I’m the Main Villain but the Heroines Are Obsessed With Me

12 – 5. Difference in Power (4)

“Ian, Ian! You’re finally here!”

Igor’s face, which had been crumpled, seemed to spread wide as if to say, “Where have you been?”

His condition was not very good, though not as bad as those rolling on the ground. He had several wounds scattered all over, and his legs were trembling.

He wanted to ask if he was alright, how his condition was, but he decided to let it go.

There was no time for leisure with the enemy in front.

“What happened?”

“W-Well, while you were away, I was hunting the werewolves. But suddenly, those guys burst out of the bushes.”

Nine men and women with deep wounds were writhing on Igor’s fingertips.

They were unfamiliar faces, probably sent by another squad. “Did they come from the 1st squad to find Celia?”

They probably wandered around here independently in their quest to find Celia.

Nodding calmly, Igor continued his explanation.

“At first, I thought they were attacking to ambush our squad, but they said they had no enemies. So, I lost interest and continued hunting, but…”

“Did that cause a problem?”

“Yeah, it did. Suddenly, the ground started shaking, and the werewolves went crazy.”

Thinking back, his body still shivered.

The violently shaking ground, as if an earthquake had struck, and the werewolves with flickering eyes.

The guys, who seemed to be going mad, suddenly began to float in the air, coming together in a strange spherical form.

How much time had passed? Another intense vibration shook the ground, and something tore open an egg and jumped out.

It was a headless knight.

“Ian… Do you have any idea what’s going on? I have no clue what that thing is… What in the world has happened?”

“It seems like a boss monster has been summoned…”

“A boss monster?”

“When the points between the squads are excessively different, it’s created. It’s done to prevent the training from ending too early and reducing the results. If one squad finishes training too quickly, the morale might drop in the other squads that couldn’t achieve their goals. So, they create monsters to bridge the gap, raising the morale of both the lagging and leading squads.”

“It fits the current situation perfectly. Igor continued to hunt werewolves here, and the 1st squad was probably chasing Celia. When the original strongest 3rd squad was copying scores, the most likely competitors in the 1st squad were probably on their way.”

[Note: The translation retains some of the unique atmosphere and phrasing of the original text while ensuring clarity in English.]

The stakes have risen considerably.

“It’s not strange for boss monsters to appear. In fact, it’s stranger if they don’t… But this is…”

Something was off.

Ian’s gaze hardened as he looked at the fallen students.

Those who were injured and groaning on the ground. The one who had reduced them to such a state must be a headless knight.

Ian’s question was precisely about that.

Boss monsters summoned by superiors… shouldn’t inflict such severe wounds on students.

“Even in training that simulates real combat, they wouldn’t turn students into that mess.”

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t believe this guy was an ordinary boss monster.

It was undoubtedly the result of someone’s manipulation.

“The most likely culprits are beings from the abyss…”

Only then did all the questions slowly start to unravel.

Why the boss monster had inflicted severe injuries on the students. Why such an irregular character had emerged.

Swallowing his boiling anger, Ian asked Igor.

“Did you report to the captain?”

“I requested it… the superiors are aware of the situation. They said they’re currently breaking through the protective barrier to enter, but… there’s a delay due to some unknown reason.”

“Understood. Take a rest for a moment.”

“Y-yes…”

As Ian finished speaking, Igor slumped down as if he had been waiting for permission.

Even though his body had reached its limits. Despite enduring fiercely to explain the situation to the squad leader, Igor had managed to persevere.

He had perfectly fulfilled his mission. Now… it was his turn to step forward.

“Lie down and wait for a while.”

“I-Ian, what on earth are you planning…”

Ian gently placed Celia on the relatively soft ground.

As he released his fist, Celia cried out with a voice full of questions.

“Ian… what? Are you going to fight it now?”

“I can’t just stand by and watch, can I? You know, right? That knight. Or rather, Duraahan, isn’t an ordinary boss monster.”

Celie, unable to comprehend Ian’s calm reasoning, shook her head vigorously.

“They said the superiors are coming if we wait. If we avoid its gaze and wait, there’s no need to fight… Do you really think you stand a chance? It’s just a meaningless act!”

Celia trembled but managed to rise, trying to stop Ian.

As if asking him to say anything, she stared at Ian, but Ian did not respond to her words.

Bam!

Instead, he began to concentrate mana in both hands.

Dark mana, like the night sky, began to rotate around Ian.

Mana in gaseous form gradually turned into a sticky liquid, slowly enveloping Ian’s hands.

Even in that moment, Durahan maintained his posture and kept staring at Ian. He must be waiting for Ian, even in his knight’s body, to wait obediently.

Anyway, it didn’t matter.

“Come.”

With a concise answer, Ian took his posture.

As if waiting only for this moment, Durahan rushed forward with his body and a battle axe in his hands.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

“Uraah!”

The massive-sized Durahan started running like a madman.

The ground trembled so much that even standing on it was difficult.

‘His center of gravity is shifting.’

Compared to his own struggle to maintain his pose, the Durahan made good use of the characteristics of his body.

The approaching enemy quickly leaped and swung his axe down.

“Uralaaa!”

Thwack!

The gruesome axe approached fiercely. Even though it was covered in blood, the blade of the rusty axe was still sharp.

Just a slight graze would surely be a fatal blow.

It was a tense situation, but Ian remained calm. He calmly raised his left arm towards the sky.

Crackle! Clang!

“Kreureur.”

Durahan’s axe clashed with Ian’s arm. Normally, it would have been cut off and still remained.

But thanks to his consumption of the Primordial Jewel, Neltalion, Ian’s arm was strong enough to withstand even the blade of an axe.

“Uralaaa!”

Probably feeling quite frustrated that his own axe couldn’t even cut off a single forearm, Durahan screamed and exerted more force on his axe.

A heavy pressure pressed down on his arm. However, Ian kept his gaze fixed on the blade of the axe… maintaining his center of gravity.

“Oh no!”

Celia’s voice, mixed with screams, could be heard from behind…

She still wouldn’t understand.

There was no chance of winning, and fighting without meaning would make her appear foolish. However, Ian felt the current situation was just as laughable.

To be precise, Celia was truly comical to Ian, to the point where he couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

“Are you still searching for meaning? In that case, you’re in for disappointment.”

“What?”

“Open your eyes wide and look. See what happened to your squad members because of this guy.”

Only then did Celia’s eyes start to focus on her comrades. Their bodies were covered in wounds. Some had deep gashes across their chests, while others had their arms severed entirely.

Fortunately, it seemed no one had lost their lives yet, but their condition appeared critical.

Seeing her comrades injured because of her actions, Celia hung her head in shame.

“Is it… because of me?”

Her comrades had suffered, and innocent people were hurt because of her reckless behavior. They had only been searching for her in the forest, but they encountered monsters and suffered injuries.

“Do you see it now? Do you have a reason to fight this guy?”

This is what Ian wanted to show her.

“There may be no chance of victory… your words might be right. It’s foolish to stand alone against an enemy with ten times your numbers, but that doesn’t mean the fight has no meaning.”

“…”

“Because of this guy, your comrades were hurt, and I am the squad leader. Isn’t that reason enough for me to fight?”

“How… can that be possible?”

Celia bit her lower lip hard in response to Ian’s words. She felt ashamed. She was the one who had caused the most harm to her comrades, and the thought of abandoning them and running away was embarrassing.

“Aren’t you afraid of death?”

She wondered at the same time.

In front of an enemy that could make one’s body tremble just by looking at them, how could someone remain so composed?

Unlike herself, paralyzed by fear and unable to move, how could he calmly face the enemy?

“If you’re curious, I can show you.”

At that moment, Ian pulled the battle axe from his forearm.

Thud!

“Krua?”

As the attack suddenly missed him, Durahan staggered. His axe was embedded into the ground.

Confused by the axe firmly lodged in the ground, Durahan paused, allowing Ian to seize the opportunity.

Sshh!

With his enhanced body pushed to its limit, Ian moved at an incredible speed.

With Ian’s arms deep into his chest, he prepared a body blow.

Puh-yeok! Thud!

“Kraaak!”

The man screamed in pain from the direct punch without a guard. Fragments of his shattered armor began to fall.

Even though it had remained intact against ten opponents, the armor was destroyed in a single punch.

“Kruruk!”

The destruction of the armor meant that the minimum defense that could protect Durahan was gone.

From that moment, victory was assured.

Kwaddeuk!

Ian grabbed both of Durahan’s arms and forcefully twisted them with all his strength.

The man continued to scream, but Ian didn’t stop. Ignoring everything else, he focused solely on tearing off his arms.

Kwavdeudeuk!

As the sound of the armor breaking intensified, Durahan’s screams grew louder.

Kwaddeuk!

“Kraaah!”

Finally, Durahan’s arms couldn’t overcome Ian’s strength and fell to the ground.

Thunggeureong! Huh-dudduk!

“Ku…huh…”

Losing his arms, Durahan fell to his knees and made a sound as if his soul was leaving his body. The only things left in the spot where he stood were the shattered pieces of armor.

Looking at Celia as she stared at him blankly, Ian muttered.

“How I managed to stay calm. How I was able to overcome fear and fight. There is only one answer I can give to that question.”

“…”

“Because I am used to protecting someone. That’s all.”

With those concise words, Ian passed by himself to examine Igor.

She could do nothing but stare at that appearance…

His calm, unwavering gaze fixed upon her… It reminded her of the eyes that had once protected her in her childhood.

“I abandoned you, yet you still watch over me…”

Celia bowed her head deeply.

It was a moment when the gap in their status became palpable.

***

The situation in the command center was beyond description.

A boss monster that was not originally scheduled to appear. The survivors suffered such severe injuries that they could hardly put it into words.

It was driving the vice headmaster insane.

“What in the world… What is happening right now…”

Even that alone was enough to make him go mad, but sadly, the situation escalated even further.

When news arrived that the protective barrier surrounding the Gotheed Territory’s mountain range could not be deactivated, darkness began to close in.

“Is it true that the gods do not exist… If they do, why are they subjecting me to such a trial…”

A mysterious entity appeared suddenly, and they couldn’t even restrain it.

“Not only have anomalies occurred within the protective barrier we set up, but now they say it’s impossible to breach the barrier…”

He thought to himself, questioning the validity of the situation.

What was the purpose of creating the protective barrier? Wasn’t it to safeguard the students from external threats? Yet, instead of safeguarding them, it had turned into a prison.

The headmaster, wringing his troubled mind, gazed at the woman seated in the command center.

“Of all times… for Her Highness the Princess to come for an inspection…”

Princess 1, Erzebeth. She was here in place of the ailing Emperor to oversee the training.

Even though she was a substitute, she was undoubtedly part of the royal family, and rumors had been circulating in society that she might ascend to the position of Crown Princess. In that case, if she didn’t resolve this situation, her own standing would be at risk.

The vice headmaster asked the operations officer next to him in a hushed voice.

“How… is the situation?”

“…One of the students is currently in battle with the monster.”

“Another victim will emerge…”

It was over. Even now, the situation remained shrouded in darkness, and if more victims emerged, there was no way to intervene.

The vice headmaster slumped in his chair, his eyes devoid of life for a long time.

Did he look pitiable in that state? The gods granted him a second chance.

“Vice… Vice Headmaster! It’s been resolved!”

“Processing, what… What are you talking about? The protective barrier is still intact, isn’t it?”

The startled Vice Principal looked at the operations officer with a bewildered expression, then repeated his words once more.

“Ian Sandow, who was in combat, has successfully subdued the monster! I just confirmed it.”

“Ian? Ian Volkanoft caught that thing? Is that even believable… No, this is not the time for this. What about the new students’ situation?”

“While there are some students who sustained injuries, they can recover sufficiently through the priests’ healing. The squad leaders are currently moving to their respective locations.”

Only then did the Vice Principal manage to brush off his surprise.

Princess Ersabette, who was watching the Vice Principal covering his face with trembling hands, called her escort knight beside her.

“Sharon.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I told you before. You need to decide which squad to join for the academy visit.”

“That’s right… Empress Irene advised you to broaden your horizons through the academy visit.”

Emperor Isaac Vernoir Arcana. He had taught his children several virtues that should be important for an emperor. One of them was understanding the perspective of the people.

That’s why Ersabette Arcana decided to visit an academy where everyone received equal treatment, and the only thing left was to choose where to belong.

At the time, Sharon recommended the 1st squad. There were many high-ranking nobles and excellent students there.

Of course, the 3rd squad was the most skilled, but because squad leader Kyan was rumored to be ruthless regardless of social status, Sharon vehemently opposed it.

That was the reason.

“I’ve decided. I will join Ian Volkanoft’s squad.”

Sharon made a bewildered expression in front of the princess.

Was it a mistake? The 3rd squad… and even Ian Volkanoft’s squad?

“I apologize for my impertinence, Your Highness. Please reconsider your choice. Ian Volkanoft doesn’t have a good reputation among the students…”

“What’s the matter?”

“Perhaps… choosing him could pose a risk to Your Highness’s claim to the throne.”

Sharon Ramsdale tried to advise Ersabette as a loyal subject, but…

“Sharon.”

“I will follow your orders.”

In the end, she had no choice but to bow down to Ersabette’s stubbornness.