Episode 2 of the Overly Competent Villain

star catastrophe

“Now, stay for a while. I’m going to the library!”

Seeing Roden leave in a hurry, he sits on an old wooden chair. The environment inside the secretly built cave cannot be said to be good even with empty words, but traces of efforts to improve the environment somehow stood out for thousands of years.

“Is it better than I thought?”

[The furniture here must have been made by Sin Loden. Later, he made a lot of things.]

He would have had to go to and from the sanctuary by himself and make his own necessary items. He couldn’t have spread the word about the sanctuary here and brought in furniture.

“Let’s sort things out. It looks like Relic has read things that haven’t happened.”

According to the original plan, Osman was going to manipulate the Relic while pretending to be verified by the Relic.

If it was Osman, who was called the Archmage, he could use the Relic like an artifact.

“It seems to have been absorbed, how is it now?”

[I’m analyzing it, but I can’t be sure because I don’t have enough magic power. But…you have properly awakened your soul magic.]

“That soul magic.”

I don’t know much about soul magic either. As far as I know, the soul magic that Osman used was something loud and grandiose ‘something mysterious’.

“They say it’s the origin or something.”

1st Origin Villain. 2nd Origin Magical Aesthetics.

It combines the aesthetics of the villain. The question is what does it mean.

[Soul magic is magic that reproduces the traces of souls with magical power.]

Reproduction of the footsteps of the soul? Osman shrugged as he made a puzzled expression.

[For example, in the case of me, when I realized the enlightenment of magic and reached the level of one layer, I acquired a magic that could skip the magic casting process.]

“Acquire the appropriate magic according to the successor’s performance. If so…”

Relic read about my achievements.

「Read the performance of the soul.」

-The sword star was destroyed by you.

-The Dragon Star has been transformed into your hands.

-Slayer (殺星) failed because of you.

-The magic star has bet on you.

-The Golden Star has been corrupted by you.

-Kwangseong (狂星) has received your grace.

-The Hungry Star (凶星) was erected by you.

I knew at once what that meant.

Everything I accomplished before the regression. The hero of the sword, the descendant of the dragon, the slayer, the archmage… the achievements of interfering with the evil of the world, the evil deeds that can hardly be called.

Relic read what I had done to survive.

“But those are things that haven’t happened yet.”

[I told you. Relics read the soul. Now your body is the past Jacques Pietro, but your soul is covered with the future Jacques Pietro.]

Relic read it, Osman said.

“·······.”

[·······.]

silence for a while. It was me who broke the silence.

“hehehehe, that’s great—”

[——There’s no way!]

Osman boldly cuts me off. The giggling is full of thoughts of making fun of me.

[Coincidentally, the achievements you have achieved are ‘things that have not happened’ in the present age. It’s unfortunate that it’s given in exchange for achievements.]

“You look happy for that?”

[If it’s a result that can’t be changed anyway, I’ll have to make fun of you.]

“You have a bad temper, illegal tenant.”

Why are tenants who are not protected by the Lease Protection Act so overbearing?

“But this is not a good situation, Mr. Osman.”

In his youth, when he should have returned as a great wizard, he had no body and only his soul was parasitic to me.

I, who actually inherited soul magic, have no magical knowledge like Osman.

What I can believe is that the succession of soul magic should have some advantage.

[Heh, I don’t like it, but your achievements were so great that even we feared. That was great enough for Relic to recognize your achievements.]

So my achievements are good enough to be sublimated into magic, Osman said.

[For some reason, Relic is sealing it even though your achievements are enough to sublimate them into magic. That’s probably because the results you’ve achieved run counter to Relic’s goals.]

“Is it the catastrophe of the stars?”

It represents the will of this planet, this planet.

will of the world. Its benevolent and beautiful power gave birth to those who were born with the fate of the stars and the miracle of magic.

What the will of the stars wants is clear.

[Guide the guardians through revelation, and protect the world with magical successors through relics. You lived only the exact opposite of it.]

“Because I didn’t do it on purpose.”

[That’s why Relic made you shoulder your duty. Correct and improve the achievements you have made and prevent the catastrophe of the planet.]

In other words, if I prevent the catastrophe of the star in any way, Relic will give me the price of the achievement.

“Well, it would have been nice if it had just been given from the beginning.”

[If you were a Relic, would you believe me?]

“I don’t believe it.”

It would be like me too. 51.7% involved in the catastrophe of the stars? There are many.

Moreover, if you had read my soul… you would have known the things I would not give up even after returning.

Relic doesn’t trust me, but will have to rely on me nonetheless.

[But there are immediate results. Originally, Relic was going to be taken away by him.]

“You mean Magus Humphrey.”

One of the top three First Order members of the Golden Dawn.

Hannibal Humphrey, the Great Mage of Darkness. He is a nemesis who brought the Archmage Osman to the brink of death, and a long-standing villain.

According to history, he, who was the second order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society of warlocks, raided the sanctuary of Osman and Roden, who had just awakened as wizards.

As a result, Osman was deprived of the Relic and was not assisted by the Relic until he was defeated.

It can be said that it is an existence that has made a considerable contribution to the catastrophe of the stars.

“Yes, but we must hurry. Tomorrow he and his minions will come soon.”

And he is now planning to attack the sanctuary here with dozens of his men. It seems that there is probably a surveillance device planted inside.

[You have to run away, Pietro. You won’t be able to defeat him with your own strength.]

“well?”

Osman narrowed his brows at my reaction.

[You can’t believe it?]

“Verification and setting examples aren’t just for wizards.”

a day after that As Osman had warned, intruders stormed the sanctuary.

* * * *

“Heh-eok… Heck! Pietro! Pietro!”

Roden hurriedly ran to find Zach.

“Mr Roden.”

“Hey, you’re here!”

Roden has yet to acknowledge this ill-fated villain as the heir to magic. However, as long as Relic melted into him, he had no choice but to follow him as a guardian.

“It’s an assault! Warlocks have raided the sanctuary!”

“You’re faster than expected.”

“Oh, did you know?!”

“I told you. They’re probing here and there for the plan to establish a prison. This place was discovered a long time ago. I just kept my eyes closed.”

“That could be…”

Warlocks are mortal enemies to the guardians of the sanctuary, who protect ancient magic. It gives me goosebumps that they knew this place from the beginning, and yet they pretended not to know.

“Ugh…! This is not the time! Their numbers are outrageous! A powerful warlock is breaking the seal on the sanctuary! We must flee.”

The timing was tricky. At this timing when Relic found an heir for the first time in 300 years… But it would make sense if they were waiting for the birth of an heir.

Because of the successor, the Relic is activated and the ancient and powerful artifact can be used.

“Fortunately, there is a secret escape route for times like this. If you go through that——”

“If it were me, I’d be in an ambush there.”

“yes?”

At Roden’s bewildered answer, Zach snapped a finger at his head and said,

“Think carefully. It’s a sanctuary that has been secretly kept for thousands of years. But, of course, on the very next day when Relic’s successor is appointed, it attacks like a ghost? Without preparation?”

“Then what the heck…”

“You are not the only guardian of the sanctuary. Someone must have leaked information about this place.

“It can’t be!”

Roden reacted violently. He shook his head, saying it was impossible.

“Mr Roden.”

Roden suddenly met eyes with Zach, who called out to him. And I felt like I was out of breath.

“Why, why?”

His gaze is so cold and cold that it inadvertently stiffens.

“Trust is important. Trusting and relying on each other is the right virtue.”

“I-I think so.”

So, it was natural for him to trust the comrades of the ‘Order’ he swore to protect the sanctuary, Roden wanted to say.

“But that’s not a virtue for people like us.”

“yes?”

“We’re people walking on thin ice. Whether they’re criminals or people like you, we have important secrets.”

Avoid the sun and live like a shadow in the dark. Jacques said that the discipline of the positive and the negative is different.

“In a world without law and order, don’t talk about trust easily. Then, on the day trust is broken, it won’t end in a big deal.”

“·······.”

Roden hesitated as to what to answer. No matter what he said, this man seemed to be able to refute anything.

His cynical gaze felt an indescribable weight.

-thud!

At that moment, the entrance was broken. As Roden turns white, Zach taps him on the shoulder.

“Then run away soon.”

“Yes? But where…”

Isn’t it Zach who said that the secret route might have been discovered? The only way out is from the front.

“Could there be another one?”

Jacques Co. Relic pointed to the starlight. The only place in this sanctuary where the ceiling is open to receive the energy of the stars at all times.

“older brother···!”

“boss···!”

A skinny guy and a big guy throwing a climbing rope there. Zach said, pointing at them who appeared at the right time.

“We’re going to the top of the mountain.”

* * * *

– Kwak!

The door of the sanctuary, which had been solid, eventually collapsed.

“I got it through, Mr. Humphrey!”

The men who destroyed the entrance to the sanctuary with dynamite reported to Humphrey.

Wrapped in fur in this cold snowy mountain, he clicked his tongue as he looked at the remains of the destroyed sanctuary.

‘Stupid things. Don’t you know how great the historical value of each cornerstone here is?’

I don’t think that’s why they brought in stupid gunmen, but if they bring in other sorcerers of the organization, they have to share the results.

‘At least one new Guardian.’

I knew the information here from the beginning. The Humphrey family, a famous family even within the society, had been doing insider trading with the sanctuary’s guardian family for a long time.

It must be quite exhausting to act as the guardian of a sanctuary where the Archmage hasn’t appeared for 300 years.

‘But I never thought there would be a successor in my generation. The time has come for the investment of our ancestors to finally bear fruit!’

It was only the awakening of the heir that the Humphrey family had been waiting for this moment after making a deal with the insider of the ancient wizards.

The moment the Relic awakens the Heir, the Relic also activates its function to assist the Heir.

Hannibal Humphrey, the current head of the Humphrey family, came here at this very moment to kill the heir and obtain the activated Relic.

However, as soon as I heard the news, I climbed a snowy mountain and came to this place in one day, but…

“Humphrey! They’re gone!

no? Did you fall into the secret passage too? Humphrey confirmed that even the cavity where Relic was supposed to be was empty, and hurriedly headed for the secret passage.

As I went down the path the traitor inside told me, I ran into the family’s swordsmen that I had arranged in advance.

“My lord?”

“Didn’t they come?”

“Yes, not a single rat approached.”

It was strange. If you couldn’t meet them from the front or through the secret passageway, where did you disappear to?

The structure inside the sanctuary has already been perfectly grasped. The space they can escape from is——

“Humphrey! I found the footprints!”

It wasn’t long before his subordinates found snow footprints piled high on the snowy mountain. They immediately guessed where the footprints were headed.

“We’re going up to the top of the mountain!”

“under···!”

Have you seen these idiots? He seems to have noticed that the secret passage has been discovered somehow, but the best choice is to go up to the top?

Sigarna Snow Mountain is so rugged that it is almost impossible to cross the mountain range.

After all, the terrain is perfect for being besieged, with nowhere to hide as you climb to the top.

“It just bought me some time. Track it!”

“Ha, but Mr. Humphrey. We don’t have enough climbing equipment.”

Climbing this inclement weather mountain without equipment is not an easy task. Despite that obvious advice, Humphrey encouraged his men.

“I’ll protect you with my magic. And those who aren’t ready are the same.”

Humphrey knows this is too much. But the active relic was worth it.

Of course, it didn’t take more than an hour before I regretted that choice.

“Humphrey! The snow is so strong!”

“The footprints are getting fainter! Why don’t you stop tracking for now and wait halfway!”

“You fools! This is a golden opportunity! Their wizards are at a lower level than me! It’s an established fact that you can win by just grabbing their tails!”

The nemesis of the warlocks, the guardians of the sanctuary, fell into disrepair due to their secrecy and the successor who had not appeared for a long time.

As the second order of the society, he was confident that he would win in the magic battle.

‘I don’t like going through such hardships, but it’s for the great cause!’

If you only get activated relics, your magical achievements as well as your promotion within the association are a foregone fact.

Even though he served the society for a long time, his family, which was only a second order, will be able to aim for the stronghold of the first order.

The moment Humphrey made up his mind, thinking of a bright future—

-Vureung…!

A strange engine sound was heard from the top of the snowy mountain.

“Humphrey! In front of you…!”

“I heard too!”

His subordinates reflexively aiming their guns and drawing knives. Humphrey also prepared for battle and did not let go of the tension.

“I’ll have to get rid of this snow first.”

Dealing with natural phenomena is high-level magic, but it’s not that difficult if it’s just clearing your vision for a moment.

Humphrey’s action to secure the sight of his subordinates before magic battle in order to save his numerical superiority was a very wise choice. But–

“Huh?!”

“Something just passed…!”

It was the moment when Humphrey used weather manipulation magic that temporarily melted the snow. What suddenly jumped out of the clear view was… a snowmobile with a sleek design.

that’s three. Among them, you can see Roden Hearts, the guardian of the sanctuary that he had figured out in advance.

“Shoot!”

“They’re running away!”

Because it was launched at such a sudden timing, the response was delayed. Humphrey also hurriedly tried to fire the magic, but chasing the snowmobile down the snowy mountain quickly was not an easy task.

“Damn it, chase it! Tell the guys waiting below to get ready!”

A subordinate hurriedly operating the radio at Humphrey’s nervous command. But then–

-bang!

– Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!

Explosive bursts in succession. When I recognized that it had happened at the top of the mountain, the ‘ground’ was shaking.

“Uh huh?”

“no way?!”

The piled up snowfield shakes. The fact that such a phenomenon occurred at the top of a high altitude mountain reminded me of the worst.

“It’s an avalanche!”

“Avoid everyone!”

meaningless screams. Thousands and tens of thousands of tons of hard frozen snow are pouring at a speed of over 100 km/h.

It is a natural disaster that humans cannot survive. Humpty was devastated as he watched the avalanche sweep through his men.

·········

······

…

[Hey, Pietro. Just now… Relic recognized your ‘crystal’. They say that the catastrophe of the star has been corrected… improved. It’s about 0.53%, but it’s like that.]

Archmage Osman laughed at the message that came along with Relic’s acknowledgment of his s*xuality.

Pietro’s verification was a success.