The Villain Bought the Heroine - The Villain Bought the Heroine chapter 78
Chapter 78
“We’ve arrived. This is it.”
Liam, who was touching the wall, confirmed the presence of a unique multi-layered seal at a specific point.
“So, once we release the seal, it will open?”
“Yeah, I’ve memorized the decryption, so I can do it quickly.”
In response to Ophelia’s question, Liam answered calmly.
It was not a tightly bound space but a device designed to allow authorized personnel to pass through.
Even though it wasn’t a simple decryption, as long as Liam knew the type and content of the seal, he could open and enter, even without detailed instructions.
Following Liam, Nicola placed her hand on the corresponding wall.
Even through her spirit, it was impossible to grasp what lay beyond. It was an encryption prepared by the Academy, just in case.
“Ah, we really found it.”
Lukaiel, as if disapproving of the fact that they had found it, grabbed Harianna’s wrist and pulled her along, indicating that they should stick to the original test route before she changed her mind.
“As I mentioned earlier, Harianna and I will go to the mock altar. If others come, we’ll say we got separated due to the trap in the nest.”
“Thank you, Lukaiel.”
“Thanks, my foot.”
Lukaiel maintained his cold demeanor and headed towards a different fork in the path.
Harianna, seemingly being led by him, apologized to Liam and everyone with a light gesture.
Liam asked Nicola and Ophelia one last time.
“Are you two really going to follow us to the end? Following Lukaiel and Harianna would probably be better…”
“Liam… persistent.”
“If Nicola is getting upset, there’s no need for further explanation, right? Let’s not waste time and move forward.”
Pushed by the pouting Nicola and the determined Ophelia, Liam continued with the decryption.
Although he had read the novel, he didn’t have all the information memorized; only the type of encryption was mentioned, not the detailed process.
If it wasn’t information obtained through Academy classes or library resources, it would have been impossible to find the solution.
Extracting mana, Liam meticulously covered the empty parts of the decryption. Fortunately, there were no distortions, and they could proceed smoothly.
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After about a minute.
“Done.”
As Liam spoke, the object making up the wall crumbled like an afterimage, revealing the hidden passage behind.
Finally, the path split into two, fitting the name “fork in the road.”
Both were covered in a dark mist-like substance, hindering clear visibility.
Nicola extinguished the floating fireball used for illumination.
Although it wasn’t easy to move forward, there would likely be Academy personnel inside.
To avoid getting caught by them and facing trouble, they needed to act as stealthily as possible.
After a brief moment of exchanging glances, the three, having prepared themselves, stepped into another passage. As they entered, the door closed, forming a sticky inner wall.
Carefully scanning their surroundings, Liam and his companions cautiously proceeded along the passage.
Perhaps due to being a hidden passage, there was not a single Altif present inside. With no traps activated, they could solely focus on lurking.
A corner appeared before them, turning at a 90-degree angle.
Ophelia, the archer, expanded her senses to the fullest, predicting the scene that would unfold next.
None of her senses captured any vibrations. There were no small insects, no movement in the inner wall; it was silent.
Ophelia nodded in agreement, then moved forward from Liam.
In his newly acquired sight, there were truly no obstacles at all. It had been quite a while since he arrived, yet not even a professor or any other official figure was in sight, not even the shadow of a person.
Liam was clearly at ease moving around, but as time passed, a sense of unease began to creep up on him. It was a psychological worry, as things were unfolding much easier than expected, which made him more anxious instead.
Crunch.
Pressing down on those expanding emotions as much as he could, he did not stop advancing.
He had already come this far.
It was not blocked, things were going well, so if he hesitated and retreated just because of feeling uneasy, there was nothing as absurd as that.
“When you reach the room with the altar, immediately jump out and destroy the core.”
Even if it was forced, one had to act swiftly before officials intervened. It wouldn’t be long before Alicia would encounter Altepf.
In one part of his brain, as he continued to think like that, he managed to arrive at the room with the altar.
In the nest, there was no concept of a “door.”
Whether it was a nest being utilized and modified, sometimes tools with traces of human presence could be seen, but there was no door.
Carefully scanning the inside while hiding his body, he faintly saw the altar and the figures around it in the darkness.
There was no more room for hesitation.
Roughly advancing, he just had to destroy the core in that altar!
Huh?!
Liam gave a brief signal to Nicola and Ophelia, then plunged into the ground.
Without paying any attention to the people in his peripheral vision, Liam immediately rushed towards the altar.
It had been a long time since it was unsheathed.
His sword, which would destroy the core in one strike, was surrounded by a lightning attribute.
Crackle?
The situation progressed in the blink of an eye, and Liam, accelerating, faced the core right in front of him.
Plunging his sword in that state. He thought the core of the nest would be destroyed like that.
Chin.
“Huh…?”
Only the sound of current crackling was heard, and Liam’s sword did not even leave a tiny scratch on the core.
It seemed as if the nature of each object was different, like trying to pierce iron with a twig.
Becoming more desperate, Liam immediately increased his mana output and followed up with another strike.
…Perhaps, it was due to nervousness.
According to the novel’s information, the core of an ownerless nest was so soft that it would be easily destroyed by a weak impact.
However.
“Excuse me, are you okay? Hello??!”
Once again, along with Liam’s sword being blocked, Ophelia’s frantic voice from behind struck his ears.
Liam’s heart raced. Instinctively, he felt that something was going wrong with the situation.
“L-Liam…! People… the people here aren’t breathing!”
Nicola’s gentle voice. Only then did Liam turn his head and could survey the entire space.
Even though Liam’s group suddenly rushed in, they showed no reaction at all. Not showing any movement, they remained frozen in their positions as if time had stopped.
When he properly observed them, he also noticed people lying on the floor.
Something… something was going wrong.
Under the altar, Ophelia was casting healing magic while continuously checking the condition.
Nikeldor is no exception. He busily moves, utilizing all the resources available to him.
“What is happening right now?”
In an instant, a pitiful voice escaped Liam’s lips, like a breath being exhaled in panic.
When the words spoken by himself reached his own ears, Liam’s brain worked frantically.
This is an unusual situation.
It’s no longer just an exam issue.
What happened to the people who were here?
Was someone attacked?
I must inform everyone of this fact…! Should I stay here with Nicola to help the people recover, while Ophelia sends people outside?
“It might be useless. They’re already dead.”
Like a whisper in Liam’s ear, the young voice seemed to suffocate him, not allowing him to breathe.
Thump, thump, thump. The body conveys the pounding of the heart. The vibration, as if the heart had become two, was unusually loud, almost echoing in his ears.
Descending to the earth at the speed of an angel. The cold hand brushed Liam’s head, caressing his cheek, flowing down his neck and reaching the vicinity of his heart.
A face smaller than Liam’s.
Meeting the eyes of the child, Liam immediately realized that this was not a normal being.
Pupils torn horizontally.
Not a human either. The ominous aura and the intense vitality emanating from the child categorically excluded her from the realm of humans. The child’s mouth was torn long, resembling a smile.
“The guests arrived sooner than expected. I haven’t properly taken over this nest yet.”
Ah, I don’t even know who I am.
Saying so, the child opened her mouth, holding a chilling smile. A voice continued from her snow-white lips like a dead body.
“I am called ‘Jagan,’ the archbishop of the Goddess Church.”
Liam knows her.
A being like the twin sister of ‘Ami,’ who devoured the soul of the arm of Helion, the same archbishop.
With even whiter hair and paler skin than Alicia. She, in the form of a young girl, has everything – her pupils, fingernails, lips, eyebrows – as white as snow.
If Ami devours souls and corrupts bodies.
“Let’s have fun. Young human child.”
Jagan devours the concept of ‘physicality,’ turning the insides into an empty mannequin.
***
Twisting and turning.
The nest began to move actively with life. The entrance of the nest closed, releasing all the magical seals that had surrounded the entrance.
This clearly indicates that it has been occupied by another Altif.
First-year students, taken aback by the sudden change, try to assess the situation with astonished eyes. Some shouted, but a considerable number of students moved relatively calmly.
“In the end, is this the direction we’re heading in?”
Vargan, who was the first to grasp the situation, frowned and clicked his tongue. He had ended up taking the path he had considered with low probability.
As Helion showed interest in the Academia, this action instigated the actions of Ami and his younger sister, Jagan.
Ami, busy expanding her influence by burning down villages one after another in a distant place, is likely to have taken over the nest.
Vargan, acting as a pocket dimension, reached into his white sleeve and pulled out Alicia.
“Yes, my lord.”
“Receive this.”
Despite the somewhat rough thrust of the sword, Alicia smoothly received it. Alicia grasped Vargan’s intention.
“What should we do?”
Her gentle eyes soon transformed into those of a raptor ready to hunt.
Vargan surveyed the area and selected the necessary personnel. They were striving to calm down their peers.
“The test is over. From now on, each group must move independently.”
If the entrance is blocked, it will take time for the professors outside to enter the nest.
Moreover, if Jagan has arrived, he would have brought his bishop-level followers to prevent external teachers from interfering.
Waiting quietly like this would result in too much damage to borrow their power.
“Four groups have set off so far. We’ll secure the safety of the three groups wandering the nest among the first-year students.”
“And what about the remaining group?”
“That group… “
Although not all students had entered the nest, the fact that they had been activated meant that intruders existed on Jagan’s side, who was controlling the main altar.
Among the students present, only one person besides the protagonist, who knew the location of the main altar and could enter, was available.
“We’ll go directly.”
Even if they are like maggots, Liam is a fellow with deceptive power, and his group members are valuable talents with bright futures.
Even for my future, there is no way I can let go of my life so easily.
“From now on, make contact with the individuals I designate. Since the situation is critical, I will also move directly. Take them with you and quickly enter the nest.”
“Understood, Sir.”
Grand Archbishop.
Fifteen beings with unrivaled power compared to bishops.
Realistically, I cannot handle them in my current state. The Grand Archbishop and the others are truly different monsters.
The current capabilities of all first-year students at Academia have been assessed. The calculation of which talents are needed and how many is complete.
Except for one person who can control everyone at the entrance of the nest, only elites should be selected. It can’t be too many. There is a high risk of unnecessary sacrifice.
Gather the necessary minimum number of people and gather strength to confront that fellow.
If that damned Liam moves independently and rushes into the altar alone, that would be great… but things won’t be that easy.
We need to move quickly.
Even if it lacks a bit of aristocratic dignity, we must run. If we continue like this… if we are even a bit late, all of his group members will be…
Massacred.