The Villain Purchased the Heroine

"Haha! Just kidding! Of course, you're human. If the Young Master were of another race, I wouldn't have missed it. My eyesight is exceptional!"

Naias, chuckling, covers her shining eyes.

It's an abstract statement, but it's definitely not wrong. If she were human, her vision would probably be at least 9.0. Thanks to her 'eye for essence,' she can see the distribution of mana, infrared, ultraviolet, and environmental factors, along with blessings and magic lower than her level.

"I want that."

It's tempting.

Using Naias like this for indirect access isn't bad, but… using it directly would definitely be more convenient.

Is there a way to make that happen?

"Y-Young Master! Just because you transplant my eyes doesn't mean the effect will carry over! Besides, being a spirit, it probably can't even be transplanted!"

Naias's face turns pale as she quickly backs away.

What a rude little thing. Anyone would think I'm a madman trying to gouge out my familiar's eyeballs.

"I won't take them, so calm down. It's true that a fleeting desire for possession arose, but there are many eyes better than yours."

"Y-Young Master, I'm really getting scared. W-What are you planning? Are you thinking of plucking my eyeballs? I don't know where you'd get them, but like I said, it won't have any effect, so it's meaningless!"

"I know. I'm not planning on transplanting them."

"Is that for real…? Huh? Let's go together!"

I move ahead, leaving Naias, who is casting suspicious glances behind me.

That collapsed one will naturally wake up in about five minutes. I can just leave her be.

Naias, appearing as Erica, hurriedly sticks to my side. She tries to cross her arms, so I push her to the side.

By the way, does she have any thoughts of her own? Surely she isn't thinking of following me to the dormitory in this form, right?

"Naias, revert your transformation."

"Huh? Can't I just go like this? I like my appearance right now."

She had said she wanted to maintain Alicia's appearance when she came to my room before, and now this.

She really changes more easily than a chameleon, both inside and out.

"Returning like this will complicate things, so change back quickly."

"Hey, hurry up and solve it."

"Tch, yesyes, I'll follow the Young Master's command~"

Naias grumbled while complying.

If she had been a bit more mischievous over there, I would've made her crawl like a snail back to the dormitory. What a shame.

⎯So, done?

Naias's form vanished completely, like she was disassembled into air. It seems no one is around me now.

⎯It's frustrating that I can't move like this… I can only turn my head a bit.

"Stop chattering and be quiet. Hearing voices inside me isn't pleasant."

Spirits like Naias usually reside within a contract-bound medium.

For them, a physical body is temporary.

When they transform into animals or humans, they consume surrounding mana to maintain their form; it's not permanent. They lack any inherent physical element.

Furthermore, just as I made a contract with Naias, they cannot exist in this world without obtaining a medium through a contract.

The medium doesn't necessarily have to be a living being.

It can be a stone lying around, gold from a mine, or a legendary sword.

So, it was possible to sustain themselves with a relic as the medium.

⎯Young Master, when can I turn into a humanoid again? I really don't like being without a body now.

"Transforming into a humanoid is quite useful. No need to whine; an opportunity will come soon."

It's not far off.

Just because I used her once doesn't mean I'll discard her. She's not disposable.

⎯Really? You promise?! Yay! By the way, I have a lot of forms I want to change into. Like what…

"I get it, so can you be quiet for a bit?"

When I get back to the dorm, I'll send this noisy one back as a relic. I feel like I'm going to lose my mind.

*

Flap.

While reading a magic book in the laboratory, Alicia, who was continuously glancing to refill my tea, spoke up.

She must have been waiting for the page to turn to minimize her interruption.

"Young Master, with the Class Battle coming up soon, are you sure it's okay to only engage in Research Society activities?"

Looks like she's trying to blame me, the leader, for not doing anything before an important day like the Class Battle.

I've already heard similar complaints endlessly from our professor, Louisa.

"Th-that's absolutely not it! It's all about your plans, Young Master. I know everything has a deep meaning. I merely wondered what it was!"

Ah, just so you know, I also spoke.

More precisely, I thought about speaking. But I spoke while simultaneously thinking.

⎯Huph.

By the way, the tea tastes quite impressive. Alicia, your skills are improving more and more. It's good that you're gaining more strengths.

"T-thank you. I didn't expect you to like it that much… I'm embarrassed."

Alicia covered her face with her hands, trying to hide the rising heat and looking pleased.

Hmm? This feels strange.

"…This time, I didn't say it aloud."

"Eep! My apologies! I just had a feeling you were thinking that, so I…."

"...."

I didn't teach her mind-reading; how did this happen?

I'm not the type of person like Alicia, who shows their feelings on their face. In the past, I was a genius actor capable of maintaining a perfect poker face without any wavering.

"…If you look at me that way, I feel like I want to crawl into a mouse hole from embarrassment."

"If you look at it like that, I would want to crawl into a mouse hole out of embarrassment."

"It doesn't seem like anything has really changed."

"Have I developed an observational insight that can grasp such high-level acting all of a sudden?"

"Or have I been so scrutinized that you've picked up on my subtle habits?"

"It seems I have more to be cautious about in the future."

"Anyway, back to the topic."

"Alicia, what do you think about the current situation of our Research Society?"

"Um? Ah… I think it's nice that we're as close as family and harmonious. It's also a training ground where we refine our respective skills…"

"I knew you'd say that."

"Such an emotional person."

"The current members of the New Student Council, including myself, are five. The number of members I envision for the Research Society should be higher than this. Yet, we're not doing any publicity separately."

"Yes, that's correct. You prohibited the publicity for the New Student Council."

"Right, why do you think that is?"

Alicia, who had a serious expression as she pondered, hesitated before offering an answer.

It seems she recalled something but feared I would scold her if she said it aloud.

"I won't reprimand you, so go ahead."

"Isn't it… to maintain the dignity of the nobles?"

In other words, my neck is as stiff as an old tree, extremely intolerant of bowing to others, which is quite stubborn of me.

Well, it's not entirely wrong, but it's not the correct answer either.

"The most important thing to sell a product is, of course, the quality of the product. You know that, right?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then what's the second most important thing?"

"…The attitude of the merchant?"

Oh, that's quite close to the correct answer.

"But if that's the case, it's even more confusing. Doesn't a merchant need to strive to give customers a good impression and promote their product widely to sell it?"

It's not unreasonable to have that question, as most merchants do sell their products this way.

It's a sort of conventional wisdom.

"There's absolutely no reason for our Research Society to do any publicity. From the moment the name was established as the New Student Council, we have received all the attention. Our recognition can be deemed sufficient already."

"I'm sorry to say this, but… being famous doesn't necessarily mean it's in a good way, does it?"

Her point is valid.

A name alone can leave a significant impression on others.

In other words, the title 'New Student Council' appears to others as a research society posing as a student council or a group denying the current system. Nothing more, nothing less.

"However, that's merely a prejudice based on the name. The activities we've presented under the name of the New Student Council have solely revolved around personal skill development."

We haven't engaged in any disruptive actions or activities mimicking a student council.

Despite that, there's a flood of negative opinions about the New Student Council.

"We are consistently achieving results and compiling reports. I, who've been observing everyone's conditions, know this the best."

The negative perceptions surrounding the New Student Council are, in fact, 'interest' masquerading as negativity.

It's not that there aren't any actual negative feelings. However, they are not deeply rooted.

If one isn't a part of the Student Council or a staff member, our peculiar name is merely that. Since others view it poorly, it might be seen as simply riding on that wave.

A research society that's just peculiar. One could say it rode the wave of others' unfavorable views.

"What would happen if we changed that impression all at once?"

"…!"

Alicia quickly gulped.

But her eyes, widened like a rabbit, quickly returned to reality.

"If the Young Master's plan goes ahead, the accumulated interest, which has already reached its limit, will turn positive. However… whether that's possible…"

"It is possible. Alicia, isn't there a perfect stage already set up?"

"…You mean the Class Battle?"

Exactly.

The pinnacle incident and location that captures everyone's attention.

Is there a better place than this?

"Why not promote it? If there are too many participants, the interest will be diluted. For instance, how can we convey who the members are and how much they've grown?"

Purely powerful might.

Strategies that read the field and dominate.

Unexpected variables.

If there are too many fitting those criteria, it becomes problematic. Rarity is important.

"..."

Alicia, momentarily lost in thought, spoke.

"If we simplify the guaranteed report stamped with the Professor's seal via a larger poster later, it will be even more effective."

"Seems you've got the hang of it."

I smiled broadly.

We'll utilize the stage of the Class Battle.

Show overwhelming results that leave no choice but to acknowledge our strength in front of everyone, exhilarating them. Or move them to tears with a touching story.

The more glorious it is, the better. But simplicity is also acceptable. Heavy emotions that rise slowly can wield great power too.

What's needed.

Just a single thrill.

That tingling sensation running up your spine spreading throughout your body.

If the New Student Council's banner flutters.

'Negative' shifts to 'Positive.'

⎯Slurp.

Really, the tea tastes great.

It's curious how the flavor changes based on the method, even though it's the same throughout the day.

As I held out my empty teacup, Alicia reflexively moved.

It's a motion she's repeated hundreds of times already. Her hand, pouring the tea, trembled slightly.

Perhaps she felt the importance of her role after our conversation, resulting in her nervousness.

"I will strive harder so as not to disturb the Young Master."

"I'm not worried about you. The ones I'm concerned about are those two being trained by Serena over there."

Alicia looked out the window.

In the wide space where the grass swayed, a red-haired woman was exhausted and on the ground. And a man with a short haircut was barely moving his trembling arms and legs.

The red-haired woman wouldn't stop her actions directed at the man who kept repeating the same movements. After saying a few words, she stood up again and swung her sword.

As if refusing to lose to the man, her teeth were clenched.

On the other hand, the man didn't seem to care at all and didn't even spare her a glance.

He just kept it up.

Repeating the same action over and over.

No matter how many times she tried to transition to another action.

The man was like a bug caught in a loop.

One single movement.

The same breath.

Consistent sword strikes.

⎯Slash!

He swung again.