The Worst Villain is Actually a Cute Girl-Chapter 17

The group, still cheerful from their time at the café, began moving again to continue exploring. As the visit came to an end, they made one last stop at the souvenir shop.

The store sold all kinds of zoo-related memorabilia.

Animal ears, acrylic keychains, animal masks, plush toys, and even a few snacks.

The kids’ eyes sparkled as they roamed through the shop.

“Look at this! Don’t I look like a beastkin with these animal ears on?”

“Pfft, what even is that?”

“This mask looks so ridiculous.”

They took their time looking through everything, trying to decide what to buy, and didn’t forget to pick something out for Rene at the orphanage.

“What do you think Teacher would like?”

“A plushie? Or maybe this little sculpture?”

“Wouldn’t snacks be better?”

“Not everyone’s like you!”

“This music box looks pretty cool too.”

Red watched them with a fond smile.

Just then, she felt someone tug at her sleeve and turned to see a blue-haired girl—Ba Da.

Ba Da looked pale.

Red immediately crouched down to meet her eyes.

“What’s wrong, Ba Da? Is something the matter?”

“Unni... I really have to go to the bathroom...”

She was clearly desperate, shifting uncomfortably in place.

Red remembered where the bathrooms were located.

She called for Rena, the eldest, planning to ask her to keep an eye on the kids so they wouldn’t wander off—but then Lily tugged at Red’s coat.

Lily shook her head, puffed out her chest, and patted it firmly with her hand.

Even without words, the message was clear.

She wanted Red to leave it to her.

“You’re saying you’ll go with her to the bathroom?”

Red asked, and Lily nodded.

When Red hesitated slightly, Lily crossed her arms and stuck her chest out even more.

That strong, unwavering look—telling her to trust her.

“You know where the bathroom is, right? Once you're done, come straight back. Don’t go anywhere else. Got it?”

Lily nodded firmly.

Then, taking Ba Da’s hand, she led her in the direction of the bathroom.

Even after the two girls were out of sight, Red kept her gaze fixed in the direction they’d gone.

‘I hope they actually made it to the bathroom...’

She allowed it because she knew Lily was more mature than the other kids her age. But still, a child was a child. The unease wouldn’t completely go away.

Red shook off the anxiety and slipped her hands into her coat pockets.

‘No, don’t overthink it. This place has security robots and Fixers. No idiot would cause trouble here. And even if someone shady did show up, Lily could handle it.’

Red had seen potential in Lily.

Back when they first met, Lily had moved to help save the canine merchant during a crisis.

It only happened once, but even that single moment was enough to show Red that Lily had real skills despite being young.

With movement like that, a few punks wouldn’t be a problem.

Maybe it was those very skills that had caught the attention of the Reaper Cult in the first place.

That was Red’s theory.

She let go of the thought and finally turned her attention back to the other kids.

They were all smiling brightly.

She was glad she brought them here.

The reason she took the kids to the zoo today was simple—to lift their spirits.

And just as she’d hoped, they were having the time of their lives.

Their eyes sparkled when they saw something fascinating.

Their faces lit up with big grins when they ate something tasty.

They expressed their emotions freely, just like kids their age should.

‘No matter how hard life gets, kids should still be kids.’

Suddenly, one girl’s different atmosphere flashed through her mind.

Lily.

‘She didn’t seem to be enjoying herself like the others...’

Rene had mentioned that Lily wasn’t used to ordinary life. And now, seeing it firsthand, Red finally understood what that meant.

Lily responded to the group and played along like ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ any other kid, but something in her mannerisms gave her away.

Even with her face hidden behind a mask, you could faintly feel emotions like sadness and loneliness.

It was probably because of what she’d been through in the past.

You don’t learn combat instincts like that unless you’ve lived through some serious things. Kids like that always find it hard to adjust to normal life.

What had she gone through to become like that?

Red wouldn’t ask.

She was the type who didn’t pry until someone was ready to talk.

She didn’t know what Lily’s past held, but as long as the girl stayed at the orphanage, Red sincerely hoped she could forget it all...

And live like a child again.

Ding—

Red’s head snapped around at the sound of a bell jangling.

‘...That sound just now?’

It was a familiar noise.

Red looked around, thinking, Could it be them...?

But all she saw were regular guests moving about. Nothing seemed suspicious. Laughter echoed from different corners of the shop, and the atmosphere was peaceful.

‘Maybe I imagined it...?’

If the Reaper Cult really had shown up, there’s no way it would be this quiet.

People like that wouldn’t even be allowed to enter the premises.

And if, by some chance, they did, the security robots and Fixers would have acted immediately.

“Unni~ Come here!”

One of the younger kids called out, and Red walked over to them.

Rena placed a pair of wolf ears on Red’s head.

“Amazing!”

“You look so cool!”

“Let’s try other ones too!”

The kids burst into laughter.

Red smiled along with them.

They took turns trying on all kinds of animal masks and ears, playing together in the lighthearted moment—

But then, Red’s instincts flared.

She felt a murderous intent.

In the same instant, she reacted—snatching something out of the air just before it hit her little sister.

In her hand was a dagger.

The atmosphere changed in a flash.

Laughter vanished. Screams erupted all around.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

From a distance came the sound of explosions and fighting.

[KZZZHT. #!#@ Attention. There has been a @!@!@ breach. All @!@#% please evacuate to the nearest shelter....]

A broadcast filled with static and noise.

Even with the voice distorted, Red instantly understood the situation.

New novel chapters are published on freewёbn૦νeɭ.com.

She turned toward the direction the dagger had come from and, without hesitation, hurled it straight toward the source of the killing intent.

A suspicious figure standing far off—unlike Red, they apparently weren’t good at catch.

The dagger hit squarely.

It split their skull.

“Unni... What’s happening?”

The kids’ faces were pale with fear.

Tiny hands clung to Red’s coat, trembling.

Red gently patted their heads one by one to reassure them.

“Kids. From now on, don’t leave my side.”

Before heading for the evacuation shelter, she had to get to the bathroom where Ba Da and Lily were—fast.

*

Ba Da looked like she was about to burst, so I told her I’d go with her to the bathroom.

Thankfully, we made it in time, safe and sound. Now I was waiting outside the stall until she finished her business.

Hmm. The bathroom’s pretty clean.

“Lily... are you there...?”

Knock knock.

I tapped lightly on the door, and inside, I heard a relieved breath.

Pop!

Just then, the lights suddenly went out.

There was a startled noise from inside.

A moment later, the emergency lights flicked on, filling the space with a pale blue glow.

“Lily... are you there? What’s going on...?”

Her voice trembled.

Looks like Ba Da was scared by the sudden situation.

Knock knock.

I tapped again to let her know I was still here, that everything was okay.

The stall door cracked open slightly.

Through the gap, I saw Ba Da’s face—she was clearly frightened.

I motioned to her that I was going to step outside for a moment to check things out.

“Okay... but don’t go far...”

I nodded, gestured for her to take her time, and gently closed the door.

Then I stepped outside and scanned the area, lit only by the emergency lights.

‘Tch... seriously, whoever it is—did they really have to do this? There are so few good places left, and they had to start something here...’

The situation wasn’t looking good.

Guests were collapsed on the ground. Pools of blood had formed. Blood splattered the walls.

Furniture and objects were strewn about.

Total chaos.

And the ones responsible for it were standing right in front of me.

Five of them.

Crow masks, wide-brimmed bamboo hats, and black cloaks.

‘The Black Crows?’

I’d heard of them.

An assassin group that supposedly did anything for money.

What the hell are heavyweights like them doing in a place like this?

“She’s not the one. The target’s inside.”

I furrowed my brow behind the mask.

They were after the person in the bathroom. The only one in there was Ba Da.

Why her? Who? Why now?

My eyes darted around. The security cameras in the corners of the ceiling were off, wires limp and useless.

Even the Fixers were down.

The security robots were wrecked too.

There’s no way anyone’s coming to help anytime soon.

The one standing at the front moved first, pulling something from their coat and swinging their arm toward me.

I moved my hand and snatched the incoming dagger with my fingers.

“““!!!”””

They looked surprised.

Too late for that.

The rest of them threw their daggers at the same time.

I deflected them all upward with the dagger I was holding, bouncing each one toward the ceiling. Just as I planned, the emergency lights shattered.

Then I hurled the dagger I held and broke the last light.

Darkness fell.

‘There. Now no one will see what happens here.’

In the dark, I heard the sound of swords being drawn.

They were probably used to fighting in the dark.

So was I.

I launched off the ground, faster than them.

In an instant, I rushed into one’s chest and slammed his arm hard.

With a grunt, he dropped his sword, and I snatched it mid-fall and drove it into him.

‘Four left...’

Two charged in, slashing their swords at me.

One aimed for my neck—I dodged by bending backward and, in one smooth motion, twisted up and slashed hard toward them both.

They couldn’t keep up with my speed.

Their bodies were slashed diagonally. A beat later, their upper halves slid off.

‘Two...’

Another one leapt toward me, arms stretched wide like a crow, and closed the distance in a flash, swinging his sword.

I spun to the side and cut through him mid-motion.

He split cleanly in half.

‘Last one.’

“Kh... You little—who the hell are y—!”

Before he could finish, I whipped my arm and threw a sword straight at him.

“Gah!”

It pierced his right arm, the one holding the sword, but he didn’t let go.

Oh? Not bad.

Before he could retaliate, I dashed forward and slammed my foot into his shin. His leg buckled, forcing him to kneel, and I smashed my palm into his head.

Crack!

His mask shattered and flew off dramatically.

I sat on the back of the now-collapsed man.

“Guh... Y-You little brat... what the hell are you...?”

I moved my fingers in an X across my cheek.

None of your business.

Then I traced letters: Who? Why?

He laughed weakly. Blood dripped from his lips. Then, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, he stilled.

He was dead.

‘Tch. So it was a secrecy pact, huh.’

Step. Step.

“Lily... Aaaah! It’s so dark... Are you there...?”

Ba Da had finished quickly and came out of the stall.

I stood up and walked toward her. Then gently tapped her cheek with my finger.

“Eep...!”

Ba Da nearly fell back in fright.

I caught her hand and kept her from toppling over.

“Lily...?”

I drew an O on her small palm.

“Why’s it like this out here...?”

I drew a question mark.

No need to explain what happened.

When she said something smelled weird, I quickly wrote a message telling her we should head back.

“Yeah...! Unni’s probably worried...!”

I took Ba Da’s hand in mine and held it tight, making sure we didn’t get separated.

Why is it that peaceful moments are always so short?

‘Whoever you are... if I ever get my hands on you, you're done.’