The Worst Villain is Actually a Cute Girl-Chapter 16

We moved to a place called Meadow Café.

When we arrived, the kids’ eyes widened, and they gasped in awe. I could hear their breathing tremble with excitement.

Even Red, who had clearly seen many places before, looked genuinely surprised by the scenery in front of us.

‘They really recreated it this perfectly. Even I’m kind of impressed.’

It was a café that lived up to its name.

A vast, open field stretched out before us.

Looking up, you could see a clear blue sky and pure white clouds. Sunlight so realistic it hurt to look at poured down across the entire space.

When the wind blew, the field let out a beautiful, wave-like sound.

Mechanical animals roamed across the plain, occasionally letting out cries.

It all looked and felt real, but it was a fabricated space powered by science and magic.

“Wow~ amazing!”

“It feels kind of cozy and warm.”

“I heard there used to be lots of ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) places like this back in the day...”

But the kids didn’t care that it was fake. No one here did.

They looked around in wonder, taking in the scene with sparkling eyes.

Seeing their bright, glimmering gazes made me smile bitterly without meaning to.

It made sense—scenery like this was rare in this world.

You might catch a glimpse of it in the midtown districts or the central zones, but people from the outskirts only ever experienced it through books or videos.

Back where I used to live, this kind of landscape was normal, but for people here, it wasn’t.

Now the kids were experiencing, even if just like this, a scene they’d only seen in books or videos. And watching them get so thrilled and satisfied over it made my chest ache just a little.

How much better would things be if the world had been kinder? That kind of thought crossed my mind.

‘This is why I hate coming to places like this. Makes me all sentimental and puts me in a bad mood. Totally not like me.’

While I was thinking that, Red suddenly spoke to me.

“Lily, do you not like this place?”

What, can she read minds or something? My face was obviously hidden behind a mask.

When I looked up at Red, she was giving me a soft smile. There was something a little lonely in it.

I shook my head without hesitation in response to her question.

It’s not like I dislike it.

I just got swept up in the kind of emotion you only feel when you’ve lived in a peaceful world.

Red reached out and patted my head again.

I swatted her hand away in protest—it felt like she was treating me like a kid again—and lightly tapped her leg with my soft fist.

Whatever she found so funny about that, she couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“I wonder what it’d feel like to sing in a place like this...”

That’s when Rena murmured from beside us.

Her voice trembled slightly, probably from being overwhelmed.

Her mouth hung open a bit as she stood there, completely caught up in the emotion.

Then her expression turned serious, like she’d made up her mind, and she turned to Red, tugging gently at her sleeve.

“Unni.”

Red knelt down, and Rena leaned close to whisper in her ear. Then she pointed to a large tree a little distance away.

Red nodded.

“Hey, everyone. Before we go into the café, let’s head over there. Rena has a surprise show for us.”

The kids let out excited cheers and hurried toward the tree.

We stepped into the large shade cast by its thick branches and leaves, and one by one, the children sat down. I sat beside them.

Rena stepped forward, turned to face the group, and gave us all a glance.

She folded her hands gently over her stomach.

The thick foliage blocked out the sun, but a narrow shaft of light streamed down through the gaps, landing right where she stood.

Rena took a deep breath and began to sing.

It was the gentle song she often sang.

The soft melody flowed from her small lips and echoed through the air.

‘She really is talented. If this were a peaceful world, she could’ve gone for an idol career...’

For a child, Rena sang incredibly well. But more than that, her singing carried something mysterious. It was almost magical.

It warmed your heart.

Especially in a place like this, full of warmth and light, her voice created a kind of synergy that magnified the emotion.

When her song ended, applause erupted around us.

Startled, I turned my head and saw that people had gathered nearby.

It looked like they’d been drawn in by the sound of her singing.

Rena flushed bright red and flailed her arms, not knowing what to do with herself.

Still, she didn’t forget to thank the audience who had enjoyed her performance.

She bowed over and over, then hurriedly stepped down from the makeshift stage.

With happy hearts, we made our way to the café.

*

There were several small cabins up on the hill.

We picked one and went inside, where a service robot greeted us warmly.

Following the robot’s lead, we sat down at a vacant wooden table.

“Here is the menu. Once you've made your selections, press this button, and a waiter will come to take your order. We hope you enjoy a peaceful time.”

I opened the menu.

A quick glance showed they sold a wide variety of treats.

There was a mix of common snacks and harder-to-find ones.

And just as I expected, the prices were absurdly high. So high it made my eyes twitch a little.

‘Of course they overcharge for snacks in places like this. Some things never change, no matter the world. Seriously, how much is this? No wonder there are so many empty seats.’

It wasn’t just me feeling the pressure of those prices—none of the kids looked too happy.

They started glancing at Red, trying to gauge her reaction.

Their eyes clearly asked, “Is it really okay for us to eat here?”

Normally, someone would scratch their head awkwardly and quietly suggest leaving, but Red wasn’t that kind of person.

With a look that said it was no big deal at all, she simply said—

“Pick whatever you want. Or I’ll just choose for you.”

That’s Red for you!

So bold!

In my head, I raised both hands and jumped up and down, shouting hooray.

The kids' faces brightened instantly, and they began choosing from the menu.

“What are you getting?”

“This one looks tasty.”

“What even is this snack?”

“My eyes are spinning...”

The menu had pictures and descriptions of each item.

Since I’d seen most of these snacks in my previous life, I knew what they were. But the kids didn’t. Of course their eyes sparkled with curiosity as they stared at the menu.

“What about you, Lily? What are you picking?”

Who knows? I don’t even know myself.

To show what I meant, I stroked my chin thoughtfully in response to Rena’s question.

Then, to make it extra clear that choosing was hard, I pressed both temples with my fingers and slowly moved my head side to side in a loop.

“I know, right? It’s so hard to choose.”

I nodded in agreement.

But we couldn’t stay stuck in indecision forever.

One by one, the kids began choosing their snacks. I also picked the one that looked the least risky.

Beep—

Red pressed the button on the table, and a short while later, a waiter robot approached.

“Have you made your selections?”

“Let’s see... one Catharsis Giant Pudding, a Triple-Colored Soft Long Ice Cream...”

Red listed off the items the kids had chosen one by one. Then she added a few rare snacks that were hard to find elsewhere.

The kids let out cheers of joy.

In my mind, I scattered brightly colored flower petals over Red’s head.

She really does have a huge heart.

“I can’t wait to see what it looks like.”

“Wonder what it’ll taste like?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“Lily must be super excited too. Her shoulders are bouncing like crazy.”

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Huh? Excited?

I almost scoffed aloud at their comment.

It’s not like I’m some little kid freaking out over sweets. I’m just... curious how they’ll serve snacks in a place like this, that’s all.

I wanted to bang the table and protest those words, but being the mentally mature person I am, I held back.

A little while later, time passed.

The waiter came back, pushing a cart full of food, and began placing the dishes one by one on the table.

“““Wooooow~”””

I gulped.

First off, the presentation and portion size—approved!

Definitely worth the price.

The kids dug into their snacks.

And as they tasted them, their faces slackened in wonder, their expressions going a little weird.

Then they all gave the same exact review.

“““It’s delicious!”””

I slid my mask slightly to the side to make it easier to eat, then cut into the five-layer pancake I’d ordered with a knife and fork.

It was fluffy and melted in my mouth. A wave of sweetness exploded across my tongue.

Holy crap. This is so good.

To think they could make something this tasty... it’s impressive.

Everyone excitedly devoured their snacks. It was a happy time.

And really, what else would snacks be, if not happiness?

The kids shared their joy with one another, traded bites, and even offered pieces to others.

Thanks to that, I got to try a bunch of different treats too.

Before I knew it, we’d eaten so much that all the dishes were empty. I spotted a single egg tart left on the table and reached out with my fork—

Clink.

Seven other forks clashed against mine.

Looks like the other kids had the same idea.

“““....”””

A tense silence settled over the group. Sparks flew invisibly between us.

‘No one’s planning to back down, huh?’

It looked like a war was about to break out over who would get it. Just as expected, it was heading in that direction when—

“All right, that’s enough. I’ll take the last one.”

Red picked up the lone remaining egg tart and popped it into her mouth.

The kids let out tiny sighs of disappointment. Still, no one complained.

If it was Red, they had no choice but to yield. That was the unspoken agreement.

Even so, their faces couldn’t hide a lingering sense of loss.

Red smiled.

“In exchange, I’ll buy something else for you.”

Beep—

Red ordered eight cups of the café’s exclusive milk and one coffee.

The kids beamed.

The mood was warm and cheerful.

I turned my head slightly and looked outside.

The open meadow filled my view.

‘I know it’s all fake, but after being stuck in the walled-off city for so long, being here... it actually makes me feel at ease.’

Moments of happiness are rare in the city.

There aren’t many warm, lively places.

That’s why, while I’m here, I silently pray that this moment won’t be ruined.

Surely no one would be thoughtless enough to spoil this kind of atmosphere.

If anyone did, I wouldn’t forgive them.

*

Meanwhile, at that very moment, somewhere inside the zoo—

Isaac, wearing a mask and hat, sat on a bench and watched an animal inside a glass enclosure. But there wasn’t the slightest hint of interest in his eyes.

Right now, he had something far more important than some fake animal.

Just then, a mother and child passed by.

The child seemed to recognize him, eyes going wide, but Isaac quietly raised a finger to his lips.

A gesture for silence.

The child nodded.

And with that, the mother and child went on their way.

Isaac looked down at his phone.

A message had arrived.

“The plan starts now.”

A sly grin curled across Isaac’s face.

But it was hidden behind his mask—no one saw it.