Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Villain and Spotlight
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Golden Princess Serena's expression turned serious. She stared into the camera and explained the current situation.
"We've received reports of a surge in monster wave incidents lately. Gates aren't just spitting out one or two monsters anymore—they're unleashing hundreds at a time, popping up all over S City."
Kang Hyunwoo spoke up with concern.
"Heroes need to step in and handle this. Before the civilians get caught in the crossfire."
"Then how about we team up? You two look pretty capable."
"What?"
I couldn't believe my ears. Cooperate with heroes? That was utter nonsense.
"What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that? I am a villain! A villain! I would never cooperate with heroes..."
As I moved to shut it down firmly, a horde of rabbits charged straight at my garden sign. They started ripping off the letters one by one from the words 'GRIMOIRE GARDEN'.
"Hey! Stop that! Don't touch my sign!"
A few letters torn away, and now the sign only read the horrifying 'GORE GARDEN'.
"My... my garden... turned into a horrific name!"
It felt somehow more villainous, but that had to be my imagination, right?
I couldn't stand by and watch them wreck my garden any longer.
"Fine! I'll cooperate! But I have conditions!"
Serena nodded with a smile.
"What are they?"
"You follow my orders! Hand over command to me, Grimoire-sama!"
She let out a light laugh. The condescension in her eyes made my blood boil.
"Well now, Miss Grimoire. I'm an S-Rank Hero with tons of experience handling monster waves like this. Wouldn't it make more sense for me to take charge?"
"And don't call me 'Miss Grimoire'! Call me 'Great Grimoire-sama'! Or at least 'Grimoire the Great King'!"
"Got it, Miss Grimoire."
"Eeee! You called me 'Miss' again!"
Before I could protest further, the rabbits surged toward us like a tidal wave.
"Alright, here's the plan. I'll take the front, Endure supports from the flank. And Miss Grimoire..."
Serena paused thoughtfully before continuing.
"Hmm... guard the garden area."
"What? You treating me like some kid? I'm fighting too!"
One rabbit brushed past my foot, and on reflex, I lashed out with a kick. My devastating power unleashed full force on the rabbit.
Pow-
The rabbit soared through the air before crashing far away.
Serena sprang into action too. Golden particles danced from her hand, scattering like glittering dust. The gold specks spun at blinding speed, forming a massive golden ring.
"Golden Circle!"
The golden ring hurtled toward the blade rabbits. Spinning like a razor-sharp disc, it shredded them to pieces.
'She controls gold with her ability?'
A power like that would come in handy even after I conquer the world.
"Nice! You're hired as a gold mine slave! Or maybe a placer mining slave?"
"What was that?"
"Oh, nothing! My turn now! I'll stew those damn rabbits!"
I couldn't let her outshine me! Time to prove I'm the real star here!
I leaped into the rabbit swarm. One swing of my fist sent six flying at once.
Kang Hyunwoo held his own too. True to a D-Rank Hero, he methodically picked them off one or two at a time.
The real issue was the film crew. Their cameras captured only Golden Princess's flashy moves. No matter how many rabbits I smashed, every lens stayed glued to her.
"Hey! Over here! Look at me! I'm fighting my ass off too!"
I yelled for ages, but not a single camera budged.
"Hey! Why aren't you filming me? Ignoring me 'cause I'm a villain?!"
Even hoisting five rabbits overhead or slamming them down with raw brute force did nothing—the crew didn't flinch.
Then, for a split second, I slipped into camera view. Finally, my big break on air!
"Hey! Something weird just entered the shot!"
"Sorry, adjusting the angle."
'Something weird'? That 'weird something' was me!
Golden Princess's dazzling techniques and poses kept stealing the show, while I got treated like background filler.
And in raw numbers, she was obliterating way more rabbits. No denying that reality.
While I sweated buckets taking them down one by one, Serena swept dozens aside with a single golden wave. What the hell? This unfair?
"Behold! Grimoire-sama strikes again—another one down!"
I crowed triumphantly, but right then, her 'Golden Circle' ripped through, claiming over twenty in one go. With a flick of her wrist, the golden particles morphed into a massive vortex, sucking rabbits in wholesale.
"Unfair...! Fight fair with your fists!"
Why did that shiny gold blob hog all the spotlight?
I am the ultimate villain. The great conqueror of the world.
To get dismissed like this—and by a hero, no less!
I couldn't take it anymore. My garden was trashed, my rep shredded, my pride in the gutter.
"Yeah! Smash the gate, and this crap ends!"
I charged straight at the gate. Problem? Destroy the source!
"No! Gates are dangerous!"
Serena cried out in alarm.
"Grimoire, get back here!"
I heard Kang Hyunwoo's shout, but too late—I was already at the gate's edge.
The two rushing after me faded into the background. Didn't care.
One thought burned in my mind.
'I'll show 'em. What the great Grimoire can do!'
Suddenly, blinding gray light erupted from my horn. Power flooded my body.
"Close up! Vanish! Grimoire Smash!"
I unleashed a full-power punch at the gate.
Boom──!!
The gate shuddered violently. Shockingly, the rift spasmed and began contracting at breakneck speed.
"Wha... what?!"
Even I was stunned.
Flash-!
Blade rabbits stopped pouring out. The massive rift zipped shut like a closing zipper, vanishing completely in seconds.
"No way... the gate closed?"
Serena muttered, her face a mask of pure shock. Her cocky pose crumbled for the first time.
'Even that gold nugget hero can't hide her awe before me! Behold the might of a true villain! Kahakat!'
The park crowd held their breath, watching. Then, phones whipped out to capture the moment.
"The gate closed!"
"Did that girl do it?"
"The kid with the horn stopped the monster wave!"
'Kid' and 'girl' grated, but hey—now every eye was on me!
"Grimoire! You're one of a kind! Proved it again today!"
Kang Hyunwoo snapped out of it first, rushing over to hype me up!
"Kahakat! Naturally! I'm the world's strongest villain! Tremble in fear! My power knows no bounds!"
I thrust both arms skyward, brimming with triumph. Anxiety? Gone. Only sweet victory rushed through me.
The film crew exchanged bewildered glances. Lenses now locked on me, not Golden Princess.
"What the—? This isn't in the script!"
The main PD panicked, yelling.
"Cut! Cut! Kill the live feed! Now! This wasn't the plan! We need Golden Princess shining, not some elementary school kid stealing the show!"
But the cameramen ignored him, still rolling on me.
A villain's allure is irresistible! Delivering footage punchier than any hero!
Young staffers huddled, buzzing with excitement.
"But damn, that's epic! No CG there!"
"Light shot from her horn? That final shot was perfection!"
"Totally! Subscribing. What was it? 'Grimoire's World Conquest'... yeah?"
The PD fumed harder at his staff turning fans on the spot. He slammed his clipboard to the ground.
"Snap out of it! This is Golden Hero Time! The whole concept's trashed! Forgot who funds us? Serena's IM Group!"
They scrambled to end the broadcast and pack gear.
Serena approached. Suspicion and awe swirled in her golden eyes.
"You... what are you?"
"Told you. The great villain Grimoire! Bearer of the King's DNA!"
"No, I mean... how'd you close the gate? No hero's ever pulled that off..."
Truth be told, I had no clue myself. Just got pissed and willed it shut. But villains never show weakness—especially not to heroes!
"Hmph! Easy for me. I can do anything! I'm an SSS-Rank villain beyond S-Rank! And I've got the horn!"
Her smug, in-control vibe was history. She'd glimpsed my true worth.
"Hey, gold nugget."
I leaned in close, voice low. Broadcast done—time for the real villain pitch.
"Gold nugget?"
"Yeah! Gold chunk, so nugget! Not on my level, but your power's got potential. Special offer for you."
"Offer...?"
Chin high, hands on hips—perfect villain pose.
"Picture this: I'm a T-Rex, that ant Kang Hyunwoo's an ant, you're a Golden Retriever at best."
A wrinkle creased Serena's smooth forehead.
"Golden Retriever...?"
"Yup! Shiny, loyal Golden Retriever! Was gonna enslave you for gold mining, but I thought of a better gig!"
This was me being big-hearted. Irresistible to anyone!
"Surrender now, and I'll specially—very specially—appoint you minter of coins stamped with my face! Minister of Currency for the Grimoire Empire! Chance of a lifetime! Generous, right?"
Her mouth flapped open and shut like a fish.
Even S-Rank Heroes can't resist my mercy.
"...What the hell is this kid?"