I’ll Live as a Villain Obsessed Over by a Magical Girl

After leaving the restaurant, I took Noah to a nearby park. The park at night was dark and deserted, with no one around.

“Phew…”

I sat on a bench and laid Noah down as well. Noah is now asleep using my thigh as a pillow. Her eyes were swollen from crying so much.

Looking at her made me feel sorry for her. The scene of her smiling face distorting was etched in my mind.

“Mmm… dad…”

Noah mumbled in her sleep, calling for her father.
When I gently stroked her head, she made an expression of utter happiness.

Looking at the sleeping child, I organized my thoughts.

In truth, I had been hesitant.
Isn’t that so?

‘A villain, huh.’

There are many cool villains out there, but a villain is clearly a bad person. As long as I live as a villain, I must accept the risks.

Being caught, sustaining serious injuries. In the worst case, I might even die.
For me, who has never even stolen anything, it’s a terrifying prospect.

Of course, one could also ask.
What about joining the association?
To that, I can answer definitively.

‘The association guys are too rigid. They also have their shady aspects.’

It’s called an association, but in reality, it’s no different from a black company. I want to dissuade Noah from joining, but…

‘After hearing about her father, I can’t say anything.’

In the game, Noah received a substantial amount of money as a condition for joining the association. Probably for her father’s medical expenses.

If she can’t prepare the money, Noah’s father will die. In other words, me dissuading Noah from joining the association would be like telling her to let her family die.

“…I’ll just have to do my best.”

Let’s prepare thoroughly.

“One year. No, maybe a bit longer.”

The main storyline begins next spring. It will start shortly after Noah enters high school.

‘The first boss is…’

I remembered.
The tutorial boss and one of the Demon King’s subordinates, Orc Lord.

A monster that kidnaps people.
If defeated by him, Noah would also be kidnapped, leading straight to a bad ending.

It was a boss from whom the inexperienced Noah had to escape at all costs, as she couldn’t defeat the experienced orc.

This is what worried me.

‘Will Noah run away?’

…Probably not.
In the game, she ran away because I controlled her. From what I’ve seen of Noah so far, she’s not someone who would run away from an enemy.

After pondering, I spoke to Kkomul-i.

‘Kkomul-i. Can you also absorb magical power?’
‘Yes.’
‘Even from monsters?’
‘Doesn’t matter if it’s a monster or a human.’

Good.
Choosing Kkomul-i as a partner was indeed the best decision.

For a while, let’s secretly hunt monsters and villains. And as quickly as possible, appear before Noah and become her rival.
“There’s a lot to do ahead.”

I stroked Noah’s head, thinking of the hardships she would face.

Strange.
I’m not usually someone who gets attached to others.

Maybe it’s because I’ve built an internal closeness from meeting her in the game, or maybe I’m anxious about the world ending.

‘It’s love.’
‘Be quiet.’

I do like Noah, but it’s only a “Like,” not a “Love.”

Laughing off Kkomul-i’s words, I stared blankly at the night sky.

“…Phew. It’s going to be tough.”
“What is?”
“Just. Why is living so arduous?”
“That’s just how life is.”
“Kkomul-i. You speak well. You should always speak like-”
“Who’s Kkomul-i?”

Who’s Kkomul-i? It’s you.
I was about to say that, but I swallowed my words with a gulp.

“…Did you sleep well?”
“Thanks to you.”

There was a gaze staring at me.
It was Noah.

“What time is it now?”
“Now? Let’s see… 1 AM.”
“How long did I sleep?”
“About three hours?”

Noah slowly got up.
As if the scene of her crying just moments ago was a lie, she was looking at me with a refreshed expression.

“I’m really weak with alcohol.”
“Yes. Don’t drink alcohol anywhere.”
“I won’t. Whew… how embarrassing.”

She twisted her waist around and soon sat next to me.

“Wasn’t your leg numb?”
“Not really. You’re not that heavy.”
“Maybe because I haven’t eaten much?”
“Eat properly. I’ll prepare lunchboxes for you from now on, so take them with you.”

Of course, convenience store lunchboxes aren’t good for your health either.
Salty… high in calories. Continually eating just ramen and lunchboxes is a perfect way to ruin your body.

Next time I get the chance, I should teach her how to cook.
Having lived alone for a long time, I have some skills.

“…”
“…”

A single lamp was illuminating us.
We kept silent for a long time, watching the faint light spread.

I didn’t know what to say.
Noah was probably like that because she felt awkward.

At times like this, it’s better to just stay quiet. There’s no one to interfere anyway.

Such a mutual understanding led to silence.

“Mister.”

That’s when it happened. A voice broke the silence.

“Thank you.”

My gaze turned to Noah.

“For listening to my worries. Thank you.”

Noah, who had been looking at me suspiciously until before dinner, was now smiling at me.

“It’s my first time. Opening up to someone like this.”
“Really? Do you feel better?”
“Yes. Truly, sincerely.”

As she said, Noah was making an expression that seemed relieved.
I was about to say “That’s good,” but my words were cut off.

“Then I’ll be going first.”
“Hmm, then let me walk you to your-”
“It’s okay. I’m strong, you know.”
“That’s a separate issue.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m doing this to put my mind at ease.”

I got up from my seat and walked beside Noah.

“I’ll walk you home.”
“It’s really okay…”
“I told you. I’m doing this to put my mind at ease.”

Noah, having no choice, walked with me. And so, I strolled through the night streets with Noah.
After about 20 minutes.

“It’s here.”

A shabby goshiwon welcomed us.

“It’s old, isn’t it?”
“What of it? I used to live in places like this too.”
“Where do you live now?”
“A semi-basement. It’s not bad.”
“I should check it out sometime.”
“It’s a disaster during the rainy season, though.”
“Ugh… I don’t like that.”

We continued our conversation a bit more.
Noah had a somewhat regretful expression.

A more comfortable expression. It was a relief. I don’t know about being friends, but at least it seems we’ve reached a level where she doesn’t consider me an enemy.

Then, as I suddenly yawned, Noah began to wave her hand.

“I’ll be going now.”
“Yes. Take care.”
“Goodbye.”

I waved to Noah’s retreating figure, then soon lowered my hand.
Now I should go home and rest too.

A day with many events… it’s not even a day anymore.

“Yaaawn…”

A long yawn.
At the same time, I heard a voice scolding me.

‘Tsk. How frustrating.’
‘Kkomul-i. What are you complaining about now?’
‘Really, are you going to end it like this?’
‘End what?’
‘What a frustrating partner.’

I felt Kkomul-i, who had been quiet, entering my body.
There was no time to stop it. It, in an instant, snatched away control of my body.

Thud, thud.

My steps moved.

Thud.

I grabbed Noah’s arm.

“Mis…ter?”
“…Ah… that…”

Noah’s confused expression.
I hurriedly confronted Kkomul-i.

‘What are you doing?’
‘Be quiet and prepare a cool line.’

Prepare?
What on earth should I prepare?

But my words had no chance to come out, they just swirled inside and disappeared, clearly engraved in my eyes.

Noah’s surprised face approaches. Noah is getting closer and closer to my body. Being pulled might be a more accurate description.

And eventually.

“…”
“…”

I ended up embracing Noah.

Our bodies were tightly pressed together.
So close that I could hear the small, thumping heartbeat of Noah.

“Noah. This… that…”

How could I explain this situation?

That there’s another being inside me that did this? I’d be treated as a lunatic.

That I’m doing this because I love her? What am I doing to a minor?

That she’s like a daughter to me? That’s the worst. That’s just being a sex offender.

My head was spinning. I had just become friendly with Noah. If she starts to be cautious of me again because of this, all my efforts would be in vain.

‘…Let’s bow our head.’

Let’s sincerely apologize. Say it was a joke, or a mistake.
Somehow, if I apologize, won’t she accept it?

As I was about to bow my head, I ended up meeting Noah’s gaze directly.

“…”

It was an expression I’d never seen before.
Cheeks as red as a ripe tomato, and from her excited breath came a sweet fragrance.

Noah’s small hand grabbed the hem of my clothes.
As if she didn’t want to fall away.

“Noah?”
“…”
“Noah…?”
“…”

Noah just stared at me without saying anything.

And so, after enough time had passed for our body temperatures to become similar.

“…See you tomorrow. Mister.”

Noah quickly ran away into the goshiwon.

Leaving a deep warmth in my chest.

+++++

“Haah… haah…”

Noah, covered with a blanket, clutched her chest.

‘Calm down… calm down… myself…!’

Thump.

But her heart wouldn’t listen.
It pumped regardless of its owner’s will.

Why? It’s a question that filled her head, but she might already know the answer.

It was probably.
Because of a man with whom she had shared her body heat.

Thump.

The man’s embrace was warm. Was that why? If I could stay like this, it would be nice… she had such thoughts.

If, from here, it had gone a bit further.
If, instead of ending with a hug, it had progressed… to the next and the next.

“What am I regretting…”

Thump thump.

Noah forcibly pressed down on her pounding heart and lay on her bed.
Why did the bed, which would usually be soft and warm, feel so cold and lonely today?

“Mister… yes… it was warm…”

Thump thump thump.

That was probably because she had tasted such a warm and gentle warmth.

“…Ugh… aaaah…! How can I face the mister now…!”

Every time she sees him, this feeling will come to mind, and her face will turn red.

“Ugh… ughhhh…! What’s wrong with me…!”

When she closes her eyes, she remembers.
The mister’s face.
Blue eyes, cherry-like lips, a kind smiling expression.

“…I must be really crazy…”

That day, Noah spent the dawn with eyes wide open.
Because of his face that kept appearing even when she closed her eyes.
Does Noah know?

That far in the future, when recalling this time, her future self decided to call this memory as:

The memory of a sweet first love.

“Ugh… ughhhhh…”

Young Noah, who had not yet realized it was her first love, could only stomp her feet at the man’s face that kept appearing.
“…What should I do now…”
She really didn’t have the confidence to look at the man’s face.