The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 121
The reason I was pushing for Diphelia as the student council president wasn’t much.
It was simply because it would be more convenient for me to use later.
Clemens was excellent, but she had a personality that rarely allowed her to stay under someone else’s leadership.
She specialized in forming and leading her own group rather than supporting someone else by lowering her head.
Thus, it was Diphelia, not Clemens, who should unite Academia.
Saint Diphelia was difficult to open up to at first, but once she did, she easily formed bonds afterward.
While we might not have a deep bond, at the very least, she had the abilities and position to be a suitable business partner for me.
Even without directly joining the student council, I could leverage its influence, and looking at the bigger picture, I could use the power of Academia in the future.
It was better to have someone related to me as the student council president. Whether that connection was born out of fear, bonds, it was better if it was a relationship so tight it was hard to escape.
… why didn’t I become the student council president myself?
That was simple — I was too busy. There were other reasons, but that alone was enough.
There was already so much to manage aside from training and research group, so taking on the role of president was physically impossible. It was beyond just a matter of will.
If I didn’t need to take the lead myself, I could appoint a deputy. Just like how Bram, who worked as a guild leader outside, and Rubid Town operated.
The same went for the student council president of Academia.
Now was the time to select that person.
The first round of candidate selection for the student council president happened before the festival.
The second round of selection and the final election took place after the festival.
Since the election period for the student council was long, I would tighten the pressure gradually.
Let’s leave Clemens and the other formidable competitors alone for now. Stirring things up too early would just become a nuisance later.
As always, let’s proceed fairly and justly.
First, let’s prepare for the upcoming first round of selection, the <Elector Match>.
Erica, Alicia, and I already had some interesting ideas, and I was curious how they would actually play out on stage.
“Master, Master! How do you like my new look? Tell me!”
“Naias, don’t bother Master too much.”
“Alicia, I wasn’t talking to you, okay? And unlike you, I don’t <sneakily> hang around him all the time, so just leave me alone! This is my time!”
“S… sneakily…?”
Joint classes between Class 1 and Class 2.
It was part of the special practical training classes starting this semester to increase proficiency with the hero’s primary weapon, artifacts.
Currently, we were standing in the artificial training ground where we previously took down golems for teamwork practice, and alongside us were the members of Class 2, our partners this time.
All the students from both classes were gathered in one place.
But Naias, who didn’t care about such things, was stretching wide, enjoying being out in the world again.
“Hey, Master! How do you like my new look? Even my hair and eyes have turned black, just like yours. Don’t we look like siblings?”
I stared at the spirit showing off.
Her once water-colored hair had turned black, and her eyes were the same.
Her overly youthful appearance now had even more vitality, with a sharp aura emanating from her.
The out-of-class Naias.
Naias had completed the absorption of the Judgment Weapon and stabilized.
Even though she hadn’t fully recovered the power lost in the dungeon, she now possessed even greater magical power and strength than during her prime.
Her rank had certainly risen.
The effects of the Judgment Armament were undeniable.
But… what was she talking about?
I already had more than enough younger siblings.
As I thought about that, Naias added some extra detail.
“For the record, I’m your older sister!”
“Well, I guess, considering your age, you’re more than just a little older than me.”
“Ugh?! It’s rude to mention age to a spirit!”
Not that spirits even had genders in the first place.
While I humored the old spirit’s antics, the professors of Class 2, Lucien and Louisa, appeared.
Contrary to the artificially sunny atmosphere of the training ground, Lucien looked like he hadn’t slept in days, with dark circles under his eyes, while Louisa was the exact opposite.
Even without using magic to amplify her voice, Louisa’s booming voice drew everyone’s attention.
“From now on, Class 1 and Class 2 will begin the joint artifact training class. Take out your artifacts!”
Some, like Alicia, had their own artifacts, but many did not.
Most of those without artifacts were commoners, which, in a way, was expected. Academia provided temporary artifacts for these students.
When the surroundings fell silent, Louisa continued.
“Before you, there are large monoliths. These are specially prepared by Academia, with high resistance.”
Ah, I remembered hearing a rough explanation about those in the novel.
Perhaps Louisa’s punching bag was made of a similar material as those monoliths.
They might look like stone, but they were flexible and minimized any impact. They were designed with multiple layers of spells for protection against both magic and physical attacks.
“Even with your strongest spells and techniques, breaking these monoliths would be difficult. So, work with your assigned teammates to break them!”
Louisa’s voice echoed loudly.
The monoliths had precise weaknesses and timing. It was only a fleeting moment, but if you targeted it, the monolith would shatter.
In other words, this class focused on cooperation.
But given the purpose, the teams weren’t self-selected — they were predetermined.
That was the reason for the joint class.
So, I parted ways with Alicia and met my assigned teammate.
……
“It’s been a while, Lauga.”
“……”
“You seem to still hold a grudge over your humiliation in the class match. Well, even if you’re not happy to see me, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
A woman glaring at me with murderous intent.
A woman who adored Arterion and served as his shield.
And in the class match, the king who was bitten here and there by my wolf, restrained and knocked out without putting up much of a fight.
Lauga Solus Ocel.
Of all people, I ended up being paired with her.
I didn’t even treat her that roughly, so I didn’t understand why she disliked me so much.
I only made sure to keep her safely in a room so she wouldn’t get knocked out too early, while I roamed around Class 1’s base.
She might have blamed herself for her helplessness as she heard the screams of her classmates from that room… but that couldn’t be the reason.
“Are you giving me that look because my wolf bit you too hard?”
“……”
“Well, whatever. It’s not something I should concern myself with.”
Ignoring her piercing gaze, I turned my head to look around.
There was a pair that particularly caught my eye.
It might sound exaggerated to say they shone, but those two, just by standing together, made everything around them seem insignificant.
‘Arterion and Alicia…’
As the original protagonist and heroine, their aura was on another level. Naias had already transformed into a sword and was now in Alicia’s hand.
The teams were randomly paired as duos, and it turned out like this. What were the odds… hmm?
Lauga, who had been glaring at me, shifted her gaze to those two, and her expression faltered slightly.
Knowing how she felt about Arterion, I couldn’t help but find it interesting.
In the story I steered, Arterion and Alicia hardly interacted, but it seemed she was still uneasy.
“You don’t have to worry so much; Prince Arterion won’t suddenly leave.”
“… I know.”
“Your eyes don’t look like someone who knows. How amusing.”
We continued to watch the two figures in motion.
Arterion and Alicia.
After a brief exchange, the two of them moved in front of the monolith, drew their swords, and took their stances.
A red aura and a wind-infused blue aura began to glow. Regardless of who was superior, both had a bright, pure color.
Alicia struck first.
When her storm-wrapped sword collided with the monolith, the layers of magic woven into it trembled violently.
Taking advantage of the opening, Arterion drove his red sword into the monolith.
However.
The sword, upon striking the monolith, sank in like a popsicle stick pressing into jelly, only to be rebounded immediately.
Seeing this, Alicia adjusted her stance, drawing out more power. It seemed Naias was explaining something to her.
As she shifted her stance, black smoke began to coil around Alicia’s aura. Naias was channeling all its power.
Once the smoke enveloped her sword, her wind became more stable and concentrated.
With her preparations complete, Alicia swung her sword again.
Boom⎯⎯!
A tremendous explosion filled the air.
The impact was so strong that even Lauga and I, standing quite a distance away, felt its effects.
The surge of power and the opening were clearly greater than in the first strike.
In that moment, Arterion thrust his sword forward, embedding it into the monolith.
With the sword lodged in, Arterion released his red aura, shattering the monolith into pieces.
They succeeded in destroying the monolith with just two combined efforts.
After sheathing his sword, Arterion approached Alicia and spoke. Alicia, who had been surprised by the unexpected power of the Judgment Weapon, calmed down and conversed with him.
I watched the entire process.
“That was truly incredible… the Judgment Weapon and the red aura. Their teamwork was remarkable, but their raw power is what’s truly awe-inspiring.”
Suddenly, the instructor of Class 2, Lucien, who had come near Lauga and me, offered his assessment.
Dark circles, as if drawn with permanent marker, were etched under his eyes.
He continued to mutter to himself unintelligibly, then turned to look at me.
“Aren’t you two going to start…? The other groups have already begun.”
“It seems my teammate doesn’t like me very much. So, I’d like to ask you something, if that’s alright?”
“Go ahead.”
I pointed to the monolith.
Lauga, standing beside me, seemed to have something to say, but I paid her no attention.
“All we have to do is destroy it, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct… to reiterate, the monolith is reinforced with multiple spells, which is why the two of you—”
“No need. That’s enough for me.”
I interrupted Lucien’s explanation, walked forward, and pulled out a perfume bottle from my pocket, spraying it on my wrist.
A dreamy fragrance, reminiscent of both flowers and dew, spread through the air, and the half-full bottle of perfume quickly emptied.
It was now confirmed that a third of it was used up with a single application.
It was a bit of a waste, considering the amount of Altifes needed to replenish it, but if I didn’t know its full power beforehand, I wouldn’t be able to use it properly in an emergency.
And now, with a suitable target before me.
I needed to experience the power of the out-of-class-grade relic, which claimed to double output.
The most destructive spell I could muster.
The curse magic <Decay>.
Even by chance, it had shown great effect against Helion, who was protected by divine magic.
I wondered what kind of power it would possess when combined with the <Perfume of Life>.
I wanted to see it with my own eyes and feel it with my own hands.
Step⎯
I approached the monolith, placing my hand on its cold, massive surface.
I began to channel my magic.
… I could feel it.
The pressure of the rapidly surging mana within me.
It was like having two or three hearts.
My blood rushed too fast, and it felt as though my muscle cells were tearing apart.
The intense mana coursing through my body, causing slight pain, was eager to burst out.
I gave it a proper form and opened a path for it. Then, like a hole punctured in a vacuum.
The decay curse poured out, exuding a palpable presence.
Carefully, I transferred that ominous energy from my hand to the monolith.
I infused it, slowly, so that not a single drop would leak elsewhere.
Then, the monolith responded almost immediately.
The layered high-grade spells melted away like snow, and my magic, seeping deep into the core of the monolith, began to—
⎯Crack.
From within, it decayed and deteriorated completely.
“Hm. I see… this is the extent of its power.”
… it was quiet.
The towering monolith, easily surpassing the height of two grown men.
It turned black and vanished from within as if consumed by flames.
No crackling like a campfire, no sparks—just a silent disappearance.
And when the space where the monolith once stood opened up before my eyes as if it had never been there.
“I am very satisfied.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.