Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Villain Spirit
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The conference room had frozen solid. The golden ornaments Serena had slapped onto her brothers gleamed brightly, amplifying their humiliation.
The eldest brother, Park Do-hyun's face twisted with a mix of rage and terror.
That face which had always looked down on her since childhood was now filled with fear. Serena felt a thrill of satisfaction deep inside.
"S-Serena! If you do this, Dad won't let it slide!"
"So what? I'm the Golden Princess, an S-Rank Hero. What's the problem? And did you guys ever get Dad's permission when you messed with me?"
"Mmph... ughhh...!"
The second brother tried to protest through his golden teeth, but only muffled grunts came out.
"I have no idea what you're saying, bro. Are you trying to say, 'Sorry, Goldie, I won't do it again'?"
Serena sneered. All the venomous words she'd bottled up for years came pouring out.
"Oh, can't talk, huh? Good. From now on, think before you speak. Words are silver, silence is gold, right?"
"This... this is rebellion! I'll tell Dad everything!"
The fourth brother shouted. His glasses, locked with a golden padlock, awkwardly slipped down his nose.
"Go ahead and tell him. But do you know that 20% of the IM Group's total market value is propped up by me alone?"
Serena burst out laughing as if it were the funniest thing.
What would Grimoire do in a situation like this? Probably tilt her chin up and yell, "Pitiful losers!"
"What do you think happens if I announce I'm switching to another company? Or if an S-Rank Hero goes public about being discriminated against and abused as a kid? Oh, with my ten million YouTube subscribers, it'd spread like wildfire."
Her brothers' faces drained of color. For the first time, they seemed to grasp Serena's true influence.
"I'll be going now. Have a fun meeting, brothers."
Serena strode past them toward the door with her head held high. Her steps felt light, as if she'd finally cast off the heavy chains she'd carried for so long.
'I'm a hero... but today, I feel a little like a villain.'
The moment she closed the conference room door, Serena's phone buzzed. A single message had arrived.
[Come to the chairman's office immediately.]
It was just as she'd expected. It hadn't taken long for her brothers' complaints to reach their father.
Standing before the chairman's office door, Serena's heart fluttered oddly. In the old days, her legs would have been shaking and her palms slick with cold sweat by now.
She had always been the "good Serena" who paled and bowed her head in front of her father.
'When the world feels hateful and resentful, remember one thing: the Grimoire spirit.'
Click—
The IM Group chairman's office always carried a chill. Every piece of furniture and decoration was arranged to symbolize authority.
Chairman Park stood by the window, gazing out over the S City skyline. His back exuded power and ruthlessness.
"Sit."
Chairman Park turned slowly. His gaze swept over Serena.
"Serena, what was the meaning of what you did to your brothers today?"
His voice was low and menacing. Chairman Park's anger never exploded—it compressed.
"Dad, I've put up with it for a long time. I decided it was time to make my position clear."
"Your position?"
Chairman Park's brow furrowed. He had always believed that hiding emotions was strength.
"Your position is whatever I decide. Everything you've achieved so far, I gave you. Without the Group's full support, you wouldn't be the successful hero you are now. Remember that."
Words that would have filled her with shame and guilt in the past. But now, they just sounded like plain old gaslighting.
"You're right. That's why I need to work even harder. So hard that maybe I'll end up 'inheriting' the Group."
Chairman Park's eyes widened.
"What did you say?"
"Why so surprised?"
Serena asked with an innocent expression.
"The Hero Association, the government—they're all watching the IM Group because of me. You always said results are what matter."
"Serena...!"
"What have my brothers accomplished? Big Brother stuck at A-Rank for ten years, Second Brother barely holding onto B-Rank... Aren't they too lacking to be heirs? You know they can't even touch my shoelaces."
Chairman Park's face hardened. Serena could tell he was suppressing his fury. But she wasn't afraid anymore.
"Who have you been talking to? Where did my obedient daughter go? I thought you were a good girl."
Where did the good Serena go? So what am I now? The bad Goldie?
"I was obedient when it was needed."
Serena said softly.
"But now it's time to unleash my full potential. For you too, Dad."
Chairman Park stared out the window again as he spoke.
"You've... changed."
Serena stood up. There was nothing more to say. Etching her existence and value into his mind was enough.
Unlike usual, she prepared to leave before he could end the conversation.
"I've got to go, Dad—busy schedule. S City patrol time. I have to fulfill my duties as the Golden Princess."
Without waiting for his reply, she exited the chairman's office. As the door clicked shut, a victorious smile spread across her lips.
Riding the elevator down, Serena truly felt her transformation.
In just one day—no, the few hours spent with Grimoire at the market—had changed her life.
'Who am I? Grimoire's friend.'
The mere thought warmed her chest. They'd only hung out once, but in Serena's mind, they were already best friends.
Of course, if Grimoire knew, she'd freak out: "What?! Me, friends with a hero? Ridiculous!"
***
"Achoo!"
I bolted upright on the sofa from the sudden sneeze. What the heck? Villains don't catch colds...
"Is someone out there gossiping about my infamous name?"
Of course people would spread rumors about me. I'm a villain prepping for world conquest. Especially one with these perfect horns!
While Everlin prepared dinner in the kitchen, I rolled around on the sofa, lost in thought.
"Hmm..."
The story of the Park family swallow popped into my head. You know, the fairy tale where a poor couple helps a swallow, and it pays them back by making them rich later.
"Kakak! This is a perfect plan! I helped Goldie instead of the swallow! We both fly around, so it's basically the same!"
I jumped up and strutted around the room like royalty.
"Perfect timing—I'm short on pocket money! I gave her a market tour and even played with her, so she'll hand over her entire fortune, right?"
I turned my pockets inside out. Empty. Not even snack money left.
Her entire fortune... just thinking about it made me salivate.
"How much does the youngest daughter of a chaebol have? Tens of billions? Hundreds? Well, that's chump change for me! But world conquest takes serious cash!"
It was all part of my genius scheme! Snag Goldie's fortune and use it to fund world domination!
"Master."
I snapped out of my deep fantasy. Looking up, Everlin stared down at me with her expressionless face. Her right eyebrow was slightly raised—a sign from the Everlin Expression Dictionary meaning, "What ridiculous nonsense are you plotting now?"
"Everlin! Perfect timing. Clear my schedule tomorrow. We'll need a truck to haul the gold bars."
"Gold bars... you say?"
"Yeah! The treasure Goldie—that is, pure-gold girl's about to bring. I kindly showed her around the market, so she'll cough up her whole fortune as thanks!"
Everlin paused for a moment before speaking.
"Dinner is ready. Curry rice today."
Ah... I'm starving! Yeah, curry rice is golden too, kinda like gold bars? Gotta fill the belly first!
Nom nom nom—
I devoured the curry in seconds, patted my belly, and flopped back onto the sofa. Watching the evening news afterward was Everlin's habit.
I didn't care much, but whenever a monster sighting came on, I'd imagine it was one I'd raised.
[This afternoon, the A-Rank monster 'Pentahydra' that appeared in downtown S City was perfectly subdued by Golden Princess.]
Goldie appeared on the TV screen. Blonde hair, sparkling golden costume, that pretentious expression. But something was different. Her face, for starters...
"That Goldie’s face is glowing! Hmph, all thanks to me!"
I gave her a little market tour, and she's this hyped?
Well, normal people would consider time with me the honor of a lifetime, so yeah!
The news anchor continued.
[And breaking news just in: Golden Princess has donated 100 million won to farmers in the name of the 'Great Grimoire.' It's for the S City Eastern Farm Support Project, and citizens are thrilled about the two heroes' collaboration.]
"What...?"
The TV showed cheering farmers. An old one took off his hat and bowed 90 degrees to the camera.
"Thanks to the Great Grimoire and Golden Princess, our farm is saved!"
"This heroic duo's fantastic partnership is truly touching!"
"We're renaming our farm Horn Farm from now on!"
I couldn't believe my ears. My mouth dropped open on its own.
"What?! My money! In my name! To farmers?!"
I leaped off the sofa and rushed to the TV, pointing at the screen and stomping my feet.
"This is blatant villain name theft! When did I ever donate?!"
This is insane! My villain image is crumbling in seconds!
"She should've given that money to me! Why farmers?! I'm poorer! With that, I could buy tons of chocolate!"
I rolled around on the floor, flailing. Does this even make sense? Donating in a villain's name? What if it hits the papers with my photo and a headline like "Good Deed"?!
"Everlin! Let's go get my money right now! Why do farmers need cash? They can farm for food! Tell 'em to be self-sufficient!!"
Mid-tantrum on the floor, I glanced up at Everlin. She stood with her usual blank face, but her lips were twitching upward ever so slightly. Wait... is she smiling?
"You too? Mocking me? If you're gonna laugh, at least up my allowance first!"
Everlin perfectly controlled her quivering lips and reverted to blank.
"Master, think about it carefully."
"Think what over? This time it's not working! She's a thief! My name thief!"
"Isn't your grand plan world conquest?"
"Obviously! Everyone will kneel before me eventually!"
Everlin nodded quietly.
"Then, won't all that donated money to the farmers end up in your hands anyway?"
"...Huh?"
My fiery rage simmered down for a second.
"The farmers will use it to farm and harvest crops. Their wealth will grow."
My eyes widened. Everlin's words started clicking.
"And when you conquer the world, all those farms and harvests will..."
"Be mine!"
I shot up from the sofa. This was actually genius!
"Right! She pretends to donate in my name now, then I loot the overflowing granaries later! Kakak! While the farmers sweat it out, I lounge on the sofa, and sweep it all up at harvest time!"
I flashed a smug grin and snapped my fingers. Start with 100 million, end with billions in produce. Wall Street investor-level wisdom!
"Plus, since they think I donated, taking it all later will hit 'em even harder! Giving and then snatching back—that's peak evil!"
I was in awe of my own devious plan. Perfect scenario for a villain.
Goldie had accidentally aided the villain's scheme. No reason to be mad at all!
"Truly the wisdom of a great villain. Here's a snack to celebrate your victory."
"Ooh! Everlin gets it! Snacks make all worries vanish!"
I grabbed a cookie, dunked it in milk, and took a bite.
Munch munch—
Sweet taste... wait, something's off. This isn't...
"Hm? Weird? Not chocolate... what is this?"
"Sweet potato and carrot health cookies. Even villains need balanced nutrition."
"What?! Veggie cookies?! Everlin! You tricked me!"
I tried to spit out the cookie, but it was already chewed, so I swallowed. Surprisingly... not bad.