The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 29
Above the stadium, there was nothing.
No large objects to hide behind, not even the gritty grains of sand.
There were only three people in that space.
Liam, Alicia.
And the referee who was standing far away.
“……”
Just her.
For the first time, without any distractions around, Liam’s view was solely filled with Alicia.
Her hair shimmered like stars; her skin was as white as snow.
Her gentle eyes, akin to those of herbivore, seemed in stark contrast to the large sword she held.
“Does it really have to be like this, Alicia? I don’t want to fight you.”
Liam didn’t want to confront Alicia, whether she was armed or not.
There was no reason to fight.
While it was true that he needed to join the research group to monitor Vargan, in the larger perspective, she was the heroine of the novel he read, not a villain. She was supposed to have fortuitously met the prince, the protagonist, and continued their relationship.
But now, she was bound, going against the fate that should have unfolded due to the machinations of a villain.
“For some reason, you are being held by Vargan. It’s pitiful to be trapped by someone like him. I want to save you from this.”
“……”
“Just one word. Just one word is enough. Ask for help. Say you want to be free from his hold and live as a whole person.”
“A person…?”
“Yes, as a person. You have every right to live that way, and you deserve it.”
Alicia, who had been listening silently, finally reacted, prompting Liam to intensify his effort to persuade her.
She was currently bound in chains. If her strength alone wasn’t enough to break those chains, he would seek the help of Academia.
According to the rules of the Academia, students were not allowed to have personal attendants, nor could they bring family servants or make other students their attendants.
This was to minimize external influence and reduce class disparities.
“This situation is unjust.”
This rule applied even to royalty, but Vargan was exploiting a loophole, claiming that Alicia was a servant who enrolled in the Academia.
Alicia had been Vargan’s servant before entering the Academia, so she wasn’t considered an outsider, or a student turned servant.
Thus, Vargan’s ownership of Alicia as a servant was reluctantly tolerated.
The Academia, unfamiliar with such a case, had no adequate measures in place.
Even though they could hardly imagine that those who struggled daily to make ends meet could outperform the elite who had prepared thoroughly.
But this didn’t mean there were no ways to restore her status.
“There is a way to escape this situation. If you ask for help, right now or later, I will be here waiting for you.”
It really just needed to be said.
Because that one fact would exert tremendous power.
If only she mentioned the freedom and equality that Academia valued, and revealed that she, a current student, was being held unfairly and that she did not want a relationship from beginning to end.
Somehow, there was a reason to clash.
By explaining her situation not only to the authorities of Academia but also to the students, she could form a faction and increase her power.
“Alicia, please be honest. Please tell me to help you. Even if it’s hard now, it’s okay later. I am waiting for you… !”
“Liam.”
Alicia called Liam.
In a tone that was the same, yet different from usual.
“To you, I wasn’t a <person>, was I?”
“What?”
The words from Alicia’s mouth were completely different from what Liam had expected.
Neither the coldness nor the anger.
Liam hadn’t anticipated any of it.
“When I apologized before, you said, <I heard you started working at Schugenhartz>.”
“Yes… that’s right. But why now…?”
“Isn’t it strange? Saying I started working. I joined the Schugenhartz family over six months ago. Not a long time, but not short either. Yet you spoke as if I had just started, or as if you knew me before I started working there. Even though we only met recently.”
“…!”
“But that could simply be a mistake in word choice, so it’s fine. It’s not something I should pursue.”
Alicia said kindly but somewhat chillingly to the slightly startled Liam.
What she wanted to say to Liam began now.
“Though I spoke somewhat aggressively earlier, I understand your intention in saying you want me to live as a <person>. I can feel that you genuinely want to help me for some reason.”
Alicia changed her stance, shifting one foot back and turning her body slightly.
To her, Liam was a very <kind and upright> person. Someone who would willingly step up for a stranger.
“Thank you. Receiving someone’s kindness is still unfamiliar to me, but I do appreciate your warm feelings.”
‘However.’
She began anew.
“You misunderstand.”
“Misunderstand…?”
“Yes, I am satisfied with my current life. No, that’s not quite right. I am more than happy. Every night, I pray that this isn’t a dream, and if it is, that I never wake up.”
“That’s…”
“I understand that Master Vargan is easily misunderstood. Sadly, people judge others based on only part of them.”
“……”
“I don’t know why you and Master Vargan dislike each other so much, but one thing is clear.”
As Liam tried to ask, Alicia took her stance, and simultaneously.
“……!!”
“That you have lost, Liam.”
⎯Crackling!
In a swift motion, Alicia, brimming with magical power, closed the distance and aimed her sword at Liam’s neck.
Her aura, filled with magic, clashed strongly with the thick magic barrier Liam had prepared.
It became a fierce battle of offense and defense. Though Liam, who realized it late, tried to push Alicia’s sword away and create distance.
Beeeep⎯⎯⎯!
The moment the magic barrier activated; the match was decided.
The high-pitched sound and the subsequent mechanical tone reaffirmed that reality.
[17:40. Arena A-23. Winner: Alicia. Winner: Alicia.]
***
The excitement was palpable.
I almost lost my composure and shouted, but fortunately, my self-control prevailed. In a lesser man, emotions would have overtaken him.
The recent battle was, indeed.
“A disgrace beyond imagination. Useless wretch!”
Despite the opportunity to face Alicia, he wasted it with chatter and was caught off guard.
It was truly hard to watch.
Pathetic and despicable, typical of him. Just thinking about it infuriated me again.
Comparing Liam’s current state to Alicia’s was out of the question.
No, it was fair to say the assessment was complete. Regardless of skill, he would never beat Alicia in this condition.
I could only hope Liam woke up and performed well soon. I didn’t believe in Gods, but…
‘Still, it wasn’t entirely unproductive.’
I now understood how Alicia felt about Liam.
Just as Liam showed a more worthless side than I imagined, Alicia’s feelings towards him were more negative than expected.
⎯Like catching a monster.
Her words before the match still echoed in my ears.
I didn’t fully understand her feelings, but it was a positive aspect for me and would aid my plans.
“Master!”
Alicia, now in her uniform, called me from a distance and approached quickly.
She then slowed down, straightening her back as she realized she wasn’t maintaining decorum.
She seemed quite excited.
“Master. I won my first ranking match. My Cattia increased by 10, now totaling 20 Cattia! All thanks to you for setting up this opportunity!”
… correction.
She seemed very <much> excited.
If she were from the Darek Union or a demon with a tail, she would be wagging furiously.
“Well done. Although the match ended disappointingly, your timing and ruthlessness were commendable. You’ve grown admirably devious, Alicia.”
“Thank you! Uh… pardon? Was that a compliment or…?”
“It was a compliment.”
The foundation to withstand the harsh world was finally set, so it was right to praise her.
Her once weak and overly kind nature could now improve bit by bit.
“With this match’s result, Emily will join the research group, and Liam will not.”
“That was the condition, indeed.”
Including Emily’s clause.
If Liam won, he would gain the right to join the study group, and Emily could voluntarily participate in all activities.
If Alicia won, Liam would be excluded from the group, and Emily would participate in all activities under the study group leader’s control.
In simple terms, the annoying Liam would be out of sight, and the uncooperative Emily could be summoned and forced to participate whenever needed.
Even without her, she would still be useful as a planned sacrifice, but there was something I wanted to verify.
Something hinted at in the original story, a potential hidden value within her.
It was more appealing to verify this and consider a better future than letting her die as originally planned.
“Now that the match is over, let’s bring Emily back from consoling that pitiful Liam. Serena and Finn are waiting in the study room.”
“Yes, understood! Ah, I’m getting excited thinking about starting study activities in earnest!”
“If you get too excited and run around, your forehead will be red when we return.”
“Ah… I’ll keep that in mind.”
Alicia, reflexively touching her forehead, asked.
“Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve heard the name of the study group yet. What is it called?”
I answered her, looking up at her expectant eyes.
“The Student Council.”
“Oh… isn’t it presumptuous? There’s already a <Student Council> in the Academia, isn’t there?”
“Then we’ll just add <New> in front.”
Though extreme, it would suffice for now.
Because the primary goal was to gain attention.
The Student Council was the perfect banner for this.