The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 34
“Kyahahaha! I’m just kidding, just kidding. Of course, you’re human. If you were another species, there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed. My eyes are really good.”
Naias chuckled, pointing to her own eyes that were shining brightly.
Although it was a bit of an abstract statement, it wasn’t entirely wrong. If converted to human standards, her vision seemed to be around 9.0. Thanks to the effects of her <eyes that see essence>, she had been able to perceive the distribution of mana, environmental factors like infrared and ultraviolet rays, and even see through blessings and magic of a lower grade than hers.
“I want it.”
I desired it so much.
Using Naias indirectly like now wasn’t bad, but… using it directly would’ve been more convenient, of course.
Was there no way to make it happen?
“Master! Even if you transplant my eyes, you won’t get the same effects! Besides, I’m a spirit, so transplantation isn’t even possible!”
Naias turned pale and hurriedly stepped back.
Such a rude creature. Anyone would think I was some madman who tried to gouge out my servant’s eyes.
“Calm down, I won’t take your eyes. Although I did momentarily feel a surge of desire, there are many eyes better than yours.”
“Master, I’m seriously starting to get scared. What, are you thinking of taking someone’s eyes from somewhere? Even if you find them, as I said, it’s meaningless because the performance won’t follow…!”
“I know. I have no intention of transplanting them.”
“Really…? Oh? Wait for me!”
Leaving the suspiciously staring Naias behind, I walked away.
The one lying down will naturally wake up in about five minutes. There was no need to worry.
Naias, in the form of Erica, urgently clung to my side and tried to link arms, which I pushed aside.
I wondered if she was thinking. Surely, she didn’t intend to follow me to the dorm in this form?
“Naias. Release your humanization.”
“Eh? Can’t I just go like this? I like this appearance right now.”
When she had come to my room before, she said she liked the appearance of Alicia and would maintain it for a while, and now this.
Really, her appearance and inner self changed more easily than a chameleon.
“If we go back like this, it’ll become complicated in various ways, so revert quickly.”
“Tch, fine, fine. I’ll comply with the Master’s order.”
Naias grumbled but followed my command.
If she had been cheeky a bit longer, I would’ve made her crawl to the dormitory in the form of a snail, which was a shame.
— there, is it good now?
Naias’s form vanished completely, as if it had dissolved into the air. Now, it appeared as though no one was around me.
— It’s frustrating not being able to move… I can only turn my head.
“Stop chattering and be quiet. Hearing your voice from inside me is unpleasant.”
Spirits like Naias usually resided in the medium with which they had a contract.
To them, a body was temporary.
They consumed the surrounding mana to maintain their form when transforming into animals or humans, but it was not permanent. They inherently lacked physical substance.
Furthermore, without obtaining a medium through a contract like I did with Naias, they could not exist in the world.
The medium did not need to be a living thing.
A stone lying around, gold in a gold mine, a legendary sword.
They could sustain themselves through relics.
— Master, can I humanize again soon? I’m tired of not having a body.
“Humanization is useful. The opportunity will come soon without you whining.”
It wasn’t so far off.
I wouldn’t discard her after one performance. She was not a disposable item.
— Really? Promise?! Yay! You know, I have many appearances I want to take. There’s…
“I get it, so be quiet.”
As soon as I returned to the dormitory, I sent that noisy one back to her relic. It felt like I was going crazy.
***
Flip.
As I read a magic book in the laboratory, Alicia, who had been glancing at me while pouring tea, finally spoke.
“Master, the class competition is coming up soon. Is it alright for you to only be focusing on study group activities?”
She seemed to want to criticize me for doing nothing important as the leader with such an important day approaching.
I had already heard similar words to the point of exhaustion from Professor Louisa.
“N-no, that’s not it at all! It’s your matter, Master. I know you have a deep intention. I was just curious about what it is!”
Ah, she said it with those words too.
To be precise, she wanted to say it. It was thought of as she spoke.
— Slurp.
By the way, the tea tasted quite good. Your skill improved with time, Alicia. It was good that you were gaining more strength.
“T-thank you. I didn’t expect you to like it so much… I’m embarrassed.”
Alicia covered her face with her hands to hide the rising heat and smiled with joy.
Hmm? Strange.
“… I didn’t say it aloud this time.”
“Oh, my apologies. I just had a feeling you were thinking that…”
“……”
I hadn’t taught her mind reading, so what was this?
I wasn’t the type to show expressions like Alicia, and in the past, I had been a master of maintaining a poker face without any hint of wavering.
“… if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll want to crawl into a hole from embarrassment.”
There hadn’t seemed to be any special change.
Had she developed the ability to see through high-level acting somehow?
Or had she learned my subtle habits from constantly watching me?
It was something else to be mindful of in the future.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand.
“Alicia, what do you think of the current state of our study group?”
“Huh? Oh… I think it’s wonderful, like a family—harmonious and peaceful. It’s a place where we all refine our skills together…”
“I expected you to say something like that.”
Such an emotional guy.
“There are currently five members in our new student council, including me. The number I have in mind for the study group is higher than this. But we haven’t done any specific promotions.”
“Yes, that’s right. You prohibited any promotions for the new student council.”
“Yes, why do you think that is?”
Alicia, who had been contemplating seriously, hesitated to give an answer.
She seemed to have thought of something but believed I would scold her if she said it aloud.
“I won’t scold you, so go ahead.”
“Well… isn’t it to maintain the dignity of the nobility?”
In other words, I had been so stiff-necked and stubborn that I hated bowing down to others.
Well, it wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t the right answer either.
“The most important thing in selling a product is obviously the quality of the product. You know that, right?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Then what’s the next most important thing?”
“… the attitude of the merchant?”
Oh, you were getting close to the right answer.
“But that makes it even more confusing. Shouldn’t a merchant try to make a good impression on customers and widely promote their product?”
It was natural to have such questions. Most merchants did sell their products that way.
It was a sort of orthodoxy.
“Our study group has no need for separate promotions. Since the name <new student council> was decided, it has drawn all the attention it needs. Our recognition is already sufficient.”
“I apologize for saying this, but… it’s not known in a good way, is it…?”
She was right.
A name itself was a significant factor in leaving an impression on others.
In other words, the name <new student council> made people think of us as a study group that posed as a student council or a group that denied the current system. Nothing more, nothing less.
“But that’s merely a prejudice based on the name. The only activity we’ve carried out under the name of the new student council is personal development, which we initially put forth.”
We hadn’t engaged in any disruptive actions or mimicked the activities of the actual student council.
Despite this, there was an outpouring of negative opinions about the new student council.
“We’ve been steadily achieving results and writing reports. I, who am observing everyone’s condition, know this best.”
The current negative view surrounding the new student council was actually <interest> disguised as a negative view.
It wasn’t that there was no actual negative sentiment at all. But it wasn’t deeply rooted.
To those not affiliated with the student council or its related parties, we were just a study group with a peculiar name. They were merely riding the wave of general negative sentiment.
“What if we changed that impression all at once?”
“…!”
Alicia momentarily gasped.
However, her large eyes soon returned to normal as she faced reality.
“If things go as you said, the already high level of interest will turn positive. But… is that even possible…?”
“It is. Alicia, isn’t there an appropriate stage ready for us?”
“… are you referring to the class competition?”
Exactly.
The best place and event where everyone’s attention would be focused.
There couldn’t be a more suitable venue.
“The reason for not promoting? If the number of members increases, the interest gets divided. For example, it reduces the impact of who the members are and how much they’ve grown.”
Purely powerful combat ability.
The strategy that read and dominated the situation.
Unforeseen variables.
Having too many people in these categories was troublesome. Rarity was important.
“……”
Alicia, lost in thought for a moment, spoke.
“If we simplify and post guaranteed reports with the professor’s seal through something like a public notice later, it will be even more effective.”
“You seem to understand.”
I grinned.
Using the stage of the class competition.
Show overwhelming results that everyone had no choice but to acknowledge and be thrilled by. Or move them to tears with an emotional story.
The more spectacular, the better. But being plain was fine too. Slowly rising heavy emotions also had great power.
What was needed.
A single thrill.
When that tingling sensation traveled up the spine and spread throughout the body.
If the flag of the new student council had fluttered at that moment.
<Negativity> will then turn into <positivity>.
— Slurp.
The tea tasted good as expected.
It was the same as before, but it was fascinating how the taste changed depending on how it was served.
As I held out the empty teacup, Alicia reflexively moved.
Even though she had repeated this action hundreds of times, her hand slightly trembled while pouring the tea.
Now that the conversation was over, she must’ve felt tense realizing the importance of her role.
“… I will strive harder to not be a hindrance to you, Master.”
“I’m not worried about you. The ones to be concerned about are the two being trained by Serena over there.”
Alicia looked out the window.
In a vast open space with swaying grass, a red-haired woman laid exhausted. Nearby, a short-haired man was barely moving his trembling arms and legs.
The red-haired woman, after saying a few words to the man continuing the same motion, stood up again, and swung her sword.
She gritted her teeth as if she couldn’t afford to lose to the man.
On the other hand, the man didn’t seem to care about the woman at all, not even glancing at her.
He just repeated.
The same motion, over and over.
Even if the woman changed her movement.
The man, as if caught in a bug.
The same breath.
The same sword strike.
— Shwaak!
He swung.