Ch.1313. Is This How a Mannequin Feels?

The Villain, a being at the opposite end of the spectrum from magical girls.

They should have been a being with abilities far superior to those of ordinary humans.

To feel such fatigue in the body of a villain like this.

Even more tired than when I spent over a month working at construction sites while drinking only sugar water.

How is it possible to feel this way just from trying on some clothes?

Those people outside the store who cheer every time I come out wearing different clothes…

Now I’m more afraid of that mountain of clothes piled up over there…

Wait, Citrus? How are you managing to pick out clothes so efficiently from such narrow spaces while in a wheelchair…?

“Blanc, don’t you think this many clothes is unnecessary? A few comfortable outfits should be enough.”

“Huh? We’ve only bought outdoor clothes and indoor clothes so far. And honestly, this isn’t enough. We still need to visit a few more places.”

“What? I’d be fine with just hoodies or something similar…”

“No way. With such a nice figure, it would be a waste to dress so plainly.”

Citrus, who had been piling up clothes for me to try on, interjected into our conversation.

“Hmm, I’ve heard the same thing from Ellie, but I really don’t mind. I just prefer comfortable clothes.”

Yes, that’s what Ellie always said when she brought me clothes.

She would ask why I always wore uniforms and ended up confiscating all the uniforms in my closet.

Uniforms were so convenient—I didn’t have to worry about fashion, and they provided decent mobility.

It’s just so bothersome.

It was so difficult when Ellie limited the days I could wear uniforms.

Well, whenever I complained about it being a hassle, she would pinch my side and scold me.

I wonder if this is similar.

How many times have I gone in and out of this fitting room now? Really.

I’ve lost count of how many times it’s been.

Putting on and taking off clothes isn’t difficult.

I’ve been living in this body for a long time now…

The discomfort of clothes doesn’t bother me either.

I’m used to it by now.

But this—trying on so many clothes…

I see, was this a plan to torture me until I couldn’t get up again?

If so, it’s working…

That pile of clothes on the chair, nearly half my height, is supposedly only half of what we’re getting…

Save me, I’m not even human, I’m a villain…

“Well, I’m out… How does it look?”

“Wow… absolutely… Vine, let’s go to the district office right now and register you as my little sister. I’ll prepare all the adoption papers. I’ll take responsibility for rehabilitating and raising you, okay? Be my little sister, new… we’ll think about the name later, let’s go.”

“Um, Citrus. You’re seriously scaring me… What’s wrong with you?”

“Now, sister. No matter what, you didn’t need to go that far, did you?”

Thankfully, it was Blanc who stopped Citrus from going further out of control.

Though Blanc’s increasingly giddy behavior was concerning too.

“No, Yunseul. Look over there. How could someone with a face like that be a villain? Isn’t she just a juvenile delinquent who broke a few buildings and hurt some people? I can take responsibility for educating her to grow into a proper adult. Yeah. Will you let go of me? Yunseul?”

“Sister, calm down. You’re too excited. Yes, she is cute, but… if you act like this, you’ll scare Vine. Come on, calm down…”

“Do I look calm?! She’s so cute… Ow, ow! Yunseul, don’t pinch my shoulder like that… Ow! Ouch! Eek! A magical girl is using violence against a civilian!”

“Sister, calm down.”

“Okay, I get it! Aagh!! Stop channeling magic into your hands!!”

Hmm, magical girls really do have their own screws loose.

Just look at that former magical girl and the one called the strongest magical girl causing a commotion for such ridiculous reasons.

“Hey, try this next… Sigh, why are you so…”

“Excuse me? Is there something wrong with me?”

“No, just take this in with you. Hmm, actually, you probably don’t need to try anything else on. Those two look like they’re going to buy everything anyway.”

“What? I don’t need that many clothes… Sigh. I’ll go try it on.”

After going in and out of the fitting room dozens of times, I suddenly noticed the staff packing all the clothes I had tried on, while Blanc and Citrus were sharing photos of me they had saved on their smartphones while making the payment…

I couldn’t understand why they were doing this.

“The total comes to ***0,000 won.”

“What?! That’s…! I don’t need this many clothes!”

“Vine, think of this as, um, company welfare.”

“What nonsense are you spouting! Why would you spend so much money on me?!”

“Just accept it all. If you don’t take it now, I’ll put it all on your tab.”

“What?! What kind of tyranny is that!”

“That’s why you should just accept it obediently. Now, sister! That place next, right?”

“Yes, hehehe… so many cute things…”

“Sigh, please…”

Only after sweeping through every children’s clothing store in the department store were we finally able to leave.

Outdoor clothes, accessories, pajamas, even underwear—everything.

When buying underwear, Blanc tried to follow me into the fitting room out of curiosity, and after barely stopping her, I ended up having even more purchases forced on me.

Looking at the bags full of clothes in both hands, I couldn’t understand why they were doing this for me.

I definitely fought fiercely against these three.

Moreover, Citrus injured her leg.

So why are they being so nice to me?

Why are they doing this? Why?

With these thoughts, I stepped outside. The sun had long since set behind the mountains.

The reddened sky on one side and the purple sky on the other showed that time had fled far away. This was where I was supposed to part ways with Citrus.

“Vine, if Yunseul makes you do anything strange, you must come running to this big sister, okay? I’ll take responsibility and give you a job, food, and a place to stay. Got it?”

“What’s with this ‘big sister’ talk? You crybaby, hurry up and escort Citrus home. I’ll prepare dinner. Blanc, let’s drop off these bags and go grocery shopping.”

“Yes, let’s do that. Sister, please get home safely.”

“Yunseul, don’t do anything weird to Vine. You think I don’t know what’s going on in that perverted mind of yours? Like, watching Vine sleep and… Hey, you can’t do that. Understand?”

“Sister, I’ve never thought about such things… That’s all in your m—”

“I’m off then! Bye, Vine~”

Blanc leaped toward the sky before Yunseul could finish her sentence.

After some time passed, we returned to the dormitory, and I wrapped a scarf around my neck from a box in the corner before heading out again.

“Vine, do you really need that scarf?”

“Yes. I am darkness that should not be revealed to the world. It’s better if fewer civilians see me.”

“Those people from earlier, they were all magical girl fans.”

“Oh, is that so? Then why did they like me? Shouldn’t I be an object of their hatred?”

“Hmm, charismatic villains tend to be popular.”

“I’m not a fictional villain like those in movies who don’t harm people. I actually have the blood of many people on my hands.”

“The screams of many people, their cries for help, they all remain with me.”

“I hurt them, so why do they like me?”

“Don’t tell me it’s because of this appearance. Sigh. If that’s the case, I understand.”

“So, now that the threat has been eliminated, they’re no longer afraid? Is that it?”

“Or perhaps they enjoy that fear.”

“Isn’t it strange to be a fan of magical girls? After all, you’re not fictional characters but engage in real battles.”

“Real battles where blood is spilled, where in severe cases, people can die or be disabled—it’s a dangerous profession. Isn’t that strange?”

Blanc pondered my questions for a moment before answering.

“Having people who like me gives me strength. They cheer me on. Of course, sometimes that support goes in slightly odd directions, but that’s fine.”

“And they like you because you’re charming.”

“Even after being defeated and retreating, you grew stronger and gave me such a hard time.”

“Do you know how eerie it felt when all my attacks were being read? That’s why I analyzed our battles so thoroughly, which ultimately led me to where I am now.”

“And when they actually saw you, they probably immediately sensed that you’re good at heart. That’s why they were even more enthusiastic after meeting you.”

“No, something’s off. What about all the people I’ve met until now?”

“Where did you meet those people?”

“I tried to avoid people’s gazes by seeking out secluded alleyways…”

“Secluded alleyways, places where no one is watching—did you really think it would be safe for a child like you to wander around there?”

“With no people around, I wouldn’t be attacked, right? That’s obvious…”

“Did you never consider that in those secluded places, someone drunk might think it’s okay to attack someone who looks vulnerable, especially if they turn out to be a villain?”

“N-no… I thought it would be better than being attacked by a group of people…”

“Sigh, really. How… Anyway, that won’t happen anymore. Don’t worry.”

“No, that’s… Sigh, aren’t you being unreasonable?”

“Well, I’ll be by your side from now on, so nothing like that will happen.”

“Sigh, for now… I’ll go along with it, but give me the scarf. I still need time.”

Blanc silently waited for me to wrap the scarf around myself before opening the door.

I still can’t understand human psychology, the society they’ve created.

Why are they trying to accept me?

I should be the kind of existence that gets rejected.