Ch.121121. Hero and Villain (5)

We left the elementary school and took a little walk around the neighborhood.

“Ah, these buildings…”

“Yeah. You destroyed them all.”

“…Yes. My monster destroyed them.”

“Did it step on them?”

“No way. It wasn’t that big of a monster. Back then, I lacked the ability to control monsters properly. I couldn’t bring out anything that large.”

“Huh? Really? In my memory, it was a huge monster.”

“Consider your age at the time, Yunseul.”

“Um…”

“What could possibly seem small at that age? Especially during your first awakening and first deployment.”

“Hmm… I guess that makes sense.”

The monster I actually brought out was D-class at best.

D-class, but big, brutish, slow, and heavy.

Still, by our standards—by Blanc’s and my standards of size—it was indeed on the smaller side.

“The S-class ogre. Do you remember?”

“Uh… when did I bring that out?”

“This is what happens with a magical girl who pawns off her work…”

“Huh…?”

“You don’t remember because you kept passing off your monsters to other magical girls.”

“Ah… so it wasn’t something I sent out when I was alone?”

“That’s right. The one at the Han River.”

“…Oh.”

“I remember it well because that was the day I fell into the water.”

“Well… were there many days when you didn’t fall into the Han River?”

“I won half the time.”

“Is that so.”

This person.

She must think she never fell into the water herself.

“Anyway. That ogre. My monster was about 20% of its size. I tried to find something similar, but it was a rare monster among D-class creatures.”

“…Monsters are quite complicated, aren’t they?”

“Yes. That’s because they’re forcibly dragged through dimensional rifts from other worlds.”

“…Other worlds?”

“Ah. Not the world where that noisy cat lives. Here and there. There are many. Surely there can’t be just two worlds.”

“I see…”

“The world that connects well with this Earth happens to be the one where that noisy cat you mentioned lives. If you study dimensional rifts, you can confirm an infinite number of worlds.”

“I see…?”

“Yes. Well… most of the monsters we use come from that world. But what I’m saying is that particular monster wasn’t from there.”

Blanc looks at me with an expression of boredom rather than being impressed by my detailed explanation.

“…What?”

“No. Nothing. Oh, this café is still here. Want to go in?”

“You know this place?”

“Hey, do you know how often I used to come here? Before the dormitory was built, I came here all the time. Wow… even with all the redevelopment and buildings disappearing, this place is still here.”

The café she’s talking about is a tiny neighborhood café.

It’s tucked between alleys, in a location that only locals would know about.

“Uh… sure, that’s fine.”

“Great. The owner is friends with my mom. Plus, the owner’s daughter went to the same elementary school as me, as a junior.”

“…It’s quite a small world.”

“That’s how it is. Oh, hello!”

It’s a small café with just two tables.

One four-person table and one two-person table.

And a small café with just two window seats.

“Welcome… Oh? Is that Yunseul?”

“You recognized me right away. Wow… it’s been a long time, Auntie!”

“Well, with that hair and eye color, you’re hard to miss. It’s been a while?”

“Yes, I’ve been quite busy lately…”

“And your mother. Have you seen her?”

“Not yet. Oh, I’ll have the usual… two cups this time, please!”

“Hazelnut?”

“Yes!”

“Got it. Wait a bit. But… who’s this?”

“Oh, her? This is my daughter.”

“What?! Really? You’re already married?”

“Yunseul!”

What is this person saying to the owner now?

Why is she introducing me as Blanc’s daughter?

“Just kidding, just kidding. This is Vine.”

“Vine…? That’s an unusual name. Do you go to the elementary school here?”

“No, no. She’s a villain.”

“Ah, I see. How did you become friends with Yunseul?”

“Fighting leads to bonding, I suppose. I caught her.”

“Yes. A true friend guides those who do wrong back to the right path. Vine, was it? You’ve made a good friend. Our Yunseul may not look it, but she’s thoughtful and kind.”

“Pfft… Auntie. I’m not that nice. Oh, how’s Subin?”

“Subin? She’s probably sleeping right now.”

“She still hasn’t found a job?”

“She took a gap year. She’s sleeping now that her semester ended. Not even preparing for employment… You’re working, Yunseul, but our Subin…”

“Subin will find a good job too. If things don’t work out, contact my mom. I’ll parachute her right in.”

“We can’t do that. But I appreciate the thought. Hoho…”

“Yes.”

“Here, hazelnut latte.”

“Thank you.”

They must be really close friends, her and the friend’s mother.

I didn’t realize they were this close.

But… didn’t she just introduce me as a villain…?

Why does she think I’m just a poor child who’s gone astray…?

“Vine. Sit down. The hazelnut latte here is really delicious. Nutty and sweet.”

“Uh…”

“What? Oh. The owner is nice, right? I know that well.”

“No… didn’t you just tell her I’m a villain?”

“Yes. I did.”

“But… no reaction…?”

“Huh? She did react. She praised the kind magical girl who helps my baby walk the right path.”

“I am not your baby… No, that’s not the important part…”

“Well… since I brought you here. At least I have an eye for people.”

“What…?”

“The kids I bring here don’t cause trouble and behave well. They come to study and have drinks.”

“…Didn’t I cause quite a lot of trouble?”

“You did. But… it’s fine now that you’ve become good, right?”

“Blanc. Our bet isn’t over yet.”

“Oh, that. I think I’ve already won.”

“Don’t decide that on your own. I could still win, couldn’t I? What if I ran away and started working as an independent villain?”

“Me? I’d just have to bring back the kid who caused trouble.”

“…This time, I’ll hurt a lot of people.”

“Come on. Do you think I’d allow that?”

“Who asks for permission to do villain things?”

“Well. The Association President would scold you a bit, that’s all.”

“Who? You? You, who failed to manage a villain?”

“No. You. Ugh, that man is good at scolding people unnecessarily.”

“Why should I be scolded by him? If I get caught this time, I’ll be sent straight to Marina.”

“Who said I’d allow that?”

“…What?”

“No. Anyway.”

“Forget ‘anyway.’ The bet you made was to grant what I want. What if I wish to continue living as a villain?”

“Well… we’ll think about that when the time comes.”

Blanc takes a sip of her hazelnut latte.

So I tried a sip too.

*sip*

Hot…

…Is it good?

It is good…?

“*slurp*… No, isn’t this the most important thing? How can you be so vague about the most important part of our contract… *munch*…”

Blanc picked up a cookie and put it in her mouth.

“Delicious, right?”

“*munch munch*… Yes… it’s delicious. The butter cookie is really soft and sweet… No, that’s not the issue here!”

“Huh? Was it?”

“What do you mean ‘was it?’ This isn’t something you can just brush off… Sigh. Fine. Let’s talk about this later.”

“Yes. Good thinking. Want another one?”

“…Yes. I’ll gratefully accept.”

“Vine, aah—”

This time Blanc picked up a chocolate cookie and held it out to me.

With that strange sound, “aah—”.

Isn’t that the sound people make when feeding someone else…?

“J-just hand it to me…?”

“No. Aah— open your mouth.”

…

“I am not your baby.”

“Come on. Hurry up.”

“…Aah.”

This is embarrassing.

Earlier it was forced on me so it was fine.

But this, this…

It feels like something lovers would do…

This is strange.

This kind of…

I-I’m feeling something strange toward that magical girl…

“A-aah—”

“That’s right.”

*munch*

…It was delicious.

The chocolate cookie was really delicious.

It was sweet.

Rich, slightly bitter.

Yet sweet.

This is strange…

* * *

“Thank you for the drinks. Auntie, your skills haven’t diminished at all.”

“My cooking skills are how I survive in this neighborhood. It was good to see you after so long.”

“Yes. It was good to see you too.”

“Don’t fight with your friend. And play with Subin sometimes too. Okay?”

“Yes. Well, we’ll be going now.”

“Take care. See you again? Goodbye, Vine.”

“…Yes.”

“She’s cute. Hehe…”

I couldn’t hear the owner’s last words clearly as we had already left the café.

I guess she was saying I’m annoying.

…Well, villains are supposed to be that way.

I follow alongside Blanc.

“Where are we going next?”

“Hmm… want to go to my house?”

“What?”

What did I just hear…?

“Let’s go to my house. We can rest a bit before going back.”

“…You mean the dormitory, right? Oh. Should we buy dinner to take with us?”

“Huh…? What are you talking about? My house. My dad’s probably at work today, so he won’t be there… but my mom will be.”

“…What? You mean your actual family home?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“…What?”

My mind becomes hazy.

What magical girl in the world would tell a villain the location of her family home…?

What if her family gets put in danger?

That’s also why the dormitory was created.

It wasn’t Eden, but there was an incident where another villain forcibly found out a magical girl’s home address and kidnapped her.

And I heard about a villain who followed a magical girl’s magical traces to threaten her family, only to be permanently removed from life.

Blanc…?

Despite appearances, I was her greatest enemy and villain, wasn’t I?

“Please say something that makes sense. What magical girl in the world would invite someone to her actual home, not the dormitory but her family home…”

“Huh…? It is my family home. It’s natural that my house is in this neighborhood.”

“…Are you in your right mind? Should I find a doctor for you at the Association?”

“I’m perfectly sane… Standing here talking about this is pointless. Let’s go home.”

“…Uh.”

What am I hearing…?

Go to Yunseul’s house…?

Where her family lives…?

Her actual home…?

Me…?

But I’m a villain…?