The Villain Bought the Heroine - The Villain Bought the Heroine chapter 71
Chapter 71
The effects of closed-door training were remarkable.
Garsham, a magician in Class 5 to which Difeliya belongs. She achieved high grades, ranking 6th upon admission, specializing in elemental magic.
Garsham, with a sense of justice and kindness, cherished Difeliya, the leader of the class. When Difeliya, who was ruthlessly defeated and humiliated in a class match, was mentioned, Garsham accepted the grade match in anger.
The result was clear.
She easily defeated her opponent using the same magic and element, relying solely on output and performance. She did not use any curse magic.
Winning was not the goal; it was a place prepared to confirm with her own eyes how much she had developed, extracting only the element she used accurately.
Garsham, with pink flowers blooming behind her ears, showed a strong affinity for water and earth elements among the Ein of the Direc Union.
The elemental magic was her pride, but when I overwhelmingly pushed the same magic, she was taken aback.
Her 10 kartias were taken away with the ice.
Now, 80 kartias. Except for the final exam of the first semester, she had acquired all the kartias.
*Tock tock.*
“Surely all members of Arbol Prutal are gathered? If not, there will be consequences.”
“We have confirmed the attendance of the members. We have completed all preparations so that as soon as the young master enters the research society, the promotion ceremony can proceed.”
“That’s how it should be.”
Currently, Alicia and I were walking down the corridor towards the training ground.
Today, the promotion ceremony was scheduled to take place.
After entering the research society, they would showcase in front of everyone how much they had progressed, and it would be decided whether they would move up to the next group or remain.
“Alicia, although you are a leader, you still need to prove your skills. It won’t happen this promotion ceremony, but if progress is lacking next time, you will be demoted from the group.”
“Yes, I will be cautious.”
Helping people progress is not just about rewards; sometimes, a whip is necessary. If someone shows significantly less progress than others, they will be demoted without mercy, even if they are a root member. This is a matter of principle.
This research society is to cultivate talents who will fight for me, not a kindergarten to give dreams and hopes. It proceeds strictly.
And so, they arrived at the training ground without interruption.
Without a pause, they opened the massive door.
“Alright, let’s begin the promotion ceremony.”
If you don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of others, bring out your abilities properly.
I immediately took my seat.
***
Outside the vast training ground.
Two individuals were looking inside.
“They seem to be quite active.”
“Yes… They are diligently submitting reports.”
“With an organization of this scale, doesn’t it appear to be an official institution of Academia?”
“…Headmaster, speaking from a standpoint of concern, we must keep an eye on Arbol Frutal. Remember the rudeness he displayed on the day of the entrance ceremony. He is undoubtedly a mental case and could be detrimental to Academia in the future… Ahem, what I mean to say is that we need to look at things from a critical perspective.”
“hahahahaha, Professor Fergio truly cherishes the student council.”
Fergio, a professor who prioritized the student council he supervised over any other research group, was a prominent figure who strongly criticized Arbol Frutal’s activities under the name ‘New Student Council.’
Bargan, who had secured Arbol Frutal’s reputation using the student council’s fame, was not pleased.
“You mentioned a promotion ceremony. How does it proceed, Professor Fergio?”
“Oh, could you wait a moment?”
Fergio unfolded a booklet in his hand. It contained information about the promotion ceremony submitted by Bargan.
“Let’s see… When Arbol Frutal admitted new members in bulk, they recorded information about their entrance scores in the first assessment and converted the abilities confirmed through interviews in the second assessment into approximate grades.”
“Oh… a grading system.”
“While we have been documenting the growth of the research members weekly and have a rough idea of their levels, this promotion ceremony aims to check for another potential that hasn’t been confirmed in the records and instill vigilance in all members. It’s primarily about reassessing grades by comparing past records with current status… as written here.”
“A diligent student indeed. Busy with their own tasks, I suppose.”
Fergio seemed satisfied. There was nothing noteworthy to point out, as he had mentioned.
As he turned his head and gazed inside through the large window, the unfortunate man’s face came into view. Bearing a resemblance to the student council president, he lacked basic manners unlike the latter.
Ah, our eyes met for a moment. He glanced at Fergio as if looking at the laundry spread outside and resumed the promotion ceremony.
That trait. That trait that infuriates me!
Thinking he knows everything just because he’s Shugenharz. Such things are of little importance to a hero!
“….”
While Fergio pondered, the headmaster slowly scanned all the members of the research group. He scrutinized each face, imagining the emotions they harbored.
Passion, tension, determination…
They were all youthful and vibrant.
Sparkling with energy like blades of grass growing in summer. They were the children who would lead the future. Precious beings whom he wanted to pamper and protect in every possible way.
“hahahahaha….”
However, this soon led to a bitter aftertaste. Such beautiful children. Young lives bustling with dreams, striving forward with their own aspirations. Coming here at the most crucial time of their lives…
‘Not being able to finish within our generation. I feel sorry.’
Now, with aging eyes, he felt remorse towards those who would carry on the future. His gaze reflected back at him in the window, the eyes that had lost their vigor. The wrinkles of time evident on his hands. The silvery strands of hair losing their youthful shine.
The headmaster harbored a sense of compassion towards them.
Knowing the hardships, trials, sorrows, and despair they would face ahead. Feeling the helplessness of his generation that could only pass this down.
The headmaster’s eyes, gazing at the shimmering green leaves, were filled with sadness.
“Professor Fergio.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s elect the next captain before it’s too late.”
“What are you talking about! How can we choose the next captain when the current one is perfectly fine?!”
The captain lowered his hoary head. He verbalized what he had been contemplating for a long time.
“How long do you think this old man can hold on?”
“Captain…!”
“Everything is cyclical.”
This body decays into earth, and from that earth, new life sprouts.
A legendary figure in the wizarding realm, the captain was preparing to step down from his throne for the future.
With deep eyes, Pergeio conveyed his firm intention. He couldn’t accept this fact.
“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”
“hahahahaha… I hope it’s not too late.”
Leaving him behind, the captain started to move, dragging his thin legs. Pergeio watched his retreating figure.
The reliable back of the captain, once seen in his youth, now stooped. The two legs that supported everyone had weakened to the point of discomfort without a cane.
Pergeio knew well that he was aging. He also knew that someday the captain would step down from his position and leave the wizarding realm.
But he couldn’t let go of the past loyalty.
Not yet… Not yet, it should be fine.
With that compromise with himself,
he quietly followed the captain.
***
To conduct the promotion ceremony, Francesca’s power was sought.
She could revive the dead bones, somewhat mimicking the accomplishments they had achieved in their past lives.
The extent of restoration lay within Francesca’s abilities.
Hence, if she possessed the level of power scattered on the roadside in her past life, she could almost fully recover all power; if she had power surpassing Francesca’s level, she could only utilize a portion of it.
Ultimately, her skeletal soldiers were lifeless. Furthermore, she could adjust their strength according to the mana she poured in.
I could even provide mana and assist in delicate operations. Isn’t it a perfect item to use as a training partner?
Francesca felt uncomfortable that her soldiers felt like they were on an experimental stage, but that was a trivial matter. With good materials, one should use them correctly.
I carefully observe each time I share her alchemy to create new combinations. It’s not just about gaining and utilizing information about her; she is also collecting information about me.
“Next is Emily.”
As Serena finished her turn, Emily revealed herself.
Serena showed better results than the average Arbol Frutal member. The time to draw the bow had significantly shortened, and the concentration had increased.
Especially, the speed and strength with which the arrow flew had greatly improved, allowing her to accurately aim at enemies from a greater distance. It was evidence of her recognizing her weaknesses and trying to overcome them.
The reason Serena has been highly regarded for a long time is this. Quiet yet diligent, she accomplishes what she sets out to do. Indeed, she is quite useful.
“Oh, I feel embarrassed being like this.”
Emily began to make excuses. Then what about Serena and the others who went before her?
“No need for chitchat, let’s start right away.”
“I realized it right after I blurted it out, you catch on quickly…”
“15 seconds have already passed.”
The time allotted to each person is limited. Within that time, they must showcase all the progress they have made.
Emily hastily drew her dagger and readied herself.
In the past, she might have retorted, “You didn’t even say start, why is time passing!” But without further ado, she swiftly switched to combat mode.
The scattered energy gathers and solidifies. Her pupils become more serious and clear. As if shaping Alicia, who cuts through enemies.
Clang.
Emily’s opponent, a skeletal soldier clad in black armor, takes a step forward.
The skull recalls distant memories on the other side, gripping the longsword with clattering fingers. The sunken eye sockets face the present, not the past.
Having shared Francesca’s meal, I adjust the details of the skull, incorporating Emily’s records from the enrollment season that are preserved as data.
The skeletal soldier no longer follows his past life. His newly formed combat style will pose a threat to Emily.
Like this.
Whoosh?!
The skeletal soldier, who was gazing at Emily, leaps forward, brandishing the sharp longsword towards her.
Emily doesn’t look away.
The blade strikes.
With heightened senses, Emily reads the sword’s direction.
She doesn’t evade.
She doesn’t flinch from the approaching soldier’s black sword.
Instead, she evaluates his strength and calculates.
Emily faces her past self. Still inadequate, like the image from six months ago. If you look closely, her stance is sloppy, full of gaps.
To think that she believed she was slightly ahead with such poor swordsmanship. To mourn being surpassed by Liam. Unable to match Finn’s efforts, let alone his talent. Failing to measure up to Liam’s skills.
She must reflect.
She must change.
She can’t stand still alone.
Clang?!
Emily slightly twists the sword she was wielding and cuts through the opponent’s attack.
The cleanly sliced sword now matches the length of the dagger she holds, and the flying blade embeds itself into the ground.
An act she wouldn’t have been able to do originally.
But over about six months, Emily has changed.
Her aura, determination, movements, and perspective.
Advancing a step further, she has formed a new self.
As the serious energy emitted by Emily begins to dissipate, she starts to question her own actions as if finding them hard to believe.
She looks at me, someone who could be considered a judge, still somewhat flustered.
“Me, me… I’ve become much stronger than I thought, right?!”
With her heart pounding at this remarkable achievement, Emily doesn’t just scream out loud; she is undoubtedly celebrating inwardly.
I speak for her joy.
“Next.”
I respond to her desire for a specific answer with a hint of mockery. Emily’s turn is over, so I need to check the next person.
“Hey, hey…! Don’t you have to praise me here?! I’m not saying I want your praise, but still… you should acknowledge my growth, recognize my efforts so far… show some leadership as the head of the research club!”
“You’ve grown adequately, become reasonably useful. Are you satisfied now?”
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“….”
Suddenly feeling dizzy, Emily rubs her head, then moves her foot without further resistance. Along with the words, ‘…yes, this is how you should be. Accept it as a call to strive for more, not to be content here.’
Though her tone lacks vigor, her steps forward do not.
I turn the page.
I examine the information of the next member.
Ah, finally, he’s here.
In truth, what I’m most curious about is this fellow’s growth.
“Show yourself, Fin.”
Bumjae, the last in the class upon enrollment, who trained with me at Hailion, Toyren Troa Fin, revealed himself.