The Villain Purchased the Heroine

The exceptional genius.

The greatest heroine.

The best assistant.

All of this refers to her, Alicia. There were countless other nicknames, but these were the most recognized ones used in the story. Even a casual glance reveals Alicia's outstanding talent as a Hero.

Enrolling in Academia as a commoner, she stunned everyone. Everyone recognized her talent. From students to professors, even the Church had high hopes for her.

⎯Alicia will be the frontrunner of this generation. She will protect everyone and become humanity's hope.

In fact, as time went on, she began to soar higher than anyone else, spreading her wings like a majestic bird, reaching toward the sun.

Higher, higher.

So very high.

However, nobody knew that her wings were made of wax.

Oblivious to the dangers of the sky, her wings melted before they could reach the sun.

The first practical exercise.

The first encounter with the red monsters she had been talking about. Being in the same group as the protagonist Liam, she took on the role of the rear guard as a magician. Liam, being the only one aware of her trauma, dashed around desperately trying to prevent her from encountering the monsters.

But there was a limit. Despite growing quickly like Alicia, Liam's skills weren't enough to cover everyone.

Eventually, the monsters approached Alicia's position. Clueless, everyone focused their expectations on her. Since she was a genius, there was nothing to worry about. That's what they all thought. But then—

The developments afterward were disastrous.

Ironically, the promising new generation genius, Alicia, faced with monsters, instead—

⎯Kyaaaah!

Did nothing but crouch down, trembling in fear.

Because of this, her group received the lowest possible score. Excluding the protagonist, no one saw that coming. Who would have thought she'd be afraid of monsters? Everyone was shocked. That shock quickly turned into teasing.

From then on, she acquired a new title. One that resembled a shadowy past before her glorious fame.

Coward.

A nuisance.

A pretty shell with no fruit inside.

Words that were more suitable for mockery than honorifics.

Fortunately, as the story progressed, she gradually overcame her trauma and became a guardian who protected everyone. But reaching that point took a whole year.

A year.

A whole year.

That's far too long to waste waiting as mere preparation time. No matter how talented, no one can afford to wait that long.

Therefore, she was brought in to teach her magic and swordsmanship. All conditions were set as they awaited the day Rubid Village would be destroyed.

Currently, it's uncertain how many times she's died. During that time, there's nothing for me to intervene. The only thing I know is the moment she escapes. When all the livestock I prepared in advance die, she can break free from the cycle of repetition.

Her trauma is severe, and I've been awakening her with nightmares lately, so it should have a stronger effect. Perhaps she will completely break down without doing anything. If that happens, I'll sadly have to dispose of Alicia and choose another option. After all, there are other methods besides her.

It was a wretched thing, and it had recently been awakening me from nightmares, so it was bound to have an even stronger effect. I could end up collapsing mentally without doing anything at all. If that happens, it'll be a shame, but I'll have to discard Alicia and choose another option. After all, she's not the only one I can go with.

Can Alicia really keep her sanity until all the livestock die? She has been given enough strength to hold her ground against those creatures. I've done all I can for her.

So, what's left now?

That's up to her.

*

There's no time to understand the situation. The monster began to move again, wearing a displeased expression.

I don't know if I've lost my mind or if I'm truly trapped in a nightmare, but one thing is certain: if I don't move now, I'll die in the same pain as before.

Hee hee hee.

See? What did I tell you?

Don't think you can blame me for your inaction back then. Just be honest with your feelings.

You did nothing at that time. Why?

Because you were scared.

You're nothing but a coward.

What kind of excuses do you have when you were hiding in the warehouse just to save your own skin?

Cowardly little sister.

Alicia sees the image of herself. She looks exactly like she did on that last day, but her voice is not the warm tone it used to be.

The emotions are anger and mockery.

14-year-old Charlotte is mocking Alicia's appearance.

The monster passes by Charlotte. Her figure flickers and disappears like a mirage. Alicia's face comes up close to the monster.

"A-ack…!"

Unable to face it properly, Alicia reaches out to push the monster away but ends up just backing away. Run, you have to run. You must escape!

Her thin legs, that had shown no sign of movement during her last death, begin to move.

Finally, as if responding to her desperate wish, her legs start to obey her will. They tremble violently like trembling aspen, but Alicia can run now.

[Creeeek?]

The monster also noticed her change. It thought she was free food that couldn't move, but she had legs that could run away. That means there's only one action the monster should take.

"…!"

Swoosh! The monster's tentacles shot toward Alicia's legs. They were sharp and quick, like a bee's sting. Alicia sensed it and narrowly dodged.

She successfully avoided the monster's attack. Her legs are moving. Now all she has to do is get through that door and outside…! However.

Thud. A pain, the source of which she cannot understand, centers in her abdomen. It's worse than any pain she has experienced until now.

She definitely dodged the tentacle, so why?

That question is immediately answered. When she looks up, the monster is clearly grinning, showing that it has emotions. It doesn't just have one tentacle. Two. Two long ones sprout from its back.

"Guh…!"

Red blood spurted from Alicia's mouth. Suddenly, the monster got splattered with her blood, but it didn't lose its smile.

Dreamy, dreamy. The monster's tentacle moving through Alicia's belly shifts again. As if to ensure its prey's death, it yanks it out in one swift motion.

The blood, blocked by the monster's body, bursts forth, and a large amount of blood is released all at once. Alicia's vision begins to fade back into darkness. She had just managed to move her legs and speak, yet was still unable to do anything.

"...."

Alicia's body collapsed to the floor as she lost consciousness. And so, she faced yet another death, the number of which she couldn't even count.

Death continues, unceasing.

Over and over.

Over and over.

*

Alicia's head shattered like porcelain as she was running away. The brain fluid and blood burst out, but Alicia would never know.

Alicia screamed as her leg was severed. The excited monster leaped high and pounced on her. She tried to stab its eyes with her sword, but her arm couldn't reach. The monster bit into her face.

*

Crunch. One of Alicia's arms was being gnawed off. Every time the monster's jaws moved, she felt like she was losing consciousness, but she held onto that thread with her sword until the end.

She was determined to try everything she had learned so far: mana and swordsmanship. Even if it was a short time, she had engraved it into her body so she wouldn't forget.

With a scream of pain, she clenched her fist. One arm was being eaten, but with the other one, she could surely kill it. She couldn't just keep dying like this. Each time she returned from death, she felt as if her stamina, mana, and mental strength were all being chunked away.

Repeatedly, it had happened, but at this rate, she would inevitably die in the end. Alicia recognized that and began to fight back.

Mana is like muscle.

Proving the results of her hard practice. She gathered the mana within her into her hand. The blue light flowed as if it were alive. With this, maybe she could land a hit on it!

Alicia swung her mana-infused fist at the monster with a scream. Her fist collided with the hardened skin of the beast.

Boom. The sensation transmitted back through Alicia's fist felt heavy. She had landed a solid blow…!

[Creak?]

The monster stared at her as if it had seen something bizarre. It didn't even leave a scratch. Alicia felt disheartened.

Crack.

Alicia's body was split in two.

*

Alicia faced death with her eyes gouged out.

Alicia faced death with her head severed.

Alicia faced death while suffocating.

...

....

Alicia is running. Breathing hard, her legs moved frantically.

Monsters are destroying the village everywhere. There isn't a single place within her line of sight where monsters aren't present. Everyone is screaming. Save me! Someone save me! But Alicia wasn't strong enough to protect anyone. Forget saving someone; she couldn't even keep her own life intact.

Her mana-infused fists had no effect. The sword infused with aura could only leave small wounds on the monster, and it was only enough to kill one that had entered the warehouse. Her unstable aura mirrored her mental state, flickering like a wavering candle.

Hehehe.

In the end, she's running away.

Well, she has to.

That's our little sister.

But she's made progress compared to before.

She couldn't even run away back then!

Every sound that reached her ears felt like a grip on her heart. Her head was cut off, her arms were severed. Even having endured such experiences, she could hardly grow accustomed to the pain.

Her legs stumbled. It was due to fear, but also because her stamina was running thin from repeatedly facing death. Perhaps the next death would be the last. No, this might be the last one.

She thought death wasn't scary. After dying, everything ends, right? She thought it wasn't so bad since she wouldn't be tied to reality anymore.

But no.

Death is too terrifying.

From childhood, even now. That hasn't changed.

Look over there, Alicia.

There are two little kids.

Even amidst the chaos of running away, Charlotte's voice came through clearly. Alicia's gaze followed the gesture of the girl.

"Edel… Freesia…!"

Alicia called out the names of the girls. Not to draw their attention, but very softly. Almost like a murmur. So faint it would be hard to hear even if nearby.

Is that big one their sister?

She looks really young.

Younger than us.

A monster approached the girls, swaggering with a tongue flicking out, as if craving their tender flesh.

Edel stood in front of her younger sister Freesia, facing the monster with a kitchen knife. Tears blurred her vision, and she wiped her eyes with one hand repeatedly. Her little body trembled, much like her gaping mouth.

Facing the monster. Tears clouding her vision, she wipes her eyes repeatedly with one hand. That little body trembles, and her open mouth mirrors the same fear.

The kitchen knife shakes in her grip. If it's heavy with one hand, she changes to two.

Step forward.

The monster approaches. Edel's body jumps.

"Sa… save… the princess…!"

She makes eye contact with Edel's tiny eyes. Alicia, unable to ignore her and run away, stands frozen.

She wants to save them. She wants to defeat that monster and pull them out of fear right now. But in contradiction to that thought, her body won't move.

Stop it, Alicia.

Who do you think you're going to save?

You'd better hurry up and just go!

Otherwise, you'll have to taste that gut-wrenching pain again, right?

Alicia couldn't deny that voice. The fear of death, her body's memory of pain. Everything stops her legs from moving. Yet she tries to speak.

"I have to help…"

With great effort, she opens her mouth. Grinding her teeth against the emotions trying to take control of her. The resistance is still strong. Her feet are frozen, unable to move.

"There's no one… just me…"

Her master and companions have left the village. None here have the strength to fight against the monsters. Only herself. Only she can stand against them.

Gah! Stuck like a nail in her foot, her legs won't move. That's the problem. That's why she can't move. So how, how can she save Edel and Freesia?

I told you to stop.

You're just making a fool of yourself.

You were wrong to think you could do anything in the first place. You're not me, right? Maybe if you're lucky you could take down one, but there's no way you can kill those monsters.

"No… no…"

She can handle mana. She can use stable aura. She's trained and learned to use it naturally.

Even if she can't reach her sister level. Even if it takes all her might to kill one. Who else is going to save those kids if not her?

Just as Alicia's toes start to move slowly for a few precious moments.

Creeeak.

A disgusting sound is heard.

In that brief hesitation, the fate of Edel—the girl who longed for a fairytale—changed.

"Sis…?"

Freesia, Edel's younger sister, was taken aback by the sight. The reality she faced was far too harsh for her to handle with a clear mind.

She's dead. Edel is dead. Freesia's sister is dead. This might not be the first time. She must have experienced death several times in this world of hers. They had promised. They promised to go have fun after this was over. In the end, she called out to her. Their eyes met. And yet, she couldn't move. The monster's motions remained relentless. This time, it was clearly aiming for Freesia. She would die. Without even putting up a fight, she would meet a tragic end.

"Not… allowed…."

Her hand gripping the sword tightens. The legs that were barely holding up now feel a firm will grounded in them for the first time in a while.

"Not allowed… not allowed… not allowed…!"

Alicia pulls out the sword while repeating the same words. Her face struggles to express an unfamiliar emotion—anger.

Oh, what's this, Alicia?

This is a bit surprising, isn't it?

She can feel it.

Her mana fills her body. Foolishly, she hadn't thought to draw on the mana in the air. Despite all that practice! Foolishly scared…!

The energy surges up within her. Blue smoke swirls around the sword blade, enveloping it entirely. It condenses and gains intensity. A light bright enough to dazzle her eyes. That was Alicia's aura.

It's scary. It's frightening. She wants to run away. But now, at this moment, the one emotion flooding her is.

⎯I want to save them.

That was it.