The Villain Purchased the Heroine

One year later.

The arch-nemesis of the heroes, Altife, assaults the Academia.

An unprecedented tragedy descends upon the Academia.

The red monsters Alicia spoke of.

They are officially known as Altife. Their force is unfathomable and continues to grow in real-time.

Caught off guard by the red wave engulfing the Academia, the second-year protagonist party is left in shock.

The robust defense system guarding the Academia is shattered, and countless students are massacred. Especially the new students who enrolled that year, about half of them perish.

A significant number of second-years also meet their end. While they fared better than the first-years, that doesn't mean it was good.

Most of the deceased were those who had previously lagged behind.

Emily and Finn were part of that group.

Heroine Emily's death is explicitly depicted, while Finn, just a simple supporting character, is mentioned to have died later on.

People might have found it odd looking at Emily's character.

She loves the protagonist, Liam, but unlike Alicia, she doesn't possess exceptional talent, isn't of high status, and her personality isn't exactly warm.

How can she be a heroine then? Who would fall for her? Who would look at her favorably?

Is that why?

She dies.

To be precise, she only becomes useful after she dies.

In response to her death, Liam roars with a rage he has never felt before and awakens.

He blames his own immaturity and reflects on his complacent past.

She was a stepping stone for the protagonist's growth.

Such a horrific turn of events.

Liam's awakening and the tragedy of the Academia serve as the turning point for a dramatic shift in the story's atmosphere.

And thus, it dawned on me.

The background of this novel I have reincarnated into is anything but bright. Just because you're the main character doesn't guarantee survival. And don't even get me started on supporting characters—let's not waste our breath.

Haven't I mentioned it before?

I do not overexert myself.

To overexert means to go excessively beyond your target.

I usually allocate just 2 hours for sleep.

Whenever I have a moment, I concentrate on mastering my mana and improving myself.

Focus.

I wait for the right moment while doing the groundwork.

If it's insufficient, it's insufficient; it never goes overboard.

That's the unfolding I have to face moving forward.

"Not knowing this situation and brushing it off as nonsense, Emily will probably… in a year…."

Well, maybe she'll die.

Though, that wouldn't be too bad. If that helps, then why not.

Finn gulped nervously, his eyes wide. I wonder how it'll turn out.

"Um?"

As I walked down the hallway to attend the mandatory elective class, I spotted a female student frowning at me.

She almost instinctively scrunched her face and tried to ignore me.

This again? How disappointing.

"Since we're in the same class anyway, wouldn't it be better to go together? There are also eyes around us."

"...."

"Didn't we display an unbeatable synergy on stage at the welcome ceremony? I thought you fully opened your heart to me back then?"

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard."

My fiancée boldly retorted.

Every word of hers had thorns.

"That was 'unavoidably' done. If it weren't for our families, I wouldn't have even sought you out, and I certainly wouldn't have forced a smile to dance."

"Considering that, your expression was pretty decent."

"That just means I've sharpened my social skills."

Erica crossed her arms in response.

I shrugged it off.

Bargan's memories linger in me, and I vividly remember what she was like in the past. The image in my mind differs a lot from now. She's improving.

"Seems like your height hasn't changed."

"Shut up, Schugenharz."

"Whatever the case, our relationship doesn't change. We should act like a pair of mandarin ducks at official events."

She and I are well-known figures in the Troa Empire. The fact that we're engaged is something nobility everywhere would know.

That's why you can't completely shake me off either.

"…Whose fault is it that it turned out like this, act so natural about it."

Erica mumbled to herself.

I ignored that and walked into the classroom, and although Erica was reluctant, she eventually followed.

*

When class began, the door burst open, and in strode someone with a familiar face.

"Hello! Nice to meet you. I'm Paula, and I'll be teaching the first-year advanced theory of magic spells this semester~!"

I knew it was coming, but seeing her like this is just bizarre.

Is she really teaching with the same energy she had at the mansion? She definitely seems a bit off.

Looks like she managed to go through the reinstatement process without much of a hitch. I almost wish something had gone wrong.

"Oh my, I see some familiar faces!"

Paula waved at me. No need to bother responding.

She then glanced at the person sitting next to me and reacted as if she understood something.

Currently, Erica and I were sitting a bit apart, but anyone could tell we were putting on a show of being close friends.

They created a scene where acquaintances were sitting closely together.

Since Paula probably knows the extent of the relationship between me and Erica, she's likely got a rough idea of the situation.

"I'm so glad the top-performing couple got together! With such handsome and beautiful people next to each other, it really makes a picture! Hohoho."

Understanding? Yeah, right.

That brat is at it again.

"..."

Erica's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Even though she tried not to show it, it seemed that she was quite displeased.

"How lovely that your harmony is so good that you're clinging together. I'm envious."

This is going too far.

I locked eyes with Paula.

It looks like I need to shut her up somehow.

Just when I was about to say something, it was Erica who spoke first.

She didn't raise her hand to get the floor. She just cut in.

"Let's stop treating students like animals at the zoo, Professor Paula."

With a slightly youthful yet strikingly authoritative tone.

"We're here to attend class, not to be a source of amusement."

Erica had a deadpan expression. It seemed like she was okay with slightly upsetting the opponent's feelings.

She was meeting Paula for the first time and despite the difference in status between a professor and a student, she stood her ground without backing down, maintaining her dignity.

Yeah, that's the kind of character she is.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Erica. That wasn't my intention… I was just happy to see a familiar student. I apologize if I offended you."

Paula quickly backed down in response to her coldness. It wasn't because she was scared of Erica, but rather because she realized her words had upset someone else.

"I also apologize for acting rudely towards you, Professor. However, I hope this doesn't happen again."

At first glance, it might seem like Erica was bowing her head to Paula, but upon closer inspection, it meant something entirely different.

Saying she would apologize held no substance; the weight of the sentence was in the statement "I hope this doesn't happen again."

Ultimately, she was warning Paula. Don't let that kind of remark come out of your mouth again.

A student talking to a professor, no less.

"Ahem, ahem. Then, shall we start the orientation?"

Paula attempted to shift the atmosphere and proceed with the class.

Seriously, why poke at something when it's not even Alicia?

Glancing over, I saw Erica's long eyelashes flutter as her eyes moved between writing and the chalkboard.

Erica focused on Paula's lecture as if nothing had happened.

She knows when to speak up and when to pay attention in class.

She's a girl who knows how to prioritize.

"…Just look away, Schugenharz. It's unpleasant."

Not bothering to direct her gaze at the traitor, she expressed her feelings straightforwardly as she felt my gaze.

What a fiancée of Vargan and a true villainess.

Her attitude is off the charts.

*

After the class concluded without incident.

Well, not really without incident. Since that kind of thing happened right from the start.

It seemed that Erica wanted to get away from me as quickly as possible as she hurriedly stood up.

She quickly got up as if she wanted to escape.

Is she intentionally being that blatant about her dislike? Human psychology makes you want to talk more when someone is so openly dismissive.

"Are you just going to walk away?"

She gave me a weird look, as if she had misheard me.

Well, at least she stopped.

"I have something to say, how about we grab lunch together?"

"…?"

Erica blinked and started fiddling with her ears, as if there was something wrong with them.

Then she asked, "Did I just hear that wrong?"

By the look on your face, it seems I heard you right. I'm sure of it.

"Is it really that strange to have a meal with your fiancé?"

"If that was a joke, that's enough. It's not funny."

"Joke? I'm being serious."

As I answered sincerely, Erica tilted her head in confusion.

Our eyes met.

Erica changed her expression. Her eyes widened.

"Schugenharz… you finally touched the crazy stuff, huh? You're not in your right mind."

She looked at me with a mix of disgust and horror.

That expression… it's the same one people make when a cockroach appears at home. Isn't that a bit too rude?

"Think whatever you want. So, what will you do? Will you join me?"

Without any hesitation, she replied, "Absolutely not. Is that even a question?"

"That's unfortunate. Well then, I'll wait for the next opportunity."

Having been rejected, I decided to back off gracefully.

I didn't think I'd succeed in one go. Considering our relationship, I figured… maybe I'd need to ask about ten times.

"Wait a second. Schugenharz."

As I showed signs of leaving, Erica stopped me.

Her face was a mix of confusion and vigilance.

"Is it about family matters? Is it serious?"

"Family matters?"

"You wouldn't say something like that unless it was serious."

"Is that how it's taken… well, I guess so."

I nodded.

"That's not it. It's purely a personal matter."

"You're saying it's a personal matter unrelated to family…?"

"Yeah, so keep your schedule open for lunch on the day of our next class."

"What… Oh, I get it now. It's because of the upcoming Class Battle, right? You're trying to get information about my class through me."

'Our Class 4 will win. I won't let your class win.' She added that as a side note.

The Class Battle is an important episode, true. But not in this situation.

"You're thinking too hard."

"Well, you're coming at me like this…!"

"I just want to have one meal with you."

"That's a lie… you're lying."

"If you want, you can pick the time and place yourself."

"…!"

Erica's eyes widened even more, as if to say this kind of absurdity can't be real.

But the response that came was, "I still don't want to."