The Villain Bought the Heroine - The Villain Bought the Heroine chapter 96
Chapter 96
The square was on the verge of madness beyond chaos.
Just a few minutes ago, the citizens’ voices had united in chanting the same phrase, but the tide quickly turned.
The visual magic continued, discussions about post-processing followed, yet people were too excited to raise their own voices.
As a man watching the visuals raised a question, an elderly man with white hair nearby answered.
“So, what does this all mean in the end?”
“Well, it’s simple. Crain deceived all of us!”
“He, who lived quietly like a mouse, why on earth…?”
“Ugh, tsk tsk tsk. Can’t you see it yet? He went crazy trying to obtain the divine being Frickanrisk! That’s why innocent people died! If I see that despicable jerk in front of me, I’ll strangle him!”
Another man interjected in their conversation.
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Weren’t we all just the same people shouting to exterminate Frickanrisk just a moment ago? Aren’t we all rotten scoundrels cursing each other?”
“That’s totally different! We are not victims who were deceived by that bastard Crain!”
Those who were shouting for the extermination of Frickanrisk dispersed in different directions.
– This visual magic is a scheme created by Vargan.
– No. What have you been watching all this time? Didn’t Crain confess directly with his own mouth? The hero who should protect people ended up committing a massacre!
Overall, the dominant opinion was that Crain was the one to be killed. While his mental state seemed unstable, his direct confession was the most compelling evidence.
The old man shouted.
“Anyway, we did nothing wrong. Everything is the fault of that sinner Crain! We must capture that scoundrel!”
“….”
The man in the top hat listening to their conversation furrowed his brow. It wasn’t the inherent evil of human nature that disgusted him, but rather the old man’s loud voice that grated on his ears.
He felt the urge to cut their throats and bring silence, but he swallowed it.
With one hand holding the end of his hat, he raised his head and looked at the screen. A young noble-looking student appeared.
The figure reflected in the video was Vargan.
He was the person who had recently surprised himself by visiting the ‘Terrarium.’
“So, you used the ‘Contract of the Guardian’ like this.”
It was a contract that generated compulsion imbued with the power of ‘Velred’, precisely among the Chugikyeong.
To say that he made an equal contract with Frickanlisk was not a mercenary contract, but a statement based on the Chugikyeong’s contract.
Although it was spoken as a conjecture, in reality, it was as good as confirmed.
Vargan came to the Terrarium, demanding a contract imbued with the power of Chugikyeong. Just this fact alone was a solid basis.
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Of course, he didn’t just demand that.
He said this.
– Is one of the twelve gods, the offspring of Frickanlisk, currently under the possession of the warrior, Krain, affiliated with Durtemund.
The answer to that question was predetermined and known.
However, it was a very difficult one to answer.
Simply Frickanlisk and Krain.
If it was just an issue between the two, without much hesitation, he could have sold them for a high price and established a good relationship with Vargan, a mysterious figure. But it was not such a simple matter.
The goddess Ami of the Yeoshinkyo was intervening in their relationship.
It might not be easy, but if the information was passed carelessly, it could lead to the situation where not only the alliance of the two but also the life of one more Archbishop would be at stake.
Therefore, Ulltremen regrettably conveyed that the information was not kept in the Terrarium.
From that point on, the relatively amicable atmosphere in Vargan’s response completely changed.
“….”
The man, Tophat, who was briefly recalling his conversation with him, Bishop Ulltremen of the Yeoshinkyo, smiled faintly.
Vargan.
He knows too much.
He didn’t refrain from considering whether to kill him, but ironically, he couldn’t kill him because he knew too much.
He was aware of that as well.
Is that the source of his confidence?
‘He’s not an easy customer in many ways.’
However, it is a profitable business dealing with such people.
There is a high probability that he probably knows the true identity of the ‘voice’ mentioned by Krain.
While pretending not to know and treating Krain simply as a madman, he recognized his own kind.
Ulltremen, who was raising a giant snake with a split tail inside him, felt that Vargan was his counterpart.
‘The doors of the Terrarium are always open. Guest.’
He stopped looking at the subsequent image of Vargan. He took off his hat and moved his steps.
Like a desert animal hiding in the sand.
He disappeared into the crowd, blending in.
By observing Vargan’s actions, it wouldn’t be long before…
‘Perhaps… we should select new archbishops.’
They always exist among the people.
Wherever people gather, it was a space where they could exist.
It was the same in the past.
It is the same now.
And it will be the same in the future.
***
From the place where Krain was subdued.
Bargan led the curse magic upon him.
With his focus lost, his mouth moved as it pleased.
As if the restrictions in his brain had been lifted, he effortlessly recited the information he knew.
And then.
The sound of birds chirping could be heard.
One of Yanic’s team members, who was carrying a communication-enabled warlock, heard this and reported back.
“It has been confirmed that we have safely secured the child of Frikkanrisk. However, due to severe injuries, the child is currently receiving treatment.”
“…Is that so.”
Yanic responded with an awkward and muffled voice.
Although appearing calm, a clearly burning fire blazed in his eyes.
Upon hearing this news together, Krain shouted.
Despite being consumed by distant thoughts through curse magic, the news of securing Frikkanrisk’s child awakened his mind.
“What right do you have to steal it! That belongs to me⎯⎯!”
“Krain….”
“Oh, no. It wasn’t me. The voice… It’s clearly mine, but I just…”
Yanic’s thick legs moved heavily as if about to stomp the ground. His hand reaching towards Krain was clenched tightly, rough.
Watching Yanic like that, Krain said.
“Yanic… Help me. We’ve known each other for a long time like Ainthern… Please clear up my misunderstanding!”
Yanic, who was barely restraining his anger, couldn’t bear to watch the man who had fallen so low.
Thud⎯!
With a mighty iron fist, he struck Krain’s face.
The vibration caused items in the room to tremble.
With a broken nose, Krain groaned in pain, blood trickling from his nostrils.
“Krain, do you really not know shame⎯⎯!”
Yanic, breathing heavily, gritted his teeth.
He suppressed the urge to beat him to death and instead spoke.
“Remember this! Even if I wanted to rip out your heart, it’s not my place to do so. I endure not because I forgive you!”
The person who would directly punish him in Yanic’s mind was not himself or Bargan, but another being.
Despite the torment of betrayal and guilt, his emotions were like grains of sand compared to hers.
Yanic respectfully bowed his head towards the Helion party, Bargan, and Fin. As if he were a sinner, he deeply apologized and said.
“Let’s take Krain and have him face judgment. This time… was truly shameful.”
From the perspective of Durtmund, this incident was beyond embarrassing.
To subdue Frikkanrisk, they had requested assistance from the Central Church as a support force for the Helion team.
Thinking they could resolve the matter solely with their help, they found the culprit within Durtmund itself.
They couldn’t face them without bowing their heads.
“I will make sure to compensate for all this in the aftermath. Well…”
Using the word ‘compensate’, he took the arrested Krain away. His team members also respectfully bowed before leaving.
Krain, with eyes that had lost their sanity until the end, glared at Bargan. Although Bargan, the actual culprit, paid him no mind.
And so, only the Helion team, Bargan, and Fin remained.
“It seems Bargan is good at negotiating. He managed to handle things without even forming a contract with Frikkanrisk, just through verbal agreements.”
“I have already mentioned this to Lord Helion, but let me say it again: if what the other party desires aligns with my own wishes, there will be no discord in negotiations. There is no need for coercion, after all.”
Barugan concealed the fact that he used the Archmage’s contract.
Helion, though not entirely trusting his words, did not show it.
“Thank you for not disclosing about Amy. Even though Crane would have faced severe criticism for it, the church’s reputation would have been greatly tarnished, but thanks to you, it’s still intact.”
The fact that Crane acted unilaterally.
And the fact that he acted alongside the goddess Ami are different in scale and significance.
It would have been ideal to make Ami bear all the blame, but realistically, it was impossible.
Therefore, the church decided to abandon Crane.
Everything was orchestrated by Crane single-handedly, highlighting his exceptional abilities while concealing the church’s incompetence as much as possible.
Furthermore, showing the possibility of a collaboration between the hero and Altif is a significant blow to their credibility and image, so security measures were put in place.
In the end, it was a matter of cutting off the rotten branch to prevent further damage.
That’s just how the world works, isn’t it?
“Barugan’s student wants to take possession of the familiar?”
Helion pointed at Chimera, Crane’s familiar.
Chimera’s body was tightly bound by chains of light, sealed by Helion’s powerful magic.
“Well, as you know, I don’t handle familiars. Although Crane, the owner, was despicable and incompetent, the familiar he created is also a kind of monster. It needs to be nurtured with love.”
“So you’re not taking it because it looks strong?”
“I won’t deny it, but it’s about the sense of justice of someone who truly cherishes familiars. Please see it as such.”
Helion smiled faintly and nodded.
Barugan was the one who contributed the most to this incident.
Normally, the church should protect Crane’s familiar, but giving it as a gift is not a difficult task.
Barugan crouched in front of Chimera, which was sticking to the ground and growling.
The lion’s mane is quite impressive.
As Barugan slowly stroked it, despite the threatening sharp teeth, it couldn’t move, so resistance was futile.
“Externally, it looks like a mix of five types of monsters… but two more are mixed inside. A total of seven combined… Truly a Chimera.”
Barugan sent mana to examine various parts of the familiar.
The initial fusion of two familiars. It seems that the outer layer is wrapped around by five others. The triple fusion appears to have failed, and the gap has been physically filled.
Still, overall, it’s not bad in terms of skill, more efficient than a typical triple fusion.
The term “ingredients” may sound pitiful, but all the familiars used as ingredients are of high quality.
At this level… it falls slightly short of properly fusing four high-level monsters. Even the characteristics it possesses are equal to the number of familiars used, which is seven.
The more you look at it, the more pitiful yet fascinating it becomes.
In terms of sheer power, a formidable ally has been acquired, stronger than any other familiar currently held.
“As long as it listens well, it should be fine.”
Barugan murmured to himself while petting Chimera.
And then.
Gaon, the youngest member of Helion’s team, heard the cries of his parrot familiar.
– Detected approaching group towards Duetmund. Group detected.
The momentarily calm atmosphere was disrupted by everyone’s hearing.
– 1 Archbishop. 8 Bishops. About 3,500 priest soldiers are advancing towards Duetmund, advancing towards Duetmund.
That’s right.
It seemed like it was time to come.
The one who ran away so shamelessly is not someone who would just sit quietly.
Bargan looks at Hailion.
“It seems like Ami is really angry this time.”
They must be on their way back after completing the empowerment.
They were caught off guard because they let their guard down.
The end of the story in Dürtemund was gradually becoming visible.