While waiting on an Akihabara train platform one day, ordinary high schooler Yoshi Shinonome was suddenly plucked from his normal life in Japan and whisked away by a beautiful goddess to Ephemera, a world of magic and adventure, to serve as her Hero and drive back the evil Dark Lord.
This is not his story.
Standing nearby at the moment Yoshi was isekai'd was a man named Seiji - a rude, cranky, misanthropic musician who was not at all pleased to find himself also snatched up and transported to Ephemera by the goddess's wicked sister, Virya. According to this self-proclaimed Goddess of Evil, the whole fantasy adventure thing was a game she and her sister played to stave off the boredom of immortality, and since the good goddess, Sanora, had picked her Hero...well, Virya needed a Dark Lord.
A grown man with his own career and ambitions, Seiji has no interest in playing. Unfortunately for him, the call to adventure was not a request. Now, he must conquer Ephemera and defeat the Hero...or Virya promises to make him beg for the release of death before granting it. Playing along for his own survival, Seiji nonetheless is under no illusions who his true enemy is, and it's not the naive young would-be Hero from his own world.
Placed in an impossible position, Seiji must make enough progress toward world domination to keep his sadistic patron goddess off his back, but not so much that he can't strike an accord with the forces of Good and convince the Hero Yoshi that it's the goddesses who are their mutual enemy. Forced to embrace Evil without being too evil, Seiji walks the razor's edge, building his forces and biding his time till he can get revenge on the goddesses and be free of them, his only certainty that he will not be getting out of this with his hands clean.
A Dark Lord's gotta do what a Dark Lord's gotta do.
Updates Tuesday and Friday.
Most Patreon tiers get to read one chapter in advance of the public release!
View | Series | Vol | Chap | Extra | Group/Host |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 149 | 4.48 In Which the Dark Lord is Struck Down | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 148 | OVDT day! | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 147 | Only Villains Do That | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 146 | 4.47 In Which the Dark Lord Calls Upon the Goddess | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 145 | 4.46 In Which the Dark Lord Sends Other People's Plans Awry | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 144 | 4.45 In Which the Dark Lord's Plans Go Awry | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 143 | Bonus 16: In Which the Hero Picks the Wrong Place to Put His Foot Down | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 142 | 4.44 In Which the Dark Lord Doesn't Get to Be the Center of Attention | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 141 | 4.43 In Which the Dark Lord Doesn't Make the Rules | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 140 | 4.42 In Which the Dark Lord Courts Death | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 139 | 4.41 In Which the Dark Lord Comes Back with a Warrant | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 138 | 4.40 In Which the Dark Lord Returns | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 137 | 4.39 In Which the Dark Lord Reflects on the Eve of Battle | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 136 | 4.38 In Which the Dark Lord Sets Up His Pieces | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 135 | 4.37 In Which the Dark Lord Has Issues With the Women in His Life | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 134 | 4.36 In Which the Dark Lord Weaves a Tangled Web | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 133 | 4.35 In Which the Dark Lord Barks Up the Right Tree | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 132 | 4.34 In Which the Dark Lord Hurts Some Feelings | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 131 | 4.33 In Which the Dark Lord Keeps Up With the Aelthwyns | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 130 | 4.32 In Which the Dark Lord Receives an Invitation | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 129 | 4.31 In Which the Dark Lord Finds a Weak Spot | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 128 | 4.30 In Which the Dark Lord Has Had Enough | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 127 | 4.29 In Which the Dark Lord Deals in Absolutes | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 126 | 4.28 In Which the Dark Lord Finds a Familiar Face | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 125 | 4.27 In Which the Dark Lord Falls For It | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 124 | 4.26 In Which the Dark Lord Terrorizes the Help | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 123 | 4.25 In Which the Dark Lord Intrudes | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 122 | 4.24 In Which the Dark Lord Has His Ups and Downs | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 121 | 4.23 In Which the Dark Lord Sponsors a Team-Building Activity | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 120 | 4.22 In Which the Dark Lord's Expertise Comes in Handy | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 119 | 4.21 In Which the Dark Lord Makes His Case | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 118 | 4.20 In Which the Dark Lord Knows Who's Been Naughty or Nice | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 117 | 4.19 In Which the Dark Lord Tells the Truth | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 116 | 4.18 In Which the Dark Lord Gets His Way | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 115 | 4.17 In Which the Dark Lord's Good Mood is Spoiled | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 114 | Bonus 15: In Which the Gears Begin to Turn | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 113 | Bonus 14: In Which the Captain Treads Lightly | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 112 | Bonus 13: In Which a Queen Wields a Blade | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 111 | 4.16 In Which the Dark Lord Gets Told | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 110 | 4.15 In Which the Dark Lord is Thwarted | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 109 | 4.14 In Which the Dark Lord Feels a Chill Run Down His Spine | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 108 | 4.13 In Which the Dark Lord Makes a House Call | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 107 | 4.12 In Which the Dark Lord is Off to the Races | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 106 | 4.11 In Which the Dark Lord Ruins a Party | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 105 | 4.10 In Which the Dark Lord Catches Up | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 104 | 4.9 In Which the Dark Lord Threads the Needle | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 103 | 4.8 In Which the Dark Lord Gets a Handout | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 102 | 4.7 In Which the Dark Lord Isn't Even the Most Dramatic Person in the Room | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 101 | 4.6 In Which the Dark Lord Lays Down the Law, Again | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 100 | 4.5 In Which the Dark Lord Throws Them a Bone | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 99 | 4.4 In Which the Dark Lord Hosts | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 98 | 4.3 In Which the Dark Lord Herds Cats | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 97 | 4.2 In Which the Dark Lord Musters his Forces | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 96 | 4.1 In Which the Dark Lord Actually Does RPG Stuff for a Change | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 95 | 3.34 In Which the Dark Lord Plays Queenmaker | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 94 | 3.33 In Which the Dark Lord Takes Over | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 93 | 3.32 In Which the Dark Lord Yields | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 92 | 3.31 In Which the Dark Lord Almost Wins | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 91 | Bonus 12 In Which the Party Greets the Guest of Honor | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 90 | 3.30 In Which the Dark Lord Goes to Hell and Gets a Souvenir | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 89 | Bonus 11 In Which the Boss Leans In | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 88 | 3.29 In Which the Dark Lord Unburdens Himself | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 87 | Bonus 10 In Which the Lads Unravel a Mystery | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 86 | 3.28 In Which the Dark Lord Signs Up for Disaster | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 85 | 3.27 In Which the Dark Lord Tries Diplomacy | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 84 | 3.26 In Which the Dark Lord Receives a Delivery | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 83 | 3.25 In Which the Dark Lord's Personnel Decisions Come Under Scrutiny | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 82 | 3.24 In Which the Dark Lord Gets Schooled | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 81 | 3.23 In Which the Dark Lord is Too Late | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 80 | 3.22 In Which the Dark Lord Gets a Warm Welcome | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 79 | 3.21 In Which the Dark Lord Confronts His Nemesis | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 78 | 3.20 In Which the Dark Lord Rethinks His Position | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 77 | 3.19 In Which the Dark Lord Lays it All Out | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 76 | Bonus 9: In Which the Scout Commences Counter-Revolutionary Activities | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 75 | 3.18 In Which the Dark Lord Comes to the Bridge and Blows It Up | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 74 | 3.17 In Which the Dark Lord Will Cross that Bridge When He Comes to It | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 73 | 3.16 In Which the Dark Lord Gets a Second Opinion | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 72 | 3.15 In Which the Dark Lord Presses the Big Red Button | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 71 | 3.14 In Which the Dark Lord Does the Right Thing, Sort Of | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 70 | 3.13 In Which the Dark Lord Bends the Knee | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 69 | 3.12 In Which the Dark Lord Gets No Respect | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 68 | 3.11 In Which the Dark Lord Gets the Bad News | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 67 | 3.10 In Which the Dark Lord Keeps the Peace | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 66 | 3.9 In Which the Dark Lord Shakes on It | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 65 | 3.8 In Which the Dark Lord Gets Taken For a Ride | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 64 | 3.7 In Which the Dark Lord Cleans Up | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 63 | 3.6 In Which the Dark Lord Makes the Call | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 62 | 3.5 In Which the Dark Lord Helps | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 61 | 3.4 In Which the Dark Lord Finds His Sparkle | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 60 | 3.3 In Which the Dark Lord Has an Idea. An Awful Idea. The Dark Lord Has a Wonderful, Awful Idea | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 59 | 3.2 In Which the Dark Lord Descends | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 58 | 3.1 In Which the Dark Lord Steps in It | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 57 | Bonus 8 In Which Aster Has to Instigate the Talk | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 56 | Bonus 7: In Which the Chancellor Schemes | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 55 | Bonus 6: In Which the Ranger Springs a Trap | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 54 | Coda: In Which the Call is Heard | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 53 | 2.45 In Which the Dark Lord Wears the Pants in the Relationship | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 52 | 2.44 In Which the Dark Lord Loses Patience | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 51 | 2.43 In Which the Dark Lord Catches a Break | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 50 | 2.42 In Which the Dark Lord Gives Peace a Chance | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 49 | 2.41 In Which the Dark Lord Puts His Foot Down | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 48 | 2.40 In Which the Dark Lord Destroys | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 47 | 2.39 In Which the Dark Lord Gets Some Help | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 46 | 2.38 In Which the Dark Lord Leaves an Offering | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 45 | 2.37 In Which the Dark Lord Catches Up on the Gossip | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 44 | 2.36 In Which the Dark Lord Carries a Big Shtick | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 43 | 2.35 In Which the Dark Lord Speaks Softly | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 42 | 2.34 In Which the Dark Lord Has Questions | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 41 | 2.33 In Which the Dark Lord Realizes He Should Dial it Back and then Doesn't | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 40 | 2.32 In Which the Dark Lord Gets Cut Down to Size | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 39 | 2.31 In Which the Dark Lord Battens Down the Hatches | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 38 | 2.30 In Which the Dark Lord Gets His Hands Dirty | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 37 | 2.29 In Which the Dark Lord Rages Against the Machine | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 36 | 2.28 In Which the Dark Lord Enrolls Some Nobles in the School of Hard Knocks | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 35 | 2.27 In Which the Dark Lord Goes Visiting | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 34 | 2.26 In Which the Dark Lord Spills the Tea | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 33 | 2.25 In Which the Dark Lord Comes to Dinner | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 32 | 2.24 In Which the Dark Lord Gets to Know the Neighbors | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 31 | 2.23 In Which the Dark Lord Does Not Bring Home the Bacon | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 30 | 2.22 In Which the Dark Lord Lays Down the Law | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 29 | 2.21 In Which the Dark Lord Has His Work Cut Out for Him | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 28 | 2.20 In Which the Dark Lord Confronts the Face of Evil | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 27 | 2.19 In Which the Dark Lord Spreads it Around | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 26 | 2.18 In Which the Dark Lord Seizes the Means of Abduction | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 25 | 2.17 In Which the Dark Lord Closes In | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 24 | 2.16 In Which the Dark Lord Suffers the Little Children | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 23 | 2.15 In Which the Dark Lord Realizes His Mistake | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 22 | 2.14 In Which the Dark Lord is the Lesser Evil | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 21 | 2.13 In Which the Dark Lord Learns About Unintended Consequences | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 20 | 2.12 In Which the Dark Lord Uses Someone's Tragic Backstory as a Sleep Aid | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 19 | 2.11 In Which the Dark Lord is Adopted by a Pack of Feral Noblewomen | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 18 | 2.10 In Which the Dark Lord Tries Something He Saw in a Movie Once | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 17 | 2.9 In Which the Dark Lord Almost Gets Away With It | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 16 | 2.8 In Which the Dark Lord Avoids at Least One Cliche | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 15 | 2.7 In Which the Dark Lord Has a Brilliant Idea | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 14 | 2.6 In Which the Dark Lord Outsmarts Himself and No One is Surprised | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 13 | 2.5 In Which the Dark Lord gets the Lay of the Land | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 12 | 2.4 In Which the Dark Lord Passes Judgment | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 11 | 2.3 In Which the Dark Lord Plays to a Captive Audience | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 10 | 2.2 In Which the Dark Lord Makes it Rain | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 9 | 2.1 In Which the Dark Lord Gazes Into the Abyss | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 8 | Bonus 5 In Which the Hero Falls | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 7 | Bonus 4 In Which the Emperor Speaks to the Dead | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 6 | Bonus 3 In Which the Broker Plays Both Ends Against the Middle | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 5 | Bonus 2 In Which the Hero's Harem Go to Bible Study | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 4 | Bonus 1 In Which the Paladin Gets the Party Started | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 3 | 1.3 In Which the Dark Lord has the Run of the Place | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 2 | 1.2 In Which the Dark Lord Bends Over Backwards | RoyalRoadL | |
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Only Villains Do That (stubbed 6/18/24) | 1 | 1.1 In Which the Dark Lord Technically Doesn't Push a Girl in Front of a Train | RoyalRoadL |