Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Villain's Interest
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C-Rank Monster giant porcupine's spines grew even sharper. Merchants and customers in the market screamed and scattered in all directions.
"Hey, you dumb porcupine! I'll make you pay for daring to invade my territory!"
Grimoire placed both hands on her hips and tilted her chin up.
"Dangerous! Get back!"
"That's an order from a subordinate! How dare you command the boss! Just watch this body's performance obediently!"
The giant porcupine was a C-Rank Monster, but due to its traits, it was a tricky opponent even for D- or C-Rank Heroes. Especially in its spiked ball state, approaching it was nearly impossible. Plus, its spines were loaded with germs, so even a slight prick would leave you suffering from high fever for days.
The Hero Association called types like this 'Hero Killers'—monsters that could easily take down heroes of lower ranks than themselves.
Weeeeng—!
The giant porcupine curled up and began spinning rapidly. It turned into a massive spiked ball and charged straight at Grimoire.
"It's dangerous! When it goes into spiked ball mode, you have to dodge first and then target its weak spot, the belly later…"
The spinning spiked ball approached at over 100 kilometers per hour. A single moment of contact would shred skin and rupture organs with its destructive power.
But contrary to Serena's worries, Grimoire didn't retreat. Instead, she clenched her fist tight.
"What? Spiked bouncy ball? You think a pathetic attack like that would work on this body?"
Suddenly, a strange gray light emanated from the small horn on Grimoire's forehead.
"Hey, I'll show you exactly who rules this turf!"
The light grew more intense, enveloping even her fist.
'That… the power she used to close the gate?'
"Grimoire Punch!"
Her fist, wrapped in gray light, collided head-on with the spiked ball.
Serena held her breath. She should use her golden power to save Grimoire right now, but her body wouldn't move. It wasn't fear—it was some kind of instinct.
Boom—!
The shockwave rocked the entire market.
Grimoire's small fist lodged right in the center of the spiked ball. The spinning stopped dead, frozen in midair.
Crack, crunch!
The spines began cracking and shattering one by one. The giant porcupine's prized spines broke apart, piece by piece.
And then—
The giant porcupine's body exploded backward like a blast. Shattered spine fragments flew everywhere.
Kyaaang-!
The monster's body didn't just pierce through a wall—it flew all the way to the parking lot behind the market and crashed there.
"Hmph! Challenging this body with such a pathetic showing—utterly foolish."
There wasn't a single scratch on Grimoire's fist. No embedded spines, no abrasions at all.
'Closing the gate wasn't a fluke after all.'
In that moment, Serena realized the girl named Grimoire wasn't just some amateur. The power hidden behind that small, cute appearance was staggeringly strong—even surprising to her.
"See that? This body's skills? How about it? Impressed, right?"
With the monster fully subdued, the residents who'd been hiding nearby began gathering one by one.
"As expected of the great Grimoire!"
"Our neighborhood hero is the best!"
"Grimoire saved us!"
"She saved the market again!"
Cheers filled the market. Grimoire was instantly surrounded by people.
"This body is a villain! Not a hero! Why can't you grasp this obvious fact? Are you blind? Can't you see this horn?!"
Grimoire flushed red and flailed, but people just saw it as a cute gimmick and laughed even harder. Serena watched from the side with a smile.
'It really was just a concept, being a villain. A real villain wouldn't save people like this.'
Grimoire's face gradually shifted to one of despair. It was clear she felt utter hopelessness toward people who refused to see her as a villain.
"Fine! Then I'll show you proof of villainy! Behold true evil!"
Grimoire suddenly declared and dashed to a nearby pancake shop. Serena followed out of curiosity.
"Look at this! This body devouring the shop's food without paying—what do you think of my villainy?!"
Grimoire grabbed a plate of pancakes and wolfed them down. But instead of shock, people cheered even louder.
"One more plate! Eat more!"
"Grimoire must be hungry!"
"A hero can't be hungry! I'll pay!"
"No, let me buy it! Grimoire saved my life!"
The pancake shop owner came out beaming.
"The monster nearly wrecked my shop. Thank you so much! Free pancakes for every customer here today! On Grimoire!"
"Wooah! Grimoire is the best!"
The crowd cheered, praising Grimoire even more.
Grimoire hung her head in total defeat.
"Why are you doing this…? Are you idiots? If you give it away free, how do you make money? Don't you know basic capitalism? This is why you need education! Do I need to give Everlin's economics lessons?"
Grimoire looked utterly despondent, but Serena found the situation amusing for some reason.
A girl who wanted to be called a villain, but no one would.
And herself, worshipped as a hero by all, yet overwhelmed by the weight of it.
'We're total opposites.'
She envied this moment of laughter and warm chatter. People who accepted her as she was, without flashy lights or cameras, without perfect makeup or costumes.
"Have lots of pancakes too, Grimoire's friend! It's a special day!"
"M… me?"
The shop owner handed Serena a plate piled with pancakes too.
Serena accepted the kindness without hesitation and sat naturally beside Grimoire.
After touring the market, Serena and Grimoire naturally headed toward the riverbank path.
At the hour when the red sunset wrapped the city's silhouette, the sky was enchanting, like spilled orange paint.
Serena leaned on the railing and took a deep breath. Regret flooded her at the thought that this day was ending soon.
"I had so much fun. It's been ages since I spent time this… relaxed."
Grimoire snorted and lifted her chin.
"Of course! It was time with this body! I let you experience a villain's dignity! Write it in your diary as 'Slum Life Tour'!"
Grimoire's silver hair and small horn, dyed in sunset light, looked like a fairy from a storybook. It was hard to believe this was the same being who'd sent a monster flying with one punch just hours ago—she was that adorable.
"People really like you. I was jealous."
"They're my subjects living in this body's territory! I visit every day to tame them. At first, they rejected me too, but I greeted them daily, snacked with them, ran errands… and it turned into this!"
Serena silently gazed at the sunset for a moment. Darkness would fall soon. And her brief freedom would vanish with it. Her phone showed over ten missed calls and messages from Secretary Kim. Father had probably been informed too.
"I really have to go now. Thank you so much for today."
As she turned to take her first step away, a small hand gripped the hem of her hoodie tightly.
"Wait."
Serena's heart skipped a beat. Grimoire's voice was different. Not her usual cocky tone, but cold and sharp.
'What? Still reluctant to part?'
A strange anticipation filled her chest. Maybe they could exchange contacts. Then, next time… could she have another free, pure day like this?
Serena turned with a gentle smile.
But Grimoire's expression was different. Gone was the innocent child she'd been laughing with moments ago. Her eyes were sharp, lips pressed thin.
"Hand over the money."
"Money…?"
Serena's thoughts froze at the sudden demand.
'What? A thug? Extorting me?'
Flustered, Serena couldn't speak for seconds. Her mind was chaos. This cute girl she'd spent the day with happily… suddenly…?
"Uh… a joke, right?"
Serena asked with an awkward laugh.
Grimoire tilted her head gangster-style.
"S-Rank Hero, chaebol daughter, and you pretend to be broke?"
Serena's face paled instantly. Her heart pounded like it would burst. Blood drained from her veins.
'She… knew?'
"Typical shameless bourgeoisie."
Grimoire narrowed her eyes and said.
"Planning to stiff me on allowance? 1% interest per minute. Four hours passed… 400% interest!"
"Uh… 1% per minute, but why 400% for four hours?"
Grimoire glared at Serena with narrowed eyes.
"Tteokbokki 5,000 won, tornado potato 3,000 won, fish cakes 2,000 won, three hotteoks 2,000 won, Turkish ice cream 3,000 won, and the doll Grimoire-sama picked, so premium 10,000 won… plus special guide fee today 5,000 won, and my precious time at least 20,000 won…"
Grimoire counted on her fingers, face full of concentration.
"Hmm, total 50,000 won times four… uh… 200,000 won!"
"50,000 won per hour?"
"Yeah! Top villain market guide fee!"
Logic didn't apply to this girl's calculations.
"Uh… but 400% interest on principal makes it five times, right?"
"Shut up! Bourgeoisie! Daring to question a villain's math? Villains slap on thousand percent interest! I'm merciful for a villain!"
Serena was dumbfounded. Why was this little girl threatening(?) so seriously?
But that wasn't the point now.
"Wait, when did you figure it out?"
Grimoire crossed her arms smugly.
"Obviously from the start! Disguise is basic for top villains! You can't fool this body's eyes with that level of costume!"
Serena's chest tightened oddly. The conversations they'd shared all day, the food they'd eaten, the moments they'd laughed… all fake? She'd thought today was the truest time of all.
"Why pretend not to know?"
Serena's voice trembled.
"Were you toying with me? Knowing I'm S-Rank Hero Golden Princess, Serena of IM Group, and acting like that?"
Hurt spread slowly in Serena's heart.
Today, for once, someone treated her not as 'Golden Princess,' but as a plain 'person'—she'd been happy. Even the grating nickname 'Goldie' had oddly comforted her… Was even that an illusion?
Grimoire's answer was unexpected.
"Huh? Why treat you special? To this body, the great and the lowly are all the same."
Grimoire declared proudly.
"Because they're all beneath this body's feet anyway! Heaven and earth, this body reigns supreme! Only this body is special—everyone else is equal under me!"
"What does that…"
"S-Rank Hero or D-Rank, chaebol or beggar—all my subjects before this body!"
Serena mulled over that bizarre logic. Suddenly, market scenes flashed in her mind.
Grimoire chatting with merchants, joking with elders, sharing dolls with kids…
In every moment, Grimoire treated everyone the same, regardless of who they were. Chaebol, homeless, old, young.
She proved it not just in words, but in actions.
She truly saw everyone as 'equal beings.' That was Grimoire's unique charm, the reason the market folk opened their hearts to her.
"Hey, if you don't wanna pay, just say so! Planning to run?"
"Come to think of it, this mess started because I had no cash…"
Flustered, Serena reached into her crossbag for her wallet but dropped it. Contents spilled on the ground.
"Ah!"
Premium credit cards, VIP memberships, and… her ID.
The ID rolled right to Grimoire's feet. Grimoire picked up Serena's ID.
'No, not that…!'
"Park Geum-sun…?"
Serena's heart thundered. Her whole body felt constricted.