“GYAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!”
“A-Are we going to be killed? By a damn kid!?”
“He’s wearing a ridiculous sack on his head!”
“Wait… could this kid be the one from the prophecy?”
“He’s just a homeless brat, right!? No way this is one of those privileged ‘Gifted’ kids from the prophecy… not here, of all places! GYAA!”
“Teacher! Where’s the teacher!?”
“GYAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!”
“We’re getting eaten, by a boar… no way! The Moon’s Dew Bandits are being wiped out by something like this…!?”
“Stop the boar! All the magic users, use your spells on that boar—”
“Wait, no! This isn’t just a boar!? It’s a summoned beast! Kill the summoner! Find the one using summoning magic!”
“The boar’s coming!!”
『BWOOOOOOAAAHHHHH!!』
Hmph.
The boar of the Chinese zodiac, the mighty Boar, is really strong.
It’s taken hits from swords, spears, arrows, even magical attacks several times now, but it doesn’t seem injured at all.
And then—
“You can’t just focus on the boar.”
“A-A kid!!???”
Splat.
One punch to the unguarded bandit’s stomach.
My fist easily pierces through the bandit’s gut.
《Skill: Magic Manipulation – Enhancement Type, Activate》
Strengthening my body with magic.
By enveloping myself in magic, my body becomes far more durable than what you’d expect from a ten-year-old.
All thanks to those damned kids and their lynching.
Yes, this brings me one step closer to my ideal villain. Being strong is the minimum requirement to break free from being a mere background character.
“Damn it, now there’s blood all over my mask.”
To avoid being recognized, I’m wearing a sack I found in the village trash heap.
But it might be time for a new one, this one’s soaked in blood.
…This feeling, it’s nostalgic.
《Alert: Strong magical presence detected. A “Gifted” individual, estimated A-class Gift or higher… one in a million talent.》
“Hm… hiding in the shadows over there?”
The moonlit forest. I sense something beyond the shadows.
“—Impressive. You’re so young, yet so powerful… I’m captivated…”
“Teacher!!!”
Out from the shadows steps a handsome, silver-haired man wearing a soft robe.
His gaze is oddly sticky, purple lipstick on his lips.
He looks like he could be in a visual kei band.
Is it a common trope in this other world for everyone to be so damn attractive?
Under the moonlight, his robe… he really gives off a villainous vibe.
“It’s curious… there’s no information about someone like you among the Gifted children we obtained from the Malice Church. Your skill, your lack of hesitation… I understand now. You’re just like me, aren’t you? Those eyes peering through the holes in that sack… those are the eyes of a killer. At your age, you’re already so perfected… how marvelous. Would you be my friend?”
Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up. The way this guy talks… this guy.
“Oh, what’s wrong? Haha, there’s no need to be afraid. As friends… tonight is going to be a splendid night. Will you dance with me?”
—He’s one of those villains you can’t reason with! In a way, that’s pretty cool! I can’t lose to this guy!
“I know what you’re after. You must be… a follower of domination, war, or famine, right? Haha, incredible instincts. You’ve already sniffed out the cave.”
How do I deal with a slimy villain like this…
No, I do villainous role-play before bed every night, I’ve got this!
“—Fine, I’ll tell you the conditions for being my friend.”
“Oh, that’s delightful. What are your conditions?”
“You must be my equal. Hm… but you don’t seem like you are.”
“—Marvelous. I simply must see the face under that sack. Your death mask as well.”
Whoosh.
The black robe he’s wearing sways.
“I am Romaneque Bleu Milk, the Thumb of the Black Hand! Allow me to show you the beauty of death, my friend.”
The black-robed man slowly caresses the ground.
“—Gift Activate: ‘Call of Death.’”
“W-What!? T-Teacher… are we going to be caught in this too? A-Aaaahhhh!!!”
“No, I don’t want to die! Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!”
“The music box, the wailing, the howling… aaah, it’s inside my head…!!!”
Darkness spreads from beneath the black-robed man’s feet.
Human hands and feet emerge from the shadows, struggling.
The bandits who touch it foam at the mouth and collapse.
“The sixth of the Seven Prophecies of the Apocalypse, the Prophecy of Death! The goddess of death whom no man can escape… come, my friend! I am your—”
The handsome man’s words stopped there.
Thud.
Wow.
If you cover your legs with magic, you can jump really high.
But, using magic enhancement makes my body ache later.
“Huh?”
The boss-looking guy blinked in confusion.
The moment he struck a pose, I leaped and closed the gap, delivering a punch right into his gut, breaking through.
The black darkness covering the ground can’t touch parts of me wrapped in magic.
“Impossible… you’re not afraid of death…?”
“Sorry, but I’ve been through it already.”
“…Ah, magnificent… Gre…do the rest…”
Well, I remember dying in my previous life, so it’s technically not a lie.
He died looking satisfied.
…Hm, dying with a contented expression is pretty villain-like.
“Now, time to loot.”
The bandits’ hideout is basically a treasure chest.
It’s common knowledge among Life Field Players.
“Ooh, there’s a lot of fancy paintings and statues. But I’ve got no way to sell these.”
I take some cash and a few pocket-sized gems and precious metals.
Just working in that hag’s field doesn’t even get me enough food.
A villain needs a sound mind and a healthy body. That’s why I can’t skimp on meals.
“Man, I’ve gotten too used to taking down bandits.”
Bubble.
Sitting in front of the still-burning campfire, I boil some water in a pot I found in one of the tents and take a breather.
It’s a nice night.
This world has two moons, which makes moonlit nights incredibly bright.
《Mental Check: Due to the ‘Cursed Life (Second Time)’ skill, you are accustomed to blood, death, and curses. Your mind remains unaffected by gruesome scenes.》
I elegantly sip some hot water in the middle of an enemy camp I’ve just cleared out.
Hm, I’m like a villain who’s a bit unhinged. Not bad at all. But—
“I’m… getting used to this.”
I wash the blood off my hands with the leftover water.
Crunch, crunch.
Somewhere, there’s a satisfying sound.
The boar is munching down on the bandits’ corpses, swallowing them whole.
…Heh, what do I do? That thing really eats people. Its mouth is massive. Scary…
《You’ve exceeded the required number of human kills. Life Field inheritance has progressed.》
《The Job System has been unlocked.》
《Based on your aptitude, your class has been determined as ‘Necromancer.’》
“…Huh?”
I just heard something. That voice again. Did it say ‘Life Field inheritance’?
《The Necromancer class suits you well. Player… or should I say, no words are necessary. You seek great power even in this world. I’ve been watching you all week… quite impressive indeed.》
No, words are necessary! I need an explanation!
Damn it. I can’t ask now. I’ve been showing this guy my fearless villain act.
It’d be lame to get flustered or ask questions now.
“You are a terrifying person. You arrived in this world only a week ago, and yet you have already defeated over 100 bandits. Those training as hero candidates have not even experienced real combat yet.”
That many?
Did I get carried away?
In the real world, I’d be on death row for sure.
“The occupational trait of a sorcerer. ‘Killing aptitude.’ You feel nothing when harming others.”
“Huh?”
“Magnificent. You could be called the ideal player for Life Field. Yes, you already see everything, don’t you?”
“… Who knows?”
What the heck are they talking about?
See everything? I don’t even know who you are.
“I see. You have no intention of revealing even the information you have. As expected, Player.”
I really don’t know, but maybe I should stay quiet here.
“The more you adapt to this world, the more you’ll synchronize with Life Field. The sorcerer class is just the beginning.”
“… What?”
“Hmm?”
Ah, crap.
I let my true feelings slip. Synchronization? Wait, could this sorcerer class be from Life Field?
“… Ahem, continue.”
“Heh, that insolent attitude. It’s quite fearsome. The more you fight, the more you reflect Life Field’s progression into this world. The unthinkable number of bandits you’ve defeated in such a short time… Surely you knew how to use your power in this world from the start?”
“… Who knows?”
Seriously?
Not only do I have magic and fantasy elements, but there’s also a reincarnation-game aspect? And if it’s tied to Life Field’s progression…
Buzzz—
A strange noise.
“Huh?”
What is this?
A black hole opened up in front of me. A hole floating in mid-air. It’s pitch black, and I can’t see beyond it.
“Astounding… To think you’ve already acquired access rights to the storage box…”
“… My collection belongs to me, no matter which world.”
—Wait, is that the right tone? I feel like I’m breaking character here.
“That arrogance, could it be… the reason you’re a king?”
Looks like I pulled it off. Phew.
This guy’s really playing along.
Clatter.
Something dropped from the hole.
Illuminated by the campfire and the moonlight was—
—an old man’s mask.
I recognize it.
“Ancient Artifact: ‘Old Man Mask (Black)'”
“This is a ‘Special Grade’ ancient artifact.”
“This is a cursed item.”
“It grants the wearer an ‘Unidentifiable’ state.”
“The wearer of this mask can conceal their true identity.”
“The wearer will be bound by the ‘Old Man’s Curse.'”
“This item has a will of its own.”
“The Old Man Mask from Life Field…”
A faint grin spread across the black mask. It looked just like the masks used in Japanese Noh or Kagura performances.
It’s a special item that appears in Life Field.
“Could it be… the item found you on its own? Player, who exactly are you…?”
The voice of the navigator is surprised again.
No, I’m the one who’s surprised here.
How is it possible that the gear I got in Life Field is here?
“… Hmm, well, no matter.”
At this point, thinking too hard about the details is pointless.
If this mask is really the same one from Life Field…
“It’s essential for playing the villain.”
I toss the bag covering my face into the campfire.
I put on the mask.
It fits perfectly.
It feels cool and smooth, surprisingly comfortable.
“You have equipped the Old Man Mask (Black). The special effect ‘Unidentifiable’ is now active.”
A cursed item.
In Life Field, the genre of this item was categorized as such.
The effect of the Old Man Mask (Black) in Life Field was perception alteration.
While wearing this mask, you’re treated as the entity known as “Old Man” by those around you.
In other words, it’s a cheat item that lets you play the villain as much as you want, and as long as you take the mask off, you face no consequences.
“Your alignment is shifting towards ‘evil’… Pardon. It seems your alignment cannot become any more evil than it already is.”
I ignore the navigator’s voice and suddenly realize something.
“… Wait, does this mean I can hide my identity and play the villain?”
This item. In the game, it didn’t have many practical uses, but now… isn’t it different?
A mysterious masked villain pulling the strings from behind the scenes…
Nice. Very nice.
Oh man, I’m getting excited! I want to try something villainous while wearing this mask!
Are there any surviving bandits around?
“Hmm? That cave…”
Now that I think about it, didn’t both the bandits and that handsome guy mention something about a cave?
At the back of the bandit camp, there’s the entrance to a cave that seems to go on forever.
“Hmm. Being told not to enter makes me want to go in even more.”
There’s nothing else to loot from the camp anyway…
Besides, in Life Field, entering caves and dungeons from bandit camps was a common thing!
Let’s go! Time for a cave exploration!
