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

I knew I would never make a good impression. Isn’t that right? A villain who spouts bizarre things while wielding tentacles.

Even I find it somewhat unpleasant. Still, I thought the things I said while executing villains were kind of cool, but…

Hearing such direct comments made me feel melancholic.

“You dislike it that much?”
“Yes. Thinking he can seduce women with tentacles and such. It’s the worst.”
“…It is pretty bad.”

Noah’s fact-bombing continued. So strongly that even I, knowing it was all an act, felt wounded.

She seemed to think her encounter with Kraken was the worst. It was even surprising to see her this upset, making me wonder if she had ever been this angry before.

“Sigh…”
“You must have really hated it.”
“Exactly. To think it made me write something like this.”

As she waved her notebook, my gaze turned towards it. Soon, Noah’s story began again.

+++++

Helplessness is a terrible emotion.
Lying on the floor, Noah was now intensely feeling that helplessness.

How long had it been since she felt this way? Probably the first time since seeing her father lying in a hospital bed, unable to move.

“Haah…”
“Lady Noah. Would you like some water?”
“It’s okay. Kyukyu, you rest too. We’ve been busy for a while.”
“Kyu… call me if you need anything.”

Kyukyu, spreading its wings, flew out the window. The creature would probably sit on a tree and monitor the surroundings.

Her body felt limp.
She didn’t want to move.

Thinking about why she was feeling this way, what came to mind was her encounter with the grotesque villain.

“…Kraken.”

True to the name taken from a legendary monster, he possessed various tentacles.

He was a difficult opponent to deal with. Skillfully attacking and defending, and how well he ran his mouth. She nearly died on the spot.

“…I almost died.”

At that realization, Noah’s body trembled.
It had been a month since she became a magical girl. Noah belatedly realized.

How dangerous the work she was doing really was.

She had been somewhat prepared. Getting injured was commonplace, and she had endured the pain many times because of it.

But this was the first time she had really almost died.

“Haah…”

Noah sighed and tossed in her bed. Worries flooded in like a tide.
If I die, what will happen to dad? There’s not much money. Will the government provide support?

Such worries, you know. Her chest felt tight. She just wanted to escape from the increasingly heavy reality.

Someone’s voice echoed in Noah’s mind.

‘Running away might be shameful, but it helps, right?’

It’s an embarrassing memory. That was the first time she cried profusely in front of someone. But the man, Shin Hyun’s words, certainly remained in her memory.

“…To run away, huh.”

Yes. No matter how harsh reality is, you can at least dream, can’t you?

With that thought, Noah sat at a table with a notebook and a pen.
Noah turned on a video site and watched a video.

In the video, the protagonist, after receiving a terminal diagnosis, created a ‘bucket list’ of things he wanted to do.

In the short video, he enjoyed doing what he wanted with his friends, and the video ended with him smiling happily.

“Wow…”

She was impressed.
True joy spent at the edge of life.

‘I’ll try it too.’

It’s not like she has a set date to die, but she’s doing something where it wouldn’t be strange to die at any time.
Yes, before dying, she should do what she wants to do, so she’ll feel less regretful.

“Let’s see…”

Noah, replaying the video, began to write her own list. One by one, the list was written down.

The blank page was quite filled, and Noah nodded. She grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.

First thing she wanted to do.
[Watching favorite programs]

Turning on the TV, which looked like it had been picked up from a junk shop, a static-filled screen appeared.
It was uncomfortable to watch, but better than nothing.

“Oh, this is on.”

Coincidentally, the TV was showing a program Noah liked. Noah was blankly watching the TV.

“…Huh?”

It wasn’t particularly enjoyable. No, it was good, but… for a wish to fulfill before dying, it seemed a bit…

“Hmm…”

Was there something wrong?
As Noah watched the video again, she suddenly realized something.

‘This person is having a lot of fun.’

In the video, the man was laughing his head off with his friends.
Meanwhile, in the real world, Noah was just curled up, staring blankly.

Am I enjoying myself right now?

“…No.”

Noah pondered for a long time.
Soon, she discovered one big difference between her list and the one he had created.

[Watching fun programs with friends.]
[Watching fun programs.]

There was no one to do it with.
Only then did Noah understand.

That she had no family or friends left to do this with.

And one more thing.

The reason the protagonist in the video could laugh wasn’t because he was doing what he wanted to do. It was because he had people to share the fun with.

“Hmm…”

Her mother had passed away, and her father was hospitalized. She never had many friends to begin with… no, actually, there was only one.

And now she’s lost contact with that person too…

“…”

Noah. Why are you like this? Your parents?

“…No parents.”

Um… then friends?

“No friends either.”

Flop.
Noah lay down on the blanket.

“There’s nothing here.”

A bitter laugh escaped.
Na Noah. What kind of life have you lived?

“I’ve just lived recklessly.”

People who had opened their hearts to her were only her dad and a childhood friend with whom she’d lost contact. And at most, Kyukyu.

…Recently, one more person had been added, but.

‘Maybe I’ll think about things I want to do with that mister…’

Noah, recalling the mister’s face, wrote down the list. It was a strange thing.

“Why… why is this going so well…”

Unlike earlier, the pen moved smoothly.

[Cook and eat something delicious together.]
[Go to an amusement park together.]
[Chat in pajamas.]
[Hold hands together.]
[Lie down and sleep together.]

This is getting strange. No, more than that.
This just looks like the dreams of a pubescent girl writing down her desires.

“Ugh…”

Even though her hand was trembling, Noah continued writing.
Finally, when the girl’s desire reached its peak.

[Kiss like the protagonists in romance novels.]

“Aaahhh!!!”

Noah crossed out the list with slashes. She just couldn’t bear it. Her heart was racing, and her cheeks were burning.

“Na Noah, get a grip.”

Noah slapped her cheek with a smack!

“He’s just a perverted mister.”

He’s just strangely kind, and somehow makes you feel reassured when you’re with him, and you just want to lean on him—

“Get a grip!”

This won’t do.
If this continues, she might really go crazy.

Turning the page, Noah hurriedly wrote down one list.

[Eat something delicious with a close friend.]

“…Phew.”

This should be enough.

Noah gathered ingredients and headed to the convenience store. After making a fuss alone, it was already dawn. Soon, it would be time for the mister to get off work.

‘Because he’s a close friend. Yes. What’s weird about eating with a close friend?’

He’s just a close friend. Noah repeated this earnestly to herself.

Finishing her flashback, Noah looked at the mister. The mister with a face full of interest.

“Just, you know. Things I want to do before I die?”
“Really? It’s good to have something like that.”
“Since I do dangerous things, it’s nice to have something like this.”

Of course, she wouldn’t tell him everything.

+++++

After saying that, Noah got up from her seat.

“Well, story over. Now I’ll do the dishes. Mister, finish the rest and give me the plates.”
“Alright.”
Noah started cleaning up. I was sitting at the table, finishing the remaining rolled eggs when I heard a thud.

When I turned my head, Noah’s notebook had fallen open.

Remarkably, it was open to the list part.
These were probably things she had started but canceled. Through the crossed-out slashes, a few list items were inevitably visible.

Amusement park, pajama party, holding hands? Lying down and sleeping together?

‘Like lovers.’

The finishing touch was the last one.
Kissing like the protagonists in a romance novel, huh.

‘She’s definitely a kid.’

To write down thoughts that only dreaming girls would have as things she wants to do.
Well, girls of that age do yearn for princes on white horses.

Just as I was about to pick up the notebook to hand it back.

“Mister! Don’t look!”

Noah rushed over and snatched the notebook.
Zap. Her eyes turned fierce.

“…You saw, didn’t you?”
“Well, unintentionally.”
“Oh, really…!”

Noah, who had stepped back a few steps, had a face that turned as red as a strawberry. Rays were shooting from her eyes. After that, she just covered her face with the notebook, embarrassed.

‘…This is fun.’

Noah’s reaction was quite fresh.
The reactions she had shown so far were mostly three types.

Being cool, crying loudly, or smiling strangely.
This is the first time I’ve seen her embarrassed like this, and unconsciously, I felt a bit mischievous.

Perhaps I wanted to brighten her mood a bit.

“Noah~”

I got up and headed towards Noah. With a big smile on my face.
She saw me approaching and flinched, then slowly stepped backward.

“Mister, your smile is scary.”
“Oh, come on. You can easily stop me anyway.”
“That’s true, but…”

Soon, Noah was backed into a corner.

“Noah.”
“What?”

I asked her a question with the biggest smile I could muster.

“That last wish.”
“Yes.”
“…Who did you want to kiss when you wrote that down?”