ch21

[The Villain's Hunt]

Thunk—

The sound of the front door opening echoed.

'Ho, could it be that the rats have invaded even here?'

That, I truly cannot forgive! No one can dare to trespass on this body's sanctuary!

"Master, I'm back."

…Ah, it's Evelyn.

I, who had been buried in the sofa and glaring at the TV, jumped up.

I dashed to the entrance like a blazing fire and put my hands on my hips. This is this body's dignified 'pose of fury.'

"Where on earth have you been, only coming back now! A maid abandoning her master! Do you even know how hard this body had it today!?"

As I was spewing out my heated words, my gaze stopped on the bag Evelyn was holding. The scent wafting from the bag… it's unmistakable! Chicken! And it's even the sweet and spicy chicken that this body loves the most!

"Master, I apologize for being late. I bought chicken as compensation."

"Hmm…"

I pressed down hard on the corners of my lips, which were trying to creep up. I must maintain the dignity of a ruler!

"This body will, very specially, forgive you. The great villain is merciful, after all. But next time, be sure to inform this body before going out!"

Evelyn spread the chicken box on the table. The red glow of the sweet and spicy chicken shone temptingly. I swiftly ran and sat down on the dining chair.

"Kakat! This body shall exercise her right of first refusal!"

As if it were only natural, I picked up the biggest drumstick. The glossy sauce is as splendid as this body's dignity! As I bit into it, the chewy, juicy meat and the sweet and spicy sauce dominated my mouth.

"Mmm… acceptable."

I picked out the drumsticks and wings and brought them in front of me. Since this body is a villain, it's only natural to monopolize the best parts!

And I handed the neck bone part to Evelyn.

"I bestow this upon you, as a special favor."

"Thank you, Master."

I thought I saw a subtle smile in Evelyn's blue eyes. Must be my imagination?

"Master, did the live broadcast go well?"

My hand, which was tearing at the chicken leg, stopped in mid-air. Live broadcast… suddenly, the memories of today flooded back like a tidal wave.

"This is a disaster! A terrible thing happened while you were gone!"

I hurriedly put the chicken leg down on the plate and gestured.

"There are rat in the villa! And they're incredibly rude! They dare not fear this body, and even challenged me! It's all because you weren't here! If you had been here, this body wouldn't have suffered such humiliation!"

I waved my hands in the air, reenacting the rats surprise attack.

"They even snatched the camera while this body was slightly, just slightly─ retreating! During the broadcast! In real-time! In front of the viewers!"

"A rat invasion… I will take care of it."

"No!"

I shook my hand with a determined expression.

"This is a matter of face! Since they challenged this body's authority, this body must punish them directly! I'm going to turn those rats into jerky!"

"Master, jerky is not made from rat meat."

"Ugh…"

I was momentarily flustered, but quickly lifted my chin.

"Of course! I knew that! This body was just… using a figurative expression! Anyway, the first step to world domination is to perfectly control one's own territory!"

"Certainly, there's also the saying, 'Cultivate yourself, manage your family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.'"

"Cultivate… what? Don't use such difficult words, it makes you look weak!"

After finishing the chicken, I returned to the sofa. The PoXmon animation was airing on TV. As if by a trick of fate, electric rats were active on the screen.

"In that case, the rats weakness is……."

I took out a notebook and began to write diligently. The rats habits, weaknesses, and attack patterns.

Tomorrow, those poor sewer rats will taste Grimoire-nim's true power.

"Hmph! For lowly rodents to challenge this body's rule, they're going to have a terrible time!"

The next day.

I finished the final outfit check in front of the mirror. This time, I was perfectly armed in a fearsome hunter's outfit!

The black leather vest enhanced my dignity, and various hunting tools hung from the belt. The horns pierced through the fedora on my head, fixing it in place perfectly.

"Equipment check complete! Now, only victory remains!"

Finally, I firmly installed the action cam on my vest. There will never be a foolish mistake of dropping the camera like last time. Besides, with both hands free, I can hunt more efficiently!

"Today is the day to regain the villain's honor. I will bring down the hammer of revenge on the rats who dared to mock this body!"

As I pressed the broadcast start button, a small light blinked. Viewers began to connect one by one.

"Welcome, insignificant viewers! Today's Grimoire world domination live broadcast, the topic is… 'A Villain's Revenge'! Kakat!"

[Grrr~]

[Rat: Going to work again today hehe]

[Can she win this time?Looks like she's gonna get beat up again

[Rats VS Grimoire Season 2 start!]

[Running away yesterday was cuteㅋㅋㅋ]

"How dare you mock this body! I didn't run away, it was a strategic retreat! A true villain always moves according to plan!"

I left the living room and headed for the hallway. In my right hand was a fancy butterfly net, and in my left hand was a small mesh net. A container filled with cheese pieces and small traps hung from my belt.

Hunting preparations complete. I will wash away yesterday's disgrace today.

"Just you wait. Today, I will completely suppress the rats forces and establish absolute control over Crown Villa! After today, everyone will kneel and beg for forgiveness!"

[Revenge fighting!]

[It's like National Geographic…]

[The battle of Squeak vs Kakat]

[Yesterday's "Hee-ik" count: 13 times, how many times will it be today]

I stretched my neck out and looked down the hallway. At the end of the quiet hallway, a black shadow moved.

My heart pounded. I found it! It's the insignificant rat that invaded this body's territory!

"Roll camera action! Let everyone watch this body's historic moment of victory! I will now capture those scoundrels!"

I tiptoed closer. I breathed as lightly as possible and pressed my body close to the wall.

Then, the black rat suddenly turned its head.

Our eyes met.

"…!"

Squeak-!

"What? How dare you call the great Grimoire-nim a 'little girl'! This body is a villain who will conquer the world! It's a greatness that lowly rodents like you cannot understand!"

The black rat provocatively wagged its tail. Its confident attitude set my pride on fire.

"Today marks the end of your lowly fate!"

I raised the butterfly net high towards the black rat.

"I'll make you pay dearly for recklessly invading the Grimoire Empire!"

I'll end it with this one blow!

Swoosh-!

The butterfly net cut through the air and came down.

Thwack-!

The net slammed into the floor, but the rat had already disappeared. It escaped the net with unbelievable speed.

I spotted its tail disappearing around the corner and chased after it.

"It's no use running! Do you think you can escape this body's territory—"

Squeak!

Suddenly, something white brushed past my feet.

"Hee-ik!"

A white rat! The prey I was looking for was attacking me instead!

I lost my balance and staggered, dropping the butterfly net. My main weapon!

"Y-you…!"

I took out the mesh net from my belt.

"Don't come any closer! This body is scary enough!"

But the two rats seemed to have already devised a strategy. As if by agreement, they began to circle around my feet.

"Aaaah! How dare you! Stop spinning! That's Grimoire-nim's command!"

In the end, I raised the net high and threw it into the air.

Whirl-

However, the rats had already dodged to either side, and the net… fell over my head.

"Hee-ik!"

Thud-

Trapped in the net, I lost my balance and fell to the floor.

"Ugh… such humiliation…!"

I struggled to escape the net, but it only became more entangled.

Squeak squeak!

The two rats made laughing sounds around me.

[Oh, wow, yeah]

[Grimoire tied up, hehehe…]

[The first hunter to catch herself]

[Grimoire VS rats, 0:2]

[The dignity of a villain…?]

"Shut up! Don't laugh at this body!"

I gritted my teeth and desperately tore the net.

I barely managed to escape the net, but the rats had already disappeared into a small hole in the corner of the wall. Those detestable creatures!

This shame of being humiliated again in front of the viewers! Even my horns were burning!

But this body is a villain. This is no time to be discouraged.

"This is just the beginning! Originally, great plans proceed in stages! In any case, the ultimate winner is Grimoire-nim! There's no way a villain would lose to rats!"

I picked up the net and trudged back to my room. The fedora was already askew, and the leather vest was a mess.

"This is a temporary retreat… I'll come back with a more perfect plan next time…"

The faint sound of the two rats giggling could be heard from the end of the hallway.

The defeat in the second battle shattered the villain's pride. This body, the great Grimoire, had been defeated by lowly rats twice!

'I can't back down like this. Absolutely not!'

A true villain rises stronger from defeat. All trials are just stepping stones to make me grow.

"This body's malice shines even brighter in defeat!"

I knelt on the kitchen floor. I won't fail this time. I will seize victory with the cunning of a perfect villain.

"Kakat! This time, I'll exploit the rats weaknesses!"

I placed three types of mousetraps on the floor. A classic spring trap, a sticky trap, and even a cage-type live trap. All the traps needed for my victory were prepared.

"Traps should be simple, bait should be splendid! That's the key to hunting."

I ran to my room and took out a secret snack box from under the bed. It was an emergency snack in case Evelyn restricted my snacks because I was eating too many.

"My precious snacks… I was saving them for later…"

I carefully stroked the snacks in the box with my fingers. Belgian imported dark chocolate, French handmade butter cookies, and even limited edition cheese-flavored potato chips.

With a deep sigh, I took out the snacks and returned to the kitchen.

[Villain's snack stash revealed!]

[Grimoire is serious if she's using snacks as bait]

[Will she succeed this time?]

[Um… can't you just use rat poison?]

I carefully placed a piece of Belgian chocolate on the spring trap. My hand trembled slightly as I placed the chocolate.

"Precious chocolate… I will never forget your sacrifice. May you become bait to lure the rats and help this body's victory!"

Next, I placed the butter cookies in the cage trap, and the cheese-flavored potato chips on the sticky trap.

All my favorite snacks are becoming bait for mouse traps…

"This is the villain's determination! For the sake of victory… I can gladly sacrifice a few snacks!"

[Wow… it looks delicious, what a wasteㅠㅠ]

[Those are expensive snacks]

[But what if she loses again]

[Losing the snacks and not catching the rats?]

[I've never seen such a determined expression]

"Hmph! Fear is only for the weak! This Grimoire only thinks of victory! After world domination, I will send all the rats to the snack factory as slaves to make this body's snacks! Eight hours a day, five days a week!"

[Slave… working 5 days a week…?]

[I work 6 days a week, am I worse than a slave?]

[Rat: The welfare is good, I'll apply]

[A villain who provides 4 major insurancesㅋㅋㅋ]

"S-shut up! Besides, they will never be allowed to eat the snacks they make during work hours! How about that, the torture of only watching the snacks being made? The punishment of smelling the sweet scent but not being able to taste it! This is true evil!"

I set up the camera tripod and fixed it in a position where the mouse traps were clearly visible. Now, all I have to do is wait for those guys to come.

"Now, it's time to wait. A first-class villain is also excellent at patience! The time for revenge is approaching!"

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