The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 35

The ticking clock hands reveal the current time.

1:49 AM.

I don’t fall asleep early.

Considering whether to sleep for about two hours after possessing and stepping out, the time spent lying in bed is quite short.

Yet, at this moment, I am lying in bed with my eyes closed. Normally, when I think, I lean on something, which is my habit, and I would have sat in a chair, but today is a bit tiring.

Perhaps I will fall asleep lost in my thoughts.

Let’s organize the story.

Everything I needed to do before entering Academia is done.

After entering, I raised awareness in Liam.

Unexpectedly, two days ago, I unexpectedly acquired the stalker guy from the Goddess Church who was clinging to Erica, thus obtaining a connection to the Goddess Church.

How will the original story unfold from here?

In the original, the first episode after entering Academia is a class battle that starts with typical episodes.

New students starting to adapt to Academia strive to prove their worth in that place.

Everyone appears, whether main or supporting roles, giving their all.

What is the reason for their enthusiasm?

Is it because of the Katia given based on grades?

Is it because of the young blood boiling to showcase their abilities in front of everyone?

No. The precise answer is predetermined.

⎯To catch the eye of the heroes dispatched from the church.

From a distance, heroes observe the condition of new students on the scene or through large screens.

And if they find someone appealing, they keep an eye on them and make separate contact.

The reason they interact with new students is to establish a mentor-mentee relationship.

Academia is a place of learning teeming with new sprouts that will become heroes. Not everyone, but a considerable number will become heroes and possess that potential.

Active heroes fighting on the battlefield help these new sprouts grow well. This tradition, which started with the intention of ⎯has been ongoing until now.

However, those heroes are not free enough to directly assist the growth of the sprouts. If there is a shortage of manpower on the scene, then there is no abundance.

Therefore, every year, only 10 heroes are designated to visit Academia to watch the class battle.

They select two individuals each.

They assist in the growth of two new students and observe them, then when the second semester begins, they formally choose only one as a mentee.

So, in this class battle, “20” new students will receive contact. Among them, only 10 will be selected as official mentees to receive benefits.

If they receive these benefits, it can be seen as having taken the elite course at Academia.

It’s only natural.

Authority to participate as a supporter in the mentor’s scene during the vacation period.

One-on-one education from the mentor.

Building relationships with current heroes.

Even special gifts from the church.

That’s about it.

Because of this.

Everyone lights a fire in their eyes and tries to stand out.

The reason why Louisa warned me to be prepared if she recklessly steps forward and fails is for this very reason. Knowing that everyone will try to catch attention in the class competition.

“But. I easily took on the role of leader, swept up in Louisa’s atmosphere.”

Taking on the role of leader in each class means you can easily catch the eyes of the warriors more than others.

There were certainly dissatisfied factions after I became the leader, but they couldn’t express it in front of me, and they even quickly disappeared.

I won’t reveal why. It’s too obvious.

Well, it wasn’t to receive contact from the warriors that I became the leader.

In reality, in the original work, there were five warriors who contacted Bargan. Bargan chose one of them, and the other four went to contact different students.

The reason for desiring capable talents like Bargan was probably the intention to choose someone with potential to nurture.

The warrior who became Bargan’s mentor in the novel… was that gloomy guy. A guy like me specialized in necromancy.

It would be great if the individual I chose as a warrior had a ranking within the top 10 of current warriors, but due to circumstances, such a warrior would not come.

So, instead of a pheasant, a chicken.

It may not be very appealing, but the necromancer’s training skills are quite impressive. It should be helpful. It’s fine to proceed like this.

“Since it’s connected to Alicia’s growth.”

The protagonists of this episode are not me but Liam and Alicia. It’s fitting to yield to them as per the predetermined flow.

In this class competition, the stage where two people who started late compared to others can truly demonstrate their potential and remarkable growth speed for the first time.

As for Liam, that’s a different story, but Alicia cannot miss the opportunity to grow.

This time, it’s fine not to change things arbitrarily and just let the flow go.

Unless a special event suddenly changes the situation, the existing warriors will connect with the existing students. Truly a stable choice.

Yes, “unless things change.”

***

“What’s wrong? Why are you so stiff?”

Emily asks why I have such a strange expression that doesn’t suit me.

How foolish.

How could I not be stiff when I see this.

Sitting in my seat, I couldn’t believe the words written on the paper in front of me, no matter how many times I blinked, turned it upside down, or even enchanted it.

Perhaps there’s a typo.

Even a letter sent from the church to the academy and then written to inform the students would have been more realistic.

“Milord, why the sudden change in demeanor?”

Alicia is looking at me with her usual round eyes.

The emotions I’m feeling right now are a mix of jubilation and confusion, leading to pure chaos.

Certainly, a slope is a slope, but the weight of it is significant to simply like it without reservation.

“Alicia. What if a divine being like an angel appeared before your eyes?”

“W-Well… I would immediately kneel and show respect, but wouldn’t I be extremely surprised before that?”

“It’s something as astonishing as that.”

I straightened out the crumpled paper and showed it to her. With my finger, I accurately pointed to a name.

「Halion」

“Um… Ah, it seems… like a very splendid name.”

“I wasn’t asking for a review of the name’s aesthetics.”

Even if I show it directly, they don’t seem to understand.

I guess I’ll have to explain it in person. Just as I was about to open my mouth, Pin, who was tilting his head beside me, struck first.

“He’s the 7th ranked hero!! He’s incredibly famous, and you really don’t know who he is?”

“Yes, embarrassingly. Uh… So, you mean to say that such a famous person is taking the time to come to the Academy?”

“Whaaat?! Wait, you mean Haylion?! Are you saying that Haylion himself has visited?”

Emily, who belatedly checked the name on the list, snatched it from me and examined it closely, turning it over in her mind.

“A typo… could it be? No, is it a typo? Is it even possible for someone as busy as Haylion to be sent to the Academy as a mentor?!”

Such reactions are typical.

It seems Alicia needs to teach some common sense.

Anyway, no matter how many times I emphasize it, this is remarkable.

It’s different from the existing history. Of course, it’s not like I didn’t consider things changing. It was only natural that the actions I had taken so far would cause a chain reaction and alter the course.

But still. I didn’t expect a hero who is currently dominating and capturing the public’s attention by overturning the records of existing heroes to be sent as a mentor.

Haylion.

Is that man truly exceptional even among heroes?

Within the species called humans, Haylion’s prowess is remarkable, to the point where it fits in the palm of your hand.

Even in the final battle between humans and Altifs, his performance stood out.

From the weakest and mass-produceable mindless bodies in Altif to the ‘intellects’ that are feared by heroes, it was the upper-class intellects among them that returned to dust by his hand.

Of course, that’s a story for a few years later. At his current level, he already stands out among the best.

And now, he is coming to be the mentor of a mere cute aspiring hero.

Why?

It’s the first time I’ve had doubts about someone’s actions since Alicia. Honestly, this is an unexpected situation.

I had considered the possibility of other heroes coming. After all, it didn’t matter much who came since heroes outside the top 10 wouldn’t make a big difference.

But if it’s the 7th ranked hero, Haylion, it’s a different story.

If it’s the Haylion I know, he wouldn’t just come to pass on to someone else carelessly.

He approaches everything with sincerity.

Even if he didn’t volunteer this time, but was ordered by the Pope.

He will sincerely help his mentee.

The authority to follow Haylion’s actions on the scene, receive direct education from him, and even build a relationship is provided.

Is this a crisis or an opportunity?

No, it’s because I’m thinking too much. Kengki hasn’t done anything yet. Even if he ended up coming because of a small wind I caused, the likelihood of harm is close to ‘0’.

Nevertheless, just in case.

While progressing with the work, I have to assess the situation and adjust the plan, but isn’t there a thrill in that? How should I use this unexpected variable?

My heart starts to race with the unexpected situation.

I had already sorted out what I could gain at the Academy, but life always laughs at expectations. Just as I had recently gained unexpected profits, my path had widened.

And now, a major incident like this is happening.

I am completely breaking free from the existing framework. The tables are turning. But there’s no need to worry. It’s actually a delightful thing. The predetermined plot must change. That’s why, even before the start of a full-fledged episode, I’ve been busy moving.

Even if it’s a real crisis, it’s okay. Turning a crisis into an opportunity is also a skill. I will use all the knowledge and abilities I have to turn this event into an opportunity.

If I can’t do that much, there will be no happy ending in this novel.

“Haylion. The arrival of a hero.”

If Haylion comes, then that dark and gloomy hero who was once Bargan’s mentor in the original work is no more than a passing crow dropping.

“What? The protagonists of this episode are Liam and Alicia? No, absolutely not.

They might have some action, but the spotlight cannot be on them.

Let me clarify.

The protagonist of this episode is me.

‘Shugenharz Troa Bargan.’

***

“Did I board the carriage to the Central Church by mistake?”

The girl with a quick wit asked. She was someone whose face was naturally filled with laughter.

She sat down next to a man without hesitation and stared intently at him. She even poked at his body with her fingers, inspecting him closely.

Then, realizing his surprise, she quickly withdrew her hand.

“Oh, forgive me. It was so fascinating that my hand moved on its own. I only heard rumors, so seeing it in person for the first time… Does it hurt?”

Despite just meeting, the woman approached without any sense of unfamiliarity.

The man could have ignored her, but he was not someone to rudely refuse another’s kindness or goodwill.

“It’s fine. It may look rotten on the outside, but it’s not actually rotten.”

“I wish your arm would return to its original state soon. Then, you could help even more people by being more active.”

The man replied with a faint smile. His smile seemed to hold many stories within it.

Inside the carriage heading towards Academia.

The two warriors were passing the time with intermittent conversations.

She, too, was a promising talent as a warrior, but the man next to her was on a different level of influence, known to everyone, even if she didn’t know her neighbor’s name.

How did such a person end up going to Academia for mentoring?

The woman pondered silently and then looked at the man. Sensing his gaze, the man stopped looking out the window at the scenery.

“Hailion. Why would someone like you go for such a task? While mentoring is noble, shouldn’t you be helping more people as a single individual?”

It was a harmless question. Hailion understood that. So, after a moment of thought, he gave a simple answer.

“I thought this way I could help more people.”

“Yes…?”

He didn’t provide any further explanation, as if implying that everything would naturally be understood and connected in the future. He left the answer at that.

Hailion gazed out the window.

The carriage was swiftly moving, with everything passing by in a flash.

Trees, rocks, people, houses, windmills.

Though each looked different, they all passed by quickly. Everything flowed naturally.

“Anything unnatural tends to stand out.”

Hailion said with a slight smile. The smile wasn’t forced or awkward; it was calm and fitting, as if it were meant to be.