Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Villain and the Meeting
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The inner conference room was disappointingly underwhelming compared to what this body had anticipated.
"This is the Hero Association's conference room? This body was expecting a fearsome war chamber decked out with skull decorations and iron bars!"
It was nothing like what I'd hoped for. I'd imagined medieval torture devices like pyres for burning witches or iron maidens for tormenting prisoners, adorned with monster corpse specimens and the stuffed heads of villains!
"Not even an electric chair for interrogating villains or a moat filled with flowing lava! Heroes have zero imagination?"
Instead, what lay before me was just a pristine marble table and plush leather chairs. The walls bore portraits of past Hero Association chairmen, and beyond the windows stretched the skyline of S City. It was all too ordinary!
"Who's sitting in this spot?"
Seo Jin-ho gestured as he introduced the attendees.
"Today's participants are three S-Rank Heroes, high-ranking association executives, and some government officials."
"Only three? Aren't there twelve S-Ranks? Where are the rest? Are they too terrified to face this body?"
Seo Jin-ho shrugged with a smile.
"Most of them... are just hard to reach. Anyway, let's take our seats."
"Hmph! A villain chooses their own seat!"
With Darkness and White King perched on my shoulders, I cautiously scoped out my spot. I absolutely wouldn't sit anywhere near Goldie! Spotting the farthest corner seat from her, I darted over.
Seo Jin-ho had the audacity to plop down right next to me.
This guy—what gave him the confidence to sit beside a villain? Was he paralyzed by my overwhelming presence?
I pierced him with a cold, villainous glare.
"You shameless fool! This body hasn't forgotten! Villains forget favors but repay grudges tenfold! Do you even grasp the crime of disguising me as a hero and broadcasting it to the world? This body graciously shared lunch with you, and you repaid kindness with betrayal!"
Seo Jin-ho flashed an awkward grin and pulled something from his pocket.
"Aw, Grimoire, you're still mad about that? Sorry~ It was for the citizens. Here, want some? Homemade red bean jelly. You love the stuff from that place."
Such corporate survival skills! The practiced finesse of laughing desperately at a boss's dad joke during drinks!
"You dare try to quell this body's fury with bribes? This body's rage burns like a volcano!"
"No, really... just sorry. And I've heard all about your awesome exploits since then. Monster subjugations, citizen rescues—you've got more impact than any hero out there. Must be that villain-hero vibe?"
"Villain-hero? Hmph, a slight improvement."
The praise lifted my spirits, but I had to keep up the villain face.
"This body shall specially forgive you this once. In exchange, report all Hero Association movements to me regularly! That's your only path to survival!"
I snatched the jelly and took a bite. Sweet red bean filling spread through my mouth.
"So we're good now? Hit me up anytime you need anything. If it's association-related, I'll do my best to help. Supporting heroes... er, villain-heroes is what we do."
Ka-kak! I'd planted a spy in the Hero Association! Too easy?
Glancing around the room, I noticed the other attendees amid the stiff-suited types. Two stood out in peculiar attire.
On one side sat a girl in a Japanese school uniform with a katana at her waist. A single cherry blossom bloomed in her hair.
Seo Jin-ho whispered an explanation.
"The girl with the cherry blossom is 'Sakura Samurai.' Real name Miyamoto You. She's an exchange student from Japan. Our association and Japan's Hero Association are running an international exchange program."
"What? That girl's an S-Rank? I thought she was just some high schooler on vacation!"
Spotting me, the high schooler lit up and waved enthusiastically.
"Whoa, totally kawaii! Korea has heroes this cute too~ Those horns—are they real oni cosplay? Japanese yokai are popular here too, huh? The quality's amazing!"
"This body is no hero, not cute, and above all, this isn't cosplay! These horns are the mark of one bearing the King's DNA! The symbol of a villain set to conquer the world!"
"Ever thought of trying a sailor uniform? With those horns, you'd be the perfect moe character. I bet one of my school uniforms would fit just right..."
"Wh-what?!"
"Japanese JK culture is the world's best. Why not give it a shot while you're here?"
"Why would I wear a high school girl's clothes? This body is a villain destined to rule the world! Gothic lolita is what suits a villain!"
This was tanking my villain dignity!
Chit! Chit-chit!
At that moment, Darkness and White King made sounds like they were snickering on my shoulders.
"What's that? You two want to try it too? Do they have doll clothes?"
Sakura's eyes sparkled.
"Rats... you carry pet rats?! Nezumi...! So cute! I wanna raise some too—where'd you get them? No heroes in Japan carry rats!"
Now even my minions were getting called cute? This insult was intolerable!
"Insolent hero! Don't casually call this body's minions cute! They are the core force for world conquest! Darkness masters stealth ops, and White King is a genius at strategic analysis!"
On the other side sat a middle-aged man in a traditional hat and robe, stroking his long beard while unrolling a scroll.
"And that scholar-looking fellow is the S-Rank 'Ten Saints.' Real name, Teacher Lee Hak-mun."
"A scholar as a hero? Looks like just a village schoolmaster."
"Appearances can deceive—his skills are top-tier. Though..."
Hearing that, the scholar looked my way and stroked his beard.
"Are you the famed Lady Grimoire? I've heard you're newly joined to the Hero Association, but this is our first meeting."
"This body didn't join the association—I infiltrated to dismantle it!"
Ignoring me, the scholar flourished his robe sleeve like a sage.
"As the Master said, 'The gentleman harmonizes but does not conform; the petty man conforms but does not harmonize.' You call yourself a villain, yet I see the mark of a true gentleman unafraid to show his true heart."
My jaw dropped. What was this nonsense?
"Our first encounter in life is the start of a heaven-sent bond, akin to the principles of heaven and earth. Just as spring, summer, autumn, and winter cycle eternally, so too will our meeting hold profound meaning in time..."
"Teacher Ten Saints, we should start the meeting now."
"Very well. But after, I'd love to share tea with Lady Grimoire and discuss the Mysteries of the Universe. Please visit our study group sometime..."
Listening made my head ache. This body prefers simple, straightforward world conquest!
Seo Jin-ho continued with a resigned look.
"He waxes poetic. Especially once he gets on Mysteries of the Universe..."
"What? Mysteries of the Universe? Some kind of meat?"
"No, it's like a novel..."
"So this is it? Boring suits, a cosplay high schooler, and a throwback scholar?"
"S-Ranks are all free spirits. Busy, or just don't feel like showing. We don't have many responsible ones like you, Grimoire."
Hmph, heroes acting on whims? Ruder than this villain! This body keeps time impeccably and never breaks promises to Everlin!
The high schooler, the scholar, and that pervert Goldie across the way staring with golden hearts in her eyes.
"Is S City really okay like this...?"
Indeed, I, Grimoire, am the most rational ruler for S City. A villain with ambition and manners like this body might be the perfect fit to govern this chaotic world.
Seo Jin-ho cleared his throat and kicked off the meeting proper. This body decided to specially observe their foolish proceedings. Knowing the enemy's movements is key strategy for a villain!
"Monster waves have surged across S City recently. Over the past week alone, C-Rank or higher monster groups have appeared more than thirty times."
A hologram bloomed at the table's center. Red dots glowed across the S City map, like the city had measles.
"Among them, twelve B-Ranks, five A-Ranks... and yesterday, an S-Rank appeared."
Seo Jin-ho pressed on.
"This unusual spike in monster appearances mirrors past waves, but the scale is far larger... and the numbers greater."
"Monsters have no tact! S City is already number one on this body's conquest list! How dare they invade my territory!"
"Uh... Grimoire, questions after the meeting progresses a bit..."
I tapped the table, drawing eyes.
"Right, I've got a brilliant idea! Tell the monsters to head to China! Tons of people there for food, and the Great Wall for sightseeing! Ka-kak!"
S City was this body's first pick! All rights to rule this city belong solely to I, Grimoire!
The room fell silent. All eyes fixed on me. Awed by my genius tactic, no doubt?
"Uh... anyway, let's continue on monster patterns. The research team's analysis..."
Seo Jin-ho hastily shifted topics.
Hmph, as expected, this body's genius eludes the mundane brains of livestock. I'll run this plan by Everlin later. She'll properly appreciate it.
Then the JK across from me pulled out a thermos and quietly poured tea. Green tea aroma filled the room.
"Mmm, this is a special green tea grown only in Kyoto's northern highlands. Japanese tea leaves are the world's finest."
Drinking tea mid-meeting! If this body did it, it'd be villainous poise, but for a hero? Just arrogance!
Ten Saints tilted his head, stroking his beard.
"Hm, there's a flaw in that claim. Tea originated in the East, so declaring one nation's superior is premature. Our traditional teas trace back unbroken to the Three Kingdoms era..."
"Eh? Traditional tea? Does that even exist? In Japan, green tea culture evolved into the art of tea ceremony—the Way of Tea."
"Our kingdom's tea poetry developed from Silla times. Even Choi Chi-won wrote, 'Sipping chrysanthemum tea, the autumn fragrance fills me...' "
Seo Jin-ho interjected with a panicked face, sweat beading on his brow.
"Uh, Teacher Ten Saints, Miss Miyamoto. We're here to discuss monster countermeasures."
Ignoring him, the high schooler sipped and shot up.
"Japan has four distinct seasons, you know? Korea just has summer and winter~"
"Do seasons respect borders? Four seasons are a shared East Asian phenomenon. We have spring, summer, autumn, winter too."
"Eh~ Really? Then do you know what fall foliage is? Momiji only happens in Canada and Japan! Kyoto's is world-famous!"
"Utter ignorance. Our Seoraksan and Naejangsan foliage have been famed for millennia."
In this crisis, heroes bickering over trivia! Time for this body to intervene!
"Hey! There's a villain right here, and you heroes are fighting each other...? Heroes are such fools!"
No one paid me mind. The two heroes' debate heated up.
The high schooler caressed her katana.
"Japanese culture excels in every field! Look at this katana—the pinnacle of weapons. Its curve follows the golden ratio, transcending arms into art. Thousand-fold steel surpasses any metal."
"Seems you don't know Japanese paper derives from Baekje's gift of folding fans."
Her face flushed beet red.
"Liar! No way!"
"Samurai stem from Goguryeo's armored cavalry too. Recorded clearly in Goguryeo murals."
"That's not in our history books! Koreans always invent weird history to bash Japan! Creepy~"
"Lack of learning breeds such ignorance."
Sakura Samurai gripped her katana hilt. Cherry petals scattered around.
"What'd you say? Want me to chop that silly topknot? Enforce the bob cut again? Make you a bob-head?"
"The bob cut wasn't mere hairstyling—it was Imperial Japan's vicious policy to eradicate Joseon's traditions! You need Mencius's teachings desperately!"
The scholar drew a brush. Ink flowed from the tip, painting the air like ink wash.
"Confucianism? That's from China too~ Not even Korean—made in China~?"
"Confucius taught the gentleman seeks no quarrel, the petty man none but gain. Enlightening youth is an elder's duty."
The two heroes stepped toward each other. Murderous intent hung in the air.
"Pl-please stop! This isn't the time for heroes to fight!"
Seo Jin-ho wedged between them, but they ignored him utterly.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea sparked in my mind. A golden opportunity for a villain like this body!
"Darkness, White King. The heroes are fracturing internally. Prime chance for world conquest!"
The two rats wiggled their tiny paws inquisitively.
Yes—my plan: Let the heroes fight, then grab Seo Jin-ho hostage and extract Hero Association secrets! Perfect!
Hero division means gain for this body. Unlike them, my minions are united.
"Heroes lack any unity! Look how loyal this body's minions are!"
Chit-chit-!
Darkness and White King puffed out their chests proudly.
It was then, as I watched the heroes' foolish spat.
Woooong—
Suddenly, the entire conference room trembled faintly. Water in cups rippled, windows vibrated. Like a colossal monster approaching.
The door creaked open slowly.
"What's this?"
The room's air grew heavy, gravity doubling. Darkness and White King huddled on my shoulders.
"Unnecessary commotion."
A deep voice accompanied a bald man in tailored suit entering. Slight potbelly protruding—classic middle-aged dad build. The suit strained heroically to hide the flab beneath.
Seo Jin-ho jumped up, voice quavering.
"Ch-Chairman Park Cheol-gon! Welcome!"
All staff froze like the dead. Even the arguing high schooler and scholar halted, faces tense.
"Sent the summons, and this is all that shows...?"
Park Cheol-gon sighed, scanning the room.
"Freaks."
His gaze finally settled on me. Piercing.
"You're the hero who closed the gate this time, the great Grimoire?"
"Yes! This body is the great villain Grimoire! Unlike ordinary heroes, I've already conquered the park and market, and soon all of S City! Remember it well!"
Everyone gasped. Even Goldie looked worried. But I stood unfazed. Why should a great villain fear some lowly association chairman?
"Hmph, cheeky..."
The room iced over.
Seo Jin-ho paled like paper; officials looked ready to dive under chairs.
Intimidating aura, but useless on this body! Who am I? Prime villain Grimoire!
A world conqueror won't buckle to some chairman's vibe! No matter the title, he was just a bald dad!
"Puhaha! No eyebrows either! Total boiled egg! Grow some hair, baldy~"
The room's temperature plummeted. Darkness and White King pointed at Park Cheol-gon's head, chittering in laughter.
Chit-chit! Chit! Chit-chit!
'Baldy! Baldy!' they mocked.
Park Cheol-gon's face twisted. But contrary to expectation, he seemed briefly flustered... then smirked.
"Heh, amusing. We needed a hero like you."
"Not hero—villain! Vil-lain! How many times must I say it?!"
His intensity eased. The room sighed in relief.
"For the record, my baldness is an unavoidable side effect of my Quirk. Alopecia."
"Hmph! Pitiable! This body sprouted horns, but you lost your hair! The gap between King's DNA and middle-aged balding beer-gut DNA! Ka-kak!"
I proudly stroked my horns. Park Cheol-gon stared piercingly, then shook his head.
"Another weirdo joins the ranks. Still, gate-closers are always welcome. Hero or villain."
What? Casually accepting the villain label? Even the chairman fears a villain's dignity, as expected!