ch38

[Chapter 38 - The Villain's Trial]

'This can't be happening. This can't be happening! I'm the master of this court, so how did it come to this?'

To lose the rights to the refrigerator in a trial I devised, in a court I presided over!

Being cornered is the role of the mice, so why am I the one backed into a corner? This is an absurd situation!

The two mice were already whispering to each other, chirping as if they were certain of victory.

Darkness's mustache, adorned with small glasses, twitched triumphantly, and White King nodded at me, his eyes asking, 'Is that all?'

At this rate, not only the refrigerator rights but also my dignity as a villain would crumble.

Clang─

Evelyn lightly tapped the pork cutlet hammer.

"After reviewing the arguments from both sides, I would like to propose a compromise."

"A compromise?"

Evelyn continued without changing her tone.

"How about I regularly organize snacks that are past their expiration date or food that Master has left untouched for a long time? Either provide it to the mice or dispose of it."

"N-No way! How dare you touch my snacks!"

"Master, do you remember the incident last month?"

Uh… which one are you talking about?

When the cake grew mold? When the month-old chocolate turned white? Or when the half-year-old pudding was found in the back of the refrigerator…?

"There was even milk that we don't know how long it's been there… It was no longer milk or cheese, but something else entirely. It was occupying a corner of the refrigerator like a biochemical experiment."

She inhaled slightly.

"Master, I have tried to clean the refrigerator 27 times in the past three months. Every time, you opposed, saying, 'Absolutely not,' 'I'll eat it later,' 'It's all mine.' As a result, the refrigerator is getting more and more cramped, and there's no space to put new snacks…"

"B-But…!"

The two mice gestured in strong agreement with Evelyn's proposal. White King raised his small arm and squeaked, and Darkness adjusted his glasses and nodded.

'Wait, is this a pre-arranged script?'

Evelyn's mediation came at the perfect time, so naturally. And the mice's reactions were too natural as well.

All those cases, all that evidence… this wasn't just a coincidence. This was a trap aimed at me!

Evelyn and the mice are in cahoots! No wonder Evelyn's tone has been sympathetic to the mice's logic since a while ago!

"Bribing the judge! How can this be allowed!"

"Master, it's just a suggestion to improve your refrigerator management and eating habits."

"Objection!"

But I couldn't come up with a proper rebuttal in my head. If I had known this would happen, I should have read some law-related books in the library earlier!

'Think, Grimoire! If you lose like this, you'll lose your rights as a villain!'

The mice's eyes were getting sharper. There was no time.

Then, a flash of realization struck my mind.

'Wait. What am I doing? I'm not a lawyer. I'm not a prosecutor or anything. I'm a villain!'

That's right! I'm a villain. A great villain who dreams of world domination!

The gray color began to return to my horns.

'Villains don't need to fight with laws and evidence! They don't need to be trapped by logic!'

Trying to win with law and logic was a mistake.

A true villain doesn't fight that way.

What a villain needs is cunning, schemes, and wicked tactics!

"Kekeke!"

I slowly straightened my posture and lowered my voice.

"I have a special proposal to make."

I looked back and forth at the mice with a cunning expression. Darkness and White King exchanged wary glances.

"In fact, I am not at all! Not even a little! Really! Angry."

I spoke as softly as possible, like a friend.

A true villain knows how to control their emotions for their goals.

"I just want to know the truth."

Tap, tap.

I tapped the table with my finger.

The two mice's eyes were focused on that small movement. As if my finger was a trigger that would determine their fate.

"The one of you who tells the truth first… will be specially forgiven. The Grimoire Family always rewards loyalty."

The composure of a gambler laying down a card and waiting for the result.

Atmosphere is always important for a villain.

Squeak-!

Darkness raised his ears and made a sneering expression. His eyes seemed to say, 'Are you ignoring our bond?'

A tense silence flowed. 3 seconds, 5 seconds…

Squeak!!

White King suddenly jumped forward.

Squeak squeak! Squeak! Squeak squeak!!

His little feet moved wildly, and he started squeaking diligently, pointing at Darkness.

"Oh ho? Darkness told you to eat it? Grimoire's snacks were especially delicious, so you couldn't resist? You desperately tried to stop him, but Darkness didn't listen?"

Darknesses small eyes widened in shock. He looked at White King with an expression full of shock and betrayal.

"As expected of a white mouse, selling out the black one!"

A sense of victory washed over me.

A thrilling comeback! A fatal blow that pierces the enemy's heart in one strike!

Kekeke! This is the way of a true villain!

"Darkness!! How dare you steal my snacks? You are guilty! Guilty! Guilty!"

Squeak!!!

Darkness's scream filled the kitchen.

White King gently approached me and squeaked with eyes that seemed to say, 'I'm forgiven, right?'

At that moment, I changed my expression and glared at White King.

"But!

White King flinched.

"Betrayal is a greater crime in a villain organization than stealing snacks! So you are also guil! ty!"

"Squeak???"

White King fell backward in shock. He covered his face with his little paws and made a mournful squeaking sound.

'Divide and conquer.'

This was the way of a true villain. Incite division by turning the mice against each other, and then punish them all!

Caesar, I have done what you failed to do!

"Kekeke! Kakat!!"

Squeak-!

The two mice realized their mistakes and hugged each other again. It was a moment of confirming their friendship in despair, but it was already too late.

The one who betrayed his friend and the one who stole snacks were both destined to be punished in the villain's court.

"I will deliver the verdict."

Evelyn raised the pork cutlet hammer.

"I sentence both defendants, Darkness and White King, to be guilty."

Bang, bang, bang.

"As expected, justice… no, villains always win!"

The word 'justice' slipped out unintentionally, but there was no need to worry about such trivial things now. The important thing was that I had protected the refrigerator rights!

"Now, would Grimoire like to pronounce the punishment for the criminal mice?"

Ah, this sweet moment! This was the time I had been waiting for!

I stood up from my seat with a wicked smile.

"Alright. As a great villain and the victor of this court, I hereby pronounce the sentence. I sentence you to… 'The Punishment of Sisyphus'!"

I spoke in the most magnificent voice possible. Like the voice of an Olympian god echoing from the mountains!

"Do you remember the fate of Sisyphus, who deceived the gods? He pushes a boulder to the top of the mountain, but the moment he reaches the summit, the boulder rolls back down──"

The two mice's eyes widened in terror. Their little bodies began to tremble.

"A terrible curse that forces him to repeat meaningless efforts forever. The pain of not being able to move forward even one step no matter how hard you run. I will let you taste endless futility!"

Squeak squeak-!

The two terrified mice hugged each other and screamed.

It was a very satisfying reaction.

"Wait! I'll bring the terrifying torture device soon!"

I ran to my room and took out a secret item hidden in the closet storage. It was something I bought at a cheap price on home shopping last month.

"Behold! The terrifying torture device… 'The Treadmill of Eternity'!"

I placed two small treadmills on the table.

They were made of sturdy reinforced plastic. One was black, and the other was white. They had also passed eco-friendly certification!

Evelyn's expression changed slightly. Both eyebrows raised very slightly before returning to her usual expressionless state.

"Now, get on and start running right away! Until I tell you to stop!"

Darkness and White King exchanged puzzled glances.

Squeak?

"Infinite stamina consumption! Infinite pain! Infinite frustration! This is the punishment of a villain!"

The two mice carefully climbed onto their respective treadmills.

At first, they ran slowly, and then they gradually increased their speed. The treadmills spun around.

Click-!

"Yes, run, run! How does it feel to be forever in the same place no matter how hard you run?"

It was perfect. The mice's broken will, their despair, their regret…

But something was strange.

The two mice's expressions… looked happy.

"W-What? Why aren't you suffering? This is a terrible punishment!"

Evelyn calmly explained.

"Master, mice naturally like running on treadmills. It's a natural instinct."

"What? Wait… now that I think about it, hamsters are mice too!

The mice ran on the treadmills more and more excitedly.

"Ahem!"

I coughed and quickly tried to salvage the situation. A villain's dignity must never be damaged. Especially in front of subordinates.

"Of course, I knew all along! This is… specially made training equipment! My subordinates must maintain the best condition! Train constantly for future operations!"

Evelyn and the mice looked at me with puzzled expressions.

"Besides, a great villain adds fear with mercy! But remember! If you ever steal my snacks without permission again…"

I thought for a moment. What should I threaten them with? Well, taking away the treadmills would probably be a real punishment.

"…then I really won't let it go! I'll make you realize how boring life without a treadmill is!"

Squeak squeak-!

The mice looked at each other in horror.

Finally! Finally, my threat worked!

'Yes! I was aiming for this reaction from the beginning! I perfectly grasped the psychology and habits of the mice!'

"Your punishment will continue for one hour every day for a week! And submit a written apology as well!"

Darkness and White King nodded as if to say they understood, even while running.

'In the end, it's a perfect victory worthy of a villain! I protected the refrigerator rights, which are the core of world domination, and strengthened the loyalty and stamina of my subordinates!'

Although an unexpected situation occurred where the mice enjoyed the punishment, that was just a trivial detail.

Click- clatter-

The treadmills spun cheerfully. The two mice's little feet moved incessantly.

No, they weren't just simple mice. Darkness and White King, my loyal subordinates.

'These guys are pretty cute…'

I was disappointed that the punishment didn't go as planned, but on the other hand, I felt good seeing my subordinates enjoying themselves.

Yes, my subordinates must be happy for their loyalty to be stronger and for world domination to proceed more smoothly.

This is definitely a strategic decision. A thought worthy of a genius villain!

Against the background of the mice's joyful squeaking, another brilliant victory was recorded in my villain career.

[TL: I don't know if they're rats or mice T-T! I'm just gonna TL them as mice from now on]

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