The Ordinary Sorcerer's Fun Otherworld Villain Play - Chapter 6 - Bandits!! Goodbye!

“Gyaaaaaaaaaa!”

“W-we’re being killed? B-by some brat like this!?”

“Wearing some ridiculous burlap sack!”

“Could this be one of those legendary kids called children of prophecy?”

“He’s a homeless brat!? The children of prophecy are privileged Gifted, they wouldn’t be in a place like—gyaa!”

“Teacher! Where’s the teacher!?”

“Gyaaaaaaaa!!!”

“Being eaten, by the boar, being eaten—this, impossible, we the Moonlight Tears Bandit Gang, such…!?”

“St-stop the boar! Everyone who can use magic, that boar—”

“Wrong!? This is a summoned beast!? Kill the caster! The one using magic, summoning magic!?”

“The boar is coming!!”

‘BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!’

Hmm.

The Zodiac Boar is strong.

It’s taken swords, spears, arrows, and magic attacks from the bandits several times, but doesn’t seem damaged.

And then.

“You shouldn’t only watch the boar.”

“Th-the brat!!!!!???”

Splurch.

One hit to the wide-open bandit’s stomach.

My fist easily penetrated through the bandit’s belly.

[Skill: mana Manipulation – Enhancement Type, in use]

Physical enhancement through mana.

By wrapping myself in mana, my body transforms to a strength unthinkable for a 10-year-old.

This was all thanks to those shit kids’ lynching.

Alright, one step closer to my ideal villain.

Being strong was the minimum requirement for escaping mob status.

“Aw man, got blood on my mask.”

Just in case to prevent identification, I’m wearing a burlap sack I picked up from the village garbage dump.

But this might need a new one soon. It’s covered in blood.

—A nostalgic sensation.

[Player, strong mana reaction. There’s a “Gifted” here, estimated A-rank Gift or higher… a talent that appears in 1 in a million.]

“Hmm… that guy hiding in the tree shadow over there?”

The forest illuminated by moonlight.

I sensed a presence beyond the tree shadow.

“—I’m impressed. So young yet so strong… wonderful…”

“T-Teacher!!!”

What emerged from the tree shadow was a gentle-looking long silver-haired handsome man in robes.

A somewhat sticky gaze. Purple lipstick.

He could be in a visual kei band. (T/N: Visual kei (Japanese: ヴィジュアル系 or ビジュアル系, Hepburn: Vijuaru kei or Bijuaru kei; lit. “Visual Style”[1][2]), abbreviated v-kei (V系, bui kei), is a category of Japanese musicians that have a strong focus on extravagant stage costumes) 

Is the abundance of handsome guys and beauties in this world an isekai cliché?

Robes under moonlight… looks like a fearless villain.

“How strange… there’s no information about someone like you among the Gifted children obtained from the Maris Church. That skill, and that lack of hesitation. I understand. You’re the same as me, aren’t you? What peeks through the eyeholes of that sack are the eyes of a killer… to be so complete at that age… wonderful, won’t you be my friend?”

Hey hey hey hey.

This guy’s tone and words, this guy.

“Oh my, what’s wrong? Fufu, there’s no need to fear. My friend… tonight will be a wonderful night. Will you dance with me?”

—Sounds like the type of villain you can’t reason with!

In a way, cool! Can’t lose!!

“I know. You’re probably… a follower of domination, war, or famine, right? Fufu, excellent instincts. To have already sniffed out that cave.”

How should I respond to this sticky-type villain…

No, I roleplay villain fantasies every night before bed, have confidence!

“—Nice, then let me tell you the conditions for being friends.”

“Oh, that’s delightful. What conditions?”

“Being my equal. Hmm… unfortunately, you don’t seem that way.”

“—Wonderful. I’ve become very eager to see the face inside that burlap sack. Your death face too.”

Rustle.

That guy’s black robe swayed.

“The Insect Cult! ‘Black Hand’s’ thumb! Romanesque Blue Milk, my friend, let me teach you the beauty of death.”

The man in the black robe slimily caressed the ground.

“—Gift Start ‘Call of Death'”

“Eh, T-Teacher… that will catch us too, ah, aaaaaaaaaaaa!?”

“No, death, death, aaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Music box sound, crying voice, howling, ah, water in my head eeeeeee!”

Darkness spreading from the black-robed man’s feet.

Human hands and feet floated in that darkness, writhing.

All the bandits who touched it foamed and collapsed.

“The 7 Apocalyptic Prophecies, the 6th, Prophecy of Death! The death goddess humans cannot avoid, her power is ours! Now, my friend! I am your dea—”

The handsome man’s words stopped there.

THUD.

Ooh, amazing.

If I wrap mana around my legs, I can jump super high.

But magic enhancement made my body hurt afterwards.

“Ah, huh?”

The boss-type guy’s eyes blinked wide open. The moment he struck a pose, I kicked off the ground and closed in.

Then punched his stomach, went right through.  The black darkness staining the ground couldn’t touch the parts wrapped in mana.

“Impossible… you aren’t afraid of death…”

“Sorry, I’ve experienced it.”

“…Ah, wonderful. Grel…od, the rest is…”

Well, since I remember dying in my previous life, broadly speaking it’s not a lie.

He died with a satisfied face.

…Hmm, dying looking satisfied was very villain-like.

“Now then, time for loot.”

A bandit campsite, written as a treasure chest.

Common knowledge among Life Field players.

“Oh, there’s a ton of expensive-looking paintings and statues… but I don’t have connections to sell them.”

I took some cash and pocket-sized jewels and precious metals.

With just the shit hag’s field work in the village, I can’t even eat satisfying meals.

What a villain needs is a sound mind and healthy body. I can’t neglect meals for that.

“Still, I’ve gotten too used to finishing off bandits.”

Glug glug.

Sitting in front of a still-burning bonfire, I boiled water in a pot from the tent and took a breather.

A good night.

This world has two moons, so maybe because of that, moonlit nights are really bright.

[Mental check roll occurring. —Due to “Cursed Life (Second Time),” you are accustomed to blood, death, and curses. Your heart won’t waver even in brutal places.]

Elegantly drinking plain hot water in the middle of the base of enemies I finished off.

Hmm, feels like a villain with a screw loose, not bad. Not bad but—

“I’m… kind of used to this.”

I washed my blood-soaked hands with leftover water.

Crunch, crunch.

Somehow pleasant sounds.

The sounds of the boar swallowing and chewing bandit corpses whole.

…Hehehe, what do I do? That thing eats people. Its mouth is huge. Scary…

[Human kill count threshold exceeded. Life Field carry-over progressing.]

[Profession system unlocked.]

[Based on aptitude, your profession has been determined as “Sorcerer”]

“…Eh?”

I just heard something, that voice again.

My imagination, or carry-over from Life Field?

[The sorcerer profession, a class that suits you perfectly. Player. No, words are unnecessary. You seek great power in this world as well. I’ve been watching you this entire week. —Quite impressive.]

It’s not unnecessary, I want an explanation.

No wait, crap.

I’ve been showing this thing my fearless villain move that needs no explanation.

Seems lame to be confused or ask questions now.

[You are a frightening person. Coming to this world, and in just one week you’ve already subjugated over 100 bandits. While those receiving training as hero candidates haven’t even experienced real combat yet.]

That many.

Did I get too enthusiastic and overdo it?

In the real world, that’s easily the death penalty.

[Sorcerer profession trait. “Killing aptitude.” You feel nothing about harming others.]

“Huh?”

[Wonderful. You’re an ideal player of Life Field, one might say. —Yes, you have everything figured out, don’t you?]

“…Who knows.”

Really, what’s this about?

Figured out what? I don’t even know who you are.

[I see. You won’t even reveal the information you have. Just as you know, Player.]

I don’t know, but I’ll keep quiet here.

[The more you adapt to this world, the more synchronization with Life Field progresses. The sorcerer profession is merely the beginning.]

“…Eh?”

[Hmm?]

Ah, crap.

My true self slipped out.

Synchronization? Wait, does this sorcerer mean the Life Field sorcerer profession?

“…Ahem, continue.”

[Fu, that fearless attitude. You’re terrifyingly formidable. You are a “Player” who can reflect Life Field’s progress into this world the more you fight. This incredible number of bandit subjugations in such a short period. …You already knew, didn’t you? How to use power in this world.]

“…Who knows, really.”

Seriously?

Not just magic and fantasy, but game reincarnation elements too?

Plus, Life Field progress means…?

Vmmm—

A strange noise.

“Huh?”

What’s this?

A black hole opened in front of me.

A hole floating in midair.

Pitch black, can’t see ahead.

[Astonishing. To already possess even access rights to the storage…]

“…My collection is mine in any world.”

—Wait, is this tone even right anymore?

Feels like my character design’s roughness was showing.

[That arrogance, so that’s what makes you a king.]

Seems it worked. Good.

This thing’s got good energy.

Clatter.

Something fell out of that hole as if spilling.

Illuminated by bonfire and moonlight, it was—

—A mask modeled after an old man.

I know this.

[Ancient Artifact: “Old Man Mask (Black)”]

[This is a “Special Grade” ancient artifact]

[This is a cursed object]

[Grants owner the “Unidentifiable” state]

[The wearer of this mask can conceal their identity]

[The wearer of this mask is bound by the “Old Man’s Curse”]

[This is an item with a will]

“It’s the Life Field old man mask…”

A black old man mask with a faint smile. Just like masks used in Japanese Noh and Kagura. This is a special item that appears in Life Field.

[Incredible… for the item itself to find you… Player, just what are you…]

Navi’s surprised again.

No, I’m more surprised. Why would equipment I had obtained in Life Field…

“…Hmm, fine, whatever.”

Well, there’s no point overthinking details now. The old man mask, if this is really the same as Life Field’s.

“Essential for villain play.”

Swish.

I tossed the burlap sack eyehole mask I was wearing into the bonfire.

I put on the mask. What a perfect fit.

Moistly cool and pleasant.

[Equipped Old Man Mask (Black). Unidentifiable special effect activated.]

Cursed object.

In the game Life Field, this item’s genre was called that.

The Old Man Mask (Black)’s effect in Life Field.

That was perception alteration.

While wearing this mask, you’re treated by those around you as an existence called “Old Man.”

Well, basically, it’s a cheat item where you can villain-play all you want and just take off the mask for no punishment.

[Your alignment has tilted toward “Evil”… excuse me. Your alignment appears unable to become more evil than this.]

Ignoring Navi’s voice, I suddenly realized something.

“…Could it be, I can hide my identity and villain-play?”

This item. In the game it didn’t have much use, but now, isn’t it different?

A mastermind villain wearing a strange mask…

Good, might be really good.

Ah, dangerous. I’m getting excited!

I want to do it, try doing something villain-like while wearing this mask!

Are there any surviving bandits around?

“Hmm? That cave…”

Come to think of it, the bandits and that handsome guy were saying something about a cave?

At the back of the bandit campsite, a cave entrance with no visible end gaped open.

“Hmm. When told not to enter, I want to enter.”

There doesn’t seem to be anything more worth scavenging from the campsite…

Plus, in Life Field too, entering dungeons like caves from bandit campsites was common!

Let’s go! Cave exploration!