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

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

[Why eat soup? With that money, you could buy so many packets of ramen.]

It wasn’t that Noah disliked soup. She just couldn’t afford it.

In fact, eating at a soup restaurant triggers a CG in the game. A CG showing Noah enjoying soup.

Soup is Noah’s soul food.

Moreover.

‘With that expression, she says she doesn’t like it?’

The body is honest. Even if the mouth tells lies, the body does not.

I glanced at Noah trailing behind me. She kept her distance out of caution, but her expression was bright.

Now Noah was even humming.

‘Look at that expression. It’s definitely the expression of a girl excited about a date!’
‘It looks more like the expression of a soup enthusiast happy to eat soup.’

Brushing off Kkomul-i’s words, I approached Noah.
She quickly composed herself with a “huh!”

“I’m really just going to eat and leave.”

Noah turned her face away with a somewhat prim voice.

She might end up following a bad uncle. Ah, I guess the current situation isn’t that different.

As an awkward atmosphere developed.
Noah, following behind, opened her mouth unnecessarily.

“So? Is it really a good place?”
“Yeah. It’s the best one I’ve been to.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”

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

According to the owner, it’s the oldest fixture in this market. It might be around the same age as Noah.

Steam was rising from the pot, and the cloudy broth was boiling.

Four times in two weeks… no, now it’s five times.
It’s a restaurant I’ve frequented enough to be considered a regular.

“Let’s go in.”
“…”

Noah’s steps stiffened.
A startled sound escaped from Noah, who had turned into a pillar of salt.

“This is the place you were talking about?”
“Yes.”
“Umm…”

She seems a bit troubled.
Why is she acting like this?

“It might look a bit shabby, but it’s delicious.”
“No, that’s not it…”
“You don’t like pork soup? Want a different kind?”
“That… ha… it’s fine. We’ve come this far, so I’ll just eat and go.”

Noah entered the restaurant as cautiously as possible. She looked like a thief sneaking in to steal something.

But soon.

“Oh my, welcome.”

She was caught by the kind-looking owner.

“Hello.”
“The young man is here?”
“Yes. Two soups and one plate of boiled pork, please.”
“Alright. Hmm? But today you have company.”

When the owner spotted her, Noah hid behind me.
It was strange behavior. We’re not close enough for her to do that.

However. The owner seemed to recognize her.
The owner opened her mouth.

“…You’re a student, right?”
“…”
“Student Noah.”
“…”
“You know, the one who used to come often with your father until last year~ It’s been a while.”
“…Ha. Yes, hello.”

It seems Noah was also a regular at this place.
Enough for the owner to recognize her.

“This student’s father used to come to our place often. He always had a glass of soju with his soup.”
“Ah, I see.”

The owner’s gaze turned to Noah again.

“Where’s your father, and why are you with this young man?”
“…Dad is… a bit unwell.”
“Oh my…”
“And this person is…”

Noah stared at me before continuing.

“Just a strange mister.”
“Hey, what do you mean a strange mister.”
“It’s true. A strange mister.”
“I might be strange, but I’m not a mister! I’m only twenty-one.”
“With that face?”
“…This kid?”

She doesn’t give an inch.
The owner, who had been watching us, let out a “haha” and guided us to our seats.

A seat in a corner of the restaurant.
It seemed like a comfortable place to talk.

“Wait here. I’ll give you some service.”
“No, you don’t have to-”
“But. Next time, bring your father.”
“…Yes.”

When the owner left, she returned to her usual expressionless face.
Looking at her expression, I felt an inexplicable sense of dissonance.
It was like seeing emotions that weren’t usually visible.

Noah looked somewhat sad.
Probably.

‘It must be about her father.’

Noah’s father was an important motivation in the story.
After all, the reason Noah became a magical girl was to enter the association and earn money.

‘It must have been for her father’s medical expenses.’

Perhaps that money was used for her father’s treatment. Thinking about it, it makes sense.

The fact that Noah lives alone. That she works so hard to earn money. That she saves money so desperately.

If you think it’s for her father’s medical expenses, that is.

“Be careful, it’s hot~”

The owner brings a hot stone bowl. Inside the bowl was a milky broth.

A deep broth made by thoroughly boiling various parts of pork. A wonderful dish with a rich aroma and no bad smell.

It’s a smell that makes your mouth water every time, so you’d normally start eating right away.

“…Noah?”
“…”

Blank.
Noah didn’t even pick up her spoon and was staring at the soup with an empty gaze. She kept looking at the soup.

“Noah?”
“…”
“Noah!”
“…! You scared me!”

After calling her name several times, she finally made a startled expression.

“Why did you do that suddenly! You scared me!”
“I did it because you were spacing out. Did something happen?”
“…Just.”
“Your expression doesn’t look like ‘just’.”
“You’re persistent, mister.”

Noah sighed. Then she picked up her spoon and casually stirred the salted shrimp.
She put in the salted shrimp, mixed the rice all at once, and only then did Noah start eating.

“…It’s delicious.”
“Try some of the boiled meat too.”
“…It’s not bad.”

Is it really not bad?
Watching Noah pick at her food made me a bit uncomfortable.

I wanted to see her eating deliciously with a smile like in the CG. But Noah’s expression looked somewhat lonely. Probably because of her father.

A place full of memories with her father.
Coming here probably made her think more about her father.

No matter how much she’s a magical girl. No matter how much she’s a guardian who defeats evil, Noah is still a sixteen-year-old girl.

It’s an age where it’s difficult to completely overcome the hardships of the world.

“Are you thinking about your father?”
“A bit… just… umm… this.”

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

“This is what dad liked.”

Noah chewed on the liver.
After savoring it for a moment, Noah soon said.

“…It doesn’t taste that good.”

Then a long silence followed.
Somehow it feels more suffocating than when we were coming here.

After thinking for a moment.

“…Owner, one bottle of soju here.”
“Yes~”

I ordered soju.
It’s a bit awkward to drink in front of a child, but I feel like I’ll really suffocate if I don’t drink.

Noah might prefer it too.
Rather than having someone stare at her eating, the uncomfortable feeling will decrease if the other person is doing something else.

“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”

I poured the soju into a glass and downed it. The bitter alcohol filled my mouth.

It’s bitter.

As I sipped the broth and looked up, I felt Noah’s gaze.

“Just in case, you’re not getting this.”
“I know. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“…Just thinking about dad.”

Come to think of it.

“Did your father often drink soju here?”
“Yes.”

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

“Noah. Can you tell me what happened?”
“What?”
“About… your father.”
“Why do you want to know?”
“You never know. Maybe I can help somehow.”

At my question, Noah fell into thought. Enough time passed for the boiled meat to cool slightly.

“Then.”

Noah pointed at the soju.

“Give me just one shot of that, and I’ll tell you.”
“…Hey. You’re a minor.”
“If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I don’t have to tell you either.”

Is that how it’s going to be?

It’s impure for a minor to want alcohol. It’s clearly right not to give it.

But why am I moved? It’s partly because I want to know about Noah’s situation.
Perhaps she wants to imitate her father?

Children often imitate adults. In Noah’s case, it was her father.

I wiped the glass with a tissue and filled it with soju. Just a bit more than half.

“Only one shot.”
“Yes.”
“After drinking, you’ll tell me what happened.”
“I said I would.”

Noah stared at the glass and then.

Gulp!
She swallowed the soju.

Seeing that, I was slightly worried. If Noah, who has no experience with alcohol, drinks that quickly.

“…Keck…!”

It’s natural that she can’t handle it.
I put a piece of well-cooked pork in Noah’s mouth as she coughed.

Noah quickly accepted it.

Normally, she would have scolded me for doing that, but the desperate kid seemed to have no time for that.

After chewing and swallowing the meat, Noah complained.

“Ugh, it’s bitter… what do adults like about this?”
“Right? I don’t understand either.”
“Then why do you drink it, mister?”
“What reason would there be? I drink it to get drunk.”

Noah made an expression that showed she couldn’t understand.
Seeing that, I definitely felt that a child is a child.

With the hope that she would never understand why adults drink, I looked at Noah.

“Now you have to tell me.”
“Ugh… do you really want to hear it?”
“Of course. It’s a promise.”

At my words, Noah made a complicated expression.
Noah’s face slightly reddened. Eventually, Noah resigned.

“…Dad was a hero.”
“Your father?”
“Yes. You know White Fang, right?”

White Fang. A familiar name.
A hero who reigned at the top of the hero industry and then… retired due to an accident.

That White Fang.

“He’s your father?”

Noah nodded. And at this point, Noah’s eyes became slightly red. She seemed to be thinking about her father.

“…He was a great person. He raised me alone, substituting for my mother who died giving birth to me.”
“I see.”
“While still being a wonderful person who saves the world. That’s my father.”

Her voice was filled with respect. But because of that, my expression could only harden.
I took another shot of soju. The burning sensation swept through my insides.

“Then why… is he hospitalized…”
“He was attacked. By a monster.”
“Ah…”
“It’s been about half a year now… dad became a vegetative state.”

Mother passed away, father in a vegetative state.
And sixteen-year-old Noah, left alone in the world.

“Hospital fees, medicine… caregiver’s salary… I’m paying with the money dad earned and the money from selling the house. Honestly, I don’t know how long it will last. So I’m saving as much as I can.”

Saying such things, Noah smiled.

“Dad used to say.”
“What did he say?”
“A hero is someone who smiles even in hardship and becomes hope for people.”
“…”
“So I smile too.”
“Tell me honestly. Aren’t you scared fighting those things as a magical girl?”

Noah smiled even more broadly.

“Yes, I’m scared. No joke, I could really die, you know?”
“…”
“But if I just get into the association, I can earn money for dad’s treatment.”
“…”
“And it’s good if my popularity increases. Think about it. Who would be more popular: someone who’s always crying or someone who’s smiling?”

Noah continued to smile endlessly.
…At this point, it was strange. Wasn’t Noah’s face starting to look dazed?

“Noah.”
“Yes~?”
“It’s okay to cry when it’s hard. It’s okay for you.”
“Why~?”
“Because you’re a child. You’re still at an age where it’s okay to be spoiled. If nothing else, at least cry when you’re with me.”
“When I’m with you, mister~?”
“Yes. I’m not such a pathetic person that I can’t handle you crying. I’m not.”
“Heehee~ that’s strange~”

You’re the strange one.
Noah has been swaying her body from side to side. Like a metronome.

Seeing that, a sudden unease swept over me.

“Noah?”
“Yes~?”
“Are you drunk?”
“No, I’m not~.”

An ominous feeling crept up. Noah’s purple eyes began to shake.
Indeed, there’s no doubt she’s drunk.

I never thought she’d get drunk from just one shot.
Still, it’s okay at this level. As long as she doesn’t make a scene.

After swaying her body for a long time, Noah continued to smile and said.

“Then, mister~”
“Yes?”
“Can I really cry?”

That’s a bit difficult.
Think about it. An adult taking a middle school student to a soup restaurant late at night and making her cry.

I’ll definitely be seen as a strange person. For the sake of my reputation and social image, it would be better to tell her not to cry.

But.

“…Do as you want.”

Noah smiled so brightly.
As if she were the happiest person in the world.

Pat pat.
I gently stroked Noah’s head.

“…Hic…”
“Noah.”
“Hue… hueeee…”
“Crying isn’t something to be ashamed of.”
“Dad… I miss you…”
“Running away might be shameful, but it helps, right?”
“I’m so tired… huaaang… don’t die… dad…”
“So cry. Run away as much as you need.”

Noah soon burst into tears. The false smile from earlier completely disappeared, and large teardrops rolled down her cheeks.

Now she’s completely bowed down, crying profusely.

And so my title changed.

From “a man who lured a middle school girl to a soup restaurant”,

To “a man who lured a middle school girl to a soup restaurant, got her drunk, and made her cry.”

But.

‘I don’t care.’

I took off my coat and put it over Noah. It was Noah’s small refuge.
A small, dark world. In that world, no one can say anything no matter how much she cries, no matter how sad she is.

Noah, escaping into that world, would turn away from reality and be incredibly sad.

But as an adult, I can’t do that.

“Hey, why are you making the kid cry?”
“…”
“You looked suspicious from the start. Why are you dragging a kid around at this late hour? This won’t do. Kid! Quickly come outside-”
“Shut up.”
“What?”
“Shut up and get lost. If you don’t want to die.”
“…What?”
“Didn’t you hear me? Leave the kid alone.”

When I glared at him like I’d kill him, the meddler backed off.
Others around are also giving suspicious looks, though they’re not saying anything.

People are like that. People’s thoughts are that narrow-minded.
When they fixate on one thought, they can’t think of anything else.
In their minds, I’m probably no different from trash now.

I sat in my seat, enduring those gazes. It was an unpleasant feeling.
Dozens of gazes looking at me. All of them were sending hostile looks.
I wanted to run away.
How comfortable would it be if I could escape from those gazes?
But I held my position even more firmly.
Children can run away, but.

“Noah.”
“Hic… hic… ye… yes…?”
“It’s okay. It’s okay to cry more.”
“Hic…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Uncle is here. Uncle isn’t going anywhere. Understand?”

As an adult, I can’t run away.
No matter how painful and embarrassing it is, especially not when such a young child is crying.

And so, Noah cried for a long time, and I continued to stroke her head until my hand ached.

Until Noah, exhausted, fell asleep.