As a Reincarnated NPC, I Want to Live a Peaceful Life - Chapter 40

The hazy mist from the potion was colorful and dazzling. Who would have thought that beneath this brilliant display lurked deadly intent? The lethal toxin would invade your entire body the moment you inhaled it, leading to a sudden, violent death.

This was no ordinary fog. It resembled a shifting palette of colors, designed to make you dizzy and disoriented.

Then again, if I weren’t immune to negative potions, I wouldn’t be experiencing all this firsthand. Or maybe I just have a certain degree of resistance? I’m not entirely sure myself.

“Camilla! Stay away from this mist! It’s poisonous!”

Mist lacks physical substance like ordinary objects, so my Force powers can’t disperse it. If I had learned wind magic, I might have managed. According to this game’s mechanics, contact between flame and potion gas causes explosive combustion…

No other choice. I had to rely on memory and instantly dash in the direction we came from—bursting out of the mist’s range.

Unfortunately, the scene before me wasn’t the familiar dungeon… What is this? Why is everything in black and white?

The floor, the walls, even the occasional prison door in sight were all covered in black and white tiles…

It felt like a barrier, or perhaps another dimension. One thing was certain: this definitely wasn’t the dungeon, because [Impression · Blink] wouldn’t activate, meaning I had no impression of this place.

“Hehehe~ I knew it. Neither Decay Potion nor Deadly Poison could harm you…”

The voice seemed to echo right inside my ear. I quickly looked around, but my eyes only met black and white tiles, with nothing out of the ordinary.

[Psst, make a contract with me and become a magical girl.]

Another strange voice, quite pleasant to the ear—a kind of soul-shaking echo… Telepathy would be a better description. Who is it? Why communicate with me telepathically?

A magical girl? I have no need for such things… How pitiful, those girls who need power granted by others.

[You won’t regret it. Make your wish, and I will fulfill it for you.]

I can easily conceal my true thoughts and confuse this voice with fabricated telepathic messages. Regardless, wanting to communicate telepathically with me without special equipment requires using only one thing…

Magic inevitably leaves behind mana traces… Although I’m not like “Pat,” a magical creature completely in tune with mana, my magical attributes allow me to sense mana and elements.

Without even needing to concentrate, I detected a branching thread of mana tethered to my chest—no need for more talk. Since the other party already knows my capabilities, I should give them a taste of their own medicine.

Two of them. Two people, though possibly not human… I took a deep breath and spread my hands out to the front-left and front-right.

[Orange · Courage] unleashed wildly! Until it filled this meaningless orange-yellow space.

“If you don’t show yourselves now, my space-shattering bombs will blow you to pieces indiscriminately.”

No response, and the threads showed no sign of withdrawing. Seems they’re not taking this seriously.

No worries. The bombs I release can’t harm me. That statement was just to comfort you.

[Hmm…]

Oh-ho, seems they’re not intimidated. Fine, I’ll snap my fingers.

…

…..

After the explosive winds settled, this black-and-white space finally revealed its true form. It was pretty much as I imagined—similar to Big Sister Nas’s previous barrier, just significantly enlarged.

A black full moon hung in the sky here, yet the white void made the place exceptionally bright.

At this moment, I stopped dwelling on the past-life anime Magical Girl Xiao Yuan I had watched, because this place was quite similar to its depictions. Just inverted.

Looking down, I found myself standing atop a pitch-black pillar… Is this a telephone pole—!

“Oof! That hurts. Something hit me in the face.”

The object shattered quickly. Wiping the residual powder from my face, I realized by touch it was a piece of stone… concrete, to be precise.

Thanks to the effects of [KRYY’s Blood], my face bore no wound, not even a scar.

A convenient constitution, isn’t it?

[Kuu… You’re quite impressive, possessing innate power.]

Great, so that rock was definitely thrown by him.

Just as I was figuring out how to find them, a strange shadow pressed down on me. As if something massive—I looked up, feeling a bit startled.

What is that? What noun should I use to describe it… A snake? A dragon? Neither is accurate. A centipede might describe it better—thousands of legs and feet, pincer-like head.

Ah, it’s starting its attack, targeting me.

——————

[Serious Mode Engaged]

[Divine · Spatial Will — Serious Mode] — Enhances Force effects, can simultaneously act on multiple targets.

[Perpetual · Transcendent Realm — Serious Mode] — Strengthens throwing techniques.

Temporary Toggle: Soaring Steps — Adds double jump, greatly enhances leaping ability, increases movement speed.

——————

With a “boom,” that centipede completely obliterated the telephone pole I was just on. It gave me the feeling of watching a monster movie while being right in the middle of it.

I was now standing on the roof of a tall building behind. Thanks to “Soaring Steps,” I could practically soar through the clouds.

Watching that long insect flying around chaotically, my heart was as calm as the sea… No need to waste any more time.

Do you know [Cyan · Patience] can maximize my power efficiency? If not, you’ll see it clearly soon enough.

[Huh?]

The giant centipede was getting closer. Of course, I remained unhurried—then I flung a cyan-blue rope at it, perfectly binding its head, and jumped upward…

Next, the show should begin.

My movement speed was fast, and that centipede was no match for my strength, being dragged along like a kite. I pulled it through building after building. Very simple.

After enough of that, I stopped and looked back at the nearly immobilized centipede. I released the cyan rope, letting it dissolve into powder scattered across the sky…

Its body entangled in various buildings, the centipede couldn’t move. I don’t know what it might be thinking—probably curses like, “Why can’t I move?!”

“Hey, if you don’t show yourselves, what’s the point of wasting time like this?” This monster isn’t that simple. Probably some chuunibyou programmer’s dark setting… like the darkness deep in people’s hearts, or a witch’s grudge, or some beast hatched from a seed.

Something wrapped around my leg. Looking down, it was a thick, oil-black tentacle. My weight class is no joke, though I can make myself light if I want…

Time flow here should be slower than in the game and reality, so I don’t need to worry too much about what will happen when I return.

So I literally crouched down to wait. Of course, I didn’t wait long.

Just about an hour.

Here, the game status bar seemed glitched or something, displaying garbled characters… I couldn’t determine the real-world time, nor the situation here.

(…The one who survives the duel can draw the final period for this world…)

(…Well then!…)

The hallucinations were becoming more pronounced. I probably need to see a psychiatrist. Hah, there’s no proper hospital here for a psychiatric consultation.

[Well then, with me—]

Shut up. Show yourselves now and send me back. I might spare your lives.

[Ah, no no no, we’re not finished yet.]

“That’s right, this introductory meeting isn’t over yet. Hora, a new friend is here. And she looks quite angry that you hurt her pet.”

Not finished yet? Fine, I’ll play along.

That soul in the distance isn’t even describable as black—completely tainted and impure… Truly lamentable, wouldn’t you say?

[Yes, yes, it seems you realize you’re in for a tough time.]

No, I lament for it. Because it doesn’t even know why it will die.

[WARNING! WARNING!]

[Slaughter Witch, Approaching!]

What’s this? A boss warning? Playing a game within the game? Do I have to complain about “entering a game within a game within a game”? By the way, I’m a boss too. It’s only fair we have a fight.

How to describe it… It was a turbid, vaguely humanoid aggregate with crimson cracks, hardly qualifying as a living being… But it still had a soul, which confirmed its existence.

Initially, I saw it hovering in mid-air at the center of the arena. But now, it seems I have to greet it.

Ah, here it comes.

[Be careful. If you can’t hold on, remember to let me know.]

What nonsense. I was supposed to rescue Camilla, leave that place, and go to [Feltro]. Now, some outsider casually drags me into this world I don’t even understand—

Annoying, understand? A straight-up fight is good, simple, no hassle.

Caution, be cautious… Troublesome. Right now, I just want to go back quickly. Fine, I won’t use [Time Stop]. I’ll just fight you with raw strength.

①: The oil-black humanoid charged. I reached out my hand.
②: Seizing the moment, I lunged forward. The oil-black humanoid used tentacle thrusts.
③: Dodging the thrusts, I pressed my right hand against the humanoid’s head (maybe) and slammed it downward with force.
④: The humanoid crashed to the ground, preparing for another attack. I threw a cyan rope at it.
⑤: After pulling it close, I used [Blue · Honesty] to enchant my knee and kicked forcefully at the center of its body.

Then, the energy of [Blue · Honesty] expanded according to my will. Finally, this “Slaughter Witch” was covered in my azure blades.

I clearly understood I hadn’t fully comprehended it. But this was just to hold back, to lure out the mastermind who brought me here.

Two people. The reason might be simple—to deal with this monster, they brought me here (indicating they know my strength); or to turn me into a so-called “magical girl,” using this monster to provoke my desire.

Obviously, the latter possibility is higher.

[Well done.]

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