Ch.3232. There Are Too Many People…

Upon arriving at the Association, we decided to go up and meet the Association President first.

Well, it’s not like I’m particularly excited to see the Association President after just a few days…

“Oh, you’re here? Just a moment.”

Seeing him diligently processing paperwork in his office makes me feel a bit sorry for him.

That mountain of documents wasn’t even visible when I was here before.

I guess he’s in the middle of work hours right now.

I sat down briefly to wait for the Association President.

“There, that’s done for now. Let’s go eat. Where should we go?”

“Don’t you usually just eat somewhere in the building, sir?”

“Yes, that’s true. But I can’t take guests to the cafeteria, can I?”

“I don’t mind…”

“That won’t do. There’s a nice restaurant nearby. Shall we go there?”

“Won’t a restaurant be crowded? I don’t want to get indigestion while eating. I don’t like it.”

“Hmm, it shouldn’t be that crowded. Why don’t we try it once?”

The Association President now started urging Blanc to come along.

What is this? Is he just ignoring my opinion and going where he wants?

Blanc readily accepted the Association President’s invitation.

“I’d love to. You’re treating us, right?”

“Yes, it’s on me.”

“Steak and pasta too?”

“Everything. Come on, let’s go!”

“Wait, no. Are you ignoring my opinion? Hey, Association President? Blanc?”

“What’s wrong, Vine? The Association President said he’s treating us. When else will we get a chance to eat on the Association President’s dime? Right?”

“Sigh, I don’t need any of this…”

“Come on. Shall we go?”

“Haa. Really…”

Once again, I was dragged out against my will, but at least I could walk comfortably on the street.

At least on the street, I didn’t feel that suffocating, frightening sensation.

I wonder why.

I’m not sure, but perhaps I’ve gotten somewhat used to it, which is fortunate.

The Association President pointed to a crowded restaurant.

“We’re here. That’s the place.”

“There are so many people. I don’t like it…”

Despite my protests, I couldn’t refuse Blanc who grabbed my arm and pulled me inside.

The restaurant had a calm atmosphere but was bustling like any family restaurant during lunch hour.

People chattering here and there.

This noisy atmosphere makes me dizzy, but well…

“How about that corner window seat?”

“Yes, that looks good.”

We received many stares as we passed through the crowd of people, but this is the first time since the department store that I’ve received such concentrated attention.

Still, I felt somewhat relieved thinking that most people were looking at Blanc.

I looked at the menu to distract my troubled mind.

“Eek…”

The first page of the menu featured steak.

It’s probably the restaurant’s signature dish, which is why it’s on the first page.

But that’s not what surprised me.

The price of a piece of meat…

For someone like me who hasn’t forgotten my previous lifestyle, the price for a single serving nearly made me lose my mind again.

“No way, how can the price be… Is this really for one person…? Huh…?”

“Yes, why? The Association President brought us here to treat us to something nice.”

“No, no. Even so, this, this is…”

The Association President saw me staring at the menu and said to me:

“It’s fine, you can order something expensive.”

“No, no. Th-this is…”

“I said it’s fine. I live alone and don’t have much to spend money on anyway. Might as well use it for something like this. Go ahead, choose whatever you want.”

“No, how can I just freely choose something like this…”

As I flipped through the menu, it was filled with similarly priced dishes. Wait, how can pasta cost over 50,000 won…? Is this also for one person?

No, how can these prices make any sense?

The amount I spend to prepare meals at home is about to be spent on just one meal for three people.

No, it might even be more…

“So, Vine, what would you like to eat?”

“Um, something inexpensive… I’ll go with the salad.”

“What salad? I told you not to worry about the price and choose freely. Oh, Association President, this steak is recommended!”

“Really? Then let’s order one of those. Would you like pasta too?”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

Once again, my opinion was ignored as they decided on the menu.

That steak is 160,000 won… the pasta is 48,000 won…

Escaping from the storm of dizzying numbers, I looked out the window and saw people taking pictures of the magical girl.

Ugh… uncomfortable…

Right, I should watch Arin’s training video.

That’s what I thought, but…

Before I could, a staff member came to take our order.

“May I take your ord— Oh my! Aren’t you Magical Girl Blanc?”

“Yes, I do work as a magical girl. Haha…”

“Wow… I’ve never seen a magical girl while working here! Oh, I’ll take your order now!”

“Yes. We’ll have this one and this, with this soup… Oh, and medium rare for the steak, please. For drinks… Vine, what would you like to drink?”

“Um, I’ll just have… water?”

“Vine, you should have cherry ade. You like cherries, so it’ll probably suit your taste.”

“How do you know I like cherries…”

“Then, we’ll have these. Thank you!”

“Yes! Understood. May I ask for one favor…”

“Oh, of course! Please feel free to ask.”

“Could I get a photo and autograph…! And perhaps that person next to you…!”

“Sure, why not? Are you referring to him? This is Vine.”

“The, the one from Eden?!”

“Yes, that Vine.”

“Oh my…! I’m a huge fan! You were always opposite to Blanc…! Vine! Would a photo be okay? An autograph too!”

“Wh-what?! A ph-photo…?”

Blanc answered on my behalf to the staff member who suddenly showed interest in me.

“Yes, do you have some paper?”

“Yes! Thank you so much! I’ll bring some when I come back with your order! Just a moment!”

As the staff member rushed back to the counter, Blanc looked at me.

Then, she said:

“See? There are definitely people who like you here too.”

“You were keeping that in mind all along…?”

“Yes, I suppose so. She’s asking for your autograph, right? You’ll give it to her?”

“What use is an autograph from a villain who’s already been defeated?”

“Well, if she wants it, you should give it to her. Don’t you think?”

“Sigh…”

A little while later.

The staff member returned with two thick sheets of A4 paper and a pen.

“I, I’ve never met a magical girl before! Wow… I’ve only seen you on TV… So the person across from you is…”

“The President of the Magical Girl Association.”

“I see… Oh, Vine! There’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you!”

“Yes? You want to tell me…?”

“During that final Ragnarok, when you faced 20 people alone. You were so cool! And the way you secretly took care of people, I was really moved by that!”

“You were moved by me…? Why…?”

“While the evil organization villains were busy killing people, you didn’t do that, right?”

“But I killed many people too…”

“Ahaha… Everyone knows that was all because of Eden’s brainwashing!”

“What? Brainwashing…?”

“Eden brainwashed you to make you feel guilty and ordered more destruction. That’s what we fans have been speculating, and we found evidence too!”

“What? What are you talking about…?”

“Here, please sign this!”

I seem to have heard something suspicious from this assertive staff member.

Brainwashing? That can’t be right.

Everything was done by my own hands. By my own will.

My mind is too confused.

That can’t be true.

Even if there was brainwashing, it doesn’t justify what I did.

Before I could think further, I took the pen she handed me.

“Here, on this!”

Wait, I’ve never done an autograph before.

How should I…

I quickly turned to Blanc for help.

“B-Blanc… how do I sign an autograph…?”

“Huh? Vine, have you never signed an autograph before?”

“When would I ever have had to sign an autograph… I’m not a famous person like you… I’m just a villain…”

“Just do whatever you want. That will be your signature.”

“Ugh…”

I scribbled on the paper as my heart guided me.

Vine.

Vine, like a tendril.

A V with two curling lines around it.

Following the connected line all the way to the last letter.

It’s a bit strange, but at least…

“H-here you go…”

“Wow… Thank you so much! Now, let me take a picture here!”

At the staff member’s request, Blanc gave permission, and eventually the photo included the staff member, Blanc, and me.

“Thank you! Your food will be out shortly, please wait a moment!”

The staff member waved the papers she received from Blanc and me as she headed back to the counter.

After she left, more people started coming over.

Most were fans of the magical girl.

And they kept complimenting me, saying I was cute, cool.

Why?

When I asked why they would say such things to a villain like me, they kept mentioning brainwashing, reconstruction shock.

They said things I never would have imagined.

Blanc handled most of the interactions with them,

and since what they said to me wasn’t particularly bad, it wasn’t too difficult.

Except for the pressure from being surrounded by so many people.

The stream of visitors slowed down once our food arrived.

Cream pasta and something called a tomahawk steak, served on elaborately decorated plates.

“Come on, let’s eat. There are quite a few people here.”

“Hehe, yes, quite a few. I expected this.”

“Well, isn’t it usually like this when magical girls dine out?”

“I’m used to it by now. You know that, Association President, right?”

“Yes, and as always, no one talks to me.”

“Association President, with that expressionless face, no one would want to approach you. It’s quite intimidating.”

“Is that so? Well, Vine. What’s wrong? Let’s eat.”

The Association President spoke to me when he saw I wasn’t picking up my utensils.

“Ah, yes.”

I was so distracted that I didn’t even think about eating.

Hmm, right. Let’s eat.