The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 39
Liam took a long sigh.
He was currently occupying a central position between Class 1 and Class 3 with Emily, Serena, and four other students.
It took them ten minutes to secure the intermediate base, leaving about seven minutes remaining.
Compared to the other teams, Liam and his group managed to find the intermediate base in a relatively short amount of time.
While the intermediate base wasn’t exactly hidden in nature, its large stage backdrop made finding it not so straightforward.
However, Liam had a rough idea of its location and specific terrain from when he read the novel.
Though there were no photos or illustrations, the time spent was sufficient, albeit longer than he had anticipated.
“Finding the intermediate base easily is good, but…”
Liam thought back to Vargan, who completely ignored his advice.
If Alicia wouldn’t cooperate, he should have added more personnel, but Vargan set the total number of defense force at 7 people.
According to Liam’s memory, the advance guard of the combined forces from Classes 4 and 5 totaled eleven members. Not only were they numerically inadequate, but the main problem was Erica, the villainess, leading them.
If things proceeded as planned, scouting parties from Classes 3 and 2 would also aim for opportunities. Even if they received buffs from the base, whether they could withstand a siege was uncertain.
According to his thoughts, if Vargan was indeed a possessor, he would have known this information, yet he didn’t give more troops.
Even if Liam wasn’t aware of the truth, it would have been strange to ask for more personnel.
If Vargan wasn’t a possessor, there was no way to prove it, and even if it were true, Liam couldn’t explain how he obtained this information.
Moreover, Vargan was not a person to listen easily to anyone, even if they went out of their way.
“Liam… you look quite lethargic.”
“Ah, Emily… just in various ways.”
Liam smiled slightly, and Emily could read his expression. Recently, she had been expressing her honest emotions.
“These days, Liam, it seems like you have a lot on your mind.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Is Academia life difficult for you?”
“……”
Liam didn’t speak for a while, then glanced up at her. His slightly playful face hadn’t completely vanished.
“Are you trying to comfort me now?”
Emily silently watched Liam, then turned her gaze to the sky, lightly tapping the wall with her foot. She kept both hands hidden behind her back.
“Well, when I first came to the Academia, I received something.”
Emily smiled bashfully.
From Liam’s perspective, she looked the prettiest when she smiled without any worries, like now.
“Thank you.”
“It was nothing.”
There was no special magic attached to Emily’s cheering, but it was true that strangely, his worries were alleviated.
“I guess I haven’t adapted to the changed environment yet.”
“You liked it so much when we first came.”
“That’s right.”
Liam admitted he had been feeling alone a lot lately. The stress of the change in environment was the reason, but he also developed a bad habit of worrying about other minor issues alone.
Looking at Liam like that, Emily pondered what to say to cheer him up, and then opened her mouth.
“This is just complaining. Actually, I had a really hard time too.”
“Huh?”
“It’s not a heavy story, so listen lightly. Most of it has been resolved now.”
Liam had an idea, so he decided to stay silent and listen to Emily’s story. Emily waved her hand and continued her sentence.
“I… sometimes I thought why I seem lacking than other Academia kids? Oh, you don’t have to comfort me with empty words. I’ve come to realize that I lack talent.”
“….”
“In our village, I was considered a promising genius. But as expected, the world is vast, isn’t it?”
Emily spoke with self-deprecation but also with a gentle smile. She didn’t blame her inherent abilities or suffer because of them.
“Even the entrance ceremony was the worst. When I found out that I was in the same group as that awful valedictorian speaker, I wanted to cry.”
“You even caused a scene.”
“Forget about embarrassing pasts, Liam…?”
Emily lightly brushed off Liam’s teasing.
“Anyway, in the end, I became part of that nobleman’s group, and even joined the study group he founded, enduring all sorts of treatment and insults. But by continuing to do that, I was able to endure.”
“……”
“It seems like I’m gaining something. Isn’t it sort of progressing?”
“Because you’re dealing with things that aren’t human?”
“More or less.”
Liam and Emily laughed together, but she soon stopped and continued.
“… there are also things. That guy. Even though he’s annoying, he has good eyes.”
“Eyes?”
“Should I say he’s good at seeing people? Should I say that he somewhat understands a person’s aptitude well? Something like that.”
“Ah…”
There was very little information about Emily in the novel he read. She only occasionally appeared in a supporting role but had no knowledge of what her specialty was or what she liked.
Without Liam’s original memories, it would be no exaggeration to say that he didn’t know anything about Emily.
If Vargan was a possessor as Liam hypothesized, the information he knew would be the same, but he seemed different. Was the hypothesis wrong?
Liam could check Emily’s status, but he didn’t bother to do it. He wanted to hear the answer directly from her own mouth.
“… do you think you’ve gotten a lot stronger?”
“No, not really.”
Emily’s answer was unexpected.
“But I think I got the idea.”
Liam looked at her intently.
Emily’s laughter was different from before, brighter and happier.
Yeah, just like old times.
‘Huh…?’
Suddenly, the image of a lovely girl overlapped with memories buried in his mind.
Originally, Emily was carefree and cheerful without any worries. Days when she only swung her sword because she liked it, not because of competition.
Her smile glinting in the red sunset.
Precious memories.
… whose memories were these?
“Liam…?”
Looking at Liam with worried eyes, Emily suddenly glanced at Serena, who approached them and pulled her collar.
Liam also gradually composed himself as he faced Serena.
Liam didn’t have time to recall memories.
It was because Serena showed a reaction, whether she sensed a subtle change or not.
“Serena, did you detect something?”
“……”
She nodded silently. Serena swiftly flew up to a high place to observe the approaching figures from afar after exchanging glances with Liam.
Serena was an archer. She possessed excellent senses that allowed her to observe enemies and had further developed them.
Moreover, according to Liam’s observation, Serena far surpassed the average freshman in Academia. Among the current members, she was the one who could quickly identify the number and identity of the enemies.
“How many?”
Crouching down and expanding her field of vision, Serena indicated a number with her fingers. The number she signaled had a predetermined meaning.
[20]
“…!!”
Serena also signaled that these individuals were the combined forces of Classes 4 and 5.
Liam had expected 11 individuals.
But the reality was 20.
Each class had a capacity of 25 students, divided into teams of 5. Thus, the absence of one team from each class meant that all the students were approaching.
“There are too many. And they’re coming this quickly!”
It was hard to believe they came straight out of the safety zone with such a large number. The risk was significant to pass through forests and swamps full of all kinds of monsters and traps.
With Liam’s knowledge, his group was at the western end of Class 1.
Classes 4 and 5 were considerably far away towards the eastern edge.
Even if they came without leaving the safety zone, they were prospective heroes capable of surpassing the physique of ordinary people, so it wasn’t an impossible speed. However, both the number and the timing were different from the information he knew.
The future changed due to Vargan’s fluke.
They were charging forward without hesitation now.
Liam sensed it keenly now too.
Some were riding battle horses. They didn’t intend to hide their power. Rather, they seemed to be daring others to attack, spreading their wings wide like fierce eagles.
Serena hastily drew her bow, pulled back the string, and waited in position, while others moved quickly to their respective positions.
Liam also quickly drew his sword and prepared to meet them. There was no chance of a surprise attack.
Surely, someone with outstanding detection ability would be sticking close by.
It wasn’t just Liam’s group who recognized the opponent.
“Serena, who do you think is the vanguard captain?”
“Ranked 7th in admission scores. Bantlo Troa Veliar.”
Serena spoke for the first time.
Her voice was soft and youthful.
“Looks like things have changed indeed.”
According to Liam’s scenario, Erica should have led the Allied Forces. However, the current vanguard captain of the Allied Forces is Bantlo, the strongest archer of the 1st grade.
He was Erica’s friend and the deputy leader of Class 4 to which she belonged.
“It seems we’ll need to exert all our power.”
Liam swallowed his dry saliva.
“I never expected them to come this far. It’s nerve-wracking, isn’t it… Liam?”
“I’m nervous… but.”
Zap!
A blue current sprang from Liam’s hand holding the sword. Liam replied to Emily with a stiff laugh.
“It’s not like I’ve been sitting still all this time.”
—Sparkle.
Light indicating occupation of the intermediate base’s flag came in.
***
Clang!
A massive vibration shook the entire base. Screams and clamor echoed from various places.
—Kuahhh
—It’s an attack! They’re attacking!!
—From where? Where did they come from?!
—Vargan, give us orders! The enemy, the enemy has invaded!
—You fool, Vargan is busy! We’ll handle it!
There were five enemies.
The surprise point was the north gate.
Class 2. Arterion, leading a small elite group, rushed to the base of Class 1.
“Ah, Arterion… how could the prince…! Lord Vargan, what should we do?!”
“Finn, stay calm and head for the back door. There should be Arterion’s faithful servant.”
“Do you mean…?”
“I entrust him to you. I expect excellent results. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Yes, yes! Understood, Lord Vargan!”
Forgetful of fear, Finn cheered at the prospect of praise and dashed out with determination.
He was truly a simple lad.
Easy to handle, pleasing in a way, but somewhat pitiable.
“Piercing through the unsafe zone, they’ve come with an additional four. Indeed, one must acknowledge their military strength, Arterion.”
Prince Arterion of the Ocell Kingdom was a figure who, in terms of personal combat ability, showed strength beyond even the original Vargan.
I expected him to come, but it was faster than expected. Indeed, he must have wanted to get revenge for the entrance ceremony.
Kwoong!
Whether it was an earthquake or a bulldozer crashing, the entire base shook. The fellow’s head spun well, but when he entered combat mode, he was like a madman.
Perhaps it was the blood boiling in preparation for a sword match.
In the original story, the scene where Arterion and Vargan fought was outside the base of Class 2. It seemed the video magic had worked properly.
I stood quietly in a spacious place reminiscent of a royal audience chamber, waiting for him. It would be inappropriate to sit on the throne in front of the prince, so I stood specially.
Soon after.
—Kwaaang!
A thick iron-made door was literally smashed, and a man stepped in.
Smoke filled the air, but he approached briskly and fully revealed his figure.
Contrary to the violence and grandeur of kicking the door, he had a refined and beautiful appearance. Shining golden hair. A surprisingly graceful gait.
Undoubtedly, the first protagonist and the complete protagonist.
This was Arterion Vi Ocell.
“You’ve come a long way. Prince.”
I stepped back on one foot and bowed my head. However, it seemed he didn’t like it.
The sword he held was filled with a vivid blue aura.
It seemed like he would jump out and slash my throat at any moment.
“Instead of doing this, how about having a cup of tea at least? Our brewer seems to have done well lately and is very proficient⎯”
“Enough with the theatrics.”
“…”
Too bad. I really wanted to let him drink, now that his skills have improved so much. Judging from how he spoke, it didn’t seem like he would calmly drink tea.
—Swang.
As Arterion lifted his sword, the sharp and robust aura split the air.
He had no intention of waiting.
He immediately.
—Swaack!
As if folding into space, Arterion’s sword rushed forward at an alarming speed.
Witnessing it firsthand, it was truly an overwhelming and powerful presence that seemed to defy the laws of physics.
However.
“Excellent reaction speed, Alicia.”
“…!”
Kakakagak⎯
The vivid blue aura and Alicia’s equally dense aura collided. It wasn’t just iron against iron, but the clash of auras made the sound eerie.
It seemed the prince was quite surprised. His colorless eyes changed.
In Alicia’s eyes, who was facing him with the sword, there was anticipation. Neither side gave in and a tension flickered.
“O prince worthy of respect, please apologize me for saying this out of blue as a mere son of a Duke.”
I said while watching the fight from behind.
My every word was filled with sincerity toward the great prince.
“Please serve as a steppingstone for my servant to shine.”