The Villain Purchased the Heroine

"What's going on?"

The door to the Student Council Room, which had been enveloped in silence, opened.

Rheincarven, the Student Council President of Academia and the first son of the Schugenharz family, looked at the newcomer with a cynical gaze.

"I came regarding the selection of new members for the Research Society."

Vargan closed the door behind him as he stepped inside.

With the door shut, the outside noise was cut off, and the flow of air belonged entirely to the two of them.

The first to speak was Vargan.

"I've finished the first round of document screening, so I need to book a place for the second round of interviews."

Rheincarven showed no particular reaction and maintained his silence. His intelligent eyes briefly scanned Vargan.

Vargan confidently pulled out a document envelope as if to show he had already prepared what Rheincarven wanted.

"I've written down the rental room and the time. I confirmed it's vacant before I filled it out, so there are no errors."

The envelope, placed on the high-quality wooden executive desk, didn't disturb Vargan's demeanor, but a subtle smile played on his lips. He was clearly maintaining basic etiquette, yet something about him made the atmosphere feel uneasy.

Two sharp yet similar eyes met precisely.

"Just like the time with the Research Society's name, thanks to you, things are progressing smoothly. As a brother of the family and a member of Academia, I express my gratitude."

"..."

Rheincarven slowly closed his eyes. It was hard to tell if he was deep in thought or simply tired. His posture hadn't changed since before Vargan entered.

He still showed no reaction.

Indeed, as the first son, Rheincarven was a remarkably rigid person.

Feeling this, Vargan wiped the smile off his face and turned away. Their conversation seemed to end here. He had conveyed what was necessary, and he had no reason to linger in this suffocating space any longer.

Vargan stretched his long legs and was about to step away.

"Vargan."

A straightforward voice.

Just calling his name resonated deeply, almost as if saying, "This is what being a noble is." It caught Vargan just as he was trying to leave.

Vargan turned back lightly, a small smile on his lips.

His expression implied, "Why are you holding me back? Don't we have anything left to say?"

Rheincarven opened his eyes and gazed directly into Vargan's black eyes once more. It wasn't a battle of wills, but neither of them flinched. They seemed to gauge each other as if trying to assess their motives.

"You didn't drag me back for a little eye challenge we didn't do in our childhood, did you? What is it you need?"

"Arbol Frutal."

It was the Research Society founded by Vargan, a group that had attracted attention under the prestige of the Student Council. Rheincarven slowly continued, recalling Vargan's recent unusual behavior.

"Do you want to start a guild or something?"

Not everyone becomes a hero by graduating from Academia. Nobles might return to their territories, while commoners might take on the role of hunters, tackling dungeons and slaying monsters.

It doesn't work that way. In the case of nobles, some might return to their territories, while commoners often take on the role of hunters, conquering dungeons and defeating or capturing monsters.

The members of the research society that Vargan has assembled vary greatly in talent, skill, and rank. They aren't forming an elite group to gain power within the Academia, nor is it merely for socializing within the noble class.

When thinking back to Vargan's "astonishing statement" from a month ago, it seems likely that what he aims to achieve through the research society is the cultivation of hunters for guild activities.

As Vargan read the intentions of Rheincarven, he pretended to think deeply while rolling his eyes down. He didn't forget to let out a small sigh, "Hmm."

He wrapped up briefly and replied.

"If we mix the talents of the Academia with outside influences so soon, wouldn't that be a waste? After all, these individuals are fresh talents that meet the entrance criteria of the Academia."

As Rheincarven maintained silence without a suitable reaction, Vargan naturally continued speaking.

"Well, while you might see them as some impurities that are hard to understand, who knows?"

That shell that appeared to be a lump of dirt might house a pearl inside—Vargan's expression suggested he wasn't just guessing but was rather confident.

Rheincarven still wore a stoic expression, unable to read what was on his mind.

"You seem quite self-assured."

"It's my principle to act confidently in all matters. Besides, with you as my ally, what is there to be afraid of?"

"..."

"There's not a spoonful of falsehood in what I've said. Now, if you'll excuse me."

Creeeak—.

With those words, Vargan left the Student Council Room.

And then.

The tranquility that had momentarily broken returned.

With the sunlight coming through the window, one could almost hear the dust dancing in the air.

"...."

Left alone, Rheincarven took out a piece of paper from the drawer of the executive desk.

The handwriting was neat and carried a certain elegance.

If it resembled Vargan's character, it would seem to burst forth, but strangely enough, he was meticulous about upholding such exceptions.

Flap.

It had been about a month since he received this paper from Vargan, yet every time he looked at it, he felt the need to verify it deeply. Was there no special magic cast upon it? Was it mixed with absurdity?

He had stared at it so long that his eyes grew weary from checking repeatedly. But still.

'Nothing.'

No tricks were visible.

If something was prepared, he should have picked up on it. He had used mana to check, yet if there were no hints, this writing was certainly Vargan's genuine intent.

"..."

It was written personally by Vargan.

With the family crest stamped at the end, it was an oath document.

"I, Schugenharz Troa Vargan, relinquish my right of succession to the Head of the Schugenhartz Family."

The content was simple, yet it was a sentence that could not be easily overlooked.

It held a stronger destructive power than any lengthy paragraph.

*

Upon exiting the Student Council Room, someone was waiting for me.

A woman with a small stature and a fierce glare.

"Seems like I see you often these days. Erica."

"...."

Erica's fierce gaze shot at me.

Normally, she would have told me not to acknowledge her or not to bother her, but now she only spoke with her eyes.

Had she been waiting for me, or had she wanted to enter the Student Council Room but couldn't because I was there?

As I pondered this, trying to pass her lightly, Erica's expression changed.

She still hadn't spoken, but her mouth was slightly open, and she looked as if she wanted to catch me and convey something.

It looks like you're trying to convey something by grabbing me.

"What's with the groaning?"

I stopped my steps and faced Erica.

Her small mouth was fumbling, as if trying to spit out something she didn't want to say.

In her blue eyes, reminiscent of a predator among small animals, there was a hue similar to the emotions I had seen before.

It was something akin to shame, as after the Class Battle.

Hmm… if she's reacting this much, it must be something significant… Ah.

I realized.

Thinking it over, it's almost our engagement anniversary with Erica. Since I still had a week left, I had pushed it aside, but it seemed a letter had arrived for her.

"I'm sorry to say, but if you have no business, please don't hold me back. I'm a bit busy right now."

"Wait a moment… Schugenharz!"

But I pretended not to hear her.

Why, you ask?

There's no grand reason. I was simply curious about how Erica would handle the current crisis.

I train useful individuals to be strong. I did so with Alicia, and my principle hasn't changed.

Caught off guard, Erica let go of my hand as if she had touched something dirty, hastily clearing her throat with a cough.

Her previously relaxed expression turned cold again.

Her beautifully crafted, jewel-like blue eyes were fixed on me.

"I'll give you a chance."

With an air of arrogance, as if to save the poor souls, Erica stood there with her arms crossed.

"What kind of chance?"

"About that lunch or dinner proposal you suggested."

The meal suggestion was likely a bait thrown to lure away the stalker attached to Erica.

"And what of it?"

"So, I'm giving you another chance."

"Erica, if you don't say it clearly, I won't wait."

"No, it's that… Ah, just wait a moment!"

I warned her again, saying I would leave if she didn't speak.

Then, Erica's face began to redden as she couldn't maintain her composure.

Her mouth kept opening and closing like a baby bird waiting for food from its mother.

Then, as if she came to some realization, she muttered to herself and walked towards me with small, determined steps.

"…Right, thinking it over, there's no need to hesitate. I'm just passing on what my mother conveyed to me."

"Then tell me."

"About the attitude… Anyway, I'll say this once, so listen carefully."

With Erica just within reach, still carrying a hint of her flushed cheeks, she attempted to act dignified.

"Next week, on this day. Keep your evening free. I have somewhere to take you."

*

The reason Erica didn't ignore her mother's letter was due to her personality, which aimed to follow her parents' instructions and the surveillance that came with it.

On the day of the performance, there would surely be a staff member present to verify whether Erica and I showed up. Considering they even handed over tickets, it's certain. There had been similar cases before.

Anyway, after the standoff with Erica, I returned to my room and immediately focused on my internal mana.

When I said I was busy with Erica, it was the truth.

For the great trial that awaited us in the coming months.

'First, I need to expand my total mana supply further.'

Ever since embodying Vargan, I've been training non-stop every day without fail to expand my internal mana.

I could skip a few things, but not this. The techniques of Vargan, which fundamentally consume a lot of mana, hinge on one's absolute mana capacity.

Curses and familiars used in groups can quickly drain all mana. For Vargan, total mana is a prerequisite.

The mana is quickly devoured in an instant. For Vargan, the total amount of mana is a necessary condition.

If I want to move on to the next step, I need to increase the stable amount of mana that can be supplied.

I concentrated my mind while sitting cross-legged on the floor.

It doesn't have to be cross-legged, but personally, this position felt the most comfortable for activating mana.

I checked the total amount of mana in my body.

Progress as expected. At this rate, I won't be late for my deadline, but the sooner, the better.

"..."

Then, I closed my eyes and directed all my nerves towards my mana.

The magical power flowed through my whole body like blood. Although it doesn't have a visible entity, it certainly exists and is active.

Since there's no heart in existence, I forced its pumping to accelerate the movement of the mana, spreading it evenly down to the cells at my fingertips.

Alongside this, I visualized the image of the core contained within my body.

Vital and vast, like the source of life.

As if gazing at an endless horizon…

…After spending just over three hours on expanding my total mana amount, I opened my eyes.

My whole body was sticky with sweat.

I had even worked up a heat, and if I hadn't opened the window beforehand, this room would have turned into a sauna.

Hoo.

I let out a light breath and composed myself. Since this was mana-controlling training, I was not in a state to use magic, so I wiped my body with the cold water and towel I had prepared.

The once cold towel quickly became lukewarm due to the heat.

'The unique spell I need to create as a graduation requirement. The conditions I need to prepare are no joke.'

Among the graduation requirements for the Academia's wizard department, each student must complete their unique spell. With four years still to go, most aren't deeply pondering it yet, but I couldn't afford that luxury.

Schugenharz Troa Vargan.

The villain who torments the protagonists in the Academia.

Three years until my exit from the story.

The original Vargan breathed his last without completing his unique spell. Yet, for the first and last time, a half-finished unique spell once revealed itself.

The villain Vargan's final moments.

In the final chapter of his life.

Vargan activated a massive unfinished unique spell, eliminating many current students, professors, and even heroes in the chaos.

At that moment, the once-reasonable Vargan had slipped far away from the person I cherished.

In a frenzy where blood gushed like a fountain from everywhere, he reveled in debauchery and amusement, thus disappearing into history.

"..."

Generally, it's easy to divert attention from his madness, but the noteworthy point is the unique spell.

Only about half of it was completed.

Vargan overwhelmed everyone with that imperfect magic.

So naturally, a question arises.

What if that spell had been completed?

What if Vargan had shaken off laziness, gathered all the materials needed for the spell, and successfully refined it through a time of endurance?

'Perhaps it's meaningless to speculate in history, but for me now, the situation is different.'

Maybe.

That's where the story could have ended.

No, it truly ended because Vargan's unique spell was not completed before his demise.

As a gateway to continue the backstory of Liam and his companions. Just for the sake of appropriate difficulty adjustment.

'Do you think I'd just sit and watch that?'

Vargan's death.

The unique spell that was never completed until the very last moment.

"I will definitely make it complete."

I assure you.

Once the unique spell is completed, the one who determines the end of this story will solely be.

Me.