The Villain Purchased the Heroine

"What an incredible coincidence…! I never expected to meet a professor from Academia here."

"Hoohoo, right? I didn't expect to meet two new students either. Ah, since I'm a professor, is it okay if I drop the formalities?"

Before Liam and Emily could even agree, Paula cheerfully dropped the formal speech and walked alongside them with a big grin.

During this time, Emily, deep in thought, suddenly asked a burning question that popped into her mind.

"But… why are you here, Professor? Everyone at Academia should be super busy at this time."

At Emily's innocent inquiry, Paula looked momentarily flustered, like she'd been hit with a direct question.

Even though she was proudly showcasing her profession, it was hard to admit she was just on a break and returning.

"Ah… well, you see."

"Surely, there's a reason. Did you go off on some kind of mission to another region?"

"What…? Oh, oh, yes, that's right. Smart student, huh? I had a little dispatch mission to take care of. Um, something like that. Ho, hoho."

It was actually Liam, observing the situation, who spoke up to answer Emily's question, not Paula.

From Paula's perspective, Liam didn't have time to figure out her situation, but by coincidence, he ended up helping her.

Emily nodded, making a quiet remark like, "As expected, professors are busy."

Paula, looking to shift the topic, asked them about themselves.

"You both said you're from the Oria Region? The Oria Region is basically at the edge of the Troa Empire, so you made it here somehow?"

"We came from a rural village that's way out in the sticks. It took about a month just to get here. The travel expenses were outrageous too."

"Liam, if you hadn't gotten lost, you could have made it here much earlier."

"Well… I can't argue with that."

When the girl lightly poked fun at the boy, he groaned in the familiar way of accepting or retaliating playfully.

Though they had just met moments ago, Paula could easily see the bond between the two.

"Are you two dating?"

A classic question when you see a close guy-girl friendship.

"No."

"Ah, no way!"

Liam and Emily each gave their negative responses.

Oh wow.

This is unexpected.

Most would assume that if the boy was so warm with the girl, he definitely had feelings, but surprisingly, it turned out the girl had the crush.

While the boy answered calmly, the girl almost jumped, looking a bit shocked.

"We're just childhood friends. She's the Village Chief's Daughter, so we think of each other like siblings."

"Y-yeah. Siblings… nothing more, nothing less…."

Uh oh, the girl's expression darkens. Meanwhile, the boy, blissfully unaware, keeps smiling, missing Emily's change in expression.

"Ah, uh, your admission certificates! You both got your certificates, right? Could you show them to me?"

Paula hurriedly threw the next topic out there. The two pulled out their cherished admission certificates, which they had kept snugly stored, and showed them to Paula.

I showed it to Paula.

The first thing I checked was Emily's file, a female student. Ignoring the elegantly written sentences within the high-quality envelope, I lowered my gaze below the entrance certificate, and a deep red seal caught my eye. It was a pattern that was nothing special.

I felt a faint trace of mana within.

'So, the female student is of average level. No, maybe even below that… It's hard to say she has talent. She might be considered a decent student in the countryside, but it seems tough for her to compete with the geniuses of the Academia. Still, her mana is vibrant and swift, so when mixed with swordsmanship, it could produce some synergy.'

"Emily chose swordsman as her profession? Good choice for her fitting aptitude."

"Really?! Thank goodness. I knew I lacked talent for magic, but I really like swinging a sword and I'm confident in that!"

"You made a good choice. Mana is compatible with being a swordsman."

"Is that something you can tell? Oh, how about Liam? He originally couldn't use a single bit of low-level magic, but he's suddenly become strangely strong in just a few months. Could it be that his genius is blooming late?"

"Emily… I'm not that great…"

"Is that so? Should we take a look?"

Paula agreed enthusiastically and matched Emily's energy, but inside, she thought Emily might be exaggerating a bit.

A student who couldn't even use basic magic suddenly developed enough mana to enter the Academia in just a few months? Unless she's an exceptional case like Lady Alicia, there's no way that could happen. The Academia isn't that easy.

"Let's see~."

Opening Liam's entrance certificate, Paula, just like with Emily's, ignored the writing and focused on the seal engraved below.

Oh, the seal pattern indicates potential. Just as she said, there seems to be some room for development.

She extracted the mana contained within. Instantly, the information flooded into Paula.

'Slightly above the average of typical new students. This isn't bad. As long as his pride isn't as high as someone else's (?), he should be able to hold his head high at the Academia. Hmm? This tingling feeling… Oh, he particularly stands out in the lightning attribute. Then his potential is… huh?'

Paula furrowed her brows and tilted her head, ignoring the gazes of the two looking at her, and verified again.

However, the result remained the same.

'What on earth is going on?'

"What's wrong?"

Liam looked at Paula with a hint of tension. Paula met him with her frowned expression still intact.

"I can't see."

"What?"

"I can't see your potential; it's too blurry."

I can tell there's a wide open field. This male student has potential and hasn't fully unleashed it yet. However, it's shrouded in night fog, making it impossible to see.

It's peculiar. If he has talent, then he should have it clearly, but why is it hidden? Is he under a curse? It doesn't feel like that. It's more like… a feeling of something from another dimension. This is a first for me. Oh dear.

"Why are all the new students like this?"

"Excuse me?"

Recalling her two disciples, Paula chuckled at the male student who seemed at a loss for how to respond.

*

"Oh, this is nice~!"

"Don't kick up dust. Stop jumping on the bed."

"Emily, come lie down too! It's super comfy and it smells great."

"I'm good. I'm not a kid. And I don't feel like doing that right now."

Though calm, Emily was not fond of Liam's nonchalant attitude since entering the massive floating city called the Academia. While she was feeling the nerves of the upcoming entrance ceremony tomorrow, this guy seemed completely oblivious.

"I feel like I've turned into a fool."

"Why would you feel that way?"

"Because of you, you idiot."

Liam maintained a clueless expression, seeming completely lost on what she was talking about.

With a sound of frustration, she maintained an attitude of not understanding what was being said.

Emily let out a long sigh, thinking that perhaps Liam, who was casually relaxing, might be smarter than her, who was tense to the max.

"No, you're right. I was the fool."

"What are we even talking about, Emily? This is a conversation, right?"

Liam lifted his upper body from the bed and leaned closer to Emily. When he suddenly moved, Emily tensed up and slightly pulled her head back.

"W-What…! What is it?"

"Emily, you're really tense, huh?"

"What?"

Realizing she wasn't managing her expressions well, Emily strongly denied it but soon bowed her head like a blade of grass bending in the wind.

"Yeah, I'm tense… I'm shaking like crazy."

"Stop worrying so much."

"How can I? We are the pride of the village, and I'm the village chief's daughter."

The fact that the two from a small corner village got accepted into Academia was something that would have the entire village cheering with hands raised in celebration.

Two dragons had risen from the muck. Emily was glad for their cheers but felt it was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Moreover, there was her childhood friend, who had changed from someone with no talent and only vague fantasies about magic.

He had suddenly surpassed her, racing ahead to the point where she feared he might disappear from her view at any moment.

That fact only intensified her anxiety.

The professor they randomly met near Academia also mentioned that his potential was unknown and expressed excitement about what he might show in the future.

It was probably just idle curiosity, but to Emily, it felt like an acknowledgment of Liam. A professor at Academia recognized her childhood friend.

Liam was stepping further away again, leaving her behind.

"Emily, no, Teacher. Don't worry about it unnecessarily."

"I don't want to joke around right now, Liam."

"A joke? Have you forgotten who taught you magic?"

With a calm smile, Liam gently took Emily's hand.

"It was you, Emily, who taught me magic just because we were childhood friends, even though I had an interest but no way to learn it."

"What's so hard about that…?"

"It is hard."

Liam continued, "And I will be grateful for it my whole life."

"..."

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to dream of being a hero or even come here with you. I can say that with confidence!"

Liam said with a playful smile in his eyes, trying to lighten Emily's mood with some jokes.

As Emily exchanged glances with Liam, she felt his heart and responded with a slightly more cheerful voice.

"Then what? You've easily surpassed the teacher."

"Then we can help each other. Just as I received your help, you can ask for mine when you're in trouble."

The lamp illuminating the space of Emily and Liam flickers. Emily looked at him for a long time with eyes like that lamp.

"Can I really do it?"

"You can. And this isn't like you, Emily."

"Not like me…"

Emily pondered that sentence in her mind. Then she gently smiled, showing her courage.

"Surely, that wasn't me."

Seeing her smile return to some extent relieved Liam. The current her was the bright person he had always known and briefly read about in the novel.

He thought for a moment.

Having been reincarnated into this novel world, with Liam's memories and emotions connected, the feelings he had for this girl were genuine.

However, his memories as a reader who had read the novel were still vividly clear.

It remains vividly.

Emily, this delicate yet strong girl, could be considered a supporting character. If Liam's memories hadn't been inherited, he would know almost nothing about her.

Could such a girl endure in this harsh place? A plain girl who hasn't received any special benefits like him?

Although that question lingered in the depths of his heart, Liam hugged Emily tightly, pretending not to notice.

Of course, he didn't forget to quickly blink twice while making eye contact with her. It was a necessary act to "raise" that thing.

⎯ Ding!

Accessing target's status.

Emily

Strength: 3.5/10 ⦁ Stamina: 3.9/10

Mana: 2.9/10 ⦁ Mental Strength: 2.9/10

Defense: 3.3/10 ⦁ Agility: 4.3/11

The transparent window, now familiar.

The information contained in this little thing perfectly reflects Emily's current situation.

There weren't many points of comparison, but she was incomparable to Paula, whom he met today, and somewhat similar to the information of the applicants he happened to pass by.

Once stronger than him, she was now overtaken, showing slow growth.

Liam closed his eyes and turned off the window. He then tried to wash away the anxious feelings floating in his heart.

It's okay. I can do this.

Everything went smoothly until getting to the Academia, and he knows the whole behind-the-scenes story of this novel that no one else does.

Before the wave of problems crashes over him, he can prepare his surfboard to ride the wave, or if unprepared, he just has to wait for this wave to pass.

"It's alright, Emily. We can do this."

He even has his own special system.

He knows the story of the novel.

Even if he's not in the lead role's body, he has the potential to grow beyond that. He had expected it, but this status screen is an unknown power that even those well-versed in magic couldn't comprehend.

A power of his own, unlike anything in the world.

Information that no one else knows, only he knows.

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

*

…That's what he thought, but what in the world is this?

"I am Schugenharz Troa Vargan, the top new student this year."

As described in the novel, or even more than that, a handsome and tall man confidently introduced himself before the newcomers. His movements exuded deep grace, almost feeling elegant.

Each word carried an inexplicable power, and his enunciation was as clear as that of a speech expert.

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

"I don't plan to speak at length. Let's cut to the chase and get to the most important point."

His dignified tone radiated a thick coldness. Despite being a student like everyone else, he felt like someone from another world, filling the spot as the representative of the newcomers.

Schugenharz Troa Vargan.

He knew very well who he was. He was the protagonist of the novel he read, the one who acted as the villain's leader in the Academia, so there was no way he wouldn't know.

Liam was sweating coldly as he looked at him. It wasn't because of his cold tone. It wasn't just because he was intimidating.

"What the hell. What is this? Did I mishear? But the atmosphere is just like that person in the novel."

His heartbeat raced, and every cell in his body rang alarms.

Vargan?

That villain Vargan?

Why?

This can't be right. Why. Why are you standing there?

This is strange. Am I misremembering?

The top new student shouldn't be you, the villain.

It should have been the "protagonist."

And then.

The next line delivered a fatal blow.

"You are maggots."

"Oh my God."

The train that had been smoothly gliding along the plot suddenly derailed.