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

A heavy silence flowed.
We were in a small room in the restaurant. Various dishes were brought to our table.

Jjamppong, sweet and sour pork, and even expensive dishes like Ganpunggi and Palbochae.

The reason we were here was simple.

“Noah! It’s been a while, eat plenty!”
“…Thank you.”
“Hahaha! Our Noah has grown up! Even bringing a boyfriend!”

To the jovially laughing bald owner, I said.

“I’m not her boyfriend-”
“Yes, he is. My boyfriend.”
“…Noah?”
“A kind and wonderful boyfriend.”

At Noah’s words, the owner burst into laughter again.

“Hahaha!! So that’s it. Eat a lot and please take good care of Noah! I was disappointed not to see her since moving the restaurant… so she’s been with such a fine person.”
“Ah… yes… haha…”

Did the owner see?
The look in Noah’s eyes as she gazed at his daughter, Taehwa.
Wasn’t it the same look as Jumsooni saying “Your family doesn’t have this, does it?”

Taehwa, the person in question, was just quietly nibbling on the food.

“Then I’ll go make some more dishes. Have fun, Noah!”
“Yes. Thank you.”

After the owner left, silence fell.
Only then did I have a chance to organize the situation.

The way things turned out was simple.
‘To quietly observe the situation before setting the stage.’
To see how bad the relationship between Noah and Taehwa was, I was just watching.
The unstable climate between the two children.

Noah and Taehwa, who recognized each other, exchanged glances for a long time, and the owner’s wife, who came to see what was happening, discovered.

None other than Noah, her daughter Taehwa’s childhood friend.
After that, it happened in an instant. Kidnapped to the VIP room, we received lavish treatment.

That’s how much the owner and his wife adored Noah. We just had to accept their kindness, eat the delicious food, and be grateful.

…That’s how it should have been.

“…”
“…”
“…Mister.”
“Uh… Noah.”
“Is it delicious?”
“The owner has good skills.”

We continued our uncomfortable meal with endless silence. The reason was those two, Noah and Taehwa.

There was a cold air between them. More precisely, Noah was unilaterally ignoring Taehwa, and Taehwa was watching for cues.

Whenever Taehwa tried to say something.

“Mister, try this.”
“Uh… okay…”
“Ah~”
“Ah…”

Noah would talk to me, repeatedly defusing the situation. To be honest.

‘I feel like I’m going to choke.’

I couldn’t tell if the food was going into my mouth or my nose. The heavy air weighed down on my shoulders.
‘These kids’ relationship is really bad.’

Glancing at Taehwa, she didn’t look good at all. Taehwa, feeling my gaze, looked at me.

It was a look asking for help. I kept her secret, so the mister should keep his promise too. Was that it?

But such an exchange of glances.

“…What are you staring at?”
“No, I…”
“He’s my boyfriend?”

Was interrupted by Noah’s words.
More than that, boyfriend? Even if it’s to provoke Taehwa, isn’t this too much?

“…Haah.”

I sighed and stroked Noah’s head.

“Noah.”
“Yes?”
“That girl… Taehwa, was it? Isn’t she your friend?”

Glance.
After looking at Taehwa, Noah answered bluntly.

“She was my friend.”
“Was…?”
“Yes. Don’t you have people like that too, mister? People who were friends but lost contact, people who were friends but grew distant.”

Noah’s eyes turned cold as she uttered the next words.

“People who were friends but betrayed their friends.”
“Noah, it’s a misunderstanding! That’s…!”
“Who was it that told me to get lost? I think it was some Taehwa from somewhere.”
“That… but… there was a reason for-”
“I don’t want to hear it.”

‘…Ugh.’

They say when a woman holds a grudge, frost falls even in May and June. At this level, it wouldn’t be strange if there was a cold wave, not just frost.

Taehwa, who had been hesitating for a long time, bowed her head deeply.

“…I’m sorry.”

After that, Taehwa didn’t open her mouth.
And so, the uncomfortable meal continued.

After some time had passed, around when satiety was starting to set in. Taehwa’s phone rang, and at the same time, Noah’s phone also rang.

“I’ll be back after taking this call.”
“I… me too.”

In the room where the two girls simultaneously disappeared, there was a moment of peace.

“…Phew… this is killing me.”

As I stretched my back, there was a cracking sound. Of all places to come, what a hardship this is.

‘I’m scared…’
‘I’m scared too.’
‘What on earth happened? That student Taehwa doesn’t seem like a bad person.’

It was hard for me to answer Kkomul-i’s question. I don’t know either. All I know is that Taehwa is a good kid, just like Noah.
Can I reconcile them?
Stella would surely be a reliable ally.

“…”
“…”

While I was pondering, the two girls came in without saying a word. Their expressions looked dark. Did something happen?

I asked Noah with a concerned voice.

“Noah, did something happen?”
“The association called. They told me to check the team members I’ll be working with.”
“W-wait, Noah.”
“…”
“I think it’s better not to tell the mister-”
“Funny. Who are you to tell me what to do? This mister already knows I’m a magical girl.”

Taehwa lowered her head at the sharp gaze. After pondering, she spoke.

“I didn’t expect it. That you, Noah, would be Iris.”
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t use that name in my current form, Stella.”
“…Sorry.”

Noah explained to me, who couldn’t grasp the situation.

“They sent a file with the team members’ information and actual appearances.”
“I see.”
“So I found out. That I’m Iris… and she’s Stella.”
What happened to the friendly relationship they had when facing Bagg? Noah was still eager to bite her head off.

“…Anyway, I look forward to working with-”
“Ha, I might quit being a magical girl.”
“…Noah?”
“To think I have to be on a team with someone I don’t want to be with.”
“…”
“If I had known you were Stella, I wouldn’t have helped you.”
It was a rare harsh statement from Noah. She said that and stood up.
It meant she had nothing more to say.

“Noah, let’s just talk for a moment-”
“I have nothing to say.”
“…Ugh…”
“You might still see me as a friend… but to me.”
“…”
“You’re just a thorn I want to pull out quickly and forget.”
“Noah…”
“…I’m leaving. Let’s not see each other again. No… even if we do, don’t act like you know me. Just coworkers. Got it?”
When she opened the door to leave, she met the owner who was bringing food. He seemed confused by Noah leaving when not all the food had been served yet.

“Noah? You’re leaving already?”
“Yes, mister. Please let me pay.”
“Pay? Oh, how could I take money from our Noah-”
“Mister. This is really uncomfortable for me. Please let me pay.”

Sensing the cold atmosphere, the owner hesitated before accepting the card.
The owner calculated with an awkward expression. Seeing this, Noah’s face darkened.

“Goodbye.”

Noah flung open the restaurant door, and I hurriedly followed. Her mood didn’t seem right.

+++++
As expected, Noah began to wander aimlessly.
Her face was deeply stained with darkness.

The usual Noah wouldn’t have shown such an atmosphere. Despite having a defensive appearance, she didn’t openly display hostility.

The girl named Noah was more accustomed to defense than attack, and as such, what happened earlier was unusual for her.

And this was probably the reaction to that.
Noah collapsed onto a park bench and.
“Hic… huk…”
“…”
“I should have… just kept ignoring her… why suddenly…”

Moisture began to gather in her eyes.

As the tension eased, tears flowed out, and the forcibly worn mask of anger shattered, leaving her drained.

Feeling sorry for her, I wrapped my arm around Noah’s shoulders. Noah, pressing her body close to mine, muttered.

“It hurts…”
“Noah, are you okay?”
“Hic… it hurts…”
“Do you want to go to the hospital?”

Noah clutched her chest.

“Mister… I’m in so much pain…”
“…This won’t do. I’ll call 911.”
“Not that…”

Grip.
Noah grabbed my arm.
With a slightly tear-soaked voice, she said to me.

“I just… want to rest a bit.”
“…Alright.”

I supported her and helped her stand.
I called a taxi, and during the waiting time. She buried her face in my clothes and said.

“Can I go to your house, mister?”
“My house?”
“Yes. I want to use the bed.”

After a slight hesitation, I nodded, saying “Sure.” She’ll probably skip school tomorrow anyway after what happened today.

Having gone through physical and emotional hardship, she should get a good rest.
The taxi arrived, and Noah clung to me the entire time in the taxi, not letting go. Like a piece of gum.

A little later, Noah, who arrived at my house, headed blankly to the bed and laid her tired body down.

“Noah. Take off your socks before resting.”
“…Take them off for me.”
“Geez…”
“I’m sorry…”

I took off her socks and covered her with a blanket.
What should I do with these? As I stood there holding the socks, I felt Noah’s gaze.
“Don’t smell them.”
“I won’t!”
“Hehe… just leave them here. I’ll take them later.”
“Okay, rest quickly. I’ll be in the living room.”
“Yes…”

After closing the bedroom door, I organized my thoughts.

‘Their relationship isn’t good.’
The relationship between Noah and Taehwa wasn’t good. Even worse than I had thought.
Then what I need to do here is.
‘Listen to exactly what happened to Noah.’
I’ll ask after letting her rest a bit.
I was thinking that when my phone rang with a buzz. Speak of the devil.
It was a message from Noah who had just lain down on the bed.

[Mister]
[Yes?]
[Turn off the light plz]
“…Sigh, alright, alright… okay.”
I went back into the room to turn off the light.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…Mister.”
“Yes?”
“Could you stay with me until I fall asleep?”

Noah was staring at me again.
Just until she falls asleep… I can do that.
I brought in a chair and was about to sit on it. But Noah whined again.
“No, not there…”
Then she patted the spot next to her.
“Here.”