The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 62
Liam, having finished his morning class, was walking down the hallway.
Today was April 28th.
One day a year, this day was deeply related to Vargan.
Tap, tap, tap.
Liam’s footsteps echoed clearly.
Vargan had two weaknesses.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that he, who had been almost invincible, crumbled because of these two weaknesses.
The first one was.
‘Vargan is secretly suffering from an incurable disease.’
Ironically, while he was praised as a prodigy since childhood and had the talent to harbor vast amounts of mana, he also carried poison within him.
No great doctor, no high-ranking magician, not even a saint who could perform miracles, could cure Vargan’s disease.
The content about Vargan’s illness written in the latter part of the novel was as follows.
This disease is a curse from the gods. It eats away at the soul, not the body. No means or methods in this world can cure it.
A disease of an incomprehensible nature.
If there was a God, it seemed like this bizarre phenomenon was created to bind Vargan.
There were no other abnormalities, and it only manifested on a specific day each year, lasting exactly one day, becoming more severe each time.
The head of the Schugenhartz family, upon discovering that Vargan was ill, killed the doctor who diagnosed him to prevent the news from spreading.
The novel wrote that they secretly searched for ways to cure Vargan’s disease through all means, but there was no success until his death.
An almost unprecedented incurable disease.
It was called not just a disease but <God’s Curse>, regarded as an ominous sign, and it dictated Vargan’s lifespan. Even if he lived long, he would not survive beyond his mid-20s.
This incurable disease restricted Vargan’s actions once a year. The principle behind it was unknown. Perhaps it was part of the setting.
Every year, on April 28th.
For 24 hours.
His magic was restricted.
If he used a certain level of magic, he would cough up blood, and his remaining lifespan would decrease.
It was also on April 28th, when he overused his magic, that they discovered Vargan’s illness. Suddenly, vomiting blood, Vargan collapsed, and his startled attendants reported this to the head of the household.
The head of the household killed everyone who knew about Vargan’s illness except for Vargan and himself. Only they knew about this dreadful tragedy.
He thoroughly concealed the fact of Vargan’s illness, presumably because he was concerned about public perception. He couldn’t bear to see Vargan, who was revered as a genius, fall to a terminally ill person abandoned by the God.
For the great Schugenhartz.
And for the short life of his third son, Vargan.
… this was just an imaginative story, a guess of what might have been. However, if not, no other reason came to mind.
By the way, if Vargan were a possessor like him, he would surely know about Vargan’s incurable disease.
Yet, he always acted nonchalantly, as if the impending death didn’t frighten him, even more freely than the original Vargan.
What kind of confidence did he have?
Or had he prepared himself to accept death?
Considering his personality, the latter was hardly convincing. Instead, he would likely show an unyielding will to survive…
“Ah.”
Turning a corner in the hallway, Liam encountered a tall man.
Vargan Troa Schugenhartz.
The person Liam had been thinking about until just now.
Liam looked at him.
There wasn’t a trace of worry on his face.
Did he really… have a solution?
No, that wasn’t written in the novel. If the Schugenhartz family knew a way to cure him, the original Vargan wouldn’t have died.
Vargan.
Whether he was a possessor or something else.
Could you change the clause that stated it was absolutely incurable? Was that even possible?
… He didn’t know, but.
If it was an unchangeable <setting of the novel>, what would he do?
“Move aside.”
At his commanding word, emitting an imposing aura, Liam came to his senses. Vargan nudged him lightly with his chin and proceeded forward.
His eyes, seen for a moment, were excessively authoritative and disdainful for someone nearing death or needing caution… as if he really had a solution.
As he walked away, Liam realized he had instinctively made way for him. Even though no particular magic was used, he felt compelled to move aside.
Just like how you would naturally yield when a luxury foreign car passed by.
“……”
Feeling a bit uneasy, Liam continued walking.
Then he thought.
Or was he saying he could even change that?
Did he really think that was possible?
For them, trapped in this novel?
If he truly believed so, then…
‘Aren’t you overly arrogant?’
***
It had become somewhat troublesome.
According to the original schedule, I wasn’t supposed to use magic today.
There were classes, but they were all about learning the theory of magic and improving basic physical fitness, so it was something easily handled with a bit of hand or foot movement.
Things were going smoothly until Paula’s class.
<Advanced Theoretical Magic 1>.
As expected, this troublemaker made things difficult for me.
It’s boring to just sit around every day, so we’re going to do practical training today!
Fine. Although the subject was <advanced theory>, let’s say, for argument’s sake, there was a practical magic exercise. However.
The simple rule is to destroy or neutralize all obstacles and reach the finish line! You can’t just pass by! I’ll be checking!
It was no longer about <advanced theory> or <magic techniques>. The only thing left somewhat intact was the <1> at the end.
Or did she want to say nonsense like multiplying two negatives made a positive?
Other students seemed puzzled, but they assumed Paula had a deeper purpose for structuring the class this way. To me, it just seemed like she rearranged it out of boredom.
Enough of the weak talk.
Now, how should I get through this?
“……”
As I looked at the course ahead, I felt a piercing gaze directed at me.
It would be easy to mistake it for Alicia, but Alicia wasn’t taking this class. Therefore, she was excluded. The answer was.
“Erica. If someone saw you, they’d think you were confessing to me. Have you suddenly developed feelings for me?”
“……”
As I returned the words she had once said to me at the theater, my fiancée furrowed her brows. Showing such an expression hurt my delicate heart.
Erica turned her head away abruptly and muttered to herself.
“What’s there to like about this guy…?”
“Are you fighting with your past self?”
Erica half-heartedly responded to my words without even looking at me.
“I never liked you.”
“Oh, so the cute early teenage years were all a lie?”
“I was just pretending to act like I allowed my heart.”
“Well, you’re quite the actress then.”
As I dismissed her words with a snort, Erica’s eyes narrowed. She looked at me for a moment, then back at the course.
And then.
Beeeep!
The signal for our start sounded.
While everyone else rushed, Erica and I leisurely strolled as if walking through a park.
There was a time limit, but it was easy enough to pass, so there was no need to hurry. It would be a different story if finishing early earned extra points, but it didn’t.
“You’re quite popular.”
Erica suddenly spoke up again.
I was about to say that catching Caliculea made people gather around, but noticing her indifferent reaction, I realized her intent was different.
Rumble.
Massive rocks rose, blocking the paths in each lane. The height was about 4 meters.
Erica cast a warp spell, piercing through the middle of the rock, while I unleashed a familiar hidden in the shadows to devour the rock.
Having vaguely grasped the situation, I spoke to Erica.
“It’s about the saint, isn’t it?”
“……”
Erica froze the remaining rock debris with her touch. What was once a grand rock become a majestic iceberg in her hand.
The speed was truly lethal. If you got hit properly, you would undoubtedly become a frozen human.
“I told you not to mess with Diphelia.”
Her voice deepened.
“At your request, I said, I would not speak a word to the saint unless it was about business.”
“It wasn’t a request; it was a warning.”
“That’s how I took it.”
“……”
By now, Erica’s sharp voice should be ringing in my ears, but she was silent.
She just walked the course at the same pace as me.
She didn’t refuse to match my speed.
“Jealousy is an ugly emotion, Erica.”
“You say that knowing it’s not true, which means you’re confessing your ulterior motives are dirty, Schugenhartz.”
Ah, I see.
I’d figured out about ninety percent from this conversation.
So, Diphelia opened my music box, witnessed the <fantasy> inside, became even more confused, and needed information about me.
Since she couldn’t confirm whether the fantasy was true or false, she tried to understand me better to make a proper judgment.
Her informant was Erica.
She must have asked Erica, who has the most information about me within Academia.
It would sound something like this if put into words.
Tell me about Vargan!
She couldn’t tell others the reason. It would be betraying her faith in Yggdrasil. She must have made something up or kept it hidden. Therefore, things got tangled. As evidence, Erica was misunderstanding and pressuring me like this.
“The idea that the saint has feelings for me is a huge misunderstanding.”
It was actually distrust and wariness.
“… why Diphelia of all people? I wouldn’t have cared if it was someone else.”
“You don’t seem interested in listening at all.”
Ssshhh!!
This obstacle spewed hot steam from both sides. I considered smashing the stone that had swallowed but chose another method to avoid scattering fragments everywhere.
Shhhk.
My shadow stretched out, expanded, and blocked the front of the structure emitting hot steam. It was like covering the mouth of a vigorously shaken soda bottle with a lid.
Erica opted to temporarily block it with two large ice pillars. The hot air quickly melted the ice.
“… you’re only using that shadow today? Normally, you’d be busy showing off various creatures.”
“Well, isn’t it good to broaden its uses?”
Actually, it would be more accurate to say that I didn’t use them because I couldn’t. But there was no need to say it.
Other familiars consumed magic to summon, but our <Shadowy> lived in my shadow, consuming only a small amount of magic.
We continued our conversation as we overcame several obstacles.
From this conversation, I learned that.
Diphelia opened the music box.
She was trying to discern the truth.
She would likely approach me soon.
Additionally… Erica was interested in my business with Diphelia, so I should be a bit cautious.
That about summed it up.
***
Arbol Frutal’s laboratory.
Today was not a regular meeting day, but sixteen members of the <Stem> and their leaders, Alicia and Serena, were here.
They were having a meeting, but the conversation led by Alicia wasn’t going smoothly.
“Why should we follow the orders of a mere wretch like you?”
Tigres del Laban, a first-year nobleman, lounged in his chair, legs propped on the desk, tapping them.
He looked at Alicia with a sneer.
His intense and specific desires seemed to touch Alicia’s body.
Alicia shook off the discomfort and spoke.
“I’m the leader of the Stem. As notified before joining Arbol Frutal, members must follow the leader’s instructions if they are not unreasonable.”
Bam!
Tigres slammed the desk with one foot, interrupting her.
Cups toppled, spilling their contents or falling and breaking from the impact.
Tigres spoke with angry eyes.
“I said those instructions are unreasonable! You lowly wench.”
The atmosphere, already tense, became completely hostile at this point.
Tigres pointed at Alicia with a flick of his foot.
“You, Alicia, right? You seem to have some skill, but in the end, you’re a mere commoner without a family name. Isn’t that right?”
His question didn’t seek an answer. It was just a pretext to chew on his anger and move to the next stage.
“Or, should I say, you’re not even a commoner anymore, but a <sex slave> crawling between the legs of the distinguished Schugenhartz.”
“…!!”
“Wait, Serena.”
The one who showed strong anger at his remarks was not the insulted Alicia, but Serena, who usually maintained a blank expression. She now displayed raw emotions, but Alicia stopped her.
Tigres chuckled.
“Why? Did I say something wrong? Isn’t it widely known in Academia that you visit Vargan’s room every night, seducing him with that pretty face?”
He argued that following the orders of a lowly, unchaste commoner like Alicia was an unbearable and <unreasonable thing> for a noble like him.
“But, joining Arbol Frutal was my choice, as your words state, and it was clearly mentioned. Therefore….”
Despite his rage, Tigres’ eyes scanned Alicia’s body. Alicia could tell what kind of vile thoughts he was harboring deep inside.
Tigres’s eyes narrowed like crescent moons.
“If you show me the same charms that win Vargan’s favor, I will follow you without complaint.”
It was a vile proposition.
He saw Alicia merely as an object for his lust. Most would cry or get angry at such words.
But Alicia’s mind recalled a part of the conversation from the previous day instead of a sudden surge of raw emotion.
Today is already the 27th. Soon this month will end, so it’s better to earn Cattia quickly by taking the ranking match, right?
No. At least wait until the 30th. A <suitable opportunity> will be arranged soon. If nothing happens by then, I’ll permit it, so refrain from the ranking match until I instruct you.
Ah.
I see.
This is why he told me to wait.
“……”
With calm eyes, Alicia slowly stood up.
Facing his nauseating gaze directly, she spoke firmly.
“Alright. I’ll show you the charms I display to my Master every night.”
Tigres sneered.
“Did my subtle words cause a misunderstanding? I mean…”
“No, I understood perfectly. You want to experience what I share with Master Vargan every night, right?”
“… then what does this mean?”
Tigres pointed to her practice sword aimed at him. Alicia’s training sword exuded a sharp aura that seemed ready to cut him down.
However, her eyes were calm.
Steady and resolute.
“Tigres del Laban, I challenge you to a ranking match.”
Alicia understood Vargan’s intent.
What he meant by a <suitable opportunity>.
Why did he forbid her from ranking match.
Why did such a person pass the research group’s interview.
And.
What her mission was from now on.