Transmigrating as an Extra Third-Rate Villain

As I began pumping corruption into the figures, their previously hollow insides began to fill with the pitch-black substance.

At the same time, the arms of the corrupted figures began to tremble...and slowly come to life.

Within seconds, the previously frozen corrupted figures began slowly lifting up their hands and moving their legs forward toward the shelves.

Taking my hands off the two corrupted figures, I panted for a couple of seconds, exhausted as I had never infused two corrupted figures with corruption at the same time.

After a couple more seconds, I directed the two corrupted figures to begin removing things form the shelf, ensuring that they were careful and cautious when moving the magical artifacts.

Turning around, I pointed at the distraught Ruby before saying.

"Quick, before someone else finishes their shelve."

Regaining her composure, Ruby stared at the two corrupted figures for a second with a confused expression before finally nodding her head.

And thus, Ruby, the two corrupted figures, and I officially started an assembly line...for magical artifacts!

The two corrupted figures picked up artifacts from the shelf and handed them to Ruby and I, depending on who was available.

Then, the two of us would place the artifact on the ground before turning back around and repeating the same action over and over again.

Was it efficient?

Yes!

Was it sustainable?

Questionable...

What was I supposed to tell the others when they saw me making sculptures and turning them into living things!?

It was also possible that they would connect the dots between Ren and my disguise, as I had shown similar abilities before when I cloned Liam and used it as a distraction.

Within a minute, Ruby and I had already caught up to Raven and Astrid, and we were slowly catching up to Kevin and Liam.

Receiving an artifact from the corrupted figure, Ruby turned to me before asking with an exasperated expression.

"You are, quite possibly, the most unpredictable person in the world."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Shaking my head, I added a magical artifact to the pile on the floor before replying.

"Then, you must be the best guesser in the world. After all, you've managed to catch all of my tricks."

From the start, back on the cruise ship, and during the incident, Ruby found me out as an "anti-hero."

And after that, she was able to discern my participation in every incident, even the dream where we had advanced from D-rank to C.

Smiling, I took the last artifact from the shelf before placing it on the floor, de-manifesting the two corrupted figures.

"Just in time."

Raising my head, I said to Kazuki, who had gone back to observing the room for any peculiarities.

"We have finished collecting the artifacts from our shelf. If necessary, we can begin transferring them!"

Not even bothering to look at me, Kazuki simply nodded his head before pointing at the hole that led out to the underground space.

Tapping Ruby on the shoulder, I whispered.

"Just once...tell me his desire, please. He's really starting to piss me off."

Nodding her head, Ruby stuffed as many artifacts as possible into her arms before replying.

"You want me to give you the desire of teammates just so you can exploit it for your own benefit."

Vehemently shaking my head, I corrected Ruby.

"Not for my 'own benefit." It's for everyone's benefit."

Watching Ruby walk away while laughing, I picked a couple of magical artifacts off the ground before following her.

Arriving at the wall where the hole was located, the two of us awkwardly stood there, alternating our gazes between our filled arms on the wall.

Breaking the silence, Ruby took a deep breath before asking.

"So...how do we get up."

Alya had ice magic, so if she manifested a staircase up to the gap in the wall, we would just slip and break the artifacts.

And, obviously, Lily's water magical and Irene's fire magic wouldn't be of any help.

Sighing, I pretended to face-palm before confidently responding.

"There's only one way."

Raising my right hand to my eye, I slowed my perception of time, feeling my surroundings shift around me.

Carefully, I put down all the magical artifacts I had on the floor next to Ruby before turning on the wall.

With time still slowed, I immediately began scaling the wall, arriving at the gap just as time resumed to normal.

Finishing my sentence, I waved down at Ruby before continuing.

"Throw them...I won't drop it...I promise!"

To my surprise, Ruby wasn't surprised at the fact that I had completely disappeared from her side and reappeared in the gap.

She simply turned around before looking upwards and staring at me.

Cocking back her arm with a magical artifact in her palm, Ruby responded back.

"If you want to impress me, you're going to have to try much harder."

As those last words came out of Ruby's mouth, she rushed her hand forward, releasing the magical artifact.

Then, in a swift and clean arc, the magical artifact soared up into the air before perfectly descending into my open palm.

...?

"How are you so good at throwing!?"

Was she a pitcher or something!?

First snowballs, and now...magical artifacts!?

Ignoring my question, Ruby simply smiled upon seeing my surprised expression before launching another magical artifact right into my palms.

Within less than a minute, the pile of magical artifacts on the floor next to Ruby disappeared, reappearing right next to me and the gap.

Throwing the last magical artifact at me, Ruby finally said.

"I've been practicing for our next one...since our snowball fight!"

"..."

Not moving at all, I watched as the magical artifact thrown by Ruby seamlessly landed in my hands.

Did she say..." next one!?"

She had already beaten me bad enough in her first snowball fight...how was I supposed to survive another one after seeing this!?

Breaking me out of my trance, Ruby began climbing the wall, reaching the gap in only a matter of seconds.