The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 65
“It’s finally over… I can go back now…”
“Great job, Emily. You must be exhausted from all the assignments, right?”
“No… the assignments are the least of my worries…”
“Huh?”
“Oh, it’s nothing… never mind.”
Emily glanced sideways at Erica and me, then gave Alicia an awkward smile. Her shoulders sagged as if to show how tired she was.
What was up with her?
“Schugenhartz.”
Just as the unexpected inspection ended, and as I thought she was heading back to the student council room without a word, Erica called out to me. Her eyes lacked their usual determination. Normally, she would always look at me with sharp eyes.
“Regarding what happened, the Portlet family wishes to formally apologize to you.”
She was referring to the day I captured Caliculea.
Honestly, I had already received a substantial amount of compensation from her family, but Erica must have felt it wasn’t enough since she brought it up directly.
Was she trying to show gratitude for saving her?
I shook my head.
“I’ve received more than enough. I have no intention of bankrupting the Portlet family.”
“… that’s unexpected.”
Erica crossed her arms and half-closed her eyes.
It seemed she expected me to use this opportunity to squeeze as much as I could from her family.
“Did you really take what I said on the airship literally?”
That I would extort the Portlet family for compensation? When you were alive and well?
“… not entirely, but I thought you might do something along those lines.”
“My, you have such great trust in your fiancé.”
It was the complete opposite of what I meant.
Erica cleared her throat lightly.
“During summer vacation, you should visit the Portlet family. My parents want to apologize to you in person… I’ve been getting daily letters from my mother about it, and it’s exhausting.”
“It’s especially tiring since we’re not allowed to leave.”
The Academia strictly prohibited outsiders from entering, except during festival seasons, to protect students and faculty.
Therefore, even if the Portlet family wanted to come and apologize, it wouldn’t be possible for Erica and me to meet them during the semester since we were not allowed to leave.
Erica hadn’t seen anyone from her family since the incident.
“Summer vacation… alright, I’ll visit then. I assume you’ll schedule it after the mentoring session?”
“We can’t change the church’s schedule.”
Once I returned from the mission with Helion’s team, there would be time to visit the Portlet family. It would be near the end of the vacation, but considering the family’s position, I should go.
“Understood, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ending the conversation, Erica spun around and walked down the hallway without another word.
The sound of her footsteps gradually faded away. Her long hair swayed with each step.
“…”
Hmm.
A visit to Portlet’s main house.
I hadn’t stepped foot in Erica’s mansion since enrolling in the Academia.
Things were certainly changing.
“….”
“What are you staring at, Emily?”
“Oh, it’s just… you seem more of a romantic than I thought.”
I looked down at Emily, who was giving me a perplexed look, and she responded with an exclamation, “Oh!”
“Why don’t you treat others with such kindness?”
“I have no reason to.”
“… are you saying they’re not worth it?”
“Exactly.”
“Ah, seriously…!!”
Emily bristled with indignation once again.
***
Late at night.
An owl hooted mournfully.
Branches swayed in the eerie night wind.
A blonde woman, hiding her noticeable hair, continued walking.
Francesca Victoria Ocell.
A second-year student and former student council member.
She held a firm second place in the second-year Academia rankings. The gap from third place was so vast that she was practically the only rival to the first place.
Swish.
She navigated the darkness with ease. It was a path she had taken for several months since her first year. Even if hidden by shadows, there was nothing to obstruct her.
The surroundings were silent, with no light or sign of life.
Clank.
She reached an iron door and inserted a key into the lock. The magical inscriptions interacted, unlocking it.
Normally, she wouldn’t have access to this place as a student. Only authorized personnel or professors could enter. However, through a <helper>, she had obtained the key and could enter this secret space.
Creaaak.
The rusty sound of iron was somewhat unsettling.
Francesca closed the door and removed her hood.
Her vibrant blonde hair flowed down.
Her eyes, shining like her hair, did not waver. She was captivated by one thing—the colossal relic before her.
“The bones of an ancient dragon.”
From thousands of years ago.
The living proof of a being that ruled as the apex of all creation.
Despite enduring countless ages, its majestic and imposing form remained.
No matter how many times she saw it, awe and a sense of purpose surged through her. This was it. With this… it was possible.
Francesca quickly took out the magical ink and books she had prepared. Although she wanted to observe it in reverence, it wasn’t her priority.
She had other tasks.
She spread out several sheets of parchment and began sketching with a magical inked quill. The basic preparations had been made through her research. She worked diligently without pause.
Then.
“… here’s the tricky part.”
Her busy hands stopped.
Her eyes, shadowed with doubt, flicked between the incomplete array and the dragon’s bones.
Francesca stood up and touched the colossal skeleton, several times her height. She wore thin gloves to avoid damaging it.
She infused it with mana and examined the details.
Complex geometric patterns remained intact. Some were partially destroyed, others had transformed.
Since all the flesh had been removed, it was natural. The vast mana within the dragon’s bones had preserved the original inscriptions.
However, what she was pondering differed from basic interpretation.
‘… I need his help after all.’
Francesca continued her investigation, recalling someone in particular.
A few weeks ago, as a second-year student, she watched the freshmen’s class exhibition at Academia. She wasn’t particularly interested, but she thought it wouldn’t be bad to check the overall status of the freshmen at least once.
And then, she discovered him.
The one who dominated an entire class with his abilities alone.
The curse magic he used to collectively curse over fifty monsters, controlling them freely as if they were his own minions.
An unbelievable amount of mana.
She knew at first glance. That man was someone she needed for her task.
Although it would be problematic if others learned of her intentions, Francesca felt that Vargan was someone who could disregard morals for his own gain.
… however, it was merely a hunch without solid evidence.
Thus, Francesca deliberately approached him.
She had heard that he was the head of a research group called Arbol Frutal. By joining the group and interacting with him, she would have the opportunity to make a suitable deal.
‘This curse mark won’t work. I need a different form, a different structure of magic.’
She recalled once more the dark magic he had shown, particularly the curse magic. Vargan was also adept at handling familiars. If she could gain his help, he could assist with the ritual that was currently at an impasse.
For now, she was in the information-gathering stage and was observing him from a distance without acting hastily.
He seemed to be the right person as expected, but she wasn’t certain yet. She decided to continue observing him a bit longer and quietly withdraw if it turned out he wasn’t suitable.
Flap.
She refocused on the formulas before her.
Consulting a book written with meticulous care, she continued to refine her rituals.
***
“… this is troublesome. If anyone finds out that the pure saint keeps calling a strange man at such late hours, it will be quite a scandal.”
“… you have arrived.”
Her closed eyelids moved. Diphelia turned her wheelchair toward the direction of the voice.
“Yes, I came as you wished. It seems you’ve gathered all the information you could from Erica?”
“……”
With the moonlight obscured by clouds, the plants in the conservatory were undisturbed from their sleep.
There, Vargan and Diphelia met.
“Someone else came here last time.”
“Ah, yes. I was out at that time.”
“Did you receive the item he gave you?” Vargan casually brought up the topic.
As he guessed, the reason Diphelia had called him was related to this.
“Yes, I received it. It was a beautiful music box. The sweet melody inside almost mesmerized me.”
“I’m glad my gift pleased you.”
Vargan shrugged with a smile.
The more relaxed he was, the more Diphelia’s expression hardened.
“Let’s cut the metaphors here.”
Her voice became more serious.
A sharp tone that didn’t match her innocent appearance.
“Why did you show me such false illusions?”
Diphelia asked.
She had examined all the illusions contained in the music box. Vargan was trying to deceive her with dark schemes. What were his intentions?
Vargan let out a disbelieving chuckle.
“I did not contain any lies. It’s laughable that you claim gold to be stone and stone to be gold just because you’re blind. With my clear sight, I find it incomprehensible and contemptible.”
“Are you dismissing the oracle of Yggdrasil as mere stones?”
“Because that’s what they are.”
“…!”
Diphelia showed a hint of anger at Vargan’s blasphemous words.
“How can someone who aspires to be a hero protecting the church and humanity say such things??! You have no faith! Are you here at Academia just to fulfill your selfish desires?”
“Such a laughable remark, saint.”
Vargan broke her momentum.
He continued speaking as he circled around her. The sound of his steps crushing soil and small leaves could be heard.
“Maternal love, familial love, patriotism, and love for humanity. These bright and positively perceived words ultimately stem from selfish emotions.”
He didn’t give Diphelia a chance to speak.
“Am I here at Academia just to fulfill my selfish desires? Obviously! I don’t know how high and noble your ideals are, but dismissing the founding emotions of those ideals as mere selfishness is absurd.”
Thud.
Vargan stopped.
He placed his hand on Diphelia’s shoulder.
At the same time, the small bird that had been watching him disappeared.
Diphelia’s vision went dark.
“However, well, whatever…. our perspectives and senses are clearly different. Such arguments are meaningless.”
We might never understand each other.
“……”
“No matter how long the night is, it won’t last forever. Let’s get to the point. Saint, what do you want to ask me?”
Come on, quickly give me an answer about the music box, Diphelia.
“… I.”
In the pitch-black darkness, the saint did not waver. In a place where it was easy to lose one’s way, she lit a small match.
“I do not believe in the alternative possibility you showed me.”