The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 42

Immediately after the elimination of Class 2.

Central hub near Class 1.

Following the orders of their leader, Vargan, Liam and seven students were guarding the place.

⎯!

A bright light flashed for a moment, as if swallowing the ground whole.

Then thunder roared loudly, causing ripples every time Liam’s sword pierced through.

Swordsmanship utilizing lightning was Liam’s specialty.

Dealing with electricity within elemental magic, Liam either contained the essence of lightning in his sword or amplified the tiny currents in his body to control nerves and muscles.

Of course, using it directly on his body was still risky due to the output and fine tuning being difficult at this stage.

Just the appearance and sound of lightning alone were enough to instill fear.

Crackling⎯ crackling.

Liam stayed within the buff range of the central hub, swiftly moving and engaging with three to four opponents simultaneously.

The crackling sound of currents with each movement kept the onlookers tense.

Many were caught off guard by his swift footwork and swordsmanship, unable to advance easily.

However, being able to face four opponents ‘alone’ did not mean Liam was exceptionally strong.

Zap⎯⎯!!

Serena’s arrow, filled with magic, threatened the alliance. When movements halted and an opening appeared, Liam would dash forward with a flash, touching their backs.

Those with sharp vision due to the flashing light found it particularly challenging to target Liam.

Even Serena, an ally, seemed to suffer some damage but continued to shoot her bow silently, with a high accuracy rate.

Successfully eliminating an additional member of the alliance, Liam gasped for breath, surveying his surroundings.

The growing number of pupils in his dilated pupils indicated that there were likely fifteen, including the Bantlro group watching from afar.

“Ugh, huff.”

Breath reached the tip of his chin.

Despite receiving overlapping buffs from the hub, the difference in numbers was evident.

As time passed, the allies’ stamina rapidly declined, while the enemies grew more aggressive.

Seemingly developing a resistance to the threat of lightning, the alliance no longer feared as much as before.

They moved more fiercely and recklessly.

Crackle⎯!

Every time Liam infused mana, the recently acquired essence of lightning sparked.

Originally requiring a certain level to use “Attribute Establishment,” Liam was able to obtain it as a ‘skill’ through leveling up, showing his skill was ahead of his level.

“Argh…!”

Once again, swords clashed.

As Liam tired, a swordsman from the alliance leaped at him.

Liam’s foot slipped back.

Although the overclocked heart urgently supplied oxygen, it was not enough.

A tingling sensation transmitted from Liam’s fingertips.

And.

“…Darn.”

Another man who had been in sight stepped aside.

Taking advantage of the current situation where he couldn’t move, he must be aiming for Liam’s back.

If he took a hit like this, it would be an out!

“Kwaaah⎯⎯!!”

Feeling the crisis, Liam released a massive amount of magic at once.

The muscles of his hand and arm holding the handle seemed like they were about to burst.

Until the snake-like veins rose up on his legs one by one.

The magic coursing through him had enough voltage to momentarily stiffen the muscles of those around him.

Liam swiftly raised his sword.

⎯Chyanng! Chaeng!

While at a standstill.

Liam sent the two swords of the men flying into the air.

If he had more stamina left, he could have pushed them to the out, but he didn’t have that much energy left.

Still, now that they couldn’t use their weapons, he should seize the opportunity to run away.

He must endure.

He has to endure.

⎯Liam, it’s dangerous!!

Right before he could finish calming himself.

Emily’s voice struck his eardrums.

An arrow of light shot straight towards Liam who was guarding the door.

It was Bantero, the vanguard captain of the Union Army, the strongest archer of the first year.

It glowed as if all mana in the surroundings was converging on the arrow. It was so dazzling that it was painful to keep his eyes open, even more so than Liam’s lightning.

Peering through his narrowed, furrowed eyes.

The two people who had been around Liam were now standing far away, without even a hint of surprise.

It was clearly a well-timed attack.

Mana, more mana…!

Since it was too late to dodge, Liam started squeezing out the mana remaining in his body while holding his sword.

There’s no time.

He must gather it up to the last bit.

However, Bantero’s arrow shot out at a speed that far exceeded his expectations.

When he came to his senses, he realized they were now about 3 meters apart.

“Ah.”

At that moment when the excessive brightness rapidly narrowed Liam’s pupils.

Kudddddduk⎯⎯!

The arrow, appearing as if it would pierce through Liam fiercely, seemed to stop its movement as if hitting something and spread out into the distance.

He focused on the arrow.

Sparks flying, space rapidly heating up.

It was definitely causing friction with something.

Was it an Academy official who intervened, deeming the situation dangerous?

Such a thought crossed the mind.

As if responding that there was no need for concern.

The person revealed themselves confidently and cheerfully, bursting into laughter.

“hahahahaha!!”

Kwoong⎯⎯!

Like a bomb dropping from somewhere, a person fell to the ground, raising a thick cloud of dust as if an explosion had occurred.

The dust scattered like a whirlwind, leaving only the figure of a man behind.

A well-trained physique evident even under the clothes. A strong spirit felt within the hearty laughter. A seasoned sense akin to a beast.

Ranked 5th in admission scores.

Ocel Vanteolo Leon.

“Forming alliances and suppressing opponents through unfair means, I can’t just overlook it! Class 1⎯⎯!!”

Leon roared like a tiger.

At the same time, the arrow blocked by something, unable to advance, lost all energy and fell to the ground weakly.

“Don’t worry! From now on, I, Ocel Vanteolo Leon, will stand in the way of those villains⎯⎯!!”

Liam blinked his eyes as if struck by something, gazing at the man who appeared like a comet.

While Bargan had hinted at it beforehand, Liam also knew he would come, but to see him move so decisively…

“Ha.”

With a gasp, Liam’s body jolted.

***

I closed the view seen from the owl.

Ocel Vanteolo Leon.

There was no need to watch anymore now that the young man who seemed to have been hit hard on the head in his childhood had appeared.

Knowing that the reconnaissance unit, including Leon of Class 3, would visit the central checkpoint, we had formed a defense unit with fewer personnel.

That lad, who pursued true valor, carried justice on his lips, could never tolerate the form of alliance.

While the class battle was a strategic battlefield where all actions were allowed, it did not apply to Leon.

To him, it seemed like just two people holding hands and tormenting one.

I may not understand, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make use of it.

⎯Milord, what should we do?

Alicia’s gentle voice echoed in my ears.

Having fallen under the prince’s blow, she quickly regained her senses, swiftly grasping the situation and communicating through my aide.

The personnel eliminated at the outpost disrupted by Artellion totaled nine. The ones I resurrected by capturing the king of Class 2 were eight.

Most showed no signs of excessive strain or serious injury, making them ready for use.

Well, most of them.

“We abandon this outpost. Lead all remaining forces except for Pin to the central checkpoint to carry out the mission I previously instructed. It’s near the abandoned outpost where Liam’s group from Class 1 is.”

Facing off with Artellion’s communication tower, Palon, Pin was practically a sitting duck.

The difference between Palon and Pin was beyond words. A five-year-old child and a teenager level of difference.

Yet Pin clung to his side, halting his movements.

Pin’s breakdown was somewhat a predetermined process.

⎯I will accept the command.

With a tender voice, Alicia spoke with a knightly formality. As her voice faded away as if she was about to cut off the communication.

“Alicia.”

I added.

“You did well.”

That relentless strong one. Successful in blocking Artellion.

Just one technique, but it utilized hallucinations during battle.

Having reached a new level of Aura.

A brief sentence containing multiple meanings.

⎯……

Alicia remained silent for a while as if it could be mistaken for a communication problem.

⎯… Yes, thank you.

Her voice gradually faded away with a hint of shyness.

That’s how Alicia’s voice completely ceased.

“Well then. I should start moving as well.”

I stood up, turned my shoulders. Though I wanted to stretch as if yawning, there were eyes watching, so it wasn’t appropriate.

Around me now lay a ruined fortress burning in various places.

The flags of the 2nd squad, carpets, wooden furniture. Combustible items were all burning.

The sturdy walls that used to be the fortress’s shield were either pierced like cardboard or shattered like paper.

Tap!

I snapped my fingers.

Not to cause any physical changes in the immediate vicinity.

Somewhere further away. Specifically, the main base of the 5th squad guarded by Diphyelia.

I lifted the curse on the thief there.

We were already well into the mid-term of the class transfer. It was the right time for her, who had bought in the unfairness, to make a move.

The pattern that was once engraved somewhere on her body is now gone, so I will proceed with what I had previously mentioned.

A different way of utilizing curses.

Also, to emit that lingering scent. So that the leader of the 5th squad, the saint, doesn’t miss the hint.

Anyway, I’ve given the order to that guy.

“First….”

After finishing a simple exercise, I turned my head and gazed at a tree in the distance.

If I hadn’t known in advance about the mana energy greatly lowered, I might not have noticed.

These leftovers handled by the 2nd squad were different from the average ones. Mediocre ones couldn’t even hide their presence like that.

“You don’t have to be on guard from afar like that. I have no intention of treating you recklessly, and the monsters that turned this place into ruins have already retreated and disappeared.”

This was not a lie.

No matter how vast my total mana quantity is compared to the sea, it’s not actually the sea. To be precise, it’s not yet the sea.

It’s more appropriate to call it a river compared to my target.

Therefore, cursing the monsters is still limited to around 54 in 40 minutes.

If I hold onto more than that, those who gradually stop listening will start to appear.

“Couldn’t stand it anymore and came to see the outsider, huh?”

I teased her. Erica, who was hiding her small body and observing the situation, showed her pale face as soon as I clearly looked at her hiding spot.

“No way.”

Erica’s determined gaze and tone of voice caught my attention. She resembled a hunter aiming for an opportunity.

However, Erica, you are still immature in hiding your emotions. You haven’t managed to kill the trembling aspen leaves deep in your eyes.

“No need to be so tense.”

I smirked and cast an illusion spell.

Erica began to emit an extreme cold that seemed to freeze everything in sight.

I waited. Erica.

If you don’t show up, the story won’t take an interesting turn.