I'll Be Villain to Everyone! Except for my Cat...-Chapter 58: Nobody Was There

’Hey, kid, want to come over for dinner? You know, my son’s a huge fan of yours.’

’Haha, that would be great... Maybe some other time, okay?’

...

’You... You really saved me. Maybe you could come in and let me at least treat you to something?’

’Ah... I’m really sorry, but I have to go. I have a lot of work.’

...

’You’re already becoming a true legend among our people. I think they’ve even given you a nickname... Rising Star, right? Wouldn’t you like to address them at least once?’

’Ha-ha, padre, you know I’m the worst role model... Besides, I’m really shy around large crowds.’

...

’M-maybe you could promise me that we’ll meet again... at least once?’

’...No.’

All those conversations were racing through his mind.

*Vroooom!* However, the mad roar of the engine drowned them out in his mind for long and prevented his heart from being pierced painfully once more.

To wish someone to see the real you, and cut off every chance of it.

To be afraid of it.

A cruel paradox of human nature.

To rid oneself of this flaw, one needs only become a Nobody.

Once more. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

...

The night was weighed down by the eerie glow of the black hole.

The motorcycle tears down a half-empty highway running straight between skyscrapers.

Bright neon from propaganda or advertising banners stings his face...

But his attention is focused solely on the holographic speedometer.

"223"

Two hundred damn kilometers per hour on a motorcycle. It felt like absolute madness.

His vision felt narrowed. It seemed that, apart from the speedometer and the road ahead, everything else had ceased to exist.

The headwind hit his body so hard that it was simply impossible to stay upright without leaning forward.

"235"

It was getting cold. Not even the special protective suit with the strange backpack and the goggles left over from the last mission helped.

Maneuvering between cars was incredibly difficult. Every car encountered on the road meant almost certain death.

Neither his skills as a mercenary nor those few supernatural powers would help here.

"250"

But despite that, inside, his body burned. His heart. His blood.

Despite that, the motorcycle was picking up even more speed.

...

To become Nobody. To lose oneself.

Similar phrases, interdependent.

By losing oneself, one becomes Nobody. By becoming Nobody, you lose yourself.

"278"

Lose yourself in the music.

Lose yourself in the speed.

Lose yourself in the moment...

"289"

"..." A smile involuntarily appeared on his face. Adrenaline made his pupils tremble wildly, in unison with the roaring engine.

That very moment had arrived when, due to the wind pressure, he couldn’t even lift his head. If he tried to do so, his neck would snap instantly.

"299"

*Vroooom!* It felt as though the engine was making the sounds of a real hyperdrive.

In this state, the surrounding skyscrapers, signs, streetlights, and everything else seemed to fly by at the speed of light.

"306"

He could barely draw breath.

"311"

The view before his eyes began to resemble a dark tunnel with rare flashes of light.

"317"

"319"

"321"

His left hand, the only one still made of flesh, was barely holding on to the handlebar. It started whipping in the wind.

"327"

’Just a little more... Just a little more,’ flashed through his mind.

"336"

If a car appeared right in front of him right now, there was no way he could swerve out of the way.

"344"

If there were a rock lying on the road, it would be the cause of his death.

"352"

If he couldn’t hold the steering wheel, he would crash.

"359"

Almost any action meant death.

"366" — The numbers glowed acid green.

’Almost there...’ It was only by a miracle that he could make them out.

"372"

His whole body was trembling...

"374"

But his eyes were shining.

"378"

He closed his eyes, since there was no point in keeping them open. He wouldn’t be able to see it anyway—the numbers... the cause of his death.

’385’

Speed.

Flow.

The moment.

Darkness.

’389’

He was losing himself in it all.

’392’

’Just...’

’393’

’A little...’

’394’

’More...’

’395’

He could no longer hear the music.

’396’

The engine vanished.

The wind is gone...

’397’

Because when you’re flying, none of that matters.

’398’

It was almost absurd, but only now did something suddenly click.

All this time, the speed on the speedometer hadn’t been measured in kilometers per hour... but in miles.

"399" miles per hour, or... "642" kilometers per hour.

*Beep!* The black bracelet on his wrist emitted a piercing signal.

At that very moment, the backpack on his back opened.

A parachute shot out, instantly inflating.

"..." His body was thrown off the motorcycle with violent force.

The impact on his torso from the parachute deploying was so strong that it definitely broke a couple of his ribs.

He was ripped into the air, and the piercing pain finally made him open his eyes.

The motorcycle, now riderless, tore down the road like a bullet. now careening down the road without a rider.

It was almost impossible to keep up with it... But now that didn’t matter anymore.

"Neocorp," read the red sign on the complex of buildings where the highway led.

It was one of the company’s bases, equipped with warehouses and large fuel towers...

And right now, the motorcycle, already at 399 miles per hour, rammed through the gates of this base.

And right behind it...

"..." Parachuting down, he spread both arms wide and watched it all from the best vantage point.

*BOOOOM!!!* A monstrous explosion tore through the base.

The crashed motorcycle flew straight into a fuel tower.

For a couple of seconds, that section became the brightest "light" in Concord. A blazing cloud surged dozens of meters into the air.

The explosion instantly leveled the two nearest warehouses, while the others were consumed by the spreading fire.

"..." The piercing light of the explosion reflected off his goggles as his body descended under the force of the parachute.

’Even in this new life, some things just come out best when I do them.’

Monstrous destruction. And even though the base was completely autonomous and existed without a single human... The extent of the damage would burn millions in Concord credits.

"Haa..." He sighed heavily, finally landing on his feet. "That’s the fourth motorcycle to meet the same fate. What am I even spending my money on..."

"Mr. Nobody, I regret to inform you that all of the city’s security forces have been put on high alert. You have less than thirty seconds."

"Yeah, yeah, you’re right. Time to get out of here." He finally turned his back on the explosion, which was still raging.

Surveillance cameras installed on the highway and at the base entrance had clearly captured his face and clothing details.

He unhooked the parachute from himself and latched onto the edge of the highway with a grappling hook.

He then methodically climbed down and landed beneath the highway.

All that remained was to shed his extra clothes, don the wolf suit again, and change the face on the mask.

"..." Hearing the sound of approaching sirens, he took out his cigarette case and calmly lit a cigarette.

As if he’d just been out for a night walk.

Most likely, the same phrase will be repeated in tomorrow’s news headlines.

"The mysterious terrorist was never found, as if..."

"...Nobody was there."

Mr. Nobody smiled wryly and, finishing his cigarette, started thinking about his next bike.

Only the smoldering cigarette butt and the raging fire proved that someone had ever been there.