The Worst Villain is Actually a Cute Girl-Chapter 55

After the festival, life at the orphanage changed a little for me.

Right now, I’m hiding and resting.

Because if the kids see me, they’ll bother me to death.

I found this place deeper inside the kids’ secret base—a beautiful room filled with pure white flowers, oddly out of place in this cold, abandoned building.

I claimed it as my secret hideout and am currently lying on the bed of flowers, eyes closed, comfortably nestled in.

If I’m here, the kids won’t find me so easily.

Hehe.

A cold breeze sometimes slips in through the building and makes it a bit chilly, but I’m used to this kind of cold—it’s bearable. Besides, the sunlight pouring down through the open ceiling warms my body just enough to make me feel strangely good.

Still!

If I had it my way, I’d just rest peacefully inside!

Why do I have to be sneaking around just to take a nap?

It’s all because of that stupid play!

Not only did I show my face in front of a crowd, I sang, too. That surprise appearance seems to have shocked the kids way more than I expected.

Ever since the play ended, the kids won’t stop following me around and pestering me.

—Was that really your voice?! Seriously? I was so shocked.

—You can talk now? This isn’t a dream, right? Congratulations! I mean it, really!

—Your voice is just as pretty as your face...

The kids keep asking me to speak again.

Of course, they’re not like the gross adults with creepy intentions.

The kids’ requests come from a pure place.

It’s not a hard thing to do. But I still don’t want to do it.

After staying silent for years, using my voice was exhausting.

And unlike during the play, it doesn’t come out naturally anymore.

Even when I say no, they don’t give up.

They start saying things like, “You have to practice to get used to talking,” or “The more you speak, the easier it’ll get.”

They throw out reason after reason and keep pestering me, so I got tired of arguing and just started running away.

Ugh. That part was supposed to be Rena’s solo—I didn’t even need to sing there. I just got swept up in the moment without realizing it... Damn it. I’m such an idiot. A real idiot.

At the time, I didn’t care about vague future consequences or my own safety. I just wanted to make the kids happy in that moment.

They say people can tap into incredible strength when it’s for someone else.

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And I really did better than I ever expected.

Looking back now, I regret it a little.

Remembering what happened after the performance makes me frown instinctively.

—Hey, are you a singer? What’s your stage name? What’s your most famous song? Please tell me! I’ve never seen anyone sing like that before.

—That was amazing! You were the best! I’ll be your fan from now on.

—I honestly thought an angel or a fairy had come down and started singing.

—Please shake my hand!

—I’ve been feeling really down lately, but after watching your performance, I feel hopeful again.

—One more time, please! One more song!

People freaking out over my face and my voice.

I know what kind of reaction my actions bring.

That’s why I always hid myself. I knew it’d be better in the long run to stay quiet.

And yet.

I went and stirred up the peaceful orphanage with something new.

Whether this breeze I kicked up turns out to be a refreshing gust that lifts the kids’ spirits—or a storm that blows everything away—

No one will know until the time comes.

Not even me.

I really am such an idiot. It’s too late for regrets.

Still.

I got to see the kids smiling. So, in a way... it wasn’t all bad.

Human emotions really are contradictory.

You make the rational judgment that something isn’t the right thing to do, and yet you follow your emotions and create chaos. Or you feel like you’re about to explode emotionally, and then suddenly you turn cold and logical.

What is it that makes people behave that way?

Is it because they don’t really know what they want, so they wander aimlessly in those contradictions?

I slowly closed my eyes.

And just like always, my consciousness sank into darkness.

In that pitch-black space, I could see the world I wasn’t supposed to.

As if someone had jammed it into my vision, into my very being, so I wouldn’t look away.

With a detached face, I quietly looked around the world.

Corpses I created piled into mountains, burning in deep blue flames.

The stench of charred flesh from the flame-covered mounds pierced my nose and sank into my chest—it was suffocating.

Smoke billowed, blanketing the sky so that not even a sliver of light could shine through.

The blood flowing from those mountains formed a river, painting the earth red.

The crackle of fire, the rush of the blood river, the sound of wind.

Every sound was a scream drenched in hatred.

......

I remember those faces.

Some of them may have been innocent—but most of them were villains who pierced and trampled my heart.

I could ignore this. I could erase it all right now.

I could throw their resentment back at them, justify myself, and scream that I was the one who deserved to be pitied.

That my crimes were necessary—just to survive.

Self-defense.

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I could keep repeating that phrase and free myself from guilt.

But I can’t.

This dream is a prison, built by the guilt of having taken lives.

This place isn’t warm or kind like the orphanage.

I want to escape it—and yet, a part of me wants to remain here forever.

I really am such a fool.

I meant to just keep walking through this world, quietly, like always.

But then, familiar voices from somewhere started shattering this world.

My eyes snapped open.

I sat up and turned my head toward the rustling sound.

I frowned.

Meanwhile, the intruders who had found their way in and disturbed my nap were practically sparkling with excitement, as if they’d discovered treasure.

“We found you!”

“Lily, you were here all along!”

“Whoa! I didn’t know a place like this existed. You picked a great hiding spot.”

The kids rushed me all at once and clung to me, making sure I couldn’t escape.

Ugh.

Don’t grab me.

It’s uncomfortable.

“You’re not getting away.”

“Even if you run, we’ll just find you again.”

Their tiny hands gripped my clothes with surprising strength—I couldn’t shake them off.

Seriously, I can’t get any sleep because of you guys.

I bobbed my head in surrender, admitting defeat.

But for some reason, they still didn’t let go.

Why? What now?

Ah... no way!?

Their eyes said it all—they were asking for something. I could tell exactly what it was.

Ugh, my face twisted with dread.

The kids’ stubbornness is tough to beat.

If I want any peace, I’ll have to give in a little.

With a dry, tired smile, I muttered quietly:

“...Fine... I won’t run away...”

The kids giggled, thinking they’d won.

Their smug little faces were annoyingly proud.

As their hands loosened from my clothes, and they let their guard down—

I sprang to my feet and dashed away.

“Ahhh! She’s running again!”

“Liar!”

“Get her!”

Try and catch me if you can!

I stuck out my tongue at the kids chasing after me and bolted away.

Their frustrated shouts echoed behind me.

Hehe.

*

Inside the orphanage, in the kitchen.

It was full of noisy clatter.

Rena was humming as she made snacks.

She was smiling brightly, clearly in a great mood. Her hands moved cheerfully, like they were having fun.

Clink, clatter.

Today’s snack was her special pudding—something she only made once in a while.

As the name implied, it used rare ingredients and had a fantastical taste. The problem was that those ingredients were hard to get, so this treat only appeared a few times a year.

This time, the kids had worked really hard and finally gotten a chance to make it.

Just thinking about the children smiling filled her with energy.

As she stirred and mixed with practiced motions—

Huh...?

She suddenly felt a strange gaze on her back.

Rena slowed her pace and glanced toward the entrance.

Lily was peeking in from the doorway, eyes gleaming, silently watching her in hiding.

I knew she’d show up again.

Those weren’t the usual tired eyes.

They were the eyes of a phantom thief who’d just found a new gem.

Other kids loved snacks too, but Lily’s obsession was on another level—she had a long record of sneaking in before snack time to steal some.

Despite multiple warnings, the phantom thief had returned.

No doubt drawn in by the sweet smell again.

Rena pretended not to notice and kept working.

When the snack was finally placed on the table, Lily wore a mischievous grin, watching for her chance like a child about to pull a nasty prank.

At first, Rena planned to catch her like usual and stop the theft by making it obvious she’d been seen—

But then, a fun little trick came to mind, and the corners of her mouth curved up.

If a kid pulls a naughty prank, you repay them with an equally naughty one!

Rena spread a certain sauce on the bread that was meant to go with the pudding.

It was red, like strawberry.

Then she placed the bread in a very obvious spot—right where a naughty little hand could easily snatch it.

Rena casually walked off to do ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) something else, pretending not to see.

Sneak... sneak...

The tiny phantom thief entered the kitchen without making a sound, stole the treasure, and bolted. Her skill was no joke—Rena was genuinely impressed.

At the same time, she chuckled.

Sorry, but if you didn’t want the punishment, you shouldn’t have stolen it in the first place.

The punishment she’d prepared for the bad habit.

If you’re a good kid, nothing happens.

BOOM!

Well, I guess that was too much to hope for.

A loud crash echoed near the entrance.

Rena calmly poured a glass of milk and headed over.

Outside the entrance, Lily was sitting on the floor.

Her face was flushed red, and she was fanning her tongue with her hand, trying to cool it down.

Her blue eyes were welled up like ice melting into tears.

Lily looked up at Rena with a slightly betrayed expression.

Like she was silently crying, How could you do this to me?

Rena flicked her forehead.

“That’s what happens when you steal.”

“...”

Lily winced and scowled.

Even she couldn’t deny it—she knew it was her fault, so she had nothing to say.

She had just been trying to rest after running from the other kids... and ended up like this.

Lily suddenly wanted to cry.

“Don’t do it again. Got it?”

Nod, nod.

Rena handed her the cup.

Lily grabbed it and gulped down the milk.

Only after finishing it all in one go did life return to her face.

Normally, this kind of spicy punishment would be enough to make anyone quit for good.

But Lily was an evil little girl who silently vowed to be more careful next time.

Step... step...

Gasp! They’re already here.

At the sound of the kids’ footsteps, Lily quickly stood up and ran.