Reincarnated As A First Rate Villain: I Don't Know How To Play My Role-Chapter 33

Kazuki sat in silence, head slightly bowed, the fading warmth of the teacup in his hands grounding him as thoughts spun like a storm behind his calm gaze. Dozens of questions swirled within him, colliding like waves against the jagged cliffs of realization.

Who brought me here?

Why me?

What happened to the one who was supposed to live this life?

But the being he wanted to asked this questions was not here.

His fingers gently curled around the porcelain cup, still untouched, the steam rising in soft curls. The smell of herbs and earth filled the space, calming in a way that made the weight of the conversation feel even heavier.

He finally lifted his eyes and looked at Goddess Elyssira, whose serene yet otherworldly beauty shimmered beneath the vine-draped gazebo. "Um... Goddess Elyssira," Kazuki began, his voice unsure, but respectful. "May I... ask you something?"

She nodded slowly, her golden eyes softening. "You may."

Kazuki's eyes fell back to the tea in his hand, then to the grass beneath him. "The body I'm in... what happened to the original soul?" His tone was quiet, but each syllable carried weight.

The goddess took a long sip of her tea, and for a moment, her eyes dimmed—subtle, but unmistakable. There was worry. Sadness.

"I do not know," she said finally.

Her voice, always so melodic, now held a faint tremble of mourning. "That boy... he did not pass through me. I felt no return of his soul. No farewell. It was as though he was... overwritten, or perhaps taken."

Kazuki's breath caught, a heaviness blooming in his chest. But he only nodded slowly, absorbing the truth like a sponge absorbs water, even if it left him sinking deeper into uncertainty.

Did I kill someone just by existing here? Did I overwrite someone's life just because I chose this body?

But then, as if reading his thoughts, Elyssira's voice drifted in, calm and reassuring.

"Do not carry that weight so quickly, Kazuki," she said softly. "You did not choose this with knowledge. Nor did you force your way into this life. Whoever brought you here... they are the ones who intervened."

He didn't know if her words fully eased the guilt—but they did keep him from drowning in it.

He nodded, slowly, letting the ache in his chest settle into a quiet throb. Then, more gently now, he asked again:

He looked up again. "Then... earlier, you said that my awakening is unlike any other. What did you mean?"

Elyssira placed her cup down with care, her expression returning to solemn grace.

"Your awakening, Kazuki," she began, "will bring an end to the system I built."

Kazuki blinked. "W...what?"

Her gaze never wavered.

"The system—your world might call it a 'status interface,' or a 'blessing'—was something I carefully wove into every intelligent race I created. A divine construct designed to nurture them. To track their growth. To reward their courage. Every being who awakens to mana within my creation is linked to it."

Kazuki's brows furrowed. "Then why would it... shut down?"

The goddess looked upon him not with judgment, but with deep understanding.

"Because you, Kazuki... were never mine to begin with. Your soul does not bear my design. Nor my permission."

A wind stirred the trees gently, the breathing forest around them exhaling as if responding to the goddess's truth.

"The system cannot comprehend what you are. It will try—valiantly—to quantify your power. To understand your nature. But it is like trying to hold the wind in your hands. You do not belong to the weave I created."

Kazuki swallowed hard. His hands trembled slightly on the teacup. "So I'm... like a computer virus in your divine program."

The corners of Elyssira's lips twitched at the analogy, though her expression remained thoughtful.

"In a sense... yes."

Great. I'm divine malware.

Kazuki leaned back, head spinning. "Then... the others. The 16 Heroes. Why do they lose their powers after defeating the Abyssian King?"

Elyssira inhaled, her voice measured as she explained.

"Because in this world, no being I create can surpass the limit of SSS Rank. That is the law I set when I formed this reality."

Kazuki's brows lifted. "So... EX Rank is beyond that law?"

"Yes," she said with a nod. "When a god or goddess creates a world, they must first forge its laws. That law becomes their covenant—one that other deities recognize. It is called the Equal Exchange System. In order to birth a world, you must exchange a part of your divinity to stabilize the laws. And the world I shaped... is bound by the SSS limit."

"And giving EX Rank to the heroes—?"

"Was a violation," she admitted. "A necessary one. To stand against the Abyssian King, they needed strength beyond anything I could create within the boundaries of law. I paid the price for that breach with pain—divine tolls so great it nearly broke me."

She took a slow breath.

"So once their purpose was fulfilled... I took the power back."

Kazuki nodded slowly, eyes distant. The mist that had once filled the forest was gone now, but he still felt like he was wandering through fog. "That's why the heroes are replaced every era..."

"Yes."

Kazuki leaned forward slightly, staring at the grass, mind racing again.

Equal Exchange... divine tolls... gods and goddesses trading pieces of themselves to shape the rules of reality.

Just what kind of system governs the divine...?

He exhaled deeply, shaking his head.

"...Not my business, I guess," he muttered under his breath.

Elyssira glanced at him with a knowing smile, but said nothing. The silence that returned was more reflective this time—less dreadful, more... sobering.

Kazuki sat still under the shade of the sacred canopy, his teacup untouched and cold now. The gentle wind rustled the crystal-blue vines overhead, and the sound of leaves brushing against one another echoed like whispers in a temple.

So many questions still circled his mind. Each answer only seemed to birth more doubts, more uncertainty.

What kind of god would interfere like this? How powerful are they to manipulate time, people, reality itself? And... why me?

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word, Elyssira lifted a hand with elegance and grace. Her golden eyes, always filled with warmth, now carried a glint of solemn intent.

"Kazuki," she said, her voice soft yet firm, "before you ask more... I have a request."

Kazuki blinked.

Request? A goddess is asking... me?

His back instinctively straightened, shoulders tightening as if a soldier being called by a divine commander. Nervousness crept up his spine. This wasn't a demand. It wasn't an order. It was... a favor. Which somehow made it feel heavier.

Elyssira smiled lightly, her divine radiance softening. "Don't be so tense. It's not a great demand. But... I would be deeply grateful."

Kazuki swallowed hard and gave a slight nod, urging her to continue.

"I ask that you continue playing the role of a villain."

Kazuki stared at her. "Eh...?"

"To the world... to the people... to the 16 heroes that will rise," she clarified, placing her hand gently over the little girl's who sat beside her once more. "Let them believe you are a threat. Let them see you as the darkness that must be overcome."

Kazuki's brows furrowed in confusion at first—but then, realization struck.

Ah... I see. If they have a clear enemy... if they think I'm the final boss, they'll push themselves to the limit.

"That way," Elyssira said, "they will grow. Desperately. Rapidly. As heroes should. They'll be sharper, more prepared of the true danger—the Abyssian King."

Kazuki leaned back a little, thinking.

That's... actually logical. Practical even. I already have the power. It's not like I'm in any real danger if I keep up appearances. As long as I don't go too far...

He nodded slowly. "Alright. I think I can do that. That's not too difficult."

But then, curiosity pulled at him again. "But... if I'm really that powerful, why not just let me defeat the Abyssian King myself?"

Elyssira's expression turned gentle. She tilted her head slightly as the wind tousled her silvery hair.

"Because," she said with a note of genuine kindness, "I would not trouble an outsider with my own failings."

Her eyes dimmed slightly with the weight of ages behind them. "You were brought here without my knowledge. I do not know the true intention of the one who sent you. I must be careful, Kazuki. If I handed you that burden, and their hidden goal conflicts with mine... I would only doom this world further."

Her gaze drifted off toward the horizon, past the sky-painted dome of her garden realm.

"I... can't afford another misstep."

Kazuki remained quiet for a moment.

That's... understandable.

Despite the pain in her voice, there was no self-pity. Only responsibility.

He gave her a slow, respectful nod. "Alright. I won't pry. I'll play the part you need."

Elyssira smiled again. "Thank you."

Then her tone changed, more official now. "Now then... if you are ready, we should begin your awakening. There are people waiting for your return."

Kazuki blinked. "Wait, right now?"

"Yes," she said as she and the little girl beside her rose gracefully from their seats. "There is no better time."

Kazuki stood as well, brushing off his clothes, nerves crawling over his skin.

So soon? I thought I'd have more time to digest everything.

Still, he nodded. "Alright... How do we start?"

Elyssira stepped forward, her bare feet gliding across the soft grass as she approached him. "Just say the words, Kazuki. Tell me you're ready."

Kazuki stared at her glowing form—the sacred markings gently illuminating her arms, the divine pulse in the air like a second heartbeat around him.

His heart pounded.

I don't know what's coming next. I don't even know if I'm ready. But... if I hesitate here, what's the point of everything I've learned?

He inhaled sharply, then spoke clearly:

"...I'm ready."

The moment the words left his mouth, the air grew dense. Everything—light, wind, color—folded inward like collapsing paper. A radiant surge of power exploded outward from Elyssira's hand and wrapped around Kazuki in a spiral of golden light.

He gasped. His body felt like it was being lifted and scattered into the breeze, particle by particle. He couldn't feel his weight, his limbs, his breath. He was becoming light itself.

"Kazuki," Elyssira's voice reached him one last time, calm and intimate, echoing through the void of sensation, "please... keep our conversation secret."

He barely managed a nod as his form continued to dissolve, the power of awakening consuming him.

I'll keep it. No one would believe me anyway...

And with that, he vanished.

Only the breeze remained, brushing across Elyssira's divine garden. The goddess stood still, her hand still extended where Kazuki once stood. The little girl beside her looked up at her with a silent question, but Elyssira said nothing.