I'll Be Villain to Everyone! Except for my Cat...-Chapter 49: The Second Step of Dream

"Me against... her?" he thought skeptically, shifting his gaze from the revolver to the girl.

Once, he had indeed managed to take down three people with supernatural abilities. But that was an exceptional case.

Back then, circumstances had aligned in his favor in an incredibly fortunate way... Or rather, he had managed to turn them to his advantage in an incredible way.

But now, the difference in strength seemed like an insurmountable wall.

Of course, he lived for danger and risk... But, no matter how you looked at it, this was truly madness. Having assessed her abilities at a glance, he understood that she could indeed kill him in an instant.

Would a full-power shot from his revolver be enough to counter her? He had no doubt that she would shrug off even that with ease.

His only chance of survival was to rely on his second ability—borrowing the light of the constellations—and flee. But, technically, this wasn’t a fight; it was simply an escape.

He didn’t stand a single chance of putting up even the slightest resistance... But then why did he keep thinking about it? Why was he trying to figure out her slightest weaknesses or flaws? Why was his brain endlessly searching for ways to attack?

What if... What if he overcame his fear...

If he lit a fire in his heart...

Could he really win then?

"Ah, the people of Concord...! I’m very happy to meet you. My name is Marie." She introduced herself innocently, placing her hand over her heart.

It seemed this girl had not the slightest inkling of the thoughts swirling in Mr. Nobody’s head.

"I’m glad to meet you, too, Marie," he replied calmly, lightly brushing his revolver

’I don’t like her... I really don’t like her.’ The thought churned tensely in his mind.

It seemed Marie was very pleased with his response. Her face seemed to light up.

"Ah, today is such an interesting day... Whenever I have an interesting day ahead, it always rains in the morning, can you believe it?"

"Oh, and here I was wondering what caused the sudden error in the weather forecast... Seems the forecast forgot to account for Marie planning an interesting day."

"Hehe, you’re funny," the girl replied, chuckling sweetly, and pointed her finger at the countless raindrops suspended in the air. "It’s not that I wanted this; it simply decided to follow me today."

"Haha..."

’God, she gives me goosebumps...’

"Oh...! Please forgive me, I didn’t think about the people of Concord at all. Did the rain bother you? I can make it go away."

"Mm... Yeah, that would be nice."

*Clap* Marie stretched her arms out horizontally and clapped her hands in front of her chest.

After that, each of the countless millions of raindrops... simply flattened out and burst.

"Done. Shoo-shoo, little cloud, you fly away too!" she said, waving her hands at the cloud in the sky.

After that, the huge dark cloud began to slowly drift across the sky in the opposite direction.

"..." Mr. Nobody and the cat exchanged a silent glance.

’...Maybe I should try to kill her after all?’

"Haa..." he sighed wearily.

’Her power is just insane... What Step of Dream is she on?’

"Hmm, maybe I should just ask..." he muttered under his breath. "What Step of Dream are you on, Marie?"

"The second."

’She actually answered...’

"Mm... I see. After all, every Step on every Path has its own name or title, right? What’s the name of yours?"

"That’s a secret..." she replied with a smile, placing her index finger to her lips. "If you prove yourself worthy and set out on the Path of Dream, then perhaps you’ll be able to find out for yourself."

"Yeah... that’s quite the offer you can’t refuse."

"Hmm, what do you mean?" Marie asked innocently.

"Oh, nothing..." He sighed and hopped back onto the motorcycle. "It was nice meeting you, Marie. Chao."

"Huh? W-wait!" she exclaimed and leaped toward him.

In less than a split second, her hand grabbed his shoulder. He couldn’t even make out her movements.

Her grip was so tight that he wouldn’t have been able to break free without dislocating his shoulder.

’She reached me in a single damn instant! This is just crazy!’ the thought raced through his mind along with the cold sweat running down his back.

"What is it?" he asked, feigning boredom.

"People from Concord usually don’t respond to someone like me... I’m really curious, so could we talk a little more?"

"Hmm..." He put on a thoughtful expression, trying not to focus on her face. "I don’t mind... But, Marie, have you even noticed what’s going on around you? Your arrival has put these people in a rather awkward position..."

"Oh..." She looked around and saw that a hundred people were still turning their backs on her and staring at the floor. "Please forgive me, people of Concord."

"If you really want to talk, we should move somewhere else where we won’t bother anyone."

"Yes, you’re right."

"Hey, guys!" he called out to the guards standing nearby. "Do you mind if Marie and I step away and talk somewhere away from you?"

"..." Silence was the only response. Only their trembling bodies indicated that they were still alive.

"Seems like they don’t mind."

"Okay... Then give me a moment," she said, finally letting go of his shoulder.

Taking advantage of the fact that Marie had stepped away and was standing with her back to him, he leaned against the motorcycle and started breathing heavily.

"Haa... Haa... Haa..."

"M-Mr...." the girl whispered fearfully from behind him. It seemed she’d changed the way she addressed him. "W-what’s going to happen to us now?"

"What’s going to happen..." he said wearily, keeping his tense gaze fixed on Marie’s figure. "It’ll... It’ll be fine."

"Hng..." Kuronoma just clung timidly to his back.

...

"People of Concord. As you’ve probably already guessed, I’ve come here straight from the Abode of Dreams for one reason only—to hold the annual selection of candidates worthy of becoming the Champion of Dream! I, Marie, am one of those destined to conduct the selection in this territory of the Peak of Knowledge."

"..." Not a single person reacted to her words.

Not one of these people even mustered the courage to look her in the eye.

"And you know, I truly believe... I believe that someone from Concord might turn out to be worthy of becoming the Champion of Dream."

"..."

"So believe as well."

With those words, hundreds of announcements about the annual selection for the Champion of Dreams scattered through the air. It was exactly the same announcement that Marcel had given to Mr. Nobody.

Hundreds of announcements flew straight into everyone’s hands... but still fell to the ground.

"..." Not a single person caught the announcement.

"And even though the chance is very small, please take this chance..."

"..." Mr. Nobody watched this unfold with no emotion on his face.

"...After all, this might be one of your only chances to escape from here," Marie finished softly.

"..." She never received even a single reply.

A few seconds later, she was already standing in front of Mr. Nobody’s motorcycle.

"Well, shall we go?" Her face was once again filled with enthusiasm.

"Yeah..." he replied, keeping the revolver’s hammer cocked just in case.

I mean... Does it even matter how fast she can move if he shoots her point-blank?