Chapter 143
-
- How to Become a Villain
Izzen’s family was a prestigious lineage that had served the Demon King for generations, proudly claiming the role of the mastermind behind the scenes. Their specialty and main field were assisting the Demon King in committing wicked deeds through all kinds of behind-the-scenes machinations, such as conspiracies, schemes, and sowing discord.
The young Izzen also received an education from an early age on how to become an excellent mastermind.
“So, when I grow up, I’m going to be a great mastermind!”
Izzen said firmly while diligently eating his lunchbox.
“Mastermind?”
“Yeah, mastermind! So, I’ll constantly commit bad deeds like conspiracies, schemes, and sowing discord.”
“I see……. I don’t know what that is, but it sounds really amazing…….”
Izzen’s friend, who could only understand half of what he said because he used too many difficult words for a child, trailed off. As he trailed off, he thought to himself: Mom said their family was a bit strange, so it must be true…….
The friend stared intently at Izzen’s lunchbox.
“You always eat your lunchbox so thoroughly.”
“You shouldn’t leave food behind. My dad bought the ingredients with hard-earned money, and the cook prepared it with care. Besides, food waste pollutes the environment.”
Izzen stated resolutely, scraping up and eating every last bit of the remaining food. He then took his cleanly emptied lunchbox to the kitchen. Standing on his tiptoes, he turned on the water, put detergent on a scrubber, and scrubbed the lunchbox until it squeaked.
A passing kindergarten teacher noticed him and was impressed.
“Oh my, Izzen. Are you washing your lunchbox after you’ve finished eating?”
“Yes. I don’t like it when food scraps are left on for too long and start to smell. And it inconveniences our cook…….”
“What a thoughtful child. Izzen, you truly are a kind boy!”
At those words, Izzen, who had been engrossed in washing up, shouted with a look as if the world was ending.
“Please don’t say such terrifying things, Teacher!”
“Huh?”
The teacher was taken aback by his reaction, but because Izzen wore an expression of shock that was too extreme for a young child, she could only give an ambiguous smile and stammer without saying anything else.
“I-I see……?”
“Yes! When I grow up, I’m going to be a great mastermind! A wicked and terrifying villain!”
“Ah, right. I see…….”
The teacher retreated from the spot, feeling as if cold sweat was trickling down her back. As she quietly slipped away, she thought to herself: People said their family was a bit strange, and it really was true…….
About a decade ago, a research finding was published that the true nature of the demon race was not inherently wicked.
Because of this, the times changed. The demon race no longer constantly committed bad deeds, and harming other races was prohibited. Although the world still operated on the principle of survival of the fittest, even that was gradually improving, especially around urban centers.
In short, an era arrived where a mastermind was no longer needed.
For Izzen’s family, this was nothing short of a bolt from the blue. There was no longer any use for the conspiracies, schemes, sowing discord, and all other forms of behind-the-scenes manipulation. Because the Demon King no longer committed wicked deeds.
Izzen’s family opposed that research finding. They countered that the true nature of the demon race was wicked and insisted that the demon race must continue to commit bad deeds. They did so even while everyone treated them like fools. They did so even while they were pointed at and called old-fashioned gentry who were hopelessly stubborn.
They chose to remain relics of the old era, no matter how much the times changed. They had no other choice. That was the meaning of their existence, the reward of their life, their pride itself, and…… most importantly, their job. Their entire family was on the verge of becoming unemployed and out on the streets overnight, so there was no way they could easily accept that reality.
However, the greatest misfortune of the family was none other than Izzen, their sole successor. It wasn’t that he was an inferior or lacking child. On the contrary, he was a bright and outstanding child. But…….
“Izzen. What are you doing?”
Izzen’s mother asked, looking at what her child was doing with a bewildered expression.
“I’m watering the flowers.”
Izzen, who was watering the roses planted in the flowerbed with a watering can, replied with an innocent smile.
“I-I see……?”
“Yes. They looked a little wilted, like they were saying they were thirsty.”
“Ah…… Aah…….”
The mother backed away, her face turning deathly pale as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have, and then fled the place.
That rose was a time-honored tradition of the ancestors, cultivated until it reached full bloom, then deliberately not watered so it would wither, at which point its petals would be plucked and crumpled with the words, ‘You have exhausted your usefulness with this!’
But her own child was personally watering that rose, saying it was thirsty. It was truly a most horrific thing.
Izzen’s eccentric behavior didn’t end there.
“Izzen. What are you doing?”
Izzen’s mother again asked, looking at what her child was doing with a bewildered expression.
“I’m treating a bird.”
Izzen was sniffling while applying medicine to the wing of a bird larger than his hand.
“The bird was flapping on the ground with a broken wing. Poor thing, who could have done such a terrible thing…….”
“Aah…… Ah…….”
The mother once again backed away, her face turning deathly pale as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have, and then fled the place.
That bird was a breed that the family had raised and trained for generations, used for secretly exchanging letters with someone by tying a note to its leg and sending it off. Once the conspiracy was over, they would break its wing, say, ‘Thank you for moving according to my will all this time!’, and throw it outside the castle. That too was a time-honored tradition of the ancestors, embodying the sublime meaning of ruthlessly discarding anything that had been used to its full potential. The one who had broken that bird’s wing was none other than Izzen’s father.
But her own child had picked up that bird, was crying over it, saying it was pitiful, and personally treating it. It was truly a most horrific thing.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.