The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 40
I was certain.
I was certain that Arterion would break through the non-safe zone, whether alone or with his cronies, and launch a surprise attack on Class 1’s base where I would be.
Though he seemed indifferent to everything, he was actually an extraordinary gambler who had never known defeat until the entrance exam.
Such a person would not remain silent after suffering the disgrace of being second upon entering Academia. This time was a perfect opportunity for him to redeem himself from his previous disgrace.
However, even so, it was rare to see him act on his own. Especially if it wasn’t related to someone special, like his former lover Alicia.
Therefore, I provided my location through video magic and gave him a good <justification> to deal with me.
That I was the <king>.
Of course, he would have considered the possibility that the video magic I showed was manipulated and that I was not the king.
Yet, he came running with fury in his eyes. Was he foolish?
No, Arterion had a considerable level of physical talent and judgment. Unlike simple bugs like Liam, he had a broader perspective and would have considered the possibility that I wasn’t the king.
⎯Krrrr, Khaack!!
“I understand your impatience, but please wait a moment. Soon, I will give you the time to take revenge on the species that kept you here.”
I calmed the nearby wild dog-like monster by patting its head.
The monster, which stood over 2 meters tall, adorably flashed its eyes and drooled. Although it was excited as if it had received an adrenaline shot, it barely managed to hold back at my command, panting heavily.
Its overly cute appearance made me almost want to pinch its cheeks.
⎯Grrrr.
To explain the current situation, I am currently waiting in the forest near Class 2’s base.
On one side, I was observing Class 1’s situation through my lovely twin owl familiars.
On the other, I was soothing the fifty-four monsters who were breathing heavily.
The forest was full of a murderous aura.
Hatred towards humans.
Their violence and cruelty were at their peak.
I temporarily took my eyes off them.
And focused again on Class 1’s base situation.
Arterion and Alicia were clashing, and Naias, who I had visualized watching them, was smirking.
Currently, Naias was participating in the class competition as a familiar capable of external transformation. Some professors knew that Naias was a high-ranking spirit, but except for Alicia, no other students knew.
Arterion still thought Naias was me. This reconfirmed the early storyline that he was weak against illusions or hallucinations.
Now, what was left. If I just neutralized the familiar of Pallon, who was handling the wireless communication… oh, coincidentally, Finn has arrived at the destination under Naias’s instructions.
Immediately, my familiar hiding in Finn’s shadow responded and swallowed his familiar whole.
This cut off Arterion’s communication.
⎯Grrrr!!
In the dark forest, all kinds of monsters were glaring with red eyes.
Their eyes were filled with hatred and the impulse to rush out.
They were barely holding back their intense emotions, waiting for my permission.
You did well to endure.
By not being consumed by such deep emotions.
You were monsters but not insignificant creatures.
I could guarantee that.
Now was the time for a fair reward for your patience.
I smiled and said.
“I grant permission to enter.”
⎯Kwoooar!!
As soon as the words fell, the ground shook violently.
The world was filled with monstrous cries.
***
The castle walls shattered like Legos.
As a huge monster in the shape of an ogre charged, a large hole appeared in the thick wall.
The de-buff magic at the base did not activate on the monsters. They weren’t human.
⎯Kraaaaa!!
The monsters roared and rushed inside.
The trainee heroes shouted or screamed bizarrely as they blocked them.
However.
They were the buds of heroes meant to protect humanity, but they were still young.
Most of them had no experience fighting monsters, let alone Altife, and even those who did had never faced such an excited and numerous group of monsters.
⎯Kyaaa!!
⎯What, what is this! What is this!
⎯Why isn’t Academia reacting… this is no longer a class battle…!!
Surprise led to screams.
Screams formed fear.
Monsters were considered humble and useful species.
They mainly inhabited dungeons, born to become familiars for humans, to die in place of their masters.
Unlike the violent and cruel Altife, many were tame and suitable for taming.
That was the general perception of monsters.
⎯This… this is absurd… all these monsters… are under one person’s curse…? The total amount of magic power must be immense. Is this even possible…?
⎯Get a grip! That can’t be true!! Open your eyes and see properly!
⎯But the form of all the magic is consistent with one caster… kyaa!!
⎯Damn! They’ve already reached here. What are you doing! Fight!!
Oh, that girl holding the staff had quite a good insight into this chaos. It wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye on her.
On the other hand, the boy next to her was useless. His sword-swinging form was terrible. It looked like he could reach that level after just a few more months of practice. Just that much.
Such guys were a dime a dozen. Let’s erase him from my mind so as not to waste space.
Oh, come to think of it. This guy was the same.
“Sa, save… please save me….”
Look.
There was a man trembling, unable to stand due to fear, crying and sniffling.
An inconsiderate noble who couldn’t give up flashy accessories even on the battlefield of a class battle.
That was not an accessory a mage used, just an ornament for show.
Such people would have seen monsters as creatures tamed and oppressed by humans, the so-called obedient pet.
He wouldn’t understand the intense hatred they harbored, how their docility and obedience were achieved.
What a foolish person.
“Vargan, Vargan! This isn’t right…! No matter how much you, this, this is…!!”
His ridiculous eyes turned towards me.
Though his tone was condemning, his expression was pleading for his life.
The monster’s foot, with sharp claws, took a step closer to him. It snorted hotly, as if it wanted to tear him apart.
“Wa, wa, wait, wait a moment!!”
This was probably the first time he faced true hostility since birth.
Seeing those murderous eyes glaring at him, he must have imagined his arm being torn apart.
So, he cried out in such a pathetic voice.
He kept looking back and forth between me and the monster. Even in a class battle, murder was not allowed. He couldn’t abandon the belief that I would stop the beast.
However.
As I, who had lost interest in watching, turned away and moved on, he cried out desperately.
His voice was so desperate that I almost laughed.
“Ha, ha… surrender! I lost! I surrender…!!”
Another dropout occurred as his will crumbled.
The monster growling in front of him suppressed its hostility and disappeared elsewhere.
When the monster was out of sight, the nobleman seemed to realize his pitiful state.
With a face full of fear and shame, he tore at his hair, still crawling on the ground.
He was not the king.
Stubbornly, Arterion entrusted the role to the person he initially chose.
His shield.
No, not yet.
He entrusted the role to a woman of strong will, according to the storyline.
⎯Creak.
I opened the door to one of the many rooms in the castle.
Inside was a woman, unable to move, restrained by my familiar.
Bitten by my wolf-shaped familiar, which could transform into chains. Given her skill, I couldn’t leave her to the wandering monsters on the island, so I dealt with her myself.
She glared at me with sharp eyes.
She seemed to want to curse me for dragging out time instead of ending it quickly.
Her mouth was sealed, so she couldn’t speak, but she conveyed it with her eyes.
“There is a proper order to everything. Just wait a bit.”
Arterion’s shield. One of the heroines in the novel read by Liam. But she had no special connection with Liam, so she was now a supporting character.
Lauga Solus Ocell.
One of Arterion’s loyal followers, ranked 9th in the entrance exam, and the second strongest in Class 2 after Arterion.
Even so, now she was so tightly bound that she couldn’t even use her proud swordsmanship.
The only thing she could move was her fingers, which twitched under the king’s emblem on her hand.
Her white gloves were thrown in the corner.
“Judging by the fact that you hold the position of king, you must have earned Arterion’s trust.”
Arterion wouldn’t have recklessly charged into Class 1’s base.
He placed her in a safe base, choosing her as the king to use himself as a weapon without any hindrance.
A move to gain both a spear and a shield.
Indeed, it was not a bad thought.
Lauga was genuinely skilled, and her leadership and loyalty were recognized.
However, the critical flaw was that I could predict your actions, Arterion.
“…….”
Looking at her angry eyes, I was reminded of Erica. The atmosphere was completely different, but it was the hostility towards me.
Anyway, it was sad when someone held animosity towards me.
“We need to clearly etch this scene into the memories of the spectators watching the class battle. Because of that, some may see a bit of blood. But a hero should at least have a scar or two.”
“…!!”
Even though I was kindly explaining everything one by one, why did they dislike me? It was something I could hardly understand.
“What are you worried about? If it looks like there’s going to be murder or excessive conduct, the Academia will step in.”
The attacked students would be automatically taken out, but that was better than dying, wasn’t it?
“Anyway, for a short while… ho?”
Looking from another perspective. While briefly checking Class 1’s base, I could see a peculiarity.
Arterion displayed a red aura. Indeed, at this rate, Alicia would be eliminated soon. Her skills had already been sufficiently proven to everyone at the Academia.
I was thinking of waiting a little longer, but I should end this here.
I approached her, who was glaring at me.
“…….”
The closer we got, the more wary Lauga’s gaze became.
She wanted me to finish it quickly, but now that I was approaching, she was baring her claws. How uncouth.
“I’ll do as you wish.”
I reached out my hand to her.