The Worst Villain is Actually a Cute Girl

Chapter 48: Resting in the Embrace of Kindness

I unconsciously became emotional.

Overwhelmed by emotions that surged along with memories of the past I had thrown away, I almost burned everything along with that box.

Just like that day.

Fortunately, Red stopped me, allowing me to regain my senses—just thinking about it makes my heart sink.

‘Haa…….’

I never expected it to be an angel’s song.

It was unimaginable.

No wonder, since recordings were prohibited there, I assumed it wouldn’t exist.

I want to destroy that machine that makes me recall unnecessary memories.

But too many eyes are watching right now.

I suppress my rising urge for destruction.

Rage consumes everything around it without concern.

If I surrendered to my anger here and now, I would feel at ease.

My heart would feel lighter too.

But what about after that?

All that would remain after the fire passes is ashes.

Standing in a place where everything has burned down would only make me miserable.

I want to stay longer in this rare, warm home I’ve found in this world.

I know it’s a greedy wish for someone like me.

But after struggling in this world for decades, a little selfishness should be fine, right?

‘Yeah. It’s fine. It’s all in the past. There’s no need to remember something that has already ended.’

I’m not as weak as I was back then.

Something like that won’t happen again.

Because I’m no longer the person I was that day.

I don’t have to tremble in despair and fear like I did back then.

I don’t have to give in to rage and disappointment.

Everything already burned down, leaving only ashes. There’s no need to rekindle the extinguished embers.

I took a deep breath in and exhaled.

Then, I heard a grating sound scratching at my ears, so I shifted my gaze.

My brows furrowed slightly.

I stopped my hand, which had been moving unconsciously toward my neck.

Clenching my fist tightly, I slowly lowered it.

I pulled up my collar to cover my flushed neck.

A cold breeze blew, cooling my heated head for the first time in a while.

If I took off my mask, the wind would probably carry away my heat and stray thoughts, but I didn’t remove it.

People’s gazes on the streets were one reason, but more than that, I didn’t want to reveal the ugly face hidden behind the mask.

Even though my face usually lacked emotion, at this moment, it definitely wasn’t pleasant.

As I calmed myself and waited for the two to come out, they soon appeared.

The moment she stepped out, Lena examined my expression.

Her bright eyes from inside the shop were gone, replaced by sorrowful, melancholic ones.

Even though I was wearing a mask, she still seemed to sense something, her face filled with concern.

“Why did you suddenly step outside? Are you feeling unwell?”

I shook my head.

“Really?”

I nodded.

“You told me to leave you alone for a moment, but are you sure you’re okay?”

I nodded again.

Even though I moved my head the same way as usual, Lena kept asking.

Only after I added gestures to show that I was fine did her expression relax slightly.

At that moment, Red approached and knelt in front of me.

She looked at me.

Her gaze briefly flickered toward my neck, and without thinking, I pulled my collar up higher.

Red placed her hand on my shoulder, smiled, and spoke while looking straight at me.

It was a very gentle smile, yet there was a faint trace of worry hidden within it.

“If you’re feeling unwell or have something on your mind, tell me. You don’t have to carry everything alone.”

I hesitated for a moment, then, after some internal struggle, reluctantly nodded.

Red stood up and placed her hand on my head, softly stroking it.

Pat, pat. Rub, rub.

Pat, pat. Rub, rub.

Hey?

You’re petting me way more than usual.

Lena also clung to me and started stroking my head.

Ugh.

The more I let them, the hotter my head and body became.

But it wasn’t the kind of heat that devoured everything—it was a warmth that gradually soothed my heart.

The heat tickled my heart.

I forcefully swatted away their big and small hands.

Ignoring their disappointed murmurs, I urged them to hurry back.

On the way back.

In the car, Lena asked.

“Lily, what did you think of the song in the shop?”

After a brief hesitation, I nodded in agreement.

“Really? I thought so too. I want to sing a happy song like that someday.”

Watching Lena’s determined side profile, I let out a self-mocking smirk behind my mask.

Lena started singing the angel’s song inside the car.

They say an angel’s song brings happiness to people’s hearts.

The song Lena sang brought a sense of calm to mine.

A song that combines happiness and peace to warmly embrace the heart only casts a shadow over mine.

But I don’t stop Lena from singing.

Because that little girl looks so happy.

After returning to the orphanage, I acted as if nothing had happened.

Wearing the same indifferent expression, behaving as usual.

When I checked my reflection in the mirror, I looked just like I always did.

But despite my perfect disguise, the others must have sensed something off, as their attitude toward me noticeably changed.

It wasn’t a bad change—quite the opposite.

They became overwhelmingly kind.

When it wasn’t time for stage practice, everyone tried to share their warmth with me excessively.

“Lily… Lie down here… I’ll read you a fun fairy tale….”

Bada forced me to rest on her lap and began reading a storybook.

“Here, today’s snack.”

Since coming back from the music store, Rene had been preparing snacks that I particularly liked.

“Here, eat a lot today too.”

The usual troublemakers, who would normally fight tooth and nail over who got the most snacks, were now oddly offering theirs to me.

And it didn’t stop there.

“Lily, look over there! The birds are flying so beautifully.”

“Lily, the sky is so clear today. Let’s go play in the yard.”

“Lily, I found a strange creature here. Isn’t it cute?”

“Lily.”

“Lily.”

They kept clinging to me, pestering me with different things.

I could somewhat understand why they were acting this way, so even though it was annoying, I endured it.

I figured if I humored them a little, they would eventually stop.

But instead…

Pat, pat.

Rub, rub.

Soft and fluffy.

Rather than stopping, they intensified their efforts, practically smothering me in warmth as if they were trying to suffocate me.

Aaaah!

In the end, unable to endure it any longer, I rolled around the room, demanding an explanation for this sudden change.

Why are you all acting like this?!

The children looked dejected before each offering their reasons.

“Because you look so drained.”

“Puu. You never talk about your worries.”

“Yeah. Your face looks the same as always, but something seems off.”

“So we all teamed up to cheer you up.”

After hearing their explanation, I let out a small sigh.

I thought I had masked everything perfectly, but I guess I couldn’t fool the kids.

Now that I think about it, I did hear that children are more sensitive to atmospheres than adults.

That’s exactly right.

A sudden sense of emptiness washed over me, draining all the strength from my tense body.

Still, I was grateful for their concern.

But wasn’t this a bit too much?

It’s not like I was whimpering like a rain-soaked puppy, yet they kept trying to wash me, feed me, and put me to bed.

I’m not that weak.

…No. Am I?

The children don’t know that I’m the Grim Reaper.

Without that identity, I appear no different from an ordinary child my age.

If a child seems drained, it’s natural for those around them to worry.

The children aren’t bad.

They were just trying to cheer me up in their own way.

It’s all my fault.

Becoming uncharacteristically gloomy, causing trouble for everyone.

Feeling pathetic, I let out a hollow laugh.

When I recalled the children’s actions, I found it oddly amusing and suddenly burst into silent laughter.

No sound came out.

But my lips curved into a wide smile, and my shoulders shook.

To anyone watching, it must have looked like I was laughing.

The children’s eyes widened in surprise.

After laughing for a while, I gestured for them to come closer.

As they approached, I placed my hand on their heads and ruffled their hair one by one.

Messing it up as if a strong wind had blown through.

After teasing them, I smirked mischievously.

Though they grumbled, the children laughed joyfully.

I laughed once more.

“Are you feeling better now?”

I nodded.

Looking at their brightened faces,

I offered them a genuine smile.

The girls blushed, while the boys clutched their hands over their hearts.

With the atmosphere now lighter, we resumed our stage practice.

Time passed, and night fell.

I lay down on the floor covered with blankets.

Instead of lying in their usual spots, the girls clung to me.

Good grief.

I tried to push them away, but their tiny hands held on tightly, refusing to let go.

I let out a small sigh.

Giving up, I stared at the unlit ceiling.

A self-deprecating smirk formed on my lips.

I am not a child.

Not a weak child who can’t do anything alone.

Despite my appearance, I am the Grim Reaper—someone feared by others.

The Grim Reaper is not someone who needs to be protected.

There’s no need to share this warmth with me.

It’s a kindness too gentle and warm for someone like me.

Just staying in the place where you all belong, taking a brief rest, is more than enough.

The uncharacteristic gloom I felt was merely a lingering aftereffect.

Like the scent of burning that lingers from ashes, emotions that hadn’t fully faded surfaced, revealing themselves.

But it won’t last long.

A strong gust of wind will blow, carrying those lingering traces away into the air, leaving nothing behind.

Then everything will return to normal.

Just like it always has.

“La la~”

At that moment, a small voice hummed a tune beside me.

A soft, gentle, and warm melody wrapped around my heart.

Lena was quietly humming a lullaby next to me.

The warmth made sleep slowly overtake me.

As I closed my eyes, my consciousness sank into the darkness.

In that darkness, I walked.

The ground beneath me was shrouded in shadow, making it difficult to step forward, while countless voices whispered rapidly in my ears.

I couldn’t understand the words, but I could feel the emotions behind them.

Sin does not disappear.

Whether by choice or not, sins accumulate little by little, weighing heavily on my heart.

Even though I know I shouldn’t care, I am a foolish human who cannot let go.

And this place is the hell where such foolish humans reside.

Wandering through the darkness, I barely managed to reach the place that had always been the beginning of everything.

But this time was different.

A faint song echoed from somewhere.

That song created cracks in the terrifying place, shattering it completely to reveal a clear, blue sky.

A garden bathed in warm sunlight.

Underneath a tree, I saw a girl with golden hair singing.

Slowly, I walked toward her and lay down beneath the tree’s shade.

Listening to her song, I quietly closed my eyes.

The guilt that had haunted me in my dreams melted away in the peace, leading me into a sweet slumber.