The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 123
“Sky, huh… they picked a topic that favors Clemens.”
In the research lab where all members of Arbol Frutal were gathered.
Alexeria, a fourth-year student with experience as a former student council president, touched her cheek lightly as she sank into thought.
The playful demeanor she usually displayed had faded, and she appeared quite serious.
She began talking about Clemens, one of the strong candidates for the next student council president.
“As someone called the Dragon Knight, Clemens has a significant advantage in aerial combat. At least up to the second year… no, even the third years, there’s probably no one who can match Clemens in the sky.”
Dragon Knight Clemens.
In truth, the familiar she rode was a wyvern, but with her clad in full armor and wielding a lance over four meters long as she soared through the sky.
She had the dignity and majesty of someone riding a dragon.
The sky was practically her stage.
“Other than the date and topic, nothing else has been released yet, right?”
“Yes, as always, all details will be announced three days prior.”
I answered Alexeria’s question as she uncharacteristically took on a senior-like demeanor.
All the information would be disclosed three days before the first round of selection.
Until then, only the Academia’s headmaster and a few officials knew the details—not even regular professors, let alone students, had access to the information.
In other words, apart from myself and Liam, who had already read through the upcoming developments, none of the candidates knew anything.
I had even considered the possibility that the topic might change, but it seemed that, like with the class battle, there wouldn’t be any major adjustments in the schedule.
Alexeria pressed her lips together and swallowed hard.
She seemed to be debating whether to give advice.
… well, I couldn’t blame her.
As she said, Clemens was a particularly formidable opponent in aerial combat.
The first selection round was like a sieve, filtering out unqualified candidates, but how a candidate performed during this stage could impact the final election.
In the original story, Clemens’ team ranked first in the first selection and continued their winning streak.
After some contemplation, Alexeria forced an awkward smile and spoke.
“… it won’t be easy from the start.”
In the end, Clemens won the student council presidency.
She defeated another powerful third-year, Rezek, and the story’s original protagonist, Arterion, with overwhelming support.
In other words, I must change the predetermined course of history and overturn the established outcome in this student council election.
However.
“It’s fine. I anticipated challenges like this and have been working with that in mind.”
I brushed off her concerns with a lighthearted response.
I never thought that trying to push Diphelia into the student council presidency would be an easy task, so why start worrying now?
My nonchalant answer seemed to have an effect, as Alexeria’s tone returned to its usual self.
“Right, Var, if anyone can do it, you and the Saint will. I’m rooting for you, Var!”
Along with that accursed nickname, .
The original never explained why she addressed Clemens properly by name while calling others by odd nicknames.
… anyway, that was enough talk about the election.
“As you all probably know, I’ll go over the results of the recent promotion ceremony one last time.”
I shifted my focus away from Alexeria and addressed everyone.
In front of me was the newly formed group, .
The core members of Arbol Frutal were seated.
After the second semester began, the second promotion ceremony was conducted quickly.
While it might seem like an addition to the existing members of Root, there was a definite change.
“Francesca and Bantlo, who were members of Trunk, have been promoted to Root.”
Strictly speaking, based on skills alone, all four original members of Trunk should have moved to Root.
After all, there were members in Root whose abilities only slightly exceeded the average.
Like Emily, and Frieda, whose skills were somewhat lacking to be considered executive level.
However, fourth-year students were graduating soon and often missed research group activities.
I needed people who could help out whenever I needed them or led the activities, and it was clear that this arrangement wouldn’t function smoothly otherwise.
So, just like Alexeria, fourth-year Bracchium would remain in Trunk, assisting others’ growth.
Thus, Root now had seven members.
“There was a reason for the significant changes in the group this time.”
As I shifted my gaze from the front to my surroundings, I could see that more eyes were focused on me than before.
These were the ones who made it through the tough selection process.
“With six new members joining, the total number of members in our research group is now 38.”
… with one position temporarily vacant due to Finn’s training leave, there were currently 37 members here.
The composition of the group changed due to the new members and the promotion ceremony.
Root: 5 members → 7 members.
Trunk: 4 members → 5 members.
Stem: 16 members → 19 members.
Branch: 6 members → 6 members.
On the surface, the numbers didn’t appear to have changed significantly.
However, when looking into the details.
The new members included 1 in Trunk, 2 in Stem, and 3 in Branch.
Due to the second promotion ceremony.
3 moved from Branch to Stem, 2 from Stem to Trunk, and 2 from Trunk to Root, making it fair to call it a major shakeup.
“Let me make this clear — seniority in joining the research group does not permit hazing. Arbol Frutal operates under strict meritocracy. If you want to look down on others, show it by improving yourself and moving up the ranks.”
I didn’t expect perfect harmony.
Nor did I anticipate that there would be zero conflicts among members.
In fact, I wanted each person here to see everyone else as rivals and strive for improvement.
I hoped they stayed true to their basic desire to prove themselves by outperforming others.
However, if they attempted to hinder others instead of focusing on their own growth, that would go against my goals, and I would put a stop to it immediately.
This was why each group had its own leader.
“Francesca and Bantlo will take charge of the members in Trunk. Additionally, Frieda, who previously had no assigned group, will now manage Branch along with Emily.”
As I mentioned their names, I made eye contact with each person.
They responded as their names were called, signaling their acknowledgment.
Previously, I personally managed the Trunk members due to a lack of capable leaders, but that was no longer the case.
Francesca… or more likely Bantlo would handle the record-keeping while the two fourth years supported the others.
Having reviewed the overall changes, I looked away.
I spoke for the last time.
“If you have any additional questions, direct them through the newly assigned group leaders. I’ll make sure to respond without delay.”
“Understood!”
The answers came simultaneously.
In some ways, it even resembled the military.
But after all, it was just a research group… or perhaps not just any research group, as it brought together the best of Academia.
I glanced once more at those precious future talents, then closed my report.
“With this, today’s research group announcement is concluded. Disperse to your respective groups and begin training.”
***
After finishing the announcement, Vargan immediately stood up.
The scheduled activities for today’s research group were over, but he still had a packed agenda ahead.
To get through it all, he had to hurry.
As he headed toward the research group’s exit.
Despite Vargan being the only one to have stood up so far.
Someone suddenly sprang up, raising his voice with a rough tone that seemed to scrape his vocal cords.
“I have something I’d like to ask!”
A man with closely cropped hair.
A long scar ran beneath his eye.
Vargan, who had been quickening his pace, paused and looked at him. The surroundings fell silent, perhaps because of the attention on the scene.
“I said to direct your questions to the group leaders.”
His voice, low and cold, carried a chill. His eyes openly conveyed his annoyance.
Those familiar with Vargan’s demeanor began to watch the situation warily.
They quickly glanced at the man who had stopped Vargan, hoping he would either apologize or claim he’d forgotten.
But the man with the long scar under his eye.
“Why should I go around in circles when you’re right here?”
Froze everyone in place.
Someone let out a small, bird-like cry of surprise.
Vargan narrowed his eyes at the man.
It looked like he was expressing displeasure, but it seemed more like he was trying to confirm the man’s identity.
Vargan opened his mouth and called the man’s name.
“Cayman… the only one who succeeded in advancing during the first promotion test.”
The man who spoke boldly, without any hint of intimidation even in front of Vargan, was Cayman.
A first year from the Troa Empire of commoner origin.
A young man who enjoyed beating up the local thugs in his neighborhood.
Had Vargan not altered the storyline, Cayman would have dropped out of Academia and become a hunter, hunting down monsters.
Cayman, who was more comfortable taking down opponents in combat than sitting quietly and reading books for research, stepped forward confidently.
He walked right up to Vargan and looked up at him.
There was a considerable difference in height, but his intense gaze matched Vargan’s.
Seeing this, Vargan extended his hand in one direction.
“That’s enough, Alicia. Stay back.”
“… yes, Master.”
Alicia, who had been gathering mana with her hand on the handle of the large sword at her side, relaxed her grip.
But her hawk-like gaze remained vigilant.
Cayman let out a scoff at Alicia’s hostility, then turned back to Vargan to continue.
“I know well that you’re an incredible person. It’s the reason I’m even in this research group.”
“… so, what is it you want to ask?”
“You’re in quite a hurry, aren’t you? Alright, I’ll get to the point…”
He thumped his chest with his fist.
“I just don’t understand why I wasn’t promoted to <Trunk> in this latest round of promotions.”
Cayman’s current group was <Stem>.
While he was the only one who managed to advance in the first promotion test, he wasn’t able to this time.
Vargan, upon hearing his statement, looked Cayman up and down, then replied firmly.
“You failed to meet the standards of the Trunk.”
The sentence implied that he considered it an obvious conclusion and seemed to suggest that it was trivial to hold him up with such a matter.
“That can’t be right! Look closely with wide eyes! I guarantee that I’m not lacking compared to those guys over there!”
“…….”
Vargan gave him a look that suggested he saw no need to respond further and remained silent.
Yet Cayman persisted.
“If we do a reassessment, you’ll see! I don’t care if you think I’m just showing off in front of everyone—just give me another chance to prove myself!”
“… a reassessment, huh.”
“I’ll make sure it won’t feel like a waste of time. I’ll show you what I’m truly capable of, that I’m different from those clueless guys over there.”
Faced with Cayman’s unexpected proposal, Vargan pretended to contemplate for a moment.
Then, as if something occurred to him.
A smirk crept onto his face.
“Are you sure about this? It’s going to be quite humiliating for you.”
“Don’t worry about me—just grant me the reassessment. Any method will do.”
With his confident response, Vargan surveyed the surrounding mana and checked the time.
… it seemed like he might be a bit late for his next appointment, but it should be manageable.
If he wrapped this up quickly, he wouldn’t be too delayed.
However, accepting Cayman’s proposal might set a precedent for other members to request reassessments too.
‘But then again, it could be an opportunity to make use of.’
“Alright, fine. I’ll grant you a special reassessment.”
“Ah, I knew you were reasonable! Thank you.”
“But the assessment method will be a bit different.”
“I can handle whatever you throw at me. So, what do I need to do?”
Vargan repeated a phrase he once heard from someone he could call a mentor.
The difference between this instance and when Helion said it to Vargan was that Helion had said it to assist Vargan’s training, whereas Vargan now.
“If you can manage to injure me even slightly, I’ll use my authority to promote you.”
He was saying it purely for the sake of .
This wasn’t just aimed at Cayman; it applied to all the members of the research group.
It might not be a bad idea to show them exactly what a <reassessment> entailed.