Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Villain's Torment
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"Now, heading to the rooftop garden! The highest vantage point in this body’s territory!"
Grip-
I pressed the elevator button.
Why is it taking so damn long? How dare this pathetic machine keep the great Grimoire waiting!
"How dare you defy this body’s command!"
I mashed the button like crazy. Come on, hurry up!
"Oh my, if it isn't Grimoire? I've been watching your broadcasts lately. My son told me about them. They're pretty fun~"
"Eek!"
The sudden voice belonged to Mrs. Kim from 302.
She's seen it all? Then... the bunny bed too? And my failed villainy?
"Y-You've... seen everything?"
"Of course~ If only this old lady had a cute daughter like you, Grimoire. But I've got three sons, so it's such a shame~"
"Don't call this body by name so casually! You insolent commoner! Attach '-nim' properly!!"
Mash mash mash mash-
I pounded the elevator button even more frantically.
Ding~
The elevator finally arrived. I dashed inside, fleeing Mrs. Kim's gaze.
Finally, some peace... Phew.
"Good luck with world conquest~"
"Insolent! Don't cheer for this body, you pathetic human!"
Good grief, my daily life exposed to the neighbors! But if they recognize me, that's proof my infamy is spreading, right?
Ding~
We reached the rooftop in no time. As the doors opened, a refreshing breeze brushed my horns. I raised the gimbal to capture the S City skyline.
"From here, this body gazes down on the city every day, plotting conquest! Especially that shining SH Tower over there! Hero Association headquarters! One day, I'll turn it into Grimoire Tower!"
I gestured dramatically at the distant skyscrapers. How amazing would it be if all this were truly mine? When that day comes, I won't have to endure the insult of being called a hero anymore.
"Oh my, isn't that Miss Grimoire?"
"Gah!"
I whipped around in shock at the voice from behind. An elderly couple was watering their flower pots.
"Honey, isn't that the one from the camera? Our villa's mascot is famous now."
"This body is no mascot—I'm a villain! The absolute being who will rule the world! Your sovereign! Tremble in fear and awe right now!"
The elderly couple just smiled and nodded.
"Sure, sure. Oh, that hero... what was her name? Anyway, come visit our place sometime. I'll bake cookies!"
Coo... cookies?
Wait, no! I can't fall for this temptation! Being treated like this by the residents—where's my dignity gone?
"Hmph! Soon you'll all know true terror! As for cookies... hmm... personally, chocolate chip is best! No, that's not it! I'll consider it after world conquest!"
But the couple was already focused on their flower pots, ignoring me.
'How dare they ignore Lady Grimoire's words!'
Probably hard of hearing from old age. I'll tell Everlin to buy them hearing aids! They can't miss my grand speeches!
I showed off the rooftop plenty before heading downstairs.
As I passed the hallway, a group of high school girls suddenly appeared.
"It's really Grimoire!!"
"Whoa, real horns! Total fan! Can I post on my story?"
"You're so pretty, even cuter in person!"
What...? Pretty? Cute? Is that what you say to a villain you should fear? The normal reaction is to tremble in terror and run away!
"Ahem! Flattering me out of fear? Praising to save your skin...? Yeah, that must be it?"
I deepened my voice menacingly, but the girls shrieked and swarmed me in seconds, surrounding me!
"Eek!"
"Whoa, she's live! Hi, Grimoire channel viewers~"
"Where'd you get that dress? I wanna buy one too!"
"Quack! Real horns! But why doesn't the landlady sis have horns? Aren't you sisters?"
What?! Me, Everlin's little sister? Where did this ridiculous rumor come from?
"No! This body is the master, and Everlin is the maid! Know your place! Wait, back off! Too close!"
I twisted away from hands reaching for my horns.
Mrs. Kim, the elderly couple, high school girls...
Blood rushed to my head. Instead of fearing me, the residents treat me like a mascot!
This won't do. If everyone sees me as a cute mascot, my villain dignity hits rock bottom!
Then, a genius idea flashed in my mind!
"This body has a brilliant plan! To the second floor!"
Room 205, home to a civil service exam prep student for the Hero Association.
That poor soul who's tasted failure multiple times... perfect target for villainy!
Time to show my true wickedness!
Arriving at the second floor, stacks of workbooks piled up in front of 205 like mountains. Brown envelopes of mock exams, scored papers with dismal marks.
"Kakak! Already reeks of defeat!"
I boldly knocked on the door.
Bang bang bang!
"Unemployed scum, show your face! Or I'll roast and eat you!"
Moments later, the door flew open.
Kim Seoyeon, Crown Villa's infamous fourth-time exam taker.
Seaweed-like hair, thick glasses, deep dark circles... perpetually grumpy face, irritable from repeated failures.
"You again? Not today, seriously! Please! Mock exam next week!"
"Think you'll pass this time? Fallen four times—why not quit? Life's short, failure's long!"
"It's three times, three! And I'll pass for sure this time!"
Her face full of rage and despair... exactly the reaction I wanted! Let's torment her more!
"Three or four, same difference! What's it feel like being unemployed? This body was born a great villain, so I can't fathom your petty woes! Describe failure's taste in detail!"
"I'm not unemployed, I'm a job prep student! Job seeker!"
"Job seeker... nice euphemism! So what if you fail again?"
"Th-that... No, I won't fail this time...! Plus, you're always bothering me! You screeched and ran the halls the night before last exam!"
"Hmph! Blaming this body? Classic loser deflecting fault! Your failures are all your incompetence! I dub thee 'Master of Failure'!"
This is true villainy! Probing psychological weak spots of the frail human!
"It's your fault! You're just... just..."
"Worry not! If you don't pass before I conquer the world, I'll hire you as a toilet cleaner! Be grateful! Kakak!"
"Is tormenting me that fun?"
"Your expressive emotions amuse me. Consider it an honor to be my villainy practice dummy!"
"Get out! Now!"
"Study hard and become this body’s minion! It'll be your life's greatest glory! I'll visit again! Maybe mock exam eve?"
"Never come back!!!"
Slam!!
The door slammed shut. Hysterical screams echoed from inside. Perfect, mission success!
"This is a villain's daily life! Tormenting the weak, plunging them into despair! Kakak!"
For once, I felt truly wicked and proud.
I headed for the stairs.
"Last stream, Everlin handled the camera so I couldn't show it, but today—special reveal of the maid's secrets! Hmph, punishment for ditching this body to go out!"
Ditching me to go out? Unforgivable! I wanna go out with Everlin too! Zoo, amusement park!
The dim underground parking lot. My heart raced with each step. Flickering fluorescent lights created an eerie vibe.
I entered the dark parking lot via the emergency stairs.
Cars lined up under the fluorescent lights.
"Right here! This body’s supercar collection! From Lamborghini to Ferrari, McLaren, Rolls-Royce! All for world conquest, of course!"
I circled the vehicles, angling the camera perfectly.
The viewers are overwhelmed by my vast wealth!
Technically Everlin's assets... but I don't even have a license yet.
No need to nitpick! A minion's possessions are as good as mine!
"Impressive, right? Pitiful humans like you must be green with envy! Serve this body, and you might get a supercar! Kakak!"
That was when it happened.
Squeak-
A faint sound grazed my ears. I stopped at the strange noise from somewhere.
"Wait... what's that sound? J-just my imagination?"
Squeak-!
Again.
"Wh-who's there! Show yourself!"
I swung the camera around, searching the source. A shadow moved in the darkness.
Squeak-!
The sound grew closer. Finally, in the parking lot center under the lights, a black rat appeared.
'Phew, just a rat!'
I sighed in relief, patting my chest.
No, maintain villain dignity. How dare this lowly creature invade my territory!
"Insolent rodent invading this body’s empire! Bold but foolish! This is the domain of the great villain Grimoire-nim! I warn you—begone!"
I raised my voice threateningly, but the black rat didn't budge. It reared up on hind legs, staring defiantly!
"Wh-what? That bold attitude! You intruder...!"
Such rudeness in a villain's lair! Challenging Grimoire-nim's authority!
"This body warned you mercifully! You've chosen a miserable fate!"
I lifted my foot for a light kick feint. Just to scare it, right?
Whoosh-
The rat dodged nimbly, as if anticipating.
Squeak-?
It eyed me challengingly, like 'That all you got?'!
"What? This... this rat bastard! Dodging this body’s attack? Today’s your last day!"
Squeak squeak-
"What? Not a mouse, a rat? Whatever!"
Fuming. This time, show it who's boss!
Whoosh!
Suddenly, something dropped from the ceiling.
A white rat! Red-eyed white rat plummeting right above my head!
"Eeeeeek!"
A instinctive scream burst out. The gimbal shook wildly; the screen flashed ceiling, floor, walls madly.
"No! Stay away!! Come closer and you're dead! For real! Don't you value your life??"
Chaotic memories flashed: rats that mocked me on the street before...?
Before I could think, both rats leaped.
N-not aiming for my horns, right?? What if they gnaw with those front teeth??
"Strategic retreat! You'll pay for this!"
I flung the camera down, shielded my horns with both hands, and bolted for the stairs.
Retreating smartly is a top villain's trait!
The dropped camera caught the dark ceiling, then the cold floor.
Silence returned to the lot. Then, tiny footsteps echoed.
On screen, the black and white rats appeared side by side.
Squeak squeak-!
Victory cries rang out as the screen went black, stream cut off.