Living as a Villain -3

There were times when I found Noah scary.

Before, when I gave her a kiss on the back of her hand because I couldn’t resist her gaze. Recently, when Noah gave me a deep kiss.

And, right now was one of those times.

“Brother, why is that fellow acting like that?”

“Hehehe…”

“…Brother? Stop trembling and speak!”

“I’m trash… trash that shouldn’t exist in this world…”

The Demon King’s words continued with exasperation.

There was a slight contempt in her voice.

“You too, stop giggling and explain! What on earth happened for him to be like this!”

“The Demon King would be hurt if she knew.”

“Kugh… treating me like a child!”

“Huhut. A child. Children are nice. Especially if it’s your own child.”

Ososo.

It gave me goosebumps.

“Noah… that…”

“Ah, I’m hungry.”

“…! Okay, wait a little. I’ll prepare it right away. What do you want to eat?”

“Hmm… anything?”

“Alright. I’ll prepare everything you like. Surely there’ll be at least one thing that appeals to you.”

Things Noah likes.

I plan to prepare all of them.

It was a struggle to escape from my guilt, even just a little.

“Hmm… ah.”

“What? Did you think of something?”

“Hmm… I’m already full though.”

“Full? What did you eat?”

When I expressed confusion with a “Huh?”, Noah’s expression changed.

Ah, that expression.

That’s the expression she often made when cornering me.

“You fed me so much yesterday… I’m expected to be full for about 10 months…”

“…”

“Huh? 10 months? What did you eat to be full for so long!”

“Huhut.”

“That’s unfair! Brother is unfair! Why don’t you give it to me too!”

“…”

“Unfair! Make me full too!”

My hands trembled at the Demon King’s words.

Noah is 17 years old, but the Demon King is 7 years old.

Not just trash, but waste.

Yes, I’ll become waste that’s difficult to burn even with fire.

Even though I’m a villain, do you think I would do such a thing?

“I’ll buy you something else, Demon King. Just wait a little.”

I turned on the delivery app and ordered various things.

The jingling sound of money leaving hurts my bones.

It’s already like this, but if it really happens-

“…How should I raise money…”

Now I’m starting to worry about the future.

The world’s destruction and whatnot is frightening, but in this world, I’m a bottom-of-the-barrel life with nothing.

I didn’t even go to college, and all I have is the dishonorable title of villain.

What should I do if a child is really conceived?

Can Noah’s salary handle it… no, Noah would have to take maternity leave.

Can the convenience store job handle it?

…Do I need to rob a bank?

“Mister!”

“…Huh!? Ah, yes. Noah.”

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“…Just something.”

This is reality now.

It means I have to live a daily life here after all the battles are over.

‘Career concerns at this age…’

Such thoughts came to mind, but I shook my head.

First, I need to completely end the battle.

Then I can prepare for whatever might happen.

“Phew…”

“Hehe.”

Noah laughed at me with a “hehe.”

The corners of her mouth were smiling, and her cheeks were flushed.

Despite what I did to her last night, she seemed completely happy.

Really.

Where does that composure come from?

“Rather than that, please come up with a plan.”

“A plan…”

“I don’t want to die leaving behind a lot of precious things.”

Her tone was light. But her eyes were not light at all. They were eyes that had made a firm decision.

“Isn’t there some method? I’ll think hard about it too.”

A method…

“…I don’t like it, but we have no choice but to go to that person.”

“That person?”

“Yes. Noah, I’m asking just in case, but you still have the cauldron safely, right? You didn’t throw it away?”

“Yes. I still have it safely, but why?”

That’s a relief.

Though I’m not certain, I know one person who might have a possibility.

The problem is that I’ve already done something bad to that person. Even if it was necessary for my sake.

While going to that person, I should definitely return it.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Like that, a week passed, and it was Saturday.

“Well, are you ready?”

“Yes~”

“Yes!”

The three of us, carrying the witch’s cauldron, prepared to depart.

However, there was a slight change in members.

“Taehwa. I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll find it well for you.”

The Demon King went to spend time with Seo Jin-ah and Yoo Yul.

Instead, Taehwa, who would help find the way, joined the party.

Taehwa raised a hawk on his hand. It was a peculiar hawk with a body that glowed with starlight.

Stella’s skill, Pathfinder.

“I got it from defeating a monster that you taught me about before, mister.”

That’s right.

That skill isn’t very useful in combat, but it’s perfect for finding paths.

It’s also a necessary skill to get exactly to where we’re going now.

“Then, I’ll open it!”

Kyukyu flaps its small wings.

Then a small wind blade appears in the air and slightly tears open the space.

It was a kind of dimensional passage.

If we go through here, we’ll find the witch, the owner of this cauldron.

I only hope that person has a method.

Even if there is a method, we’ll probably have to go through a lot of trouble, but it’s better than having none.

“Then let’s go.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

I picked up the cauldron with my tentacles and walked into the dimensional passage.

+++++

“Damn those magical girls…”

Grit.

In the gap between dimensions, there was a woman with purple hair biting her nails.

She had dark circles under her eyes.

“When are they going to return it…”

Ha Yun-seo, 25 years old, commonly known as the Witch of Purple Flame.

Things she dislikes are having her belongings taken away and going out. Recently, magical girls had been added to the list.

So it must have been the worst day for her.

She went out to retrieve a stolen item, and because of that, she had to meet the magical girls.

“Iris… Stella… these abominable things… they took it whenever they wanted… and now they say they’ll return it?”

Ha Yun-seo recalled the two magical girls.

The blue one was somewhat okay.

She wasn’t at a level that couldn’t be dealt with, and she didn’t treat her too harshly.

The problem was the pink one.

Just thinking about that time makes her body tremble.

‘No time for jokes. Unni, will you lend me that? Or would you rather get hit by me?’

Get hit!?

This young girl is asking if I’d rather get hit!?

This brat whose head is still wet behind the ears dares to say such a thing!?

How could I endure after hearing those words!

Of course!

“…What on earth… that monster…”

As a result, she almost got beaten up for real.

That damn magical girl…

At least she’s coming to return it, so that’s fortunate.

‘I’ll see them today and never again!’

Ha Yun-seo moved her feet with such determination.

In a pitiful state where she had to come when called, as her contact information was forcibly taken.

Woong-

The dimensional door makes a sound.

It seems they’re coming.

“Ugh…”

She waits, trembling.

The sound stops, and from inside appears-

“Excuse me.”

One fairly handsome man.

“Oh my?”

“I heard our children were disrespectful to you. Here, we’ve come to return this as an apology.”

“I appreciate that, but…”

What about those kids?

Before she could ask, those kids appeared from the passage.

However, they had a slightly different feeling from before.

“We’re sorry.”

“We apologize.”

Suddenly bowing their heads, could they have some ulterior motive?

Ha Yun-seo asked in confusion.

“What is this all about…”

“Please forgive them. These children did it for me.”

“What?”

“I needed to cast a spell. For that, I absolutely needed your cauldron. I’m truly sorry.”

Ha Yun-seo was at a loss for words at the shamelessly confident attitude. Since she was not used to talking to people, it was even more so.

Shin Hyun, already aware of this fact, pressed on without giving her a chance to rest.

“And, I have one question.”

“…What now?”

“Have you ever researched homunculi?”

“Su-suddenly coming here and saying such things, what do you mean!”

“…Don’t play dumb. I know everything.”

What’s with this man?

Is he a police officer or something? Or a hero?

Has he come to arrest me?

Feeling as if she had met a grim reaper, Ha Yun-seo gulped.

The fortunate thing was that he only asked such questions without showing an aggressive attitude.

“I’m not here to fight. First, to return your property, and second, to apologize.”

“…”

“Third, to ask if you know a way to extend the lifespan of artificial life.”

Extending the lifespan of artificial life.

Coincidentally.

“…I do know.”

It was research she had succeeded in recently.

“That’s fortunate. Can you possibly use that technology for me?”

“…No. Why should I?”

“Of course, I’m not empty-handed.”

Whoosh.

The man took out a piece of paper from inside his clothes.

It was a contract.

“If you sign this contract, you’ll be able to use me wherever you want three times.”

“A contract…? Wait, do you even know who I am when you say this?”

“Of course, the Witch of Purple Flame. An A-class villain designated by the association, right?”

“Yes. And you’re talking about a contract to someone like me? Telling me to use you as I wish? That’s ridiculous-“

“I’m not joking.”

“…Right. Looking at your expression, it seems so. Then let me ask one thing.”

“Ask anything.”

“You, if I tell you to attack a hero, can you do it? Can you do it?”

The man closed his mouth.

Yes. There’s no way he could do it.

In the end, that contract is just a pretty facade-

“Of course.”

“…Huh?”

“Which hero would you like me to attack? Perhaps… those who bullied you in school and are now playing hero?”

“…You, how do you know that? No, who are you in the first place?”

“Me?”

At Ha Yun-seo’s words, Shin Hyun closed his eyes for a moment.

Kkomul-i, who was attached to his back, melted down and became one with his magic.

His entire body is covered with a robe, and a mask attaches to his face.

Slowly opening his eyes, Shin Hyun said to Ha Yun-seo.

“I apologize for the late introduction. I am the S-class villain, Kraken.”