I Will Live as a Villain the Magical Girl Is Obsessed With

9 – 4. I’ll live as a Villain -1 (Illustration added on 2023/7/23)

As I walked, I recalled a line from a game.

[Why eat gukbap? With that money, you could buy several packets of ramen.]

It wasn’t that Noah disliked gukbap. It was simply that she could hardly afford it.

In fact, when you eat at a gukbap restaurant, a CG appears. A CG image of Noah enjoying her gukbap.

For Noah, gukbap is soul food.

Above all,

‘And that’s the face of someone who doesn’t like it?’

The body is honest. Even if you lie with words, the body tells no lies.

I sneaked a glance at Noah, who was following behind me. Although she kept her distance, her face was bright.

Noah, who now even hums tunes.

‘Look at that face, it’s clearly the face of a girl who’s thrilled to be on a date!’

‘Looks more like the face of someone going to enjoy eating their favorite gukbap.’

Brushing off Kkomuly’s words lightly, I headed towards Noah.

She quickly adjusted her expressions with a start.”I’m just going to eat and then leave.”

Noah turned her face aside, with a hint of sulk in her voice.

Could she end up following some unsavory man? Well, it’s not that different from the current situation.

The air between us was filled with awkwardness.

Behind me, Noah suddenly spoke up.

“So? Is it really a delicious place?”

“Yep. It’s the best place I’ve visited.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

We walked through the dark, night streets and entered a market alley. There, a large pot greeted us.

According to the owner, it’s the old reliable of this market. Her exact age was unclear, but probably similar to Noah’s.

From that pot, smoke was curling up and clear broth was boiling.

Four times… no, actually now five times in the past two weeks.

It’s now a restaurant I frequent enough to be considered a regular.

“Let’s go in.”

“…”

Noah’s steps had halted.

A flustered noise bounced out of Noah’s robotic mouth.

“This is the place you were talking about?”

“Yeah.”

“Um…”

She seems a bit troubled.

Why is that?

“It’s a bit rundown but the food is delicious.”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Do you dislike pork rice soup? Do you want a different soup?”

“Er… it’s okay. We’re here already, let’s just eat.”

As careful as she could, Noah stepped into the restaurant. It was as if she were sneaking in to steal something.

Soon after.

“Ah, welcome.”

Caught by the friendly-looking restaurant owner.

“Hello.”

“Is the young lady here?”

“Yes. We’d like two servings of rice soup, and one boiled pork, please.”

“Oh yeah. But you have a companion today.”

Caught by the owner, Noah hid behind me.

It was odd. It wasn’t like Noah and I were good friends yet.

However, in the blink of an eye, the owner seemed to remember.

The owner opened his mouth.

“…Are you a student?”

“…”

“Student Noah.”

“…”

“Why, just last year she used to come here often with her father–“Long time no see.”

“…Oh, hello.”

It seemed that Noah had been a regular customer in this house.

Or at least, to the point that the owner recognized him.

“Your father used to come to our place often. He would always have beef-bone soup with a shot of soju.”

“Ah, so it was.”

The owner’s gaze turns back to Noah.

“And where has your father gone? And who is this young man?”

“…Father is… a bit under the weather.”

“Oh my…”

“And this person is…”

Noah had been staring at me, but stopped speaking.

“Just a weird guy.”

“Hey, a weird guy, huh?”

“Yeah, well, a weird guy.”

“Okay, weird maybe, but not an old guy! I’m only twenty-one.”

“With that face?”

“…This rascal?”

Few words were exchanged.

The owner had been watching us with piercing eyes. He let out a peculiar chuckle, “Heh-heh,” then showed us to a table.

It was tucked into a corner of the restaurant.

It seemed like a suitable spot for a discussion.

“Just wait here. I will bring the special on the house.”

“No, that’s really not necessary—”

“However. The next time you come, bring your father.”

“…Okay.”

The owner left, and Noah reverted to her usual blank expression.

Seeing her expression gave me an unsettling feeling.

A type of emotion that was not typically visible seemed to be present.

Noah looked somewhat sad.

Presumably.

‘The issue of her father.’

Noah’s father had been a significant impetus for the narrative.

From the beginning, Noah’s reason for engaging in magical-girl activities, for joining the association, was to earn money.

‘Perhaps for her father’s medical expenses.’

Maybe that money wasn’t used for her father’s treatment? Considering this, it would make sense.

The fact that Noah was living alone. The relentless work to earn money. The excessive thriftiness.

If one thinks it was all for her father’s medical expenses.

“Be careful when you eat it’s hot~”

The owner brought a hot stone pot. Inside the pot was white broth.

A deep broth made by simmering pork parts. “It’s excellent food that emits a savory smell without a hint of any odd scent.

At any time, it’s tempting to start eating straight away due to the mouth-watering aroma.

“…Noah?”

“…”

Silence.

Noah didn’t even lift her spoon, staring blankly somewhere. She just kept looking at the rice soup.

“Noah?”

“…”

“Noah!”

“…! You surprised me!”

Only when her name was called several times did she make a surprised expression.

“Why are you so startled all of a sudden! I didn’t expect it!”

“I did it because you were in a daze. Is something wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

“Your expression doesn’t warrant a ‘nothing’.”

“You’re persistent, mister.”

Noah sighed. Then she picked up a spoon and casually swirled around the shrimp paste.

She put in the shrimp paste, rolled up the rice all at once. Finally, Noah started eating.

“…It’s good.”

“You should try some of the boiled pork too.”

“…It’s okay.”

Is it really okay?

I felt a sense of discomfort towards Noah.

I wanted to see her eat deliciously, smiling as if from a CG image. But Noah’s expression seemed lonely, probably due to her father.

A place filled with memories of her father.

Being here seemed to bring memories of him even closer.

No matter that she is a magical girl. No matter that she’s a guardian who fights evil, Noah is still just a sixteen-year-old girl.

An age not fully able to resist the stormy winds of this world.

“Are you thinking of your father?”

“A little… This…uh…this thing.”

Noah picked up a piece of liver and dipped it into salt.

“My father used to love eating this.”

Noah, with a piece of liver in her mouth, is mumbling.

After savoring it for a moment, she finally spoke.

“…The taste is not really that good.”

Then there was silence for a long time.

Somehow, it felt more suffocating than when we arrived.

I was contemplating for a moment.

“…Miss, can I get a bottle of soju?”

“Yes~”

I ordered soju.

It felt a little weird to drink in front of a kid, but if I don’t drink this, I feel like I will really suffocate.

Perhaps it might appease Noah too.

Once we finished eating the rice, “Keep an eye on that. You’ll feel less uncomfortable if the other person is distracted by something else.”

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

She poured soju into a glass and swallowed it. The bitter fragrance of alcohol filled her mouth.

So bitter.

After sipping the soup and lifting her head, she felt Noah’s gaze.

“Just to make sure, this is not okay.”

“I know. Just…”

“Just?”

“…Just, I remembered my father.”

“Was it there?”

“Your father, did he often drink soju here?”

“Yes.”

After pondering for a moment, I asked Noah a question.

“Noah, can you tell me if something happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, about your father.”

“Why would you want to know?”

“You never know. I might be able to help.”

Noah pondered my question for a while. The time when jokbal was slightly cooled down.

“Then.”

Noah pointed at the soju.

“I’ll tell you if you give me a glass of that.”

“…Hey. You’re underage.”

“If you don’t like it, I’ll stop. It’s okay if I don’t say anything.”

Is that how it works?

It’s impure for a minor to ask for liquor. I shouldn’t give her, obviously.

But why does my heart pound? Besides wanting to know about Noah’s situation.

Maybe, does she want to imitate her father?

Kids often mimic adults. In Noah’s case, that was her father.

I wiped the glass with a tissue and filled it with soju. Just over half.

“Only one glass.”

“Yes.”

“After drinking, you will tell me what happened.”

“I said I understand.”

Noah stared at the glass.

With a gulp!

She swallowed the soju.

I was a little worried seeing this. If Noah, who has no experience with alcohol, drinks it so quickly.

“…Cough…!”

Of course she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

I put a well-cooked piece of pork into Noah’s coughing mouth.

Noah quickly ate it.

If it was the usual, what are they doing…The words would have been sternly scolded, but the panicked girl seemed to have no time for that.

Chewing and swallowing the meat, Noah complained.

“Ugh… why do adults find this delicious?”

“Right? I don’t get it either.”

“Then why are you eating it, mister?”

“Why else? I drink to get drunk.”

Noah made a face as if she didn’t understand.

Seeing that, it was clear the kid was still a kid.

Wishing that she would never understand why adults drink, I looked at Noah.

“Then now it’s your turn to tell me.”

“Ugh…are you really going to listen?”

“Of course. It’s a promise.”

At my words, Noah had a complicated expression on her face.

A blush spread across Noah’s face. Eventually, Noah resigned herself.

“…My father was a hero.”

“Your father was?”

“Yes. You know White Fang, right?”

White Fang. It was a familiar name.

A hero who ruled the top of the hero industry, then… retired due to an accident.

That White Fang.

“That’s your father?”

Noah nodded her head. And at this point, the corners of Noah’s eyes turned slightly red. She seemed to be thinking of her father.

“…He was a great man. Raised me alone, replacing my mother who passed away giving birth to me.”

“I see.”

“And while doing so, he was a wonderful person who saved the world. That’s my father.”

There was a sound of admiration in her voice. But that only made me sterner.

I took another shot of soju. The burning sensation swept through me.

“But why… hospitalization…”

“He was attacked by a monster.”

“I see…”

“Now it’s been about half a year… my father’s become vegetative.”

Her mother passed away and her father became a vegetative patient.

And, left alone in the world was the sixteen-year-old Noah.

“With the hospital fees, medicine costs… caretaker’s wages… I’m paying with the money my father saved up and from selling our house. Honestly, I don’t know how long it will last. That’s why I’m trying to save as much as I can.”

Saying so, Noah smiled.

“My father would’ve wanted it this way.”

“What did you say?”

“A hero is someone who smiles when times are rough and becomes a source of hope for others.”

“…”

“So that’s why I smile.”

“Be honest. Aren’t you scared of fighting those guys as a magical girl?”

Noah laughed even louder.

“Yes, I’m scared. It’s not a joke, I might actually die, right?”

“…”

“But if I go to the association, I can earn money for dad’s treatments.”

“…”

“People like you more if you’re smiling, too. Think about it. Who do you think people would prefer? Someone who is always crying, or someone who is always smiling?”

Noah smiled endlessly.

…At this point, it was odd. Wasn’t Noah’s face becoming resolute?

“Noah.”

“Yes~?”

“It’s okay to cry when you’re tired. You have that right.”

“Why~?”

“Because you’re still a child. You’re still young enough to cry. If you can’t, only cry when you’re with me.”

“When you’re there~?”

“Right. I’m not so bad that I can’t handle you crying. I’m not.”

“hehehe~weird~”

You’re the weird one.

Noah has been swaying her body from side to side for a while now. It’s almost like a metronome.

Suddenly, an uneasy feeling crossed my mind.

“Noah?”

“Yes~?”

“Are you drunk?”

“No~.”

A sense of dread slowly crept up on me. Noah’s violet eyes were starting to sway.

As expected, she was definitely drunk.

I didn’t think she’d get drunk from just one drink.

As long as we’re not doing anything dangerous, she should be fine.

Noah swayed for a while longer and continued talking while smiling.

“Then can I really cry?”

That’s a bit of a problem.

Think about it. An adult who takes a middle schooler to a soup restaurant in the middle of the night just to make her cry?

I would definitely be seen as a weirdo. It’s better to tell her not to cry for my reputation and social image.

But.

“…Do as you please.”

Noah beamed with delight.

She seemed like the happiest person in the world.

Petting Noah’s head…Gently soothing her.

“…Hoo…”

“Noah.”

“Huh…Hoo…”

“Crying is not something to be ashamed of.”

“Dad…I miss you…”

“Running away might be embarrassing, but it helps, right?”

“I’m having such a hard time…Don’t die…Dad…”

“So, cry. Run away as much as you want.”

Noah bursts into tears immediately. The fake smile she had earlier completely disappears, and large tear drops flow down her cheeks.

Noah is now completely prostrated, sobbing.

And that’s how my title changed.

From the man who flirted with a middle school girl and took her to a traditional Korean food restaurant.

After getting her drunk, turned into the man who made her cry.

But.

“Are you okay?”

I took off my coat and put it on Noah. It was her little sanctuary.

In her small, dark world, there was no one to complain about, no matter how much she cried or grieved.

Noah, who fled into it, would be turning a blind eye to reality and would be very sad.

But as an adult, I shouldn’t.

“Hey, why are you making a kid cry?”

“…”

“It was suspicious from the beginning. Why are you hanging out with a kid at this late hour? This can’t be happening. Kid! Hurry outside-“

“Shut up.”

“What?”

“Shut up and get lost. Unless you want to get hurt.”

“…What?”

“Didn’t you hear me? Leave the kid alone.”

The gossiper takes a step back when I glare at him.

The surrounding people are full of suspicious eyes, not just from their words.

That’s how people are. People’s thoughts are that prejudiced.

Once you get an idea, you can’t do anything else.

In their minds, I am already nothing more than trash.

I sat in my seat enduring their gazes. It was an unpleasant feeling.

Dozens of eyes looking at me. All these eyes were hostile.

I wanted to run away.

How comfortable it would be. If only I could escape from those looks.

But I held my place even tighter.

Children are allowed to run away.

“Noah.”

“Huh…haa…yes…ye…””

“It’s okay.”It’s okay. You can cry more.”

“Heu…”

“It’s okay…it’s okay. Uncle is here. Uncle isn’t going anywhere, okay?”

As an adult, I must not run away.

No matter how painful or shameful it is, especially when this young child is crying.

So Noah cried for a long time, and I kept stroking her head until my hand became sore.

Until Noah was tired and fell asleep.