The Worst Villain is Actually a Cute Girl

Chapter 47: The Girl’s Talent?

We have decided on the roles and have the script.

There is only one thing left for us to do.

Practice until we drop before going on stage.

“Lena, let’s raise your voice in that part.”

“Got it, teacher.”

“Bada, your body is too stiff. Try to move more naturally. There’s no need to be nervous.”

“Yes… Hoo… There’s no need to be nervous… Let’s relax….”

“Leon, you’re getting too emotional.”

“What?! But isn’t it better to go ‘papat’ here?”

The children began practicing so hard that their faces and clothes were drenched in sweat.

With Rene’s help.

And.

They even gave up their hobby time and playtime.

At first, I wondered if there was really a need to practice so hard.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they were wrong. In fact, I approve of their actions.

I have no intention of belittling their efforts.

It is only natural to work hard to achieve something, to get what one wants, and to fulfill one's desires.

The children genuinely wish for it.

They want to put on an amazing performance for the audience, especially for Red and Rene.

There’s no way their acting skills would improve instantly without practice. Miracles like that don’t happen.

And they know that too, which is why they are practicing so desperately.

However, I think their practice is excessive.

It’s not like we’re competing in a tournament, nor are we dreaming of becoming actors.

It’s just a children’s play.

As long as it’s not embarrassing, it should be fine.

No, in the first place, since it’s a children’s play, the audience will enjoy it even if it’s not perfect.

In other words, rather than practicing so intensely, I’d prefer them to take it easy.

Hmm….

‘They’ll get tired soon and slow down.’

Children have weaker resolve than adults. They get bored easily and give up quickly.

So I thought they’d practice hard at first but then start taking it easy over time.

But my prediction was wrong.

“This is a drink that’s good for your throat. Drink it while you practice.”

“Thank you, teacher!”

“You’re much more natural than before. Keep doing it like that.”

“Hehe….”

“Leon, now that you’ve relaxed your body, you’ve improved a lot compared to before.”

“Ugh, I still haven’t quite got the hang of it.”

Even as the days passed, the children continued practicing diligently.

Even when their faces were full of exhaustion from fatigue, they didn’t know the meaning of giving up.

Watching the children so focused made me feel ashamed.

To some, it might just be a simple play to liven up the festival, but to them, it wasn’t.

Their desperate determination to make the play a success.

I felt pathetic for having underestimated them.

At the same time, I thought these kids were amazing.

Anyone can put in effort.

Even animals that understand words can do it.

But continuing to put in effort is something not everyone can do.

The desire to play, fatigue—so many things get in the way of perseverance.

Yet, the children are enduring it all and focusing on their practice.

They are accomplishing something that isn’t easy.

‘Come to think of it, they all have incredible concentration for kids.’

Lena with her singing practice.

Bada with her reading and writing.

And all the other children as well.

They all work hard and stay dedicated to what they do.

I smiled slightly behind my mask.

The children are working so hard, so I can’t be the only one slacking off.

‘But how am I supposed to try harder in this role?’

I was full of determination, but when I looked at my role, I felt troubled.

I had taken on the princess role, just as the children wanted.

The problem was that, out of consideration for me, the princess’s character was unusual.

A princess cursed to wear a mask and unable to speak.

She didn’t have a single line. No need for facial expressions either.

All I had to do was act through gestures.

Because of that, I easily handled my role without much difficulty, unlike the other kids.

Normally, as the lead role, it should have been the hardest, but somehow, it became the easiest.

The bigger issue was the princess’s presence.

If she were just an extra, it wouldn’t matter, but she was one of the main characters.

And main characters are supposed to be like this—

A presence that leads the stage, shining the brightest and capturing the audience’s attention.

But will a mute, masked princess really work?

Can a main character be like this?

Will the audience even like it?

If I were in the audience, I’d probably boo and give it a terrible rating.

Even while practicing, my head was a mess with these thoughts.

“Lily, why don’t you try taking off the mask once? I’d like to see what it feels like without it.”

At that moment, Rene made that suggestion.

I tilted my head in confusion.

It was understandable since my role didn’t require me to remove the mask.

I understood the intention behind the instruction, but I felt like it wasn’t necessary.

Still, Rene wasn’t someone to give random directions, so I followed the director’s instruction and removed the mask.

The children’s eyes gathered on me.

Especially the boys’ eyes, which sparkled to an uncomfortable degree.

Sigh.

I shot a glance at the girls, and they quickly caught on.

Each of them smacked the boys on the head to bring them back to their senses.

The boys groaned and rubbed their foreheads.

Heh.

I stretched my soft arms straight up, then let them down and shook out my hands and feet.

As I lightly loosened up my body and looked at the kids—

Their eyes were filled with anticipation.

Thinking that I had to live up to their expectations made me a little nervous.

I took a deep breath, turned to Rene, and gave a small nod.

Rene signaled for me to begin.

Following the script, I moved my body and crafted expressions that suited the situation.

My face is usually expressionless by default.

I figured conveying emotions would be difficult, but I tried to match the mood.

Agony in painful situations, sorrow in sad ones.

Despite appearances, I had worked as the Grim Reaper for a long time, so acting was second nature to me.

After showing a few scenes, I turned to the children.

I wondered how they would react.

The children stood frozen, eyes wide and mouths agape.

The heavy silence made me worry that I had done poorly.

“““Wooooaaaah!!!”””

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Suddenly, cheers and thunderous applause erupted from the children.

Excited, they rushed toward me in an instant.

“That was amazing! It really felt like I was watching a real princess!”

“I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

“With acting like that, why haven’t you spoken up until now?”

“Hic… Seeing the princess’s sad expression made me tear up without realizing it.”

Feeling flustered by their praise, I turned to look at Rene.

Even Rene had a look of admiration and showered me with compliments.

"That was amazing. Honestly, I didn’t expect you to be that good. I got completely drawn in without realizing it. You definitely have the skills to pursue acting."

I was flustered by the excessive praise, feeling lost and unsure of what to do.

At that moment, Rene stroked her chin and continued speaking.

"Hmm… Since you took off the mask, your emotions came through much better. Why don’t you just perform without it?"

Thud! The shocking suggestion struck me like lightning.

She’s suddenly bringing this up now?

Everyone praised my performance.

Maybe removing the mask would draw an even better reaction from the audience.

However.

I shook my head.

It might be fine inside the orphanage, but taking off my mask in front of a crowd was out of the question.

Disappointed murmurs spread through the room.

The children stared at me.

Their sparkling eyes tried to shake my resolve, but this time, I firmly stood my ground.

Even if I’m playing the princess, the mask stays!

Leaving behind the children’s sad expressions, I put my mask back on.

And so, we resumed our practice.

A week had already passed since we started practicing.

While the children were taking a break, Lena and I went out with Red.

Our destination was a music shop.

The reason for visiting such a place was to find props for the stage.

Red was picking out the necessary tools, while Lena and I wandered around the shop, browsing.

As expected of a child who loved music, Lena walked excitedly, her face filled with joy.

I followed behind her, but I felt an odd sense of discomfort.

It didn’t take long to figure out what it was.

The shop was crowded with people, yet instead of buying anything, they seemed to be waiting expectantly for something.

They looked like pets eagerly waiting to be fed.

I wasn’t the only one who noticed—Red asked the shop attendant about it.

"Why is everyone acting like that?"

"Oh, they’re all waiting for the shop owner to take out that."

"That?"

"The machine that supposedly contains a recording of the Angel’s Song—a rumor that’s been circulating for years. The owner occasionally takes it out and plays the Angel’s Song for everyone."

Angel’s Song?

Did an actual angel sing it or something?

But in all my decades of existence, I’ve never once seen a real angel.

Unless they mean some feathered-winged race.

Since I didn’t know anything about the Angel’s Song, I remained indifferent.

However, Red seemed to recognize it, looking quite surprised.

"The Angel’s Song… Could it be?!"

Lena, too, looked utterly shocked as she rushed over to the shop attendant.

She was so excited that she flapped her small arms wildly.

"What?! The Angel’s Song?! It actually exists?! Isn’t that just an urban legend?!"

The shop attendant nodded and glanced at Red.

"I also thought it was just an urban legend at first, but the shop owner must have gotten it from somewhere. A recorded version of the Angel’s Song. If you’re curious, stick around. It’ll be played soon."

Since another customer was calling for him, the shop attendant moved away.

I glanced at Lena, who stood frozen, her face blank with shock.

Was it really that amazing? The Angel’s Song?

I poked Lena’s shoulder and gestured, asking what it was.

Lena grasped both my hands tightly and brought her excited face close to mine.

She spoke much faster than usual.

"It’s an incredibly beautiful song. Rumor has it that just hearing it makes you feel happy, like you’re in heaven, and puts you in the best mood ever. And also…"

Lena began explaining nonstop.

Seeing Lena this excited was a rare sight.

I got a rough idea of what it was.

I’ve heard that music is like a drug. But I was starting to suspect that this might be an actual drug.

I mean, an enchanting song that pulls you into a world of fantasy?

From what I gathered, it sounded like a drug.

After a while.

The shop owner took out a small box.

At that moment, everyone froze in place, their eyes turning toward the shop owner.

Even Red looked a little intrigued, while Lena’s eyes sparkled like stars.

Angel’s Song, huh….

I crossed my arms.

Just how amazing could this song be?

With a mix of anticipation and unease, I waited.

The shop owner fiddled with a few things, and soon, a soft melody began playing from the small box.

‘!!!’

Flinch.

A familiar voice I thought I’d never hear again.

The song pushed my consciousness back into the past.

Like a broken screen, distorted memories flickered rapidly through my mind.

Nausea rose within me.

Behind the mask, my face slowly contorted.

The Angel’s Song truly had an enchanting tone, as if sung by an actual angel.

The song seeped into people’s hearts, driving away the darkness.

A dull, gray world regained its colors.

A sky filled with heavy storm clouds instantly cleared, revealing a bright, open sky.

Life began to sprout from the barren land.

Warm sunlight poured down, and a pleasant breeze greeted the world.

A gentle light spread through clouded hearts.

The power of the Angel’s Song.

People were utterly captivated by the melody.

A sinister-looking man let tears stream down his face.

A rough-looking thug’s hardened expression softened, making him look like a completely different person.

An elderly woman knelt down, clasping her hands together in prayer.

Even Red was quietly amazed.

Such a beautiful song.

But amidst the peaceful atmosphere, there was one emotion that sharply contrasted with the rest.

A small fist, raised as if to shatter this heaven.

Red quickly rushed forward and grabbed Lily’s wrist.

‘!?’

Her small arm was trembling faintly.

Rage.

A burning emotion that shocked Red.

Like someone swallowing down their fury, Lily’s small arm slowly lowered.

While the others remained spellbound by the song, Lily alone stepped outside.