The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 117
When I first possessed him.
All of Vargan’s memories and emotions were shared with me.
The feeling of the boundary between what was mine and what belonged to another breaking down was both alien and paradoxically natural.
However, this did not mean that the two entities had completely merged into one.
Two souls.
In the original story, Liam gradually began to feel confused about his past.
In the latter half of the story, he realized that when he possessed the body, his soul and the original Liam’s soul coexisted.
Although all sensations were shared, there were still two souls.
One might think that having two souls would be no different than having one, and that it wouldn’t cause any harm.
But there was a problem.
The original Liam’s soul began to influence the new soul, gradually affecting it.
Though the newly introduced soul—Liam’s soul from the present world—didn’t disappear, the crucial point was that it lost control.
When control was lost, the concept of yourself began to change.
The original Liam’s soul, memories, and emotions took precedence, while Liam’s essence from the present world became secondary.
This struggle for dominance altered one’s thinking entirely.
His strict distinction between the present world and the novel’s world was significantly impacted by this shift.
… hmm.
But should I call this a trick of fate?
Or should I say I was fortunate?
After all, I possessed <Vargan>, a man suffering from a disease that was slowly killing his soul.
As such, the original Vargan’s soul wasn’t able to influence <my> soul; instead, it was gradually fading away.
A soul endlessly losing control and falling into decline.
It was clear that the influence of the original Vargan, who held complex feelings toward Erica, was waning.
In order to confirm this more accurately, <I> took part in this matter, even offering my help as an interim check.
Even if the original Vargan’s will didn’t align with mine, we shared the same sensations.
…
Yet still, somehow…
These feelings toward Erica…
—Master Vargan… I miss you.
The emergency crystal I gave to Alicia shimmered as her voice flowed from it.
Even while communicating with her, my thoughts were elsewhere, but her sudden statement caught my attention.
The moment the crystal I gave Alicia first lit up.
I could guess that it was influenced by the incident involving her foster mother.
I had given it to her for emergencies, yet I wondered what purpose led her to use it now.
Alicia, having experienced her foster mother’s death, spoke in a tone that conveyed her emotions vividly, even just through her voice alone.
Her words were filled with gratitude toward me, interspersed with events that had become the substance of her emotions.
How I had sent a servant to protect and care for her foster mother.
How I had allowed her to stay for a few days so she could attend the funeral.
Honestly, after listening to her long, drawn-out expressions of thanks, I was considering just turning off the crystal, but then…
Her final, most earnest sentence held me.
She said she wanted to see me…
“…”
—Ah…
A small gasp of surprise came from the crystal.
Her voice stammered as if she hadn’t meant to say that.
—No, that’s not… that’s not what I meant…
Her voice betrayed how startled she was.
Even without us meeting face to face, I could imagine her eyes darting around in panic.
The voice that had been soaked with emotion had now quieted down.
Though she was calmer than usual, her confusion was still evident.
For now, I decided to just watch how she reacted.
—I mean… I do want to serve and see you, young master. But it’s not… I didn’t mean anything strange… not at all…
As I remained silent, simply observing, Alicia grew increasingly anxious and called out to me frantically.
It seemed that, for the current Alicia, the fear of no response was the most terrifying.
“Alicia.”
—Yes, Master…
I spoke to the nervous Alicia.
It was time to finally tell her this.
“You’re not mistaken. But if you’re done with the emotional rollercoaster, just send me the overdue report.”
—… pardon?
The internal storm caused by the matters involving Erica quickly calmed after this short communication with Alicia.
Regardless of the outcome, now that the moment was prepared, I needed to start things back up again.
Since I had already arranged the funeral for her foster mother, which wasn’t even part of the original plot, I deserved something in return.
“I understand that your last statement was a slip of the tongue, driven by emotion.”
—Ah, yes…
“Now, the vacation will end in a few days. Before starting fresh, I need to know your current condition to plan more accurately.”
I had to ensure whether her progress met my expectations over the vacation and assess how much more useful she had become.
—Yes, yes…! You’re right, but…
“Or what? Do you still have lingering emotions to vent? If so, that’s unfortunate, but it’s time to move on.”
—…
“Are you feeling out of sorts because we haven’t spoken in a while?”
—I-I’ll send the report immediately!
Afterward, I received a composed report from Alicia on the accomplishments she had made over the summer vacation.
Thanks to her mentor Charlotte’s education, Alicia had managed to master the second condition of the red aura, <form manipulation>.
This meant she could now change the shape of her aura at will.
With just one more step of refinement, she would be able to use the red aura like Arterion.
Reaching the stage of form manipulation within just one year of seriously controlling mana.
It was clear Alicia was a genius of exceptional talent, progressing at an unbelievable pace.
Incidentally, I also got an update on Emily, a member of the same research group, who was currently working on stabilizing her elemental affinity.
Though her progress wasn’t fast, it was steady.
… alright, with that out of the way.
Now it was time to briefly touch on future plans with her.
“After the second semester begins, you’ll have some time until the festival, so focus on gaining strength and winning Cattia through the ranking battles.”
Though there was a surprise event planned by the student council before the festival, it wasn’t something that would benefit Alicia to know ahead of time.
The main events of the second semester would be the festival and the final exams.
Now, let’s talk about the upcoming festival.
“The Academia festival lasts for five days. Since it’s hosted by such a prestigious institution, it’s grander and more elaborate than other festivals.”
It was the only season where outsiders were allowed to enter.
Various stalls selling food, and performances by those skilled in music and dance, were part of the festivities.
“But that’s all until the fourth day. On the fifth day, the final day, the Academia’s test begins.”
—A test? What kind of test…?
“The second-year students will take on the role of villains trying to take over the Academia.”
On the final day of the festival, when the third and fourth years were away from the Academia, only the first and second years remained.
The second years played the villains invading the Academia, and the first years took the role of heroes trying to stop them.
In the original story, this was when Francesca’s uncontrollable army, under the influence of an ancient dragon, caused havoc.
“The key individuals to watch out for…”
Among the second years, there weren’t many noteworthy ones, but…
There were three individuals who stood out.
First, the daughter of the number one hero and the top-ranked first-year, Clemens Julio Ocel.
Second, the second-ranked, Francesca Victoria Ocel.
And finally, a carefree young man who consistently maintained a mid-tier rank yet stood out in his own right.
These three were the ones to be most cautious of during the festival.
Each of them had the strength of dozens.
“I have not yet confirmed the achievements of the group members or the research group members over the break, so I haven’t made concrete plans yet. But Alicia, you will likely block one of them as a duo.”
— I will definitely stop them.
“Yes.”
I didn’t say anything more to Alicia.
I made it seem like we were just preparing for the festival in the usual manner.
I must not tell Francesca that this festival would be even grander than the original plan.
— I will be of help to you, Master.
Even though the communication network was of poor quality and for emergencies only, Alicia swore firmly again.
***
And then, on the last day of the vacation.
Inside a luxurious carriage headed from the Portlet family to the Academia.
“Erica, why have you been avoiding me lately?”
“…”
“Have you lost affection for your fiancé?”
“…”
Erica gave me a brief glance, then immediately looked away, staring out the window with a sulky expression.
Normally, she would jump up in frustration or at least respond coldly to such provocations, but she showed no interest.
It had been like this for the past three days.
She did thank me for helping to restore Lilians’ health, but aside from that, she had been distant and dry.
Whether during meals, training, or even when passing by in the hallway, she avoided me entirely.
It was not a bashful, blushing kind of feeling, but more of a dull, indifferent one.
… well, honestly, it was strange that she even expressed thanks in the first place. Even when I saved her from Caliculea, she barely managed to thank me with a grumpy attitude.
Still, this situation was definitely unusual.
Let’s poke a little further.
Knowing her personality, she might snap soon.
“You’re acting like a wife who’s had a big fight with her husband after discovering his infidelity.”
I said jokingly, and Erica, for the first time in a while, looked me in the eye and spoke up.
Her voice was sharp.
“… are you doing this on purpose?”
“On purpose?”
“… never mind.”
Erica turned her head away again.
It seemed like even after arriving at Academia, she wouldn’t talk to me for a while.
… hmm.
When we left the mansion, her mother, Lilians, said to me.
“Take care of Erika for me,” and “Since it’s Vargan’s matter, I won’t worry about the two of you.”
Alright, let’s try one last time.
“You’ve been ignoring me all this time. I thought you accepted me back when you called me <Vargan> again.”
I clearly remembered the scene by the lakeside at night, when Erica addressed me by my name rather than my title. It was memorable.
Even though the emotion then was closer to sorrow than affection, it was still a fact.
“… ugh.”
Hearing my words, Erica’s pale pink lips quivered slightly. The muscles around her mouth stiffened awkwardly for a moment. But then.
“… when did I ever?”
She pretended not to know.
Even though she clearly remembered, she acted like she didn’t.
“Ha.”
Without realizing it, I let out a dry laugh and decided to let it go.
If she didn’t want to talk, there was nothing I could do.
If I pushed any further, she was bound to explode, not just snap.
So, I turned my gaze to the window as well.
The carriage had already arrived near our destination, traveling through a shadowed area.
Shadows had their masters.
Up in the sky stood the massive city, Academia.
This sacred place of learning, with its large-embedded mana stones, boasted a perfect defense system, standing strong and proud.
… it had been a year since my possession.
I safely completed the first semester of my first year, as well as the summer vacation.
Using various factors and existing plot developments, I was steadily accumulating things that the original Vargan couldn’t have obtained.
Yet, there was still a lot more to extract from Academia.
At least until a certain point in the second year, I would have to diligently attend and take what I could, step by step. Diligently, that was.
“…”
… but when the time came.
When the story progressed into the later stages.
The kind of temporary peace I was enjoying now.
Wouldn’t exist.
Not at all.
This was just the preliminary stage, the calm before the storm.
I must prepare without rushing.
While there was no such thing as a perfect plan, there were plans that come close to perfection.
I didn’t have to be perfect. Just as close as possible.
***
“Well, since the numbers fit perfectly, this should work.”
“But… if you consider the balance between other members…”
“Still, we have no choice but to leave that group as it is.”
In a meeting room at Academia.
Some officials were discussing with Louisa.
Their topic was <reassigning new group members>.
Due to a horrific incident that occurred during the final exams of the first semester, three of the hero candidates had died, and one had left the Academia.
As a result, Liam was left without any teammates.
At the same time, a spot had opened in another group, and the numbers worked out perfectly to place Liam there.
“If Professor Louisa has no objections, we’ll proceed with this.”
The final decision was up to Louisa, the professor in charge.
She felt a great sense of responsibility for the incident and was determined to help Liam regain his footing.
Louisa thought it over as she looked at the papers.
Liam’s position seemed fitting.
Even though this group’s average power level would skyrocket compared to the others, there was no helping that.
Louisa’s concern wasn’t the imbalance in power between the groups, but rather the relationships among the group members.
“Hm…”
After a long pause, Louisa finally made her decision.
“Alright. We’ll add Liam to Vargan’s group.”