The Villain Bought the Female Lead - Ch. 76
As twilight descended upon the room, one of many within the airship, Liam sat alone on the edge of his bed, lost in thought while staring at a special screen.
The screen indicated that a <special skill> had been unlocked due to meeting certain conditions.
His emotionless eyes took in the sight.
Simultaneously, memories of the past intruded upon his mind—memories that were overwhelmingly sad and painful, yet warm.
Despite being on an airship, everything necessary for training was available, so Liam had no difficulties focusing on skill development for the day. Afterward, he opened the door and entered a room where he had promised to meet his team members.
This room belonged to Nikela, a spirit summoner and one of his teammates.
“You’re so damn late. Hurry up and get over here.”
“Lucaiel! Don’t use such foul language!”
A man greeted harshly as soon as Liam opened the door, followed by a woman scolding him. The woman continued apologizing to Liam.
“Liam, you’re probably used to this by now, but please forgive him. Lucaiel didn’t mean any harm. He’s just not used to socializing yet…”
“Haliana, you often try to act like my parent. You’ve been like this since we were kids. It’s a bad habit, you know?”
“Lucaiel… at least you’re aware of it.”
“Hey.”
Both of them were from the Darek Union, a land populated mostly by demi-humans. The male student called Lucaiel, who had recently argued with Emily, possessed a wolf’s tail and ears, sharp fangs, and claws. The female student who apologized on his behalf was Haliana, with yellow flowers shaped like stars blooming around her ears.
They were childhood friends who had been together since they were very young. Haliana often mediated when Lucaiel’s harsh words got out of hand.
“Liam is here, so let’s stop this and get to the point. We’re not here to chat.”
The woman who smoothed over the situation was Ophelia Carol Laban, from the distant Laban Kingdom, further than the Troa Empire and the Ocell Kingdom. Tigres, who had insulted Alicia and lost in a ranking match and had left Academia was also a noble from this kingdom.
Ophelia naturally steered the conversation towards Liam and the topic at hand.
“You mentioned you wanted to discuss the final exam for tomorrow?”
“Yes, that’s right. But first, Nikela, thanks for letting us use your room. It’s made it easier to talk.”
“Oh… it’s nothing… I’m your teammate too. I want to be helpful sometimes.”
Nikela, the spirit summoner who owned the room, shyly looked at the floor, unable to meet Liam’s gaze.
If he kept looking at her, she would probably try to hide her face.
“Nikela is always helpful.”
“T-thank you… that makes me happy.”
With Nikela smiling slightly, Liam got to the main topic.
Previously, Nikela had told him that even though she was scared, she could fight Altife and asked to be allowed to take the final exam with the team, despite her fears.
Liam couldn’t refuse her plea, even though he, as the team leader, didn’t have special authority. His role was to guide his teammates towards a better direction if they were determined.
… he had wished she could sit out, but other teammates, including himself, would protect her to prevent any serious incidents. It was slightly worrying, but it would be fine.
Vargan was also altering the original story’s events to his liking. Until now, Liam had avoided significant changes due to fear of repercussions, but he planned to be more daring going forward.
He aimed to ensure that Alicia, the main heroine of the original work, wouldn’t get hurt anymore and to prepare for future heroes.
“I’m planning to destroy the nest in tomorrow’s exam.”
Liam announced it to everyone.
“This guy is really crazy. No wonder you’ve been so serious lately. You’ve been thinking about such weird things?”
“Lucaiel, watch your language…! But Liam, destroying the nest… do you mean breaking the core in the actual altar, not the mock altar?”
Lucaiel showed anger and disbelief, while Haliana was concerned.
“… can I ask what you’re thinking?”
Ophelia calmly prompted Liam to continue. Lucaiel was initially against listening but changed his mind due to Haliana’s intervention.
Liam took a deep breath and spoke.
“It’s too early for us to face Altife.”
He didn’t mention Alicia to avoid affecting their persuasion.
Liam shared his honest opinion. According to his knowledge, Nikela would drop out of the Academia due to her fear, and many students would get injured, some severely.
Academia aimed to train heroes, but challenges should be timely. Liam felt that this particular exam was wrongly timed when he read the original story.
It was akin to pushing fledglings off a cliff before they could properly spread their wings. This episode needed to be postponed or removed.
… unbeknownst to himself, Liam was influenced by witnessing Vargan’s radical deviations.
Normally, he would have followed the safe path, but now he moved forward more aggressively.
Lucaiel, who was listening to Liam’s argument, picked at his ear with his finger and frowned.
“Hey, clean your ears and listen properly. This final exam is a tradition that’s been passed down long before we were here. I don’t care much for traditions, but this is a path all our predecessors have walked.”
Lucaiel’s sharp fangs glinted menacingly as he glared at Liam, continuing his words.
“Are we supposed to be the only cowards, trembling in fear?”
“… then, let me add more evidence.”
Liam pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper from his pocket. When he untied it, the large sheet was filled with dense writing.
He pointed to a section.
“These are the casualties from last year’s practical exam. Fortunately, no one died, but twelve students were seriously injured. Three of them gave up becoming heroes and left.”
Liam, examining last year’s records, continued to support his argument by going back further in time. There were years with dozens of casualties and even two deaths.
“All this information is transcribed directly from the records in the Academia’s library. You know that the books kept there have undergone numerous verifications, right?”
Although Academia was known for preserving all records as they were, they were ultimately just someone’s notes.
The figures might have been slightly altered, polished through language.
As the discussion became complicated, Lucaiel scratched his head nervously.
“Ah… wait, this makes it even weirder. If you had such solid evidence and arguments, you could have reported it to the higher-ups right away. There was no need to take such extreme measures to destroy the nest yourself; you could have solved it more smoothly.”
Liam shook his head.
Such a method would not solve the issue. Instead, it would prevent them from using the excuse of <mistake and misunderstanding> to act this time.
“Every year, a proposal to replace this practical exam with another test is brought up, and more than a majority vote against it. This vicious cycle has been going on for over 15 years.”
This argument was similar to what Lucaiel had mentioned.
Even though Academia was more aligned with modern thoughts compared to other nations or groups, it was still another world, and stagnation was inevitable in any group. Professors and officials who valued tradition and etiquette strongly opposed it, causing the proposal to always be rejected.
Reporting such a proposal to the higher-ups and then destroying the nest anyway? This would clearly reveal a deliberate, planned act.
“So, it’s extreme, but I plan to destroy the nest, pretending it’s a mistake or misunderstanding.”
This was for Alicia, and at the same time, preparation for future generations.
Originally, the data was prepared to protect Alicia and Nikela, but the more he investigated, the deeper his distrust and conviction for the abolition of the exam grew.
Lucaiel relaxed his frown and stared directly into Liam’s eyes with expanded animal senses.
“You’re serious about this?”
“I am. I’m prepared to take the blame.”
Liam said he would leave his team at a crossroads and head to the actual altar after the exam started.
He explained this to the team to ask for their understanding and apologize for any unavoidable impact and to prevent secondary damage during the search for him when he disappeared during the exam.
“Tsk. Trying to act cool alone.”
Lucaiel, who sat down roughly, crossed his legs and shook. It was his way of expressing himself that he would not argue further.
“Are you really okay with this? It’ll be difficult to find the altar’s location….”
“I’ve prepared for that too. Don’t worry. Just pretend you don’t know anything… please.”
Liam bowed his head in response to Haliana’s worried question.
He knew the actual altar’s location from the novel. He even drew and retraced it in case anything changed internally.
Liam felt someone tugging at his sleeve and looked. It was the shy Nikela.
“I want to help Liam….”
She intended to help Liam directly.
Not only by pretending to know nothing but also by acting with him to destroy the core.
“No, Nikela. This is just my selfishness. It’s bad enough you might be blamed just for being in the same team; I can’t cause you more harm.”
Nikela tugged his sleeve more firmly. She met Liam’s eyes properly, unlike before.
“I want to help Liam.”
“…….”
Nikela, with an uncharacteristically firm stance, expressed her determination. Her small trembling hand showed the significant resolution she made.
“Nikela….”
“I’ll help too. I know you’ve had a hard time as the leader, and I can’t ignore it as a noble.”
When Ophelia declared her support for Liam, Haliana followed. She admitted she was anxious but believed what Liam was doing was right.
“Tsk. Are all of you brainless? Agreeing to follow such a reckless plan….”
“Lucaiel is right. You don’t all need to do this. It’s enough if this is just my independent action; I don’t want to drag everyone into this.”
“I still disagree. And Haliana won’t participate in that plan either.”
“Lucaiel…! I said I’d help Liam!”
“No. No matter how right Liam’s argument seems, we don’t need to take on that level of risk.”
Lucaiel held Haliana’s hand under the table. He revealed the worry she tried to hide.
“How can you help anyone feeling this anxious?”
“But….”
“Liam. Let’s make one thing clear.”
Lucaiel’s wolf eyes fixed on Liam. They were more serious than ever.
“We’re teammates, and what you want is for us to keep our mouths shut. Right?”
“Right.”
“Then keeping our mouths shut is enough.”
“Yes. As I said, I don’t want to cause you more trouble.”
After confirming again from Liam, Lucaiel pulled Haliana’s hand, making her look at him.
Their eyes met, and she wore a troubled expression. Haliana hesitated.
Nikela, holding her other hand, smiled softly. It was to encourage Haliana.
“… Ophelia and I will support Liam.”
“…….”
“Haliana and Lucaiel, help Liam in other ways.”
Not revealing Liam’s plan to others was already enough support. There was no need to feel guilty. That was what Nikela was conveying.
Haliana bowed her head, apologized, and Nikela hugged her.
When everyone’s decisions were firm, they all looked at Liam.
He etched each of them into his eyes. They wouldn’t waver, no matter what he said.
Though their methods differed, everyone supported Liam.
“Everyone….”
They’d only known each other for a little over three months. Yet, they became invaluable to Liam.
“Thank you.”
Liam expressed his heartfelt gratitude to them.
…….
Thud, thud.
Alone in the room, Liam could hear the faint vibrations of the airship.
For a moment, a warm and cozy memory.
It transformed into something that aimed to strangle Liam.
That fluffy, cotton candy-like sweet moment turned into a vicious guillotine, threatening to chop Liam’s neck.
Thump, thump.
His heart ached.
Trying to clutch his heart, his bandaged fingers prevented him from grasping it.
“Lucaiel… Haliana… Ophelia….”
With a cracked voice, Liam muttered their names one by one.
Though guilt-ridden and in extreme despair, he forced their names out.
“Nikela….”
A lifeless tear fell from Liam’s dry eyes. Reflected in it was only the semi-transparent notification of a special skill being unlocked.
Liam’s breath caught, and he struggled. His heart pounded erratically, and his blood rushed abnormally fast.
… again.
He wanted to do it again.
He wanted to go back to that choice and beat his past, foolish self to death.
It was a novel, right? This world was a creation, right?
Couldn’t he turn back the pages?
Was there no such skill?
Was there… truly no way to go back…?
Crash!
Liam was in the airship’s infirmary, returning to Academia after the chaotic final exam. Surrounding him were various medical tools he had swept away.
With his body wrapped in bandages, he shed bloody tears. He cried out, regretting every choice and moment of that day.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…!”
In the darkened infirmary, the light coming through the wide window cast Liam’s shadow.
The shadow was darker than under the midday sun.
“Ahhhhh…!! Ahhhhh….!”
His unending wail danced with the shadow.
The incident occurred during the first semester’s final exam.