The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 21

“This is something I didn’t expect.”

The quiet night in the dormitory after the entrance ceremony. I softly smiled as I checked the names of the team members written on the paper.

First, Alicia, whom I selected. It was a predetermined procedure for her to be in the same class and team as me.

If my sword is used elsewhere, would there be any significance to the effort I put into it? Naturally, this was also considered in the reason for securing the top position this time. Yes, it’s only natural.

I read the names of the other team members.

Serena, Fin, and… Emily.

Except for Fin, they were all very different from the members I knew. Well, it’s even stranger that despite changes in Alicia’s and my grades, things remain the same.

“I didn’t expect to be in the same team as Emily.”

To be in the same team as Emily, Liam’s childhood friend and one of the heroines. What kind of joke of fate is this?

By now, that guy Liam must have lost his mind. It must be complicated enough to depart from the stories he knew and even split from his only ally, me.

The interesting thing is that Liam and I are in the same Class 1, and most of the class students are following a similar path to the original. However, by sticking Alicia and Emily to my side, it became a peculiar composition.

Things have gotten more interesting. If Emily, a woman with deep affection for Liam, can be well utilized, the picture I have been preparing can be even more richly embellished.

“My lord, do you have good news?”

Lost in thought. A girl, wearing the academy uniform instead of the usual noble attire, approached me and asked.

With round eyes and a gentle smile on her lips, she had a calming effect on the viewer’s heart. The depth of her default expression seemed to deepen as time went by.

“I am looking forward to my life at the academy.”

“Oh, I think the same! Thanks to your grace, I was able to safely enroll and stand here. I sincerely thank you.”

“Thanks have been exchanged. I’ve received them to the point of being sick of it. No matter how good the words are, they lose value when heard too often.”

Even if it wasn’t me, you would have been standing here. Even as a free person.

I prevented Alicia, who was about to bow her head while fidgeting with her hands. She straightened up from her hesitant bow. And then continued.

“Um… but, is it okay if I ask you something?”

Alicia’s unique expression of curiosity.

It must be about the entrance ceremony, right? Since I haven’t explained the details to her, she must have been just as surprised as the other students without a doubt.

“It’s fine to cast a group curse. It was pre-approved by the Academia, if it hadn’t been, even a minor curse would have been impossible to cast until the end.”

Thinking logically, if the Headmaster suddenly cast a curse on the students without any prior notice, there would have been some intervention. It’s not a place where such things can go unnoticed, you know.

“So, that’s how it was?”

“Judging by that uncomfortable expression, you still have questions, don’t you?”

Having heard my words, Alicia smiled elegantly and continued with another question.

“…Yes. If it’s not impolite, may I ask why you went to such lengths with the nobles?”

Asking why they instilled vigilance in them even by creating enemies in public.

“You seem quite curious. Well, I’ll make an exception and tell you.”

The guys who were embarrassed by the curse this time are not really important characters. However, because they enjoy bullying, they tarnish the nobility’s dignity and values, thus negatively impacting the Academia… that’s the superficial reason.

The real reason is clear.

“I didn’t like those guys.”

“Ah…?”

I couldn’t bear to see those disrespectful guys acting all high and mighty.

“That’s the real truth. No matter how many excuses were given, that was the core of it all.”

Including that stupid protagonist who couldn’t even properly utilize his own abilities.

Alicia seemed momentarily speechless, then nodded her head in understanding.

Though not expressed in words, it seemed like she thought she would do the same.

“Well, even if the Academia didn’t permit it, I wouldn’t have spared them from embarrassment.”

Rather, I would have tormented them with even more cunning and dirty methods. Isn’t the soil in the dark even more sticky?

Having her own understanding, Alicia continued to ponder deeply and interpret in her own way, but there seems to be a puzzle piece that hasn’t been fully solved yet.

“Even if nothing happened, I still don’t quite understand why the Academia allowed it. Of course, you are a noble’s offspring and have claimed the top spot, but still, among numerous freshmen… Oh! I apologize! I didn’t mean to disrespect you, milord. -Oops!”

Thud!

A clear sound that hadn’t been heard in a while resonated on Alicia’s forehead. Although it was covered by her bangs, a reddened spot could be seen through a small gap.

“Alicia, you seem to think very narrow-mindedly about your master. My discomfort comes from your unnecessary remarks.”

“That wasn’t my intention…”

Anyway.

I wonder how she sees me. The epitome of nobility is right here.

Ignoring her various reactions, I grasped the flow of the surrounding manas.

Quite some time has passed.

Even in the relationship between master and servant, it wouldn’t be good if rumors spread that this guy was in the male dormitory until late hours. I should send him away now.

“Enough. Since I’ve checked on your condition, there’s no need for you to be here any longer.”

“Yes, understood. I will withdraw now.”

As the dismissal order was given, Alicia prepared to leave hesitantly, then quickly gathered what she needed and deeply bowed before leaving.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night, milord.”

“Very well.”

I waved her off appropriately.

Even as Alicia left the room, she moved cautiously to ensure the door closed without making a sound.

After her popularity completely vanished, I recalled a timetable in my mind. There was still time left to get some sleep. What should I do with the remaining free time?

“That sounds good.”

Let’s spend the remaining time pouring into expanding the mana pool. What’s the point of just sitting idle? It’s better to spend even a little more productively.

***

Tick-tock.

The long corridor of Academia bathed in morning sunlight. Louisa strode down the corridor with her usual long strides. The reverberation grew louder with each step her well-trained body took on the ground.

“No doubt, it’s him.”

One of the two people Paula, her friend and long-time rival, boasted about as her disciple. Since he had worked at Schugenhartz, it was natural to assume that one of them was from that side.

“He may be more eccentric than I thought.”

He’s a guy who easily casts a wide range of magic. Though mana consumption is high and manifestation takes a long time, that guy referred to as the ace just flicked his foot to cast a spell.

Louisa’s steps became more forceful. The memory of when she first saw him flashed through her mind.

Before the entrance ceremony, the ace came to the conference room out of the blue and revealed his plans. Although he maintained courtesy in his noble tone and demeanor, coming without prior notice was already a discourteous act.

The headmaster was in a meeting with all the professors, but he decided to listen to the impolite noble’s words. In a way, the headmaster was also quite an impressive person.

The bold but rude guy’s opinion was as follows:

“In the upcoming ace speech, I will curse the freshmen, so do not interfere.”

He didn’t say the exact words, but that’s how it sounded to her. It wasn’t just her who thought so; some professors around also rose up, exclaiming that it was an absurd statement.

She was like the other professors. She didn’t curse him, but she considered it an unreasonable statement.

However, instead of being intimidated, he raised his head even more stiffly, as if he had expected such a reaction.

“I will kill the breath of the incoming rotten leaves this time.”

Louisa couldn’t help but be intrigued by his additional remarks. He proposed a solution that coolly scratched the itchy spot she had been thinking about.

Academia was an institution for nurturing heroes, but at the same time, it was a place where the elite, the talented, could be encountered. It was inevitable for conflicts to arise in such a place.

It is also true that there are many who have entered not to become heroes but to elevate their own greed and lineage.

Louisa had always disliked this kind of mindset and wanted to expel them from Academia if possible.

If things went as he said. Even if she couldn’t forcibly expel the students who had already been accepted, she could suppress their swaggering behavior and not have to deal with their annoying antics.

Just imagining it made her feel relieved.

So, she raised her hand and cast a vote of approval. Whatever the outcome, it seemed to be flowing in a direction that was not bad for her.

“The ace, your guys may be ill-mannered high nobles, but if you’re confident in your abilities to this extent, then go ahead and show off that fancy power of yours.” Such thoughts were also deeply rooted in her mind.

After all, if the ace couldn’t properly cast a spell, it would be embarrassing for him. She could easily fix her nose without using her hands, which was fine.

After he left, everyone discussed the newly proposed agenda and, as usual, decided by majority vote.

The professors’ opinions were divided in half. Quite a few high-ranking individuals accepted it, and the reason half of them supported his statement was probably because the ace had the right to speak freely and had promised to take full responsibility afterwards.

The noble from Schugenhartz or a noble family declared so, and everyone in the conference room witnessed it. Although no formal contract was made, it was definitely not a casual jest.

As everyone focused on the headmaster’s opinion, he spoke, attracting everyone’s attention.

“Let’s try it his way.”

His opinion was accepted on the condition that professors would intervene immediately if any problems arose.

And ultimately, without professors intervening, the ace faithfully reproduced the scenario he had described.

As if it were natural, he did so effortlessly.

Tick-tock.

Louisa’s footsteps came to a halt. She lowered the corner of her mouth that had risen as if in a smile. She deliberately removed the excited energy from her body and made her expression intentionally harsh.

The first impression engraved on students is important. Especially since the class she was in charge of seemed to be filled with problematic troublemakers in various ways, she had to be even more careful.

Creak. As she opened the door, Louisa called out. She greeted the young ones, who looked so fresh and naive, under the gaze of many eyes.

“Nice to meet you! I am your responsible professor.”

With her appearance, the small noises floating in the air vanished.

Along with Louisa entering their sight. Students reflected in her eyes as well.

And among them.

A figure emitting an overwhelming presence. A guy with a conceited expression, surpassing anyone seen before.

“I will especially keep an eye on you. Shugenhardt.”

Her lips, which had been slightly downturned, now curved upwards.