The Worst Villain is Actually a Cute Girl-Chapter 46

A month had passed.

Outside the orphanage.

Red was smoking, out of sight of the children.

Her thoughts deepened, like the thick smoke curling in the air.

‘What should I do...’

During the time she’d spent with Lily, Red had sensed—vaguely—that the girl was hiding something.

A special power. A past wrapped in secrecy.

But Red didn’t care much about that kind of thing.

Because the other children were in similar situations.

They all had special powers. They all carried painful pasts. She had thought Lily was no different.

But after the Isaac incident, the outline of Lily’s hidden truth had begun to take shape.

Lily was clearly not like the others.

Red’s expression darkened as she recalled the incident at the amusement park.

The giant screen Adam had shown her.

People had been surrounded by four monstrous creatures and were in serious danger—but before the screen faded to black, the situation had already been resolved.

The screen had gone dark before Red could see with her own eyes.

Still, she could guess what had been involved.

The moment the screen went dark—

It was faint, almost enough to be mistaken as nothing, but from afar, she’d felt the chill of the Reaper’s presence crawl up her spine.

Her nerves went on high alert, and she couldn’t tear her gaze from the screen. She even forgot Adam was standing right beside her.

A terrifyingly massive magic power, far too overwhelming for such a small body.

In those twelve short seconds, her mind raced, and her instincts whispered in her ear:

That right there... is your enemy.

“Hoo...”

She exhaled deeply, as if trying to purge that lingering sensation along with the smoke.

Red let out a bitter smile.

‘So that’s why the Church of the Reaper is interested.’

She couldn’t say for sure. Nothing was definite.

There was no need to jump to hasty conclusions.

But the unease clinging to her heart wouldn’t go away so easily.

Red thought she was being foolish.

And maybe she was. Because despite knowing, from past events, that Lily was closely tied to the Reaper—

She had still taken her in.

She said she had no regrets.

She said she would protect that child to the very end.

She had steeled herself.

And yet, to be shaken like this...

But what if!

What if, while investigating the Church of the Reaper, she uncovered a truth so shocking it defied all expectations—could she really accept it?

Could she still treat Lily like she always had?

What if—just what if—Lily truly was evil?

What if Lily was actually the enemy that needed to be defeated?

Was it really right to keep investigating the Church of the Reaper?

Sometimes, isn’t it said that ignorance is bliss?

At that moment, the sound of the children’s loud laughter spilled out from the orphanage building, and Red’s eyes widened.

Then she lowered her head, shoulders trembling.

“Heh... hehe...”

Suddenly, Red let out a quiet laugh.

When she raised her head again, the worry on her face had vanished.

She looked somehow at ease.

She scolded herself for being so foolish.

“I really am an idiot.”

Thinking back on everything she’d seen of Lily, Red gave a self-deprecating smile.

Lily wasn’t that kind of child.

Lily didn’t show much emotion, and her face rarely changed expression.

Because of that, she might come across as indifferent and cold, but despite her appearance, Lily was a child with a warm heart.

That faint trace of emotion that appeared when she played with the other kids—

Red could tell just from that.

A shy, kind-hearted child.

Just another ordinary kid shaped by this harsh, unforgiving world.

She would believe.

Even in a world where trust had eroded, and people believed only in themselves rather than others—

Red would believe in possibility.

She wanted to believe.

Hadn’t she fought evil and protected children—the symbols of the future—clinging to just that one small hope that the world might become a better place?

Even if Lily really was going down the wrong path, it would be okay.

“It’s the role of an adult to guide a child back to the right path when they stray.”

Red dropped the finished cigarette to the ground and crushed it underfoot.

Her hesitation was over.

Her mind felt as clear as the blue sky above her.

*

The children who had just been playing together were now arguing.

The conflict was over who would get to play the lead role.

After all, the main character is the one who sparkles and draws everyone’s attention. Of course every kid wants to be the star of the story at least once.

Watching the kids all clamoring to be the lead made me feel strangely bittersweet... and also brought a small smile to my face.

I had no desire to be in the spotlight like those kids.

I wasn’t the type who wanted to be a main character, someone who stands out.

Excessive attention and focus? I was so sick of it I could puke.

Maybe if this were a peaceful world, it'd be different—but in a place like this, becoming famous is the dumbest thing you could do.

Even I think it’s ridiculous that I’m stuck with the alias “Reaper,” and now practically everyone knows who I am. But it’s not like I ever wanted to be the Reaper in the first place.

I only acted the part because creating that terrifying persona made it easier to live in peace.

It wasn’t a goal. It was just a means to an end.

Hmm. Still not over yet?

Didn’t look like the argument was winding down. If anything, it was getting worse.

“Shouldn’t I be the one playing the knight?”

“Knight? Please. You’re way more suited to being the servant who follows the knight around. I’m the real knight here.”

“Don’t fight, guys. Since none of you are good enough, I’ll just take the knight role.”

Why were they even fighting over these roles?

This time, a group of well-known and financially comfortable people had pooled their money to host a small festival.

There wasn’t going to be any surprise disaster like at the amusement park.

For one thing, the organizers this time were acquaintances of Red—people like her, who acted selflessly.

In other words, it would be a festival we could actually enjoy without fear or anxiety.

Security would naturally be tight to make sure everyone could have a good time, and most importantly, with someone like Red around, who would dare cause trouble?

Unless some crazy lunatic had a death wish.

Anyway—

The festival would include all sorts of food and fun performances.

And the kids were going to take part in the show.

Naturally, the play would be performed by the children. If they needed more people, they could just fill in the gaps with androids, so there was no problem with numbers.

‘Planning a festival in an outer city like this...’

I was surprised they were planning something I never could’ve imagined—but alongside the doubt that rose in my chest, a small part of me felt something else.

Hope.

Festivals are supposed to be fun.

Maybe they just wanted to prove this world was still worth living in.

Maybe they were trying to bring warmth back into this bleak city through the festival. To breathe life into it. To give even the smallest sliver of hope to this broken world.

Honestly, it was no different than pouring water into a desert.

Still, I hoped Red’s festival would end successfully, that her wishes would come true.

‘But seriously, a play? They’re actually planning to put on a play?’

Admirable, I guess you could say.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

It takes real courage to do something like that in front of a crowd.

From what I’d overheard, they were doing it for Red—which made it even more endearing.

“So let’s put the knight role aside for a moment. Who’s going to play the second most important role—the princess?”

“The princess?”

“That’s already decided.”

It looked like the princess—one of the lead roles—had already been settled.

Well, Rena said she’d play a singing maid, and Ba Da had chosen a quiet role that fit her personality.

Which meant the only ones left to play the princess were me and one other girl.

And if I’m out of the equation, then obviously that other girl’s going to be the one to play the part.

“Lily, of course.”

“Yeah, Lily.”

“It has to be Lily...”

...Huh?

......Wait, what?

What?!!

They’re asking me to play the princess?

I thought I must’ve misheard and turned my head toward the girl who said it—but far from looking dissatisfied, she seemed incredibly pleased with the idea.

The other kids didn’t seem to have any complaints either.

A chill ran down my spine.

Goosebumps broke out all over my arms.

Snapping out of it, I crossed my arms in a big X and shook my head furiously from side to side.

I stomped my feet in protest.

Shake shake. Stomp stomp stomp.

Shake shake. Stomp stomp stomp.

No way. Me? A princess?

Absolutely not. There’s no universe where that makes sense.

The very thought made it feel like something inside me was about to crack.

More importantly, a play?

I mean—I can’t even speak. There’s no way I could memorize and perform lines.

Even inside the orphanage where I take my mask off, I don’t take it off outside. There’s no way I could play a leading role.

A masked lead character? That would ruin the entire mood of the play.

If they’re going to make me play something, just have me be a tree in the background waving in the wind.

I used every gesture and motion I could to make it clear I really, really didn’t want to do it—but the kids weren’t having it.

“Whaaat?! Why not? You’d be perfect! Lily’s the cutest in the whole world. Everyone would love it!”

“Don’t worry about the voice! We can prerecord all your lines, and you just have to move your lips. Or we could make it so the princess doesn’t talk from the beginning.”

“Or what if you wore your mask? A masked princess... that gives me chills.”

The kids were relentless.

They tried every excuse and reason they could think of to convince me.

They were desperate too.

Gnnngh.

Clap clap!

“All right, that’s enough. Lily’s clearly uncomfortable. I know the play’s important, but shouldn’t it be something everyone can enjoy? That means we need to think about Lily’s feelings too, don’t you think?”

Just when things were getting out of hand, Rene stepped in and reined the kids in.

I gave her two big thumbs-up in my mind.

At her words, the kids fell silent.

They looked a little disappointed by my refusal, but they didn’t give up. They just stared at me with these pitiful, heart-wrenching eyes.

Big, sparkling puppy-dog eyes that looked so desperate it was like beams of light were shooting straight into my chest.

An unstoppable, unbearably pure pressure.

Gnnngh.

How dare they be so underhanded.

“But Lily, when did you lose your voice? Can you still not speak?”

Visit fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm for the best novel reading experi𝒆nce.

Then one of the kids asked.

That innocent question made the others stop their puppy-dog eyes and instead look at me with wide, curious stares.

After coming to the orphanage, I’d been thoroughly examined from head to toe.

The result was that my throat had some damage, but nothing serious enough to prevent me from speaking.

In simple terms, I should be able to speak.

But my voice still doesn’t come out.

Not because of my body—but because of something in my heart.

In that moment, memories of my past flickered through my mind like a silent film.

A past I didn’t want to remember.

—Come on... now... st...

—Do it...

—...again. One more...

A shattered screen, noise and static all around.

Endless masks. Roaring applause raining down.

I {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} barely managed to keep my face from contorting, forcing myself to stay calm.

Haaah...

The reason I can’t speak—

It’s probably because I haven’t overcome my past.

When I first woke up in this world, I went through all sorts of terrible experiences early on.

Even now, despite becoming powerful enough to be called the Reaper, I’m still trapped by that past.

Someone might laugh at me for that.

But getting over past trauma isn’t easy.

Especially not in a world like this.

I shoved the sorrow welling up in my chest back down before it could show on my face.

There was no reason to show it here.

Even now, my emotions are so faint I hardly ever smile. If I let something like that show, I’d seem even duller.

I shrugged my shoulders as if to say, “Who knows?”

The kids, of course, kept trying to convince me.

And even though I’d said no and crushed their expectations, like someone who ends up letting in a visitor after turning them away three times...

In the end, I gave in.

The kids’ faces lit up like sunlight.

They jumped and bounced with joy.

Their bright, cheerful laughter filled the orphanage, making it feel warmer than ever.

“All right! Until the festival starts, we practice!”

“““Yeeaaah!”””

Ugh...

I hate plays.