The Worst Villain is Actually a Cute Girl-Chapter 49

It was finally time for the festival.

We’d rehearsed plenty for the performance, and now it was time to reap the rewards of that effort.

The kids were all tense, their faces stiff with nerves.

As long as they did things the way they practiced, there’d be no problem.

But the real thing is always different from rehearsals.

Even though they’d grown used to their roles, just thinking about performing in front of a big crowd made their faces go rigid.

Each of them tried to brace themselves in their own way, but with their bodies so stiff, they couldn’t even bring out their true abilities.

A heavy silence settled over the group.

Just then, Rene waved her hand around dramatically to blow away the thick atmosphere.

“Come on, relax your faces and enjoy the festival. We’ve still got plenty of time before we go on stage.”

The kids blinked as if they’d just now realized something.

Festival.

What was happening here right now was a festival.

And a festival wasn’t just about the performance.

It was about playing games and eating food at fun booths—that’s what a festival was.

Before they were performers, they were participants who should be enjoying the festival.

Their stiff expressions gradually softened, and the kids nodded.

Yeah, that’s more like it.

Just like Rene said, the performance hadn’t even started yet.

And even once it did, our turn wouldn’t come for a while.

Until then—

We could just enjoy the festival like usual, without worrying about a thing.

Once they got into the festive mood, their nerves would naturally loosen up too.

Rene raised her index finger toward the kids.

“Oh, but don’t get too carried away with playing or eating. If you’re worn out or get a stomachache before the show, we’re in big trouble.”

“Yeeees~”

“Alright, let’s go!”

“Woohoo!”

Rene threw her arm into the air.

The kids all raised their arms in sync with hers.

With a cheer, we all set off to explore the festival streets.

The place was packed with people. The kids stuck close behind Rene to avoid getting lost, glancing around in every direction.

Just like a proper festival, there were all sorts of fun attractions and strange food.

The kids' eyes sparkled with curiosity at every new thing they saw.

Holding odd snacks in their hands, they giggled like they were in heaven.

This time, my mask didn’t have the lower half, so I could finally taste the food comfortably.

The texture, shape, and flavor reminded me of takoyaki.

The only difference was, when you put it in your mouth, the ingredients squirmed like they were alive.

Every time I chewed, a tiny squeaky kkyuu kkyuu noise came from inside my mouth.

It was a snack made for the joy of biting into it.

What was this called again?

“Ugh. I can’t believe you’re actually eating that.”

“Sometimes I really don’t understand Lily’s taste in food.”

“You’ll get a stomachache if you eat weird stuff...”

When I picked out and ate the bizarre snack, the kids gave me strange looks.

I tilted my head, not understanding why.

Isn’t food discovery all about taking risks and random chance? That’s the kind of spirit that leads to finding new, delicious things. And this snack was proof of that.

Despite their sharp criticism, the flavor of what I was eating was exquisite.

When I offered some to the others, their faces turned pale.

They shook their heads in horror and refused.

Hmph. Can’t believe they’re skipping out on something this tasty. These kids don’t know how to enjoy festival food properly.

We continued enjoying the festival, when Rena suddenly murmured beside me.

“It would’ve been nice if unnie were here too...”

Her voice didn’t match the cheerful festival—it had a touch of loneliness.

Red was busy, being one of the people in charge of organizing the festival.

So Rene had come out in her place to lead the kids for once.

I took Rena’s hand in mine.

She looked at me with surprise, but then her gloomy lips turned into a small smile.

The kids’ steps became lighter, like they were walking on air.

The tension had completely melted from their faces, replaced with big, blooming smiles. Their laughter was sweeter than any snack and blended into the festival’s sounds.

A festival organized by Red and her acquaintances.

It wasn’t dazzling or massive by any means.

There wasn’t much variety in the snacks or activities, and compared to the flashy, filthy festivals held in the central city, this one was lacking in every way.

Compared to that amusement park we visited before, this place was tiny.

It was just the right size for people living in the outskirts to enjoy something small and pleasant.

But despite that, it was more beautiful and radiant than any festival I’d ever seen.

Unlike the showy festivals in the polished city, this one lit up the streets with a pure sparkle—like stars scattered across the ground, not the sky.

Everyone here—adults and kids alike—had joy written all over their faces.

Laughter filled with happiness.

The air was so bright and lively, it made you forget this was just a shabby outer district.

Feeling the heat of the celebration, I couldn’t help but smile a little myself.

“Let’s go over there next.”

“I wanna try that!”

“Doesn’t that look tasty?”

Even as time passed, the energy of the festival didn’t fade—it only grew stronger, wrapping everyone in its warmth.

We went off together in search of more fun.

Our first stop was a crowded game booth.

It was a game where you sliced falling fruit on a big screen.

1st – 5680 points

2nd – 5300 points

3rd – 4980 points

The kids took turns playing the game.

But none of their scores made it onto the leaderboard.

They grumbled in disappointment.

When my turn came, I picked up the sword.

As the game began, fruit started popping onto the screen.

I sliced through them effortlessly, my movements crisp and fast.

Ding~

When the game ended, a celebratory jingle rang out for the new top scorer.

1st – 10001 points

Gasps filled the crowd.

“Oh my god... look at that! Is that score even possible?!”

“No way. Who the hell got that?!”

“Whaaat?! That kid in the mask is first place?! That tiny little thing got a score that high?!”

I placed my hands on my hips and proudly lifted my chin toward the kids.

They all showered me with praise.

But I wasn’t done yet.

We moved on to other game booths.

Whack-a-mole, shooting games, solo survival games...

We entered every kind of game there was, and I took first place in all of them—by a landslide.

“Who is that masked kid? How the hell is she winning everything?!”

“Ugh, how are we supposed to beat that score...? We can’t. Goodbye, first-place prizes.”

“No doubt about it. That kid’s possessed by the god of games.”

Heh.

I don’t go easy on anyone—no matter who they are.

This is how a festival should be.

I planned to keep the first-place prize in storage and take it home after everything was over.

As I continued enjoying the festival, before I knew it, time had flown by.

The doors to the large hall prepared for the performance were thrown open.

People began entering, eager to see the show.

The seats filled up quickly, and anticipation lit up every face in the audience.

Thump-thump.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Each time someone took the stage and put on a spectacular performance, applause burst forth like thunder toward the stage.

The more the crowd enjoyed themselves, the louder the clapping became.

And the more our kids’ faces stiffened.

Damn it... all the tension they’d shaken off during the fun was creeping back in again.

Well, I guess it was inevitable with a crowd that big.

As our turn grew closer, I went to the bathroom to splash some water on my face.

Before heading back in—

I stepped outside for a moment to cool off from the heat ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) of the excitement.

Let everything go smoothly until the end.

These peaceful moments were rare.

The kids had worked so hard preparing for the performance.

I deeply wished from the bottom of my heart that all of that effort wouldn’t be in vain.

But just as I turned to go back inside—

A long shadow stretched over me.

And a chilling darkness swept over me like a shroud.

*

Inside a worn-down cathedral.

Rows of pews lined either side of the central aisle.

One person sat on each side.

Grey, leader of the Church of the Reaper, and Prophet, the Church’s seer.

Prophet was in the middle of explaining the plan he had devised to Grey.

Once the explanation was finished, Grey gathered his thoughts behind his skull mask—

And opened his mouth.

“So your plan is to sabotage the festival being held in the outer district by the so-called crime killer and her allies?”

“That’s right.”

“You mean to send our followers to ruin it? But that’ll be difficult. The opponent is Red. And her companions are likely formidable as well.”

“No need to send our own. I already have someone inside. The plan is already in motion as we speak.”

Grey’s eyes narrowed from within his mask.

He shifted his gaze toward Prophet, who picked up on the silent question radiating from behind the mask.

“I’m just saying—after the chaos caused by this incident, we’ll move our people to amplify it even further. Until it spreads across the entire city. Chaos is the finest tool for sowing death.”

“...You think this event will become a storm that sweeps the entire city? Incidents like this are common in the outer districts. They fade fast, buried by the next one.”

Grey’s skepticism about the plan was understandable.

In the outer districts, large and small incidents alike vanish before they can even stir the wind.

But this time was different.

Prophet smiled faintly.

“You’re not wrong. But this festival—was organized by Red.”

“...”

Grey tilted his head slightly.

Prophet elaborated.

“That festival is, in a sense, a symbol of hope. It’s meant to tell people that there’s still hope left in the world, that things can get better. It’s filled with those kinds of ideals and wishes.”

Prophet knew Red’s character well.

He understood her convictions.

A woman who, unlike the rest of this world, still held firm faith in others.

And to that faith—smash!

Prophet chuckled darkly and continued.

“If, during a festival meant for the people of the outer districts, the ones to destroy it turn out to be from the outer districts themselves—what do you think will happen?”

“You don’t mean...?!”

Grey’s reaction was all the answer Prophet needed—he nodded.

“Even Red will crack. Even just a little is enough. Once there’s a fissure, breaking her to pieces becomes all too easy.”

“But how do you intend to pull it off? Red’s eyes are hard to escape.”

“That won’t be a problem.”

The confident tone left no room for doubt.

“Midas of Greed will act.”

“Greed?!”

One of the Seven Deadly Sinners—Greed.

Grey knew full well how powerful the Seven Sinners were.

But even when all seven had attacked together, they couldn’t stand against Red.

Naturally, he was worried.

“Will it be alright?”

“Yeah. Thanks to a little friend I sent earlier.”

Grey frowned slightly behind his mask.

The “friend” Prophet referred to was Adam.

The overly confident Adam had lost his life to Red.

“After that guy failed, the flow of money was redirected to Midas. He’s gathered a considerable amount of power since then. At the very least, enough to hold her back.”

“If you say so, then I suppose that’s that.”

Grey turned his gaze toward the statue of the Reaper towering above the altar.

“If this plan succeeds, we’ll finally approach the prophecy.”

His voice was soaked with reverence.

But—

Darkness draped over his mask.

It could’ve been a trick of the light inside the dim room—but it also felt like it was reflecting the turmoil in his heart.

As if sensing this, Prophet tilted his head.

“Your expression doesn’t look good. Is there something you don’t like about the plan?”

“No. Nothing.”

“Really?”

“Is that so?”

A silence fell between them, and then Prophet’s eyes narrowed slightly as if something had clicked.

His wicked red eyes gleamed, and he smirked mockingly.

“Are you feeling guilty now, just because lots of people will die if the plan goes through?”

“Of course not. If you want a real answer—it’s just that your plan doesn’t take the human heart into account.”

“The heart...?”

The crimson eyes blinked in confusion at the strange answer.

Grey spoke.

“Your plan is to ruin the festival. I’m sure the people enjoying it will be deeply happy. And the happier they are, the deeper the despair will cut.”

“So what are you trying to say?”

“We of the Church of the Reaper seek to shatter the flesh and save the soul. To let new life take root upon land drenched in death. But your method only damages the soul—and leaves nothing but ash. Isn’t that just meaningless violence...?”

At Grey’s sermon, Prophet clutched his head with both hands.

His shoulders quivered, and then—he burst into laughter.

He swung his legs gleefully.

“Puhahahahaha! You’re still spouting that nonsense? God, you’re so laughably naive.”

After a long fit of laughter—

He wiped away imaginary tears with a finger.

Then the grin vanished completely.

“Well then, should we cancel the plan right now?”

“You ask the obvious. I don’t agree with your methods, but bringing our god into this world is our highest priority. Nothing is more important than that. Personal feelings must be set aside for the greater cause.”

The voice, full of insane faith, was solemn.

And then—

Grey lowered his gaze.

He placed his hands over his knees and clasped them tightly together.

The eyes behind the mask filled with sorrow—for the souls trampled mercilessly by violence.

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“May the gentle hand of death reach those souls.”

He offered a quiet prayer.