The Villain Purchased the Heroine

Kaang–Kaang–!!

In just a few short moments, numerous clashes occurred.

Arterion and Alicia.

Both of them swung massive swords that surpassed their upper bodies but did so effortlessly, as if they had forgotten the mass and weight.

In the midst of combat, each analyzed the other's eyes, searching for weaknesses.

Kukuku–!

The swords collided.

The power struggle didn't last long.

With a parry, they looked for openings again, ringing out with clarity once more.

The fight was so fast that if one didn't keep their eyes wide open, they couldn't even see each other's swords.

"–!"

As Arterion's sword shot upward rapidly, Alicia made large movements to either dodge or deflect with her sword.

But Alicia wasn't just defending. She continued her moves based on everything she'd learned in swordsmanship and her experiences.

Smooth yet sharp.

Like a cavalryman charging in.

Shu–!

Alicia's sword, glowing blue, reflected that light, and her eyes gleamed like a raptor.

Arterion chose not to evade her attacks, choosing instead to clash head-on. He could have dodged, but intentionally didn't.

"Not bad."

"Ugh…!"

Alicia knew it as well.

With every one of Arterion's strikes that he met head-on, she felt a violent tremor, as if she were swinging her sword against a rock made of iron.

Even though they were the same person, created with the same mana aura, their masses were different.

The densities were different.

The time poured into each sword was different.

Ka-gagagagak!

In this bout, it seemed like Arterion wouldn't allow even a parry, pushing forward with sheer strength.

The sound of the aura splitting echoed.

Though the brightness seemed similar, the difference in intensity was clear. Alicia's aura was gradually being overwhelmed. As she slowly lost ground, Alicia gritted her teeth and poured her mana into her sword.

If it continued like this, she would be cleaved in two.

Alicia sensed it instinctively.

Tuhwak–!!

Alicia leaped.

Like a gymnast, she traced a wide arc over Arterion's back, using wind magic to gain propulsion as if she had a rocket strapped to her.

Even in the fleeting moment of passing, her eyes searched for Arterion's weakness. She engraved every one of his movements in her mind.

She inferred from his motions.

The movement of his muscles. The fleeting gaze. The direction of his toes. Any minor change gave clues to his future actions.

If it continued like that.

The spot where Arterion's sword, aiming like it might pierce through space, targeted was where she would land.

Then.

Taang!!

The high note of a gunshot. But it wasn't a gun. It was Alicia's elemental magic.

The air, extremely compressed, burst out, providing far more kinetic energy than at the moment of jumping.

Rushing through the air.

At a speed that left an afterimage.

"–!"

However.

Alicia's sword veered off to a path different from her intended destination.

They ended up heading to a place different from before.

Noticing her change, Arterion stopped his thrusting motion and evaded her attack.

Incredible reflexes, almost unbelievable.

And the body that made it possible.

He had transcended the ordinary human.

⎯What a remarkable skill.

Just as she was about to crash down to the ground.

Arterion muttered softly.

He reached out to the back of Alicia, who was fading into the earth.

This match was not about taking a life. It was a structure where one could be declared out either by being incapacitated or by touching the opponent's back.

Arterion concluded that he had adequately confirmed Alicia's skills and sincerity, intending to eliminate her based on the standard rules.

This woman named Alicia possesses quite a talent. If given the opportunity in the future, perhaps he could proper—

"⎯What?"

As he touched her, her body burst apart easily, as if filled with black smoke. The odorless mist obscured Arterion's vision.

His senses were restricted.

This was hallucination magic.

Only a select few could handle it due to its sensitivity to aptitude, and she seemed to be one of them.

What rotten luck that it was a magic that could strike at the heart of Arterion.

Right in front of Arterion.

The smoke swirled inward.

Shwoosh⎯!

Charging through the dense smoke was Alicia. The swirling smoke dispersed, revealing her form.

For the first time since the battle began, Arterion frowned.

No matter how exceptional Arterion's physical abilities were, this was hard to counter. He couldn't dodge. He had to block.

However, if he swung his sword to block, there was a high probability it would bounce off.

There was no time to put strength back into the hilt, nor room to accelerate his sword. Her charging stance was more akin to a downward slash than a thrust.

As countless thoughts crossed his mind.

Ultimately, the sword was swung.

⎯⎯!

With a clear sound, the severed sword tip spun in the air before falling to the ground. Even wrapped in aura, the blade was cut off as lightly as if it were nothing.

"Oh my, this is…."

Naias, who had been observing the battle, showed a look of astonishment, while Arterion gazed at Alicia with a sinking expression.

"...."

Alicia straightened her disheveled posture and regained her breath. Clang. Her sword was aimed at Arterion.

However, the situation was almost decided.

Alicia's sword had shrunk to the size of a dagger, half of it blown away.

Arterion's intact sword was glowing brighter and more crimson than when it was blue.

An aura of a color never seen before.

Alicia instantly sensed that this ominous energy was extraordinary.

That red sword rose towards Alicia.

It bore an intimidation that felt as though it could cut through everything, yet that energy was not pouring itself upon Alicia with animosity.

Arterion spoke. His melodious voice resonated through the vibrations of the air, calm as the ripples of a lake.

"…You carry an eagle inside. Though still a chick, unable to soar through the sky, soon you shall look down upon the world."

"...."

"What a shame. Having the talent to command the skies, yet you must remain caged."

Alicia understood what he meant by the cage.

The cage was the Schugenhartz Family, and thus it referred to Vargan.

"...."

Alicia felt the overlap between the recent ranking match with Liam and the current situation.

Although the words expressed by the two were different, their meanings aligned.

Freedom.

Alicia had no freedom in her current state, believing herself to be oppressed under Vargan's control.

Upon witnessing this, Liam had actively tried to assist Alicia.

Seeing this, Liam actively tried to help Alicia.

Arterion expressed his regret.

It's not that he doesn't understand.

He simply doesn't know.

They don't know how much she received from Vargan.

The awakening and teaching of talents in magic and swordsmanship.

The luxurious clothes she's wearing for the first time and all her living expenses.

The priceless opportunity to become a hero.

…

He doesn't know. He doesn't know.

He knows nothing.

Because he knows nothing, he views her as a pitiful being in need of help.

Every time he hears such words.

Every time such a situation arises.

Alicia had to taste a strange emotion she had never felt in her life. This fierce feeling, which she thought was anger, was similar but had a sense of alienation.

"…No. You're wrong."

Muttering quietly, Alicia swallows hard.

A small breath passes down her throat, dragging out that inexplicable emotion.

However, it did not settle but instead surged back, inflating within her.

Fragments of that emotion took shape as words and finally solidified.

"You are wrong, Arterion."

It wasn't just her tone that hardened.

Her gaze.

Her stance.

Even her mindset.

Alicia looked at Arterion with clear and sincere eyes and continued speaking.

As if declaring this would be the last time she wouldn't attach any unnecessary clutter.

Everything was firm.

"This is my sky."

⎯Ta-at!

As soon as her words finished, she lunged forward.

With her sword, which had broken and become a fragment.

Filled with a brilliant blue aura like never before.

In fact, there were many things she wanted to say.

An explanation about her situation.

Clarification of the misunderstandings and prejudices regarding the Young Master she serves.

Also, she wanted to inform him that this situation was all part of his plan, to extol his greatness.

However, she didn't.

It wouldn't matter if she spent a hundred days explaining.

So, Alicia concluded by succinctly expressing her view, and once again dove into battle.

To clash her sword.

She simply wanted that.

The gap in skill between them was clear.

She knew it.

She had known it from the beginning.

Her master didn't even wish for victory.

⎯Hold him down, Alicia.

She understands.

That her actions are irrational.

Simply spending time talking would be the better choice. He didn't seem to mind it at all.

But.

Crack.

Alicia's intense aura glowed as if the blade would disappear.

She remembers the moment Arterion summoned his red aura with a wave of power. An explosive strength and flexibility that couldn't compare to her own.

Tap-tap⎯.

That brief moment as she got closer to Arterion.

That short time that didn't even allow her to take a breath.

Flowing so slowly, it felt like seconds turned to minutes, and minutes to hours.

Alicia poured more mana into the hilt she was gripping.

Having a lot isn't everything. Excellent mana. High purity. And flexibility that would create a more perfect form…!

⎯Tremble.

A weak wind that barely made the small blades of grass in the field nod.

That gentle and pure energy reached Alicia, who had fiercely extended her legs.

Her sword, which had only emitted light, began to change.

It wasn't a remarkable trace. Just a weak wind. A fragile movement like a soft breeze. That delicate thread of wind began to gather one by one.

One thread.

Another thread.

Gradually, it thickens into a yarn and then swells uncontrollably in an instant.

It grew uncontrollably in an instant.

The thread was a bundle of wind.

And that wind was made of very thin aura.

Eventually, when all the sword lights were covered in a new form of power.

The two moved closer together.

"I want to prove that my sky is right!"

The sword was swung.

Embedding her resolute will.

Alicia clashed with Arterion with that one intent.

KWA-DUDUDUDUDU–!!

It was a new power that even Alicia herself, wrapped in aura, was stunned by. A force that was intentional but not consciously acknowledged.

It was not red aura.

Nor was it merely simple aura.

It felt as if a typhoon was wrapping around the sword light.

"...!"

Arterion, facing the sword, also realized that Alicia's aura had changed.

He couldn't help but notice.

The previous power was on a different dimension altogether.

The blue aura possessed special attributes, taking form in the sword.

This was an advanced form of basic aura, a stepping stone to ascend to red aura.

It was "Attribute Establishment."

Through this short battle, Alicia reached the realm of embodying her attributes within the aura.

Realizing this, Arterion couldn't help but smile faintly at the corner of his mouth.

Seeing her with her own sense of faith.

It seemed that she was not merely a woman with outstanding talent.

Such thoughts flickered through his mind.

*

–BAAAAM!

"The king of Class 2, 'Ocel Solus Lauga,' has died. The king of Class 2 has died. All remaining members of Class 2 are automatically out. Once again…"

Arterion stood still, listening to the mechanical voice broadcast.

He had been defeated.

It was the second defeat he faced from the same person, the second bitter pill in his life.

"…Did he anticipate that I would come?"

Arterion calmly sorted through the situation.

The communication line linked to Fallon seemed to be dead; there was no response. The Vargan waiting at the base was merely a mimic of his appearance.

Vargan had predicted his surprise and had prepared beforehand, watching for opportunities from another location. He couldn't crown a familiar as king, so he probably moved right after finishing a large-scale magical projection. He couldn't even dare to imagine this until he witnessed the spirit properly imitating him.

"...."

It was an undeniable complete defeat.

However, unlike the entrance exam, it wasn't humiliating or shameful.

Rather, it even felt somewhat refreshing. Perhaps because he had lost so definitively.

That might be the case, but it was likely that her role was significant in how he felt.

"…An interesting woman."

Arterion looked down at the collapsed Alicia. She would be waking up soon, having only fainted and not seriously injured.

She would head back to the battlefield and give her all again.

Though she was currently eliminated, since Vargan captured the king of Class 2, she would resurrect according to the game's rules.

If a class's king was captured, anyone previously eliminated within that class could be revived.

Not the entire class, but one-third of the whole class; however, given her abilities and injuries, she would likely be able to pull herself back to the battlefield.

Finishing his brief thoughts, Arterion turned to go outside.

In the distance, he spotted Naias watching the situation.

Without stopping, he moved away and left a single word as if it were an afterimage for Naias.

"Tell the master, there will be no third time."