The strange voice was quite knowledgeable.
If I played along, it taught me all sorts of things.
“Mortals, this is not the world you were in.”
A fantasy world, constantly ravaged by war. It truly seemed to be a world where magic, monsters, and non-human races lived alongside humans.
“You, the approximately 500 second-year students of King Central Academy High School, have all been reincarnated in this world by the ‘Great God Maris.’ You have been chosen to embody the will of the gods as heroes in this world.”
What a massive inconvenience.
But why?
“We don’t know. Officially, it appears that your arrival and reincarnation have been foretold as a divine gift, delivered through prophecy.”
It seems we were brought to this world because of some god I don’t quite understand.
Hmm, well, at least it’s a classic setup.
But I still have a few things I’m curious about.
“This is a reincarnation into another world, right? Does everyone remember their previous lives?”
“No. All of the reincarnated, except you, have lost the memories of their time in the original world.”
“Wow.”
This god who brought us here must be seriously bad news.
Is it trying to make us do something by taking our memories and giving us power?
Creepy… Better lock up. Oh, the front door is barely hanging on…
“It’s a bit unfair that there’s someone out there acting more like the villain or mastermind than me, isn’t it?”
If they’re that much of a scumbag, they probably aren’t just a background character.
Hmm, manipulating others at will with supernatural powers…
That’s totally a villain.
Alright, got it. Great God Maris, high evil score.
“Player, you… don’t seem very confused, which is quite fascinating.”
“Actually, I’m starting to get a bit excited. Magic, gifts, another world. No self-respecting teenager can hate that stuff.”
“But your mental age is supposed to be 17.”
“I’ll probably love fantasies, daydreams, and delusions until the day I die. I don’t think I’ll ever grow out of it. Okay, time to start, villain play!!”
“Uh… normally, wouldn’t this be the part where you ask more about this world or about me? Aren’t you curious? You know, I’m a pretty mysterious being, right?”
True, the voice has a point.
But no.
The villain I want to become is someone all-knowing, who understands everything without needing explanations!
“Uh, player?”
This thing seems a bit fishy too. A mysterious voice trying to explain the world to a reincarnated nobody.
I get it… You’re evil, aren’t you?
I can feel it—this is the vibe of a mastermind, pulling strings from the shadows.
I won’t lose. The true villain here is me!!
And the way to react to this kind of hidden puppet-master villain is—
“I don’t care.”
“…Wha—?”
“It doesn’t matter who you are. The only thing I need to know is—are you an enemy, or an ally?”
…Oops, did I go too far? I hope I didn’t make it angry. Maybe I should apologize…
“I see, player. I think I now understand why my voice reached you. Very well, I shall observe your path for a while longer.”
“…Do whatever you want.”
Phew, I’m safe. For a moment, I felt a serious chill, but it must’ve just been the draft in this rundown place.
Facing this mysterious voice without flinching—definitely villainous. Nice!!
“So, player. What will you do now? You have been cast out from the Rite of Selection. You can’t receive the training to become a hero. Against the coming ‘Seven Apocalypses,’ you are utterly powerless.”
“…Heh.”
“All you do is laugh, huh? That’s more like it. Very well, mortal.”
“Heh.”
“My name is Navi. Mortal. No, player. The one who hears my voice.”
“Yeah.”
“Live as you will, and act as you please. The whole world lies before you. Go, see it, and experience it. Become what you wish, and do what you desire, in this world fated for ruin.”
“Trivial.”
And with that, the voice faded.
…Wait, the world’s going to be destroyed?
Between Life Field and this world, things are always ending.
Maybe now’s not the time to be saying “heh.”
But it felt good, like a conversation between two strong personalities, neither backing down.
I think I’ve built some solid rapport.
…But the world’s ending, huh?
Now that I think about it, they mentioned something about a child of prophecy to resist the apocalypse at that cathedral, too.
“Well, whatever!”
More important than the fate of the world is my own life.
I will break free from a background character’s life and become the villain in this one.
First thing I need to do is—
“Check my abilities.”
Remember that sensation from earlier.
The heat.
That feeling of warmth coursing through my body.
The darkness that gathered in my palm, and the strange rat.
A special power.
A gift—
Without thinking, the words flowed from my mouth.
“Spell formation.”
