The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 48
“Big sister… I want to go outside the village again.”
“Shh, shh! Freesia, we said that was our secret!”
A small village hidden in the mountain valley.
Edel and Freesia, the mischievous girls of Rubid Village, were playing in the yard as usual.
They were making flower garlands and small rings, but Edel was startled by Freesia’s words and quickly covered her mouth.
In her surprise, she shouted loudly.
Worried, Edel looked around to see if anyone had heard, and was relieved to see that no one had. She calmed her pounding heart.
Then she brought her mouth close to Freesia’s ear and whispered.
She cupped her hands around her mouth to ensure no one else could hear.
“Listen carefully, Freesia. If Mom finds out we snuck out to the forest outside the village, we’ll be in big trouble.”
“But… they say lying is bad….”
“There are good lies too. The world can’t run without some lies.”
Freesia didn’t quite understand her sister’s grown-up words, but she nodded in agreement.
“You don’t want to get in trouble, right?”
“Yes….”
“And you want to go on another adventure, right?”
“Yes!”
“Then we have to keep our adventure a secret.”
“Why…?”
Freesia blinked her wide, curious eyes like a chick and tilted her head, not understanding the connection.
Edel rubbed her forehead and groaned, trying to think of a way to explain it clearly.
“Then, sister. Shouldn’t we talk about the man we saw that time either?”
“Huh? Oh, the man named Helion? No, we can’t tell! If we say that, they’ll find out we went outside!”
“I see….”
“And Freesia, let’s talk a bit quieter. It’ll be really bad if someone hears.”
“Village chief.”
“Yes, if the village chief or Mom hears, we’ll be in big trouble… huh?”
Clang!
A pickaxe fell to the ground.
The pickaxe had slipped off an old man’s shoulder.
“Edel… Freesia… have you been outside the village?”
“Ah… well…!”
“And you met a man named Helion?”
“Village chief, please wait! I’ll explain everything. I’ll tell you everything. Just please don’t tell Mom! Please, please!”
The hands of Bart, the chief of Rubid Village, trembled. His mind was flooded with the recent conversation he had with Vargan.
—Yes, Lord Vargan. No outsiders, not even Helion, have visited our village.
Could it be that those words were his final testament?
Of course, he had said he would report any new clues promptly.
But to get this information from none other than Edel and Freesia. These girls were closer to Vargan than anyone else in the village except himself!
He should have confirmed it first and more thoroughly.
“This is a disaster. A disaster…!!”
The bell attached to the chief’s side rang furiously.
Dang, dang, dang, dang.
It did not stop for a moment.
This was a disaster…!!
***
“I see. From Edel and Freesia.”
“They are cute children.”
“…….”
What a coincidence.
On his way back from completing a mission for the church.
Helion had given water to the two kids playing near the forest by the village and heard news about the village in return.
What were the odds?
“At first, they were wary and avoided me, but after a bit of familiarity, they boasted about how Commander Vargan and Princess Alicia saved them and their village.”
“…….”
“Princess… they mean student Alicia, right?”
“… it seems so.”
He took a sip from his teacup to soothe his dry throat.
Recalling only the significant details.
Intrigued by what might have been an exaggerated account of my deeds, Helion started his investigation.
He traced back to the day of Altife’s invasion, following the faint traces of mana that had faded over time.
“The curse placed on student Alicia and the invasion by Altife are inevitably connected.”
He didn’t enter the village. He didn’t feel the need to.
There were no traces left in the village.
The high concentration of mana I had planted around the village to cast the curse on Alicia had further muddled the remnants of the event, distorting the information.
The outskirts of the village were the only place where even a faint trace could be detected.
“It’s a strange thing. Unless you could see the future, you couldn’t have created such a stage.”
He tilted his head.
Yet, he didn’t take his eyes off me.
“Helion, in the end, you believe I can see the future.”
“Yes, I do. Didn’t you demonstrate that in the class battle?”
“Demonstrate? Not at all. I just made the best possible move to secure victory.”
“So, you’re not saying you can see the future.”
“Because I can’t actually see the future.”
I wasn’t lying. I couldn’t see the future. I just knew what would happen because I read the novel.
There was no such thing as the oracle of a saint.
Moreover, even if there were, the saint’s oracle wasn’t a reliable tool since it was a sudden, random revelation.
“I completely deny the possibility of the goddess cult’s suspicion.”
“I didn’t rule it out entirely, but I guessed it wasn’t the case.”
He also ruled out the possibility of the goddess’s blessing.
Helion, who had been staring at me intensely, closed his eyes and leaned back.
It was as if he was re-evaluating my words. He was lost in thought without saying anything for a moment.
Then he opened his eyes.
His eyes, which had been scrutinizing me, now seemed more relaxed.
“There are many questions left about the curse on those girls and other related matters, but I suppose I’ll learn more as I continue mentoring. A rough stone will come out of the pocket eventually.”
“Does that mean…?”
“Student Vargan has an unusual tendency. He pretends not to know what he already knows to confirm it again.”
I smiled.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Since I called you, you knew it. I intend to select Vargan as my mentee.”
—It’s done.
This would expand my range of action in this novel world considerably.
Moreover, thinking about the abilities and opportunities I could extract from Helion, I felt like dancing with joy!
Though I wouldn’t, considering the dignity of a noble.
Edel and Freesia, who brought Helion here, deserved deep gratitude. I would need to manage their loose lips, but thanks to them, I ended up riding on the back of a dragon.
I should shower them with gifts when I see them next time.
Of course, I’d have to punish the village chief according to the rules for failing to keep the girls’ mouths shut.
“There are three reasons I chose Vargan as my mentee.”
First, to keep me close for observation. To closely watch someone who might possess foresight ability.
Second, though I had a genius sense for magic, my extraordinarily high mana quantity was intriguing. This also warranted long-term observation.
And the third reason…
“I think he shares a similar philosophy with me.”
Helion said.
I couldn’t erase my smile and shrugged. I had a guess at what he meant.
“So, what about the remaining mentee spot? Are you going to leave it vacant.
“I was just about to talk about that matter.”
Helion took out a piece of paper from his leather bag. It was a certificate proving the relationship between mentor and mentee, with Helion’s name and seal already inscribed in the signature section.
As if waiting for two people who would become prospective mentees.
The two signature lines below were empty.
“I want to transfer the authority to Student Vargan.”
I looked up from the paper I was scanning.
Helion showed his palm, making a gesture as if passing something to me.
“You can decide what to do with the remaining position, Vargan. You can leave it vacant or invite an acquaintance.”
His tone wasn’t testing me.
There were no other emotions or judgments in his eyes. From experiencing his background and the current situation, I knew.
He had no interest.
Except for me, his initial point of interest.
Even overwhelming power like Arterion’s or unprecedented talent like Alicia’s did not impress him. Therefore.
It didn’t matter who it was.
In any case, they would fall away like autumn leaves when the official mentee selection took place.
“That’s unexpected.”
As I was stalling for time.
Helion spoke.
“I thought Student Vargan would unhesitatingly ask to keep the position vacant.”
“That is also an attractive offer, but as a noble and a student of Academia, I ought to bestow this priceless opportunity.”
“So, you already have someone in mind?”
Well, yes.
Even if they would eventually fall away like leaves, having the chance to learn from a hero like Helion was immensely valuable.
Helion, who took an interest in me and came all the way to Academia.
Though it was safe to assume I wouldn’t be at risk of falling, it would be too wasteful to leave this vacant despite some risks.
“Helion, I’ll leave it to you.”
Helion listened. Though he didn’t move closer, at least I felt he showed interest.
“For the remaining position….”
***
Last in entrance scores.
Finn Troa Toiren, wrapped in bandages all over his body, sat on a bed in the infirmary of the airship, thinking of someone.
Vargan Troa Schugenhartz.
An overwhelming prodigy.
Finn grew up hearing about Vargan, who was born with remarkable talent.
They said he could already handle mid-tier elemental magic at a young age.
He particularly excelled in curse magic, which only a few could use.
While some frowned and envied Vargan’s continuous achievements, Finn was different.
Amazing.
He genuinely wanted to be like him!
Finn sincerely admired Vargan.
Though the difference in their statuses made meeting difficult, he was moved by his talent and wished for his success.
Then, what luck.
Barely entering Academia, he found that his idol, Vargan, was in the same group as him!
Finn, who was always diligent, worked even harder with Vargan in the same group. So much, that he felt sleeping was a waste of time.
He collapsed several times in the process.
To become a warrior.
He worked hard so as not to embarrass Vargan, who was in the same group.
“… no, it’s not enough… too much.”
Finn was tormented by the memory of the class battle.
The wounds ached again.
Then.
Clank⎯
The unexpected visitor startled Finn.
“V-Vargan?!”
Vargan, towering over him, glanced down and walked over to sit in a nearby chair.
Vargan’s eyes looked as cold as ice.
Finn flinched and bowed his head. He had no face to show him. He had succeeded in grabbing Fallon’s ankle during the class battle as ordered.
However, the process was so humiliating and pathetic that Finn couldn’t raise his head.
“I-I’m sorry, Vargan. I didn’t meet your expectations⎯”
“Finn, I watched your fight.”
Finn’s body jumped as if he had hiccupped.
Vargan continued in a dry tone.
“It was truly a desperate struggle.”
Finn’s face flushed as if on fire. It felt shameful as if exposing his weaknesses, and guilt flooded in for disappointing someone who believed in him.
“You couldn’t even effectively use the sword techniques I taught you and just got beaten up. The sight of you crawling on the ground and grabbing Fallon’s pants was utterly pitiful.”
The bruises on his cheeks from being repeatedly stomped by Fallon throbbed.
It wasn’t just his face.
His thighs, shoulder blades, ankles—all the bruised and injured parts reacted to his words, aching.
“… I have no excuse.”
Finn bowed his head lower, biting his trembling lips hard. Despite confidently answering that he wouldn’t disappoint him, this was his current state.
Pathetic and shameful.
“Really… I’m truly sorry.”
Finn couldn’t utter any excuses. The more he spoke, the more pathetic and shabbier he felt.
It would have been fine if everyone else mocked him.
He could endure the mockery and criticism from professors or students who watched the battle.
But if Vargan, his childhood idol, sincerely insulted him, he felt he’d never recover and fall into deep despair.
“Finn.”
Fear.
Just imagining what words would follow his cold voice calling his name made his body tremble.
He might be cast away.
He might be expelled from the research group Vargan had created.
“… yes, Vargan.”
Although tense, he was half resigned.
If he were in Vargan’s position, he would have ended it. Such opportunities were not meant for someone with neither talent nor vision like him.
So, Finn was shocked by Vargan’s next words.
“Struggle even more.”
“… what?”
Vargan handed him a piece of paper.
Finn’s eyes widened, almost popping out, and his breath seemed to stop.
“Train until your muscles burst. Dedicate yourself even if your mana circuits burn out.”
The noble eyes pierced through Finn.
“Rest is a luxury for you. Rest after death. Overexert yourself. Force yourself to move. And….”
His words emphasized harsh reality in a thoroughly commanding tone. But it was hard for Finn to hold back the surge of emotions listening to those commands.
If he didn’t hold back, tears would surely flow.
“Prove your worth.”
The certificate which was indicating the mentor-mentee relationship.
Helion’s name was written in the mentor’s column.
Below that, Vargan’s name was in the mentee column.
The last signature line was empty.
Vargan handed over a pen.
“It’s your first and last chance in life.”
Tears, which Finn had been holding back while gripping his thigh tightly enough to bruise, started dropping onto his hand.
“I… I….”
With tears blurring his vision, he cautiously took the black pen.
He lowered his head.
His throat trembled, making a wheezing sound. The tears, which had fallen drop by drop, turned into a stream, and his body shook.
“Really… thank you so much.”
Over 1,000 kilometers above sea level.
In a room of the gigantic airship heading back to Academia, Finn cried quietly.