The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 6

“Wow! Astonishing that Alicia made this dish! Look at the texture; you cook well, don’t you?”

“Oh no, sir. I only assisted the chef.”

“Oh, where can I help then? I can’t even peel an egg properly. It always ends up in bits and pieces. hahahahaha.”

Paula’s mouth is noisy since morning.

Even though in this upscale inn, they automatically prepare meals on time, Alicia stepping forward wanting to help even with breakfast was the beginning of it all.

Quite a character.

If the process of awakening a hero’s talent were slow, I might have intervened, but surprisingly, she keeps exceeding my expectations, so there’s no point in pointing it out.

I suppose this is just Alicia’s nature. It’s hard to believe, but by helping others, her stress level might be reduced.

“Young master, aren’t you training hard since morning? The eggs are fresh. Try tasting them once…”

Are you not going to eat what I made? It’s not said out loud, but it’s all evident on Alicia’s tense face. Maybe it’s okay to say it out loud at this point.

“Don’t pick at what you’re going to eat. The reason I was just watching for a moment is because I felt once again that you are a peculiar fellow.”

“Oh… thank you for the praise…?”

It hurts—!

My finger hurts.

“Oh….”

“It seems like the more you go to the mask, the more you become thick-headed. Does magic have such an effect?”

“You’re not hitting me to train me, are you? That’s why please stop hitting me… Wow, what is this, Mr. Bram, try this. It’s really delicious.”

Avoiding my gaze, Paula clings to Bram once again.

The day I suck her blood dry, I’ll chop off her lowly head and feed it to the beetles.

“Are these dishes made by Miss Alicia from her hometown? It has a unique scent.”

“Oh… yes. I saw plants from my hometown, so I tried making them. Do you like it?”

“It’s delicious. Miss Alicia must have been famous in her hometown. Being beautiful and good at cooking, men must have lined up for her.”

“Oh no, not really….”

Alicia smiled gracefully and avoided eye contact while giving her answer. At least in my eyes, it seemed that way.

But Paula is not sharp enough to notice such subtleties.

“Please tell us a bit about Miss Alicia’s hometown. Even if it’s a past story. We’ll be seeing each other for a long time, and we know nothing about each other, right?”

“Oh… yes… my hometown….”

“Did I touch on something I shouldn’t have…?”

At this point, even Paula could sense that Alicia’s reaction was different from usual.

Alicia shows a look of embarrassment, fidgeting with her fingers. Paula felt that the awkward atmosphere might linger, so she spoke up again.

“Suddenly, I remembered, there’s something I’m curious about with the young master. When we were at the mansion, I didn’t notice, but after spending a few days together, I picked up on something, you know?”

Naturally continuing her words, Paula. I could ignore it, but this time, I’ll let it slide with the gracious attitude of a noble.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you sleep, young master? I’ve never seen you close your eyes for a long time except when handling mana. I’ve seen you read books on magic or train mana often, but never seen you close your eyes for long.”

“Oh, I’m curious about that too.”

“Alicia, too? No, isn’t it a serious matter if even someone who’s always by your side says that?”

That’s not the attitude of someone speaking out of concern. It’s just a question out of pure curiosity.

Anyway, the level of the question is low. Am I not human? Of course, I get proper sleep and rest. Otherwise, my body won’t function.

While I was thinking that, Alicia added more to her words. Unlike Paula, her tone was cautious and subtly different.

“…Certainly, Your Grace always seems to be deeply engrossed in something to the point of worrying if you’re getting enough proper sleep. Effort is a virtue, but I’m concerned that pushing yourself too hard might harm your body.”

“Am I pushing myself too hard?”

“Yes. Always being engrossed in something even to the point of lacking sleep…?”

As I gave Alicia a strange look, her voice trailed off, and she began to question if she had said something odd.

“What nonsense are you talking about? I’m not that foolish.”

“Yes…? But, Your Grace, you’re the one who wakes up earliest and sleeps the latest…”

“That’s because you all rest too much.”

“…I will try to emulate Your Grace in that aspect as well. …But isn’t it proof that you’re living more diligently than anyone else?”

What is she talking about since earlier?

“If you don’t do at least that much, how is that any different from being dead?”

For a moment, silence filled the air.

It became so quiet that you could hear the chirping of birds outside the window.

Among those who were still stiff, Paula was the first to speak up.

“Wow… Your Grace, are you serious about what you just said? With that one statement, it’s as if you’ve killed not only the atmosphere here but also most people in the world.”

“They seem pitiful. If they hope to gain something without even doing this much, it’s not even worth calling it greed.”

“Yes…? Then what is it?”

To Paula, who didn’t understand English, I explained, “It’s delusion, delusion.”

An utterly useless delusion that will never come true, without any value or hope.

It’s as absurd as putting a 500-won coin in a vending machine and kicking it angrily because a 1,000-won drink doesn’t come out.

Just because it’s a novel, and my position is quite advantageous, doesn’t mean I should ever let my guard down. Regardless of the outcome, I will ultimately live as a resident of this world, and that means this place is my world.

To state it definitively, things in the world don’t always go as planned. Even if you’re born with exceptional talent and in a good environment, it can all change in an instant.

Someone born with genius talent who fails to discover it is no different from a criminal. Even if born in a good environment, if one doesn’t utilize it, it’s meaningless.

I am aware of this fact and move forward based on this mindset to achieve my goals.

My goal is to live well in this novel world. There is one hidden word in that sentence. That word is “than anyone else.”

Living well in this world more than anyone else. That is my destination. So, if we assume that’s a 10,000-won drink, naturally, you have to invest 10,000 won to get it. Just staring blankly after putting in 500 won is no different from not making an effort. I’d rather use that money to buy a different drink.

Therefore, this is not pushing too hard. Pushing too hard would be investing 12,000 won in a 10,000-won drink. That’s like not getting any change back from a vending machine.

I consider efficiency to be extremely important. Excessive effort is poison to me.

“Something… Your Grace, I feel like I’ve discovered that you’re even more unique than I thought… You didn’t seem this peculiar before.”

Well, that’s because that was Vargan before I possessed him. Even if his thoughts continue, there’s bound to be differences.

“Teacher, isn’t it a good thing for a disciple to have big goals?”

“Yes… Hmm. Well, yes, that’s true. When Your Grace’s reputation becomes known in the world, it will also elevate my standing. Hoho.”

“Yes, that’s it. Well, let’s stop the small talk here and finish breakfast quickly. We need to hurry to reach the village we’re heading to.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

***

The sound of metal clashing!

Once the crack appeared, the rhythm continued without pause. Smooth and natural like water flowing.

The moonlight illuminating the sky. The stones on the ground serving as a stage.

From afar, it looked like a dance, beautiful yet sharp.

Clang, clang!

The cheerful sound of metal meeting metal echoed one after the other. Both were demonstrating their honed skills. There was no mercy between them, as they engaged in a fierce battle.

If either of them made a misstep, it could lead to a serious accident. This was not a friendly match but a real showdown. They were well aware of the risks involved.

Swish!

Yet, their eyes, focused on each other over their swords, were fierce and sharp, as if ready to devour their opponent. Concerns about making a wrong move and being cut by their weapons seemed nonexistent.

And then…

Swish!

Taking advantage of the moment when her opponent’s wrist weakened, Bram swiftly deflected Alicia’s sword upwards, sending it flying. Her sword, reflecting the moonlight, spun in the air a few times before landing on the ground.

Oh, what a spectacle. Bram, truly my loyal subject.

Clap, clap.

I applauded as I stepped forward.

“Excellent, Bram. Your swordsmanship is truly an art to be admired.”

“Thank you.”

“Alicia, you also did well. Achieving such progress in just a few days is promising for the future.”

“Thank you, my lord. I may still be inexperienced, but I will strive to show results that will satisfy you soon.”

Alicia and Bram, side by side, kneeled with their heads bowed in respect.

It was the second day since we arrived in the cultural city of Rose. It was the fourth night since Alicia began her training with the sword. As she mentioned, there were still many areas where she lacked skill. I couldn’t boast of being an expert in swordsmanship, but I could see that much.

However, her remarkable learning ability was undeniable. Her talent as a sword mage was beginning to flourish.

Yes, her general swordsmanship had been confirmed. The rest…

“Alicia, how is the progress with Ora magic?”

“That… I’m sorry. I have succeeded in channeling magic into the sword, but I am facing difficulties in maintaining it.”

Alicia, looking ashamed, bowed her head even further. It’s okay, Alicia. If you had already mastered Ora, I would have doubted you.

“Ora magic is completely different from any magic you have done before. There is no need to worry.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“It’s not about that.”

Alicia’s expression showed sincerity when she spoke. It was awkward. Why do you keep portraying me as such a kind person? It’s unsettling.

“But… it would be ideal to have it nearly completed by the time we reach Rubyd Village. We need to push a bit harder.”

“I will make sure to achieve it.”

“Then, for now, you’ll have to reduce your sleeping hours.”

By keeping the magical energy within her body constantly active, removing impurities and boosting vitality, the required sleep time would drastically decrease. Anything more would be a luxury.

“Yes, I will reduce my sleeping hours to a minimum…”

“Four hours.”

“Excuse me…?”

It’s the first time, so I’m being generous with four hours. Even before entering this novel, I used to sleep for around four to five hours a day. It’s quite sufficient.

“You will gradually reduce it further, but for now, that will suffice.”

“If I may ask, how many hours can I eventually reduce it to…?”

“Two hours.”

“Ah….”

Alicia let out an exclamation that seemed to be a mix of various emotions. Though nodding, her expression indicated some reluctance.

“It seems I’ve spent quite some time. Rest is over. Quickly draw out the mana, Alicia.”

Alicia’s training never ends, even when night falls.