The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 104
The Frikkanrisk left the northern part of the Troa Empire.
The Twelve Divine Beasts, who had never strayed from the area since inheriting its history, broke the rules and disappeared.
Yet, no one dared to point their fingers.
To the citizens of Dortmund, criticizing the Frikkanrisk was as sinful as any wrongdoings of their own, but they still received help.
— The Frikkanrisk, despite being wrongfully blamed, stood at the forefront to save Dortmund, even if it meant breaking the unwritten rules!
The news spread quickly, partly because certain people were hired to stir up the atmosphere, but it was also facilitated by the Dortmund Church.
Though this could be seen as a form of media manipulation, they were confident it was used in the right way. After all, they weren’t spreading lies.
The church’s cooperation was due to their own admission of guilt, and it was also part of a tacit understanding regarding the relationship between Craine and Ami. One of the conditions was Frikkanrisk’s aid in driving back Ami’s forces.
The other was the permission for her to migrate freely, as long as she caused no harm to people, rather than being bound to the snowy mountains.
… well, personally, I found it rather ridiculous for humans to be granting or withholding permission to a divine beast, but it was important to them, so we made it a condition.
From her perspective as one of the Twelve Divine Beasts, she also needed a justification to break the rules.
Oh, looking back, nothing slipped through my hands.
It had been a few busy weeks.
I traveled everywhere, negotiating with various races without discrimination.
Everything went smoothly, except for the one frustration of not being able to obtain Ami’s Judgment Weapon due to the interference of Cardinal Zepard.
Thinking about it again, it was still disappointing.
I had hoped to reinforce the material for the <weapon> I would create later on.
… anyway, a few days later, I was summoned again to Dortmund’s church. This time, it was regarding Archbishop Salecius.
“The Divine Beast Frikkanrisk has left safely. She will become one with nature, live quietly, and will not intervene in worldly affairs.”
I spoke, kneeling on one knee before the Holy King.
Except for Helion and a few others, the church believed I had made a contract with her under unfavorable conditions.
After all, if it was known that I had formed an equal contract with a divine beast, people would question why I hadn’t gained power over her eyes, and if I boasted of the Cardinal’s contract, it would reveal my connection to Altife.
Of course, the general public also wrongly believed that I had made an equal contract with her, but I had no interest in correcting that misconception.
Oh, deceiving the church wasn’t difficult.
The fact that a Divine Beast followed my words was more than enough evidence. No divine beast would ever follow the words of a mere human unless a contract had been made.
Through a series of interactions, I had built a beautiful structure of lies.
“Our young hero has done a great deed. Dortmund will not forget this, and the church will grant you a fitting reward.”
The Holy King started with sweet words, a prelude to the more biting questions that would follow.
Without lifting my head, I replied.
“I simply did what had to be done as one who follows the path of a hero.”
When dealing with such people, it was best to invoke the ideals of heroes and humanity, rather than self-interest, in order to appear as someone who pursued the greater good.
Satisfied with my straightforward response and attitude, the Holy King’s tone changed.
“Vargan Troa Schugenhartz. I admire your courage, wisdom, and humanity. I hope that even as you continue your path as a hero, you maintain this same noble character.”
I didn’t respond further but lowered my head again in a show of respect.
To think that the villain Vargan would hear such words from the highest authority of the local church, the Holy King—life was truly unpredictable.
The Holy King’s gentle voice reverberated once again.
If you stripped away the petty talk, it boiled down to this:
—What kind of person was Archbishop Salecius, who appeared during the recent war, and how was it possible to resist her?
An archbishop who resembled an infected human, wielding a red aura.
It was certainly a matter of suspicion, as if a former hero had fallen into corruption.
“Though I don’t know all the details, based on my experience fighting her up close….”
I provided basic information about Salecius.
Details that anyone who was present could have noticed, as well as those that only someone who faced her directly would know.
Not too little, but not too much either.
“… she is akin to a cursed magic swordsman, proficient in dark magic. Her appearance and fighting style closely resemble that of a hero. I was able to oppose her only because, by chance, the magic imbued in the relics loaned by the church helped me pierce through the curse.”
I added that it was also thanks to the active aid of the Divine Beast Frikkanrisk.
I didn’t boast about my own abilities.
In situations like this, the less you elevated yourself, the more your value rose.
A few more words were exchanged, but I refrained from offering any further useful information.
So far, only that cursed protagonist, and I knew who she truly was and to whom she belonged.
When the Holy King seemed satisfied with my responses and was about to dismiss me, he handed me a nameplate engraved with his name.
It was a thin, iron plate coated with silver, engraved with lettering.
He offered a faint smile.
“When you reach the Central Church, show them this nameplate.”
A nameplate bearing the name of Dortmund’s Holy King.
It was something I wanted, and I could roughly guess his intentions, so I accepted it with gratitude without asking any further questions.
There was nothing more to discuss. I had received everything I came for.
“Vargan Troa Schugenhartz, may the blessings of Yggdrasil be with you on your journey ahead.”
Tap. Tap.
The Holy King tapped his staff on the ground.
I, too, upheld the customs, maintaining my discipline and respect until the end.
***
“Hey, Finn. Come over here for a second.”
Finn, who had been training in the small yard in front of the lodging, sheathed his sword and approached as Canthurman called out to him after observing him quietly.
Canthurman spoke offhandedly.
“Swing your sword at me with all your strength.”
“What?”
“I said, strike me like you’re attacking a straw dummy.”
Hearing such an abrupt command, Finn hesitated, saying he couldn’t possibly do that, only to find Canthurman’s burly arm choking him.
“Ke-keck!”
As Finn’s face turned a deep shade of blue, Canthurman roughly released him, leaving Finn massaging his neck in pain.
“Quit whining, punk. Just show me your swordsmanship.”
“But… I couldn’t possibly…”
“Enough with the excuses. Do I look like a fool to you? I’m doing this because it’s necessary, so get into position.”
Though bewildered, Finn saw the determined look in Canthurman’s eyes and realized there was no avoiding it.
In the end, he took up his usual stance.
It was one that allowed him to easily target an opponent’s head when charging in.
After steadying his breath for a moment, he lunged forward.
Whoosh⎯⎯!
A clean strike aimed directly at Canthurman’s head.
Though the attack was straightforward to the point of being predictable, it was well-practiced and steady.
After all, it was a technique Vargan had drilled into Finn over and over again.
Canthurman dodged it with nothing more than a slight tilt of his head, his throat rumbling deeply as he analyzed the strike before asking.
“Why are you stopping? Is that all?”
“There are other moves… but….”
“If you have them, don’t drag it out. Just show me quickly.”
Finn continued with the remaining moves.
They were barely worthy of being called a sword style, but they were moves Finn had honed over a long time.
Whew.
Finn finished demonstrating all the sword techniques he knew.
In the end, Finn’s sword didn’t even come close to the hem of Canthurman’s large robe.
“You said you’ve been swinging a sword for how many years?”
“I decided to become a hero when I was seven, so it’s been 11 years now.”
“… this is serious. You have absolutely no talent.”
“… yes. I’m aware of that.”
Canthurman sighed deeply, which seemed out of character for him.
With a concerned expression, he shook his head.
“I see why Kshanoll didn’t like you. It was because of this.”
“What do you mean?”
Canthurman lightly tapped Finn’s back and sat on a nearby structure before answering.
“Kshanoll is a monster who reached 23rd in the hero rankings at the young age of 30. Not only is he skilled, but he’s also exceptionally good at evaluating others, especially swordsmen.”
“Yes….”
“And the thing he hates most is people without talent, yet somehow you ended up as Helion’s mentee. That’s why he got so pissed.”
Finn recalled the time when he first met Kshanoll and heard all those insulting words.
Canthurman continued, saying that Kshanoll greatly respected Helion, so when Finn, supposedly Helion’s chosen mentee, turned out to be so pathetic, it must have filled him with rage.
“At least the move where you aimed for the head at the beginning seemed somewhat useful, but the rest? A complete mess. It’s like you’re not even trying.”
“But if I keep training, maybe I’ll improve even a little….”
“No. Give it up.”
Canthurman cut him off coldly.
“Even if you barely manage to become a hero at this rate, you’ll just end up being food for Altife or become a sacrifice. For the sake of your future teammates, give it up.”
Finn’s talent was abysmal.
No matter how many outstanding individuals he surrounded himself with or how many powerful relics he armed himself with, he would soon be surpassed by even a moderately talented swordsman.
Unless he wanted to sacrifice himself just to give his future teammates the pain of losing a comrade, he should stop before it was too late⎯
“⎯ that won’t happen.”
Finn replied firmly.
The gentle look in his eyes changed to something fierce.
“No matter what, I will become a hero. I swore that I would.”
He had sworn it once to himself.
And once again when he received the opportunity from Helion through Vargan.
No matter how harsh the words thrown at him, Finn didn’t want to bend this resolve. It was everything to him.
“No matter how terrible the end may be, it’s fine. This is the path I chose, and I won’t regret it.”
“… your death could be meaningless. All your hard work could end in nothing but emptiness.”
“As I said, I won’t change. Even if the path I chose leads to a cliff, I’ll jump off with all my strength.”
“…….”
Finn was about to finish by expressing his gratitude.
He understood Canthurman’s intention in bringing this up and was grateful for it, but he couldn’t accept the advice.
As the conversation seemed to be winding down, Canthurman stood up.
His large frame blocked Finn’s view, and with one hand as large as a pot lid, he grabbed Finn’s head. Finn didn’t resist.
Then Canthurman spoke.
“Kahaha! This kid has more stubbornness than I thought.”
He laughed heartily.
“In war and now, too. I really like how you don’t know your limits. You’re right. A man should be like this!”
“Mr. Canthurman…?”
“Finn. I like you. But it’s also true that your talent is next to nothing. So, I’m going to tell you a top secret.”
Canthurman leaned in close, whispering in a voice far too small for his size. He even covered his mouth with his hand.
“From today, stick to Kshanoll like glue. Beg him relentlessly.”
“Beg him for what?”
“Ask him to tell you the location of the <Soul Forge Hall>.”
“Soul Forge Hall?”
It was a place Finn had never heard of.
“It’s normal not to know. Hardly anyone knows about it. I don’t know where it is, either. Even if I did, I wouldn’t have the qualifications to enter.”
“And what happens if you go there…?”
“I don’t know the details. If I did, it wouldn’t be a secret. But I do know one thing.”
Canthurman’s voice dropped even lower, barely audible to any nearby rats or birds.
“Before Kshanoll entered the Soul Forge Hall, he had just as little talent as you.”
“What?! But he’s ranked 23rd now…!”
“Shh.”
Canthurman’s large hand ruffled Finn’s hair as he laughed, reverting back to his boisterous self.
“That’s why I said it was a top-secret. Kahaha!”