Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Villain's Flight
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Today's sky was perfectly clear, not a single cloud in sight. The ideal weather to carry out this body's plan!
"Now, listen closely! This body shall announce its newest act of villainy!"
Coo coo-
The rooftop of Crown Villa was packed with pigeons perched side by side.
These guys were the aerial reconnaissance squad that had been overwhelmed by this body's charisma at the park last time and submitted to my command.
Today, I'd summoned them for this body's grand plan!
"The operation name is this: 'Operation: Ruler of the Skies'! We'll tie strings to the pigeons and have them lift this body into the heavens! Kakak!"
The frills of my Gothic Lolita dress fluttered in the breeze. A faint gray light seeped from my horns.
"Think about it, Everlin! A villain looking down on the entire world from the sky! How majestic would that be?"
Everlin gazed at me with her usual expressionless face. But I knew it. The admiration hidden behind that cool exterior!
She was surely thinking inside, 'As expected, Master is the greatest genius villain!'
"Master, that plan seems to have a few safety issues. May I ask one question?"
"Permission granted!"
"Have you considered the pigeons' average carrying capacity? A typical pigeon can't hold anything heavier than its own body weight for long."
"I've already done all the calculations! The weight per pigeon, the number needed, the thread's tensile strength, air resistance...!"
To be honest, there hadn't been any calculations at all. Such trivialities weren't necessary for a genius villain. Pure intuition and inspiration were more than enough!
"Master, just in case, maybe prepare a parachute—"
"Don't underestimate this body's abilities! Nothing is impossible for a villain! Failure is not in Lady Grimoire's dictionary!"
I began tying strings to the pigeons. I wrapped multiple layers around each pigeon's legs for security. Red, blue, yellow threads in a rainbow of colors! A villain's aesthetic sense was important too!
"Hold on a moment, Master."
"What now?"
"Even so, flying in a skirt might not be appropriate... The citizens below might see too much."
Everlin pointed at the hem of my dress.
Flying through the sky in a skirt... What people would see from below...!
"Eek! Wait just a sec! I'll be back in five minutes—don't let the pigeons go!"
I dashed to the rooftop door. Even a villain had to maintain a minimum of dignity!
I rushed to room 301 and rummaged through the closet. I quickly changed into black pants.
I stood in front of the mirror, checking my appearance. It was great, but something was missing.
"Right, this!"
I pulled out a black cape emblazoned with red cloud patterns and draped it over my shoulders.
"Perfect! Now this is the true look of a villain!"
I hurried back to the rooftop.
With Everlin's help, I securely tied the ends of the strings around my waist. The pigeons flapped their wings slightly, as if tense.
"Preparations complete! This body commences its glorious flight! Everlin, etch this historic moment deep into your memory! Pigeon legion! By this body's command, take to the skies!"
Coo coo coo-
Amazingly, the pigeons actually started lifting my body!
At first just a little, then higher and higher! My feet left the ground, and the rooftop floor receded below.
"See? What did I tell you? This body's plans are always perfect!"
Everlin's figure grew smaller and smaller until she vanished. She was probably shedding tears of emotion right now!
The world unfolded beneath my feet. The full panorama of S City came into view. Skyscrapers, roads crammed with cars, people looking like tiny ants.
"Whoa! This is the gaze of a ruler! Truly magnificent!"
I felt the wind whipping my cape. From below, I probably looked like an angel with wings spread.
No, not an angel since I'm a villain... A terrifying demon? Yeah, that vibe!
"Now the whole world lies beneath this body! All you insignificant humans, kneel and worship Flying Lady Grimoire! Kakak!"
This was the perfect villain moment!
But suddenly—
Coo!
"Wait, what? What are you doing?!"
Coo coo coo-!
The pigeons started flying in different directions. Some to the left, some to the right, others attempting sudden climbs.
"Y-you featherbrains! Fly in one direction! Obey this body's orders!"
Crack-
At some point, cracks began to form. They grew larger and larger...
Snap! Snap!
Finally, with loud snaps, the strings started breaking one by one.
"Eek! No! How dare you defy this body! Come back right now! This is blatant treason!"
My altitude dropped sharply.
Whoosh-!
Now my body was plummeting fast. The wind roared in my ears.
"You stupid! Worthless! Incompetent birds! This is outright mutiny! If this body survives, I'll turn you all into chicken!"
Snap!
The last thread broke. The world rushed toward me. No, I was hurtling toward the world!
"Eveeeerlin! Save meeeee!"
I squeezed my eyes shut. Was this the end? The great villain Grimoire's demise like this...
Thud!
A massive impact hit something soft and hot. It felt like my horn had pierced through it.
Then, with another heavy thunk, my head slammed into the ground. Darkness filled my vision.
"Eek! The world's gone dark! What is this?!"
I flailed my legs, but they didn't budge. My head and horn were firmly stuck.
Such a humiliating situation! The great villain's dignity had hit the dirt!
"Ugh! You stupid pigeons! When I get back, I'll send you all to KFC! I'll make you coo-coo chicken! You'll pay dearly for tarnishing this body's majesty!"
Breathing was difficult. Kang Hyunwoo scanned his surroundings with blurry vision. His mind hadn't fully cleared yet, and the world still spun. A few ribs were definitely broken, and his back burned with searing pain.
'Still... alive?'
He was shocked that he was still breathing.
"What is this?! Get me out quick! Lady Grimoire the Great stuck in the ground? It'll ruin the villain image!"
Hyunwoo slowly raised his head. He couldn't believe the sight before him.
The monster Flame Boar that had nearly killed him was already collapsed on the ground, a massive hole punched through its enormous body.
Even more astonishing was the girl with her head buried in the earth, legs flailing in the air.
'Did she... fall from the sky?'
Ignoring the pain, he pushed himself up. One step, then another. Staggering toward the girl.
"Hey, whoever you are! If you don't pull this body out right now, I'll put you at the top of my execution list after world conquest!"
"You okay?"
"Of course not! You think it's fine to have your head smashed into the ground?"
Hyunwoo carefully grabbed her legs. Like pulling a carrot, he applied gentle force, and her body came free from the asphalt.
Pop-
"Kakak! Lady Grimoire fully revived!"
The moment she was out, she sprang up and struck a victory pose. She dusted herself off and puffed out her small chest proudly.
Hyunwoo stared, dumbfounded.
Her cute appearance, the horns on her head—above all, her condition was unbelievable.
It was a fall that cratered the ground and holed the monster. Normally, internals would burst and bones shatter.
But the girl... was fine. Just some dirt on her black cape and clothes, no injuries.
"Uh... you... are you...?"
Hyunwoo vaguely recalled. The girl from the news.
"The new hero 'Great Grimoire'...?"
"Ughhh! How many times do I have to say it? This body is a villain! Vil-lain! Lady Grimoire!"
Not a hero? A villain? Hyunwoo was confused. Yesterday's news had called her a rookie hero. And she'd just taken down a monster...
"Look! It's that silver-haired hero from TV!"
"She really has horns! So cute!"
"Did she take down the Flame Boar in one hit?"
'See? She is a hero.'
Citizens who'd survived the crisis started gathering. Reporters rushed in with cameras.
"Eek! Why are you all coming at me again? I didn't do anything praiseworthy this time!"
"How did you do it? Your entrance was so fast, we couldn't even see it! A new finishing move?"
"Great Grimoire! Can we take just one photo?"
"The Association digs up heroes this strong! Taxes well spent!"
"What are you talking about? Boar? What did this body take down?"
Only then did she notice the monster's corpse on the ground.
"What's this? Since when was it here?"
Sizzle sizzle-
The Flame Boar's carcass was slowly roasting. Residual heat even after death.
"What is this? A monster with auto-BBQ? Cooking itself! Smells tasty... No, that's not the point! They think this body took it down? When? How? I just fell!"
A few people burst out laughing at Grimoire's words.
"She's so strong, yet humble too!"
"Those little horns poking up are adorable."
"Never seen a hero this cute! The Association's marketing is top-notch!"
The girl seemed flattered at first. But her face twisted every time "hero" came up.
"Stop! This body isn't a hero! I'm a world-conquering villain! Why won't anyone listen? Recognize this body's evil!"
A hero insisting she's a villain? And so seriously?
'Identity crisis? Or... a special mission?'
Hyunwoo had heard from the Hero Association. Sometimes heroes disguised as villains infiltrated crime groups on secret missions. Stories of heroes on special ops. A world he'd never belong to.
'Yeah. That explains it.'
The girl was special. Unharmed from a deadly fall, one-shot a monster. Horns on her head too. She had true hero qualities.
'I should head out. When the real protagonist shows up, extras exit stage left.'
As he turned to leave, a voice reached his ear.
"What was that D-Rank doing out here?"
Hyunwoo's steps froze. His ears burned.
"Useless. Is that even a hero?"
"Yeah, heroes should be special."
Sidelong glances stabbed at him.
A familiar reaction for Hyunwoo. He was just an ordinary human who couldn't save the world.
Or maybe less than ordinary.
At least normal people accepted their limits. But he'd clung to the illusion he could be special, treading water for three years.
'I can never be a hero, can I...'
Looking down, he spotted something on the ground.
A cracked goggle mask.
Hyunwoo slowly picked it up.
'Maybe... I don't need this anymore.'
Three years of dawn training, chicken breasts only, sacrificing social life, dating, everything... But the world still didn't need him.
'No more.'
He resolved to quit hero work.
Better a realistic life than chasing empty dreams.
Find another job, or study for certifications.
'Heroes... Heroes are for special people like that girl, just by looks.'
Police cars and Association vehicles arrived with blaring sirens. A suited Association official approached Grimoire.
"Great Grimoire, what an incredible feat. For single-handedly defeating a C-Rank monster Flame Boar, we'll issue an official commendation and reward money... This alone nets you at least 1,000 activity points. Keep this up, and B-Rank promotion is just around the corner..."
Hyunwoo gave a bitter smile. More points than he'd earned in a year. In one day.
"No! Wait, hold on! This body doesn't exterminate monsters! The only thing this body conquers is the world!"
The officials exchanged puzzled looks.
"This body doesn't need activity points! Villain points, maybe! Dare to score this body, and I'll blacklist you first!"
Grimoire suddenly scanned around and pointed at Hyunwoo.
"There! That guy's the real hero!"
All eyes turned to Hyunwoo. Caught in the sudden spotlight, he instinctively hunched his shoulders. Never before had so many gazes fixed on him.
"Th-that guy?"
"He was saving people earlier! Weak strength for a hero, slow too, lame ability, total weakling! Oh, and I saw him get hurt fighting the monster! Sure, without this body's awesome entrance, he'd have been monster chow, but..."
Citizens and officials exchanged baffled glances.
"Anyway, can't stain my brilliant villain resume! Give all that useless activity point stuff to him!"
In the end, swayed by Grimoire's firm stance, the official approached Hyunwoo.
"Your name...?"
"Kang Hyunwoo. D-Rank hero Endure."
"D-Rank...? Well, we'll note it in the report. The Association will contact you after further investigation."
Hyunwoo was stunned.
'Why me...?'
Something hot welled in his chest. Hearing those dreamed words from someone else—someone far brighter—was surreal.
For the first time, someone—someone shining brighter than him—had acknowledged him as a real hero.