The Worst Villain is Actually a Cute Girl

Chapter 5: There’s Always a Sign Before Something Happens

Even if a flock of sheep rushed in, they’d still be nothing more than delicious prey in front of a wolf.

In a battlefield removed from human domains, numbers were meaningless.

Sure, the violent faction attacked first, but seeing them get completely overwhelmed in front of my eyes stirred just a hint of pity within me.

“Gaaah!”

“Urgh!”

A single kick sent a person flying into a building, and a single punch scattered them like bowling pins in a strike.

If they were ordinary people, they’d have realized their defeat and fled for their lives.

“““For the Grim Reaper!!”””

But their intense faith erased any fear they might have had.

With a roar, the violent faction charged at Red, brandishing iron rods with all their might.

They were agile, clearly far beyond the capabilities of ordinary humans.

However, before they could even scratch Red, the rods shattered with a crisp sound and flew uselessly into the air.

Though their momentum was impressive, they either ended up with their chests caved in from Red’s punches or their faces smashed in.

Of course, they weren’t complete idiots.

Realizing that direct confrontation wouldn’t work, they looked for openings, trying to target her blind spots with surprise attacks.

Naturally, humans don’t have eyes on their backs, so those ambushes could have been dangerous.

Thud!

But she struck with a speed they couldn’t follow, hitting them before they could make a move.

Red mocked her enemies with movements too fast for an ordinary person to catch.

And yet, Red wasn’t even fighting at full strength.

She was merely toying with them, as if playing with children.

The enemies, unable to land a single scratch, collapsed one after another.

Still, they didn’t give up.

But sheer determination alone couldn’t overcome a powerful opponent.

Their faith might have been unwavering, but they were hopelessly inferior to Red in every aspect—reflexes, strength, speed.

Three minutes passed like that.

In the time it took to cook instant noodles, the commotion in front of the store was settled.

Red didn’t even look the slightest bit tired.

“That’s it? This wasn’t even enough to warm up.”

This was Red, the notorious killer.

She was, without a doubt, someone to be cautious of.

I engraved in my heart the need to ensure my identity wasn’t exposed in front of her.

*

“Your skills haven’t dulled one bit.”

The shopkeeper looked around in awe.

Red shrugged her shoulders casually at the compliment.

“Not really. These guys are just weak.”

Red stretched her arms above her head with her fingers interlocked, then lightly moved her neck from side to side.

“Anyway, we should figure out why they attacked us.”

Looking down at the ones sprawled on the ground, she approached the one who seemed to be their leader.

She knelt beside him, grabbed his arm, and twisted it mercilessly.

The man’s body jerked, and he let out a scream.

He struggled in vain to escape the pain, but her grip was unyielding.

When Red loosened her hold slightly to get him to talk, he gasped for breath.

“Why are you here?”

“It’s all for the Grim Reaper….”

“Why did you attack us?”

“It’s all for the Grim Reaper….”

Unimpressed with his answer, Red twisted his arm even further.

He writhed and drooled in agony.

“Don’t give me some nonsense like ‘for the Grim Reaper.’ Do you really think I’ll buy that you got a ‘divine revelation’ or something?”

Her detached gaze and monotone voice were as terrifying as the rumors suggested.

Ugh.

She really was as ruthless as they said.

I shivered slightly.

“No matter… how much pain you inflict, our faith will never falter…! Even pain and death are blessings bestowed upon us by the Grim Reaper!”

“Oh, really?”

“Aaaaaah!”

Despite his screams, the crazed glint in his eyes was visible through his broken mask.

Weak as he was, his fanatical faith sent chills down my spine.

These guys were seriously unsettling.

“The Grim Reaper is the one who will save this world!!”

He extended his free hand forward, and something glinted in the sunlight.

In his grasp was a small dagger.

In a desperate final act, he hurled the dagger with the intent to take someone down with him.

Snap!

“Where do you think you’re playing with your hands in front of me? Do you not know what happens to misbehaving hands?”

Red easily stopped him.

With a squeeze of her hand, the sound of breaking bones echoed as his hand was crushed.

The dagger clattered to the ground, and his head slumped as if he had passed out.

“I didn’t kill him. I still haven’t heard the reason yet.”

Red stood up.

She dusted off her hands and turned towards us, but the man, who seemed unconscious, suddenly raised his head.

“For the Grim Reaper!”

He opened his mouth wide.

Something glinted inside, and before I could process it, something shot out.

Red swung her hand to deflect it, but she missed one of the light projectiles.

Red moved to intercept it immediately, but the man grabbed her arm with all his strength, slowing her down.

That brief delay cost her the chance to stop it.

The stray bullet, seemingly fired at random, flew straight toward the shopkeeper’s heart.

In an ordinary situation, the shopkeeper’s life would have ended there.

But I was here.

Sorry, but I can’t let such a kind soul who brings happiness die here.

Zap!

I imbued a bit of my power into the tongs I was holding and swung them, deflecting the projectile into the sky.

Then I immediately aimed the tongs at the man and hurled them.

Thwack!

“Gaaah!”

The tongs struck his arm, bending it at an odd angle.

I had deliberately restrained myself, aiming only to subdue him.

Red hadn’t yet extracted any useful information from him, after all.

“Kid, just who… are you…?”

Red’s eyes widened.

But her surprise lasted only a moment before she regained her composure.

She grabbed the man’s hair, ready to do something, but stopped mid-action.

Clicking her tongue, she let go and dropped him to the ground.

“He killed himself.”

Red checked the other fallen men around her.

I confirmed it too.

All of them were already dead.

They had taken their own lives to protect their secrets.

Such remarkable loyalty—or should I call it faith?

Red frowned, scratching the back of her head in frustration at the lack of useful information.

She sighed heavily and approached the shopkeeper.

“Old man, are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

“Yeah, thanks to this little customer here.”

I could feel their gazes.

Their interest naturally turned toward me, drawn to the mysterious skill I had displayed—something no ordinary person could achieve.

“Kid, what was that just now?”

Sweat dripped down my forehead.

It was truly a relief that I had covered my face with a mask and hood.

I only used 3% of my actual power.

So, I’m confident there’s no way anyone would figure out I’m the Grim Reaper.

They absolutely must not.

But what if someone noticed?

With others, I might have been able to brush it off, but something about her made me feel like she’d catch on.

I felt uneasy.

Calm down.

Panicking here will only make me look suspicious.

I shrugged lightly, trying to act like it was no big deal.

Red stroked her chin, lost in thought.

After a moment, she locked eyes with me.

And in a low voice, she said:

“Kid.”

Thump!

“You’re on your own, right? Then, have you thought about going to an orphanage?”

Her unexpected proposal took me by surprise.

What? An orphanage?

“Actually, I sponsor an orphanage,” Red explained.

“There are a lot of kids there without parents, just like you.

They’re also being trained to survive in this world, kids as strong as you.”

The word “orphanage” made my stomach churn.

Memories of a terrible past resurfaced in my mind.

“At the very least, you’d be more stable and comfortable than you are now if you stayed at the orphanage. You’d have friends too, so you wouldn’t feel lonely. What do you say? Want to come with me?”

Without hesitation, I shook my head.

“Really?”

Yes.

I nodded firmly.

I know all too well how thin and hollow goodwill is in this world.

When I first woke up in this world, back when I hadn’t yet awakened my powers, I was desperate to live.

I needed someone to lean on, anyone at all.

That desperation led me to an orphanage for a short time.

It was, of course, the worst.

They’d lure children in with kind smiles and bring them to the orphanage.

But once inside, they abandoned the kids.

Whether the children lived or died, got sick or injured, they didn’t care.

Some orphanages even exploited the kids to earn dirty money.

When a spot opened up, they’d bring in another child to fill the void.

The orphanage director, who always ignored us, would boast about their good deeds in front of others.

It was unbearable, so I ran away.

Sure, Red might be different.

But the scars etched deep in my heart ached, urging me to reject her offer.

“I see… Well, I can’t force you if you don’t want to come. But if you ever change your mind, let the old man here know.”

Red didn’t seem intent on forcing me.

Phew.

What a relief.

I hate orphanages, but staying with her longer would only increase the chance of my identity being exposed.

I can’t stay with her.

“You’re done with your business here, right? You’re heading home? After what just happened, let me walk you back. That okay with you, old man?”

“Sure,” the shopkeeper nodded.

But I shook my head vigorously, refusing her offer.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to decline.”

I kept shaking my head.

Even though I insisted I was fine,

She kept asking, worried about letting a child walk alone.

I kept refusing.

Red finally gave up, raising her hands in defeat.

“If you hate the idea that much, I won’t force you. Just make sure to hurry back and avoid getting involved in anything troublesome like earlier.”

I bowed my head deeply in farewell.

With my carefully packed desserts in hand, I started walking.

Then, Red called out, stopping me in my tracks.

I turned around to see her waving with a faint smile.

“Thanks for saving the old man’s life, kid! Get home safe, okay? See you later.”

“When you come back, I’ll have plenty of your favorite treats ready, so make sure to visit again!”

I raised my hand high, waving back energetically.

Then, I turned and continued walking.

‘I hope this isn’t the start of something bigger.’

Thugs attacking wasn’t enough; now we had religious zealots involved.

This didn’t feel like a simple act of revenge.

What were they planning?

What was about to happen?

I stopped, looking up briefly at the overcast, gloomy sky.

Then, I resumed my steps toward the base.

‘Heh, I should figure out the order to eat my desserts when I get back.’

*

After the kid disappeared,

Red pulled a cigarette from her coat pocket and placed it between her lips.

Lighting the end, she took a deep inhale.

As she exhaled, a pungent smoke filled the air.

‘What an interesting kid.’

At first, she thought he was just another street child in the city.

But after seeing him deflect the light projectile, her perspective changed.

Even skilled Problem Solvers would struggle with such a feat, yet a child had pulled it off.

It wasn’t a coincidence.

That kind of skill required experience and capability.

How could a child possess such talent?

Whether it was innate talent or something else, he was no ordinary kid.

And on the flip side, it also meant he was carrying some heavy baggage.

‘I wish I could’ve taken him with me.’

In a world like this, even good deeds are treated as peculiarities.

People whisper that such actions are done out of self-satisfaction or a sense of superiority.

‘Maybe they’re right.’

She wasn’t pure-hearted, like the heroes in children’s books.

Her efforts weren’t entirely selfless.

She simply wanted to give kids the tools to survive in the city so they wouldn’t die meaningless deaths.

It wasn’t pure goodwill.

For that reason, Red tried to educate children at the orphanage on how to live in this harsh world.

So, she offered every child she met the chance to join the orphanage.

She did the same with this kid.

Most of them, distrustful of others, turned her down.

This kid was no different.

‘Even though he acted like a child, there was a guarded look in his eyes.’

It was the kind of habit that came from never fully trusting adults.

Seeing that behavior left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Maybe the cigarette made it feel even more bitter.

‘Still, I have a feeling we’ll meet again somewhere.’

Red glanced coldly at the corpses strewn on the ground before looking up at the dreary sky.

The cigarette burned slowly in her hand.

*

In a neatly arranged room filled with expensive furniture,

A man poured wine into a glass.

Holding the filled glass, he sank into a luxurious chair.

Its softness enveloped his body.

As he held the glass, magic flowed into it, and cold mist rose from its surface.

He took a slow sip, the chill running down his throat, savoring the wine’s flavor.

“Phew.”

At that moment, someone approached the man.

A figure wearing a skull mask and gripping an iron staff.

“Isaac, I sent the followers as you instructed. So? How was it? Did you confirm everything?”

“There were no issues. Everything went as my intel suggested,” Isaac replied lazily, swirling his glass.

The figure slammed the iron staff onto the ground.

“If you lied to us, we will never forgive you. Don’t forget that.”

“Don’t worry. After all we’ve been through together, you still don’t trust me?”

Unimpressed, the figure turned their back on him.

“All of this is for the Grim Reaper’s full descent into this world.”

“Yes, I’m well aware.”

The figure left, and Isaac smiled as he stared at his reflection in the glass.

‘Heh, for the Grim Reaper, huh? Sorry, but unlike you, I’m working toward a greater cause. So, I’ll keep using you all a bit longer.’

The Grim Reaper Cult had swallowed the bait of false information whole.

He smirked inwardly at their simplicity as he raised the glass to his lips.

Then, a thought struck him about the events of the day.

‘Was it a coincidence? Or intentional?’

His icy birds, perched above the clouds, had been watching the ground.

But the deflected light projectile had struck one of his creations, disrupting his surveillance.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter. My plan is progressing perfectly, so there’s no way I’ll fail.’

Isaac downed the rest of his wine, then uttered a single word.

“Status window.”