The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 50

“What’s going on?”

The door to the quiet student council room opened.

Linkeleben, the student council president of Academia and Shugenharz’s eldest son, looked at the visitor with a cynical gaze.

“I’ve come about the selection of new members for the research club.”

Barugan closed the door behind him and entered the room.

With the door shut, the noise from outside was blocked out, and the flow of air became solely theirs.

The one who had let him in was Barugan.

“We’ve finished the first round of document screening. We need to book a room for the second round interviews.”

Laincarben showed no special reaction and continued in silence. His sharp, icy eyes briefly scanned Barugan.

Barugan, seeming confident that he had already prepared what was needed, cheerfully produced a document envelope. “I’ve written down the rental room and time. It’s confirmed to be available, so there should be no mistakes.”

Placed on the executive desk made of high-quality wood, the envelope displayed a subtle smile from Barugan without disturbing the mood. He maintained basic courtesy, yet there was something about him that made the observer uneasy.

Similar yet distinct, their sharp gazes met precisely.

“Like the incident with the Research Society’s name. Thanks to you, things are progressing smoothly. As a member of the academy, I express my gratitude as a brother of the house.”

“….”

Laincarben closed his eyes slightly. It was hard to tell if he was in thought or simply tired. Other than his closed eyelids, his posture was the same as before Barugan entered.

He still showed no visible reaction.

As the eldest son, Laincarben was as rigid as ever.

Feeling this, Barugan turned around, erasing his smile. Their conversation had reached its conclusion. He had conveyed what was necessary, so there was no need to linger in this suffocating space any longer.

Barugan stretched his long legs and began to walk away.

“Barugan.”

A firm voice.

Merely calling his name, but it was as if saying, “This is what nobility is like,” stopping Barugan who was about to step forward, with a low and resolute tone.

Barugan lightly turned back, a small smile playing on his lips.

It was a gesture implying, “Why are you holding me back if there’s nothing more to say between us?”

Laincarben opened his eyes again, locking gazes with Barugan’s dark eyes. It wasn’t a staring contest, but neither of them looked away. It was as if they were trying to assess each other.

“It’s not like you called me here to engage in a staring contest we never had in our childhood. What business do you have with me?”

“Arbol Frutal.”

The organization Barugan founded, using the prestige of the student council to attract attention. Laincarben slowly spoke, recalling Barugan’s recent actions.

“Do you want to establish a guild?”

Not everyone becomes a hero just by graduating from the academy. Nobles may return to their estates, while commoners may conquer dungeons, exterminate monsters, or become hunters.

The members of the research society Barugan gathered varied in talent, level, and class. It wasn’t about forming an elite group to gain power within the academy, nor was it for socializing in noble circles.

Thinking back to Barugan’s “startling statement” a month ago, combined with Laincarben’s intentions, it seemed likely that the goal through the research society was to potentially start a guild business through hunter development.

Reading Laincarben’s intentions, Barugan spun his lowered eyes in contemplation. Hmm. He didn’t forget to let out a small sigh.

He briefly responded, “Wouldn’t it be a waste to mix the academy’s talents with external elements from the start? At least these are seedlings that meet the academy’s admission criteria.”

When Laincarben didn’t show a suitable response and maintained silence, Barugan naturally continued speaking as if he had anticipated it.

“Well, although there may be some impurities that you, sir, find incomprehensible, you never know.”

Barugan’s expression as he spoke of harboring pearls within a seemingly coarse shell was not conjecture but certainty.

Laincarben still wore his inscrutable, gruff expression.

“You seem confident.”

“Behaving confidently in all matters is my creed. Moreover, why would I be afraid when I have you as an ally?”

“….”

“I assure you, not a single word I’ve said is false. …Well then, I shall take my leave.”

Squelch⎯.

With those words, Bargan left the student council room.

And then.

The brief moment of silence that had awakened returned.

Thanks to the sunlight streaming in from the window, even the sound of dancing dust in the air seemed audible.

“…….”

Left alone, Linecarven took out a single sheet of paper he had placed in a drawer of his desk.

Neat and exuding a sense of refinement.

If it had been reminiscent of Bargan’s character, it would have seemed to be hastily done, but oddly enough, he was meticulous in adhering to such formalities.

Rustle.

It had been about a month since Linecarven received this paper from Bargan, yet he had to inspect it deeply every time he saw it. Was there a special magic cast on it? Was there any sophistry mixed in?

Even after scrutinizing it several times to the point of straining his eyes. He continued to reconfirm. However.

‘Nothing.’

No trickery was apparent.

If there had been something prepared, he should have noticed. If he had used magic to confirm and no signs were visible, then this letter was indeed Bargan’s intention without any deviation.

“…….”

Written directly by Bargan.

And at the end, a pledge stamped with the family crest.

Linecarven reads the document.

“I, Shugenharz Troa Bargan, relinquish the succession rights of the Shugenharz family head.”

The contents were succinct, but far from easily dismissible sentences.

It carried a destructive force stronger than any long paragraph listed.

***

As I exited the student council room, someone was waiting for me.

A petite woman with piercing eyes.

“You seem to be appearing frequently these days, Erika.”

“…….”

Erika’s fierce gaze pierces through.

Normally, she would have gestured with her mouth to not pretend to know or to not bother talking unnecessarily, but now she only speaks with her eyes.

She wasn’t waiting for me; she probably wanted to go into the student council room. She didn’t enter because I was there.

Thinking that, I casually tried to pass by her, but Erika’s expression changed.

Though she still hadn’t spoken, her mouth was slightly ajar, clearly indicating she wanted to convey something.

“Why are you groaning so much about it?”

I stopped walking and faced Erika.

Her small mouth was hesitantly trying to spit out something unpleasant.

The blue eyes of this creature, who seemed like she could prey on even smaller animals, showed a color similar to the emotion I had seen last time.

It was akin to shame after the end of the class exchange.

Hmm… judging by her strong reaction, it must be quite a matter… Oh.

I see.

Come to think of it, Erika and I’s engagement anniversary is coming up soon. With a week still left, I had postponed it, but it seems a letter has arrived for her.

“I’m sorry, but if you don’t have any business, don’t catch me. I’m a bit busy right now.”

“Wait a moment… Schugenharz!”

But he pretended not to know.

Why?

There’s no grand reason. I was simply curious about how Erica would overcome the current crisis with her actions.

I strengthen useful individuals. My principles haven’t changed, even during the Alicia era.

Suddenly, Erica grabbed me by the hand, then hastily let go, clearing her throat with a chuckle.

Her momentarily relaxed expression turned cold.

Blue jewel-like eyes turned towards me.

“I’ll give you a chance.”

Like showing mercy to the pitiful, Erica displayed a resolute attitude, arms crossed.

“What chance are you talking about?”

“The lunch or dinner date proposal you suggested.”

The meal proposal was probably a bait thrown to lure the stalker clinging to Erica.

“What’s the point?”

“Meaning, I’ll give you another chance.”

“Erica. If you don’t speak clearly, I won’t wait.”

“No, I mean, well… Oh, just wait a moment!”

Warning that if I didn’t speak this time, I would leave, I finally stopped walking.

As Erica couldn’t maintain her composure, her face started to blush gradually.

Her mouth kept opening and closing repeatedly. At a glance, it resembled a baby bird’s beak eagerly waiting to be fed by its mother.

Then, as if realizing something on her own, she mumbled and approached me with small steps.

“…Alright, upon further thought, there’s no need to hesitate like this. I’m just here to deliver what my mother told me to you again.”

“Then, speak.”

“Listen closely… Anyway, I’ll only say it once.”

Erica, within arm’s reach, still had a faint redness, trying hard to appear confident.

“Next week, on that day. Keep your evening free. I have somewhere to go with you.”

***

The reason Erica didn’t ignore her mother’s letter was due to her personality of following her parents’ instructions and surveillance.

There would likely be staff at the venue that day to check if Erica and I had arrived. It was certain from them even handing over tickets. Similar cases had happened before.

Anyway, after the encounter with Erica, I returned to the room and immediately regulated my mana.

My statement about being busy with Erica was sincere.

For the great trial that lay ahead in the coming months.

“First, I need to expand my mana capacity.”

Since merging with Bargan, I had been expanding my internal mana every day without fail.

I couldn’t afford to skip this, even if I neglected other things. The high mana consumption of Bargan’s techniques made personal mana capacity crucial for him.

Curses, summoning spells, when used collectively, would quickly drain all mana. For Bargan, total mana capacity was a prerequisite.

To move on to the next stage, I needed to increase the stable supply of mana.

Sitting on the floor in a cross-legged position, I focused my mind.

Even if it wasn’t necessary to sit in the seiza position, I found it most comfortable to activate mana in this posture.

I check the total amount of mana in my body.

Progress situation as expected. If it continues like this, I won’t be late for the target time, but the faster, the better.

“……”

Next, I close my eyes and focus all my nerves on mana.

Magical power flows through my body like blood. Although there is no visible entity, it definitely exists and is active.

Since there is no separate heart, I forcibly pump to accelerate the movement of mana. Ensuring it spreads evenly down to the tips of my fingers.

At the same time, I solidify the image of the core contained in my body.

Vibrant and expansive like the source of life.

Towards the endless horizon…

…After spending slightly over three hours pouring time into expanding the total amount of mana, I open my eyes.

My whole body is sticky with sweat.

Heat has even risen from my body. If I hadn’t opened the window in advance, this room would have turned into a sauna.

Phew.

I exhale lightly and tidy up my body. Since it was a training to control mana, I am not in a state to cast spells, so I wipe my body with the prepared cold water and towel.

The cool towel quickly turns lukewarm in the heat.

“The unique spell that must be created as a graduation requirement. The conditions to be prepared are not easy.”

Among the graduation requirements for Academia magicians, there is a requirement to complete their unique spell. Since there are still four years left in terms of timing, most people are not deeply concerned yet, but I am not like them.

Shugenharz Troa Vargan.

The villain who torments the protagonists at Academia.

Three more years until I exit the novel.

The original Vargan, who failed to complete his unique spell and passed away. For the first and last time, there was a moment when only about half of the unique spell was completed.

The final moments of the villain Vargan.

His last chapter in life.

Vargan, in his madness, activated the incomplete large-scale unique spell, causing chaos and eliminating a considerable number of students, professors, and even heroes.

The Vargan who went crazy at that time.

He who deviated greatly from the Vargan I knew.

In the frenzy where blood spurted like a fountain from all directions, he disappeared into history enjoying slaughter and revelry.

“……”

Generally, it’s almost absurd to turn attention away from his madness, but what needs to be focused on is the unique spell.

The unique spell, which was only about half completed, overwhelmed everyone.

So, a natural question arises.

What if that spell had been completed?

If Vargan had overcome his laziness, prepared all the necessary materials for the spell, and succeeded in refining it after enduring the necessary time?

“History may find assumptions meaningless, but the situation is different for me now.”

Perhaps.

The story might have ended there.

No, Vargan’s unique spell remained incomplete and faced death.

As a gateway to continue Liam’s backstory. It’s for appropriate difficulty adjustment, you see.

‘Do you just intend to watch from afar?’

The death of Bargan.

The unique spell that was never completed until the final moment.

“I will definitely complete it.”

With certainty.

Once the unique spell is completed, the one who determines the ending of this story will be solely.

It will be me.