I Went Back to When the Hero Who Saved the World Was Three and a Half

"Underground Trade Market Destroyed! Dawn Girl Declares War on Evil!"

"Illegal Laboratory Smashed! The Strongest Heroine Scores Another Victory!"

Reading one article after another with headlines like these, the evil doctor known as Shadow was so furious that he smashed yet another laboratory.

As a world-famous supervillain, his evil plans had been foiled time and again by the hero codenamed Dawn. He had become a laughingstock among the villain community.

But Dawn's superpowers were simply too strong. No matter how elaborate the trap, she always found a way out.

In a fit of rage, determined to wipe away his humiliation once and for all...

Dr. Shadow: Build a time machine! I'll travel back to Dawn's weakest moment and destroy her with my own hands!

The good news was that the experiment worked. Dr. Shadow literally traveled back in time, arriving at Dawn's weakest moment.

The bad news was...

The future's greatest superhero was three and a half years old.

"Big brother, will you adopt me?" The tiny girl looked up at him with wide, round eyes.

Dr. Shadow: ...Damn.

*

Lately, the residents of Yingcai Estate had all been gossiping about the same thing.

A strange pair of siblings had moved into one of the garages in Building A.

The little sister was still in kindergarten. She was cute, well-behaved, and so polite that she greeted everyone sweetly. Within a few days, she'd become the darling of all the neighborhood grandpas and grandmas.

Her older brother was quite handsome, but he neither studied nor worked. He spent all day at home tinkering with strange contraptions, occasionally letting out creepy bursts of laughter and saying words like "the world," "heroes," and "destruction."

One fashionable older woman announced, "I know what this kid's got. He's going through a chuunibyou phase!"

Everyone was worried that the sick older brother would lead the little girl astray.

When the rumor reached little Dawn, she ran home with teary eyes and hugged her brother's leg. "Don't be scared, big brother! I'll earn money to treat your illness! There are lots of bounty posters outside. If I catch those bad guys, I'll have the money to get you treated!"

Dr. Shadow, the supervillain who had no idea he was ill: ...What did you say you were going to do?!

*

Later, a little superhero appeared in J City.

Though she was short and had a child's voice, not one of the bad guys she pursued managed to escape.

She became J City's brightest new star.

No one knew that every time the hero Dawn went out on a mission, a young man in a certain garage would angrily threaten the former villain who had become his colleague:

"She's my nemesis! If you lay a finger on her, I'll blow up your whole hideout!"

[Reading Guide]

1. A story about an evil doctor who transmigrates into the past and is forced to raise a superhero. A lighthearted, ridiculous, everyday popcorn flick.

2. Evil means putting pineapple on pizzas all across Italy (that sort of thing).

3. A completely fictional world that mostly follows comic-book logic, though sometimes it may not follow any logic at all.

4. The writing may occasionally sound like a translation.

5. Most of the characters have a few screws loose.

6. The author insists that once the villain is caught by the protagonist, they must loudly read out their evil plan. It's a convention, and it makes for a satisfying format.

Coming soon: After the Happy Ending, the Mermaid Prince Doesn't Want to Go Ashore

During a shipwreck, a mermaid prince rescued a princess who had fallen into the sea, and the two fell in love. After a series of misunderstandings and obstacles, they finally came to understand one another.

Just like in a fairy tale, the two confessed their love on a seaside reef, nestled close together as a beautiful sunrise brought them their happy ending.

Then the princess and the mermaid prince each took out a bottle of potion.

Princess: Drink this, and you'll grow human legs so you can come back to the palace with me and marry me.

Mermaid: Drink this, and you'll grow a beautiful tail so you can come live with me under the sea.

After a moment of silence, they stared at each other.

Princess and mermaid: What are you talking about?!

Princess: You expect me to go with you to that dark, damp underwater world where all there is to eat is fish and seaweed?

Mermaid: You expect me to give up the most beautiful tail in the sea, replace it with two sticks, and get scorched by that blazing ball in the desert sky?

The lovers parted in anger.

The next day, the undersea world's headlines reported that the little prince had been maliciously poisoned during lunch. He had turned into a human on the spot and had nearly drowned in his own palace. The sea witch was doing everything she could to save him.

Meanwhile, the palace of the Kingdom of Ulilanbai was gripped by anxiety. Someone had added an unknown potion to the princess's usual tea. After drinking it, the princess had rushed into the bathroom and refused to come out.

The culprit was obvious.

In this kingdom where desert meets sea, a battle of mutual poisoning had only just begun.

Theme: People can become gentle for the sake of others