Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Villain and Wave
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Whoooong-!
The red energy bursting from the gate scorched my face with heat. The horn on my forehead glowed gray, resonating with the red light from the gate as if they were touching.
Eek! W-what is this?! Did I actually open the gate for real?!
"Th-this is just a coincidence! It's not my fault! The horn just... reacted on its own!"
"Well, if Gray Matter can close a gate, it makes sense it could open one too. Logical conclusion."
A massive rift tore open across the sky. The space ripped wide like a monster's maw, appearing above the peak of Cheongryong Mountain.
"Gray Matter has fully resonated with the gate. Energy pattern match at 99.9%. This is... truly fascinating data."
Fascinating? In this situation?! The sky was splitting open, monsters about to pour out, and he's talking about data!
The heroes all assumed combat stances.
Golden Princess's hands glowed with golden energy, cherry blossom sword aura danced along the schoolgirl samurai's blade, and ink spread from the scholar's brush tip. Soldiers had the area around Cheongryong Mountain surrounded in layers, standing by in full gear.
Grrr...! Kyaaak! Kieeeek!
Horrific roars from beyond the gate echoed as if tearing eardrums.
It was an unpleasant sound that made every hair on my body stand on end. Everyone held their breath, staring at the gate. I swallowed hard without thinking.
Grooooarrr-!
Among them, the deepest, lowest rumble clearly wasn't from this world. It felt like the breath of something that had existed since the dawn of time.
"...H-ha! I'm not scared at all! This great villain isn't scared one bit!"
No, truth be told, my legs were shaking. But a great villain must maintain their dignity!
That was the moment. The gate fully opened, energy exploding outward.
Everyone held their breath, waiting. For the first monster to emerge from the gate...
But...
Nothing happened.
1 minute...
5 minutes...
10 minutes...
Huh? Nothing's coming out?
The gate was wide open, but no monsters appeared. Roars still echoed from beyond, and shadows flickered. But the monsters weren't crossing through easily.
After 15 minutes, an awkward air settled among the heroes. They just exchanged glances.
...What?
All these roars, but why isn't anything coming out? Could it be... they're so shocked by my appearance they're hiding in fear?
"They must have sensed this Grimoire's presence and fled in terror! Kahahat! As expected, I am a great villain! Even the monsters beyond the gate kneel before my majesty!"
But my words were ignored again. Ignoring a great villain's words—I'll pay you back double later!
"Don't drop your guard! They could come out anytime!"
The bald potbelly's shout rang out. The heroes maintained their combat poses.
Time passed.
From 10 minutes to 20, 30...
And then 1 hour.
The gate's red glow remained intense, roars continued, but nothing—absolutely nothing—emerged.
"Um... HQ, is this normal?"
Someone's radio crackled.
Dr. Dark Circles kept staring at her tablet, analyzing data.
"Gate status normal. Fully open. But no passage signals. It's like... something's hesitating."
Hesitating? The monsters?
"Are the monsters on strike? Or has my villainous infamy spread beyond the gate?"
Golden Princess disassembled her golden armor into gold, shaping a chair to sit on. Boredom filled her face.
"Has this ever happened? Gate opens, but no monsters come out..."
"No."
Dr. Dark Circles's answer was firm.
The Sakura Samurai kept drawing and sheathing her katana, never relaxing. The scholar painted in the air with his brush, creating an ink shield.
And I... had no choice but to sit on a nearby rock. Darkness and White King leaped onto my lap.
"The monsters are clearly terrified because I showed up! It must be thanks to this horn of mine!"
Squeak?
Darkness and White King exchanged puzzled looks.
"You dare question my words? With such disloyal attitudes, I'll have to cut your snack rations!"
Squeak squeak-!
Darkness and White King hurriedly bowed their heads, licking the back of my hand.
"That's right! Praise my majesty even more! Only those who submit to the villain get sweet desserts! Kahahat!"
And so another 3 hours passed.
The tense atmosphere had turned to boredom. Heroes loosened up one by one, sitting or resting. Soldiers took turns for snacks or bathroom breaks.
"Are we... staying up all night?"
Someone grumbled.
The sky darkened. The sun set behind the mountain, sunset glow fading. I was starting to get hungry.
"Darkness, White King, pull out the snacks Everlin packed."
Squeak!
Darkness fetched a small snack bag from the pouch. A true villain is always prepared, no matter the situation. I munched on Everlin's chocolate chip cookies, gazing up at the gate.
"Hey, isn't this thing broken?"
I couldn't hold back and shouted. Everyone looked at me.
"Gates don't 'break.' No such concept."
Dr. Dark Circles replied without looking up from her tablet.
"Then what about the monsters? Too scared to come out? Overwhelmed by my villainous aura? Or too many heroes here?"
"Unknown. Gate phenomena are still unexplained territory. But something definitely exists beyond. The energy waves prove it."
Then the bald chairman grabbed his radio, issuing orders.
"Everyone, take shifts for rest, but don't slack on vigilance. Things could change anytime. Team 1, eat first. Others, stand by."
What? Just wait here all night doing nothing? Come out already and submit to my villainous power!
Already 5 hours since the gate opened.
The sky rift stayed open, monster cries continued, but nothing emerged.
Heroes and soldiers kept waiting, but tension faded to boredom.
Grrrowl-!
A sudden rumble shattered the silence. Loud and intense, like an earthquake.
"Battle stations! Monster emergence signs!"
Some tensed, staring at the gate.
"No, that's just Grimoire's stomach."
Golden Princess—Goldie—said flatly. All eyes turned to me.
"N-not that! I mean, uh..."
How to escape this embarrassment... A villain's dignity was in tatters!
Grrrowl-!
My stomach betrayed me again.
"Q-quiet! Golden Princess! A great villain needs nutrition! How can I conquer the world on an empty stomach?!"
My face burned red. Of course, from anger! Not embarrassment!
Golden Princess giggled, and laughter spread among the soldiers.
Me, a laughingstock for these hero nobodies! This humiliation! I'll pay it back! Just wait!
"Someone bring rations!"
The potbelly chairman ordered, and soldiers bustled.
Minutes later, they returned with boxes.
They spread a tarp, everyone sat in a circle. Soldiers unpacked combat rations, cup ramen, even an electric kettle.
"This is cup ramen! Original Japanese Nissin Raoh! A cultural gift to Korea—eat up gratefully!"
The Sakura Samurai boasted. My eyebrow twitched. This weeb high schooler next claiming kimchi came from Japan?
"Shut up! Ramen originated in China! You weeb hero! Study history more!"
But pride yielded to hunger. I poured hot water, blew on it, and slurped the ramen.
Then I spotted military rations. Curiosity opened one, but...
"Ugh! What is this? You call this food? Tasteless weird sausage and mushy rice..."
An insult to a villain's tongue. I missed Everlin's cooking instantly.
"Why do soldiers eat this? No combat pizza? Emergency chicken? Gotta eat good to fight hard!"
I scanned around with the package, spotting Kang Hyunwoo.
"Hey, Kang Hyunwoo! Eat all this!"
"Huh? Oh, thanks. I actually like this stuff. The chocoball's pretty good."
Kang Hyunwoo took my rations happily. Hmph, as expected of a D-rank hero—D-rank taste too!
More time passed. Now 8 hours since the gate opened.
Night deepened, but the gate stayed quiet. Everyone suffered boredom.
Then someone pulled a big bag from the HQ tent.
"Bored? Wanna play this?"
The bag was full of board games. Golden Princess picked "Bang!"—a Wild West card game.
"I'll deal role cards. Look at yours only."
My card: Sheriff.
Heh heh heh, perfect for a villain like me! Time to hunt these puny outlaws with a villain's eyes!
"Kahahat! I am the sheriff, guardian of law and order! All submit to me!"
The game started, and sadly, I died first. Outlaws gunned me down relentlessly.
"Why? How did you read my poker face?"
"Grimoire, everything shows on your face. Eyes sparkle when good, lips pout when bad."
Perverted blonde! When did you observe that?! Creepy!
"I... I just need something more advanced! Complicated! Not this kiddie game!"
Next was "Settlers of Catan," complex. Perfect for a world-conquering villain like me! Time to show my genius strategy!
"Grimoire, need sheep? I'll give 2 for 1 brick."
...Huh? Weird. Why's everything going so smoothly? Good dice luck? Or am I just a genius?
Especially that Golden Princess—keeps giving me resources?
Must be illusion. Obviously, my genius villain brain making it easy!
"Look! I built 3 settlements! Now cities!"
I won by a landslide score.
"Kahahat! See? I have world-conquering talent! Real conquest next!"
Dr. Dark Circles ignored the games, monitoring gate data.
"Found something?"
The bald potbelly chairman asked.
"Not yet... But this data's unique. Countless monsters inside, confirmed. But... something's blocking the gate from within. They can't come out, not that they won't."
Something blocking from inside? So monsters want out but can't?
12 hours since gate opened. Dawn broke. Morning sun rose over Cheongryong Mountain, but the red glow persisted.
Suddenly, black luxury vans approached. Everyone tensed, but Golden Princess stood happily.
"Ah, they're here! Little gift to keep spirits up."
Chefs in white uniforms unloaded from trucks: folding tables, chairs, even a mobile kitchen.
"Greetings! IM Group F&B Catering Team here on Serena's special orders for on-site support!"
As they cooked, luxurious aromas filled the air. Steaks, lobster, truffle risotto—even foie gras and caviar!
"Uwaaa! This is..."
Food leagues beyond rations spread before us.
"A meal fit for a villain's dignity! Not quite Everlin's, but... passable! Kahahat!"
Golden Princess smiled proudly.
"Catering from our IM Hero Division—dig in!"
"Serving such luxury means you've realized my greatness! I'll accept it as tribute to the villain!"
The horrific monster cries from the gate now sounded like mere background music.
Other heroes and soldiers ignored the gate, swarming the food like it was a luxury hotel buffet.
"Wow~ This is so good!"
Nom nom—
Darkness and White King elegantly ate from small plates with knife and fork.
"Oh my! Rats can eat like that? Total gentlemen!"
"Hmph! My minions are special by nature!"
The red gate loomed in the sky, theoretically end of the world imminent. But the site vibe was pure picnic. Everyone laughed and chatted over gourmet food.
"Hey! Monsters! Too scared to come out? Then shut the door! Stop yowling—ruining my meal!"
I yelled skyward. No reply, naturally.
"See? Too terrified. They know how fearsome and strong this villain is!"
As the meal wound down, a strange feeling hit.
My horn tingled faintly. And the monster cries from the gate... sounded a bit different.
Grrr... Krraaak...!
Slightly more... pitiful than before? That kind of vibe.