Episode 2 of the Overly Competent Villain

Matan

From the first day we built a secret laboratory in the warehouse, we began experimenting with ancient magic.

[Case 49. Does magic work even in the eyes of organic creatures?]

Cages containing mice, cats, and dogs are brought into the facility. I picked up the jerky to draw their attention to me.

“Come on, delicious beef jerky has arrived. Take a look here.”

As I lifted the jerky, the animals’ eyes turned to me.

[how is it? Does that yellow warning pop up?]

“No, it doesn’t open.”

A warning from ‘Gaze’, an inactive condition of ‘Villain’s Illusion’. This allows me to cast invisibility magic if I notice someone staring at me and move out of line of sight.

The question is, ‘how far’ can you notice that gaze, and how far can the condition for triggering the illusion be met?

[Then, try using magic now.]

Use the Villain’s Illusion. Then I felt a strange feeling of floating, and I was able to recognize that my body had disappeared.

Actually, when I head to the mirror prepared for the experiment, I can’t see myself. The problem is–

“The animals are still looking at me.”

[Maybe because of the smell of beef jerky?]

When I sneakily threw the beef jerky, the animals in the case only looked that way for a moment, then turned to me.

[Maybe because of the smell. In Case 33, even though it disappeared from sight, I was able to recognize the smell.]

Case 33 was an experiment to see how far the surroundings could perceive me, who had disappeared due to the ghost of the villain.

As soon as I used the Villain’s Illusion, I confirmed that my body and the clothes I was wearing disappeared from sight, and I deliberately wandered the streets carrying the fruit from across the sea of bad smell.

– Ugh! What does this smell like?

– Wash up and go!

-it’s not me!

As a result, I was able to find out that the villain’s vision doesn’t even block the smell.

[Now, let’s wrap things up.]

＜Illusion of the Villain＞

: Visually warns you of staring at yourself.

: Welcome can be activated at any time when there is no warning.

: Duration up to 62 seconds. The duration is quickly consumed during violent action. 15 seconds is the limit for sprint-level actions.

: Cannot block odor.

: Cannot block sound.

“It seems useful, but the limits are clear.”

However, it is also a powerful utility magic. To be honest, for me, this is much better than dropping lightning or emitting fire.

[The important thing is magic. Originally, I also led the attack with normal elemental magic rather than soul magic.]

I opened and read the basic magic theory book. Unlike soul magic, magic in general is not a mystery wrapped up in the past, but a kind of knowledge.

It wasn’t too difficult to find a major, and it wasn’t difficult to understand.

Above all, I had a teacher named Osman, the great wizard of the century.

“·······.”

When I open the book, I can see the introduction that reads ‘The basics and application theory of enchantment magic.’

It was hard to understand from the start of the fairly thick major book.

[Now, starting with the basic theory of enchantment magic, in the end it is to apply the magic formula to something that has a form. Versatility is bad, but in the past this was mainstream.]

“It was mainstream?”

[Because enchantment magic was essential to crafting demonic swords and barding.]

But why has it become a non-mainstream technology that has been pushed out now? The reason was simple.

[Due to the advancement of engineering, it is more effective to raise the quality of the material itself, rather than using enchantments to strengthen low-quality equipment as before.]

The number of wizards was limited, and in that case, it was much more economical to raise material technology, such an obvious reason.

[Above all, there is a limit to the power and time limit. Magic food is like a kind of expiry date food that fades over time.]

So, it seems that the concept of a battle mage was born as elemental magic that could use magic immediately on the battlefield developed.

“Well, compared to a hundred years ago, it seems that the number of wizards has increased a hundred times.”

[It’s the status of the empire’s public education development. These days, magic is taught at the academy, not the magic tower.]

As long as they have talent, the empire provides free tuition and distributes the knowledge that only they passed around under the name of public education, so the number of wizards inevitably increases.

[However, I was able to clearly grasp the talent that much. In that sense, you…

“You have no talent.”

[The talent of understanding… it’s not that I don’t have it. Rather, they belong to excellent students. Although there are things I teach well.]

While receiving direct instruction from the Archmage, he studied magic knowledge himself. Of course, it is unreasonable to learn the magic theory that has been formed for hundreds of years in three days.

[If even Grimoire sought it, he could ram the knowledge itself into his brain, but…]

“Money aside, it’s not a common item. It’s like a relic.”

[Did you get anything wrong with your heinous crimes? Why is it like gold and silver treasures piled up in the secret storage of criminals?]

“You’ve seen too many silent movies. Villains focus on making their fortune an asset. They don’t hoard it in storage.”

[Chip.]

Osman clicked his tongue in disappointment and continued his story.

[Your intellect… yes, it’s on the good side. I don’t think it’s just a matter of talent that you can’t use magic.]

“What do you mean by that?”

After being sold as such trashy talent, you say that now you don’t think it’s a talent problem?

[At first, I thought you were clumsy in using your magical powers. If you think about it, it’s a strange thing. Grimoir should have perfectly understood how to use magic, but the fact that the magic operation failed.]

He concluded by saying that he should have mastered at least Explosion magic.

[Unlike soul magic, which uses soul power, sorcery is a skill that produces results by operating innate magic power from within. In other words, you have to apply the formula that has been inscribed and pooled from the inside. However, you are failing from the process of gathering magic from within.]

“If it’s not because you’re not talented, what’s the reason?”

[It’s so full of magic that it can’t gather inside.]

“·······.”

[Even if mana management is a matter of talent, it is a different matter if the mana itself is not united. As a result of observing your body, I observed a huge amount of energy that does not tolerate even the shedding of mana. It’s ‘magic’, but it feels different from the frame.”

“okay?”

[Can you guess anything?]

“well.”

Osman clicks his tongue at my vague answer.

[Maybe it’s because you’re from another world, but I’m not sure. Because the human soul is an unexplained task.]

“Then I can’t use magic from now on?”

[No, it’s not like that. If it is not possible to operate the inside, in a way that is engraved on the outside.]

“That’s why you said enchantment.”

[Yes, because this is a matter of supplying energy by physically inscribing the formula. As if a magic formula was engraved on the bullet.]

“Like the great warriors of the Albion Union?”

[Surprisingly, do you know? I thought you wouldn’t know that carving letters to exert magical power is outdated knowledge.]

“I told you. I wanted to be a wizard before.”

I did some studying then.

[It’s almost the only way you can use magic. Enchantment magic engraves an expression on the outside and supplies energy on the inside.]

“I guess there are two ways.”

Whether it is engraved on the body or engraved on an object.

“It’s a magic bullet. You’ve already tried it, are you carving it on your body?”

[Yes, hehehehe…]

Why is the smile so ominous? And I immediately understood what it meant.

“Turn it off…!”

– Chiiyiik!

The pain of having the magic formula engraved on his right arm was more terrible than he could have imagined.

The sensation of being ‘engraved’ by burning the skin with intangible energy is different from getting a tattoo.

This is not at the level of carving, but it seems that the flesh is twisting and reshaping.

Bones gnaw, flesh twists, skin burns.

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead and my grinding teeth gave me goosebumps, but I persevered.

It’s not something you can do, it’s something you have to do.

And this level of suffering was nothing compared to the creative torture of Alcatraz torturers.

human. Surprisingly, if you try to endure it, you can endure it with kkang to some extent.

[It’s done.]

“Whoa…”

[It holds up surprisingly well.]

“Did the operation go well?”

Ignore Osman, who is proud of him, and demand the main point. If it doesn’t go right, I’m ready to pour out a bowl of swearing.

[I made your right arm a channel for energy. Even if you can’t control magical power, it’s probably used to transmit internal energy.]

In short, it means that this internal energy can be used as a source of energy to burn the bullet.

Even though I solved the energy supply problem, I still can’t help it because I’m close to incompetent when it comes to magic.

Much less drawing a magic circle on the ground, carving a magic formula on a small lead bullet is only possible with accumulated proficiency.

However, the greatest wizard of this century resides in my body.

[Now I’m going to enchant the bullets. I do the delicate work of engraving the formula on the bullet. The final manifestation is up to you, but.]

In other words, it is Osman who loads the bullet, but it is me who pulls the trigger.

[I can engrave any magic formula, but in the end, only magic you can understand and apply can manifest. There is only one magic you can use at this point.]

Explosion. i.e. explosives.

While the explosion formula is engraved on the bullet, the source of energy is the energy supply formula engraved on the right arm.

The archmage accomplished the delicate task of inscribing intangible energy into formulas with form in a matter of seconds.

“All right.”

The magic formula engraved on the lead bullet shined brightly. Magic bullets with clear magical powers were completed.

[Shoot once. Unlike the magic formula on the skin, which is directly supplied with energy, the magic engraved on the object does not last long. You have to shoot right away.]

“It’s consumable magic with an expiration date.”

Is mass production difficult? No, but killing spirit… Ulfric, he was shooting at me?

[The magic bullets must have been instantaneously created in seconds.]

“Are you thousand?”

Doing this cumbersome task in seconds? I’m a guy I’m a guy

“then······.”

Load the completed magic bullet into the revolver and pull the ball. As I prepared to shoot at the prepared target, Osman stopped me.

[Wait, is it better than that? The last time you shot the magic bullet, it melted.]

“Whoops, you don’t have to worry about that. This revolver is not an ordinary revolver. It’s a product for the 100th anniversary of Malt.”

[What is different about 100th anniversary souvenirs?]

“Imperial Year 322 Malt Company decided to make a special product to celebrate their company’s 100th anniversary. The company’s masterpiece, the 45 caliber Mauser.”

When I showed the revolver, a dark-colored revolver revealed its beautiful appearance. Osman didn’t seem to notice any difference other than the color.

[So what is this? Isn’t it just a dark-colored gun?]

“It’s made of meteorite.”

[What!?]

Osman is shocked. I guess so. It was nonsense to use meteorite, which is extracted from only a small amount of remains with an extremely rare probability as it enters the planet’s atmosphere, to make a gun.

In the era of the Bronze Age, meteorite was a research material with astronomical value. Even for wizards, artifacts made from meteorites were dream items.

[To make a gun out of that precious meteorite! Have you seen these lunatics!]

“Even precious materials can be solved with money. Hey, Malt was also a great inspiration. To commemorate the 100th anniversary, he made five meteorite revolvers.”

[Why do you have that precious gun?]

“It’s a collection. I got it as a reward for solving Malt’s troubles.”

[Damn… A man with a reputation as an entrepreneur joins hands with a criminal?]

“Isn’t it rather that you’re an entrepreneur, so you join hands with a criminal? You never know how useful a criminal friend can be.”

Archmage Osman, an innocent young master, looked at the meteorite-made product he had been dreaming of with a bored expression on his face, and cast a vain gaze.

“With this, even magic bullets will withstand it.”

Load magic bullets into the meteorite revolver and aim it at the target. Just in case, he wore the highest grade of protective clothing, and the magic-blocking military alloy barrier built in this warehouse is a high-end product that cannot be obtained in the private sector.

Perhaps even an Earth-made cruise missile will withstand the impact as long as it doesn’t hit it.

The moment I completed my aim and pulled the trigger——

-bang!

Magic bullets ejected from the revolver with a loud roar.

A sonic boom that seemed to tear the air, and the magical magic of the magic bullets that landed on the target responded immediately. And–

-Quaaang!

What I witnessed was a huge explosion and a tyranny of flames scattering in all directions.

* * * *

So back to the present–

“·······.”

[·······.]

As we watched the test site burn down in the aftermath of the explosion, we watched it in awe.

“Well, don’t be too sorry. I was planning to leave soon anyway.”

Do you think the demolition work was done? But more than that…

“Isn’t even a pistol made of meteorites unable to withstand magic bullets?”

Pick up the ragged revolver. The revolver made of meteoric iron could not withstand the magic bullet and was crushed. I guess I’ll have to get a new pistol. I wonder if there is a pistol made of a better material than meteoric iron…

[From now on, do not shoot magic bullets unless you are in danger of dying.]

“If you don’t want to do it, you should write it with the intention of dying together. It’s unfair to die alone.”

[This is an extremely villainous idea.]

“Well, since I found my own potential, shouldn’t it be enough?”

The police will be coming soon, so we have to get out of here quickly.

[Where are you going now anyway?]

Now, the direction of my actions must also include preventing the catastrophe of the stars. And for that, there is something that must be preceded.

“Elysia von Wittenberg. We must find her.”

My Arch Enemy comparable to the killing star Ulfric.

A great swordsman and a bloody pursuer.

I ruined her family, and finally drove her to death.

[······Will it be okay?]

“Let’s hope we don’t get cut to death as soon as we meet.”

To meet her, you must head to Lombardy, the capital of the south, the holy land of crime and smuggling.