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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Villain and Spy
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I arrived home past 7 p.m. As soon as I opened the front door, a delicious food aroma tickled my nose.
Sniff sniff—
"Hmm? This smell...? Don't tell me it's my favorite tenderloin steak?"
Everlin stood in the hallway in perfect posture. Her slender figure and blue eyes greeted me.
"Welcome home, Master. Dinner is ready."
"Everlin... my villainy again..."
"I know, Master. The news spread fast. YouTube is flooded with videos of the mysterious silver-haired girl who defeated the C-rank monster in the park. One's already hit a million views."
"Videos like that are up?!"
"Yes, your exploits were impressive, Master. I even downloaded one."
"Eek! Delete them! Delete it all! Videos stirring up misunderstandings like that need to vanish from the world!"
The corner of her mouth twitched upward just a bit. Holding back a laugh? Nah, no way.
Stepping into the living room, my eyes landed on the perfectly set table.
Everlin's signature steak, cream sauce pasta, fresh salad (not touching that), and garlic bread straight from the oven.
Growl...!
My brilliant brain demands meat protein! Villain power comes from meat, after all!
Grimoire, Beast Mode!
Chomp chomp—
I tore into a big hunk of meat. Juices exploded in my mouth. Everlin's perfectly cooked steak? No words needed!
"How was your adventure today?"
Strangely, her question made today's flop feel less pathetic. I even wanted to brag.
"I talked to pigeons today! Hard to explain, but I could understand them. So I subjugated them and formed an aerial recon squad!"
I shoved pasta in my mouth and kept going.
"And I beat a monster! Called a Grumpy Toad, covered in slimy tentacles! Super gross-looking, but one punch from me shattered it to bits!"
"You did wonderfully. Can't wait to see our Grimoire Empire prosper."
Yeah, I'm special! The kind of greatness only a top-tier villain possesses!
"And get this! I didn't leave a single bento behind today!"
I puffed out my chest proudly. Everlin's eyebrow arched slightly.
"Even the carrot salad and broccoli? Truly touching, Master."
"See! Cleaned every last bite perfectly!"
Of course, feeding the veggies to that office worker uncle? Total secret.
This isn't lying. I said I didn't leave any—not that I ate them. The bento ended up empty anyway!
"But why do people keep mistaking me for a hero? Am I... maybe not evil enough?"
"Master's strategies are always long-term."
Long-term strategy? Didn't have one... Hmm. But as a genius villain, maybe I subconsciously crafted the perfect plan?
"Becoming a true villain takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day, after all."
Everlin set down the dessert plate. The yogurt cake we'd agreed on this morning.
"Exactly! My villainy operates on a whole different plane from regular baddies!"
Yeah! Today's "plan" wasn't a failure—it was genius-level success too advanced for normies to get right away!
As expected, only Everlin truly sees my worth.
"East Park's now Grimoire Park, so next up: S City becomes Grimoire City!"
"Master's park conquest is truly praiseworthy. You'll need proper rest. I've drawn a bath."
Everlin gently wiped the corners of my mouth.
I'm one happy villain! World conquest's still distant, but after every caper, Everlin's always waiting!
Dinner done, I sank into the steaming bath.
All of today's fatigue melted away.
"How dare a puny duck embarrass me? Time for my retribution!"
I tormented the yellow rubber duck to vent. Got mistaken for a goody-two-shoes again thanks to that street duck family—totally justified revenge!
After the warm soak, tonight's PJs: pink bunny ones!
The hood's perky ears hid my horns perfectly.
"This is peak villain disguise!"
Heading to the living room, I flopped deep into the sofa in front of the TV.
Conquest work's more exhausting than expected. And the constant hero treatment? Infuriating!
"A bedtime snack for Master."
"Mmm, thanks..."
Everlin sat beside me with hot chocolate and butter cookies.
One sip of the hot chocolate, and sweet chocolate bliss filled my mouth.
"Ahhh~"
Heaven on earth... Wait, heaven? As a villain?
Villains belong in hell, right? Fine, I'll conquer that too! Grimoire vs. Hell! Lucifer kneels before me! Kahaha!
"The pajamas suit you perfectly, Master."
"Top villains master disguise! Bait 'em with cuteness, then land the killing blow!"
"Such a devious concept."
I caught a flicker in Everlin's stoic expression. Awestruck by my genius villain tactics!
Click—click—
"Huh? Everlin, why're you snapping pics of me?"
"To create propaganda showcasing your greatness."
Hmm... fishy... but if Everlin says so.
Grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV. Animal docs or cartoons—purely for world conquest research, obviously!
Munching a cookie while surfing channels, suddenly S City breaking news blared.
📰 Breaking News [Breaking news. Controversy brewing over unauthorized superpowered activity tied to today's monster incident at S City park.]
"Pfft! Cough! Cough!"
📰 Breaking News [In S City, unregistered superpowered activity is a serious crime. Focus on the girl who subdued the monster—her identity and potential punishment.]
"Unau... unauthorized activity? Serious crime?"
Me, a serious criminal? Get real! I'm a villain, not some crook! Villains and criminals are worlds apart!
My hot chocolate cup shook violently.
"Eek! Everlin! I'll end up in jail before I even become a proper villain!"
Haven't conquered the world yet—to jail? And not even for villainy, but hero stuff? No thanks!
"Calm down, Master. No one's identified you. Our villa's security is airtight, and your identity's fully protected."
I peeked at the TV from behind the sofa like a turtle.
📰 Breaking News [Park staff report the superpowered was a horned girl who crushed the monster with unnatural strength. Eyes on her identity and any charges.]
With trembling hands, I yanked the bunny hood down tight. Horns hidden! Perfect disguise, right?
📰 Breaking News [Connecting to on-site reporter Moon Hye-ji.]
The screen split, a woman in a blue jacket appearing on the right.
📰 Breaking News [Yes, Moon Hye-ji here at S City East Park, the incident site. Around 5 p.m., C-threat 'Grumpy Toad' emerged. Amid fears of casualties, a girl superpowered appeared and took it down.]
The TV switched to park CCTV footage. The scene of me punching the Grumpy Toad away played in slow motion. Grainy and gray, but that was definitely me!
📰 Breaking News
[Moon, any ID on the superpowered?]
[Yes, Hero Association's issued a statement on the girl. Connecting now to interview with HR Director.]
The screen shifted again. A neat-suited middle-aged man appeared beside the reporter. My eyes went wide.
"That's... the loser I cheered up in the park today!"
A subtitle popped up below him.
📰 Seo Jin-ho - S City Hero Association HR Director
My mind snapped alert.
He's a Hero Association stooge!
I showed him kindness, and he betrays me?
"H-he's gonna rat me out? After I gave him broccoli too! Such ungrateful betrayal?!"
"You gave him broccoli? Master, were you hiding that from me?"
"Th-that's... not the point right now!"
My heart thundered. I'd gripped the butter cookie too hard—crumbs scattered on the floor.
📰 Breaking News [Director Seo, Association's official stance on the unauthorized hero activity in the park?]
📰 Seo Jin-ho [Just wrapped site cleanup. Bottom line: the Association will exceptionally recognize her actions.]
📰 Breaking News [Exceptional? Association's always been strict on unauthorized activity.]
📰 Seo Jin-ho [True. But special factors here. One, she already has citizen rescue and monster subdual on record. Two, public reaction's overwhelmingly positive. Crucially, after a serious chat with her, I deem her fit for hero work in skill and character.]
"Fit for hero? Serious chat? When did that happen?!"
I clutched the bunny-eared hood with both hands. Besides handing over carrots and broccoli, had we even talked seriously?
Nope! Straight-up perjury! Smearing my good name!
📰 Breaking News [Prior Association contact? Not unauthorized?]
📰 Seo Jin-ho