The Villain Purchased the Heroine

One of the biggest obstacles in Vargan's future is Alicia. I've chained her down step by step to make sure she can't escape or betray me.

I've invested a lot of time and resources in her over the six months since I took over.

Not that I mind. That sharp sword that once glared at me is now firmly in my grip, allowing me to wield it however I want. That alone makes it worth it.

But, no matter how great the sword is, it's useless if its master isn't up to par—it's nothing more than a stick.

I acknowledge Vargan's talent and early stats, but just because he's decent now doesn't mean he'll overcome every challenge that comes our way.

So, I focused the majority of my time, aside from investing in Alicia, on myself. Bit by bit, meticulously and carefully.

I won't go into all the boring details. There's clear and tangible results right before my eyes; I don't want to waste time explaining my growth process.

"I am Schugenharz Troa Vargan, addressing you as the top new student."

As for how I got to give this speech, I was one of the few outstanding individuals selected among those who met the admission requirements. I ranked first in a separate test.

That's all there is to it.

"I don't plan to ramble. Let's get to the point."

Since it's an important word, I scanned the audience. They have no idea of the humiliation that awaits them.

"You are maggots."

My voice, contained within the magical tool, filled the auditorium and spread far and wide. The little annoying noises in between faded as if they were mesmerized. I took in the scene before me.

Some people were plugging their ears and frowning.

Others blinked with vacant expressions.

And some looked ready to pop their eyes out, grinding their teeth in anger.

"You're small, weak, living in filth, eating garbage, and you continue to wallow even as mature maggots."

What a pathetic life, how utterly insignificant.

Zing⎯.

Something transparent and purple shoots out, spreading quickly around me. The mana vibrates, not too thick. If it was denser, the staff would have to take the situation seriously.

"A maggot that can't think straight, mindlessly munching on the filth that falls into its mouth without having opened its own eyes."

The only little advantage is that it plays a role as food that helps the main characters grow, I suppose.

"That's you."

Of course, there are high-ranking nobility from foreign lands among the new students. They could shout and stomp up to the stage in defiance, yet no one made a big deal about it. Just a little shiver here and there. Not at all.

I scoff at their pathetic state.

"How amusing to see you wriggling like maggots. It's like peeling the skin off a corpse that's been dead for days and seeing what's inside. If you have complaints, come forward. You could just come out and protest, right?"

"It feels like I'm stripping the skin off a dead body and looking at its insides. If you have complaints, come out. Isn't it enough to step forward and protest?"

Not everyone is immobilized. There are those with exceptional skills, those who know how to break the curse, and the less intelligent commoners among them.

However, they don't even try to stop me. They know very well that the term 'maggot' I'm using does not refer to them. They're feeling it even without me explicitly mentioning it.

Yet, to even speak it is my goodwill and consideration for the foolish ones.

"Currently unable to move, yes, you all are the ones. The word 'maggot' is directed at you. Do you understand now? You, who can't even break free from such a low-level curse and remain rigidly stupid."

As I was earnestly delivering my speech, I inadvertently infused it with a tad bit of emotion. With a natural smile back on my lips, I gaze upon the foolish maggots.

Around them, restricted in their movements, are bright purple crystals shimmering above their heads, almost as if they're advertising themselves. It's like the cursor that signifies an NPC in a game.

"Noble heirs. What a beautifully resonant phrase. But alas, it does not suit you."

Those unable to move have finally come to realize their current situation. The ones resisting the curse are either from relatively well-off families or those who had ample opportunities to engage with magic from a young age.

Among them, there are quite a few who recognize each other. The foolish ones, meeting each other's gazes, contort their faces. There's another commonality tying them together besides class.

"You are of lower caliber."

The Academia is a place that cultivates what you'd call heroes, safeguarding people from external threats. It's an institution born from the largest force, the Church.

This essentially means:

Wealth, connections, honor.

Three delectable morsels just to hear about them. That's what the Academia is all about.

Isn't it just heavenly?

Wouldn't anyone want to enter?

Just looking at the competition, passing through those gates boasts more than a thousand to one odds. Isn't that something to be praised? But…

"You should not be praised. Instead, you ought to feel ashamed of the fact you passed and reflect on your laziness and the wasted life, face-planting into a trash can."

Some among the crowd, having realized who my family is, have long given up the thought of resistance, but most are twitching their facial muscles in an expression of anger. Truly fitting for the saying that even a worm wriggles when stepped on.

Oh, one guy's reaction is particularly intense. He's flapping his lips and glaring wide-eyed. It seems I should loosen the restrictions a bit for the sake of his enthusiasm.

"…No matter how much of a traitor Schugenharz you are, isn't this going too far! Do you even know what you're doing right now—?!"

Finally able to speak, he erupts with frustration.

It's a feeble threat directed at me amidst this garbage of a crowd.

So even among these trashy folks, there's a rank, isn't there? How laughable. The difference is so slight it wouldn't even be noticed without forced attention.

"Based on the strange embroidered patterns on those gloves, I can see you're from the Ocel's Langfit family. In fact, you seem to be from the direct line."

I deduced his identity from the information gleaned from his appearance. He seems to love marking himself with his family's insignia. He must have a great deal of pride in his lineage.

"The Langfit family is responsible for a considerable volume of magic tool materials produced within the Ocel Kingdom. Therefore, I can't say their influence is narrow."

I continued spitting out information about his family.

At first, he stood there blankly, not grasping my intentions. But soon he realized and unleashed an uncontrollable rage.

"Are you insulting me and my family?!"

His face flushed red, he pointed an accusing finger at me, visibly indicating that he was heated. It appeared he was on the verge of delivering a passionate speech, but frankly, it just looked like…

At a glance, it's just…

『The pig is squealing.』

"What, what…? What the hell are you babbling about…?"

I entered the Academia backed by my family. I barely got accepted thanks to the family status. If the Academia hadn't lowered the acceptance criteria to catch those with potential, I wouldn't have made it through.

Saying I lack talent is just an excuse.

Don't even think of claiming it was due to a lack of support from my family. You are simply…

『A pig wrapped in premium cloth known as 'Lanfitt.'』

"…!!"

『The gifted education you received since childhood, the environment you were given to train your well-prepared mana. Expensive wands and even relics. The fact that you've only reached this level despite receiving countless advantages should be a source of shame, not pride for your family.』

A few snobby noble heirs barely scraped through the Academia. Their goal was never to become heroes and save people.

They're here to indulge in socializing for a better life. Or perhaps they enrolled without a shred of personal conviction, simply following the indoctrinated beliefs.

Of course, it's not my intention to criticize their desire for a good life. What matters is the longing for a purpose. They lack authenticity and a destination. They merely follow the desires hammered into them.

Among the types I detest, these fools make my teeth grind.

Oblivious insects, unable to comprehend or even attempt to grasp their given conditions, tendencies, or talents.

"Schugenharz, you bastard…⎯!! Uh, uhh…?"

The pet pig of the Lanfitt family screeched like livestock fighting for its life before slaughter, only to suddenly quiet down as if sedated.

I didn't want to hear such a dreadful noise, so I set this in motion, and it worked perfectly. There's no need to worry. It's a curse used as a kind of healing magic to help the body relax and enjoy a pleasant sleep.

Out of the blue, another student behind him ended up supporting him as he collapsed.

Now, let's ignore that guy and continue with my speech. I still have more to say.

Huff⎯⎯.

I take a deep breath and clear the area.

『If you're going to flaunt your desires, at least have the skills to back it up. If you are nobles, show the qualifications that come with it. To enjoy the privileges of the beloved class you cherish, it's only natural to prove that you are superior to those you disdain.』

It's not enough to simply stand at the top of the pyramid to earn respect. You should possess something the crowd you stand on can support to truly be beneficiaries of your class.

It's utterly pathetic for those with no qualifications to bask in such privileges.

『We're bound to have a lengthy relationship ahead. After all, you are also new students who passed the examination of the Academia. If you have grievances, feel free to express your anger directly to me, just like that pig earlier. If it's a rank match, I'll gladly accept.』

With a snap of my fingers, I lift the constraints I placed on them. The noise of those who were bound mixes with those who weren't, filling the auditorium with chaos.

However, those whose bodies were freed didn't dare to confront me. Precisely, they couldn't.

They are those who have no desire to become heroes and hold family honor above all. Even if I've irked them, they cannot act recklessly towards me.

Why?

Because I'm Schugenharz.

Moreover, they've witnessed exactly what humiliation Lanfitt's man faced. Knowing the gap between us is evident, it would be foolish to challenge me.

『Don't delude yourselves into thinking you're special. Currently, your value amounts to nothing more than that of prey.』

I shift my gaze and survey the overall scene. In this bustling hall, there's one person unusually quiet.

Among the numerous attendees chattering their thoughts loudly, one man stands stiff as if turned to stone.

Even though no violet orb hovers above him, he appears frustratingly controlled. A red-haired female student nearby tries to shake him, but he doesn't budge an inch.

I won't budge an inch.

Of course, that's to be expected since I cast a particularly strong curse on that guy.

I brushed off what caught my eye and used a mana-infused phrase to quell this chaos into silence.

*

'What in the world is happening?'

The unforgettable speech from the top student ended, and the entrance ceremony was underway, but nothing was sinking into Liam's mind.

He tried to calm his body with a cold expression, but his body wouldn't easily obey his thoughts.

'Vargan is aware of my existence. Moreover, he delivered a speech that was originally meant for the protagonist. This is different from the original flow. Why? And that's not all.'

Let's think this through.

During this speech, he harshly criticized those who did not achieve notable accomplishments compared to the background and called them maggots. That alone was an aggressively unfathomable statement, but what mattered now was not the exterior but the content.

He left curses and marks on the individuals he designated, and upon realizing the situation, this was only imposed on nobles, excluding commoners, Emily was also unaffected.

However, he similarly cursed Liam, a commoner, to remain immobilized. Something purple didn't rise, but he could assure himself of that.

A mistake? Could it be that he accidentally cursed himself? No, definitely not. Just for a moment, he looked at Liam at the end. He scoffed at the sight of him unable to move due to the curse.

Yeah.

It was as if….

'He already knows about my abilities and mocked me for not handling what I had properly.'

What could his actions mean?

Could it be related to the change in the story?

Countless possibilities flickered through his mind. After possessing this body, he was moving cautiously to avoid causing any significant butterfly effects, yet could it be that he had heard news about himself?

If not, was the flow of this story world originally set to go in another direction?

If not even that, could it be… just hypothetically speaking… that Vargan is also a reincarnated being in this novel like him?

Nothing could be confirmed yet. To veer off from the smoothly running tracks like this. With this, worry began to creep in about whether he could proceed with the story stably.

"…Liam, Liam! Are you listening, Liam?!"

Emily's voice, which had been ringing like tinnitus, suddenly became crystal clear and brought Liam's senses back from his haze.

With widened pupils, Liam looked at Emily and realized he had been lost in thought for too long, slowly regaining his breath with a slight smile. But the one in a hurry wasn't Liam; it was Emily, her.

"Liam! What are we going to do? Look at this!"

"Why…? What for…?"

Before Liam could finish his response, Emily, with a quivering voice, thrust a flapping piece of paper in front of him. This was the first time she had been this urgent.

"What have you been doing daydreaming? The class and team arrangements are done! Seriously, this is really bad…!"

The class and team arrangements are based on academic performance, with the top ten students being the only ones who can choose a group member, aside from that, it's by rank.

This wasn't something individuals could adjust, and Liam naturally considered the possibility of also being in a different team or even a different class than Emily.

She couldn't be unaware of that fact; why was she reacting this way?

"What?"

Liam's gaze shifted to what Emily was holding. What met his eyes was a harsh reality hard to accept.

Emily could end up in a different group than him. He had thought the chances of that were quite high, but still.

"Emily… you…."

"Liam… what am I going to do… I… I…"

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Class 1 Assignment Results

Group 1

Schugenharz Troa Vargan

Alicia

Serena

Emily

Toylen Troa Finn

….

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

"I… ended up in the same group as the top student… Vargan…"