The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 73
The Troa Empire, shining with vast territory and boundless glory.
The capital of this splendid empire was Brutemberg.
Brutemberg, a large city officially confirmed to have a population exceeding 280.000, was always bustling with activity. Merchants brought goods from all over the world, clerics dispatched by the Yggdrasil Church, hunters who explored dungeons and captured monsters, and people of various other professions all established their bases here for different reasons.
In this city, there was a street that hunters never ceased to frequent. It was to visit the guilds, their workplace and home.
On this street, some of the world’s top guilds had their headquarters, and recently, one particular hunter guild had been heating up the area.
This guild rapidly expanded its power, discovering brilliant talents from all over like a supernova.
Bram, the loyal servant of Vargan, who led this rising guild, was currently pausing his duties to hold a meeting with Vargan through a crystal ball.
Since Vargan was studying at the Academia, it was almost impossible to meet him face-to-face.
A slightly distorted voice came through the crystal ball.
“So, two-tenths of the people in the dungeon expedition died, I see. It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped.”
“This happened due to my lack of ability.”
“No, Bram. You’ve carried out your duties flawlessly. It’s only natural that monsters disobeying orders appear. In fact, the losses being just two-tenths is something to be commended.”
Bram knelt in a display of loyalty to Vargan. Watching him, one might almost believe his Master was standing before him.
“Your reputation has grown considerably, and it seems you no longer need the support of Shugenhartz. As for the practical work, Carlos is not one to betray us, so there’s nothing to worry about there either.”
Vargan was in the process of founding a guild and recruiting hidden talents outside of Academia.
Among them, Carlos was the first recruit. He was the guild’s practical affairs manager, with a keen eye for calculating profits and identifying lucrative opportunities.
Vargan knew that once his mental calculations were complete, his guild would soon rise to the top of the ecosystem.
This was largely due to Vargan’s brain, which had memorized and applied every aspect of the novel he followed, but Bram’s charisma and expertise in handling all manner of weapons also played a significant role.
“There was a spear among the relics obtained from this expedition, classified as a top-tier item. You shall use it.”
Vargan’s image in the crystal ball smiled.
“It’s a weapon that needs a skilled hand, and you are perfect for it.”
Unlike Alicia, Bram didn’t show any hesitation or rejection. He simply lowered his head further in gratitude.
“The relic bestowed by my Master—I shall treat it as an extension of my own body.”
Bram was the one person Vargan could truly say he trusted. This was evident in how Bram always treated Vargan with utmost respect, never letting a single word slip by.
“Your martial prowess has… no, it would be rude to say such a thing to you. It seems everything that needed confirming has been done.”
Vargan, who was highly aristocratic and enjoyed exerting his power, even used the word <rude>. He showed signs of ending the communication and stood up.
“I will await your next report.”
“I shall keep it in mind, Master.”
Even after the communication with Vargan ended, Bram didn’t rise immediately, remaining on his knees for a while longer before finally standing up.
As if waiting for the right moment, there was a knock on the door, and a man entered.
“Oh, you were talking with Lord Vargan.”
“What is it?”
The man, wearing round glasses, was reflected in Bram’s calm eyes.
He was the only person who knew that Vargan was behind the Guild Master Bram and was the talented individual Vargan had just mentioned, who had an eye for the flow of money.
Carlos adjusted his glasses, a habitual gesture.
“With this expedition, our guild’s reputation has risen not only within Brutemberg but also in the nearby satellite cities. I came to inform you of an opportunity that has arisen, which we should seize while the iron is hot.”
“This is something I should handle personally.”
“Instead of a group going, it would be more effective if one person, known as the leader, went and took a stand for justice. The promotional effect would be much greater.”
Bram looked at a sword nearby but decided against picking it up. It was a good opportunity to use the top-tier relic stored in the warehouse.
Carlos added further explanation.
“It’s about a recently established hunter guild, but it turns out the guild is just a front for smuggling. Drugs, people, monsters—they’re dealing in all kinds of things. This is where they’re located.”
Bram briefly scanned the map Carlos handed him and quickly identified the location. Nodding lightly, he said he would take care of it shortly.
Although they weren’t the city’s defenders, they occasionally took it upon themselves to deal with problems they deemed a threat to society.
“The guild’s image is important, so make sure you don’t kill anyone brutally in a crowded area.”
“I know.”
Bram summoned his aura, lightly warming up his body.
His well-trained legs, hardened over many years, carried him out the door.
Recently, Bram had earned the nickname <God of War of Brutemberg>. He was a warrior who had mastered almost every weapon to an extreme level.
***
After finishing my communication with Bram, I continued my personal training for two more hours before stepping outside the dormitory.
The night was already dark, the moon partially hidden behind clouds.
As I walked along the familiar path, I saw a familiar redhead raising her voice in anger.
Curious as to why someone was so worked up at this late hour, I noticed she was arguing with a man who had the appearance of a wolf. Nearby, Liam and his teammates were also present.
“Ah… what should I do with this beastly-smelling guy? I can’t just pull out all his fur.”
“Liam, can I hit this childhood friend of yours? I might accidentally kill her, though.”
It was an intriguing scene.
The werewolf arguing with Emily was a guy named Lucaiel, who, in the original story, was part of Vargan’s team and often clashed with Emily. Sometimes, he was even at odds with Liam.
I thought he might get along with Liam since they were on the same team now, but it seemed their personality clash was a bigger issue than just being on different teams.
“Stop… fighting… please….”
“Move aside, Nikela. Today I’m going to pluck out every strand of that girl’s red hair.”
A female student with a hood covering her head tried to stop them, trembling, but failed.
She was <Nikela>, who, just like in the original story, ended up in Liam’s team.
Although Nikela was pushed aside by Lucaiel, two other women and Liam stepped in, but they didn’t catch my attention.
Nikela, the Spirit Summoner.
She was Liam’s last heroine, following Alicia, Emily, and Francesca… seriously, this guy attracted way too many women.
Despite her timid nature, she often took action contrary to her personality. Whether it was helping Liam or confessing her feelings, she would often take the initiative.
Because of this, she was the character Emily most strongly regarded as a rival in romance.
Alicia… well, she was undoubtedly a strong ally who greatly helped the protagonist, but when it came to romance, she often got overshadowed by the other women….
“Both of you, calm down…! Emily, why don’t you come with me over there for a bit? It’s been a while since we had a one-on-one conversation.”
Under Liam’s desperate mediation, the conflict between the two subsided. Emily, having cooled her anger, passed by Nikela with a sullen look and then gazed at Liam.
“… forget it. I haven’t finished today’s training yet.”
Oh, this was a surprising statement.
Emily, who would normally jump at the chance to talk to Liam even in her sleep, was now refusing an opportunity for a one-on-one conversation.
Could it be Finn’s influence, who could be considered a rival, or perhaps the pressure of being the head of the <branch>? Recently, Emily’s training intensity and volume had significantly increased.
“… is that so? Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do…”
Liam wore a somewhat bewildered expression.
That was the extent of the scene I witnessed.
It wasn’t as if I was hiding somewhere and spying; I just happened to see it in passing, so my information was limited.
It was quite interesting, but since it didn’t benefit me, I didn’t waste my time on it.
… although Liam’s sudden proposal recently crossed my mind, it was soon forgotten. He was still no more than a naive kid, clueless about the ways of the world.
I quickened my pace towards the secluded part of the Academia, where a tomb was located. As I got closer to my destination, the surroundings grew darker and more eerie.
Finally, I arrived at the tomb. The massive mound of earth had an old iron door attached. It was possible to enter the tomb through this door.
Creak.
The door, which should have been closed, opened, and I saw a woman with shining golden hair standing in the darkness.
“You’re here early.”
“I finished my tasks faster than expected.”
The woman with a cold gaze facing me was Francesca, the necromancer who would cause the disturbance at the second-semester festival.
***
“Ahh, this is it; this is the taste of life!”
At the same time, at a pub reserved for academy staff within the Academia.
Paula and Louisa were sitting together, drinking.
Their table was filled with large glass mugs, big enough to fit three fists, and no other dishes. The only snacks were a few nuts the owner had offered out of concern.
Paula, gulping down the beer from the large mug, slammed it onto the table with gusto. She wiped her mouth with a satisfied expression.
“I don’t know how I’d live without alcohol. When I was young, I couldn’t stand the smell of it. Life sure is unpredictable.”
Paula’s tone subtly invited a reaction.
Louisa scoffed and replied.
“Bullshit. You got so drunk in my room during our first year that you couldn’t attend classes more than once.”
“Hmm? Did I?”
“You did, you bitch.”
“Oh, right, right. Now that you mention it…! Haha, what was I thinking? Maybe it wasn’t when I was young, but when I was little. Or maybe not? Who cares!”
With a slight buzz, Paula was more animated than usual. Louisa, accustomed to her antics, quietly sipped her drink.
“Hey, don’t drink alone. Let’s drink together!”
The two laughed and chatted as they continued to enjoy their drinks.
After a round of raucousness, a brief silence fell, and Paula, her gaze slightly unfocused, stared at her beer mug and brought up a new topic.
“… I hope this final exam goes off without any incidents.”
It was more of a wistful comment.
Louisa’s eyes grew heavy with the weight of reality as Paula’s drunken words sank in. To shake off the feeling, she drank again.
“Hah…”
It was still good, but perhaps because of her mood, the beer tasted a bit bitter.
“Honestly… I don’t understand why we have such a dangerous final exam system.”
“I know. You’ve always been against it.”
“Ugh… what is it with this damn tradition? Is it more important than the children’s lives? Not to mention the injuries! Maybe I should just cause a scene and demand its abolition?”
“Don’t. You’ll get suspended again. If you get suspended and come back this time, it won’t just end with a simple pay cut.”
Faced with Louisa’s realistic response, Paula grudgingly conceded, “Ugh… you’re right,” leaving a small window of possibility for her stance. But even if she did push for it, nothing would change.
Paula sighed deeply, and Louisa, listening to the sound, voiced her thoughts.
“The kids… they’re still so young and should be protected.”
As Paula held her drink, Louisa continued.
“But what can we do? Even if they’re young, they’re aspiring heroes.”
Their job as professors was to provide protection and help them grow, but just keeping them safe wouldn’t make them into true heroes.
Only by touching hot iron would they learn the pain of it; they would have to endure wounds to grow stronger.
Some would falter under the pain and drop out, but there was no choice. If they fell from this shock, they wouldn’t have lasted long anyway.
“Hah…”
Louisa drained the last of her drink, just as Paula’s beer ran out. Paula called out.
“Hey?! Two more beers here!”
The two professors drowned their bitter reality with alcohol.