The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 56

The male dormitory of Academia.

In one of the rooms, the goddess knight of the Order of the Goddess, Osel Langfitt Borg, was experiencing cognitive dissonance, squeezing his head with all his might.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand his actions and emotions. He was so repulsed, yet even now. Every time he looked at that guy, he felt a strong emotion contrary to that.

“You… You… Shugen Hartz…!!”

Thud!

He couldn’t overcome his anger and struck the desk with his fist.

However, the problem wasn’t solved that way. Rather, with each thud of his fist, his loyalty and respect for that presence grew, as if springing forth.

He tries to use himself.

A sect of the Order of the Goddess he belonged to. He wanted to investigate the faction that sought to embody the beauty of the goddess in the present world.

And this time was no different.

Barugan obtained information about the followers belonging to the embodiment faction through himself. He even revealed thoughts he shouldn’t have, automatically opening his mouth when asked, exposing his intentions.

There is no greater shame than this.

To betray the goddess with such boundless loyalty!

He wanted to request those who would execute him, even if it meant tarnishing his reputation with the Order of the Goddess by revealing that he was being deceived by that guy.

“Ah…! Ah, agh…!”

He gasped for breath again, painfully. A sense of extreme terror crept up on him, like a child abandoned in a dark forest.

Damn it, that’s why.

That’s why he couldn’t do anything.

Every time he entertained such treacherous thoughts about him, his brain emitted a specific emotion as if it had gone mad. Mostly it was fear, and its intensity grew as time passed.

Since that day.

From the moment he was fed a strange slime monster and hypnotized by him, his stolen body became easy to manipulate as he desired.

“…!”

Suddenly, his body trembled as if he had caught a cold.

“No, no, no. I didn’t think about it. I didn’t…!”

Hiding his face in the desk, Borg vehemently denied it.

The implanted fear was not just about the betrayal of Barugan. There was another layer; Barugan had set up a safety mechanism to prevent Borg from rebelling any further.

“Erika didn’t think about it! Not at all!! Stop, please stop…!”

The intensity of the curse hanging on Erica’s conscience seemed to be deeper, making her complexion look completely weary, as if she were about to die.

Whenever thoughts of her crossed one’s mind, a strong curse would immediately trigger, and the demon inside her would suck up mana relentlessly, breaking any resistance.

I want to die.

I’d rather just die.

Sometimes such desire arose, but like a candle in the wind, it quickly extinguished leaving no trace behind. It wasn’t because of the curse. It was simply Borg’s inherent fear.

Stopping even lying on the desk, Borg, crouched on the floor, continued trembling, a faint smile on his lips as if he were insane.

It’s tough.

I want to die.

But, that too will end today.

“hehehe… hehehehe.”

Whispers like ghosts laughing softly.

It’s over. It’s liberation even in this hell.

He’s so arrogant and foolish.

What can a wannabe hero, not even a second-year student, do there? It’s like going to commit suicide.

Borg recalled Baragan, who nodded upon hearing the information he provided. Today, he went to the theater where the Archmage, Bishop Caliculia, was present.

He didn’t explain the reason, but most likely he intended to harm Bishop Caliculia. Foolish. Knowing so little about the world. I don’t know how he knew the bishop was there, but not taking the professors along, it’s your own undoing.

Die.

Die, Baragan.

Be torn to pieces there and become a sacrifice for the ritual.

“hehehe. Kkihihi… heugh??!”

Laughing, then terrified.

Borg, in a corner of the small room.

Is further consumed by Baragan’s curse.

***

Eyelids frozen, won’t open.

Want to drive away the darkness and look ahead, but a dreadful nightmare holds onto young Erica. Sad. Scared. Longing… She struggled, resisting all those hands.

The situation now is strange. Something is definitely wrong.

Trying to move the unresponsive body, she felt weaker in trying to resist. The one who cast the spell couldn’t focus, or was getting further away…

?!

Straining every muscle, Erica managed to regain some control over her body. The surroundings were still dark and senses distant, but she could manipulate the flow of mana within.

Gooo?.

Channeling mana.

Melting the ice valley, creating streams of water.

Slowly. Gradually. All ice melts down.

The flowing streams gather like branches coming together.

As the mana inside moves normally, the body’s senses recover faster. Now she can open her eyes.

Erica began to lift her long eyelashes.

Bright lights. The stage’s lit bulbs try to show her the eyes that are attempting to focus.

Erica’s delicate forehead furrows, and her moving pupils focus. In her sight, two figures appear. No, one has arms unnaturally elongated, presenting a grotesque sight.

Erica once again focuses on them.

“Damn you! Did your interference prevent my beloved from waking up from the blessing??? If it weren’t for you, by now, within her body…!”

Erica gasped in astonishment.

It became even more eerie when she stared directly at him. He was definitely not human. A demon… a monster… no, that’s… Alteph…? However, a form that mimics a human like that… undoubtedly a Level 3 threat, bishop class or higher?

“Caliculea. Did I not tell you to shut up?”

A man’s voice, piercing through the cold air, rang clearly.

Though not very loud, in this noisy theater, his voice reached Erica’s ears as if cast by magic.

A voice tinged with what seemed like anger.

The smirk that always looked down on others had vanished.

“….”

For just a moment, Barugan and Erica locked eyes. He glanced indifferently as if checking the condition of an object, then turned his gaze to the monster in front of him.

Erica tried to call out to him.

She didn’t even know what she wanted to say.

Struggling, she tried to rise with a creaking body that had just started to function.

Barugan stopped Erica’s actions.

“Think about returning to Academia, Erica. If you act rashly now, you won’t be able to take a single step after this battle.”

Despite this, Erica, unable to stay still, tried to say that she was fine and could fight.

But only a mumble came out, and her voice did not ring out.

She had not fully recovered yet.

“What did I say?”

Only then did he smile.

A faint smile.

“If you don’t want to go back carried by me, who you detest so much, then ‘sit and sleep’ right there.”

“….!”

With a phrase laden with cursed magic, Erica’s leg strength drained away, and the focus in her eyes faded. Normally, she could break free, but the current situation was different.

Erica ended up sitting on the ground.

Her furrowed brow was forcibly smoothed, and her eyelids closed.

“Shugen… Hartz….”

Just before shaking her head, she managed to say his name. Barugan’s figure appeared beside her. It gradually blurred.

With those words, Erica fell into a deep sleep, more relaxed than anyone else in the world.

It seems she won’t have the same nightmare as before.

***

The reason I didn’t fall into his ability, the ‘nightmare,’ is simple. It’s because I cursed myself first.

For example, it’s like this.

Two cars can’t fit into a parking space meant for one car. Even with the power of a goddess different from magic, it’s impossible to dream two dreams at the same time.

It’s not that surprising, right?

Swoosh?!

The severed Caliculea arm regrows as if to say, “When did that happen?” and stretches out like a bow.

The speed is considerable.

To the point of furrowing brows at the vibrating air.

Indeed, the bishop class is different.

The tentacles of the priests Alicia had faced were much slower than this. He was not the easy opponent she had assumed.

The guy continued to thrust his arms.

His body, expanding and contracting rapidly like a giant rubber band, was elastic and agile.

“Have you not been able to cast a proper spell since earlier? For all your blustering, all you do is dodge! How amusing! How utterly amusing!”

Caliculea, perhaps feeling confident in the current situation, accelerated even more enthusiastically.

While not charging like a knight, his pure physique alone was incredibly destructive.

I dodged his fierce attacks, analyzing as I went.

“I understand your body is as tough as stone. It seems going to the mines would have been better than this theater.”

Caliculea’s gaze intensified.

It seems making remarks related to the theater rather than any other insult is more effective with him.

Then.

Caliculea’s pupils, like spilled paint, expanded as they met mine.

He had used his abilities once again.

The method of pre-cursing as before did not apply. Even if I wouldn’t fall under his curse, falling asleep would leave me vulnerable.

Snickering.

He smiled.

Even that smile began to blur.

His eyes gradually closed.

I felt my body slowing down.

The steel-like fist striking me head-on.

“Oh no. I can’t dodge this.”

Thud?!

The fist stuck right into my face.

Shattering my facial bones along with my facial structure.

Thrown back like a bullet.

Caliculea smirked, raising the corners of his mouth to his ears. The props behind him were now covered in dust.

Caliculea watched the spectacle of those tiny particles. Within them, he delivered a strong blow towards the writhing black shadow.

A massive impact I couldn’t resist.

His attack pierced right through my abdomen?

…That’s how you’d write the script you desire.

Life indeed does not always flow as planned.

Isn’t that right, Caliculea?

“…!!”

Awakening from the illusion, Caliculea’s eyes widened like fish eyes. His appearance, burning with something inhuman, was no different from that of a non-human entity.

Tap, tap.

I lightly tapped Caliculea’s still shoulders. It was a signal to look at me, not the remnants that were mere props.

“Your battles are anything but beautiful. You may call yourself a playwright, but your nature is far from it. Violence and destruction are your essence.”

Thud, thud.

The pitiful bishop, trapped by overlapping curses, unable to move.

Kaliculea writhes his whole body muscles in anger, turning his face flushed with intensity.

With a crack, the guy’s head spins around.

Denying even the pain of torn muscles and twisted bones, he challenges reality with furious eyes.

『Strange… Strange… Yes… He… is inferior to me. Clearly… He should become my prey… This situation makes no sense right now…!!』

Hmm.

I can’t guarantee Liam’s combat power can be quantified like this, but the guy’s words are not wrong.

Kaliculea. This guy exceeds me in pure combat power.

Not only a strong physique but also magic resistance, the irritating harmony of curses is truly threatening. If it were the former Bargan, his abdomen would have been pierced for sure.

『Vision… Hearing… Touch, Smell, Mana… There are more…』

Kaliculea mentioned the names of curses cast upon himself one by one. Although his current appearance is pitiful, it seems he has grasped the curse’s essence as a high-ranking bishop.

What he says is true.

It’s difficult to deceive him with just one curse of mine. Just like how a thin thread cannot immobilize an adult man.

So, I overlapped those threads.

One to blind his eyes. One to cover his ears… By layering them one by one, even an adult man cannot escape.

Well, if the difference becomes too noticeable, it’s useless, but at least in this situation between him and me, it worked.

Crack.

His teeth grind. He is a pitiful creature who couldn’t withstand his intense anger.

He can’t believe the current reality.

『The amount of mana… That human being… in this world, there shouldn’t be ‘two’ of that level… What, what is it…!』

One is the headmaster of Academia, perhaps.

After all, in this guy’s view, that person belongs to the pinnacle of magic, a transcendent being.

Apologies, but I am not yet at a level to be compared to him. It seems I am being overly praised in the realm of monsters.

“I know well what you are curious about. Yes, it may seem strange. It surpasses the level of common understanding.”

I took out the mace I had kept in my arms.

Clang, clang.

Lightly tapping my hand, I continue speaking.

“…I never asked questions to the likes of you.”

『Do you think I would open my mouth to such torture! From a mere human?!』

“Well… I can’t say for sure, but wouldn’t you open up if the pain is so unbearable that you can’t endure it?”

Raising the mace in my hand, I continue speaking.

Hmm? Showing a somewhat hesitating appearance is part of my performance for this self-proclaimed master of drama.

“Where do you think the sense of touch comes from?”

He doesn’t answer my question. Still struggling to break free from the curse I cast on him.

I gently place my hand on his struggling body.

Like a saint embracing a child, with caution.

Finally, Kaliculea notices the change.

“The answer lies in the nerves.”

I swing the mace. It contains ordinary magic.

He screams.

Nothing particularly special was imbued in it.

If there’s something that has changed, it’s the guy’s body.

Crack?! Crack?!

Ah, yes, that would be nice.

Let’s make a bet.

Crack?! Crack?!

If I scream less than half the number of times I’ve swung the club, you win. If it exceeds that, I win. The winner gets the authority to ask for whatever they desire.

Oh, what a true human figure.

Even to someone so lowly, giving a chance.

Pursuing humanity and sparing even a bug, the kind heart making even demons cry out for atonement.

aaah!!

How about it, Caliculea, you want to hear your opinion.

Don’t just cry, give me an answer.