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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: The Birth of a Villain
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Consciousness returned. Or rather, it felt like being born anew.
'Ugh...'
A strange sensation that didn't feel like my own.
Even my memories were hazy. The last thing I clearly remembered was...
'I fell asleep reading comics after getting off work yesterday...?'
In those fading memories, I was just an ordinary office worker. A company drone exhausted from overtime. The kind of guy who found small comfort in hero comics.
Wait, what did I just say? An office drone crushed by overtime?
Bubble bubble—
What nonsense! There's no way this body belonged to such a pathetic human!
When I opened my eyes, the world looked distorted through the liquid.
Breathing in this bluish fluid. Had I become a fish or something?
Beyond the glass, people in white coats bustled about, and behind them were bizarre machines and monitors displaying complex graphs.
"Test Subject Omega's consciousness has manifested."
"King's DNA integration at 98.7%. The highest rate ever recorded. Soul stabilization in progress."
"Finally... the prophecy is becoming reality. The king's return is at hand...!"
King? Return? What were they talking about?
'Test Subject...? Omega...?'
Was that me?
Calling this body a mere 'test subject'? How dare these insignificant humans!
My mind was a whirlwind of confusion.
Daily life at the office, overtime, company dinners, the fatigue on the commute home... those memories were growing fainter.
And in their place surged strange impulses.
'I want cake... chocolate... potato chips...'
Why was I suddenly thinking about that? And something even more important... what I truly desired was...
'I want to conquer the world!'
World conquest. The desire to put everyone beneath my feet!
Yes, that was my deepest craving!
This narrow glass box was starting to feel suffocating.
A great villain trapped in a place like this! Forget world conquest—I didn't even have room to move!
This wouldn't do.
"Test Subject Omega's brainwaves are becoming unstable!"
"Is there a problem with the DNA stabilization? Personality formation is deviating from projections!"
"No, this is actually a better sign. The king's power is manifesting perfectly."
Time to get out of here—the vast world was waiting for this body!
"Kakak...!"
'Behold! Witness this body's greatness... the power to rule all creation!'
...Huh? Power? What power did this body even have?
Still, saying it like that made it feel like I had something!
I wanted to escape.
I wanted to conquer the world!
I needed loyal minions!
And... I wanted snacks!
...The last one felt a bit off?
No, even a world-conquering being craves snacks sometimes. I deserved the finest desserts befitting this body's dignity!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Warning! Omega's Gray Matter is going berserk! Administer sedatives immediately and activate the suppressor...
Too late! This body craved freedom! No one could control me!
Because... I was the villain of villains!
I clenched my fist.
'This frail-looking hand... what could it even...'
Huh? No, this body was strong! This body was special! This body was great!
I swung my ultimate punch at the glass wall.
BAM—!
The impact was far beyond expectations.
The thick reinforced glass cracked like a spiderweb and shattered into pieces in an instant!
The liquid inside swirled and spilled out, flooding the lab floor with a blue puddle.
"Gah, hack...! Hah...!"
Inhaling air filled my lungs with a cold, unfamiliar sensation.
The soaked white lab suit clung uncomfortably to my skin, but such trivial annoyances meant nothing compared to the joy of freedom.
"Kakak! Finally... this body's era has dawned!"
Weeeeng—!
A blaring alarm echoed. The lab flooded with red light.
"Omega test subject has escaped! This is not a drill! Prepare containment protocols! All alchemists to your stations!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Warning! Emergency Protocol Activated! All forces on standby! Emmet Knights, assemble immediately!]
Armed soldiers poured in from the end of the corridor. Laser sights targeted me.
Bang—!
"Eek!"
Gunfire rang out. I ducked in surprise, but somehow the bullets whizzed past me.
"Huh? What? Can't even shoot straight? Looks like they never served in the military! Then this body shall take its leave!!"
I bolted down the corridor in a frenzy. What amazed me was how light this body felt. Like slicing through the air at flying speed!
After running for a while, I stopped before a glass wall.
"Wha... what is this?"
Reflected there was a girl with silver-long hair and ruby-red eyes.
I touched my face with my hands.
Smooth, pale skin, small nose, red lips. I pinched my chubby cheek... ow, that hurt!
"This... this is this body? No way! How am I supposed to conquer the world looking this small and cute?!"
I clenched my fist again, but even that slender hand looked oddly endearing.
A world-conquering villain needed at least a muscled, rugged build or a terrifying demonic form, right?
"I can't strike fear into people like this!"
Suddenly, something odd caught my eye above my head.
A pair of black horns poking out from between my hair.
Huh? Horns? Perfect!
Horns were a mark no ordinary human could have!
"Kakak! As expected, this body is a special existence!"
Yes, I wasn't some pathetic Test Subject Omega.
This body's name was... name was...!
"Grimoire."
The moment I said the name, everything became clear.
"That's right! This body's name is Grimoire! The strongest being on earth bearing the King's DNA! The one and only villain destined to conquer the world!"
"Found her! Omega spotted in Sector 7! Prepare Solomon's Chains!"
"Secure her quickly! She's incomplete due to the ritual interruption!"
"Limbs optional! But secure the horns and head intact!"
"Eek! Wha... what did you say?!"
Daring to treat this body like an object!
I stopped and whirled around.
"Listen up, you pathetic worms! Engrave this body's name in your minds! The supreme villain who will rule the world, the great Grimoire, has arrived!"
At that instant, intense gray light burst from the horns on my forehead.
"Gray Matter levels have exceeded critical thresholds! All parameters are escaping control!"
"Impossible... this only happens in simulations..."
The researchers' terrified shouts rang out. Good—fear this body!
This body was one that all humans must kneel before in terror!
Thud!
I stomped the ground.
"Feel the greatness of this body's power!"
The floor exploded, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
The heavily armed soldiers flew back, slamming into the walls!
The overwhelming power surging through my fingertips was pure ecstasy.
The conviction that this body was worthy of ruling the world coursed through every vein.
Whoosh—!
One kick crumpled special armor like paper, and a swing of my hand sent soldiers tumbling like bowling pins. It was so easy it was laughable!
"Do you see how foolish it is to stand in this body's way?!"
Explosions and screams mixed in the chaos. Amid it all, this body strode forward proudly.
The gray light from my horns grew even more intense. My will was surging!
"I don't like this pillar! Crumble!"
"No! That's the lab's core support beam...!"
Boom!
I'd kicked the most vital spot, apparently. The ceiling began collapsing in a chain reaction.
"Daring to pickle this body in a glass jar! This is payback!!"
Of course, I'd only just woken up, but details didn't matter.
Walls crumbled, ceilings caved in. Fires ignited somewhere, and explosions echoed.
Building the lab this flimsily? Shoddy construction—must've skimped on rebar.
Anyway, everything blocking my path was smashed. And conveniently, all in ways that favored this body!
The falling ceiling missed me by inches, and exploding equipment blasted open blocked doors.
'Lucky!'
It felt like I was the protagonist on stage.
The world seemed to be helping me.
No—the world existed for this body!
"I am immortal!!"
Bang!
Shattering glass, crumpling metal, blaring alarms...
"Block her! Don't let her through! If the central power room gets destroyed, the entire facility is at risk...!"
One researcher shouted in panic before clamping his mouth shut. The others glared at him.
"Hm? Giving away vital info? How thoughtful!"
Heh heh, every great villain's birth needs a fitting explosion!
The central power room door came into view.
"Blocking the king's path? Fools!"
I swung my fist. The massive steel door crumpled and flew inward, revealing the interior. A giant energy core pulsed with red light.
"Now, time for the grand finale!"
I gathered power in my toes and leaped. Gray light enveloped my body. I unleashed the Grimoire Kick straight at the core!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Grimoire Kick
KABOOM—!
The core shattered with the explosion.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Warning! Central Power Room Explosion! Total Sanctuary Annihilation in 5 Minutes!]
Alarms blared wildly. Flames roared, and explosions chained off one after another.
'But weird... everything I've hit has been critical equipment...'
Coincidence? No! It was all thanks to this body's brilliant insight and genius mind!
The thrill of vengeance was short-lived as a ominous thought flashed through my head.
"...Wait, if I stay here, even the great Grimoire might blow up with it?"
My senses snapped alert. Immortal or not, this explosion was no joke...
"Cowardly humans! A suicide trap to take this body down with you! But your scheme is seen through!"
I turned and fled the power room.
Farewell—I head to the wide world!
That's when it happened.
As I tried to escape the crumbling lab, my eyes locked onto one spot.
At the end of a corridor flashing with red emergency lights: a special isolation chamber.
There was a woman.
Elegant and refined poise, jet-black hair cascading to her waist.
But contrasting her beauty, her body was bound like a feral beast. Metal shackles on wrists and ankles, thick chains cinching her waist, a special control device around her neck.
Sealed this heavily... she had to be...
"A special existence for sure! Though not quite on this body's level!"
She slowly raised her head.
Her face peeking through the black hair was flawless, without a single imperfection. But her blue eyes... they were utterly vacant, stripped of all emotion.
[Highest Security Clearance - Test Subject Alpha]
She remained silent.
"Alright! This body shall specially rescue you! It's the great Grimoire's mercy!"
I reached for the restraints as if it were natural. This much metal was...
"Ugh... why is this so... tough..."
Unlike expected, the chains didn't budge.
These pathetic irons defying this body's will?
I wished harder, more desperately.
"Break! By this body's command!"
Creeeak—
Cracks suddenly appeared. They widened... and finally!
Snap!
With a loud crack, the chains binding her shattered into pieces.
"Done! This body saved you!"
I puffed out my chest proudly. Now she'd kneel in gratitude and pledge loyalty!
...But the woman remained expressionless.
Huh? Why? Shouldn't she be tearing up with emotion and swearing fealty?
She simply stood slowly and stared at me.
The lab crumbling around us. Flames rising, explosions booming—yet in that chaos, an eerie stillness enveloped us as we gazed at each other.
"What's your name?"
"...I have none."
"No name? Who lives like that?"
Perfect! Decision made!
"From now on, your name is Everlin!"
"...Everlin?"
Finally! A ripple crossed her blank face.
"Yes! It means eternal loyalty at this body's side!"
A world-conquering villain needed minions. And this elegant woman seemed perfect as the first.
"From now on, you're this body's maid! You're not quite on this body's level, but you're elegant enough for the honor! The greatest glory in the world—be grateful!"
KABOOM—!
A massive explosion sent flames surging. The lab's collapse roared deafeningly.
"Eek! Time to really get out!"
"Pfft..."
"Wh-what?! Did you just laugh?!"
"Not at all."
Strange... must be my imagination?
"Let's go, Everlin! Follow this body! The great first step toward world conquest!"
"Yes, Master."
"I like that title! Keep calling me that!"
I brimmed with confidence that world conquest was already mine. With this body's invincible power and an elegant maid at my side!
Perfect! What villain's birth could be more flawless!
A few steps down the warped, explosion-scarred corridor...
"Uh... but where do we go...?"
Come to think of it, this body knew nothing about the lab. Where was the exit? What was the outside world like? Where to even start world conquest...
"Don't worry. I know the way. This way."
"O-of course this body knew! Just testing your usefulness! Good—you pass!"
The confusion over my identity lingered. Who made me like this? Why this power? I didn't know. But that didn't matter now.
I was Grimoire.
The villain who would conquer the world.
"Everlin! As this body's first minion, you have the special right to lead!"
"Thank you, Master."
At last, this body took its first step into the world.
Behind: the lab burning and collapsing.
Ahead...
Nothing but a brilliant future awaited!