[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-a-villain-so-what":3,"chapter-i-am-a-villain-so-what-i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-30":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Am a Villain, So What?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1506355,1956,"Chapter 30: Talented Lily","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-30",30,"\u003Cp>When I returned from the bath with my hair still slightly damp, Lily already had everything perfectly prepared — ingredients sorted neatly, knife cleaned, plates lined to the side. She stood at attention like a soldier awaiting orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good. At least the people I invested in weren’t dead weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tied the apron and motioned toward the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, today’s dish — omurice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily blinked, clearly thrown off by the name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Omurice? I’ve... never heard of such a dish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course you haven’t,\" I smirked. \"It’s from my personal archive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leaned in slightly, more curious than confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then... what kind of dish is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s simple. Fried rice — wrapped in an omelette.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily looked genuinely stunned. The idea was so absurdly simple that her brain momentarily refused to accept it. Then, slowly — wonder crept into her expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can... wrap rice with eggs...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly,\" I said, tapping the ladle. \"And if you do it right, it melts in the mouth perfectly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes lit — not with hunger this time, but with the spark of a cook discovering a novel technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I began cooking, and she observed silently, like a disciple watching a master demonstrate a legendary technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See this? The eggs — whisk them fully. Air means fluff. Too slow, and you get clumps. Too fast, and you ruin the texture.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Boss,\" she murmured, eyes following every movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heat the pan first — patience. Don’t pour immediately. Oil must shimmerfirst.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t even blink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And rice — loosen it before tossing. Each grain should get coated individually. Never mash the rice. That’s the mistake amateurs make.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shedidunderstand — easily. Her cooking base was already good. I didn’t need to explain fundamentals — she filled in gaps herself. She wasn’t a scrub. She had talent — just lacked exposure to the right inspiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finished one portion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fried rice glistened lightly, every grain separate, rich brown color perfect. Then I slid the fluffy omelette over — folded it — sealed it — and placed it on the plate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lightly cut its top — the omelette slowly parted, melting over the rice beneath like golden silk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily inhaled sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Beautiful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your turn,\" I said, stepping back. \"Make one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swallowed — then immediately grabbed the bowl. She imitated my motions — and while her knife skills were sharp and her heat control solid — it wasn’t perfect. But it didn’t need to be perfect on the first try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad,\" I nodded as she plated it. \"You’re catching on faster than I expected. Keep that pace and I might not need to cook in a month.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a bite. Trying to act like a cooking show judge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s fine,\" I said, and I meant it. \"What you made is more than good enough to run a restaurant. Anyone in the city would be impressed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingers trembled slightly — not with fear — but excitement. Joy. Her eyes glimmered with the kind of emotion cooks only feel when they realize they’ve just witnessed a level they want to reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had hit the jackpot. Not just with a cook — but someone who could grow into something far more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But as for the house,\" I added lightly, taking another bite. Even if her cooking was good but that was for layman. For me it was far from satisfactory. But not to sound discouraging I twisted my words, \"I’ll continue cooking. It’s... relaxing for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, I said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go wake up Alicia. Breakfast is almost ready — I’ll handle the rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily nodded with energy that didn’t exist yesterday. \"At once, Boss.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she hurried toward the corridor, I turned back to the stove, cracking fresh eggs, the scent rising again — rich and warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*****\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three of us sat around the table. The omurice disappeared fast. Even Alicia — who barely reacted to anything — slowly finished every grain of rice, her movements mechanical but steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between bites I glanced at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You feeling alright today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia paused, then nodded once. \"...Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, she set her spoon down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Boss,\" she said quietly, \"what exactly do you want me to do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked. \"Hm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze dropped to her lap. \"You... didn’t assign me anything. You bought Lily to help with housework. But me... I have no tasks. Don’t tell me you bought me because you pitied me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I snorted at that and almost laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think I’m the type to waste money on pity?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That startled her — she looked up fast, as if expecting mockery. Instead, I leaned back in my chair and tapped the table softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I gave Lily housework because she’sgoodat housework. Cleaning, cooking, chores — that’s her strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I pointed my spoon at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, Alicia — were born in a palace. You lived with etiquette tutors, royal mages, knights, scholars. You’re a girl raised in silk. You’ve never scrubbed a floor in your life. Even if you tried — you’d break your wrists before you scrubbed half a corridor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression subtly dimmed again — as if I was calling her useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t misunderstand. I’m not belittling you. Everyone has areas they shine in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I leaned forward — tone turning serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And I already know your role.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blinked. \"...you do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are not here to clean dishes or sweep floors. Doing that would be a crime against talent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused, then continued slowly and clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You will become a mage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her scarred cheek, her pale fingers — her gaze — everything stopped still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A... mage?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not just a mage,\" I corrected. \"With your affinity and comprehension, reaching Archmage isn’t fantasy. It’s entirely possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her breath hitched — barely audible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lowered my voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t you want power? Don’t you want to burn those monsters that destroyed your kingdom? Don’t you want the strength to make the world regret ever touching your family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her pupils trembled — then focused — like a spark finally found its oxygen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I... do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words escaped like a confession she’d been holding for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled faintly — not mockingly — but like a general acknowledging a soldier’s resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. Then from today — your purpose isn’t to fetch plates or sweep floors.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I placed my hand lightly on the table — resolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your job is simple — grow stronger. Train. Study magic. I’ll provide resources. I’ll guide the direction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared at me — breathing quietly — but something had undeniably changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No dead eyes now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faint — fragile — but it was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily also paused her dish drying midway — watching Alicia with surprise. Even she could see it — the difference in Alicia’s expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>",1147,"2026-06-06T04:52:01.856Z",1,"novelbin.me","b9b37e2c009eb865cc2a9310ed69a1f054852aee2b8a66501622b225d5363370","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-31","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-29",230,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-a-villain-so-what-cover.jpg"]