you think Dwight just sat around while I was growing this powerful?
After recovering from the injuries he sustained from the Witch of the Four Seasons, Dwight awakened at an incredible speed and became an 8-Circle mage in one go.
He's the protagonist, so of course.
The ability Dwight gained while subduing the witches one by one and claiming their artifacts was the power to see through an opponent's magic circles. Through this ability, Dwight could interfere with a magic formula before the enemy even cast a spell, destroying the calculation entirely.
So why is Dwight holding back in a full-frontal confrontation with me right now?
Interfering with my magic formula — which is nothing more than the infinite addition of ones — should be child's play for Dwight.
My conclusion was one: he was mistaking me for a villain with far greater abilities than I actually possess. He figured a magic calculation that simple couldn't possibly be all there was to it, so he wouldn't touch it rashly.
Looking at this, X-ray vision isn't purely a good ability either. When there's too little to see, you just can't believe it!
Right now, Dwight must be thinking there are other traps hidden inside my elementary-school-arithmetic magic formula.
Tick-tock.
Watching the second hand tick steadily, I was monitoring the situations at the Central Intelligence Bureau and Heil Lake — both about to crumble — through a magic projection.
By now, Chairman Grayton must be realizing that the threats I made amounted to nothing, feeling hollow about the whole thing.
Yeah, no matter what you do, the bombs will go off. You can press the button yourself if you want. But you want to save the Emergency Response Headquarters, don't you? So close off Heil Lake.
That was the gist of it. But because I cleverly set the atmosphere as if listening to me would stop the Central Intelligence Bureau terror attack, this guy must be completely bamboozled.
Who trusts a villain's word when there's nothing else to believe?
I sneered as I watched the timer racing toward the countdown.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1—
RUMBLE— BOOM!
At last, a black cloud like the Hiroshima atomic bomb billowed skyward as the Central Intelligence Bureau building collapsed completely. Simultaneously, Heil Lake spouted water fountains and was sucked down into a massive crater.
"Bravo!"
Igrian clapped as she watched the scene.
I was watching with deep satisfaction as Jeffbery commanded the site with perfect coordination. The way she strode about freely with the 1st and 3rd Department Heads flanking her on either side was thoroughly pleasing. Even the sight of 2nd Department Head Michael dashing about with his dust-clouded robe flapping was a welcome view.
Now things are finally running properly.
Dwight was nowhere to be seen.
I curled the corners of my mouth as I watched the news broadcasting the scene live.
Of course. I calculated it to fit the Central Intelligence Bureau's footprint exactly. I'm the type who coughs blood over anything left over or falling short.
The anchor connected to another reporter and asked:
Anchor: "What is the situation at Heil Lake?"
Field Reporter: "Yes, things are proceeding smoothly here as well. As you can see, a crater has precisely pierced through the circumference of the lakebed. The terrain has changed into a form that settled exactly to the size of the original lake. The footage you're seeing now was captured by magic drones comparing the previous Heil Lake with its current state. The difference is virtually imperceptible."
The anchor took the microphone back.
"We'll now connect with Commander Jeffbery Shut, who is active on-site. Jeffbery Shut, would you care to say a few words about today's demolition?"
Jeffbery appeared on screen.
Igrian shook her head at the way my eyes lit up.
Little sister, I get that you're going through puberty, but how about staying out of adult business?
I glared at Igrian and fixed my attention on Jeffbery's interview.
What followed was roughly that everything had concluded safely, and that they would clean up the site while minimizing environmental damage — that sort of thing.
I glanced at the comments flooding in.
Uh… this is not what I wanted.
I grimaced at the torrent of comments pouring in.
Igrian pointed at a newly appeared comment.
"Oppa, we've got a problem!"
"What?"
I gaped at the exponentially exploding flood of comments.
…16,318 comments.
The screen showed the protesting citizens. People carrying banners and placards were marching down the street in front of the Emergency Response Headquarters.
LONG LIVE DOUBLE CROWN!
MAGES, STEP ASIDE.
DOUBLE CROWN IS NO LONGER A VILLAIN.
"Oh, for fuck's sake!"
I looked at the bombs in the control tower, their timers already running thanks to the automatically triggered calculation formula.
I'd successfully blown up the Central Intelligence Bureau and Heil Lake and was about to announce the next location through Jeffbery, but… I never expected things to go sideways like this!
I hurriedly threw on my jacket.
"Get ready."
After nodding at Igrian, I teleported to the Emergency Response Headquarters.
The people who had occupied the control tower and were sitting in rows erupted in thunderous cheers at my sudden appearance.
"Whoa!! It's Lord Double Crown!"
I spoke in a voice cold and still.
"Do all of you want to die?"
The citizens exchanged bewildered glances, completely at a loss.
"If you don't want to die, then right now—!"
I pointed at the exit and shouted.
"Don't look back — run!"
Click.
I put the CCTV feed of the bomb-rigged control tower up on every monitor.
"Everyone, the countdown has already begun."
The moment the words left my mouth, people started stampeding out like mad.
At the same time, I corrected my coordinates and headed for the location where the bombs were installed.
There was no way to stop bombs whose triggers had already fired automatically. Nothing except blocking the exploding bombs with something.
Tick-tock.
Beside the ticking bundle of bombs stood a single figure.
It was Dwight.
"Dwight!"
He slowly turned to face me with languid eyes.
"Double Crown…. So this bomb will become your coffin."
Looking at Dwight's bitter smile, my brain started redlining.
How did he know there were bombs here? Did he see through my magic circle?
Then… ah, damn it! I'm fucked!