The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 19

“What an incredible coincidence…! I never thought I’d meet a professor from the Academy.”

“hahahahaha, yeah. I never expected to meet two freshmen already. Oh, since I’m a professor, can I speak freely?”

Before Liam, a male student, and Emily, a female student, could agree, Paula casually spoke with a broad smile, walking alongside them.

Meanwhile, Emily, who had been lost in thought, asked a question that had come to her mind.

“But… why are you here, Professor? At this time, everyone at the Academy must be very busy.”

Paula’s expression turned awkward, as if pricked at the core by Emily’s innocent question.

Although she proudly boasted about her profession, the truth was something she found hard to swallow, as she was on the verge of returning to her senses and back to her position.

“Ah… well, you see.”

“There must have been a reason for it. Did you go on a mission to another region and come back?”

“What…? Uh, yeah, yeah. That’s right. You’re a keen student. I had to go on a short mission. Yeah, that’s it. hahahaha, hoho.”

It was not Paula but Liam, who was observing the situation, who answered Emily’s question first.

From Paula’s perspective, Liam, a male student, had no idea about his situation but ended up receiving help by chance.

Emily nodded her head and muttered to herself, “Professors are indeed busy.”

Hearing that, Paula changed the subject and asked about both of them.

“You both mentioned coming from the Oria region, right? Oria is almost at the edge of the Troa Empire. How did you manage to arrive so smoothly?”

“Even from the remote countryside of the borderlands. It took us about a month just to get here. The transportation costs were exorbitant as well.”

“Liam, even if you hadn’t gotten lost, you could have arrived earlier.”

“Well… I have nothing to say to that.”

When a female student playfully teases a male student, he either casually accepts it or responds in his own way.

Although they had just met a while ago, Paula could easily tell that there was a deep connection between these two.

“Are you two dating?”

A question that is essential when observing close relationships between men and women.

“No.”

“Oh, no!”

Liam and Emily both gave negative responses.

Oh, this is unexpected.

If a male student has feelings for a female student, he would be the one to show it, but surprisingly, it is the female student who has hidden affection.

While the male student responds calmly, the female student reacts with a hint of surprise and assertiveness.

“They’re just childhood friends. She’s the daughter of our village chief, so we see each other as siblings.”

“Yeah, just siblings… nothing more or less…”

Oh no, the female student’s expression darkens. The male student, whether knowingly or unknowingly, continues to smile innocently, unable to read Emily’s expression.

“Oh, right, the admission cards! Did you both receive your admission cards? Could you show them to me?”

Paula quickly threw out the next topic. They took out their admission cards from their pockets and showed them to Paula.

First, Emily’s admission card was checked. Ignoring the fancy envelope, Paula’s gaze fell below to the deep red stamp on the admission card. A simple and ordinary pattern.

She sensed the subtle mana contained within.

“Emily is at an average level. Well, even below average… It’s hard to say she has talent. She may have passed the admission criteria as a recognized talent in the countryside village, but competing with the geniuses at Academia will be challenging. Nevertheless, her mana is vigorous and swift, which could synergize well with swordsmanship.”

“So Emily chose to be a knight? She chose what suits her aptitude.”

“Is that so?! That’s a relief. I knew she lacked talent in magic, but she enjoys wielding a sword and is confident in it.”

“You made a good choice. Mana suits knights well.”

“Can you tell that too? Oh, what about Liam? He couldn’t even cast a low-level spell before, but in a few months, he has become remarkably strong. Could it be that his talent bloomed late?”

“Emily… I’m not that… strong.”

“Really? Shall we see?”

Paula responded while matching Emily’s pace, but inwardly, she thought that Emily might be exaggerating a bit.

To progress from being unable to cast even a low-level spell to enrolling at Academia in just a few months? Unless he’s an outstanding case like Alicia, such a thing is unlikely. Academia is not that easy.

“Let’s see.”

Paula unfolded Liam’s admission card and, like Emily’s, ignored the writing and focused on the engraved stamp below.

Oh, the stamp’s pattern indicates potential. It seems he has a certain level of development potential, as she mentioned.

She extracted the mana contained within. As she did, the information within was transmitted to Paula.

“Slightly exceeding the average of typical freshmen. This isn’t bad. As long as his ego isn’t as high as someone(?), he should be able to hold his own at Academia without backing down. Hm? This tingling sensation… Oh, he particularly shines in lightning attributes. So, the potential is… Huh?”

Furrowing her brow, Paula ignored the two gazes directed at her and delved back into her examination.

However, trying again yielded the same result.

‘How did this happen?’

“Why is that?”

Liam glanced at Paula with a slightly tense expression. Paula met Liam’s gaze without a hint of a frown.

“I don’t see it.”

“What?”

“Your potential, it’s not visible.”

I understand that there is a vast field spread out. I also understand that this male student has potential that has yet to be fully realized. However, the thick night fog obscures the view ahead.

It’s strange. If you have talent, you have it; what does it mean that it’s hidden? Is it under a curse? It feels different from that. Something… a strange sensation from a different dimension. This is a first in such a case. Oh well.

“No, why are all these new students acting like this?”

“Excuse me?”

Paula, thinking of her two disciples, chuckled at the awkward boy struggling to show a proper reaction.

***

“Oh, this is so nice!”

“Don’t kick up dust. Don’t jump on the bed.”

“Emily, stop it and lie down. It’s so soft and smells nice.”

“Enough. I’m not a child. Besides, I’m not in the mood for this right now.”

Emily, with a calm but slightly strained voice, didn’t quite appreciate Liam’s nonchalant attitude.

Since entering the colossal airborne city of Academia, she felt the nerves building up for the upcoming entrance ceremony, while this man seemed completely indifferent.

“I feel like I’ve become a fool.”

“Why do you think you’re a fool?”

“Because of you, you fool.”

Liam responded with a bewildered tone, not quite understanding what she was getting at.

Emily sighed deeply, thinking that perhaps Liam, who seemed to relax without a care in the world, might be smarter than her, who was tensed up.

“No, you’re right. I was the fool.”

“What are we even talking about, Emily? Is this even a conversation?”

Liam sat up in bed, bringing his face close to Emily’s. Startled by his sudden movement, Emily tensed up, slightly pulling her head back.

“Why, why…! What’s going on?”

“Emily, are you very nervous?”

“What?”

Realizing she wasn’t managing her expression well, Emily vehemently denied it, but soon, like a leaf bending in the wind, she lowered her head.

“Yes. I’m nervous… I’m shaking like crazy.”

“Don’t worry so much.”

“How can I not? We are the pride of the town, and I am the village chief’s daughter.”

The fact that two people from a small village in the corner had been accepted into Academia was cause for the entire town to cheer and celebrate.

It was like finding two dragons in a creek. Emily was pleased with their cheers but also felt the weight of expectations like a mountain.

Moreover, there was the sudden change in her childhood friend, who used to only have vague fantasies about magic without any talent.

Suddenly surpassing her, now he races ahead, and she doesn’t know when he might disappear from her sight.

That fact only heightened her anxiety.

The professor they happened to meet near Academia said his potential was unpredictable, and he looked forward to seeing what he would become.

It might have been a simple curiosity, but to Emily, it sounded like an acknowledgment of Liam. It was impressive that someone as prestigious as a professor at the Academy acknowledged their childhood friend.

Liam takes a step further away, leaving himself behind.

“Emily, no, Teacher. Don’t worry unnecessarily.”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes right now, Liam.”

“Jokes? Have you forgotten who taught me magic?”

Liam, with a gentle smile, slowly takes Emily’s hand.

“I had an interest in magic but never had the opportunity to learn. You were the one who taught me magic just because we were childhood friends, Emily.”

“What’s so difficult about that?”

“It was difficult.”

Liam continues.

“And I will forever be grateful.”

“…”

“If it weren’t for you, I might not have been able to dream of being a hero, let alone be here with you now. I can say that with confidence!”

Liam said with a playful twinkle in his eye, trying to lighten Emily’s mood with a jest.

As Emily and Liam briefly exchanged glances, the lantern illuminating their space flickered. Emily gazed at him with eyes resembling that lantern for a while.

“Can I do it?”

“You can. And this is not like you, Emily.”

“Not like me…”

Emily silently repeated the sentence to herself. Then, she smiled slightly, showing courage.

“Indeed, not like me.”

Seeing her smile returning somewhat, Liam felt relieved. The current Emily was the bright figure he had known before and briefly read about in novels.

He paused for a moment.

Having been immersed in this novel’s world and having Liam’s memories and emotions continued, his feelings for this girl were genuine.

However, as a reader, memories of reading the novel remained vivid.

Emily, this delicate yet strong girl, was, to put it bluntly, a supporting character. If Liam’s memories had not been inherited, he would have known almost nothing about her.

Could such a girl endure in this harsh place? A normal girl without any special privileges like himself?

Deep down, such doubts lingered, but Liam pretended not to notice as he embraced Emily.

Of course, he didn’t forget the quick double blink they exchanged before that. It was necessary to evoke ‘it.’

⎯ Ding!

Viewing the status of the target.

Emily

Strength: 3.5/10 ⦁ Stamina: 3.9/10

Magic: 2.9/10 ⦁ Mental Power: 2.9/10

Defense: 3.3/10 ⦁ Agility: 4.3/11

Now a familiar transparent window.

The information contained in this small thing fully reflects Emily’s current situation.

There weren’t many points of comparison, but she couldn’t even be compared to Paula, whom she met today, and the information about the applicants she happened to pass by was somewhat similar.

At first, she, who was stronger than herself, is now being overtaken and showing slow growth.

Liam closed the window with his eyes shut. Then he washed away the unsettling emotions floating in his mind.

It’s okay. I can do this.

Everything went smoothly until coming to Academia, and she knows the hidden details in this novel that no one else does.

Before the wave of problems engulfs her, she prepares her surfing board, ready to ride that wave, or if unprepared, she will escape from the water and wait for the wave to pass.

“It’s okay, Emily. We can do this well.”

She has her own special system.

She also knows the content of the novel.

Although she may not be the main character, there is a possibility for her to grow beyond the protagonist. She anticipated it, but this power called the status window is an unknown force even to someone well-versed in magic.

A power unique to me in this world.

Information known only to me, unknown to anyone else in this world.

Yes, we will definitely see the happy ending of this novel.

***

…That’s what she thought until things took an unexpected turn.

“I am Shugenharz Troa Bargan, who has been chosen as the top newcomer speaker this time.”

Just as described in the novel, or perhaps even more refined and elegant, a man with a dignified appearance confidently revealed himself in front of the new students. His gestures were deeply imbued with grace, exuding a sense of elegance somewhere.

Each word carried an unknown power, and his pronunciation and articulation were as precise as a speech expert.

The hand holding the magic tool acting as a microphone looked as if a swan was perched on it.

“I have no intention of speaking at length. Let’s cut to the chase and start with the most important thing.”

From his dignified tone, a deep chill emanated. Even though he was a fellow student, he felt like someone from a different world, filling the role of the representative of the newcomers.

Shugenharz Troa Bargan.

She knew him very well. He was the protagonist she read about in the novel and the one who played the role of the academy’s villain, so there was no way she wouldn’t know him.

Liam was sweating coldly as he looked at him. It wasn’t because of his icy tone. It wasn’t because he was intimidating.

‘What’s this? What’s going on? Did I mishear? But the atmosphere is just like that person in the novel.’

His heartbeat quickened as every cell in his body sounded the alarm.

Bargan?

That antagonist Bargan?

Why?

This can’t be happening. Why are you standing there?

Strange. Am I remembering wrong?

This top newcomer is not you, the antagonist.

You were supposed to be the ‘heroine.’

And then.

The following line delivered the final blow.

“You are maggots.”

“Oh my goodness.”

The train that was running steadily along the plot suddenly derailed.