The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 24

“No.”

I delivered my decision clearly, without any extra words. By speaking concisely, there would be no room for misinterpretation.

“Just a moment… You know deep down that you also feel the need to have a conversation with me. Isn’t that true?”

“You’re ignoring me even though I’ve been so direct. Should I call this bravery or foolishness?”

“It’s an important conversation.”

Despite his tough façade, Liam’s tone carried a sense of urgency, like that of a desperate person.

This guy.

Seems like he still hasn’t come to his senses.

I shifted my gaze from the commoner crawling towards the outside to look directly at him.

“No matter how lenient I may be, I can’t tolerate such disrespect. Recognize the audacity of a commoner venturing into a new world, and release your filthy hand from my shoulder.”

I must admit, I’m quite impressive. I could have just cut off his wrist, but here I am trying to reason with words.

Well, the truth is, I simply don’t want to touch Liam’s impure body with my own hands.

As my decision remained unchanged, his eyebrows twitched slightly.

However, after quietly exhaling the air trapped in his lungs, he regained his resolve.

“I don’t want to cause a scene. I’ll go wherever you choose. Can’t we just leave it at that?”

“Let go of my hand.”

“…!”

Oh, look at this guy.

As I uttered a sentence imbued with magic, Liam momentarily released his hand, but quickly regained his composure.

I could sense the mana vibrations writhing within Liam’s body. He intended to resist using mana. But weakening it to a level where it could withstand my control was a mistake.

Liam reached out his hand once again.

Just as his hand, filled with strength, was about to reach me.

⎯⎯!

A storm arose.

Someone who couldn’t overlook this unleashed a fierce wind to block it.

Most people couldn’t see clearly due to the wind bothering their eyes, but I saw it clearly. And Liam, who was supplying mana throughout his body, was no different.

“Why, you…!”

Liam, unable to comprehend what was happening to him right now, wore a bewildered expression. It was more than any expression he had shown so far.

It was a ‘realization.’

“What on earth have you done, Bargan!”

Showing an intensity that could easily surpass when she defeated the golem, Alicia’s aura grew even darker.

After preparing to thrust her sword and behead Liam at any moment, she blocked his movements.

She was pressuring Liam without saying a word.

⎯If you offer a body imbued with more mana, I will cut this throat.

Her intense determination was palpable even to my skin as I watched from behind. Perhaps Liam’s sensations were even more heightened.

“Stop, Alicia. That’s enough.”

Seemingly about to act on my words, she slowly sheathed her sword. Her gaze seemed to indicate that she would seize upon any of his slightest actions.

At this point, Liam couldn’t help but yield. Like someone who had lost all will. Yet, like someone with doubts and anger deep-rooted within.

Releasing his mana, he took a step back.

“Liam! Are you okay?! Are you hurt?”

Emily rushed to check on Liam, who seemed to have lost his strength. She quickly scanned visible areas, focusing on his neck, which Alicia had targeted.

After confirming no visible injuries, she let out a breath she had been holding.

The relief that had rushed in soon receded like waves, revealing other emotions.

Her childhood friend was unharmed. Truly fortunate. …They didn’t know what had happened in their absence.

However, negative feelings bubbled up towards the woman who threatened their loved one and exuded confidence.

“It’s likely they went through such an accident.”

Emily enveloped Liam, emitting a strong aura that wouldn’t be overshadowed by Alicia.

There was no need to blame Emily. Even if she was connected to Alicia, it was a recent and shallow connection. Naturally, she would treat someone she had affection for even more dearly.

“Is the ranking battle over?”

Professor Louisa, who had been observing the situation, stretched and spoke. She showed a relaxed demeanor, even yawning.

“Ah—. It seemed like it was going to turn into a physical fight with the lovers’ appearance, but it seems not.”

Louisa stood up from her seat.

As she, larger in stature than most men, rose, all eyes turned to her.

“If you want to exchange blows, feel free to say so. I understand, as you’re at an age where such things are common, and there are official matches called grade battles at the academy. But….”

This time, the situation seems a bit different.

“Eek!”

The first to scream was Emily. She fell to the ground, in agony from the sudden change.

“Ugh. Professor, this is….”

Liam tried to resist the immense force pressing down on him as he knelt on one knee. It felt like the sensation of gravity multiplied several times. The weight of his body. The air. It was all too heavy.

“My… Lord, are you okay?”

Alicia, with her sword plunged into the ground, asked in a worried tone, trying to prevent him from collapsing.

Later, I will praise her for putting her owner’s well-being first, even if she struggled to contain herself.

“Indeed, being a chief has its advantages. This level of gravity field doesn’t even seem ticklish.”

Louisa raised the corners of her mouth, looking at me with an intrigued gaze.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“You flatter me. Just standing is a challenge.”

“You’re not lacking in confidence.”

Although her words were aggressive, Louisa didn’t lose her smile, indicating she had no intention of pressuring the students further.

Thud.

After stomping the ground with her foot, the gravity that had been affecting us returned to normal. It was natural for a gladiator who could effortlessly wield gravity magic like breathing.

“You can fight to the death at any time. Shed blood and break bones. But that’s only allowed within the rules sanctioned by the academy.”

Louisa, expanding her imposing figure, made it clear to all her students. It was both a warning and a kindness from Louisa.

“Listen up, everyone. If any of you try to engage in a fight not sanctioned by the academy, your opponent won’t be someone you exchange insults with, but me.”

Her commanding and sonorous voice was reminiscent of a military commander. The source of her confidence was not mere pretense.

“If you want to engage in a battle to the death with me, go ahead. I’ll teach you what it feels like for me to die.”

Consistent training and cultivated strength in real combat. This was a statement that Louisa, who had risen to the 12th place in the hero rankings during her active service at the church, could make.

“….”

As Louisa finished speaking, Liam, with a desolate expression, tried to get up and leave the waiting room. Emily followed him.

Of course, they weren’t granted permission to leave.

“Where are you going? There must still be things to do.”

At Louisa’s question, Liam and Emily exchanged glances. Their expressions seemed to hold questions like, ‘Wasn’t it understood that one could leave once their group activity was over, or was it not?’

It wasn’t a wrong assumption. Most people here knew that, yet they stayed to assess the abilities of their classmates in the same grade.

However, Liam and Emily had forgotten about the change in rules.

Louisa smiled broadly, almost showing her gums.

“You have to write a reflection. Where are you rushing off to, like a rabbit?”

***

A reflection, you say.

Something they had never written in the real world, not even once. Even after possessing someone’s body…

Even if they were proclaimed the most virtuous in the world, this could not be avoided. After comparing the results of writing and not writing, it was concluded that writing was much better.

“I apologize, my lord… It’s all because I took the initiative without thinking…”

Alicia, on the verge of tears, or rather, already crying, bowed deeply.

They were on their way back to the dormitory after submitting all their reflections, but this delicate crybaby kept bothering them.

“You must know I don’t enjoy repeating the same words, yet you keep crying noisily.”

As she started writing her reflection, tears welling up in her eyes, she wrote it while shedding teardrops.

Despite ordering her to stop crying to avoid further distractions, here she was. Is this the best it gets, despite everything?

“I’m sorry. But every time I remember that I tarnished your reputation by my actions…”

Sigh…

What can one do about this frustration?

Why does writing a reflection have to be such a big deal?

If they thought they had grown a bit, they showed such weakness. And if they thought they had become stronger, they would immediately collapse. It’s not mourning, but rather, it’s frustrating. They should be embraced as a heroine.

They stopped and suddenly, I smacked Alicia’s forehead. I hit her quite hard. Perhaps it was the most painful thing I had done so far.

But Alicia paid no attention to her bright red forehead and just kept repeating the same words.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Have you decided to stop the painful acting now?”

“……”

I speak to her, who can’t lift her head. Sometimes, it’s necessary to give a carrot instead of a whip.

“Well done. That’s it.”

“……”

Seeing no response, it seems Alicia doesn’t know what she has been told. Or perhaps she understood it in the opposite way.

This is awkward.

I didn’t intend to give a carrot to this extent.

“I’m praising your actions, Alicia.”

Only then does she lift her head.

Just by looking into her eyes, it’s as if her thoughts are displayed like a monitor.

“Don’t look at me as if it’s strange. It’s just as you heard.”

There’s no reason to scold her for being praised.

Rather, it’s this soft side that I want to scold.

“You have simply fulfilled your duty. You may have been swayed by the role of a student, but how can I blame you for not forgetting your essence?”

When Liam sensed a potential threat from me, he immediately rushed in without a moment’s hesitation.

That Alicia.

Tender, enjoying consideration, and abhorring causing harm to others to the extreme, she is the heroine.

“…Are you speaking sincerely?”

For the villain, Bargan.

“Then why would I lie for Bargan’s sake.”

At that moment, Alicia poured out so much life that it was hard to believe she was the same as she is now. She threatened others. It was…

“Exactly the painting I desired. Continue like that in the future.”

“…!”

Alicia’s pupils dilated greatly. It seemed like she was struggling to breathe, with a cluster of emotions forming visibly.

As if wiping away the thought, “I won’t allow a disaster to happen that would keep her here,” Alicia gently wiped the tears welling up in her eyes.

As she put strength into her eyes, her eyebrows furrowed. Her expression was ambiguous, seeming like she was on the verge of crying or smiling. A face holding back tears.

“If even a single tear falls, I will double today’s training.”

“I will endure until the end…!”

Alicia became even more desperate.

Having withstood a wave of emotions, she finally seemed to catch her breath, showing a bit of calm. Now, she might be able to finish the journey.

“Once you’ve calmed down, let’s go. There’s a welcome party tonight, so we won’t be able to train during that time.”

“A welcome party…! That’s right. This is not the time to linger. We must go and practice magic!”

Alicia’s face brightened upon hearing about the welcome party, seeming to have a rather simple mindset at such times.

“Today, I will definitely grasp the secrets taught by the master.”

“He’s quite the exaggerator.”

The path we took towards the dormitory was somewhat noisy.