The Ordinary Sorcerer's Fun Otherworld Villain Play - Chapter 18 - The Enemy Lurking in Darkness (Intelligence 3, Fiction)

“Fu…”

“””As expected, that’s what it means.”””

What does it mean~?

What should I say to satisfy these guys?

“Curse, please tell us our enemies.”

“…Fu.”

Dangerous, dangerous dangerous.

The enemy could just be gods, wasn’t that already complicated enough?

What should I do? I was out of material.

No, wait, at times like this—This Communication!

“What do you lot think?”

Study my high communication skills.

At times like this, I should let the other party do the talking!

“…My lord. May I offer my personal opinion?”

“I don’t mind.”

[Scarlet is starting an intelligence roll, gained a bonus to the check from history knowledge skill]

“…I observe that in all the great battles that occurred in the name of gods throughout history, reincarnators were always involved. In the first place, reincarnators are those called by Chief Deity Maris when crises befall humanity. …The seven apocalyptic prophecies including us, in other words, if the crises to humanity themselves were originally schemes plotted by gods…”

“…I see! That’s what it means, Scarlet, that would make everything consistent.”

“Fuhe… Scarlet-chan, smart, a-amazing.”

“Fu… explanation seems unnecessary.”

What is it~? What’s “that’s what it means”~?

But, thanks to communication skills, the conversation started progressing nicely somehow.

[Player, you couldn’t possibly… no, but…]

I heard Navi’s voice.

…Come to think of it, this one was also a pretty suspicious fellow.

In the end, I didn’t even know what it was.

…Wait, could I use this setting perhaps?

Scary, my own talent…!

I recalled guild member and the ultimate chuunibyou, Apocalypse King †nana†-san.

Nostalgic.

They used to make me read their self-written novels in private chat.

I didn’t really understand the story content, but now was the time to use that experience!!

“Yes, exactly. Embodying the gods’ will, our enemies, the enemies we must eliminate as gods’ pawns—”

At Scarlet’s words, White and Kuro nodded.

“””Reincarnator heroes…”””

They started making tremendous logical leaps.

“””Curse, our enemies are, reincar—”””

“Close. But if that’s all, you lot are still merely toys rolled around on the palm of the gods’ hand.”

“Eh…”

“Gods predict that far, look back at history. Weren’t there incidents where reincarnator heroes were massacred?”

Please, let there be such incidents.

This was such a lawless and dangerous otherworld, incidents, please exist.

Work out somehowww!

“—The Blood Night of Jareme…!! The incident where the Holy Maris Church struck down reincarnator heroes, about 10 years ago…!”

“Exactly, reincarnator heroes are also merely pitiful puppets dancing to the gods’ schemes. What we should strike down lies elsewhere.”

It worked!

“Maris Church, those most blessed by gods opposed reincarnator heroes, which means… those reincarnator heroes at that time became existences inconvenient to the church somehow…!”

“Ah…! My terrifying lord, my sovereign possessing both curse and serpent’s wisdom…”

“A-amazing… even though Scarlet is one who bears blood of the Wise Clan, the domain governing knowledge among the Elf race.”

“Fuhe, Master’s wisdom surpasses that…”

“Not even the gods’ plots can deceive my king’s magic eyes, that’s what it means.”

Oh? Was I being praised for my intelligence perhaps?

These guys, they were good people…

Alright, should I announce it then?

The story of nonexistent enemies created by my intelligence.

No, in a sense they existed.

These guys would never reach that existence.

Because—

“Gods’ apostles, I call them that.”

“Gods’ apostles…”

[Eh?]

The player was me.

Because Navi called me that after all.

I’d lay the groundwork here for the future betrayal mastermind play.

The enemy lurking in darkness that they pursued, it was the man who showed them the way…

P-perfect.

Thank you, †nana†-san. It was that cliffhanger thing, right?

“Reincarnator heroes, no, not limited to them. There are those in this world who hear strange voices. They pretend to assist adventures, but are traps guiding to gods’ plots.”

[Eh?]

“No way…”

“…Why didn’t I notice until now? Could it be oracles, and prophecies are…”

“Fu. Hearing gods’ voices, carrying out gods’ schemes. They lurk cunningly in darkness, in history, controlling this world from the shadows. According to the gods’ will.”

“We, the seven apocalyptic prophecies, this power of ours that destroys the world, could it be…”

“Probably the gods’ new plaything, no…”

Here I slowly moved toward the morning sun.

So that I’d be backlit from their perspective.

“A game for gods bored with too much time, something like that.”

“””—”””

Landed.

Wait, I got the angle wrong somehow, bright, I couldn’t see the three’s expressions.

“…Curse, you knew everything at that time…”

“…Curse, you, even though we rejected you…”

“Us, we tried to kill Curse… Curse was protecting us at that time, from the gods’ plots.”

They started muttering something again.

Good good, fine. Fine.

Everything according to pla—

CRACK! Creak creak creak!

Cracks ran through my hut’s wall.

It was White.

Because of the magic power gushing from her.

“Curse, I, I, what can I say to you… you gave us names, clothes… meaning to live… yet, we at that time…!! What were we trying to do to you!?”

“Wha—”

Ru, rurururururururu.

Rumbling.

Aurora-like wavelength shining white gushed upward from her.

Strong…

…I certainly wanted to die as a villain.

But, not yet, it was still too early now.

I couldn’t die here.

I had to become stronger… I’d hate not being able to die when I should die.

“I should have died after all…!? These feelings, wishes, determination of mine, all of them, the gods’—”

“White…”

“Ho-chan…”

“I, I shouldn’t have been bo—”

“Magnificent, White… North Saint.”

“Cu-rse?”

White froze with her hair disheveled.

“You, no, you lot may be the only sacrifices who resisted the gods’ tyranny.”

“My lord… you are.”

“I’ll correct one thing from those words that time. I said I didn’t care whether you lived or died. But, it’s different now.”

“Master…”

“Be proud, of that nobility that resisted the gods’ tyranny with death.”

Actually, these guys were fired up.

Rather than hurting others, they chose to destroy themselves.

—Absurd, for the strong to consider the weak.

They made a judgment I couldn’t make.

“I’m glad you lot are alive.”

“””…”””

They made blank faces for a moment.

Wait? No way, did I mess up the convers—

Plop.

Droplets like large pearls ran down their cheeks.

Sniffle.

Was it White, or Scarlet, or Kuro?

Perhaps the sound of all of them sniffling came.

“Ah… aah, u, uah… aaaaaaaah…”

“Fu, ah, uuu, sniffle, aaaaaaaaah, aaaaaaah.”

“Wa, wa, wa. Waaaaaaaaaaaaah, waaaaaaaaaaaah.”

They cried…!!