I Will Live as a Villain the Magical Girl Is Obsessed With

4 – 2. Meeting a Strange Man -2

Noah, who went to the instant noodle shelf, began to mumble.

“Oh, dear… Is it really appropriate to use 1000 won…? They were much cheaper before… The price has gone crazy seriously…”

It seemed that she was dissatisfied because the price of cup noodles had risen.

“…Shouldn’t I be battling demons, but rather breaking into corporations…?”

…Hey, you’ll become a terrorist if you do that.

A magical girl who drives away demons is going to commit terrorism because of the price of noodles.

Without understanding the situation, people might think it’s just a joke, or the person might be a little crazy.

For me, who knows Noah’s situation to some extent, it was a difficult problem to pass by lightly.

‘Because there were a lot of bad endings of Noah, not Iris.’

If Iris encounters a bad ending by the enemy, Noah mainly deals with mental problems.

In other words, there were many cases where they were heading for a bad ending on their own.

Selling themselves for money, losing their qualifications as magical girls, or even committing suicide in severe cases.

Noah’s mental strength was not strong, and the world has mocked the girl, pretending to be strong.

“…Haa… It can’t be helped.”

Noah sighed deeply and picked up the cup noodle.

“Please calculate this.”

The cup noodle placed on the counter.

“It’s 1,000 won.”

It’s a sum that is infinitely light to someone.

Some people wouldn’t even pick up 1,000 won if they dropped it on the street.

However, Noah was different.

This 1,000 won was too precious to her.

They receive the bill handed over with trembling hands, and return the change.

“…Haa.”

Noah sighed again.

It was heartbreaking.

She was doing dangerous work rescuing others, but reality is, she has to worry about buying one cup noodle.

Watching Noah staggering toward the table, she considered for a moment.

‘I have to do some mental care for her.’

The ropes”I didn’t want to see her hanging, so I had to help Noah.

Even now, before the main story begins, she looks precarious.

If the main story begins like this, her situation will obviously get worse.

‘What Noah needs right now…’

Tap, tap.

I tapped the desk with my finger.

I was recalling my memories. Not Magical Girl Iris, but Nanoa.

What was Noah, a lonely and pitiful girl, wanting most?

Suddenly, a word crossed my mind.

… Yeah, maybe what Noah wants most is.

‘Relationship.’

Isn’t it a relationship between people?

From what I see, the girl named Nanoa was a lonely girl.

Although it wasn’t narrated in detail in the game, it was clearly stated. She has a hard time getting her parents’ protection, and she is ostracized at school.

Then, how many people can she rely on. No, how many people does she even talk to?

‘…None.’

She did establish some relationships with a few magical girls, but that’s in the future. Perhaps the only comfort she has is the mascot Kyu-kyu from her pocket.

Moreover, Noah’s dialogue in the game came to mind.

[I’m trying so hard to save the world…But no one recognizes me. Yes, I know it can’t be helped. Still…It’s a little bitter.]

The desire to be recognized.

As Nanoa, not Magical Girl Iris, she wants to be praised.

‘She even heard that it is affection deprivation.’

I have a vague idea of ​​what to do in the future.

I got up from my seat and bought a triangle gimbap.

I bought medicine and a bandage while I’m at it.

Although I wasn’t in a bountiful situation, if I could use this to create an approach, it’s a bargain.

“Excuse me.”

“…Yes?”

“I’m sorry to disturb you while you’re eating-”

“I’m a minor.”

“…”

“You have been acting that way for a while… Do you really want to go to prison?”

Noah’s eyes sharpened.

I must’ve looked like a creep to a minor.

I hurried to deny it.

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then…”What’s this?”

Noah, with her question, picked up her mobile phone, as if threatening to report an offense if she heard any outrageous remarks.

Feeling a crisis, without getting unnecessarily entangled, I went straight to the point.

“With all sincerity—”

“I wanted to say thank you for saving me.”

A cool yet humble bow, alongside.

+++++

A man who suddenly bowed.

It was unexpected.

‘What is he doing?’

Noah saw all kinds during her part-time job, but this was the first time she encountered someone doing a bow this suddenly.

She was visibly perplexed by this unusual case. Even the creature within her pocket seemed bewildered.

“Oh…uh…over there…”

What should she do at such times?

Noah, lost in thought, was unaware.

The upper hand in the situation had already switched to the other party.

“Hello. My name is Shin Hyun.”

“Oh…yes.”

“I’d like to repay you for saving me.”

Repay?

Upon hearing that, Noah’s eyes went to the man’s hands. They were holding triangle gimbap and several types of medication.

He looked serious, which suggested he wasn’t joking.

“…I’m not sure what you mean.”

“I know everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you not the Magical Lady Iris?”

“Uh… no, I’m not.”

Noah desperately lied.

Shin Hyun smirked at her effort.

“You’re bad at lying.”

“Excuse me?”

“You can’t keep the corners of your mouth still.”

Caught off guard, Noah subtly touched her lips.

Then realised, she’d been found out.

This was admitting she’d lied.

‘How…?’

Although she was curious about how she was found, that was not important anymore.

What was important was what the man would do with knowing her identity.

A sense of dread rose in her.

Could he be trying to use this as an excuse to threaten her?

Reading Noah’s anxiety, Shin Hyun brightly reassured her.

“Don’t worry. I’m not up to anything bad.”

“…I’m not very good at trusting people.”

“Fair enough. The world is pretty screwed up, isn’t it?”

Saying so, Shin Hyun handed Noah the medication and triangle gimbap. She sent the food over.

“Still, there are good people somewhere in the world.”

“…”

“I’m really thankful, so please accept it.”

Kyu-Kyu, observing the situation from within her pocket, whispered so quietly that only Noa could hear.

“Miss Noa. I don’t think there’s any poison or anything like that.”

“What about the guy. Is there something strange about him?”

“Not at all. He doesn’t even seem to have magical power, let alone being a monster. “

“Just an ordinary person?”

“I can’t be sure… but it’s a strong possibility.”

Despite his strange actions and cooing speech, Kyu-Kyu was a fairly advanced mascot lifeform.

She could easily detect malice, and it should be easy to detect magic power, even if it was well hidden.

Unless the person was a high-ranking officer of the Demon Army, they wouldn’t have been able to detect it.

In other words, when Kyu-Kyu says something like that, it means the man’s words are mostly true.

Although it is still a mystery how they knew her identity.

“I’ll accept it.”

“Yes. Please use that to treat the wound.”

There was a moment of silence.

Because she didn’t have a clue how to respond.

If it was Iris, she would have taken it lightly.

But right now, as Noa, she had never met such a person.

Noa quickly got up, holding the half-eaten ramen.

Simply because the situation was too uncomfortable to bear.

“Then I’ll go. My identity is…”

“Yes, I know. It’s a secret, right? Don’t worry, I’ll definitely keep it.”

“…If my identity gets exposed, I’ll come right here.”

“Yes.”

“The only person who knows my identity is you.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t just agree, respond confidently! If anyone gets hurt because of that! I will come to take vengeance on you!”

“Our store always welcomes customers.”

Where the hell does he get that composure from?

Could he be a deity who suddenly dropped into this world?

His nonchalance was so staggering that it almost drained her, who was giving the warning.

If she stays with that man any longer,”This will really shorten my lifespan,” Noah thought to herself.

She quickly attempted to leave the convenience store.

Then, she heard the man’s voice.

“I’m always cheering for you.”

“…”

“Take good care of yourself, and feel free to visit anytime.”

“…”

“Being a magical girl must be tough, right? Let me know if there’s anything I can help you with, whether it be ranting or seeking advice. Well, I can’t actively fight, though.”

Noah turned her gaze and looked at Shinhyeon.

What appeared on her face was concern.

Having encountered various human figures and living a life of being very observant of others, Noah could guess to some extent.

Ah, that concern is genuine, she realized.

How long had it been since she’d heard such caring words?

She definitely had to convey her gratitude.

While suspicion was a fact, so was the encouragement she’d received.

“Um…”

“Yes?”

“Tha…Tha…”

“Tha?”

Her mouth wouldn’t open easily.

Since when did it become so hard to say thank you?

“Uh… well… goodbye!”

“Yes, visit again-“

“aaahhhhh!”

Unable to finish her sentence, Noah chose escape.

Fleeing was embarrassing, but it was helpful, after all.

+++++

For a moment, I looked at the spot where Noah had disappeared.

Still, for a first encounter, it wasn’t bad.

Her defensive attitude hadn’t disappeared completely, but that was to be expected.

Anyone would be shocked if a stranger suddenly revealed their identity.

“Phew.”

I sat down on a chair, organizing my thoughts.

First, Noah.

Whether or not Noah would visit again was a question, but she’d pay attention to me for a while.

To monitor me, whether I really keep the secret or not.

If I take good care of her every time, she’ll eventually open up. Friendship isn’t a big deal.

And the second problem was Iris.

“I guess I’ll have to take the initiative myself.”

It was the approach that I didn’t want to opt for if possible.

Didn’t it often appear in novels? The protagonist-Guys who take on the role of villains to nurture others.

I never thought I would end up doing that myself.

But if I don’t get used to the fight and grow my skills in advance, I’ll have trouble later.

After all, he’s the one who has to play a key role in the decisive battle with the devil.

I become a villain.

And I raise the magical girl myself.

“I have no choice.”

It was absurd, but fortunately, there was a way.

I’m the possessed one who knows about the game, and I have the perfect guy in mind.

“Bad ending number 18.”

A horrific ending where Iris turns into a pouch, caught by a sluggish tentacle.

Before facing such an ending, I had to take away the perpetrator’s ability.