Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Villain's Consecutive Strikes
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I sprawled on the floor, scribbling furiously with crayons on paper.
I painted the road bright red and added a skull mark next to the traffic light drawing.
"This time, I absolutely won't fail!"
Red, blue, black...
When plotting evil deeds, black is overwhelmingly essential!
Panic-stricken citizens, despairing police, and me overlooking all that chaos with a laugh! Especially with massive horns!
Every sketch in my notebook was a plan for evil acts that would bring the world to its knees beneath my feet!
The previous failures were utterly infuriating.
Robbing a bank and getting hailed as a hero, unleashing villainy in the park only to be treated like a hero, and even falling from the sky!
"Hmph! I'll wash away all past humiliations! The time has come to show Grimoire's true wickedness! Everlin! Come here and admire this historic evil plan!"
Everlin entered the room and stared at the sketchbook with an expressionless face.
"You plan to execute all of these, Master?"
"Of course! If one fails, just move to the next. If even one succeeds, it's my victory! Everyone will recognize me as the true villain!"
Everlin fell silent for a moment, then held out the item in her hand.
"Master, I've brought the special equipment needed for today's operation."
"What's that? I was expecting a laser gun or bombs... You expect the great Grimoire to wear something so tacky?"
Everlin showed me a fluorescent safety vest without flinching at my reaction.
"This is Korea's most powerful disguise tool. Wear it, and you can enter anywhere."
"Huh? Really? No one will suspect me if I wear this? Does that even make sense?"
"It's especially perfect for committing evil deeds. Everyone assumes anyone in a fluorescent vest is official staff. Construction sites, government offices, even concert venues—you can roam freely."
I was skeptical, but Everlin was always right.
Slipping on the vest, it fit perfectly.
"This makes my operation even more flawless! Then I'll be off!"
I kicked open the door and charged out.
I vaguely heard Everlin sigh behind me, but I had no time to care.
Today, without fail! Absolutely! The whole world will kneel before my wickedness!
S-City's busiest downtown intersection. Rush hour—cars were backed up tail-to-tail.
Hardworking citizens heading to their jobs... Soon they'll taste hell from my villainy!
"I'll turn all the traffic lights red during rush hour! Vehicular chaos! Desperate gridlock! Hell on the commute!"
Wearing the fluorescent vest confidently, I strode to the traffic signal control box. Shockingly, no one batted an eye. A few police officers glanced over, nodded politely, and moved on!
"Everlin was right! With this on, no one suspects a thing!"
I stood before the control box. Following Everlin's prior instructions, I opened it and fiddled with a few wires.
"Ha! Such a critical device managed so sloppily! Humans are such idiots! This world deserves to be ruled by me!"
A few seconds later, every light at the intersection turned red simultaneously.
"This is the power of a villain! All cars frozen in place!"
I'd initially considered green to cause accidents, but red was safer. Even villains don't want major crashes. Just enough chaos is perfect.
"Great villain Grimoire's first operation: success! The whole city will plunge into chaos now!"
Vroooom—!
Suddenly, a ear-splitting engine roar echoed.
A heavily modified sports car barreled down the road at breakneck speed. Flames and skull decals adorned the body, and the driver was a leather-jacketed, sunglass-wearing classic speed demon.
"Road Devil's coming through! Outta my way, you Avante trash! Hahaha!"
'A speed demon villain? Even better! More chaos with him around, right?'
If that villain ignores the signals and charges, collisions galore, total road paralysis...
Wait.
All lights are red—everyone's stopped!
"You idiots think I'll obey some light? Woo-hoo!"
Normal cars halted, but the villain blew through the empty intersection.
That left Road Devil's car fully exposed on the open road.
"There! A vehicle running the red!"
"Pursue! Today's our chance to catch him!"
As the villain's car crossed, sirens blared. Police cars swarmed from everywhere, boxing him in.
"Caught! Road demon, this is your last ride!"
The cops swiftly apprehended the villain.
What... the hell?
"That signal tech spotted the danger and changed the lights!"
"From Traffic Control? Lightning-fast response!"
"Thanks to you, no major accident! Other cars stopped safely, made the arrest easy."
Onlookers gave me thumbs up.
"Wh-what? No, I was trying to sow swift chaos..."
"Acting fast for public safety? Thank you!"
Eek! What's happening?
Two days later, I launched my second plan to restore my honor. This time, certain success!
At S-City's central mall's flashy fountain, I rummaged in my backpack and pulled out the key item: apple-shaped black dye capsules.
"Once this dye turns the fountain black, everyone's clothes will be ruined! Fancy designer outfits stained black and useless!"
The mall buzzed with afternoon shoppers, all distracted by purchases or Instagram posts—no one eyed me suspiciously.
"Now!"
I sneaked up and tossed the capsules into the fountain.
Splash!
"By my command, turn black!"
As the capsules sank, the water magically blackened. The entire fountain turned inky, spraying black jets skyward.
"Kakaka! One splash, and clothes ruined! Perfect weekend turned to utter misery!"
Shocked voices rose from the crowd.
"Success at last! Now they'll all witness my wickedness!"
But... something weird happened. Next to the fountain—where nothing had been—a black silhouette suddenly appeared!
"Aaah! Monster!"
"D-Rank monster, Invisible Lion!"
"A transparent monster hiding in the fountain?!"
The ink revealed a lion's silhouette.
It had been invisible until my dye coated it, exposing its form!
"Eek! What...?"
Security rushed in and subdued the Invisible Lion.
"Which agency are you from? New tech to detect invisible monsters?"
"N-no, I was actually... I mean..."
"Invisible Lion's D-Rank but deadly due to stealth. Without you, massive casualties..."
"I'm a villain! Villain! I didn't target the monster... I wanted to ruin clothes... evilly... ugh..."
I couldn't finish. Praise poured in.
My villainy... turned heroic again!
"The third will succeed for sure! Super simple—no way to fail!"
At S-City Central Station's subway entrance, I pulled out super-strong adhesive from my backpack. Everlin said it was ten times stronger than regular glue.
Monday rush hour packed the station with ant-like commuters heading to work. Soon, my villainy would shatter that order!
"This time! Countless people glued in place, unable to move! Late for work, fired, or forced to burn sick days crying! Kakaka!"
Excitement swelled. Simplest plan ever: spread glue on the floor, watch from afar!
I started at strategic spots, especially the stairs down to the subway.
"Now, just enjoy the show. I'll mock the pathetic humans flailing!"
Hiding behind a pillar, I watched.
A shady gang in ragged clothes approached the entrance.
'What? Homeless? Beggars? Not office workers.'
They stepped on my glue... and stuck fast, as planned!
"What is this?"
"Can't move!"
"Damn, plan's busted!"
Anyway, my villainy succeeded this time!
But then, weapons dropped from the beggars: knives, bats, even what looked like explosives!
"Security! Beggar Clan terrorists here!"
Guards swarmed at the shout.
Beggar Clan? Terrorists?
"What's that?"
"Beggar Clan's infamous for posing as street weaklings while doing terror and robbery! Looks like a subway attack planned today!"
"Kuh...! So I caught not humans, but another villain group?"
Me stopping terror again... absurd!
"We have staff like this? Anyway, you spotted and stopped Beggar Clan terrorists early! Thank you!"
"Eek! I just... no, this is..."
"Do station staff catch villains now?"
"Ah... was gonna skip work 'cause of villains..."
"Now it's just tardiness."
I clutched my head with both hands.
This make sense?! Three perfect evil plans, all mistaken for heroics!
"I'm a villain! Evil villain!"
Energy drained from my body. Cursed? Why am I always treated like a hero?
Dragging my feet home to Crown Villa, utterly defeated.
I burrowed under the covers up to my head, curled up on the bed.
The room was blacked out with curtains—no light allowed.
Light means brightness, brightness means hope, hope means hero.
True villains belong in darkness.
Cutting off the world—that alone protected my wounded pride.
"Why... why are my genius evil deeds always mistaken for good...?"
I burrowed deeper. Hiding in darkness felt a bit better.
Only endless dark understands Grimoire's anguish.
Black curtains, black blankets, black heart. Perfect harmony.
Three operations, three failures!
Traffic lights became speed demon capture, fountain became invisible monster reveal, subway even foiled Beggar Clan terror!
"Why is my villain life so cursed?! What did I do wrong?! The world's unfair!"
Ding-
Alarm from bedside table. I reached out blindly for the tablet.
"......"
"Grrrrr!"
I gripped the cushion tight, stifling my rage. Hate-hate-hate those boastful media!
Knock knock.
"Master, it's already lunchtime."
Everlin's prim voice came from outside.
"Not eating! Don't come in! I'm done! Villain life over! I've decided to live in darkness forever!"
I thrashed, burrowing deeper.
Food scent wafted through the door crack, teasing my nose.
No, can't give in! I'm on hunger strike!
Deeper, darker. If only I could vanish like this.
Yeah, live under blankets forever. Stepping out just means more hero treatment!