[{"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-68":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},1506477,1956,"Chapter 68: Talking pig?","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-68",68,"\u003Cp>\"Anyway, let’s go in. Let’s kill them quickly and go back. I don’t like this damp place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia stiffened. \"So killing is confirmed...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want to kill someone, you should be prepared to die,\" I said flatly. \"That’s the rule of the trade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that’s just a cool-sounding excuse. I’m not planning to die here. I’m planning to makethemdie here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took the lead down the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a pitch-black staircase without a single light, twisting downward into the earth. The air grew colder and staler with every step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the stairs were annoyingly long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step. Step. Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five minutes passed. Then ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seriously?\" I muttered, wiping dust off the railing. \"How badly did they want to hide that they built the structure this deep? Do they commute to hell?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I desperately missed escalators. Elevators. Even a slide would be nice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the steps leveled out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We stood before a heavy iron door. A small, grime-encrusted lantern hung beside it, emitting a faint, dying orange light. The door looked solid—reinforced steel, designed to withstand a battering ram.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no handle. Just a small, sliding viewing port at eye level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I straightened my uniform, cleared my throat, and stepped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock knock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound echoed hollowly in the tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment of silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—shhk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The square hole slid open. A pair of suspicious, bloodshot eyes glared out from the darkness within. The smell of cheap tobacco wafted out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard’s voice was rough, like gravel grinding on glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Password.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned in close, bringing my face right up to the slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled. A bright, dazzling, sickeningly sweet smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I love you~♡\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silence that followed was heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard blinked. The eyes behind the slot widened in sheer confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Hah?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said, I love you,\" I repeated, forming a heart shape with my hands. \"Open up, honey. Daddy’s home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You crazy son of a—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t let him finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pulled the revolver from my coat—already cocked—jammed the barrel through the viewing slot, and pulled the trigger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gunshot roared in the confined space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wet thud followed from the other side of the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wrong answer,\" I said cheerfully, holstering the smoking gun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked back at Alicia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See? They always come to the door.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia stared at the iron door, then at me. She let out a long, weary sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Boss. You are truly the worst.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll take that as a compliment. Now, stand back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I aimed at the lock mechanism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s say hello to our host.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>****\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kicked the ruined lock mechanism, and the heavy iron door swung open with a groan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, the scenery changed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gone were the damp, moldy stone walls of the sewer-like tunnel. Instead, a room so luxurious it hurt my eyes sprawled out before us. Thick crimson carpets, velvet drapes covering stone walls, golden chandeliers, and antique furniture that probably cost more than a commoner’s life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And sitting on a high-backed leather chair at the far end was a massive, rotund figure sipping wine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha,\" the figure scoffed, not even looking up. \"Stupid commoners walking to their deaths—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze. My eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoa, crazy! Alicia, look! The pig is talking!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this fantasy?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart started racing. I grabbed Alicia’s shoulder and shook her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought it might be an Orc with high intelligence, or maybe a Boar-kin... but looking at that pink skin tone and the number of chins, it’s definitely a pig. A talking pig!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure in the chair slammed his wine glass down, shattering it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bastard...! Who are you calling a—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But who owns this place?\" I interrupted, looking around in genuine confusion. \"Dressing up a pig in a silk suit and keeping it in a chair? Don’t they have anything better to do? Pigs should be kept in pens. Whoever the owner is, they must be really stupid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss...\" Alicia whispered, sounding exhausted already. \"That person is our target. Heney Smith...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked. I looked at the fat man. Then back at Alicia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What!? That thing is a person!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How can that be a person!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this the wonder of a fantasy world? Even pigs can evolve into humans?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well...\" I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. \"Dragons can transform into humans with polymorphing magic, so I guess there’s no reason a pig couldn’t achieve enlightenment and assume human form.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heney’s face turned a shade of purple usually reserved for poisoned eggplants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eek...! YOU RATS! HANS!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you wish, master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A section of the luxurious wall paneled in mahogany slid open silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the shadows emerged a man in a crisp butler’s uniform. He held a long, thin rapier in one hand, his expression as cold as ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The butler, Hans, rushed at us the moment the command left the pig’s mouth. He was fast—faster than the thugs from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia stepped forward, drawing the short sword I had bought her for close-quarters training. Steel met steel, creating a sharp, shattering sound that echoed through the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kekeke,\" Hans chuckled, pressing his blade forward. \"You handle a sword well for a former slave, but you still can’t defeat Hans!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans wasn’t just a servant. He was Heney’s hidden dagger, a man who cleaned up the ’mess’ whenever business negotiations failed. His movements were refined, economical, and deadly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia gritted her teeth. She was a mage first. Swordplay was something she had only recently picked up under my forced training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans’s blade grazed her shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia retreated a step, channeling mana into her free hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fireball!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burst of flame erupted, but Hans sidestepped it effortlessly, his movements fluid like water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too slow!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lunged again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wounds began to appear on Alicia’s arms and legs. Even to Heney Smith, a layman in combat, it was clear the tide was turning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha!\" Heney laughed, clapping his chubby hands. \"Foolish girl! Coming here to die on your own! Hans, cut off her legs first!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia was being pushed back. Her breathing grew ragged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alicia!\" I shouted. \"It’s time to evolve! You can win if you evolve!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heney blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice... didn’t come from the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It came from right beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heney turned his head slowly in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting on the expensive mahogany table right next to him was Lucien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was sitting cross-legged, holding a bag of popcorn he had pulled from god-knows-where, chewing loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch. Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-When did you...!\" Heney shrieked, falling back in his chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heney, sir!!\" Hans shouted, trying to turn back, but Alicia swung her sword, forcing him to block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, don’t mind me,\" I said, tossing a kernel into my mouth. \"Keep going. If you look away, she’ll die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I placed a finger gently on the crown of Heney’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heney turned pale blue. He couldn’t fight. He couldn’t run. All he could do was tremble under my finger and pray Hans would win quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the dynamic had shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans was distracted. His master was being held hostage by a lunatic eating snacks. His movements lost their fluidity, his eyes darting between Alicia and me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia seized the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Flame wreath!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She imbued her blade with fire magic—not a spell, but an enchantment. The steel glowed red hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When their swords clashed again, sparks flew, and the heat forced Hans to recoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his advantage slipping, Heney decided to take a gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey! You!\" Heney shouted at me, sweat pouring down his face. \"If you don’t help now, your slave might die! Hans is a professional! Are you okay with that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a desperate plan. Try to get Lucien to join the fight, thereby freeing Heney from being a hostage, or at least distract him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lucien was crazier than Heney thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Munch. Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If she dies, she dies,\" I said, swallowing a mouthful of corn. \"What do you want me to do about it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heney’s jaw dropped. \"W-What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If she worries about dying from a butler in a basement, she won’t survive in this harsh world,\" I explained casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few months, the S-class monsterBehemoth—a calamity of the sky—is scheduled to invade the airspace above the Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to that? This butler was a warm-up exercise. If she cowers here, she’s dead meat then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-What are you saying! That’s your slave! Your property!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, shut up!\" I snapped, annoyed by the noise interrupting my viewing experience. \"Why does this pig talk so much!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My fist struck the top of Heney’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oink!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A genuine pig noise escaped his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that’s more like the pig I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master Heney!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his master squeal like livestock, Hans panicked. He turned his head completely, abandoning his defense for a split second to check on Heney.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the price of loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia didn’t waste it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stepped in, wind wrapping around her boots to boost her speed. Her fire-wreathed sword slashed horizontally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clean line appeared on Hans’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood sprayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The butler gurgled, dropped his rapier, and collapsed to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hans! Nooooo!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia stood panting, staring at the corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she looked at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you... want me to lose...?\" she asked, breathless and slightly hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook the popcorn bag. It was mostly empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I barely got to eat any popcorn,\" I complained, dusting salt off my gloves. \"It’s no fun if it ends so quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heney stared at the body of his strongest protector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hans was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing Heney could do anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hopped off the table and cracked my knuckles, walking toward the fat merchant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well then,\" I smiled brightly. \"Let’s quickly deal with this pig.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W-Wait! Wait!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heney scrambled backward, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll give you money! Gold! Jewels! If you want, I have slaves prettier than that girl! Elves! Beastkin! Just say the word!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Heney could do was offer everything he had to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could just survive, he could recover everything. Revenge, butlers, money—he just needed to live through the next five minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped walking and stroked my chin, looking thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heney’s eyes lit up with hope.Look at that. True to his commoner nature, he’s considering it at the mention of money. I knew it. Everyone has a price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes! Yes!\" Heney shouted, eager to seal the deal. \"If you spare me, I’ll give you anything you want! My entire vault! Money or sla—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"ORA!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—THWACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My fist smashed directly into the center of Heney’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cartilage crunched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heney flew backward, chair and all, crashing into the wall with a thunderous boom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You talk too much,\" I said, shaking my hand. \"I was going to rob you anyway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1786,"2026-06-06T04:52:02.137Z",1,"novelbin.me","37104609294e54324f75f71cc962098427165cf7f1b3f532ae48276b2a47bdee","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-185","i-am-a-villain-so-what-chapter-184",230,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-a-villain-so-what-cover.jpg"]