The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 37
The class competition did not take place inside the floating island of Academia. No matter how vast Academia was it wasn’t absurdly large enough to accommodate all the exams such as the class competition and final exams.
Given that enormous amount of land was required just for residential, living, and educational spaces.
Thus, we were currently en route.
On a large airship heading to the island where the class competition would be held.
This Academia-exclusive airship was as large as a luxury cruise ship.
It easily accommodated the entire first-year students, a few professors, and some warriors who had come to observe.
We were currently in one of the hundreds of rooms on this large airship, sitting around a circular table.
“Tsk.”
My fiancée clicked her tongue upon seeing me.
She tried to make it seem like it was just a bad mood, but I clearly saw it.
Her displeased expression revealed what she was thinking.
So, she was the leader of Class 1 after all.
She kept acting cold, but that didn’t make her any more charming.
“Eventually, it’s as expected. The leaders were chosen based on entrance exam rankings.”
Her curt voice was heard.
Erica spoke, addressing everyone except one person in the room.
Eighty percent of what she said was correct.
The leaders sitting around this table as representatives of each class were indeed ranked first to fifth in the admission exams.
Except for one person.
“The leader of Class 3 isn’t Leon, huh. Well, I can’t say I don’t understand.”
Hearing my words, the short-haired man grimaced as if thinking of someone annoying.
He had taken on the role of leader instead of Leon Banteolo Ocell, the fifth rank in the admission exams.
His name was Bell.
He was a commoner from the Ocell Kingdom.
“… as you might have guessed, that person wasn’t suitable to be the leader in various ways, so I took on the role.”
Bell sighed deeply.
As he just mentioned, it was understandable why Bell would suffer.
Common sense would dictate that Leon should be sitting here as Class 3’s representative, not Bell.
However, Leon Banteolo Ocell was not suited for strategic thinking or utilizing people effectively.
He possessed great physical prowess but was lacking in intelligence.
A man who lived only with passion, spirit, and a sense of justice. That was Leon.
Therefore, Paula, the professor in charge of Class 3, did not recommend Leon as the leader.
“Honestly, I just hope this class competition ends peacefully. I’m not greedy for victory, as long as we don’t come in last…”
Bell spoke despondently, as if already admitting defeat before it even began.
Indeed, just like in the novel, he knew how to leverage his weaknesses.
Feeling an inexplicable thrill from the commonality of indirect and direct experiences, the saint Diphelia, who had remained silent until now, asked a question.
She was ranked third in the entrance exams and was currently the leader of Class 5.
“Vargan. I heard you established a new student council.”
“Is there a student who didn’t know that?”
The name was deliberately provocative and eye-catching, ensuring it received all the attention it could.
“I heard its theme is growing together with the students. The results are progressing steadily too.”
“Stop beating around the bush and get to the point. The subject of this competition will be announced soon.”
Perhaps because of her title as a saint.
People with <good child syndrome> were problematic. They always beat around the bush, worried about others’ views, when they could just get straight to the point.
“The current student council president is Rheincarven Troa Schugenhartz. Your sibling, right? So, using the name <new student council>… is it to keep your brother in check?”
Her face was turned towards me, a quiet but sharp wariness evident in her question.
But her eyes were closed. She didn’t want to open them, unable to focus.
She couldn’t see. Her legs couldn’t move either.
It was because she had overused her saint powers.
“…”
Even the prince protagonist, Arterion, showed interest in her statement.
It was the first time since the admission exam that we were in the same place, yet he remained as taciturn and solitary as ever.
“Oh, do you think I’d bother doing something so troublesome for my older brother?”
“No matter how good siblings may appear on the surface, I heard that in noble society, they’re often trying to poison each other under the surface. Isn’t that true?”
“You must have a very informative friend.”
When I looked at Erica, she responded with a look that said, ‘So what if I told her?’
Erica’s characteristic sharp gaze, like a cat, never faltered no matter who she faced.
“In the Shcugenhartz family, there’s an implicit rule handed down from our ancestors. <Do whatever you want. But don’t harm any family members>. It’s quite a commendable tradition.”
“So, Schugenhartz… is indeed a unique family as I imagined. So, you’re saying your actions don’t harm the student council president? Is that what you mean?”
Diphelia’s eyelids slightly parted.
Though I couldn’t see her eyes, her habitual manner from when she could still see came out.
Though she couldn’t look into my eyes, I met her gaze out of courtesy. Though I couldn’t give her the answer she wanted.
“Who knows.”
I shrugged.
Apart from Bell, everyone here was part of the student council.
Whatever I said would inevitably reach my older brother’s ears, so why would I make such a disadvantageous move?
“Talking about the class competition would be more productive than discussing me. Oh, unless… you’re probing me, the key player in this event?”
“Arrogant. Do you really think we’d be wary of you when the theme hasn’t even been decided yet?”
Erica pierced me with her sharp gaze.
Despite her words, she knew my character and abilities better than anyone else here.
“Sometimes, it’s okay to be honest, Erica.”
“…”
In the original story, Erica was the one who plotted fiercely against Class 1 to thwart Vargan.
Thanks to her, Liam and his companions, who were in the same class as Vargan, had the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to the public despite suffering in various ways. Erica was also surprised by the unexpected appearance of Liam and Alicia as dark horses.
I’d love to see that scene with Erica in real life, but it was probably unlikely.
If the original storyline deviated, the scene itself might not even happen, and even if it did, I wouldn’t be there since I’d be busy elsewhere.
If only there was a recording function.
Suddenly, Bell looked around, seemingly observing the behavior of the Academia executives and staff.
“Anyway, the preparation seems to be taking a while. Are Helion and his group involved in the selection of the event?”
“That’s not the case. The warriors dispatched from the church are mere observers.”
Even if someone within the top 10 warrior rankings showed up, it wouldn’t disrupt the existing system.
Despite being overshadowed by Helion’s arrival, Academia held immense prestige. The professors and students took great pride in it.
In other words, they wouldn’t fawn over or act obsequiously, no matter how high-ranking a warrior participated as a mentor.
“Probably, Professor Paula will come bustling in soon to announce the event.”
While we were engaged in this conversation that was more of a mental battle, extracting information about each other under the guise of a discussion around the round table.
The Academia executives and staff were selecting the events and preparing the stage for the competition. The personnel who had arrived at the island in advance would be working hard.
The events weren’t decided until the D-day to ensure secrecy.
It wouldn’t be fair if a specific class’s professor leaked the information to his own class in advance.
“Haha… it really is like that.”
Bell let out a hollow laugh.
The professor’s group was approaching from a distance, with Paula standing out at the forefront.
Her bouncy steps made it clear she didn’t care at all about the attention she was receiving.
“Hohoho, did everyone wait long~? It took a while to get everything ready~.”
Paula, who had quickly reached the table, let out her usual strange laugh. Perhaps as a courtesy to us who had waited for so long, she immediately began to reveal the important details.
“The event for this class competition is….”
What kind of event would it be?
It would be most advantageous if it proceeded according to the story I knew. But as the incident with Helion had proven, there was no such thing as an unchangeable future.
In the original story, the event was called <Capture the Hidden King>. I wondered what it would be this time.
Paula made a drumroll sound with her mouth, dragging out the moment, and then finally stopped with a dramatic flourish.
And then she announced.
“This time the event is a game called <Capture the Hidden King>!”
“Capture the Hidden King…?”
“First, let’s hear the explanation.”
Those around me responded as if demanding a detailed explanation. Even if they had a rough idea, hearing it precisely was another matter entirely.
However, I could not be counted among them.
<Capture the Hidden King>.
There was a word that I didn’t particularly like, but it was the most fitting to describe the current situation. It was a word I’d neither said nor thought about since coming into this world.
But given the situation, I would give it a mention.
Even though it was vulgar, it was apt for expressing raw human emotions straightforwardly.
Anyway, the feeling I had right now was this.
Damn.
***
‘As expected of the Academia’s airship. The interior is magnificent like a royal palace… not that I’ve ever been inside one.’
A female student with light brown hair that had a hint of orange was looking around, taking in her surroundings.
Every time she turned her head, expensive-looking items caught her eye, glimmering and tempting her. They seemed to whisper to her.
To steal them.
Having entered the Academia, she received tuition, dorm fees, and basic living expenses. As someone from the slums, she was not inconvenienced in her life. In fact, it was a much better environment than she had ever experienced.
But human greed knew no bounds.
Even looking around, the nobles walked through the hallways with various valuables and luxury items aside from their uniforms.
No matter how much Academia pursued freedom and equality, the inherent gap in class was undeniably present.
She was enjoying a luxury that was unimaginable in the past, but she had already developed a new perspective on the world.
It was impossible not to be tempted, considering how much money she could get by stealing just one of those items.
‘Though if I actually sold it, I’d be expelled, so I don’t have the guts.’
If she wouldn’t get caught, she’d do it without hesitation, but this wasn’t the slums where she grew up. She’d definitely get caught. It was nothing like stealing a bit of cash from the drunkard next door.
“What’s that….”
The girl stopped walking and stepped aside. She wasn’t the only one moving; many around her seemed to be stepping aside to make way for a certain individual.
Commoners were the majority, but even the nobles, who looked wealthy, stepped back with uneasy expressions.
Through the path that formed, a noble and his famous servant girl passed by.
She had seen a similar situation before. When she lived in the slums, everyone would step aside and bow their heads when the local boss walked by.
‘Except for bowing their heads, it’s the same. I guess noble society is just like any other human society.’
As she pondered useless thoughts, the man passed right in front of her. She glanced up at him.
A sharply defined nose that seemed unyielding. Transparent skin. Even the subtle fragrance of high-class perfume.
The valedictorian student.
Vargan Troa Schugenhartz.
Although they had both entered Academia, everything about him was different: his status, abilities, and reputation. He was someone who had it all from birth.
Vargan walked on without even glancing at her. Just walking through the hallway, his presence was overwhelming.
‘The maid following him isn’t ordinary either. She’s stunning.’
Early in the semester, after hearing about Vargan’s wealth, she considered approaching him but gave up immediately. The maid always by his side was of a different league.
Though she attracted perverted men due to her looks back in the slums, she couldn’t even come close to the maid.
She envied Vargan, who seemed to live freely with such a beautiful servant, but she didn’t feel jealous.
To compare oneself to someone so far above would be laughable.
He was a person from another world, with whom she had no connection.
‘Oh…?’
That was until that moment.
When she returned to her room, she found something in her coat. There had been nothing there before. It was as if it had always been there naturally.
She pulled out an envelope from her coat.
Judging by the seal and the quality of the paper, it was clear it was an expensive item.
She brought the envelope to her nose and sniffed it. It had a faint scent of high-class perfume.
‘Well, let’s open it.’
There was no sender or recipient written on it. However, unless her long-standing habit had acted without her knowing, this letter had been <intentionally> placed on her.
So, carefully.
Upon opening the envelope, she was surprised.
“What, what?!”
The envelope vanished with a puff of purple smoke, and she heard a whisper. Though no one else was around, it sounded as if someone was speaking right next to her ear.
As she calmed her startled heart, she listened to the voice.
Though it was the first time she heard it clearly, she knew the voice.
The voice was making her an offer. An irresistibly sweet offer.
“Hahaha. What is this?”
When the magical voice message ended, she smirked as she touched her forehead.
She sat on the bed, feeling the joy that was taking over her body.
Shhh.
The purple smoke that had lingered hazily began to take form.
And then.
⎯Ting.
A gold coin fell to the floor and rolled.
It stopped near her shoe.