The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 36
Academia had been in turmoil recently.
Not only the students but also the professors were abuzz, busy talking. One would think Academia would only be this lively during festival episodes.
This season had been brought forward by the appearance of a single person.
The Holy Wizard Helion.
His mastery of magic was such that he could be called a Grand Wizard, yet he was a brilliant divine sorcerer as well.
It was said, somewhat exaggeratedly, that he could lift or heal any curse or wound except for his left arm. Like a saint.
And the amazing fact was that he was in his 30s with that ranking.
He was currently ranked 7th among heroes.
It was predicted that in five years, when he turned 40, he would rise to 2nd place.
How great was this ranking?
This ranking was significant because the value and power exponentially increased from the single digits, and aside from Helion, the top ranks hadn’t changed in over a decade.
For instance, it would take about four individuals ranked 11th to match the strength of the 9th place. The existing strong players had monopolized the positions, making the top ranks relatively unchanged.
Helion was the catalyst that disrupted this solid pyramid of heroes.
The protagonists of the novel followed in his footsteps, literally growing rapidly in a storm of progress.
It could be said that the protagonists were able to make their way into this ranking because Helion opened and paved the way for them.
Thus, Helion could be considered an important figure in the story’s background.
—Yes, Sir Vargan. No outsiders, let alone Helion, have visited our village. Yes… indeed.
An elderly man’s slightly noisy voice.
The image of an old man reflected in the crystal ball spoke with some tension.
He was slightly off-angle, appearing skewed. Despite several communications, he still seemed not used to it.
“Alright, I understand. Report immediately if any unusual situations occur or if you find any signs of outsiders visiting.”
—Of course, sir, given it’s a command from Sir Vargan. This Bart. Although I’m old, I will report swiftly.
Bart, the chief of Rubid Village who helped Alicia overcome her trauma.
I only recently learned his name. Before, he was just called the chief, but after he revealed his name, I’d been calling him by it.
I heard through my loyal servant Bram that Bart has been acting as I instructed. Although I couldn’t visit frequently to check as I must stay at the Academia.
Progress reports were being steadily conveyed through Bram and Bart.
—Thanks to Sir Vargan’s grace, Rubid Village is thriving daily. I, Bart, am also regaining my health day by day. This is all thanks to the great Schugenha—
I ended the communication and moved away.
Bart was good in many ways, but once he started talking, his chatter was endless. I hoped his life span was as long as his constant chatter.
Because it was bothersome to find a new suitable person.
“I suspected it might be related to Rubid Village, but it seems not…”
I didn’t know Helion’s purpose.
I didn’t know how he came here.
If I knew, I could act more decisively, but since it was shrouded in mystery, caution was necessary.
Therefore, I contacted the chief of Rubid Village to check if there were any records of Helion or other outsiders visiting, but there were no such reports yet.
The highest probability was there.
If not there… then elsewhere.
There were two main events suspected to have led Helion to the Academia.
One of them was Rubid Village.
The other was Alicia’s purchase.
I must wait a bit longer, but currently, the most likely event was Rubid Village.
Otherwise, it could be due to removing Alicia from that rural area early.
Originally, the story was that Alicia’s talent was discovered by a church pilgrim visiting her home. The future might have changed due to her absence.
However, I couldn’t provide a precise explanation or confirmation.
Even with Schugenhartz’s wealth and connections, it was impossible to know everything about the world. I couldn’t attach surveillance to everyone.
‘Helion came here due to some chain reaction. Currently, there is no way to know that process.’
Furthermore, in his eyes, the result just as important as the cause, if not more, was establishing a mentor-mentee relationship.
It was obvious that keeping him closer would yield more information than keeping him at a distance. Thus, the existing plan remained unchanged.
First, continue analyzing newly added information to understand his intentions and achieve remarkable results in the class competition.
This approach was the most suitable.
‘I wonder how it will unfold.’
Keep friends close and enemies closer.
Whether he would be an ally, or an enemy, remained unknown.
However, there had always been risks, and there was nothing I disliked in my current hand.
The risk was not significant.
On the other hand, the reward for success was enormous.
Not doing it would be foolish.
Let’s set the stage properly.
Now, who would be the obstacle in this episode?
The passionate and ambitious fifth-ranked entrant, Leon Banteolo Ocell?
Or the fourth-ranked entrant who intensely disliked me, my fiancée, Erica Troa Portlet?
If not them, then the third-ranked entrant, the saint from the Darek Union, Diphelia?
None of them were easy opponents, but the greatest threat was this one.
—Clack!
I placed a piece on the game board. A white piece shaped like a man holding a sword, wearing a crown.
He made the horses around him look so shabby as if he were the protagonist in this game.
Yes, this was it.
The goal was set.
The plan was decided.
The biggest obstacle in the current situation was this one. And to block it, the means were.
—Clack.
I set a black piece to face the white one. The black piece blocked the white piece from moving forward.
The white piece must fight the black piece to reach its desired target.
The other black pieces, protected from behind, observe the situation without moving.
Imagining the scene in advance made me smile.
Now, this would be quite a sight, wouldn’t it?
I was eager to see how you reacted.
I could already picture your surprised face.
Wasn’t that right?
You who inherited the sacred royal blood.
Please do not disappoint me.
“First protagonist, <Arterion Vi Ocell>.”
***
‘He was always a harsh person, but recently he’s become even more severe. I hope he doesn’t really harm his body…’
In front of a door in the male dormitory A wing.
A man stood, hesitating and unable to decide.
His name was Fallon Forn Ocell.
He was the son of Count Forn from the Ocell Kingdom.
‘What should I do? Should I knock and enter? But… what if I get scolded for disturbing him? He hates being bothered…’
Fallon chewed his nails, lost in thought. It had already been 20 minutes.
He must decide soon, but making decisions was poison for overly cautious Fallon.
He occasionally felt the stares of other students who found his behavior strange. He worried about being reported.
“Alright, let’s knock and enter! He hasn’t eaten today, so he must be hungry.”
On the tray he held were various balanced dishes of bread, vegetables, and meat.
It seemed the nutrients were well prepared.
Fallon cleared his throat.
Though he had visited a few times, the difference in status always made him nervous.
Finally, he reached out to knock.
—Knock, knock.
“Prince, Prince Arterion! This is Fallon. Are you inside?”
“……”
Silence.
Not even an echo returned.
Fallon was flustered.
Could he not be inside?
Usually, he at least responded, but today, there was no reply.
Fallon knocked again, calling Arterion, but the answer was still silent.
After pausing his actions, Fallon instinctively turned the handle. It wasn’t a conscious decision. His body moved naturally, like a reflex.
“It’s open…?”
Fallon cautiously opened the door and peeked inside. It was dark as the lights were off.
“Prince…? Are you in…?”
He called in a slightly reduced voice, but still, there was no answer from Arterion.
“Hmm…?”
But not all his senses were unresponsive.
Mana.
A very dense and refined mana.
The inherent prickly feeling revealed the personality of the owner. This was Arterion’s mana. Fallon, who had been with him for a long time, could tell.
“… but it’s different. The power it holds, or the presence. Something… is this… this can’t be…!!”
—Clang!
With eyes wide open, Fallon hurriedly entered, forgetting about the tray falling and breaking.
Usually, it was unimaginable. Entering a kingdom prince’s room without permission.
But now, Fallon had more urgent matters. He could be scolded later.
This level of mana.
This level of pressure.
A complete power that wasn’t felt until a few days ago.
“P-Prince! Finally…!!”
In the room, on a red magic circle, sat Arterion, barely breathing.
His hair, clothes, and the floor around him.
All drenched in sweat.
The heat and intense mana radiating from him fill the room.
“Ah, ah… ahhh! Prince!”
Fallon collapsed to the floor, tears of awe flowing.
Arterion, who entered as the second top student, must have been considerably frustrated, trying not to show it.
Cutting his already short sleep time to the limit, swinging his sword till he could barely stand, and reading magic books even during meals.
Recently, his desperate effort made Fallon’s heart ache.
“Fallon…?”
The room was dark, but even so, Arterion could not immediately recognize Fallon standing right in front of him.
He was so deeply engrossed, pouring all his strength into it.
“Yes, yes! That’s right. Your Highness, it’s Fallon. Ah, Your Highness… I… I humbly… humbly greet you. Finally… finally achieving…!!”
Fallon tightly grasped Arterion’s hand, his touch almost burning like fire.
A smile tugged at the corners of Arterion’s mouth. The emotion he felt was satisfaction.
Seeing this, Fallon burst into tears like a waterfall.
‘For the prince to express satisfaction with his own achievement, how many years must it have been? Three? Five? No, it must have been longer than that!’
“… finally, I’ve reached it. Finally… I’ve attained the level of using <Red Aura>.”
The <Red Aura>, the next stage above the typical blue Aura. It emitted a red light when manifested.
People said that achieving the Red Aura was a realm of absolute talent that only a few exceptional swordsmen were capable of, even being praised as geniuses.
To simply call someone who had reached this stage a genius was to belittle them.
He reached such a level at the young age of seventeen, which was why Fallon shed tears in response.
Arterion was a natural-born swordsman.
In the world of swordsmen, aura was as crucial as one’s sword or even one’s life.
Today marked a monumental day, destined to be etched in history.
“Truly, the revival of the Sword Master! Indeed, Your Highness was born with the destiny of the Sword Master!”
The night before the class tournament.
The very first protagonist, Arterion, was at this moment.
He was a step closer nearer to the name of <Sword Master>.