Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Villain and Hero
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Kang Hyunwoo sat on a plastic chair at the convenience store, biting into a hot bar.
The artificial taste spread through his mouth.
Normally, he would have avoided instant food like this, but today was a special day.
Bounty deposit notification. It was more than a D-Rank Hero's three months of activity funds.
"Eat your fill! This body specially permits it!"
It was obviously Hyunwoo who had paid for the food, but the silver-haired girl sitting across from him was incredibly haughty.
Grimoire took three hot bars out of their wrappers and lined them up in a row.
"Hmm... Which one shall I devour first? Which lucky one gets the honor of entering this body's stomach first?"
"Thanks. Because of you, for the first time... I felt like a real hero. And... I racked up a ton of activity points."
"This body has no time to waste collecting such trivial points anyway! Why? Because the world conquest plan is too busy! Don't waste your energy on useless things. When this body rules the world, it'll all be meaningless anyway! Kakakat!"
The moment he heard those words, something heavy thudded into Hyunwoo's chest.
How many years had he obsessed over points and ranks?
He felt ashamed of himself for pretending otherwise while heroing away just to be acknowledged and promoted.
"You're... a true hero."
The words slipped out, and she devoured one hot bar in a single bite, then menacingly pointed the empty skewer at Hyunwoo.
"Again! Again! You called this body a hero!? Such insulting words trigger an allergic reaction!"
Watching her throw her tantrum, Hyunwoo was swept up in complex emotions.
S-Rank Heroes acted for their image, while lower-rank ones struggled to climb the ladder.
Everyone wore their own masks. He had been obsessed with his too.
But this girl was different.
She acted not for external expectations or recognition, but solely on her own convictions.
She even rejected the glory of being a 'hero' and stubbornly stuck to her chosen path of 'villainy'.
Why? How could she?
'Because she's strong. She doesn't need to.'
In that moment, Kang Hyunwoo truly felt the overwhelming gap between himself and Grimoire.
His body full of wounds versus her unscathed form.
A being who plummeted from the sky, pierced the monster's body, and emerged unharmed.
The overwhelming power that slew in one strike the monster he couldn't beat after hours of fighting.
If no amount of effort could overcome his physical limits or innate ability constraints, what meaning was there in a hero's life?
'No matter how hard I try, there's a wall I can never cross.'
Hyunwoo's face grew darker. Even breathing hurt. It wasn't just the broken ribs.
For the first time, he admitted how delusional his hero dreams had been.
"Mm... This body is still hungry..."
Having polished off the third hot bar, Grimoire eyed the leftovers that were Kang Hyunwoo's share on the table.
"Ahem, as a villain, what's this body's is this body's, and what's yours is also this body's—naturally!"
She slyly snatched the remaining hot bars and ate them, but Hyunwoo didn't stop her.
He felt like he'd lost far more important things.
Amid the stinging burns on his back and the pain of broken ribs, emotions welled up.
From the day at sixteen when he left the orphanage alone for S City, vowing to become a hero, until now.
All that time felt like bubbles bursting.
His eyes grew hot.
"Wh-what? Why are you crying? Because I stole your hot bars?"
Grimoire paused mid-bite.
Kang Hyunwoo shook his head.
"Sometimes... I wonder. Can someone like me even become a hero?"
Munch munch—
"Surviving today was a miracle... Years of daily training, impossible diets, giving up everything..."
Nom nom—
"And the result? D-Rank Hero. A dime-a-dozen extra. Maybe continuing as a hero is arrogance itself? I just... can't anymore..."
Gulp—
"So... you're giving up? Pathetic!"
Grimoire finished all the hot bars and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Listen up! This body is the great Grimoire! The villain who will soon conquer the world and rule all humanity—the strongest being! And this body says true heroes must be strong!"
The convenience store clerk eyed their table suspiciously, but Grimoire ignored it. Her voice grew even louder.
"Why? Because only then is it worth this body crushing them! If it's just weaklings like you, world conquest would be boring! Got it?"
A faint gray light leaked from her horns.
"Strong opponents make this body's victories shine brighter! So... become a stronger hero. Don't give up!"
She paused thoughtfully, then added,
"If you train hard every day, you might get strong instead of bald! That's how it was in the comics this body read!"
"Ha... haha...!"
Laughter bubbled up naturally. It spread through his whole body, making him forget the pain. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd laughed sincerely.
Her simplistic, comic-book-hero thinking came across as pure encouragement to Kang Hyunwoo.
'Strong opponents make this body's victories shine brighter!'
It sounded like mere bravado on the surface, but it held profound truth.
The meaning of victory wasn't just the outcome—it was the endless process of challenge and growth.
Maybe that was the true meaning of the phrase he'd understood as 'Justice always triumphs'.
Not about rank or power, but the will to uphold one's convictions.
At some point, he'd fixated only on the 'victory' result.
Chasing external achievements, he'd forgotten why he wanted to be a hero in the first place.
Becoming an S-Rank Hero, gaining Association recognition, getting stronger.
"Right... Justice always triumphs..."
He murmured. Grimoire looked at him curiously.
"Victory isn't just defeating enemies..."
His voice grew clearer.
"It's the heart that never gives up, the endless challenges—that's the true meaning of victory."
In his memory, the faded words from an old comic book abandoned in the rain sharpened into focus. A memory over ten years old felt as vivid as yesterday.
"Endure..."
He slowly intoned his hero name.
"Endure doesn't just mean enduring pain—it's overcoming it and pressing forward."
And suddenly, he understood why Grimoire clung to her 'villain' persona.
She probably didn't want to be trapped in others' molds. It was her way of facing the world, finding her own justice.
"Yeah, like you said, I'll become a stronger hero. To help more people, like you do."
Hyunwoo looked up at Grimoire, but the seat across from him was already empty.
On the table sat only empty cola cans and a pile of hot bar wrappers. She'd devoured his share too.
"What an incredible kid."
He meticulously cleaned up the trash left on the table.
Meeting Grimoire was a fateful turning point in Hyunwoo's life. A new path he'd missed for the past three years unfolded before him.
His steps home were lighter than ever. His burned back and broken ribs still ached, but his heart was strangely at peace.
The city lights welcomed him. S City's night was young. And so was he.
"Next time we meet... I'll show you a stronger me."
His 7-pyeong studio apartment was the same as always, but everything felt different today.
He carefully folded the bloodstained uniform he'd worn and set it aside.
He'd mend it later, but he wanted to cherish this torn outfit. It was proof of real hero work.
After showering and changing, he sat at his desk and opened his journal. His three-year log of hero activities.
'March 5, 2025. Today I fought a C-Rank monster, Flame Boar. Nearly died, but thanks to rookie hero—no, villain—Grimoire, I survived.'
He paused the pen, recalling memories. Grimoire's unique speech, her serious expression, and above all, the moment she acknowledged him.
'She called me a real hero. Words I hadn't heard in three years. Thanks to her, I got activity points and a special bounty. But more importantly...'
He gathered his thoughts.
'It's the courage and inspiration she gave me.'
He would have cheered in the past, but Hyunwoo just smiled calmly.
"Points aren't what matter..."
The walls were plastered with S-Rank Hero posters.
Figures he'd always admired, but in them, he always saw his own shortcomings.
"I'm fine not being special. I just need to walk my own path."
Riiip—
Hyunwoo tore down all the posters.
'Justice always triumphs.'
He picked up his pen and added below it.
'Justice always triumphs. So I will never give up.'
Never giving up. Endless challenges. Surpassing his limits.
He closed his eyes while planning tomorrow's training. It would need to be more intense than before. But that was fine. Now he had a goal.
4 AM. Waking to his alarm, Hyunwoo felt unusual vitality. Yesterday's wounds felt lighter, like a lie.
"One, two..."
He started push-ups. Not his usual 100, but aiming for 200. Surprisingly, his body moved lighter than normal.
"...Two hundred!"
After brushing death yesterday, his body felt stronger instead.
At the training ground, Hyunwoo struck the sandbag with more power than usual.
Thwack!
The old-clothes sandbag burst under his fist.
"What...?"
He stared at his fist in surprise, then smiled.
'All thanks to Grimoire.'
As the city stirred awake, he stepped into the streets.
Ready to help people diligently, kindly, heroically today too.
By the time I arrived at Crown Villa, the sun was already setting.
My torn cape and dirt-caked clothes were far from a dignified villain's look, but that hardly mattered.
This body had returned alive!
"Kakakat! The great Grimoire has returned!"
I kicked open the front door.
Too much had happened. So exhausting.
The pigeons' betrayal, falling from the sky, crashing into the ground in an embarrassing pose, and getting mistaken for a hero again... Truly the worst day!
Everlin stood in the living room. Her blue eyes scanned me up and down, then she let out a deep sigh.
"Master... Your clothes are quite ruined."
"It's those traitorous pigeons! Daring to swear loyalty and then betray this body!"
I grumbled as I shed my cape. Everlin put it in the laundry basket.
What? Did she just glare at this body?
"How did the Ruler of the Skies operation go, Master?"
"Don't ask! Pigeons are just birdbrains! They must've forgotten their oath to this body!"
"Was the news about you slaying the monster true as well?"
The tablet screen showed me headfirst in the ground, legs flailing! And next to it, a photo of the monster pierced by my horn!
Everyone saw this humiliating sight??
"Ahem! That was just... developing a new ultimate technique, 'Grimoire Meteor'! This body fell, and the monster happened to be below!"
I explained as haughtily as possible. Of course, it wasn't a lie—just the truth slightly embellished!
"Master, I've prepared your bath. And..."
Everlin headed to the kitchen and continued.
"The Association sent meat as a monster subjugation reward—specifically, Flame Boar pork belly. I've prepared it for dinner."
"Pork belly?! Flame Boar meat?!"
Drool leaked from my mouth for a second, but I wiped it with the back of my hand and regained my dignity.
"Hrm hrm! As this body's spoils of war, it belongs on this body's table!"
After bathing, I sat at the table and popped a piece of Everlin's grilled Flame Boar pork belly into my mouth.
"Th-this is the flavor of fire! On a whole other level from regular pork!"
Todays proud achievements flashed through my mind.
Toppled a monster, got delicious meat, and best of all, made that hero bawl like a child! The sight of him shedding tears, admitting his incompetence!
"Making a hero despair just by existing! Truly, this body is a born villain!"
That guy finally realized his own powerlessness! He succumbed to this body's evil charisma!
I puffed out my small chest proudly.
Bringing despair to heroes! How satisfying for a villain!
"Yes, perhaps today could be called an evil success! Not bad as the first step to world conquest!"
"Truly impressive, Master. Here, try wrapping it in this lettuce."
Ah! I mindlessly ate veggies!
Crunch crunch—
I shoved the next wrap Everlin made into my mouth whole.
Hm, not bad at all! The perfect dinner to cap off the day!