ch31

[Chapter 31 - The Villain and the Library]

'The King knows no defeat. Or rather, this body refuses to acknowledge defeat!'

Grimoire sprawled on the sofa, eyes glued to the TV, legs draped over the armrest, head lolling off the opposite side and defeat radiated from every pore on her face.

"Haaaaaa…"

A deep sigh escaped her lips. Who knew world domination could be so difficult?

S City news flickered on the TV screen.

[Reporter Moon Hye-ji: Lotus Mall in S City has seen a 40% increase in sales compared to last month. In particular, the Department Store Escape Challenge is gaining popularity on social media, emerging as a new tourist attraction. We'll hear directly from citizens about how this phenomenon, dubbed the 'Grimoire Effect,' will impact the hero industry.]

The screen showed people happily shopping inside the department store.

Grimoire's heart plummeted. She couldn't believe her ears. Lotus Mall? The very department store where she had committed her evil deeds?

[Reporter Moon Hye-ji: The delightful weekend was disrupted by the appearance of the great Grimoire. How did you feel when the escalators only worked one way?]

[Middle-aged Man: I was dragged here by my wife, but I ended up participating. I usually find shopping boring, but enjoying it like a game made me browse through several floors without realizing it. I ended up spending twice as much as usual. My wallet is empty, but it was fun! Haha!]

"Fun?!"

"That was supposed to plunge people into chaos and terror! Not fun! Chaos! Destruction! Despair!"

[Reporter Moon Hye-ji: Have you experienced the Department Store Escape Challenge? Did you find it dangerous at all?]

[Female Customer: Dangerous? Not at all! It was actually really fun! The one-way escalators made me go to floors I wouldn't normally visit, and I discovered brands I didn't know about and even managed to snag some items on sale!]

[Reporter Moon Hye-ji: What do you think about the Hero Grimoire? Since she's not a registered hero, are there any concerns?]

[Female Customer: She has really creative concept for a girl hero! I've only seen her on YouTube, but seeing her in person was so cute. She even has real horns! She made shopping fun, and it was good exercise too… Thank you so much, Grimoire!]

Creative… concept? Girl hero?

Cu… Cute?!

"Gyaaaaaa!!"

[Reporter Moon Hye-ji: What do you think is the secret to this sales increase? Was it a planned marketing strategy?]

[Marketing Director: The '#GrimoireEscapeChallenge' hashtag surpassed 100,000 posts within two days of its creation. Customers are voluntarily sharing escape routes and enjoying it like a game. Even customers from other department stores are flocking to our store. We thank the hero who provided this innovative idea, the great Grimoire.]

[Reporter Moon Hye-ji: I understand that Grimoire is not a registered hero. Are there any concerns that the activities of such an unofficial 'hero' could pose a threat to customer safety?]

[Marketing Director: To be honest… we were taken aback at first. When she appeared, declaring, 'I've come to conquer this department store!' we almost deployed the security team. Haha! But we soon realized it was just Grimoire's unique sense of humor. Ultimately, it became an event that brought joy to everyone. Our Lotus Mall actively welcomes future collaboration opportunities with the hero Grimoire!]

[Reporter Moon Hye-ji: We look forward to the next activity of S City's star hero, Grimoire… However, some suggest that it would be advisable to expedite the formal hero registration process for the safety of citizens. This has been Moon Hye-ji, reporting from S City Lotus Mall.]

Cheers of 'Grimoire! Grimoire!' erupted from the department store on the screen. As if she were a real hero.

"This… is absurd!!"

Fueled by exploding rage, she grabbed a sofa cushion and hurled it at the TV. It missed, of course.

"This body's evil deeds have once again! Again! Again and again and again! Been misunderstood as heroic acts!"

Evelyn quietly entered the living room with a tray of strawberry milk and homemade chocolate chip cookies.

"I made all the escalators in the department store go only upwards so that people would be trapped and wander the department store forever! But everyone just used the elevators and stairs to go down!"

Evelyn analyzed the situation calmly.

"It appears that sales have increased as customers stayed in the department store longer while searching for exits, Master."

"So what! Are you saying this body's evil deeds contributed to the department store's sales increase?! Why… why does this body's plan always fail?"

A strange object caught her eye on the shelf next to the TV. It was a thank-you gift from Lotus Mall.

It contained a gold-plated thank-you trophy, premium gift certificates, and a VIP shopping invitation.

The packaging was inscribed with the words, 'Thank you for your heroic innovation - To Grimoire.'

"Ugh! What is this! This body is a villain! Disgusting humans…! Thanking me for my evil deeds!"

Evelyn calmly placed the tray down as usual and handed her the strawberry milk.

"Master, something sweet might make you feel better."

"What this body needs right now isn't milk, but the success of my evil deeds!"

Glug, glug-

Nevertheless, she snatched the strawberry milk and emptied it in one go.

The sweet liquid flowed down her throat, providing a subtle comfort. She hated to admit it, but she felt a little better. A little, just a little!

The TV screen switched to a public service announcement. A peaceful scene of citizens of all ages reading books in a quiet library appeared.

[Reading is the power of knowledge, and the library is the cradle of intellect. S City Central Library, a space for your intellectual growth.]

Then, an epiphany flashed through her mind.

A gray light slowly emanated from her horns.

This was… the moment an evil inspiration struck!

"That's it! That's the one!!"

"Have you come up with a good plan?"

"The problem was that the citizens are too smart!"

She struck a pose of victory.

'An idea born from her genius brain! Perfect!'

"If I make the citizens of S City stupid, no one will be able to mistake my evil deeds for good deeds! After that, conquering the city will be a piece of cake, a smooth road!"

She jumped up and down on the sofa with energy. But at the moment of landing, her foot caught on the edge of the cushion, and she lost her balance.

"Uwaaaack-!"

She tumbled off the sofa, but such a minor mistake couldn't disrupt the flow of her genius inspiration!

"Kaka! Kakat!"

She burst into a victorious laugh even as she lay sprawled on the floor.

"Master, do you have any specific plans regarding the library? Is there anything I can prepare?"

"Of course! Evelyn, let's start the strategy meeting right away! For the success of evil deeds, we need meticulous planning and flawless preparation!"

• -

'Ten minutes later, we set up a stand and installed a whiteboard in our operation headquarters (the living room).'

'A perfect villain holds a perfect strategy meeting. Evelyn sat in a chair, notepad in hand, waiting for my instructions.'

"Now! Today's operation name is…"

Whack! She wrote in bold letters on the whiteboard.

"OPERATION: S CITY DUMBIFICATION PROJECT!"

She underlined it twice with a marker.

'"Awesome. If this body hadn't been a villain, she would have gone to art school!"

"Now, listen to this body's perfect plan!"

She tapped the whiteboard hard with a pointer and explained enthusiastically.

"First! Library infiltration: This body will infiltrate the enemy lines myself!"

"Second! Knowledge destruction: I will mess up all the useful information!"

"Third! Cause chaos: I will make the citizens absorb the wrong information, plunging the entire S City into chaos!"

She filled the whiteboard with her wicked plan. It was a moment of her genius shining. Evelyn simply nodded and recorded everything.

"So, the necessary supplies are…"

She carefully wrote down the list. She couldn't allow even a single error. In a villain's operation, supplies are like spare lives!

-

Highlighters (various colors)

-

Stickers (villain theme)

-

Orca-shaped sticky notes

-

Horn-shaped stamp

She drew five stars next to the orca sticky notes in particular.

"Orcas are powerful predators of the sea, a symbol of a perfect villain! Meticulous and smart! Just like this body!"

A creature worthy of being called the villain of the sea, yes, yes.

"Besides, it's an 'orca,' right? A whale that commits crimes! It will create perfect synergy with this body!"

"Master, 'Orca' means 'tiger whale', meaning a whale as big and fierce as a tiger. In English, they're called Killer Whale..."

She waved her hand and cut her off.

"I don't care! This body has redefined it as 'crime whale,' so that's what it is!"

Evelyn didn't argue any further. A wise choice.

Without waiting, Evelyn handed me a neat black box containing the exact supplies.

How could she be so fast…? And did she know in advance that I would be asking for these things?

Opening it, all the items I had just requested were perfectly organized. Even the orca sticky notes!

"I am always prepared for Master's evil deeds."

"Wow, as expected of Evelyn! Perfect as befitting this body's maid!"

Evelyn's perfection was truly admirable. The fact that I had such an excellent subordinate proved how great a villain I was.

Next up was choosing today's villain outfit!

Standing in front of the dressing room, she was lost in thought. Choosing the perfect costume for today's operation was as important as conquering the world. A villain's dignity starts with their appearance!

"Hmm… what should I wear…"

On one side hung her proud villain outfits.

A gothic lolita dress with gorgeous lace and frills, a cape dress with a harmonious blend of purple and black, and even a crown-shaped hairpin… outfits that perfectly expressed the dignity of a villain.

"Since it's a secret operation, plain clothes would be better, right?"

The choice between the majesty of a great villain and practicality was always difficult.

"I'll definitely wear you next time."

She whispered to the dress as if promising and carefully hung it in the closet.

On the other side were 'plain' clothes. Of course, even if they were plain, they became special when this body wore them.

Instead, she took out a pink hoodie with the phrase 'The World is Mine' printed on the back and a plaid skirt.

With this combination, she could subtly reveal this body's ambition for world domination while being suitable for disguising herself as an ordinary student.

"As expected, this body's fashion sense is the pinnacle of the villain world!"

She praised herself and changed her clothes. She hesitated for a moment whether to wear glasses, but she didn't think it was necessary to hide her beautiful ruby-colored eyes.

After putting on her clothes, she glanced at herself in the mirror. It was perfect.

She looked no different from any other student, but who knew? That beneath this ordinary appearance lay the ambition for world domination and the DNA of a king!

"Master, are you ready?"

"Of course! Has this body ever been not ready?"

Evelyn came in and pointed out the window.

"It feels like summer already, even though it's March. The Korean climate has changed a lot."

Looking out the window, the sun was shining intensely. Was even the weather trying to help this body's evil deeds! Even the seasons are confused, disrupting the minds of the citizens!

"It's so hot! Korea is doomed! I miss the other seasons! It's all because of the foolishness of humans! When this body rules the world, I'll only leave spring and autumn for the weather!"

Moreover, the sky was hazy with fine dust.

Evelyn handed her a sky-blue fine dust mask and said,

"It would be best to wear this for your health."

"A mask? I hate it because it's stuffy! And did you know? Fine dust is all caused by grilled mackerel."

"…Grilled mackerel?"

"Yes! It's because people grill too much mackerel! So it's okay to eat fine dust! Mackerel is a healthy oily fish!"

'Evelyn's expression looked complicated even amidst her usual blankness. She must have been admiring my amazing knowledge.'

"Master… that's just from the kitchen…"

"Anyway, that's enough! This body's lungs are strong! Amazon-level!"

Evelyn sighed and saw her off.

"Then, it's time to start the operation. Good luck, Master."

"Of course! This time, the citizens will finally kneel before my evil deeds!"

Grimoire picked up a sticky note and fiddled with it. It was shaped like an orca. She would use this to mess up the sea of knowledge.

"Alright! Now, towards the S City Central Library, let's go!"

50, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, S City, S City Central Library.

Wide marble stairs, massive pillars, and even the Tree of Wisdom...

"We've finally arrived. Fortress of knowledge, now is the time to crumble!"

Students and citizens were passing by normally.

'Innocent fools. No one knows that I am the villain who will completely overturn this intellectual space.'

'Okay, let's start the infiltration operation!'

Grimoire tiptoed towards the main entrance. She raised her toes and put her hands behind her back, moving stealthily like a ninja.

"Grimoire Stealth Mode activated!"

One step to the left, one step to the right. As she moved with precise stealth techniques, people around her began to look at her one by one.

'Ha, no matter how much I ninja-walks, this body can't hide her presence! My horns and beautiful silver hair must be too noticeable!'

"What's that kid doing?"

"Is it a low-level ninja cosplay?"

"So cute. I want to kidnap her."

The students giggled and whispered. Their gazes were stinging, but the great villain only focused on her mission. She continued her stealth walking.

Finally, the library's automatic doors opened in front of her. A cold breeze of air conditioning swept across her face. Grimoire took a deep breath.

"Okay, it starts now. Kakat!"

The interior of the library was wider and more magnificent than she had expected.

Tall bookshelves lined the walls, and people were quietly reading books or using computers. From now on, this quiet atmosphere will be overturned by my hands! Just thinking about it is thrilling!

'Okay, first, I need to check the map and identify strategic points. A villain must always be methodical!'

As Grimoire turned her head this way and that, searching for the starting point of the operation, a warm voice suddenly came from behind.

"What are you looking for?"

"Eek!"

Startled by the unexpected voice, Grimoire jumped.

A friendly-looking librarian in her forties was smiling.

"Student, are you here for library volunteer work?"

Volunteer work? Me? That's ridiculous! I came here for evil deeds!

"Ah, no! I came here to ruin the library…"

As she spoke, Grimoire suddenly felt the gazes around her. There were many people.

Oops, she almost told the truth without thinking! It would be troublesome if the operation was exposed, so she quickly lowered her voice and trailed off.

"Hmm? What did you say?"

"…Um, that's…"

"Right? You're a student volunteer? You came at the right time!"

The librarian took out a clipboard and began to check the list. No, that's not it! I'm a villain!

"What's your name?"

"G-Grimoire."

"Grimoire? That's an unusual name. Are you a foreigner?"

"I am… well, you can think of me that way."

"You're not on the list here… I guess you're an additional volunteer."

She wrote my name on the clipboard and handed me a red 'Volunteer' badge.

"Here, wear this. I hope you have a great day!"

Looking down at the badge, Grimoire paused for a moment. This is… an unexpected situation, but…

'If I disguise myself as a volunteer, I might be able to carry out my evil deeds more freely…'

Grimoire firmly pinned the red volunteer badge on her chest.

Perfect disguise. No one will suspect her like this! She had gained the authority to roam freely inside.

Looking around the library, she organized strategic points in her head.

Children's book area, reference book area, self-help area… all can be ruined in different ways!

Suddenly, an evil smile spread across her face. This is like…

"Bringing the Trojan horse into the castle… you'll regret it… Kakat!"

Grimoire looked around one more time and laughed evilly in a low voice. No one noticed.

'Now, the operation begins. Where should be the first target?'

'Should she start with the humanities corner? Or the science corner? Or maybe…'

"Alright! The first step to destroying human knowledge begins. You can laugh now! When my perfect plan is realized, the entire S City will fall into ignorance and chaos!"

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