Scum-lesse Oblige, I Have Been Reincarnated as a Scum Villain in an 18+ Game World, and I Absolutely Want to Grasp the Mob Life with the Power of My Knowledge of the Original Story - Chapter 31

Hey, hey, Can You Tell What’s Changed About Me?

“Mob style…I’ve never heard of it. However, I shouldn’t underestimate it. Actually, I have trained my shadows on my own as well. Tell me, how did you come up with that fighting style?”

“How do I come up with my fighting style, you say…”

This is bad.

For some reason, Bard is really curious about my fighting style.

The reason why I came up with this fighting style is because I want to be a mob character in this world.

I want to be as inconspicuous as possible.

How in the world do I tell him that?

“I’ve observed a lot of fighting styles and perfected my own fighting style.”

…it’s not like I’m lying to him.

Basically, in any anime or movie, villains who boast about their strength tend to meet their demise.

‘I will become the strongest because I have reincarnated into this game world!’

I’ve already given up on that idea a long time ago.

That’s why, I’m aiming to be a mob that lives peacefully along the background characters.

“I see, you perfected your own fighting style by observing others.”

“Well, yeah…something like that.”

“Hmm, interesting. Well, since you’ve gone this far, I’ll give you some praise, Genesis.”

Bard casually says so as he tosses the coat he is wearing aside.

“You’re insane. Using your magical powers efficiently to the utmost, extending the duration of the battle. Why worry about managing your magical powers efficiently during a fight? It’s like distracting yourself during the fight. A normal person would never choose such fighting style. Just how much of a battle maniac are you?”

“……”

It seems like he completely misunderstood the reason why I created my mob style combat technique.

It’s not because I want to extend the duration of the battle, but I want to remain inconspicuous…

It seems like my mob fighting style is suffering from a lot of reputational damage.

Well, never mind.

Bard starts to chant some strange incantation.

“Be careful!!! He’s trying to do something!!!”

Iris warned me so.

“It’s already too late, my lady—shadow deeper than darkness. Manifest your true nature. Destroy and demolish everything!”

In an instant, the atmosphere around Bard changed.

“Kukuku, Genesis. You have no idea what I’m doing, do you?”

He chuckles.

“……”

Of course not.

Is this guy trying to be some childhood friend-type light novel heroine who suddenly asks, ‘Can you tell what’s changed about me?’

Silence.

Eventually, Bard begins to speak.

“Kukuku. I’ll admit it, you’re certainly strong. Your fighting style is admirable. But in the end, the one who will emerge victorious is this [Shadow] Bard. Can you guess why?”

Bard smiles eerily as he says so.

“No.”

I shake my head.

I literally have no idea at all.

“Allow me to teach you something from the underworld. What you lack is decisiveness. Certainly, in a direct swordfight, you would win against me. However, unfortunately, I am a warrior, not a swordsman. I’ll get serious now, allow me to show you my magic.”

“Huh?”

Immediately, I noticed something is amiss.

The number of shadows around Bard’s feet increased significantly.

“Hmm.”

There are more shadows now, and they have become more menacing, completely surrounding Bard’s feet.

“I’ve disabled my automatic defence. In this state, I can manipulate my shadows freely. Well, it requires a lot of magical power and concentration, so I can’t maintain it for a long time.”

Saying so, Bard waves his hand.

Swish.

The sound of the wind cutting through, and a large stone that is beside Bard is now split in two.

“Behold—my attack power, speed, precision. Only one person has survived seeing me in this form—that [Demon] alone!”

In an instant, Bard charges towards me.

“Genesis! Your end has come too!”

Magical powers are leaking from his body.

What a waste of magical powers.

—I can’t help but to think that it would be better for the environment if everyone is using their magical powers efficiently.

I’m indeed being cornered.

Bard’s sword gleams even brighter, and in addition, his shadows are now moving even more vigorously like a snake.

“What do you think!? Behold my dragon’s jaw!”

Ah, it seems like I’m wrong.

He said it’s a dragon, not a snake.

However,

“—this is not good.”

I say so while I fend off Bard’s attacks.

Certainly, Bard’s observation is quite accurate.

This Mob-style combat technique.

Being eco-friendly and almost completely unnoticed in terms of magic power usage are all well and good, but what I’m doing is actually very simple.

I’m simply channelling my magical powers throughout my body to enhance my physical abilities.

That’s why this tactic is unsuitable against an opponent with an overwhelming strength like Bard’s shadow magic.

That’s right, I will lose this fight.

However, that’s only if things stay as they are.

“Should I use it?”

While defending against Bard’s attacks, I take the opportunity to catch my breath and refine my magical power.

Not the magical power I use to channel throughout my body, but a different kind of magical power.

—my extradimensional magical power.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What is this battle…!”

Iris can’t help but to mutter so as she watches the overwhelming fight unfold before her.

Genesis, who can manage his magical powers to enhance his physique so efficiently, and the [Shadow] Bard, who can manipulate his shadows like his own limbs.

If this battle was held in a proper tournament, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it would go down in history.

Even Iris, who is confident with her combat skills, can’t keep up with the fight.

“Oh no…!”

—however, the situation is changing.

Bard is getting serious and he started to control his shadows by his own. Even the masked man with his incredible skill is being pushed to the limit.

“Genesis…!!!”

Iris shouted.

Genesis tries to avoid Bard’s pursuit by leaping into the air.

However,

“That’s a bad move…”

As expected, a despicable smile forms on Bard’s face.

“You can’t escape in the air! Too bad, Genesis!!!”

As Bard waves his arms, shadows that are even sharper than swords rush towards the masked man.

If Bard’s attacks hit, it will be the end will for the masked man.

It’s over.

Anticipating the grim outcome, Iris can’t help but to close her eyes.

—however,

Bard’s shadows failed to hit the masked man.

“Eh?”

Iris can’t believe her eyes.

As if it was nothing, Genesis lands on the ground unscathed.

“You’re lying…right?”

Impossible.

Genesis had moved mid-air to dodge Bard’s attacks.

He wouldn’t be able to do that with physical enhancement alone.

How did he do that?

Silence.

Both Iris and Bard are at a loss for words.

“Now then.”

The only one who maintained their composure in this situation is the masked man.

“It seems like it’s time to finish this.”

Genesis readies himself.

The next moment, the masked man begins his attack.